What is a passport? In short, a passport is merely a few leaves of paper marked with photos and stamps. In modern legal terms defined by U.S. Department of State, it is “a request to foreign governments to permit you to travel or temporarily reside in their territories and have access to lawful local aid and protection.” While extending us welcome to a new place, passports also offer their holder the services of the U.S. embassy or consulate as a sort of diplomatic home-away-from-home.
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Adventure | Local Flavor | Travel
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February 18, 202616 minute READ
What're You Listening to?
Podcasts, as a form of “broadcasting,” are still a relatively new form of media. With roots in the 1980s, the medium really started to take off in the mid-2000s as the internet was adopted by more people. Podcaststatistics.com shares there are over 580 million podcast listeners across the world, and 4.85 million podcasts to occupy our time. I’m a fan!
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Local Flavor | Mast Family Favorites
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February 13, 202613 minute READ
Celebrating Black History Across Mast's Region
In 1986, Congress passed a bill recognizing February as National Black History Month. Upon signing the bill into law, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation stating, “The foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity.” According to the Library of Congress, President Reagan’s message went on to assert that February would be designated, “… to celebrate the many achievements of African Americans in every field from science and the arts to politics and religion."
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In the days after September 27, 2024, highway information signs were emblazoned with a message... Do Not Travel in Western North Carolina. That sounds ominous, but its message was not overstated. Because of the tireless work by state and federal employees, local folks, and thousands and thousands of volunteers, the mountains are OPEN – including two lanes of Interstate 40 – and we invite you to vacation... And volunteer!
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Inspiration | Local Flavor | Travel
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November 30, 202310 minute READ
It Just Would Not Be the Holidays Without
... Our favorite foods! Food is universal because everybody’s got ta eat! And the last two months of the year are filled with more than their fair share of family meals, work gatherings, special outings to favorite restaurants, tins filled with homemade cookies and fudge, and the anticipation of food traditions handed down from generation to generation
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At Home | Recipes
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May 26, 20237 minute READ
John and Faye Cooper: Why We Support Land Trusts
Even before we bought the Mast General Store, we were taken by the beauty of Valle Crucis. We’ve heard people describe the drive out Broadstone Road as traveling through a time portal. In the 1970s, fields in the river bottoms would be filled with tobacco, cabbage, or high with hay to feed cattle that were grazing in the summer pasture.
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