The North Carolina Museums Council has announced that the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville has been selected as this year's recipient of the benefits of the FOCoS program (Free On-site Consultation Service) funded by the NCMC. One or two consultants established by the Council will visit the Data Center over a two day period to assess and advise the museum and provide a detailed report of recommendations based on the study areas requested by the Data Center. The selection committee for this year's applicants consisted of Richard Scieford, NCMC vice president (vicepresident@ncmuseums.org), Kathryn Beach (professional development chair) and Terra Steinbeiser (membership chair). Applications for a future FOCoS visit are being accepted now for the 2008-09 fiscal year -- visit http://www.ncmuseums.org/, and click on "NCMC Programs" to find information and application details.

1. Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, will host "The Sublime Nine," an art exhibition of work by nine art seniors, opening Thursday, Oct. 18 in the Fine Art Museum. A reception will be held that day from 5-7 p.m.; the show remains through December 1. Also on display: "Faces of Change: Migrant Workers in Western North Carolina" and "Nexus Press: Artist-Made Books Large and Small."

2). The Greensboro Children's Museum is preparing for the Make Believe Ball 2007, which will be held on October 20 from 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person in advance, $20 at the door (336-574-2898, extension 308).

3). The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, will hold "Trick-or-Treat Under the Sea" on Thursday, October 25 from 5-8:30 p.m., closing at 2:30 p.m. that day to prepare for the special event. For all the details, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.ncaquariums.com, or for advance ticket purchase or information, call 910-458-8257. A 10 a.m. Children's Discovery Time and an 11:30 a.m. Behind The Scenes Tour are also scheduled for the aquarium on Thursday, November 1.

4). The Museum of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City will host "Boo!" on October 19 from 4-5:30 p.m. for students from 4th through 8th grade (pre-registration and payment required by Oct. 15 - call 252-335-1453), and will hold a Cemetery Walk in the Episcopal Cemetery on Saturday, October 20 from noon until 4 (free, open to the public).

5). Diggs Gallery, WSSU, Winston-Salem, will host a presentation by the Quiltmakers of Gee's Bend on Thursday, October 11 at 7 p.m. (Dillard Auditorium, Albert H. Anderson Center). Call Belinda Tate at 336-750-2458 for more information.

6). Furniture designer Bob Williams, of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Taylorsville, will speak at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 19 at the Asheville Art Museum. Free with museum admission to non-members.

7). Rock Laser Shows are returning to SciWorks, Winston-Salem. Check the website for schedules -- shows are set for October 12, 13, 19 and 20, as well as October 26 and 27 featuring a special Halloween Laser Show. All tickets are sold at the door (no advance tickets).

8). Upcoming at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro: Modern Art Lectures - Wild Beasts & Polite Society (Thursday, Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.), The Mind + Abstract Arts (Thursday, November 1, 6:30), and Is Anything Modern Anymore? (Thursday, November 8, 6:30 p.m.) -- fee charged. Also: Art & Vine Festival, October 13, http://www.blogger.com/www.artandvine.net/weatherspoon; "Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea" (film, Thurs., Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.); and Fall Family Day, Saturday, Oct. 20 from 1-4 p.m., free and open to the public.

9). At the North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh, a Paranormal Research Workshop ($3 suggested donation per person; check with the Capitol for time) is set for October 13th, and Scare on the Square is set for 5-10 p.m. on October 27 (pre-registration is suggested; free event). E-mail: state.capitol@ncmail.net.

10). "Contemporary, Cool and Collected" is a new exhibition of privately-held contemporary art, opening October 20 at the Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, and remaining through December 30th. Several events will be held related to the exhibit -- visit the website for details.

11). The N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh will open "Mysteries of the Lost Colony" and "A New World: England's First View of America from the British Museum" on October 20, remaining through January 13, 2008. Several special programs related to the exhibit are set for October 10, 20, 25 and 27 -- check the website for details. The Museum will also host the Twelfth Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

12). The Johnston County Heritage Center, Smithfield, will present its third annual Ghost Walk at Riverside Cemetery on Thursday, October 25 from 7-9 p.m. Admission charged; 919-934-2836 for details.

13). The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, Fayetteville, will offer Old-Time Music on October 10 and 24 at 7 p.m.; will give an Exhibit Tour on Saturday, October 20 at 2 p.m.; and will have its "From Our Hands" Family Day at the Poe House on Sunday, October 28 from 1-5 p.m.

14). An exhibit featuring paintings by students who have attended a watercolor workshop will be exhibited at the N.C. Maritime Museum, Beaufort from November 3 through January 13. A slide presentation, "Into Africa: A Safari in Tanzania and Kenya," will be given at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10. Halloween Night at the Museum is Tuesday, October 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. (admission; 252-728-7317 for reservations). Other activities and trips are planned as well.

15). Storyteller Cynthia Brown will tell Ghost Stories in the Graveyard in the cemetery at Greensboro Historical Museum, starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 27th -- free event.

16). The Museum of Coastal Carolina, Ocean Isle Beach, will present a lecture about barrier island buffer systems on October 9 at 7 p.m.; special activities during the N.C. Oyster Festival on October 20-21; a guided beach walk on Friday, October 26 from 5:30-7 p.m. during an astronomical high tide (pre-registration required (910-579-1016); and author/educator Stanley Opalka will discuss his book, "Escape from Russia," at 7 p.m. on November 13.

17). "The Art of Looking" is the Gallery Talk topic at the Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, on October 12 at 6:45 p.m. (free).

18). Second Saturday Science at Port Discover, Elizabeth City will be Amoebas in Motion on Saturday, Oct. 13, and Fabulous Fall on Saturday, November 10 (9:30 and 11 a.m.); Toddler Time on November 15 is Finger-paint with Leaves; and Make It-Take It for November is Nature's Colors.

19). Historic Oak View Park, Raleigh, will hold Pecan Day on November 10 from 10 a.m. to noon (free event).

20). Tryon Palace, New Bern will join in on the city's MUMfest Weekend with free garden tours and admission to the Gardens (interior Palace tours still require a ticket) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, October 12-13, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m on Sunday, October 14. Heritage plants will also be sold on Friday and Saturday. Also, on Thursday, October 25, Diana Bell-Kite will speak on "The Stanly-Spaight Duel and Honor Culture in the Antebellum South" at 7 p.m. at the Visitor Center Auditorium.

21). Bennett Place State Historic Site will offer "Life in the Carolinas During the Civil War" on October 13-14 (free).

22). "Making the Mold, Breaking the Mold: The Art of Tom Spleth" opens on October 25 at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, N.C. State University, and will remain through December 20.

23). The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh is organizing a Dismal Swamp Adventure for Friday, Oct. 22-Sunday, Oct. 24 -- for fee and registration information, call 919-733-7450, extension 555.

24). The Cape Fear Museum, Wilmington will host Family Science Saturday: "Amongst Animals," on Saturday, October 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

25). The President James K. Polk State Historic Site, Pineville will celebrate the 212th birthday of President Polk on Saturday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations are appreciated, but the event is free and open to the public.