JOHNSON CITY (January 3, 2012) – What do Rwanda and Appalachia have in common? A native son of the African nation answers that question in the winter issue of Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, published by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University.

The theme of the new issue is “Global Appalachia.” The magazine follows a summer issue that examined Latino and Hispanic influences in the region.

In the “global” issue, Christina St. Clair describes the English Club, a group of British expatriates that has been meeting in Ashland, Ky., since the time of World War I.

James Gifford writes about Kentucky author Jesse Stuart and how his experience abroad on a Guggenheim Fellowship shaped Stuart’s world view.

Two stories tell of Irish Road Bowling, as practiced in West Virginia and North Carolina. Centuries old, the sport was banned by law in Ireland in 1689 because of the rowdiness of the participants.

Retired educator Bruce Stambaugh visits Ohio’s Amish country to see how businesses in that area have turned to global entrepreneurship.

And ETSU professor Lee Bidgood connects Appalachia with the Czech Republic, through the popularity of American bluegrass and old-time music.

Now & Then is available in Johnson City at the University Bookstore on the ETSU campus and at the Shamrock on West Walnut Street; Jonesborough at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center; Gray at the ETSU and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitors Center; Kingsport at Wallace News on Broad Street; Bristol at the Mountain Music Museum and Gift Shop on State Street (after the first of the year); Abingdon at the William King Regional Arts Center and Zazzy’z on East Main Street; Asheville at Downtown Books & News on N. Lexington; and Greeneville at Greenville Antique Market on W. Depot Street.