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High Country Watermedia Society Offers Grants to Art Organizations

March 18, 2024 The High Country Watermedia Society is pleased to offer grants to 501(c)3 organizations that support the visual arts in the High Country.  Grants are intended for art programs and equipment.  Proposals will be accepted prior to June 30, 2024.
More information and the grant application form can be found on the High Country Watermedia website:  https://highcountrywatermediasociety.com/art-endowments

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Wildlife Agency Offers Guidance as Animal Encounters Increase in Spring

March 18, 2024 This Tuesday, March 19, we officially welcome back spring. Some familiar (and not-so-familiar) critters begin emerging from their winter slumbers and start producing offspring. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) offers helpful guidance when encountering various wildlife as they become more visible this time of year.Black Bears emerge from their dens in spring and become more active. BearWise offers springtime tips to help people prevent conflicts with bears. Humans may come across cubs that are alone – most likely waiting for their mothers to return from foraging. However, if you suspect a cub has been orphaned, do not handle, feed or remove it, as this puts you and the cub at risk.

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Grandfather Mountain to Host Solar Eclipse Viewing Event April 8 from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

March 15, 2024 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced a day of festivities to celebrate one of nature’s most spectacular sights. A solar eclipse is coming to North America on April 8. Weather permitting, a partial eclipse will be visible at Grandfather Mountain. According to sources, approximately 87% of the sun will be obscured in this region. The best viewing time will be between 2-3 p.m

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Registration is Open for App State’s Camp Crinkleroot for Children on the Autism Spectrum

March 15, 2024 Appalachian State University’s Camp Crinkleroot — an annual free day camp for children ages 8 to 14 on the autism spectrum — is now accepting applications for campers. The camp will be held April 12–14 at the Optimist Clubhouse in Boone. Camp Crinkleroot is sponsored by the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, which is part of the Beaver College of Health Sciences. The camp is staffed by trained App State student volunteers.

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Blowing Rock TDA Partners with Black Folks Camp Too to Promote More Unity and Inclusion

March 15, 2024 Blowing Rock, North Carolina is known for its beautiful natural setting and exciting outdoor recreation opportunities. Through a new partnership with Black Folks Camp Too (BFCT), the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority (BRTDA) aims to promote more unity and inclusion in those outdoor spaces and activities. Black Folks Camp Too was created not only to inspire more Black folks to explore the outdoor lifestyle and industry,but to bring awareness to the reasons why more Black folks have not been participating in the outdoors, what the current industry can do to help create more Unity, and why they should.

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Grandfather Mountain Announces An Inspiring Slate of Special Events for the Upcoming Year 

March 14, 2024 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has lined up an inspiring slate of events for the coming months. This year’s calendar kicks off with an event for the upcoming solar eclipse and also features a list of favorite annual happenings on the mountain – with some exciting updates. “Our event season is just around the corner,” said John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “We continue to try to cultivate and offer an event lineup that satisfies and intrigues a variety of guests and ties into our mission to inspire conservation.”

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The Blowing Rock Academy Officially Opened Its Doors to Infants and Toddlers on Monday March 4

March 14, 2024 The Blowing Rock Academy officially opened its doors to infants and toddlers on Monday March 4, 2024.  The Academy is a 1,750 square foot state of the art child care center that will serve the children of Town of Blowing Rock employees. The Academy is not open to the general public.  The Academy can serve up to 30 total children from the ages of infant to school age, and is located at the former Ruritan/Town Community Club House building.  The Academy is a revolutionary idea to have on-site affordable child care for the full-time and part-time employees of the Town

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Just Released New Video Spotlights Village of Sugar Mountain Summer Stays

March 14, 2024 A new summer promotional video created by the Sugar Mountain Tourism Development Authority in conjunction with Visit North Carolina has been released just in time for family vacation planning. The video creation began with three days of shooting in July 2023. It will be utilized by both local and state tourism agencies. The 2.5-minute video is also available for all local tourism-related businesses to embed on their websites and share on social media to assist with their marketing efforts.

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High Country Humanities Presents ‘Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life’  March 22

March 14, 2024 Appalachian State University’s High Country Humanities — with support from North Carolina Humanities — will present “Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life: From Appalachia to the World” on Friday, March 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at Appalachian Theatre of the High Country at 559 W. King St. in Boone. Join App State documentary filmmakers for screenings of their work, a panel discussion and an audience Q&A moderated by documentary film scholar Dr. Maria Pramaggiore, chair of App State’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. The speakers will address how visual narratives portray and inform the public’s perceptions of communities outside of cities.

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Downtown Boone Hellbender Call for Submissions for Mural Project Slated for Downtown Boone

March 13, 2024 The Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA), in partnership with the Centers for Biological Diversity and the Watauga Arts Council is excited to announce a very important mural project slated for downtown Boone. A call is being put out to local and regional artists who have an interest in joining in the celebration of the Hellbender Salamander, a local endangered species. Artist are being asked to collaborate with representatives from the Center for Biological Diversity, as well as the DBDA to illustrate the hellbender and its habitat in our region. The mural will be installed at 140 S. Depot Street.

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Research Underway on an Elusive Mountain Rabbit That May Be Impacted by a Deadly Disease

March 12, 2024 It’s rare to spot an Appalachian cottontail rabbit in the wild. They live in the high elevations and steep topography of the western North Carolina mountains and are easily confused with their slightly larger close cousin, the Eastern cottontail rabbit.And it’s currently unknown whether a highly infectious and fast-spreading virus (RHDV2) may  be impacting the population.That’s why NCWRC has recently contracted with the research group, Tangled Bank Conservation, to perform a study of Appalachian cottontails. The goal is to determine impacts to this species that may pose threats to their survival. NCWRC will use this information to develop a management plan to protect them.

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ECRS Makes Donation to AppHealthCare’s Mother-Baby Home Visiting Program

March 11, 2024 ECRS, a local transaction and retail solutions business, has made a donation to AppHealthCare’s Mother-Baby Home Visiting program. The $5,000 donation will be given to the F.A.R.M. Cafe to support the purchase of meals for families participating in the Mother-Baby program in Watauga, Ashe and Avery Counties. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back to a program that gave me a lot of support when I had my son in December of last year.” said Caroline Catoe, ECRS President. “No matter your circumstances, every mother needs a village around her when she has a baby. Having an experienced nurse come to my home, provide me with tips and a warm meal, and check on my health and my baby’s was so beneficial. I only wish this program had existed when I first became a mother several years ago.”

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Local Author, Randy Johnson, Named Travel Media Competition Winner from NATJA


March 8, 2024 The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) announced that High Country writer Randy Johnson has won a Gold Award and an Honorable Mention in the 32nd Annual North American Travel Journalists Awards. The awards are held annually by NATJA, a national organization of travel journalists, to honor the best in travel writing, photography and destination marketing. Both awards were given for articles that Johnson published in WNC Magazine, a Western North Carolina lifestyle magazine based in Asheville and a sister publication of Charleston and other magazines.Johnson won Gold in the “Cultural Travel” category for a feature article titled, “The Life and Legacy of Shelby Native and Bluegrass Icon Earl Scruggs,” about the Earl Scruggs music center museum and local music venues (in the Fall 2023 issue).

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The Blue Ridge Chapter – NC Native Plant Society Monthly Meeting is Wednesday, March 13th

March 6, 2024 The Blue Ridge Chapter – NC Native Plant Society monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 13th, at the Holiday Inn Express, 1943 Blowing Rock Road in Boone. The meeting room will open at 6:30 and we’ll start the meeting at 7:00.The program is Ben Graham from AudubonNC.  Ben will be discussing the Native Plant Bill that Audubon has been working to get through our legislature for some time, what all it involves, and how it will change our state for the better.

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Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Announces Finalists for 8th Annual 4 Under 40 Awards

March 6, 2024 Sixteen members of the High Country community have been selected as category finalists for the 8th-annual Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Under 40 Awards. This showcase of emerging leaders is presented by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. Winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony, set for Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 5:30-7:30pm, at the Appalachian Theatre in Boone. Red carpet arrivals and a pre-event reception set the stage for an evening of celebration and recognition. This year, 67 nominations were received across four categories: Business Owner, Education Professional, Non-Profit Professional, and Rising Star. Nominees were acknowledged for their business achievements, community and civic involvement, and other related activities

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Wilkes Community College Dental Assisting Students Volunteer at Give Kids A Smile Event

March 6, 2024 The dental assisting students at Wilkes Community College volunteered at the Wilkes Public Health Dental Clinic on Friday, February 2, 2024, as part of the Give Kids A Smile program. The program was created by the American Dental Association Foundation in 2003 to provide oral health care services and education to underprivileged children. The students contributed to providing care for approximately 60 patients, all of whom were Wilkes County natives with no dental insurance coverage. The event was made possible by the volunteering of dentists, hygienists, assistants, and students, and over $34,000 worth of treatment was provided free of cost to these patients. The patients received a range of dental procedures, including preventive and restorative care

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Beech Mountain Resort’s “Runs for Buns” Colon Cancer Fundraiser Is This Weekend

March 5, 2024 Let’s come together, once again, to kick colon cancer’s butt, pun intended. No one should lose a person they love, so let’s ski, snowboard, show up and raise funds for the cause! Not a skier or snowboarder? No problem. Register to be a fundraiser to participate in a great event and win incredible prizes! Runs for Buns is similar to a run or walk to support cancer; participants can ask family and friends to pledge per ski run or make a simple donation. Participants range in age, and many do not even ski. Join us for a day of skiing, snowboarding, and fun, all for a good cause.

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16 New Acts Join FloydFest 24~Horizon (July 24-28, 2024) Lineup

March 5, 2024 Two important partners to Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. and Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. — Bitchin’ Sauce/Bitchin’ Music Group and The Floyd Country Store/Handmade Music School — announce a total of 16 new acts that will join the lineup of FloydFest 24~Horizon, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 24 to 28, 2024, at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va.

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CCC&TI Partners with Local Eye Care Physicians to Offer First Ophthalmic Apprenticeships in NC

March 1, 2024 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and professionals with Morganton Eye Physicians, Graystone Eye and Western Carolina Eye Associates have recently partnered together to offer new pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for students interested in entering the field of ophthalmology. These agreements are the first of their kind in the state and offer local students the opportunity to get hands-on experience and training in the clinical setting.

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Artist Brenda Councill Has Been Recognized Nationally for a Sculpture Monument Project

February 29, 2024 Resident artist, Brenda Councill has been recognized nationally for a sculpture monument project. Through a partnership with Mandarin Museum & Historical Society in Jacksonville, Fl., Councill has completed the first phase of work on the first life-size likeness of Harriet Beecher Stowe, in the United States. Stowe was a famous nineteenth-century abolitionist and author of the 1852 anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The sculpture is comprised of  3 figures and titled, “Harriet Beecher Stowe in Mandarin,” Councill’s bronze sculpture will represent Stowe as she was while living in Mandarin, a suburb of Jacksonville, Fl. during the winters of 1867 through 1884.

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App State Celebrates Mountaineer Pride with 11th Annual iBackAPP Event March 6

February 28, 2024 App State’s 11th annual iBackAPP event — the university’s day of giving and celebrating all things App State — will be on Wednesday, March 6. In 2023, thousands of donors made gifts to more than 200 funds — setting records for donor participation, providing support to every major area of campus and meeting crucial needs for the university. During iBackAPP, all members of the App State Community are encouraged to wear App State gear and black and gold colors, post photos and videos on social media using #iBackAPP, and consider making a gift of any amount to support present and future Mountaineers.

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“The Reading Room: From Seuss to Geisel & Back Again” Opens at BRAHM February 29

February 28, 2024 A new exhibition entitled “The Reading Room: From Seuss to Geisel & Back Again” has opened at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM). The exhibition features Kathy and Jim Griffel’s collection of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s drawings, paintings, and sculptures and will be on view in the Atwell Gallery of the Museum through June 2, 2024. Geisel (b. 1904, Springfield, MA; d. 1991, San Diego, CA), better known as Dr. Seuss, was an author, illustrator, and political cartoonist possessing a sharp wit and legendarily inventive mind. The characters and worlds he created have shaped the imaginations of children and adults alike for nearly 75 years while his stories have served as a foundational block in the literacy journey of many.

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Some Election Results Will Be Reported Later Than Usual Due to State Law Changes

February 28, 2024 As a result of recent changes in state law, in-person early voting results will be reported later than usual on election night for the 2024 primary. This, in turn, may cause Election Day results to be reported later as well. Previously, county boards of elections could tabulate early voting results before the close of polls, then report those results almost immediately at 7:30 p.m. on election night. Under changes made in Session Law 2023-140 (Section 29), county boards must wait until 7:30 p.m. to “close the polls” on early voting tabulators and begin the process of counting and reporting results of ballots cast during the early voting period. This process will take an estimated 30 to 60 minutes – and possibly longer in some counties – before unofficial early voting results can be posted publicly on the State Board of Elections’ Election Results Dashboard.

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