The Green Park Inn, the Grand Old Lady, and Her Favorite Musicians, Bow Out, With Hopes for Their Return 

February 7, 2025  A few weeks ago, as Blowing Rock’s 27th WinterFest event came to a snowy and successful close, the Green Park Inn closed with it. The historic, 130-plus year old, rambling, classic hotel ended its most recent 15-year run as Blowing Rock’s landmark lodging establishment under the ownership of Long Islanders Steve Irace and his late brother Gene. With his Saturday night performance at the hotel, Charlie Ellis also ended his decade-and-a-half-long weekend gig entertaining hotel guests, most recently with guitarists Don Miller and Dave Braun. Besides Ellis and owner Steve Irace, the weekend wound down with general manager Lorry Mulhern in her usual spot anchoring customer service and celebrating the hotel’s popular weekend tradition of bringing Ellis to the many local fans of his classic local club, the Jazz Parlour. By Randy Johnson

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Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention Returns to Appalachian State University This Weekend

February 7, 2025  The Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention returns to Appalachian State University in Boone this weekend and promises to be a fun-filled, foot-stompin’ good time for all involved. Now in its 17th year, the main event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Plemmons Student Union from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A large crowd is expected to attend again this year, including instrumentalists, vocalists and fans of traditional mountain music for which our area is known. A square dance will serve as the official “kick-off” on the evening prior, Friday, Feb. 7, from 5-7 p.m., in the student union solarium. Saturday’s line-up will feature various competitions for adults and youth, including mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, string band and dance, and held in the Summit Trail Solarium. By Sherrie Norris

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Waterway and Private Property Debris Removal in NCDOT Right-of-Way Will End March 2nd

February 7, 2025. In preparation to move to Waterway and Private Property Debris Removal programs, Watauga County’s NCDOT Right-of-Way debris removal will end March 2nd, 2025.  At that time, citizens will no longer be allowed to dump storm debris (vegetative or construction/demolition) into the NCDOT Right-of-Way as that was a special waiver of local and State ordinances for storm related debris disposal. Individuals placing debris into the NCDOT Right-of-Way after March 2nd may be subject to applicable State and local ordinances. Watauga County understands there may be remedial vegetation and C&D debris remaining after March 2nd and the County will work with vendors to pick up any remaining debris. The Watauga County Transfer Station continues to accept vegetation and construction materials as part of their normal operations and fee schedule. Please send any remaining right-of-way debris concerns to Helene.Debris@watgov.org and those will be addressed by the County’s debris removal contractor.

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Watauga Arts Council Teams Up with Blue Ridge Fiber Guild to Announce “Intro to Fiber” Workshop Series for 2025

February 7, 2025. The Watauga Arts Council (WAC) and Blue Ridge Fiber Guild are excited to unveil their brand new Intro to Fiber Workshop Series, launching on March 22nd and running through August 2025. Every fourth Saturday of the month, from 10 AM to 1 PM, participants will be introduced to a variety of fiber arts, including weaving, spinning, felting, knitting, and natural dyeing. These hands-on workshops are designed for beginners and those looking to expand their fiber art skills in a supportive, creative environment. The guild will also be hosting an open house on February 22, 2025 from 10am to noon at the WAC building. You’re invited to meet the instructors and find out about the classes being offered. There will be light refreshments as guild members show examples of what the classes will cover as well as the instructors’ works.

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Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Super Bowl Sunday Just Hours Away


February 7, 2025 Thousands of football fans are already packing into New Orleans for Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX. Hopefully, the much-anticipated championship game of the National Football League will serve as a welcomed distraction from recent headlines, not only in the Big Easy, but also in the home states of both teams. A week ago, as I sat at my desk writing about favorite foods from the Kansas City and the Philadelphia areas, I had no idea, as did anyone, that these two general locations would soon be in the news for far different reasons than the biggest football game of the year. The January 1 Bourbon Street incident was still fresh in the minds of most Americans when the horrific January 29 mid-air collision occurred in Washington, DC involving a plane that had flown out of  Kansas just a short time earlier and claiming 67 lives. Just two days later, the tragic med jet crash in Philadelphia killing six passengers and injuring dozens more on the ground, left most of us in disbelief, once again, and overcome with sadness and sympathy for all involved. But, as we’ve learned many times over, life goes on, and easier for some than others. There will still be Super Bowl parties this weekend, and food will still be needed. So, with much less excitement than I had this time last week, I’ll share more ideas for sides and other goodies to accompany those Kansas City ribs and Philly Steaks. By Sherrie Norris

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Boone Docs Film Festival Returns to Appalachian Theatre with Another Celebration of Appalachia

February 6, 2025. The 2025 Boone Docs Film Festival, showcasing short documentaries focused on the people who live and work in Appalachia, expands this year to include four blocks across two days – Feb. 21 and Feb. 22. All festival events will take place at the Appalachian Theatre, 559 W. King Street in Boone, North Carolina. Additionally, each of the film screenings will include a panel discussion with participants in the films and/or the filmmakers.

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Boone Has Been Nominated for USA Today’s Best Small-Town Beer Scene – Vote Now!

February 6, 2025. Exciting news—Boone has been nominated for USA Today’s Best Small-Town Beer Scene! We’re up against 19 other towns across the country, and your vote can help put Boone on top! This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our amazing local breweries and the vibrant beer culture we have here. Let’s rally together and show everyone why Boone deserves the title! Cast your vote now: Vote Here!

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Feeding Avery Families 2024 Review

February 6, 2025. During 2024, Feeding Avery Families (FAF) provided $1.4 million worth of free food to our hungry neighbors in Avery County, NC. Miraculously, FAF food cost averaged only 17 cents per individual meal, thanks to securing top quality groceries at no or very low expense. In addition, dedicated volunteers kept operation costs low.

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Grandfather Mountain Mourns the Loss of Ajax the Bald Eagle

February 6, 2025. Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has bid farewell to Ajax the bald eagle. Ajax died Wednesday, Feb. 5 following complications from an infection he developed. He was 11 years old. Ajax arrived at Grandfather Mountain on Aug. 26, 2015, estimated to be about 1 and a 1/2 years old. He came from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Fla., after falling from his nest on a golf course. The fall left him with a broken clavicle and humerus in his wing and a broken femur in his leg.

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Helene and January’s Heavily Wintry Weather Could Be Cause for Sharp Decline in Sales

February 5, 2025  Well, the first year of 2025 has come and gone. January brought lots of snow and ice to the High Country along with some wintry winds…is it Spring yet?  January saw 98 closed single family sales in the High Country Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service. Of those 98 sales, 78 were in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties, the area we look at most closely when analyzing High Country Real Estate. Of those 78, 13 were condos or townhomes and 65 were single family detached.  List prices ranged from a minimum of $126,900 to a maximum of $2,990,000 with an average List Price of $583,145 and a median List Price of $425,000.  Sold prices went from a minimum of $113,750 to a maximum of $2,985,000 with an average Sold Price of $558,776 and a median Sold Price of $390,950 By Bill Caroselli, REALTOR, Blue Ridge Realty & Investments, LLC

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Fifth in a Series: The History of Springhaven Inn: 1934 to 1977

February 5, 2025. This is the fifth in a series of articles covering the long, rich history of the Springhaven Inn, built in 1888 in Blowing Rock, NC. 1934 – 1945 Sallie Charles Cheatham acquired the Springhaven Inn property in 1934 and owned it until 1945.  A resident of Raleigh, N.C. and a music teacher, Sallie was a member of the faculty of Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C. at the time she bought the property.  Sallie, who was never married, was a concert pianist.   She operated the property as an Inn under the name “Bark Inn” and sometimes “Springhaven Inn” and hired managers to oversee daily operations. She frequently invited friends or relatives to stay in the Inn as her guests.  ​ By Dr. Dan Morrill and Catherine Perry `

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There’s a New Sheriff in Town Making Sure Skiers and Snowboarders Are Getting the Best Tune-Ups Possible at Ski Country Sports 

February 4, 2025 Ski Country Sports has brought to the High Country’s skiing and snowboarding community a remarkable new state of the art machine manufactured to revolutionize how skis and snowboards can be tuned up and cared for. Bill Leonard, owner of Ski Country Sports says, “This is a futurist machine – this is the latest and greatest! And we would love for folks to come by and take a look at it. We’ve been looking at this machine for more than a year. In September we decided to invest in this technologically advanced state of the art tuning machine. There ’are very few of these machines in use in the North America. The investment required for the purchase of this machine has allowed us to provide our customers with the most precise ski and snowboard tuning available world wide. Yes it was expensive, but in the long term we think it will provide a huge service to our customers as well to our ski and snowboard rental fleet and our demos. We are now able to keep them in  much better condition than before. It has made a huge difference!”

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2025 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) Half Way Through the Season

February 4, 2025 SMARL completed its 3rd race of the season Monday night, now half way through the season. Matt Leonard reported that the race course was in great shape providing the fastest conditions of the season so far. “With the temps being a little warmer Monday night, the race course crew added a little salt to the course which firmed it up giving us a sweet fast racing surface, says Leonard. Racers enjoyed a bar-be-que dinner after the race in the Sugar Mountain bar. Team Sugar is still out front in the skiing division and the Tavern in the lead in the snowboard division.

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WATA Returns to Its Roots with More Local Programming

February 4, 2025 WATA, with its stations AM 1450 and FM 96.5, has been the High Country’s source for local news, weather and sports since 1950. Station leaders began a conversation during summer 2024 about bringing back a renewed focus on local programming. “We are the High Country’s heritage station,” said Erica Lackey, General Manager for Curtis Media Group. “Local programming is who we are.” The decision to transition back to more local programming was not a sudden one. By Sam Garrett `

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Mountainfilm on Tour Will Come to Lees-McRae on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Hayes Auditorium at 6:00

February 4, 2025 Mountainfilm on Tour, a collection of top-of-the-line outdoor adventure films from the annual Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado, is returning to Lees-McRae this winter as part of the college’s High Country Adventure Film and Speaker Series. Mountainfilm’s mission is to use the power of the film medium to inspire audiences to create a better world. To achieve this, they collect the most inspiring, culturally rich, and adventurous documentary short films each year to share with a national audience. Mountainfilm on Tour will come to Lees-McRae on Saturday, Feb. 8, and the films will be screened in Hayes Auditorium. The doors open at 6 p.m., live music starts at 6:15pm, and the films start at 7:00pm.

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Alexa Rose to Perform Intimate Concert at Jones House Cultural Center February 19

February 4, 2025 Acclaimed Americana songwriter, Alexa Rose, will take the stage at the historic Jones House Cultural Center for an exclusive and intimate concert on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. With only 40 seats available, this evening promises to be a one-of-a-kind musical experience. Born in the Alleghany Highlands of western Virginia and raised in the tiny railroad town of Clifton Forge, Rose’s songs feel like oil paint landscapes of her own life in the mountains, often wringing out beauty from mundanity and exploring timeless topics. Her earnest, well-crafted stylings are a multi-layered merger of old country music and traditional folk songs, colored by rock and roll and mountain soul.

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App State to Host Free Aging Academy Events in Boone, Hickory

February 3, 2025 Appalachian State University is hosting free community Aging Academy events on its Boone and Hickory campuses this winter and spring. Each event features expert speakers who will address relevant topics for aging adults. The academy is part of the Aging Well program presented by the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness (AIHW). “Taking care of our physical, mental and emotional health is essential for healthy aging,” said Mary Sheryl Horine, AIHW outreach and education director. “The Aging Academy offers educational resources on topics related to health and well-being as we grow older, and it provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with others in the community who have a shared interest in health.”

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“Food for Fines” at the Watauga County Public Library to Benefit the Health & Hunger Coalition 

February 3, 2025 From Monday, February 10 through Saturday, February 15, Watauga County Library patrons can donate non-perishable food items to clear their fines from overdue books. Each non-perishable food item donated to the Watauga County Library will remove $2 from library fines. This does not include lost material fees. All canned foods will benefit the Watauga County Health and Hunger Coalition for local distribution to those in need. The library would especially appreciate cereal, canned or dry beans, soup, corn or wheat flours, rice, herbs and spices, Boost and Ensure, canned fish and chicken, bread and pasta, shelf-stable milk, tortillas, canned fruit and vegetables, tea or ground coffee, and food for people with dietary restrictions, such as low-sugar, sugar-free, gluten free, dairy free, or nut free items. Those without fines are encouraged to donate as well. 

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March 1-2, 2025 Barn Quilt Painting Workshop to be Held at the Watauga Arts Council

February 3, 2025 The Watauga Arts Council will host a custom barn quilt painting workshop March 1-2, 2025. Saturday, Day 1, runs from 10-4 and Sunday, Day 2, runs from 10-2. Participants will create their own design with help from the instructor, Cinda Ebner. They will then learn the techniques needed to produce a beautiful and durable 2×2 barn quilt suitable for display outdoors or indoors. Cost is $135 and includes all supplies. Additional sizes may be available with advance registration. The workshop dates and times, with registration link, are as follows: 

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Movie Review: “Dog Man” Now Playing at Boone Regal

February 3, 2025 All January long, I’ve been mentioning (okay, “whining”) that the month is a dead zone for new movie releases. So it makes sense that the biggest release of the month would be one that opened on the very last day (Friday the 31st) before making most of its money in February. With an estimated $36 million in its first three days, “Dog Man” is already the biggest new movie of 2025. And its success isn’t just commercial, the joyful film also gets my first recommendation of the year. It’s a chilly recommendation, appropriate for January I suppose, but a recommendation nonetheless. The animated film is a spinoff from the “Captain Underpants” franchise. Apparently it’s based on a comic book created by the two kid protagonists of that series. Although I’ve never read any of the books or seen the 2017 film, this film does indeed seem like the brainchild of actual children.

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Grandfather Mountain Announces 2025 Special Events

January 31, 2025. 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 environmental educators and also features a list of favorite annual happenings on the mountain – with some updates still to come. “It’s always exciting to enter a new season of events and bring new and returning guests to the mountain to experience them,” John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, said. “Our calendar is full of opportunities for exploration and education, and we look forward to learning from visitors as they learn from us.”

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2025 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) Gets Their Second Race Under Wraps

January 30, 2025. Matt Leonard of Ski Country Sports said it was good to be back out on the race course at Sugar Mountain this past Monday night after having to again skip a race due to brutal weather conditions the previous Monday. “That Monday nigh we would looking a sub zero temperatures  and wind chills of who knows what, so I think it was certainly the right decision to postpone the January 20th race. we’ll get them made up,” says Leonard. But this past Monday conditions turned out great. Some fog that was present across the ski area lifted just as the race got underway. “We had a big turnout as everyone was ready to get back racing,” said Leonard. And the course was fast and fun.” After the second race’s conclusion Team Sugar has edge out front by two point over Team Ski Country Sports in the skiing division and in the snowboard division the Tavern Team has jumped to an early lead over First Tracks.

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Feel Happiest At Home

January 30, 2025. Are you one of the many people who have “Get Organized” as their New Year resolution? I am a Professional Home Organizer and I am here to tell you to go ahead and ditch that resolution. Why? Because organization is not something you “get”. It’s not something you achieve. And if that is how you are approaching it, then I guarantee that “get organized” will be the unicorn you are always chasing. Having an organized home or office, or organized life, is a practice. It consists of simple systems that work for you and your lifestyle, and utilizing those systems daily. It is attainable only when it becomes routine. So how do you get started in your organizing practice? By Hadley Watson `

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