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Email Announcements We Received This Week: See What’s Going On Around The Community

Tuesday, March 18

1) Kappa Delta’s Pancake Dinner Slated for March 21

The sisters of Kappa Delta invite you to the 22nd annual Pancake Dinner. The sorority is raising money for Prevent Child Abuse America and The Children’s Council of Watauga. The event will be held in Central Dining Hall at Appalachian State University on March 21 from 5-9 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. The first 50 people in line at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. will receive a free event t-shirt. 

2) Watauga Republican’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner April 4

The Watauga Republican’s Lincoln-Reagan Dinner will be held on Friday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock. All state and local Republican candidates are invited. This is a great opportunity to hear from and meet the candidates directly. Tickets are $30 before March 22 and $35 after that date. To order tickets, call 828-963-4253. 

3) April Foods and Fools to Benefit Caldwell Arts Council

As much a tradition this time of year as putting away winter clothes and enjoying fresh flowers, springtime means party time for the Caldwell Arts Council and its supporters. Building on the success of last year’s debut of the April Food and Fools event, the Caldwell Arts Council continues the month-long annual fundraiser again in 2014. This year’s events include 10 April Food parties hosted by individuals throughout Caldwell County, culminating in the “April Fools” event on May 1 when nationally known comedians will perform in downtown Lenoir. “Last year’s April Food and Fools events were so well received that we focused our efforts this year on growing it and improving it,” said Lee Carol Giduz, Executive Director of the Caldwell Arts Council. “In addition to the multiple parties from our April Food palette throughout the month and across the community, you can support the ongoing work of the Arts Council with an evening of laughs at our comedy event. Each of the parties and the comedy night are a guaranteed good time.” 

  • Saturday, April 5 from 9 a.m.-noon: Arty Party-Sourdough and Samples – Join Lenoir’s own “Sourdough Joan” Knox in the Caldwell Arts Council Kitchen for a sourdough bred making demonstration class. Catawba Valley Vineyards will be on hand to offer samples of their farm fresh jams, jellies and pickles. Take home bread and jam. Tickets are $30 per person, limit 10. 
  • Saturday April 5 from 6-9 p.m.: Savory Sunset Photography Lesson and Dinner Party at The Coves at Round Mountain – David Horn and friends bring their culinary skills to the grill and photographer David Hessell will offer instruction in mastering sunset photography. Bring your own camera for the photography instruction. $50 per person, limit 25
  • Thursday, April 10 from 5:30-8 p.m.: Arty Party-One Stroke Painting and Southern Comforts – Learn some of the techniques of “One Stroke Painting” with certified instructor Cathy McCoy and create your own original artwork at the Caldwell Arts Council; a tasty dinner from Southern Comforts is included. Tickets are $45 per person, limit 8.
  • Saturday, April 12 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Arty Party – Make HeARTsy Gifts – Join book artist Sigrid Hice in creating a heart shaped accordion book and a secret room book, collage their pages with decorated papers and fill with your own creativity. Snacks and beverages included. Tickets are $25 per person, limit 8.
  • Thursday, April 24, 5:30-8 p.m.: Arty Party-Mystic Papers – Join national workshop instructor Cathy Taylor at the Caldwell Arts Council for an evening of creative fun with marbled, swirled papers, stencils and ink. Leave with a frameable work of art. Wine and yummy appetizers included. Tickets are $45 per person, limit 10. 
  • Thursday, April 24 from 6-9 p.m.: A Rooftop Kentucky Sunset: Dive into an appreciation of Kentucky Bourbon with this special tasting and socializing event “Penthouse of Lenoir”. With a combination of top shelf bourbons, bourbon inspired hors d’oeuvres and a view of the Lenoir Skyline, you’ll relax in the glow of a spring sunset and the glow of a bourbon warmth. Tickets are $40 per person, limit 15. 
  • Saturday, April 26, 4-7:30 p.m.: Make Your Cheese and Eat it Too! – Learn to make fresh delicious mozzarella and make your own pizza in Dawn and Steve Mathews’ new cob oven. Baby goats will make an appearance, so wear your farm clothes! Tickets are $25 per person, limit 12 (20 if weather permits an outdoor setting).
  • Saturday, April 26, 7-9:30 p.m.: A Hollywood Oscar Martini Party- Enjoy an evening of glitz and glamour at the Irish Rose Bed and Breakfast. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages. Tickets are $45 per person, limit 30. 

4) Salminen Named to 2014 Finnish National Lacrosse Team

Lees-McRae freshman Teven Slminen has been named to the 2014 Finnish National Lacrosse Team for this summer’s World Championship in Commerce City, Colorado. The Lynden, Washington native has scored one goal while scooping up six groundballs and has caused one turnover. Salminen has started three games while appearing in all six LMC contests this season. He previously competed on Finland’s U-19 National squad in 2012 where he was one of two Americans to earn a spot on the national team of players 19 and under. The 6-1 freshman is one of five players that are playing at U.S. Colleges. Finland will be playing its third world championship after finishing ninth in 2006 and 12 in 2010. The tournament will take place June 10-19. 

5) Congressman Mark Meadows in Avery County March 19

Don’t miss out on hearing what’s going on in Washington, D.C. from Congressman Mark Meadows. He will be in Avery County on Wednesday, March 19 from 9-10 a.m. Come and ask the questions you want answers to. If you don’t ask you won’t know. This event is open to the general public and will be held at the Avery County High School. Breakfast will be provided by the culinary class and the cost for breakfast will be $5 per person. Please R.S.V.P. to the Avery County Chamber at 828-898-5605. 

6) ASU’s Spring Open House to be Held April 12

Spring Open House for Appalachian State University’s prospective students and their families will be held Saturday, April 12. This event is a great way to meet faculty, tour campus and learn more about financial aid, scholarships, admissions and student life. Activities will take place in Holmes Convocation Center with a 30-minute Family Assembly at 9 a.m. followed by an Information Fair until 12:30 p.m. featuring student and faculty panels. A special program for transfer students will be held from noon-1 p.m. also in the Holmes Center. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Student Ambassadors will provide tours of campus and residence halls. Academic departments will also conduct departmental open houses. For more information call 828-262-2120. 

7) Toxic Debt Documentaries to be Shown March 26

Toxic Debt: Documentaries on the Past and Future of Waste will be presented by filmmaker Phoebe Brush at 7 p.m. March 26 at ASU in Room 114 of Belk Library and Information Commons. The event features the screening of two short films followed by a discussion with Brush who is an N.C. Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award winner. The public is invited. The films are Brush’s “Yucca Mtn Tally” and “Around Crab Orchard” by Sarah Kanouse. “Yucca Mtn Tally” is a desert meditation on America’s first national high-level nuclear waste repository. Brush filmed the project over several years and completed the documentary in 2013. The film has won several awards, including the prestigious directors citation at the Black Maria film festival. “Around Crab Orchard” examines the only wildlife refuge in the United States whose mission includes industry and agriculture alongside conservation and recreation.  Assembled from documents, found footage, and conversations with activists, writers and local residents, the film questions the ideal of natural harmony while meditating on the persistence of history, the creation of knowledge, the limits of representation, and the commonplace of environmental hazard. Brush is a documentary filmmaker based in Durham. Her work has been exhibited at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and at festivals including the Strange Beauty Film Festival, the Carrboro Film Festival and the Indie Grits Film Festival. For more information, contact Tom Hansell at University Documentary Film Services at 828-262-7730 or hansellts@appstate.edu. University Documentary Film Services is a unit within Appalachian’s University College.  University College consists of the university’s integrated general education curriculum, academic support services, residential learning communities, interdisciplinary degree programs and co-curricular programming—all designed to support the work of students both inside and outside of the classroom.

8) 30th Roan Groan Held June 7

On June 7, the 30th Roan Groan will have 400 or more cyclists measure themselves against each other and Roan Mountain. It is part of the June 7 and 8 Johnson City Omnium. The race will be ridden by first-time racers as well as professionals who will be competing for their share of the more than $12,000 purse. The JC Omnium included the Roan Groan as the road race component beginning in 2006, though the Roan Groan was begin in 1985. Since its beginning, it has been sponsored every year by Nor-Well. Gary Nave of Nor-Well sponsored the first sanctioning on a previously informal race up Roan Mountain and his 30-year commitment has made it possible for the Groan to become the oldest continuous sanctioned race in Tennessee. Rex Martin, formerly of Johnson City who now lives in Davenport, Florida, has participated every year for the last eight years in the Roan Groan. He raced a total of 12 of the last 29 Roan Groans. We don’t know for sure, but we think he has the record of most Roan Groan competitions. Martin said he would be here this year also. The Tupelo Honey Roan Groan will start at Cat Island Park in Elizabethton at 9 a.m. with the professional 1,2 category, the first of seven groups.  The first three groups will follow a 55 mile course, finishing with the 7.25 mile climb up Roan Mountain. The other four groups will take a shorter 30 mile course with the same finish climb. The racers will effect but not stop the vehicle traffic on 19 E, Simerley Creek, Route 107, Sciota Rd, Dry Creek, Gap Creek and Route 143. That afternoon the same racers will compete individually against the clock in the Tupelo Honey Time Trial on Temple Hill Road in Erwin. The Time Trial will start at 5:00pm with the last racer off about 7:30 p.m. The final chance to win points in the three-stage race is the Franklin Woods Community Hospital Criterium on Blue Plum Sunday. Races begin at 8:00am; the professional race begins at 2:30pm. Some riders will be vying to win the criterium race while others will be racing strategically for the overall win. The high speeds and closeness to the spectators gets the crowds excited, which in turn motivates the racers. Some people come for the crafts and food but then get fully involved in the races. Just before the Pro race the Tupleo Honey Kids Fun Race will give age 10 and under kids an opportunity to ride the same course as the professionals. From these will come the future Olympians? Full details at www.pcpomni.wordpress.com.

9) Poet Bruce Weigl Reads from His Work March 27 at Appalachian

Poet and essayist Bruce Weigl will read from his work during a March 27 presentation through the Hughlene Bostian Visiting Writers Series at Appalachian State University. The reading begins at 7:30 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Table Rock Room. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. Weigl is the author of the memoir “Circle of Hanh” and the poetry collection“The Abudance of Nothing,” which was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize. A veteran of the Vietnam War and Bronze Star recipient, the memoir recounts his struggles in the aftermath of the war that included alcohol and drug and the salvation he discovered in poetry. Weigl has published translations of Vietnamese and Romanian poetry, and has also edited or co-edited several anthologies of war poetry. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Robert Creeley Award, the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry, the Paterson Poetry Prize, the Poet’s Prize from the Academy of American Poets, the Cleveland Arts Prize, and two Pushcart Prizes. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Yaddo Foundation. Weigl is a Distinguished Professor of English at Lorain County Community College in Lorain, Ohio. While in Boone, Weigl will teach a creative writing workshop for veterans and their families March 28 from 1-4 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Three Top Mountain Room. Associated with Weigl’s Visiting Writers Series presentation and writing workshop will be a staged reading of “Deployed” at 5:30 p.m., also in Three Top Mountain Room. Presented by the Touring Theatre of North Carolina, “Deployed” is an hour-long compilation of poetry and prose written by veterans and their families. It depicts the experiences of seven wars: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, First Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Visiting Writers Series is named in honor of Hughlene Bostian Frank (class of 1968), a past trustee and generous supporter of the university and recipient of the 2013 Appalachian Alumni Association Outstanding Service award. The Spring 2014 Visiting Writers Series is supported by the Appalachian State University Foundation, Appalachian’s Office of Academic Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English, the Summer Reading Program, the University Bookstore, Belk Library and Information Commons and the Appalachian Journal. Business sponsors are The Gideon Ridge Inn and The Red Onion Cafe. Community sponsors include John and the late Margie Idol, Paul and Judy Tobin, Alice Naylor, Thomas McLaughlin and The High Country Writers.

10) Fundraiser April 12 to Benefit Huntington’s Disease Research

The 9th annual Tom Moore 5K Run/Walk for Huntington’s Disease will be held Saturday, April 12 at the Boone Greenway. The event is sponsored by students in Appalachian’s Recreation Management program. The race will begin at 9 a.m. with registration beginning at 8 a.m. All proceeds from the 5K event will support the research on treatment and cures for Huntington’s Disease. F.A.R.M. Cafe is sponsoring an early packet pickup and pre-race pasta dinner Friday, April 11 from 6-8 p.m. at 167 West King Street. The meal includes pasta with or without meat, a side salad, dessert and a drink. This is a “pay as you can” donation event to contribute to the Tom Moore 5K event as well as help F.A.R.M. Cafe in its mission to build community and eliminate hunger in the High Country. Additionally, Come Back Shack will donate 25 percent of all proceeds from Monday, March 31. This event will be going on throughout business hours, but they ask patrons to inform their server that they would like part of their bill to be donated to the Tom Moore 5K for Huntington’s. For more information or to register, go to www.5K.appstate.edu. Early registration by April 9 costs $20. Registration the day of the event is $25. Each participant will receive a long-sleeved t-shirt on a first come, first served basis. Refreshments and fun activities will be available after the race, along with a record of running times. Each registered participant will be entered for great door prizes. You must be present to win. Tom Moore, a former director of Resort Area Ministry (RAM’s Rack, etc.) and local resident, was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease more than 10 years ago. Huntington’s is a hereditary, degenerative disease that slowly diminishes the patient’s ability to think, walk and function normally. Although treatments have been developed that lessen certain symptoms, currently there is no cure for Huntingon’s. In hopes of finding that cure, Moore joined with the recreation management program nine years ago to organize the event to raise awareness and funds for research. In the past nine years, the Tom Moore 5K has grown into a successful event which incorporates the entire Boone community. It has raised more than $20,000 for research.

11) April 1 Performance Celebrates Career of Scott Meister

When Scott Meister announced plans to retire after a 40-year career at Appalachian State University, his colleagues in the Hayes School of Music knew what one of his tributes should be – a recital featuring Meister’s compositions. Six of Meister’s works will be performed as part of the music school’s Faculty Recital Series April 1 at 8 p.m. in Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free. Many of the compositions on the program were written specifically for the faculty who will perform them. The breadth of the program also illustrates Meister’s interests in ethnic, experimental and avant-garde music. The program consists of  “für Spielen,” written for bassoonist Jon Beebe, “2 Ritual Dances,” which was commissioned by a former student of Meister who is now a university professor, “Three Inner Circuits,” commissioned by the late H. Max Smith for the American Guild of Organists, “The Note,” performed by Rob Falvo, “Games,” written for the Mid-America Trumpet Quartet and “Scenes,” written for music faculty members Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham, Beebe, Scott Kallestad and Eric Koontz. Other performers are Chris Blaha, Priscilla Porterfield, Jessica Warner, Rob Falvo, James Stokes, Brent Bingham, Matthew Dickson, David Marvel and Jay Jackson. Scott Meister’s career: One might call Meister an accidental musician and composer. While a high school student, he was interested in pursuing a veterinarian degree. Fate played a role in his successful career path when Ashland College, now Ashland University, in Ohio offered him a marching band scholarship. A drummer, Meister had to major in music to receive the scholarship. Meister published his first composition, a percussion trio, while a sophomore at Ashland. “That changed my whole life,” he said. The piece, written for a music theory class, drew the interest of a publisher Meister met while attending a music conference. “That motivated me, and I also realized I also wanted to be a college teacher,” he said. Meister has since published more than 60 compositions. He estimates they have been performed thousands of times, including his first work, which is often performed in Japan. His love for composition and incorporating atypical sounds in his work was fueled by professors at the University of Miami, where Meister earned his master’s and doctorate in music. “I had two of the best composition professors anyone could want. They absolutely opened my mind up,” he said. “One had worked with Stockhausen, who was into mathematics, graphics and visuals, and another had studied under Schoenberg.” Stockhausen was a pioneer in electronic and spatial music, which incorporates location and movement of sound sources. Schoenberg’s compositions typically use all 12 notes of the chromatic scale. “You’ve got to see my music to hear my music,” said Meister, known for using stage directions, such as having musicians use specific gestures, putting aluminum foil on top of a bassoon or using balloons to create unique sounds. He has written for almost every musical ensemble imaginable, including keyboard, brass, woodwind, percussion and orchestra. His latest orchestral work will be premiered by the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra May 2. Sound clips of his work are online at http://music.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/dr-scott-meister. Meister, who joined the faculty at Appalachian in 1974, is known for his focus on ethnic music. He founded the Steely Pan Steel Band in 1985 and has led the ensemble in performances at universities, art festivals, music conventions and public schools throughout the South. The band oftentimes performs his original works for steel pan or his arrangements of popular and classical compositions. He further expanded the music school’s foray into ethnic music by forming mid-Eastern and African percussion ensembles. He also regularly led study abroad trips to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean focusing on steel drum music, and to Ireland to learn about that country’s traditional music.  Meister has taught theory and composition courses during his tenure at Appalachian, and has held the Sharpe Chair of Music since 1998. He also directs the music school’s electronic/M.I.D.I. studio. He has been commissioned to compose works for bands, choirs and a variety of chamber ensembles. Meister’s composition “Gravitons” for orchestra and piano was premiered in 1982 by the Indianapolis Symphony. He has won numerous ASCAP Composers awards and twice won the Hinda Honigman Gold Cup for Composition. Meister also has been a guest composer at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C.

12) Guest Conductor Thomas Sleeper Joins Appalachian Philharmonia Orchestra March 23

Composer and conductor Thomas Sleeper will lead the Appalachian Philharmonia Orchestra in a performance of two of his works March 23 at 2 p.m. in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at Appalachian State University. Admission is free. The orchestra will perform Sleeper’s “Lullaby for Chelsea Rose” and will premiere his “Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra” with trumpeter James Stokes from the Hayes School of Music. It also will perform “Symphony No. 4 in G Major” by Gustav Mahler, with soprano Allison Deters, a senior music performance major at Appalachian. Sleeper’s compositions have been called hauntingly mysterious, richly lyrical and possessing soaring melodies by music critics. He has written six operas, 13 concerti, three symphonies, four orchestral song cycles, works for chorus with orchestra, three string quartets, numerous other vocal and instrumental chamber works and music for film. Sleeper is director of orchestral activities and conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theater and Music and director of the Florida Youth Orchestra in Miami.

Monday, March 17

1) Sirens on the Mountain Jam Announces Festival Lineup

We’re excited to announce the 2014 lineup of the second annual Sirens on the Mountain (formerly Siren Mountain Jam), June 20-21. The festival is returning to the High Country Fairgrounds in Boone and our lineup features Rickie Lee Jones, Bettye LaVette and Rising Appalachia among many other outstanding musicians and artists. For more information, check out www.sirensonthemountain.com. 

2) Second Annual High Country Horticultural Symposium Slated for June 7

The second annual horticultural symposium sponsored by Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences will be held June 7. The theme is “Designing Your Garden” and will feature noted speakers in addition to a tour of the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. The day-long event is designed for local gardeners and home owners. The program is sponsored in conjunction with the Daniel Boone Native Gardens and the Garden Club of North Carolina. THe program runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and includes continental breakfast, catered lunch, free parking an a tour of the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. Pre-registration is required. Online registration by April 30 is $59 per person. After April 30 registration is $70. Seating is limited to 100 participants. Registration deadline is June 2. Register online at www.conferences-camps.appstate.edu. Speakers and topic include “Mysterious and Beautiful Rhododendrons” and “The Healthy Family – A Worldwide Floral Delight” presented by Dr. Kathy Kron, biology professor at Wake Forest University among many others. 

3) Rucco-James Duo Performs March 19

Guitarists Pasquale RUcco and Douglas James will present a guitar recital March 19 at Appalachian State University. The program begins at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Recital Hall. Admission is free. The Rucco-James Duo specializes in the guitar literature of the early 19th Century performed on authentic instruments of the period. The two first met and became friends at guitar festivals in northern Italy during the early 1990s. They have now been performing together for nearly 20 years, charming audiences with their interpretations of music from the first true “golden age” of the guitar.” The duo will perform works by Antoine de Lhoyer an Mauro Giuliani. Rucco and James will be accompanied by Nancy Bargerstock and Chung Park, violin, Eric Koontz, viola and Corinne Cassini, cello. 

4) APPropros! Performs March 20

The vocal ensemble APPropros! will perform March 20 at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall at Appalachian State University. Admission is free. The ensemble is comprised of faculty from the Hayes School of Music. They are Julia Pedigo, soprano, Priscilla Porterfield and Mary Gayle Greene, mezzo-sopranos, John Fowler, tenor and Joseph Amaya, baritone. Pianist Rodney Reynerson will provide the accompaniment. THe program includes works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Mahler, Claude Debussy and William G. Harbinson. 

5) Blue Ridge Electric Offers Scholarships to Local Youth

Looking for extra funds to help pay for college? Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is offering scholarships available to members. The application deadline is March 31 for scholarships worth $14,800. The Blue Ridge Electric scholarships are awarded annually based primarily on financial need as well as community activity, school performance and activities, and personal interviews. Recipients must live in the cooperative’s service territory. For high school seniors seeking a bachelor’s degree, five $2,000 Blue Ridge Electric scholarships are available; and for high school seniors or adults seeking a two-year degree, five $800 Blue Ridge Electric technical or vocational scholarships are available. An additional $800 Charles and Lucille Suddreth Scholarship is available to a Caldwell County resident seeking a two-year degree. The Charles and Lucille Suddreth Scholarship is a memorial scholarship funded by the family of former Blue Ridge Electric board member Charles Suddreth. Applications are available from high school guidance counselors, local community colleges, or online at BlueRidgeEMC.com under the “Community” tab. For more information contact Grey Scheer, Director of Community Relations, at gscheer@blueridgeemc.comor by calling 1-800-451-5474, Ext. 3294.

6) Students to be Awarded Youth Tour and Youth Leadership Scholarships by Blue Ridge Electric

Rising high school seniors in the Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation service area have a unique opportunity for an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, this summer where they can see democracy in action, meet their representatives, visit historical sites, and learn more about how cooperative businesses work. Blue Ridge Electric is accepting applications for The Washington Youth Tour it sponsors along with the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives and other electric cooperatives across the country. This is an educational, week-long trip to Washington, D.C., taking place this year on June 14 through June 19. In just five days, students will see the White House, Smithsonian Institute, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and will also spend a day on Capitol Hill to meet their elected officials. After the trip, Youth Tour winners are also eligible to apply for several exclusive scholarships and are invited to serve on Blue Ridge Electric’s Member Advisory Committee during their senior year. The ideal Washington Youth Tour candidate has a passion for leadership and persuasive speaking, as well as a desire to learn. Eight finalists, who will win $100 each, will be invited to compete for the four positions sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric. The Youth Tour winners will each receive $400. Applications for the Washington Youth Tour are due by March 31. Up to four students may be selected to represent Blue Ridge Electric. Recipients must live in a primary residence served by Blue Ridge Electric in Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Watauga, or Wilkes Counties. Applications for the Washington Youth Tour are available from high school guidance counselors, local community colleges, or online at BlueRidgeEMC.com under the “Community” tab. For more information, contact Grey Scheer, Director of Community Relations, at gscheer@blueridgeemc.com or by calling 1-800-451-5474, Ext. 3294.

 Broyhill Leadership Conference:

Blue Ridge Electric also offers youth leadership scholarships for up to seven local students to attend the June 22-26 Broyhill Leadership Conference at Queens College in Charlotte, NC. The five-day conference is open to 10th through 12th grade students nominated by their guidance counselor. The Broyhill Leadership Conference helps students understand goal setting, motivational techniques, group dynamics, communication, and cooperation. For more information you may visit www.broyhill-leadership.org.

Friday, March 14

1) ASU’s Family Weekend Moved to Oct. 31-Nov. 2

Appalachian State University announced on Thursday that the University’s 2014 Family Weekend has been moved from Oct. 3-5 to Oct. 31-Nov. 2. As part of the Family Weekend events, Appalachian State football hosts Sun Belt Conference rival Georgia State on Saturday, Nov. 1. Season tickets are on sale now and half-season ticket packages will be available in the near future. Single-game tickets go on sale on Aug. 5. 

2) Watauga Humane Society Hosts Vintage Sale March 22

A “Treasure Trove of Vintage Values” sale will be held Saturday, March 22 from 1-5 p.m. at Watauga Humane Society’s Adoption Center. Choose from hundreds of lovely keepsakes and collectibles such as chandeliers, pottery, china, Depression glass, Franklin Mint plates and treasures from the Far East. With items from 50 cents to $50 donated by the Humane Society’s valiant volunteers, you can’t go wrong and all proceeds will benefit the SNIPS Spay/Neuter Fund and Mychal’s Fund for sick and injured animals. This is not a yard sale, it’s a treasure hunt! And there’s a bake sale too with complimentary beverages. Don’t miss it on March 22 on Paws Way in Boone. 

3) Digital Mammography Now Available at Cannon Memorial Hospital

Charles A. Connon Jr. Memorial Hospital (CMH) is excited to be the first in Avery County to offer breast cancer screenings using full field digital mammography. With the recent installation of the Selenia Dimensions 2D full field digital mammography system, all mammography patients at CMH will be imaged with the most state of the art equipment available. “Now that we have Full Digital Mammography, the women of Avery County can receive the breast care they deserve close to home,” said Martha Daniels, Lead Mammographer at CMH. “We are very excited to be a part of offering the latest technology to women in the High Country.” Digital mammography is different from conventional or film-screen mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and, more importantly, viewed.  The radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images.  These features allow the radiologist to better evaluate micro- calcifications and better evaluate any areas of concern. For most women 40 and over, an annual mammogram is the best way of finding breast cancer early.  Mammograms play a central role in the early detection of breast cancer because they can detect changes in the breast that may be early signs of cancer, but are too small or subtle to be felt. The use of mammography and in particular, digital mammography, has greatly enhanced the ability to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, when it’s most treatable.  Digital mammography detected significantly more cancers than screen-film mammography in woman 50 and younger, premenopausal and perimenopausal women, and women with dense breasts, according to results from the American College of Radiology Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST). Breast cancer statistics are staggering:

* One in eight women living in the U.S. will get breast cancer in a lifetime.(1)

* Breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. It’s the leading cause of death in 35 to 65 year old women. (2)

The installation of full field digital mammography at CMH, part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS), allows radiologists to view breast images taken at Cannon Memorial Hospital or Watauga Medical Center at either facility.  ARHS is committed to the fight against breast cancer, providing high quality, acute healthcare and preventative medical care in a compassionate and professional manner to all people who live, work or visit the high country.   

4) Yoga Classes Starting April 15 at Harrill Senior Center

Akal Dev Sharonne will be teaching her next session of Yoga classes starting April 15 at the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center. This will be an 11 week session. The first four weeks of class will be held on Tuesday’s from 6:15pm-7:30pm and the last 7 weeks of class will be held from 6:15pm-7:15pm.  Deadline to register is 5pm on April 15th.  The total cost of the class is $62.00.  Akal Dev Sharonne has been practicing and teaching yoga since the 70s.  Her classes are a delightful blend of humor, challenge and wisdom.  This class is appropriate for beginners as well as experienced yoga students. Any age may register, but if the class exceeds the attendance limit priority will be given to persons age sixty and older.  Please call 265-8090 with any questions. The next 12-week session of Yoga classes are scheduled to start on Thursday April 10thfrom 10:15-11:15am at the Western Watauga Community Center.  Deadline to register for the class is 10am on April 10th.  The total cost of the class is $62.00.  Akal Dev Sharonne has been practicing and teaching yoga since the 70s.  Her classes are a delightful blend of humor, challenge and wisdom.  This class is appropriate for beginners as well as experienced yoga students. Any age may register, but if the class exceeds the attendance limit priority will be given to persons age sixty and older.  Please call 297-5195 with any questions. 

5) Town of Beech Mountain Sledding Hill Report 

The Beech Mountain Sledding hill is still OPEN. Bring your family this weekend, March 15-16 and you might catch a peek at some Leprechauns sliding down the hill. The hill is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends. Don’t forget your hat, gloves and warm, waterproof clothing. Please see below for the full schedule. Monday-Friday 1-5 p.m. and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at 828-387-9283 for more information or for current conditions. 

Wednesday, March 12

1) Walker Center Presents Etta May & The Southern Fried Chicks on March 28

The Walker Center, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, will present Etta May & the Southern Fried Chicks on Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m. This performance is sponsored by InterFlex Group. What’s the best way to describe Etta May? “Minnie Pearl with a migrane” fits her best. To put it simply, when Etta May takes the stage, she is the reigning Queen of Southern Sass. Etta May will take you on a redneck ride through the Deep South. Born and raised in Bald Knob, Arkansas, Etta May grew up alongside nine older brothers. She won the prestigious American Comedy Awards’ prestigious “Stand-Up Comic of the Year” honor and has appeared on Oprah, Comic Strip Live, MTV, and as a guest commentator on “CBS Sunday Morning.” Etta May headlines the most successful all-female “Southern Fried Chicks Tour,” selling out theaters throughout the country. A limited number of tickets are available for this performance. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact the Walker Center Box Office at 336-838-6260 or walker.boxoffice@wilkescc.edu<mailto:walker.boxoffice@wilkescc.edu>. The John A. Walker Community Center is dedicated to being the primary venue for cultural experience in Wilkes and surrounding areas and to serving as the preferred gathering place for meetings, receptions, conventions, banquets, and parties for our community. The Walker Center and Wilkes Community College are 100% Tobacco Free. Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties and beyond.  Established in 1965, WCC continues to build on a strong history of meeting the educational needs and cultural interests of our students, community and workforce. WCC prepares learners for success in a dynamic world.

2) Concert Features Brazilian Compositions

Guitarist Welson Tremura joins Todd Wright and friends March 21 at 8 p.m. for an evening of Brazilian jazz at 8 p.m. at Appalachian State University. The performance in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall is part of the Hayes School of Music’s Faculty Performance Series. Saxophonist Wright will be joined by Keith McCutchen, piano; Andy Page, guitar; Zack Page, bass; and Rick Dilling on drums for the special event. The program will feature compositions by Wright, Tremura, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others. Wright is director of Jazz Studies in the Hayes School of Music. Tremura is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil and an associate professor in the School of Music an the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida. An acclaimed guitarist and singer, Tremura maintains an active performance schedule that has included performances and projects in Brazil, the United States, Europe and New Zealand. He is well versed in Brazilian Jazz, classical and vocal music as well as traditional European classical forms. Tremura is the co-director of Jacare Brazil, a Brazilian music ensemble. He has released two recordings and participated in recordings with musicians in Brazil and the United States. 

3) ASU to Host Creative Writing Workshop for Veterans and Staged Reading of “Deployed”

Poet and Vietnam veteran Bruce Weigl will teach a creative writing workshop for veterans March 28 at Appalachian State University. The workshop for students who are veterans, as well as for area veterans and their families, will be held from 1-4 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Three Top Mountain Room. Weigl is also the featured author March 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the student union’s Table Rock Room for the Hughelene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series. Weigl is a distinguished professor of English at Lorain County Community College in Lorain, Ohio. He received a bronze star for his service in Vietnam. His poetry collection “The Abundance of Nothing” was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize. The workshop is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Department of English. A staged reading of “Deployed” will follow the workshop at 5:30 p.m., also in Three Top Mountain Room. Presented by the Touring Theatre of North Carolina, “Deployed” is an hour-long compilation of poetry and prose written by veterans and their families. It depicts the experiences of seven wars: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, First Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. It was adapted for the stage by Touring Theatre founder Brenda P. Schleunes and North Carolina Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti, who also is a professor of creative writing at Appalachian. The production premiered in November 2013 in Greensboro. Lenise Willis wrote in the Greensboro-based publication YES! Weekly that “Deployed” was a “touching compilation of raw emotions and experiences, varying from the physical limitations of flying bombers for more than 16 hours a day in World War II missions, to the guilt felt by a Vietnam veteran” and that “there’s much to be absorbed from the heartfelt drama and the chance to really feel a part of something.” In an article published in the Greensboro News and Record, Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane wrote, “In dramatic detail, their stories describe the pressures of war preparation, deployment and battle, and returning home to readjust to a life never quite the same,” referring to the veterans’ whose writings comprise the script. “Deployed” is sponsored by Appalachian’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance. “The performance of ‘Deployed’ – on the heels of Dr. Weigl’s workshop, delivered by one of the great living vet writers – will be a palpable, extremely valuable program for veterans and their families and will dramatically increase the visibility of veterans on campus,” Bathanti said. Bathanti’s signature project as North Carolina Poet Laureate has been to work with veterans and their families to harvest their stories through poetry, fiction, personal essay and playwriting. He has traveled the state during the past 17 months conducting writing workshops for veterans and their families, in a variety of settings. In an article published in Our State magazine, Bathanti wrote of the veterans’ writing project and the therapeutic benefit it brings its participants. “What astonishes me most when I’m teaching a workshop among veterans is how good the writing is, period. In fact, there’s reason to believe that an entire wave of a wholly new genre of literature, borne of our 21st-century wars, is being minted by this hybrid generation of combat veterans,” he wrote. “And, yes, it is therapeutic: Empirical scholarship shows that writing about trauma is instrumental in overcoming trauma. I often hear the injunction in veterans’ writing workshops: Either you control the memory or the memory controls you.”

4) Grandfather Mountain’s Fern the Opossum Dies

Grandfather Mountain said farewell Friday to Fern the opossum, who was humanely put to rest after veterinarians discovered a large tumor in her abdomen. Fern arrived at Grandfather Mountain in September 2012 at four months old. She was orphaned when her mother was hit by a car and was originally raised by a wildlife rehabilitator. Because she was imprinted to be around humans, she could not be released back into the wild. The opossum lived off-display inside the Habitats office and a fenced outdoor area. Fern lived an active life on Grandfather Mountain, participating in numerous educational programs to teach visitors about one of North America’s only marsupials. Habitat staff noticed on Thursday that Fern was having trouble breathing and took her Friday to veterinarian Dr. Lee Bolt in Asheville. Bolt located a large, cancerous tumor on the x-rays that was pressing against the opossum’s lungs and other organs. Fern would have been 2 years old in May, and most opossums in the wild live about two years. Not everyone considered Fern’s prehensile tail, opposable thumbs and eat-anything behaviors cute and lovable but she quickly integrated herself with the Habitat staff. Fern occasionally displayed strange behavior, including climbing onto the desk in the Habitats office and rubbing her neck against the phone. Her pursuits were chronicled in a video titled “Phoning with Fern,” available at bit.ly/1cR2G7t. ”I got really attached to Fern,” said Emma Schlagal, assistant habitats curator for Grandfather Mountain. “People still think that they’re gross, but it’s good to let them see what they’re like and that they’re not that scary.”

5) Sharkmuffin Takes Sound on the Road in March

Slated to be one of Alt Press’s “100 Bands You Should Know” Sharkmuffin heads out on tour in March showcasing their scuzzed-up pop, loaded with sharp-edged guitars buried by crushing metallic fuzz. The band will play at Espresso News in Boone on March 18. 

6) Documentary Filmmaker and Professor Joe Murphy to be Honored March 28 & 29

A 39-year career at Appalachian State University will be celebrated March 28-29 as friends, family and former students gather to honor Department of Curriculum and Instruction Professor Joe Murphy who will retire at the end of this semester. Murphy, who came to Appalachian in 1975 to teach video and audio production and documentary film, will be honored during the Joe Murphy Documentary Film Festival. Screenings of Murphy’s work will take place March 28 at 7 p.m. and March 29 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in room 124 in the College of Education building on campus.  Admission is free. The March 28 screening will feature shorts, clips and a showing of Murphy’s 1985 film “Doc and Merle” about the late musicians Doc and Merle Watson. Screenings the afternoon of March 29 will feature student work and Murphy’s films “Auto Bond” and “Shoes Required.”  The weekend concludes at 7:30 p.m. with additional short selections from Murphy’s work as well as a screening of his film about barbecue in the Southeast, “Slow Food: Fast Times.” Segments of Murphy’s work have aired on CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” ABC’s “World News Tonight,” the Learning Channel and public television stations across the country. A fellowship being established in Murphy’s name, The Joe Murphy Educational Media Endowed Fellowship, will support undergraduate students working towards the Second Academic Concentration (SAC) in Media Studies in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction or the minor in media studies, as well as graduate students in the Master of Arts program in educational media. For more information call, Jeff Goodman at 828-262-2176

Tuesday, March 11

1) Friends of the High Country General Membership Meeting March 22

There will be a general membership meeting for members of the Friends of the High Country State Parks at Elk Knob State Park on Saturday, March 22 at 10 a.m. There will be a brief update on the activities of the Friends of High Country State Parks with a special guided hike for members following the meeting. Bring your own snacks, lunch and water. Don’t miss this special event. 

2) Banner Elk Easter Egg Hunt in Tate-Evans Park

The Town of Banner Elk and the Tourism Development Association have collaborated to bring an Easter Egg Hunt to downtown Banner Elk on Saturday, April 12. To start the morning, the Banner Elk Cafe will hold a breakfast with the Easter Bunny from 9-11 a.m. Children 12 and under are invited to Tate-Evans Park at 11:30 a.m. for an Easter Egg Hunt. There will also be a bounce-house, face painting and other activities for children. Following the children’s egg hunt, My Best Friends Barkery will host a Pet Egg Hunt. Dogs of all sizes and ages are invited to join, and don’t forget to bring your owners!

3) Social Justice Week Observed March 19-28 at ASU with Public Events

Social Justice Week will be observed at Appalachian State University March 19-28, featuring a Concert for Justice, documentaries on hunger and nuclear weapons, a Rwandan genocide survivor’s story, a night of TED-inspired talks and more. The general public is invited to attend. Those attending are encouraged to bring canned food items to the events to benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition and the Hospitality House of Boone.

  • Wednesday, March 19 – “Concert for Justice,” 6 p.m., Crossroads, Plemmons Student Union – The kick-off concert features performances by a capella groups, dance groups and solo performers. Sponsored by Student Government Association.
  • Thursday, March 20 – “World Outside My Shoes,” 8 p.m., Room 114 Belk Library and Information Commons – Carl Wilkens, the only American to remain in Rwanda during the genocide, will speak on his experiences in that country and abroad. Sponsored by the Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies and its Center Fellows, PeaceJam and Invisible Children. 
  • Sunday, March 23 – “Parallel Institutions,” 1 p.m., Room 421 Belk Library and Information Commons – Local organizer Ben Loomis will share the idea of parallel institutions: what they are, where they are needed, and how they make community organizing goals more communicable and fruitful. Sponsored by Boone Community Network. 
  • Monday, March 24 – “A Place at the Table,” 6 p.m., Plemmons Student Union’s Three Top Mountain Room – One in four American children don’t know where their next meal is coming from. This documentary tells the stories of three people struggling to eat, while showing that the American public has the power to end hunger once it decides such action is in the best interests of all. Sponsored by Graduate Student Social Work Association.
  • Tuesday, March 25 – “The Land Sustains Us,” 12:30 p.m., I.G. Greer Theater – This Elkland Art Center documentary explores how the changing landscape (development, infrastructure improvements, and loss of environment) affects the sense of community in the small village of Todd. Sponsored by the Elkland Art Center. 
  • Wednesday, March 26 – “Countdown to Zero: A World Without Nuclear Weapons,” 5 p.m., Room 114 Belk Library and Information Commons – This film explores the dangers of nuclear weapons, exposing a variety of present-day threats and featuring insights from a host of international experts and world leaders who advocate total global disarmament. Sponsored by SPICE Quaker Student Community and Global Zero. 
  • Thursday, March 27 – “Panorama – A Night of TED-inspired Talks,” 7 p.m., Crossroads, Plemmons Student Union –Students will offer talks on issues, experiences and ideas. This event gives them an opportunity to share their passions and perspectives in an open, non-persuasive environment with an engaged audience who is willing to consider new viewpoints. Sponsored by Student Government Association.
  • Friday, March 28 –“Peace Event,” 4 p.m., Sanford Mall – This celebratory event will mark the end of Social Justice Week. Participants will peacefully march down King Street and participate in an interactive art exhibit on Sanford Mall.  

4) High Country Shakespeare Competition Kicks off with “Love’s Labor’s Lost”

The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance presents Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Love’s Labor’s Lost” in Valborg Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 23. The production is the first event in the High Country Shakespeare Celebration, a regional initiative sponsored by The High Country Theatre League to commemorate the 450th Birthday of the immortal Bard of Avon. Ticket prices start at just $8 for Appalachian students and are $13 for faculty, staff and seniors and $15 for adults. For more information, call the box office at 828-262-3036 or the Schaefer Center Box Office at 828-262-4046. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Valborg Theatre Box Office Monday through Friday 1-5 p.m. and at the Schaefer Center Box Office Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. According to director Derek Gagnier, associate professor of theatre, “Love’s Labor’s Lost” is a witty, romantic comedy that pits “idealized wooing” against the need for “direct conversation.” Characters use words to define a reality far different from what is actually going on in the play. Depicted throughout the play is the radiant joy of finding a new love, the thrill of pursuing that special person and the consequences and discoveries that occur during the chase. The story centers around the college-aged King of Navarre and his three devoted friends who agree to “become famous” by studying for three years. Gagnier said, “What they agree to study isn’t important, apparently.” They plan to shun all contact with women as well. Complications occur when the Princess of France comes to visit, bringing three beautiful ladies with her, coincidentally, also all college-aged. Gagnier’s concept is a “spring break-like” romp through the king’s gardens involving local yokels, the parish priest, a schoolteacher. A fantastical visiting Spaniard adds to the fun. This version is produced in modern dress, with original music created by Appalachian junior Daniel Bukin. He is majoring in music theory/composition with a minor in theatre. 

5) Hound Ears Club Names Colin Crothers as New Tennis Director

Hound Ears Club has named award-winning tennis coach Colin Crothers as the new Director of Tennis effective April 24. A resident of Boone, Crothers currently coaches the women’s tennis team at Appalachian State University and will continue his coaching duties, working with Hound Ears during the off season. Crothers has served as Head Women’s Tennis Coach at ASU since 1998 and has recorded the most wins of any women’s tennis coach in ASU history. “We are delighted that Colin Crothers has accepted the position as Director of Tennis at the Hound Ears Club. He comes to us with a wealth of experience, skill sets and a true knowledge of tennis with the ability to provide a first-class tennis experience for our members and their guests,” said Hound Ears Chief Operation Officer/General Manager Don E. Vance, CCM, CPC. As a collegiate player at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla, Crothers was a three-time NAIA Tennis All-American (1982-84), the team’s MVP in 1982 and was named to the Flagler College Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Crothers has worked as a head professional or assistant at the Sewickley Country Club, Capital City Club of Atlanta and Yonahlossee Racquet Club and Elk River Club. At ASU, Crothers “has led the Black and Gold to six double-digit win seasons and helped the Mountaineers steadily stay a threat in the ever-changing Southern Conference. 2012 was a banner year for the Mountaineers as Crothers led his squad to a 14-9 record, including a 6-4 mark in league play and the first-ever national ranking in team history (no. 65),” according to ASU Sports Information. And while some may find tennis scoring complicated, Crothers will never get flustered, as he holds a master’s degree in mathematics from ASU. His wife, Dr. Doris Bazzini, is a psychology professor at ASU. Centrally located near Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, Hound Ears Club comprises 750 acres nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Established in 1964, the private community’s golf course was recently named a “Top 100 Tar Heel” course by Business North Carolina for the sixth consecutive year.

6) A.R.K. Animal Rescue and Life Learning Center Opens

We are announcing the opening of the High Country’s first domestic animal rescue, working alongside other area shelters. Our Mission is to provide sanctuary to all domestic animals while operating as a green and sustainable farm, ensuring that while we care for the animals and that we do not abuse the land on which we care for them.  Our farm also house a Life Learning Center where we will teach sustainable living and preparedness, nutrition and health and wellness, along with Christian morals. We are in the midst of closing in on a 10 acre farm where we can give solace to many animals in need. We are already receiving numerous requests for our help and are making temporary arrangements. We are in need of your help to acquire the funds and materials to begin taking in these animals and providing them with a safe and secure shelter.  A full list of our needs can be emailed or seen on our Facebook page, and also coming soon on our website.   We are excited for all the wonderful joy A.R.K. can provide our community.