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Announcements

Graystone Eye’s Commitment to Care Reaches Bolivia

August 27, 2025 Hickory, NC — At Graystone Eye, our mission to preserve the gift of sight extends far beyond the walls of our clinics and surgery center. Through our nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Graystone Eye Missions, and with the support of our physicians, we are able to carry that mission into communities where access to vision care is scarce—both locally and across the globe. Outreach and service are woven into the very fabric of who we are.

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The Watauga County Republican Party is Hosting a Lincoln- Reagan Dinner

August 25, 2025 The Watauga County Republican Party is hosting a Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, featuring Guest Speaker, Representative Jim Jordan, (R-OH). The event is Saturday, September 20 at the Grandview Ballroom at ASU Kidd Brewer Stadium from 5-8 PM. Tickets: Standard – $100, VIP – $250,  www.zeffy.com/ticketing/watauga-coounty-gop-lincolnreagan-dinner  or phone/text: (828) 406-4502 for tickets and information.

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Blowing Rock Art & History to Facilitate and Host an Oral History Recording Event Near the One- Year Anniversary of Hurricane Helene

August 25, 2025 BLOWING ROCK, N.C. (August 19, 2025) — In the spirit of remembrance, resilience and reflection, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) is partnering with Appalachian State University, Blowing Rock Historical Society, Our State Magazine, StoryCorps, and WFDD Public Radio,  to create a unique opportunity for High Country residents to come together and share their stories in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

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Registration Repair: State Board to Send Letters to 82,000 Voters

August 25, 2025 Raleigh, N.C. — The first wave of mailings is now going out to North Carolina voters who need to provide their driver’s license number (DL#) or last four digits of their social security number (SSN4) as part of the “Registration Repair Project.”The State Board of Elections is sending letters to about 82,700 individuals whose voter registration records lack one of these numbers, as required by state and federal laws.[List of voters who will receive the first mailing.

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Local Watauga County Residents Graduate from Leadership Development Program

August 25, 2025 RALEIGH, NC— Emma Faulkner with the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Justin Kearley with NC Office of Rural Health, and Tatiana Magee and Myles Stacey with High Country Council of Governments in Watauga County recently graduated from the NC Rural Center’s Homegrown Leaders program, a three-day regional leadership and community economic development program that develops and supports highly motivated leaders committed to regional collaboration.

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John Peterson, Mary Greene, and Sarah Kate Morgan & Leo Shannon Close Out the Jones House 2025 Summer Concerts August 29

August 25, 2025 BOONE, NC – The 2025 Summer Concerts at the Jones House series concludes on Friday, August 29, with an evening of music that celebrates Appalachian roots and showcases some of its most compelling voices. The lineup features John Peterson, Mary Greene, and the duo of Sarah Kate Morgan & Leo Shannon. Music begins at 5:30 p.m. on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone.

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Registration Open for 2025 Watauga Leadership Institute Encore Program

August 18, 2025 The Watauga Leadership Institute (WLI) has opened registration for the 2025 Encore series, a four-course program for those who seek advanced leadership development. This cohort-style course offers attendees the opportunity to expand their leadership knowledge, mindset, and skills in trending topic areas. Each two-hour session will focus on a WLI curriculum topic, fostering discussion and supporting participants’ self-renewal of their leadership principles.

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FloydFest 25~Aurora Celebrated as “One of the Best FloydFests Ever” by Organizers and Patrons

August 9, 2025 Heralded as “one of the best FloydFests ever” by Across-the-Way Productions’ Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner Sam Calhoun, FloydFest 25~Aurora is receiving rave reviews online and via patron surveys, in only its second year at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. The latest edition of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, FloydFest 25~Aurora took place July 23 to 27, 2025, following being named “Best Music Festival” in Blue Ridge Outdoors’ ‘Best of the Blue Ridge 2025,’ as well as “Best Festival 2025” in Virginia Living Magazine’s ‘Best of Virginia’ readers’ survey. 

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Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight event returns to Grandfather Mountain

August 6, 2025 LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, will once again host its Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight event this fall. The after-hours program allows guests to embrace their nocturnal side and enjoy rare after-dark tours, fireside tales and a chance to meet the park’s nighttime residents.
The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is open to 50 participants. This event is for individuals eight years of age and older. Tickets are $40 for general admission or $34 for Bridge Club members and are available for online purchase now.

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Roots and Rhythm Take Center Stage at the Jones House August 8 with Fern Hilland Pickin’ Thistles

August 6, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Jones House continues its 2025 Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 8 with a vibrant evening of roots music featuring local sibling duo Fern Hill, followed by the local sibling trio Pickin’ Thistles. The show begins at 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of the historic Jones House, located at 604 W. King Street in downtown Boone.
Fern Hill opens the evening with their heartfelt blend of Appalachian, Celtic, and
Western sounds. Sisters Arwen and Lorien Cockman have music in their blood, having
grown up performing with their father and extended family in The Cockman Family
Band. Now performing as a dynamic duo, their album Sister You Sang to Me
showcases rich harmonies and lyrical storytelling rooted in their deep musical heritage. With multi-instrumental talents and songs that echo through generations, Fern Hill offers a fresh and moving take on traditional mountain music.

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Meet the New Executive Director of the Avery Chamber of Commerce!

August 6, 2025 The Avery County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the selection of Victoria Bowman as the organization’s new executive director, effective immediately. This key leadership change marks a new chapter for the Chamber as it builds upon progress and endeavors to adopt a new strategic approach regarding community partnerships, tourism promotion, member relations, and local business advocacy.Bowman brings more than two decades of experience in strategic planning, brand building, connecting communities, marketing, leadership and event organization. Her previous role was chief experience officer for Structall Building Systems, based in Oldsmar, Florida, where she directed all branding and marketing efforts, developed and implemented customer service protocols that increased client satisfaction and improved retention and built and mentored a high-performing leadership team.

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Celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week at the King Street Market

August 6, 2025 BOONE, N.C. —  The King Street Farmers’ Market will be joining Farmers Markets across the country in celebrating National Farmers Market week on Tuesday, August 12th. Join the King Street Market on August 12th, 2025 from 3:30 to 6:30pm for a day of celebration! With facepainting, live music, a cooking demonstration, community organizations and all of the incredible products grown and made with love by our vendors, this is a market you won’t want to miss!

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Town of Boone Council Chambers Undergoing Renovations

July 31, 2025 Town of Boone, North Carolina— Beginning today, July 28th, 2025, the Town of Boone Council Chambers, located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road, will be undergoing necessary renovations. Once completed, Council Chambers will become more accessible and usable for both Town of Boone boards, as well as community groups who utilize the space for meetings. Council Chambers will be closed to the public from July 28th, 2025 to October 2025, with a reopening date set for November 2025.

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N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Board Elects New Leadership

July 28, 2025 At its business meeting this week, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) elected Mark Craig, of Guilford County, to serve as chairman and Landon G. Zimmer, of New Hanover County, was elected vice chairman.
Craig, an at-large appointee by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, has been on the Commission since 2013 serving for the past two years as vice chairman. He is President of R.H. Barringer Distributing Company and lives in Greensboro with his wife, Teresa. Craig is a strong proponent of utilizing a science-based approach to advocate for sustainable recommendations in wildlife management.

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Local Artists David and Julie Davis to Exhibit at Jones House in August

July 28, 2025 The Jones House is proud to present a month-long exhibition featuring the dynamic works of local artists Julie Davis and David Davis. Opening August 1 and running through August 31, the exhibit will showcase an inspiring collection of mixed media works that reflect the artists’ decades-long dedication to craft, creativity, and the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains that they call home.

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Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Announces Winners of the39th Annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition

July 22, 2025 BOONE, NC— The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is pleased to announce the award winners of the 39th Annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, one of the region’s most prestigious and long-running sculpture programs. This year’s selections were juried by artist, educator, and curator Joseph Bigley, who brought his extensive knowledge and insight to the review and selection process.

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Grandfather Mountain’s annual Junior Naturalist Day to take place on August 9

July 22, 2025 LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, will host its annual Junior Naturalist Day on Saturday, Aug. 9. Activities, included with admission, will be provided specifically for children ages 5 to 12 — though all ages are welcome — to explore their environment and experience all that Grandfather has to offer. Programming takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature birding with a naturalist, nature journaling, looking for lichen and more.

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App State’s Corinne Smith honored as 2025 national GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year

July 22, 2025 BOONE, N.C. — Corinne Smith, director of Appalachian State University’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) and deputy director of College Access Partnerships, has received the 2025 GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year award. She was honored July 14, during the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships/GEAR UP Annual Conference in San Francisco.

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BeanStalk Community Theatre Welcomes You to a World of Pure Imagination with Willy Wonka

July 16, 2025 BOONE, NC – BeanStalk Community Theatre invites you to unwrap a world of pure imagination with its upcoming production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, presented by Andrea McDonough State Farm Insurance and sponsored by Mast General Store. This musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises a sweet time for the whole family. Performances will take place at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, July 24–26, 2025.

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Boone Sunrise Rotary Club Kicks Off its 40th Year of Service

July 16, 2025 Boone, NC July 1, 2025 – On July 1, 2025 Boone Sunrise Rotary began what will be a year long celebration of its 40th year of service to the Boone community, the High Country and beyond with a sold out breakfast meeting.  The club presented its seventh annual Lifetime Community Service Award to Reba Moretz in the presence of numerous members of her family.  The award was in recognition of her leadership in establishing Appalachian Ski Mountain, Appalachian Summer Festival, and her many donations to numerous causes.  The club also inducted her as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow by donating $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation in her honor.  The Foundation has been a leader in the elimination of polio worldwide.

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