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Lees-McRae College to Host Homecoming 2024 Celebrations for Campus and Local Community Beginning October 4th

September 4, 2024 Lees-McRae College will host the annual Homecoming celebrations this year Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6. The weekend is scheduled full of athletics events, family fun, and Bobcat cheer for all ages, and this year, Lees-McRae extends an invitation to the community to join in on the celebration. Local organizations and businesses will have booths to promote their products and services, and all-ages events will be held throughout the day on Saturday. Community events throughout the weekend are as follows:

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Lees-McRae College Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Mountain Heritage High School Located in Yancey County

August 29, 2024 Mountain Heritage High School, located in Yancey County, North Carolina, has become the newest high school to establish a partnership with Lees-McRae. The partnership was formalized on Monday, Aug. 23 by Yancey County Schools Superintendent Kathy Amos and Lees-McRae Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management Kevin Phillips. Lees-McRae Director of Admissions Trenton Burleson and Mountain Heritage High School Principal Daron Williams were also in attendance. Burleson also spoke that night at the Yancey County Schools Board of Education meeting to announce the partnership.

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Ensemble Stage Makes It Snow in Banner Elk During Their Current Performance thru Aug. 25th

August 21, 2024 Who says it can’t snow in Banner Elk during August? It happens for a solid hour and a half during every performance of our current production, “Distant Music.” There’s only four more performances until it all melts away, so get your tickets now. This play is so much more than just a “witty drama.”. It’s profound, insightful, endearing, and at times very funny. So much so, that a description of the play could very easily start like a joke, “A law professor, a religious woman, and an Irish immigrant walk into a bar…” Each of the characters are at a crossroad in their respective lives and have their own demons that have long needed exorcising.

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The Flood Brothers Musical Revue Coming to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church on August 25

August 1, 2024 Another “concert with a cause” is coming to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church on Sunday, August 25, at 3 p.m. The Flood Brothers, written and performed by local talents John Thomas Oaks and Rev. Dr. Tommy Oaks, is a humorous musical revue about the Biblical story of Noah. In the show, Noah’s sons Shem and Japheth sing about their dad’s mission from God—building the Ark. The audience will enjoy the journey with laughter, original blues music and new insights. Admission is free, and donations will be collected for student scholarships at a Guatemalan church aptly named for the Ark.

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Newly-Renovated Lees-McRae College Historic Commons Buildings Rededicated and Celebrated with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

July 25, 2024 The celebration of one of the top milestones in the 125-year history of Lees-McRae College—the rededication of its Historic Commons buildings following the recent completion of their renovations and extensive physical upgrades–was held with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18. A large and highly enthusiastic gathering of approximately 225 attended the celebration ceremony held at the North Carolina Building on campus, including school officials, employees, alumni, Town of Banner Elk and County of Avery officials, regional and state dignitaries, and other special guests and visitors. By Tim Gardner

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Ensemble Stage Professional Summer Season Opens this Friday with “Moon Over the Brewery”

June 13, 2024 Newcomers Megan Hasse and Kyleigh Hogan join Ensemble Stage Audience favorites, Scott Douglas Wilson and Mark Woodard in this charmingly sweet, funny play. Don’t let the title fool you. This show has nothing to do with a brewery or drinking, but it’s sure to put a smile on your face all the same.  The show is approx. 1 hour and 50 minutes in length including intermission. Performed in the Hahn Auditorium at the Historic Banner Elk School.

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Renowned Mexican Artist & Master Sculptor Ricardo Lowenberg’s Works To Premiere in Banner Elk; Artist Showcase on June 14

June 12, 2024 Its All About the Art Gallery, Banner Elk’s premier fine art gallery presents “Collision: The Works of Ricardo Lowenberg”  in its’ Limited North Carolina Presentation June 1st through August 30th  2024.   For information and a full catalog of works contact the gallery at 828.783.9233. There will be a special event on Thursday, June 14thto showcase the extraordinary art & sculpture.  Link to Event Information.   The Artist is a celebrated Mexican Painter & Sculptor; called to the artistic process by an innate drive to express the emotions and essence of the human condition. Leaping between mediums, Lowenberg paints both abstract and figurative works, and sculpts voluminous forms that explore the trajectory of emotions beginning with their interiority and culminating with their visual expression.  The works are…in a word….magnificent.

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Lees-McRae College Presents Its 45th Season of the FORUM Summer Music Series

May 30, 2024 The annual FORUM summer music series at Lees-McRae College will kick off with its 45th season on Monday, June 17. Each Monday throughout the summer season, the series hosts a musical artist, group, or band in Hayes Auditorium on the college’s North Campus for two consecutive performances at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The 2024 season features eight exciting new acts each Monday from June 17 to August 5. Single-show and season tickets are available for purchase now, so get yours today.

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The Banner House Museum Announces Summer 2024 Hours, Tours, and Tickets

May 23, 2024. Experience 19th-century life in Banner Elk and the High Country in the home of Samuel Henry Banner, one of Banner Elk’s early settlers and his his wife, Jane Hyder Banner, and their seven children.  The circa 1870 house has been furnished with period heirlooms donated and loaned by area residents to tell the story of Banner Elk life from the 1870’s to the 1900’s. Additionally, an Exhibition Room highlights local history from the nineteenth and twentieth century. The museum opens for summer visitors on June 8, 2024. Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. General admission is $5 per person and includes a house tour.

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“Best of Broadway” Concert Coming to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church Sunday, June 9

May 20, 2024 Broadway comes to life in Banner Elk with a fun afternoon of beloved songs from popular musicals. The “Best of Broadway” concert fundraiser on Sunday, June 9, at 3 PM will be performed inside the historic sanctuary of Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. Admission is free, and donations will be collected for their Preschool. Familiar faces from Lees-McRae Summer Theatre and the Banner Elk Presbyterian Choir sing songs from Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, Mame, Shrek, The Secret Garden, Fiddler on the Roof, Hamilton, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Pippin, Little Shop of Horrors and others. The cast of extraordinary local talents include Nina Allbert, Jarrett Koski, Kristin Lutzeier, Rob Toler, Janet Speer, Laura Russell, Rob Dingman and Pat Anderson. Accompanist will be Dr. Michael Hannah.

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High Country Real Estate: March Stats

April 4, 2024 Not sure if it came in like a lion and went out like a lamb, but March marched in and has now marched out. March saw 150 closed single family sales in the High Country Association on REALTORS Multiple Listing Service. Of those 150 sales, 128 were in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties, the area we look at most closely when analyzing High Country Real Estate. Of those 128, 32 were condos or townhomes and 96 were single family detached. By Linda Cramblit , REALTOR

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Community Good Friday Service Returns at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church on March 29

March 13, 2024 A Tenebrae Service will be held on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, at 6 PM at the historic Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. The community is invited to join a powerful service of readings and songs entitled “7 Last Words”. Christ’s final words will be represented through scripture, meditations and poetry paired with music by the adult choir, handbell choir, soloists, organist and cellist. “Many artists and theologians have addressed the last seven phrases Christ spoke from the cross,” says Dr. Janet Speer, writer for the service. “These words amaze us in their poignancy. Not only are they informative about the brutal crucifixion, but they expand into lessons to be applied to our lives.”

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Lees-McRae College Summer Theatre Announces Exciting New 2024 Season Featuring Audience Favorites; Tickets Go on Sale Monday, April 1

March 5, 2024 Get ready for another summer of engrossing performances, stunning set design, and inspiring stories with the latest season of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre. The 2024 season of the beloved theatre series is the official kickoff of the college’s 125-year anniversary celebration, and Lees-McRae is bringing back some crowd favorites to commemorate the milestone. This year’s season will feature an all-new variety show and a revival of the beloved local history tale “From the Mountaintop: The Edgar Tufts Story.”

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Banner Elk Presbyterian Church Invites All to Lent & Easter Services

February 5, 2024  Worship services throughout this year’s season of Lent and Easter Sunday at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church will include special community gatherings for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The season of Lent is a time of prayer and self-examination in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of the Lord at Easter. “Lent is a time to re-connect with our faith,” says Rev. Whit Malone, Pastor. “Some people give up damaging behaviors to draw closer to God. Others add new practices including service in the community.”

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High Country Real Estate: Permit Me to Speak to You About Permits

December 28, 2023 Well, Christmas 2023 is in the books and New Year 2024 is rolling towards us at a pretty fast pace. It’s hard to believe it’s all coming around again. Once the holiday season is completely over, you may be looking for your next project; if the project you settle on happens to be finishing an unfinished basement let’s talk about the importance of permits… Many people think that finishing unfinished space in their homes by doing everything themselves and avoiding getting permits is a faster, smarter, cheaper way to get the job done. While it might be faster, it is seldom smarter, and in the long run, often ends up costing more than taking the necessary steps to pull the permits. Not to mention it is technically illegal to finish an unfinished basement (or other space) without the proper permits from the local government.  By Michelle Hammond, REALTOR

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Who are the real winners in the real estate class action lawsuits?

November 21, 2023 As the CEO of the High Country Association of Realtors® and Multiple Listing Service (MLS), representing more than 800 members and 1,100 MLS subscribers, I felt it imperative to address the current legal landscape in our industry. While there are a number of cases being litigated across the country, none of which are in North Carolina or South Carolina, the outcome of these cases will negatively impact the consumer. By Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer

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Joyous Community Carol Sing Returns to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church

November 14, 2023 On Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 3 PM, join a festive sing-along of familiar Christmas carols in the sanctuary of the historic Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. The third annual Community Carol Sing is a 45-minute casual service that includes a dozen favorite songs, ranging from White Christmas to Joy to the World, that all ages will enjoy. Last year, a capacity crowd joined in enthusiastic singing.To allow the audience to rest their voices occasionally, the Lees-McRae Highlanders, church choir and soloists will sing beloved classics including O Holy Night and Jingle Bell Rock. The singing is led by the church Choral Director Nina Allbert and Pianist/Organist David Soyars. 

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Still the Same Since ’78: Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival

October 11, 2023 BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lots of things have changed since 1978, but one thing remains the same: People still gather by the thousands the third weekend of October to watch woolly worms race at the Woolly Worm Festival in downtown Banner Elk. This year’s event – the 46th annual – takes place Oct. 21-22 on the field of the Historic Banner Elk School.

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High Country Real Estate: September Statistics

October 5, 2023 Welcome to October in the High Country, also known as the closest thing to heaven known to humans. It’s not just about pumpkin spice and sweater weather that accompany the dropping  temperatures. With the  leaves changing daily, every ride in sight of trees is a burst of glorious color that is different with every single trip. There is a golden quality to the light that kisses these slightly shorter days but it only lasts such a short time. By Karen Cleghorn, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: Adieu August

September 7, 2023 The official, astronomical end of summer isn’t until Saturday, September 23, though the meteorlogical  summer ended August 31. While the mercury is still spending a lot of its time in the upper range of the thermometer, pumpkin spice has hit the coffee shops and if you look you will notice the leaves are beginning to change. We are 2/3 of the way through 2023 and it won’t be long before the temperature is dropping and the leaves are  displaying their most glorious season of splendor. By Sandi Dascoulias, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: Best Upgrades to Add Value to Your Home

August 31, 2023 When most people think about “The American Dream,” homeownership is always a major component of that dream. But purchasing a home is just the first step of homeownership. Homeownership is a living investment, not a static one. It’s more than just making your mortgage payment. Well, theoretically, a homeowner could simply make their mortgage payment (along with taxes, insurance and utilities) and still maintain their investment. Theoretically.   By Breanna McKay, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: July Snapshot

August 24, 2023 While we look at statistics at least once a month, occasionally we like to take a look at what we call a “snapshot” of the market. Looking at three different homes in different areas in similar price ranges and compare their characteristics. By Stephen Holland, REALTOR

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July 2023 MLS Report From High Country Realtors

August 16, 2023 During July High Country Realtors® have been busy. There were 187 closed sales on residential properties for a combined worth of just over $103 million in the four county High Country Association of Realtors® area of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties.

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Sugar Mountain Golf Classic Returns August 26-27

July 27, 2023 The Sugar Mountain Golf Club will host their annual tournament, the Sugar Mountain Golf Classic, on August 26-27. The two days of individual medal, stroke play is open to amateur men and women 18 years of age and up. Voted the #2 executive course in the USA, this public course owned and operated by the Village is one of the most popular in the High Country.

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