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Community Comes Out in Force to Oppose Changes at Broyhill Wellness Center

April 19, 2023 The Tuesday, April 19, meeting of the Watauga County Commissioners was a packed house with many in attendance there to voice their opposition to the recent decision by Appalachian Regional Health System to end public memberships at the Broyhill Wellness Center. A recent letter from ARHS and the Wellness Center informed clients that all individual and family memberships will end on May 31 of this year. By Zack Hill

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Appalachian Theatre Celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month with Night of Jazz Event

April 13, 2023 BOONE, NC – April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country is celebrating with its inaugural Night of Jazz concert slated for Friday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. The collaborative concert event will feature jazz musicians from noteworthy local jazz groups: the Watauga High School Jazz Band, Watauga Community Bands Swing Set Jazz and Appalachian State University’s Jazz Ensembles I and II .Jazz Appreciation Month, fondly known as JAM, was created by the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz for the entire month of April. Intended to stimulate and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz, the Appalachian Theatre’s Night of Jazz event provides an opportunity for both artists and audiences of all ages to experience and enjoy an evening of jazz.

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BOONE SET TO HOST INTERNATIONAL FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL

April 13, 2023 BOONE, NC – The 2023 International Fly Fishing Film Festival, sponsored by Boone’s Fly Shop, is coming to the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on Friday, April 21. Featuring
the very best in today’s fly-fishing films, the screening includes 10 short and feature-length films. Tickets are priced at $10. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the film starts at 7:30 p.m. with a total running time of two hours.

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High Country Real Estate: Article VIII – First Quarter 2023 Statistics

April 13, 2023 Last time, Real Estate in the High Country looked at the sales numbers for the first quarter of 2023. This time, as promised, we’re going to be looking at more than just pricing statistics for the same time period. All data is courtesy of the High Country Association of REALTORS and the High Country Multiple Listing Service.  By Bill Aceto

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 Magic Comes to the Appalachian Theatre 

April 10, 2023 BOONE, NC— Einstein said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious”. In Joshua Lozoff: Life is Magic, former Hollywood actor Joshua Lozoff embraces that theory, bringing his version of magic, mind-reading and mystery to Boone’s Appalachian Theatre on Thursday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. 

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Celebrate National Library Week April 23-29, 2023

April 10, 2023 BOONE, NC – Watauga County Public Library encourages all community members to visit the library during National Library Week, April 23-29, to explore all they have to offer. Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print to audiobooks and e-books. But there’s so much more to the story of libraries. 

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High Country Real Estate: First Quarter 2023 Real Estate in the High Country

April 4, 2023 It’s hard to believe, but the first quarter of 2023 is already in the history books. Despite the rise in interest rates and general concern over the economy, real estate closings in the High Country from January to March were still fairly healthy, with a total volume of $274,145,344 reported to the High Country Association of REALTORSⓇ. By Tracy Simms

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TONIGHT: Talent Jam- Work it Watauga

April 6, 2023 Are you planning to stay in Boone for the summer or are you a local resident looking for a great job? Local employers with job opportunities will be at this event to pitch their organization and talk about what makes their company a great place to work. You’ll then have the opportunity to network with them in a casual setting. By Kris Testori

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Appalachian Young People’s Theatre Performs “The Hundred Dresses” April 14-16

April 5, 2023 BOONE, NC – Now in their 51st season, the Appalachian Young People’s Theatre (AYPT) is a dynamic component of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University. Founded in 1972, AYPT works in partnership with communities and public schools of northwestern North Carolina to bring high-quality, affordable, live theatre experiences to young audiences who otherwise see little or no theatre.

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Fantasy Favorites Series @ App Theatre Encourages Fans to Cosplay

April 5, 2023 BOONE, NC – The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country features a Fantasy Favorites Film Series throughout the month of April at the historic venue on King Street in downtown Boone, NC. Selected from audience input and featuring some of the best mystical, magical and fantastic titles, the film series occurs on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. with a Saturday family-friendly feature at 2 p.m. Titles include “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” which will delight audiences on April 4, “Labyrinth” on April 11, the 1981 version of “Clash of the Titans” on April 17 and “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” on April 25.

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Farmer Foodshare Donation Station returns for its 8th season at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market

March 30, 2023 BOONE, N.C. – On April 1, Hospitality House, Hunger & Health Coalition, F.A.R.M. Café, and Casting Bread will kick off the eighth year of the Farmer Foodshare Donation Station program at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market. The Farmer Foodshare Donation Station is a simple concept that began in 2016. 1. Volunteers from one of four partner organizations work at the donation station. 2. Farmers’ market guests make a small or large cash donation. 3. Toward the end of the day, the partner organization purchases food from farmers at the market. 4. The donations support local farmers and help partner organizations get fresh, healthy food for the people they serve. 5. Everybody wins!

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High Country Real Estate: Article VII

March 29, 2023 Sometimes words (and their meaning/concepts) are so closely related, it is difficult to discern the difference. A great quote to demonstrate this is from the humor writer, Cynthia Heimel, when she wrote, “We must eschew anything trivial. We must embrace all that is frivolous.” At first glance, this might seem like a contradictory statement; at least until you truly think about the difference between the trivial and the frivolous.  By Bill Aceto

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No Fooling For Local Kids on April 1 — BuildFest is Back!

March 28, 2023 The pandemic might have played dirty tricks on lots of events around the area and beyond — including forcing the cancellation for two years of the signature Children’s Playhouse event known as Buildfest— but this year’s adventure, even if it is happening on April 1, promises to be everything but a joke. By Sherrie Norris

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Movin’ on: Appalachian FC advances in Open Cup after win over Fusion in OT

March 23, 2023 BOONE, N.C. —Another chapter in Appalachian FC’s storied beginning was written on March 22. Call them the Sasquatch Armada, if you will, or even call them a motley crew, but the Boone-based, semi-pro soccer team is for real after a stirring, double overtime win decided with penalty kicks against North Carolina Fusion at Ted Mackorell Soccer Stadium.  By David Rogers

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Watauga County Schools names teachers of the year

March 23, 2023 BOONE — Watauga County Schools has named its 2023-24 teachers of the year — one from each school in the district. Chosen by their peers, the group was selected from a group of more than 300 teachers district-wide at all grade levels.
This year’s group includes Pam West from Bethel, Brittany Bolick from Blowing Rock, Kylie Bolick from Cove Creek, Sierra Jackson from Green Valley, Amy Atkins from Hardin Park, Amy Thomas from Mabel, Kari Riddle from Parkway, Shelby Hatton from Valle Crucis, Erik Mortensen from Watauga High School and Ashely Brown from the Watauga Virtual Academy.

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Hardin Park teams win Battle of the Books competition

March 23, 2023 BOONE — Watauga County Schools’ most-enthusiastic readers met last week to test their skills at the district-wide Battle of the Books competition. Teams from Hardin Park School took home the win in both the middle and elementary contests.
A long-standing tradition in Watauga County Schools, each year Battle of the Books tasks teams from each school in the district to a competition that tests students’ ability to recall specific details and answer questions on books from a state-promoted list they’ve read over the past year. Each team plays every other team once in the competition and each round consists of 12 questions — six posed to each team.

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High Country Real Estate: PANTONE® recently announced their pick for 2023’s color of the year

March 22, 2023 Viva Magenta is very vibrant. Very. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with vibrant colors. Nothing at all. And if you have been waiting your whole life for the color of the year to be in the magenta family so you could paint your entire house magenta and be 100% on point for the year…WOOHOO! Congrats! It’s finally happened! But what happens when PANTONE® announces 2024’s color of the year? Trust me, it’s not going to be Viva Magenta again. It’s just not.  By Bill Aceto

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Mountaineer bats cool off in 8-0 loss to Marshall in Sun Belt opener

March 20, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Centerfielder Mary Pierce Barnes went 3-for-3 and App State teammates Taylor Thorp and Ambry Lucas clubbed a pair of doubles on March 18, but it wasn’t near enough firepower to overcome a late innings hitting barrage by Marshall at Sywassink/Lloyd Field. The Thundering Herd won the Sun Belt Conference season opener, 8-0. By David Rogers

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Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble March 29 – April 2, 2023 New Works Showcase Student and Faculty Choreography

March 20, 2023 BOONE, NC – The Department of Theatre and Dance (T&D) at Appalachian State University proudly presents the 2023 Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble (SADE). The production takes place in the Valborg Theatre on the university campus at 7 p.m. from Wednesday, March 29 through Saturday, April 1 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 2, 2023. All seats are general admission with ticket prices of $17 for adults, $15 for faculty and staff, and $10 for students. For more information, call the Schaefer Center box office at 800-841-ARTS (2787) or visit the website.

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Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road Homecoming @ the APP Highland Reverie Pairing Makes for a Great Night of Music

March 20, 2023 BOONE, NC – The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country continues its LIVE @ the APP concerts at the historic venue on King Street in downtown Boone, NC with Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road headlining its March 24 concert. The event will also feature Highland Reverie as an opener starting at 7:30 p.m. Reserved tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, plus tax & fees.

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Cabaret Night @AppTheatre is Back Saturday, March 25th

March 20, 2023 The Appalachian Theatre invites music lovers of all ages to their monthly Cabaret Night on Saturday, March 25 from 8-11 p.m. The venue’s upstairs Community Room is transformed into an upscale karaoke cabaret providing an opportunity for the High Country community to sing their favorite songs from a wide variety of musical eras and genres or simply enjoy the performances of friends, family and neighbors. 

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LETTERS / A Letter to the County Commissioners – Let the Community Speak

March 20, 2023 Letters to the Editor. By Sarah Davis / My family has lived in Watauga County for generations, and I have been a full-time resident since 2018. I have recently become more involved with community work through Down Home NC and the Watauga Housing Council. Through this work, I have noticed that the public comment for the County Commission is held near the end of the meeting, after the vote.

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Watauga County Students Compete in Mathcounts competition

March 16, 2023 BOONE — Appalachian State University recently hosted more than 80 of Watauga County Schools’ quickest-solving math students for the annual High Country MathCounts competition. In its eighth year, the contest hosted students from 10 different schools in Watauga and Avery counties.

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