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Amazing Harvest Season for Grandfather Vineyard & Winery, New Parking Lot, Too

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Sept. 15, 2016. With harvest season upon us, Grandfather Vineyard and Winery General Manager Dylan Tatum said that this year is turning into the best growing season he’s experienced in his six years in the business. “I’ve seen some bad ones in the past, but this one is really, really good,” Tatum said. “All this sun recently is great for ripening … we’ve gotten the biggest yields, and the best quality grapes I’ve every seen up here for a wine grape.” By Jesse Wood

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Boone Area Chamber Hosts Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate New Graystone Eye Facility

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Sept. 12, 2016. “It shows businesses are flourishing. They’re either coming to town, which is great for local business, or, in some cases, they’re celebrating grand re-openings or they’ve outgrown their space and they’re looking for new space. It highlights the fact that business is going well and it gives the businesses that have relocated or are just starting an opportunity to showcase themselves. When you get a lot of excited folks in the community out for an event like this I think that will only generate excitement about the new business itself.” Story and Photos by Jessica Isaacs.

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THIS SATURDAY: Blowing Rock to Host Stick Boy’s Mayview Madness 5K, Fun Run Labor Day Weekend

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Aug. 23, 2016. The 5k run starts at 8:30 a.m. adjacent to the American Legion Hall and finishes in front of Bistro Roca restaurant, where post-race snacks will be provided and awards presented. The 1-Mile Fun Run presented by Blue Ridge Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine starts in the same location at 8:00, so parents can accompany their kids and still make the 5k start time. Photo by Lynn Willis.

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Hugh Chapman Center Hosts Avery Chamber’s Annual Business Meeting and Awards

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Aug. 31, 2016. The beautiful Hugh Chapman Center played host to the Avery County Chamber of Commerce for its annual business meeting and awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, which drew a large crowd and recognized several local leaders and organizations. Guests enjoyed a catered cocktail reception and an impressive view of Grandfather Mountain as the night’s events proceeded. By Jessica Isaacs. Photos by Ken Ketchie.

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Graystone Eye Enjoys a Successful First Day of Business at Brand New Boone Facility

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Aug. 29. 2016. With Boone and Linville locations now under one roof, a brand new Graystone Eye facility opened up today along N.C. Highway 105 in Boone, establishing the practice’s permanent position in the High Country community. After a successful first day in the new facility, Gardner said the Graystone team looks forward to a bright future in the High Country, as it will now have a physician available for appointments every day of the week. By Jessica Isaacs. Photos by Ken Ketchie.

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Blowing Rock ABC Store Invests More Than One-Third of Revenues Back Into Community

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Aug. 25, 2016. If you’ve bought a bottle in the Blowing Rock ABC store lately, you probably noticed a crack-and-peel label on the brown bag thanking customers for shopping. “The Blowing Rock ABC Store appreciates your patronage very much! By buying here, you are helping contribute to the community and those that provide the services we all enjoy,” the label reads. By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie

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WHAT’S GOING ON? Graystone Eye’s New Facility in Boone Set to Open Monday

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Aug. 23, 2016. After four years in the High Country and nearly five decades in business, Graystone Eye, a full-service ophthalmology and subspecialty practice, will open its brand new location in Boone on Monday. The building, located at 2640 N.C. Highway 105 across from the Ingles shopping center, will bring Graystone’s existing Boone and Linville offices together under one roof. By Jessica Isaacs.

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GM: Hampton Inn and Suites on U.S. 421 Scheduled To Open in Early October

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Aug. 22, 2016. The Hampton Inn and Suites is tentatively scheduled to open the first week of October, according to the hotel’s general manager Tara Brossa. “Everything is on schedule. We should start our training courses next month and w ill be ready to open in the beginning part of October,” Brossa said on Monday. By Jesse Wood

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Jewelry Trunk Show and Boutique Day Set for Saturday, Aug. 27 at Carlton Gallery

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Aug. 22, 2016. August at Carlton Gallery signals it’s time for the Annual Jewelry Trunk Show and Boutique Day for Women. This event is planned for Saturday, August 27, 10 to 5 and is a part of the Avery Tour de Art, a coalition of area galleries and artists’ studios with special events on the fourth Saturday of June through November. Tour maps can be obtained from the gallery.

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Business Spotlight: The Cardinal Food and Spirits Offers ‘Fun & Respectful’ Atmosphere

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Aug. 18, 2016. On a weekday in early August, Melissa Reaves was sitting on the back patio of The Cardinal enjoying the Bisbee Roll, an appetizer that happened to be named in honor of the musician. (Reaves is a seasonal resident of Bisbee, Ariz.) “It’s awesome food and an awesome spot,” Reaves said, unprompted as we chatted for a minute. Reaves said that the owners – Seth Sullivan (of Naked Gods fame), Chris Varipapa and Scott Williford – “rock.” And she would know, of course, being a rock star herself. By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie

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Bald Guy To Re-Envision Company After Fire

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Aug. 20, 2016. As the fatal Valle Landing fire was still burning, Don Cox, owner of Bald Guy Brew, was walking in the direction of Watauga River Road, away from the charred rubble, away from where he’s been roasting coffee beans for about three years. Cox parked down the road because emergency officials weren’t letting anyone near the fire, and as he walked away from his labor of love, Cox said it felt like a movie, one where a chapter of someone’s life is closing amidst the smoke and ash and rising sun. By Jesse Wood

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Business Spotlight: Outdoor Adventure Meets the Elegance of the Arts at Sky Retreat

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Aug. 19, 2016. The husband-and-wife team Dimitrijus “Dima” and Merin Sazinas moved here from Charlotte and opened the center in April. The retreat boasts 13 beautiful new log cabins that are available for rent, and a host of exciting things to do while you’re there, including mountain biking and hiking, tubing and kayaking, paragliding and tandem rides, ballroom and Latin dance lessons and fitness classes. By Jessica Isaacs.

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Business Spotlight: Carolina BBQ Serves Up Good Food and Good Times in Newland

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Aug. 18, 2016. If you’re looking for a good time this weekend (or any weekend, for that matter), you ought to sit for a spell at Carolina BBQ in Newland, where the food is great, the people are friendly and there’s always music in the air. Carolina BBQ is a family oriented business in more ways than one. Stop by to eat and you’ll find several members of the Calvert family at work, as well as longtime employees have become part of the Calvert clan, too. By Jessica Isaacs.

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Potters of the Blue Ridge Plates and Platters on Display at Doe Ridge Through Aug. 19

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Aug. 10, 2016. “Bob has been in pottery in Watauga County for 40 years. He started at Appalachian State after leaving the military. He was a marine,” said Carol King, office manager and featured artist at Doe Ridge. “He came to school here, discovered pottery, fell in love with it and kept on doing it. The artists in this show are either his students, people who have worked with him or for him or have been in some way associated with him over the years.” By Jessica Isaacs.

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NC Painters Tony Griffin and Gregory Smith to Open at the Art Cellar Gallery Aug. 18

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Aug. 16, 2016. One of this season’s much anticipated exhibitions opens at The Art Cellar Gallery this week featuring highly regarded NC painters, Tony Griffin and Gregory Smith. This two man exhibition “Continued Explorations” features both artists continued explorations of the regional landscape, aging structures and other focused views of the character and landmarks of the region.

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Knitting with Alpacas: Local Photographer Shares Images from Apple Hill Farm

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Aug. 15, 2016. “On Saturday, I visited Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk to observe the monthly knitting with alpacas session. Guests sit in the grove and knit as alpacas graze behind them,” she said. “It was interesting to see the whole process — the alpacas produced the wool; it was spun and hand dyed on the farm; sold in the store; and then, it was being turned into interesting projects!” Photos by Cindy McEnery

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