What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

CCC&TI Now Registering for 2020 Job Training, Continuing Education Courses

Open Hearth Cooking Program at the Wilkes Heritage Museum on January 25

Volunteers Needed for the 2020 Raleigh Women’s March on January 25

Caldwell Hospice’s Coffee, Grief and Hope to Be Held January 28

Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Will Meet on Wednesday, January 29

Author Thom Young shares his recently published book, Bespoke, on January 29

J.E. Broyhill Civic Center Presents 22nd Traditional Musicians Showcase February 1

Wilkes Community College Offering Amateur Radio Course February 4

Sarah Beth Hopton Presents to High Country Writers February 13

Applications for Golden LEAF Scholarship Due March 1

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

January 22, 2020. One of the season’s all-time favorite events — and a fun-filled fundraiser at that — is coming up soon as Grace Academy prepares for its annual Chili Cook-Off. It all happens on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 5-8:00 p.m. at Boone United Methodist Church during which a large crowd is once again expected to taste-test dozens of chili recipes provided by some of the area’s greatest cooks. It’s not something you want to miss. With such a variety of chili available, from the traditional to more contemporary recipes that might just become your new favorite, there’s sure to be something available to please every palate. And if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, just imagine dunking in a chunk of Stick Boy Bread or savoring the sweeter type for dessert — along with those mouth-watering and increasingly popular Blue Deer Cookies! And that’s just for starters. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 22, 2020. The first Blowing Rock WinterFest was presented in 1998, created to bring celebration to a sleepy season. More than two decades later, the festival continues with a refresh of past events and a reprise of the newest ones. At the 2020 edition of Blowing Rock WinterFest on Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26, everyone is again encouraged: don’t hibernate; celebrate! The newest events include the K9 Keg Pull and the Snow Making Demonstration, which both debuted in 2019. The first K9 Keg Pull was an instant hit, and this year’s event will be relocated to a venue with greater crowd capacity to accommodate anticipated attendance. Exciting and whimsical, the family-friendly event will be set up along Park Avenue on Saturday, January 25. The street will be closed to traffic for the Pull. You can register your pup to compete! The Snow Making Demonstration returns on Saturday as well, hosted by Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorologist at WCNC Charlotte, in Memorial Park on Main Street. He will explain the science of snow with the assistance of a simple snow-making rig. Plus, he’s always happy to answer questions about weather, so stop by to watch the snow and say hello!  / Read more…

January 21, 2020. In talking to music teacher Erin Ellington, you really get a sense of how the students of Parkway elementary have grown into fine cast members, stagehands, vocalists, and dancers. Since they began rehearsing in October of 2019 the students and families of Parkway school have been working hard to make their performance of The Lion King Jr. the best it can be. On January 24, 2020 at 6pm and January 25 at 1pm at Watauga High School, they’ll be presenting the fruits of their long labor. Of Parkway’s 600-odd students, over 100 from Kindergarten through 8th grade make up the cast of this week’s performance. Besides these cast members, Ellington says the support of families have been instrumental in the success of the production: “The families, friends, and parents of our school and folks that are in the production have really just offered their help. By Tzar Wilkerson / Read more…

January 21, 2020. With plans underway to release their third studio album, Western Centuries is kicking off the New Year with a South-Eastern United States tour and will be making a stop at Boone’s very own Boone Saloon on January 22nd. When did country music start to sound the same? The first generation of country artists borrowed from everything around them: Appalachian stringband music, Texas fiddle traditions, cowboy songs, Delta blues. In an era of unprecedented access to our musical pasts, shouldn’t country music be even more diverse than it was in its infancy? Honky-tonk supergroup Western Centuries, back with a new album in 2018, surely understands this. They aren’t bound by any dictum to write songs in a modern country, or even a retro country style; instead they’re taking their own personal influences as three very different songwriters and fusing it into a sound that moves beyond the constraints of country. By Emma Shirlin / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Horn in the West, Boone’s summer outdoor drama, is preparing for its 69th season by holding local auditions for actors, singers, dancers, and technicians.  The auditions will be held on February 1st at the First Baptist Church of Boone, located downtown on the corner of King Street and College Street. Horn in the West, produced by the Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA), brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the hardy mountain settlers of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The local community is encouraged to audition no matter the level of experience or ability. / Read more…

January 20, 2020. The schedule is set for the 2020 Spring Indoor Concert Series at the Jones House, held in the intimate 40-seat Mazie Jones Gallery. With a power-packed lineup that includes Cajun musicians, old time string instrumentalists, a local country-blues extraordinaire, a bluegrass legend, and even a singer-songwriter NASCAR superstar, there’s sure to be something for everyone. “We are excited about this concert series at the Jones House. We have really tried to bring a broad array of musical genres and styles here to the High Country,” stated Town of Boone Cultural Resources Coordinator Brandon Holder. The series kicks off on February 5 at 7:30 PM with a band all the way from Lafayette, Louisiana, Blake Miller and the Old-Fashioned Aces. This talented trio will bring a traditional, but fresh, Cajun sound, playing classic tunes featuring guitar, fiddle, and accordion. / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Mabel United Methodist Church will host its 23rd annual Unity Service at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend the program that will feature representatives of different faiths offering prayers for peace. The Junaluska Gospel Choir will be singing for your musical enjoyment. Following the service, the good cooks at Mabel Methodist will be serving desserts and coffee. For more information on the unity service, call 828-297-3568. / Read more…

January 20, 2019. On Thursday, January 30th, 2020, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) will present two musical heritage documentaries made by talented filmmaker and Appalachian State graduate, Rebecca Jones. Jones is a documentary filmmaker and musician from Denton, North Carolina. She plays the banjo, guitar and pedal steel guitar. An Appalachian alumna, Jones earned a BS in Communication and an MA in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University. She has worked on films such as “After Coal, A Mighty Fine Memory: Stories and Tunes from the Fiddler of Banjo Branch”, and “Herb Key: Nurturing American Heritage.” Her latest project was working as an apprentice editor on the 8-part documentary series titled “Country Music, a film by Ken Burns.” The event will showcase two of Jones’ films: “Glenn Bolick Saw Mill Man” and “Herb Key: Nurturing American Heritage.” / Read more…

January 16, 2020. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Boone will have a little extra meaning this year with the dedication of the newly renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Street. On August 15, the Boone Town Council unanimously approved the renaming the front portion of Hunting Hills Lane, from State Farm Road to the bridge, after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What a better time to hold a dedication ceremony than on January 20 when the country pauses to reflect on Dr. King and his many accomplishments. According to the town of Boone, the location of where the street will be renamed is near the county’s new recreation center, a playground and ball fields and will be used to serve as a reminder of the impact of Dr. King’s legacy around the world. The dedication ceremony will be taking place at 4 p.m. at Boone Fire Station #2 located at 1075 State Farm Road. The ceremony will feature light refreshments and music from the Boone Mennonite Bretheren Church Choir. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Tuesday’s Boone Town Council Meeting Agenda 

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

The Walker Center Presents The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids on January 30

Annual Rosen Sculpture Competition Seeks Sculptors

Lees-McRae Named Finalist for NCAA Award of Excellence

Springs Dates for Appalachian State University Sports Performance Camp

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

January 14, 2019. Anyone who knows the Rev. Bill Warren knows that he doesn’t waste any opportunity to share his faith and to tell others about Jesus. A recent vision has led the 86-year-old retired minister to return to the pulpit, if for just one day, to follow what he said is something special God is leading him to do. “For Such A Time as This, a one-day revival, is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25, beginning at 2 p.m. at Beech Valley Missionary Baptist Church in Sugar Grove. The theme of this historic event is simple: “Whosoever will, let them come — today is the day.” According to his family, this could possibly be one of the greatest days, if not the greatest, in Warren’s lengthy ministry, as he makes the effort to reach out to those who need the Lord. “Preacher Bill,” as he is known throughout the High Country area and beyond, will be assisted at this event by his grandson, the Rev. Toby Oliver, current pastor of Liberty Grove Baptist Church in Ashe County, and other family members who will be helping with music. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 14, 2020. F.A.R.M. Cafe is excited to feature Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy for the first ‘Local Lunch’ of 2020. Not only does our organization strive to feed all, regardless of means- F.A.R.M. Cafe believes in increasing access to high quality, locally sourced meals and supporting our local food system and economy.  While we offer a selection of local ingredients whenever possible, the upcoming ‘Local Lunch’ event allows us to showcase some of the amazing products grown and available right here in the High Country. On Thursday, January 16, from 11-2pm the lunch menu will feature ingredients sourced from Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy, located in Crumpler, NC.   In addition to pimento cheese and a special ginger-mango goat cheese dessert, lunch will include a Southwest inspired entree highlighting the farm’s pork. The well-fed pigs at Heritage Homestead enjoy a diet of whey from the cheesemaking process and a variety of garden vegetables before being finished on apples and chestnuts. This diet leads to a flavorful and unique product which we can’t wait for you to try. / Read more…

January 14, 2019. Do your friends or place of business have what it takes to be crowned “The Big Kahuna”? Watauga County Habitat for Humanity is currently recruiting teams for their 2020 Annual Big Kahuna Campaign. A Kahuna Team is a group of four community- minded people who volunteer to help raise money for Watauga Habitat’s affordable housing program. Teams solicit their network of personal and business contacts to donate to Watauga Habitat in their name. “This will be our 6th Kahuna Campaign,” said Allison Jennings, Director of Development at Watauga Habitat for Humanity. “In the past, participants have been local, individual ‘movers and shakers’.  This year we are changing things up a bit and recruiting teams instead of individuals.” This friendly competition kicks off March 2nd, 2020. At the conclusion of the contest, the results will be announced at a fun social event known as the “Don Ho-Down” on May 15th at Appalachian Mountain Brewery. / Read more…

January 13, 2020. MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. Melissa Etheridge, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, The Marcus King Band, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and John Cowan will be joining the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today’s lineup announcement adds five great artists to MerleFest’s already stacked lineup. Tickets for next year’s festival are on sale now and may be purchased at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. MerleFest offers a three-tiered pricing structure and encourages fans to take advantage of the extended early bird discount. / Read more…

January 13, 2020. MerleFest, presented by Window World®, is pleased to announce Trent Wagler (of The Steel Wheels), Darrell Scott, and David Holt as judges for the 28th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest (CASC). CASC is one of the most acclaimed songwriting contests in roots and Americana music and has a reputation for launching careers as well as drawing attention to important new talent. The contest is split into four genre-based categories including bluegrass, general, gospel, and country. First through third place winners will be chosen in each category at MerleFest 2020, set to take place on April 23 – 26, 2020. Finalists will be invited to the final round of the competition, which takes place Friday, April 24, during MerleFest. First-place winners will receive $600 cash from MerleFest, a performance slot on MerleFest’s Cabin Stage on Friday night, and a shared 30 minute set on Saturday. / Read more…

January 10, 2019. The first Blowing Rock WinterFest was presented in 1998, created to bring celebration to a sleepy season. More than two decades later, the festival continues with a refresh of past events and a reprise of the newest ones. At the 2020 edition of Blowing Rock WinterFest on Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26, everyone is again encouraged: don’t hibernate; celebrate! This year’s WinterFest events include old favorites and new traditions alike such as the chili challenge, the Polar Bear Plunge, the K-9 Keg Pull, the winter fashion show, a benefit concert for the Blowing Rock School auditorium, a wine tasting and auction at Green Park Inn, Cork and Canvas hosted by BRAHM, and more events being hosted throughout the weekend in Memorial Park. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

January 10, 2019. For 38 years, the Hunger and Health Coalition in Boone has been feeding the hungry and meeting needs in a variety of other ways for the residents of the High Country and beyond. What better way to honor such a great milestone than to throw a party to celebrate? That’s exactly what Executive Director, Elizabeth Young, and the folks at HHC are doing — and you are invited to join in the fun. They tell us it’s all about celebrating its accomplishments — in addition to the ongoing support it receives from the community. The party will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the HHC on Wednesday January, 15. Young hopes that “anyone and everyone who wishes” will stop by and stay for as long as they please. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 8, 2019. SmileOn ADG presents the 2020 WinterFest Beer Festival at Beech Mountain Resort this Saturday, January 11, from 5 pm to 9 pm. The 2020 WinterFest Beer Festival at Beech Mountain is an indoor event for patrons 18 years or older featuring craft brews from thirteen different breweries, a wide selection of Americana food made by The Beech Mountain Taproom and Grill, and live music from The Harris Brothers at 5:15 pm and The Commonheart at 7:15 pm to accompany the night of festivities. Alcohol will be served from 5 pm to 9 pm. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door; designated driver tickets will also be available for $15. Food must be purchased separately. There is a limited capacity and tickets are going quickly, make sure to buy your tickets in advance by visiting the following link: Beech Mountain WinterFest Tickets By Joe Johnson / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

Campus Emergency Siren Test to be Conducted January 8

North Carolina Native Plant Society Blue Ridge Chapter Potluck and Seed Swap is January 8

Upcoming Seminars Offered by WCC Small Business Center

Wildlife Commission to hold Public Hearing in Morganton on January 15 

Repair Hub’s Visible Mending Workshop January 25

2020 Raleigh Women’s March Happening January 26

CCC&TI Presents Spring 2020 Performing Artist Series 

CCC&TI Announces Spring Caldwell Cuisine Schedule

Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) Names 2020 Board of Directors

Foxx-Gomez GREAT Act Becomes Law

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

January 7, 2020. It is expected that 2,010 cases of Girl Scout Cookies will be delivered to the Family Life Center of Boone United Methodist Church in Boone on Friday, January 10, signaling the beginning of the 2020 Girl Scout Cookie sales in the High Country. That translates to 24,120 cookies being distributed throughout the day to local Girl Scouts and eventually sold to those of us who greatly anticipate this fun time every year. And, that’s just for starters, local troop leaders tell us. Those initial cookies will disappear quickly, with the stock replenished in the coming weeks as demand dictates. This time-honored community outreach is enjoyed by countless people on many levels each year. Not only do we, as consumers, absolutely love the idea of supporting the Girl Scouts, (not to mention the personal satisfaction derived by devouring those blissful treats by the box!) but we are also reminded that we are helping young girls prepare for their future as successful entrepreneurs. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 7, 2020. The Jones House gears up for spring music lessons as part of the Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program, a 15-week session beginning on January 30. This program offers music lessons for children and adults in traditional styles of music rooted in the Appalachian region. Lessons are available for fiddle, banjo, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, and singing. Boone JAM is an affiliate of the broader Junior Appalachian Musicians program, with members extending across the Southern Appalachian region in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Now in its twentieth year, the overarching goal of the JAM program is to expose individuals to the traditional music styles of the region through active, hands-on engagement. This initiative was brought to the Jones House in 2004, thanks in large part to Town of Boone Cultural Resources Director Mark Freed, and has introduced hundreds of students to traditional mountain music. / Read more…

January 7, 2020. On Thursday, January 23rd, 2020, from 11am – 12pm, Jesse Pope will lead a conversation at Blowing Rock Art & History Museum about the past, present, and future of Grandfather Mountain State Park. The talk will focus on the life and legacy of Hugh Morton, founder of Grandfather Mountain nature preserve. Hugh Morton was born in 1921 in Wilmington, NC. As a child, Hugh frequently visited the High Country and learned photography at Camp Yonahnoka near Grandfather Mountain in Avery County. When he was only thirteen years old he published his first photograph— a golf scene that appeared in a N.C. tourism advertisement in Time Magazine. In the following years, Morton’s photographs would come to be seen in countless publications throughout eight decades, in books, magazines, newspapers, and calendars, and many more. Some Morton photographs have been published many times over; others, however, have rarely or never been seen. Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is featuring many of Morton’s lesser known photographs in the current exhibition, “Photographs by Hugh Morton: An Uncommon Retrospective” that is on display until February 22, 2020. / Read more…

January 6, 2020. The final stretch of the 2019-2020 season of “The Schaefer Center Presents…” performing arts series is just around the corner. From Feb. 1-April 4, the SCP series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, offers something special to lift any lingering post-holiday blues —a genre-spanning Texas troubadour; evocative dance that draws equally on ballet and hip-hop; dizzyingly athletic Irish dance; a powerful radio-style dramatic play; and a distaff country artist carrying on the family legacy. For more information, visit http://theschaefercenter.org/ or call 828-262-4046. / Read more…

January 6, 2020. Tweetsie Railroad announces auditions for the park’s 2020 season for entertainment and production crew positions. Open positions include singers, dancers, actors, equestrians, magicians, technicians and costumers. Specific audition requirements including required audition preparation can be found online. Entertainers and production crew applicants interested in becoming a part of North Carolina’s first and longest-running theme park, Tweetsie Railroad. Full season availability is preferred; however, a variety of employment commitments are available. / Read more…

January 3, 2020. Atop 30,000 pieces of steel scaffolding, weighing 600,000 pounds and cradling 800 tons of manmade snow, the world’s top ski and snowboard talent reached new heights on December 20-21, 2019. But the elevation and engineering weren’t the main event: the location of this structure and these athletes were even more noteworthy and historic — Atlanta, Ga.’s SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves MLB team. Yes, a World Cup ski and snowboard event featuring 164 athletes from 27 nations has now taken place in the deep South — a feat seemingly inconceivable before now … akin to the advent of Southern skiing more than five decades ago in the High Country. As a testament to those roots and subsequent cultivation and growth, ambassadors and curators of the Southern snowsports scene were there to take it all in, each of whom carved their way to this moment over decades on the slopes of our beloved white giants, Appalachian, Beech, Sugar, and Hawksnest. By Sam Calhoun / Read more…

January 2, 2020. A new year has just started, but it’s never too early to take a peek at some of the events happening in and around the High Country coming up in 2020. January – Winterfest Beer Festival January 11, 5-9 p.m. Beech Mountain Resort. Come celebrate winter indoors with an array of beers and good music at the 2020 WinterFest Beer Festival. Over 40 different regional beers and ciders will be available to sample. Live music by The Harris Brothers and The Common Heart. Tickets: $35 in advance, $45 day-of, $15 designated driver tickets. Blowing Rock Winterfest January 23-26, Blowing Rock celebrates winter with four days of fun and events for the whole family from the Polar Plunge to Ice Carving, hayrides to wine tasting.  Events Compiled By Nathan Ham / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

January Pickleball Schedule

Dr. Chris Aiken to Speak January 6 at Watauga County Library

Blowing Rock Town Council’s Annual Planning Retreat is January 6-7

The Next Watauga County Commissioners’ Meeting will be January 21

Upcoming Small Business Center Workshops at CCC&TI

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

December 30, 2019. Downtown Boone is going to have its very own ball drop celebration for the New Year on Tuesday night. The Horton Hotel and Rooftop Lounge is finalizing a special New Year’s Eve celebration that will feature a ball drop on the rooftop that will be visible from King Street, the Jones House lawn and numerous other places in downtown Boone. The best seat, of course, will be at the Horton Hotel Rooftop Lounge. “We will open our doors to the public at 6 p.m., first come first served with no reservations,” said hotel co-owner Denise Lovin. “We will have New Year’s bling for folks that come in and we will have live music by Jim Fleri of the Lucky Strikes. We’re going to serve our wonderful beverages and snacks and we will have a complimentary bubbly toast to ring in the New Year as we will count down together with the first-ever ball drop from the rooftop.” Seating will be limited on the rooftop.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

Wordkeepers Meeting This Saturday

Grandfather Mountain State Park Winter Programs

Christmas Eve SingFest Begins at 7 p.m.

Audubon North Carolina Invites You to Celebrate 120 Years of the Annual Christmas Bird Count

Lottery Tickets Make Great Last Minute Gifts, Just Not for Children

Foxx-Gomez GREAT Act Sent to White House for Signature

Applications Period Opens for $15M in GREAT Grants to Expand Broadband Access in Rural NC Communities

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

December 17, 2019. The 2019 installment of Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music’s Celtic Christmas Concert features an exciting performance of world-renowned Irish musicians, John Doyle, Mick McAuley and Duncan Wickel. This special holiday concert will showcase this trio’s music in the newly renovated Appalachian Theatre of the High Country in Boone on the Winter Solstice – Saturday, December 21st at 7:30pm! JSMHM’s director, Rodney Sutton, exclaimed, “This concert marks a milestone in the 26 year history of Mountain Home Music! It was a goal of the late Joe Shannon to produce concerts at The Appalachian Theatre, and we here at JSMHM are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with ATHC to fulfill one of Joe’s dreams. Joe loved Celtic music more than any other style, so it is only fitting that the first JSMHM concert at this historic landmark theater features Irish music from his family’s homeland!” Sutton added, “It’s also pretty exiting for me to be able to share in the merriment as my daughter, Kelsey, and I will get to kick-up our heels with some clogging and flatfooting steps that are based in traditional Irish Sean Nòs dancing,” / Read more…

December 16, 2019. For two weeks only, 21 talented staff members of Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff will have an art show in the Workshop studio (beside their Outlet Store) at Cheap Joe’s, 374 Industrial Park Dr., Boone, NC  28607.  Hours are 10am–6pm, Monday–Saturday, Dec. 4th–19th.  There will be original paintings, prints, cards, sculpture, jewelry and rugs.  Much of the work will be for sale.  Come and enjoy some fantastic art created by fantastic artists and consider giving the gift of art for Christmas to someone or for yourself!  262-5459 / Read more…

December 13, 2019. The holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” will be on the big screen at Appalachian Theatre on Friday, December 20, free of charge. Piedmont Federal Savings Bank, which has served customers in the High Country for 46 years, is taking this opportunity to support the iconic theatre that just reopened in October. “Piedmont Federal is always searching for ways to give back to our communities and has been a supporter of the Appalachian Theatre renovation from the start. When we had the opportunity in 2015 to tour the facility at the beginning of the renovation process, we knew this was the perfect venue and setting to offer the kind of show that has been so successful for the Wilkes and Forsyth County areas,” said Diana Proffit, the assistant vice-president, and branch manager of the Boone office. The idea started with Piedmont Federal partnering with Aperture in Winston-Salem in 2012 on a small scale as an outreach to the community and a way to help local charities. That outreach event went so well that for the last seven years, Piedmont Federal has been holding a similar event at the Liberty Theater in North Wilkesboro. Communities in Schools of Northwest Carolina received enough donations from moviegoers at the Liberty Theater to fill about 250 Christmas stockings for children in Wilkes County.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 13, 2019. Gallery owner/artist, Toni Carlton, invites everyone to start the season of Love and Light by visiting the gallery to view the engaging art in paintings, glass, sculpture, wood, clay, fiber and jewelry while enjoying hot cider or tea. A 10% discount will be offered on all Art Treasures on Saturday December 14. Paintings reflecting the beauty and serenity of the landscape by Freeman Beard, Egidio Antonaccio, Linda Apriletti, Kevin Beck, Connie Winters, Holly Glasscock,  Sharon Rusch Shaver, Carol Bodiford, Allison Chambers, Andrew Braitman, Eddie Kent Tallent and Ralph James, along with alcohol ink paintings by Leigh Williams are some of the many artworks on exhibit. Small Works of Art are a focus for this 37th Winter Group Exhibition. They can be found in all media by the talented gallery artisans. / Read more…

December 13, 2019. On Friday, Nov. 29 at dusk, Chetola once again transformed into a magical winter wonderland as thousands of lights illuminate the resort and its grounds. All the familiar faces return — the fly fishing Rudolph, the old-fashioned ice skaters and our frozen family of snowmen who greet guests winding their way through the welcome gate. Thousands of people make the annual trek around the resort each year to enjoy this spectacular display, a labor of love courtesy of our Grounds Department, a talented crew that spends approximately 275 hours hanging lights and erecting each design. We hope you enjoy this year’s display! Approximately thirty large scale illuminations light up Chetola nightly running through the end of Blowing Rock Winterfest, January 24-27, 2019. By Joe Johnson / Read more…