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High Country Watermedia Society Offers Grants to Art Organizations

March 18, 2024 The High Country Watermedia Society is pleased to offer grants to 501(c)3 organizations that support the visual arts in the High Country.  Grants are intended for art programs and equipment.  Proposals will be accepted prior to June 30, 2024.
More information and the grant application form can be found on the High Country Watermedia website:  https://highcountrywatermediasociety.com/art-endowments

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Wildlife Agency Offers Guidance as Animal Encounters Increase in Spring

March 18, 2024 This Tuesday, March 19, we officially welcome back spring. Some familiar (and not-so-familiar) critters begin emerging from their winter slumbers and start producing offspring. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) offers helpful guidance when encountering various wildlife as they become more visible this time of year.Black Bears emerge from their dens in spring and become more active. BearWise offers springtime tips to help people prevent conflicts with bears. Humans may come across cubs that are alone – most likely waiting for their mothers to return from foraging. However, if you suspect a cub has been orphaned, do not handle, feed or remove it, as this puts you and the cub at risk.

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Appalachian State Not Chosen for 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, But Earned NIT Berth; Opening Round on Wednesday March 20

March 18, 2024 Despite having the credentials to qualify for the 2024 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament, Appalachian State was not one of the 68 teams picked by its selection committee Sunday to play in it. And while the Mountaineers would have been a definite long, long shot to win the tournament and bring the national championship to Boone, they would have been generally considered a dark horse to advance far in the tournament. They possess the over-all talent, combined offensive and defensive power, and needed depth that would have given them a chance to make a good showing in the tournament. By Tim Gardner

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Spring Home Show in Blowing Rock  to be Held on May 8 at the American Legion Building

March 18, 2024 The Blowing Rock Chamber is excited to announce a Spring Home Show event to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The show will be held at the American Legion Building (333 Wallingford Street) in Blowing Rock, from 1-6pm. Free to the public, this event will feature vendors specializing in home services and products that are most needed in the area of home maintenance and care. Cathy Barker, Vice President of Business Development, commented, “The purpose of this event is to give our home services related members a chance to network and promote their products and services to residents of our community.

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Educator Workshops Return to Grandfather Mountain; Courses for Individuals Seeking Certification as an N.C. environmental Educator

March 18, 2024 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is excited to announce its lineup of four educator workshops, free to attendees, for the 2024 season. These workshops, provided specifically to environmental educators in various professions, offer opportunities for career growth and professional development by using the wonders of Grandfather Mountain to further participants’ expertise.

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Movie Review: “Arthur the King” Now Playing at Boone Regal

March 18, 2024 I’m not going to sugarcoat it: this was not a good week for new releases. The battle for the top spot at the domestic box office was a fierce one, with “Kung Fu Panda 4” in its second weekend narrowly edging out “Dune: Part Two” in its third. But after those two holdovers, the box office fell off a cliff, with newcomer “Arthur the King” taking a weak third place with barely a quarter of either’s take. Granted, the relatively small-scale production is not one that has ambitions of conquering the box office. It’s okay with being a nice little crowd-pleaser, which would be fine if it were actually more pleasing

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Burnop Sworn in as Avery County Board of Education Member

March 15, 2023 Michelle Krege Burnop was sworn in as the newest Avery County Board of Education member during the Board’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, March 12 at the School System’s Central Office in Newland. Besides Burnop, all other Board members were present at the meeting–Chairman John Greene, Vice-Chairwoman Kathey Aldridge, Pat Edwards, and Randy Singleton—as well as Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman.  By Tim Gardner

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Grandfather Mountain to Host Solar Eclipse Viewing Event April 8 from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

March 15, 2024 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced a day of festivities to celebrate one of nature’s most spectacular sights. A solar eclipse is coming to North America on April 8. Weather permitting, a partial eclipse will be visible at Grandfather Mountain. According to sources, approximately 87% of the sun will be obscured in this region. The best viewing time will be between 2-3 p.m

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Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty License Plate Sales Top $570,000 in 2023 to Help the Roadway

March 15, 2024 North Carolina drivers raised $574,461 to enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway by purchasing or renewing the national park specialty license plate in 2023. It is the largest amount raised for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s work through the tag program in more than a decade. The specialty plate fee is $30, of which $20 helps fund key improvements along the Parkway, including repairs at trails, campgrounds, and picnic areas. Proceeds also support projects such as wildlife studies, historic preservation, and educational programs

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Registration is Open for App State’s Camp Crinkleroot for Children on the Autism Spectrum

March 15, 2024 Appalachian State University’s Camp Crinkleroot — an annual free day camp for children ages 8 to 14 on the autism spectrum — is now accepting applications for campers. The camp will be held April 12–14 at the Optimist Clubhouse in Boone. Camp Crinkleroot is sponsored by the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, which is part of the Beaver College of Health Sciences. The camp is staffed by trained App State student volunteers.

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Blowing Rock TDA Partners with Black Folks Camp Too to Promote More Unity and Inclusion

March 15, 2024 Blowing Rock, North Carolina is known for its beautiful natural setting and exciting outdoor recreation opportunities. Through a new partnership with Black Folks Camp Too (BFCT), the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority (BRTDA) aims to promote more unity and inclusion in those outdoor spaces and activities. Black Folks Camp Too was created not only to inspire more Black folks to explore the outdoor lifestyle and industry,but to bring awareness to the reasons why more Black folks have not been participating in the outdoors, what the current industry can do to help create more Unity, and why they should.

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Grandfather Mountain Announces An Inspiring Slate of Special Events for the Upcoming Year 

March 14, 2024 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has lined up an inspiring slate of events for the coming months. This year’s calendar kicks off with an event for the upcoming solar eclipse and also features a list of favorite annual happenings on the mountain – with some exciting updates. “Our event season is just around the corner,” said John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “We continue to try to cultivate and offer an event lineup that satisfies and intrigues a variety of guests and ties into our mission to inspire conservation.”

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The Blowing Rock Academy Officially Opened Its Doors to Infants and Toddlers on Monday March 4

March 14, 2024 The Blowing Rock Academy officially opened its doors to infants and toddlers on Monday March 4, 2024.  The Academy is a 1,750 square foot state of the art child care center that will serve the children of Town of Blowing Rock employees. The Academy is not open to the general public.  The Academy can serve up to 30 total children from the ages of infant to school age, and is located at the former Ruritan/Town Community Club House building.  The Academy is a revolutionary idea to have on-site affordable child care for the full-time and part-time employees of the Town

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Just Released New Video Spotlights Village of Sugar Mountain Summer Stays

March 14, 2024 A new summer promotional video created by the Sugar Mountain Tourism Development Authority in conjunction with Visit North Carolina has been released just in time for family vacation planning. The video creation began with three days of shooting in July 2023. It will be utilized by both local and state tourism agencies. The 2.5-minute video is also available for all local tourism-related businesses to embed on their websites and share on social media to assist with their marketing efforts.

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High Country Humanities Presents ‘Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life’  March 22

March 14, 2024 Appalachian State University’s High Country Humanities — with support from North Carolina Humanities — will present “Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life: From Appalachia to the World” on Friday, March 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at Appalachian Theatre of the High Country at 559 W. King St. in Boone. Join App State documentary filmmakers for screenings of their work, a panel discussion and an audience Q&A moderated by documentary film scholar Dr. Maria Pramaggiore, chair of App State’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. The speakers will address how visual narratives portray and inform the public’s perceptions of communities outside of cities.

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High Country Real Estate: Get Your Home Ready for Spring

March 14, 2024 While Spring has not quite sprung, it is wending its inevitable way towards us. Honestly, it is so hard to say what season is more beautiful in the High Country, Spring or Autumn. I think winter and summer can be seasons of extremes in their own way, so Spring and Autumn each offer a bit of respite from that. A change of color, along with the change of seasons. By Elizabeth Steele, REALTOR

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Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Marching on Through A Busy Month


March 13, 2024 . Signs of spring are all around us and I believe that most of us are ready for its official arrival. I think the March winds actually did blow it in recently, right? As many of you know, I’ve spent most of the last week in Chapel Hill where my brother continues on life support from a rare illness brought on by a severe reaction to medication. All the while, with a heavy heart, and usually with tears running down my face, I’ve still been able to enjoy the beauty of nature as it literally springs forth through flowers, budding trees, and the ability to walk outside without a jacket. Seeing the newness of life has given me peace, comfort — and hope. By Sherrie Norris

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Lineup Announced for 2024 Beech Mountain Summer Concert Series with Five Dates

March 13, 2024 North Carolina’s Beech Mountain Resort has announced the return of its annual outdoor concert series this summer. The series will kick off June 8 with performances by The String Cheese Incident and The Wood Brothers; followed by an extended Party on the Mountain weekend July 19-21 with NEEDTOBREATHE, Dispatch, Greensky Bluegrass, Yola, and Maggie Rose; with Sylvan Esso and Soccer Mommy rounding out the season on August 10.

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Boonerang Kick-Off Event to Feature “Boone’s Got Talent” Show at Appalachian Theatre June 13

March 13, 2024 “There is something in the water.” This phrase has been recycled many times to describe the unusual amount of talented individuals who live in the High Country. Another tongue-in-cheek comment frequently heard boasts, “You can’t throw a rock without hitting a banjo player.” Whether musical, athletic, theatrical, artistic, or simply astonishing, the Boone area abounds with talent, and this year Boonerang Music & Arts Festival kicks off the 2024 festival with an event to showcase some of the area’s best. In collaboration with the Appalachian Theatre and Mountain Home Music, the official Thursday night kick-off event for the 2024 festival will feature the inaugural Boone’s Got Talent showcase at the Appalachian Theatre on June 13.

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Downtown Boone Hellbender Call for Submissions for Mural Project Slated for Downtown Boone

March 13, 2024 The Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA), in partnership with the Centers for Biological Diversity and the Watauga Arts Council is excited to announce a very important mural project slated for downtown Boone. A call is being put out to local and regional artists who have an interest in joining in the celebration of the Hellbender Salamander, a local endangered species. Artist are being asked to collaborate with representatives from the Center for Biological Diversity, as well as the DBDA to illustrate the hellbender and its habitat in our region. The mural will be installed at 140 S. Depot Street.

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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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Research Underway on an Elusive Mountain Rabbit That May Be Impacted by a Deadly Disease

March 12, 2024 It’s rare to spot an Appalachian cottontail rabbit in the wild. They live in the high elevations and steep topography of the western North Carolina mountains and are easily confused with their slightly larger close cousin, the Eastern cottontail rabbit.And it’s currently unknown whether a highly infectious and fast-spreading virus (RHDV2) may  be impacting the population.That’s why NCWRC has recently contracted with the research group, Tangled Bank Conservation, to perform a study of Appalachian cottontails. The goal is to determine impacts to this species that may pose threats to their survival. NCWRC will use this information to develop a management plan to protect them.

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44th Blowing Rock Trout Derby is Saturday, April 6 from Sunrise to 4:00pm

March 12, 2024 The 44th annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby will take place in Blowing Rock on Saturday, April 6, from sunrise to 4:00pm.  Celebrating the opening of trout season, the Blowing Rock Trout Derby invites families to get out together to enjoy the outdoors and friendly competition. No entry fees are required. Fishing enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to come out for the Derby.  “If you’re a seasoned fisherman, come by and help some of the younger anglers with your stories, bait suggestions, or just friendly support,” says Kim Rogers, a longtime coordinator of the Trout Derby. “We can’t wait to see everyone’s catch!”

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MerleFest Shares Stage Schedules for 2024 Event; 36th Annual Festival Takes Place April 25-28 in Wilkesboro

March 12, 2024 MerleFest, presented by Window World, will hold its 36th annual festival April 25-28 on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Today festival organizers announced MerleFest pioneering artist John Cowan will join the already stellar lineup, including appearances by Old Crow Medicine Show, Turnpike Troubadours, The Teskey Brothers, Nickel Creek, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, and many more. Additionally, the festival is proud to unveil the complete 2024 stage schedules, in conjunction with the release of the updated MerleFest 2024 mobile app (available now for download now on all Apple and Android devices), making it easier than ever to plan your weekend, set reminders for performance times, learn more about each artist, listen to the official MerleFest 2024 Spotify playlist, and much more.

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