Watauga, Avery Obituaries – June 3rd, 2025
June 3, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
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The Wood Brothers Join Lineup for FloydFest 25~Aurora July 23-27; Full Schedule Debuts
May 27, 2025 With 57 days to go before gates open, Across-the-Way Productions & Blue Cow Arts Foundation add a top patron-requested lineup addition — The Wood Brothers — and debut the full music schedule for FloydFest 25~Aurora, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 23 to 27, 2025, at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. An unveiling of Children’s Universe performers, as well as Roaming Artists, are also included in today’s FloydFest news. What’s more, and following its “Best Music Festival” accolade in Blue Ridge Outdoors’ ‘Best of the Blue Ridge 2025,’ FloydFest was recently named “Best Festival 2025” in Virginia Living Magazine’s ‘Best of Virginia’ readers’ survey.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – May 27th, 2025
May 27, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Blowing Rock Garden Club Hosts 2025 Mile of Flowers Event on Friday, June 27
May 21, 2025. On Friday, June 27, the Blowing Rock Garden Club will host its highly-anticipated Mile of Flowers, giving participants a chance to explore several private gardens in downtown Blowing Rock. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Memorial Park Gazebo and end at 3 p.m. The first Mile of Flowers was held in 2009 to showcase Blowing Rock’s beautiful flowers. Members of the Blowing Rock Garden Club worked with community partners to make it a fun and informative program. The event was an immediate success. It was presented for the following decade as a bi-annual event and now returns after an extended break.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – May 20th, 2025
May 20, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Alien Festival Returns to AID THE DEVISTATED Small town of Spruce Pine
May 15, 2025. Over a mile long stretch of 200 Artists & Crafters in Downtown Spruce Pine on Oak Avenue Alien Merchandise, Free Music-Music Stage, Area 51 Costume Contest, Children’s Close Encounter Zone-bounce houses/Giant Slides, UFO Laser Tag, Alien Train, S.P.A.C.E Conference (Spruce Pine Alien Speaker Conference: presented by Sky Tribe UFOXPO at the Cross Street Commerce Center, Area 51 small Children’s Area Space activities on Locust St.
Casting Bread Presents the 10th Annual Ducky Regatta — A Celebration of Community and Compassion
May 14, 2025. Blowing Rock, NC — On Saturday, June 28, 2025, Casting Bread will host the 10th Annual Ducky Regatta from 10 AM to 1 PM at 194 Aho Road, Blowing Rock, NC. This family-friendly event celebrates both the spirit of the High Country community and the beauty of the Middle Fork of the New River — flowing just outside Casting Bread’s doors.Festival-goers can look forward to a vibrant morning full of rubber duck races, including exciting kids-only races, bouncy houses, music, fun games, and delicious food served from Casting Bread’s very own Canteen.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – May 13th, 2025
May 13, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – May 6th, 2025
May 6, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Watauga Humane Society Joins BISSELL Pet Foundation to Offer Reduced Adoption Fees During Spring Empty the Shelters Event May 1 – 15
April 28, 2025 BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is once again prompting a nationwide call for adoption through its Empty the Shelters event, running May 1-15, 2025. Watauga Humane Society will participate alongside 380+ shelters across 43 states to help pets find loving homes through reduced adoption fees of $70, generously sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation. Watauga Humane Society will participate from May 1-15, offering $70 adoptions for cats and dogs and $0 for small critters. Visit https://bit.ly/4i01kxX to view adoptable pets and learn more.
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Awarded $5 Million Grant for Regional Tourism
April 25, 2025 The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has secured a three-year, $5.13 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support regional strategies to advance cultural and recreational tourism. The grant activities will benefit dozens of Appalachian gateway communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina that host millions of visitors each year. “By investing in infrastructure improvements, regional business growth, and tourism workforce development, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s ARISE grant stands to have a robust economic impact on Appalachian North Carolina and Southwest Virginia,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin.
Key to the City: Boone Town Council Recognizes Trenton D’Agostino for His Success at the Special Olympics World Winter Games
April 25, 2025 During the April 23, 2025 Boone Town Council meeting, the Boone Town Council unanimously approved a resolution to award a “Key to the City” to Special Olympian, Trenton D’Agostino. D’Agostino was also given a plaque that detailed the Town Council’s appreciation for his achievements. An accomplished athlete, D’Agostino won two gold medals, one in the intermediate giant slalom snowboarding competition and another in the intermediate super G in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. As a Watauga County native, and as a graduate of Hardin Park Elementary School and Watauga High School, the Boone Town Council wanted to recognize these achievements with a tangible reminder of how proud D’Agostino’s community is of his journey.
Grandfather Mountain Announces Grandfather Glows Firefly Viewing Lottery Details
April 25, 2025 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced the initial details related to this year’s Grandfather Glows firefly viewing events. Research on Grandfather Mountain has confirmed the presence of 10 species of fireflies or illumining insects, including synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), blue ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata) and glowworms (Orfelia fultoni). Synchronous fireflies are habitat specialists and thrive in northern hardwood forests, such as those found at Grandfather Mountain. These glowing wonders only appear for a few weeks each year
Construction on Howard Street Set to Begin the Week of April 21 at the South Depot
April 18, 2025 On April 14, 2025, the Town of Boone hosted the official groundbreaking for the Howard Street Revitalization project. Due to the upcoming Easterholiday, official construction for this project will begin the week of April 21, 2025. The first construction phase for the Howard Street Revitalization project will occur at the South Depot Street/Howard Street intersection to replace underground infrastructure, a required start for this project. All roads leading to the South Depot Street/Howard Street intersection will be closed at the intersection. No vehicular traffic is permitted to access this intersection until this phase of the construction is complete.
Watauga County Republican Party Spring Fling Cookout is on Saturday, May 3
April 18, 2025 The Watauga County Republican Party is having a Spring Fling Cookout on Saturday, May 3 at Hollar and Greene Produce Company, 230 Cabbage Row Drive, Boone at 4:00PM. Bring your family and friends for this free event. Greet your neighbors and Republican officials. All Republicans are welcome.
GROUNDHOG COFFEE CO. OPENS IN BOONE
April 16, 2025 Last weekend, Boone welcomed its newest local spot: Groundhog Coffee, now open next to Bella’s Italian. Founded by 19-year-old independent owner Conor Lowrey, the café has been a dream in the making since 2022. Conor has poured passion and precision into every detail—from the clean yet inviting space to the student baristas, expertly trained by renowned North Carolina coffee educator Destiny Law.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – April 15th, 2025
April 15, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Western Youth Network Announces Public Phase of $11.5M “Building Brighter Futures” Campaign to Expand Services for High Country Youth
April 14, 2025 Western Youth Network (WYN) is thrilled to announce the public launch of its $11.5 million “Building Brighter Futures” campaign, a transformational effort to expand facilities and programs to better serve the growing needs of youth in North Carolina’s High Country. For 40 years, WYN has provided life-changing support through mentorship, after-school programs, safe and healthy communities, mental health support, and life-changing opportunities. As the demand for services reaches record levels, this campaign will create the space and resources necessary to ensure every child has a safe place to learn, grow, and thrive.
Cooperative Extension & the Watauga Seed Library Offer Free Seed Saving Classes in Boone
April 14, 2025 At this early outset of springtime, gardeners may be thinking of seeds mostly as something to buy (or source from the Watauga Seed Library!). Thinking ahead to harvests though, fruits and vegetables will be producing seeds of their own (hopefully enough to return some seeds to the Watauga Seed Library!), and plant in subsequent years. If you hope to save seeds from your own farm or garden later this year, now is the time to plan for that: from the open-pollinated varieties you choose to plant, to how much you grow, how many you select to keep for seed-saving, and how long they will take to reach full maturity.
App State ROTC Program Honored with Army’s General Douglas MacArthur Award
April 9, 2025 The Appalachian State University Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, known as the Mountaineer Battalion, has been awarded the U.S. Army’s General Douglas MacArthur Award, recognizing the program’s exceptional contributions to military leadership and training. A ceremony in celebration of the program’s achievement was held March 20 at App State’s Boone campus. Established in 1989, the award, conferred by the U.S. Army Cadet Command, honors the top eight ROTC programs in the country. The award highlights the success of programs in displaying Gen. MacArthur’s ideals — “Duty, Honor, Country” — and accomplishing its mission of training and commissioning second lieutenants for the U.S. Army.
Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Asparagus Among Spring’s Favorite Dishes, For Some
April 8, 2025 It’s Spring and the season for fresh asparagus. It’s not everyone’s favorite vegetable, but one can acquire a taste for it and eventually learn to love it, or at least like it. I’ll never forget my official introduction to asparagus. I was attending a luncheon in the lovely home of the late Joanne Hartley. Who was I to question the menu choices of one of the area’s leading ladies? Of course, I thought it was better covered in the creamy sauce she had prepared for it, but I did get braver with time and learn that asparagus is pretty good prepared in the oven with olive oil and seasonings. (I thank my daughter-in-law for that.) It’s still not something I’ll usually eat if there’s a green bean or broccoli floret in sight, but it is a seasonal favorite of many. And it’s healthy. Perfect for those counting calories and fat grams, asparagus is one of the best choices, with absolutely no fat or cholesterol and only about 50 calories in a six-stalk serving. Asparagus is recommended for many special diets, including renal, low-sodium, diabetic and low cholesterol. It is rich in Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), an important vitamin for smooth skin. Fresh or canned, asparagus may be boiled in a small amount of water in a saucepan or steamer until tender, for approximately 10 minutes for fresh or 7 minutes for frozen. It can also be stir-fried in small pieces in a little hot oil, stirred constantly until tender-crisp, about 3-5- minutes. If microwaving, place in a baking dish with tips toward the center. Add ¼ cup of water and cover. Microwave at full-power: 6-9 minutes for spears, 5-7 minutes for pieces. Here are a few simple recipes to try with asparagus as we transition our meals into Spring-mode. By Sherrie Norris
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – April 8th, 2025
April 8, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
1400 People Filled the Sidewalk of King Street in Boone on Saturday for a Planned March by INDIVISIBLE Watauga Against Trump’s Agenda
April 7, 2025 Over 1400 people showed up for a planned protest march on Saturday in Downtown Boone that was organized locally by INDIVISIBLE Watauga, whose founder is Peter Nesbitt. The event was part of a peaceful, nationwide mobilization planned for April 5th. The theme of the march was “Hands Off.” The Boone march started behind the Turchin Center for Visual Arts and proceeded down the King Street sidewalk to an area beside the courthouse, about a half a mile away. The march started at 2:00 and and at one point marchers filled the sidewalk continuously for that whole half a mile. Marchers were encourage to bring signs to hold up during the march, and that they did.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – April 1st, 2025
April 1, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Ticket Prices Increase April 1; On-the-Rise Competition Class of 2025 Announced for FloydFest 25~Aurora
March 27, 2025 One week before ticket prices increase for FloydFest 25~Aurora, Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. and Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. announce the award-winning festival’s On-the-Rise Competition Class of 2025, a quintessential cornerstone of the FloydFest brand, which fosters emerging talent by giving the next generation of up-and-coming performers a stage, a leg-up and an audience.