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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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. 

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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.

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Watauga County Farmers’ Market Opens for the 2025 Season on Saturday, April 5

March 27, 2025 Spring is in the air, and with it comes the much-anticipated opening of the Watauga County Farmers’ Market. On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the market will return to its beloved home at Daniel Boone Park (591 Horn in the West Drive) to kick off its 52nd season of fresh, local goods and community connection. The market will be open Saturdays from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM through November. After operating at a temporary location for the last two months of the 2024 season, the market is excited to return to its usual spot at Daniel Boone Park. Some community members may still be unaware of the move, and organizers want to emphasize that the market is back at its long-standing home. This return marks a significant moment for both vendors and customers who cherish this tradition.

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An Appalachian Summer Announces Lineup for 2025 Season June 28-July 26

March 27, 2025 Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer presents its 41st season June 28-July 26 with a diverse lineup of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film programming. Artists spanning a variety of genres — folk and pop rock, soul and jazz, R&B and Broadway, chamber and classical, dance, film and visual arts — will be featured in multiple venues on the campus of App State. Tickets go on sale to the public Wednesday, April 16 at 10am.Discounts are available for children/students, App State faculty/staff, and local residents for select performances. For more information, visit www.appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046.

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Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation & Mountain BizWorks Announce Funding Partnership For Business Disaster Grant Program

March 27, 2025 On Friday, March 21 2025, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation closed the application window for its 3rd round of Hope for the High Country Business Resiliency Disaster Grants. Over 140 businesses from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties applied for funding during a three-week application period. “The volume of applications speaks to the need for continued support for small businesses across western North Carolina,” saidDavid Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “These applications address issues with physical damage, lost revenue, and the costs of reopening spring and summer focused businesses that have been closed since the storm, among other things.”

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A New Community Clay Studio & Local Pottery Gallery Thriving on Hwy 105

March 24, 2025 Located on Highway 105 on the outskirts of Boone, The Pottery Lot has been steadily growing as a hub for pottery lovers since opening just weeks before Hurricane Helene. This unique space serves as both a curated gallery featuring local Western North Carolina potters and a community pottery studio where people of all skill levels can come play with clay.

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Wildlife Agency Offers Guidance as Animal Encounters Increase in Spring 

March 17, 2025 The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) offers helpful guidance when encountering 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, such as securing garbage and taking down bird feeders, to help people prevent conflicts with bears. People become more active in the spring and may come across cubs that are alone – most likely waiting for their mothers to return from foraging. If someone suspects a cub has been orphaned, they are advised to not handle, feed or remove it, as this puts people and the cub at risk.

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Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Chilly Outside, Chili Inside


March 10, 2025 We’re heading toward Spring, but the month of March is always a game- player. A few days of sunshine, followed by thunder, lightning and rain, with snow, ice and ferocious winds close behind, is nothing new. For us folks who have lived in these mountains for more than a little while, we know that this last month of winter is always fickle. We’ve learned to expect the unexpected, regardless of the forecast. And recently, we’ve come to be on guard whatever the weather. Sitting at my desk on this cold, blustery morning, I can hear the wind and I can see the snow twirling around in its midst, as well as the sun trying to peep through the dark clouds. Even before I cleared away our brunch munching, I was already contemplating a pot of savory chili simmering on the stove through the afternoon. What a perfect way to fend off the outside chill. My typical ground beef and bean concoction, with added tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and a lovin’ spoonful of secret spices added in for good measure, always hits the spot. But, I also love variations. And especially chicken chili. So, I began digging through my files and have come up with a few recipes that I hope will get us over the hump. Chili, cornbread and the trimmings. Yum. Yum. And next week, we’ll be cookin’ green. Can you believe that St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner? By Sherrie Norris

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