Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Happy Valentine’s Day!


February 12, 2025 February 14 is a day we should all remember without fail. Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for centuries as a time to honor those we love — and not just in a romantic setting. Named in honor of St. Valentine, a Roman Catholic priest, the legends behind the celebration have varied through the years, but the basic premise of the day is all about the importance of love. The celebration has held its own through time and is one of America’s most expensive holidays, coming in a close third behind Christmas and Easter. Proving our love in 2024 alone cost us nearly $26 billion; that number is expected to soar to over $27 this year. Candy, flowers, jewelry and cards are the most popular Valentine’s gifts, along with a special meal out on the town for many couples. But, don’t think you have to go overboard. There’s something truly heart-warming about those handmade gifts, especially from the kitchen, that probably mean just as much or maybe even more to the recipients  — and will cost much less than something from the store. We’re here to help you with a few ideas to share the love, and with a reminder that chocolate is always a gift that speaks its own language. By Sherrie Norris

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Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Super Bowl Sunday Just Hours Away


February 7, 2025 Thousands of football fans are already packing into New Orleans for Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX. Hopefully, the much-anticipated championship game of the National Football League will serve as a welcomed distraction from recent headlines, not only in the Big Easy, but also in the home states of both teams. A week ago, as I sat at my desk writing about favorite foods from the Kansas City and the Philadelphia areas, I had no idea, as did anyone, that these two general locations would soon be in the news for far different reasons than the biggest football game of the year. The January 1 Bourbon Street incident was still fresh in the minds of most Americans when the horrific January 29 mid-air collision occurred in Washington, DC involving a plane that had flown out of  Kansas just a short time earlier and claiming 67 lives. Just two days later, the tragic med jet crash in Philadelphia killing six passengers and injuring dozens more on the ground, left most of us in disbelief, once again, and overcome with sadness and sympathy for all involved. But, as we’ve learned many times over, life goes on, and easier for some than others. There will still be Super Bowl parties this weekend, and food will still be needed. So, with much less excitement than I had this time last week, I’ll share more ideas for sides and other goodies to accompany those Kansas City ribs and Philly Steaks. By Sherrie Norris

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There’s a New Sheriff in Town Making Sure Skiers and Snowboarders Are Getting the Best Tune-Ups Possible at Ski Country Sports 

February 4, 2025 Ski Country Sports has brought to the High Country’s skiing and snowboarding community a remarkable new state of the art machine manufactured to revolutionize how skis and snowboards can be tuned up and cared for. Bill Leonard, owner of Ski Country Sports says, “This is a futurist machine – this is the latest and greatest! And we would love for folks to come by and take a look at it. We’ve been looking at this machine for more than a year. In September we decided to invest in this technologically advanced state of the art tuning machine. There ’are very few of these machines in use in the North America. The investment required for the purchase of this machine has allowed us to provide our customers with the most precise ski and snowboard tuning available world wide. Yes it was expensive, but in the long term we think it will provide a huge service to our customers as well to our ski and snowboard rental fleet and our demos. We are now able to keep them in  much better condition than before. It has made a huge difference!”

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2025 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) Half Way Through the Season

February 4, 2025 SMARL completed its 3rd race of the season Monday night, now half way through the season. Matt Leonard reported that the race course was in great shape providing the fastest conditions of the season so far. “With the temps being a little warmer Monday night, the race course crew added a little salt to the course which firmed it up giving us a sweet fast racing surface, says Leonard. Racers enjoyed a bar-be-que dinner after the race in the Sugar Mountain bar. Team Sugar is still out front in the skiing division and the Tavern in the lead in the snowboard division.

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2025 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) Gets Their Second Race Under Wraps

January 30, 2025. Matt Leonard of Ski Country Sports said it was good to be back out on the race course at Sugar Mountain this past Monday night after having to again skip a race due to brutal weather conditions the previous Monday. “That Monday nigh we would looking a sub zero temperatures  and wind chills of who knows what, so I think it was certainly the right decision to postpone the January 20th race. we’ll get them made up,” says Leonard. But this past Monday conditions turned out great. Some fog that was present across the ski area lifted just as the race got underway. “We had a big turnout as everyone was ready to get back racing,” said Leonard. And the course was fast and fun.” After the second race’s conclusion Team Sugar has edge out front by two point over Team Ski Country Sports in the skiing division and in the snowboard division the Tavern Team has jumped to an early lead over First Tracks.

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Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: It’s Never Too Late for Healthier Choices


January 15, 2025 We usually start out the new year with healthy food choice columns, but the cold weather dishes prevailed this time around. After all, January is National Soup Month, and the first couple of weeks of the month have been reminiscent of “old-timey” winters which reminds us of comfort foods.  But, the treadmills and stationary bikes are still running for those who are making the effort to focus on fitness and improved eating habits. Even if we’ve found ourselves pedaling backward instead of forward, it’s never too late to start over. I write these words with Greek yogurt sprinkled with walnuts in front of me, alongside a cup of hot ginger tea sweetened with stevia. I ran across a recent article indicating that 90 percent of Americans are aware that heart disease is linked to high blood cholesterol levels and eating high-fat diets. However, what we do with that knowledge is another thing, to which most of us can attest. Let’s take time to review a few tips that could help us make healthier choices in the days ahead and help pave the way to a happier, healthier heart: By Sherrie Norris

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2025 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) Gets Rolling for Their 19th Season

January 14, 2025. The Monday night SMARL races are back. After a brutal start to the race season last Monday night where the weather was off the charts with wind, snow and low visibility that ultimately knock the timing system out, the racers were back on Sugar Mountain for a perfect weather night and the first week of timing scores. This is the 19th season of Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) that started back in 2006. The local ski shop Ski Country Sports teamed up with Sugar Mountain Resort to bring a racing opportunity to local adults on a Monday night. All levels of skiing and snowboarding abilities are welcome.

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Representative Virginia Foxx Takes a Tumble Down Some Stairs at the US Capital on Friday


January 4, 2025 News sites are reporting that Representative Virginia Foxx took a tumble down some marble stairs at the U.S. Capital on Friday following a meeting of the House of Representatives. ABC news reporter John R. Parkinson said on his X account, “A bleeding Rep. Virginia Foxx is currently receiving medical attention – holding her nose as she receives aid – appears to have fallen down marble stairs on West side of House. Lots of blood but officer tells me she’s okay as press is cleared from area. She is conscious/ talking.” A statement from Foxx’s office said, “’Rep. Foxx slipped while walking down the marble staircase outside the House chamber after walking up to talk to her family in the gallery. After being helped to her feet, and looked over by medical personnel, she proceeded on her own to the Attending Physician’s office to get treated for a few individual cuts. Everything seems to be okay.’ Foxx remarked on her X account, “Thank you to everyone for your prayers – a few minor cuts but I’m feeling just fine. Very appreciative of everyone’s prayers. I’m a mountain woman, and we’re tougher than a $2 steak.”

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Four Watauga County Schools Educators Receive Tamara Stamey Memorial Fund Scholarships with Surprise Presentations

January 3, 2025 Four WCS educators were recently notified that they were the fortunate recipients of a grant through the Tamara Stamey Memorial Fund. Established in January 2023, this fund was created to honor the legacy of Stamey and assist local educators in pursuit of National Board Certification. Stamey attained her National Board Certification in 2003 and encouraged and helped others undergo the process throughout her career.  Watauga County Schools has one of the highest rates of Nationally Board Certified teachers in the United States.  “We are proud of these recipients for working to obtain this certification,” said WCS Superintendent Dr. Leslie Alexander. “We are grateful to the Stamey family for their continued support of this important work.” This year’s recipients are Angela Watson (Blowing Rock School), Tonya Ward (Blowing Rock School), Kirsten Hodges (Parkway School) and Samuel Vining (Watauga High School).

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N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Announces New Executive Director

December 9, 2024 RALEIGH, N.C. (December 9, 2024) – At its business meeting today, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced that after a thorough application and review process, the Commission selected Michael Kyle Briggs as executive director of the agency. Since December 2015 Briggs has served as Chief Deputy Director overseeing the agency’s day-to-day operations as well as leading the agency’s Law Enforcement, Wildlife Management, Inland Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Divisions and a newly established Genetics Program. Briggs will transition into his new role on Jan. 1, 2025.

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Movie Review: “Wicked” Now Playing at Boone Regal

November 25, 2024 It was in the spring of 2004 that I first saw Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth perform the showstopping “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway blockbuster “Wicked” at the Tony Awards. Since that moment was over 20 years ago, it means that I have waited literal decades for a big-screen version of “Wicked.” I’ve more than satisfied my appetite for the stage version, having seen it five times, once with Menzel still in the cast (sadly never with Chenoweth). But I’ve always wanted the vast production to be available to the world, with added scale and visual spectacle to boot. Now the wait is finally over, and the result is… reasonably acceptable. 

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Strong Finish Propels App State to Emotional Senior Day Win over JMU

November 25, 2024 A late-week snowstorm, plus a crowd-pleasing celebrity appearance, added to the storylines surrounding an already meaningful game. That’s how a Senior Day and Black Saturday game should feel in the High Country, with excitement over the wintry weather outweighing any discomfort. All those elements just made App State Football’s 34-20 home win Saturday over James Madison even sweeter. The Mountaineers (5-5, 3-4 Sun Belt) improved to 3-0 in Kidd Brewer Stadium since returning to The Rock roughly one month ago, overcoming a 14-0 deficit against an 8-2 opponent thanks to big plays from the offense, defense and special teams.

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18th  Annual Beech Mountain Holiday Market

November 14, 2024. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, many small businesses in Western NC are struggling and need help more than ever. Our family-owned businesses, local craftsmen, and artists rely on holiday sales to continue to prosper. That is why we have made the decision to carry on with the Holiday Market at the Buckeye Recreation Center. Coming together and shopping for those one-of-a-king holiday gifts is a great way for us all to contribute to the recovery efforts. The 18thAnnual Beech Mountain Holiday Market will take place from 10AM – 4PM on Saturday, November 30, 2024. There is more to do than just shop at the market; Mrs. Claus will be attending, with games and activities set up for kids.  Come join us for a traditional kickoff to the holiday season.  Admission is free.

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Movie Review: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “Heretic” Now Playing at Boone Regal

November 11, 2024 The battle for second place at the domestic box office this past weekend (behind the fourth weekend of “Venom: The Last Dance”) was awfully close, with two films hovering around the $11 million mark. Since neither film is a big hit, I’ve decided to toss them both a quick review. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Sadly, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” started off at a disadvantage with me from which it never quite recovered. It wasn’t the lack of flashiness or edginess or intensity. I’m perfectly fine with watching a family-friendly movie about a small-town Christmas pageant. It’s that I read the book by Barbara Robinson as a child, and the movie couldn’t measure up.

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