Watauga, Avery Obituaries – August 12th, 2025
August 12, 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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Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight event returns to Grandfather Mountain
August 6, 2025 LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, will once again host its Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight event this fall. The after-hours program allows guests to embrace their nocturnal side and enjoy rare after-dark tours, fireside tales and a chance to meet the park’s nighttime residents.
The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is open to 50 participants. This event is for individuals eight years of age and older. Tickets are $40 for general admission or $34 for Bridge Club members and are available for online purchase now.
Roots and Rhythm Take Center Stage at the Jones House August 8 with Fern Hilland Pickin’ Thistles
August 6, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Jones House continues its 2025 Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 8 with a vibrant evening of roots music featuring local sibling duo Fern Hill, followed by the local sibling trio Pickin’ Thistles. The show begins at 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of the historic Jones House, located at 604 W. King Street in downtown Boone.
Fern Hill opens the evening with their heartfelt blend of Appalachian, Celtic, and
Western sounds. Sisters Arwen and Lorien Cockman have music in their blood, having
grown up performing with their father and extended family in The Cockman Family
Band. Now performing as a dynamic duo, their album Sister You Sang to Me
showcases rich harmonies and lyrical storytelling rooted in their deep musical heritage. With multi-instrumental talents and songs that echo through generations, Fern Hill offers a fresh and moving take on traditional mountain music.
Meet the New Executive Director of the Avery Chamber of Commerce!
August 6, 2025 The Avery County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the selection of Victoria Bowman as the organization’s new executive director, effective immediately. This key leadership change marks a new chapter for the Chamber as it builds upon progress and endeavors to adopt a new strategic approach regarding community partnerships, tourism promotion, member relations, and local business advocacy.Bowman brings more than two decades of experience in strategic planning, brand building, connecting communities, marketing, leadership and event organization. Her previous role was chief experience officer for Structall Building Systems, based in Oldsmar, Florida, where she directed all branding and marketing efforts, developed and implemented customer service protocols that increased client satisfaction and improved retention and built and mentored a high-performing leadership team.
Movie Review: “The Bad Guys 2”
August 6, 2025 I have fond memories of “The Bad Guys” from 2022. The opening scene was an extended “Pulp
Fiction” reference, which I was not expecting to see in an animated kids’ movie. It put me in a good mood for the rest of the movie, which was standard “villains eventually learn to be good” fare, albeit with a slick style and nary an irritating Minion in sight. “The Bad Guys 2” doesn’t have the cushion of an
extended reference to one of my favorite very-R-rated movies, so it has to get by on style and humor
alone. It succeeds, but to a lesser degree. When we last saw Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and tarantula Ms. Webs (Awkwafina), they had renounced their heist-crew ways after defeating villainous guinea pig Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade) with some help from Governor Foxington (Zazie Beetz), herself a reformed master criminal.
Celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week at the King Street Market
August 6, 2025 BOONE, N.C. — The King Street Farmers’ Market will be joining Farmers Markets across the country in celebrating National Farmers Market week on Tuesday, August 12th. Join the King Street Market on August 12th, 2025 from 3:30 to 6:30pm for a day of celebration! With facepainting, live music, a cooking demonstration, community organizations and all of the incredible products grown and made with love by our vendors, this is a market you won’t want to miss!
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – August 5th, 2025
August 5, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Movie Review: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
July 31, 2025 The “First Steps” part of the title of the new “Fantastic Four” movie is misleading. We don’t see the superhero quartet take their first steps, not as changed individuals and not as a team. The movie takes place four years after a space anomaly altered the DNA of astronauts Reed “Mister Fantastic” Richards (Pedro Pascal), Ben “Thing” Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Johnny “Human Torch” Storm (Joseph Quinn) and his sister, Sue “Invisible Woman” Storm (Vanessa Kirby). Fortunately, the alterations turned out to be mostly positive, and the team uses their newfound gifts to better the planet of Earth-828.
Town of Boone Council Chambers Undergoing Renovations
July 31, 2025 Town of Boone, North Carolina— Beginning today, July 28th, 2025, the Town of Boone Council Chambers, located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road, will be undergoing necessary renovations. Once completed, Council Chambers will become more accessible and usable for both Town of Boone boards, as well as community groups who utilize the space for meetings. Council Chambers will be closed to the public from July 28th, 2025 to October 2025, with a reopening date set for November 2025.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – July 29th, 2025
July 29, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
Eclectic Folk Meets American Roots at the Jones House August 1Free Summer Concert with Noan Partly and Lazybirds
July 28, 2025 The Jones House Summer Concert Series continues on Thursday, August 1, with an evening of rich musical tradition and thoughtful songwriting, featuring Noan Partly and Lazybirds. Music kicks off at 5:30 PM on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone.
Blowing Rock Historical Society Holds Annual Meeting at American Legion 8/10 4:30- 6:00
July 28, 2025 The Blowing Rock Historical Society is holding its annual meeting on Sunday, August 10, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Blowing Rock American Legion Building, 333 Wallingford Street. This meeting is open to the public.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Board Elects New Leadership
July 28, 2025 At its business meeting this week, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) elected Mark Craig, of Guilford County, to serve as chairman and Landon G. Zimmer, of New Hanover County, was elected vice chairman.
Craig, an at-large appointee by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, has been on the Commission since 2013 serving for the past two years as vice chairman. He is President of R.H. Barringer Distributing Company and lives in Greensboro with his wife, Teresa. Craig is a strong proponent of utilizing a science-based approach to advocate for sustainable recommendations in wildlife management.
Local Artists David and Julie Davis to Exhibit at Jones House in August
July 28, 2025 The Jones House is proud to present a month-long exhibition featuring the dynamic works of local artists Julie Davis and David Davis. Opening August 1 and running through August 31, the exhibit will showcase an inspiring collection of mixed media works that reflect the artists’ decades-long dedication to craft, creativity, and the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains that they call home.
New priorities once Watauga County controls ambulance service.
July 16, 2025 During a June 17 Watauga County Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners unanimously voted to purchase Watauga Medics, Inc. The purchase price of $1.7 million includes a fleet of nine ambulances along with one station located in Boone.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Announces Winners of the39th Annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition
July 22, 2025 BOONE, NC— The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is pleased to announce the award winners of the 39th Annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, one of the region’s most prestigious and long-running sculpture programs. This year’s selections were juried by artist, educator, and curator Joseph Bigley, who brought his extensive knowledge and insight to the review and selection process.
Danny Platt and Loose Roosters to Perform at the Jones House on July 25
July 22, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Summer Concerts at the Jones House series continues on Friday, July 25, with an evening of heartfelt songwriting and roots rock energy featuring two local favorites. The concert begins at 5:30 PM on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone and is free and open to the public.
LETTER: Confusion
July 22, 2025 Written by: Craig Dudley. ‘Shut up racist’ is a refusal to engage or answer questions. Perhaps we should abolish whiteness. Most all white people do it seems is insult and misuse other races, but especially African Americans. It’s time to have that conversation. I don’t do generalizations, generally. Stereotypes are based on a portion of the population so identified but are certainly not applicable to all of that group. Stereotypes are earned, not given and black victimization is the default setting. Some people don’t grow up learning personal responsibility.
Movie Review: “I Know What You Did Last Summer”
July 22, 2025 I’ve never seen 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” all the way through. 11-year-old me was too young to see the R-rated slasher in theaters, which was just as well because I did see a trailer and lost many nights’ sleep over the killer’s deadly fishing hook. I eventually got caught up via highlights and recaps, to the point where I feel like watching the movie now would just be a redundant bore. This is all to say that I don’t have much loyalty to the original, outside of a begrudging respect for its ability to give me nightmares with something sharp. Once again, this is probably for the best, since without loyalty to the original, I don’t have to worry about betrayal on the part of the same-titled reboot.
Grandfather Mountain’s annual Junior Naturalist Day to take place on August 9
July 22, 2025 LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, will host its annual Junior Naturalist Day on Saturday, Aug. 9. Activities, included with admission, will be provided specifically for children ages 5 to 12 — though all ages are welcome — to explore their environment and experience all that Grandfather has to offer. Programming takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature birding with a naturalist, nature journaling, looking for lichen and more.
App State’s Corinne Smith honored as 2025 national GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year
July 22, 2025 BOONE, N.C. — Corinne Smith, director of Appalachian State University’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) and deputy director of College Access Partnerships, has received the 2025 GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year award. She was honored July 14, during the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships/GEAR UP Annual Conference in San Francisco.
Watauga, Avery Obituaries – July 22nd, 2025
July 22, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
BeanStalk Community Theatre Welcomes You to a World of Pure Imagination with Willy Wonka
July 16, 2025 BOONE, NC – BeanStalk Community Theatre invites you to unwrap a world of pure imagination with its upcoming production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, presented by Andrea McDonough State Farm Insurance and sponsored by Mast General Store. This musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises a sweet time for the whole family. Performances will take place at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, July 24–26, 2025.
Boone Sunrise Rotary Club Kicks Off its 40th Year of Service
July 16, 2025 Boone, NC July 1, 2025 – On July 1, 2025 Boone Sunrise Rotary began what will be a year long celebration of its 40th year of service to the Boone community, the High Country and beyond with a sold out breakfast meeting. The club presented its seventh annual Lifetime Community Service Award to Reba Moretz in the presence of numerous members of her family. The award was in recognition of her leadership in establishing Appalachian Ski Mountain, Appalachian Summer Festival, and her many donations to numerous causes. The club also inducted her as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow by donating $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation in her honor. The Foundation has been a leader in the elimination of polio worldwide.
Daniel Sherrill and The New Quintet Perform at the Jones House on July 18
July 16, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Summer Concerts at the Jones House series continues on Friday, July 18, with an evening of acoustic artistry and progressive roots traditions from two standout regional acts. The show begins at 5:30 PM on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone and is free and open to the public. Opening the evening is Daniel Sherrill, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter newly based in North Carolina. Performing on clawhammer banjo, guitar, and vocals, Sherrill brings a blend of rhythmic precision and melodic warmth to the stage. Winner of the 2025 App State Banjo Competition, Daniel is known for his intricate fretwork and lyrical, meditative style. His albums From A Heritage Tree (2022) and Back to P.A. (2023) have both appeared on multiple Official Spotify Playlists and received praise for their calming, “zen-like” atmosphere.