1) Final Week to Pre-Register for High Country Turkey Trot 5K
or the fourth consecutive year the High Country Turkey Trot 5K will take place Thanksgiving morning on the Boone Greenway Trail at the Clawson-Burnley Park entrance. The 5K timed run will kick off at 9 a.m. with casual runners, joggers and walkers immediately following. This is the final week to pre-register with online registration at www.HCTurkeyTrot.org closing Sunday Nov. 23. To be guaranteed a commemorative long-sleeve t-shirt, participants must pre-register. Pre-registration is $30 for adults & teens and $10 for kids 12 and under. Adult & teen registration includes a commemorative long sleeve t-shirt while kids registration includes a winter beanie. To receive a commemorative t-shirt, participants must be registered as an adult/teen. New this year, if you are not a morning person, addicted to watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or stuck at home cooking the Turkey – you can still participate and receive a commemorative long-sleeve T-Shirt by pre-registering for the $30 Sleep-In Option.
2) Watauga Sanitation Department Closed Nov. 27
The Watauga County Sanitation Department (Transfer Station and ALL Convenience Centers) will be CLOSED on Thursday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving Day. All Convenience Centers, including Bethel, and the Transfer Station will be open on Friday, Nov. 28. For more information, call 264-5305.
3) Matching Gift Opportunity
The Watauga County Community Foundation has a special opportunity this November to participate in a challenge matching campaign to build our community grantmaking fund, the Watauga Legacy Fund. This challenge is made possible through a special Chairman’s Challenge Campaign of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Any gifts we raise for the Watauga Legacy Fund between November 1 and November 30 of this year will receive a proportional share of the matching pool, now at $125,000. To be eligible for the match, gifts must be postmarked no later than Nov. 30. The Watauga Legacy Fund represents an important permanent source of financial support for nonprofits in our county. Since 1994, the Watauga Community Foundation has awarded more than $115,000 to local nonprofits through the Watauga Legacy Fund. This year alone, the Watauga County Community Foundation Board approved 12 grants totaling more than $18,000 for groups working on a wide range of local issues including education and youth development, environmental conservation, hunger alleviation, and intergenerational poverty. As the Watauga Legacy Fund grows through additional gifts and investment returns, so too will the impact it will achieve for Watauga County. Please join me in supporting this special effort to grow the Watauga Legacy Fund. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 524, Boone, NC 28607. Should you wish to make your gift online by credit card, you may visit the website of the North Carolina Community Foundation at www.nccommunityfoundation.org. Select the “Give Now” button at the top left of the screen and follow the prompts to make a gift for the 2014 Chairman’s Challenge for Watauga County. Thank you for joining me in this effort-I appreciate your consideration and generosity.
4) Winter Events in Blowing Rock
End of Prohibition Celebration at The New Public House: Join us in exercising our constitutional right to purchase alcohol and party like it’s Dec. 5 & 6, 1933! On Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 from 4-10 p.m., we will be celebrating the Ratification of the 21st Amendment and the End of Prohibition with the 1930s inspired festivities including free passed hors d’oeuvres in the bar from 4-7, $50 gift certificate awarded to the best dressed couple, say the password and receive a Speakeasy Membership Card good for discounts in the restaurant, takke the new Washington PLedge and go down in New Public House history, dinner in our Speakeasy (reservations recommended), door prizes and giveaways from Fair Game Beverage Company.
New Dogs at Bistro Roca: A solo art exhibition by Susan McCall will be held Dec. 6 through Jan. 3 during restaurant hours. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 4-6 p.m.
5) Maureen Reniham Performs Live Jazz for the Holidays
Boone vocalist, Maureen Renihan is taking the stage at venues throughout the High Country singing jazz and holiday classics. Renihan has always considered herself an actress that sings and has performed in several area theater productions. After connecting with local jazz musicians, she began singing with a quintet and big band until recently branching out on her own. Accompanied by talented and accomplished jazz musicians, performances feature: ASU faculty Keith McCutchen and Andy Page, as well as Nathan Hefner from Hickory and Troy Conn from Charlotte.
Nov. 21 Timberlake’s at Chetola 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 29 Lost Province 8-11 p.m.
Dec. 3 Timberlake’s at Chetola 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 10 Timberlake’s at Chetola 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 17 Timberlake’s at Chetola 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 19 Timberlake’s at Chetola 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 26 Lost Province 8-11 p.m.
Dec. 27 Andy Page w/Maureen at Famous Fast Eddies Beech Mountain 7-10 p.m.
Dec. 31 NYE at Spoon in Spruce Pine 8- midnight
6) Red Velvet Cake War Shows Nov. 20-22
The Blue Ridge Community Theatre production of the Southern comedy The Red Velvet Cake War is at the Harvest House in Boone on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m., Nov. 20, 21 and 22. The tickets are available at the door: $20 includes beverages and an assortment of Red Velvet cakes supplied by five local restaurants and bakers! ($15 for students with ID).