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Email Announcements Received Today:

1) A Sanders Family Christmas Premieres Dec. 11

Johnson County Community Theatre will present “A Sanders Family Christmas” on Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2:30 p.m. at First Christian Church located at 401 W. Main St. in Mountain City, Tenn. This is a family-friendly production featuring gospel music and Christmas musical favorites set in the 1940s. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Any proceeds will be split between Johnson County Community Theatre and First Christian Church Food Pantry.

2) Boone Healing Arts Center Celebrates Second Birthday

The Boone Healing Arts Center will celebrate its second birthday on Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The event will feature raffle prizes, mini workshops, community art shows and huge discounts.

3) A Simple Solution to a Complex Problem Proves a Winner at Design Competition

Personal experience, creativity and the ability to simplify a complex problem have resulted in an award-winning project for two Appalachian State University industrial design majors in the Department of Technology and Environmental Design. Seniors Sean Smith of Weddington and Zach Starin of Fredrick, Md., won second place and $10,000 at the annual Retail & Health Innovation Challenge held at Wake Forest University. It was sponsored by CVS. Smith and Starin’s winning design is called MyO’Bility, a device for individuals rehabilitating from knee injuries. They came up with their concept, prototype and design business plan in less than three weeks. “The competition called for designs for an innovative, retail medical product,” Starin said. Smith added, “We knew we needed a hook for the story, so we went with my experience in rehabilitation after breaking my leg last year.” “We wanted some way we could tell our story and design a product that went along with that,” said Starin, who has had family members face rehab following knee injuries or surgery. “When Sean started talking about his experience, it clicked with me and we just took off designing our product.” Their device is comprised of Polystyrene pads that attach above and below the knee with Velcro and have rubber tubing, such as exercise bands, that attaches to each piece, which provides resistance when doing leg extension exercise.

4) ASU Professor Finds Carbohydrate in Pistachio Nuts Impairs Athletic Performance

A recent study by David Nieman, DrPH, director of the Appalachian State University Human Performance Laboratory at the N.C. Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, found that a special type of carbohydrate, raffinose, found in pistachio nuts and other foods reduced athletic performance when consumed prior to intense exercise. Nieman is also a professor in Appalachian’s College of Health Sciences.

5) Community Appearance Commission Meeting Held Tuesday, Dec. 9

A meeting of the Town of Boone Community Appearance Commission will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. in the Planning and Inspections Conference Room located at 680 W. King St.