1) Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day Held Oct. 4
On Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Northwest NC Mountain Bike Alliance in conjunction with Luna Cycles will host the first annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day as part of the national TKMBD festivities coordinated by the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). The event will be held at the newly built Zacks Fork Mountain Bike Trail in Lenoir. The trailhead is located adjacent to the Lenoir Rotary Soccer Complex at 1050 Zacks Fork Rd. in Lenoir. There is no cost to participate and parents are encouraged to ride with their children. There will be prizes and swag for all participants. Parents are encouraged to ensure that their children’s bikes are in good working condition prior to the day of the event as no mechanical service will be available. Helmets are mandatory for participants under the age of 16 as per NC law and helmet use is strongly encouraged for adults as well. You can register your child online and more information is available at the Zacks Fork Mountain Bike Trail Facebook page.
2) School Bus Driver Classes Offered Sept. 30-Oct. 2
School bus driver training will be offered at Watauga High School on Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. The classes are free and run from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. Before attending the class, anyone who is not a current Watauga County Schools employee must have a recommendation from the principal or assistant principal at the school where they want to be hired. A school bus driver training class must be completed in order to receive the license (CDL) required to drive a school bus in North Carolina. The starting pay for school bus drivers in Watauga County is currently $13.32 per hour. Each student’s driving record is screened through the NC Division of Motor Vehicles the first day of class. In addition to the driving record check, a criminal background check is conducted of all prospective school system employees before they start work. Each student should bring their drivers license, social security card, a pen or pencil and a highlighter to the first meeting. For directions or additional information, please contact Jeff Lyons or Debbie Ray at 828-264-6391.
3) H.A.M. Biscuit Breakfast Held Sept. 27
Casting Bread Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen would like to advertise the H.A.M. Biscuit Breakfast to honor Hunger Action Month. It will be on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8-10 a.m. Coffee and water will also be available. This breakfast will be free to anyone with donations graciously accepted.
4) Overmountain Men Program at Linville Falls Campground Sept. 20
Glimpses in History: The Overmountain Men will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 20 at Linville Falls Campground. Take a step back and hear about the men from over the mountain who placed their mark in history and turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. Come learn their story and get a feel for what life in the backwater country was like.
5) Business Essentials Seminar Offered Sept. 23
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m., The N.C. Department of Revenue, N.C. Secretary of State, N.C. Industrial Commission and N.C. Department of Commerce Division of Employment Security will present a seminar titled “Business Essentials” at the Watauga County Pubic Library. each agency will cover basic requirements to help businesses in North Carolina understand the laws and obligations necessary to be a compliant business. At the end of the seminar, there will be a question and answer session with the presenters and networking possibilities with other business owners. Don’t miss this great opportunity.
6) Music Moves My Sole 5K Held Sept. 27
Split Rail Records, Appalachian State University’s student-run record label, will host its first ever “Music Moves My Sole” 5K race on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 9 a.m. The race will begin and end at Duck Pond on the campus and will feature various local artists performing along the route to encourage the runners on their way. Advanced registration is available at www.splitrailrecords.com through Sept. 19. The $15 fee covers registration and guarantees a race-day T-shirt. This is a family friendly event and runners of all ages and ability levels are invited to attend. Prizes will be awarded in various age categories. While 5K fundraisers are not sparse in the High Country, Kim Wangler thinks that “Music Moves My Sole” will stand out from the crowd as an annual favorite. Wangler is director of Appalachian’s music industry studies program. “We have local musicians set up to play along the route while our runners are out and we can’t wait to showcase the amazing talent we have here in Boone,” she said. Runners will also be treated to door prizes and refreshments from local companies and will be able to buy merchandise from participating bands.