1) Icons to be Dedicated at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Boone
Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Boone cordially invites all members of the High Country community to attend the dedication of a special set of icons, or religious paintings, on Sunday, April 6. Icons, a central part of the devotional as well as artistic tradition of the Eastern Christian Churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox an Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches), are often known as “Windows into Heaven.” Icons portray religious persons such as Jesus, His mother, saints of Biblical scenes to instruct and edify the faithful, as well as to signify the incarnation of the Divine into the material world in the person of Christ. A specially donated set of icons painted by noted iconographer Gloria Lenakos Gaffney will be dedicated at Saints Peter and Paul Church after the 10:00 Sunday Morning Divine Liturgy service on April 6. The icons were donated to the church by the artist and by an anonymous donor. The Church is located at 707-7 N.C. 105 Bypass in Boone.
2) Family Fun Festival at Watauga High School
On Saturday, April 12 at 1-8 p.m., Watauga High School will host the first annual Family Fun Festival, a benefit for the Watauga County Extended Learning Centers and Holiday Snow Day Program. Watauga County Extended Learning Centers are nonprofit childcare centers providing quality childcare for more than 300 children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The centers provide critical support to working parents and rely entirely on parent fees and donations. This will be a day for children and families to share a great time together and benefit a worthy cause at the same time. The event will feature games and activities, live music, jump houses and an auction. Parental supervision is required for children to attend. Please help celebrate the Watauga County Schools after school programs and have a great time doing it at Watauga High School.
3) April Programs at Grandfather Mountain State Park
- Spring Wildflower Hikes: On Friday, April 4 at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 8 at 10 a.m. and Thursday, April 10 at 2 p.m., Friday, April 18 at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 20 at 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 22 at 1 p.m, Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24 Wednesday, April 23 at 1 p.m. the moist, rich coves surrounding the Profile Trail produce an astonishing array of spring wildflowers. Join a park ranger in weekly explorations of the trail to see what new spring flowers have emerged. Wear sturdy hiking boots, bring a jacket, water and snacks.
- Minerals You Can’t Live Without: On Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m. Have you ever looked at what kinds of things make up your favorite food, lipstick, coffee or other things that you like to call your favorites? Chances are you cannot make it without a natural mineral as part of its ingredients. Join a ranger to learn about all the many minerals that are out there that we use on a daily basis. You will be amazed at what some of the minerals we talk about are used for. Please dress accordingly for the weather as this will be about a 30-minute outdoor program.
- Volunteer Trail Work Day: On Saturday, April 19, join the park staff for a day of trail maintenance an get a feel for what goes into managing a highly popular hiking destination. Volunteers will learn how to safely and effectively use tools, be shown sustainable trail design techniques and become familiar with trail labor. Work will be based on experience and skill level of volunteers and will range from low to high physical activity level.
- Make a Kite: On Friday, April 25 at 5 p.m. Flying a kite can be fun, relaxing, competitive, and very colorful. But it’s not all fun and games; kites have been around since 200 B.C.. They have been used for many kinds of scientific research and also as a gateway for inventions such as the airplane. In celebration of National Kite Month (April) your encouraged to come listen to a Park Ranger give a PowerPoint presentation on the many neat things that have been done since 200 B.C. using kites. At the end of the PowerPoint you will have the opportunity to make your own Kite to take home and fly.