1) Watauga Public Library Hosts Third Thursday April 17
The Watauga Public Library’s book/movie discussion group invites you to join them for a movie viewing of Matewan on April 17 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. John Sayle’s 1987 film Matewan dramatizes union efforts in the West Virginia coalfields during the early 20th Century. Primarily the film deals with the events leading up to the “Matewan Massacre” on May 19, 1920 in which Sheriff Sid Hatfield, along with two others, confronted Baldwin-Felts Detectives operation on behalf of area mine owners for the eviction of families from the Stone Mountain Coal Camp. The film has a rating of PG-13 and an approximate run time of 135 minutes. For more information, call 828-264-8784.
2) Wind Ensemble and Trumpeter Mitchell Townley Perform April 16
The Appalachian Wind Ensemble and the 2014 Hayes School of Music concerto winner will perform April 16. The program begins at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free. Trumpeter and concerto competition winner Mitchell Townley will join the wind ensemble.
3) Call for Vendors for the Blowing Rock Farmers Market
The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for the Blowing Rock Farmers Market which begins May 29 and runs each Thursday from 4-6 p.m. through Oct. 16 (rain or shine). Vendors with merchandise grown or produced in Watauga, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Catawba and Wilkes Counties in North Carolina and Grayson County, Virginia and Johnson County, Tennessee are eligible to apply. Produce, plants, processed foods and consumables and meats may be sold at the market. No craft vendors please.
4) Downtown Boone’s Spring Story Walk
The Downtown Boone Development Association and the Watauga County Library are delighted to once again host a downtown Boone Story Walk. The downtown Boone spring Story Walk started on April 1 and will continue until May 12. Families, school and church groups are encouraged to participate in this community event. The Story Walk Project was first created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library. The goal of the story walk project is to encourage families to enjoy being outside and increasing exercise while at the same time promoting reading throughout the community. The downtown Boone Story Walk places a laminated page or set of pages from a children’s book in downtown store windows. Children and their families can walk from store to store reading a book while enjoying Downtown Boone. This spring’s story is the timeless classic, “The Golden Egg” by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard. Families may pick up a map and further information about the story walk at the youth services desk at the Watauga County Library. The Story Walk follows Depot, Howard and West King Streets respectively. Parking for story walk participants is available at the Library as well as the Queen Street parking meters. This will be the third story walk put on by the DBDA and the Watauga County Library. The other Story Walks took place at Halloween and the Christmas season. The hope of DBDA and the Library is that downtown Boone will have three annual Story Walks; one in fall, one at Christmas and one during the springtime. The Story Walks provide a safe, fun activity for families to engage in together while at the same time allowing families to enjoy and discover downtown Boone. For more information please contact Downtown Coordinator Virginia Falck at 828-262-4532 or Lisa Flanigan at 828-264-8784.
5) April Health and Wellness Events at Boone Healing Arts Center
With spring finally here, it is an excellent time to refresh the mind, body and soul. The Boone Healing Arts Center, a cooperative of holistic health practitioners, will host a variety of health and wellness events and workshops in April, which are designed to inspire, inform and educate participants in the latest and most transformative practices for total mind, body and spirit health.
- Tea Friendship Caravan: On Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m., the event will begin with a traditional Chinese Gongfu style tea ceremony, a casual social ritual that promotes relaxation and openness. Eric Karchmer, acupuncturist at the Center will present information on traditional Chinese theories about nutrition. Light snacks will be provided and participants will receive 20 percent off Panther Moon teas and teaware the day of the event. Preregistration is highly recommended.
- Free Yoga Class for Cancer Survivors: On Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m., Join Kathie Billing, RN, Registered Yoga Teacher, cancer survivor, director and founder of Soul Moving Yoga, for gentle yoga, healing, support and camaraderie. This free class is designed for anyone at any stage of a cancer diagnosis. Registration highly recommended. Yoga has been shown to help with range of motion, unwanted feelings, body image and fatigue. Participants are asked to bring a doctor’s note saying they are able to attend a yoga class.
- Ayurvedic Cooking Class: On Saturday, April 26 at 3 p.m. Ayurvedic cuisine is unique for its emphasis on making sure each dish is cooked and spiced so as to achieve maximum digestibility to avoid the formation of toxins. It considers not only metabolism but also connections to seasons and environmental factors. Participants will make an Indian vegan and gluten-free dinner menu and dessert, including spinach and chickpea sauce with tofu, coconut rice with spices and fruit marmalade with spices. Class costs $50 an includes meal and recipe packets.
- Sweet Sensation Cooking Workshop: On Wednesday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m., participants will learn howto use alternative sweeteners to make sweet treats without processed white sugar. Menu includes almond butter cups, pumpkin spice granola bars, chocolate chip cookie dough bites, health skin chocolate pudding and raw pumpkin cheesecake. All recipes are dairy free, gluten free and vegetarian and free of refined sugar. Cost is $35 if registered by April 28 and $40 if registered after that. Includes printed recipes, handouts and food samples. A non refundable deposit is required to secure a spot.
6) New River Brass Quintet Performs April 13
The Hayes School of Music’s Faculty Performance Series will present the New River Brass Quintet April 13 at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free. The quintet members are James Stokes, trumpet; Brent Bingham, trumpet; Karen L. Robertson, horn; Drew C. Leslie, trombone; and Christopher J. Blaha, tuba. All are members of the Hayes School of Music Faculty.
7) Woodlands BBQ, Operation Mama Gaye and Appalachian Rollergirls Team Up to Held Clara Hartley and J. Miller May 15 at 4 p.m.
A fundraiser will be held at Woodlands Barbeque featuring the full menu with Mountain Radio Band and raffles galore. Take out will be available with a front parking spot for convenience. For take out, call 828-295-3651. Local servers include Shannon Hampton, Rhonda Gailes, Lena Steen, Tracy Brown, Billy Barker, Keith McDonald, Deedee Taylor, Doug Matheson, Kim Fox, Leigh Ann Byrd, Todd and Kim Hartley, Chris and Wendy Estes. Woodlands Barbeque will be graciously donating a portions of all sales and all serves will be donating all tips. Appalachian Rollergirls will be having raffles throughout the evening. Clara Hartley has lived in Blowing Rock her entire life. She and her husband Gwyn have owned and operated Hartley’s Interior since 1977. They have three children, Kim Bretsnyder, Tammy Hartley and Todd Hartley. Clara was diagnosed with ALS in August. She plans to use the funds to help pay for a computer that will speak for her and a chair that will transport her up her stairs to her home. Jerry Miller and his wife Pat have lived in Blowing Rock for more than 10 years. They have both worked at Blue Ridge Rental since they arrived in the area. Jerry is a brain and esophogeal cancer survivor. He continues to face many medical challenges and is unable to work at this time. Jerry plans to use the funds to help pay bills and hopes to purchase a reclining hospital bed. We hope you and your family come out to show love, give hope and listen to good old music and eat some delicious barbeque. All money raised from the event will be split equally between Clara and Jerry.