1000 x 90

Email Announcements We Are Receiving Today: See What’s Going On Around The Community

Compiled from emails by Madison V. Fisler

1) Schaefer Popular Series Kicks Off with Idina Menzel on July 18

An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Schaefer Popular Series kicks off with Broadway superstar and Glee sensation Idina Menzel at the Grand Opening of the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on July 18 at 8 p.m. Accompanied by the Eastern Festival Orchestra, Menzel will be performing some of her classic pop and musical theatre favorites, including hits from Wicked, Rent and her album Live: Barefoot at the Symphony. Tickets are still available. 

2) First Annual Wellness Weekend at Buckeye Recreation Center

On Saturday, July 20-Sunday July 21, there will be a health fair all weekend long including physicians, health and wellness specialists, nutritionists, vendors, massage therapists and more. 

3) High Country Audubon Society

Join High County Audubon Society on Tuesday, July 16, at the Elk Valley Preserve and Field Station for the annual meeting and potluck dinner. The event will start out at 5 p.m. with birding with dinner about 6 p.m. Please bring some food to share and HCAS will provide beverages and ice. We want to minimize waste, so please bring your own plate, cup and utensils. There will be a brief business meeting at which members will elect a vice-president and treasurer and announce the winner of the Sue Wells Research Grant. HCAS will be having another silent auction. The funds raised will be used to support HCAS’s projects and conservation work. There will also be bird and nature related books from Daedalus Books available for sale. HCAS invites the public to attend the monthly meetings and field trips. For directions to Elk Valley Preserve check High Country Hoots on the HCAS website. 

4) BeanStalk Little Theater Presents Night in the Wax Museum

BeanStalk Little Theater presents Night in the Wax Museum, July 26 at 7 p.m.  and July 27 at 2 p.m. at Valborg Theater on ASU campus. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students 12 and under. Directed by Amy Beane, produced by Andrea McDonough. Come out and see the local talent of adults and children of the High Country and support community theater. Tickets on sale at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

5) Weekend Scenic Lift Rides

Starting July 4, chairlift rides run every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Bring the whole family, a picnic lunch, your montain bike or just a friend and enjoy a breathtaking 45 minute round-trip lift ride on Summit #2 to Sugar’s 5,300 foot peak. The scenery is remarkable. For bike riders, mounted hooks on the backs of the chairs carry your bike to the top. Hand your bike to the lift attendant at the bottom of the Summit #2 lift, jump on the chair and enjoy the ride. The lift attendant will unload your bike at the top. The Village of Sugar Mountain town ordinance requires helmets to be worn by all riders. 

6) The 22nd Annual Avery County Chamber of Commerce Fine art and Master Craft Festival

85 juried artisans showcase their unique handcrafted mediums in the quaint town of Banner Elk, July 18 through the 20. These High Country and international artisans are juried for their unique mediums and talents with each offering wares for the discriminating buyer to others creating whimsical wares for the fun in all of us. Free family event. Friday 4-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is one fathering of artists you won’t want to miss. 

7) Watauga Humane Society $15 Spay/Neuter Summer Special

From July 4 through Labor Day, the Watauga Humane Society will offer an awe inspiring $15 summer special on Spay/Neuter services for dogs and cats both male and female. The goal is to spay/neuter at least 100 pets in need, in the month of July and even more in August. For more information or to make a reservation, call the Humane Society. Anyone can quality who is having trouble affording spay/neuter. No lengthy forms or proof of income required. An honest expression of the need for assistance is all that is asked. Financial support for this wonderful special is provided by the Watauga Humane “SNIPS” committee. SNIPS’ mission is to spread the word that spay/neuter is a positive solution to pet overpopulation and euthanasia. SNIPS sells crafts at craft fairs, holds plant sales and engages in other fundraising activities to raise money for the spay/neuter of animals in our community and neighboring communities. SNIPS works hard to ensure that people who cannot afford this important service receive assistance. 

8) Morning Star Gallery Features Paintings by Norma Fowler

Morning Star Gallery invites the public to view paints by new area artist, Norma Fowler, this Friday, July 12 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. This is the first time Ms. Fowler’s paintings have been show in the eastern United States. Her acrylics and watercolors are well known out west for her lively portrayals of mountain landscapes. Norma’s expressionistic style brings alive the Blue Ridge Mountains in this group pf paintings on canvas and panel. Norma’s paintings are well known in the west where she resided for many years. Her work as the Executive Director of the North Tahoe Art Center brought her recognition for her own art as well as for her organization and promotion of art unique to that community. Ms. Fowler comments that “painting for me is putting colors from my heart and soul onto paper and canvas.” Her adventurous and creative spirit is richly expressed in this small collection of new art. Morning Star Gallery is happy to introduce Norma Fowler to the High Country Community. Morning Star Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is located at 1151 So. Main Street in Blowing Rock. 

9) General Membership and Programs Additions

There will be a general membership meeting of the Friends of the High Country State Parks on Wednesday, July 17, at 6 p.m. in room 421 of Appalachian State University’s Belk Library and Information Commons. The meeting will include a summary of the fundraising efforts from the annual Canoe Race and discussion about the park needs to be addressed with the raised funds. We are looking for additional board members and will solicit volunteers for those positions as well. Please mark the date on your calendar and plan to attend. In other news, there has been another program added to the program calendar for New River State Park in July. There is a program and bird walk at the US 221 Access on July 27 at 8:30 a.m. 

10) Banner House Museum

The 2013 season for the Banner House Museum is June 15-October 18, Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the final daily tour beginning at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children ages 6-12. Located at 7990 Hickory Nut Gap Road in Banner Elk. Take a guided tour through time in this home built circa late 1860 by Samuel Banner, one of Banner Elk’s founding families.