1) Appalachian State University Community Music School Offers Musical Excellence
Registration is now open for the Appalachian State University Community Music School (ASU-CMS). This program provides non-credit music instructio for children and adults from our local community, as well as surrounding Western NC counties. The ASU-CMS is uniquely able to combine university expertise with area teaching artists to provide outstanding musical training. Individual instruction in Suzuki violin and cello is available, as well as traditional violin, viola and cello. Suzuki and traditional guitar instruction is offered and additional offerings include flute, piano, harp, trumpet and a sight-singing class (the ability to sing a melody just reading notes from the score, without having heard it before). Teaching artists include ASU faculty and students as well as community musicians. Fees vary according to teaching artist’s training and experience. Read more at http://music.appstate.edu – just choose the “about” tab, and select Community Music School. You can also email the Director, Ed Allison, at allisonec@appstate.edu. Do not delay – registration ends soon, and classes begin August 20!
2) HCAS Meeting Aug. 20
High Country Audubon (HCAS) will have its next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Boone. The monthly meeting on Aug. 20 will feature John Connors speaking on chimney swifts. Until his recent retirement, John served as coordinator of the Naturalist Center at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. High Country Audubon Society covers Avery, Ashe, Alleghany, Watauga and Wilkes counties. HCAS invites the public to attend the monthly meetings and field trips. Announcements about meeting and field trips can be found on their website www.highcountryaudubon.org.
3) Appalachian Rhythm Registration
Fall registration for Appalachian Rhythm has begun. Beginner through advanced level classes and competition teams are available for ages 3 to adult. Please call 828-268-1926 to register. Open house on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 1-4 p.m. located behind Boone Mall between Curves and LogHouse Florist
4) International Convention
A new company. A new opportunity. A new you. That is the message Market America I SHOP.COM will deliver to more than 20,000 eager entrepreneurs at its upcoming 2013 International Convention in Greensboro. This year’s event, to be held Aug. 8-11 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro will showcase the latest developments in Market America ISHOP.COM’s high-tech, high-touch approach to retailing, which has made the company a leading player in the global e-retailing sector, as evidenced by its inclusion on Internet Retailer Magazine’s Top 500 Guide, coming in on the list at number 57. “We are successfully combining e-retailing, social media, one-to-one marketing, product brokering and entrepreneurism, leading to vast new opportunities,” said President and Chief Executive Officer JR Ridinger. “At this event, we will reveal more ways we are making it easier for consumers to find the best products and prices and for entrepreneurs to leverage it like never before.” Among the technological advancements to be on display at the convention: The company’s new Virtual Home Advisor, a tool enabling customers to save by comparing products currently in their homes to alternatives offered through SHOP.COM; redesigned features throughout SHOP.COM; expanded social shopping developments through the SHOP.COM TrendShop application and more. Market America|SHOP.COM 2013 International Convention will feature the Market America Executive Team, successful entrepreneurs and celebrity guests. Previous Market America events have been attended by the likes of Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, Serena Williams, Alejandro Sanz, Khloe Kardashian-Odom, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Tony Romo, Swizz Beatz, Paulina Rubio, and Marc Anthony, among many others. In addition, Market America|SHOP.COM 2013 International Convention will feature numerous new product launches from its wide assortment of health & nutrition and beauty and personal care brands. Modern Day Romance, the Fall/Winter 2013 collection from the award-winning Motives by Loren Ridinger cosmetics line created by Market America|SHOP.COM Senior Vice President Loren Ridinger, will be unveiled. Following the hottest color trends for the season, Modern Day Romance products, in addition to line expansions for both the Motives and Motives for La La brands, will be available immediately exclusively at www.SHOP.COM and www.MotivesCosmetics.com. The company is also expanding its widely-successful skincare brand, Lumiere de Vie. The newest offerings from beauty and fashion expert Amber Ridinger McLaughlin, complement the existing products that have garnered worldwide press and devoted followers after experiencing remarkable results since Lumiere de Vie launched a mere six months ago. Market America is also heading into a new market – baby and child care – with the launch of DNA Miracles and DNA Miracles Natural created by new parents Duane McLaughlin and Amber Ridinger McLaughlin. The new lines will be comprised of high quality body and wellness products for babies, children and expectant mothers, with DNA Miracles Natural products carefully formulated to include natural ingredients and formulas for young children. The company’s weight loss division, TLS Weight Loss Solution, will award $75,000 in cash prizes to the winners of the TLS Find Your Fit 2013 Spring Challenge, and open registration for its next challenge. The TLS Find Your Fit 2013 Fall Challenge will award even bigger cash prizes – $100,000 total – and feature a new twist: The winners will be selected by the public during a week-long online vote. Participants can register and view more information by visiting www.tlsSlim.com. The company will also launch multiple new health & nutrition products, including: Isotonix Immune, the latest product in the company’s revolutionary Isotonix line of advanced nutritional supplements; Frusanté, a dietary supplement beverage that blends white, green and black teas with superfruits and coconut water to help support the health of your cardiovascular system; Choice Bars, convenient energy and protein bars that provide combine a great-tasting, guilt-free treat that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere; and TLS Whey Protein, an rBGH-free, fast-absorbing shake provides the protein you need — and nothing you don’t — to meet your fitness and weight loss goals. During the event, attendees will be treated to musical performances from Conquer Entertainment artists including Nadia Turner, a finalist from season 4 of American Idol; and Olamide Faison, R&B singer/songwriter and actor who has been featured by Essence magazine, BET and other media outlets.Throughout the week, successful Market America entrepreneurs will share their success stories and tips on how anyone with desire and dedication can find their own success through the Market America business model. “This is one of the biggest, most all-encompassing events we’ve put on in the history of the company,” said Chief Operating Officer Marc Ashley. “The company is stronger than ever. The opportunity for success is greater than ever. We’re developing new technologies and new products to meet the demand of the marketplace, and we’re looking forward to bringing in new talented entrepreneurs as we pursue our mission to change the way people shop.”
5) Friday Night Music on the Lawn at Ragged Gardens
The Buck Haggard Band will be playing at Music on the Lawn at the Inn at Ragged Gardens in Blowing Rock on Friday, Aug. 9. The shop will run from 5:30-8:00 p.m. and is free for the public to attend. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket to get comfortable. Cash bar is available.
6) Farmland Preservation Meeting
The Farmland Preservation Program Advisory Board will hold a meeting on Monday, Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. in the Soil and Water District Office.
7) Linville Falls Winery Event
On Sunday, Aug. 11, Linville Falls Winery will be having live music from 3-6 p.m. from Redleg Husky and Mama Dukes Wood Fired Pizza from 12-6 p.m. Come enjoy the afternoon and try out new wines!
8) Fundraiser at Linville Falls Winery
Don’t forget! Mark your calendars! Put it in your planner! Tie a string around your finger! Do whatever you need to do to make sure you are there. These families need our help. Linville Falls Winery, in cooperation with Reaching Avery Ministries (RAM’s Rack) and WAMY, will be hosting a fundraiser for the victims of the N.C. 194 mudslide on Aug. 10 from 12-5 p.m. The winery will be donating a percentage of wine sales for the day to be administered through Ram’s Rack directly to the Bailey and Thompson families. There will be live music from 2-5 p.m. as well as winery tours and hiking trails through the winery and Christmas tree farm. They would like to extend an invitation to area businesses to participate in this event by displaying and selling your product at the winery that day in support of these families who need our help.
9) Blowing Rock State of the Town Event
The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce in coordination with its Community and Government Committee and the Town of Blowing Rock all invite residents and business owners to attend The State of the Town Event. Come hear about the latest happenings in Blowing Rock. The event will be facilitated by Blowing Rock’s mayor, J.B. Lawrence and will feature several important officials for the Town of Blowing Rock including Bob Shepard (interim Town Manager), Eric Brown (Chief of Police), Kent Graham (EMS Director), Jennifer Brown (Parks and Recreation), Mike Wilcox (Public Works) and Kevin Rothrock (Planning and Inspections). Also speaking will be a DOT representative to update the community on the status of the 321 widening project. This special event will bring everyone up to date on town projects and department updates and Chamber of Commerce events and programs. At the conclusion of the presentations, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Join us on Thursday, Aug. 8, at 5:30 p.m. in the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Community Meeting Room on the second floor. We look forward to seeing you there!