1) Visiting Filmmaker Screens Award-Winning Documentary Oct. 1 at Appalachian
Industrial hemp, healthy houses and a greener future for America are the topics of filmmaker Linda Booker’s latest documentary “Bringing it Home.” Booker will screen her film at Appalachian State University at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in room 114 in Belk Library and Information Commons. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Hansell at University Documentary Film Services at 828-262-7730. “Bringing it Home” tells the story of a father’s search to find the healthiest building materials to protect his family from illness. His search leads to the construction of the nation’s first hemp house. Hemp is a non-toxic, energy-efficient, mildew, fire and pest resistant building material. The drawback: industrial hemp is currently illegal to farm in the United States. Industrial hemp is a non-psychoactive plant, grown in 31 other countries, that is used to make thousands of sustainable products. It offers solutions for global warming, nutrition, poverty and deforestation. Here in the U.S., hemp could be a money-making crop for farmers and create jobs. Booker has directed a number of award-winning documentaries. Her 2008 film “Love Lived on Death Row” tells the powerful story of four siblings finding forgiveness for their father facing execution for the 1990 murder of their mother. The documentary screened at The New Orleans Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, Little Rock Film Festival and numerous other film festivals, universities and community screenings in the U.S. and abroad. She is the recipient of a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for a North Carolina screening tour of the film.
2) Cartoon Artists Stephen R. Bissette to Speak Sept. 26
Cartoon artist and writer Stephen R. Bissette is the guest of the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series Thursday, Sept. 26, at Appalachian State University. Bissette will present the craft talk “How to Make a Monster: Image-Making and Horror Comics” at 2 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Table Rock Room. His Visiting Writers Series presentation begins at 7:30 p.m., also in the Table Rock Room. Book sales and signing will follow the reading. The programs are free and the public is invited to attend. In addition, Bissette will introduce a double feature of a film verion of Amiri Baraka’s play “Dutchman” directed by Anthony Harvey, and the horror classic “Night of the Living Dead,” directed by George Romero, Friday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. in Greenbriar Theatre in the Plemmons Student Union. Bissette will conduct a discussion of the roles of race in American Horror Films. The films are sponsored by the A.P.P.S. Films Council. Admission is $1 and the public is welcome.
3) Breakfast at the Post Sept. 21
Start your Saturday right with The Watauga American Legion Post #130 at 135 Bear Trail at Junaluska City Park in Boone for Country Breakfast at the Post. On Saturday morning, Sept. 21 from 7-10 a.m. an all you can eat breakfast will be offered for $8 per person. The menu includes country ham, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits and gravy, hash browns, grits, cooked apples and fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee, buckwheat and regular pancakes. This event is open to the public.
4) VA Free Flu Shots
Watauga American Legion Post 130 is happy to announce that the Salisbury VA will be in Boone at Post 130 on 135 Bear Trail in Junaluska Town Park offering free flu shots to all veterans. The free shots will be given on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free shots will be available to all veterans currently using VA healthcare and to veterans possessing a DD-214 and a valid photo ID
5) First Annual Homecoming Run for Hunger
The First Annual Homecoming Run for Hunger will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 for the Hunger and Health Coalition. The 5K will begin at Mayor’s Park on the Greenway Trail. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the race will begin at 9 a.m. Register early online at www.hungerandhealthcoalition.com or register on race day.
6) Flu Shot Clinics
Flu shot clinics will be held at the Lois E. Harrell Senior Center on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 9a.m.-12 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 28 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Flu vaccinations are free if you have Medicare Part B. Please bring your Medicare card or other insurance cards. For those without insurance, shots will cost $29.99. Please plan to pay at the time of service. No appointment necessary.
7) Boone Worthwhile Women’s Club Meeting
The Boone Worthwhile Women’s Club will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 11:30 a.m. at Sagebrush Steakhouse in Boone. For more information, call Frances at 828-262-0155 or Baben at 828-264-2539.
8) BeanStalk Community Theatre Holding Auditions
Beanstalk Community Theatre will hold auditions for their Christmas show, “The One and Only Santa Claus” on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m. in the Hardin Park Elementary School Little Theatre. Please contact Amy Beane at beanstalkcommunitytheatre@gmail.com or 828-312-0263 with any questions.
9) Alta Vista Gallery Hosts Reception Sept. 28
On Sept. 28, Alta Vista Gallery will host an Opening Reception for artist E. Jean Pollock from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The show’s theme is “Favorite Places.” Polluck will be at the gallery to show 15 new oils of places that are favorites of many of us such as Blue Ridge Mountains, Julian Price Park, Bass Lake, farms and flower gardens. Pollock’s new oils include a variety of sizes, from 6×8 inches to 24×30 inches. Pollock is a nationally collected, award-winning artist, who has been painting for 6o years. On Oct. 26, Alta Vista Gallery will host an Opening Reception for Amos Westmoreland from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. As the gallery’s newest artist, it’s fitting that Westmoreland will be at the gallery to celebrate its 23rd anniversary. Westmoreland will show 12 new oils in his loose impressionist style with a theme of “Autumn in the High Country.” Alta Vista Gallery shows over 100 artists in oils, watercolors, pastels and prints as well as stained glass, fused glass, jewelry, art tiles and Magnum Pottery. The gallery is located 10 minutes from Boone or Banner Elk, in an historic farmhouse at 2839 Broadstone Road in Valle Crucis between Mast Farm Inn and Mast Store Annex. For more information, call the gallery at 828-963-5247.