Click here for the compiled email announcements for the week.
1) The Walker Center Presents Clint Black on Nov. 16
The Walker Center, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, will present the legendary Clint Black on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. This performance is sponsored by Carolina West Wireless. Prolific singer-songwriter Clint Black has long been heralded as one of country music’s brightest stars. His many talents have taken him even further, as Black has transcended genres to become one of the most successful artists in all the music industry. To date, Black has written, recorded and released more than 100 songs, a benchmark in any artist’s career. An astounding one-third of these songs achieved hit status, while more than 20 million of his albums have been sold worldwide. While it is well-known that Black is an accomplished singer and guitarist, people may be surprised to learn that he is also proficient on drums and harmonica. Black’s continued success can be attributed in part to his deep sense of country music’s history and his humble gratitute in being an important part of it. The 1989 debut of his critically acclaimed fan favorite, the triple platinum Killin’ Time marked a shift in the industry, with a return to the more traditional sounds of the genre. A limited number of tickets are available for this performance. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact the Walker Center Box Office at 336-838-6260.
2) Campus Emergency Siren Test Conducted Nov. 6
Appalachian State University will conduct a test of its campus siren warning system on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 11:55 a.m. For more information about the university’s AppState ALERT voice/text/email notification system, visit www.emergency.appstate.edu.
3) Community Appearance Commission Meeting
The Community Appearance Commission will hold a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m.
4) SEAM Dinner
We invited all emerging High Country farmers and food producers to submit an idea. Awards of less than $1,000 can go toward funding a new tool, infrastructure improvement, conference fees, or any other project which will help you develop and grow as a producer. Proposals will be anonymously screened by a panel of area food systems experts, who will choose three projects. Selection criteria will be based upon the creativity, feasibility, readiness, and sustainability of the projects. Applicants will be notified by November 1, 2013. The three selected applicants will present their proposals to community members at a locally sourced, family-style dinner on November 10, 2013. The dinner will be hosted at CoBo Sushi Bistro of Boone, with ticket sales providing project funding. All are invited to attend. Following the presentations, attendees will vote to determine the allocation of funds to each of the proposals. All three projects will receive awards, but with varying levels of investment. To submit a proposal, email S.E.A.M. at seamnc@gmail.com.
5) Boone Event on Prescription Drug Abuse
AccessCare of the Blue Ridge, Community Care of North Carolina and Project Lazarus hold education in pain management and opioid addiction including clinical training for physicians and prescribers and community training for community stakeholders on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Across the United States, rates of prescription drug abuse and accidental overdose have risen to epidemic proportions. Project Lazarus was created to combat North Carolina’s high rate of prescription drug overdoses and improve the treatment of chronic pain. These training sessions provide physicians, dentists and community stakeholders with practical ways to work together to improve care and patient safety.
6) Lewis Ledford Retiring
North Carolina’s state parks director for the past 10 years is leaving state government to become the head of a national association for similar state leaders. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced Monday that Lewis Ledford is retiring at the end of the year to join the National Association of State Park Directors as its executive director. Ledford began working in the North Carolina parks as a ranger in 1976 at Umstead State Park and rose through the ranks, becoming state parks superintendent and then director in 2003. The department says he helped lead the state’s effort to purchase Chimney Rock and Grandfather Mountain. Internet and call-center reservations system took off under his leadership, too.
7) Talk on Art Design by Ashley John Pigford
The Catherine J. Smith Gallery is proud to present a talk on art and design by Ashley John Pigford. Pigford will discuss his work as an interaction designer on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Belk Library and Information Commons room 114 at ASU. The event is free and open to the public. Pigford is an interaction designer applying design thinking to interrogate relationships between technology, materials and experience. His cross-disciplinary and highly collaborative design and artwork involves a wide range of media experiences including traditional print design, motion graphics, interactive installation, kinetic sculpture, digitally-augmented performance and letterpress printing. Pigford operates his studio, Design is Good for You, as a cooperative organization of collaborators who meet the needs of a wide range of clients from nonprofit organizations to municipalities.
8) Stephenson Center to Host Naturalist Jesse Pope ’02 on Nov. 7
Grandfather Mountain, one of Appalachia’s most storied peaks, will be the subject of a program at Lees-McRae College. On November 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library, Jesse Pope ’02 will present his lecture, Explorations of a Changing Environment at a Southern Appalachian Jewel: Grandfather Mountain, as part of this fall’s Stephenson Center for Appalachia’s lecture series. This event is free and open to the public. Pope started the naturalist education program at Grandfather Mountain, and last year was selected as a member of “Forty for the Future,” travel’s leading talent project by the Southeast Tourism Society. As Director of Education and Natural Resources for Grandfather Mountain, Pope has elevated the environmental education profile of the mountain significantly. Naturalist Pope developed the project after working on the mountain as a trail ranger and a habitat keeper. A graduate of Lees-McRae College with a naturalist major, Pope found himself continually answering people’s questions about the mountain as he did his job. He realized that there was a need here that wasn’t being met. “A lot of people came through and got to see what’s up here, but never understood the ecology. People always had so many questions, but it is a tough job for habitat staff to answer questions and give tours as well as care for the animals,” said Pope, so he proposed and created the naturalist education program in 2004. Since then he and his staff have provided insight to the mountain’s treasures to thousands of visitors. “We are pleased to welcome one of our own graduates back to Lees-McRae to present his program,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia. “Jesse is not only extremely knowledgeable about area ecology, but he has dedicated himself to sharing his knowledge and increasing awareness of the beauty and richness of our mountain environment. We invite everyone to share the evening with us as Jesse takes us on an exploration of Grandfather Mountain.” Stephenson Center for Appalachia lectures are free and open to the public. Jesse Pope’s presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7 in the Stafford Room of the Carson Library at Lees-McRae. For further information contact Megan Hall, director of communications, at 828-898-8729. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Lees-McRae College is a private, four-year college offering diverse baccalaureate degrees, strong athletic programs and outstanding faculty. With 900 students hailing from 35 states and more than 10 countries, Lees-McRae’s broad core curriculum is enhanced by field-specific career preparation and experiential learning with an emphasis in leadership and service. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828-898-5241.
9) Boone Service League Meeting
The monthly meeting of the Boone Service League, open to women 21 and older, is Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Deerfield Methodist Church in Boone. Light refreshments and fellowship begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a business meeting at 7 p.m. Child care is available. For more information, visit www.booneserviceleague.org.