1) Suicide Awareness Week at ASU
Students, faculty and staff at ASU will join together April 21st – 25th, 2015 in a week dedicated to both the memory of those lost to suicide this year, and the prevention of further losses.
ASU’s Counseling Services, including Suicide Prevention Coordinator Elisabeth Cavallaro, and an enthusiastic group of students representing student government, Greek life, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and others are planning a variety of events.
During the entire week, Suicide Prevention Training — a staple on campus — will be offered to any students, faculty and staff who are interested. The week’s kickoff event, Tuesday, April 21st beginning at 4 p.m., will include the awarding of prizes to the group with the highest completion rate of Suicide Prevention Training.
Kickoff festivities continue from 5 – 8 p.m. with Together We Rise, a celebration of community on Sanford Mall including refreshments, music, volleyball, cornhole, tie-dye, and speakers. “Connection is an important factor in mental health, and this event will give students a great reason to leave their dorm rooms and interact with their fellow students in a positive, uplifting way,” said Cavallaro.
On Wednesday, April 22nd at 6 p.m. in Belk Library room 114, there will be a screening of the movie “To Write Love on Her Arms,” the story of a young woman battling bipolar disorder, addiction and self-harm. It follows her struggle to get clean and sober enough to enter rehab, as well as her realistically imperfect recovery. A panel discussion featuring professionals and students will follow the screening.
An opportunity to remember those lost will take place Thursday evening at Suicide Remembrance Night on Sanford Mall, from 6:30 – 9 p.m. The evening will include speakers and the making of a “String of Hope” composed of personalized message cards featuring green mental illness awareness ribbons, strung between trees on campus.
Saturday morning’s capstone event is the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk, a fundraising event for both ASU and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Although fundraising is encouraged, participation in the Walk is free, and community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 25th on Sanford Mall.
For more information on any of these events, please contact L.A. Middlesteadt at the above phone or email, or visit:
http://preventsuicide.appstate.edu/index.php?module=pagesmith&uop=view_page&id=19
2) 2nd Annual Wine to Water & Town Tavern of Blowing Rock Fundraiser Weekend
The 2nd Annual Wine to Water & Town Tavern of Blowing Rock Fundraiser Weekend starts Thursday, April 16th and will conclude Sunday, April 19th.
The four-day fundraising event, which will benefit Wine to Water and take place at Town Tavern, is lined up with several tasting, entertainment and dining events going on the same weekend as the Blowing Rock Wine Festival.
The kick off on Thursday will feature a wine tasting and live auction raffle, along with live music from the Kennedy Ashton Band at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, follows up with a performance from the Harris Brothers at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, has a full day of events scheduled with a pig picking and beer tasting, courtesy of Appalachian Mountain Brewery. In addition, Appalachian Cookie Cookie Company will have a tasting at 1 p.m.
The music lineup for Saturday consists of the Analog Men at 1 p.m. and Holden Bare at 4:30 p.m., followed by Sound Techniques Karaoke at 9:30 p.m. The weekend fundraiser ends Sunday, April 19, with a performance from High Grass at 2:30 p.m.
All percentage of sales from the weekend will go back to Wine to Water in an effort to support their clean water projects around the world.
Wine to Water is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based out of Boone that has been working for years to help fight and educate others about the global water crisis. Through fundraisers, wine sales and volunteer trips, Wine to Water has made an impact worldwide.
Town Tavern of Blowing Rock, located downtown Blowing Rock, is a sports bar and restaurant that offers drinks, food and a place to watch any big game since 2013.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery is based in Boone and offers a variety of beers on tap at its brewery and works with several nonprofits and organizations alike across the High Country in support of the High Country community.
Appalachian Cookie Company is a late night delivery service in Boone that features cookies, brownies and beverages.
For more information about the weekend of events, contact Whitney Hendley, Wine to Water’s Events Coordinator, via email at whitney@winetowater.org.
3) Local KOA Campground Offering Special Weekend in May To Raise Funds for Summer Camps for Children With Cancer
The Boone KOA Campground will be offering camping on Saturday, May 9 for just $10 as part of Kampgrounds of America’s annual KOA Care Camps Big Weekend to benefit KOA Care Camps for children with cancer.
Campers who stay as paying guests on Friday, May 8 will receive a night of camping on Saturday, May 9 for just $10. The entire $10 fee will benefit KOA Care Camps for children battling cancer.
The 12th Annual KOA Care Camps Big Weekend event is the official start to the 2015 summer camping season and is being offered at participating KOAs throughout North America.
The Care Camps Big Weekend event is also the major fundraiser for KOA Care Camps for children with cancer, the official charity of Kampgrounds of America and the KOA Owners Association.
Donations raised during the May 8-9 weekend will all go to benefit KOA Care Camps, a network of 95 specialized, medically equipped summer camps throughout North America that offer children batting cancer a true summer camp experience at no charge to their families.
To reserve a site or cabin today for this special weekend, go to www.KOA.com and click on the Big Weekend event box, or just go to www.koa.com/national-events/care-camps-big-weekend for a complete list of participating KOA campgrounds.
Kampgrounds of America is celebrating its 53rd Anniversary in 2015. KOA, the world’s largest network of family-friendly campgrounds with 485 locations in North America, was born on the banks of the Yellowstone River in Billings, Montana in 1962.
4) Ashe Campus of WCC to offer 15th Annual Professional Women’s Seminar
The Ashe Campus of Wilkes Community College will offer the 15th Annual Professional Women’s Seminar on Thursday, April 16, from 1-3 p.m. The event will take place at Blue Ridge Electric, which is located on Hwy 163 in West Jefferson. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited to the first 60 to register. There is no charge to register.
The program will open with an ice breaker, a networking opportunity for the group. It will include presentations by Rebecca Cox and Robin Miller.
Rebecca Cox, an Ashe County native, will talk about her dream to start her own small business. After working in local government for years, Cox enrolled in the cosmetology program at the Ashe Campus of Wilkes Community College. Rebecca says that she believes returning to school at 40 was the most empowering step to making her dream a reality. She operates Southern Style Hair Salon in Lansing.
Ashe County native Robin Miller is in her 19th year with SkyLine Membership Corporation. She serves on the Ashe County Chamber’s Business Development Committee, the Blue Ridge Electric Member Advisory Committee and the board of the West Jefferson Business Association. She has served as a continuing education instructor at WCC, and she was recognized by the Ashe and Watauga Chambers of Commerce with “Outrageous Customer Service Awards” in her work with SkyLine.
Miller credits her education at WCC and Gardner-Webb in helping to create a well-devised business plan to put her dream of opening her own bakery into motion. With the help of her husband, Robin fulfilled a long-time dream by opening her very own bakery, The Baker’s Addict, in 2012. She will discuss this dream and the journey to fulfill it.
The event is presented by the Ashe Campus of Wilkes Community College and the WCC Small Business Center. It is sponsored by Ashe County Ford, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, LifeStore Banking and Insurance, and SkyLine Membership Corporation.
For more information about the event or to pre-register, contact Celia Robinson at 336-846-3900 ext. 3117 or email celia.robinson@wilkescc.edu<mailto:celia.robinson@wilkescc.edu>.
Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC continues to build on a strong history of meeting the educational needs and cultural interests of our students, community and workforce. WCC prepares learners for success in a dynamic world.
5) Open House at Watauga County Public Library
The Watauga County Public Library will hold an Open House to showcase the library’s services and grant projects on Thursday, April 16th at 4 p.m. Information will be portrayed through a storywalk format throughout the library!
The public is invited to drop in and learn, get your library card and join the Friends of the Library!
Refreshments and punch will be available in the Evelyn Johnson Meeting Room.
6) Motown in the Mountains
Motown in the Mountains, a benefit for the nonprofit Boone Service League, takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 17, at the Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock. Tickets are $40 and include live music by Soul Benefactor, dancing, live and silent auctions and heavy hors d’oeuvres. A live auction takes place at 8 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance at www.booneserviceleague.org/motown.html or at the door.
7) Lees-McRae Performing Arts Presents “Brunch: The Musical” Staged Reading
Lees-McRae performing arts students will present Brunch: The Musical, an original rock musical by New York City-based actor and playwright Rick Kunzi, in a never before seen version of the show.Director and designer Ethan Henry ’15, in conjunction with Lees-McRae students, will perform the show on April 11 – 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Broyhill Theatre of Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College. Seating is general admission and entry is free.
Rick Kunzi will act as an artist-in-residence on campus during the week of the production. He will conduct workshops, speak for classes and advise Mr. Henry during the show’s pre-production week.
“Rick is an up and coming theatre artist, making strides for himself in New York City,” says Erin Wallace, performing arts adjunct instructor and managing director of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre. “He will be able to provide our students with details on his experiences producing two off-Broadway musicals, how to start writing their own works, and will give advice and perspective on living and making it in New York City.”
Brunch: The Musical was last produced off-Broadway in 2009. The chance to premiere the reworked version of the show is one that students are not taking lightly. The premiere will function as a staged reading.
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 950 students hailing from 31 states and more than 8 countries, Lees-McRae’s broad core curriculum is enhanced by field-specific career preparation and experiential learning. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828-898-5241.
8) Nashville In the Carolinas
Nashville is coming to the Carolinas! For the last 2 months, representatives from the 2nd largest independent label in the world, Pretty World Records, have been touring North Carolina in search of musical talent. On April 18th, the top contestants will compete at the Salt Block in Hickory, NC for a recording contract that includes 2 sides and a single release with Pretty World Records. In addition to the recording contract, the winner will be presented with a $1,000 cash prize provided by Randy Marion.“I have been amazed at all the hidden talent we have found, from as far away as Greenville to right here in Hickory. It should be a really great show!” said the show’s producer, Dorothy Houston. Tickets to the show are $15 advance and $20 at the door and are currently on sale on their website www.nashvilleinthecarolinas.com. Call (828)327-3349 for more information.
9) Wilkes Playmakers Present “Our Town”
Wilkes Playmakers present the Pulitizer Prize winning American drama “ Our Town” by Thornton Wilder on April 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 12 and 19 at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held at historic Benton Hall, 300 D Street, North Wilkesboro, NC .
This year marks 25 years that Wilkes Playmakers have been providing quality community theatre opportunities and entertainment to Wilkes and surrounding areas. “Our Town” was among the productions presented in the beginning years of Wilkes Playmakers and will now be presented to a new generation of community theatre supporters. This timeless drama has been described as the greatest American play ever written and is family entertainment for all. It is one of the most frequently produced plays in American history ( professionally and non-professionally) and has long been on required reading lists in public school literature courses.
Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, Our Town is set in 1901 in the town of Grover’s Corners. Here George Gibbs and Emily Webb fall in love, marry, and live out their lives. As the play tells the stories of George, Emily, their families and neighbors, the town of Grover’s Corners comes to symbolize the joys and sorrows of everyday life common to all humanity. It is a play about our connections to home and community. The opening lines of the play draw the audience into that connection also as the Stage Manager tells the audience that this is a production presented by their local community theatre and names a few local residents who are performing in the production.
As Wilkes Playmakers enter their 25th year of providing community theatre experiences to Wilkes county and the surrounding area, “Our Town” and its emphasis on community seems an appropriate show to revisit. Community theatre enriches the lives of those who take an active part in it, as well as those in the community who benefit from live theatre productions.
Tickets are $5 – $10 (plus tax) and are available online now at www.wilkesplaymakers.com or may be purchased at the box office Both Sunday matinees (April 12 and 19) have a special matinee price of $6 for all ages. The Thursday performance (April 16) is a Pay What You Can Night ($2 minimum). You may also find information on our Keep the Light on Benton Hall campaign on our website.
The cast of Our Town includes Lucas Matney, Meredith Tinnin, Gunnar Hunsberger, David Simmons, Erica Marsh, Ryan Walsh, Amanda Brookshire, Kaylee Simmons, Cameron Grimes, Garrett Griffin, Don Easterling, Justin Gambill, Cindy Smith, Grayson Parsons, Isaac Parsons, Brendetta Huffman, Dave Simmons, Jared Staley, Jeff Staley, Harold Bass, Melissa Meyer, Ted Edgerton, and Valerie Sink. Set design is by Lucas Matney and Paula Joines. Lighting design is by Nicole Collins. The production is directed by Paula Joines. For more information, please email wilkesplaymakers2013@outlook.com Wilkes Playmakers is a 501©3 nonprofit organization.
10) Baha’i Devotional Meeting
There will be a Baha’i devotional meeting in Stony Fork at 11 a.m. on Sunday April 12. The theme of the meeting will be “Strengthening our souls through prayer.” The Baha’i teachings center on unity and the removal of prejudice. All are welcome. For more information and directions call 268 2191.
11) Events at Chetola
Steak on the Lake
Every Friday, 5-10 p.m. Choice of chef’s daily steak specials with potato du jour and choice of salad. Live music. $28/person
Jazz Night with Maureen Renihan & Friends
Every Friday, 7-10 p.m. Half-price bottles of select red and white wines.
Oyster & Shrimp Knight
Every Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Featuring 1/2-pound of Tim Knight’s famous fried oysters (or shrimp), choice of two sides and housemade dessert. $26/person
Bonfire Nights
Every Saturday at the fire pit on the lawn, 6-9 p.m. Featuring live music, S’mores packets ($5 each) and outdoor bar (weather dependent) with winter drink specials.
Wine and Craft Beer Flights at Timberlake’s (part of Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival)
Friday, April 17 & Saturday, April 18
$10 per flight per person
Featuring:
Lost Province Brewery – Boone, NC
Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Boone, NC
Blowing Rock Brewing – Blowing Rock, NC
NC French Broad Brewery – Asheville, NC
NC Catawba Brewing – Morganton, NC
Childress Vineyards – Lexington, NC
Shelton Vineyards – Yadkin Valley, NC
James vonDrehle – Yadkin Valley, NC
Grandfather Vineyard – Banner Elk, NC
Banner Elk Winery – Banner Elk, NC
Mother’s Day Buffet
Sunday, May 10. Seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Reservations are open to the public beginning April 11.