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Today’s Email Announcements

Halloween Monster Concert at 8 p.m. Tonight at ASU

Dr. Joby Bell and the students in his organ studio at Appalachian State University will present their annual “Halloween Monster Concert” at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall on the university campus.

This is a Hayes School of Music event. Admission is free, and a live stream of the performance will be available athttp://music.appstate.edu.

Audience members of all ages are encouraged to show up in costumes. They should also be ready to hear spooky organ music, sing “pumpkin” carols and endure corny jokes told by a mystery emcee. Pumpkin carols consist of Halloween texts sung to Christmas carol tunes.

Free candy will be offered at the end of the concert, as will an “open console” period, during which audience members can try out the organ themselves.

Bell is an associate professor of organ and the sacred music program coordinator at Appalachian. Both he and his students will perform.

The program will include J.S. Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor” as well as excerpts from “Symphonie No. 6” by Charles-Marie Widor, “Sonata on the 94th Psalm” by Julius Reubke and “Sonata No. 6” by Felix Mendelssohn.

The undergraduate student performers will be Zach Bowyer of Roanoke, Virginia, who is majoring in organ performance and sacred music; Andrew Byrd of Charleston, South Carolina, who is majoring in sacred music; and Hunter Cox of Sanford, who is majoring in music education. Two graduate students in organ performance will also play: Jake Hill of Yadkinville and Rodney Ward of Boone.

About the Hayes School of Music

The Hayes School of Music prepares young musicians for professional lives as performers, composers, music educators, music therapists, conductors and music industry professionals, ensuring the next generation of musical leadership for the state, region and nation. Noted for quality instruction by national and internationally recognized faculty musicians, the school offers four undergraduate degree programs and three graduate-level programs.

About Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 18,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors

November Programs at Grandfather Mountain State Park

100 Mile Hike (Nuwati Trail)

Appropriate for ages 8 and up.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.  Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our Nuwati Trail Hike. This three-mile round trip, guided hike follows the track of an old logging road. It’s an easy but rocky hike, including a spectacular view of the Boone Bowl and Calloway Peak from Storyteller’s Rock. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and sturdy hiking shoes or boots are suggested. This will be approximately a 3-hour hike so please bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike. Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt!  Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at: http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.  Contact us at: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sat, 11/05/2016 – 10:00am to 1:00pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

Camping Etiquette

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.   Camping is a fun way to spend time with friends, family, or on your own. Join Ranger Sicard to learn a few things that will help making any camping experience a fun and safe one. During this program, participants will learn how to set up the site if it is not already established for you, how to keep food stored, and how to dress properly to stay cool or warm. There will be hands on portions for those who would like to get involved. All participants will be given a checklist for future camping to determine if they are using the proper camping etiquette. The knowledge learned can be used to pass on to others so that our natural resources can be enjoyed but not over used. This program will last approximately one hour and is open to all ages. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Bring water.   Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/06/2016 – 11:00am to 12:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

100 Mile Hike (TRACK Trail)

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.  Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our TRACK Trail Hike. This two-mile round trip, guided hike will take hikers to along our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail.  Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike.  For more information about our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, visit: http://kidsinparks.com/grandfather-mountain-state-park.   Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt!   Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at: http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.

Date:  Sat, 11/12/2016 – 10:00am to 12:00pm

Start Location:  Profile Parking Area, Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk (GPS: 36.121990, -81.829993) https://goo.gl/dBX99s

100 Mile Hike (TRACK Trail)

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.   Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our TRACK Trail Hike. This two-mile round, guided trip hike will take hikers to along our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail.  Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike.

For more information about our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, visit:http://kidsinparks.com/grandfather-mountain-state-park.  Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt!  Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at:http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.   Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/13/2016 – 10:00am to 12:00pm

Start Location:  Profile Parking Area, Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk (GPS: 36.121990, -81.829993) https://goo.gl/dBX99s

Forest Literacy

Appropriate for all ages; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please no pets.  When you walk through the woods, what do you see? Most of us see the plants, animals and nonliving objects but fail to read the story behind these. If you know what to look for and how to ‘read’ the forest you get a glimpse into the past and understand the how and why of what brought the forest to its current state. Join a Ranger and learn the skills of reading the forest. Become forest literate and unlock the secrets of the forest! Bring snacks and water.  Dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and wear hiking footwear. We will have a brief discussion followed by a 2-mile round trip, guided hike lasting approximately 2 – 2.5 hours.  Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/13/2016 – 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

100 Mile Thanksgiving Day Hike (Nuwati Trail)

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.  Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our TRACK Trail Hike. This two-mile round trip, guided Thanksgiving Day hike will take hikers to along our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail.  Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike. Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt!  Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at: http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.   Contact us at: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Thu, 11/24/2016 – 3:30pm to 5:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

Forest Literacy

Appropriate for all ages; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please no pets.    When you walk through the woods, what do you see? Most of us see the plants, animals and nonliving objects but fail to read the story behind these. If you know what to look for and how to ‘read’ the forest you get a glimpse into the past and understand the how and why of what brought the forest to its current state. Join a Ranger and learn the skills of reading the forest. Become forest literate and unlock the secrets of the forest! Bring snacks and water.  Dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and wear hiking footwear. We will have a brief discussion followed by a 2-mile round trip, guided hike lasting approximately 2 – 2.5 hours.  Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/27/2016 – 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

Farm Credit Associations of NC make Purchase at State Fair Sale of Champions

STATESVILLE, NC –The Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina purchased the Reserve Champion lamb with a winning bid of $10,500.  Carolina Farm Credit partnered with AgCarolina Farm Credit and Cape Fear Farm Credit to support the NC State Fair Jr. Livestock Sale of Champions. The winning goat was exhibited by Cynthia Connolly, 14, of Mount Ulla, NC. Connolly will receive 60% of the purchase amount, while the remaining 40% will go to support youth scholarships and livestock programs in North Carolina.

This year’s Jr. Livestock Sale of Champions was held on October 16th and brought in $166,500 to benefit youth scholarships and livestock programs. “The Junior Livestock Sale of Champions is yet another way that the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina helps to support young people that are involved in preserving the future of agriculture in our state.” said Carolina Farm Credit CEO Vance Dalton.

Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 32 branch offices.  Other financial services available are credit life insurance, appraisal services, leasing programs and financial planning.

For 100 years Farm Credit has been supporting rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services.

Carolina Farm Credit serves over 9,200 members with loans outstanding totaling more than $1.4 billion.  The association’s territory covers the western half of North Carolina, with branch offices located in Albemarle, Asheboro, Asheville, Boone, Browns Summit, Burnsville, Carthage, Concord, Conover, Ellerbe, Graham, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Lexington, Lincolnton, Monroe, Murphy, Pilot Mountain, Roxboro, Rural Hall, Salisbury, Shelby, Siler City, Sparta, Spindale, Statesville, Taylorsville, Waynesville, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, and Yanceyville.

Carolina Farm Credit was recognized as a 2015 Best Employer in North Carolina. The list of the Best Employers in North Carolina was created by Business North Carolina, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – NC State Council and Best Companies Group.

Directors for Carolina Farm Credit are L. Kim Starnes, Chairman, Salisbury; W. Rex Bell, Vice-Chairman, Statesville; John M. Barnard, Statesville; E. Bernard Beck, Seagrove; Mark A. Bray, Lawsonville; David M. Coltrane, Pleasant Garden; Susie J. Gambill, Sparta; Joseph A. Lail, Shelby; Clark M. Newlin, Haw River; Thomas E. Porter, Jr., Concord;  Tony L. Ragan, Sanford; D. Kaleb Rathbone, Waynesville; Lewis E. Smith, Lincolnton; Vickie N. Smitherman, East Bend; Dr. Alton Thompson, Summerfield.

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Co.

Monday October 31

Family Night-Buy any regularly priced pizza and receive one free kid’s meal.

Tuesday November 01

5pm-First Tuesday Oyster Roast: Steamed, Fried or Raw

Oyster Roasts are back at Lost Province this fall! Join us the first Tuesday of each month for a you-shuck oyster roast. We’ve got $12 buckets with 12 oysters, house made saltine crackers and all the fixins!

Wednesday November 02

7pm-9pm Trivia Night: Beginning at 7pm, Lost Province will be hosting Trivia Night. Compete on your own or on a team! The competition gets started at 7pm so come a little early for a pizza and a pint and get your seat!

Thursday November 03

College Night and $3.00 Thursday-$3.00 pints on all Lost Province brewed beers (except high gravity).

9:00pm-11:00pm Boone Independent Restaurants Presents Pleasure + Vice Versa Boone Premier. Kick off ski season with the latest releases from Level 1 Productions and Good Company. Boone Independent Restaurants hosts a night of ski films and gear giveaways at Lost Province Brewing Co.

Friday November 04

7:30pm-Closing Live Music: Swing Guitars. Boone’s own gypsy band “Swing Guitars” has been active for almost a decade performing acoustic “Hot Club” style jazz in area restaurants, music festivals and civic concert series. Playing a mix of gypsy jazz standards, swing classics, originals and modern jazz tunes, the acoustic group focuses on the music of Django Reinhardt and other early jazz pioneers. Guitarists Andy Page, Jim Schaller and Jay Brown along with Ben McPherron on bass are experienced musicians widely known to High Country music fans. An evening with Swing Guitars promises a variety of sounds perfect for socializing, eating, drinking and dancing!

Saturday November 05

7:30pm-Closing Live Music: The Paper Crowns. The Paper Crowns make two-piece acoustic music sound huge! They are stomping on drums while they are plucking strings and singing harmonies often all at the same time! There’s nobody doing it like The Paper Crowns are doing it. It’s hard to find a truly unique band…on top of that it’s hard to find a band that delivers the emotional spectrum from sweet and heartbreaking earnest ballads to barn burning gypsy raving conga frenzied sweaty dance tunes. The Paper Crowns will bring you all that and then some! They pride their sets on improvisation mixed with fine compositions and great lyrics. Most of all, The Paper Crowns want you to feel good and feel recharged when you listen to their music….it’s full of heart and soul and all of the good old spirit that’s still roaming the land.

Sunday November 06

Lost Province Sunday: Residents of “The Lost Province” (Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany) receive 10% off food with verification of residency.

First Friday

Friday November 04

7:30pm-Closing Live Music: Swing Guitars. Boone’s own gypsy band “Swing Guitars” has been active for almost a decade performing acoustic “Hot Club” style jazz in area restaurants, music festivals and civic concert series. Playing a mix of gypsy jazz standards, swing classics, originals and modern jazz tunes, the acoustic group focuses on the music of Django Reinhardt and other early jazz pioneers. Guitarists Andy Page, Jim Schaller and Jay Brown along with Ben McPherron on bass are experienced musicians widely known to High Country music fans. An evening with Swing Guitars promises a variety of sounds perfect for socializing, eating, drinking and dancing!

Appalachian Mountain Brewery Sponsors “Zombie Fun Run” on November 12 to Benefit the Middle Fork Greenway

Have you heard Blue Ridge Conservancy has been infected by a zombie outbreak at High Gravity Adventures in their efforts to construct the Middle Fork Greenway?

Appalachian Mountain Brewery and the We Can So You Can Foundation are sponsoring the first ever AMB Zombie Run on November 12th where participants will run a fun, but scary obstacle course at High Gravity Adventures.

The main objective is to complete the course without being tagged by a zombie.  The course is about a mile long with nine obstacles.  Zombies will be scattered along the way trying to steal AMB flags worn by participants during the run. Each flag represents a different prize. Think you can make it through with all three? Then come give it a shot, if you dare! Be prepared to be infected by FUN!  It is not timed, but the goal is to keep as many of your flags as possible to the finish line.  The more flags, the more prizes you will receive from AMB and Appalachia Cookie Company.

Find the event on Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s Facebook page and sign up online through Event Brite. Ticket prices are $15 until October 31st.  After the 31st, tickets are $20.  Race day registration is $25.

The run will be divided into heats so if you would like to sign up as a group, contact Crystal Smith at crystal@amb.beer and she will organize your group to be in the same heat.

On the night of the event, be on the lookout for a celebrity zombie from the hit show “The Walking Dead.”

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the construction of the Middle Fork Greenway by the We Can So You Can Foundation. This mission-driven public charity funded in part by Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Farm To Flame food truck supports the communities it serves through investment in social-minded businesses. “We Can So You Can” donates proceeds of every 16-ounce can towards projects to revitalize the environment throughout the Appalachian Mountains.  For more information: https://wecansoyoucan.org/.

Residents and visitors can easily access the existing one mile of the Middle Fork Greenway trail in front of Tweetsie Railroad and High Gravity Adventures.

About the Middle Fork Greenway
The Middle Fork Greenway (MFG) is a developing pedestrian and cycling greenway trail along the Middle Fork River and US 321 corridor connecting Boone and Blowing Rock. It is being led by two non-profit organizations, Blue Ridge Conservancy and High Country Pathways, in partnership with local governments and many community partners. For more information:www.middleforkgreenway.org and www.blueridgeconservancy.org.

About Blue Ridge Conservancy
BRC is a private, non-profit, non-governmental organization incorporated in North Carolina. BRC has protected over 19,450 acres in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties.  In addition to protecting working farmland, BRC’s efforts have resulted in the creation of state natural areas like Beech Creek Bog, Bear Paw State Natural Area and Bullhead Mountain. We continue to help Elk Knob State Park and Grandfather Mountain expand their borders and established Pond Mountain Game Land in Ashe County.  More information about Blue Ridge Conservancy is available atwww.blueridgeconservancy.org.

Torch Forum with Dr. David Sutton Nov. 14 at Sagebrush

The monthly meeting of Torch: A Forum For Reasoned Discourse will be heldMonday, November 14 at the Sagebrush Restaurant in Boone.  Those attending may choose from a $10 menu at 11:30 am and enjoy the presentation at noon.

The topic this month is Evaluating the 2016 Election presented by Dr. David
Sutton, retired professor of political science at ASU.  Guests are welcome to attend.  Information: Roland Moy 264-8811 .

Farmland Preservation Board to Meet Nov. 7

The Farmland Preservation Program Advisory Board will hold its regular meeting on Monday November 7, 2016 at 8:00 am in the Soil and Water District Office located at 971 West King Street Boone, NC 28607. The Public is invited to attend.

ASU to Test Campus Siren Warning System at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday

Appalachian State University will test its campus siren warning system at 11:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Examples of the tones that are used in an emergency or during tests can be heard online athttp://em.emergency.appstate.edu/siren-warning-system.

Appalachian uses the hi/low tone for emergencies, discontinuous air horn for tests of the system and the alert tone for all-clear signal.

For more information about the university’s AppState ALERT voice/text/e-mail notification system, visithttp://emergency.appstate.edu

The siren tests are conducted on the first Wednesday of the month. Scheduled dates for Appalachian’s upcoming tests are Dec. 7 and Jan. 4, 2017.

Fueling the Fight in Watauga County

Boone, North Carolina(October 31, 2016) Giving back to help a cause that’s close to the hearts of customers and employees is what “Fueling the Fight” is all about for Blue Ridge Energies, the propane subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Blue Ridge Energies presented a check for $3,360 to Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation (ARHF) in Watauga County and is making similar contributions in other counties served by the propane provider.

“Breast cancer has touched many of our lives and we wanted to support local organizations like ARHF that are making a difference in the lives of those affected by this disease,” said Glenda Christian, Chief Operating Officer of Blue Ridge Energies.

The donation represents a penny for every gallon of propane delivered in Watauga County during the past year by the company’s pink “Fueling the Fight” delivery truck designed to increase breast cancer awareness. Employees of Blue Ridge Energies say they’re proud to drive the trucks in the spirit of honoring friends and family who have been touched by cancer.

Since beginning its Fueling the Fight program in 2013, the company has donated nearly $50,000 to cancer support organizations across its service area.

For more information about ARFH which provides assistance for cancer interventions, treatment and support for local residents, call 828-262-4391.

Blue Ridge Energies, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation that provides propane and heating fuels to residential and commercial customers in northwest North Carolina and from Independence, VA. During October, Blue Ridge Energies is making donations to breast cancer awareness and related organizations in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties, and Grayson County, Virginia. For more information, visit BlueRidgeEnergies.com.

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