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Today’s Email Announcements

Toe River Arts Council Holiday Studio Tour Set for Dec. 2-4

Each June and December the Toe River Arts Council offers a bit of insight into the new folks on their bi-annual tour. This year we have two new participants and are excited to welcome them to the free 2016 Holiday Studio Tour that will be held in Mitchell and Yancey counties, December 2-4 from 10 to 5pm each day.

Debra Carpenter is a visual artist, a painter of echoing landscapes, animated animals, and abstracted people. Vibrant images that evoke smiles and thought, that draw you into her world of imagination stirred with a bit of reality. Debra has been working with the Toe River Arts Council in the Spruce Pine Gallery for about a year. She watched as the June Tour unfolded then decided to join in—for the December tour. And the second annual Toe River Arts Juried Show. She won third place!

Deborah Louis is our second new participant and equally anticipated. Deborah works in the literary arts—an author who can make her studio anywhere she has pencil and paper or a plug for her laptop. A PhD. Scholar, Deborah explored the civil rights movement between 1959 and 1965 in her book, “And We Are Not Saved: A History of the Movement as People” and will be signing and talking about her research and writing during the three-day event. Deborah is the first participant in the Tour representing the literary arts.

Please place Debra’s studio #19 in Spruce Pine and Deborah’s location at the Mountain Heritage Center #22 on your itinerary and make them must stops for this year’s tour.

The Toe River Holiday Studio Tour is Friday-Sunday, December 2-4, from 10am to 5pm daily. Join the TRAC staff, volunteer participants and many of the other tour artists for a grand reception on Friday, December 2, from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Spruce Pine Gallery located at 269 Oak Avenue. Come toast 2016, the arts, and this unforgettable, breathtaking region.

An exhibit will be displaying work from the over 90 tour participants at the Spruce Pine Gallery from November 19 through the end of the year. Guides containing maps and locations of participating artists are now available at both TRAC galleries, participant studios, local businesses, and online at the website, www.toeriverarts.org.

For more information about the Arts Council, please call 828-682-7215. For information about the tour exhibition, please call 828-765-0520. TRAC is a not for profit organization dedicated to connecting the arts and the people to improve the life in the Toe River Valley. It is supported, in part, by people who believe the arts are vital to a thriving community.

Registration Open for Watauga Leadership Challenge

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR 
2017 WATAUGA LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
 
Presented by Allen Wealth Management & Johnson Price Sprinkle, PA
The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting registration for the
2017 Watauga Leadership Challenge.
This program provides a comprehensive overview of the community and introduces participants to leaders in the fields of government, education, health care and business and industry.
Longtime Chamber members
Allen Wealth Management and Johnson Price Sprinkle, PA,
have partnered to co-sponsor the series. This commitment showcases their continued interest in preparing the next group of leaders that will benefit and serve our local community.
Topics include: Tourism & Cultural Resources, Economy & Leadership, Environment & Sustainability, Education, Government & Public Safety, Health Care & Human Services and Lessons in Leadership.
The 2017 Leadership class is limited to 26 participants with preference given to Watauga County residents.  Tuition is $595, which includes all program materials, lunches, refreshments and graduation celebration.
For more information or to receive a registration form for enrollment,
contact the Chamber at 264-2225.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 4, 2017.
 

Lees-McRae Named One of North Carolina’s Safest Colleges
BANNER ELK, N.C. — BackgroundChecks.org released its annual “Safest Colleges in North Carolina” report for 2016 in early October—landing Lees-McRae 27 on the list.

To compile the report, the website combined data from recent Department of Education reports, social media analysis and their own research to create the ranking, according to a release by Backgroundchecks.org.

“It’s a true testament to a great administration, strong leadership, student and community involvement,” said Backgroundchecks.org public safety analyst Jessica Pierce. “In a world full of bad news, it’s great to have something to be proud of.”

BackgroundChecks.org is an organization focused on public safety, community involvement and education.

 ASU Board of Trustees to Meet Nov. 8

PUBLIC NOTICE

Appalachian State University
Board of Trustees Meeting
Chancellor’s Conference Room
November 8, 2016, 4:00 P.M.

The Board of Trustees, Appalachian State University will convene for a meeting via conference call on Tuesday, November 8 at 4:00 P.M. in the Chancellor’s Conference Room, fourth floor of the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Agenda

I.      Call to Order
II.     Motion to move to Closed Session
III.    Closed Session- In accordance with NC General Statute 143.318.11.2b
“To prevent the premature disclosure of an honorary degree, scholarship, prize, or similar award”
Naming of campus facility
IV.    Reconvene in Open Session

Art Classes Available at LE Harrill Senior Center

Looking for something to do this fall/winter?  Want to brush up on your art skills?  Art classes are available at the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center in Boone!  The intermediate class meets on Mondays from 9am-12noonand a beginner class meets Wednesdays from 9am-12noon which focuses on drawing.  There is no charge to attend for persons age sixty and older.  If there is space available, persons under sixty may attend for a fee of $3.00 per class.  Marsha Holmes is the art instructor and has worked with the senior center classes for several years.  For more information you may call the senior center at 265-8090.

CCC&TI Ceramics Students Volunteer Artwork for Empty Bowls Event 

Students from the Ceramics I and Ceramics II classes on the Caldwell Campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute volunteered their artwork to help support Yokefellow’s recent Empty Bowls fundraising event. Handmade bowls were thrown by CCC&TI Art Instructor Laura Aultman and the clay surfaces were designed by the students. Eighteen bowls were donated to the event. “Empty Bowls: Feeding Our Neighbors” is a collaboration between artists, who create and donate handmade bowls, and local chefs, who prepare meals, in an effort to raise proceeds to support local food pantries. Guests to the event make a donation and receive a hand-crafted bowl and a meal. Yokefellow’s Empty Bowls fundraiser was held on Oct. 22 at William Lenoir Middle School. Pictured are: (back row, left to right) James Waters, Chris Dula, Hannah Smart, Bethany Smith, Zach Winstead and Richard Jeffries. (front row, left toright): Lily Laramie, Angel Shook, Kat Scott and Frances Nicholson.

Coffee with the Curator Nov. 9 at Caldwell Heritage Museum

The November coffee with the curator will be held at the Caldwell Heritage Museum at 10 am on Wednesday November 9th. This month’s topic is “Freedom is Not Free” an overview of Caldwell County’s contributions to our nation’s wars. Admission is free, coffee and pastries provided, however a suggested donation of $5 for the maintenance of the museum is requested.

Lees-McRae Crowns a Pair of Champions at MTB Nationals

BANNER ELK, N.C. — Competing—and winning—is in the blood of both Lees-McRae’s cycling team and in its athletes.

During the Mountain Bike National Championships in Snowshoe, West Virginia, on October 21 through the 23, USA Cycling officials crowned a pair of Lees-McRae National Champions.

Senior Phil Kmetz took gold in downhill and freshman Veronica Laughton in dual slalom.

The team, and several others from around the country, were forced to push both themselves and their bikes to the physical limits in the snow, ice and mud.

“Our team performed very well under adverse conditions, especially during the snow and cold temps on day two,” said Lees-McRae Head Coach Tim Hall. “We are thrilled for Phil and Veronica and their performances in the gravity events. Phil continued his string of downhill victories, and Veronica was incredible, especially considering she’s only a freshman. Emma, Simona, and Jack also stood out with some good performances. We brought more freshmen than ever before to this championship, so to end up fourth overall is a big accomplishment.”

The Bobcats started the winning stretch with taking the overall Southeastern Collegiate Cycling Conference championship in the Varsity category.

For Kmetz it marked his fourth jersey he has won at a Lees-McRae and three consecutive in the downhill. Laughton, meanwhile, earned her first career jersey with her victory.

With the pair of champions, that brings the program’s total to 57 individual national champions.

Here are some of the other top performances for the Bobcats in the three-day event.

2nd place – – Phil Kmetz in Dual Slalom
3rd place – – Veronica Laughton in Downhill
5th place – – Simona Croccolo in Downhill
7th place – – Emma Klingaman in Short Track
2nd place – – Veronica Laughton in Individual Omnium
9th place – – Emma Klingaman in Individual Omnium
6th place – – Jack Perry in Individual Omnium
10th place – – Evan Christenson in Individual Omnium

Caldwell Small Business Center Workshops

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Small Business Centers in Caldwell County offers free and low-cost workshops, one-on-one assistance and many more services to help local small businesses. To reserve your seat at one of the workshops, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness to register.

Here is a list of upcoming free workshops in Caldwell County:

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Caldwell Small Business Center will offer a free workshop titled “Small Business Startup Series: Record Keeping and Taxes” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce in Lenoir. Keeping good financial records is a critical step in managing a successful enterprise. This seminar addresses the financial records needed for good business management. The workshop will demonstrate how to develop systems and practices for collecting necessary information for tax reporting and business decision-making. The seminar will be led by Arlene Childers. To reserve your seat for this workshop, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness to register.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Caldwell Small Business Center will offer a free workshop titled “Small Business Bootcamp” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce in Lenoir. This course is geared towards those wanting to start their own business and is led by local entrepreneur and former Small Business Center Director David Waechter. The workshop covers the basics of getting your business off the ground and includes information on several topics including: How to name your business and why your business name is so important, registering your business with Secretary of State, how to obtain your LLC, Sole Proprietorship, or Incorporation, how to find the proper tax forms, how to obtain your tax ID or your EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS, how to set up a business checking account and credit card, how to find what licenses and permits you need to get started, renting a space, easy and cost-effective marketing, sales and service and bookkeeping. To reserve your seat for this workshop, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness to register.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Caldwell Small Business Center will offer a free workshop titled “Small Business Startup Series: Marketing and Market Research” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce in Lenoir. This workshop will focus on the importance of market research and target market when developing a marketing plan. Participants will learn how Marketing Mix decisions can be made using the 5 P’s of Marketing. Attendees identify target market segments and develop a marketing strategy for a sample business using SWOT Analysis. The speaker for this workshop is Arlene Childers. To reserve your seat at this workshop, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness to register.

Watauga Small Business Center Workshops 

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Small Business Centers in Watauga County offers free and low-cost workshops, one-on-one assistance and many more services to help local small businesses. To reserve your seat at one of the workshops, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness to register.

Here is a list of upcoming free workshops in Watauga County:

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Watauga Small Business Center will offer a free workshop titled “Extending Your Sales Past the Season” from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 at the Blowing Rock American Legion Building in Blowing Rock, N.C.   This workshop will help participants understand the role social media, community involvement, in-store events, social media and customer service play in building strong relationships, creating store loyalty, and providing reasons for holiday/seasonal customers to be year-round customers. The speaker for this workshop is Jeanne Eury. Eury is a native of Cabarrus County and is thrilled to return home to North Carolina to share insights, case studies, and practical and actionable marketing and sales information. She has held senior positions in marketing, sales, sponsorship, partnership, and hospitality industries in Washington DC and Atlanta and is now director of member services at the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. To reserve your seat for this workshop, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness to register.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Watauga Small Business Center will offer a free workshop titled “Small Business Bootcamp” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the CCC&TI Watauga Campus in Boone. This course is geared towards those wanting to start their own business and is led by local entrepreneur and former Small Business Center Director David Waechter. The workshop covers the basics of getting your business off the ground and includes information on several topics including: How to name your business and why your business name is so important, registering your business with Secretary of State, how to obtain your LLC, Sole Proprietorship, or Incorporation, how to find the proper tax forms, how to obtain your tax ID or your EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS, how to set up a business checking account and credit card, how to find what licenses and permits you need to get started, renting a space, easy and cost-effective marketing, sales and service and bookkeeping. To reserve your seat for this workshop, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness to register.

Lenoir Branch of Carolina Farm Credit Volunteers at Soup Kitchen 

STATESVILLE, NC – The staff of the Lenoir Branch of Carolina Farm Credit recently volunteered at the Lenoir Soup Kitchen.  In addition to serving lunch, they presented a check for $500 to Executive Director Angel Moretz.

 

“Our volunteer time spent at the Lenoir Soup Kitchen was a bittersweet experience.  It is rewarding to be able to make people happy by just offering them a warm meal and a place to sit and enjoy that meal.  But, at the same time, it is sad to realize that there are so many hungry people right in our backyard.  This was an eye opening experience for us and we hope to be able to continue offering our time to the kitchen as our schedules permit.” Jaymee Smith, Branch Office Coordinator, Carolina Farm Credit.

 

“Supporting our rural communities has been a part of Farm Credit since the very beginning, and projects like this are just another example of how Carolina Farm Credit gives back to the communities in which we work and live,” Vance Dalton, CEO, Carolina Farm Credit.

This community service project is part of a Carolina Farm Credit initiative implemented by Carolina Farm Credit’s Community Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  Each branch location is given the chance to participate in community service projects throughout the year.

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 theBest 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.