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Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce and Mitchell Economic Development Commission Unite Forces to Drive Local Prosperity

March 11, 2024 In a landmark move shifted to amplify economic growth and foster community development, the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce and the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission have announced their decision to join forces. The strategic merger brings together two powerhouse organizations dedicated to advancing the economic vitality and prosperity of Mitchell County and its residents. By combining resources, expertise, and networks, the unified, but separate entity will significantly enhance its capacity to attract investment, support local businesses, and cultivate a thriving economic environment throughout the county. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in Mitchell County trajectory, signaling a renewed commitment to innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth.

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App State’s Days of Service Contribute Hundreds of Volunteer Hours to Watauga County Nonprofits

March 8, 2024 App State’s Office of Community-Engaged Leadership (CEL) held its second annual Mobilize the Mountains Day of Service on Feb. 24, with dozens of student and faculty volunteers contributing over 111 hours of community service to two local nonprofit organizations. During the 2022–23 academic year, six Days of Service provided 699 volunteer hours to 16 local organizations whose missions directly impacted Watauga County. Kristen Lysne, leadership and outreach graduate assistant for Community-Engaged Leadership, said App State’s Days of Service allow students to step off campus and participate in the larger Boone community, increasing students’ sense of belonging on campus and in the High Country.

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Beech Mountain Resort’s “Runs for Buns” Colon Cancer Fundraiser Is This Weekend

March 5, 2024 Let’s come together, once again, to kick colon cancer’s butt, pun intended. No one should lose a person they love, so let’s ski, snowboard, show up and raise funds for the cause! Not a skier or snowboarder? No problem. Register to be a fundraiser to participate in a great event and win incredible prizes! Runs for Buns is similar to a run or walk to support cancer; participants can ask family and friends to pledge per ski run or make a simple donation. Participants range in age, and many do not even ski. Join us for a day of skiing, snowboarding, and fun, all for a good cause.

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CCC&TI Partners with Local Eye Care Physicians to Offer First Ophthalmic Apprenticeships in NC

March 1, 2024 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and professionals with Morganton Eye Physicians, Graystone Eye and Western Carolina Eye Associates have recently partnered together to offer new pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for students interested in entering the field of ophthalmology. These agreements are the first of their kind in the state and offer local students the opportunity to get hands-on experience and training in the clinical setting.

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Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is Hosting the 2nd Annual LocalFAM Summit on March 7

March 1, 2024 On average, one in six people in the High Country are food insecure, despite the deep agricultural roots in the region and abundance of locally produced food. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) operates a Local Food as Medicine program which helps bridge this gap by redistributing healthy, local food to those most in need, while also providing a new market channel for local farmers and producers. Local Food As Medicine(LocalFAM) is a grant-funded food access program, which enables community organizations to provide their neighbors with fresh, nutritious food, supplied by local producers. The food is free to recipients, but producers are paid full retail price for their products. The LocalFAM program is composed of multiple food access programs that often operate at the same time, impacting 7 counties in the High Country.

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Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina Permanently Protects the Johns River Headwaters and Iconic Viewshed in Blowing Rock

February 19, 2024 Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina announces the purchase and permanent protection of a 326-acre parcel of land in Blowing Rock, NC, that contains the headwaters of the Johns River and is part of an iconic view seen from The Blowing Rock attraction, U.S. 321 and other locations within the town limits of Blowing Rock.The property is positioned on the Blue Ridge escarpment, partially located in both the Blowing Rock and Globe communities of Caldwell County, and is part of the viewshed corridor of the sweeping and magnificent mountainous panorama.

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Crossnore Communities for Children Elects New Board Members, Including One from Linville

February 19, 2024  Crossnore Communities for Children is proud to announce three new members to its Board of Trustees. Dr. April Ruffin-Adams from Winston-Salem, Thomas (Tom) Dale from Linville, and Austin Szyperski from Charlotte were welcomed to the Crossnore Board at the annual meeting on January 26. For more than 100 years, Crossnore Communities for Children has worked to help each child find their way home. Crossnore serves children and families in western North Carolina through foster care and adoptions, outpatient and school-based therapy services, family preservation, and Youth Independent Living.

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Valentine’s Day Online Auction Supports Partners! Canines 

February 1, 2024  Delight your Valentine and help homeless dogs and cats find forever homes by participating in Partners! Canines’ Valentine’s Day Auction. Visit our facebook page from February 1st through the 11th to bid on tempting treats like dining at top High Country restaurants, spa treatments, gourmet local chocolates, and much more.

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Blue Ridge Conservancy Purchases Acreage on The Peak for Northern Peaks State Trail

January 31, 2024  Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) recently purchased 48 acres on The Peak in Ashe County for use as part of the Northern Peaks State Trail (NPST). This land is key to constructing the trail in a sustainable manner to avoid the ecologically significant rock outcroppings of The Peak. Located in the Long Hope Valley/Elk Knob/The Peak Natural Area as identified by the NC Natural Heritage Program, the acreage has an “Overall Rating” of Excellent, the highest designation. Funding for this project came from the NC Complete the Trails Program.

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This Saturday, Join the Winter King Street Farmers’ Market for Beat the Blues Day

January 25, 2024  This Saturday, join the Winter King Street Farmers’ Market for Beat the Blues Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 252 Poplar Grove Rd, Boone! Has winter got you down? Brighten your spirit with community and learn about supporting your mental health as the Winter King Street Farmers Market celebrates mental wellness. For Beat the Blues Day, the knowledgeable folks from Medicaid Expansion Information and Watauga Mental Health Resources will be sharing accessible mental health resources that everyone can benefit from.

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Regional Homeless Point-in-Time Count January 31st; Helps Determine Federal Funding

January 25, 2024  Wednesday, January 31, 2024, marks the annual homeless Point-in-Time Count. The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, coordinated by the Northwest N.C. Continuum of Care (CoC), is the annual documentation of the extent of homelessness in the High Country region, which includes Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties. The information from the PIT Count provides valuable insight on the extent of homelessness in the region and informs support service providers on the priorities to prevent and end homelessness.

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W.A.M.Y.’s ‘Santa for Seniors’ Gift Drive Brings Holiday Cheer to More than 1400

January 22, 2024  “December 2023 marked the fifth year of W.A.M.Y. Community Action’s “Santa for Seniors” gift drive. With generous support from local businesses, organizations, and individuals, WAMY successfully distributed a record number of more than1,400 holiday gift bags to senior citizens in assisted living facilities, under hospice care, or homebound. These gifts were personally delivered by dedicated local volunteers and contained items such as blankets, puzzle books, lotion, lip balm, socks, candies, and other treats. WAMY continues to serve individuals in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.

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AMOREM Welcomes Director of Faith Outreach


January 10, 2024 William Williamson has stepped up to the role of Director of Faith Outreach forAMOREM, formerly Burke Hospice and Palliative Care and Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care. After the legacy hospice organizations integrated in 2021, it was quickly identified that the organization needed an individual who focused all of their efforts on supporting the robust faith community, said Vice President of Community Engagement Kerri McFalls.  “A director of faith outreach is not a common position in the hospice industry,” McFalls said. “But AMOREM wants to ensure its faith communities that they are a priority for the organization and that they feel supported when any of their congregants need end-of-life care.”

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Bell Ringers Needed for Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign

November 29, 2023 The annual signature fundraiser of the Salvation Army, better known as the Red Kettle Campaign, should be in full swing by now— but there’s one huge problem this year: There aren’t enough people stepping up to help jingle the bells.It’s a sad reality for Stacie Healy, the organization’s Service Center Director for the High Country. On Monday, she had only three ringers.for the 17 available sites across Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. “On a good day so far, we might have seven ringers.”Now in her third year of heading up the regional center, Healy stressed, “We know it’s cold out there, but many people who are ringing the bells are able to return to a warm home with food on their tables and their bills paid; most of those they are ringing for do not have the same comforts.” By Sherrie Norris

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Alair Homes Supports the Hunger and Health Coalition 

November 14, 2023 Blowing Rock, NC – Each year during the holiday season Alair™ Homes partners with the Hunger and Health Coalition and other local business leaders and community residents to give back to the High Country community through their annual Alair Community Challenge event.”In our community, living better starts with ensuring that everyone has access to the food they need. As we work to build a happier, healthier High Country, let’s come together to put meals on every table this holiday season.”, shared Alair Homes Partner, Jeff Smith.  

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MANNA FoodBank Community Market to be held in Newland on Wednesday, November 15

November 13, 2023 The MANNA FoodBank will host another Community Market on Wednesday, November 15 at the Old Rock School Gymnasium in Newland.  The gymnasium is located at 185 Shady Street and is adjacent to Newland Elementary School. Anyone or any family struggling financially to afford groceries is not only welcome, but encouraged to go there then to receive free grocery staples, fresh produce, and perishable items from the MANNA FoodBank.The Community Market will open at 11:30 a.m. and will remain so until its food items run out.  It will have touch free and drive-through pick up service. By Tim Gardner

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Bella’s Italian Restaurant in Banner Elk Hosts Awards Dinners for “The Grandfather Challenge” Hiking Program for At-Risk Kids  !!

November 13, 2023 “The Grandfather Challenge” program is sponsored by The Jason Project, Inc., which was formed by the parents of Jason Matthew Nipper, who passed away in June of 2014 at age 26. This private foundation provides outdoor/wilderness and hiking excursions and similar programs which are designed to build self-confidence in struggling youth, as well as trust and positive rapport with adult mentors. Because of Jason’s abiding love of the outdoors and mountain hiking, James & Cheryl Nipper established “The Grandfather Challenge,” through which middle and high school students, through a series of four weekly hikes, navigate all of the rigorous hiking trails at Grandfather Mountain. 

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Save the Date: High Country Food Hub Freezer Sale! September 20th

September 5, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is excited to announce the High Country Food Hub Freezer Sale to offer local meat at a discounted price as farmers prepare for fall harvests.The Freezer Sale will take place from 12:00PM-5:00PM on Wednesday, Sept. 20th, 2023 at the High Country Food Hub. 

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Hospitality House to Host Free Food Truck Event for Community Thursday

August 30, 2023 On Thursday, August 31st, the Hospitality House of Boone is hosting the third installment of their four-part “Savor the Summer” food truck rodeo series. The event is completely free and includes four food trucks along with a free farmers’ market with produce grown in Hospitality House’s own on-site organic garden, food prepared in their kitchen, and games and activities for kids and adults.  By Zack Hill

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