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High Country’s Sweet Spot
There are lots of places in the Blue Ridge Mountains to lift your spirits. But few destinations match the Village of Sugar Mountain’s spirit of the outdoors and its central location to all that is good in the North Carolina High Country. Home to the south’s preeminent winter ski resort, Sugar Mountain glides seamlessly into Spring, Summer and Fall. Regardless the season, visitors and residents take keen delight in a lifestyle they happily call their own. Sugar Mountain’s municipal golf and tennis complexes belong to everyone, and extend a sense of belonging rarely found in the public domain. The par-64 golf course delivers all the challenge and excitement you expect from a mountain layout and features magnificently maintained putting surfaces that are the talk of the High Country. Weekly ‘friendlies’ for men, women, and couples are open to everyone who wants to play. Walking is encouraged and every effort is made for boys and girls to experience the game of golf in a nurturing environment. And Sugar Mountain tennis is second to none. Six Har-Tru clay courts deliver what every player loves—low impact surfaces which are dutifully groomed morning and night. Our racquet community is close-knit, but always welcoming to newcomers and travelers. Round-Robin events and clinics led by our longtime Davis Cup pro Gene Highfield get everybody involved.
Both tennis and golf offer quality playing fields at affordable rates designed to include everyone. You’ll love the all-purpose clubhouse, with delicious fare in the Caddy Shack Café with indoor and outdoor dining. Peaceful deck seating overlooks the golf course with a stunning 180-degree panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Don’t miss Wednesday Night free live concerts from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with dancing and optional dinner buffet. The whole family is invited. Discover Sugar Mountain and all it has to offer. Just minutes away you’ll find some of America’s most spectacular biking, hiking, fishing and white-water rafting. Don’t miss a weekend ride to the peak of Sugar Mountain on the Summit Express chairlift and the new mountain bike park or the many iconic attractions as Grandfather Mountain, Linville Gorge, The Blowing Rock, and Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s all in your backyard when you visit Sugar Mountain. And don’t forget your appetite--the region is home to some of the world’s finest dining and cuisine, in settings casual to formal. The Village of Sugar Mountain is yours to enjoy, with accommodations of all kinds for every party large or small. For a day, or a lifetime, isn’t it time you experience Sugar Mountain? For more information log on to www.seesugar.com
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Spring 2019 —
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Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law before signing anything. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted. This information shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required. This information and features and information described and depicted herein is based on proposed development plans, which are subject to change without notice. Actual development may or may not be as currently proposed. No guarantee is made that the features, amenities, or facilities depicted by an artist’s rendering or otherwise described herein will be built, or, if built will be the same type, size, or nature as depicted or described. © 2015 Blowing Rock Resort Venture, LLC.
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What’s Inside... COVER PHOTO: Photography by Meagan Murphy Goheen. Fresh produce from the Watauga County Farmers’ Market
18........ Regional Happenings & Featured Events CML Staff
22........ The Scottish Tradition Continues By Steve York
31........ 35 Years of An Appalachian Summer Festival By Keith Martin
36........ The Broadway in Morganton By Keith Martin
45........ Mountain Music Adventure By Mark Freed
53........ Doe Ridge Pottery Shaping Success By Tamara Seymour
56........ Alan Gordon Mixing Art & Humor By LouAnn Morehouse
64........ Summer Palette By Lynn Rees-Jones
86........ Hidden Gems By Kelly Melang
89........ An Underground World By Steve York
93........ Interview with Nina & Mike Fischesser By Kelly Melang
105...... Spot That Scam! By Beth Johnston
107...... Big Heart, New Hope By Karen Rieley
109...... Rachel Deal: Making a Difference 110
By Elizabeth Baird Hardy
Rebuilding Lives at Hospitality House By Pan McCaslin
117...... Special Delivery—a Tribute to Dr. Charlie Baker By Josh Jarman
129...... Moving On Up to the East Side of Boone By Julie Farthing
Cultural Calendar with Keith Martin . . .6 Local Music Scene . . .40 Book/Movie Reviews with Edwin Ansel & Elizabeth B. Hardy . . .66 Notes from Grandfather Mountain…77 History on a Stick with Michael C. Hardy . . . 78 Blue Ridge Explorers with Tamara Seymour . . .79 Fishing with Andy Corpening . . .page 81 Birding with Curtis Smalling . . .83 Blue Ridge Parkway Update . . .95 Wisdom and Ways with Jim Casada . . .99 Finance with Katherine S. Newton . . . page 114 Local Tidbits . . . page 120 Community and Local Business News . . . page 124 Be Well with Sam Stephens . . . page 135 Wine with Ren Manning . . .page 141 Recipes from the CML Kitchen with Meagan Goheen . . . page 142
summer! CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Banner Elk Winery & Villa Experience Luxury in the High Country’s Original & Most Acclaimed Winery Savor award-winning wine and pamper yourself at The Villa, a luxury B&B. Spend your days exploring the local golfing, fishing, and skiing. Or recharge with a spa treatment and a glass of wine in front of the magnificent stone fireplace. A weekend getaway, corporate retreat, family vacation, or destination wedding ... it’s the perfect place to relax, re-inspire, and rejuvenate ~ both inside and out.
A publication of Carolina Mountain Life, Inc. ©2017-2018 by Carolina Mountain Life Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the Publisher. Babette McAuliffe, Publisher & Editor in Chief Deborah Mayhall-Bradshaw, Design Director Kathy Griewisch, Account Manager Tamara Seymour, Editor Keith Martin, Cultural Arts Editor Jane Richardson, Assistant Editor Contributors: Edwin Ansel, Rebecca Cairns, Jim Casada, Andrew Corpening, Kim S. Davis, Julie Farthing, Brennan Ford, Morgan Ford, Mark Freed, Meagan Goheen, Elizabeth Baird Hardy, Michael C. Hardy, Annie Hoskins, Beth Johnston, Pan McCaslin, Dr. Amber McNamara, Ren Manning, Tom McAuliffe, Kelly Melang, Cindy Michaud, John L. Morgan III, LouAnn Morehouse, Katherine Newton, Karen Radenbaugh, Lynn Rees-Jones, Karen Rieley, Frank Ruggiero, Karen Sabo, Jerry Shinn, Curtis Smalling, Wendy Snider, Samantha Stephens, Joe Tennis, and Steve York.
Share us with a friend! CML is published 4 times a year and is available by subscription for $35.00 a year (continental US) Send check or money order to: Carolina Mountain Life, PO Box 976, Linville, NC 28646
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
It seems like yesterday when my three kids were sitting on my lap, and now 29 years later, I am here with my two granddaughters. Just like that, life circles around. I love when my 5-year-old whispers in my ear, “Oma, when can we go to your office and draw pictures and go to the Book Exchange, and on the way see the snakes and hawks at that place?” That place is the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on the campus of Lees-McRae College. She remembered our visit months ago and can tell me details about the red-tailed hawk. And during the summer, she ALWAYS wants to go for another swim at Wildcat Lake. I am going to adopt her view going forward to see the world with fresh eyes—like seeing and experiencing things for the first time. I remember when I first walked across the swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain as a youngster and the exhilarating feeling just getting to the other side. I also remember the first time I took a white-water rafting trip down the Nolichucky. Memories take me back to some of the first hikes up the Profile Trail and how ascending the ladders to the top made me feel. Instead of wishing I could find old images from those experiences, I am going to re-experience them and head out like I am visiting here for the first time. It will be like going on vacation. I won’t need a plane ticket or hotel room, just the desire to get out there and discover “new” things. I remember when An Appalachian Summer Festival first started 35 years ago right after I gradu-
ated from App State. Back then it was phenomenal to see some of the acts, and now the line-up rivals any metro area in the US. In fact, in recent years, An Appalachian Summer Festival was selected as one of the “Top 20 events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. Talk about not having to get on a plane to fly away for entertainment, I can walk from my office down the hallway of the Historic Banner Elk School (home of the Banner Elk Educational, Arts & Cultural Complex) and be at Ensemble Stage for a play, or walk two blocks to Lees-McRae College for a performance at Lees-McRae Summer Theatre or The Forum. I can walk two blocks in the other direction and be at Tate-Evans Town Park on Thursday nights for Music in the Park. My 4-Runner will take me just about any direction in less than an hour to some of the most breathtaking views, and aesthetically mind-blowing art exhibits; then, if I need sustenance after all that adventure, the restaurants here are top-shelf. So many of my friends ended up back in Charlotte and some wonder how I live here year-round. “Is there anything to do up there?” The outdoor offerings alone would be enough to keep you busy—white-water rafting, paddling, hiking, golfing, caving and cycling—then toss into the mix catching a world-class show, enjoying a picnic and music in the park, visiting the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone or the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) in Blowing Rock, meeting renowned authors at local literary events… the list literally goes on and on. Inside this summer issue of Carolina Mountain Life Magazine you’ll find all the evidence you need to reach the same verdict as I did. We are surrounded by a magnificent playground. That’s why I call the High Country home. And so can you, if for the summer or a lifetime.
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Up here, it’s all about the high country, not the country club
Come Discover Eagles Nest: High Country living the way you want it. There is no better place to experience all the natural beauty and variety of the Western North Carolina High Country than right here. With one of the highest elevations in the area – and just 3 miles from the charming downtown of Banner Elk–Eagles Nest is a haven for year-round outdoor activity, catering to every age and interest.
Home sites available from the $60s Turn-key cottage packages from the $360s Call 866-370-3396 or visit DiscoverEaglesNest.com
14 — CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019
Village of There’s new energy rising at the Sugar Mountain Golf and Tennis Club. Our public golf course offers fabulous putting greens and shot making challenges. The six Har-Tru clay tennis courts feature superbly maintained playing surfaces. Golf and Tennis are open and accessible to everyone. You won’t find better value, or a heartier welcome anywhere in the mountains. After the games, unwind and enjoy great food and drink at the Caddy Shack Café, with its spectacular panoramic views. Weekly, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, enjoy great food and dancing with live music on the deck. It’s mountain casual, affordable, with lots of opportunities to meet new friends who share your love of the High Country. Make this season your season at Sugar Mountain Golf and Tennis Club.
S e e S u g a r. c o m | G o l f : 8 2 8 . 8 9 8 . 6 4 6 4 | Te n n i s 8 9 8 . 6 7 4 6
Be sureNC to visit The Rock View from 4KBlowing above sea level
6th Annual BLOWING ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 14TH Visit website for ticket information
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RE-LIVE YOUR SUMMER CAMP DAYS, GROWN-UP STYLE!
This is the Life!
LET THE KIDAIN ! YOU PLAY AG IN Be HERE for a Year of Fun! Avery County Wine & Beer Festival Village of BE (Sorrento’s) Banner Elk – June 29 CAMP BIG IS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE CAMP FOR ADULTS.
Your stay will include accommodations, all meals, beer, wine and beverages and activities such as ziplining, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, field games, campfires and much more!
NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT & S’MORES!
BOOK YOUR CAMP SESSION TODAY!
July Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival Downtown Banner Elk – July 19-21 August Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival Downtown Banner Elk – August 9-11 42nd Annual Woolly Worm Festival Downtown Banner Elk – October 19-20
AUGUST 23RD TO 26TH, 2019
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Platinum Partners Our Visitor Center is located at 4501 Tynecastle Highway, Unit 2 Banner Elk, NC 28604
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225 VINEYARD LANE, BANNER ELK, NC 28604 828-963-2400 • WWW.GRANDFATHERVINEYARD.COM
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Regional Happenings & Featured Events
Summer ‘19 ASHE COUNTY
50th Annual Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor the 50th annual Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention on Friday and Saturday, July 26-27. The Fiddlers Convention is a celebration and showcase of the musical talent and heritage of the High Country of North Carolina. Ashe County Park, in Jefferson, North Carolina will be the place to enjoy music and see the best in the region’s old time traditional and bluegrass musicians. Camping will start on Wednesday, a jamming workshop will be held on Thursday and Friday, the Appalachian Barn dance will take place Friday night, and Saturday is competition day! Explore heritage crafts, the luthier tent, jamming opportunities and food! Musicians will register the day of the competition. Competition winners in adult categories will be awarded cash prizes. Competition rules, schedules, and awards can be found at www.ashefiddlersconvention.org. Admission is $5 Friday only, $10 Saturday only or $15 for both days. Tickets can be purchased on site or by calling the Ashe County Arts Council at 336-846-2787. West Jefferson Antiques Fair Head to downtown West Jefferson, NC during the weekend of September 20-21 for the Olde Time Antiques Fair! This expansive outdoor antiques fair features numerous vendors of antiques (old and modern), collectibles, primitives and rare hard-to-find relics. You’ll also enjoy live music and food vendors as part of the weekend long festivities! There’s something for everyone, and no one will leave empty handed. Fair schedule: Friday, September 20, 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, September 21, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. https://www.oldetimeantiquesfair.com/ Saloon Studios Live Saloon Studios Live is an entertainment company hosting live concerts, both indoor and open-air, featuring living legends at each event. Saloon Studios Live provides the ultimate VIP all-inclusive five-hour experiences, including delicious food and beverages and meet & greets with friendly artists in an up-close-and-personal environment. The venue is set in an exclusive Old West style town that includes authentic 1860-1880 memorabilia bringing nonstop adventure and featuring a Sheriff’s Office, Cantina, Bank, Blacksmith’s
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Ashe County
’s Fiddlers C onvention
Forge, and more. This one-of-a-kind experience is set among Blue Ridge Mountain views with state-of-the-art sound and light shows; nearby accommodations are available. In addition to the many Saturday evening concerts coming in the 2019 summer and fall season, a highlight is a three-day WE2019 festival on August 9-11, featuring the most original 1969 historic Bethel, NY, festival artists anywhere on the planet. If you love great songs and classic rock and roll artists, and are seeking an intimate setting and seating, Saloon Studios is the perfect venue for you. Concerts are presented live in person and live online. See a full page of concert listings in this issue of CML and make plans to meet your favorite bands at www.saloonstudioslive.com .
AVERY COUNTY Avery County Wine & Beer Festival On Saturday, June 29, 12 - 5 p.m. head down to the Village of Banner Elk (Sorrento’s) in downtown Banner Elk for a day of special wine and beer tastings from the High Country and surrounding areas. Your admission of $20 purchased before the event or $25 at the gate includes a complimentary glass that will allow “20 tastes in the flight of tastings.” Participants include Banner Elk Winery, Beech Mountain Brewing Company, Eagles Nest Winery, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery, Lake James Cellars, Linville Falls Winery, Lost Province Brewing Company and Watauga Lake Winery. Live music will also be provided. Sponsored by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce. https://averycounty.com/ Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival On July 19-21 and August 9-11 head to Banner Elk for the Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival that has been serving the area for over 30 years. This juried festival welcomes visitors at no charge and brings an eclectic gathering of unique fine artists and master crafters to the Historic Banner Elk School in downtown Banner Elk, NC. Times are: Friday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce. https://averycounty.com/ Mark Your Calendar for the 42nd Annual Woolly Worm Festival Soon enough this area will burst forth with beautiful fall foliage as we welcome the 42nd Annual Woolly Worm Festival to downtown Banner Elk, where we race our furry Woolly Worm friends.
Bann & Mas er Elk Fine A ter Cra r fts Fes t tival
In ’s Christmas Avery County
Always the third weekend of October, this year’s event takes place October 19-20. The winner on Saturday takes away a $1,000 prize and the winning woolly will predict the winter weather. This special event sponsored by the Banner Elk Kiwanis and the Avery Chamber of Commerce gives back the total proceeds to the community, children and schools. Visit www.woollyworm.com to find out more about this fun filled weekend. Please call the Avery County Chamber of Commerce (828-8985605) for questions and to learn more about beautiful Avery County. https://averycounty.com/ Christmas in August in Banner Elk Christmas in the High Country is magical, but many summer residents and visitors do not get to experience it. Hence, Christmas in August in Banner Elk on August 31. This production will feature the Carolina Snowbelles, who most recently performed their holiday show at the Kennedy Center. Add to that the singers, hammered dulcimer, cloggers, comedy, and Santa, and the evening will be a variety of yuletide acts. Proceeds from the event will be given to the Project Dance Foundation (Boone) and for needs in Hayes Auditorium in Banner Elk. The first act features local performing artists, and the second is an exact replication of the Carolina Snowbelles’ show in Washington, DC. It will be a production for all ages and a reminder that the Christmas spirit is for everyone, and for every time. August 31, 7 p.m. in the Hayes Auditorium at Lees-McRae College. Tickets are available at the door, at the Banner Elk Town Hall (cash or check only), or online at brownpapertickets.com. Fifth Annual Golf Classic Love golfing in the High Country and contributing to historic preservation at the same time? Don’t miss the Fifth Annual Golf Classic, a benefit for the Historic Banner Elk School in downtown Banner Elk. The Golf Classic will take place on Monday, September 23 at Beech Mountain Club, with a 1 p.m. Shotgun Start—Captain’s Choice Format. Pick up a brochure at the Banner Elk Town Hall and register today! For more information, call Allen Bolick at 828-2920047 or email BannerElkComplex@gmail.com. All proceeds from the 2019 Golf Classic go to the Historic Banner Elk School project. This event is sponsored by The Lodges at Eagles Nest, Kidder Construction, Tom Eggers Construction, Steve Cuff Construction, Wheels Construction, and Friendship Hyundai, Johnson City TN.
August
Sugar Mountain Fun
Visit the Beech Mountain History Museum The story of Beech Mountain and its people—from the Cherokee who hunted there centuries ago, to the early settlers, to the visionaries who created a spectacular resort and the civic leaders who incorporated the highest town east of the Rockies—is being revived again this year at the Beech Mountain History Museum. The museum expanded last year to accommodate more exhibits celebrating the original Beech Mountain community, where people farmed, harvested timber, made corn liquor, carved, sewed, told stories, built houses and churches, forming a community that endures into the 21st century. Tools, crafts and other artifacts are on display, along with images of the people, places and activities, frozen in time in the early 1900s by the pioneering photographer W.R. Trivett. Moving toward mid-century, there is a beautifully detailed table model of the residence of storyteller Ray Hicks, famous for his “Jack Tales,” and his wife, Rosa. In vivid contrast to that somewhat bucolic era are artifacts, photographs and other graphic images from the colorful early years of the ski resort; architectural drawings and maps from the building of a new resort community in the late 1960s; and a nostalgic display celebrating the now legendary Land of Oz theme park. The museum, established in 1913 by the Beech Mountain Historical Society, is at 405 Beech Mountain Parkway, across the parking lot beyond Fred’s General Mercantile. It opened for the season June 5 and will be open through Woolly Worm weekend, mid-October, Wednesdays through Sundays, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are welcomed. –Jerry Shinn Annual Hog Roast on Beech Mountain Tickets are already on sale for this year’s 48th Annual Hog Roast on Beech Mountain. On Saturday, July 6, you won’t want to miss the legendary barbeque, slow-cooked all day by the Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, and served up at the Beech Mountain Resort with all the sides prepared by Carolina Barbeque, Inc. Get your meal and sit out on the slopes to wait for the annual fireworks display, which will take place at dark. Listen to acoustic music by Patty M and tunes by DJs Frank Steele and Julia Moretz, sample some fried pies by the Farmer’s Wife, get your face painted, or snack on a hot dog at the Chamber tent. Plan to spend an evening at the resort with the whole community, and cap it off with
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Caldwell County’s Blackberry Fest a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display by Zambelli Fireworks. Food service from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www. beechmountainchamber.com. Adults are $17 and children are $10. Limited tickets are available. Summer Fun on Sugar Mountain On June 28, Sugar Mountain Resort’s rebuilt and expanded bike park reopens. The park includes its signature expert terrain and newly built beginner and intermediate trails. Varying line option choices from the summit to the base include rollers, small dips, table tops, and other fun features. Magic Cycles, located in the base lodge, offers helmet, body armor and bike rentals, bicycle repairs, and a selection of items to get you started and keep you rolling. On July 1-3, kids ages 12-15 will have an opportunity to participate in the Gravity Mountain Bike Camp at Sugar Mountain. They’ll enjoy three days of fun, friends, and developing and improving their mountain bike gravity skills. Camp fees include a full day lift ticket and bike rental, professional downhill mountain bike instruction, lunch and a Gravity Mountain Bike Camp T-shirt. Get ready for the third annual Summit Crawl Competition on Saturday, July 6 where you and your friends can participate in a foot race from the base of Sugar Mountain Ski Resort to its summit by way of the Easy Street, Gunther’s Way and Northridge slopes. Visit www.skisugar.com/crawl for more information. The Summit Express chairlift operates Fridays through Sundays from June-September and shuttles foot-passengers and mountain bikers from the base of Sugar Mountain to its 5,300’ peak. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket window located next to the bike shop on the first floor, inside the base lodge.
CALDWELL COUNTY The North Carolina Blackberry Festival As the name implies, the Blackberry Festival in Lenoir, NC celebrates all-things-blackberry! The 2019 event will be held July 12-13 and is expected to draw well over 25,000 visitors to Historic Downtown Lenoir. This year’s festival will include food, drinks, live music, dancing, vendors, a beer garden, the Blackberry Pageant, recipe contests, a 5k fun run, parade, a Blackberry Patch Kids Zone and much more. For a full schedule of events visit ncblackberryfestival.com.
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Carter County’s Liberty!
CARTER COUNTY, TN Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals The Official Outdoor Drama of the State of Tennessee begins its 41st season on July 11 at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton, TN and continues for a three-weekend run. Tennessee’s official outdoor drama is presented by a cast of local performers against the backdrop of Fort Watauga. Liberty! portrays the significant history of Sycamore Shoals during the late 18th century. The series of events that unfolded at Sycamore Shoals was critical to state and national history. These dramatic chapters in America’s westward expansion set the tone for a number of events that helped propel the British colonies towards independence and a democratic form of government. The concept of outdoor drama offers a very unique format in which to present a theatrical performance. Experience live theater, beside the cool waters of the Watauga River, with Fort Watauga as the backdrop to the play. Theatrical lighting, professional sound, and a host of unexpected effects completely immerse the audience in the lifestyles of the late 18th century. Liberty! will be presented at the Fort Watauga Amphitheater at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton, TN July 11 - 13, July 18 – 20, and July 25 – 27. Performances begin nightly at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Concession stand opens at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to take home a copy of the “Scenes of Liberty” Coloring Book, which includes original artwork by Mike Hill, with text adapted from the script of the Liberty! drama, produced and written by Friends of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park. This family friendly publication is a wonderful and creative way to bring home the story of Liberty! to everyone in the household. For more info: (423) 543-5808, Info@FriendsOfSycamoreShoals.org, www.FriendsOfSycamoreShoals.org, 1651 West Elk Ave.,Elizabethton, TN
WATAUGA COUNTY First Annual Sculpture Walk at Lake Chetola The public is invited August 9-11 to stroll along the lakeside grounds of Chetola Resort for a weekend-long Sculpture Celebration featuring national and regional sculptors. This juried show highlights large and mid-scale sculptures placed along the lakeside trail. Friday and Saturday night events include appearances by renowned NC artists Bob Timberlake and Joe Miller, along with distinguished speaker and juror deemed “One of North Carolina’s Greatest Cultural Forces,” Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler, CEO and Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art (ret.). Children’s activities include lawn games, virtual reality inter-
Blowing Rock ’s Sy
mphony by the La
ke at Chetola
active art games, painting, and sculpting. For ticket information to the Friday Bourbon & Bronze event or to attend Saturday’s “Starry Night Sculpture Celebration Dinner, and Dancing under the Stars” featuring The Starlighters Orchestra, please call Brenda, (828) 295.9277 or bmc@councill.net. The Sculpture Walk at Lake Chetola is supported in part by Watauga Arts Council and Chetola Resort. Blowing Rock Art in the Park One Saturday each month throughout the summer and fall, the historic village of Blowing Rock comes alive with artists selling beautiful and functional handmade goods along Park Avenue. This year’s events take place 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on June 15, July 13, August 10, September 7 and October 5. At each show you’ll find incredible pottery, glass, wood, fiber, painting, photography, handcrafted jewelry and more. The quality of work exhibited draws thousands to the mountains each month. This year marks the 57th year of the Art in the Park festival series. Many of these artists have gathered here for several generations to share their talent and work with visitors. Under the direction of Loni Miller of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Art in the Park’s high standards and professional jury attract artists from all over the Southeast to exhibit. Art in the Park is so much more than your typical craft show. There is truly something for everyone with pieces ranging from $10 to $10,000. Each Art in the Park festival features more than 90 artists. Many of the artists are different from month-to-month, which means there is always something new to see. It’s an ideal day trip—enjoy shopping through beautiful handmade art, followed by a nostalgic stroll through the village of Blowing Rock. Admission is free, and free parking is available at parking decks on Wallingford St. and Chestnut St. Free trolley rides are available from the Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway and the Food Lion grocery on Highway 321. Learn more at blowingrock.com/ artinthepark. Symphony by the Lake at Chetola Symphony by the Lake at Chetola returns to Blowing Rock on Friday, July 26. Known as “the pinnacle event of the summer season,” this can’t-miss outdoor concert is celebrating its 32nd season. More than 30 patron tents, many decorated in this year’s theme “A Journey of Imagination,” will play host to private parties, where friends and family gather to hear beautiful music as the sun sets on the idyllic background of Chetola Lake. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the opening act of The Kincaids, a husband and wife Americana duo home-based in the foothills of NC. The Kincaids blend genres of bluegrass, jazz, pop and folk
ck ’s Art in Blowing Ro
the Park
For additional happenings and events around the High Country and beyond, see the “Tidbits” section starting on page 120...
to create a unique and authentic sound that leaves audiences entranced. Tight harmonies, acoustic guitar, claw hammer banjo, old time fiddling and a whole lot of love will marinate your ears as you settle in and listen to The Kincaids. The Symphony of the Mountains from Kingsport, TN will follow at 7:30. The full musical program is available at www.symphonybythelake.com and features selections from the fantasy worlds of many popular movies and musicals, including Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter. The evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks finale accompanying a patriotic musical tribute. This magical ending caps off a perfect night in the mountains. Tickets for the event are $40 in advance or $50 the day of the show. Children under 12 are $15. Visit www.symphonybythelake. com or call the Chamber at 828-295-7851 to purchase tickets or learn how to reserve a patron tent and host a party your guests will never forget!
WILKES COUNTY Carolina in the Fall™ Music and Food Festival On September 20th and 21st, in historic downtown Wilkesboro, the Kruger Brothers will host some of North Carolina’s best folk/ roots music bands during the award winning fourth annual Carolina in the Fall Music and Food Festival. They will be joined by a variety of bands from around the world that tip their hats to the rich musical history of Wilkes, the Heart of American Folk Music™. In its fifth year, Carolina in the Fall has become an annual pilgrimage of bluegrass and folk music lovers. In addition to great music, those that attend will be treated to some of North Carolina’s best food as each year trucks from the region will bring their secret recipes to feed the masses and vie for the Carolina in the Fall Food Truck Championship trophy. Additionally, local vineyards and regional craft breweries will be onsite to provide a taste of the region’s best beverages. As a lifestyle festival, this one offers more than just music and food. Other events include the Bobby Martin Songwriting Competition, and The Chad Lovette Memorial Trail Run and Ride in support of the American Cancer Society. If you need a little getaway from sitting and listening, contra and clogging dance classes and artist workshops are held both days of the festival. Due to the size of the venues and closeness of the seating, pets are not allowed in any of the music venues. Make plans now to be in Wilkes County, North Carolina on September 20 and 21 to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season of Carolina in the Fall. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit https://carolinainthefall.org. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Photo by John Grogan
CELEBRATION, COMPETITION & CULTURE The Traditions of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games By Steve York
A
t the heart of the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans is the celebration of ancient Scottish tradition, competition and culture. The earliest records of a formally sanctioned competitive event often point to the time of Scotland’s King Malcolm III’s reign between 1058 and 1093. According to historical accountings, in 1064, King Malcolm ordered runners to compete in a foot race from his Braemar Castle in the highlands of north-central Scotland’s Aberdeenshire up to the summit of Craig Choinnich overlooking Braemar. This was initially designed to find the fastest known runner who would then become the king’s Royal Messenger. The messenger would be used to carry official royal dispatches to and from Braemar Castle and the king’s hunting lodge at Kindrochit Castle. During his reign, the king would also gather his soldiers together on the castle grounds to test their strength and endurance in various other competitions. These events often included wrestling matches, rope pulls, the hoisting and tossing of heavy, large poles and stones, mock battles and the traditional foot race. Throughout these events, musicians, singers, dancers and jesters would also be called upon to display their own special skills and talents—both in competition with each other and for the entertainment of all in attendance. Thus, by many accounts, this is the likely birth of what has become known as the Scottish Highland Games. Exactly how these events became more common throughout greater Scotland’s broad Celtic/Gaelic culture isn’t certain. But history does mark the Ceres Games in Fife which began in 1314 in honor of Scotland’s victory over the British at the Battle of Bannockburn. Over time, other similar competitions and celebrations continued and began to spread out across the country to take root in the Scottish culture.
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Unfortunately, almost all-things-Scottish, including the competitive games, were banned in 1746 following Scotland’s loss to the British at the infamous battle of Culloden. England’s Proscription Acts law was deliberately designed to dismantle all Scottish Highland culture, language and clan system. Though that law was repealed in 1782, the games and celebrations, once so deeply rooted within Scottish culture, were scattered to the winds, not to be fully revived until well into the 19th century. Today, Scotland boasts around 100 Games events annually. The Ceres Games are the longest continuously running of those events. The largest in the world is the Cowal Highland Gathering, held in Dunoon each August. And King Malcolm III would be proud to know that Braemar Castle is still showcasing that legendary footrace along with their games each year. Scottish culture and its Games have spread all around the world and especially here in North Carolina where so many Scottish immigrants fled from British subjugation and persecution. Our annual July Grandfather Mountain Highland Games are among the most renowned anywhere. Celebrating sixty-four years in 2019, the Thursday through Sunday events have always been as authentic as it gets and feature all those ancient athletic competitions homegrown in the Scottish Highlands nearly 1,000 years ago…plus a lot more for people of all ages. Competitive athletic, dance, music and specialty events for men, women and children are in constant motion across Grandfather Mountain’s expansive MacRae Meadows throughout the four-day weekend. They begin with the Thursday afternoon grueling 5-mile Bear Assault foot race from Linville to Grandfather’s mile-high swinging bridge, and continue through Sunday afternoon with a kilted Clan Tug-of-War. In between Thursday and Sunday there’s the tortuous 26.2 mile Grandfather Mountain Marathon from Boone to MacRae Meadows plus ongo-
The 64th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 11-14, 2019 Thursday, July 11 2 - 3:30 p.m. Whisky Tasting at Best Western Mountain Lodge in Banner Elk 4:30 p.m. Opening Picnic Scottish entertainment with traditional Celtic music, plus sheep herding with border collies on the field (throughout the weekend) 7 p.m. The Bear – Assault on Grandfather featuring over 800 runners on a five-mile foot race climbing 1,568 feet in elevation from Linville to the summit of Grandfather Mountain Evening: Opening Torchlight Ceremony announcing each participating Clan’s arrival to the Games Friday, July 12 9 a.m. MacRae Meadows opens, with preliminary athletic competition, sheep herding, and music/dancing exhibitions; Celtic Groves will be open and other activities will highlight the day.
ing heavy athletic competitions, kilted wrestling, track and field events and border collie sheep herding displays. Added to that are the Scottish Highland piping, dancing, harping, drumming, fiddling and Gaelic singing competitions. Musical entertainment is also abundant during the celebration. Traditional, contemporary and fusion Celtic music is performed by talented and world-renowned musicians and bands both during the day in the Groves, at the Friday night Celtic Rock Concert and at Saturday night’s Celtic Jam. Plus you can always find spontaneous eruptions of singing and playing within the campgrounds at night and in the wee hours of the morning. As for traditional pageantry and cultural enrichment, the celebration officially gets underway Thursday night with the “Raise the Clan” Torchlight Ceremony where Clan representatives proclaim their clan’s origin and add their flaming torch upon the Saltire Cross. During the days the Scottish Cultural Village features historical presentations and instructional demonstrations. Plus, you can trace your Scottish roots at designated Clan tents circling the Meadows’ track. Then there’s the Sunday afternoon Parade of Tartans with marching pipe bands along with the closing ceremonies in the midst of MacRae Meadows. Of course, you don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy this fourday cultural and entertainment spectacle. People from all over the world and all cultures attend each year, always finding new experiences and making new friends. The camaraderie is infectious and real. The games are traditional and authentic. The music is continuous and jubilant. The Scottish clothing and souvenir venders are everywhere. And, what’s more, this unequaled celebration is set right here each July in the lap of magnificent Grandfather Mountain and on the rim of the famous scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Beyond that, it’s a long-accepted tradition that…Aye, none shall party better than a gathering of Scots!
6:30 - 11 p.m. Celtic Rock Concert at MacRae Meadows 8:00 p.m. – midnight: Scottish Country Dance Gala, Williams Gymnasium at Lees-McRae College Saturday, July 13 6:30 a.m. Mountain Marathon from Boone to MacRae Meadows field track 7:30 a.m. MacRae Meadows opens; amateur heavy athletic qualifying begins, competition begins for Highland Dancing Atlantic International Championship, piping, drumming, Scottish athletic events, track & field events, Scottish country dancing, Scottish fiddling, and Scottish harp 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. Celtic Jam at MacRae Meadows Sunday, July 14 8 a.m. MacRae Meadows opens Scottish Heavy Athletic Demonstration and Clinic Prelude music for Worship Service begins Scottish Worship Service outside main gate, includes Kirkin ‘O’ the Tartans Parade of Tartans Guests of Honor & Distinguished Guests are introduced as all members of the sponsoring clans are invited to march in the parade Atlantic International Highland Dance Championship Competition, Scottish athletic events, sheep herding, kilted miles, children’s events, Scottish country dancing, Scottish harps, Clan Tugs-of-War, and Celtic Grove entertainment 4 p.m. Closing Ceremonies Check out www.gmhg.org, where you’ll find additional event listings, and essential information on tickets, lodging, parking, and shuttle bus schedules, along with a map, directions and a checklist. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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24 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
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AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL C E L E B R AT I N G 35 YEARS!
MUSIC DA N C E T H E AT R E V I S UA L A R T S FILM
JUNE 29 - AUGUST 3, 2019 2019 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Ben Folds with the Winston-Salem Symphony JUNE 29 Broyhill Chamber Ensemble JUNE 30, JULY 2, 28, 30 Young People’s Global Film Series JULY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Weicholz Global Film Series JULY 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, AUGUST 2 Summer Exhibition Celebration JULY 5 • Rosen-Schaffel Competition JULY 6 North Carolina Black Repertory Company: Plenty of Time JULY 7 Pilobolus JULY 12 • Patti LaBelle JULY 13 Eastern Festival Orchestra featuring Awadagin Pratt JULY 14 Chris Botti JULY 19 • Lily Tomlin JULY 20 Broadway’s Next Hit Musical JULY 25 & 26 Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk JULY 27 Punch Brothers AUGUST 1 • The Temptations AUGUST 3 Plus visual arts workshops, lectures and much more! FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION
BOONE, NC
800-841-ARTS • appsummer.org
64th ANNUAL GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN
HIGHLAND GAMES & Gathering of the Scottish Clans JULY 11 -14, 2019 MACRAE MEADOWS, LINVILLE NC Come join the fun and excitement of the Games. There will be dance competition,athletic competition, piping and drumming, sheep herding, music in the Groves on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, concerts Friday and Saturday nights, Worship Service and Parade of Tartans on Sunday, and children’s activities each day. www.gmhg.org CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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PILOBOLUS PHOTO BY NADIRAH ZAKARIYA
Cultural Calendar Spotlights By Keith Martin
T
he 35th Anniversary Season of AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL (AASF) is now in full swing and several of the events highlighted in our last issue have yet to take place, including the North Carolina Black Repertory Company and their production of John Shévin Foster’s play Plenty of Time on Sunday, July 7, the expressive Pilobolus modern dance company—the event about which I’m most excited—on Friday, July 12, and Broadway’s Next Hit Musical on Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26. Recent additions to the always impressive line-up are Patti LaBelle, “the queen of rock and soul” on Saturday, July 13, master trumpeter and composer Chris Botti on Friday, July 19, two time Tony Award-winning comedienne Lily Tomlin on Saturday, July 20, and pop music legends The Temptations, including original member Otis Williams (whose life story is being told in the current Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud) on Saturday, August 3. See the accompanying article for more info about AASF or for a complete list of events, visit www. appsummer.org or call (800) 841-ARTS (2787). Beyond those highlights, there are literally dozens of other productions from which to choose. To help you plan your theatre going experience, here are the most interesting summer shows on the horizon from now through early September, listed below by producing company. PLEASE NOTE that all of the performances, dates and times are subject to change; readers are strongly encouraged to contact the box office for the most current information.
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NEWSIES
From August 22 – 25 at the Ashe Civic Center, the ASHE COUNTY LITTLE THEATRE is producing a hilarious comedy, Calendar Girls by Tim Firth. The play is based on a true story of eleven Women’s Institute members in England who posed nude for a calendar to raise funds for the Leukemia Research Fund. The news of the ladies’ charitable venture spreads and soon the media descends upon their small village, ensuring the calendar’s success but putting life-long friendships to the test. Seating is reserved and tickets are available by calling the Ashe County Arts Council at (336) 846-2787. CML had the privilege of attending opening night gala of BARTER THEATRE’S delightful family show Shrek: The Musical with performances continuing through August 25, and it’s one of the company’s best efforts in recent years. With music by Jeanine Tesori and book/lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, this musical follows the adventures of Shrek, his sidekick Donkey, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and every fairytale adventure you know and love in this Tony Awardwinning musical. Playing in rotating rep on the same Gilliam Stage through August 24 is Paul Elliott’s comedy Exit Laughing, which producing director Rick Rose describes as “The Golden Girls meet Steel Magnolias.” Little can be said without giving away the plot, but the action includes a deceased bridge club member, her “borrowed” ashes, a male stripper, a police raid, and one last card game among lifelong friends. On the newly-dedicated and renamed Smith Theatre, formerly known as Barter’s
Stage II (see sidebar story), you’ll find two unlikely pairings that illustrate the diversity of the company’s programming. Church Basement Ladies, written by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke with music and lyrics by Drew Jansen, is based on the book “Growing Up Lutheran” by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson. It tells the story of four women as they organize food and solve the problems of their church while serving up a deliciously delightful journey. Performances continue through August 25. Contrast that work with the Tony Award-winning best musical, score, and book La Cage Aux Folles, the Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein tuner based on Jean Poiret’s 1973 French play of the same name, which was later adapted into the movie The Birdcage. Set in a St. Tropez nightclub whose erratic drag star Zaza is backed by the notorious “Les Cagelles,” it tells the story of a flamboyant gay couple who must pretend to be straight for one night to dupe the conservative political family of their son’s fiancée. Information is available at www.BarterTheatre.com or (276) 628-3991. BEANSTALK COMMUNITY THEATRE in Boone has quickly established a reputation for family-friendly summer musicals. This year’s offering is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a stage adaptation of the 1991 Academy Award-winning animated film based on the classic French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Laprince de Beaumont. This “tale as old as time” with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice recounts the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is
PILOBOLUS
SHREK THE MUSICAL
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. Performances take place from July 25 – 27 at Watauga High School in Boone. For tickets and information visit www.beanstalknc.com or call (828) 3120263. Under the leadership of founding artistic director Gary Smith, the summer season continues at ENSEMBLE STAGE in the historic Banner Elk School with I’ll Be Back Before Midnight by Peter Colley, running through July 7. It’s “a first-rate thriller” hailed to be “more spine-tingling than Deathtrap.” A young wife recovering from a nervous disorder and her husband rent a remote cabin from an odd farmer who delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. After the husband’s strange sister arrives, all manner of frightening events occur. That mystery is followed by the latest work in John Patrick’s “Opal” series of popular comedies, Opal’s Million Dollar Duck, taking the stage from July 26 through August 3. Once again, the irrepressible Opal Kronkie triumphs hilariously over the forces of evil while remaining blissfully ignorant of what her antagonists are up to. The company’s popular Summer Kids Theatre continues with 11 a.m. performances of Tortoise vs. Hare 2: This Time, It’s Personal! by Sean Abley on July 13 and August 3. Everyone knows that the slow-and-steady tortoise beats the bragging hare in the famous race, but when their great-grandkids are talked into a rematch, well… anything could happen.
Closing out the season from August 16 – 24 is Cybele May’s The Redeemer, a finalist at the prestigious O’Neill Playwrights Conference. In his desperate search for a kidnapped boy, a detective finds himself relying on the visions of a psychic who can foresee crimes with terrifying clarity. Knowing time is running out for the boy, the psychic tries to help avert the horrible fate awaiting the child. For ticket information, visit www.ensemblestage. com or call (828) 414-1844. LEES-MCRAE SUMMER THEATRE continues its 2019 season with the ABBA jukebox musical Mama Mia! through July 3. An independent hotelier in the Greek islands prepares for her daughter’s wedding with the help of two old friends. Meanwhile, the spirited bride secretly invites three men from her mother’s past in hopes of meeting her real father and having him escort her down the aisle on her big day. The world premiere of a new work From the Mountain Top: The Edgar Tufts Story performs from July 11 to 17. Set in the late 19th century, this musical tells the real-life tale of Tufts, a young preacher who arrived in the High Country from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia and founded LeesMcRae College in 1889. The music and lyrics are being created by the father-son duo of Tommy Oaks and John Thomas Oaks, with a book written by summer theatre founder Janet Barton Speer. The Oaks are also writing—and performing—an original theatre for young audiences musical titled A Whale of a Tale, a retelling of the biblical story of Jonah. The creators play all the parts in
locations ranging from a pirate’s saloon to the ocean, and to the belly of a fish… and back. Performances are at 10 a.m. on July 6, 20, and 27, and August 3. The season wraps up from July 30 to August 4 with Disney’s Newsies: The Musical based on the popular 1992 film of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the reallife newsboys strike of 1899 in New York City. The multiple Tony Award-winning show has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. For tickets or information, visit www.lmc.edu/summertheatre or (828) 898-8709. Last, but not least, are two of the oldest performing arts traditions in the High Country. The outdoor drama HORN IN THE WEST is in its 68th consecutive season; the Revolutionary War drama brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the hardy mountain settlers of this region in their struggle to preserve their freedom during the turbulent years before and during the war for independence. Info at (828) 2642120 or at www.HornInTheWest.com. Performances run through August 10 in Boone, NC. TWEETSIE RAILROAD is North Carolina’s first theme park, opening on the Fourth of July in 1957 and a major employer of professional talent, producing 21 performances of a half-dozen live entertainment and stage shows each day. The 2019 season runs until October 26; for more information, visit Tweetsie.com or call (800) 526-5740. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Barter Theatre Renames Their Stage II in Honor of Smith Family By Keith Martin
On May 24, during an opening night curtain speech before Shrek: The Musical, Barter Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director Rick Rose announced that their Stage II venue was being renamed and dedicated to Steven and Debbie Smith and their entire family. The occasion honored their generosity to Barter for over 15 years. The ceremony included tributes by the theatre’s leadership and elected officials from across Virginia, along with the unveiling of a painting by nationally-known portraiture artist James Tennison which will be installed in the theatre lobby. “Every member of the Barter community has benefitted from the Smith family’s commitment to this theatre,” said Fielding Rolston, Board President. “We look forward to acknowledging their impact on our productions in Abingdon, as well as on Barter’s outreach to schools and communities throughout the region.” Rose said that the Barter owes a debt of gratitude to the family for their visionary leadership in supporting the theatre’s programs, noting
that they are among the elite donors having the greatest impact. In particular, the contribution of the former Food City Corporate Support headquarters on Trigg Street – one mile from the theatre – enabled the Barter to unite many of their vitally important production, education and outreach activities into a single location. The theatre is using the 39,000 square foot building (with ample parking on a six-acre parcel) for rehearsal halls, costume shopS, production storage for sets, properties and costumes, and a fully-equipped sound studio. Primarily, Rose stressed, “the Trigg Building is now home to Barter’s Education Department and Barter Youth Academy, a performance-based program that allows students of all ages a chance to learn and develop performance and storytelling skills.” When Smith, Food City President and CEO, handed over the keys to the building, he noted the effect of tourism to the regional economy, and the theatre’s impact on community as reasons for the donation. ”Barter Theatre is an extraordinary institution that provides world class entertainment for our entire region, and serves as a strong economic engine for both Abingdon and Washington County, VA. Food City is proud to be a long-time Barter sponsor, and to have the opportunity to donate the Trigg Street building and property to help perpetuate their financial stability for many years to come.” On a humorous note, it was noted during the dedication that Smith’s debut and lone stage performance took place in 2011 during “Forbidden Barter.” In a spoof of “Let It Go!” from the musical The Full Monty, performers stripped down to the bare essentials, with Smith joining Rose and members of the fundraising campaign in redefining the phrase, “expose yourself to the arts.” Yes, indeed.
Experience ART Sally Nooney
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Fine Art Paintings Glass Creations & Heirloom Jewelry
Image Credit: (top) Chung-Wei Chien, AWS, D.F., New Taipei City, Taiwan, Ambience of Jiufen. Winner of Bronze Medal of Honor. (bottom) Precious D. Lovell. Wangari Maathai (Kenya), 2012. Mixed media. Courtesy of the artist.
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LILY TOMLIN WITH MURIEL ROSEN, 2005
An Appalachian Summer Festival:
35 Years of Memories and Unforgettable Performances By Keith Martin
T
here is a wonderful document entitled “How it all began…” created by Appalachian State University staff in the Office of Arts and Cultural Programs to chronicle the rich history surrounding An Appalachian Summer Festival (AASF). Its origins date to the early 1980s, beginning with a desire on the part of Appalachian State University to enhance its summer programs and role in the broader community. While the university had an excellent program of academic, cultural, and athletic activities during the academic year, there was an interest in further expanding and strengthening its summer programs. University officials recognized that a significant contribution to the region could be offered in the area of the arts and cultural programs. By creating a quality arts program, a stronger partnership with the local community would result, and the campus could begin to attract visitors from outside the immediate community. During this same period, summer residents Arnold and Muriel Rosen were addressing the need for diverse cultural activities from a different angle. As a board member of the Chopin Foundation, Arnold Rosen was involved through the Miami chapter in the staging of various competitions and concerts, featuring foundation-sponsored musicians. He and Robert Chumbley, the foundation’s
director in Florida, began to discuss the formation of a North Carolina chapter, and made arrangements for a group of musicians to come to Boone for a series of recitals. The concept for the festival was beginning to emerge, and by 1984, the idea had come to fruition with the staging of a series of cultural activities that also included a residency by the North Carolina Symphony, in conjunction with the Cannon Music Camp. Initially, the festival complemented its name in the truest sense, with events scheduled from May through August. By the summer of 1985, “An Appalachian Summer” began to establish itself as a permanent fixture on the High Country’s summer scene. In addition to the vision they provided, the Rosens generously responded to the university’s request for the first major financial contribution to the program, and support from other philanthropists soon followed. The Chopin Foundation musicians became established as the Appalachian Chamber Ensemble in 1985, and with a generous gift from the Broyhill family, the group was renamed the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble. Also featured during these early years were performances by the North Carolina Symphony with conductor James Ogle, who was instrumental in forming the festival’s strong alliance with the symphony. Other popular features
included the North Carolina Dance Theatre, Cannon Music Camp concerts, the Acting Company directed by John Houseman, Signature Theatre directed by James Houghton, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, and the Smithsonian Lecture Series. Internationally renowned sculptor Richard Hunt played a key role in the development of the visual arts component of the festival, which was initiated with the support and sponsorship of Martin and Doris Rosen, brother and sister-inlaw of Arnold Rosen. As the desire to present the finest in the performing and visual arts evolved, so did the need to concentrate these events into a shorter time period. The festival eventually dropped its summer-long time frame in favor of a more condensed schedule. Continuing as a program of the Appalachian State University Foundation office for five years, management of the festival was transferred to the newly established Office of Cultural Affairs in 1989. In the years to follow, the festival made major strides in expanding the scope of its artistic programming, strengthening and diversifying its audience base, and building a strong and loyal base of private Continued on next page CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Muriel Rosen, making her debut with the North Carolina Symphony, in 1988 playing a Hoover. supporters and corporate sponsors who sustain the festival and invest in its growth and development. Ringler, Director of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources at Appalachian, credits Robert Chumbley and Gil Morgenstern (who served as Artistic Directors for the festival) along with Carrie Lindsay, Frank Mohler, and Perry Mixter for providing administrative direction over the course of the festival’s history. Ringler modestly states that her role when becoming director in 2006 was “to adopt a collaborative approach regarding the festival’s artistic vision, with input from colleagues and advisors across a number of different artistic disciplines in shaping and defining the festival’s programming.” “But,” Ringler said, “at the very beginning of it all, Bob Snead (Appalachian’s first Vice Chancellor for Development, now called University Advancement) was absolutely instrumental to the formation of the festival, working hand-in-hand with Muriel and Arnold Rosen as its initial founding patrons. Chancellor John Thomas’s support was critical, of course, and other key organizers during those early days included Fred Robinette, Wayne Clawson, Bill McCloud, Bill Lightfoot, Gay Clyburn and Connie Adams.” Nancy Schaffel, former AASF advisory board chair, is the daughter of founders Muriel and Arnold Rosen, and her husband Neil is a current board member. “I am not sure that my parents could have imagined that AASF would transform itself from its humble beginnings to the multi-disciplinary festival of today; it is a wonderful legacy they left behind…” “In earlier years,” Schaffel recalled, “my mother made her orchestral debut with the North Carolina Symphony. She performed a solo, playing a Hoover… yes, a vacuum cleaner. I remember her giggling about the whole thing afterwards but appearing quite serious during the concert. This year, we have Lily Tomlin
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making a second appearance. The last time she was here, Lily singled out my mom in the audience, making appropriate fun of her. “My father was much more reserved than my mom,” Schaffel said. “Although quiet in public, he had definite ideas on how things should be done and worked diligently to make them happen. He was also wise enough to listen to good advice from those having greater experience. We would definitely not be here today without his vision, support and guidance.” Though not among the original AASF founders, civic leaders Faye and John Cooper often tell the story about the joy felt when they were first able to contribute a small amount of money; now the couple are major supporters and longtime patrons. “I often say to young adults who wish to support any non-profit,” Faye Cooper said, “that it doesn’t matter how much you give; it is the commitment of your names and that you are financially contributing that matters.” Faye Cooper, a former chair of the advisory board, fondly remembers the day that Muriel Rosen said, “An Appalachian Summer? What is it? Our name should say what it is, An Appalachian Summer Festival… that’s it!” Cooper said, “The whole board agreed,” and the name change became permanent. Throughout its three-decade existence, the festival has maintained its commitment to the values upon which it was founded: artistic excellence, innovation, and audience-building, which has catapulted it to national prominence. With recognition in The New York Times, Southern Living, US Airways Magazine and on regional National Public Radio stations, as well as designation as one of the “Top Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society, An Appalachian Summer Festival
is no longer the “best kept secret” in the High Country. This remarkable event has truly evolved into a “community festival” that is embraced by a wide network of stakeholders who take pride in it, and who are committed to its future success and longevity. Lynn Eisenberg is the current chair of the Advisory Board, and her first response when asked for comment was, “I really want to thank the university and the incredibly talented staff for their dedication over the past 35 years.” Her sentiment was echoed by Cooper, Schaffel, Snead and others with whom CML spoke about this article. A Winston-Salem resident who has been summering with her husband Barry in the High Country since the ‘70s, Eisenberg said, “It is such a joy and privilege to meet new friends at festival events every summer— including local residents and visitors from across the nation who value quality arts programming and who delight in being with others who share this passion.” Eisenberg believes that the arts bring diverse people together across boundaries to create shared experiences that connect us. “The founders of An Appalachian Summer Festival understood that arts and culture are powerful tools to enhance creative learning and provide opportunities for a rich cultural life in the High Country for its residents as well as for its visitors. “We are grateful to the AASF staff, Advisory Board, the community of volunteers, and audience members who are dedicated to supporting and enhancing the Festival season through their treasured involvement. Their enthusiasm and willingness to support and engage in activities makes me happy and proud as someone who treasures the importance of the arts in making our world a better place.”
Happy Birthday, AASF, and all best wishes for yet another successful season.
Please see the cultural calendar elsewhere in this issue for Festival highlights. For a complete list of events, visit www.appsummer.org or call (800) 841-ARTS (2787).
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MANNHEIM ROCKET
NEW CENTURY SAXOPHONE QUARTET
PUDDINGSTONE
St. John’s Summer Concert Series Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary By Keith Martin
W
hile many of our venerable cultural attractions (such as An Appalachian Summer Festival, Tweetsie, and “Horn in the West”) have been around for several decades, one of the best seasonal highlights is just now celebrating its tenth anniversary season: the popular Summer Concert Series at historic St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Monthly events are planned from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend at this summer mission of Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Valle Crucis. This picturesque chapel, consecrated in 1862, is located in the Watauga County countryside and provides marvelous acoustics for music with its wooden walls and floors forming a natural sounding board for live performances. For the last decade these concerts have showcased some of the High Country’s finest musicians along with regional artists of national prominence. Attendees linger until sunset to mingle with the artists after their performance. All concerts begin promptly at 5 p.m., are approximately 75 minutes in duration and, in the tradition of true southern hospitality, are followed by a potluck supper. Admission is only $5 per person with children admitted free of charge. Attendees traditionally bring a dish to share during the supper on the lawn that concludes every summer concert, with dozens of folks arriving early to begin the social aspect of the evening’s festivities. Many audience members prefer to set up lawn chairs near the open windows of the chapel and listen to the music as it resonates throughout the valley. All are welcome as local residents mingle with newcomers and visitors in the melting pot that is historic St. John’s. The 2019 season began on Sunday, May 26, with the annual Singing in the Valley concert featuring the vocal and handbell choirs of Holy Cross, joined again this year by singers from Banner Elk Presbyterian Church, performing with guest artists and jazz musicians Rob Falvo and Scott Kallestad. There are three events remaining over the summer months that appear on our “must see” list of summer events. Puddingstone will grace the chancel of St. John’s on Sunday, July 7. Their name reflects this group perfectly; “Puddingstone is a conglomerate of many different stones…”
with musical genres ranging from Americana fife and drum, to Celtic and folk, new age, flamenco, renaissance, and classical. What makes a Puddingstone musical arrangement recognizable is the unique sound and the use of ancient and modern instruments to meld together various melodies and cultures. This seven-member band includes vocal performances accompanied by percussion, hammered dulcimer, harp, flutes, guitar, synthesizer and fiddle. On Sunday, August 4, the award-winning New Century Saxophone Quartet will perform their versatile repertory that includes selections from Bach to the Beatles... on saxophones. They are the only ensemble of its kind to ever win First Prize of the Concert Artists Guild Competition and have been hailed as “a pioneering and versatile group.” Their New York debut at Carnegie Hall earned the group praise for their “virtuosic display of dexterity and keen ensemble work,” in which the “players handled all the music with panache,” according to the New York Post. The Mannheim Rocket Orchestra closes out the 2019 season on Sunday, September 1. They are the premier periodinstrument ensemble of Virginia and named for one of the musical innovations of the Mannheim school where composers introduced a number of novel ideas into the orchestral music of their day. Founded in 2013 by the award-winning conductor and clarinetist Richard Spece, the orchestra consists of world class musicians dedicated to the perfection of their art. Using instruments authentic to the period, this chamber music ensemble will perform a program titled, “Mozart in the Mountains.” All concerts are performed in St. John’s Chapel, located at 645 Herb Thomas Road, off Mast Gap Road in the Sugar Grove community near Valle Crucis, NC. Signs are posted throughout the valley directing audience members to the concert location. For more information, please visit the concert website at www.holycrossvallecrucis.net or call (828)963-4609. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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BANDSTAND / PHOTO BY MICHAEL POOL
DANCE COMPANY OF SIBERIA
Broadway Offerings Highlight Main Stage E
ighteen major events have just been announced for the 34th season of MainStage Morganton, all of which take place in the 1,000 seat, stateof-the-art City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium. Since 1986, CoMMA has presented live entertainment and cultural events to the delight of local and regional audiences. And for those of us who reside in the High Country region, it is the closest venue in which to experience national tours of Broadway shows, along with a balanced slate of music, dance, holiday, and community-based events. For its 2019-20 season running from September 2019 through May 2020, CoMMA has programmed something to appeal to every possible taste in entertainment. Again this year, the theatre and dance productions deserve top billing in the coming season, with three well-known musicals, one newer work by a comedy legend, and two tours from culturally-
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rich international companies. CoMMA has established a reputation for bringing Broadway and worldwide touring shows to our region at affordable prices, saving audience goers multiple trips to Charlotte, New York, or other major cities for their music, theatre, and dance enjoyment. On December 10, CoMMA presents the national tour of ’Twas The Night Before Christmas by the brilliant threetime Tony nominated and Olivier Awardwinning comedy writer Ken Ludwig, best known for Broadway’s Lend Me A Tenor, Crazy For You, Moon Over Buffalo, and the West End production of Shakespeare in Hollywood, commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company. In his first play for children, Ludwig recounts the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won’t take “no” for an answer after Santa missed their house the previous Christmas eve. The Color Purple returns to Morganton on February 27, 2020 for the first time in
nearly a decade, this time with the 2016 version that captured the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival and a Grammy Award-winning score of soul-raising jazz, gospel, ragtime, and blues music. Amber Austin, CoMMA’s marketing associate, says the show was a crowd favorite in its initial run back in 2011 and that they are looking forward to bringing the revival to their stage. Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, it tells the epic story about a young woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South. “Who could ask for anything more?” On March 20, An American In Paris matches George Gershwin’s soaring melodies and brother Ira’s clever lyrics with director Christopher Wheeldon’s gravity-defying choreography in a breathtaking new production. A World War II veteran chooses newly-liberated Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter. But his life becomes
THE COLOR PURPLE / PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY
Morganton’s 2019-20 Season complicated when he meets a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret, and realizes he is not her only suitor. Winner of four Tony Awards and inspired by the 1951 Academy Award-winning film, this exquisite production features your favorite Gershwin songs including “I Got Rhythm,” “‘S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” and “Stairway to Paradise.” The musical Bandstand was the first theatrical piece to be certified by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to get military veterans portrayed more accurately in film and television. The story follows musician Donny Novitski, who returns home from World War II having lost his best friend in battle. He pins his hope on winning a radio contest and puts together a band of military veterans; when he meets the widow of his best friend, he might have just found the lead singer to take them to the top… and a complicated romance. Threetime Tony winner and Hamilton co-
creator Andy Blankenbuehler made his Broadway debut as both director and choreographer with the musical; look for his superb award-winning choreography on May 3. In addition, September and October 2019 bring two international companies to the CoMMA stage. The world tour of The Mystical Arts of Tibet conducts a week-long residency in Burke County from September 14 through 19 with an impressive variety of education, outreach, and performance programs featuring Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling monastery. Their stage appearance combines multi-phonic chanting, sacred music, ancient rhythms, intricate costumes, and authentic temple dances that have been performed for thousands of years in Tibet. The tour is endorsed by the Dalai Lama “to promote world peace and understanding.” On October 24, the National Dance Company of Siberia travels from
By Keith Martin
the city of Krasnoyarsk in Russia to captivate audience members with their performances of original Siberian dances. The troupe is noted for their vivid character portrayals, the precise musical movements, and the elaborate choreographic design. The dances follow one after another in a kaleidoscopic manner and are perceived as a single choreographic symphony, a continuous stream of folk dance elements. CoMMA’s Amber Austin says that, “Their unique dances are unlike anything I have ever seen… at times they appeared to be floating across the floor!” CoMMA’s 2019-20 season is listed in its entirety in this issue (see ad on p.38). Box office hours are from noon until 5 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to all events. For additional information, or to request a season brochure, please call 828-433-SHOW or 800-939-SHOW, or visit the website at www.commaonline.org.
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NC Artists Shine on National Stages: 2019 Tonys and Jimmys Recognize Tar Heel Talent By Keith Martin
F
or several years we have written about the ever-growing roster of artists who have risen to prominence on national stages, but never has our beloved state been better represented than at the 2019 Tony Awards or the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, better known as the Jimmys. Here is a behindthe-scenes look at a few who have made us very proud. Stage and screen star Rosemary Harris from Winston-Salem, currently starring as Mrs. Higgins in the Lincoln Center revival of My Fair Lady, was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award. At age 91 and eight decades into an acting career that began in 1948, she has been leading lady to Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, and Laurence Olivier, winning her first Tony 55 years ago for The Lion in Winter. In her gracious acceptance speech, not broadcast on television, Harris recognized her late husband of 50 years John Ehle (co-founder of the NC School of the Arts) and their two-time Tony-winning daughter Jennifer Ehle, before thanking “all theatregoers – past, present, and future – who make all this possible.” Six-time Tony Award-winning costume designer William Ivey Long currently splits time between his homes in Seaboard, NC and Manhattan, having lived with his theatrical family in a dressing room at Raleigh Little Theatre after WWII and summering in Manteo at the outdoor drama The Lost Colony, where he is production designer and in his 45th season. This year, Long had two Tony nominations in the same category (for the musicals Tootsie and Beetlejuice, his 74th and 75th Broadway productions). A Theatre Hall of Fame inductee, Long recently
completed a four-year term as Chairman of the American Theatre Wing and had a career retrospective/exhibition at the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte. Beth Leavel, who gave a brilliant master class and audition workshop at Appalachian State University in 2018, captured her third Tony nomination for the scene-stealing role of Dee Dee Allen in The Prom, by the same creative team behind her Tony-winning performance in the title role of The Drowsy Chaperone. Leavel recently announced her engagement to her favorite leading man, Adam Heller, currently starring in the preBroadway run of The Flamingo Kid at Hartford Stage. For the second time in three years, Charlotte’s Eva Noblezada received a Tony nomination, having previously been recognized for the title role in Miss Saigon. This time, she scored a nod for the role of Euridice in the most-nominated show of the season, Hadestown, which captured eight Tonys including Best Musical. As previously reported, Noblezada won the 2013 Blumey Award, Charlotte’s version of the Tonys, while a student at Northwest School of the Arts (NWSA). She advanced to the Jimmy Awards and caught the attention of casting director Tara Rubin, auditioned for producer Cameron Mackintosh, and was cast as Miss Saigon in the London production at age 17. Coincidentally, Charlotte native and NWSA grad Reneé Rapp (winner of the 2018 Jimmys) made her Broadway debut on June 7 during the Tony-weekend festivities. She took over the leading role from Taylor Lauderman in Tina Fey’s Mean Girls. During a break in rehearsal for last year’s Jimmys, Rapp told me that
“Theatre is a gift, but not until you share it with an audience!” Now, she is sharing her gift with 10,000 audience members a week at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. Not coincidentally, both Noblezada and Rapp were students of Matt Hinson at NWSA, who was musical director for the shows in which they appeared in Charlotte, plus an accompanist for the Blumey Awards. On Monday, June 24, on the Minskoff stage where The Lion King is playing a long-term run, Hinson was given the 2019 Inspiring Teacher Award by The Broadway League, recognizing the encouragement and inspiration that led to his students winning the Jimmy Award. What’s the High Country connection? For the last 15 years, Hinson has been Residence Life Director for Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics at Appalachian. Hinson’s well-deserved recognition follows that of fellow NWSA musical theatre icon Corey Mitchell, who received the inaugural Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education in 2015. It should also be noted that Appalachian graduate David Furr, a 2016 Tony nominee for Michael Frayn’s farce Noises Off, graced the “Great White Way” again this season in a revival of Lanford Wilson’s play Burn This opposite Keri Russell and Adam Driver. It’s been a busy season for Furr, who also starred in four different television series during 2018-19: Bull, Dynasty, The Good Cop and The Man in the High Castle. Bravo to each and every one of these talented artists; we back home in North Carolina celebrate your success and take great pride in your accomplishments. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Where the Music is... Music happens in the area all year long but especially at this time of year you will hear a tune at every turn. Anywhere you go you are going to hear fine music from skilled and talented musicians. They’re picking and jamming on the stages, in the meadows and on the front porches. Here are some of our favorite places…
n At Wineries and Vineyards Linville Falls Winery – Located near both Linville Falls and the spectacular Linville Gorge, the steepest gorge east of the Mississippi River, Linville Falls Winery hosts music every Saturday and Sunday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. 9557 Linville Falls Hwy (Hwy 221) Linville Falls, NC, Blue Ridge Parkway Mile 317, 828-765-1400.linvillefallswinery.com Banner Elk Winery – The High Country’s original winery is just minutes from downtown Banner Elk and hosts music Saturdays 12-6 p.m. and Sundays 2-5 p.m. Located at 60 Deer Run Lane, Banner Elk, NC. For more info 828-898-9090, bannerelkwinery.com Music in the Vineyard – Grandfather Vineyard and Winery hosts a summer full of live music at its tasting room on Saturdays starting at 1 p.m. and Sunday afternoons starting at 2 p.m. through Oct.. The winery is located at 225 Vineyard Lane, off N.C. 105 between Boone and Banner Elk. 828-963-2400
n At Restaurants and Bars Old Hampton Barbecue and The Tavern at the Old Hampton Store – Live music most Thursdays through Sundays either at noon or 6 p.m. Summer Concert Series in the Backyard is on Thursday nights from 6-9 p.m. Located at 77 Ruffin Street, Linville. 828-733-5213. Go to Old Hampton Store Facebook page for the latest info. Live Music Weekends at Carolina BBQ – Every weekend, year-round. 500 Pineola St., Newland. 828-737-0700. CarolinaBBQNewland.com has band listings by month. Carolina BBQ Concerts on the Patio – After a year without the Newland Summer Concerts, Carolina BBQ has picked up where they left off. Concerts highlighting music styles from bluegrass, country, rocka-billy, blues and gospel are on Friday nights starting at 6 p.m. May through Sept. rain or shine. 500 Pineola St. Newland, 828-737-0700 Live Bands on the Patio at Banner Elk Café – Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer, 6-10 p.m. 324 Shawneehaw Ave. S. Banner Elk, 828-898-4040, bannerelkcafe.com The Pedalin’ Pig Bbq Restaurant – 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Banner Elk location and various nights at the Boone location. Showcasing local talent. Banner Elk 828-898-7500, Boone 828-355-9559. Bayou Concerts in the Courtyard – Tuesday evenings in Banner Elk, the Bayou Smokehouse and Grill features music on the lawn beginning at 6 p.m. rain or shine. Bayou Smokehouse and Grill, 130 Main Street E, Banner Elk. 828-898-8952. Check their Facebook page for full listings. Live Music at Lost Province Brewery – Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Plus Celtic Jam sessions the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 5:30 p.m. 130 N. Depot Street, Boone. 828-265-3506, lostprovince.com.
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Woodlands Barbeque Restaurant – Nightly at 6 p.m., 8304 Valley Blvd. (Hwy 321) Blowing Rock, 828-295-3651, woodlandsbbq.com. Chef’s Table – Live music Fri. and Sat. night and Wednesday night jazz with Shane Chalke at 6:30 p.m. More at bannerelkvillage.com, 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, 828-898-5214. Barra Sports Bar – Live music Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m. More info at bannerelkvillage.com, 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, 828-898-5214. Stonewalls Restaurant – Listen to oldies with Bill Stevenson every Fri. and Sat. at 6 p.m., 344 Shawneehaw Ave. S., Banner Elk, 828-898-5550. Highlanders Grill & Tavern – Live music Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. Check the lineup at facebook.com/highlandersbannerelk, 4527 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, 828-898-9613. Elevations Tavern & Grill – Live music from jazz to folk 6-9 p.m. Fri. and Sat. now through the end of Sept. Call 828-898-9880 for the lineup or elevationstavernandgrill.com, 3990 Hwy 105 S. Suite 6, Banner Elk.
n At Inns and Resorts 5506’ Skybar at Beech Mountain Ski Resort – Take the ski lift to the top—the skybar at the peak of the mountain offers live music on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m., 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, 800-438-2093, beechmountainresort.com. Summer Music Series at the Table at Crestwood – Every Thurs. night through mid-Oct., 6-9 p.m. The Inn at Crestwood, Blowing Rock. Resv advised, 3236 Shulls Mill Rd., Boone, 828-963-6646,crestwoodnc.com. Music on the Lawn at The Inn at Ragged Gardens – Friday evenings through October 11, 5:30-8:30 p.m. weather permitting. Bring your own seating, outdoor bar and lawn menu available. Sorry no coolers, pets, or outside food or beverages. 203 Sunset Dr., Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703 ragged-gardens.com Music on the Veranda at Green Park Inn – Sundays, 5-8 p.m. Bring your own chairs. Enjoy piano music with Charlie Ellis in the lobby Friday and Saturday nights at 6 p.m., 9239 Valley Blvd., Blowing Rock. GreenParkInn.com, 828-414-9230. Symphony by the Lake – One night only, July 26. Dinner, fireworks, and the Symphony of the Mountains. Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock. $40 advance, $50 at the gate. The gates open at 5:30 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m. More info/tickets: symphonybythelake.com 828-295-7851. Beech Alpen Pavilion Summer Concerts – Sundays, 5 p.m. at Beech Alpen Inn weather permitting Memorial Day through Labor Day, 700 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain. 828-387-2252, BeechAlpen.com. Timberlake’s Restaurant at the Chetola Resort – Features live music in the Pub, on the patio or by the bonfire, depending on weather and special events on Thursday 6-9 p.m. Friday 7-10 p.m. Saturday 6:009:00 p.m., 185 Chetola Lake Dr., Blowing Rock, chetola.com/dining/, 828-295-5505. Summer Concert Series at the Beech Mountain Resort – July 19 and August 24, 6-11:30 p.m., tickets $35 available online at Beechmountainresort.com or $45 at the gate, 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, beechmountainresort.com, 828-387-2011.
Beech Mountain Throwback Music Weekend – August 2-4, Fri. and Sat. at 7 p.m. at The Beech Mountain Brewing Company Taproom and Grill at Beech Mountain Resort and Sun. at 2 p.m. at the Brick Oven Pizzeria, beechmountainresort.com, 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, 828-387-2011. Grillin & Chillin Concert and Dinner Series Sugar Mountain – Wednesdays through August and Labor Day at 5:30 p.m. on the Golf and Tennis Clubhouse Deck hosted by CaddyShack Café, dinner available for $12, 1054 Sugar Mountain Dr. Banner Elk, 828-898-1025, check the Visit Sugar Mountain Facebook page for the lineup.
n At a Church St. John’s Summer Sunday Concerts – The St. John’s Summer Concerts are held the first Sunday of each summer month, beginning in June. Concerts are at 5 p.m. and cost $5.00 per person. Child admission is free. 554 Herb Thomas Rd., Sugar Grove, 828-963-4609,holycrossvallecrucis.net/st-johns-church
n At a Park Music in the Valle – Valle Crucis Community Park Fridays 7 p.m. May 24-Aug. 9 and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16-Sept 6, bring your own chair or blanket, 2892 Broadstone Rd., Banner Elk, 828-963-9239, www.vallecrucispark.com Concerts in the Park, Banner Elk – Every Thurs. through Aug. 22, 6:30 p.m., Tate Evans Town Park, next to Town Hall on Hwy 194, 210 Park Ave. Banner Elk, 828-898-8395, www.BannerElk.org. Backstreet Park Summer concerts – 5:30-7 p.m. most Fridays downtown West Jefferson on the Backstreet. Bring your own seating. www.thecoolestcorner.com, 888-343-2743. Concerts in the Park, Blowing Rock – Sundays at 4 p.m. following Art in the Park through October. Bring your own seating. Memorial Park on Main. Blowingrock.com/concertinthepark, 828-295-4639. Blowing Rock Town Concert Series – Broyhill Park at 7 p.m. Monday nights in July, amymarieproductions.com, 173 Lakeside Dr., Blowing Rock. In case of rain concerts will be in the American Legion Building, 333 Wallingford St., Blowing Rock, 828-295-5222. Todd Summer Music Series – 6 p.m. in Cook Memorial Park in downtown Todd, select Saturdays starting June 15 except for the July 4 concert which starts after the 11 a.m. parade, www.toddnc.org
n Festivals An Appalachian Summer Festival – now through August 3. Annual cultural event includes music concerts. Boone, NC. Info and tickets: www.appsummer.org 800-841-2787. Red White & Bluegrass Festival – July 4-6. Catawba Meadows Park, 701 Sanford Dr., Morganton, NC. Schedule and tickets: www.redwhiteandbluegrassfestival.com, 828-438-5350. Ashe County Bluegrass & Old Time Fiddlers Convention – July 26-27, 50th annual event. Barn dance, camping available, jams and competition showcasing musical talent and heritage of the High Country. Ashe County Park, 625 Ashe Central School Rd., Jefferson, NC. For complete info, 336-846-2787, ashefiddlersconvention.org.
summer ‘19
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More Music...
FloydFest’19 “Voyage Home” – July 24-28. Floyd, VA. For complete info, floydfest.com. Virginia Highlands Festival July 26-August 4. Annual event includes live music concerts. Abingdon, VA. vahighlandsfestival.org. WE2019 Experience Festival at Saloon Studios Live Celebrate living legends from 1969 August 9-11. This all-inclusive event is the ultimate music lover’s retreat. Hear ’69 performers from Jefferson Starship to Sly & the Family Stone all set in the Blue Ridge Mountain community of West Jefferson. 313 Old West Rd., West Jefferson, 336-877-2374, www.saloonstudioslive.com. T ickets are limited. Long Journey Home Musical Heritage Homecoming Tour Johnson County Tennessee Aug.31-Sept. 2 www.longjourneyhome.net Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion September 20-22 downtown Bristol, VA/TN, State Street. For tickets and more info visit www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/festival, 423-573-1927. The Sixth Annual Blowing Rock Music Festival Sept. 14 hosted by The Blowing Rock and local legends The Harris Brothers. Featuring the best in Americana, folk, blues, rock and jazz. Info and tickets 828-295-7183, 800295-7851, 432 Rock Rd., Blowing Rock. www.theblowingrock.com/musicfestival/
n At stores Fred’s Summer Sunday Sunset Concerts The Gazebo at Fred’s General Mercantile, Beech Mountain 6:30 pm Sundays starting July 14-Aug. 4, also Aug. 3 at the Crafts on the Green, 501 Beech Mountain Pkwy., 828-387-4835, www.FredsGeneral.com/local events. Concerts In The Courtyard at Tanger Outlets/Blowing Rock Every other Sat. June 8th - October 19th from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and your friends and family! All events are FREE. 278 Shoppes on the Parkway Road, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, 828-295-4444, https://www.tangeroutlet.com/blowingrock
Live Music at the Original Mast Store Saturday, noon. The Mast Store, 3565 NC Hwy. 194, Sugar Grove, (Valle Crucis). 828-963-6511, mastgeneralstore.com.
May at Carolina West Wireless Community Commons, 102 West Main St., Wilkesboro, wilkesboronorthcarolina.com, 828-838-3951. Concerts on the Deck Bring a chair and your dancing shoes to the Yadkin Valley Marketplace the third Saturday of each month now through October starting at 6 p.m., 445 CBD Loop, North Wilkesboro, 336-667-7129, downtownnorthwilkesboro.com.
n And Everywhere Else FORUM at Lees-McRae College Mondays 7 p.m. through August 5 at Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College, 191 Main St. Banner Elk. Info and tickets lmc.edu/forum, 828-898-8748.
Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music Celebrating Appalachian culture, various dates and locations throughout the region. For more information and tickets go to www.mountainhomemusic.com.
Jones House Concerts on the Lawn Fridays at 5 p.m. through August. Bring your own seating. Jones House Community Center, 604 W. King St., Boone, www.joneshouse.org Jones House Jams – Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Bring an instrument and join the jam. Jones House Community Center, 604 W. King Street, Boone. www.joneshouse.org, 828-268-6280. Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) Select Sundays at 4 p.m. 159 Chestnut Street, Blowing Rock. Purchase tickets in advance to guarantee admission: 828-295-9099 or go by the museum. www.blowingrockmuseum.org Concerts in the Commons – The second Saturday of the month 6 p.m. starting in
You can’t throw a rock and not hit
something musical in
Ashe County The Coolest Corner of North Carolina!
Christmas in July Festival
Discover treats for your ears, eyes, and soul around every mountain curve.
West Jefferson Backstreet Concerts Saloon Studios Live Old Time Fiddlers Convention New River Blues Festival Woodstock Experience Blue Ridge Theater & Event Center Todd Summer Concert Series Phipps Store Friday Night Jams Lansing Music In The Barn
thecoolestcorner.com 42 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Avery JAM – This is a community event sponsored by Avery JAM the second Saturday of every month at Historic Banner Elk School in the book exchange library from 12 p.m.2 p.m. All community members are welcome, and beginners encouraged. Participants will be led an instructor. Also come on the 3rd Mondays of the month at 6 p.m. for Bluegrass Country Music Jam, 185 Azalea Way, Banner Elk.
WKSK’s Live Bluegrass Concerts
Find Your Perfect Home, Second Home, or Mountain Property— We'll Handle All the Details.
415 Shawneehaw Ave., Banner Elk, North Carolina 28604 (beside the red caboose) summitgrouprealestate.com | 828-898-3500 REALTOR ©
VISIT OUR NEW GARDEN CENTER Over 1000 varieties of landscape plants, fruit trees, & roses.
nursery & greenhouses
annuals, perennials hanging baskets, and Fresh Floral Arrangements
726 Old Jonas Ridge Rd, Pineola, NC 828-733-4323
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
43
July 13 - 18
July 27 - August 3
“Composition of an Abstract”
“A Designer’s Journey”
Oil Paintings by Steven Page Prewitt
Mixed Media and Paintings by Sharon Saseen
Artist Reception July 13, 3-6pm
Artist Reception July 27, 3-6pm
August 18 - 22
“Camera to Wall: Locally Grown Images” Photography by Jim Magruder
Artist Reception August 18, 3-6pm
Local and Regional Artists and Craftsmen
Artist Workshops held throughout the summer—see website for details. 151 Shawneehaw Ave S | Banner Elk, NC 828.898.4477 www.mountainbluegallery.com
44 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
The Guide to Your Personal Mountain Music Adventure By Mark Freed
V
isitors and residents of the Carolina Mountain Life region might wonder where to go to hear the traditional music of the mountains live and in person. The Blue Ridge Music Trails initiative provides several excellent ways to discover the music of western North Carolina, allowing you to cater your own adventure. With resources online, Blue Ridge Music Trails gives music-seekers the ability to pick-and-choose events, depending on your time frame, interests and location. Those looking to dive deeper can learn some history of the various musical traditions, read about some of the living and historic artists, and even listen to a curated playlist of recordings, new and old, with the print copy and companion CD. The Blue Ridge Music Trails guidebook was first published in 2003, after several years of organizing and coordination by the North Carolina Arts Council and author, Fred Fussell. Over the next decade, the organizers got the information online with the Blue Ridge Music Trails website. And, in 2013, a new version of the printed guidebook was created with Fussell and folklorist Steve Kruger, which includes a 26-track companion CD. Early in the guidebook is an excerpt by traditional mountain dance leader and politician, Joe Sam Queen, who says, “There are not a lot of places left that have a sense of place, but Appalachia’s one of them. It is a wonderful place to visit.” The Blue Ridge Music Trails helps open the door for visitors. With a focus on the traditional music and dance of the region, the online calendar provides one of the best places to find old-time and bluegrass jam sessions, square dances and contradances, fiddlers conventions, concerts, and events. You can search by date or location or the type of event you are looking to find. For those who are not sure about what to look for, and for those wanting to dig deeper, there is a plethora of educational materials as well. You can discover history and uses of the different instruments. You can learn about jam sessions, including a basic etiquette guide for those who want to join with their own instruments. There are resources for people who want to learn to play an instrument. There are also good descriptions of the various styles. For example, you can learn the difference between “old-time” and “bluegrass” and “mountain swing” and “early country.” The Blue Ridge Trails initiative now includes a podcast called Down the Road, hosted by acclaimed mountain musician Laura Boosinger, who is a fine singer, banjo player, and guitar player. The podcast is in its second season, with all past episodes available on the Blue Ridge Music Trails website. They also air on one of the great regional radio stations, WNCW, out of Spindale, North Carolina. There are episodes about famous artists from the area, gospel music, Cherokee music, and various pockets of the region with special musical traditions—like the fiddle-banjo duets of Surry County, the ballad singing of Beech Mountain, and the music made about the Brown Mountain Lights. With loads of pictures, videos, audio clips, and articles, one could certainly spend an entire vacation diving into the website. But, the idea is to get you out in the community centers and general stores and theatres and barbeques. So, when you are planning your next outing in the North Carolina mountains, don’t forget to check out the Blue Ridge Music Trails. http://www.blueridgemusicnc.com
In any area where old time, Appalachian style music has taken root, there will always be local, informal jams that run year round. They are held in such diverse places as homes, churches, community centers, farmers’ markets, bars, tap houses, restaurants, and elder care facilities. There are also larger, well organized, old time music gatherings that take place once a year. You’ll find information about local jams in many issues of CML, or simply ask any old time musician in your area. For some better known, regional festivals check out the following list: • Grayson County Old Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention Elk Creek, Virginia (June 28-29) • Tazewell County Fiddlers Convention Tazewell, VA (July 12-13) • Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention Now in its 50th year! Jefferson, NC (July 26-27) www.ashefiddlersconvention.org • Fries Fiddlers Convention Fries, VA (August 16-17) • Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention Galax, VA (August 5-10) • Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention Lenoir, NC (August 30-September 1) • Appalachian State Old Time Fiddlers Convention ASU, Boone, NC (February) For more information on old time music in North Carolina see www.blueridgemusicnc.com, and in Virginia go to www.myswva.org/tcr. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
45
Located in the Historic Banner Elk School Downtown Banner Elk May-Oct hours: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm
www.BEartistsgallery.com
The First Annual
Sculpture Walk
on the grounds of Chetola August 9-11
Free and Open to the Public
Juried invitational featuring Large Scale Sculptures around Chetola Lake Friday Evening Meet Art Icons Bob Timberlake and Joe Miller Saturday Night “ Starry Night” Dinner, Dancing under the Stars with the Starlighters Orchestra For more information:
thesculpturewalk.com
828.295.9277 bmc@councill.net Note: Evening events require tickets SUPPORT BY THE NC ARTS COUNCIL AND THE WATAUGA COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL
46 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
The Collective 8/2
7-9:30 pm at the Beech Mountain Resort Taproom
Rockit Science 8/3
7-9:30 pm at the Beech Mountain Resort Taproom
Soul Benefactor 8/4
2-4 pm at the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria
Discover our little slice of paradise.
Celebrating 50 wonderful years in the High Country. Located near the base of Grandfather Mountain in beautiful Linville, North Carolin
www.LinvilleLandHarbor.com
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
47
explore
EATSHOP EAT SHOP
Crossnore School & Children’s Home is so much more than a children’s home. You can eat lunch at Miracle Grounds Coffee Shop & Cafe, browse in the Blair Fraley Sales Store, the Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery, and at Crossnore Weavers. Finally, spend a moment in Sloop Chapel, featuring the Ben Long Fresco, Suffer the Little Children. Feel free to explore on your own or contact the Administrative Office for a guided tour.
CROSSNORE school & children’ children’s childr en’ss home
P.O. Box 249 | 100 DAR Drive | Crossnore, NC 28616 | (828) 733-4305 info@crossnore.org | www.crossnore.org
CarltonGallery Celebrating 37 Years!
Spring Group Exhibition: “New Beginnings with Jewels of Art” Continues thru July 15
Mid-Summer Group Exhibition: “Edge of Brilliance by Evolution” by Andrew Braitman
July 27 thru September 15: Opening Reception July 27, 2-5pm
Autumn Group Exhibition: “Retrospective: Linking Past to Present thru Contemporary Art” by Toni Carlton October 12 thru November 15: Opening Reception October 12, 2-5pm
A GALLERY FI LLED WITH E XQ UISITE GIFTS
www.CarltonGallery.com | 10 miles south of Boone Grandfather Mtn.Community 10360 Hwy 105 S., Banner Elk, NC 28604 | 828.963.4288 | Tues-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
Summer at Sugar Mountain Resort Summit Crawl Bike Park Gravity MTB Camp Fourth of July Celebration Summit Express Chairlift Rides Caroline Washam Women’s MTB Clinic Oktoberfest
WWW.SKISUGAR.COM 800-SUGAR-MT
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
49
Located in the heart of Banner Elk’s Theater District
Professional Theater
in the Hahn Auditorium Historic Banner Elk School
Gertrude Graham Smith
37 N. MITCHELL AVE NUE • BAKERSVILLE, NC 28705 828-688-6422 micagallerync@gmail.com
micagallerync.com micagallerync
Mainstage Shows: $12 - $24 + tax
Kid Shows: $6 + tax
info & tix (828) 414-1844 or www.ensemblestage.com
Put Your Best Foot Forward ...IN COMFORT & STYLE FROM H.S. Trask | Sollu | Samuel Hubbard | Dubarry | Sandro Moscoloni
J.W. Tweeds 1129 Main St. Blowing Rock, NC 828-295-8918
50 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
A Musical Summer in Boone
GABRIEL OFIESH
July 18 - 20 & Sept 26-28
9 2 0 S h a w n e e h a w Av e n u e Banner Elk, NC 28604 HardinJewelry@gmail.com 828-898-4653
Music and the mountains go hand-in-hand in North Carolina, and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and experience it live this summer (see Where the Music Is and Blue Ridge Music Trails articles in this issue). For those planning to spend time in Boone, be sure to make the Jones House Cultural and Community Center in the heart of downtown one of your stops. Sitting next to Mast General Store, the historic Jones House was built in 1908, and it has been a community center for more than 30 years. With its immaculate giant maple trees shading the front lawn, the house and property serve as a centerpiece to downtown and a welcome center for residents and visitors alike. The Jones House features a rotating gallery of local artists, historic exhibits about the house and other downtown attractions, an information center for community events, and public restrooms. And, the Jones House features many opportunities to listen to—and even participate in—a lively music scene. Every Thursday evening, local musicians gather to play old-time fiddle tunes for the weekly Jones House Jam. Fiddlers, banjo players, guitarists, and other acoustic instrument players show up around 7:30 and start tuning up. Jamming usually starts in the kitchen area in the back of the house, and sometimes it spills out into other rooms with multiple jams. In the summer, players might gather on the front porch. The jam session is open to players and listeners alike. On Thursdays in June, there will be special instructor-led jam sessions from 5:307:30, before the regular jam begins. These jams will include expert local musicians leading jam sessions in various rooms, including jams focused on the blues, singing folk songs, and playing fiddle tunes. On June 20, there will be a special Doc Watsonthemed jam session. All Thursday jams are free and open to all. On Friday evenings, from June through August, the Jones House features free concerts from the front porch of the house. Visitors bring chairs and blankets and fill the front lawn for performances by a wide variety of local and regional artists. Concerts start at 5:00 p.m. and feature two, three, or even more acts for two or three hours of live outdoor entertainment in downtown Boone. Concerts in the 2019 series will include bluegrass bands and gypsy jazz guitar players; songwriters and soul music; blues and rock; and a local-traditions showcase. The series also includes the annual Doc Watson Day celebration, which will take place on June 21. This annual concert celebrates local musical legend Doc Watson with performances by friends and musicians who played with him and knew him well, in addition to a couple artists who were deeply inspired by his music. There is something for everyone and not a bad concert in the series. For more information about the weekly free concerts, jam sessions, art galleries, and more, please visit www. joneshouse.org or call 828.268.6280. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
51
THE FINEST COLLECTION OF HANDMADE POTTERY FROM 16 LOCAL HIGH COUNTRY ARTISTS
ANVIL ARTS SCULPTURE GARDEN & GALLERY & Studio of Bill Brown Interior & Exterior Sculptures in Metal, Stone, Clay & Glass July Garden Party July 20th & 21st Sat & Sun 10-5pm August Art Talk Bill Brown, steel August 17th 10am Visit: Tues–Sat 10-5 Summer Sundays 1-5
BOB MEIER 828.264.1127 585 West King St., Suite D Boone NC 28607 10am-6pm, mon-sun www.DoeRidgePottery.com
9600 Linville Falls Hwy / US 221 Linville Falls, NC www.studiosculpture.com 828-765-6226
41st year
The Cabin Store “I came from New York and absolutely loved this store! Had everything I needed and the staff went up and above anyone I have ever dealt with! Highly recommend everyone to come here to shop!!!!”—Janice Wirth-McQuillan
It’s more than furniture, it’s a lifestyle
West Jefferson, NC • 336-246-5647 • 10am-5:30pm M-Sat Boone, NC (New location at Boone Mall) • 828-266-1401 • 10am-9pm Sun 12:30-5:30pm TheCarolinaCabinStore.com
52 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE 44
AT THE MINT MUSEUM POTTERS MARKET INVITATIONAL
Doe Ridge Pottery:
Shaping Success for 41 years By Tamara Seymour
A
n artisan needs more than creativity and strong skills to succeed in a competitive marketplace. This is especially true for clay artisans in North Carolina, a state considered by many to be the epicenter of pottery in the US. “So many people in North Carolina do great pottery,” says Bob Meier, Master Potter and owner of Doe Ridge Pottery Gallery in Boone. With more than 700-800 active potters statewide and a sophisticated audience of collectors, doing “great” work is a minimum requirement to realize even moderate success in the art form. But Bob Meier is more than great at what he does—he is a virtuoso in his craft. And his many achievements in his roles as contemporary clay artisan, business owner and educator are proof that he has honed a model for lasting success in his field. He credits this success to a combination of happenstance, hard work and a ceaseless passion for handling clay. Twist of Fate Meier made his way from Philadelphia to Boone in 1973 following his service in the military. As a Technical Education student at Appalachian State University, he focused mostly on learning to teach. But along the way he took his first course in pottery/ceramics and was instantly inspired by his instructor. “I watched him throwing and I just got hooked,” confesses Meier. While he knew he could always fall back on teaching (he holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education), making decorative pottery became his primary vocation. He began his
BOB MEIER, MASTER POTTER
business in 1978 and he opened his first shop on King Street in 1988. Since then, he has prospered, even through the challenging years that have included multiple recessions and helping put four children through college. He also survived a forced downsizing. After more than 20 years of running a gallery and studio space out of a building on Coffey and King Streets, Meier was required to relocate his business so that roads could be expanded to accommodate growth in Boone. While the relocation of the business was a setback—his new location on West King Street had a third less space—Meier made it work. In fact, he was determined to view it as an opportunity and today believes the imposed change has paid off. Forming a Reputation Most days of the week, you can step inside Doe Ridge Pottery Gallery and catch a glimpse of an artist at work in his studio. From May through January, Meier puts in an average 60-70 hours a week. “We get busy with orders,” says Meier, who at the time was working on the final touches to 150 mugs for the 25th anniversary of “The Bear Race,” held each year during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Meier is always in demand for contract work and some customers have requested his wares for decades. Every summer and fall Blue Ridge Energy hires Meier to create special custom pieces that the company uses as gifts for their corporate customers. “Some of these people have been collecting for years,” says Meier. “I have
to cook up something new every year.” Appalachian Regional Health System also calls on Meier for custom crafted pottery items to serve as thank you gifts for doctors and board members. In addition to contract jobs and gallery sales, his broad business mix includes wholesale sales to other galleries (he currently has 14 wholesale accounts he serves in North and South Carolina), and custom commission work, which Meier finds “interesting because I have allowance to design the work myself.” He also works with decorators, and says that over the last several years, he has begun “to expand my definition of ‘function’ to include larger scale object-oriented pieces and lamps.” He will still do an occasional retail craft show, although he swears he’s done after decades of doing 14+ shows per year. “Every show is like packing up a household, dragging it around, and hoping people will buy your work.” Sharing his expertise consumes much of his time—education has always been a big component of his overall mix. He leads open studios and workshops frequently, and, having come full circle from his early years as a student in Education at Appalachian State, now teaches ceramics courses in the Department of Applied Design at App State. “Since I graduated, I’ve probably spent 30 of those years teaching in some way at App.” Today, he works primarily with students who have at least some experience with clay. “I like to teach and I like engaging with these students. The enthusiasm is already building when Continued on next page
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
45 53
er Elk, NC 28604 567 Main Street East | Bann
talwork Let us create your custom me orks.com www.bluemountainmetalw ybest.com @sk 8) 898-8582 | bluemountain
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Your chance to relive history.
See the powerful Revolutionary War drama of the battle that changed the course of the American Revolution. Penned by renowned author and playwright Robert (Bob) Inman.
– Performance Dates – Weekends beginning June 28th – July 21st. Tickets are just $20
LibertyMountainDrama.com or call 704-730-9408
54 Summer2019 2019CAROLINA CAROLINAMOUNTAIN MOUNTAINLIFE LIFE 46——Summer
A WORK IN PROGRESS
I get there.” This September, Meier will also lead workshops for Burke Community College students as well as continue to teach at ASU. A Lasting Passion As further testament to his enthusiasm, Meier has long been involved with prominent craft guilds and trade organizations, including the Southern Highlands Craft Guild and the Piedmont Craftsmen. He has also been honored with invitations to a number of prestigious shows, including Charlotte’s Mint Museum Potters Market Invitational, which displays only the best handmade pottery in N.C. But perhaps what is most notable about Bob Meier is the apparent joy he continues to experience while holding a piece of clay in his hands. “It has been a good way to make a living,” says Meier, “and I’ll continue to make and sell because I enjoy the work.” He references William Daley, ceramics artist and educator who spent much of his career at Philadelphia College of Art (now The University of the Arts) in Philadelphia. “He’s my hero,” says Meier. “When I met him at 85 years old, he was still working every day. I hope I’ll have the kind of energy he had and still be making things at 85.” With any luck, West King Street will continue to be the hub of this prolific Master Potter for many years to come. If Meier has anything to say about it, he’ll remain in the High Country from now on. “One of the prizes of doing this for a living is I’ve gotten to stay in Boone for 45 years. It’s a good place to live, raise a family and make my work.” You can discover Bob Meier’s work, as well as the work of 14 other exceptional potters currently on display at Doe Ridge Pottery, at 585 West King Street, Suite D in downtown Boone. www.doeridgepottery.com, (828) 264-1127
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—
55
SIGHT HOUND
Alan Gordon: A
lan Gordon, the artist, has expressive blue eyes that pair well with his mischievous smile. His paintings give off a similar vibe; you notice them, you wind up studying them, and it turns out to be a wholly enjoyable experience. As he is known to say, he “would love to think that his paintings add positive energy to a space and a smile to your face.” Alan Gordon has excelled at many pursuits in his seven decades, but the one constant has been that he has “always doodled.” He drew as a kid, and stayed with it enough to become an editorial cartoonist early on. The drawing came so naturally that Alan studied English instead of Art at college. And the result: a highly articulate, creative, and productive individual. Alan’s oeuvre spans careers in advertising, publishing, real estate, and, always, art. Natives of Asheville, the Gordon family owned jewelry stores in the area, and Alan spent 23 years in the business. He still maintains his certification as a
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diamond appraiser. Perhaps it helps to account for his eye for fine detail. Whatever else engaged Alan’s attention, whether running an advertising agency, or more currently, serving as real estate agent for luxury home buyers, he kept doodling. He says it’s “taken awhile” to be as good at it as he is now, and cites the many classes from notable artists that have enhanced his skills. Alan’s paintings are mixed media— pen and ink and watercolor—and he has developed his own technique with gesso to create atmospheric backgrounds and enhancements. He calls the result, “unsophisticated sophistication.” Claiming to be a “wimpy artist,” he doesn’t like the odor of many paints, preferring non-toxic watercolor and inks. Alan says, “I have always had a vivid imagination supported by a huge sense of humor,” and it shows. His delightful renditions of people, animals and situations are witty and provocative, the stories they present open to amusement and
reflection. A painter who doesn’t paint “portraits, landscapes, barns, mountains, still lives, or flowers,” Alan says “each painting was inspired by something in my life that seemed to take on an image of its own.” And indeed, the paintings reveal the output of a vivid imagination fed by a lively take on the world, one that keeps an eye out for the funny parts. Alan says that humor has been “the thing that’s kept me going through life.” It’s certainly evident in his artwork. The quirky figures drawn on the page get an extra punch from their offbeat titles—consider this one, “Sangin’ the speckled trout blues…” for an image of a good ol’ guitar-pickin’ fellow, face to face with a leaping trout. And then there’s the bright and bizarre painting of a chef hoisting a moose in his arms. Its title: “But I did not order chocolate moose.” Alan and wife, Gilda, raised their four children in Blowing Rock, where they have lived since 1992. The kids are grown,
SANGIN...THE SPECKLED TROUT BLUES
Keeping an Eye Out for the Funny Parts but the Gordons enjoy the company of two cats and seven dogs. Plus there are now two grand kids in the mix. Alan describes his wife as a “most supportive” partner, and praises her creative skills, saying, “she can do anything.” Although he has had a studio in the past, these days Alan is most comfortable painting “flat, on a large table,” in the kitchen, surrounded by his pets. He’s happiest completing a painting per week, and he works on only one canvas at a time. The finished paintings, which are usually 18” X 24”, can be viewed at Alan’s website, LeapFrogArt.com, or up close and in person at Main Street Gallery in Blowing Rock. As the accomplishments of a busy life have accumulated, Alan Gordon has become an advocate for art as a means to healthful living. He has made presentations on “Art and Health” to groups, and recommends taking up a creative pursuit as a practical and rewarding therapeutic practice.
This summer, Alan Gordon will be sharing his wit and wisdom, along with his paintings, as an artist in residence at the Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock. The historic cottage, a home to famed 19th century American artist and Blowing Rock icon Elliott Daingerfield, was restored by the Blowing Rock Historical Society and is the site of art residencies that are an annual summer highlight. As Artist in Residence from July 29-August 4, Alan will demonstrate his painting style and answer questions from visitors. It would be the perfect opportunity to get the artist’s insight on those interesting titles… Alan will also be the featured artist during the Virtual Reality games at ArtSplash, a day of kid and adult-friendly activities on Saturday, August 10, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The artsy fun takes place at Chetola Resort as part of the activities celebrating the resort’s new sculpture walk.
By LouAnn Morehouse
BUT I DID N OT ORDER.. . CHOCOLATE MOOSE
Full information on the 2019 Artists in Residence season at Edgewood Cottage is available at www.artistsatedgewood.org. To learn more about ArtSplash and the Sculpture Walk on Chetola Lake, visit https://thesculpturewalk.com/.
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Bring a Book, Take a Book
at the Historic Banner Elk School Stephen Klema
We offer books to swap, magazines, WiFi, puzzles, book discussion groups, lectures, music jams, and children’s programs throughout the year. Stop by and see us this season! Summer Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10-5 Saturday 1-4 (May-October)
For a full schedule of summer events, visit:
Steve Lotz
www.bannerelkbookexchange.com
umm
Offering fresh flowers by the stem, garden style bouquets, wedding/event florals, sympathy flowers & everyday flowers. We also offer outdoor planter & window box design as well as planting. Our garden boutique has a selection of gifts inspired by garden living: vases, lanterns, candles, garden planters, hostess gifts & more! FLOW ER & GIF T SHOP • G A R DEN BOU T IQUE 1 1 L I N V I L L E AV E N U E • L I N V I L L E , NC 28 6 4 6
phone 828.260.6149 email info@ca l lista-desig ns.com website w w w.ca l lista-desig ns.com
When it matters...
MOUNTAIN JEWELERS
Between the 2 stoplights in Newland NC Tues-Fri, 10-5 & Sat 10-3 || 828.733.0186 Join us on Facebook
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LET’S CONNECT
Come spend the day!
A to Z Auto Detailing 828.260.0283 Amy Brown, CPA Certified Public Accountant 828.898.7607 Avery County Chamber of Commerce 828.898.5605 / www.averycounty.com BB&T 888.BBT-ONLINE / www.BBandT.com Highlanders Grill & Tavern Open 7 Days a Week 828.898.9613 Creative Interiors by Darlene Parker 828.898.9636 Peak Real Estate 828.898.1880 www.peakrealestatenc.com Walgreens Pharmacy 828.898.8971 Salon Suites at Tynecastle • SALON M 828.260.3791 Shooz & Shiraz A Shoe & Wine Salon at The Dande Lion The Dande Lion Ladies Apparel, Shoes, & Accessories 866.222.2050 and 828.898.3566 Tynecastle Builders 828.387.1222 / tynecastlebuilders.com Tynecastle Realty 828.898.7777 / tynecastlerealty.com Valle de Bravo Mexican Grill valledebravomexicangrill.net 828.898.4949 Spruced Boutique 828-783-9051
For Leasing Information Call 828.898.6246
SHOPPING • DINING • BUSINESS • At the Corner of Hwy 105 & 184 Tynecastle Hwy. • Banner Elk CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Creating Art to Enhance Your Unique Surroundings
2019
Alta Vista Gallery
Our Fine Art Gallery features a wide variety of works in pastel, watercolor, and oil, and includes works of art inspired by travel expeditions to all parts of the globe. 4 lindasheppardfineart.com
Joan Sporn OVER 100 ARTISTS: including Joan Sporn, Monique Carr, Jeremy Sams
Hayes Auditorium Broyhill Theatre banner Elk, NC
OPENING RECEPTIONS: Every 4th Saturday, June thru Nov
Mamma Mia! June 27–July 3
IN OUR 29TH YEAR: Oils, Watercolors, Pastels, Prints, Custom Framing 2839 Broadstone Road, Valle Crucis 828.963.5247 Near Mast Store Annex 15 minutes from Boone or Banner Elk www.AltaVistaGallery.com
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Fine Artist Linda Sheppard captures life’s journeys
From the Mountaintop: The Edgar Tufts Story July 11–17 Newsies July 30–August 4
Linda Sheppard Fine Art Gallery 2780 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk | 828-719-6955
828.898.8709 | lmc.edu/summertheatre
SONDRA DORN / AT MICA GALLERY
Art Tours Art Talks Art Walks Art Parties & More
It’s All about
Art! CINDY MICHAUD AT BE ARTISTS GALLERY
T
here’s no time like the summer to seek out some wonderful art events and get to know local fine artists who have been busy producing exceptional work to share with you. Here are just some of the great art opportunities available in our region.
Explore Off the Beaten Path Mica is a cooperative gallery of fine contemporary craft in downtown Bakersville, NC. Now open for the season, you’ll find fresh new work that includes two dimensional pieces by Mica artists, Claudia Dunaway, Carmen Grier, and new Mica member, Sondra Dorn. For Dunaway, with her richly carved and patterned pottery, the leap from pots to woodblock prints is a natural transition. Find a few of Dunaway’s pots at Mica and discover her exciting new prints. Award winning artist, Carmen Grier, layers hand-painted transparent and opaque silks to create unique, stunning, flowing textile pieces for the wall. And, excitingly, Grier has returned to painting on canvas, using handmade oil sticks, and oil with cold wax. Sondra Dorn, one of Mica’s newest artist members, creates her pieces in an exceptionally unique manner. Starting with a photograph on a birch panel, she draws,
collages, and modifies; building layers with paint, inks, colored pencils, charcoal and graphite. She says, “Although I have a sense of the direction of the piece before I begin, usually it takes on a life of its own and the conversation directs the piece.” From June 20 through August 19, Shaker and Salt, the collaborative team of glass artists Courtney Dodd and Nick Fruin, present “For Dinner,” their line of modern, stylistically elegant hand-crafted glassware for the table. “Our wares are meant to be used,” the couple explain, “enjoyed, laughed over…” In addition to Mica’s art, you’ll want to catch Bakersville Art Walks on Friday, June 14 and Friday July 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. when all the galleries and shops in downtown Bakersville open their doors to showcase more than 100 artists. Enjoy great art, delicious snacks and libations, and conversations with local artists. • 37 Mitchell Avenue, Bakersville, NC (828.688.6422), micagallerync.com. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 12-5 p.m. Sunday. At Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden & Gallery in Linville Falls, NC, you can explore sculpture by renowned sculptor and gallery owner Bill Brown, as well as works in stone, metal, glass and clay from a variety of artists represented by Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden & Gallery.
Anvil Arts kicks off the season with Sculpture Talk in the Garden on Saturday, June 29. Stone Sculptor, Carl Peverall will be featured during this event. Join the art filled conversations and enjoy refreshments, beginning at 10 a.m. The sculpture gardens display some off Peverall’s newest art work, and the artist will share insights to his inspirations and artistic journey. On July 20 and 21, celebrate more sculpture at the popular Garden Party weekend at Anvil Arts This festive event is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and encourages everyone to explore sculpture under the trees and in the gallery. In addition to his work at Anvil Arts, Bill Brown’s work will be part of a special exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in downtown Boone. On July 3, he will present a Lunch & Learn Talk about his exhibition, Refugee, from 12 to 1 p.m. And on July 5, the Turchin Center will host its Summer Exhibition Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. • Hwy. 221 Linville Falls, NC (828765-6226), studiosculpture.com. Learn more about the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at tcva.org. Continued on next page
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MARY-ANN PRACK AT CARLTON GALLERY
MARCUS TH
OMAS
LINDA SH
EPPARD
Meet More Master Artists Award-winning artist Mary-Ann Prack is a painter and sculptor mostly known for clay works inspired by the human figure. Her interpretation of the human experience on a physical, emotional and spiritual level is revealed in each of the images she creates. Their shapes are elegant and organic, with geometric surfaces of primarily colorful glazes and incised lines that reveal a distinctive presence, personality and energy. Her work is influenced by her favorite period in art history—the Abstract Expressionist Movement. Prack has shown her creations in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the country. Her work will be featured this summer at the First Annual Sculpture Walk on Chetola Lake, August 9-11 (see Regional Happenings). In addition, Prack recently selected three original illustrations for her first ever Gicleé release, printed by Wildflowers Fine Art Editions. These Gicleés include “Levity,” “Evolution,” and “Moving in Silence,” and feature “images reminiscent of humans, animals, unusual life forms and habitats… a wonderland of sorts with boundaries.” Prack’s home, studio and sculpture garden are located in the mountain community of Jefferson, North Carolina. She welcomes comments or requests for additional information about her artwork, exhibitions, prices, studio events, and more at prackartist.com. The work of Marcus Thomas is remarkable, even if you know nothing about the artist himself. Like many artists, he has the knack for bringing his images to
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life—making birds practically fly off the canvas, producing leaves that look so real you can pick them off the tree, fashioning flower blossoms so inviting they seem to give off a scent. His use of oils and watercolors undoubtedly reflects the work of a master artist. However, what many people might not know is that every beautiful stroke of color originates not at the hands of this artist, but from the paintbrush in his mouth. At 26, Marcus Thomas survived a skiing accident which left him paralyzed from the neck down. Six months into his recovery, learning to live as a quadriplegic, he took up a paintbrush and started to create art. Now, more than three decades after the accident, he continues to learn how to live—as the renowned artist he has become. Thomas writes, “My voice as a painter amplifies multiple personalities that include a desperate cry for environmental help, a deathly cold walk through life, endlessly happy days of play, historic conversation about the evolution of flight and simply celebrating the obvious beauty that surrounds us.” The extraordinary work and life of this artist is chronicled in a lovely book, “Flight of the Mind: A Painter’s Journey Through Paralysis,” full of exceptional artwork by Thomas, with narrative by Leslee N. Johnson. You can meet Marcus Thomas, see his work, and purchase original paintings, gicleés and prints at numerous venues this summer, including Art in the Park
in Blowing Rock on July 13, September 7 and October 5; the Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival in downtown Banner Elk July 19-21, and at the Valle Crucis Country Fair on October 19. Learn more about Marcus Thomas and take a look inside his coffee-table publication at www.marcusthomasartist.com. The gallery of Linda Sheppard may be less conspicuous on the outside compared with other galleries in our area. But once you locate her fine art gallery, you’ll be amazed at the talent and creativity that are revealed on the walls that Sheppard shares with daughter Wendy Snider, owner of Encore Travel. “I have always felt a creative spirit in my soul,” writes Sheppard. “The challenge has been to discover the spirit in people and places and to develop my technical skills to a level high enough to tell the story I discover.” Much of her work, which include portraits, figures and still lifes in oil and pastel, tells a story. The Representational Art that is Sheppard’s specialty succeeds in recording fine details and subtle expressions of diverse individuals. “My desire is to capture the subject’s inner spirit. If I achieve that, you may see into that spirit, too, and find something of yourself as well.” Linda Sheppard Find Art Gallery is located near Sugar Mountain and Banner Elk at 2780 Tynecastle Hwy. http://www. lindasheppardfineart.com/. You’ll also find Sheppard’s work in Mountain Blue Gallery in downtown Banner Elk.
Hwy 105 to Boone4
Take an Art “Tour”
3Hwy 105 - Foscoe
Broadstone Road Valle Crucis
5Alta Vista Gallery
Hwy 194 to Valle Crucis 4
2839 Broadstone
Maggie Black Pottery4
“Shoppes at Mill Ridge” 112 Clubhouse Dr.
Cindy Michaud Gallery4 112 Clubhouse Dr.
Studio of Mike Hill
3Hwy 105 - Seven Devils
at Art Purveyors World HQ4 112 Aldridge Park (Hwy 105 S.)
3Sally Nooney Gallery Banner Elk
3Hwy 194 to
7137 Highway 194
Carlton Gallery4
10360 Hwy 105 S.
3BE Artists Gallery 185 Azalea Circle
Downtown Banner Elk
3Studio 140 at Sorrento’s 140 Azalea Circle
3Hwy 184/Ty necastle Hwy to 5 Mountain Banner
Blue Gallery
Elk
3Hwy 105 - Linville
151 Shawneehaw Ave. S
87 Ruffin Street Gallery 6 87 Ruffin Street
Hwy 22 1
- Linville
Follow curvy mountain roads to some of the best art in the High Country with the annual self-guided art tour, Tour de Art. Now in its eleventh year, this free tour takes you along the backroads of Avery and Watauga counties and offers patrons a glimpse into some of the best working artists’ studios and galleries. Bring along this issue of CML as you venture out every fourth Saturday of June through November. This year’s Tour de Art includes the following galleries: Sally Nooney’s Gallery | 7137 Highway 194 (828-9637347), www.sallynooney.com. Located halfway between Banner Elk and Valle Crucis, look for the building with the big American flag painted on it. This multi-media artist does everything from functional art glass to original paintings in oil, watercolor and acrylic. Alta Vista Gallery | 2839 Broadstone (828-963-5247), altavistagallery.com. Maria Hyde’s beautiful collection is housed in a National Register of Historic Properties farmhouse. Hyde shows over 100 artists in all media and specializes in local mountain landscapes. Maggie Black Pottery | “Shoppes at Mill Ridge,” 112 Clubhouse Drive (828-773-2459), maggieblackpottery.com. The gallery showcases original, functional stoneware that reflects the natural beauty of the High Country. Cindy Michaud Art | “Shoppes at Mill Ridge,” 112 Clubhouse Drive (321-795-0816), cindymichaud.com. If you love color you will enjoy Michaud’s work. Catch what’s on the easel or inquire about a lesson. You’ll find all sizes and various price points. Studio of Mike Hill at Art Purveyors World HQ | 112 Aldridge Park (828-963-7246), artpurveyors.com. Mike can frame your new pieces and answer questions about printing your photos onto canvas or designing signage. Giclee prints by regional artists are available, as well as fine art materials. Carlton Gallery | 10360 Hwy 105 South (828-963-4288), carltongallery.com. Toni Carlton has been opened 37 years so she knows quality art! The 37th Spring Group Exhibition will be on display through July 15. BE Artists Gallery | 185 Azalea Circle (art@beartistsgallery. com), BEartistsgallery.com. Inside the renovated Historic Banner Elk School is a cooperative of 30+ local artists. Enjoy over 800 square feet showcasing fine art and crafts. Studio 140 | 140 Azalea Circle, next door to Sorrento’s Bistro (828-898-5214), kentpaulette.com. Here you will find Kent Paulette’s working studio and gallery, full of energy and vibrant, large pieces. Paulette works in enthusiastic layers and enjoys doing demos to show his process. Mountain Blue Gallery | 151 Shawneehaw Ave. (828-8984477), mountainbluegallery.com. The gallery offers a diverse selection of original encaustics, oils, acrylics, mixed media, kilnformed glass, stoneware, pottery, silk, fabrics, jewelry and more. 87 Ruffin Street Gallery | 87 Ruffin Street (828-737-0420), facebook.com/87RuffinStreet. The best collection of southern folk art awaits you at Abigail Sheet’s eclectic gallery. Sheet travels far and wide to bring well known (and little known) outsider art to the High Country. Tour de Art takes place every fourth Saturday of the month, June through November from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., rain or shine. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Turchin Center for the Visual Arts:
Summer Palette By Lynn Rees-Jones
Gretchen Lotz / Anniversary Spiral
Bill Brown / Refugee #7 Michelle Van Parys / David in Manicured Garden
G
raduation caps have been tossed towards the sky and Appalachian State University in Boone has settled into summer. The majority of campus buildings are quiet as they take a break before the return of students and professors in the fall. The galleries of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, however, are undergoing a transformation to present a compelling palette of art just in time for the start of An Appalachian Summer Festival, featuring an eclectic array of visual arts, music, dance, theatre and films. The changing galleries of the Turchin Center always offer a blend of artistic styles and artists. This summer, the seven galleries touch on subjects that range from immigration to the natural world, the New South, the breath of a forest, collaborative artistic surrogacy and the marking of time. The new exhibitions will all be open in time for a Summer Exhibition Celebration on Friday, July 5 from 6 – 10 p.m. and many of the artists will be in the galleries to share their artistic process and journey. The soaring walls of the Main Gallery feature the work of Steve and Gretchen Lotz. Steve’s oversized paintings are inspired by the colors of the deep sea— watery greens, misty blues, rich coral purples and spiny reds. Gretchen’s sculptures reflect her inspiration in the creatures of the waters and the birds of the skies. After 55 years of marriage, they continue to inspire, challenge, and find mystery in each other, and their work shares similar compatibilities and synergy. Regionally beloved sculptor and philanthropist Bill Brown wanted to do something to help relieve the international
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immigration crisis and turned to what he knows best—creating sculpture. His exhibition, Refugee, is a series of freestanding metal sculptures each of which begins with a figurative form perched on a platform that metaphorically references the refugee journey: a rocking boat, an isolated rooftop, a beloved homeland. The placement of sculptures in the galleries mimics migration as they flow through the gallery. The photographs from Beyond the Plantations: Images of the New South by Michelle Van Parys present the contemporary southern landscape in all of its rich complexity. Often, images of the Old South are sanitized views of a perfect and prosperous plantation life yet ignore the conflict, conquest, and transformation that is manifested in the changing landscape. In her site-specific Installation, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5….. Australian artist Jodi Woodward asks viewers to reflect on how they (we) choose to spend the time we are given in our lives. She repeatedly asks: “Do we just tick over the days or do we actively reflect on what we do and why we do it? Do we just repeat the same behaviors over and over or do we choose to change what we do, or behave differently?” My Place, or Yours?, guest curated by dancer and choreographer Cara Hagan, is an exploration into the politics and practice of collaborative work. The artists in this exhibition make work together, albeit from a distance. More specifically, the majority of the participants here have embarked on a journey through the philosophy and practice of “Artistic Surrogacy.”
Reiko Goto Collins / Plein Air
Plein Air: Southern Appalachian Forest is about one leaf, one tree. Reiko Goto Collins and Tim Collins have worked with a team of scientists, technologists and musicians to construct a hand-crafted box easel for the 21st century with the goal of revealing the breath of a tree. Their artwork provides an experiential interface to an important but relatively invisible aspect of carbon sequestration. Art is unique in that it is largely aesthetic, but offers commentary on a vast array of issues that permeate the many layers of our lives. The exhibitions at the Turchin Center allow each individual to meet the art at the level suitable to their personal beliefs and experiences. Additional free visual arts events during the summer include the annual national juried Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk on July 27 at 10 p.m. at the Smith Gallery in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and Lunch & Learn Lecture series held in the Turchin Center lecture hall at noon on Wednesdays in July. The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is the largest facility of its kind in the region and fulfills Appalachian State University’s long-held mission of providing a home for world-class visual arts programming. The TCVA is located at 423 West King Street in Boone. Hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday and Saturdays, and noon – 8 p.m. on Fridays. Admission is always free, although donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, to become a donor, be added to the mailing list or schedule a tour, call 828.262.3017 or visit tcva.org.
Jodi Woodward / Self Portrait
Dance peformance by Cara Hagan
Richard Herzog / It's all about Electricity CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Book Nook
Doofus Dad Does Everest Base Camp Mark Johnson, Author
— Reviewed by Edwin Ansel
Y
ou’re fifty… ish. For years—many, many years—you’ve been a dutiful spouse, parent, worker bee. It’s time to spread your wings. There’s a voice in your head. “Everest,” it croons. “Because it’s there…” But you’re fifty! You get breathy coming up the basement stairs. The clothes horse, ahem, exercise bike, do you even remember what color it is? Knees! Heart! Your belt… There’s another voice in there, a tight-lipped, schoolmarmish one. “Is that your best idea?” What to do? Mark Johnson and Holly Johnson have the answer. It goes something like, “Yahoody!” “Doofus Dad Does Everest Base Camp: One of Planet Earth’s epic adventures told by a slightly-less-than-epic guy,” is the straight-up account of the Johnsons’ assault upon and retreat from the Big One. If you are inclined to make the trek, this book may be your best first resource. But now, a clarification. The Everest Base Camp (EBC) is a tent village located beside Everest and which serves as a jumping off place for the mountaineers who hope to go on to the summit. Over time the EBC has itself become a destination. Each year tens of thousands of hikers trek up to the camp, scoop some of that glory, and go back down. “Doofus Dad” demonstrates a simple fact. You can do this (with a little luck). Mark trained by hiking six to eleven miles, three days a week, on trails in the rolling terrain of Middle Tennessee. Holly has knee issues, so she trained by riding an exercise bike for an hour a day for a couple of months. Doable. The climb to
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EBC took eight days, covering from two to six miles per day, climbing from 9,000 to 17,000 feet. The descent took four days. Doable. Here’s where the luck comes in. Altitude can make you very sick, and you won’t know if you’re susceptible to the altitude until you’ve been exposed to it. There is a drug, but it may not save the day. Then there’s Montezuma’s Revenge. The ominous Khumbu Cough. And the knees. Holly made it to the base camp, but the steep descent was too much for her knees. She ended up taking a helicopter ride. Mark himself suffered an acute sinus infection on the way down, but powered through. If your luck holds, there is a fully developed tourist infrastructure to support you. Guides and porters to keep you moving, and a “teahouse” at the end of each day’s climb with good food and a bed. The people are kind and generous. Doable. But the real value of the Johnson’s book is to help you decide whether to do this particular trek in the first place. Mark kept a daily account of what he saw and what he did, and that’s what he’s given us. Nothing left out, nothing smoothed over. Reading the text feels like watching live video. What you see is a place that is both exotic and all too familiar. Your gear slung over the back of a great shaggy beast. Helicopters. The magnificent water-powered prayer wheels of Namche Bazaar. Pitiless mountains on a scale you’ve never imagined. Calling the kids from the trail on your iPhone. Lentils and rice. Beer and pizza. Movies on the iPad. The Go-Pro camera. The Kindle. Changing batteries. Charging batteries. Toting batteries. The Tyranny of the Battery. The “Doofus Dad” does not offer
himself as a sage, but his account does evoke ancient wisdom. Which is greater, the journey or the destination? To hike to Everest Base Camp is to join a throng of tourists, people much like yourself, in a choreographed effort to touch a goalpost. Just touch. Mark notes that they spent seventeen minutes at the base camp. But it is Everest! Here’s a thought experiment. “I went to Nepal,” you tell your pal. “We trekked to Upper Mustang.” You’ll get that look, and the obvious question, “Do what? You didn’t go to Everest?” There are alternatives. “Upper Mustang” is a real place. About 4,000 trekkers per year make that journey, as opposed to between 30,000 and 40,000 trekkers on Everest. There was a King of Mustang until a few years ago. As a trek, it wouldn’t have the brand-name appeal of Everest, but it just might be magic. Or there’s Gokyo Lakes, about 1,000 trekkers per year. Not a throng of tourists. There’s almost no there, there, but you won’t see yourself coming and going and it’s reputed to have the best views in all of Nepal. Mark and Holly didn’t merely hike in Nepal, they also started their own company, Hobnail Trekking. Their goal is to establish a local company so people in the south can book treks in Nepal across a table, perhaps, instead of over the phone. And they offer a trek to Gokyo Lakes. Mark makes clear that “Doofus Dad” is to be the first in a series of books, and that he expects to make at least one trek per year. Soon enough, we may have a “Doofus Dad does Gokyo.” Check out the website, www.hobnailtrekkingco.com. They also have a road show, the “Everest Base Camp Experience,” that no doubt makes having toted all those batteries worthwhile.
A Bookstore for the People T
o open a bricks-and-mortar bookstore in the age of Amazon is to be a rebel. One should be part book-lover, part idealist, and part creative entrepreneur. But what a modern bookstore owner should be most of all is fully committed. Mary Ruthless is the young proprietor of Foggy Pine Books on King Street in Boone. For the past three years, she has dedicated herself to making a bookstore that strengthens community in the High Country. “I don’t want to live in a town without a bookstore,” said Ruthless, explaining that rather than simply selling books, businesses like hers are community centers. She’s made her reader-first establishment with a focus on events, inclusion, and customer service. “To me, a bookstore is just something that every community needs, a space where everyone can find something where they feel represented,” said Ruthless. “If I don’t know something the first place I go is a book. When I got pregnant, I bought a book. I got into college, I bought a book. Books are pathways in life, and to not have a space in a community dedicated to that is a terrible shame.” Ruthless says that for small, independent booksellers, inviting people inside through holding community events is a
great way to find new customers. Foggy Pine hosts two different book clubs— one for general reading and one for science fiction and fantasy—and holds a storytelling night in conjunction with Noble Kava on Blowing Rock Road. The store hosts the traveling visual art/ writing/music event Trio each year, and even hosts a ‘swap shop’ once a month, where people can trade items, or make purchases that will benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition. Partnering with nonprofits is another way her bookstore strengthens community. Foggy Pine hosts a story hour at The Children’s Playhouse in Boone (the High Country’s non-profit museum for youth), and they also partner with Out of Your Mind, a creative mental health organization, by holding open mic nights and gatherings. Ruthless and her employees also gently educate people about why it’s important to shop at local, independent bookstores, even if it costs a few dollars more than buying reading material online. “We never want people to feel ashamed for how they make their purchases, but want them to know that the money you spend here goes back into your community... and will positively impact your community. When you shop online, zero dollars come back into your community.” The Foggy Pine staff also communi-
By Karen Sabo cates to customers that not only can they buy e-books and audiobooks through the bookstore, but they can have staff order specific used and new books, and receive a discount off the retail price of new releases through special orders. Foggy Pine employees also pride themselves on giving specialized customer service that is impossible to get online. They act as personal literary curators for customers, helping find the exact books that speak to individual readers. “There was a girl in here the other day, looking at a Young Adult collection featuring disabled teens, but she was disappointed that there was no diabetic character,” said Ruthless. “I told her to come back next week. I did the research, I found about 15 novels for her to choose from, and she was so excited and happy to have books with characters where diabetes was portrayed accurately.” Regarding the challenge of owning a physical bookstore in the digital age, Ruthless explains that “No one goes into the book business to get rich.” Personally, she’s doing it because she believes in the power of reading and books to strengthen her mountain community. Visit Foggy Pine Books at 471 West King Street in Boone. The staff (including two bookstore cats) are there seven days a week. For hours and more information, visit www.foggypinebooks.com. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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The Big Picture Show By Elizabeth Baird Hardy
Captain Marvel is First in Flight H
ere in North Carolina, we see a famous flier almost every day. Many North Carolina vehicle plates sport the iconic image of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight, presumably with Wilbur at the tiller. In the state museum in Raleigh, a replica of the flier soars over visitors’ heads. Although some Ohio residents contest the “First in Flight” motto, since the Wrights were from Ohio, North Carolinians attest that the flight happened at Kitty Hawk, and the designation is about the event, not about the Wrights themselves, whom Ohio is, of course, perfectly entitled to claim. No matter which state is “wright,” one indisputable fact is that the brothers were both male. However, female fliers have had quite a bit of impact on the history in our state, from Tiny Broadwick, the groundbreaking early parachutist, to the Women Air Service Pilots (WASP) who were stationed in Asheville and at Camp Davis during World War II. To get in the mood to celebrate some of these amazing women on the wing, Captain Marvel, out on DVD in June, may be just the trick. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is most certainly well supplied with
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fantastic females, pilot Carol Danvers, who becomes Captain Marvel, is in her own category. She has had a variety of comic book incarnations, but the new film brings to life this charismatic hero in a way that will engage even those who have never read a comic. More than a set-up film to introduce Danvers for the epic Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel has some super powers of its own that make it a delightful adventure. Of course, as part of the incredibly complex and extremely well financed MCU family, the production quality and the visual and sound effects are great, but the film has other features that make it shine. One of the most engaging aspects of the film is its blast to the past tone, as it is set in the mid-1990s. With Blockbuster Video stores, pay phones, and a soundtrack including grunge songs by primarily female 1990 musicians, it’s a fun visit to the recent past. The timeframe also calls for some creative reverse aging of actors that is so completely convincing that it’s easy to believe a young Samuel L. Jackson was somehow conjured up to play a Nick Fury with two eyes and far fewer miles on his odometer.
Although the heroine of the story is undoubtedly the funny, snarky, and super powerful Carol Danvers herself, the show is partially stolen by Goose the cat, who has a few secret abilities as well. All of us who have cats in our lives will be unsurprised by the revelations about this feline sidekick. From her name, a nod to Top Gun, to her post-credits scene, Goose is a girl who provides both critical story elements and great comic relief. It shouldn’t shock that Goose is female, of course, as one of the best features of the film is its positive portrayal of strong women. The director and score composer are both women, and Captain Marvel is the first MCU film headlined by a female character. Girl power is in effect throughout the film, but never in a way that demeans men or that implies women are infallible; there are female characters who exhibit both flaws and villainy, and Danvers herself is far from perfect. However, the film demonstrates the capability of women, even those without super powers, and celebrates the achievements of those who, like Danvers, succeed despite those who would doubt them. One of the film’s most wonderful elements is its subtle tribute to women who took to the air before Captain Marvel. Near the end of the film, Nick Fury learns her original call sign, which in the comics was “Cheeseburger.” For the film, though, a much more fitting and important nickname was sported by a pre-super-powered Danvers when she flew: “Avenger.” In the film, the name is primarily an explanation for Fury’s choice of moniker for the team of “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” that he will assemble, but the name is even more powerful. Those amazing female pilots of World War II, the WASP, were, like Danvers, prohibited from combat duty despite their capabilities. They performed other essential roles in the air, however, and the field where they trained was Avenger Field in Sweetwater, TX. Today, Avenger Field is home to the WASP Museum, which celebrates real-life airborne heroines. Enjoy this fun and action-packed adventure, and celebrate those who soared to heroic heights, even without help from special powers. Captain Marvel will be available on DVD beginning June 11, 2019.
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The Spirit of “Neighboring” Takes Hold in the Blue Ridge Mountain Club
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he beauty of the High Country is no secret. Whether you’re a long-time resident or simply passing through, the stunning mountain backdrop is impossible to miss. For many in the mountains of North Carolina, though, the breathtaking ridgelines and active outdoor lifestyle are only a starting point for what makes life here so rich. “The common thread you’ll find, beyond just a passion for the outdoors or active living, is a desire for genuine community in every sense,” says Nick Presnell, Sales and Marketing Manager for Blue Ridge Mountain Club (BRMC). “BRMC homeowners want to do more than just live here; they want to build up and give back to the High Country they’ve come to love.” For Blue Ridge Mountain Club, setting the tone for a philanthropic atmosphere starts at the top. General manager Jim Pitts received the 2019 Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year award for his dedicated involvement across the community, and he says his efforts spring from BRMC’s mission to “build community.”
“It’s a privilege to serve the Blue Ridge Mountain Club family each day and to see the difference made far beyond the boundaries of our mountain residential community,” says Pitts. “The spirit of community born here drives us all to support the High Country through volunteerism and advocacy. Being recognized in this way is an honor, but my work is just an outpouring of the greater commitment to community across our corner of the mountain.” Pitts’ strategic vision and commitment to the art of building community physically, culturally and philanthropically culminated in leading the development of Blue Ridge Mountain Club. Despite the rigors of his day job, which Pitts says is “as fulfilling a calling as I could pick,” the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce selected him from more than 125 volunteers serving in various capacities across the High Country to achieve its mission: a community that thrives economically and socially. The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, the oldest in the High Country and named North and South
Carolina’s best last year, recognized Pitts at a luncheon this winter for his five years of service as board chair, co-chair of the Economic Development Council, chair of the Community Development Committee, chair of the Cultural Arts task force and design/development/construction leader of Mayview Plaza. Loni Miller, director of Art in the Park for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, says she has always heard that “’volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.’ That’s Jim, someone who cares relentlessly about our area and the people who live here. His passion for the community and his actions are deliberate and thoughtful. He’s very busy in his career, but he makes time to help anyone in need—whether it’s leading a huge development project in town, or volunteering for a pre-dawn Art in the Park traffic shift when no one else raises their hand to help. He’s been an instrumental force for our town.” Pitts’ value to Blowing Rock, Miller notes, extends to his years of work on the thousands of acres he manages at BRMC. Continued on next page
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Jim Pitts receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award from Jim McDowell of the Blowing Rock Chamber and proprietor of MountainAire Inn & Log Cabins in Blowing Rock
Pitts came on board in 2010 and has aimed to ensure the community adds as much as possible—both aesthetically and philanthropically—to the High Country. His focus, he says, is on sustainable community planning, architecture that folds seamlessly into mountain vistas and member families committed to leaving their newfound hometown better than they found it. Pitts credits this approach to the idea that BRMC’s “neighborhood soul
extends well outside our borders.” Each summer, the community hosts an opendoor Summer Soulstice event for visitors from the surrounding areas and beyond. Proceeds from this year’s all-day art, wine, music and outdoor adventure experience (held on June 22), benefit Boone Hospitality House, a non-profit for families experiencing poverty-related crises. “It’s a natural fit,” agrees Pitts, noting that the event “hosted 700 people last year and provided both a fun,
family-centered day for our neighbors and an opportunity for a valuable High Country cause to raise funds.” For him, nothing about BRMC’s homeowners and their desire to give back—even into their golden years—is surprising. “Appalachia is known as a place where traditions of neighboring are among the strongest. There’s a spirit of solidarity and support above all else, and we’re just thankful to be a part of the fabric of this community.”
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GOLF
A Season of Change for the High Country Golf Community By Tom McAuliffe
S
tick around long enough in the hospitality trade serving the High Country each summer, and one thing remains the same—change. And perhaps in no industry is the passage of time felt more viscerally than in our celebrated golfing communities. The game for a lifetime doesn’t last forever and each season brings news of another friend’s passing, or of the time when the trek to the mountains just becomes too much to shoulder. Last summer our community mourned the passing of Burl Dale. From 1967 until 1992, the consummate club professional guided the venerable Linville Golf Club before passing the mantle to his son Tom 27 years ago. In his tenure, the younger Dale oversaw architect Bobby Weed’s restoration of the iconic mountain layout, returning the look and feel of the 1926 Donald Ross masterpiece to its intended, classic lines. In a fitting tribute, Tom was honored by the Carolinas PGA Section, the oldest PGA Section in the country, as he was named Golf Club Professional of the Year last February by his peers. And so, the great golf clubs of the North Carolina High Country go on, magnificent monuments to the game and the mountains—unsurpassed by any collection of clubs found anywhere in the world. Greensboro Daily News sportswriter Smith Barrier once called them the “greatest concentration of championship golf ” found anywhere. The roll call reads Linville Golf Club, Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Elk River Club, Linville Ridge, Diamond Creek, Blowing Rock Country Club, Hound Ears, Beech Mountain, Jefferson Landing, and fine public offerings from Mountain Glen, to Sugar Mountain, to the Boone Golf Club and more. The following provides you with contact information for a most wonderful collection of private, public, and resort courses that you can call home if you try.
Public Courses n Boone Golf Club—Boone, NC Tom Adams, PGA Architect Ellis Maples, Revision Rick Robbins ‘Must play’ Mountain Standard in 60th season. Tom’s big brother Sam hanging out here to add to local color. Casa Rustica’s Rick Pedroni in the kitchen. 828-264-8760 or www.boonegolfclub.com
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n Sugar Mountain Golf Club—Sugar Mountain, NC Tom McAuliffe, Golf Director Architect Frank Duane Dynamite par 64. Play specials. Great value — fine conditions. A little bit better every year and that says a lot. 828-898-6464 | www.seesugar.com n Mountain Glen—Newland, NC Sam Foster, PGA Architect George Cobb Sam Foster enters 45th season at this wonderful public venue in Avery County. Since 1965 folks have played this course every day and wouldn’t change a thing. Public classic right down to the grill room (try the beer battered onion rings). Everything you could want in your favorite public course. 828-733-5804 | Mountainglengolfclub.com n Linville Falls Golf Club Jim Kelechi-PGA Architect Lee Trevino/Revision Lloyd Clifton Head pro and owner Kelechi determined to make this fine layout all it can be. Good value and convenient location. New Club Car fleet features Greg Norman Shark Experience. Daily holein-one opportunity for cash at No. 12. Easy access Hwy. 221 S. below Linville Falls. 828-756-4653 | https://linvillefallsgolfclub.com/ n Mt. Mitchell Golf Club—Burnsville, NC Jim Floyd, Golf Director Architect Fred Hawtree Spectacular property just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Hwy. 80 to Burnsville. Group getaway lodging specialists. For the day or the week. Toe River trout fishing, food and beverage excellent. 828-675-5454 | www.mountmitchellgolf.com n Willow Valley—Boone, NC Architect Tom Jackson-nine holes The Little Green Monster is a fine par three course. 828-963-6865 n Mountain Aire Golf Club—West Jefferson, NC Architect/Committee, Revisions Dennis Lehmann Popular Ashe County stop, good range, good course, good folks in the pro shop. Phil Shepherd carrying bright torch in Hagel family tradition. 336-877-4716 | www.Mountainaire.com
Burl and Tom Dale have overseen the Linville Golf Club operations for over half a century. The senior Dale passed away last autumn while son Tom was named Carolinas PGA Club Professional of the Year just months later. Burl was named the Florida PGA Section Club Professional of the Year back in 1967.
n Grassy Creek Golf Club—Spruce Pine, NC Bruce Leverette, PGA Architect/Committee Visit the Mitchell County mainstay and find out what all the locals love about Grassy Creek. What golf is all about. 828-765-7436
Resort Clubs w/lodging access to golf n Linville Golf Club—Linville, NC Tom Dale, PGA Architect Donald Ross—Revisions Robert Trent Jones, Sr.—Bobby Weed A private property where guests at the timeless Eseeola Lodge enjoy access to golf and amenities. For many who know her, their favorite place on Planet Earth. 828-733-4311 | www.eseeola.com n Hound Ears Club—Blowing Rock, NC Peter Rucker, PGA Architect George Cobb Revisions Tom Jackson Limited public play with selected lodgings, clubhouse rentals— Chetola, Crestwood Inn tie-ins a success. A very playable and special golf course. New membership opportunities in the gorgeous Watauga River Valley. 828-963-4321 | www.houndears.com n Beech Mountain Club—Beech Mountain, NC John Carrin, PGA Architect Willard Byrd Diverse qualified lodging. Stay and Play packages more affordable than ever at Eastern America’s Highest Town. Home of “Summer of ‘79” Chamber of Commerce 1-800-464-5506 www.beechmtnclub.org n Jefferson Landing Country Club & Resort—Jefferson, NC Dean Spainhour, PGA Architect Larry Nelson/Dennis Lehmann Course access for members and on-site lodgers—great golf group getaway. Limited public play space available at this beautiful Ashe County classic. Clubhouse dining. 1-800-292-6274 www.visitjeffersonlanding.com
n Linville Land Harbor, Linville Michael Hayes-Golf Director Architects Tom Jackson—(A-9 Ernie Hayes) Long-time private enclave between Linville and Pineola opening to public play with stay and play offerings. Fabulous putting surfaces. 828-733-8325 | www.linvillelandharbor.com n Red Tail Mountain—Mountain City, TN Lyle Habermehl, Owner The original Red Tail Mountain has closed to give birth to a shorter, eco-friendly layout which is a walking only course. A seasonal membership fee (to be determined) for unlimited play will be offered. Re-branded as the Sage Valley Golf Club, the course will run through the lower part of the original routing of the property to protect the privacy and security of residents of the community. Still possessing fabulous views, the course will be maintained in a manner that moves to preserve our beautiful planet and the game of golf for future generations. 423-727-7600 | www.redtailmountain.com
Private Clubs/Members and Guests Only n Grandfather Golf & Country Club—Linville, NC Chip King, PGA Architect Ellis Maples 828-898-7533 n Blowing Rock Country Club—Blowing Rock, NC Wayne Smith, PGA | Architect Donald Ross, Seth Raynor Revisions Tom Jackson and more recently BRCC revisions by Ross specialist Kris Spence a big hit. 828-295-3171 n Elk River Club—Banner Elk, NC Brian Newman, PGA | Architect Jack Nicklaus/Bob Cupp 828-898-9773 n Linville Ridge Club—Linville, NC Kurt Thompson, PGA | Architect George Cobb Revisions Bobby Weed 828-898-5151 n Diamond Creek—Banner Elk, NC Joe Humston, PGA | Architect Tom Fazio 828-898-1800 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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H O M E S H O U L D B R I N G YO U C LO S E R Centrally located with unmatched views and a maintenance-free lifestyle, Echota is home to the memories that will forever remain close to your heart. Explore one- to fi vebedroom condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. To view listings and learn more about our growing community, visit echotanc.com. TO SCHEDULE A HOME TOUR, CALL (828) 963-7600.
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mountain notes MOUNTAIN NOTES FROM THE GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION
Grandfather Mountain Announces ‘Conservation Campus’ Expansion
Grandfather Mountain is more than a mile high, but plans for a new “Conservation Campus” will take the park’s educational mission above and beyond. In fall 2019, the mountain will break ground on an ambitious project to help guests better explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. “We’re working to share the wonders of Grandfather in ways that are broader and deeper than ever before,” said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Linville, N.C. nature park. The mountain hopes to accomplish this through the establishment of the Conservation Campus, a venue to “study nature where nature reigns,” Pope said. The addition will nearly double the size of the park’s current Nature Museum—and beyond. Designed by Boone-based Coffey Architecture, in all it will feature 10,000 square feet of new education space; three classrooms for smaller groups and increased capacity for larger groups; restoration of the ADA-accessible auditorium; new outdoor learning spaces, including an amphitheater with terraced seating and a pavilion; new office space on site for park educators and animal habitats staff to prepare and support new, enhanced educational programs; larger, more modern food service facilities for catering and serving educational groups; expanded capacity for hosting conferences, seminars, receptions and community events; and more. “Whether it’s schoolchildren coming for a field trip or conservation experts visiting together to share new knowledge, guests will gain an even greater appreciation of nature and become even more passionate about protecting and preserving it,” Pope said. The Nature Museum’s expansion will also include a dozen all-new, interactive exhibits. Designed by PGAV Destinations, a recognized leader in the design of museums, zoos, aquariums, resorts and brand destinations, these exhibits will focus on the biodiversity and preservation of the high-elevation forests of the Southern Appalachian region. They will include an interactive 3D map of Grandfather Mountain, a geology/mineral display, flora and fauna walls, an interactive field guide and de-
pictions of the physical evolution of Grandfather Mountain, its climate and its important role in migration paths for birds and animals. “Throughout the exhibits, we will share the stories of the threats to the environment, the positive impact of conservation efforts and the steps that individuals can take to be a force for nature as stewards of the natural world,” Pope said. The total cost of the project comes to $5.5 million, of which $4.3 million has already been raised during the quiet phase of what the stewardship foundation is calling the Fulfilling Promises Campaign. “We are so excited to see the direction our organization is heading in the future,” Pope said. “We have been very encouraged by the overwhelming support we have already received from so many members of our community, including our staff. We can’t thank them enough, but as generous as our friends have been so far, we still need help from the community to make this dream a reality.” The park itself was the dream of the late Hugh Morton and the Morton family, who owned and operated the Grandfather Mountain attraction and nature preserve for decades, up until its establishment as a nonprofit organization in 2009. “Today, it’s everyone’s park,” Pope said. “As a nonprofit public charity, everyone who visits Grandfather Mountain and purchases a ticket helps fund our future. The same is true with our donors who support the mountain.” Thanks to the support received from admission and in-park revenue, such as food, beverage and souvenir sales, 100 percent of any tax-deductible donation made to the Fulfilling Promises campaign will go entirely toward the creation of the Conservation Campus. “I want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to contribute to Grandfather Mountain’s future, no matter how large or small the donation,” Pope said. “Every dollar will put this dream one step closer to reality.” Those interested may contribute online at www.grandfather. com/fulfillingpromises or in person by participating in Grandfather’s round-up program, wherein any purchase made at the park’s retail stations (including the restaurant, gift shops, fudge shop and gatehouse) can be rounded up to the next dollar to benefit the campaign. “Even a small donation can leave a legacy as big as all outdoors,” Pope said. To learn more about the Fulfilling Promises Campaign, visit www.grandfather.com/fulfillingpromises, or contact Pope at 828733-2013 or jesse@grandfather.com. The not-for-profit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, call 800-468-7325, or visit www. grandfather.com to plan a trip. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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78— Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
HISTORY ON A STICK
The Bard of Ottaray:
Shepherd Monroe Dugger By Michael Hardy
S
ome people have personalities bigger than life. Shepherd Monroe Dugger was one of those people with one of those personalities. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Dugger was the biggest supporter and promoter of the High Country of Western North Carolina. The many affectionate titles for him include “The Bard of Ottaray,” “The Genius of the Blue Ridge,” “The Bard of Banner Elk,” “The Oracle of the Hills,” and “The Bard of the Balsams.” Born in Tennessee in 1854, Dugger came to North Carolina when his family moved to the Cranberry area in 1856. Monroe Dugger’s father, George Washington Dugger, worked for the Confederate government at the Cranberry Mines during the Civil War. Monroe was educated locally and then attended Weaverville College near Asheville, and finally the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When Dugger returned to the area, he taught schools and, in 1881, was elected the first superintendent of Watauga County schools. Dugger was constantly writing. His first published book was The Balsam Groves of Grandfather Mountain, released in 1892. The Linville Improvement Company had sponsored a literary contest for a piece about Grandfather Mountain. Dugger did not win, but the company later funded the publication of Dugger’s work. Dugger wrote that the object of the book was to “introduce to the outside world a section of the country which, until recently, has been almost unknown and obscure.” Much of Dugger’s Balsam Groves is thinly veiled fiction, meaning that its contents are mostly true. But Dugger went on to include poems, descriptions of surrounding communities like Banner Elk, Elk Park, and Shull’s Mill, along with a transcription of Andre Michaux’s journal concerning his 1794 exploration of Grandfather Mountain. For the next forty years, Dugger penned dozens of letters and articles. His glimpses into life in the mountains were the first by a local writer. Dugger wrote of the Cranberry Iron Mines, “Bell Tails” (rattlesnakes), local weddings, and trips out of the mountains, like a visit to the World’s Fair in New Orleans in 1884. Dugger’s second book, War Trails of the Blue Ridge, was published in 1932. It is by far his most important work. The first third of the book is devoted to the battle of King’s Mountain, followed by Civil War actions such as the “battle” of Beech Mountain and the capture of Camp Vance. Dugger goes on to write about the early history of Avery County, Linville, and Banner Elk. “The Grand Old Man of the Mountains,” according to the Asheville Citizen-Times, died on September 13, 1938, in Matney, North Carolina. Dugger was at the home of his cousin, sitting and reading a newspaper, when struck by a heart attack. He was eightyfour years old. Dugger was laid to rest in the Banner Elk Cemetery. In 1971, the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker program erected a sign to Dugger in Banner Elk.
Blue Ridge Explorers
Celebrating the State Parks in Our Own Backyard
s State Park
Lake Jame
By Tamara Seymour
J
ust over 100 years ago, a group of concerned citizens realized a need to protect the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern U.S., from uncontrolled logging and landscape damage. This was during a time when many forested lands and natural resources were poorly managed, and were therefore disappearing at an alarming rate. The conservation-minded group of citizens encouraged Governor Locke Craig to visit the mountain and see the devastation taking place. Soon after the governor’s visit, the N.C. General Assembly passed a bill to protect Mount Mitchell’s resources by establishing North Carolina’s earliest state park. By 1916, Mount Mitchell State Park was in operation—it was the first state park in the southeastern U.S., and one of the first in the nation. Today, the N.C. State Parks system includes a network of 41 state parks and state recreation areas, plus more than 30 undeveloped conservation areas—nearly 250,000 acres of land in total. From the 6,684-foot peak of Mt. Mitchell to Jockey’s Ridge, the tallest sand dune on the east coast, the state parks system ensures our state’s valuable and scenic lands are available to all N.C. citizens and visitors to explore and appreciate—nearly 19 million visitors enjoy N.C. state parks each year!
Find a Park Near You
We are fortunate to have eight state parks and state natural areas in our CML region, including New River State Park and Mount Jefferson State Natural Area in Ashe County; Elk Knob State Park in Watauga County; Grandfather Mountain State Park, with portions in Avery, Caldwell and Watauga Counties; Mount Mitchell in Yancey County; South Mountains State Park in Burke County; Lake James State Park in Burke and McDowell Counties; and Stone Mountain State Park in Alleghany and Wilkes Counties. Several other state parks are within a short drive of our Blue Ridge region. With such an expansive network of state parks, you never have far to go to enjoy activities in the great outdoors,including: n n n n n n n
Self-Guided Hiking and Biking Ranger and Naturalist led hikes Wildlife viewing, nature study and interpretive programs Paddle trips, swimming and fishing Picnicking, backpacking and camping (group areas available) Photography, art and writing contests Volunteer opportunities
Learn more about our local parks and the N.C. State Park System at NCParks.gov.
Grandfathe
A Special State Park Anniversary
r Mountain
State Park
This year, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of a State Park that is at the heart of the High Country: Grandfather Mountain State Park. In 2008, the Hugh Morton Family approached the North Carolina state parks system about the long-term preservation and conservation of Grandfather Mountain (long owned by the Morton Family) and creation of a state park to provide a source of perpetual management and public access of the 2,456 acre property, commonly referred to as the “backcountry” of the very popular attraction on Grandfather Mountain, owned and managed by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation (https:// grandfather.com/). Grandfather Mountain State Park is known for its harsh weather at certain times of the year, and also for its rugged beauty and challenging hiking trails. In fact, certain trails require hikers to climb ladders to reach the tops of cliffs along the trails. Besides the reward of spectacular views, hikers and nature lovers appreciate the rich, ecologically diverse forests and unique geology of Grandfather Mountain. With its varying terrain, soil, vegetation, and weather conditions, Grandfather Mountain supports 16 distinct natural communities—a naturalist’s paradise! On August 14, Grandfather Mountain State Park will be hosting an educational event focusing on snakes from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. as part of “Year of the Snake” at NC State Parks. Gather your friends and family and meet at the Profile Trail Parking Area (4198 Hwy 105 N. Banner Elk)—and don’t let your discomfort or fear of snakes keep you from attending. A detailed schedule of events will be published mid-summer at https://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park.
Tamara Seymour is a N.C. Certified Environmental Educator and Certified Blue Ridge Naturalist. She leads an environmental education program, “Adventures in Nature,” for kids ages 8-12 once a month at the Book Exchange in Banner Elk. You can reach Tamara at tamara@NCexplorers.com or visit NCexplorers.com.
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Why a Guide? By Andrew Corpening
W
ith summer here and water temperatures rising, trout fishing can get more difficult. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reduces the number of trout it stocks and the resident trout are less active. When fishing this time of year, hiring a guide can be money well spent. If you are an angler visiting the High Country or even a new resident who fishes, you most likely do not know the area waters. A guide will show you some of the better places to fish during the summer. This allows you to learn where to go when you are on your own. Also, the guide can help you with the local flies that work the best and possibly show you techniques that work on local waters. If you regularly fish on the local waters you probably don’t need a guide. But if you want to learn about the Tennessee fisheries below Watauga and Holston lakes, a guide can really help. These tailwater rivers below these lakes with hydroelectric dams are incredible trout waters due to the water coming from the bottom of the lake. This means that the water stays a near perfect temperature for trout. However the fishing can be challenging. A guide can again show you where to go but also teach you the somewhat specialized techniques needed to catch these hard-to-catch trout. If you are unsure how to find a guide, you can contact the local Chambers of Commerce, search the Internet, or check out this issue of CML for great fishing guides and shops. The High Country has many excellent guides working in this area. There are basically two types of guides. The independent guides normally work out of their homes and many of their customers are repeat business or new business through word-of-mouth. Then there are guides who are affiliated with a local fly-fishing shop.
Most all the area guides offer flyfishing trips for trout but some also offer small-mouth bass trips and trips for other species of fish. There are half-day trips and full-day trips. What length of trip you take will be determined by your pocketbook and available time. There are also wading trips both in the immediate area and in Tennessee. Many of the guides working on the Tennessee fisheries also offer float (boat) trips. These are the most expensive but you will have the opportunity to fish over some true trophy trout and cover a lot of water. Some people are hesitant to hire a guide because they don’t know how to fly fish. This is not a problem since most of the guides are also excellent instructors. They take people out everyday who have never fly-fished. After a day with a guide, you won’t be an expert but you will have learned enough to start fly-fishing on your own. If you are a beginner, make sure when booking the trip to let the guide or shop know you want to learn. The guide will then schedule more practice time for the trip. If you are concerned about not having equipment, most of the area guides provide everything needed, from rods to waders. Usually even lunch is included on full-day trips. One thing that is not included is the fishing license, but the guide or shop can help you with where to get a license. Since it is impossible to know what all the area guides supply, make sure to ask when booking the trip. To make sure you get a good guide, the following should help. If you are working with an independent guide, you will most likely be talking to them directly. Ask questions about their experience and years guiding. If possible, get a reference. If you are going through a shop, you most likely won’t speak with your guide until the night before or the day of the trip. This
is really not a problem, as the shop has a stake (i.e. your coming back and buying equipment) in your having a good guide and a good time. Most shops will not put up with unprofessional guides. The most important thing a guide should be is professional. The guide’s main job is to inform, get you on fish, and make sure you have a good time. After this, it is really up to you. Communicate with the guide. Let him or her know what you expect. The guide will tailor the trip to your wants and needs. If you like to laugh and joke the guide will pick up on this. If you are a fishing machine and don’t want to break for lunch, the guide will keep you fishing. Once you have found a guide, guide service, or fly-fishing shop, call or stop by and make arrangements. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may find there are no guides available. This is especially true on weekends and during the late spring and all summer. Also expect to pay a deposit. Let the guide or shop know of any special needs. Let them know if you are a beginner, or if you have any mobility problems. On full-day trips also let them know if you have any dietary restrictions. At the end of the trip it is customary to tip the guide. A good guideline for the amount would be the percentage you tip in a restaurant. If you feel the guide did an exceptional job, tip more. Remember that most of the guides are “independent contractors.” In other words, even the guides working through a shop or guide service are not employees. Most of them have to pay for all of their own equipment including boats. They pay for the lunch and the gas for their vehicles. Guides appreciate tips. So schedule your next trip, find a good guide, and get out there and enjoy all the great fishing our region has to offer.
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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tommycustom1@bellsouth.net 82 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
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CAROLINA CHICKADEE
BIRDING
EASTERN PHOEBE
NORTHERN CARDINAL
Should I Stay or Should I Go? W
e have written in this column in the past about the busy lives of our migrant birds who arrive in the spring, get quickly down to nesting and then just as quickly down to molting and resting and fattening up for the return trip to Central America or the Caribbean. The energetics of migration set the pace of their lives and biology including usually only having one nest per year and usually only one re-nesting attempt should that nest fail. Most also complete their feather molts here with us before leaving. It is one of the reasons July and August seem quieter to our ears as the nesting season winds down pretty quickly. But what if you don’t have to migrate? Or if you do, it is not as far? How does that affect your life and ecology? About 75 percent of our breeding birds are migrants, but what about the other 25percent? The flashy spring arrivals get a lot of attention and press, but if you are a local Carolina Chickadee or Song Sparrow, what do you do with all that extra time and energy? The most obvious result is that most of our local or permanent resident birds have multiple broods. Even short distance migrants who might leave the mountains for the winter but stay in North Carolina (think Eastern Bluebird or Eastern Phoebe) normally have two or sometimes three broods of young. They can start earlier than the long-distance migrants, go later into the summer with those later broods and not have the hard deadline of molt completion prior to leaving that some others have. And for some the molt
is the same as the migrant but the fattening up process does not occur until much later if at all. The migrants are like elite athletes that load up prior to the big event, and the local birds spend their time finding the reliable food sources without the need to bulk up for the marathon. But the extra nests of young to care for do require a lot of energy and so the permanent residents gain a lot of high value local knowledge about where the best food sources are, the places with more or less danger from predators (which houses have cats or where the coyote traipses through every night) and where the best places to take a bath are and a hundred other details. The migrants often use this knowledge by joining those local mixed species flocks during migration and following along, if you will. Birders know to find the chickadees and titmice in September that often are being followed by other migrant species. Because of the higher productivity in summer (more babies being hatched) you might think we would be overrun with these species and to a certain extent we do have more territories of these species in most places but not amazingly so. The answer as to why not also points to why the long-distance species go to all the trouble of migrating often thousands of miles. And that answer is winter is tough. Many of our permanent residents have pretty low over-winter survival. In severe winters, we may lose up to a third (or more) of our Carolina Wrens for instance, on top of their normal mortality rates which might be another 25 percent on top of that.
By Curtis Smalling
Some local species have tackled that challenge. Male Dark-eyed Juncos remain in their territory year round but the females and young of the year drop downslope into adjacent valleys to avoid the worst of winter weather. Other species may switch their primary food sources from insects to include much more fruit. Eastern Phoebes may be seen eating poison ivy berries in the winter to supplement the spiders and other overwintering insects they can find in harsh conditions and then switch back to flying insects once those get moving again. We see a number of species that exhibit these short distance shifts and changes in diet including Bluebirds, Brown Thrashers, Belted Kingfishers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinches, and several others. In all of this interesting push and pull of “do I stay or do I leave for winter” we see an ancient echo of the same thing that people have been doing in the mountains for centuries: “summer people” returning from warmer climes to reconnect with their local friends who know all the best places to eat and hike, and who have all the local gossip to get the “snowbirds” up to speed. So this summer as its gets quieter, appreciate the songs of the locals like our Song Sparrows and Cardinals as they keep working hard late into the season to prepare for their long winter life here in the High Country—and enjoy your warmer climes if you are preparing to migrate! Photographs by Donald Mullaney CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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84 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
LASER treatment from visiting 4th-year veterinary student intern
Wound evaluation, week three
Left wing with Duoderm sutured in place
Looking good in 60-foot enclosure
Great Horned Owl Thrives after Barbed Wire Entanglement By Amber McNamara, DVM, May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Lees-McRae College
T
oo often, wild animals who find themselves ensnared in barbed wire don’t have favorable outcomes. In the intense struggle to find freedom, they often make their injuries worse. So the staff at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (MWRC) was very cautiously optimistic when a Great Horned Owl (patient # 2019-0060) arrived in March with “barbed wire entanglement” as his history. The adult owl was found by Terry Hicks in Elk Park on March 23, 2019. Thankfully, Mr. Hicks made a crucial (and likely life-saving) decision: to cut the barbed wire fence rather than try to untangle the owl. He delivered the owl (with barbed wire pieces attached) to the MWRC for care. Lees-McRae wildlife rehabilitation students immediately administered pain medication, but removal of the barbed wire would require general anesthesia. MWRC director Nina Fischesser anesthetized the large (and still quite feisty) bird. She carefully removed the barbed wire from both wings; fortunately, the wire caused only a small wound in the right wing, as it was mainly entangled in feathers. The barbed wire pierced through the left wing, leaving a large hole in the wing webbing. Flight strength and maneuverability require healthy wing tissue and proper feather arrangement. For owls in particular, silent flight is a necessary benchmark for release readiness. In this case,
the propatagial tendon (spanning from the shoulder to the wrist and giving tautness to the outstretched wing) sustained minor damage but remained intact. That improved this patient’s prognosis significantly; although the wing wound was large, there was a glimmer of hope for healing and a return to the wild. As the MWRC’s full-time veterinarian, I evaluated the owl the following day. Given the large size of the wound (roughly three inches across), closure was not an option without significantly reducing wing extension. I applied silver sulfadiazine cream, bandaged both sides of the wing, and placed a figure-of-8 wrap to secure the bandages. This would be the first of many bandages on a long road to recovery. The following day, staff began using laser therapy to facilitate wound healing and reduce discomfort. Over the course of the next five weeks, the GHOW (the abbreviation for this species designated by the Institute for Bird Populations) had a total of eight bandage changes, three surgeries, and five laser treatments. Surgical tasks included wound cleaning and debridement, physical therapy, and placement of DuoDERM, a hydrocolloid dressing that keeps wounds moist. During the final surgery, I sutured DuoDERM to the owl’s skin on either side of the wing and tacked the pieces together in the middle; this technique maintained wound coverage without having to place a restrictive wrap.
The owl, presumed male due to size, ate very well during his rehabilitation, but by mid-April was eager to move outside. Despite a still open wound in the wing webbing (albeit considerably smaller), the GHOW flew in the MWRC’s 30foot enclosure. Flight was noisy and far from graceful, but he was flying. By the beginning of May, he graduated to the 60-foot enclosure and was soon flying easily from one end to the other. The owl continued to fine-tune his flight, strength, and quietness in this large flight cage as the wound contracted. On May 16, this majestic bird was returned to his home territory, with his finder, MWRC director Fischesser and Lees-McRae wildlife students wishing him well. His flight was beautifully strong as he soared out over his meadow, likely eager to be back home. The May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Lees-McRae College accepts injured and orphaned wildlife patients 365 days per year. Although rehabilitating animals are off-limits to the general public, ambassador animals (and their LMC students) are featured during public presentations. During the summer, these presentations are held in the center’s Tickle Classroom at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They are free of charge. Learn more about the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at lmc.edu/wildlifecenter. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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THE JONES HOUSE
FRED’S GENERAL MERCANTILE WILKESBORO DOC WATSON MURAL
Hidden Gems of the High Country By Kelly Melang
T
raveling the High Country, many marvel on the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Locals know of different hidden gems, places that are unique. Here, Carolina Mountain Life shares some thoughts from members of our regional Chambers of Commerce and Welcome Centers on their favorite hidden gems. Avery – Melynda Pepple of the Avery Chamber of Commerce stated, “My first thought is Grandfather Mountain, not a ‘hidden’ gem but it provides spectacular views with an elevation of 5,964 feet—the highest peak in the Blue Ridge section of the Appalachian Mountains. Take a drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Linn Cove Viaduct, which is recognized internationally as an engineering marvel. Avery County Historical Museum is a unique museum housed in the old county jail of Newland and features exhibitions on rail roads, and local Civil War history. Avery County also features three unique Civil War landmarks on the Civil War Trails. The art of weaving is kept alive in Crossnore Weavers and Gallery, a National Historic Site located on the campus of Crossnore School & Children’s Home. While on campus visit one of Ben Long’s famous Fresco’s named ‘Suffer the Little Children’ located in the E.H. Sloop Chapel. Lees-McRae Summer Theater is a wonderful gem. And the Avery Chamber hosts the Art & Master Craft Festivals on July 19-21 and August 9-11.”
86 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Beech Mountain – Not exactly hidden but truly a gem is Fred’s General Mercantile. Their “if we don’t have it, you don’t need it” motto means they carry everything. The Backside deli, located on the bottom floor, has a popular outdoor patio. Buckeye Recreation Center is another gem offering programs year round for residents and visitors. Behind the recreation center is a wonderful water fall hike, Fall Trail. The Beech Mountain History Museum, operated by the Beech Mountain Historical Society, is another great stop. Here you will discover the history of Beech Mountain and Beech Mountain Resort, and enjoy Land of Oz memorabilia (admission is free, donations are appreciated). The Land of Oz is a 1970s theme park at the summit of Beech Mountain, complete with a yellow brick road. Created by Grover Robbins of Tweetsie Railroad fame, the park opens for Family Fun Days in June and early July, then hosts ‘Autumn at Oz’ during two weekends in September. Traveling around Beech Mountain, see if you can find the Gazebo, a place for concerts on Sundays.
BANNER HOUSE MUSEUM
Banner Elk – The Banner Elk Chamber found it hard to choose. “Our Thursday Concerts in Tate Evans Park are amazing. Residents and visitors bring their own picnics and enjoy live music complete with a dance floor in front of the band. Tour the beautiful stone Historic Banner Elk Elementary School, recently renovated and home to several businesses and organizations, including the Banner Elk Book Exchange, a free library. We have Art on the Greene, an outdoor art show in front of the historic school, July 6-7, and on Labor Day weekend, August 31-September 1. Just outside of Banner Elk is the Banner House Museum, home of Samuel Henry Banner, showcasing 19th century life in the North Carolina mountains. If you are in Tate Evans Park, be sure to keep an eye on the sky and perhaps you’ll see our ‘hidden gem,’ Banner Elk’s White (Albino) Crow!” Boone – The Chamber staff listed Junaluska City Park and Elk Knob as high on their list, along with the Watauga Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Music on the lawn of the Jones House every Friday is a great way to spend a summer day. Not many know about the Soda Fountain/ Diner in the back of the Boone Pharmacy, a nice little step back in time. F.A.R.M. Cafe, a non-profit, pay-what-you-can community kitchen provides locally sourced food in an inclusive atmosphere.
BLOWING ROCK
BURKE / SOUTH MOUNTAINS STATE PARK
Blowing Rock – “One of our hidden gems is the Glen Burney Trail, located right off of Laurel Lane in downtown Blowing Rock,” says Harrison Herbst of the Blowing Rock Chamber. “The trail has a beautiful waterfall and follows New Years Creek, which flows into Johns River. It is a great escape from busy summertime Blowing Rock. Of course our Art in the Park comes to mind—it is reminiscent of the street vendor fairs of Old Appalachia. Then our Symphony by the Lake at Chetola in July where families bring picnics or enjoy a catered meal as they watch a moving performance with a fireworks finale. And while walking around, try to find our Gardener Statue, another hidden gem.”
Burke – Mckenzie Peeler of the Burke County Chamber immediately says, “Lake James! Many visit the lake but not everyone knows it is man-made covering a town named Fonta Flora. That is why the walking trail around the lake is named after the town. We have a wonderful Farmer’s Market every Saturday that includes live music. South Mountains State Park, with elevations of 3,000 feet and waterfalls, is great all summer, and on Fridays come back downtown for our TGIF concerts, a way to bring the community together. If you are walking around downtown try to find the Senator Sam statue. A life-size statue of Sam Ervin, Jr. a country lawyer who became the country’s lawyer during Watergate.”
Wilkes – “Wilkes is for the outdoor enthusiast!” says Linda Cheek of the Wilkes Chamber. “With over 50 miles of biking trails, visitors can find special gems in nature. We also offer Concerts in the Park once a month and Concerts on the Deck every Friday. Our Outdoor Drama features local actors performing the story of Tom Dooley all summer. We are the only town that offers tubbing; that’s right, tubbing, where visitors can ride up to eight people at a time in a farm tub (used to feed farm animals) down the Yadkin River. While you are visiting, make sure you find our hidden gem, the mural of Doc Watson.”
Ashe – “Lansing Creeper Trail Park in the town of Lansing is a hidden gem. This area has significantly grown over the years and offers everything from picnicking to walking trails and fishing. We’re proud it has been made handicap accessible. Saloon Studios is an Old West town that includes a state-of-the-art recording studio and live music venue! Downtown West Jefferson offers free live music concerts on Friday nights. Be sure to take in the Museum of Ashe County History in Jefferson which documents life in a Southern Appalachian community. It’s located in our original 1904 Court House. While you are exploring, see if you can find Connie the Caboose.”
AVERY / LINVILLE VIADUCT
Johnson County, TN – Kelly Turner at the Johnson County Welcome Center first mentions one of our area’s favorite lakes. “Watauga Lake is a man-made lake dammed in 1942 by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The old town of Butler is located at the bottom of the lake. See if your GPS still shows the streets. You can rent boats, fish or enjoy the beach located at the lake. Backbone Rock Recreation Area is located along Beaverdam Creek in Johnson County. A tunnel drilled through the rock for railway access in 1901 is the ‘shortest tunnel in the world’ as motorists travel TN 133. The Johnson County Center for the Arts is a comprehensive art center focused on Appalachian Art. For all ages, it has a museum, offers classes and even has storytelling. If you are exploring Mountain City, see if you can find the mural of Tom Dula, the inspiration behind the ballad ‘Tom Dooley’—the name in the ballad changed so it would be pronounced correctly due to the dialect.”
JOHNSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
87
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88 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Sarah, in the cavern entrance
Fascination, Folklore & Facts
The Linville Caverns Experience
By Steve York Gilkey Room
“Now began the wondrous splendors of the hidden world… it looked like the arch of some grand old cathedral, yet it was too sublime, too perfect in all its beautiful proportions, to be anything of human…I thought to myself that, could one but hear the strains of delicious music, he might well conclude that the land of the fairies was reached at last.”
P
assages from J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythical classic, The Hobbit? No. They are from the 1858 writings of Henry E. Colton as published in the N.C. Presbyterian. Colton, a travel writer from eastern North Carolina, penned this accounting of his curious adventure within a dark and seemingly forbidden mountain underworld of streams, narrow passageways and splendid limestone formations known today as Linville Caverns. Located at the base of Humpback Mountain in McDowell County off Hwy 221 just south of the Linville Falls community, Linville Caverns has the distinction of being the only commercialized limestone cave attraction in North Carolina. Additionally, these caverns are widely recognized by many earth vortex enthusiasts as one of this region’s strong energy convergence centers. Sarah Davis, manager and president of Linville Caverns, Inc., recalls always having a special fascination and fond-
ness for the Caverns. “I grew up exploring these caves and became an official tour guide at the young age of fourteen. After my grandfather, Spencer Collins, acquired the property from the original corporate board in 1941, it’s been a family operation. Although I moved away for a while in my twenties, it wasn’t long before I felt a strong yearning to come back to the place of my fondest childhood experiences. Truth is, there is nowhere that I feel more at peace and at home than within these wondrous caverns.” Thanks to centuries of mysterious legends woven into local lore, not all early explorers have shared Sarah’s affinity with Linville Caverns. Cherokee folklore claimed they were the gateway to a lower world inhabited by the Nunnehi or fairylike “little people.” Another early tale is of hunters seeing the ghostly apparition of a long-departed neighbor woman floating in the air. The specter supposedly called their names and then vanished. Then there’s the story of a local farmer and his mule-driven wagon coming upon a giant cow ambling towards them one moonlit night. But, when the cow reached the wagon, it passed right through the mules, the farmer and the wagon as if they were nothing more than a patch of foggy mist in the wind. Visitors have reported hearing strange music and singing coming from deep within Cavern corridors, yet no source of either was uncovered. Others vowed they
heard approaching tour groups talking and shuffling along the passageway, only to learn that no tours were even scheduled. “Most sounds of music or singing within the caves are probably echoes of dripping water and running streams bouncing off the walls and trailing through the air. Plus, these twisted passageways and high ceilings can easily play funny tricks with sound,” noted Sarah. “But…I can’t say that there’s absolutely nothing to some of the folklore and strange tales,” she said with a knowing grin. “I have often sensed something special and magical within these Caverns. And, for me, it’s always felt both wondrous and benevolent.” Over millions of years, the violent upheaving of earth and rock that created the Blue Ridge Mountains formed Humpback Mountain and cracked open great fissures within its limestone base. The waters that ultimately became the head of the Catawba River flooded through the mountain’s inner core creating underground streams, tunnels, a bottomless pool and a continuous dripping of mineral-rich sediments. This dripping formed marvelous stalactite columns, stalagmites and mysterious shapes such as the Cavern’s famous Frozen Niagara Falls, Wedding Scene and Tobacco Leaf formations. Other than Native American legends plus accountings of Revolutionary soldiers, Confederate deserters and runaway Continued on next page CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
89
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slaves sleeping or hiding out in the caves, no record of who first discovered these caves exists. Early traditions tell of a fishing party who noticed trout mysteriously appearing from a stream at the mountain’s rock base. Upon further examination, they uncovered a narrow fissure—barely more than a crawl space—that opened up to an amazing labyrinth of seemingly endless caves and streams, twisting their way deep into the dark abyss of the mountain. And, as they say, the rest is history. After that small opening was eventually enlarged and a walkable passageway cleared by Linville Caverns’ first corporate founders, the attraction was formally opened to the public on July 1, 1939. And, despite major flood damages and World War II tourism interruptions in the early years, people have been streaming into these caverns by the thousands every year since. Today, each 35-minute tour extends one quarter mile to Gilkey Pool. Guides provide a fascinating narration of the Caverns’ history and many spectacular formations. Public and special group tours run daily March through November and weekends December through February. The ticket and gift shop is also a fascinating experience, with area crafts, souvenirs, polished rocks, crystals, spectacular geodes and much more. Plus, Sarah Davis and her crew are always warmly hospitable. So, if you don’t mind a few harmless spiders, indigenous cave bats and—maybe—some mysterious singing, your experience will surely be as magical as that of Henry E. Colton’s in 1858. More info at www.linvillecaverns.com.
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October 19 & 20 2019 W O R M F E S T I V A L
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www.WoollyWorm.com • www.AveryCounty.com CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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92 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Nina & Mike Fischesser:
A Couple to Know in Our Community By Kelly Melang
C
arolina Mountain Life was lucky enough to get Nina and Mike Fischesser to carve out some time from their busy lives and answer some questions about who they are and what they do for their community. Nina is Director of the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Lees-McRae, while Mike is owner of Beanstalk Journey in Morganton, NC. Nina, tell us a how you and Mike met and what brought you to the High Country? It is a fate type story. I grew up in Chicago Suburbs loving nature and animals. When I was younger, I enrolled in an Outward Bound course in the Florida Everglades and that was where I first met Mike, an instructor. He was the coolest person I’d ever met, a great leader, an amazing outdoorsman, and funny. I turned 21 during that course and there was a connection between us at that time, but we both were on different paths. Later, I was visiting a friend in North Carolina and decided to see if he was still with the North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS). He was—we connected once again and I came to work for NCOBS where I stayed for 11 years as a field instructor and food services manager for the four basecamps. My specialty was helping substance abuse survivors, a position I loved because it enabled addicts to once again believe in themselves and live sober lives. Mike went to work for National Outward Bound in Connecticut as a Safety Director. Our long distance relationship lasted from 1986-88 when we decided to make
it permanent and moved to Mike’s cabin in Jonas Ridge on the edge of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. We married in 1991 and honeymooned for two months out west and into Canada backpacking, canoeing and just being outdoors. During that trip, I found some baby opossums and nursed them at basecamp during the summer. The opossums and I went to Florida where I would complete an internship, and hopefully release them in an appropriate habitat. Fate led us to The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Ft. Lauderdale where I became a volunteer as a wildlife rescuer. It is there that sparked my childhood passion of loving wild animals. With the thought of still working Outward Bound, which I thought I would never leave, my new hobby turned into full time work—pretty soon my path turned to opening a full-time 501c3 center in Jonas Ridge. Mike founded Alpine Towers (climbing structure) and hired up to 11 people, which also operated out of our home, so for at least 10 years our home was buzzing with Alpine Towers employees and Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute interns. LeesMcRae College Biology Department was impressed with what their student interns were learning and approached me about their wildlife biology program and the possibility of bringing the two together. Next thing I know I’m directing the wildlife center of the college. It was a few years and a few anonymous angel donors later that got the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center off the ground and running. After the present center was built it was named Dan & Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Mike eventually sold Alpine Towers to focus on The American Adventure Service Corps (TAASC), which is designed to
address the needs of today’s youth through outdoor adventure and service to others while instilling leadership and confidence. Mike founded the Beanstalk Journeys Builders and Zipline in Morganton, which builds treehouse-type ziplines, accessible playgrounds and other structures. Mike is an avid climber and paddler; he’s created a “history of climbing” museum inside Black Dome Mountain Sports of Asheville. He is also working on an upcoming museum about the history of paddling. Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? Honestly, we talked about moving to a bigger city where access to funding and resources is easier, but then we decided that we love it here. Our house is next to the Linville Gorge Wilderness so our playground is right outside the door. We love where we live so I can see us in the same exact place in ten years. How do you manage time together with such busy careers? We try to carve out time for weekend getaways; one of our favorites is Asheville. We both love going to movies and seeing friends. I guess we just grab time when we can get it. Mike takes long trips with youth in the summer canoeing in Canada, and other places out west. I’ll try to meet him at times. There’s nothing like being completely away where no one can reach you by phone. It’s also nice to see healthy animals out in their habitat. If we see one in trouble then it’s an opportunity to help. I remember rescuing a baby falcon that fell outside its nest on a cliff. We went to check on it; it was fine so we put it back up on the ledge for the parents to continue caring for it. Continued on next page CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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What is your favorite hike of the High Country? Linville Gorge hands down. Not because it is part of our backyard, but it is a great place for us to take the dogs. Both of us have different challenges when it comes to hiking so we often take the dogs alone but we both love Linville Gorge. Mike does a lot of climbing and adventuring with the TAASC kids also.
Protect The Parkway
Do you have a favorite quote? “Bless the being and the path they are on.” We honor and support each other as individuals and that’s what makes things work for us. We also love “In, Of, For the Mountains,” a quote from Lees-McRae College. Besides reading Carolina Mountain Life do you have another favorite read? I have to say it is Education of Little Tree, by Forrest Carter. This was a book that helped me get mountain life into perspective. It is a great view of mountain people. You too can have your conversation with Nina Fischesser with a stop by the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the LeesMcRae campus in Banner Elk, perhaps volunteering or donating to help wildlife. Or, stop by Beanstalk Journeys Zipline and say hello to Mike, and have some fun in his treehouses or on the ziplines! Visit their websites at lmc.edu/wildlifecenter and https://www.thebeanstalkjourney.com.
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Modern Visions, Modern Art: B R I N G I N G M AT I S S E TO T H E M O U N TA I N S
The Cone Sisters in North Carolina at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
Etta Cone posing outdoors by a tree. Collection of the Greensboro History Museum, Greensboro, NC. / Claribel and Frederick Cone. Claribel Cone and Etta Cone Papers, Archives and Manuscripts Collections, The Baltimore Museum of Art. CF.10.A.
Eager to take a break from managing his textile business and working on their summer home in Blowing Rock, NC, Moses Cone and his wife, Bertha, joined his sisters, Claribel and Etta Cone, overseas for a trip around the world in 1907. Together, they experienced art, history, and culture across Paris, Egypt, Italy, China, Japan, and India. This photographs shows the family (and a rather reluctant Claribel) on the back of an elephant while they visited India in March of that year. This memorable trip deepened the Cones' understanding of the world and inspired the direction of Claribel and Etta's grand collection.
Two new exhibits will give Blowing Rock locals and visitors alike a deeper understanding of the Cone family’s impact on the art world and the mountain village that Moses and Bertha Cone called their summer home. “Modern Visions, Modern Art: The Cone Sisters in North Carolina” and “Modern Visions, Mountain Views: The Cones of Flat Top Manor” will be on display August through November at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM). Modern Visions, Modern Art is presented to the community by Wells Fargo. Claribel and Etta were daughters of German Jewish immigrants, two siblings in a family of three girls and ten boys, and women who embraced many new opportunities of their era. As their brothers grew the family’s fortune in North Carolina textile mills, the sisters received financial support to pursue their interests. By 1900, at age 36, Dr. Claribel was a research pathologist and president of the Woman’s Medical College in Baltimore. Etta, at age 30, had recently altered the aesthetics of their parent’s home with the bold purchase of five impressionist paintings. Their personalities were distinct, but their shared love for
travel, education, art, and the avant-garde led them to create a significant collection of modern art, including more than 500 works by Henri Matisse. “Modern Visions, Modern Art: The Cone Sisters in North Carolina” brings together works by artists who drew the admiration and attention of Claribel and Etta Cone, including paintings, sculpture, and prints by Henri Matisse, and works on paper by Rembrandt van Rijn, Sarah Stein, Jacques Villon, Marie Laurencin, Ben Silbert, John Graham, and Everett Bryant. These works are presented alongside art and objects that Claribel and Etta gifted to members of their family. “Modern Visions, Modern Art” thus offers a unique opportunity to see works from the public and private spaces where the sisters’ placed their collections: the Cone Collection at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Etta and Claribel Cone Collection at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, and the personal collections of Cone family descendants. While the Cone Collection is beloved worldwide, its culmination would not have been possible without the financial support of their brothers’ extensive tex-
tile business in North Carolina. To explore this aspect of the Cone family, visitors to BRAHM can also enjoy a companion exhibition: “Modern Visions, Mountain Views: The Cones of Flat Top Manor.” Completed in 1901, Flat Top Manor was the centerpiece of a grand country estate, with 25 miles of carriage roads and an orchard of more than 30,000 apple trees. Organized in collaboration with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, “Modern Visions, Mountain Views” connects Claribel and Etta’s story with the stories of their brother, North Carolina’s “Denim King,” Moses H. Cone, and his wife, Bertha. The exhibition explores the history of the mansion through the interpretation of original documents and artifacts that are preserved by the National Park Service, and statues and art that once furnished the house, including a lithograph by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Admission to the museum is free. A full slate of art talks and special events are planned while the exhibit is on display. For more information, visit BlowingRockMuseum.org.
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Jan De Bruijn, Captain of AmaMagna with Barry Blake
Guests from Elk River/HCCF
Travel: The Gift that Keeps Giving! By Wendy Snider
T
ravel is a gift you give yourself, but can it be more? My travel journey began 30 years ago, and a few years back two local community members met me in my travel agency office in Banner Elk to volunteer professional mentoring services through SCORE, a part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). They provided free business advice to help expand my travel offerings by setting specific goals and profit objectives. SCORE provides free and confidential counseling and business-related services to people who are interested in starting a small business or who own an existing business that could use some assistance. SCORE volunteers Ken Swanton and Barry Blake “gifted” their expertise and provided immense support to my High Country small business. I am not sure how to describe the experience—somewhat like a rollercoaster— but they challenged me to reach beyond and succeed! As we focused on my business growth, Blake suggested using travel as a way to raise money for the High Country Charitable Foundation (HCCF), a 501c3 organization. The idea of the HCCF was conceived by a small group of summer residents who recognize the importance of giving back to the local community. I was challenged to figure out how to turn travel into a viable opportunity to raise money for non-profit organizations, such as the HCCF. The search for a partner that embraced a charitable model was an in-depth, extensive search that included potential destinations such as Africa, Asia and Australia.
A perfect match was found when AmaWaterways announced the first golf option in river cruising on the Danube in their newest ship, the AmaMagna. An engineering marvel that is twice the width of traditional European river ships, the AmaMagna represents the best in its class for European river cruises. I grabbed a calculator and started crunching numbers. The risk was great for my small business, as I would sign a contract committing to a huge amount of money. My SCORE mentors helped me assess the risks and rewards, and we put together a plan for the HCCF: river cruising on an innovative ship (with golf outing options), raising funds for charity, and providing a tax deduction for each guest. Together we created a business model for charitable travel. This past May, 24 guests from Elk River Club/High Country Charitable Foundation boarded the AmaMagna’s “maiden voyage” down the Danube River to raise charitable donations for the HCCF. “The inaugural cruise of the AmaMagna was beyond expectations,” said Barbara and Del Williamson of Elk River, “and the visits between Prague and Budapest were exceptional highlights for us. Travel arrangements were perfect… the cruise was also a great benefit for the High Country Charitable Foundation.” As soon as the “maiden voyage” guests stepped onto the deck of the AmaMagna, I knew they would feel a sense of pride. Their journey began as a quest to push a small business owner to a different level, raise funds for a great cause and support AmaWaterways’ commitment to “Cruising for Charity.”
“We were very proud to welcome guests from Elk River Club/High Country Charitable Foundation on their ‘Cruising for Charity’ on board our newest ship AmaMagna,” said Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and cofounder of AmaWaterways. “Having fun discovering Europe and strengthening personal relationships with friends and family, while at the same time contributing to the wellbeing of your community is possible on an AmaWaterways river cruise.” Guests flew to Prague for a few days and then met the AmaMagna in Vilshosen, Germany, for their 10-day journey to Budapest, Hungary. According to Elk River resident Janey Sturkey, the cruise was unlike any river trip she had ever experienced. “A chance to be with friends, be on a state-of-the-art ship, and give to charity… it was amazing,” said Sturkey. “This ship was beyond belief. They thought of everything.” She noted that people on shore would stop in their tracks to look at the AmaMagna. She cited several highlights of their trip. “We spent three days in Prague, and one evening we were treated to a concert in the music room of the Lobkowicz Palace on the Prague Castle grounds. We dined afterward on the hill overlooking the city.” Sturkey added that viewing the lights of Budapest at night on the upper deck of the AmaMagna was incredible. By all accounts, the first ‘Cruising for Charity’ venture was a success. With the help of SCORE mentors and the generous support of AmaWaterways, the HCCF was able to raise many thousands Continued on next page
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“We would like to thank AmaWaterways and Wendy Snider of Encore Travel for organizing the wonderful “Cruising for Charity” down the Danube from Prague to Budapest. It is an opportunity to not only enjoy each other’s friendship, but also to raise significant funds for the HCCF.” — Jim Ward, Chairman HCCF
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of dollars. A true testimony of like-minded people coming together, sharing the gift of travel, while giving back to the High Country community. If you or your notfor-profit organization would like to learn more about charitable travel, please contact Wendy Snider, owner of Encore Travel, a full-service travel agency located in Banner Elk. Wendy has been recognized as a top travel consultant by Travel Weekly. The High Country Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a vision to help the Avery County, NC community by providing for neighbors and animals in need. Learn more at http://highcountryfoundation.org To learn more about SCORE’s mentoring services and small business workshops, contact Herman Metzler of High Country SCORE at hgpmetzler@frontier.com or 919-280-6123.
Wisdom and Ways
Simple Childhood Pleasures from Summers of Yesteryear By Jim Casada
A
lthough I have a granddaughter of the appropriate age, other than frequently hearing the phrase “hanging out,” I have no real idea of what today’s adolescents do for summertime fun. However, I can guarantee two things. First, iPhones, Kindles, smart phones, electronic games, and all sorts of gadgetry this hapless hillbilly and technologically challenged troglodyte cannot even name cost a lot more than my youthful pursuits of pleasure. Second, although my granddaughter is an athlete of sufficient ability to garner support for college education, I don’t think her teens have provided a bit more exercise or fun than my carefree mountain boyhood. Perhaps a wistful look back at some youthful pastimes will provide an index to how much things have changed over two generations. It is also a not-so-subtle suggestion that today’s youngsters are missing quite a bit of fun, not to mention meaningful connection to the good earth, because joys involving an outdoor setting are vanishing like dandelion seeds caught in a windstorm. All of the activities mentioned below loomed large in summers of my youth. Today many of them have not been enjoyed by one mountain youngster out of a hundred.
*Swinging on grape vines. Wild grapes of various types—‘possum grapes, fox grapes, muscadines, and others— produce vines thick as a man’s wrist while growing to the top of tall trees in search of life-giving light. Those stout, firmly attached vines offered many a mountain youngster a ready-made swing. All that was required was to find a suitable vine and use a hatchet or hand saw to cut it close to the ground. Preferably the vine would be on a hillside where the swinger could take a few steps uphill and launch into the air while clinging tightly to the vine. The result was quite a ride, sometimes with the ground many feet below. There was an element of danger should the vine break, but heedless kids ignored that. *Another woodland activity involved “riding” trees. This meant shinnying up saplings until reaching a point where one’s weight caused them to bend and thereby allowed a “ride” back to the ground. Pine thickets, where lots of pines had sprung up after ground had been cleared and then left for nature to work her course, were most commonly used though I remember riding poplars as well. In each instance you had trees growing in such close proximity that when one bent over from your weight there was another one ready at hand to grab. It was great fun unless a sapling snapped. Then the trip to the ground came a lot faster than one had expected. I suspect that from time to time this pastime produced broken arms or legs, but it sure was fun. *Insects provided ample scope for youthful activity. Chasing grasshoppers (prime fish bait) in the morning dews
left one drenched but filled with joy. Dealing with doodle bugs (ant lions) using a broom straw to fool them could occupy an amazing amount of idle time, while catching June bugs and tethering them to a length of sewing thread gave one a bit of fun with an insect equivalent of a kite. For the more adventurous or foolish, knocking down wasp or hornet nests or raiding the underground homes of yellow jackets involved a real element of stinging danger but could also provide some first-rate fishing bait. Then there was catching crickets, digging red worms, piddling with roly polys (tumble bugs), chasing cicadas, and more. *Much of the activity connected to insects involved preparation for fishing, and that leads to the manner in which water loomed truly large in summertime pursuits. One of the High Country’s most appealing characteristics is its abundance of branches, creeks, and rivers. Fishing was but one of many waterrelated pastimes. Skipping rocks on a flat stretch of water in a larger stream was great fun, and any self-respecting son of the mountains could consistently get ten or more “skips” out of a suitably sized river rock launched at just the right angle. It was the most innocent of fun, lent itself to strong throwing arms for softball or baseball, and stream banks provided a limitless supply of ready-made missiles. *Dam building. If I had a $100 bill for every rock I moved during my boyhood in connection with dam construction on waterways ranging from small branches to sizable creeks, mine would be a fat bank account indeed. On a small branch Continued on next page CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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it was possible to change the depth from a few inches to as much as three feet, and in creeks you could enhance a swimming hole or create channels for faster tube rides. Of course such engineering efforts were doomed come the first heavy rain, but in the summertime they provided hours of innocent fun. *Flutter mills. I never was talented enough to create a really good flutter mill on my own, but with patient help from Grandpa Joe, using nothing but wood scraps, a section or two of a small dowel, and a nail or sturdy piece of wire, a delightful toy could be created. Properly placed in a small branch, the flut-
ter mill turned endlessly and provided considerable pleasure as well as constant temptation to do a bit of adjustment to make it run (flutter) faster. A really wellmade one would also turn quite nicely in a stiff breeze. *Then there was swimming, tubing (using real inner tubes back when they were standard with car and truck tires), cannonballs and “belly busters” off a makeshift diving board fashioned from a borrowed 2” x 10”, and the delicious temptation of night-time skinny dipping. Add other aspects of the waterbased experience such as fishing, excursions looking for water snakes, seining for minnows, catching spring lizards to sell to local bait shops, or the joy of finding ripening service berries at creek side, and you begin approaching an understanding of why water loomed so large in simple childhood pleasures of mountain yesteryears. All these water-based activities were just part of being a boy in a land with sufficient annual rainfall to approach temperate rain forest status. *Daddy gave me a 24-inch hand-medown bicycle when I was 9 or 10 years old. It carried the potential stigma of being a “girl’s” bike, but to me every inch of its worn frame, including a rough weld and wire wrapping holding the front wheel to the body, was sheer loveliness. The bike featured no gear system (it was, like all bikes at the time, strictly a onespeed affair), pedal brakes, and a total lack of adornment until I added a basket to the handlebars. Still, like countless others of my generation, I rode it everywhere during the summer—from gated off national forest roads to trips to
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the downtown drugstore for a soda, from home to pick-up ball games or simply to ride while enjoying the flow of air and the racket produced by baseball cards clipped to the bike’s spokes. The innocent pursuits noted above form but a small sampling of the joys which filled my youthful summers. All involved common features—they cost little or nothing, took place outdoors, required physical exertion, and occurred without adult supervision. I garnered my fair share of knocks, cuts, and bruises; probably crossed the line between common sense and recklessness on more than one occasion; and definitely participated in a few high jinks that would have met with stern adult disapproval had I been discovered. Set against that was the fact that I knew the meaning of freedom and self-reliance from an early age, developed solid instincts of personal responsibility thanks to wise but not overly intrusive oversight on the part of my parents, and was far too busy having fun in my spare time to come anywhere close to getting into the kind of trouble which might have merited the description juvenile delinquency. In short, I knew the sweet of a mountain summer as an ever unfolding blessing. That blessing involved love of place, the great good fortune of the time period in which I came of age, and mentors who guided me seamlessly through years of enchantment. It was a wholesome world in which to approach adulthood and a timeless reminder of that fact that you don’t need a great deal in the form of material goods to be perfectly happy.
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Banner House Museum Guided Museum Tours
11am-3pm Wednesday through Saturday June 8-October 12, 2019 7990 Hickory Nut Gap Road | Banner Elk BannerHouseMuseum.org
Calendar of Events Guided Walking Tours: Downtown Banner Elk
Saturday, July 6, 2019 Tours depart on the hour: 10am to 1pm Reservations suggested. $10 per adult
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Heritage Bus Tour: Downtown Banner Elk
Saturday, August 10, 2019 Tours depart on the half hour: 10am to 12:30pm Reservations suggested.
Quilt Show
Saturday, September 7, 2019 10am to 3pm at the Mayland Learning Center at the Historic Banner Elk School Be sure to enter to win a beautiful raffle quilt!
Closing Day
Saturday, October 12, 2019, 11am-3pm. Free Event!
Lectures at the Book Exchange
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Divide Tavern
Chestnut Grille
Divide Tavern
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9239 Valley Boulevard Blowing Rock 828-414-9230 9239 Valley Boulevard www.GreenParkInn.com Blowing Rock 828-414-9230 www.GreenParkInn.com
NORTH CAROLINA’S PREMIER GEOLOGY EDUCATION CENTER
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111 Mystery Hill Lane Blowing Rock, NC 828-264-4499 www.docsrocks.org
“Open every day, all year round” 9:30am – 5pm Special Hours June, July August
Come make a Memory to Take Home... 102— Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
The Legend Lives On
Thursdays from 4pm to 6pm on Park Avenue www.blowingrock.com/farmersmarket.php Join us in Downtown Blowing Rock for the best fresh goods. Parking is available at the American Legion. Satellite Food Hub Pickup
Open May 26 - Sept 26 on Thursdays from 3pm to 6pm on Park Avenue Check out all the latest at www.blowingrock.com/farmersmarket/
IN THE PARK
MAY 25 JUNE 15 JULY 13 AUGUST 10 SEPTEMBER 7 OCTOBER 5
The Village of
BLOWING ROCK
Over 90 Juried Artists (Pictured Splash of Autumn by Stacey Brown)
PARK AVENUE DOWNTOWN BLOWING ROCK 10AM UNTIL 5PM FREE ADMISSION FREE TROLLEY
Come enjoy the patio this summer! 20 drafts, imports and microbrews
SUMMER
events ART IN THE PARK
BLOWING ROCK
July 13, August September ART 10, IN THE PARK7, October 5 July 14 | Aug 11 | Sept 8 | Oct 6 BLOWING ROCK Juried artisans from all over the CHARITY HORSE Southeast exhibit in a SHOW series of Hunter Jumper shows.1 July 23-28,
Serving Menu 7 days a week 11:00am-midnight Bar open ‘til 12:00am, Sun-Wed and 2am Thursday-Saturday
Hunter Jumper 2 July 31-August 4
1121 Main St. Blowing Rock 828-295-3155 • sixpencepub.com
The Carolina’s Most Unique Attraction s at Get ticket
LOWING ROCK CHARITY One ofBthe oldest horse show events in the country. HORSE SHOW Saddlebred Show: Jun 7-10 JULY 4TH CELEBRATION Hunter/Jumper July 6I: Jul 24-29 Hunter/Jumper II: Aug 1-5 Free entertainment all day, and One of the oldest horse show small-town Main Street parade. events in the country.
SYMPHONY BY THE LAKE
JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
July7th 26 July
Enjoy sounds of the Symphony of the Freethe entertainment all day, and Mountains and theStreet beautiful views small-town Main parade. around Chetola Lake SYMPHONY BY THE LAKE
SCULPTURE July 27 WALK CHETOLA Enjoy theON sounds of the LAKE Symphony of the Mountains and9-11 the beautiful August views around Chetola Lake.
Also, check out the events at Tweetsie Railroad, weekly local and more on Also,events checkatout thebusinesses events at Tweetsie our website: Railroad, weekly events at local businesses and more on our website:
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CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Call 828-898-5226 Dennis Lacey - Broker In Charge, Arrington Rankhorn - Broker 303 Sugar Top Dr. | Sugar Mountain, NC 28604 | www.sugartop.com
Outsmart the Scammers By Beth Johnston
As long as people have had money, there have been con artists trying to separate the two. The days of the small-time local hustler stealing your mail for credit card numbers are long gone; today’s scammers are more likely to be in Ukraine or Venezuela than they are downtown Boone. Are seniors the primary targets for scammers? Anybody with a telephone number is a target for scammers. If you think that seniors are the only demographic that’s really affected by phone scams, you are wrong— according to the Federal Trade Commission, millennials are more likely to be the victims of scams than their grandparents. In 2017, 40 percent of twenty-somethings who reported fraud lost money, as opposed to 18 percent of people over 70. Seniors have more money to lose, on the other hand, losing a median $1,100 as opposed to the millennials’ $400 loss. Internet security professionals say that no one is immune to scams; professionals at the peak of their careers contact them to confess that they, too, have fallen victim to phone or internet scams. These are some of the scams making the rounds in the High Country lately: Publishers Clearing House – Legitimate sweepstakes winners get a check. They are not asked to provide any personal information for identification purposes, or pay a “deposit” towards their winnings. If you’ve been targeted by this or any other scam, call your local sheriff ’s department to report it. Watauga Sheriff ’s Calendar – The Watauga sheriff ’s department does not solicit money for a calendar fund. Sheriff Len Hagaman got a call; when he started asking questions the caller hung up— clearly not expecting to get law enforcement on the other end. Gift Cards – Scammers are after untraceable cash, and there is no better way to do that than with an anonymous gift card. The con artists call and say that your mortgage is in arrears, or you owe the IRS—or something else unnerving—and that the only way to settle the issue is to
buy gift cards and then give the caller the serial numbers. They will often wait on the phone while the victim goes down to the local grocery or drug store and gets the cards. This is the most popular—or vicious—scam making the rounds in the High Country this spring and summer. The Grandma Scam – If any scam is more cruel than the others, this one’s it. The scammers prey on the emotions of grandparents to get their money—again, in the form of gift cards or money orders. When the grandparent picks up, the caller mimics the voice of a teenager or young adult, saying “Grandma? Grandma? I’m in trouble and I can’t tell my parents” or something else desperate. The unsuspecting grandparent then sends money for bail, a hotel, plane ticket, or whatever they think the child needs, and doesn’t alert the parents until after they’ve completed the scammer’s request. Fake Caller ID Number – The perpetrators use an app or software that lets them mask their own number with another (if you get a call from yourself this is what’s happening). Several prominent national banks, some with a presence in the High Country, “appear” as the number on the Caller ID. This number can match the Customer Service number on the back of a debit card, so it’s not uncommon for people to think it’s a legitimate call. A voice on the other end tells you there’s a problem with your account, and they need some information to “verify” your identity, while merrily stealing it so that they can access your bank accounts. A bank or credit union will never call you and ask for this information over the phone. When you call customer service yourself it’s different; you initiated the call to their legitimate number. Since you are wondering if any of this calling and spoofing is legal, the answer is, unfortunately, yes. The attempts to steal are not, but the act of communicating is not illegal. Spoofing is legal if it is done more or less as a prank—it was a hot thing among middle schoolers some years back, the high-tech version of ding-dong-dash.
Robocalling is also permissible unless you are on the national Do Not Call Registry (www.donotcall.gov). Most scams that start as a robocall transfer the call to a human once you’ve picked up and engaged in conversation, so the scammer continues to build your trust and confidence in them. Phishing is another way that scammers try to get access to your financial information. They send emails that look just like the ones you get from your bank, and ask you to verify some information that gives them enough data to steal your identity. These emails look legitimate—until you see the recipient is not you, but “undisclosed recipients.” Just be aware that your bank will never ask for personal information on the phone or via email—they still rely on old-fashioned snail mail. How to avoid being a victim: Do not answer a call from a number you don’t recognize. Don’t ever give out personal information over the phone or computer. The only electronic form of communication that is safe and secure is a fax over a landline. Tell a caller you do not accept solicitations over the phone. Ask questions—what is the IRS going to do with a Walmart gift card? The IRS does not communicate over the phone; they, too, use regular mail. So does a bank, utility company, or any legitimate business entity—and they deal in traceable, taxable, money—not gift cards. If you suspect that you, your parents, or your children are victims of financial or identity theft, do not let embarrassment get in the way of reporting the crimes. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovering some of the money and catching the bad guys. Josh Stein, North Carolina Attorney General, has established a hotline to report scams at 877-5-NOSCAM (877-566-7226). The AG’s office has recovered over $100 million from fraud and scams. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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This Is Our Legacy
Wildlife habitat gardens are a haven for local birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Does your yard or garden provide wildlife habitat? Let the National Wildlife Federation know and they may recognize it as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®. www.nwf.org
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106 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Appalachian Voices brings people together to protect the land, air and water of our region and advance a just and clean energy future. We are funded in large part through the support of individuals like you who believe our mountains are worth preserving for the next generation. Join us today to be part of this important work.
AppalachianVoices.org/join
plays roudly dis at Gabriel p a week l sign for p staff ia c e p s is h Cam w Hope. Camp Ne ns to greet each make sig n they arrive. he camper w
W
hen twin brothers Mark and Will Adkins, 51, first saw High Valley, 160 acres in the mountains of North Carolina on the New River in 2006, they thought it would be a perfect place to build, develop or sell. After all, as owners of Waterfront Group, which they established in 1994 and which has become one of the Southeast’s most successful land development and second-home marketing companies, they know a good business deal when they see one, such as their purchase of The Lodges at Eagles Nest and development of its second phase. The Adkinses also believe that land is more than just real estate. “It’s where you lay down roots and build your dreams,” Mark Adkins said. “Our mission is to turn your dreams into realities.” That mission and the brothers’ strong commitment to helping others led them to put High Valley to special use as a place for families with children who have life-threatening diseases, rather than develop or sell it. They renovated the hunting lodge built in the early 1950s on the property into a place where these special families could come for a week of much-needed relaxation. The Adkinses committed to provide the lodge and food for the week at no cost to the families, so that more could participate. They began work immediately, with the help of many volunteers, funding the costs themselves. Camp New Hope opened to its first family in just 14 weeks. During the short season of the first year, the lodge provided nine families with a week’s vacation. Renovations continued in 2007 including glassing in the 30-foot long front porch, adding a 20’x50’ stone patio and grill, picnic areas and a waterwheel with a swing. Camp New Hope is now hosting an average of 42 families each year. Families are able to enjoy canoes, kayaks, tubes, volleyball, baseball, soccer, fishing and a “swimming hole.” A play set caters to the smaller children. The Adkins brothers want to meet the growing need for nocharge facilities like Camp New Hope. They are actively searching to find another special piece of property that can one day become the second Camp New Hope. Their mission is to provide campers with a life-changing moment and renewed hope for the future, knowing miracles happen every day. The children who come to the camp have a range of diseases, such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Trisomy 18, mitochondrial disorders and Batten disease which is always fatal. Randy Brown, camp director, remembers one child in particular, Gabriel, who had liver cancer. “When he arrived at camp, he looked very sick, didn’t smile and was withdrawn for the first couple days,” Brown said. “We tried to interact with him, but weren’t successful until we told him he was going to be visited by Santa Claus.” Sam “Santa” Simmons, a retired dentist from Sparta, N.C., comes to the camp every week. After he retired, Simmons
Big Heart: Camp New Hope By Karen Rieley
decided to go to school to become a professional Santa. He loves to tell the campers the story about the best gift of all given at Christmas, Jesus Christ. And the children love him. “When I told Gabriel that Santa was coming, his face lit up,” Brown said. “He said, ‘Here, he’s coming here?’ I told him, ‘Yes, just to see you.’” The next day, when Santa arrived, Gabriel went running out to him as fast as he could given he used a crutch. “Santa asked Gabriel what his biggest wish would be if Santa could grant it,” Brown said. “Gabriel answered it would be a hug from Santa.” Gabriel ended up having such a great experience that he made “Miss Randy” promise him that he could come back next year. But in December Gabriel’s father emailed the camp to let them know that Gabriel had died. “Gabriel’s parents said that all he ever talked about was coming back to camp and seeing Santa,” Brown said. “I still cry when I think that I wasn’t able to fulfill my promise to him.” Brown admits the work is hard, but she finds it very rewarding. “We are so heartened when we see campers enjoying themselves, like turning a caterpillar into a butterfly,” she said. “It keeps your life in perspective. Your back and legs may hurt and you may be tired, but then you remind yourself that’s not that big a deal compared to what the kids put up with every day.” Mary Sue Street, broker-in-charge for Eagles Nest Real Estate Office, is mother to the Adkins brothers. She shared a special story about a time when Will took one little girl staying at the camp up in his helicopter. “After the ride, her parents told Will that it was the first time she had smiled or laughed in years,” Street said. “Just look at the smiles on the children’s faces and you will know why this camp is so important to my brother and me,” Will Adkins said. “Camp New Hope has become an important part of the West Jefferson community, which is next door to the camp,” Street said. “Many of its citizens volunteer regularly to help the campers and their families. “Eagles Nest occasionally does fundraisers to benefit Camp New Hope as well,” Street said. Proceeds from this year’s Open House & Builder Showcase, May 4-5, which Eagles Nest hosted were donated to Camp New Hope, Spirit Ride, Feeding Avery Families Inc. and Hospitality House. The lodge was renovated last year to sleep up to 18 people for big family vacations. “Right now, we’re tweaking what we have, buying some new equipment and improving the roads,” Brown said. Camp New Hope depends on donations and volunteers. Visit http://campnewhopenc.com/ to learn more. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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“I believe that if someone is going to put their hardearned money into their dream home, I am going to equally put my hard-earned time and effort into making sure their dreams come true.” —Mike Smith
Mike Smith Builders, LLC
17 Years of Quality Custom Home Building and Remodeling in the High Country 828-297-7528 | www.mikesmithbuildersllc.com | msbuilders2001@gmail.com
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108 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Celebrating Rachel Deal, Champion of the Avery Humane Society By Elizabeth Baird Hardy
“...the greatest gift that this remarkable lady could receive is for others to share her vision for making a difference.”
A
nyone who visits the Avery County Humane Society can see that it is unique. The beautiful facility on New Vale Road, which has been open for seven years, is a remarkable place where animals are treated with kindness and respect on their journeys to reunions or to new lives with forever families. Both residents and visitors from all over the country come to the Avery Humane Society to make friends and often take those friends home with them. One of the greatest friends of the Humane Society and the animals it serves is Avery County’s most dedicated volunteer, Rachel Deal. This November, Rachel will turn 90. She was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1929, and both human and animal residents of Avery County have reason to be thankful for this amazing lady and her longtime devotion and service. “I have had a love for animals all my life,” Rachel recalls, noting that her mother recorded in her baby book that her favorite toy was a plastic dog. When she was five, Rachel adopted her first puppy. “He bit me, so I named him Spider.” For over 40 years, Rachel Deal has championed the cause of animals in Avery County, helping to establish both the original location and the new, modern facility that in 2018 reunited and adopted close to 600 different pets and assisted with spaying and neutering over 900 animals. According to the Avery Humane Society’s Executive Director Gwynne Dyer, “Rachel has been a staunch supporter of the Humane Society before there really was a Humane Society. If
you ask her to do something, she is going to do it, and get it done. Her energy level and passion are to be so admired.” In the past, she sold cookies to raise funds, campaigned with county officials, recruited donors and other advocates, and enthusiastically championed the need for a shelter. Now, she continues to promote this important resource, stressing that the Humane Society relies on public support. “It’s up to us to raise the money.” Everyone who meets Rachel sees why she accomplishes so much. Nancy Stroupe Morrison, Chair of the Humane Society Board of Directors, says, “She stays on the go all the time.” Indeed, Avery County residents are used to seeing “Miss Rachel” wherever there is anything happening, from organizing an event to visiting nursing homes. She has been known to collect animals herself before there was a shelter or when there wasn’t room. At one time, she had over 20 dogs of her own, and, when she was volunteering to deliver meals to humans, she also carried cookies to feed any dogs she might meet along the way. To honor this incredible volunteer and to help support the animals about whom she is so passionate, there will be a luncheon in Rachel’s honor at Stonewalls in Banner Elk on August 22. The public is invited to purchase tickets and to join in celebrating all that Rachel has done to support animal welfare in Avery County. In addition, those who wish to convey their support for all she has done may also contribute to a special collection of memories. Businesses and individuals can
sponsor pages in a memory book honoring Rachel. There will also be a silent auction at the luncheon. All proceeds from the auction, memory book, and luncheon will go to the Humane Society since, as Dyer says, “It’s so important to Rachel that the shelter is sustained. It means so much for her that it will go on.” Tickets for the luncheon can be purchased at My Best Friend’s Barkery in Banner Elk. Donations are also needed for the silent auction. To donate or to find out more about contributing to the memory book, contact Erika Siegel of My Best Friend’s Barkery at (828) 898-5625. The staff of the Humane Society is also happy to answer questions about ways to help continue Rachel Deal’s legacy of service and caring. Those who cannot attend the luncheon but who would still like to contribute in Rachel’s honor are encouraged to stop by or call the Humane Society at (828) 733-2333 or contact Executive Director Dyer at gwynne@averyhumane.org. Any contributions to the shelter are warmly appreciated by the staff, the animals, and by their lifelong friend, Miss Rachel. Although there are many people who would give Rachel Deal anything they could, the greatest gift that this remarkable lady could receive is for others to share her vision for making a difference. Rachel requests that “people, for the sake of human nature… take care of their animals.” As Chair Nancy Stroupe Morrison says, “She has accomplished so much. She cares so much. Her heart is Avery County.” CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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338 BROOK HOLLOW ROAD
OLD LOCATION ON KING STREET
Celebrating 35 Years of Helping Rebuild Lives in the High Country By Pan McCaslin
T
oday, Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina serves clients from seven counties in the High Country, but its beginnings in the early 1980s were the result of concerned residents of Boone who identified shelter needs for individuals without housing or who were sleeping in the woods. A coalition of churches—St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Grace Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church, Boone United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church—initially provided sleeping areas in fellowship halls at night. Out of this endeavor grew the need for a specific location and coordinated services with the eventual incorporation as Hospitality House of the Boone Area, Inc., with a board of directors representing area churches and community members. A grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, along with a private donation, allowed the purchase of a home on King Street. “With the change to nonprofit status and applying for grant funding, our focus as an organization had to change from being a group of concerned individuals who were doing good works because it was the right thing to do, to being accountable for the services provided,” offered Lynne Mason, who first worked as a part-time staff member, then became the second Executive Director of Hospitality House. “Even though our facility needed repair, and only had one table in
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the small kitchen, our guests didn’t complain.” The mission for Hospitality House has always been to provide more than food and shelter. Coordinated services focus on helping to rebuild lives by providing a safe, nurturing, healthy environment in which individuals and families experiencing homelessness and povertyrelated crises are equipped to become self-sufficient and productive. But to do that at the King Street location proved untenable as the number of homeless individuals and families increased. The Board of Directors, with John Cooper as Chair, worked with community leaders and government agencies to obtain property for a new facility. Following a successful capital campaign, Giving Hope a Hand, the new 18,500 square-foot facility was opened in March 2011 at 338 Brook Hollow Road in Boone. Today the Brook Hollow Road facility provides a newly expanded Food Pantry and the Bread of Life kitchen, which offer meals 365 days a year and has now served over a million meals since the House began. Area churches, service organizations and families help provide meals and anyone is welcome to share a meal. Gardens on the grounds produce fresh vegetables and fruit. In addition, housing for those in transition as well as emergency and winter shelter are offered to those willing to following the facilities’ guidelines and values. Staff at Hospitality House work
in cooperation with the Community Clinic, Health and Hunger Coalition and other service organizations to help provide coordinated services for each individual and family. Development efforts are supported by Hearts of Hospitality House, a ladies auxiliary formed in 1993 to assist with development efforts. “I will never forget ‘the great transition’ from the little farm house on King Street to the beautiful shelter where Hospitality House now offers comfort and security to so many,” relates Dawn Shepler, who began as a volunteer weeding the gardens at the King Street house and moved into a staff position. “There was the woman who was able to get her certification as a nursing assistant because she had a stable place to live and the ability to save money for the work she needed to do. We held a wedding for one couple and went to funerals for former residents. Lives were changed and we were changed.” The original need for the community to work together to address the issues of poverty and homelessness has not changed, but has increased. Decreased funding along with increased mental health and addiction issues, as well as rental prices for housing in the area, all affect the ability to help provide guidance and support for those seeking services. “With changes in federal funding for emergency shelter programs, communities in all areas are having to decide
HOSPITALITY HOUSE STAFF
how to fund the most basic services and housing needs for vulnerable individuals and families,” shared Tina Krause, Executive Director. “Yet when we get so frustrated, we are lifted by also knowing that in the last six months, we have placed nine chronically homeless individuals into our permanent supportive housing programs, where they will receive services that are unique to their needs. These were individuals who had given up hope on ever living in a place they could call home. Their future has been restored, as we bring dignity and care to their lives.” Commitment to help provide for those in need requires ongoing funding sources. Along with federal and state funds, the Development Office, assisted by members of Hearts of Hospitality, hosts the Hope Luncheon in August, a golf tournament in the fall, and the Turkey Trot at Thanksgiving along with other activities throughout the year. Todd Carter, Development Officer shares, “Often when we hear the word ‘hope’ it can seem hollow or disingenuous; however, at Hospitality House, it is a tangible, relatable action. We work purposefully to ensure that each and every homeless individual has hope in their eyes.” Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina is a multi-faceted housing program, serving seven counties. Currently Hospitality House operates six unique housing programs, including Scattered Site Housing where 13 prop-
erties in Watauga and Wilkes counties are currently leased. “The future of ending homelessness in the High Country means expanding this program into Ashe, Avery and beyond. We have made tremendous progress in three-plus decades and the end of homelessness in the High Country is in sight,” stated Carter. In 2018 volunteers provided 16,228 hours of service at the House, the equivalent of 7.8 full time staff. Total shelter nights, including off site housing situations, were 39,413 and Bread of Life meals served for 2018 totaled 138,984. The need to provide services is evident. As the community joins in celebration of 35 years of helping to rebuild lives in the High Country, one is aware that increased resources in outlying counties is needed. Further information about Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina can be found at www.hosphouse.org. Tours of the facility and the gardens as well as volunteer opportunities are available. Bring a friend and share a meal at any time. Offer time, resources and hope.
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Tucked just outside the town’s center sits one of Banner Elk’s long-time symbols of hope. Grandfather Home for Children has helped thousands of children in more than a century of service to the community. To get an inside look at the work being done every day to bring hope, health, and healing to children, come visit us! We want to share what we do with you. And how you, too, can #BeTheHope for kids in our community. Contact Madison Cornwell to schedule your free tour
828.406.2424
MLCornwell@childrenshopealliance.org
Visit Our Travel Lounge by Appointment
2780 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk | 828-719-6955
Creating Travel Experiences as Unique as You
GENERAL REAL ESTATE FEATURING HEADWATERS & THE RESERVE
Chris Wotell, Broker-in-Charge: 828-260-1366 Jim Fitzpatrick: 828-898-3257 4501 Unit #6 Tynecastle Hwy. Banner Elk | www.peakrealestatenc.com
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Lower Taxes in Retirement? By Katherine S. Newton, CFP®, CeFT®
I
t is a long-held assumption that when you retire, your taxes are lower and as a result, you have more expendable income. While this may be true for some, it can be a dangerous and costly assumption to make. Without proper planning, the opposite can actually be true. Let’s consider Sarah who is single and 57 years old with most of her retirement savings in her 401-k plan and in her traditional IRA. She also has an account invested in dividend-paying stocks and bonds, inherited from her parents. None of the 401-k or IRA money has ever been taxed, but she knows it will be taxed when she withdraws it in retirement. Without any fancy footwork or investing prowess, her 401-k easily doubles by the time she retires at age 67. She then consolidates the 401-k balance into her IRA account. She decides to wait until she is 70 1/2 to take her first withdrawal, the year in which she is required to take her first RMD (required minimum distribution), working part-time as a consultant and using Social Security plus interest and dividends to live on until then.* But when she files her taxes the next year, she has an unpleasant surprise. The RMD along with her Social Security income plus the income from her stock and bond portfolio puts her in the next highest tax bracket, a higher bracket than the one she was in when she was working full time! And the amount of her Social Security income on which she must pay taxes has increased from 50% to 85% so that after taxes, her social security income is almost halved! Thirdly, her Medicare premium (which is based on her income from two years earlier when she was still working) increases as a result of “means testing.” Her MAGI, or modified adjusted
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gross income, which includes tax-free interest she earns on her municipal bonds, puts her over the next higher threshold for paying Part B Medicare premiums. So her income after taxes and Medicare premiums is actually lower as a percentage of her total income than it was when she was working! What could she have done to avoid the scenario where her income in retirement requires her to pay more in taxes, more taxes on her Social Security, and higher Medicare premiums, a scenario in which she seems to have been unfairly penalized simply for having saved so well while she was working? Here’s what the 57-year-old Sarah does instead as a result of working with her long-time Financial Advisor who shows her the best way to increase her after-tax retirement income: Since her 401-k plan offers her the choice of either saving into the pretax traditional bucket or into the aftertax, or Roth, bucket, she begins to put all of her current and future retirement savings to work in the Roth. This means that the money she saves is currently taxed before it goes into the plan. But she chooses to pay the taxes now while she is working, knowing that after the money is in that account, there are no more taxes along the way or during retirement. She also decides to “convert” part of her pre-tax IRA to an after-tax Roth IRA during the early years of her retirement when her taxable income is low. She knows that while taxes must be paid on the amount that is converted, there are no more taxes for her to pay during retirement on that money. Thirdly, she sells some of her appreciated stock during early lowincome retirement years so that her capital gains taxes are lower than if sold in a high-income year.
Working closely with her CPA and Financial Advisor, she takes advantage of other strategies to increase her after-tax retirement income and also to lower her Medicare premium. And she continues to revisit the plan with her advisor annually as tax and retirement plan laws change. For you, any one or a combination of these strategies may help you avoid the “Stealth Tax” surprise, so that you have more retirement income available to spend and less going to taxes or Medicare surcharges. As a result of careful planning, your increased after-tax retirement income can help you to more fully realize your dreams. *At story submission time, there is legislation before Congress to extend the beginning date for required minimum distributions to age 72. The views are those of Katherine Newton and should not be considered investment advice or to predict future performance.Past performance does not guarantee future results.All information is believed to be from reliable sources.However, we make no representations as to its completeness or accuracy. Please note that neither Waite Financial, LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC, Carroll Financial Associates or any of their agents or representatives give legal or tax advice. For complete details, consult with your tax advisor or attorney. Investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. This information is found in the issuer’s official statement and should be read carefully before investing. Before investing, the investor should consider whether the investor’s or beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits available only from that state’s 529 Plan. Registered Representative offering Securities through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, a broker dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/ SIPC. Advisory services offered through Carroll Financial Associates Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Waite Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates are unaffiliated.
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The Charlie Baker Story By Josh Jarman
F
ew moments in life are more captivating than the birth of a child. For nervous parents, it is the culmination of all of their thoughts, dreams, plans and prayers over the last nine months. It is the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. In the waiting room, excitement is palpable, as aunts, uncles, and grandparentsto-be, all eagerly await the opportunity to wrap their arms around the new baby for the very first time. And for the doctor in the room, who has spent a lifetime delivering babies, this precious moment of shared delight is one he will cherish for the rest of his life. After delivering more than 2,000 babies during his 40-year career as a pediatric and family medicine doctor in Avery County, Dr. Charlie Baker retires this June. Since opening his solo practice in 1979, The Baker Center for Primary Care, a member of Appalachian Regional Medical Associates, has grown to become the cornerstone of accessible healthcare in the community. And although many consider him to be a bona fide local, this mountain doctor’s journey to the High Country just might surprise you. Mr. Conscientious Charlie’s parents were members of what is often referred to as the Greatest Generation. After surviving the Great Depression they married just before World War II. Like many other young men at the time, Charlie, Sr., enlisted in the Army to go fight the Germans while his new bride, Sarah, stayed in Atlanta to teach school.
After the war ended, Charlie was born in 1946 and the family moved to Charlotte, NC. Charlie’s interest in medicine first developed when he was six years old. His parents took him to see an allergist who had a profound impact on his life. “My doctor was a polio survivor and I remember that he took care of me from his wheelchair,” he said. “During the 1950s polio was deadly, and yet he was able to not just overcome it, but to also help others. Something about that resonated with me. He was very supportive when he learned that I wanted to be a doctor.” For those that know him, it is not surprising to learn that the young doctor in training went on to be recognized as Most Conscientious in his high school annual. He credits his nose-to-the-grindstone mentality in life to his mother, who always pushed him to do his best. War and Peace Charlie went on to study pre-med at Davidson College. It was there that he also decided to branch out and take other courses like modern drama, abnormal psychology and romantic poetry. One poet, by the name of William Carlos Williams, stood out in particular to Charlie. In addition to poetry, Williams also served as a general practitioner and as a pediatrician during the 1950s. “Williams said that being a doctor gave him the privilege to be where important things are happening in people’s lives and that fed his heart. Williams is a big reason why I am a general practitioner and a pediatrician today,” Charlie shared. “For him it was not only about taking care of patients, it was about then reflecting on what that meant in the big picture.” The Vietnam War began a few years before he started medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). At the time, Charlie was burned out on medical school, but knew if he quit, he would be drafted. It was then that Charlie’s academic advisor, Ike Taylor, father of James Taylor (world renowned singer and songwriter), encouraged him to
at least try to pass his medical school final exams before making a decision. And so it was that Charlie spent the remaining weeks of his first year of medical school under the spring trees in Chapel Hill studying the biochemical pathways, the Kreb cycle, the brachial plexus nervous system and more. Needless to say he scored well on the exams and so decided to stick with medicine. Romantic at Heart All the while Charlie continued to audit creative writing and poetry classes. It was actually an Irish playwright, John Millington Synge, who inspired him to take his then girlfriend Ann to the Island of Inishmaan, off of the coast of Ireland, during his third year of medical school in 1972. It was there that Charlie proposed at a rocky ocean overlook known as Synge’s Chair. It is said that the late poet used this location as his seat for creative inspiration. “Our plan was to camp out on the island,” said Charlie. “But a local village woman asked us if we needed a place to stay. She then cleaned out her chicken barn and put down fresh straw. It was modest to say the least, but it was also beautiful and everything we needed. I guess you could say I’m a romantic at heart.” The happy couple went on to spend the following year in England. Ann was accepted into the Edinburgh College of Art while Charlie managed to secure a scholarship at UNC so that he could do part of his fourth year of medical school in Edinburgh. To help supplement their living expenses, he worked as an orderly at the Edinburgh Psychiatric Hospital. “They couldn’t find any Scots to take that job,” he joked. “Working as an orderly at a psychiatric hospital was difficult to say the least, but it also allowed us to stay together.” And stay together they did. During their year in England, the couple married and returned often to the Island of Inishmaan where it all began. Still madly in love today, Charlie and Ann will celebrate their 47th year of marriage later this year.
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Emergency Powwow After he completed two years of pediatric residency, Charlie made a deal with Ann. If he got to pick where the couple lived for the next two years, she could decide where they lived for the following two years. Once the deal was struck, Charlie decided that the Bakers should move to the Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Shortly after moving there, Ann realized she was expecting their first child. “Although it was the first time in our lives that we were a minority, the Native Americans were very welcoming to us,” he said. “They would invite us to their powwows. I remember one powwow where Ann, who was 38 weeks pregnant at the time, reached over and put my hand on her stomach. The baby was kicking at the same beat as the ceremonial drums.” Charlie was at the hospital the night that Ann called him to say that she was going into labor. “I’ll never forget Charlie just told me to walk the 200 yards from our hut over to the hospital so the baby could be delivered,” Ann quipped. “I still give him a hard time for telling his very pregnant wife, who was going into labor, to walk to the hospital.” Charlie often jokes that the distance she had to walk seems to get longer each time she tells the story. The actual delivery was hard and proved to be life-threatening. Shortly after their son was born it was determined that his heart rate was dangerously low. Charlie, who was the only pediatric doctor on the reservation, immediately started to use a mask and air bag to resuscitate his own son. “In that moment I was a doctor first and a dad second,” he said. “I was emotional of course, but this is what I had been trained to do and I knew I could do it better than anyone else.” Fortunately, their son Daniel survived the ordeal. His proud father also likes to mention that he went on to graduate from Davidson. Art in the City After their two year stint in South Dakota, it was Ann’s turn to decide where they lived next. Eager to pursue her own career goals, she was accepted into the Master of Fine Arts Program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.
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It was there that she thrived as an artist and sculptor. She also won an award at the Three Rivers Arts Festival for her sky art. The enormous kite-like fabric sculpture was hung between three downtown buildings in Pittsburgh. The sculpture also appeared in color on the front page of the Sunday Pittsburgh newspaper and on the cover of the Carnegie Museum catalog. Meanwhile, Charlie worked at an inner city clinic for one year and then completed his pediatric residency the following year at the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital. He also moonlighted in the hospital’s emergency department for extra cash. When their two years were complete in Pittsburgh, Dr. Charlie Baker was board certified in both pediatrics and family medicine. The Mountains Are Calling The Bakers decided to make their next move a joint decision. After all of their travels, the couple longed to return to North Carolina. And so it was a moment of serendipitous delight when Charlie discovered a help wanted ad for a doctor in Avery County. The couple made a two week trip to check out the area and soon fell in love with the mountains. In 1979, Dr. Charlie Baker opened his solo medical practice inside of Garrett Memorial Hospital, which later became Sloop Memorial Hospital. Sloop Memorial Hospital then merged with the old Cannon Memorial Hospital in Banner Elk, NC, to form what is today the Charles A. Cannon Jr. Memorial Hospital in Avery County. “If you live in a rural community, you are part of it. It is not so much a job, but more of a lifestyle. Some of my patients have become my best friends and some of my best friends have become my patients.” Over the years, Charlie developed a routine at the office. Before leaving at the end of each day he reviews his patient list for the next day. He jokes that after practicing medicine for 40 years in the community, he recognizes every name on the list. “That will be the hardest part about retiring,” he said. “I have to say goodbye to patients that I have looked after for generations. In many cases, I have had the privilege to deliver the mother and then deliver and take care of her daughter and granddaughter.”
Good Tracks Charlie is proud to leave the health of the community better than he found it. Before his arrival in the High Country, patients would often have to scramble when a doctor left town or died. For this reason, he is glad that his practice joined Appalachian Regional Medical Associates, part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System in 2013. “All things considered, joining the healthcare system was the right decision for my patients,” he said. “It allowed my practice to grow from a handful of providers to a good and sustainable number today. It actually all came full circle for me the other day when we hired a new nurse practitioner, whom I had delivered.” Since joining the healthcare system, The Baker Center for Primary Care also began operating as a same-day walk-in clinic Monday through Friday and on Saturday. “None of this would have been possible if it were not for my wonderful staff,” he said. “I could not have asked for better clerical people, better medical assistants, better nurses or better doctors to work with through the years. It is because of this group of folks that I can tell my patients, even though I’m leaving, that they are still in great hands.” Charlie said that he is most looking forward to spending more time with his wife, kids and grandchild. His son Daniel went on to work in the Peace Corps and now has a little girl of his own. Charlie and Ann also have a daughter, Alice, who is a veterinarian in Colorado and a daughter, Kate, who is a school counselor in Portland, Oregon. “My wife has stuck with me here for 40 years and we are ready to be more available grandparents,” he said. “I am also looking forward to writing more poetry. I have a few stories to tell.”
“From all of us at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, we would like to thank Dr. Charlie Baker and his wife, Ann, for their years of service in the High Country. As a couple, you braved the frontier and left good tracks for the rest of us to follow.”
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AVERY COUNTY TRANSPORTATION 34 Pershing St, Newland NC 28657 828-733-0005 • Fax: 828-733-8280
• Open Mon–Fri 8:00–4:30 (excludes holidays) • All Routes are open to the public • Trained Drivers to help with elderly and disabled riders • Trips to Medical appointments available outside of the county • ADA compliant vans available • Service animals are welcome • Veterans ride for free for medical appointments • Weekly in-county routes • Monthly out of county shopping trips • Affordable Transportation Fares • Available to all Avery County Residents • Services also provided through community agencies Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AveryTransportation CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Local Tidbits
New Sculpture in Blowing Rock On June 3, the large-scale kinetic sculpture, “Share This Whirled,” by renowned sculptor, Mike Roig was placed on Main Street at Chetola, and marks the beginning of the inaugural cultural event, The Sculpture Walk on Chetola Lake, to take place August 9-11 (see Regional Happenings). The 13-ft. tall sculpture will be visible from the sidewalk along the street in Blowing Rock for a period of one year.
Apple Hill Farm: A Place Where Animals Talk and People Listen Apple Hill Farm, about 15 minutes from downtown Banner Elk, hosts mini tours of a working alpaca farm Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. After meeting the animals, visitors can shop the farm store for scarves, blankets and other locally made items. applehillfarmnc.com. (photo by Cindy McEnery)
Recreational Softball for Men Ages 60 and Better! Enjoy casual competition in Avery and Watauga Counties. Players meet weekly at 9:30 a.m. through September 26. Tuesday morning play is at Newlands Rock Field and Thursday morning play is at Watauga Rec in Boone. All men 60+ are welcome; simply put on a pair of sneakers and come out to play any Tuesday or Thursday all summer. Bats, balls and mitts provided, no special talent is needed. “We are all ‘old guys’ who have not played ball in many years, but we are having a lot of fun.”
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Grandfather Mountain Evening Lecture Series The Linville, NC-based nonprofit nature park is bringing back its Grandfather Presents evening lecture series for 2019. Guests can enjoy presentations from some of the country’s foremost experts on conservation, including professors, naturalists, scientists, photographers, writers, historians and artists. This year’s speakers include Dr. Patrick McMillan, Scott Huler and Jennifer Pharr Davis. Each event is limited to 165 participants, and the cost for admission is $20, or free for Bridge Club Members. Visit www.grandfather.com for additional information.
Scale Back Your Fear! 2019 is “Year of the Snake” at NC State Parks Every year, North Carolina State Parks celebrate an annual theme, which is woven into their educational programs, festivals and events throughout the year. This year, snakes are in the spotlight, primarily because they are so misunderstood. Snakes are in fact very shy animals that prefer to be left alone. According to state park naturalists, the majority of snakebites occur when a person tries to handle or harm a snake. Most bites can easily be avoided if we learn to keep a respectful distance, watch where we step and put our hands while outdoors, and learn to identify local snakes (most of which are non-venomous).
Watauga Humane Society Celebrates 50th Anniversary Watauga Humane Society was formed in 1969 to house, care for, and find homes for stray, abandoned, and unwanted animals. Since then, the organization has happily grown to meet the needs of the animals and the people of Watauga County. Their mission and vision includes a “no-more homeless pet community” and an end to euthanasia of healthy and adoptable animals. Support the Watauga Humane Society by adopting a pet, making a donation, or attending annual fundraising events. Learn more and check out their calendar at wataugahumane.org. Christmas in July Festival On Saturday July 6, visit downtown West Jefferson for their annual Christmas in July Festival. Come enjoy live music, street dancing, food and crafts vendors, kids’ activities, a special Farmers Market, Civil War reenactments, street performers, a Christmas Tree Contest and much more, with fun for all ages! Event calendar at christmasinjulyinfo.ipage.com.
At the Art Cellar The Art Cellar Gallery in Banner Elk focuses on North Carolina artists, while including select artists from across the Southeast. View and purchase work from large scale canvases to smaller works on paper, as well as sculpture, glass and clay. This summer, enjoy one of the many exhibitions at the Art Cellar, located at 920 Shawneehaw Avenue, Hwy. 184 in Banner Elk. • The Art of Landscape - Scott Boyle, Trey Finney & Tony Griffin: June 11 - July 6 • Panoramic Views - Richard Oversmith: July 9 - 27 • From the Earth - Ben Owen II: July 9 – August 10, Opening Reception July 20, 4-6 p.m. • Natural Perspective – Loren DiBenedetto: July 30 – August 17, Opening Reception August 3, 4–6 p.m. • Visual Reflections – Noyes Capehart: August 20 – September 7, Opening Reception August 24, 4-6 p.m. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit www.artcellaronline.com or call 828-898-5175.
Tenth Annual Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage Take a stroll to the south end of Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock and you’ll discover a unique cultural corner where art meets history. Here you’ll find the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum and its well-known neighbor, Edgewood Cottage, the former home and studio of renowned American artist Elliott Daingerfield. Presented by The Blowing Rock Historical Society, the Artist-in-Residence series runs through September 15. The series takes place noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Artists create a variety of outstanding, original two and three-dimensional pieces. www.artistsatedgewood.org
Below, Susie Knepka lends her artistic touch up and down the Beech Mountain Parkway.
MountainTrue Guided Adventures MountainTrue Guided Adventures are a great way to explore the mountains and rivers of the Blue Ridge while learning from distinguished expert naturalists and celebrated local advocates. Choose from the following events, with additional events added throughout the summer. June 29-30, Ash Inventory Backpacking Weekend; July 27, Snorkeling with the Watauga Riverkeeper; July 31 August 2nd, Float with the French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson; September 21, Asheville Urban Tour with Asheville Design Center’s Chris Joyell; October 5, Guided Fall Day Hike with Ecologist Bob Gale. Learn more at mountaintrue.org. Summer in the Town of Beech Mountain Clockworx, a high-energy band of veteran rockers, will be playing a free concert on July 3 starting at 6 p.m. on the outdoor stage at the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria across from the Beech Mountain Town Hall. These seasoned musicians have played on the stage with some of the greats in the rock ‘n roll industry, and always get the crowd cheering and dancing the night away. The Beech Mountain Brewing Company Taproom and Grill and the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria will be the venues for the Beech Mountain Throwback Music Weekend, Aug 2-4. The family-friendly weekend features music from the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, with headliners ‘The Collective,’ ‘Rockit Science,’ and Soul Benefactor. On Labor Day weekend (August 31September 1) the 17th annual Mile High Kite Festival takes flight. This festival fills the sky with colorful kites soaring to a mile above sea level. www.beechmtn.com
New Outdoor Activities at Beech Mountain Resort Beech Mountain Resort introduces two new exciting activities this summer! Come experience the highest outdoor roller skating rink east of the Rockies. Mile High Skating is an outdoor family roller skating rink for all ages. Plus, enjoy summer tubing! A dry summer tubing track allows your tube to slide and glide down a 150foot-long track, invoking summertime fun that is safe, consistent, and sure to thrill! Learn more at www.beechmountainresort.com.
Engel & Volkers Banner Elk Partners with the High Country Charitable Foundation (HCCF) Engel & Volkers Banner Elk is an international real estate organization focused on real estate rentals and sales throughout the High Country. Their partnership with the HCCF results in charitable funds that support the needs of our local community. “High Country Charitable Foundation was looking for another income stream to generate funds. We were very fortunate to obtain an Engel & Volkers shop, which is 1 of 850 around the world. Any profit generated through Engel & Volkers Banner Elk will be given to the High Country Charitable Foundation.” - Jim Ward, Chairman HCCF Continued...
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Local Tidbits Art On the Greene in Banner Elk Three times each summer, the green in front of the Historic Banner Elk School comes to life with Art On the Greene, featuring quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select regional and national artisans. This year’s Art on the Greene continues Fourth of July weekend (July 6-7), and Labor Day weekend (August 31-September 1). Each event represents artists from all over the south in a wide variety of arts. Gates are open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine. Visit www.bannerelk.com or the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ArtOnTheGreeneBE for more information. Seven Devils Celebration of Arts Event This indoor and outdoor event on Saturday, July 27 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., will feature 12 “7D” artists at the Foscoe Grandfather Community Center (233 Park Rd, Banner Elk, NC). Enjoy a variety of artwork, including photography, wood working, jewelry, refurbished lighting, paintings, cards, and much more crafty stuff. Plus, there will be free crafts for children, free raffle prizes from local artists Sally Nooney, Maggie Black, and Carlton Gallery. Ice cream and bakery items will also be available. Save the Date! A Fraser’s Ridge Homecoming A Fraser’s Ridge Homecoming is a celebration of the history of Jamie & Claire’s North Carolina backcountry wilderness. The Homecoming is Outlander-inspired but history-focused making it a truly unique event for the history-loving Outlander fan. This year’s event will take place October 3-6 at Leatherwood Mountains Resort in Ferguson, NC. Learn more at outlandernorthcarolina.com/ homecoming-2019/.
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More Summer Fun at Seven Devils Seven Devils has a full itinerary of fun this season, including monthly Ranger workshops, ‘Safety Fest’ on July 6, and the Town’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on August 23. Music by the Lake takes place on Fridays throughout the summer. Also enjoy dance aerobics, group hikes, morning lectures, ‘Lunch & Learn’ classes, and much more! Pick up your activity card with a complete schedule of events or visit http://sevendevils.net/.
High Country Cool Down Run Escape the summer heat and run in the cool NC mountains at the 1st Annual High Country Cool Down 5K & 10K, which will be held on Saturday, August 3 in Boone, NC. The races are designed for the casual jogger (or walker) or the competitive runner and proceeds will be used to help pay for the re-turfing of the stadium field at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex. Learn more and register at www.hcsoccer.com/5K10Krun.
Sweet High Country Salute: An Evening with Elvis On August 22, 6-9 pm, at Boone’s Harvest House Venue, celebrate an evening with The King! Enjoy a catered favorite Elvis Southern Dinner, complimentary beverages, and lots of surprises. This will be a fun-filled evening raising funds for Western Youth Network’s (WYN’s) Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund. Also enjoy stellar performances from award-winning
Elvis Tribute Artist Stephen Freeman and his Echoes of a Legend Show Band in an unforgettable evening! Wear an Elvis-era outfit, and get others to join you for this unique event. More information, photos, sponsor recognition, and tickets are available at https://SweetSalute.bpt.me.
Feeding Avery Families Empty Bowls Event Empty Bowls for Avery is a fundraiser to benefit Feeding Avery Families Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps provide food to Avery families in need. On Saturday, August 24, head over to the recreation center at Linville Land Harbor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a donation, you will get to choose a hand crafted pottery bowl (or other bowl, to be provided) and fill it with one of a variety of homemade soups. Bread and dessert are available also. Enjoy a satisfying meal and take home a piece of art, all in support of Feeding Avery Families.
Auction for the Valle Crucis Park The Staff and Board of Directors from the Valle Crucis Community Park are excited to host the annual Auction for the Valle Crucis Park. This year’s auction will be held at the Apple Barn in Valle Crucis on Saturday, August 24 and will feature a wide variety of donated items and experiences from local businesses, artists, and Friends of the Park. The live auction starts at 9:30 a.m. but come early to enjoy breakfast and a selection of beverages. This event benefits a favorite spot of many in our community - the Valle Crucis Community Park. Join in and help raise money for a beautiful outdoor community center! If you are interested in donating an item please email director@vallecrucispark.org for donation guidelines.
4th Annual Community Dinner/ Dance in Boone Put on your dance shoes and work up an appetite! The 4th Annual Community Dinner and Dance on the Appalachian State campus will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 13, at the Grandfather Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union. Dance the night away to live music by the Lucky Strike Band. All students and members of the community are welcome. Get more information and register at https:// conferences-camps.appstate.edu.
at the Historic Banner Elk School, Downtown Banner Elk
The Book Exchange invites you to peruse the shelves and take a book home with you. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 1–4 p.m. You’re also invited to participate in the community summer programs below!
2019 Summer Programming
Every Monday, year-round 10-11 a.m. | Blue Ridge Partnership for Children: Play & Learn, ages 0-5 with parents/caregivers
June
Janet Speer, From the Mountaintop, a musical play about Edgar Tufts’ life and legacy 27 Thurs. 3-4 p.m. BE Readers Book Discussion Grades 4-7 29 Sat. 1-4 p.m. Carolina Explorers ‘Adventures in Nature’ Program for ages 8-12 25 Tues. 7 p.m.
July
Becky Alghrary McRee, Author Talk: Her new book, Southern Potpourri 9 Tues. 7 p.m. Nina Fischesser, Fur and Feathers, a May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Program 11 Thurs. 3-4 p.m. BE Readers Book Discussion Grades 4-7 13 Sat. 12 p.m. Oldtime Community Jam, sponsored by Avery JAM 15 Mon. 6-8 p.m. Bluegrass Country Music Jam 16 Tues. 6:30 p.m. Book Discussion Group: The Land Breakers by John Ehle 18 Thurs. 3-4 p.m. BE Readers Book Discussion Grades 4-7 20 Sat. 1-4 p.m. Carolina Explorers ‘Adventures in Nature’ Program for ages 8-12 23 Tues. 7 p.m. Ashley Hobbs, Co-existing with Bears and Coyotes Safely 25 Thurs. 3-4 p.m. BE Readers Book Discussion Grades 4-7 30 Tues. 7 p.m. Dedy Traver, Sugar is Sweeter: Sugar Mountain’s Development from the 1970s 2 Tues. 7 p.m.
Local Author Jonathan Graves and Illustrator Gail Haley Release New Children’s Book In her first adventure, Isabella Propeller and the Magic Beanie, Isabella finds a colorful propeller beanie in her grandmother Lulu’s attic. After a strange encounter with a mysterious mountain woman named Wind Keeper, Isabella receives a magical red feather for her beanie, and with it, the gift of flight! Accompanied by her dog, Mullaby, and her flying companion and protector, Red Tail, Isabella now embarks on her second flying adventure as she encounters a school bully. Set in Blowing Rock NC, this children’s picture book is sure to become a favorite for young readers here in the High Country and beyond. For more information on Isabella Propeller books, visit www.IsabellaPropeller.com. On the Same Page Literary Festival The annual On the Same Page Literary Festival will be held September 17-21 in West Jefferson, NC at the Ashe County Public Library & the Ashe County Arts Councils. The festival is popular with readers, writers and the authors who share their work. All events are free and open to the public except for feebased workshops and lunch events that require reservations. This year’s authors include an array of genres to appeal to a wide variety of readers. Learn more at www.onthesamepagefestival.org.
August
Barb Holdcroft, Author Talk: I’m Katie’s Mom: Pointers for Professionals and Parents of the Disabled 10 Sat. 12 p.m. Oldtime Community Jam, sponsored by Avery JAM 13 Tues. 7 p.m. Joielle Calhoun, Find out what Happens When You Call 911 17 Sat. 1-4 p.m. Carolina Explorers ‘Adventures in Nature’ Program for ages 8-12 19 Mon. 6-8 p.m. Bluegrass Country Music Jam 20 Tues. 6:30 p.m. Book Discussion Group: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver 27 Tues. 7 p.m. Jay Leutze, Author Talk: Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail 6 Tues. 7 p.m.
September
Fred Phohl & Jim Brooks, Beech Mountain: Then and Now Elizabeth Hardy, Storyteller of Appalachian Tales Oldtime Community Jam, sponsored by Avery JAM 14 Sat. 1-4 p.m. Carolina Explorers ‘Adventures in Nature’ Program for ages 8-12 16 Mon. 6-8 p.m. Bluegrass Country Music Jam 17 Tues. 6:30 Book Discussion Group: The Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi 24 Tues. 7 p.m. Karl Campbell, Debating Racism: A Historical Perspective. Ensemble Stage, Hahn Auditorium 3 Tues. 7 p.m. 10 Tues. 7 p.m. 14 Sat. 12 p.m.
Visit bannerelkbookexchange.com for a complete calendar of events.
“read all a b out it!”
Mayland Offers New Enrichment Classes This summer, the Mayland Enterprise Corporation will offer enrichment classes in the Mayland classrooms at the Historic Banner Elk School in downtown Banner Elk. Here is just a sampling of classes available this season: Genealogy: The Basics – Tuesday, June 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m. What Is Weather? A casual discussion on the science of meteorology – Tuesday, July 9, 2-4 p.m. Nature Walk on the Greenway: Tuesday, July 16, 3-4:30 p.m. Swil, Sniff and Snip - Beyond Basic Wine Tasting – Thursday, July 18, 5-6:30 p.m. Contemporary Dance – Mondays, July 15th through August 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Pay by Day sessions The Blessings of Aging – Mondays from August 5 through 26, 2-4 p.m. Cake Decorating Workshop – Base Icing - Monday, August 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Old World vs. New World: A wine and cheese tasting from distinctive regions – Thursday, August 22, 5-6:30 p.m. Pen and Wash Art Class – Tuesdays, August 27 through October 1, 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Fly Fishing 101 - Friday, September 13, 2 p.m. Other courses and activities to be offered in the coming months include Beginning Quilting, Resurrecting JOY, Communal Singing, and much more. For additional information about each offering, including costs and descriptions, please visit mayland.edu/BE and click on the title of the class. You can also register for classes online. Summer Events at the Florence Thomas Art School in West Jefferson The Corey Anne Celebration of Women in the Arts is held annually at the Florence Thomas Art School with a monthlong exhibition in August, featuring four local female artists. Workshops will be held in conjunction with the celebration. The Symposium will be held August 17, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., featuring artist talks and a keynote speaker. Mountain Splash is a fun-filled week with 15 “Artists in Residence” at the Florence Thomas Art School. During the week of September 9 – 14, the public is invited during Gallery Hours, (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.), to visit the school and meet artists, view their works, and watch them in action. Learn more
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about the Florence Thomas Art School and their programs and events at www. FlorenceArtSchool.org. Located at 10 South Jefferson Ave., West Jefferson, NC 28694; (336) 846-3827.
Western Youth Network’s Photography Exhibition Don’t miss one of the most meaningful artistic experiences of the summer. Plan your free visit to the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) between June 14 and August 23 to enjoy Western Youth Network (WYN)’s stirring photography exhibition on childhood dreams and the barriers which prevent children from realizing those dreams. The exhibit is the culmination of months of work by world renowned photographer and Blowing Rock resident, Scott Pearson. It features more than thirty stunning portraits of local youth as they pose in response to the prompt, “What is your dream?” and is sure to be an impactful and educational exposition. For more information, please visit WYN’s website, www.westernyouthnetwork.org or call 828.264.5174. Camp Big—North Carolina’s Hot New “Getaway” Spot for Grown-Ups Millionaires hide away here. Celebrities love it here. Athletes play here. And so can you.Banner Elk, NC is a sleepy, artsy, beautiful little town with a population of less than 1,000. Thelate billionaire, businessman and former Miami Dolphin’s owner, Wayne Huizenga, had a home here. Shep Rose of Bravo’s Southern Charm “escapes” here and former Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback and Broadcaster, Bob Griese “summers” here. It also happens to be home to Camp Big for Adults. Camp Big
for Adults is the next great way to “take a break”—be it a vacation, to discover a new destination or a way to refresh and reward your company’s team members. Reasons to Come to Camp BIG… Foodies. Banner Elk is known by many as the culinary hot spot of the High Country. There are a number of incredible restaurants to enjoy here. Animals! Come face-to-face with black bears, cougars and adorable river otters when you visit Grandfather Mountain Nature Park’s wildlife habitat. Nature lovers rejoice! Camp BIG offers 150 acres of forest in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains. Hike along the Greenway Trail or admire the 360-degree panoramic views on the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The Camp BIG experience is also ideal for corporate and social events, weddings and reunions. “Camp BIG is for anyone who’s loved or ever wanted to go to camp,” says owner/founder, Stacy Stern. “Expect amazing activities, excursions, great food, wine tastings, amazing climate, nature and more!” Camp BIG features two lakes, three ziplines, field games, archery, rock climbing, arts ’n crafts—plus much more. At night, campers partake in themed events, campfire sing-a-longs and karaoke, to name a few. You can always sneak off to town anytime you want! There are NO COUNSELORS! And just a hop, skip and a jump away from, you’ll find award-winning wineries, craft breweries, upscale boutiques, historic Mast General Store, championship golf, impressive art galleries, world famous festivals and outdoor concerts. Camp BIG is holding two sessions in 2019: August 22-26 and September 1216. Each accommodates 100 campers. The camp is coed, however, “boys” and “girls” sleep in separate bunks. Private rooms with double beds are available.
COMMUNITY & LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS To learn more about Camp BIG, visit www.CampBIGforadults.com. For sales or general information about Camp Big, contact Stacy Stern at 888.613.CAMP (2267)or press@CampbigforAdults.com. Root Down: Beauty with a Conscience Root Down Hair Studio is a family owned and operated sustainable hair salon in Banner Elk North Carolina. They are the only green circle salons certified sustainable hair salon in western North Carolina and a member of the green circle SALON movement. One hundred percent of all waste associated with their customers’ services such as hair, color, color tubes, foils, appliances, and wax strips is recycled. Root Down’s partner green circle salons makes use of hairmail and buys carbon offset credits to ship all waste associated with their hair services to a facility on the West Coast where it is disposed of properly.Hair is used for booms in oil spills and also is now being used to make a product called bio plastique to make more durable combs, brushes and other tools for the industry. Hair color is treated and all chemicals that are harmful are pulled out so that ground water does not get contaminated Root Down’s goal is to offer superior hair services and pay attention to their carbon footprint by supporting companies like Davines, a certified B corporation, and the green circle salon movement. Root Down is one of a growing number of salons participating in a programs to reduce the 420,000 pounds per day of waste that is created by the beauty industry in the U.S. and Canada alone. Last year Root Down was able to divert 200 pounds of garbage from our overused landfills. Summer Event at Foscoe Fishing Company & Outfitters Join Foscoe Fishing Company & Outfitters the inaugural High Country Fly Fishing Festival. The Festival will be held at the company’s Foscoe store on July 6 starting at 11 a.m. They’ll have their favorite brands, including Simms, Orvis, and more set up with demo booths for folks to cast new rods, check out the new gear, and see what’s coming next. You’ll also find a big “sale” tent with clothing and gear up to 50% off. Watauga River Keeper will be there to sell hotdogs and AMB beer to raise funds for their non-profit, Mountain True. Additionally there will be a raffle throughout
the event and all ticket sales will be donated to Mountain True. This is a family friendly event and with activities for kids, as well. Learn more at https://www.foscoefishing.com/.
Holston Camp Celebrates 60 Years of Summer This summer, Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center celebrates 60 years of summer camp. Located in Banner Elk on Wildcat Lake, Holston Camp, Inc. was formed as an outdoor ministry in 1955 by Presbyterian churches located in western North Carolina, southwest Virginia, and east Tennessee. The original 36 acres on the banks of Wildcat Lake were leased from the Edgar TuftsMemorial Association, a Presbytery ministry in Banner Elk. The Reverend Edgar Tufts established Lees-McRae College, Cannon Hospital, Grandfather Home for Children (orphanage), and Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. Church groups, architects, and hired contractors worked from1953 through 1958 clearing roads, establishing infrastructure, building cabins, lodge, and dining hall. During this period, campers were often lodged at Grandfather Home for Children. By the summer of 1959 the camp was ready for its first Sumer Camp. Today, many new families are finding their way to Holston Camp, now known as Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center—some as far away as Florida. The mountain climate is ideal in summer for escaping the season heat. All children are welcome at Holston—it doesn’t matter what denomination or where they are on their spiritual path. In 2019, overnight camp is scheduled for seven weeks in June and July. Sessions are from Sunday through Friday for rising second through twelfth graders. Day Camp is offered for 10 weeks for rising first through six graders. Campers participate in activities such as: zip-lines, rock climbing, archery, team building, low ropes, field
games, mountain biking, boating, swimming, hiking, dancing, arts and crafts, and of course, singing around the campfire Older campers will have options to venture off-campus to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT), canoe the New River, raft the Nolichucky River, and bike Virginia Creeper Trail. Younger campers will visit Grandfather Mountain. Day campers take weekly field trips to nearby attractions as well. “We like to take advantage of our proximity to wonderful natural destinations to add variety, education, and challenge for our campers,” said Jim Austin, Holston Camp Director. Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Holston Presbytery, of the Presbyterian Church (USA). www.HolstonCenter.org, info@HolstonCenter.org In Honor and Memory of Adam Galleher The Adam Davis Galleher Memorial Fund began in January of 2013 after the sudden passing of a loving son, brother, and friend who touched many lives in his 26 years on the Earth. During the six years since the Memorial Fund, SmileOnADG, began it has awarded over $72,448.00 in grants and scholarships in areas that Adam was passionate about. The initial focus of the fund was to enhance music education in Watauga County by purchasing new instruments for the WHS Marching Band— Adam was a proud percussion member of the Band for four years. Thanks to the overwhelming support from those who loved Adam, the family and fund have expanded their scope to include Vocational Skills & Scouting (Adam was an Eagle Scout) in Watauga, Ashe & Avery counties. The SmileOnADG annual fundraiser will be held Saturday, August 10, 5-9 p.m. at the Valle Crucis Apple Barn. This year’s event will include a delicious dinner from Big D’s Yard Bird, Gadabouts Catering, and Grouse Moor Catering. Enjoy live music from the talented Watauga and Avery High School drumlines, beer from Appalachian Mountain Brewery, dessert and a silent auction! Learn more and purchase tickets at https://www.smileonadg.org. “Adam’s love of music, his innate optimism, and his ability to see good in any situation can live on forever and spread joy long after his passing.” – The Galleher family CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Yellow Mountain Enterprises Yellow Mountain Enterprises serves the needs of adults in Avery County living with developmental disabilities. This year Yellow Mountain has been accredited nationally by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and locally was voted Business of the Year by the Avery Chamber of Commerce. Yellow Mountain offers a residential group home, occupational opportunities, educational classes, athletic participation, a thrift store (both for organization income and client jobs), production of items to sell to the public (including Christmas bows & trophies), and social activities. You can help this invaluable community organization by attending their annual fundraising event, the Conner Lorre Concert to Benefit Yellow Mountain Enterprises. The event will be held on August 17, 7-9:30 p.m., at Lees-McRae College Auditorium, 121 Main St. in Banner Elk. Tickets are $20 each and can be reserved by calling Yellow Mountain Enterprises at 828-733-2944. Conner Lorre is a singing impressionist performing legendary Tribute Songs of Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, John Denver, Elvis and many more. There will be a special second half performance Tribute to Neil Diamond. You can also support Yellow Mountain Enterprises by purchasing products at their Trophies and Tees store at 255 Estatoa St. in Newland, by shopping at the Treasure Box Thrift Store at Courthouse Square in Newland, NC, or through donations. Learn more at http://www.yellowmountainenterprises.org/.
Erick’s Cheese and Wine Shoppe: Turning Forty and Turning Over It was 40 years ago in 1979 that Eric Lafone opened the little eponymous market in what then passed for “downtown” Banner Elk, stocking it with cheeses, wines, meats, breads and other food items that could be obtained only by a fairly lengthy drive to a supermarket in Newland or Boone. To put this era in context, that opening was only 30 years after the Tweetsie railroad line to Boone was washed out and abandoned due to hurricane waters After only one year of business, Eric passed the baton to his brother, Kimm, who ran the store until he sold it to John and Beverly Lohman. The Lohmans lived in Florida during the winter, and during their tenure, Erick’s became only a seasonal operation. In 2003, Ren Manning and
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Randall Ray purchased the business, and it became a year-round store, and in 2005, they moved it next to the ABC store in the Grandfather Center from its then location in a small strip mall across from the nowclosed Hardee’s. In April of this year, Manning and Ray decided that it was time to turn over the reins to younger, and more energetic blood with new ideas, so they sold Erick’s to their long-time senior associate, Jessie Dale. The opportunity to buy Erick’s was a dream come true and fit perfectly into her sphere of interest and experience. After she closed the store for a major cleaning and reorganization, she re-opened in early May to enthusiastic applause. Always the area’s pre-eminent location for cheeses and wines, now gift items, beverage accessories, genuine and award-winning extra virgin olive oils and Balsamic vinegar products and other gourmet foods have taken their logical places on Erick’s shelves. Jessie has brought about numerous changes: she has lowered the pricing on many wines and other products, introduced new artisanal cheeses and wines from around the world not found in grocery stores or other familiar retail outlets, implemented a more generous discount policy and added more attractive gift items and beverage accessories. What is not changing, besides the name, are weekly Saturday wine tastings, wine classes and other special events, special ordering of wines not carried in usual inventory and (above all) attentive bending-overbackwards customer service that exceeds expectations. Readers wishing to follow new products, wine tastings, wine classes, and Erick’s special 40th birthday celebration activities can sign up for periodic email newsletters at erickscheeseandwine.com.
Appalachian Home Care Locally own-ed and operated by Ellen Harrell, Appalachian Home Care is a leading provider of home care services in the High Country and has serviced the community for over 65 years of combined experience in the home care industry. Appalachian Home Care believes that “home” is the very best place for people to receive the care they need. The goal is to enable your stay in your home, for as long as possible, as comfortably as possible and with the highest quality health care possible.
Appalachian Home Care cooperates with other health care and service providers in the community in order to ensure continuity of care. They are licensed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to provide in-home aide and nursing services, and they accept private insurance, private pay, and Medicaid. Whether you are visiting for the season, leaving the hospital, or experiencing a life change medically, their employees work with you to make certain they understand your situation and give the right amount of care. Appalachian Home Care is located in Foscoe in the Twin Rivers Business Complex and serves eight surrounding counties including Watauga, Avery, Ashe, and Mitchell. Learn more at appalachianhomecare.com.
Annual “Fairy Day” at Daniel Boone Native Gardens The Daniel Boone Native Gardens will host the annual “Fairy Day” on Saturday, July 13, from noon to 4 p.m. This free event features activities for children and families. Participants are encouraged to wear fairy costumes and bring a picnic to the gardens. Wander the Gardens and meet “real life fairies.” Face painting by Creative Cheeks Face Painting; fairy items and other fun activities will be offered at a nominal fee. Other participants include The Children’s Playhouse, and The Watauga County Library.” This is our most popular summer event,” said Rebecca Hutchins, board member and coordinator of Fairy Day. Dr. Annkatrin Rose, who teaches botany at ASU, will help children learn about the life cycle of monarch butterflies. “Learn how to raise monarch butterflies. The four stages of the butterfly life cycle are the egg, the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the adult butterfly.” Opened in 1963, the mission of Daniel Boone Native Gardens is to protect and
COMMUNITY & LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS conserve plants in addition to educating visitors about native plants of North Carolina. The gardens focus on wildflowers, ferns and trees. The Daniel Boone Native Gardens are located at 651 Horn in the West Drive, Boone, N.C. and open from May to October. Suggested donation is $2 for adults and free for children under 16. For more information see www.DanielBooneNativeGardens.org or visit their Facebook page.
YMCA: Making a Difference in the High Country Avery County is a beautiful place filled with many natural wonders and great people. It is also a very rural place with many needs. With the aging population and high rates of poverty, Avery County is fortunate to have many nonprofit agencies working, often together, to fulfill their social responsibility by feeding and clothing families, providing shelter and transportation, promoting healthy living and disease prevention, and providing youth with academic support and pro-social opportunities. One of these organizations is the YMCA of Avery County. In 2018 the YMCA provided recreation and fitness opportunities for its 3,914 members and 16,893 (duplicated) people attended sponsored group fitness classes. In the YMCA’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Management project, persons attending at least seven classes of the Blood pressure Self-Monitoring program saw their systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduced by 10 and 9 mmHg respectively. Half of the Parkinson’s Disease patients attending the Delay the Disease program saw improvement in six of eight physical functioning measurements and 90 percent saw improvement in at least two. In the LIVESTONG at the YMCA program for cancer survivors and the EnhanceFitness elderly fitness program
participants also saw significant gains in measures of both quality of life and physical functioning. In the YMCA’s 21st Century Community Center 213 kids were provided a safe, developmentally rich environment in the after school program and 165 kids in the summer program. More than 90 percent of parents reported that their children were more active and improved in their school performance and more than 60 percent reported their children made better food choices since entering the program. Avery Schools reported that 71 percent of kids in the program showed growth or proficiency in math and 83% showed growth or proficiency in reading. The program also provided the children food security, serving 25,957 meals in 2018. The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principles in practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. True to mission in 2018 the YMCA provided $408,766 in subsidies enabling anyone who needed assistance access to YMCA memberships and services. In the YMCA’s outreach SPLASH drowning prevention program, 312 Kindergarten and 2nd grade students were provided with water safety and swimming instruction. In the YMCA’s senior outreach program, 81 seniors were provided fall prevention training at sites throughout the county, 28 seniors were provided weekly socialization and support two times each week and meals were delivered to 62 families in collaboration with Feeding Avery Families, and 6 hospice patients were provided comfort and support. In 2018 the YMCA opened the Blackburn Athletic Center to expand recreational opportunities for the people of Avery County. In 2019 the YMCA remodeled the Chapman Center as a welcoming place for teens to socialize, grow emotionally, explore careers, and receive academic support. None of the accomplishments listed here could have been done without the collaboration of others and community support. If you would like to support the work of the YMCA in Avery County contact Michelle Scott at (828) 737-5500 or visit them on the web at ymcaavery.org. Grandfather Home for Children/Children’s Hope Alliance Tucked just outside the town’s center sits one of Banner Elk’s long-time symbols of hope. Grandfather Home for Children,
part of the Children’s Hope Alliance family, has helped thousands of children in more than a century of service to the community. These children can be challenging and the work can be messy, but the reward is immense. To help give some perspective on the work done each and every day at Grandfather Home for Children / Children’s Hope Alliance, here are answers to some of the most common questions. What kinds of kids live at Grandfather Home? “The simple answer is: Kids who need help. The children we serve come from backgrounds filled with abuse and neglect. Often, they don’t react appropriately, they can be used to fending for themselves, and they can be distrustful of adults. It’s not because they are “bad” kids. It’s because they have had bad experiences. And we are here to help them learn something different.” What is the difference between what you do and other child-serving agencies? “The biggest difference is we don’t say ‘no.’ Grandfather Home for Children / Children’s Hope Alliance is the agency of ‘yes.’ We say ‘yes’ to helping the most challenging kids, the kids who need help the most, because others have said ‘no.’ Saying ‘yes’ means changing lives and offering hope, health, and healing to all children.” Why is it called Grandfather Home for Children / Children’s Hope Alliance? “Grandfather Home for Children is still Grandfather Home for Children. Children’s Hope Alliance is a partnership (an “alliance”) between Grandfather Home for Children and Barium Springs Home for Children. We joined forces with Barium Springs Home for Children five years ago to expand our reach and help even more children and families.” Is Wildcat Lake closing?“Absolutely not. We are committed to offering this wonderful outdoor space to the Banner Elk community and its visitors from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Operating costs for the lake are approximately $50,000 each year, and we rely on donations to help meet these expenses. If you’d like to support Wildcat Lake, please donate to Friends of Wildcat Lake at www.childrenshopealliance.org/donate.” If you’d like additional information, you are invited to take a tour or reach out to Madison Cornwell via phone (828-4062424) or email (MLCornwell@childrenshopealliance.org).
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...showcasing Chef’s Table, “Banner Elk’s little hidden gem of fine dining.” Newly remodeled Chef’s table features gourmet fine dining with new tapas and cocktail menus, private dining, veranda, and VIP seating. Visit our website for our live entertainment schedules!
The Village of Banner elk in the heart of Downtown Banner Elk,NC
CHEF’S TABLE
BannerElkVillage.com 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC
rra Sports Bar Sorrento’s Bistro | Chef’s Table | Ba The Village of Banner Elk has something for everyone’s tastes—traditional Italian, gourmet fine dining, and international cuisine. And don’t miss our famous Sunday Brunch at Sorrento’s Bistro! We have indoor and outdoor entertainment, stocked bars, a wine room, a cigar lounge, exclusive NFL and college sports viewing, private dining, art galleries, karaoke, a family-friendly arcade and Banner Elk’s best billiards! Call 828.898.5214 for reservations. Special Events & Catering: Corporate Events, Weddings, VIP Dining Parties Call 828.528.1558 | Email SorrentosBistroCatering@gmail.com
Moving on Up to the East Side of Boone By Julie Farthing
B
oone can be busy. Crazy, bumper-tobumper, busy. Once you head east on Hwy 421, and pass Bojangles where the high school kids rubberneck the drivethrough during the morning rush, you find the traffic flows a bit easier. The road opens, the cars aren’t quite as jammed up like peas in a pod, and the views are more pastoral. Welcome to East Boone, where businesses are finding that the outskirts of town is the new best place to be. One of the newest members of the neighborhood, Booneshine Brewing Company in Boone’s Industrial Park, has been brewing beer in its new location for almost a year. Booneshine, which has been serving up suds since 2015, was the brainchild of friends Tim Herdklotz and Carson Coatney. “This was before any breweries were in Boone,” said Coatney. “We homebrewed and talked about it for several years while other breweries started up. We began brewing commercially beside Basil’s Restaurant, and were there for three years and have been in East Boone for over a year.” The name East Boone came about when Herdklotz and Coatney, along with friends Jeremy Bolman of Hatchet Coffee and Chris Grasinger of Center 45 on nearby Den Mac Drive, were discussing the new Booneshine location. The entrepreneurs were excited about the new happenings in their neck of the woods but the woods really didn’t have a name. “What do we call this part of town?” asked Herdklotz. “There was no real name and what word would we use to describe it, and we landed on ‘East Boone’ and started calling it East Boone. “It’s sticking now. The Appalcart now even has an East Boone route.”
Not only does the area have a new name, but the brewery has a new facility, tripling the capacity of its former location, from 1,200 square feet to 8,000 square feet which will include a restaurant. But this is more than the story of Booneshine and its shiny new brewery and hip tasting room—it’s a story of community and the engaging spirit of businesses working together to empower each other for success. “In East Boone itself, we have friends of Booneshine that are supporting each other and spending our dollars with each other and keeping the money in the community. We see a lot of growth and a lot of opportunity to connect with other businesses and use local business as much as we can, and tell the story so it connects with everybody,” explained Coatney. “We want everyone to know when they come into our tasting room that those beautiful stools they are sitting on came from Charleston Forge and the leather on those stools came from Carroll Leather Goods, that the country ham biscuit came from right across the street, and we will have the all-natural thinsliced ham on the charcuterie board. There is opportunity to work together, promote each other’s businesses and tell each other’s stories. Walking into Goodnight Brothers Country Ham, I knew they did ham but didn’t realize the size and scale of their operation. It was so impressive. We took a tour of Charleston Forge and Tim took a piece of iron out of the forge and learned how to hammer on it and see the level of detail and craftsmanship in everything they make.” Herdklotz added that Hardin Creek Timber Frame just down the road created
the beautiful patio space and that Hatchet Coffee provided the beans for the Hatchet Porter. The craft beers now produced at Booneshine have made their way to over 40 restaurants in the High Country and down the mountain. One of their newest brews, East Boone, is in celebration of their new production facility. This classic German style lager is brewed with Pilsen malt and fermented at cooler temperatures to produce a light, refreshing beer, perfect for summer days! Booneshine also has partnered with Appalachian State University to brew collaboration beers where the money goes back into the university and the Fermentation Science program. The brewery has recently hired three new graduates from the program who will take their education and put it to work only a few miles from the university. “It’s a great community to begin with and one of the things about sitting down and having a beer with someone is that it fosters conversation and builds community, and if we can facilitate a place where people feel comfortable, and it’s family friendly and a nice place to relax, we’ll be successful,” explained Herdklotz. “The better we can work together as small businesses, the better this whole community is and encourages the right kind of growth in the future. To be able to give back is what we are excited about.” Cheers to that! To find out what’s on tap at Booneshine, visit their website booneshinebeer.com.
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EAT, DRINK, BE SOCIAL... Lunch • Dinner • Full Bar Tues-Sat, 11am-9pm 128 Pecan Street Abingdon, Virginia (276)698-3159
thank you! Exotic Teas | Spices & Herbs Salts & Sugars | Spice Blends Accessories | Gifts
1087 Main St., Unit 4 Blowing Rock NC | 828-372-7070
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J E R KY • S E A S O N I N G S • H OT S AU C E S
Open Daily in Historic Valle Crucis & Tanger Outlets, Blowing Rock 828-260-6221 | www.JerkyOutpost.net
SUSHI BISTRO AND BAR
Monday-Saturday: 5-Close Amazing Magic Night every Thursday, all Winter!
Thursday–Sunday evenings from 6pm–9pm Open 6 nights June–October Reservations recommended
Serving food & drinks seven nights a week! Doors open at 5pm
Ask about our new menu items and seasonal outdoor patio dining!
161 Howard Street, Boone 828-386-1201 | www.cobosushi.com
BAYOU µ
Furniture • Appliances Small Household Items • Books Clothing & Accessories 1/2 Off on clothing every Saturday! Donations welcomed. Pick up available for furniture and appliances Thank you for your continued support
828-262-5029 877 West King Street, Boone NC Open Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm SPONSORED BY RESORT AREA MINISTRIES
h in t
The Heart of Texas The Soul of Louisiana
e
High Country of North Carolina Bayou Smokehouse & Grill Bayou General Store
Downtown Banner Elk
828 898 . TxLa (8952) CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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...where everyday is a
Farmer’s Market!
fresh produce locally baked goods moranian pies • quiches boiled peanuts • pickles Jams • honey cheese & crackers artisan crafts & unique gifts tues-sun 9am-6pm May thru Dec Yummy Weekly Specials 828.898.6084 Hwy 105 South, Foscoe NC
owned & operated by
LETT-US PRODUCE
Wholesale Supplier of Fine Produce Est. 1993 • Boone NC 828.963.7254
Seaf d Fra Diav o SERVING THE HIGH COUNTRY AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE SINCE 1981
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AFTER ALL, LIFE IS SHORT AND TIME REALLY DOES FLY
Gideon Ridge Inn 10 wonderfully comfortable bedrooms with evening turndown service Serving Dinner Tuesday - Saturday from 5:30pm - 8pm Reservations Required Dining & Cocktails Alfresco and the view... 202 Gideon Ridge Road, Blowing Rock, NC, 28605
gideonridge.com / 828-295-3644
INTELLIGENT CHOICES FOR THE COMMON CRAVING
Lunch: 11 AM to 3 PM. | Dinner: 5 PM to 10 PM. Sunday Brunch: 11 AM to 3 PM. 143 Wonderland Trail, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
bistroroca.com / 828-295-4008 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Watauga County
Farmers’ Market “Boone’s Town Square” Open Saturdays 8-Noon May through November
Daniel Boone Park, Horn in the West Parking Lot, Boone NC
828.355.4918
We accept EBT and SNAP
SCOREads_1/4_HispanicMen_Layout 1 9/22/11 1:27 PM Page 2
Watauga Lake Winery Open Daily 11:00pm - 6:00pm, Sun. Noon-5pm 6952 Big Dry Run Road, Butler, TN 423-768-0345
VOLUNTEER Your expertise. Your skills. Your passion. Join SCORE to help small businesses succeed through: Small Business Advice Local Workshops Online Mentoring Visit us at www.score.org now to find out how you can volunteer. Or call 1-800-634-0245.
Villa Nove Vineyards Tours + Events + Weddings Event calendar at www.wataugalakewinery.com For more information call 423-768-3633
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WWW.SCORE.ORG
This material is based on work supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under cooperative agreement number SBAHQ-07-S-0001. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Honey
Be Well By Samantha Stephens
“How should I sweeten my tea???!”
M
any of us realize that excess sugar is harmful to our health. But it’s so hard to surrender our sweet tooth completely! What about alternatives? Are there ways to satisfy our sweet tooth without the harmful effects of table sugar, which raises insulin levels and promotes disease? Avoiding the excess elevation of blood sugar and insulin after meals is perhaps the most important dietary measure you can take to reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, and other age-related disorders. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular substitutes.
Agave Nectar
Agave nectar (often called agave syrup) is a very popular sweetener in the natural health community, touted as a healthy alternative to sugar because it has a low glycemic index. The glycemic index (GI) is the potential of foods to lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar. Some studies show that eating a lot of high GI foods is unhealthy. But did you know that the harmful effects of sugar are not only related to the glycemic index, but are also related to the large amount of fructose... and agave is high in fructose. Fructose doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin in the short term, but when consumed in high amounts it leads to insulin resistance...
a long-term effect that will chronically elevate blood sugar and insulin levels. Having blood sugars go up for a short time isn’t that bad, but having them chronically elevated (high all the time) is a recipe for disaster. It is for this reason that the fructose content of sugar is a much bigger problem than its glycemic index. Regular sugar is about 50 percent fructose, while agave is about 70-90 percent fructose. Gram for gram, agave nectar is actually worse than regular sugar. Wow. Who knew?
Raw Organic Cane Sugar
I see a lot of “health products” sweetened with raw, organic cane sugar. Do not let the name deceive you... this is just sugar. Organically grown sugar still behaves exactly like sugar and whether it is “raw” or not doesn’t make any difference. The way this sweetener is processed may be different from the “regular” sugar you find on the supermarket shelves, but the chemical composition is the same. Most importantly, your body won’t recognize the difference. It will break the sugar down into glucose and fructose in the digestive tract and it will have the same effects on your metabolism. For all intents and purposes, raw, organic cane sugar is completely identical to regular sugar.
Anytime we find something in its raw, natural form, we are going to have a more pure and digestible substance. But beware, not all honey is the same. Most of the honey that you find in the store is heat-treated and diluted with high fructose corn syrup and can even contain harmful chemicals as by-products from the processing. This type of storebought honey is also devoid of all of the components that make honey a valuable resource internally and externally. But what about raw honey? YES! This is a good substitute for sugar, just use it sparingly because it will still elevate blood sugar levels which results in a rise in insulin. In addition to being a healthier sugar in your diet, raw honey is an excellent wound healer. Rich in healthy bacteria, raw honey applied to a wound will dramatically speed up the healing process. It’s not only moisturizing, it seals the wound to promote our body’s ability to heal from within while contributing valuable antioxidants and vitamins to the flesh.
Evaporated Cane Juice
We often see “evaporated cane juice” on processed food labels. Don’t be fooled by the name... evaporated cane juice is just a fancy name for sugar. I see this as outright deception by the food manufacturers, done in order to hide the true sugar content of foods from the consumer. If you read “evaporated” and “juice” in the same word on an ingredients label, it should make you wonder what else the manufacturer is trying to hide from you. When the sweetener reaches your intestine and liver, your body won’t recognize any difference between “evaporated juice” and plain old sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
Brown Sugar
When sugar is made, molasses forms as a by-product. Sometimes, after the sugar has been refined and processed, small amounts of molasses are added back into it. This gives the sugar a brown color and it is then called brown sugar. Molasses is about 50 percent sugar, but it also contains small amounts of minerals. Put simply, brown sugar is regular sugar Continued on next page CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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Farmers’ Markets! n ASHE COUNTY
Ashe County Farmers’ Market Saturday 8 a.m. -12 p.m., 108 Backstreet, West Jefferson, NC Fresh Produce, Nursery Plants, Homemade Baked Goods and Crafts n AVERY COUNTY Avery County Farmers’ Market Thursday 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Historic Banner Elk Elementary School Parking Lot, 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC. Fresh Produce, Jams and Jellies, Artisan Breads, Beef, Poultry, Pork, Fresh Eggs,Plants and Honey Newland Farmers’ Market Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon, Newland Elementary School Parking Lot, 750 Linville Street, Newland NC Fresh, Local Fruits and Vegetables, Homemade Breads, Jams, Jellies and Preserves, Handmade Soaps, Herbal Products, Seedlings and Nursery Stock, Meats and Cheese n BURKE COUNTY Morganton Farmers’ Market Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon, 300 Beach St., Morganton, NC Wednesday Mini Market 12 p.m.-4 p.m. 111 North Green St. Morganton. Local Produce, Apple Pies, Baked Goods, Jam, Jellies, Pickles, Shitake Mushrooms, Poultry, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Soaps, Crafts Valdese Farmers’ Market Friday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Rock School front lawn 400 Main Street West, Valdese, NC. Local Fresh Vegetables, Baked Goods, Apples, Plants, Potatoes, Jams n CALDWELL COUNTY Lenoir Downtown Farmers’ Market Thursday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 110 Church St., Lenoir, NC. Produce, Fresh Seafood, Local Beef, Pork, Fresh Eggs and Crafts n MITCHELL COUNTY Spruce Pine Farmers’ Market Wednesday 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 337 Oak St., Spruce Pine, NC Produce, Microgreens, Fresh Eggs, Mushrooms, Pastured Meats, Herbal Tinctures, Baked Goods, Soaps and More n WATAUGA COUNTY Watauga County Farmers’ Market Saturdays through Oct - 8 a.m. - Noon, Wednesdays through Sept. – Noon - 4 p.m., 591 Horn in the West Dr., Boone, NC Fresh Produce, Meats, Cheeses, Breads and Pastries, Crafts, Potted Plants, Fresh Cut Flowers, Children’s Corner, Cooking Demonstrations, Live Music and More King Street Market Tuesday 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., 126 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, Fresh Produce, Meats, Goat Cheese, Baked Goods, Scroll Art, Photography, Organic Skincare and Special Events Blowing Rock Farmers’ Market Thursday 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., 132 Park Ave., Downtown Blowing Rock, NC. Local Produce, Meats, Fresh Flowers, Chocolate, Honey and Baked Goods from Area Farmers
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diluted with a slightly less unhealthy, less concentrated sugar. The tiny amount of minerals does NOT make up for the other negative health effects.
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is derived from the sap (sugary circulating fluid) of the coconut plant. The manufacturing method is very natural; it simply involves extracting the sugary fluid, then allowing the water to evaporate. Coconut sugar contains a small amount of fiber and a few nutrients, while also having a lower glycemic index than regular sugar. But again, although the glycemic index is to be considered, it’s really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the harmful effects of sugar. What really matters is whether this product is high in fructose or not. Coconut sugar is actually very high in fructose. It contains a small amount of free fructose, but 7580 percent of it is sucrose, which is half fructose. Therefore, the total fructose content of coconut sugar is somewhere around 3545 percent, give or take. Due to the slightly smaller amount of fructose than sugar, and the tiny amounts of fiber nutrients, you could say that coconut sugar is less unhealthy than regular sugar, gram for gram. However, being “less unhealthy” than sugar does NOT make it healthy.
Stevia
Stevia is a green, leafy plant that can be grown annually in the High Country. It is easy to grow, requiring full sun, rich soil, and even moisture. When mature, harvest, dry and store in a sealed, glass jar. To use, grind into a powder and apply sparingly for it has a strong flavor! I find that it pairs best with coffee and chocolate. Did you know that stevia has been studied to show its direct effect on elevated blood sugar? In a recent study in type II diabetic subjects, stevioside, one of the stevia extracts, reduced after-meal blood glucose levels by an average of 18 percent (Gregersen S, Jeppesen PB, Holst J. Antihyperglycemic effects of stevioside in type 2 diabetic subjects. Metabolism. 2004;53[1]:73-6.)
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is derived from the wood of a birch tree. This sugar alcohol is actually very beneficial for you! It has been shown to curb dental caries by attacking the bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities. It also fights bacteria in your body to help prevent infections. On top of that, it is effective for strengthening our skeletal system to remineralize and increase bone density!
Monk fruit extract
One of my favorites, monk fruit has a strong sweetness (100200 times as sweet as sugar) yet very similar taste as sugar and can be used in beverages, baked goods and candies. It has no impact at all on blood glucose or insulin because it is carbohydrate and calorie free. It also has a decent amount of antioxidants and can even fight inflammation! So we do have some healthy choices for sweetening our tea after all! I hope this summary of sweeteners can help you make better choices for your future. Remember, you are what you eat!
Samantha Stephens is a nutritionist, food scientist and herbalist who loves spending time outside foraging for wild foods while appreciating the abundance of God’s creation. Samantha can be contacted at cmlmag3@gmail.com.
The High Country’s Premier Steak & Seafood Restaurant
Dinner Nightly from 5pm
SUMMER SPECIALS Wednesdays
Martini & Meatloaf Mondays
25% off Bottles of Wine Nightly Wing Specials
$7 House Martinis Comfort Food Specials
Friday and Saturday Live Entertainment
828-898-5550 STONEWALLS RESTAURANT
.
DOWNTOWN BANNER ELK
344 Shawneehaw Ave. South | stonewallsrestaurant.com
CAFE & BAKERY
DeliciousSandwiches
(Served on our homemade bread)
Inspire Your Tastebuds Painted Salad
Pies • Cakes • Tarts Shepherd’s Pie Steak & Ale Pie Chicken Pot Pie English Specialties (On request)
Catering
Serving Dinner Twice Monthly Call or Check our Website for Dates & Menu
828.963.8228
www.eatcrownc.com Fabulous British Chef/Owner
Dominic & Meryle Geraghty
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW! 2941 tynecastle highway • banner elk (across from the entrance to Sugar Mountain)
828.898.6800 paintedfishcafe.com
EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE
Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4:30pm Lunch served till 3pm 9872 Hwy. 105 S. in Foscoe (Across from Mountain Lumber)
Catering Available | Open 7 days a week Mon-Sat 11am-9pm & Sunday Noon-9pm 190 Boone Heights Dr, Boone, NC 28607 Reservations Suggested 828-386-6101 – Visit our Banner Elk Location –
“Where the Locals Go” OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Every Wednesday! e in Banner Elk, NC
At Shoppes of Tynecastl
Come out and challenge your friends and others to some Live Trivia. Prizes are offered for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Challenging questions with lots of music and fun every Wednesday!
Every Friday!
Join us on Friday evenings for our popular Karaoke Night, 8 PM-midnight. Enjoy all your favorite menu items and drink specials while you and your friends take to the stage.
Every Saturday!
Join us Saturday evenings for our famous Prime Rib Special and LIVE MUSIC from 8-11 PM!
All Week Long...
Daily lunch and dinner specials, a children’s menu, and a large selection of appetizers, burgers, quesadillas, salads, and wings. Enjoy BuzzTime Trivia, dancing, sports viewing, and more! Plus, on the first Tuesday of the month, enjoy dancing as Boone Shag Clubs’ Carolina Shag comes to Highlander’s!
Lunch = Dinner = Full Bar and Daily Drink Specials = 14 Beers on Tap 4527 Tynecastle Hwy, at the Corner of Hwy 105 and 184 Tynecastle Hwy | 828.898.9613 | highlandersbannerelk.com Visit our Facebook page to view daily specials and LIVE MUSIC listings:
www.facebook.com/Highlandersbannerelk/
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Formerly Nick’s Restaurant and Pub, Fully Remodeled
Dr. David Craig:
From Operating to Winemaking
By Joe Tennis
Y
ear-round, Dr. David Craig spends his days crushing grapes, cleaning tanks, checking on fruit and making what tastes dry or sweet. But, it wasn’t always this way. Craig served as a general physician for 31 years; he was a board-certified plastic surgeon for most of that time. Yet now, at 61, Craig is the vineyard manager and winemaker for Banner Elk Winery in North Carolina’s High Country. The switch—from operating table to grape stomping—was actually natural, says Craig. His interest in visiting wineries and exploring different kinds of wine began “way back when I was doing my surgical training in New England.” Later, Craig operated a private practice in plastic surgery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “And during that time, I started growing grapes and making wine as a hobby. And I did that for 23 of those years,” he says. Born in Beaumont, Texas, Craig studied medicine at the University of Texas at Galveston. He also spent six years training to become a plastic surgeon. “I liked what I was doing. I liked taking care of patients,” he says. “It just got to be where I was working more and more and more, and making less and less and less. I knew that it was going to eventually wear me into the ground.” Along the way, Craig enrolled in an online winemaking program with the University of California-Davis, always mindful that he wanted to one day put down his scalpel and pop the cork on a winemaking career. He continued his role as surgeon, most recently performing breast reconstruction for cancer patients. And then in 2015, he left the medical profession, relocated to the High Country and began working at Banner Elk Winery. “Things just kind of fell into place by 2015, and I decided I would retire early,” Craig says. He and his wife Valerie had bought some Watauga County land near Boone in 2007 with the intention of building a retirement home. “We wanted to live in the mountains, and this was a gorgeous place with pretty decent weather and a small college town. And we really enjoy that.” These days, Craig even enjoys his commute, driving 17 miles from Boone to Banner Elk. “And the weather in Banner Elk, even though it’s 17 miles away, is completely different,” he says. “It’s a good place to grow grapes.” Banner Elk Winery sits at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, and the temperature rarely climbs above 85 degrees. In this idyllic setting, Craig makes wine from fresh grapes, using varieties culled from the small vineyard at Banner Elk, plus more grapes from Southwest Virginia, the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina, and California, which are shipped cross-country on refrigerated trucks. Each year, the winery produces about 2,000 cases with nearly a dozen kinds of wine. “I don’t make every drop of the wine,” Craig says, “but I make most of the wine at Banner Elk Winery. Most of our wines are relatively dry—we try to make wines that most people like. Our big thing is not how many you can make, but to be consistent from year to year.” From Labor Day until the first of November, Craig’s days are long and hard—that’s harvest season. “But, it’s a year-round thing,” he says. “You’re doing something different almost every month of the year.” When comparing his two chosen professions, Craig states, “Believe it or not, both of them are quite physical. I used to stand at an operating table as many as seven hours, performing surgeries. It was physically demanding, mentally demanding.” Winemaking, he says “is less stressful. And I love being outside. You can see a finished product that people really enjoy. And that’s a really satisfying thing.” CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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A boutique bed & breakfast in historic downtown Blowing Rock, serving breakfast every day, lunch Saturday, brunch Sunday, and dinner Tuesday thru Saturday with fresh, locally sourced, New American Cuisine.
thenewpublichouse.com | 828.295.3487 239 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock NC 28604
Little Deer Café Specialty Foods Store Handmade Bread & Pastries Catering Open Tues-Sat 7-5 Breakfast 7-10 • Lunch 11:30-3:00 Sunday drinks & pastries served 8-2. 3616 Mitchell Avenue #1 Linville, NC 28646
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Our 6th generation family farm makes farm- fresh cheese on site from our own happy dairy cows. Our farm store also offers other local goods! 828-756-8166 Fri-Sat, 10am-6pm, year-round 19456 US 221 North (.5 miles south of Linville Caverns) Marion, NC 28752
The Figgy Shelf Life of Wines and Wine Writers By Ren Manning
M
ost people love figs. When our wine shop began carrying a line of extraordinary extra virgin olive oils and aged traditionally made balsamic products last summer, the fig-flavored balsamic compote, glaze and caviar-like balsamic “pearls” were among the most popular products on the shelf. Fig nuances are also associated with some of the world’s most decadent wines. Tawny Ports come to mind, as the oxidized wine picks up notes of brown sugar, spices and dried figs as it ages for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years in barrels resting in the lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the Douro River from Oporto in Portugal. Figgy flavors are also present in the fine wines of Madeira and the Olorosos of Spain and dominate the dessert wines of Pedro Ximénez Sherries. Any reader who has not experienced any of these heavenly wines should head immediately to his or her fine wine shop to change that! As delicious and mesmerizing as these elixirs are, hints of fig or prune in an unfortified red table wine can indicate the onset of oxidation from a poorly stored wine or an old wine that has gone “over the hill.” In a young wine, this characteristic suggests that the wine is flawed and will not age as it should or that it has been bottled or stored improperly and oxygen is tainting the wine. However, dried fruit flavors naturally occur in older red wines and are part of the metamorphosis of fine red wines into aristocratic maturity. In a previous article, I discussed some white wines that have the extraordinary
capacity to age like their red counterparts. (Check out your CML magazine from the winter of 2006, which I’m sure you have archived!) Most white wines, however, have a shelf life of 3-5 years, after which they lose their zesty fruitiness and energy. They are also more susceptible than red wines to oxidation because they lack the heavy tannic shield that protects them from oxygen. When you open a bottle of that expensive white wine you’ve been saving for just the right occasion and it presents itself in your glass in a dark amber robe, you’d better have a back up in the cooler. Rosé wines have long been associated with short longevity, but that’s not necessarily the case. These pretty pink potions have some tannin and the best are usually supported by crisp acidity to provide at least mid-term ageing of 2-4 years. The rosés from Bandol in Provence are cut from a different cloth and can age and develop much like a top red over a period twice that long. So, this prelude brings me to the big question of the article—how are wine writers like fine wine? First, good wine writers are appealing and intoxicating, stimulating the intellectual and hedonistic interests and appetites of the consumer. Both, hopefully, are anything but bland and boring. Secondly, in the words of Professor Jacques Puisais of the Institut Français du Goût, a fine wine must have the capacity to age. Likewise the wine writer, obviously.
Hugh Johnson, the wine writer and author of numerous books on wine, says that a fine wine is worth talking about. Wine writers are also worth talking about if they educate, entertain and amuse. There should also be an element of surprise imparted by both a fine wine and a good wine writer. To come full circle, a wine writer also has a shelf life, just like wine. Even author and columnist Michael Broadbent had to put down his pen as he approached his 90th birthday. Aged too long, a wine writer can also turn figgy and pruney, wrinkled and dried out. This writer has been concocting wine articles for over a decade, and it is time to lay down the pencil and wait for the Pulitzer award before the dried fruit syndrome manifests itself. It has been a pleasure, challenge and honor to write articles that stimulated at least yours truly over the years. Most of the time I started with a kernel of knowledge but quickly found out I had to do substantial research to create a credible work. Much of the stimulation was born of curiosity, and it is this quality that I hope I have sparked in some of you. If there are any parting words I could leave, it would be to be curious about wine. Don’t fall into the same old/same old rut—there’s a big world of different grape varieties out there from every corner of the world. Be curious. Try something new. Enjoy!
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Whether you are hosting a backyard cookout, heading to a summer potluck or are just looking for some easy versatile summer recipes, we have some delicious ones
F R O M C M L’ S K I T C H E N
for you!
Cheerwine Chipotle BBQ sauce This homemade BBQ sauce screams summer in North Carolina. It comes together in less than 30 minutes and is so versatile for all your summer foods! Delicious on grilled chicken, pork, chicken wings or mix with your favorite ranch for a delicious dressing. 2 tbsp olive oil 1 small onion finely diced 2 garlic cloves finely diced 2 cups ketchup 16 oz Cheerwine 2 tbsp honey 4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce ¼ cup apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp Worcestershire 1 tbsp coconut aminos 2 tsp salt ½ tsp cracked black pepper Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil in a large sauté pan. Combine remaining ingredients and simmer for about 20 minutes. Put in a blender and blend until smooth (optional).
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Cheerwine Chipotle BBQ Wings Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Season wings with salt and pepper, place on baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, then lower heat to 350 and bake for about 40-45 minutes until nice and crispy. Toss with Cheerwine Chipotle BBQ sauce and cook for another 10 minutes until caramelized.
Corn & Black Bean Salad with Honey Chipotle Vinaigrette A perfect make ahead dish perfect for your summer BBQ or potluck. Serve as a side, with chips as a dip or on your favorite dog topped with queso fresco. For the salad: 1 tbsp butter 3 ears fresh corn 1 cup red onion finely diced 1 (14.5 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 red bell pepper, diced About ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 avocado Salt and pepper
For the dressing: 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 tbsp honey ¼ cup avocado oil Juice of 2 limes ¼ tsp dried oregano 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp fresh cracked pepper 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Blend well. Cut the corn off the cob. Heat butter in skillet and sauté corn for a couple minutes, season with a dash of salt and pepper. Mix together corn, red onion, black beans, bell pepper, and cilantro. Pour dressing over salad and mix. Refrigerate preferably overnight or at least 1 hour. Top with avocado just before serving.
Recipes & Photography by Meagan Murphy Goheen
Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Marinated Onions
(onions must be started one day ahead of serving) Grilled Veggies: 1 zucchini 1 squash One bunch asparagus ½ pint cherry tomatoes 1 ear corn Brush zucchini, squash, asparagus and tomatoes with olive oil and grill. Once veggies are grilled cut corn off the cob and cut veggies into bite size pieces.
Watermelon Cucumber Feta Mint Salad 1 mini seedless watermelon, cut into bite size pieces 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 1 tbsp olive oil ½ tsp salt 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
made with love!
Marinated onions: Marinate 1 small red onion by thinly slicing and putting in a shallow bowl with ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar and 1 tbsp of dried oregano for 12 hours in the refrigerator - or 3 days on your counter.
Combine ingredients and enjoy!
Cook 16 ounces of your preferred pasta per instructions and drain. Toss together cooked pasta, grilled veggies and marinated onion with 3 tablespoons of its oil, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil. Top with fresh grated parmesan.
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See the beauty. Taste the tradition. Feel at home. SUNSET DRIVE • BLOWING ROCK (One Block Off Main Street) Restaurant: 828-295-3466 Serving Dinner – Call us for all your catering needs – Inn: 828-295-9703 Music on the Lawn Fridays May–October Ragged-Gardens.com
Family Owned & Operated “Simply Great Food” Salads • Pasta • Hot Sandwiches Italian Pizza • Calzones • Desserts All ABC Permits – Carry out available – Intersection of Hwys 221 & 181 2855 Linville Falls Highway Pineola, NC 28662 (828) 733-1401 TheItalianRestaurantNC.com
Celebrating 24 Years! 144 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Seasonal flavors.
Nightly favorites. Whet your appetite and get ready to embrace four courses of wonderful.
800-742-6717 • Eseeola.com
Compressed watermelon carpaccio with Maine lobster and a black garlic crouton
How Many Different Ways Can You Enjoy The Gamekeeper?
PATIO
Join us for a drink on the NEW Gk Patio! Surrounded by native ferns and poplar trees, our shady stone patio is the perfect place to have a drink and sample our Patio Bites menu either before your dinner reservation or just because. Reservations not required.
DECK
Outdoor dining is available on the Gk deck. Enjoy the best meal of your summer while watching the sun slowly sink behind the mountains. We love being a part of your special occasions, so please let us know if you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary!
DINING ROOM
Tucked away in a historic stone cottage, the Gamekeeper dining room is an eclectic mix of fine dining and adventurous menus. Reservations are strongly suggested for our main dining room, while the bar is available on a first come, first serve basis.
CATERING
Enjoy Gk’s quality food and service for family celebrations, rehearsal dinners and wedding parties, or any other occasion that calls for a creative menu and attentive staff. We accomodate parties of any size and look forward to making your special day effortless.
Well, at least this many. EMU • BISON • VENISON • ELK • BOAR • MOUNTAIN TROUT • DUCK 3 0 0 5 S H U L L S M I L L R O A D B E T W E E N B O O N E & B L O W I N G R O C K | (8 2 8) 9 6 3 -74 0 0 | R E S E R VAT I O N S R E C O M M E N D E D CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2019 —
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OUR SPONSORS:
59............... A to Z Auto Detailing 34............... Abode Home & Design 25............... Adventure Damascus 60............... Alta Vista Gallery 59............... Amy Brown, CPA 25............... An Appalachian Summer Festival 52............... Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden 80............... Appalachian Angler 55............... Appalachian Blind and Closet 115............. Appalachian Elder Law Center 119............. Appalachian Home Care 106............. Appalachian Voices 100............. Apple Hill Farm 119............. Appalachian Regional Health Care –The Baker Center 30............... Art Cellar 103............. Art in the Park 10............... Art on the Greene 49............... Ashe County Arts Council Studio Tour 42............... Ashe County Chamber of Commerce 115............. Ashe Memorial Hospital 70............... Avery Animal Hospital 16,59.......... Avery County Chamber of Commerce 116............. Avery Heating 119............. Avery Transportation 70............... Azalea Inn 91............... Banner Elk Café and Lodge 58............... Banner Elk Book Exchange 94............... Banner Elk Consignment Cottage 73............... Banner Elk Realty 10............... BannerElk.com 90............... Banner Elk Olive Oil and Balsamics 12............... Banner Elk Winery 101............. Banner House Museum 128............. Barra Sports Bar 29............... Barter Theater 84............... Base Camp BE 131............. Bayou Smokehouse & Grill 59............... BB&T 46............... BE Artists Gallery 106............. Beech Mountain TDA 46............... Beech Throwback Music Festival 138............. Bella’s Italian Restaurant 133............. Bistro Roca 103............. Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce 102............. Blowing Rock Farmer’s Market 102,103...... Blowing Rock Pages 84............... Blue Blaze 54............... Blue Mountain Metalworks 112............. Blue Ridge Energy 6,7.............. Blue Ridge Mountain Club 24............... Blue Ridge Propane 113............. Boone Appetit
144............. Booneshine 29............... BRAHM 84............... Brinkley Hardware 58............... Callista Designs 16............... Camp Big 49............... Carlton Gallery 130............. Carolina BBQ 132............. Casa Rustica 128............. Chef’s Table 131............. Chestnut Grille 46............... Chetola Sculpture Walk 113............. Children’s Hope Alliance 24............... Classic Stone 38............... CoMMA 106............. Compu-Doc 131............. CoBo Sushi Bistro & Bar 59............... Creative Interiors by Darlene Parker 84............... Creative Printing 48............... Crossnore School for Children 60............... Crown Gallery 2................. Dewoolfson 3................. Dianne Davant & Associates 8................. Distinctive Cabinetry of the HC 102............. Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine 52............... Doe Ridge Pottery 30............... Downtown Boone 14............... Eagles Nest 138............. Eat Crow Café 76............... Echota 34............... Elk River Club 113............. Encore Travel 108............. Engel & Volkers 140............. English Farmstead Cheese 50............... Ensemble Stage 140............. Erick’s Cheese & Wine 145............. Eseeola Lodge 100............. F.A.R.M. Café 88............... Footsloggers 101............. Fortner Insurance 80............... Foscoe Fishing 84............... Fox Builders 98............... Fred’s General Mercantile 8................. Fuller & Fuller 30............... Gardens of the Blue Ridge 145............. Gamekeeper 94............... Get The Plate –Blue Ridge Parkway 133............. Gideon Ridge Inn 11............... Gilded Age Antiques 113............. Grandfather Home for Children 147,78........ Grandfather Mountain 25............... Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
17............... Grandfather Vineyard 102............. Green Park Inn 70............... Gregory Alan’s Gifts 102............. Handtiques 51............... Hardin Jewelers 58............... Hemlock Inn 73............... High Country Animal Clinic 88............... High Mountain Expeditions 138,59........ Highlander’s Grill and Tavern 115............. Highlands Union Bank 73............... Hunter’s Tree Service 30............... Incredible Toy Company 144............. Italian Restaurant 130............. Jack’s 128 Pecan 130............. Jerky Outpost 30............... Jones House 50,69.......... JW Tweeds 73............... Leatherwood Mountains Resort 88............... Lees-McRae College 60............... Lees McRae Summer Theater 54............... Liberty Mountain 116............. Life Care 90............... Life Store Insurance 140............. Little Deer Café 60............... Linda Sheppard 92............... Linville Caverns 133............. Linville Falls Winery 47............... Linville Land Harbor 130............. Lost Province Brewing Company OBC............ Mast General Store 70............... Mabel Studio 132............. Maw’s Produce 82............... Mayland Community College 50............... Mica Gallery 108............. Mike Smith Builders 44............... Mountain Blue Gallery 82............... MountainBound Fly Guides 84............... Mountain Dog and Friends 58............... Mountain Jewelers 49............... Mountaineer Landscaping 70............... My Best Friend’s Barkery 103............. Mystery Hill 30............... Pack Rats 138............. Painted Fish Café 113,59........ Peak Real Estate 132............. Peddlin’ Pig BBQ 84............... Premier Pharmacy 4................. Premier Sotheby’s Realty 131............. Ram’s Rack Thrift Shop 140............. Reid’s Café & Catering 96............... River & Earth Adventures 44............... Rivercross 113............. Root Down Hair Studio 28............... Rustik
29............... Sally Nooney Art Studio Gallery 59............... Salon Suites of Tynecastle 33............... Saloon Studios WE19 134............. Score 5................. SeeSugar.com 88............... Seven Devils TDA 59............... Shooz and Shiraz 28............... Shoppes at Farmers 59............... Shoppes 0f Tynecastle 103............. Six Pence Pub 128............. Sorrento’s Italian Bistro 60............... Southern Highland Craft Guild 59............... Spruced Boutique 132,144...... Stick Boy Bread Co. 92............... Stone Cavern 137............. Stonewalls Restaurant 15............... Sugar Mountain Golf and Tennis 98............... Sugar Mountain Nursery 49............... Sugar Mountain Resort 104............. Sugar Top 43............... Summit Group 101............. Sunset Tee’s 72............... Sylvester & Cockrum 17............... Tatum Gallery 144............. The Best Cellar 15,102........ The Blowing Rock 52............... The Cabin Store 55............... The Consignment Cottage Warehouse 59............... The Dande Lion 144............. The Inn at Ragged Gardens 140............. The New Public House & Hotel 130............. The Spice & Tea Exchange 28............... The Twisted Twig 5,15............ The Village of Sugar Mountain 82............... Tom’s Custom Golf 58,65.......... Turchin Center 59............... Tynecastle Builders 59............... Tynecastle Realty 90............... Ultimate Kitchens Direct 59............... Valle de Bravo Mexican Grill 43............... Vaughn’s Nursery 134............. Villa Nove Vineyards Winery 69............... Village Jewelers 111............. Wahoo’s Adventures 90............... Waite Financial 59............... Walgreens Pharmacy 134............. Watauga County Farmers Market 134............. Watauga Lake Winery 78............... West Jefferson’s Antiques Fair 102............. Woodlands Barbecue 91............... Woolly Worm Festival 91............... YMCA of Avery Co 80............... Zaloos Canoes
thank you! 146 — Summer 2019 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
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Even the smallest of us can be part of something very big.
The grown-up sense of discovery at every turn around the mountain will only be surpassed by the childlike wonder our natural playground evokes. w w w. g ra n d f a t h e r. c o m
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GRANDFATHER® MOUNTAIN WONDERS NEVER CEASE