of the remarkable opportunity I have been given to fulfill my passion for the arts by working every day to engage our community.” Ray grew up in Ashe County and knows “firsthand how valuable accessible arts programming is in all stages of our lives.” Board President Wesley Barker said, “We look forward to having her artistic talents and fresh ideas as part of our organization.”
Grandfather Mountain’s Wilson Center for Nature Discovery Nears Completion
Ashe County Arts Council Welcomes Joni Ray
Joni Ray has been named the new Executive Director of the Ashe County Arts Council (ACAC), one of the High Country’s most cherished grassroots organizations. Reflecting on how “very honored” she was to join the ACAC, Ray said, “I am aware
88— Winter 2021/22 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
App State Ranked among Nation’s Top Colleges
Appalachian State University is among the country’s best higher education institutions in the nation, according to several prominent publications. Honors include “Best Colleges” rankings for 2022 (U.S. News & World Report); “The Best 387 Colleges” and “Best Colleges: Region by Region” rankings for 2022 (The Princeton Review); and “America’s Top Colleges” rankings for 2021 (Forbes magazine). Diana Travis and MaryAnn Mueller, photo by Leila Jackson
Land Donation Adds Watauga River Access in Valle Crucis
Thanks to a generous donation of land, Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) will soon open 8.5 acres of river access along the Watauga River in Valle Crucis, NC. MaryAnn Mueller and Diana Travis gifted 6 acres, and the Tennessee Valley Authority and Watauga Tourism Development Association funded the purchase of the other 2.5 acres. This land, located just past the NC 194 bridge, will have a public parking area and create easier access to the Watauga River Paddle Trail.
The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge Grants $196,900 to Local Non-profits
The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge (WFBR) continues to make a difference for women and girls in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties. The success of the 2021 outdoor Power of the Purse luncheon, the increase in membership, their many sponsors, and the community
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Under construction since fall 2019, the Wilson Center—part of an all new Conservation Campus—will nearly double the size of the park’s current Nature Museum with 10,000 square feet of education space, including state-ofthe-art museum exhibits, three classrooms, restoration of the ADA-accessible auditorium, enhanced food service facilities to allow for catering and serving educational groups, and expanded capacity for hosting conferences, seminars, receptions and community events. The new facility is officially “under roof” and is expected to open in spring 2022. For updates and more information, visit www. grandfather.com/fulfillingpromises.
The mission of the ACAC is to offer, “leadership, collaboration and growth through the arts,” and they operate two cultural facilities. A historic WPA building, the Ashe Arts Center in downtown West Jefferson houses the offices for the Arts Council, The Gallery, and Gallery Shop. The Ashe Civic Center is a 282-seat theatre which serves as the home of the Ashe County Little Theatre, among other local groups. Learn more at https:// www.ashecountyarts.org/.
helped the organization bring in $196,900, which is being awarded to a variety of agencies that will create positive change for women and girls in the High Country. For a full list of agencies included in the grant, visit www.womensfundoftheblueridge.org.
The future App State Hickory Campus | Graphic by Jim Fleri
In other App State News
The university recently announced the purchase of a 225,800-square-foot building to establish the App State Hickory Campus in the state’s largest metro area without a public university. “Hickory is a vibrant, growing city, just a short drive from Boone, that offers opportunities for App State to continue the mission we have had since 1899—to increase access to education,” said Chancellor Sheri Everts. The building sits on 15.7 acres of land and includes large open spaces, a cafeteria and nearly 700 parking spaces.