CONTENTS
28
Family-Oriented Fare
By Anna Beth Adcock
"Having everyone together [there] always makes for a great day. The Brick Oven has the magic of pizza. When customers line up and the pies start running, everyone pulls together to keep the best quality hot food flying." - Ian Miller
Queen of the Blue Ridge Diner
By Sherrie Norris
"I told her that I was OK, it’s something I had to do. People needed help. Knowing I was able to help bring a little joy and sometimes even laughter to those I came in contact with, was worth it all. I am blessed and I am thankful to have been a part of it." - Tina Watson
Avery Knifeworks
By Anna Beth Adcock
"I started going to local festivals and art shows to show the work I was doing. It’s my parents who helped me get the business end of things started. Both of my parents are entrepreneurs, so it was a natural progression for me to take that craft and turn a hobby into a business." - Raleigh Avery
WAMY Community Action
By Tim Gardner
"It’s often said that WAMY does awesome things in our communities, but without the support of those communities, it would not be possible. I thank everyone who has been part of this journey with us. Together, we continue to build stronger, more resilient communities." - Brittany Luxton
Mitchell County Bomar Brothers
By Tim Gardner
"We know our Grandfather Bomar lived by the same philosophy as our parents and the rest of our family members on both my father’s and mother’s sides have and do. Just thinking of Bill Bomar and knowing that he is our grandfather will always inspire Billy, Stephen, Daniel, and me." - Joseph Bomar
Mint Indian Cuisine
By Layne Hendrickson
"It is very rewarding. We so enjoy for people to be happy here and to be even happier by the time they leave. That’s the biggest thing that we are enjoying—the support. The love we feel is the biggest thing." - Nitin Rabari 12 20 36 48 56
Let’s learn from 2024 and welcome 2025!
Winter is here and it’s time to start the new year with a fresh perspective, optimism and hope. Some people implement changes to their exercise routines, vow to eat healthier or invest in other wellness activities. Others take the first steps toward making their big dreams a reality or overcoming a previous hardship. What will you do to make 2025 your best year yet? While you think about your answer to that big question, leave a little time to take advantage of the season’s fun pastimes.
Whether you embrace the colder temperatures by layering up to head out for an adventure, or prefer to “chill” by the fireplace, the High Country offers plenty of options for both. Check out the websites and social media pages of local nonprofit organizations to learn how you can help your neighbors. Make your way to a tubing run, hit the slopes or enjoy a brisk stroll. Relax and rejuvenate with a cozy spa day or take the opposite approach with an icy plunge during Blowing Rock’s Winterfest event.
Shake off effects of the colder weather by savoring comfort food at one of the area’s favorite restaurants, some of which are featured in this month’s issue. Anna Beth Adcock spotlights the magic that makes the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria so much more than its name suggests. She also introduces us to Raleigh Avery whose attention to detail and passion for his craft allowed him to establish a successful business doing what he enjoys.
Sherrie Norris shares how Blue Ridge Diner’s Tina Watson gives back to the community in many ways. Our late, great friend Tim Gardner contributed his feature on the renowned Bomar Brothers and the legacy they carry, as well as an overview of W.A.M.Y. Community Action, an agency devoted to providing support that encourages disadvantaged families to become self-sufficient. Layne Hendrickson shares a taste of the flavorful, local spot Mint Indian Cuisine.
Now it’s time to grab your favorite, warming beverage and read this issue. Whatever answer you land on to the big question, we wish you all the best in 2025 and beyond.
As always, thank you for asking for High Country Magazine by name.
Cheers,
Sam Garrett - Publisher
A Public Ation o f
High Country Press Publications
Publisher /editor
Sam Garrett design
Ashley Poore
Advertising d irector
Michelle Harrell
contributing Writers
Anna Beth Adcock
Nate Brown
Tim Gardner
Layne Hendrickson
Sherrie Norris
cover Photogr APher
Dalton Kilby
High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties of North Carolina.
HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607
828-264-2262
Copyright © 2025, All rights reserved
ON THE COVER:
Hopefully we can all enjoy nature year round in 2025. Along the greenway in Boone. Photo by Sam Garrett.
Raleigh Avery of Avery Knifeworks. Photo by Dalton Kilby.
mountain echoes
Blue Ridge Conservancy Celebrates New Park and River Access in Todd, Now Called Percies Park
COURTESY OF
In 2014, Martha Enzmann purchased land in Todd, NC for the eventual purpose of creating a public space and river access for recreation. With the help of Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC), the North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF), and the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), that dream has been realized with the dedication of Percies Park and river access. BRC recently acquired the 18-acre tract from Enzmann, which includes parking, a trail that is currently being developed, and the popular river access by Railroad Grade Road and Big Hill Road.
“We’ve been working on this since 2014,” said Enzmann to a group of friends and supporters who gathered for the dedication on a chilly December morning. “My promise was always to make it a park, and it has taken many seasons and many people. I say we are all part of a growing organism, like a tree. Pieces grow and change, and seasons have challenges, which we have certainly had this year!”
Enzmann purchased the land from the heirs of Walter and Annie Cook, and thanked them for their support of the public access project. One heir, Haskell McGuire, attended the dedication and said that that family would be “proud and delighted” to see what was happening with the land. Enzmann named the area “Percies Park,” after her mother (noting that it is pronounced “Per-cee-us”). The top of the trail is called “Ompas
Knob,” after a Cook family legend.
“Martha has been generous, forward-thinking, and patient with this project,” said Eric Hiegl, BRC’s Director of Land Protection. “We are excited to celebrate this. One of BRC’s main interests is public access, and this is our third river access project. We are committed to making natural resources available to everyone, whether they fish, canoe, kayak, or however they enjoy the outdoors.”
Kin Hodges, the New River Fisheries Biologist for WRC, has worked with Enzmann since the inception of the project. “We’re all similar branches on the same tree Martha was talking about,” he says. “We look at projects that protect and help the river and access, and when this came along, we were excited. It was a nobrainer to be involved.”
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are,” goes the famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt that Enzmann recalled from the film “An Inconvenient Truth,” As she dedicated the park to her parents and opened the space for public recreation in perpetuity, she added: “And do it now.”
BRC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust, partners with landowners and local communities to permanently protect natural resources with agricultural, cultural, recreational, ecological, and scenic value in northwest North Carolina. t
Enzmann with a group of friends and supporters who gathered for the dedication of the land in Todd, NC. Photo submitted.
mountain echoes
Bocca Bistro Gives Back to the Community
BY NATE BROWN
Bocca Italian Bistro is well known in Boone for their authentic Italian cuisine, serving everything from their legendary handmade pasta using fresh semolina flour and love, to the cheesecakes of the day featuring quality ingredients. But when Hurricane Helene tore through the community last month, Bocca Bistro’s owners really stepped up to feed first responders and the community.
After the winds and water tore through town, stores and restaurants around Bocca Bistro flooded or damaged, but Bocca Bistro was spared from the destruction. Paul and Marie felt fortunate that the storm bypassed them and wanted to do something to help their neighbors who had lost so much.
“On the day of the hurricane, Walmart was underwater,” said Marie Russo. “A lot of people lost power, water. They were coming in to get food and water, to get cleaned up in our bathrooms. We fed a lot of linemen and first responders. We went to every firehouse we could and get to and provided meals.”
Maria said they set up a buffet in their dining room and let all first responders eat for free and housed “a bunch” of their employees who lost their homes during the storm.
“We just saw the need in our community. We can’t survive without our locals. People have to understand that this could have easily happened to us. Financially it’s a lot, but we just wanted to help. We are just very grateful that we have the means to help.”
Bocca Bistro’s owners found other ways to help the community with their experience in the food industry.
“We worked with our food vendors (Sysco of Charlotte) and Harris Teeter to donate the food. We’ve done things with (High Country Caregivers) before and the partnership just fit. We’ve given them turkeys for thanksgiving, made dinners and supported other events.”
High Country Caregivers is a local nonprofit that provides advocacy, support and education for children being raised by their grandparents and other caregivers. Jacob Willis, Executive Director of High Country Caregivers, credits Paul Russo with his ability to feed and support the children and their grandparents during the rebuilding.
“A lot of our families are cut off from fresh meats and produce because their grocery stores and places they buy food are still closed,” Willis said. “The meat he is providing is a lifeline for these folks.”
Paul Russo travelled with Willis to Mitchell County to deliver the meat himself on Nov. 8 and to find out for himself what need was out there.
“(Paul) was a firecracker,” Willis said. “He came back from that trip asking what else he could do to help us feed our families.”
Marie Russo said that her husband was deeply affected by the state of the community on his trip out to Mitchell and Yancey Counties. “He was moved by what he saw. He took videos and sent them back to our staff to see. There’s a lot of damage here
in Boone, but he said to me, “I just can’t believe what I’m seeing here.’”
After Paul Russo’s visit to the most affected areas of the High Country, he worked with Sysco of Charlotte to provide 1,000 pounds of food per week to the families of High Country Caregivers. Willis said that each family receives at least twenty pounds of chicken and ten pounds of beef or precooked meat.
“You just never know what life has in store for you,” Marie Russo said. “One day you’re living a seemingly perfect life, and then disaster happens hits and you lose everything. It really makes you put things in perspective what happened. I’m just glad we were in the position to help.”
For those who would like to learn more about High Country Caregivers or assist with their mission, visit their website at www. highcountrycaregivers.org or call (828)832-6366. t
Paul Russo, owner of Bocca Bistro loading food for delivery. Photo submitted.
FAMILY-ORIENTED FARE
The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria serves up world-class slices while seeking to elevate Beech Mountain’s small business landscape
TSTORY BY ANNA BETH ADCOCK
here are great places to grab a hot slice of pizza in the High Country. Still, not many of these small restaurants serving up delicious fare, day after day, have been familyowned, dating back to the 1980s, simultaneously serving as a landmark in the community while working to support fellow surrounding small businesses and simultaneously encouraging growth throughout the area they live, work, and most of all love. That’s what the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria in Beech Mountain is all about.
Husband-and-wife duo Elena ‘Mom’ Kontinos Accardi and Jim ‘Pop’ Accardi opened their Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria to the people of Beech Mountain and visitors to the area for the first
time back in 1987. It debuted to rave reviews and has remained a local dining hot spot ever since.
As with any successful venture, the business has evolved over time as the owners have remained attentive to their clientele’s wishes and feedback about the elements they enjoy most. For example, when the enterprise first launched nearly 40 years ago, ‘Mom’ and ‘Pop’ envisioned it as a grocery store/deli. However, the demand for fresh deli supplies immediately exceeded the couple’s initial expectations. So, with true business acumen, the Accardi’s leaned into that side of the business, evolving the outpost into a restaurant and doing away with the space that had initially been set aside to store aisles of groceries, installing eat-in dining booths instead.
The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria is now well known throughout the High Country as a counter service restaurant classic with a unique blend of delicious bakery delicacies, a fullscale bar to quench your thirst, and a fun destination worth the trip not only for its food and drink but for its state-of-the-
John and Jimmie Accardi, brothers and a top-tier business partner team. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
art arcade and alfresco mini golf course. Without a doubt, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy at the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria!
I really like to be creative and I like being my own boss. I like the seasonality and I enjoy when it’s really busy and when it’s really slow. [Plus,] I have time to be with my family and raise my kids. - JIMMIE ACCARDI
Eating into a New Era
While the original owners have since hung up their keys, the business remains in the family under the watchful eyes of the Accardis’ two sons, John and Jimmie, who have been involved in helping run the shop since they were young boys and would pitch in to help their parents.
Pivoting from his young ambitions of becoming a police officer after graduating college, Jimmie wrote up a business proposal with his brother to take the restaurant off his parents' hands back in 2017.
Jimmie was able to convince John to drop out of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to go into the family business with him, which both brothers agreed was a huge gamble, which has since paid off. John notes, “Clearly, it was the right choice, looking back now.”
Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria debuted in 1987 in Beech Mountain. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
The pizza trucks can be found at local wineries, breweries and festivals. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
Beyond pizza, their diverse menu includes calzones, salads, wings, sandwiches, gyros and more. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
Having everyone together [there] always makes for a great day. The Brick Oven has the magic of pizza. When customers line up and the pies start running, everyone pulls together to keep the best quality hot food flying.
- IAN MILLER
“We wanted to let our parents retire. Now, he’s my right-hand man,” Jimmie says of his brother. And thus, the popular eatery is now safely in the hands of the second generation of the Accardis’ family.
Longtime customers of the pizzeria notice that the menu and overall vibe of the Beech Mountain-based establishment remain much the same as it was when it first opened.
For his part, Jimmie thoroughly enjoys what comes along with the entrepreneur job title. “I really like to be creative, and I like being my own boss,” he shares. “I like the seasonality, and I enjoy [it] when it’s really busy and when it’s really slow. The fluctuation in his schedule is a blessing for Tony because as he puts it, “I have time to be with my family and raise my kids.”
Jimmie self-identifies as a hands-on owner/operator, who keeps a keen eye on the details and makes sure he’s around to personally understand and uplift employee morale and customer expectations. On the flip side,
John spearheads everything on the food truck and catering side, which is no small feat considering the 200 plus events the pizzeria has catered for in the first half of 2024 alone.
When the brothers first took the helm, the pizzeria kept its doors open seasonally for an eight-month-long span throughout the year. Now, the shop has grown to be open for 11 months each year, with a trio of food trucks rolling around to an array of events and festivities around town too.
A Tasty Employment
One thing that sets the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria above the rest is not just its stellar employee satisfaction and retention rates but the restaurant’s program to provide housing for its employees. “I wanted to be able to provide for my employees,” explains Jimmie. “I would find amazing employees and because [the work] was
The menu and overall vibe of the restaurant remains much the same as when it was under the Accardi brothers’ parents’ realm. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
The restaurant is the perfect atmosphere for all kinds of pizza lovers. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
seasonal, they couldn’t work there when we closed [the pizzeria].”
Truly a multimodal solution, the Accardi brothers chose to fill the need for housing and keep their rock star employees by offering them company housing themselves. And most of his employees have opted to reside there. “It’s hard to find places that are affordable to live,” Jimmie observes. “So that [employee housing] is another retention and recruiting tool.”
The employee housing began as a single condo that Jimmie purchased at just 19 years old to rent to visiting skiers. “One day, I was about to lose a good employee because of housing— and I realized I would rather rent the condo to keep that employee.” And he never looked back after that.
And the restaurant co-owner/ operator just keeps adding more condos to his arsenal for his employees to rent. Over the last five years, he has amassed two small apartments for employees to live in to boot. “I get paid [back] by having good employees,” he emphasizes. Case in point: Brick Oven Pizzeria touts two managers, one of whom has been around since his
A LOCAL LEGACY
Jimmie and John’s mom, Elena Kontinos Accardi passed away last year, and the town of Beech Mountain is currently in the process of rebuilding the town hall and visitor’s center, which will be named in her honor. “She was such a valuable person to me and the community, too,” says Jimmie. t
Construction on the rebuilding of the town hall and visitor’s center for the town of Beech Mountain began in 2023. Photo courtesy of Town of Beech Mountain.
A Pizza the Action
Get in on these on-site activities hosted at Brick Oven Pizzeria. It’s sure to be a real slice!
• 18-hole mini golf course
• Weekly live music on the lawn showcasing local artists
• Outdoor movies on the lawn (Summertime only, weather permitting)
• A glow- in-the- dark arcade with 20+ games
parents were owners and the other who is going on his fifth year as an employee.
“The Brick Oven has always been home to me,” says General Manager Justin Canady, who has been an employee since 2006. “Having everyone together [there] always makes for a great day.” Adds General Manager Ian Miller, who has been employed at the restaurant since 2020: “The Brick Oven has the magic of pizza. When customers line up and the pies start running, everyone pulls together to keep the best quality hot food flying.”
I don’t mess with mom and dad’s recipes. It’s the same dough, sauce and cheese recipe. It wasn’t
broken and there was nothing to fix.
- JIMMIE ACCARDI
Plus, the eatery touts a team of full-timers who have been happily employed there for the last five or six years, sans his college student workers who pop in and out depending on their school schedule.
‘I like being able to help others as far as employment,” says Jimmie. “I have over 30 employees, who all live on Beech Mountain, and I want to be able to give them a good job.”
Going Mobile
Another key aspect of giving his staff an income every month of the year is the addition
A one-stop shop for activities fit for both family dinners and casual date nights, Brick Oven Pizzeria’s environs can be described as anything but boring. Photos courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
of not one, not two, but three food trucks that roll around the High Country area to serve delish brick oven-baked pies everywhere from local wineries and breweries to weddings and local festivals.
An Unstoppable Atmosphere
Truly a one-stop shop for a smattering of activities fit for both family dinners and
casual date nights, Brick Oven Pizzeria’s environs can be described as anything but boring. From artist-designed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles peeking out from the ceiling (they like pizza) and a buttonactivated train system that runs around the ceiling to a full-scale arcade featuring air hockey, shooting games, and more. Essentially, it’s the original version of an eater-tainment concept. “It’s a busy environment,” maintains Jimmie. “It’s very fun and there are lots of colors; it’s also
The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria has a bakery, full-scale bar, a state-of-the-art arcade and alfresco mini golf course.Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
I want to see more restaurants, more shops and more things for families and younger couples. I want to make sure the town is growing in a proper way and that there is proper business growth—[like] places to eat and shop and things to do.
- JIMMIE ACCARDI
very casual, and we always have classic rock playing.”
Yet again emphasizing nostalgia and personality, the pizzeria’s walls are lined with guest reviews and testimonials in the form of circular discs. “It’s like Tripadvisor or Yelp before there was a Tripadvisor or Yelp,” explains the owner. “My parents would staple them to the wall—and now there are thousands of them.”
On the Menu
There’s pizza to be sure, but it’s not your run-of-the-mill pizza chain takeout. Brick Oven slings up to 30 or more specialty pizzas and has a BYO option—and the recipes have stood the test of time. “I don’t mess with mom and dad’s recipes,” notes Jimmie. “It’s the same dough, sauce, and cheese recipe. It wasn’t broken and there was nothing to fix.”
Beyond the slices, there’s a pretty diverse menu with tantalizing choices for even the most discriminating (ahem, picky) of diners. Think: calzones, salads, wings, sandwiches, gyros, ice cream, milkshakes, and a whole bakery lineup. For the 21 and over crowd, there’s a full bar with more than 150 craft beers available.
Eyes on the Pies
Not just brothers, but a top-tier business partner team, Jimmie and John have combined forces and divided and
The pizzeria has a trio of food trucks that can be found at events and festivities around town. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
The shop has now grown to be open for 11 months each year.
Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
conquered to not only continue their parents’ restaurant legacy but to dig deeper into the High Country community surrounding them, by championing and helping launch other local businesses in the area.
Embracing the mantra to be a good neighbor, Jimmie purchased a rundown restaurant just a few doors down from Brick Oven Pizzeria that needed a revamp; pulling a true HGTV moment and giving it new life as a rentable commercial space, which now hosts two tenants: a tap room and a real estate office.
What’s more, the energized entrepreneur also nabbed a few other commercial spaces which he intends to revamp, and he is connecting his newly owned spaces to create a giant boardwalk atmosphere, using Brick Oven as the centerpiece to develop the town around it.
“I’m creating rental spaces for other businesses to come and open, like if a coffee shop or a doughnut shop wants to come open, I have a space for them,” he says. His mission: To not only elevate his own business to succeed but to back all of Beech Mountain’s businesses to thrive.
The Brick Oven co-owner/operator, who previously served as vice mayor on the town council is all about small business. “I want to see more restaurants, more shops, and more things for families and younger couples,” he emphasizes. “I want to make sure the town is growing in a proper way and that there is proper business growth—[like] places to eat and shop and things to do.” Brick Oven Pizza is just the tip of the iceberg to that larger goal.
Ready to roll in the dough? Come hungry to the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria at 402 Beech Mountain Parkway Fridays through Sundays from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Mondays through Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. Visit their website at famousbrickoven.com or keep up with them on social media at @famousbrickoven. t
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can be seen peeking out from the ceiling. Photo courtesy of Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.
Tina Watson, Queen of the Blue Ridge Diner, Takes Community Service to a New Level
STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS
Mention the name Tina Watson and the majority of locals immediately think of a great cook with a compassionate heart, a bright smile, and a contagious laugh. She’s all that and so much more.
As owner and operator of Blue Ridge Diner in Deep Gap, Watson has taken “community service” to a new level in recent months, and her outreach has not only enhanced the lives of countless others, but has also had a profound impact upon her own.
Her popular road-side café in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Parkway located just east of Boone, provides a home base for Watson, whose passion is serving others — and one that has taken an interesting turn in recent months.
If there was any question about Watson’s love for her community before Helene struck the High Country, there was no room left for doubt afterward.
Watson’s efforts and accomplishments have certainly not gone unnoticed. She recently received the distinguished award of Deep Gap Ruritan Club’s Member of the Year and was also recognized by the NC National Guard.
Ruritan Club President Leslie Gentry presented Watson with a plaque of appreciation during the club’s December meeting, and explained to fellow club members how he had witnessed Watson going above and beyond the expectations of Ruritan in service to her community. Gentry emphasized that not only had Watson taken care of Deep Gap residents, and the greater Watauga County in general, but that she had also reached across county lines and farther west into harder hit areas of Western North Carolina.
The Blue Ridge Diner is located just east of Boone, in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo submitted.
Tina Watson loves her time behind the scenes and at the grill. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
Watson was tearful as she accepted her awards, saying that she just did what her heart led her to do, that she couldn’t stand by and do nothing to help in troubled times.
Being a Light in the Dark
When Hurricane Helene hit the High Country, Tina and her family not only lost power for days in their home, but also at the diner, where everything in the cooler was lost. Just getting to the diner was a challenge in itself, a normal seven-minute drive taking an eight-hour detour through and around Wilkes County, cutting trees out of the road as she and her husband, Randy, made their way up the mountain.
Upset over her loss, she knew things could be much worse, but she was even more determined to move on, she said; at the time, she had no idea just how much widespread damage had occurred.
Once reality hit, her heart was broken, she described, and she wondered what she could do to help.
“My daddy had always said to help others, and even if you get nothing in return at the time, you would be rewarded. Those words were always in the back of my mind,” she shared.
As soon as power was restored in the diner, Watson didn’t wait for the delivery trucks to replenish her stock. She went to Hickory, loaded up with as much food as she could haul, and began feeding not only her regular customers, but utility workers from both near and far.
“Our Blue Ridge Electric workers eat with me weekly, anyway, but when I saw that they were working 16-plus hours a day to restore power, I knew I had to do something.”
What started out as a simple invitation to bring lunch to a few linemen working on the road near her home, turned into a one-woman’s crusade to feed them all.
During the first week post-Helene, Watson informed her staff that the diner was going to feed the local workers free of charge, as well as any others coming to the area to help.
“This was a small way we could repay them for all the sacrifices they were making, working long hours for us, while some were leaving their families at home in the dark,” she explained.
Watson and her staff even drove through the backroads, trying to get a headcount, to make sure enough food was ordered to feed them all.
Multiple workers were fed onsite and others received food delivered to them on the job.
When asked how she did it, with tears in her eyes, she said, “The first several days, I ate those expenses and it was a hard hit, with my own losses. But, it was okay, I just felt it was a good way to repay the kindness that was being shown to all of us.”
My daddy had always said to help others, and even if you get nothing in return at the time, you would be rewarded. Those words were always in the back of my mind.
- TINA WATSON
Watson and her crew were recognized for their service during a Christmas dinner for the NC National Guard in Morganton, NC. Photo submitted.
The first several days, I ate those expenses and it was a hard hit, with my own losses. But, it was okay, I just felt it was a good way to repay the kindness that was being shown to all of us.
- TINA WATSON
In the third week of Helene’s aftermath, Watson learned that food establishments in Avery County had been hit hard and most were inoperable. Help was needed to feed 125 linemen working with Mountain Electric Coop in Newland.
Watson did not hesitate to answer the call, more than once.
At first, Watson admitted, she didn’t think about road conditions and closures across the county line, but knew she had to get there with food, so she contacted the Avery County Sheriff’s Department which helped make a way for her safe passage.
Traveling the backroads made an even stronger impact on Watson and her crew. “We got to see just how bad things really were,” she described. “Our hearts hurt, but we knew we couldn’t stop trying to help.”
After listening, observing and learning about a community hub in Newland serving those in distress, Watson partnered with Roy Arnett to help with his outreach. “He was working nonstop, trying to help people in desperation, so we decided to take up donations at the diner to buy supplies. We took truckloads of items over there to be delivered to folks needing help in the Newland and Elk Park areas.”
In the meantime, Watson decided that anyone in the Deep Gap area assisting in the storm’s aftermath would be fed free of charge at the diner — all utility workers, fire, safety and military personnel who had been deployed to the area.
As word began to circulate about Watson’s good deeds, so did offers to help cover expenses.
“We began to receive donations from everywhere,” she said. “My heart was so full and thankful for everyone who reached out to help us.”
The first week after the storm, Blue Ridge Diner served over 500 free meals.
“Up until the week of Thanksgiving, I still had funds available, so I knew we had to use it to help others,” Watson reflected
Having learned about the devastation in Black Mountain and Swannanoa, Watson began making contacts with nursing homes and children’s homes/youth facilities in those areas.
Within a 10-day requested time period, Watson and her staff shopped for, wrapped and delivered 265 packages to three nursing homes.
Upon learning that 20 youngsters had been invited to a professional football game, but had no money for concessions or souvenirs, Watson committed to providing $40 gift cards for each one, “even if I had to pay for them myself,” she said.
Deep Gap Ruritan Club President, Les Gentry, congratulates Tina Watson after presenting her with the Ruritan of the Year Award during the club’s Christmas dinner in December. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
Always with a smile, Tina Watson is pictured serving up some of her specialties during a private party at the Blue Ridge Diner, assisted by Wendy Eller. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
But, once she shared her plight with friends on Facebook, the need was covered. “The response I received in one night was overwhelming,” she added. “And we had money left over, so I told my girls we were going to buy gifts for all 60 children in the group home. I wanted to make sure those kids had something to open at Christmas.”
Mission fulfilled, but she wasn’t finished, just yet.
“We still had money left over, so we bought gifts for children through High Country Caregivers; and then we had more money come in, so we bought for more deserving children in our area.”
A few days later, with very little rest, it was time for the diner
crew to prepare and serve the Deep Gap Ruritan Christmas Dinner.
“I had become a member of this group a year or so ago, and believe in their community service mission,” Watson said. “The club has helped me tremendously during our hurricane outreach and I was more than happy to serve them. Little did I know that I would receive the member of the year award from them that night. I was overjoyed.”
But, rest was still illusive for Watson, who received yet another request to cater a Christmas dinner for the NC National Guard in Morganton. She never hesitated. Told to prepare for 200, she
Tina and her crew fed almost 500 people at a Christmas dinner for the NC National Guard in Morganton, NC. Photo submitted.
Tina Watson, seated, says she couldn’t do what she does without the love, support and assistance of her crew. Pictured with her are Natasha Woodring, Hannah Dula, Emma Winkler, Brandy Hayes, Katie Watson, Sheila Jordan and Pamela Thomas. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
After receiving a certificate of appreciation, along with a commemorative medallion from the NC National Guard unit in Morganton, Tina Watson, at right, is congratulated by NCNG representative, Frances Johnson. Photo submitted.
and her staff drove the distance with large containers filled with enough food to, well, feed an army.
“We arrived at the beautiful facility, grateful for the opportunity. Little did we know that we were actually going to
I told her that I was okay, it’s something I had to do. People needed help. Knowing I was able to help bring a little joy and sometimes
even
laughter, to those I came in contact with, was worth it all. I am blessed and I am thankful to have been a part of it.
- TINA WATSON
feed around 500, but we were able to do just that,” she said.
Watson and her crew were recognized, yet again, this time by the colonel, who presented her with a certificate of appreciation and a commemorative medallion.
“I thought my heart would burst right there,” she recalled, “and I wanted to cry, at the same time.”
It was then that she remembered the words of her late father.
“I knew that I was being repaid for answering the call to help others. That was a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
With all said and done, (well, maybe!), and just days before Christmas, Watson’s mother told her she had to stop and rest.
“I told her that I was okay, it’s something I had to do. People needed help. Knowing I was able to help bring a little joy and sometimes even laughter, to those I came in contact with, was worth it all. I am blessed and I am thankful to have been a part of it.”
But, she’s quick to admit she could never have done it alone.
“I am thankful for every single person who helped me along this amazing journey — my family, my staff, customers, friends and total strangers — we did this together.”
Behind the Scenes with Tina Watson
Married to Randy Watson for 34 years, the couple has one daughter, Katie, and their “inherited” son, Ethan. “They are my world,” Tina said. “I can’t imagine life without them.”
A native of Akron, Ohio, and one of four children, Tina moved to North Carolina with her family when she was just 5. She grew up in Wilkes County, and went to school at Boomer Ferguson.
For 35 years, her father owned a convenience store with a café inside, where she worked as a teenager.
“I got married in 1991, and continued working for my dad on the weekends while going to school,” Watson said. “I worked for Boone Drug for seven years with my favorite person, Joe Miller. I also worked for Walmart in Boone for 25 years, during which I won the coveted Sam Walton Award; at the same time,
Life at the Blue Ridge Diner
Walking into Blue Ridge Diner is much like arriving at your family reunion. Everybody knows everybody, there’s lots of hugging and chatting, the food is second only to your granny’s Sunday best —and it happens like clockwork five days a week.
Known by many as a community hub of sorts, the diner is everything its name implies. Located practically within sight of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the quaint, casual gathering place attracts patrons from miles around and from every walk of life. Everyone chooses his or her own table, or bellies up to the counter, and many occupy their same seats, at least once a day.
The menus are on the table with daily specials written on the message boards, right along with a list of prayer requests for ailing patrons and community members; Fox News is usually rolling across the television screen, but the world’s problems are more often solved in the corner booths.
Customers start rolling in every day as the doors open for lunch at 11 a.m. and it’s a steady stream until closing time, which varies by the day. Lunch and dinner are served Monday-Friday, no breakfast, and weekends closed. A bit unique, Watson admits, but it works for her and her staff. And everybody else has learned to adjust.
Most days, the cooks know what their regular customers will order before the wait staff turns in the ticket. Meatloaf, hamburger steaks and Friday night seafood platters are just a few of the specials that disappear quickly. Quality service with a smile, reasonable prices and satisfaction guaranteed are just a few things you can count on at the BRD.
And behind it all, Watson is on hand to greet her customers with outstretched arms, her laughter filling the air, always looking for ways to make life easier for others.
Even before Helene, Watson’s generosity was well known. While concerned for keeping her business afloat during the Covid pandemic, Watson was preparing and delivering meals to the elderly and shut-ins, with the help of donations. “We would tally up each order to see how many folks we could feed per day, and did that for several weeks. Then, we started to offer meal deliveries to local businesses that had supported us. It was very hard and challenging, but with God’s help and the community behind us, we pulled though.”
At the same time, she recognized the contributions of local law enforcement. “Knowing they were working through tough times, and not getting the respect they deserved, I decided to begin feeding them free every time they ate with us.”
Eventually, she posted a sign above the counter that donations were accepted for the officers, and the money began coming in. Then, she decided to extend the offer to on-duty firefighters. And she still does.
“The diner is my passion,” she said. “At times, it takes away from my personal life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My employees have gone above and beyond helping me during these trying times. I couldn’t have done without them.”
She credits her parents for always teaching her to be humble — and that it’s better to give than to receive. “Anyone who knows me knows that I have tried hard to carry on that tradition. I have never wanted recognition for anything I’ve ever done. Just knowing that I can do something to help, even if just a little, and that people love me for who I am, that’s what matters the most to me. And, I don’t want anyone to ever forget what we just went through. We were told in Swannanoa, ‘Please don’t forget us.’ And we won’t. The storm victims will need our prayers and support for a long time to come.” t
I
love seeing kids who are now adults saying the diner was their favorite place to eat when they were young. I’ve always loved kids and spoiling them — especially giving them free ice cream. I love seeing those kids grow up and when they bring their girlfriends and boyfriends in to meet me, it makes me so happy. We’ve made wonderful memories at the diner to last a lifetime. I love this life I’m living. Even though restaurant work is hard, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
- TINA WATSON
I was pursuing ownership of my own business, which I have had now for 19 years.”
Her parents divorced when she was young, but she spent equal time with both.
“In the early 2000s, my father, who never remarried, was diagnosed with cancer and fought it for many years,” she recalled. “I was with him every step of the way, spending days and nights with him in the hospitals.”
Everyone knew she was daddy’s girl and she learned so much from him, Watson said, “But everyone also knew I was natured just like my mom and I look like her, too. She has always helped others, always been there for family, friends and neighbors when they needed her, so I guess I inherited that trait from her.”
Her dad’s ultimate death five years ago, was devastating for Watson, as was the more recent death of her brother, the day after Thanksgiving in 2023. “I was kinda mad at God for taking my brother at such a young age. We were very close and I still miss him so much. I asked God to give me strength daily and somehow, I’ve made it through those lonely days.”
The hardest journey that she ever had to go through, Watson admitted, was when Katie, her daughter, underwent not one, but two, brain surgeries in 2014. “Wishing it was me, not her, I prayed continuously, begging God to
Having learned what really matters in life, Tina Watson, at right, shares a special moment with her daughter, Katie, at their “happy place.” Photo submitted.
take care of her,” she shared. “It was a long road to recovery, but this great community stepped in to help us all through it, her army was beside her all the way. She struggles with medical issues on a daily basis, but she strives to make life the best she can. We are so proud of her.”
Having the diner has been a sweet distraction from some of life’s most difficult times, Watson acknowledged. “It keeps my mind occupied and my body busy every day. Seeing my wonderful customers and swapping stories between us keeps my spirits high.”
In the 19 years she and her family have been at the diner, Watson added, they have met some wonderful people that they consider like family.
“I love seeing kids who are now adults saying the diner was their favorite place to eat when they were young,” she said. “I’ve always loved kids and spoiling them — especially giving them free ice cream. I love seeing those kids grow up and when they bring their girlfriends and boyfriends in to meet me, it makes me so happy. We’ve made wonderful memories at the diner to last a lifetime. I love this life I’m living. Even though restaurant work is hard, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”
When asked what she does to relieve stress, Watson’s answer came as no surprise to those who know her best: She loves to travel, and especially spending time at the
beach. “Ethan is my traveling partner and loves to go places just as much as I do,” she added. t
A rare opportunity catching the Watson family together at the Blue Ridge Diner. From left, Ethan, Tina, Randy and Katie. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
Forging a Future: Avery Knifeworks keeps things cutting edge in Banner Elk—and beyond
All it took was a summer camp at Turtle Island Preserve to change Raleigh Avery’s life forever. At only 15 years old, the young craftsman took his first blacksmithing and knifemaking classes, thus beginning a love story with the art form that would never end.
“I got to play with fire and make sharp objects,” reflects Avery. “It was special; I was out in the woods, and it was so neat to make my own tools.” That refining experience, along with becoming an Eagle Scout, was the initial springboard into what he does now, which is run his own extremely successful knife-making
STORY BY ANNA BETH ADCOCK
business, Avery Knifeworks, where he is the sole craftsman.
The knives, which Avery refers to as functional art, showcase high-end, handmade quality along with an aesthetic aspect, as each one is unique and carefully created.
As he leaned increasingly into knifemaking, the young craftsman decided to zone in on getting his business off the ground as a sophomore in high school.
“I started going to local festivals and art shows to show the work I was doing,” he says. “It’s my parents who helped me get the business end of things started. Both of
my parents are entrepreneurs, so it was a natural progression for me to take that craft and turn a hobby into a business.”
So, at 16 years old, Avery walked into the courthouse with his mom to officially incorporate Avery Knifeworks.
A Mountain Man
Another driving factor that helped Avery’s acclaim in the profession reach its peak was the History Channel show Mountain Men, a series that followed rugged guys spanning the nation in
Every blade from Avery Knifeworks is hand-made by sole craftsman, Raleigh Avery, in the mountains of North Carolina. Photo by Dalton Kilby.
backcountry areas like Alaska and Montana—and the High Country of North Carolina.
“It was filmed over a three-year period,” explains Avery of the series. “The show follows guys living off-the-grid and a lifestyle that conforms more to the 1800s and 1900s, where some modern methods are in use, but the lifestyle is primitive. That’s [the primitive lifestyle] something that appealed to me too.”
Turtle Island Preserve was the homeplace of best friends and two of the “mountain men” featured on the show, Eustace Conway and his friend Preston Roberts. The duo, who raised thousands of dollars for Turtle Island’s summer camp scholarship program by crafting and auctioning off knives, also functioned as mentors to Avery both in knifemaking and beyond.
I started going to
local festivals
and art shows to show the work I was doing. It’s my parents who helped me get the business end of things started. Both of my parents are entrepreneurs, so it was a natural progression for me to take that craft and turn a hobby into a business.
- RALEIGH AVERY
After Roberts unexpectedly passed in 2017, Conway took the young knifemaker under his wing and their bond deepened, leading to the teacher inviting his student to join him on the show. “Eustace had lost his best friend, who was a big part of his involvement with Mountain Men,” reflects Avery. “He didn’t want to do the show alone and he wanted to showcase our student-mentor relationship. People today still remember him from that, and it brought him a lot of recognition.”
Cutting into Priorities
Flashing forward to his college years, Avery was spread very thin—he was enrolled as an undergraduate at Appalachian State University, participating in Mountain Men, fixing up houses around town with Conway to help fund the preserve and trying to keep his up-and-coming enterprise afloat. Something had to give. So, Avery chose to cut deeper into his top priority: Avery Knifeworks.
“I had to choose something,” he recalls. “So, I dropped out of Appalachian, quit the show and quit doing work with Conway. I made that decision in May 2020; and I opened my Avery Knifeworks showroom in October 2020.”
With the sharp focus on nurturing his knifemaking business into a full-time gig, Avery’s youth and young adulthood has taken a different course than that of many of his peers. “It’s weird. I definitely haven't had as much fun as my other friends,” he reflects. “I didn’t spend weekends out partying or drinking. [Instead], I was in a sawmill, making knives in my forge; or on a TV show.”
Raleigh Avery and his wife, Malea Massey. Photo courtesy of Avery Knifeworks.
Each individual knife takes hours of preparation and a special eye for details. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
Customers come from far and wide in search of Avery’s creations. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
Sharpening Up the Showroom
Thanks to his childhood spent in Morganton and grandparents with land up in Beech Mountain, Avery was quite familiar with the Sugar Mountain and Banner Elk area. “I wanted to steer my life in that direction and build a business there,” he says.
And once he had settled on where his showroom would be in early September of 2020, it was open for business about a month later. “We were gunning to get in there,” Avery maintains.
For the speedy turnaround, the owner also credits one of his childhood friends, who helped him get ready for the opening weekend, which was such a smash hit that Avery Knifeworks almost sold out of the entirety of its inventory during that two-day span.
For his part, Avery credits his showroom’s instant popularity to the following he cultivated after starring in Mountain Men; lots of word-of-mouth advertising, and the efforts he’d made to get his name out there on social media. “The television show Forged in Fire on the History Channel brought lots of attention to knifemaking as well,” he notes. “It was good timing to get into the craft and send people’s interest my way.”
Each batch of knives that comes out of the shop is really satisfying. There is [probably] a day’s worth of work that goes into making each knife.
- RALEIGH AVERY
One of the sharper aspects of his rising star in the industry was not only a growing customer base excited to get their hands on his distinctive knives—they were excited to get to know the talented young craftsman behind making each and every one.
A Labor of Love
The process and art form of making knives is no small endeavor. Each knife takes hours upon hours of preparation and detail, and Avery has his hands on every single one. “Each batch of knives that comes out of the shop is really satisfying,” notes the maker. “There is [probably] a day’s worth of work that goes into making each knife.”
Add that to his ever-expanding customer base both locally and beyond, to signing up for a slew of industry events and showings, and that makes for a full workload. Yet, despite the growing demand to churn out tons of knives to keep up, Avery
Avery took his first blacksmithing and knifemaking classes when he was only 15 years old. Photo by Dalton Kilby.
Each knife is unique and carefully created and showcases high-end handmade quality along with an aesthetic aspect. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
is determined to keep up quantity without ever sacrificing quality.
“There have been many times where production needs to be ramped up,” he says. “But I would never drop the quality, and I would have no interest in making knives [at all] if the quality dropped.” So commences the age-old dance of amping up efficiency while maintaining quality—and it’s one Avery has become quite skilled at via refining the process.
“I am the process engineer and the labor force,” the craftsman explains. “A lot of it is timing. I can have a dozen knives in one stage; a dozen others in another stage; and then, have my hands on a third batch.”
He adds: “Our biggest problem has always been having enough inventory and getting enough knives for the people. We do custom orders and take preorders. Sometimes we get bogged down between orders and don't have stuff on-hand; and we sell out and sell through certain models very frequently. It’s a race to keep up.” But while the constant, and exponentially rising, influx of clients and orders continue to flock in, Avery notes it’s a good problem to have.
Beyond staying on top of orders, much of Avery’s attention goes into the chemistryinvolved with his job. “To me, the chemistry
NATIONWIDE NETWORK LOCAL PASSION
195 New Market Centre, Boone
[of knifemaking] is fun,” he says. “It’s an artistic job, but there is also a lot of science and chemistry behind treating it [each knife] properly so it holds its edge.” For example, a different type of effort and process goes into crafting a filet knife versus an outdoor-oriented knife.
That said, the creative knifemaker is always looking to add to his toolbox by learning to make new types of knives. “I have to take a few months of thinking and studying something to figure out how it works,” he muses of learning to create a new kind of cutlery. “I talk to people that use them [the type of knife], I use one myself and then I make trial models. I want to keep making new products for customers.” Talk about cutting into innovation!
His customers range from curated knife collectors to first-time knife buyers—from the High Country and beyond. That’s another perk of Avery Knifeworks’ earning an array of positive word-ofmouth advertising—customers have come from far and wide in search of Avery’s creations after admiring a knife they’ve seen from a friend or acquaintance. “I have around 20 different knife models and about a dozen different handle materials that are visually stunning,” he explains. “Whether [customers] use them or display them, they end up falling in love with the aesthetics of it.”
Avery is determined to keep up quantity without ever sacrificing quality while making his knives. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
For each type of knife, the effort and process that goes into crafting them can be different. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
ACut-above Couple
While Avery is a whiz in the forge, he needed a front-facing business partner to help him in the showroom with customer interaction and engagement. Enter Avery’s wife (the couple recently tied the knot after dating for more than six years), Malea Massey. Also, a Morganton native and Appalachian State graduate, Massey was at first opposed to the idea of adding co-managing a business to her relationship with Avery, something he had been advocating for some time before she agreed to get on board.
“My big thing was I didn’t want to mix my relationship with work,” she reflects. “Then the pandemic hit. We [already] lived together and spent all our time together. I thought, I’m here and have all the time in the world.” The rest is history.
Avery jumps in to add that one of the first favors he cashed in from Massey was for her to send some packages for Avery Knifeworks across the country, so she’s technically been working for him all along. “I’ve had her as an employee before I had her as a girlfriend,” the craftsman jokes. “Raleigh really swindled me into it,” she jibes back.
Taking it back to the start, the power couple met each other post-Massey’s high school graduation. (Massey is a year Avery’s senior. It didn’t take long for them to begin dating after that.)
Once the pandemic hit while Massey was in her junior year of college, she could often be found seeking Wi-Fi for her online classes at the Avery Knifeworks’ showroom.
While she earned a degree in communications studies, Massey has always operated with a “fly by the seat of her pants” mentality—planning to figure out each next step once she got there. “I didn’t have a goal or set plan of what I was going to do,” she reflects. “I have no idea what I would be doing if I didn’t get into this with Raleigh.”
Before embracing the knifemaking business, Massey amassed a wide range of experience from an early age. When she was
Specializing in custom hunting and kitchen knives, Avery Knifeworks is a go-to for anyone who needs a durable tool and desires functional art. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
The Avery Knifeworks showroom opened in October of 2020 in Banner Elk. Photo by Dalton Kilby.
A booth for Avery Knifeworks can be found at many local festivals and art shows. Photo courtesy of Avery Knifeworks.
I’m always trying to get better—and it’s always changing and always exciting. That passes on to a customer, which passes on to the next customer and the next one.
- RALEIGH AVERY
just 14 years old, the industrious local landed her first gig at a retail shop, before moving on to work in everything from daycares to corporations to restaurants to small businesses. “All my other life experience trained me for this,” she says of her current career. “I’ve worked in so many different environments.”
And she’s doing much more than serving Avery Knifeworks’ clientele; the young communications connoisseur has spent over a year with the Avery County Young Professionals organization, has a seat on the planning board for the annual Woolly Worm Festival and is a board member for the Avery County Chamber of Commerce. “She really keeps her finger on the pulse of the area,” observes Avery.
Slicing into What’s Next
As he considers what’s ahead for his handcrafted business, Avery sums it up with this: “We are always looking to increase production and quality at the same time, and always looking to make more knives.”
To boot, the owner acknowledges if he wants to continue amping up quality and production simultaneously, he will need an apprentice; and he’s not looking for a temporary employee or summer intern. He’s seeking a lifelong recruit who’s seeking to make knifemaking a career, which is no dull undertaking.
And as he simmers on what has made his business so successful, the young entrepreneur calls out his genuine enthusiasm about what he does. “I’m always trying to get better—and it’s always changing and always exciting,” he says. “That passes on to a customer, which passes on to the next customer and the next one.” On top of the contagious nature of a good word-of-mouth trail, the last few years of the business have been chock-full of innovation and “constantly listening to what people want.” And that’s what keeps Avery Knifeworks a cut above the rest.
Slice into more of the action at Avery Knifeworks via their website averyknifeworks.com, follow along on social media @averyknifeworks or visit the showroom in-person at 2780 Tynecastle Highway in Banner Elk. t
Raleigh credits his genuine enthusiasm for the craft as what has made his business so successful. Photo by Dalton Kilby.
Avery is always looking to add to his toolbox by learning how to make new types of knives. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
Raleigh’s signature can be found engraved into each of his creations. Photo by Raleigh Avery.
WAMY Community Action 60 Years and Counting of Helping People and Changing Lives for the Better
STORY BY TIM GARDNER
Helping the poor and needy is significant in fostering a good and compassionate society. It is an absolute moral imperative that reflects the values of empathy and solidarity and helps our shared responsibility to create a better world for us all. As the complexities of modern life are navigated, it becomes increasingly important to address the challenges marginalized individuals and communities face. There are various favorable implications and rewards of providing help to those in need including the moral, societal, and personal dimensions that are part of the Christian-mandated responsibility of working to create a more equitable world.
One such organization that is celebrating its 60th anniversary and adhering to that in the North Carolina High Country is WAMY Community Action. WAMY stands for Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey. Its specific mission is to break the cycle of poverty by partnering with families and communities to provide disadvantaged people in those counties with the support and tools they need to become self-sufficient.
History, Mission, and Governance
first State of the Union address on June 8, 1964, he called for an unconditional war to defeat poverty and expanded and revised the proposals given to Kennedy. Then in August of that same year, the Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law by Johnson, creating the nationwide Community Action Network, comprised of local organizations across America with the mission of reducing poverty through locally designed and delivered programs and services, targeted to the community's specific need. Other national leaders such as the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. also pushed for programs and legislation to help end poverty in the nation.
In 1963, shortly before he was assassinated, President John F. Kennedy asked his economic advisors to draw up proposals to address the problem of American poverty. Inspired by Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson took up this charge after he succeeded Kennedy as President. In 1964, “The Great Society”, as envisioned by Johnson, was a sweeping plan to improve the lives of all Americans, regardless of their circumstances. He pledged to fulfill his promise of equal opportunity for all by enacting several comprehensive changes within the Federal government. In Johnson’s
Youth development is one of WAMY’s primary services offered to High Country families in need. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
WAMY Community Action was one of those agencies that started the same year (1964) and is the first humanservice non-profit organization operating in the High Country that jointly services Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.
Through its Community Action, WAMY changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes the region it serves a better place to live. It has been referred to as one of the most highlyregarded and successful community action agencies in America.
I served as the Finance Director for 11 years and have been the Executive Director for the past year. Working at WAMY has come full circle for me. I worked hard, with the help of WAMY, to break the cycle of poverty for my own family, and now I get to help others do the same.
WAMY Community Action thrives on its diverse and inclusive nature, representing a wide range of backgrounds and beliefs. It’s important to WAMY that its communications to the community mirror that diversity, creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone engaged with its mission, including staff and board members, clients, and donors.
The latest poverty rates by percentage in the counties WAMY serves include Watauga 24.9; Yancey 15.3; Mitchell 13.4; and Avery 11.2. Through its efforts, WAMY has often helped lower poverty percentages in all those counties and will likely keep doing so.
WAMY Community Action also partners with other organizations and businesses such as World Changers, Incorporated, local and out-of-state church groups, and individuals wanting to help others in the counties it serves to meet various needs, including home repairs. Additionally, the organization contracts home repair work it has done for needy people with area carpentry, plumbing, and roofing companies.
Like most Community Action agencies, WAMY is a private, non-profit organization. It is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors, which consists of business, civic, and community leaders from each of the four counties the organization serves. Those board members include: (Watauga County) Tom Hughes, Natalie Bovino, Cameron Wishon, Charlie Wallin, and Cynthia Dillon; (Avery County) Beth Gacek, Samantha Knight, Cathy Buresch, Jonathan Sheppard, and Arlene Weiner; (Mitchell County) Marvin Walker, Morgan Wood, Deanna Gouge, and Ruthie Styles; (Yancey County) Vanessa Letterman, Darlene Marsh, Angie Vance, and Maxine McLaughlin.
Hughes is Chairman of the Board of Directors. Walker is the First Vice-Chairman, Letterman is the Second Vice-Chairwoman, and Weiner is the Third Vice-Chairwoman and Treasurer.
A Superlative Operations Staff
WAMY Community Action’s operations are conducted by a staff of thirteen full-time employees who have a colossal love for the counties WAMY Community Action serves and their citizens. They possess a steadfast dedication to helping people help themselves. By extending help to the poor and needy as WAMY’s staff members do, they not only uplift individuals and families, but also contribute to the compassion, stability, and progress of entire communities while answering their Godly calling through their professional work as well as in their personal lives. They are highly accomplished in the work they perform and are considered by their professional peers in other similar human service organizations on the local, regional, state, and national
- BRITTANY LUXTON
levels to be among the best at what they do.
Their names, job titles, backgrounds, and quotes they shared about perspectives on their work with WAMY follows:
Brittany Luxton, Executive Director
A California native, she moved to North Carolina during her elementary school years, first living in Ashe County before moving to Boone in her sophomore year of high school.
Luxton is an Appalachian State University and Caldwell Community College graduate and has worked in various professions. She has been employed by WAMY for 12 years.
“I became familiar with WAMY through Jane Lentz, a financial aid counselor, who connected me to Colleen Bare, a caseworker at WAMY,” Luxton recalled. “I enrolled in WAMY’s Total Family Development Program while working toward my degree. I next interned at WAMY. In 2012, when its Finance Director position opened, I applied for it, was hired to that post and I have worked with WAMY since. I served as the Finance Director for 11 years and have been the Executive Director for the past year. Working at WAMY has come full circle for me. I worked hard, with the
Brittany Luxton, Executive Director. Photo submitted.
help of WAMY, to break the cycle of poverty for my own family, and now I get to help others do the same.”
Luxton has a 22-year-old son who works as a hospital police officer and an 11-year-old daughter who is a sixth-grade student.
Luxton gave the following statement about what makes her job so professionally and personally rewarding, which is echoed in parts by her staff members: “It feels amazing to know that our work makes a big difference. I’ve made lots of friends and feel like part of a big family among our staff members. I also love the friendships that I have made in the community through my time working at WAMY. We work together with other groups and have helped many more people because of these partnerships.
“I especially love helping older people. Many of them have worked very hard and don’t have much money. When they come to us for help, WAMY is usually their last hope, and it feels so good to be there for them. They are very strong and proud, and their gratitude is touching. For example, there was a 90-year-old man who came to us because his roof was leaking. He couldn’t fix it himself anymore and had only $800.00 a month for him and his wife to live on. They grew a garden and went fishing and hunting to get food. People like him inspire me every day and make my job very special.”
She added, “Reflecting on my journey with WAMY Community Action, it's been an incredible year serving as Executive Director. For generations, we've supported local families in achieving self-sufficiency and improving their lives. We've seen first-hand the transformation from poverty to prosperity. Overall, helping people, making new friends, and seeing the positive changes in our community brings me a lot of happiness and satisfaction.”
Sarah Freer, Director of Administration
Freer moved to the High Country from Raleigh. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor's degree in social work. She began working as WAMY’s Social Work Intern in 2018 in the Family Development program. She next served as Director and Quality Assurance Manager. She is currently the Director of Administration and conducts WAMY’s grant writing. Sarah loves the opportunity to help others in the community! She believes that people are capable of so much and sometimes they just need a helping hand—like WAMY provides.
Allison Jennings, Director of Development
Allison began working for WAMY in 2021. She puts the word ‘FUN’ in WAMY’s fundraising functions. She takes immense joy in
It feels amazing to know that our work makes a big difference. I’ve made lots of friends and feel like part of a big family among our staff members. I also love the friendships that I have made in the community through my time working at WAMY. We work together with other groups and have helped many more people because of these partnerships. - BRITTANY LUXTON
Sarah Freer, Director of Administration. Photo submitted.
Allison Jennings, Director of Development. Photo submitted.
connecting donors to the poverty-fighting programs WAMY offers and using those gifts to help people and change their lives in needed and positive ways.
With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, Allison considers her job at WAMY “the role of a lifetime.” She added, “Working for WAMY has been the greatest experience! The tremendous impact WAMY provides for our community makes my job extremely rewarding and the best. I especially love being the Head of the Party Planning Committee for our office. WAMY events really are the best and all fundraising efforts fight poverty in the area we serve.”
Lynette Walker, Family Development Coordinator
She has been a WAMY staff member for more than seven years. Lynette works closely with her clients to help them secure employment and complete the full cycle for a family to achieve financial security, which aligns with their mission to help families rise above poverty.
Lynette is passionate about her work serving adults who seek education or training to achieve their goals, including preparing for better employment and potentially a career they always dreamed about.
She proudly shared, “It brings me great joy to be a part of their journey while working together with them to achieve success.”
Leisa O’Mara, Family Development Director
Serving others is one way this Avery County native shows her committed love for our Savior, Christ Jesus. She considers working for WAMY a God-calling passion. She works wholeheartedly pursuing the deepest needs of those in the communities within WAMY’s framework.
O’Mara also feels that each member of the community deserves the best life possible and getting to connect families with needed resources provides a means to sustainable living, growth, and knowledge of success. She added that being obedient to the calling God has laid on her heart has blessed her with a caring staff to work with while meeting wonderful people daily to serve alongside.
O’Mara turns to God’s Holy Scriptures for endurance, encouragement, and understanding, one of the verses that she uses to exemplify the Image of Jesus Christ to those around her is: “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” May the work done through WAMY not be done in vain, but unto the Lord, for Whom all glory is due.”
April Beck, Housing and Energy Director
Beck has been with WAMY since early 2020. She studied social work in college and before joining WAMY, served
Lynette Walker, Family Development Coordinator. Photo submitted.
Leisa O’Mara, Family Development Director. Photo submitted.
April Beck, Housing and Energy Director. Photo submitted.
A goal of WAMY’s is to provide safe supervision for school-aged children during the summer months so that their parents and guardians can maintain employment and self-sufficiency. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
adults with developmental disabilities as well as individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders. She is a single parent who once was in what she termed the “very low-income” category. Beck cites that life experience as fueling her passion to be of service to others. She said her favorite part about her job is “getting to meet new people and having the opportunity to assist them in a meaningful way.”
WAMY Housing Programs frequently combine resources from within the community to assist families with critical home repairs. Witnessing such outpourings of support, whether through financial donations and/or volunteer services, has been especially inspiring to Beck. She added that she considers her work with families and community partners a privilege and looks forward to continuing to serve families in the rural communities of Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.
Reverend James (Jim) Shoupe, Housing Technician
James (Jim) Shoupe has worked in his position with WAMY since 2020. He is also the Pastor of Mount Calvary Freewill Baptist Church in the Kalmia Community in the far Southern section of Avery County. He stated, “God led me to work for WAMY and I will never forget how He put it on with my heart to do so. I will never forget my job interview and meeting WAMY employees for the first time. They immediately made me feel like I belonged with the organization and with every day that I’ve worked for WAMY, I know it’s one of God’s callings in my life, and that calling becomes even greater every day I’m employed with this awesome organization.”
Shoupe continued, “Working for WAMY has been a great extension of my ministry, and the fulfillment of helping others is overwhelming. We have helped a lot of people during my tenure, and we hope to help many more. We trust God to bless the challenging work of fundraising, and He always comes through to see the thankfulness of clients is
I will never forget my job interview and meeting WAMY employees for the first time. They immediately made me feel like I belonged with the organization and with every day that I’ve worked for WAMY, I know it’s one of God’s callings in my life, and that calling becomes even greater every day I’m employed with this awesome organization.
- JAMES SHOUPE
worth it all. I believe I work for the very best nonprofit organization. May God continue to bless people through WAMY Community Action.”
Jim also declared the King James Bible, in Hebrews Chapter 13, verse two, guides him in his work with WAMY. It reads: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.”
Melanie Jirka, Lead Energy Auditor
Melanie began working full-time with WAMY in 2022 as its Community Housing Coordinator for Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties. She has also worked as its Weatherization Housing Technician and was recently promoted to Lead Energy Auditor.
Jirka initially learned about WAMY and its operations while serving as the mission chairwoman for her church, which has volunteered for WAMY construction projects and will continue to do so.
She said, “My greatest personal reward and satisfaction working for WAMY is knowing that I am actively working towards a solution to some of our communities' problems.”
She noted that her work is inspired by Matthew Chapter 25, verse 45, which reads: “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Yolanda Robertson, Volunteer Coordinator
Robertson has years of experience working in community engagement and program management and possesses peak enthusiasm for building connections between individuals and communities of Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.
Yolanda shares, “I think of the work that I and the rest of our WAMY staff do in helping others as not only a duty but a privilege.”
She also owns a small business, Savored Moments Travel.
And when you see or talk with Robertson you may hear her say or holler “Roll Tide” more than once as she is the self-proclaimed “World’s biggest University of Alabama Crimson Tide sports fan.”
Danielle Moreland, Housing and Energy Coordinator
Like Luxton, Moreland is a California native having been raised in San Diego. After graduating from high school, she joined the United States Army. She was a Chemical Operations Specialist and was deployed to Iraq and had many duty stations during her time in the military. After being discharged from the Army, Moreland moved to Kansas. She worked as a Title 1 Academic School Tutor for seven years. She next moved to Eastern North Carolina, before settling in Watauga County.
Reverend James (Jim) Shoupe, Housing Technician. Photo submitted.
Melanie Jirka, Lead Energy Auditor. Photo submitted.
She and her husband, Zach, have seven children.
"I greatly enjoy helping people and feel like being the Housing and Energy Coordinator for WAMY Community Action has allowed me the humbling opportunity to fulfill my calling in life to help others who just need a helping hand."
Moreland is a rabid sports enthusiast—especially of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. She will make sure anyone who meets her realizes that by saying their big cheer: Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!
Seth Moore, Intake Specialist
A Watauga County native, Moore has worked for WAMY Community Action for just over one year. In his position, he guides clients through the application process for the organization’s various programs and also refers them to other resources they may find helpful.
“Having an opportunity to provide a ‘hand up’ to people when they are in a situation that they feel is impossible to get out of and providing them with assistance and other resources to improve these situations are what I consider my greatest personal rewards and satisfaction in working for WAMY,” he declared.
Moore is also an avid sports fan, particularly basketball, and he lists the University of North Carolina Tar Heels as his favorite school and team.
Corey Babay, Finance Director
A Pennsylvania native, Babay is the newest addition to the WAMY staff. He brings a wealth of experience and a passion for making a positive impact in the communities of all four counties WAMY serves. His job responsibilities include working to obtain grants and corporate sponsorships, filing mandated reports, and handling personnel payroll and benefits.
He has commented that he is thrilled about the opportunity to join its team and is eager to contribute to its mission. He shared, “I’m genuinely happy to help improve the lives of others in need. It's an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help others as it feeds my soul and heart. I enjoy giving back to the community which has given so much to me.”
Josh Shoupe, Rehabilitation Specialist
He is the youngest of the father and son Shoupe duo working for WAMY Community Action. Josh Shoupe has been employed by WAMY for one year after serving as one of its independent contractors for the two previous years. He has various duties, the foremost being conducting on-site job evaluations. Josh then compiles work scope reports for contractors to use to make sure
Having an opportunity to provide a ‘hand up’ to people when they are in a situation that they feel is impossible to get out of and providing them with assistance and other resources to improve these situations are what I consider my greatest personal rewards and satisfaction in working for WAMY. - SETH MOORE
Yolanda Robertson, Volunteer Coordinator. Photo submitted.
Danielle Moreland, Housing and Energy Coordinator. Photo submitted.
Seth Moore, Intake Specialist. Photo submitted.
all necessary work is completed to bring homes that WAMY repairs to meet the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) minimum housing standards.
“I believe in trying to live my life so that its top priority is for serving God and for helping others. And helping others is a mighty way to serve God. Certainly, helping those in need is what makes my life worthwhile,” Josh Shoupe declared.
Current Objectives, Priorities, and Services Offered
Luxton shared information about the organization’s work from the last reporting period (2023-2024) into the current fiscal year time frame. A fiscal year starts on July 1 of each year and ends on June 30 of the following year. Luxton said WAMY Community Action’s current top objectives focus on Alignment with Community Needs; Efficient Use of Funds; Streamlining of Services; Greater Impact; and Expansion of Agency Capacity.
She declared that WAMY Community Action’s 2024-2025 Community Needs Assessment in prioritized order includes: 1) Housing; 2) Childcare; 3) Transportation; 4) Employment; and 5) Lack of Food.
Luxton commented: “Throughout its history, WAMY has changed a lot to
meet the needs of our community. That is what Community Action is designed to do! Previous programs WAMY has had included senior centers, transportation authorities, Headstart, and the Youth Job Corps. Many of these programs became well-established enough to no longer fall under WAMY’s umbrella. As the needs changed, WAMY adapted its programs. For example, during the Coronavirus (COVID) Pandemic, WAMY was very active in helping families who had members lose their jobs by providing financial support to help them with their needs.
“One aspect of WAMY that I love as much as any other is how it can change with the needs of the communities we serve. Every three years, WAMY evaluates what the community needs and adjusts its programs to help fill them. WAMY can quickly change and meet those needs.”
The various programs WAMY Community Action currently offers are many and details about each include:
Housing and Weatherization Services
WAMY Community Action has various housing programs including heating replacement weatherization, and home repairs. WAMY’s goal is to preserve
Corey Babay, Finance Director. Photo submitted. Josh Shoupe, Rehabilitation Specialist. Photo submitted.
affordable housing to make homes more energy-efficient, safer, and healthier for low-income individuals and their families.
WAMY Community Action’s housing program can provide minor repairs and rehabilitation to homes owned by individuals or families. This program can fix a leaking roof, repair plumbing, electrical problems, or health and safety hazards. The repair and rehabilitation program is only available to homeowners and structures must be site-built homes or mobile homes on a permanent foundation.
WAMY Community Action also has a weatherization program in all four counties that works to make homes more energy efficient, usually through the installation of insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing. This program is available to both homeowners and renters with landlord permission.
After receiving weatherization, families typically save 30 to 35 percent on their heating/cooling costs. WAMY Community Action’s Heating and Air Replacement program is also available in all four counties to both homeowners and renters. This program allows WAMY Community Action officials to evaluate and clean your heating system and replace it, if necessary. Eligibility for these programs is based on the families' income. If your home needs repairs, is drafty, hard to heat or cool, or if you have high energy bills, WAMY Community Action might be able to help. To qualify for the program, your family must be below 200 percent of poverty.
Anyone who would like to apply for WAMY Community Action’s Home Repair and Energy Upgrade Program will be asked to provide basic information about his/her household as well as proof of income of those living in the household.
Family Development Programs
The five programs under its Family Development platform include Total Family Development; Limited Financial AssistanceBridges Program; Resource and Referral; Volunteerism; and Youth Program.
Through the Total Family Development program, WAMY Community Action helps individuals and families increase their income by assisting them with educational and/or employment goals as part of a multifaceted approach to self-sufficiency. WAMY
Community Action also provides some financial assistance and guidance as part of the program.
For education purposes, WAMY Community Action staff members work with clients to create an individualized plan of action to increase their education or get short-term training to obtain employment. The program can assist with transportation and fuel expenses, childcare expenses, phone and utility expenses, and career readiness. Upon graduation, WAMY Community Action will assist with seeking and obtaining employment.
Then for employment purposes, WAMY Community Action staff members work with clients to identify their skills, assist with career readiness skills and employer contacts, counsel and train financial management techniques and budgeting, and enhance job searching skills. It is designed to help clients seek and obtain employment. To qualify for Total Family Development, your family income must be at 200 percent of poverty or below.
The Bridges Program provides limited financial assistance to individuals and families who have barriers to self-sufficiency such as financial challenges related to housing, childcare, transportation, paying electric bills, and other needs. For example, if someone has a job and is making ends meet, but does not have a lot of savings yet, their car breaks down, and they cannot afford the repair, WAMY Community Action would pay for the car repair so they can maintain employment and a level of self-sufficiency as much as possible. WAMY officials estimate it costs $530.00 per week for the average person in the North Carolina High Country to make financial ends meet. And the Bridges Program is a crucial resource for those who need it most, providing an all-important safety net for those enduring unexpected financial hardships.
Resource and Referral (Central Intake) is WAMY staff members assisting any client in correctly filling out its applications and receiving full needs assessment for referrals for services, both internal and external, and helping them obtain greater self-sufficiency.
Volunteerism (WAMY Warriors): Those who desire are both welcome and encouraged to volunteer to help WAMY Community Action with its mission of being a catalyst for creating vibrant communities by preventing and ending poverty through stabilizing and empowering people with the resources they need when they need them. Volunteers provide ways for
WAMY has partnered with VBC Builders to host a Little Free Food Pantry offering non-perishable food to anyone in need. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
Community outreach is an important part of sharing the services and work WAMY does throughout the communities. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
I’m genuinely happy to help improve the lives of others in need. It's an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help others as it feeds my soul and heart. I enjoy giving back to the community which has given so much to me.
- COREY BABAY
community members to help their neighbors in need. One of the essential functions of WAMY is to address the needs of vulnerable populations, including seniors and families enduring poverty, by connecting them with volunteers who can provide services that improve quality of life, self-sufficiency, and aging in place.
Those volunteers, called WAMY Warriors, are a network of volunteer groups who want to make a difference for their neighbors in need. Volunteer projects have included neighborhood clean-ups, cookouts, household maintenance, yard work and maintenance, visiting nursing homes, small home repairs, and various others.
Anyone who wants to become a WAMY Warrior and help someone in need should contact Robertson at the mailing address or phone number listed at the end of this article. She matches volunteers with appropriate projects based on availability, skills, and interests.
Truly, WAMY volunteers make a major difference and are a key element in bringing hope and resources to those who need help most.
WAMY Community Action’s Youth Program serves those 12 years and under in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. Its goal is to maintain supervision for school-aged children during the summer months so that their parents and guardians can maintain employment and self-sufficiency. The program is also designed to create a fun and clean environment, providing educational opportunities for children of those ages to reach their full potential. The children enjoy all the benefits of a safe and enriching environment, while parents receive peace of mind knowing that their child is being properly cared for throughout the day.
In the summer of 2023, WAMY Community Action launched a new youth program, "Support Our Students" (SOS). WAMY serves youth by sponsoring them to attend various camps across the region and also offers a Summer Camp scholarship to a needy and deserving child each year.
WAMY Community Action served 275 children in its Youth Development Program during its first year.
WAMY also sponsors the "Shop with A Cop" Christmas program, which also features other organizations, including the Boone Police Department, Walmart, High Country Caregivers, Watauga County Schools, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of North Carolina Health Appalachian Police.
Shop with a Cop is an event that focuses on underprivileged children and families within a local community. Police officers spend time with the children and shop with them in a local store. During the event, the children are given a gift certificate to purchase any items they want in the store. The police officer acts as a chaperone and companion to the children throughout the day as they shop for items. In many cases, the program begins with a meal. The children and officers eat together before the
children are given their gift certificates. They then spend part of the day shopping for items based on the children’s interests and the stores involved in the event. The program moves on to lunch with the officers before allowing the children to watch a movie or engage in other forms of entertainment. They finish off their day with another meal. Events that take place during the holiday season may also have an opportunity for the children to talk to Santa Claus and have their pictures taken with him.
The overall Family Development program is funded through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), a federally funded block grant in the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides funds to states, territories, and tribes to administer to support services that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in under-resourced communities.
It is available to eligible Community Action Agencies entities. It requires a Community Needs Assessment every three years, but applications for the program can be submitted every year.
Funding is also provided through other grants and by private donors.
Food and Nutrition
WAMY Community Action believes healthy, fresh food should be available for everyone, and it has a free community garden full of freshly grown produce near its Avery County office.
WAMY offers various housing programs including heating replacement, weatherization, and home repairs. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
It’s often said that WAMY does awesome things in our communities, but without the support of those communities, it would not be possible. I thank everyone who has been part of this journey with us. Together, we continue to build stronger, more resilient communities.
- BRITTANY LUXTON
Also, near that office, WAMY partnered with VBC Builders to host a Little Free Food Pantry offering nonperishable food to anyone in need. WAMY’s Food and Nutrition programs are volunteer-based initiatives that continue to grow.
Stellar Numbers Accomplished in Helping Others
Because of the tremendous generosity of its donors, sponsors, and community partners, WAMY Community Action served more than a whopping 2,000 clients, changing each of their lives in a great way during the last (2023-2024 fiscal year) reporting period. That total included:
• 132 children received a free bicycle and helmet through the Operation Kids Ready to Roll program (last done in 2023)
• 25 individuals and families worked toward selfsufficiency through WAMY’s Family Development Program
• 108 individuals and families received limited financial assistance for emergency expenses through the Bridges Program
• 1,431 senior citizens living in Hospice care and assisted living facilities received gifts through WAMY’s Santa for Seniors project
• 20 low-income families received personalized holiday gifts
• 100 homes were made safer, more affordable, and healthier places to live
• 65 children were helped to attend Daycare Programs through the “Support Our Students (SOS) Program
• 275 children participated in summer activities and after-school programs
• 2,181 pounds of fresh produce was grown and donated to low-income families and local food pantries in the communities WAMY serves.
• Additionally, 2,765 individuals and families have been impacted by WAMY’s COVID-19 relief programs through direct services and partnerships.
During July 8-13, 2024, a group of approximately 120 came representing North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Indiana, including some who were born in Africa, helped provide home repairs and other needs of twelve families or individuals in Watauga and Avery counties that had earlier been identified through WAMY Community Action and Three Forks Baptist Association, both based in Boone. There were local participants, too, who joined the workers from outside the region.
Located near its Avery County office, WAMY has a community garden full of freshly grown produce. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
Volunteers helping in the community garden. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
Luxton commented about WAMY’s expanding services: "This past year has brought significant changes and new opportunities. We continue to grow, adapting to our community's evolving needs. Recognizing a pressing need for housing, we expanded our efforts in that area, adding more repair programs and working to improve housing availability and affordability. We're thrilled to have discovered new ways to address childcare needs in the region, ensuring we continue to support our families.
“Our Bridges program has increased our efficiency by streamlining our intake process, allowing us to conduct comprehensive assessments and ensure our clients receive the services they need. Additionally, we've found impactful opportunities for community volunteers to become WAMY Warriors through various volunteer initiatives. We've also forged new collaborations with other agencies, enhancing our ability to serve the community effectively.
Luxton expressed deep appreciation to all who have supported WAMY in any manner.
“WAMY is thankful for the support the Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey governments give our programs,” she said. “Over the years, the commissioners have offered verbal, written, and financial support on behalf of their respective counties, enabling WAMY to make a significant difference. For example, we could not apply for and receive one of our large housing repair grants without their support.
“Regarding others who have contributed, we could not make as large of an impact as we do without their support. Foundations and individual donors allow WAMY to truly meet people where they are and offer them a hand up.
“It’s often said that WAMY does awesome things in our communities, but without the support of those communities, it would not be possible. I thank everyone who has been part of this journey with us. Together, we continue to build stronger, more resilient communities.”
How You Can Help Others by Helping WAMY
Financial donations of any amount to WAMY Community Action are always welcome and will have an impact on the life of a person or family in need. There are several ways to give besides a one-time donation. Annual or monthly donations can be made in person, on WAMY’s website, or by mail each year. Gifts can also be made to WAMY’s Endowment Fund, which helps ensure the organization is achieving its mission goals over time as endowment funds are set aside to invest and use at a later date. In-kind gifts are also gladly accepted. In-kind means donating something tangible or a skill or skills that can be helpful to the organization. Examples include new blankets, puzzle books, or socks with grips for WAMY’s Santa for Seniors program. Sponsorship opportunities are available for WAMY’s programs such as the Denim & Diamonds one-of-a-kind, yearly fundraising event, and WAMY Home Repair projects. These empower volunteers and enhance sponsors' community impact while providing valuable marketing exposure and elevating their brand visibility. Sponsors are highlighted in WAMY’s newsletter,
press releases, on its website, and in other ways.
WAMY also has several gift levels that are listed with the specific needs it can match:
• $25 can cover the cost of seeds and soil for the community garden or provide a practical gift for an isolated senior citizen during the Christmas holiday.
• $50 to $75 can help cover transportation costs for individuals and families accessing services from WAMY’s Family Development Program. It can also help stock WAMY’s Little Free Food Pantry.
• $100 to $200 can provide childcare for a working parent. It can also help cover the costs of minor home repairs or energy efficiency upgrades for a person or family in need.
• $500 can help a low-income person or family avoid eviction by covering a rent payment or assisting that person or a family cover the cost of a minor home repair.
• $1,000-$1,500 can send a child to a camp for an entire summer or cover the cost of a new wheelchair ramp for a person or family in need.
• $2,500 to $5,000 can help support WAMY Community Action’s operating budget, allowing the agency to continue providing critical services to individuals and families in need in the community. It can also help fund a new program initiative to better serve vulnerable populations.
Those who would like to contact WAMY to obtain more information about any of its services, apply for them, donate money, or for other purposes can call its primary office telephone number (828) 264-2421; visit their website at wamycommunityaction.org; or write via U.S. Mail: WAMY Community Action, 225 Birch Street, Suite #2, Boone, NC 28607.
WAMY Community Action staff members also welcome and encourage those who would like to visit any or all of its four offices which are open every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday excluding holidays, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Its main headquarters and Watauga County office are located at the Boone address. The Avery County office is located at 723 Cranberry Street in Newland. Its Mitchell County office is located at 496A Balsam Avenue in Spruce Pine. The Yancey County office is located at 20 Academy Street in Burnsville. t
WAMY provides childcare for parents as well as a fun, educational experiences for children. Photo courtesy of WAMY.
Mitchell County Bomar Brothers Gained Inspiration in Sports and Life from Legendary Avery County Coach and Grandfather
STORY BY TIM GARDNER
One of the quintessential sports families in Mitchell County's history also has deep strong ties to Avery County.
For several years during a 38-year span (1979-2017), a member of the Bomar family excelled in sports as either an athlete or coach on playing fields and in gymnasiums across Western North Carolina as well as in other places. Theirs is certainly an enduring sports legacy.
As athletes, brothers Joseph, William (Billy), Stephen, and Daniel Bomar, sons of Kurt and Karen Bomar of Spruce Pine, are among the most accomplished athletes in the 49-year history of Mitchell County High School. As their father proclaimed, “My sons never rested when it came to playing sports and giving each sport in which they participated their absolute maximum efforts.”
In Avery County, the Bomar Brothers’ paternal grandfather, Bill Bomar, was Athletics Director, Head Football Coach at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, and later Football Offensive Coordinator, Football Offensive Backs Coach, and Assistant Baseball Coach at Avery County High School in Newland, ironically and traditionally Mitchell County High’s fiercest rival. And no doubt, Bill would be proud to the utmost of Joseph, Billy (named for him), Stephen, and Daniel for the many successes each has achieved in athletics and life, as well as the good individuals they are.
Bill is a legendary coach on collegiate and prep levels in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. He drew the ultimate coaching compliment from his fellow coaching icon, University of Georgia head football coach Vince Dooley who said of him: “Bill Bomar is as good a coach as there is in America in any sport and on any level.”
Additionally, the winningest coach in National Football League history, Don Shula (Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Colts) gave Bill similar colossal acclaim, stating: “Bill Bomar is an awesome coach—one of the very best I’ve ever witnessed.”
Bill attended the University of Georgia, where he played football and baseball. He also earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees there. In 1950, he was named the University of Georgia’s Head Freshman Baseball Coach by athletics director and coach Wally Butts, for whom he played football.
Sports legend Bill Bomar was a head football and track coach at Lees-McRae College and football offensive coordinator, offensive backs coach, and assistant baseball coach at Avery County High School. Photo submitted.
Kurt and Karen Bomar’s children at a Mitchell County restaurant (left-toright) Marjorie, Joseph, Daniel, Billy, and Stephen. Photo submitted.
My sons never rested when it came to playing sports and giving each sport in which they participated their absolute maximum efforts.
- KURT BOMAR
Bill was a head coach in several sports—most notably football, basketball, and baseball—at high schools in Georgia at Eatonton (Putnam County) and Bainbridge (where he started the school’s first team) and in Florida at Dunnellon, Inverness, Palmetto, and Bradenton Southeast. Bill won approximately 1,000 games, events, or matches combined in the sports in which he served as a head coach. His most noted prep coaching achievement was leading the 1961 Dunnellon Football team to an undefeated season (11-0) and the state title in only the school's third year of playing eleven-man football after he had started its program. Dunnellon’s rapid rise to the milestone team accomplishment marked Bill Bomar forever as a miracle worker of epic proportions in the prep coaching world.
During his one season (1979) as Lees-McRae's coach, his Bobcats finished 6-4, highlighted by a 16-7 upset win against long-time regional rival and junior college national power Nassau. Bill Bomar also was the Director of Intramurals, Chairman of the Physical Education Department, and a physical education instructor at Lees-McRae. Following his retirement from there, he helped the Avery High Football Vikings to a runner-up Blue Ridge 2-A Conference championship finish and a state playoff berth. He also coached baseball during his five-year tenure coaching at Avery High (assisting his son, Karl, who was head coach) and ended his coaching career leading an Avery County Little League football team. Ironically, Karl was also the Head Girls' Softball Coach for many years at Palmetto High, and like his father, became a successful and legendary coach.
Bill also served as a teacher and a principal during his professional education career, including as a world history and physical education instructor at Avery County High. He also received high marks in those roles from his students, fellow teachers, fellow school system officials, supervisors, and others in all school systems in which he was employed.
A Nashville, Tennessee native, Bill attended Cohn High School there where he lettered in three sports before graduating in 1942. He played halfback in football and captained the basketball and baseball teams. He was chosen to the all-city team as a shortstop and led the baseball league in which Cohn High competed with a phenomenal .580 batting mark.
While serving as a radio gunner in the Eighth Army Air Corps during World War II, Bill played on the Orlando, Florida Air Base Team that was runner-up in the National Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament in Wichita, Kansas in 1945. He also played third base for the Harmony Mills, Georgia baseball team, and in the Triple-A (AAA) for the Chicago Cubs professional organization. Bill led several teams in hitting—repeatedly batting more than .500 and he was regarded as an outstanding fielder. His coaches and other knowledgeable observers who saw him play declared that Bill would have become a Major League player had he not entered the military during the World War II era. Besides his playing prowess, Bill was especially noted for his technical expertise in baseball and even authored an instructional book about the game.
Sadly, neither of the Bomar Brothers got to meet their grandfather Bomar, as he passed away several years before either was born. But they learned much about him from their father, their mother, their uncle Karl, and Kurt’s sisters and their aunts, Marjorie Levena (Veenie), named after her mother, Lilly (who passed away in 2001), and Ruth (Ruthie), and of course, from their paternal grandmother and Bill’s wife, Marjorie Henderson Bomar Hutto, who like Bill, is a University of Georgia graduate. She taught at Banner Elk, Newland, and Riverside Elementary Schools in Avery County and passed away in 2023 at 92 years of age.
Those who know Bill, Joseph, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel Bomar best will attest that the grandsons possess many of the characteristics their paternal grandfather had in personality and demeanor. And like the elder Bomar, Joseph, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel are clean-cut, classy, well-spoken, modest, friendly, intelligent, sharp-dressers and they project a purely wholesome image. Another attribute of comparison between Grandfather Bomar and Joseph, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel is that they are kind-hearted, yet stern and uncompromising about doing things the right way.
Each of the Bomar brothers is also a devout Christian who considers his faith the most important part of his life. Christianity runs strong in the Bomar Family as Bill Bomar was also an ordained minister, who served seven years as pastor of Walnut Grove (then Presbyterian) Church in the Three Mile Community
Kurt and Karen Bomar, parents of Joseph, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel, pose in front of this vintage Model A car. Photo submitted.
We know our Grandfather Bomar lived by the same philosophy as our parents and the rest of our family members on both my father’s and mother’s sides have and do. Just thinking of Bill Bomar and knowing that he is our grandfather will always inspire Billy, Stephen, Daniel, and me.
- JOSEPH BOMAR
of Avery County. Kurt, who besides being a licensed Attorney at Law in Florida, is also an ordained minister and a former pastor at Walnut Grove Church, which changed from Presbyterian to non-denominational during his tenure as its pastor.
“My brothers and I always wanted to represent Jesus Christ when we were on a football field, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, on a track or competing in track field events, on a wrestling mat, on a golf course, in a classroom, or just walking the school halls,” declared Joseph. “And we still want to represent Him in all our endeavors. We know our Grandfather Bomar lived by the same philosophy as our parents and the rest of our family members on both my father’s and mother’s sides have and do. Just thinking of Bill Bomar and knowing that he is our grandfather will always inspire Billy, Stephen, Daniel, and me.”
And there is a deep sports heritage throughout the Bomar family.
Besides Bill’s iconic sports achievements, Karl played football for his father at Palmetto High and Kurt played football and baseball for his father at Southeast High. Veenie was a majorette (Tigerette) at Palmetto High while her father coached there. Also, Lilly, who perished along with her daughter, Bonnie, in a house fire in Newland in 2001, and Ruthie, have been known as rabid sports enthusiasts as much as any of the Bomar Family members.
It’s especially interesting how their athletics versatility and success in each sport Joseph, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel participated in parallels that of Bill Bomar. Like their paternal grandfather as well as their father and uncle, the Bomar
Referee Joseph Bomar makes a call during a North Carolina prep wrestling match. Photo submitted.
Brothers are among the top athletes not only ever in their home county; but across the entire regions where they exhibited their sports exploits.
Joseph played wide receiver, strong safety, and running back for the Mitchell High Mountaineers. As a wide receiver, he became the school’s varsity all-time leader in football pass receptions with 56. His prep career reception totals also included 986 yards and 13 touchdown catches.
Defensively, Joseph made 49 varsity career tackles (28 solos; 21 assists), including six for loss. He also recovered four fumbles and made three interceptions.
He was named Mitchell’s Team Captain his senior year (2007), in which he also was chosen as the team’s Outstanding Defensive Back.
As a running back, Joseph averaged an astounding five yards per rush.
In his junior season (2006), Joseph had 21 pass catches for 321 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned six kickoffs for 98 yards—a 16.3-yard average per return.
Then during his senior season, Joseph made 35 receptions for 665 yards and seven touchdowns.
He also compiled a stellar 133-34 career record in wrestling in the 152 and 160-pound weight classes. Joseph qualified twice for the State Tournament. He was named to the 2007-2008 AllWestern Highlands 2-A Conference team and was that season’s conference and Western Regional Champion.
In baseball, Joseph had a career hitting record of more than .400. He led the Mountaineers in steals in all three seasons he played. He also was named to the 2008 All-Western Highlands Conference team and was Mitchell’s Offensive Player of The Year in 2006 and 2007. Additionally, he was Mitchell’s Team Baseball Captain for two seasons.
For excelling in the three sports and in multiple ways, Joseph was chosen as the 2008 Mitchell High School Most Outstanding Athlete.
Billy was an incredible six-sport letter-winner for the Mitchell High Mountaineers, having earned monograms in football, wrestling, basketball, baseball, track, and golf.
He played wide receiver and defensive back in football. Billy became Mitchell’s varsity career leader in receptions and reception yards, ironically surpassing Joseph’s record in the former (the record has since been broken). Billy was the football team captain during his senior year (2009).
Left-to-right: Kurt, Eliam, Billy, Salome, and Joseph Bomar pose on the Kidd Brewer Stadium turf at Appalachian State University. Photo submitted.
Billy Bomar leaps high in the air to make a pass reception for the Mitchell County High Mountaineers. Photo submitted.
“Joseph and I have always been competitive with each other, but it never really crossed my mind that I would break his record,” said Billy. “Joseph had such a great career that I never thought I could touch it, but he was one of the first people who congratulated me when I broke it.
“It was anti-climactic when I broke the reception record as it came in a state playoff game versus Hendersonville, which was one that we lost. But my breaking the record was something good that came out of that loss.”
During his Mitchell High varsity career, Billy had 57 receptions for 1,441 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 89.5 yards per game in receptions and 25.3 yards per catch— both stellar production totals. His longest reception was 75 yards.
For his senior season, Billy had 33 receptions for 912 yards of those total career yards.
He also had 24 receptions for 529 yards and two touchdowns as a junior (2008) and 23 kickoff returns for 279 yards.
Billy finished with 1,757 all-purpose yards in his career for a 109.9-yard-per-game average.
He made 58 varsity career tackles (43 solos; 15 assists) and two interceptions.
In 2008, Billy had 36 tackles (25 solos; 11 assists) and during the 2009 season, he made 22 tackles (18 solos; four assists).
During the 2009-10 basketball season, Billy played in 27 games, scoring 208 points--an average of 7.7 points as a senior for the Mountaineers. He made 87-of-199 field goals that season. And he hit 108-of-264 shots from the field for his Mitchell career, scoring 265 points. Additionally, Billy was a defensive specialist, drawing 13 charging fouls by Mitchell's opponents.
He joked that he also “unofficially drew the most technical foul calls from opposing basketball players.”
Stephen lettered in wrestling, soccer, and baseball. He was particularly adept at wrestling, in which he lettered for four seasons, and was team captain as a junior (2010-2011) and senior (2011-2012). He helped Mitchell to conference and state regional championships.
Stephen was also a three-time All-Western Highlands Conference selection as well as a Western Regionals Tournament qualifier for three seasons, placing as high as second place. He also qualified twice for the State Tournament, finishing third as a junior and fourth in his senior season. He competed in the 145-pound class as a freshman, sophomore, and junior and in the 160-pound weight class his senior season. Stephen won 138 matches in his career.
Joseph and I have always been competitive with each other, but it never really crossed my mind that I would break his record. Joseph had such a great career that I never thought I could touch it, but he was one of the first people who congratulated me when I broke it.
- BILLY BOMAR
Daniel is one of the top wrestlers in North Carolina prep history. He competed in both the 160 and 170-pound weight classes. During his senior season (2013-2014) in the 170-pound class, Daniel set a school record for single-season victories (59-3 record)
Billy Bomar (right) and Joseph Bomar (middle) pose at Billy’s swearing-in ceremony as a North Carolina Attorney-At-Law with 24th Judicial District Court Judge Ted McEntire. Photo submitted.
Stephen Bomar slides into a base in a Mitchell Mountaineers baseball game. Photo submitted.
while becoming a North Carolina High School Athletics Association (NCHSAA) 1-A Western Regional and State champion.
He also was voted Most Outstanding Sportsman at the state tournament.
Daniel was undefeated against Western North Carolina competition and qualified for the state tournament for three consecutive years. He had a sterling career record of 170-35. Additionally, he was a two-time winner at the Western Highlands Conference tournament and was also awarded Academic All-Conference twice.
Daniel and the rest of the Mitchell Mountaineers (37-7) won their first dual-team state championship in school history his senior season with a 36-30 win in the 2014 NCHSAA 1-A finals against Chatham Central High and finished state runner-up in the overall (teamindividual) state tournament in Greensboro. They also were the Western Highlands Conference dual and 1-A Western Regional tournament champions and finished just a half point behind Chatham Central (98.5 points) at the NCHSAA Dual Team State Tournament his junior (2012-2013) season.
Additionally, Daniel competed in the 2014 North Carolina State Freestyle and GrecoRoman tournaments. He won both in his weight class and was the "Triple Crown King" of North Carolina prep wrestling, earning State Titles in all the tournament's events.
After he graduated from Mitchell High, Daniel wrestled for one season at Saint Andrews College (now university) in Laurinburg, North Carolina.
Paternal patriarch Bill and matriarch Marjorie of the Bomar family. Photo submitted.
“One attribute that I think separated my brothers and me from many athletes was that we were tremendously selfmotivated,” said Daniel. “We could be depended on to be the first athletes at practices and the last ones to leave practices. In fact, we took much pride in being the first ones to arrive at practice and the last ones to leave them. And at every practice, we competed as if it was a real game, competition, or match.”
Following their high school graduations, the Bomar Brothers have excelled in their professional lives.
Joseph, Billy, and Stephen all earned undergraduate degrees from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina. After his tenure as a student-athlete at Saint Andrews College, Daniel attended both Mayland Community College, near Spruce Pine, and Appalachian State University in Boone.
Joseph also attended Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, California, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the latter where he obtained a law degree. He serves as an Attorney at Law in Spruce Pine, where he and his family make their home. Joseph and his wife, the former Lauren Jensen, have two daughters, Georgia Grace, Anna Lee, and a son, Darrow.
Billy earned a law degree from Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, giving the Bomar Family three licensed lawyers. Like Joe, Billy practices law in Spruce Pine. They are partners in a law firm and their offices are housed in the same complex. Billy is married to the former India Ellis. They have three children, a son, Lewis, and two daughters, Sybil and Nine Jude (deceased). Billy and his family also live in Spruce Pine.
Stephen works for his father in land development and is a former physical fitness trainer. Stephen is married to the former Jessie Hemp. They have three children, two sons, Asher and Pierce, and a daughter, Madison. They live in Spruce Pine.
Daniel works as an agent with the Quartz Corporation in Mitchell County. He is married to the former Tayler Duncan, and they have a daughter, Landry, and a son, Walker. They also make their home in Spruce Pine.
Like their Grandfather Bomar and Uncle Karl, Joseph, Billy, and Daniel have coaching experience, as they have worked with various sports teams in Mitchell County. Additionally, Joseph is currently the head wrestling coach at Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville and an assistant coach at Madison County High School in Marshall, both Western Highlands 2-A, 1-A Conference and traditional arch-rivals of Mitchell County High. Daniel has also been a wrestling coach in the Madison County School System.
Joseph has been a prep wrestling referee as well.
Joseph’s, Billy’s, Stephen’s, and Daniel’s sister, Marjorie Bomar, also is a former athlete, having played basketball at Sarasota, Florida Christian High School before her family moved to North Carolina. She works as a secretary to Joseph and Billy in their law offices.
Sister Marjorie, Kurt, Karen (a Kingston, New York native), Karl, Veenie, Ruthie, Lilly, Grandmother Marjorie, as well as Karen’s parents and other relatives on her side of the family, were the Bomar Brothers most ardent sports fans and supporters of their athletic exploits.
Daniel said that his family as a whole has enjoyed much
Stephen Bomar lined up to bat in a baseball game for the Mitchell Mountaineers. Photo submitted.
Daniel Bomar and the 2014 North Carolina High School 1-A Dual Team Wrestling Champions are shown behind banners recognizing them during a ceremony at the school’s football stadium. Photo submitted.
Daniel (left) and Stephen Bomar were both first-place winners at the Cherokee Invitational Wrestling Tournament while they wrestled for the Mitchell County High School Mountaineers. Photo submitted.
We love both and they're awesome in so many respects. We were raised in Mitchell County, and of course, our paternal grandparents lived in Avery in addition to my grandfather teaching and coaching there and my grandmother teaching there.
- STEPHEN BOMAR
success in sports, as well as in life in general.
“Everyone in our family who has played sports enjoyed various degrees of success in each sport in which he or she participated. All of my family members are hard workers, very smart, and talented. I love them and I strive to be like them. So, to be included with them about our sports participation and accomplishments or in any manner of measurement is an honor.”
In conclusion, the Bomar Brothers have been model representatives of the North Carolina High Country and all of Western North Carolina and they're particularly fond of their connections to Mitchell and Avery Counties.
“We take pride in our ties to both counties,” Stephen declared. “We love both and they're awesome in so many respects. We were raised in Mitchell County, and of course, our paternal grandparents lived in Avery in addition to my grandfather teaching and coaching there and my grandmother teaching there. My family has attended church at Walnut Grove for much of our lives, so we've spent plenty of time in Avery County. And sometimes when my brothers or any of our family members are in Avery County, someone, and often several people, will come up
to us and tell us what a positive impact our Grandfather Bill and Grandmother Marjorie made in their lives once they learn we are their grandsons. We particularly get comments about what a great preacher, coach, and genuine person our Grandfather Bomar was. And we're deeply appreciative and thankful to receive those comments. His influence will dwell within us forever.”
Daniel then summed it up further and succinctly, stating: “My brothers and I are proud of the sports achievements and statistical numbers we compiled. It's a blessing to have had the opportunity to grow up in Mitchell County, to attend and graduate from its high school, and to be members of sports teams there. And it was special for Joseph and me to get to coach there, too. But we’re also most thankful for the major impact Avery County has had in our lives. Although we never got to meet him in our Earthly lives, the legacy of our Grandfather Bomar has been very instrumental to our sports and other successes as well as our lives in general. We’ve heard so much about him and have tried, and still do, to conduct ourselves in the manner in which he did and always be mindful to live a life that is pleasing to God such as he did.” t
Mint Indian Cuisine An Exotic Experience at Home in the High Country
STORY BY LAYNE HENDRICKSON
Iwas raised in the South. As a child, the most exotic thing on our table was a bottle of Tabasco. But then, when I was seventeen, an English couple visited my girlfriend’s family, and she prepared dinner for us one night. She opened box after box, and out came spices and ingredients that were completely new to me—to all of us— brightly colored powders, dried seeds, and chilis I had never seen before, let alone smelled, and jars of sauces that might as well have been from another planet as far as I was concerned.
She made us a meal that changed my life. It was a full Indian curry dinner or at least an approximation of one. The effect it had on me was seismic. I took my first bite of what I now know to be pickled lime (my mouth waters as I type this) and I can only describe it as being like seeing a new color for the first time. It was a taste that
had no previous frame of reference for me. I have chased those new flavors ever since.
For this article, I sat down with my friends Nitin Rabari and Aman Hans of Mint Indian Cuisine, located at 203 Boone Heights Drive in Boone for a talk.
“Natin, what part of India are you from?” I ask.
“I am from Gujrat which is in the Northwest,” Nitin replies.
“And Aman, what about you? Where are you from?” I ask.
“I’m from Punjab,” he answers.
“Now, Mint is partly owned by the same folks who own Nawab Indian Restaurant in Winston-Salem. Is that correct?” I ask.
“Yes, Raj and Nisha Arora,” Nitin confirms. “They opened Nawab 28 years ago.”
Manager Aman Hans, part owner Nitin Rabari, and staff of Mint Indian Restaurant in Boone. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
When we opened in 2012, there was not a large Indian population here. We were worried we wouldn’t have enough customers with it being a small town. And we didn’t know if the people around here would like Indian food.
- NITIN RABARI
“So, who does what here at Mint?” I enquire.
“Nitin is a part-owner along with Raj and Nisha Arora,” Aman explains. “And I’m the manager.”
“So how did Mint Restaurant begin?” I ask.
“I started working at Nawab Restaurant in Winston-Salem in 2008, and I was eager to open a business,” Nitin replies.
“They looked at his ability and they offered him a business,” Aman interjects. “And so, together, they opened the restaurant here in Boone.”
“And we’re all very glad you did!” I exclaim. “How long ago did Mint open up here?”
“We opened in June of 2012,” Nitin recalls.
“As you know, my wife and I come here all the time. We simply love it! And we hear nothing but praise about the place from everyone we talk to in the High Country. And now, how about you, Aman? How did you get started here?” I ask.
“I started working with them in 2019,” Aman explains. “They were family friends.”
“So, that is a connection that goes way back. How long have y’all been in the States?” I enquire.
“I’ve been here 16 years,” Nitin replies.
Mint’s ample parking makes for a stress-free dining experience. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
No one knows for sure how ‘Chicken 65’ got its name, but over time, it has become a favorite staple of Indian cuisine. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
Chana Masala is garbanzo beans and diced potatoes cooked in a Northern Indian style sauce. Choose your own level of heat. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
“I’ve only been here like five years,” Aman answers. “Not too long.”
“Only five years? Your English is amazing. Did y’all learn it in India before you came?” I enquire.
“No, we both learned when we came here,” Nitin answers.
“Wow! I am so impressed! I certainly don’t think I could learn Hindi that quickly!” I say with a laugh.
“I think English is the easiest language,” Nitin responds. “The easiest language in the world. In English, there are just 26 letters in the alphabet. In our language, there are so many!” (52 to be specific.)
“I understand that Sanskrit is the oldest active, written language in the world. That’s a lot of time to come up with letters! Maybe we English writers haven’t had time to discover more than 26 letters yet! So, what was the most challenging part of opening up the restaurant here?” I ask.
“When we opened in 2012, there was not a large Indian population here,” Nitin recalls. “We were worried we wouldn’t have enough customers with it being a small town. And we didn’t know if the people around here would like Indian food. It was a concern. So, we started the lunch buffet so people could try different things. But unfortunately, we had to stop it because of Covid. And the food prices we had to pay went up and they never came back down. And the cost of paying wages went up as well. And finding staff was a struggle sometimes.”
“But conversely, I would think it has been very rewarding for you to see it succeed as wildly as it has. There is always a great crowd of happy patrons here,” I observe.
“It is very rewarding,” Nitin agrees. “We so enjoy for people to be happy here and to be even happier by the time they leave. That’s the biggest thing that we are enjoying—the support. The love we feel is the biggest thing.”
“To see the people here coming and supporting a local business is fantastic,” Aman adds.
“Well, we know so many people who love it here as much as we do,” I remark. “I’ve eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants all over the nation, and this is among the very best. Too many try to Americanize the food and use fewer spices, but to me, that’s missing the point of trying the food of another culture than the one you are used to. I’m not talking about necessarily the amount of hot peppers but using all the different Indian spices that are so varied and wonderful.”
“Exactly,” Nitin agrees. “Indian food is known for its spices. You take that away and it’s not Indian. It’s not the same thing anymore. We’re known for the spice.”
“Having tried to cook Indian food at home myself, I know that it takes a very long time to do well. It’s a lot of work! There is so much preparation that goes into it,” I reply.
“It does take a lot of time,” Nitin concurs. “It takes a lot of preparation and a lot of knowledge—
Gobi Manchurian, chicken curry, basmati rice with peas, garlic naan bread, and raita… a refreshing yogurt side dish with shredded cucumbers, roasted cumin, and herbs. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
Fragrant and delicious garlic naan straight from Mint’s own tandoori oven. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
Garlic naan, chicken 65, and chana masala. The flavors are nearly indescribable. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
It is very rewarding. We so enjoy for people to be happy here and to be even happier by the time they leave. That’s the biggest thing that we are enjoying—the support. The love we feel is the biggest thing.
- NITIN RABARI
when to put in which spice, and how much to use.”
“Everything matters!” Aman agrees. “It really does.”
“And I know that y’all have recently done a complete remodeling of the interior here at Mint. Could you tell me about that?” I prompt.
“We wanted more seating,” Nitin responds. “Plus, we wanted to make it a little fancier.”
“It was time to change it a little bit,” Aman adds.
“We wanted new art, and it was time for new furniture as well,” Nitin says. “We opened it up in here quite a bit.”
“You have opened it up which looks great!” I observe. “It gives more light and a better flow. But please don’t get rid of the Bollywood playing on your television over the bar! We just love to watch that when we’re here!”
“Oh, we’ll definitely keep that! Don’t worry!” Nitin reassures me, obviously pleased that we enjoy it.
“I would imagine that this being a university town increases your business?” I hypothesize.
“Oh yes, the university helps,” Nitin confirms. “But also, the local people, and people visiting the area, tourists, and Florida people that come up for the summer. Combined all together, it's good.”
“I know that a lot of people are afraid to try Indian food because they think that it is too hot for them, too many hot peppers. But I know that there are many, many Indian dishes that are not hot at all, very mild and delicious. What do you tell people to try who like their food very mild?” I ask.
“We have tika masala sauce, korma sauce, and coconut sauce. They are all very mild and a good place to start with Indian curry,” Nitin explains. “They are great for
Mango Lassis are a deliciously creamy, sweet, yogurt-based drink and a great way to help put out the fire if you’re silly enough to order your food ‘Indian Hot.’ Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
someone who’s never tried Indian food. These have a lot of flavor and has a spice, but not the chili pepper spice or anything like that, not hot at all.”
“You mean not like the hot curries I like! But I’m not like some people I know who come in here and ask for their food Indian hot. That’s way too hot for me! I’ve got to ask, do y’all actually eat your food Indian hot?” I ask.
“Yes, we do eat it that way,” Aman reports with a big smile. “But not every day. But especially if it’s cold weather, then it’s Indian hot! It keeps you warm!”
“In addition to my wife and myself, I would imagine you a have loyal following of regulars who come here,” I prompt.
“Oh yes,” Nitin responds. “We have lots of people who come in weekly or even twice a week.”
“There are a couple of families in Boone,” Aman adds. “They do what they call Mint Monday! They get dinner to go from us every Monday and they enjoy it with their family. I know three or four of them that call it Mint Monday.”
“That’s the love and support we get from the area,” Nitin explains. “That’s the biggest reward.”
Choosing from Mint’s vast menu is the hardest part. Luckily, the staff are always ready to answer questions and make suggestions if desired. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
There is a lot of street food in India, and they have so much good talent. If I travel over there and see something new that people would like, I may bring the dish back. People have their own specialties. But the real Indian food dishes are on the street. They are bringing their home recipe from their family. Each family has its own variety.
- NITIN RABARI
“We certainly look forward to coming here. We have always felt very welcome here,” I relay. “But I’ve noticed that it’s not just us. I see you both talking and joking with other folks as well. I can tell that they know and love you as much as we do.”
“We love our customers,” Nitin shares.
“Now, from having attempted to cook Indian food myself, I know it takes so many ingredients! You must order a lot of spices?” I enquire.
“Yes, we do a lot of ordering from Indian spice warehouses,” Nitin states. “They deliver spice and supplies to us on pallets we use so much! Like once a month, they deliver three big pallets of supplies! It was hard to get back during Covid because it all comes from India and shipping was backed up.”
“Now, do you each have titles here in terms of management?” I ask.
“It’s not like that,” Nitin replies. “It’s just teamwork.”
“We just jump in and do whatever needs doing,” Aman agrees.
“That shows too. The service here has always been impeccable. I notice you both jumping in and helping the customers and other staff all the time,” I observe.
“Exactly,” Nitin says. “We all work together.”
“How do you come up with your menu? Is that something that comes from other restaurants?” I query.
“It’s just the signature dishes,” Nitin explains. “The things that are most popular in India. The most authentic and popular dishes. People love that. So, that’s how we decide what goes on the menu.”
“There are a lot of creative chefs in India, they try to learn new things. There are many, many dishes in Indian cuisine,” Aman notes.
“There is a lot of street food in India, and they have so much good talent,” Nitin relays. “If I travel over there and see something new that people would like, I may bring the dish back. People have their own specialties. But the real Indian food dishes are on the street. They are bringing their home recipe from their family. Each family has its own variety.”
“What do Indians eat for breakfast food?” I ask.
“They will eat like leftover rice, they will make a bread of that,” Nitin explains.
“They will make like a roti, stuffed with vegetables and spices. They will use that for breakfast,” Aman adds.
“Stuffed paratha (a thicker skillet bread) is like the most popular breakfast in India,” Nitin explains. “And they have to have chai tea every morning.”
“Chai is really important!” Aman declares. “It is part of breakfast!”
“The day starts with chai!” Nitin agrees. “Milk, spices, and tea all cooked together.”
“Well, tell me about Indian desserts; I know I’ve had some wonderful frozen mango ice cream here.”
Mint’s newly redecorated dining area is a hit with locals and visitors alike. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
Appetizer Aloo Tikki Chat- spiced chickpeas, fried potato patties, topped with a tangy sauce and a mouthwatering dollop of mint chutney. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
Mint’s outdoor seating area is popular year round and particularly with pet owners. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
“Yes, the mango kulfi,” Aman clarifies. “Also rice pudding, halwa (sweet carrot pudding), gulab jamun (fried donut balls dunked in rose sugar syrup).
“India has millions of desserts!” Nitin reports gleefully. “Indians love their sweets! They do. They are very popular there.”
“I understand you do catering as well,” I mention.
“Yes, we do!” Aman confirms. “We do wedding parties quite often. Last week, we catered for a wedding in West Jefferson. There were like 150 people that we fed.”
“Part of our renovation has been to start a private dining area,” Nitin adds.
“Is that for V.I.P.s such as myself?” I ask jokingly.
“Yes! Of course!” Aman says with a hearty laugh. “It holds about 25 people. People can book that for private events like birthday parties or office meetings. We get a lot of office people during their lunchtime. They have meetings. So, that’s why we made that. Birthday parties as well—last night we had a birthday party of like 20 people. It was giant.”
“Now Aman, you have told me that you’d like to have a restaurant of your own someday. Is that something that we can look forward to as well?” I ask.
“Not on my own,” Aman corrects. “With the family. Hopefully, that will be happening fairly soon.”
“That’s fantastic!” I exclaim. “But only as long as you don’t go too far away!”
“Oh no, we will be staying around here!” Aman reassures.
“Then you have my permission,” I joke.
“Yes sir, I appreciate it!” Aman says with a huge laugh. “It will be either in Boone or in Blowing Rock.”
“That is positively epic news!” I exclaim. “If you open a restaurant over by me in Blowing Rock, I’ll never eat anything else! You mentioned that this would be with your family. How closely related is everyone?”
“[It is] extended family,” Aman explains.
“Is it hard working that closely with family? I surely know it would be with mine!” I confess.
“I’ve heard people say that it is hard to work with your own family in a business,” Aman relates. “But I’ve never had that kind of experience. I always enjoy it. If we need some help, if we are out of something or the like, our family in Winston-Salem is always there for us. They will bring the stuff over. One and a half hours, that’s a drive! They are always ready for us. It’s actually very supportive to have [a] family like that. My father is a farmer in India. If he needs any help, he calls his brothers, uncles, and cousins; and they are always there for him. That’s the culture of India.” t
I’ve heard people say that it is hard to work with your own family in a business. But I’ve never had that kind of experience. I always enjoy it. If we need some help, if we are out of something or the like, our family in Winston-Salem is always there for us.
- AMAN HANS
Manager Aman Hans always provides the warmest of welcomes to both loyal patrons and newcomers to Mint Indian Restaurant in Boone. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
The appetizer Gobi Manchurian is made of lightly battered and fried cauliflower florets glazed in a tangy, flavorful sauce. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
The creamy ‘vegetable coconut’ is an assortment of fresh garden vegetables cooked in ginger, garlic, coconut milk, fresh herbs & spices. One of Mint’s many vegan options. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.
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Parting Shot...
Local Love for the Holidays spread joy
For many residents of the High Country who are facing food insecurity, where their next meal is coming from is a constant source of stress, especially during the holidays. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture’s Local Love for the Holidays Program changed that. Thanks to an incredible community effort, 120 local families will enjoy the gift of fresh, local goodness this holiday season through the Local Love for the Holidays program.
Thanks to $2,000 in donations from High Country Food Hub customers alongside support from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Food Lion of Blowing Rock, Impact Health and meat donations from Piedmont Custom Meats, the Local Love Program purchased and distributed $7,825 of food for holiday meals. Casting Bread, Blowing Rock Cares, and Feeding Avery Families distributed the 120 holiday meal kits to their clients.
The High Country Food Hub’s Local Food as Medicine Program purchased the delicious, farm-fresh ingredients from twenty High Country farmers for these shares. All meal kits included pork and sausage, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, apples, grain (cornmeal, rice or flour), fresh herb bundles, and hams from Food Lion of Blowing Rock.
“We are so lucky to have such amazing growers in the High
Country!” said Laney Baker, BRWIA’s Producer Programs Coordinator. “It can be hard to provide this much volume in December in the High Country and they rocked it even after a 15 degree frost! One farm even took a pig to the processor to help us supply enough sausage.”.
“We are so grateful for the food provided—this is exactly what we include in our holiday meals,” shared Dennis Norris at Blowing Rock Cares. “We truly appreciate everything BRWIA has done to support us and our community.”
Sam Springs, BRWIA’s Local Food as Medicine Coordinator, remarked, “Thanks to all our partners and supporters who helped make this program a success! Everyone deserves access to healthy, nutritious local food, and it’s incredible to see how our Food Hub customers give back so that everyone can enjoy a local holiday meal.”
This holiday season, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, with support from the High Country community, supplied fresh, local food for many families’ holiday tables. The Local Love for the Holidays program helps to build a resilient local food system by supporting small-scale food producers while increasing food access and security. t
STORY COURTESY OF BLUE RIDGE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
High Country Food Hub staff and volunteers with 120 bags of apples from Deal Orchards. BRWIA’s Local Love for the Holidays program bought and distributed 120 holiday meal kits for food pantry. Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture.
