02/23 February Magazine

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Chris Capozzoli, Luthier

By Peter Morris

“When I’m building guitars, nothing else seems to matter…I love how guitars work.” - Chris Capozzoli

Darius Malbon

By Harley Nefe

“The desire for gaining knowledge and learning motivates me to continue to make a difference in the world.” - Darius Malbon

App State Dance Team

By Harley Nefe

“Every girl on the team has grown up on stage...dancing in front of 30,000 people at a football game is a whole different thing.” - Ana Duncan

Honoring Gaylord Perry

By Tim Gardner

“What was so satisfying about my no-hitter was that it came against the world champion St. Louis Cardinals.” - Gaylord Perry

Juanita Smith at 100

By Sherrie Norris

“Nobody is perfect, when someone gets in trouble, I try not to judge them. I just want to help them.” - Juanita Smith

Appalachian Blind & Closet

By Jan Todd

“I’d like to help people with the business side of running nonprofit organizations. That is my purpose right now…I trust God to lead me.” - Greg Seiz

A New Year, a New Adventure!

During February, the High Country focuses on all things winter – the excitement and adventure of sneaking away from the office early to hit the slopes, relaxing with someone dear by a warm fireplace, making memories with children or grandchildren who are home for remote learning days, and being ready for anything as we check Ray’s Weather to learn that we may have frigid temperatures on a Tuesday and rebound to above 60 degrees by that Friday.

At High Country Press Publications, we are embarking on a new adventure to capture and share memories, and it will require us to be ready for anything. We are honored to announce that we plan to launch a new print newspaper focused on the Blowing Rock community in late-spring 2023!

The journey to this point is its own story. In spring 2022, we researched the possibility of launching a print newspaper, opting to postpone further deliberation and reconsider the concept in spring 2023. Then, on October 20 last year, a void was created in the Blowing Rock market, so we revisited the idea sooner than anticipated.

When High Country Press sponsored the Blowing Rock Chamber’s Business After Hours event on November 15 at Sunset & Vine, we announced three key elements required for us to launch a print newspaper: (1) support from Blowing Rock’s leadership, (2) writers and photographers, and (3) advertisers. Since that time, the response and encouragement from the town’s government, Chamber of Commerce, and other community partners has been overwhelmingly positive. Since November, we have hired additional writers and photographers, and are working with advertisers to make a print newspaper for Blowing Rock a reality.

High Country Press - Blowing Rock will be a great adventure. We will continue to embrace our core principles of integrity, curiosity, and wonder in all that we do. The newest paper will not be a mere replacement for something missed. Rather, it is a new breed of newspaper, backed by a strong ethos and refreshing, community-focused approach.

High Country Press - Blowing Rock will also celebrate a marketplace of ideas and opinions. After you read the paper for a month or two, you are likely to encounter opinions that reflect your voice, as well as some opinions with which you disagree. We will endeavor to look at all sides of issues that mean the most to Blowing Rock. We invite you to join us on this exciting new adventure.

If you live in other towns, like West Jefferson, Banner Elk, Seven Devils, Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, or Boone, you may be thinking, “I want a paper like that.” Be encouraged. Look for High Country Press in your town in the months and years to come.

As always, thanks for choosing High Country Magazine, and for asking for it by name.

Publisher Sam Garrett editor Ken Ketchie

design

Ashley Poore

contributing Writers

Tim Gardner

Peter Morris

Harley Nefe

Sherrie Norris

Abigail F. Sherrin

Jan Todd

cover Photogr APher

Chris Capozzoli

contributing Photogr APhers

Jonathan Aguallo

Todd Bush

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 © 2023, All rights reserved

ON THE COVER:

Sam Garrett - Publisher

One of Chris Capozzoli's many creations, a classical electric guitar made from Spanish Cedar, Curly Redwood, and Ebony.

mountain echoes

Terry Gardner Honored at Avery County High School for Sports Milestone Feats

STORY BY TIM GARDNER

the extra point to lead the Vikings to victory.

Another sports milestone Gardner achieved is that he is the first athlete at Avery High to earn a letter in four sports–football, basketball (guard), baseball (third base) and wrestling. He was also presented a framed picture of him wearing his football uniform by Dr. Brigman, Farmer, Ward, and Smith. A copy of this same framed picture of Gardner is on display in one of Avery High’s sports trophy cases.

said. “Again, I appreciate the tremendous generosity of these four gentlemen. It is always special to be honored by your school. I have been greatly blessed in my life, which includes the opportunity to attend Avery High School and participate in its athletic programs.”

Throughout his sports career, Gardner proclaimed himself as a “team player” and co-attributes all his accomplishments to his teammates in every sport he played. So, he said all honors he has ever received is part those of his teammates too.

Avery County High School has a rich sports history. Since it opened with the 1968-69 school year following the consolidation of Crossnore, Newland and Cranberry High Schools, Avery teams, athletes and coaches have consistently enjoyed successes in the various sports in which they compete. They have captured numerous championships on conference, sectional, district, regional and state levels. Some also have established various team and individual records on different levels and achieved national, and even international, recognition.

On December 15, 2022, school officials honored one of Avery’s former athletes for a pair of Viking sports milestones he holds.

Terry Gardner, an Avery County High School Class of 1971 graduate, was presented a football by Avery Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman, Avery High Head Football Coach Ethan Farmer, Principal Ricky Ward and Athletics Director Jay Smith in recognition of his milestone achievement of scoring all points in Avery’s first-ever football win, 7 to 6 over Morganton in 1970. Gardner played both running back and kicker on offense and linebacker on defense. He made a touchdown run and then kicked

“I was honored to present the football and picture to Terry Gardner,’’ Farmer said. “It is amazing to honor him for his sports accomplishments at Avery County High School. As head football coach, I will always cherish the comment Terry made during the presentation that ‘I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.’ Congratulations again, Terry, and Go Vikings!”

Dr. Brigman added: “It is a pleasure to honor Terry for his tremendous accomplishments that occurred during the beginning years of Avery County High School. We are fortunate to have a history of great athletes and this is a great opportunity to honor our past as we plan for our future. Congratulations to Terry Gardner!”

Gardner expressed zenith appreciation for being honored by the school.

“I am deeply thankful to Dr. Brigman, Coach Farmer, Mr. Ward and Mr. Smith for providing such wonderful recognition to me by presenting me with the football and framed picture, as well as having my picture displayed in one of the school’s athletics trophy cases,” Gardner

Jimmy Hall Heaton, who coached Gardner as Avery High’s first head football coach said of him: “Terry was an excellent football player, both offensively and defensively. He was a very tough player for my teams as well as an over-all highlyaccomplished athlete. He was a true team player in each sport in which he competed. And he possessed a strong work ethic and a deep passion for sports.” t

Avery High Head Football Coach Ethan Farmer (left) with Terry Gardner, who holds a football in recognition of him scoring all points in the school’s first win, 7-6 over Morganton in 1970. (Pictures courtesy of Tim Gardner and Dr. Dan Brigman)

Avery High School Football Standout Terry Gardner (1968-’70). (Pictures courtesy of Tim Gardner and Dr. Dan Brigman)

Carolina Gal

By Jan Todd

For folks in the High Country, snow evokes a variety of emotions. It puts smiles on the faces and cash in the registers of folks in businesses that rely on the cold white stuff for skiers and tourists who drive up the mountain just to build a snowman. It brings joy to the children who get a day off from class. It brings groans from parents whose kids get a day off from class. And the very thought of it sends summer residents high tailing it to warmer climates.

As for me? I LOVE snow. At least until late March, when I’m ready to see some daffodils. But until then, I’m off to the races to stock up on milk, bread and ingredients for chicken stew when the weatherman predicts a snowstorm headed our way.

My young’uns are grown and gone, so I’ve been known to call up a friend from down the mountain and convince ‘em to come up and get snowed in with me. We build a fire and put on a pot of soup, pull out the board games and whittle the day away until the snow is deep enough to go out and play.

Nothing beats watching the snow come across the valley, with giant flakes falling from the sky. No work can be done when it is snowing outside. Even though I’ve worked out of the home office for years, and technically, the weather doesn’t impede my ability to sit at my computer and be productive, I still must take the day off when it is snowing. I mean, how can I possibly concentrate when there’s practically a blizzard outside?

I have to do what every other Southerner does in such a situation. I press my nose against the window to watch the snowflakes, check in with Ray’s Weather, view some of the webcams on App Ski Mountain and King Street, call my sister in

Tennessee to see if it is snowing at her house, and post a picture on Twitter and Facebook with the caption, “It’s SNOWING!”

If there is significant accumulation, I’ll bring out the ruler and take a photo (measuring the deepest pile I can find, of course) and post that to social media as well. How could I be expected to work with all that to do?

Sledding with the neighbors is always a treat, provided we can beat the snowplows before they clear the roads — or find a gentle slope in a yard. Saucer-type sleds work best on deep snow, but they can be hard to control. When I was a student at App State in the 1980s, we used cafeteria trays, which worked quite well. Of course, we returned the trays to the cafeteria after use. Really, we did.

One of the best parts of a BIG snow is making snow cream. I didn’t realize until recently that snow cream is a Southern Thing. Like many “Southern Things,” it was simply part of my childhood, just as normal as boiling peanuts or putting pimentos in cheese.

Snow cream requires dry, fluffy snow, and is best gathered by putting a bowl on the deck and letting the snow naturally accumulate. Mix in some milk (remember that grocery store run?), sugar, and a couple drops of vanilla extract. If you’re feeling fancy, you can use some sweetened condensed milk. The resulting snow cream should have the consistency of a Slushie and will taste like heaven!

After eating snow cream, hot chocolate is a necessity. Then bring out Scrabble, cozy up to the fire, and enjoy the stillness of the day. t

Jan Todd (right) and her friend, Jill Venable, enjoy the magic of a “big snow” in Boone last winter. Photo by Jan Todd

Chris Capozzoli: Guitar Artist & Luthier

STORY BY PETER MORRIS

Grove’s Chris Capozzoli, who s-l-o-w-l-y creates each and every guitar beginning with the choosing of the proper woods to the inlaying of hand-cut mother of pearl designs.

In a word, requoting St. Frances, “He who works with his hands and head and his heart is an artist” and, without question, Chris Capozzoli is an artist.

Guitars are the most popular musical instrument in America, the electric version recently surpassing pianos in a national survey. But, while makers like C.F. Martin and Company can produce some 250 per-day (specialized guitars taking up to six months) the nation’s demand for the stringed instrument is huge, somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,500,000 annually being purchased.

On the other end of guitar production, there are many smaller workshops which cater to guitar aficionados who demand the finest and most unique instruments available.

One master craftsman of such musical creations is Sugar

Capozzoli lives in Boone with wife Courtney, who teaches science at Watauga High School, and son Aiden, nine, who attends Hardin Park School. He works out of his one-man shop, Capozzoli Guitar Company, in Sugar Grove near the Doc Watson Museum.

Capozzoli’s workshop is located behind the old Cove Creek High School in the building which once served as the school’s cafeteria.

The now 42 year-old Capozzoli made his first guitar while still in high school and, to date, he has spread his artistry to multiple dozens of instruments.

Some of Chris's inventory has included various Royale and Kuiper model guitars. His current inventory can be viewed at CapozzoliGuitarCompany.com. Photos courtesy of Chris Capozzoli

Right photo: Chris Capozzoli shows the intricate woodworking he has carved on the top of a guitar.

“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

- St. Francis of Assisi

“I’ve built 95 stringed instruments since the first one I made in high school, and I’m currently working on numbers 96, 97, 98, and 99” he noted. “I have a really special plan now and a new hollow-body electric guitar design coming out

“Guitar making is very special to me. I have thought if I were born in any century past, I may have been a guitar maker,” explains Capozzoli. “When I’m building guitars, nothing else seems to matter. It puts me in a zone where I’m confident and challenged, and I get to express my love for artistry, craftsmanship, science and physics. I love how guitars work!” he added. “I’m fascinated with sounds, vibrations, frequencies, and electrical and magnetic currents. The discovery of electromagnetic induction has made it possible for us to communicate over vast distances and amplify our voices and instruments and record our songs with extreme quality and precision.”

The wood used in the creation of guitars is of utmost importance. Capozzoli “really appreciates” using local North Carolina hardwoods and reclaimed wood from old barns and homesteads, his favorite being maple walnut and white oak.

He also uses imported woods that are labeled FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) which

Capozzoli has been playing the guitar since he was 12 and currently plays with the regionally popular band Loose Roosters.

are legally and sustainably cut in a way which has the least impact on the environment where they originated. These woods include spruce, mahogany, rosewood, and ebony. Other woods also turned into guitars come from old furniture and decommissioned pianos.

Capozzoli is currently working with wood from a 150 year-old piano, the guitar’s neck being made from spruce and its body from Brazilian rosewood

Expanding on his personal art, Capozzoli dwells on his philosophy: “This all fascinates me to no end. I like to believe my instruments will become people’s favorite possession and tools for their creativity in making music and art. I know how important my first guitar was to me and how it felt to have this tool to assist me in squeezing out the feelings and emotions brewing inside me as a young teenager.”

To say that Capozzoli is beyond an artist is an understatement. He melds mind and heart in almost

The guitar is a miniature orchestra in itself. - LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Numerous types of wood are used in each guitar order. Wood from old pianos and furniture pieces are often used as well.

WHEN I’M BUILDING GUITARS, NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO MATTER. IT PUTS ME IN A ZONE WHERE I’M CONFIDENT AND CHALLENGED, AND I GET TO EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR ARTISTRY, CRAFTSMANSHIP, SCIENCE AND PHYSICS. I LOVE HOW GUITARS WORK! - CHRIS CAPOZZOLI

overwhelming proportions in his love for both current and historical musical creations.

“I like to take my time building my instruments to hopefully outlast multiple lifetimes. When I get ahold of a guitar that was built in the Baroque era when guitars were first being developed, I’m taken back to that time where this instrument was hand built without electricity or power tools and knowledge of guitar technology was young. I see the craftmanship and love that went into making something that will be a tool for centuries to come. I think of all the hands that have played it and the songs and entertainment that came from it.”

He continued, “I like to imagine someone like me holding a guitar I built three-to-400 years ago now in a futuristic world, someone who might scrutinize its existence, imagining how life was back then and what it took to create such a guitar. I think of how cool it will be

A custom electric upright base. The neck is made out of North Carolina maple, and the body from reclaimed cypress.

Part of the many hours put into guitar making can include carving intricate details on the top of guitars.

Photos courtesy of Chris Capozzoli

that the mark I left in this world with the instruments I make will continue to allow people to be creative.”

Among the many types of guitars Capozzoli creates are acoustic guitars, parlor single O, double O, OM, dreadnought, and jumbo. For electric guitars, he builds solid body, semi-hollow, hollow body, and his electric upright bass’ which are all semi-hollow.

Other creations include lap steel guitars, acoustic and electric banjos, mandolins, classical acoustic guitars, classical electric and electric bass, and electric violins.

Each of Capozzoli’s guitars take between 80-160 hours to construct, with the picking out of the woods to be used for the body, neck and fingerboards selected first followed by a wide variety of detail work ranging from gluing the body and components to adding accent woods, drilling holes for the volume and tone controls, and cutting out the fret spots to…the list is all but endless, all topped off sevento-ten coats of lacquer and sanding, sanding, sanding, followed by installing the hardware, and putting the strings on. Capozzoli’s client base, as might be expected, is extensive.

“My favorite clients are musicians who play live and are out gigging. I love seeing and hearing my instruments

Chris showing the guitar building form, where the work of guitar making begins.

The guitar is the easiest instrument to play and the hardest to play well.

- ANDRES SEGOVIA

being played live on stage. Some of my clients are guitar collectors and I’m honored that they choose to add me to their collection,” he noted. “Of course, some of my best friends own my instruments, so I get to see those played frequently. Appalachian State’s Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio owns a bunch of my instruments; it’s great to know that future music industry leaders will have the chance to try out my instruments. Even Darrell Scott owns one of my electric guitars and I’m a huge fan of his music and song writing, so it means a lot to me that he has a Capozzoli Guitar.

Capozzoli himself, a mostly selftaught guitar maker, honed his skills while working at Vaughn Woodworking in Foscoe for a decade and then attending the American School of Lutherie (the making of musical, stringed instruments) studying under Charles Fox to fine tune his skills, which he called “a lifelong process.”

As a performer Capozzoli, who has been playing the guitar since 12 yearsof-age, currently plays with the

regionally popular band Loose Roosters, which specializes in Appalachian roots rock, and performs at venues such as Booneshine, Lost Province, and Highland Brewing.

Playing music is one of the greatest pastimes. It brings friends and strangers together. It makes you feel good as both a player and listener.

Summarizes Capozzoli, “I think of how cool it will be that the mark I left in this world with the instruments I make will continue to allow people to be creative and expressive with something that has been hand-built, used, loved, shared and passed on for generations to come.

Basically, he says with no lack of enthusiasm, “This is why I love making guitars.”

To see more creations from Capozzoli Guitar Company or to inquire about custom creations, visit CapozzoliGuitarCompany. com t

Let’s Play in the Snow

Darius Malbon: Striving to Make a Difference

STORY BY HARLEY NEFE

One Lees McRae College alumnus is striving to make a difference and help as many people as possible overcome their everyday challenges.

Over the past two years Darius Malbon has published three books that address deep topics like suicide awareness, finding one’s purpose, and racial unity in order to spark conversations.

“The reality is I know I’m not going to be here forever, so I wanted to make a difference for the world even when I’m not here,” Malbon explained. “I wanted to still be able to make a difference and for people to still be able to change even if I’m not here physically to be able to talk to them. You look at Martin Luther King Jr. and some of these other phenomenal people, and they’re not here today, but because of their impact and legacy, they’re still changing lives for a lot of people. I want to have that type of impact and be able to help people because that’s what we’re here for.”

Darius was born and raised in Hickory and grew up playing various sports such as football, baseball, and track. However, his main sport was basketball as he played point guard for Hickory High School.

During his high school years, Darius was part of conference championships and was fortunate enough to play in the North Carolina 3A State Championship while also being an honors student enrolled in AP and IB programs.

Following high school graduation, Darius received both an academic and athletic scholarship for basketball to attend Lees McRae College, where he was part of recordbreaking seasons for the most wins in a season at the time.

Darius graduated from Lees McRae College in 2017 majoring in Sports Administration and minoring in Mathematics.

“It’s crazy because since I have a math minor, I never thought that I would write books because I honestly didn’t like writing or reading,” Malbon said. “But what helped me was I did take a creative writing class in college, and that was the first time in my life where I was like, ‘Woah, if I can write about whatever I want, it’s actually kind of fun.’ I do think that played a part in the sense of me being able to be comfortable enough to write a book.”

Darius described the writing process as smooth as it only took him about three or four months to write each of his books.

“I don’t really do outlines for my books, which is interesting because I’ve always been that way,” Malbon said. “It’s a lot of discipline. I have a little bit of structure in the sense that I’ll have an idea of how many chapters I want, but that’s it. I’ll have an idea of what points I want to focus on, so I’ll write a chapter for each point essentially. Then I set up a timeline, and maybe once a week, for however long I need to do it, I might try to write a chapter if I can. Then the next week I’ll do a chapter, and the next week I’ll do a chapter. So, I stay consistent on that schedule. If you do 12 chapters, you can do that in three

Over the past two years, Darius has published three books that address deep topics like suicide awareness, finding one’s purpose, and racial unity in order to spark conversations.

Darius Malbon aims to be racial bridge to help unify the world.

The reality is I know I’m not going to be here forever, so I wanted to make a difference for the world even when I’m not here.

- DARIUS MALBON

months if you stay consistent, and then you just have to go back and edit it.”

All three of his books are self published, which Darius said is the way to go.

“Self publishing is really good just because you have the freedom that you need,” Malbon explained. “I heard that with a lot of publishing companies, they try to control a lot of the content and the look of books and a lot of the logistical side. For me, I didn’t even worry about that. I wanted to have as much freedom as possible.”

He continued, “The key is to make sure people are aware of the books. The first book hit really strong because it was the first book about suicide awareness. The second book was good, but it didn’t hit as quickly as the first book. I think a lot of it had to do with awareness, and so far for my third book, I have had a lot of interest. A lot of people have reached out and said that they are interested and want to buy it. It’s about exposure – getting the word out, and getting people to talk about these topics.”

One way Darius brings awareness and sparks conversations is through promotion of merchandise. He sells a variety of items like hoodies, shirts, hats, bottles, magnets and more.

“My website says it’s a movement,” Malbon said. “That’s essentially what I wanted to do with all of this – make a difference when it comes to suicidal awareness, make a difference when it comes to finding purpose, make a difference when it comes to racial unity. That’s what sparked the interest in writing these books, and it’s all connected to the merchandise as well. Merchandise is really cool because people get a chance to see what people stand for.”

Overall, Darius has a deep connection with mental

health, and he volunteers with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Therefore, a portion of the proceeds from his books and merchandise goes towards suicide prevention research.

Apart from his suicide prevention work, Darius’s other passions include finance and travel.

“I’ve always liked helping people,” Malbon said. “Finance is one of those things that they do not teach in school, and I wish they did. I believe everybody deserves their right to know where they are, what kind of life they want to have in the future and how to get there. I believe everybody deserves that. I really like what I do.”

From a financial standpoint, Darius began investing in his early 20s, which allowed him to become debt free at an early age. In addition, he had the opportunity to generate over $4 million in profit for a top company in less than three years.

When it comes to traveling, he has had the opportunities to travel to Africa, Europe, Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean and across the United States.

“Travel is a way for me to learn,” Malbon said. “When I was younger I just went just to go, but as I got older I realized travel is a way to state my perspective and learn about other people and cultures. That’s what I do now when I travel. Obviously, I go to have a good time, but I’m really trying to see things through other people’s eyes that I normally wouldn’t see here in America. It’s been really good. I enjoy it. It’s fun.”

Darius then likes to take all that he has learned and share it with the world. For more information about Darius Malbon and his products, visit his website at https://www. dariusmalbon.com/.

Through the promotion of merchandise such as t-shirts, Darius wants to bring awareness to his movement.

From Darkness to Life: Win the Battle

Over one million people take their own lives each year. After battling his own suicidal episode in 2016 and losing a friend to suicide in 2018, Darius felt a calling to write and publish his first book titled From Darkness to Life: Win the Battle, which is about suicide awareness.

“Those experiences are what opened up my eyes to what people experience during those times,” Malbon shared. “It took me about eight months to tell my family what I was going through, and then in 2020 with everything going on with all the negativity, the Lord was like, ‘It’s time for you to write a book.’ I’m just glad the Lord was able to use me as a light for other people and to help people get through those dark situations that they go through.”

Darius continued, “We’re here to be a light. It’s hard for a lot of people to see that because the enemy wants to consume the minds of many people and wants to condemn a lot of people and make them feel like they can’t do anything – that’s one reason why a lot of people take their life, but the reality is Christ is light, and Christ does give us gifts and personalities to be able to express ourselves and help make a difference for the Kingdom.”

From Darkness to Life: Win the Battle is a personable, realistic fiction novel taking place in Hickory that centers around a character named Elijah who suffers depressive episodes of his own. He searches for the solution and seems to never be able to find peace. Darius would like for readers to put themselves in Elijah’s shoes to best understand the struggles that he endures.

“It’s a mixture of my personal experiences and other people’s personal experiences and a little bit of fiction,” Malbon said. “There are some true elements in there, and then there’s some that are fiction, but it’s definitely all relatable and very realistic.”

As the book description states, suicide is a darkness that can attack anyone. It does not discriminate against gender, age, race or economic status. What makes it worse is that there isn’t just one cause that creates this darkness. On average, 132

Americans die from suicide each day, and an estimated one million people worldwide die from it each year. It is up to people to speak up about their experiences and direct people to professional help. Remember, one person can help change the trajectory of another person’s life.

“The biggest thing is if somebody has never experienced it, I want people to have a greater understanding to see what is in the mind of somebody going through it,” Malbon said. “And for the people who are struggling, I want the book to be something that they can relate to, and hopefully, they know that they are not alone. That can push them to overcome the obstacles that they’re struggling with.”

While Darius is trying to get the book in the hands of everyone possible, he is really targeting youth.

“In middle school, high school and college, there’s a lot going on,” he explained. “Students are trying to please parents, they are trying to figure out who they are and relationships. They put a lot of pressure on themselves, and there’s a lot of stuff going on, so I really want to focus on youth and help them get through some of those

We’re here to be a light. It’s hard for a lot of people to see that because the enemy wants to consume the minds of many people and wants to condemn a lot of people and make them feel like they can’t do anything – that’s one reason why a lot of people take their life, but the reality is Christ is light, and Christ does give us gifts and personalities to be able to express ourselves and help make a difference for the Kingdom.

- DARIUS MALBON

From Darkness to Life: Win the Battle was published in June 2021.

troubles they may be experiencing.”

Darius’s goal is to get one million copies of his book sold.

“The reason why one million is such a big number is because one million people take their lives each year, so that’s why one million is such a big goal for me,” he shared. “If one million people take their lives every year, to be able to get one million books out – that means I impacted one million people and can help them not take their lives.”

From Darkness to Life: Win the Battle was published in June 2021, and Darius said he has received nothing but positive feedback about the book.

“The first book went really well,” Malbon described. “I sold around 100 books within the first couple of weeks, which was great. A lot of people connected with it. A lot of people told me they really dived into exploring those darker depths of their mind and really understood that they were struggling. I had a lot of people say that they had been encouraged, so that was really good. That was the whole point of me writing the book was to encourage people to be honest and get the help that they need. Writing this book was exciting, and just seeing the positive feedback is definitely inspiring and very encouraging.”

Purpose: What is Your Meaning in Life?

One of life’s big questions is what is your purpose?

Around one in two people don’t know their purpose or feel like they don’t have a purpose, which can lead to devastating outcomes, such as people taking their own lives. However, Darius is striving to help others overcome this challenge and find their calling. He enjoys giving knowledge and encouraging others as he desires for people to find their purpose in life and have that eternal peace that everybody searches for.

“The desire for gaining knowledge and learning motivates me to continue to make a difference in this world,” he said.

Despite the success of his first novel, Darius was not expecting to write a second book, but the idea of writing one about purpose popped into his head last winter.

“There’s a lot of correlation when it comes to purpose and mental health,” he explained. “Purpose is very important. Many people have committed suicide because they felt they had no purpose in life. And not only that, but outside mental health, when you do feel like you have a purpose, you’re more productive. You go out, and you do things, and you’re creative, and you give back to the world.”

Darius started writing his second novel titled Purpose: What is Your Meaning in Life? in mid February 2022 and published it in May 2022. Having already been through the writing process before, publishing a book for a second time was a lot easier.

“I believe this book will be a great opportunity for people to find their purpose

Darius graduated from Lees McRae College in 2017.

in life and help seek meaning,” Malbon said.

Similar to the first book, the second one is realistic fiction, and both novels are inspired by true events. There is also a connection between the two.

“As you will see in both of these books, both of the topics are very deep,” Malbon described. “You don’t really hear people talk about suicide awareness a lot. You don’t really hear people talk about purpose a lot, but it’s extremely important because without purpose, what are you going to do?”

Purpose: What is Your Meaning in Life? is a personable book that follows David as he navigates through various life experiences to discover his purpose.

As the book description states, “Finding your purpose is a crucial

aspect of life. When someone doesn’t know their purpose, often they can feel hopeless, which can lead to dark situations. Everyone on Earth wants to know what their purpose is in life. We all desire to know it. Finding your purpose can lead to someone else finding theirs.”

A portion of the proceeds from the books and merchandise goes towards suicide prevention research.

The target audience for the book is everybody, as Darius is trying to get copies in the hands of as many people as possible.

“Whether you’re male or female, whether you’re more seasoned or you’re young – I made sure it was an easy read for middle schoolers and potentially elementary school kids because I don’t believe you’re ever too young or too old to find your purpose or get insight if you’re struggling with depression or anything like that,” Malbon said.

So, how does someone find their purpose?

Darius answered, “You really have to look deep within yourself to find your purpose and be willing to be humble, and learn, and change, and adapt.”

He further explained that for him personally, it’s a lot of self reflection.

“I take time out of my day and reflect on my day and reflect on my life and what I like and what I don’t like and really ask myself questions,” Malbon said. “That’s probably one of the biggest things — ask myself questions, and I actually force myself to answer them. So, if I’m not doing something that I feel like I should be doing, or if I’m not as productive as I should be, I ask myself why? Why am I not productive right now? What am I doing? And then in terms of my beliefs, I even ask myself why do I believe in what I believe?”

He continued, “You see a lot of people right now who are very divided in just different aspects of life and different situations. You have a lot of people who complain and get mad and angry, but when you ask them why they believe in what

they believe and why they feel the way they feel, they really don’t know. That’s a problem. You should understand why you believe what you believe in and you should know why you feel the way you do because if you don’t understand your emotions, that’s what causes a lot of confusion, and that’s what causes a lot of people to disconnect.”

Overall though, in order to seek your purpose, Darius said it has to be intentional. He encourages everyone to travel when they can, meet new people, and explore life.

“Talk to different people, different races, different demographics, different age groups,” Malbon explained. “Just open your mind and really be observant and just reflect.”

Darius takes inspiration from his favorite basketball player of all time: Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant once said, “Use the world as a library.”

“That just sparked so much interest in me,” Malbon said. “He’s right. Use this world as a library – learn from everybody; learn from every situation. Because of that, I’ve had the desire to learn more and ask myself questions and ask other people questions to gain perspective and self reflect. I’ve realized the way to connect and to be more cohesive with people and overcome all these problems here in the country is to just listen to people and hear them out because a lot of times, we actually agree on the same stuff, it’s just our delivery is completely different.”

As Kobe Bryant left an everlasting impact on Darius and many others, Darius aims to positively influence people, too.

Purpose: What is Your Meaning in Life? was published in May 2022.

Darius is trying to get copies of his books to as many people as possible.

“I believe my purpose is to lead people to Christ and help people be encouraged and help them find their purpose and help them not take their life because life is so precious,” he shared. “Everybody has a purpose, it’s just a matter of them finding it, which I do believe if you actually take the time to find it, you will be able to.”

He continued, “I hope that everyone either finds their purpose or they know the direction on how to find their purpose. I know some people will probably find their purpose through the book, and for some people, it may be one of those things where they read it, it gives them a little bit of motivation, and then they can go find their purpose right after that.”

Racial Bridges: Unify the World

Darius’s third book titled Racial Bridges: Unify the World was published in November 2022, and it dives into how race impacts lives.

“Race is something that has been on my heart for a while,” Malbon explained. “ I believe I am a racial bridge where I can talk about a lot of these conversations with any race, but really the biggest thing that stuck out to me had to do with the 2020 George Floyd situation and just seeing the type of division that was there. And seeing how people had different perspectives about what happened.”

Another event that sparked inspiration to write the book had to do with a personal experience Darius encountered.

“I had a coach in the past, and I grew up with him. I was in the same class as his son, and he actually coached me in several sports, which is nice. He said he loved me as a son; however, when it came to the race conversation, he was hesitant to talk about it.” Malbon described. “I remember specifically bringing it up, so he could understand my perspective on it and understand what it was like to be someone of a different race, and he did not want to have the conversation, but yet he loved me, and that really disappointed me because how can someone say they loved me but not want to talk about a deep conversation that I wanted to have with them? The Lord put it in my heart, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to go ahead and write a book and bring awareness.”

As the book description states, “Race is a concept in America that has been around for centuries. There are many groups of people affected by race whether people want to accept it or not. We all have our differences, but we are more similar than we think. It is a shame that there are people that are fearful of others because of skin tone. Those mindsets cause hatred and division.”

In the personable book, the main character Noah listens to various perspectives from different races. Will he ever be able to understand another perspective besides his own?

“He goes through different perspectives by talking to different people to see if his way is the best way,” Malbon said.

While Darius’s previous books rely heavily on his own personal experiences, this book takes it a step further by spotlighting other’s experiences as well.

“What I like so much about this book is I did interviews with people from different races,” Malbon explained. “This book contains not only white or black, but it also contains Spanish, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and interracial identities. I did research on people across all different races, so it’s not just one perspective, and not only that, but it’s true events. It’s not a book about opinions. These are real experiences that have happened to different people, so I think it’s very eye opening for anybody to be able to read it and be like, ‘I was not aware that this stuff actually happens.’”

Darius’s first book was connected to his own story as it was based on his personal experiences. The second book focused more on conversations Darius has had with different people that he was able to implement into his writing. And now the third book relies on a lot of research and interviews in order to gather information.

“It’s good to talk about these topics because one thing I’ve noticed in life is that most people have problems and don’t fix the problems because they don’t acknowledge them,” Malbon said. “If you acknowledge a problem, you are one step closer to finding a solution. Oftentimes in this world, especially in America, we can fix stuff so easily, but because of pride or procrastination, we don’t want to acknowledge the problem, so we never find a solution to it, and we continue to suffer. We live in a divided world, so having some unity would be beneficial. Many people have lost their identity or potentially committed suicide due to racial conflict. I believe this book will be a light for the world to get on track.”

As for what the future holds, Darius said, “I have no clue. I wouldn’t be opposed to having another book, but it really depends on what the Lord presents to me and what the topic is. The Lord just gives me the insight and the words to write the books, and after I write them, there’s times I’m like, ‘Woah, I didn’t know I could do that.’” t

Racial Bridges: Unify the World was published in November 2022.

It’s good to talk about these topics because one thing I’ve noticed in life is that most people have problems and don’t fix the problems because they don’t acknowledge them. If you acknowledge a problem, you are one step closer to finding a solution.

- DARIUS MALBON

Darius looks forward to what the future holds.

Let’s Play in the Snow

App State Dance Team: Promoting School Spirit With Every Performance

STORY BY HARLEY NEFE

Whether it be at men’s & women’s basketball games, football games, wrestling matches, or other university events, there is a team of around 18 women who are always present with one goal in mind – to promote spirit and pride, while generating crowd involvement at Appalachian State University.

The members of App State’s Dance Team come from all different backgrounds; however, they all share one trait in common – their passion for dancing.

“I love dancing, and I love performing,” described senior Ana Duncan, who is the Team Head Captain. “I also love sports in general. So, just getting to be on the sidelines and in the middle of all the action at sporting events is super fun.”

What it’s like being in the spotlight on the field or on the

court can be difficult to describe, as not everyone has had that experience, but the feeling is unlike any other.

“It’s really hard to explain,” Ana said. “For me, it doesn’t feel real. I’ll go out there and perform in front of 30,000 people at a football game, and I won’t even remember what happened. You have so much adrenaline, but that makes it all the more fun.”

Ana continued, “We have a goal to entertain the crowd and keep energy levels up. It’s entertainment. It’s something everybody on the team loves to do as well as performing. Pretty much every girl on the team has grown up dancing on the stage their whole lives, but dancing in front of 30,000 people at a football game is a whole different thing. Just being able to entertain that number of people and to perform on that

The Spring 2023 App State Dance Team includes Ana Duncan, Hannah Teague, Alex Franks, Taylor Starnes, Juliana Grant, Brittanny Herrera, Rachel Gaillard, Isleigh Sharpe, Emily Dixon, Emma Drew Boyles, Elise Spangler, Taylor Burchett, Ali Dulin, Abigail Mayer, Anna Katherine Howard, Maggie Pittmon, Becky Helton, and Kennedi Croker. Photo by Ken Ketchie

level to keep energy levels up is what interests people to join the team.”

One member of the team, sophomore Isleigh Sharpe, has been dancing since she was two years old.

“I can pour my emotions and words into the movement, which makes me feel free,” Isleigh described. “Dance makes me feel like my flaws are irrelevant. It’s my world, and I know I have found my passion – it’s the thing you go to when you need clarity and a purpose. Dance is mine.”

Many members of the App State Dance Team decided to continue dancing on the college level because it’s something they have always known.

“A lot of people have grown up in the competitive dance world, and if you want to get to the professional dance level and dance in the NFL or for the NBA, college level is that next step,” Ana explained. “I know for me and a lot of other girls, they had parents who danced in college and went on to dance professionally. Growing up around people who went on to do that, it just makes it appealing to those who want to dance on a college level.”

One reason why many of the women find being on the team so enjoyable is because they are also each other’s support group.

“I am the happiest when I do things that I am passionate about,” junior Juliana Grant said. “Others who share the same interests with you will naturally fall into your communities and will provide the best support systems. The people in those communities are the ones that you can rely on and fall back on.”

Ana added, “We are all at that same stage in life. We’re all in classes. We all have a lot going on, but we’re a really strong group of friends to lean on. It made my transition from moving from my hometown to college ten times easier because as soon as I walked on campus, I already had girls that I knew and that I could count on.”

Sophomore dancer Rachel Gaillard shared, “I am so undeniably happy where I am at school and on the Appalachian State Dance Team.”

Sophomore dancer Elise Spangler agreed and said, “Trying out for this team was truly the best

PRETTY MUCH EVERY GIRL ON THE TEAM HAS GROWN UP DANCING ON THE STAGE THEIR WHOLE LIVES, BUT DANCING IN FRONT OF 30,000 PEOPLE AT A FOOTBALL GAME IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING. JUST BEING ABLE TO ENTERTAIN THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND TO PERFORM ON THAT LEVEL TO KEEP ENERGY LEVELS UP IS WHAT INTERESTS PEOPLE TO JOIN THE TEAM.

- ANA DUNCAN

Members of the team pose with Yosef at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Photo courtesy of App State Dance Team

decision I ever made going into college.”

The App State Dance Team’s season officially starts with tryouts. For the past two years, tryouts have taken place in the summer; however, this year, tryouts are tentatively scheduled for the spring, like they have been in previous seasons.

“Tryouts will hopefully happen in the spring this year before school lets out, so college students who already go to school here and are interested in joining will already be around,” Ana said.

For tryouts, there are specific technique skills that participants are required to be able to perform, including various types of leaps and turns. However, to help prepare, the Dance Team is planning on hosting some open practices.

“It’s an opportunity to attend one of our practices and get a feel for the team,” Ana explained. “I personally attended an open practice before I tried out for the team, and it was such a big help to know what I was getting into. It takes the stress off – going and practicing and getting a feel for everything.”

In addition to open practices, the Dance Team is planning on offering clinics or a mock tryout as well.

“This is so people can come and see what the process is like as a way to prepare for tryouts,” Ana said. “This is for anybody who is interested in trying out for the team or who just wants to see what a college team is like. It’s a really big opportunity for them, and it’s also for the team to gauge interest.”

At tryouts, a panel of qualified judges select people to make the cut. These can be past members of the team or people who dance professionally.

Team captains also assist in the tryout process, and captains change every year.

“Anybody is eligible to run for captain,” Ana explained. “It doesn’t matter what year you are. At the end of every season, there’s a team captain selection process. In the past, it has been a team vote decision.”

Ana Duncan is currently Head Captain, with senior Hannah Teague and junior Alex Franks as Co-Captains.

When asked about what advice she would give to others, Hannah shared, “Take it all in. I wish I could relive some of my amazing opportunities, like being with my dance family. It all goes by faster than you could imagine.”

Some of the opportunities the Dance Team takes part in is Camp Week in August. To prepare for the new season, each member is required to learn basic dance materials and to practice over the summer.

Teammates were excited to participate in College GameDay festivities. Photo courtesy of App State Dance Team

With every performance, the Dance Team aims to entertain the crowd. Photo by Sam Garrett

ESPN’s College GameDay visited App State on Sept. 17. Photo courtesy of App State Dance Team

“This is so whenever the team meets for the first official in-season practice, everyone has an idea of what is going on,” Ana said.

Camp Week typically occurs the week before classes start in August.

“We bring in guest choreographers during that week,” Ana shared. “A lot of these choreographers are former members of the team or have experience dancing in the NBA or NFL. They teach us material, and we practice it throughout the season.”

The material learned during Camp Week turns into a number of routines the team is able to perform throughout the season.

“It definitely takes a lot of stress off of the team and the captains, just knowing that choreographers will pick out the music,” Ana said. “They give us options, but they cut the music and get it all done for us. That’s one less thing we have to worry about. If we bring in somebody that is really good and we really trust, they help us out in that aspect.”

The Dance Team will typically receive about five or six routines from the choreographers they hire.

“As the season goes on, and we use those a lot, sometimes we will work together and choreograph new stuff, such as during break,” Ana said. “Captains will meet and throw together five lines to music because not everybody is available over break. So, the spacing and everything is messed up for routines. We definitely have to come up with new stuff, and especially for basketball season since there are so many basketball

The Dance Team can be found at many university events.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Aguallo for Aguallo Studios

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Aguallo for Aguallo Studios

I WISH I COULD RELIVE SOME OF MY AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE BEING WITH MY DANCE FAMILY. IT ALL GOES BY FASTER THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE.

- HANNAH TEAGUE

games, we definitely try to come up with different stuff ourselves as a team.”

Overall, the Dance Team’s sideline routines stay consistent year to year. They may vary slightly in order to evolve.

“A lot of the time, we will bring in the same choreographers each year to choreograph a similar routine if we know the crowd really liked a certain routine,” Ana said.

As for the typical schedule throughout the season? It varies.

“This past fall, we met about four times a week, but before College Game Day and other events, we definitely

had to call some extra practices,” Ana described. “Fall is definitely a lot busier than the spring, because when we get to November, seasons overlap. We’re balancing football, basketball, wrestling, and many other events.”

With balancing basketball, football, and wrestling schedules along with other university events like Fanfest, Homecoming, Black & Gold Traditions, and Mountaineer Madness, the season can be really busy for the Dance Team year round.

However, the Dance Team doesn’t only attend university events. They make sure to prioritize their community outreach through volunteering efforts.

“For the past two years, we’ve partnered up with the summer baseball league here – the Boone Bigfoots,” Ana said. “We get a group of girls together for every game, and it’s a sign-up volunteer process for whoever can go and participate.”

By working with the Bigfoots, the team has the opportunity to provide entertainment for and engage with Boone residents.

“Surprisingly, a lot of people in

Photo courtesy of App State Dance Team

All of the women share a common connection — their passion for dancing.

Photo courtesy of App State Dance Team, taken by Chad Mitchell Photography

SURPRISINGLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE BOONE COMMUNITY IN THE SUMMER SHOW UP TO THE GAMES, AND IT’S A LOT OF FUN. WE HAVE A ROLE AND PURPOSE – PROMOTING SCHOOL SPIRIT ACROSS BOONE.

- ANA DUNCAN

the Boone community in the summer show up to the games, and it’s a lot of fun,” Ana described. “We have a role and purpose – promoting school spirit across Boone.”

When they are not dancing, team members strive to help the community by raising money, working with nonprofits, and keeping the town clean.

For example, the App State Dance Team adopted a street in Boone. Therefore, it’s the team’s responsibility to visit it three times a year to maintain it.

“Really if any organization reaches out to us, requesting our presence or help, we will do it,” Ana shared.

In the spring, the App State Dance Team is planning on giving private dance classes. This is something the team members have done in the past. They auctioned off free private dance lessons and opportunities for people to practice with them, and the money raised was donated to charities.

Above all though, the Dance Team would not be able to make the difference that they do without their number of sponsors. The App State Dance Team would like to thank the individuals, businesses, and organizations for their generous donations and contributions as well as their support of the program and dancers.

“I also want to just brag on my teammates on how respectful they are,” Ana shared. “They are always willing to help. It’s definitely a team effort. The team would not run the same way or really be able to function if it wasn’t for the effort everyone puts into the team. They are great teammates and people.” t

Depending on the event and weather, the team has different uniforms to choose from. Photo courtesy of App State Dance Team

Whether on or off the field, the goal is to keep energy levels up.

Photo courtesy of App State Dance Team

Ana Duncan MEE T THE TE AM!

Year: Senior

Major: Business Management and Administration

Minors: Human Resource Management and Dance

Hometown: Source Pine, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Acro/Tumbling, and Hip Hop Plans After Graduation: I plan to move to a larger city, potentially Charlotte, and begin exploring career options while working in a business setting. I am not exactly sure what path I want to take for my long-term career yet, so I plan to work for a period of time while I figure that out. Aside from my career in business, I would love to teach dance classes and/or choreograph on the side.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Having had empathy, love, and compassion for others. 2. Being a hard worker that had determination and drive. I worked hard for everything that I accomplished.

Dance Inspiration: My mom who first enrolled me in dance classes at the age of three was my biggest reason for dancing. Along with my mom, my former dance teacher, Macey Strickland Butler, also encouraged and helped me pursue my goal to dance in college.

Macey is a former member of the App State Dance Team and TopCat (Carolina Panther’s Cheerleader). Prior to trying out for the dance team, Macey helped me prepare through training, advice, and a lot of support. I couldn’t be more thankful for everything my Mom and Macey have done to get me to where I am at today.

Hannah Teague

Year: Senior

Majors: Finance/Banking and Risk Management/ Insurance

Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Acro, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Modern Plans After Graduation: I hope to work in the risk management department for the City of Asheville.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Someone who made people feel confident and proud of who they are and what they accomplished. 2. How hard I have worked to be where I am today.

Dance Inspiration: My mom is my biggest encouragement. Some of my favorite times dancing was looking out into the audience and seeing her face. But anytime besides that, she just looked so happy and proud to see me doing what I loved. To this day, she has never missed a performance. She is always cheering me on, whether it’s on a stage or a football game (rain, shine, or snow), she is always there. She makes me want to give my all because she gives me everything. I could not do it without her. She is the person that keeps me going on and off the field.

All individual dance member photos are courtesy of Jonathan Aguallo for Aguallo Studios

Taylor Starnes

Year: Senior

Major: Hospitality & Tourism Management

Minor: Communications

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Ballet, and Musical Theater

Plans After Graduation: I plan to live in Boone one more year and continue working at Hound Ears country Club, Brown Mtn Beach Wedding Resort, and possibly a hotel to build good experience for my resume. After that, I have been thinking about moving to Colorado for a year and maybe look into being a Broncos Cheerleader. If I do not move to Colorado, I would also be highly interested in auditioning to be a Honeybee with the Charlotte Hornets or a Topcat with the Carolina Panthers. Other than dance, my dream is to become a wedding planner or event planner. I have big dreams, but I am very excited for my future!

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. I was that girl who takes on everyday with her head up high and with a positive outlook on everything. 2. I hope that I’m (and will be) viewed as the dancer who always gave 110% and always showed commitment, confidence and love for dancing and the team.

Dance Inspiration: My mom and aunt definitely inspired me to become a dancer. My mom and aunt started dancing when they were about three, as well as me, and they continued on professionally. My aunt became a dance teacher after competition, and my mom became a Topcat and a Honeybee cheerleader. Along with that they both were in the Charlotte Rage Football cheer team together! They have been to every dance competition, recital and football game I have performed in. They are my support system and have uplifted and encouraged me through all of my nerves, tears, and breakdowns within dance. I send all my love and gratitude to both of them!

Photo courtesy of Appalachian State Dance Team

Juliana Grant

Year: Junior

Major: Nutrition and Food-Dietetics Concentration

Minor: Exercise Science

Hometown: Huntersville, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Modern Plans After Graduation: I plan to go to graduate school to obtain my masters degree in nutrition and dietetics. From there, I want to become a registered dietitian. I want to work in the field of performance/sports nutrition and hopefully start off by working with collegiate level athletics and eventually move into professional teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, etc. Later on in my career I hope to work in a private practice with clients who want to learn how to pair nutrition with physical activity to meet their health goals.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Being genuine. I try my best to be an honest, loving, kind, fun, and dependable person. I feel like there are people who are afraid to be their most genuine selves out of fear of being disliked or embarrassed. It’s not the easiest thing to do, but I really try to be there for the people in my life in the most genuine way. 2. Being passionate. I consider myself a passionate person in many aspects of my life.

Dance Inspiration: I wouldn’t say there is one specific person who inspired me to become a dancer . My mom introduced me to the world of dance, but my family lived in it. As I grew older, I had the continuous support of my family, both biological and dance. My mom, Kathy, and my Granny have been two of my biggest supporters. They have always pushed me, given advice when needed, and given me confidence to try for the things I want in life.

Rachel Gaillard

Year: Sophomore

Major: Public Health

Minor: Social Work

Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary

Plans After Graduation: I plan to go to graduate school. I wish to get my masters in Public Health or Social Work. After I graduate, my goal is to be a social worker in hospitals.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. For my passionate, go-with-the-flow personality. 2. The way I look at life, and the way I care for my friends and family.

Dance Inspiration: I am most inspired by my twin sister, Emily, to dance. We both started dancing at the same time, and she really pushed me to continue to dance even when I was exhausted or tired. She was the person who encouraged me to try out for the Dance Team, and she was the girl I called first to tell her I made the team. Emily, I am so appreciative to you for always pushing me to do things and for knowing me better than anyone else does.

Brittanny Herrera

Year: Junior

Major: Psychology with a Concentration in Business

Minor: Spanish

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Acrobatics, and Spanish Dancing, such as Salsa, Natacha, and much more

Plans After Graduation: I plan to move to Spain to teach English and travel to multiple countries in Europe before I move back to get a corporation job.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. My humor. I would like to say I make others laugh every time I am in the room. I always catch myself being a comic relief at times. 2. My advice. When anyone is feeling down or doubting themselves, I hope they remember every time I have been there to hype them up and make them feel better about themselves.

Dance Inspiration: My mom inspired me to dance. My mom was a dancer back in Mexico, but ever since she moved, she had to stop her dreams of dancing. Once I turned three, she found the first dance studio she could. Every year, she would push me, and I always saw it as being mean and doing this for her, but I realized that without dance, I find myself getting bored, wanting to move 24/7. She is proud to see me dancing at a college level.

Year: Sophomore

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, and Acro/Tumbling

Plans After Graduation: I plan to go to graduate school to become a speech pathologist. I have created very high expectations for myself academically and hope to attend a good graduate program and maybe have a private practice for myself at one point in time.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. My hard work, dedication, and compassion. 2. I also hope my genuine character is remembered and how I make others feel.

Dance Inspiration: Someone who inspired and encouraged me to be a dancer was my mom. Ever since I was little, I had the privilege of trying out just about every sport or hobby. Obviously, dance was the one to stick! My mom always reminded me of my abilities and definitely showed me tough love. But most importantly, I knew she would always be by my side and support whatever decisions I made when it came to dance, and just wanted to see me happy. Without my mom, I don’t think I would be where I am right now because I was so incredibly nervous to try out for the App State Dance Team my freshman year. I want to thank my mom for always believing in me when I didn’t always believe in myself.

Elise Spangler

Isleigh Sharpe

Year: Sophomore

Major: Graphic Design

Hometown: Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Jazz, Lyrical, and Contemporary Plans After Graduation: I plan to continue my passion for dance. I also plan to help people become inspired and find confidence in dance when they feel like an outcast. I want to open up my own dance studio for special needs, giving them a positive environment where they can express themselves in any way they want. Over my years in high school, I also grew a passion for yearbooks. I loved finding the layout and color schemes that best fit the fonts, the words, and the ideas presented. I loved creating, especially layouts of a page. I loved seeing how all the aspects like font, theme, color, text, and image worked together to create the bigger picture (literally). I hope to graduate and live in New York to pursue my dreams by working with a graphic design team for fashion or dance. In the end, whatever I do, I want to be happy.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. I was passionate. I was committed to what I wanted and was a true friend. I want everyone to remember that I saw the good in everyone until it was proven different, and that I was stubborn in all the right ways. 2. I want them to remember me and think of my family – my amazing brother who has the biggest heart and motivation like no one I’ve ever met before. My father who taught me that you have to work for what you want and to never settle. My mom for her caring heart and love for helping others. I have looked up to them my whole life.

Dance Inspiration: My mom inspired me to to be the dancer and person I am today. My mom was my dance teacher, cheer coach, English teacher, and dance team coach.She was constantly pushing me to be better and grow. This made our relationship strong. She knows what I am capable of and will never let me show less of that.

Ali Dulin

Year: Sophomore

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Acrobatics

Plans After Graduation: I plan to work as a registered nurse in all areas of the hospital while applying for nurse anesthesiology programs as well.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Being a supportive and trustworthy friend. 2. Working hard to surpass expectations.

Dance Inspiration: Growing up, I think that I only kept dancing because I loved my friends and my teachers. It wasn’t until I entered my freshman year at Elon University on their dance team that I felt a true love for dance. The person who inspired me and fueled this passion was my Coach, Elly Dirks. I want to thank her for her trust in me to perform in our NDA first place Hip Hop dance and for her constant support and encouragement even though I am not at Elon this year.

Emma Drew Boyles

Year: Sophomore

Major: Pre-Nursing

Hometown: Millers Creek, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Musical Theater, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Acrobatics

Plans After Graduation: I plan to work as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. I was a good friend. I believe one of the biggest blessings in life is having good friends. I think having someone that you can depend on, encourage, and support you it’s super important. I want to do that for my friends and they know I will. 2. I had perseverance. I try hard to have perseverance in the things that matter to me. Whether it is being determined, persistent, or even annoying, I want to get things done and done right. I really tried to not give up.

Dance Inspiration: I might not choose the word inspired, but absolutely the person who encouraged me to pursue my love of dance is my Momma. My Momma is my biggest fan and has always believed in me. She pushes me to do my best and give my all. My Momma supports me in every way she can. She’s very proud of me, and I know she will always be there to cheer me on. So thank you Momma for always encouraging and believing in me.

Emily Dixon

Year: Sophomore

Major: Communication, Advertising

Minor: Dance

Hometown: Belmont, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Acro, and Pom Plans After Graduation: I plan to go into project management and work at a dance studio as well. I then want to open up my own dance studio, which is my ultimate goal and has always been a dream of mine.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Being a positive, caring person. I am naturally a very positive person and I strive to reflect that positivity on the people around me because you never know what someone is going through.

2. Being a good friend. I also value my friends and family very much, and I want to be remembered as a supportive, caring, uplifting friend that was always there for my loved ones when they needed me.

Dance Inspiration: My parents put me in dance classes when I was very young, and I ended up falling in love with it. My family and dance studio were very supportive and encouraging, and they kept me inspired and dedicated to dance. I wouldn’t be the dancer that I am today without my family, my dance friends, and Studio 73 Dance in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Taylor Burchett

Year: Sophomore

Major: Business Management

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Tap, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Acro, and more Plans After Graduation: I plan to work for or manage a business that I am happiest at, whether it be involved in dance or not. My goal is to love what I’m doing and who I’m working with/for, and to use my major.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. As a person who was a pleasure to be around, where I make people feel comfortable and open. 2. As someone who had a goal and went for it.

Dance Inspiration: My parents, Tessa and David Burchett, were and still are my biggest supporters. They put me and my sister in dance together at a young age, where I found my hobby for a lifetime. I graduated high school and thought I was done with dance going into my freshman year of college, but quickly realized I missed dance being such a constant in my life. So, going into my sophomore year, I tried out for the team. I was nervous because I hadn’t danced/ performed in a year, but my parents were the most supportive and encouraging things in my life, which of course, led me to making the team this year and them coming to Boone for each game. They’ve never missed a performance and continue that tradition. My parents are my best friends and the biggest rocks in my life, who support me in everything I do.

Becky Helton

Year: Freshman

Major: Elementary Education with a concentration in Psychology

Hometown: Youngsville, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Clogging, Hip Hop, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Ballet, Tap, Musical Theater, and Acro

Plans After Graduation: I plan to be an elementary teacher, hopefully in second grade, and I hope to teach in a dance studio 1-2 nights a week. Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Being a person everyone can rely on in any way. 2. Being a nice person to be around.

Dance Inspiration: My mom inspired me to dance. She always told me that I could do anything I wanted as long as I worked for it and had a love for it. Thank you Momma for always being my number one supporter, for doing whatever it takes for me to accomplish my dreams, and always encouraging me to put the work in to be what I wanted to be. I love you so much, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.

Kennedi Croker

Year: Freshman

Major: History with a Multidisciplinary focus

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern and Ballet Plans After Graduation: I plan on going to law school to get my law degree and become a lawyer.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Being someone who is trustworthy. 2. Being someone people can lean on when they need a person.

Dance Inspiration: I was encouraged to be a dancer by my mom. I was super shy and active when I was younger, and she was hoping that dance would be a way for me to get out of my shell but also something fun for me to do. She just didn’t think it would become my passion, but I’m glad it did.

Year: Freshman

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Hip Hop Plans After Graduation: I plan to go to graduate school to obtain a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. My kindness. 2. My willingness to serve others.

Dance Inspiration: Like many little girls, I started dancing because my mom put me in dance classes. Little did she know, that decision would cost her a lot of money down the line. That decision would also lead her daughter to find friends that are like family, to find outstanding role models, to find her passion, and to the Appalachian State Dance Team! Mom, thank you for putting me in dance classes, for taxiing me to classes, for providing so many opportunities for me, and for the endless support through it all. You are a killer dance mom!

Anna Katherine Howard

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Aguallo for Aguallo Studios

Abigail Mayer

Year: Freshman

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Pom, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Tap

Plans After Graduation: I plan to be a nurse in a hospital, hopefully in a city atmosphere. I plan to live in an apartment with some friends and just enjoy starting a job and being in my early 20s. I want to focus on work and being with friends, which is what I think the early 20s are all about.

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. Being dedicated to school and my team. 2. Being a role model that others look up to.

Dance Inspiration: My mom has always been a big encouragement to me in dance, and she was the one who originally got me involved in it. However, my first dance teacher Ms. Beth was the biggest influence on me because she was the reason I wanted to continue and learn more about dance.

Year: Freshman

Major: Public Health

Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina

Types of Dances Performed/Competed: Jazz, Lyrical, and Tap. Plans After Graduation: I plan to find a job opportunity and start working to begin my life!

Two Things to be Remembered for: 1. My smile. A smile can be so contagious so I try to give someone a big smile everyday because you never know what they’re going through. 2. My encouragement. I try to encourage people to keep pushing themselves and give 100%.

Dance Inspiration: My older sister inspired me to dance. Seeing her dance when I was little made me want to follow her. My dance teacher and mother were also very inspiring to me because of the strength they both have. Thank you for being my inspiration and teaching me more than just dance but life skills that I will carry with me forever.

Maggie Pittmon

Photo courtesy of Appalachian State Dance Team

Let’s Play in the Snow

STORY BY TIM GARDNER

Gaylord Perry, a professional baseball Hall of Famer, who is considered to be one of the greatest pitchers ever and who for years lived in the Town of Spruce Pine, passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2022 of natural causes. He was 84 years old.

Famous people are often known by just either their first or last name. Say “Gaylord” and any true baseball enthusiast knows who you’re talking about.

Truly, he was as dominating as any pitcher who ever played the game and was everything a baseball star should be. Known

for his friendliness and down-to-earth demeanor, Perry accomplished feats that rival those of any of his peers in Major League history.

He pitched for eight Major League teams. He was a fivetime All-Star and was elected to the Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Perry pitched in 777 major league games, totaling 5,350 innings pitched. He compiled a 314-265 record with a 3.11 Earned Run Average (ERA) and struck out 3,534 batters. He also pitched a no-hitter.

He was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues. He received the honor in 1972 with the Cleveland Indians and in 1978 with the San Diego Padres. He received his latter Cy Young Award just as he turned 40 years old, making him the oldest pitcher to win the award, which stood as a record for 26 years.

The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955. The award was originally given to the single best pitcher in the major leagues, but in 1967, after the retirement of Frick, the

Gaylord celebrates a San Francisco victory in the Giants locker room.

award was given to one pitcher in each league.

During batting practice one day in Perry’s second season playing for the Giants, he was knocking balls out of the park, which prompted a sportswriter to comment to Alvin Dark, the Giants manager at the time, “Looks like that Perry kid has a lot of power.” Dark disagreed, then laughed and said, “They’ll put a man on the moon before he hits a home run.”

Perry proved the manager wrong, and ironically on the same day, a person was on the moon for the first time. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft landed on the moon, and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on its surface, and Perry hit a home run. He remembered it well, once saying, “And

who did I hit that home run against?

The hated Dodgers, who were the Giants fiercest rival,” before adding that Los Angeles pitcher Claude

Gaylord was the total package as a pitcher. The right-handed hurler had many awesome pitches in his arsenal and he had equal prowess throwing them all.

THEY’LL PUT A MAN ON THE MOON BEFORE HE HITS A HOME RUN.

ALVIN DARK

PERRY 36 PERRY 36 PERRY 36

PERRY 36

Osteen “hung one out over the plate, and I got the power behind the bat and slammed the ball out.”

Perry also once recalled his no-hitter, as if it just happened. About the sixth inning, his teammates quit talking to him and even refused to sit near him.

“They didn’t want to jinx me,” he said. “What was so satisfying about my no-hitter was that it came against the world champion St. Louis Cardinals.”

He was matched up with Cardinals ace Bob Gibson, who only gave up one run on a homer as the Giants prevailed 1-0.

Born in Williamston, North Carolina on September 15, 1938, Perry was a graduate of Williamston High School in Williamston and attended Campbell College in Buies Creek, NC before signing in 1958 with the San Francisco Giants. He made his Major League debut in San Francisco in 1962,

Cleveland Indians 1972-1975

Texas Rangers 1975-1977, 1980

San Diego Padres 1978-1979

San Francisco Giants 1962-1971

Gaylord’s baseball cards, like this 1968 Topps, remain in demand at card shows, on Internet auctions and any other source where they are available.

Sports Illustrated Cover and Bobble Head Doll

where he played with four other future Hall of Famers: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda. Perry spent 10 seasons with the Giants, six times winning at least 15 games and twice winning more than 20.

Perry was traded to the Cleveland Indians following the 1971 season. He spent threeand-a-half seasons in that organization, twice winning 20 or more games before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 1975. He won 42 games with the Rangers before being traded to the San Diego Padres in 1978, when he had his last great season, winning 21 games and finishing with a 2.73 ERA.

He spent one more season in San Diego (1979), then next played for Texas again (1980), before playing for the New York Yankees later the same year, the Atlanta Braves (1981), the Seattle Mariners (1982 and ‘83) and the Kansas City Royals (1983) before retiring at age 45.

Perry was a right-handed hurler with many great pitches in his repertoire. He had a great curve, a wicked fastball, an awesome forkball, a good change and a deft sinker. But he was especially known for his spitball. In fact, he titled his 1974 autobiography “Me and the Spitter.”

Perry was accused of applying all sorts of illegal substances to balls he threw, most commonly saliva, but also petroleum products such as Vaseline and K-Y Jelly and even the hair cream Brylcreem, to get more movement on his pitches.

In his “Me and the Spitter” book, Perry wrote, “I’d always have it (grease) in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to be caught out there with anything, though. It wouldn’t be professional.”

But many of his peers, baseball historians and other knowledgeable observers speculated that it was not so

THEY DIDN’T WANT TO JINX ME. WHAT WAS SO SATISFYING ABOUT MY NO-HITTER WAS THAT IT CAME AGAINST THE WORLD CHAMPION ST. LOUIS CARDINALS.

- GAYLORD PERRY

New York Yankees 1980

Atlanta Braves 1981

Seattle Mariners 1982-1983

Kansas City Royals 1983

much the spitball itself but the threat of it by Perry that mystified batters. He may have been the all-time master of pitching psychology. Truly, Perry could get into their heads if any pitcher ever could. He had a fidgeting routine on the mound, grabbing the bill of his cap, wiping his brow, scratching the back of his head, touching other parts of it and making various other bodily gestures to psyche-out batters.

In these manners, Perry may or may not have been applying a foreign substance to the ball on any pitch. But he often caused batters and other opposing team members to think he was, which

made them lose their concentration and often strike out. In one game, the California Angels’ Reggie Jackson was so upset after Perry, then playing for the Mariners, struck him out, that he was ejected for his emotional tirade that included him throwing a bucket of water on the playing field over the prospect that Perry had doctored the ball with a foreign substance. It was one of 22 times Perry struck out Jackson.

“Reggie and I had some great competitions together,” said Perry. “Reggie hit some home runs off me and I’d tip my cap to him. But I got him thrown out of four games. Reggie,

he could hit anybody’s fastball, but I’d throw him great forkballs. He’d think they were spitters and strike out. I would rub it in a little. Reggie got terribly upset. But I think he didn’t want to come up and hit against me again, so he’d get himself thrown out.”

Upon retirement, Perry was ranked 11th on the all-time wins list, with 314, and he had the third-most strikeouts (3,534) in professional history, behind only Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan.

In 1986, Perry was hired by Limestone College in Gaffney to pioneer its baseball program as head coach. After helping to get a playing field and his first

In 2016, a bronze statue was erected of Gaylord Perry outside of the Giants stadium, then known as AT&T Park, in San Francisco. Photo by Andrew Ruppenstein, courtesy of www.hmdb.org.

team recruited, he remained head coach for several seasons. He was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.

Additionally, Perry was a proud veteran of the United States Army and attended Sardis United Methodist Church in Gaffney.

In 1999, Perry was a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 1998, The Sporting News ranked him 97th on its list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players of all-time. Perry’s brother, Jim, joined him playing for the Cleveland Indians in 1974. They played one full season together and recorded 38 of the team’s 77 wins. They are the only brothers in Major League history to win Cy Young Awards (Jim did so in 1970). Their combined 529 career pitching wins were the most in Major League history for many years and currently trails only the 539 compiled by brothers Phil and Joe Niekro.

On July 23, 2005, the Giants retired Perry’s uniform number 36. Perry was inducted into the San Francisco Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on March 9, 2009. Perry was honored on April 9, 2011, at the Giants home stadium, AT&T Park, with a 2010 World Series ring along with other San Francisco Giants greats Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie Mays. Perry was honored again on April 7, 2013, with

Gaylord graces the cover of Sports Illustrated after he won his 300th game on May 6, 1982 when he pitched a complete game 7-3 win for the Seattle Mariners over the New York Yankees in Seattle’s Kingdome.

Gaylord at Limestone College

Mays and Juan Marichal receiving a 2012 World Series ring, and on April 18, 2015, with a 2014 World Series ring along with Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, and Marichal.

The Cleveland Indians inducted Perry in their Hall of Fame in 2012 and then invited him to throw the ceremonial first pitch before their Opening Day game for the 2015 season. And in one of his ultimate honors, on August 13, 2016, the Giants unveiled a bronze statue of Perry at the corner of Second and King streets outside of AT&T Park.

Perry came from the blue-collar era of rural life and grew up working on a farm, which dictated that if you started a job, you don’t quit until you finish. And that was his philosophy about pitching in his playing era.

When Perry signed his first major league contract with the San Francisco Giants, he received a $90,000 bonus and gave half the bonus money to his parents, Evan and Ruby Perry, getting them out of debt for the first time in their married lives. That’s even more commendable than any feat he made playing ball.

It’s amazing that his pitching arm didn’t wear out many years before he retired and returned home to the Tar Heel State. Perry lived in Spruce Pine, with his wife, the former Deborah Lee White Perry (Deb, as he affectionately called her) for many years until they moved back to Gaffney.

Largely because of his playing career, Perry lived in, or traveled to, some of the most scenic places in America. But he quickly acknowledged to many people with whom he came in contact that the North Carolina High County is one of his favorite places on Earth and among the most beautiful he had ever seen. And he also spoke in glowing terms about its residents, a lot of whom he met at various functions here—especially when he was a

THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MINE AND MY WIFE’S HEARTS. THE WHOLE AREA IS A LOT LIKE WHERE I GREW UP IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE. IT’S MAJESTICALLY BEAUTIFUL BEYOND DESCRIPTION AND OUR EXPERIENCES IN THE REGION HAVE BEEN AWESOME. THE PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA HIGH COUNTRY ARE AMONG THE BEST I’VE MET AND ARE CERTAINLY AMONG THE SALT OF THE EARTH.

- GAYLORD PERRY

Gaylord was so well-known for throwing the “spitball” that he named his autobiography after the pitch. Currently out-of-print, the book is considered a definite collector ’s item for Gaylord’s fans and all baseball enthusiasts.

keynote speaker or the top feature at baseball and fundraising events.

“The North Carolina Mountains hold a special place in mine and my wife’s hearts,” Perry said in an interview. “The whole area is a lot like where I grew up in the Eastern part of the state. It’s majestically beautiful beyond description and our experiences in the region have been awesome. The people from the North Carolina High Country are among the best I’ve met and are certainly among the salt of the earth.”

In addition to his wife, Gaylord Perry is survived by his three children, Amy Espaillat (Francisco), Allison Perry and Elizabeth Long; three step-children, Gwen Garner O’Neal (Bobby), Jonathan Cummings and Nicholas Cummings (Rachel); ten grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.

And in addition to his parents, Gaylord Perry was preceded in death by his first wife, Blanche Manning Perry, and a son, Jack Perry. t

Gaylord and Deborah shown among his various baseball memorabilia at a fund raising event in Arizona for the Fergie Jenkins Foundation. Named for the former Canadian pitcher, who played for four Major League teams, and like Gaylord, was a National League Cy Young Award winner, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation was founded in 1997 under the mission statement of “Serving Humanitarian Need Through the Love of Sport.”

Juanita Smith at 100

never dreamed of living this long!”

STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS

Just days before reaching her 100th birthday in January, Juanita Smith said, “ I never dreamed of living this long. To say that I’ve lived a century just doesn’t seem possible. When I was a small child, I couldn’t imagine even living to be 50. That seemed like a long time for me — forever, you might say. But, now here I am at 100.”

And, those who know her best agree that she has packed a lot of good into those 100 years.

“I’m surprised at myself,” she said recently. “I’m still doing about like I’ve always done, just maybe not as fast. And, I might not remember everything I did yesterday, but I can pretty well tell you what I did 70 years ago.”

And what she’s always done is something for which we all should hope to mimic.

“I’ve just tried to live a life pleasing to the Lord and to treat others the way I want to be treated,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes. “That’s the Golden Rule, you know. And I don’t think a body can go wrong to do that.”

While time has slowed her pace somewhat in recent years, she’s still independent in many ways. Her family does not leave her alone for long periods of time, but she does live in her own home — and that’s just where she wants to be.

“Child, I am so blessed to be able to stay here,” she said from the comfort of her home just east of Boone. “My son, Mick, is with me most of the time and if he has to go anywhere, my grandsons and their wives come to check on me. I know I couldn’t make it without them. And I have two wonderful nieces who are always offering to help me, too. I am so fortunate to have people around me all the time.”

Since COVID hit, Juanita said she hasn’t gotten out of the house much, except to get a haircut and visit the doctor.

“I go to the doctor every three months,” she explained. “ I just went recently and got a good report. He told me to come back in June.” With a chuckle, she added. “I told him if I was still around,

A lovely young Juanita Smith in the 1940s.

“I

I’d try to get back to see him. At my age, you never know what to expect from one day to the next. You can’t plan too far ahead.”

When asked to describe a typical day in her life, Juanita said, “I’m just here. I work word puzzles and play a little with that tablet Mick got me, a little computer or whatever you want to call it. I don’t know much about it.”

She also watches “a little TV” and still quilts, but “not much of either.”

And what does she miss most of all? “Law mercy, I miss going to church (Union Baptist) more than anything. Never in my life, since I was a child, have I not gone to church. And now here I am, not able to go. But, I’m thankful to be on their telephone call list and I get cards from them, too. I feel that they still remember me — and that is such a comfort.”

And, she misses driving herself wherever she wants to go. “I had to give up my license a while back, but I hated so bad to do that.”

After a brief pause, she adds with a serious look upon her face, “I’m tired. I’m not wanting to die –don’t get me wrong, but there’s nothing left for me to do here. I get up and put in a day and then I go back to bed and do it all over again.”

She is very discouraged with “the way of the world,” she said. “It could be a fulltime job just to keep up with what’s going on in our country, not to mention the whole world. It is completely different than what I’ve always known it to be. I’m so ashamed of how people react to one another these days. People have gotten so

mean. It’s like if you don’t like somebody, just kill ‘em. I keep telling my son that the Lord knows everything that’s going on and keeps up with everything. I think He’s letting it go, saying if that’s the way you want to do it, just go ahead . . . you don’t have much time left, anyway.”

And current politics?

“It’s a disgrace to the American people . . . And it’s not just one side. You can’t complain about one without complaining about the other. They both have done us wrong.”

In a nutshell, she said, “Most everybody is just out for themselves. The love of money is the root of all evil. And people think that money is all they need. But law, no, that’s not the way it is. The majority of the world don’t realize all they need is the Lord’s help. If people would just turn to the Lord, it would make such a difference.”

Juanita has always loved to read and study her Bible, and she still reads it every day, “It’s nearly 60 years old and falling apart,” she said. The margins are filled with countless notes and underlined passages; the pages are wearing thin and it needs a new cover, but she doesn’t want a new Bible. “And I would never think of using anything except the King James version.

“It’s a great story book, a history book, and so many other things, too,” Juanita described. “It is the most precious book

Juanita Smith is surrounded by her two oldest grandsons, Michael and Matthew,and their families at her 95th birthday party in 2018.

Juanita Smith never dreamed that she would live to be 100, but she made it!

I AM SO BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE. MY SON, MICK, IS WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND IF HE HAS TO GO ANYWHERE, MY GRANDSONS AND THEIR WIVES COME TO CHECK ON ME. I KNOW I COULDN’T MAKE IT WITHOUT THEM. AND I HAVE TWO WONDERFUL NIECES WHO ARE ALWAYS OFFERING TO HELP ME, TOO. I AM SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE PEOPLE AROUND ME ALL THE TIME.

- JUANITA SMITH

that has ever been written and has the answers to all of life’s questions. But you’ve got to read it to find that out.”

She continued, “Sometimes, it is so alarming how the Bible is being fulfilled. It says very plain that all that’s happening right now is just the beginning of what’s going to happen. It is so sad for little children, especially – just think of what they are born into and what all they will have to endure.”

Her favorite verses? Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

What does she see as society’s downfall?

“Besides turning their back on the Lord, people have let technology and the Internet take over. It’s just a disgrace some of the pictures that come up on that little tablet of mine — and you can’t do a thing about it.”

Juanita “never dreamed” that technology would have such control over our world as it does.

“I remember hearing preachers, years ago, say that the time would come when you could see each other over the telephone. Can you imagine how crazy that sounded? Now, everything is about computers and electronics, I just cannot understand it.”

Concerned for Others

Juanita has a deep concern for everyone, but for the younger generation, especially, “And all the distractions they have in front of them,” she said.

“It’s so easy now for young people to be confused about life – and mostly about their salvation,” she added. “There’s so much out there to pull them in the wrong direction. The most important thing a young person can do today is to realize they are lost and that they need a savior, accept Jesus into their lives and live for Him.”

Juanita’s compassion is for all ages. “I worry about a lot of people, but I’m not one to put anyone down. Nobody is perfect. When someone gets in trouble, I try not to judge them. I just want to help them. I know that I’ll have to give an account of my life and mine only, and what others do is really their business, not mine.”

Everybody is just running in such a hurry, she described. “Everybody has so much they have to do and are under such pressure. They barely take time for what matters.”

It’s often been said that a Bible that is falling apart is usually owned by someone who is not falling apart . . . and that’s certainly the case with Juanita Smith, who still reads her Bible daily.

Together, this young couple knew they could conquer the trials of life together.

I WORRY ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I’M NOT ONE TO PUT ANYONE DOWN. NOBODY IS PERFECT. WHEN SOMEONE GETS IN TROUBLE, I TRY NOT TO JUDGE THEM. I JUST WANT TO HELP THEM. I KNOW THAT I’LL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF MY LIFE AND MINE ONLY, AND WHAT OTHERS DO IS REALLY THEIR BUSINESS, NOT MINE.

- JUANITA SMITH

And, what matters most to Juanita Smith, if you haven’t already figured it out, is her faith and family. “My husband Gene has been gone since 2014. I still miss him so much and still think back of so many things about our life together. For 72 years, he was my life. But it was time for him to go. When he died, I was relieved for him, and I look forward to going to where he is. It won’t be too long, now.”

Faithful From an Early Age

Faith in God was instilled in Smith’s heart as a child. “I remember thinking I was a good girl, but I didn’t think I was good enough to be saved or join the church. Plus, I was afraid of getting baptized in the Watauga River – it was so big and I just knew I’d drown.”

At the age of 13, on a Sunday night in September 1936, after revival had been going on for a week, the pastor at her church asked her if she had ever been saved.

“It scared me to death. All of a sudden, I knew being good wasn’t good enough.

He told me to go home and pray about it – told me to ask God to have mercy on me, a sinner. I went to school the next day and felt so ashamed. I was sure that everybody knew that I was a sinner. That night, when they gave the altar call, I went up front, to what they called the mourner’s bench, and gave my heart to Jesus. On Oct. 4, 1936, I was baptized in that big river and as you can see, I didn’t drown. That is all still so clear to me and I can still remember how scared I was.

Juanita said “preaching” has changed so much through the years.

“When I was a child, the preachers used to preach about hell. They would make it so plain, that you could see it. Nowadays, you can’t hear a preacher preach on hell and really describe what it is. I keep thinking about that and

how much preachers are letting people down.”

Juanita with great-grandson Dylan Smith and his fiancé Hannah Wood. Dylan and his great-grandmother have a special bond, as she began keeping him in her home soon after his birth while his parents worked.

Juanita credits her mother, “a wonderful Christian lady,” for always making sure she was in church. The family attended Antioch Baptist in the western part of Watauga County. She also became interested in singing, as did her mother, and loved attending the singing schools they had “back then.”

Growing up in Sugar Grove

Juanita was the fourth — and oldest girl — of 10 children born into the Ross and Rosa Lee Matheson family from Sugar Grove; by the age of 12,she was doing all the housework and caring for the younger siblings, while also going to school.

“Mama was sick a lot and was either expecting a baby, having one or taking care of one,” she recalled. “My dad worked off from home a lot and wasn’t always there with us.”

Among her happiest childhood memories include playing music with her family at night after all the work was done. “You could say we had a family band with a guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle. I could play a tune on all of them, but I played the guitar best of all — and could still play a little, until just a few years ago. My great-grandson, Luke, brought his guitar over one night not long ago, but I just couldn’t play it anymore.”

It was a neighbor boy, Gene Smith, who caught Juanita’s eye early on. “We were both about 11 years old when he gave me a bracelet that had belonged to his mother,” Juanita recalls with a smile.

The Mathesons moved away from the community soon afterward, but Juanita never forgot about Gene.

“Years later, in 1940, I saw him again at the county fair, and to this day, I still remember him wearing a tan zip-up

sweater and denim bell-bottom trousers and a hat. I can see that in my mind just as clear as if it was yesterday. Back then, you didn’t see many boys wearing a zipper sweater. He was really something.”

Gene was in the Civilian Conservation Corps with one of Juanita’s brothers and ended up writing her a letter after they had seen each other at the fair.

“That’s how it got started. I didn’t get to see him much, except for when I slipped off to the movies with my brother and his girlfriend, and Gene met us there. My parents didn’t want me dating.”

Two years later they were planning an early December wedding, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. “We didn’t know what to do,” Juanita recalled, “but married anyway, on Jan. 8, 1942.”

Juanita was working for the National Youth Administration project and was scheduled to work that day, she recalled. “But, I decided to go with Gene to Boone for a marriage license, and then we went back to Vilas to get Rev. Grady Minton to marry us. Gene had an A-Model and it didn’t have a heater. We nearly froze to death! We went on to Elizabethton and stayed at the Watauga Hotel until Sunday.” It was her first trip to Tennessee.

Having spent 72 years together, losing her husband, Gene, was a very difficult thing for Juanita to experience.

I HAD BEEN WALKING OUT ON THE PORCH EVERY DAY WATCHING FOR HIM, JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY HE WOULD COME HOME, BUT WHEN HE ACTUALLY CAME WALKING THROUGH THE GATE, IT DIDN’T SEEM REAL. INSTEAD OF WALKING TO MEET HIM, I WAS SO STUNNED, I JUST TURNED AND WALKED BACK INTO THE HOUSE LIKE I HAD DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE.

- JUANITA SMITH

“My parents didn’t know about it. They had already told me that my life was ruined if I married,” she said. “It wasn’t so much that they didn’t like Gene, but I was their biggest helper in the family; they didn’t want to lose me.”

Gene and her parents ended up having a close relationship, she said. “They treated him like he was their own. They never had a cross word between them.”

Soon after marrying, the young couple moved to Portsmouth, Va., where Gene worked in the shipyards; he was drafted into the army in the fall of ’42 and transferred to Ft. Lewis, Wash. Juanita returned home to stay with her parents for about a year before joining him.

A short time later, Gene received orders for the South Pacific; she returned home, again awaiting his return, two years later.

“It was hard on us to be apart,” she said. “We wrote to each other every day, but sometimes it would take a month for me to get his letters. So, much of the time, I didn’t know if he was alive or not.”

In November 1943, after he had returned state-side to Ft. Lewis, Gene came home on a 15-day leave. “He wanted to surprise me, and he sure did,” Juanita recalled. “I had been walking out on the porch every day watching for him, just

waiting for the day he would come home, but when he actually came walking through the gate, it didn’t seem real. Instead of walking to meet him, I was so stunned, I just turned and walked back into the house like I had done many times before. I walked around behind the stove and that’s where I was standing when he came through the door. I couldn’t think. I still don’t know why I did that. It hit me hard when he got inside, though. He never let me live that down.”

After Gene was discharged, the couple bought “a little home,” she described, but jobs were scarce at the time, so they moved to Cleveland, Ohio for five years. “We were homesick the whole time and finally decided to come back.”

Gene began working as a carpenter and Juanita took care of the home. Their first baby, born in 1946, did not survive. “It was a sad time.” Their son, Michael “Mick,” was born two years later.

Life as The Preacher’s Wife

In 1963, Gene “answered the call to preach” and filled many pulpits throughout Avery, Watauga and Caldwell counties.

“Being a pastor’s wife to a man that is called of God, is

Juanita Smith loves special time with her son, Mick, and her great-grandchildren, Dylan, Luke, Mattie, Carson and Landon.

Newlyweds in 1942, a young handsome couple, Juanita and Gene Smith, began a long, happy life together just as the war began.

just as important as anything I’ve ever done — whether I did it right or failed, I don’t know, but I was always with him and stood my him,” Juanita said.

She easily recalls March 1, 1963, when Gene delivered his first message, based on Isaiah 53. “I’ve got it marked in my Bible — and every other scripture he used every time he preached.”

But, she remembers, too, that Gene wasn’t saved when they were first married.

“That concerned me, especially when he was called to war, but he accepted the Lord while he was at Fort Lewis. A Baptist chaplain baptized him in the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific. While living in Cleveland, the Smiths found a little church they liked. “Our son Mick, was about 6, and we wanted to raise him in the

church,” she said. ”The pastor came to our house one day and asked if I would teach a class. I said no at first. Even the children in that church were so knowledgeable about the Bible and needed to be teaching me, but I needed to be doing something, so I finally agreed.”

For many years following, Juanita taught in the churches they served, mainly young girls and ladies.

“Not long ago, I saw one of those girls and she told me something I had taught her that she had never forgot. That meant so much to me.”

Juanita also loved singing in the church choirs and serving as needed. For many years, “since I was in my 30s,” she made communion bread for the sacred observance, going by a “recipe” that’s in the Bible for unleavened bread

Being a preacher’s wife wasn’t always easy, citing “the hardest thing ever was dealing with the criticism that comes with the job.” But, she tried to never let it bother her, “Because I knew he was always where the Lord wanted him to be. That was enough for me.”

As a bi-vocational pastor in small churches from the 1980s until retiring in 2008, Gene also owned and operated

These quilts are just a small sample of the beautiful handwork that Juanita Smith has produced in her lifetime.

Still smiling and stitching at the century mark.

a tractor-trailer; Juanita joined him on many longdistance trips, covering the main 48 states together, which they enjoyed immensely.

When the couple promised to love each other in sickness and health, they were sincere. Prior to Gene’s retirement, his health began to decline; though physically stable, dementia took its toll on his mind. It was “a blessing and a privilege,” Juanita said, to have taken care of him.

“He was always so good to me and protective of me,” she recalled. “He was so gentle, humble and kind. We had a loving, trusting relationship. I looked up to him and loved and respected him for the man that I know he was.”

They had their disagreements “and plenty of heartache,” through the years, she said, “But, we stayed strong in our faith. Otherwise, I don’t know how we would’ve made it.”

Juanita cherishes a box of cards that Gene gave her through the years. “I can’t throw them away,” she said. “He always picked out such meaningful cards for special occasions. He was always sentimental like that.”

Moving Forward

A gifted seamstress since her youth, sewing a skill she inherited from her mother, Juanita has stayed busy through the years with her handwork — crocheting, knitting and quilting

— especially after Gene’s death. Much of her work has been sold at the craft center at Moses Cone Manor in Blowing Rock — or given to her family. She has lost count of the number of quilts she has made through the years, but she hasn’t forgotten that each cathedral quilt, her favorite pattern, contains 750 blocks and takes about a year to complete.

“I’ve put in several hours making those quilts and everyone seems to love them.

“I have formed friendships all over this country through the quilts and the other items I’ve made. I have heard from people from New York, California, Charlotte, and all over who have gotten something I’ve made.”

She is grateful for every connection, every friend that she has made during her lifetime, but most of all, it’s God and her family that keeps this matriarch of five generations going. “I am so thankful for my son Mick, his wife Laura, and my seven grandsons (three of them who are married to wonderful young women). I five great-grandsons, two greatgranddaughters, and one greatgreat grandson. I am blessed in many ways — and am thankful for every one of my 100 years of life. I just hope that I have been a blessing to someone along the way.” t

A rare photo of Juanita, her son Mick and her five grandsons: Michael, Matthew, Andrew, Morgan and Orin.

“Grandmother” as she is respectfully referred to stands with her two older grandsons and their wives. From left: Matthew and Jerica, Denise, Juanita and Michael.

Juanita enjoys a big hug from her youngest grandson, Ray.

Windows of Opportunity

Entrepreneur Greg Seiz heads in a new direction

STORY BY JAN TODD

For the past 25 years, Greg Seiz has pursued opportunities to build a successful business in the High Country. At the end of 2022, he sold his company, Appalachian Blind & Closet Company, to follow his heart — with plans to help nonprofit organizations.

In 1997, Seiz moved his family from South Florida to Banner Elk, where he worked for a carpet and flooring store. When building his house, he talked to various designers about plantation shutters for his home but found there weren’t any places to purchase them nearby. Realizing an unmet need, Seiz got a sales job for a plantation shutter company in Charlotte in order to expand their market into the High Country.

“It was an easy sell,” he said. “It wasn’t

long until I buried the company with work — so much they couldn’t keep up with the orders.”

He realized very quickly that to address the demand and have more control over production and delivery, he’d need to open his own plant. He hopped on a plane and traveled to Lubbock, Texas, and consulted with the O’Hair Shutters company, a fourth-generation manufacturer of plantation shutters. He returned to the mountains and opened the Carolina Shutter Company in Newland.

For a year or so, Seiz operated as a wholesaler to interior designers and builders in the area, then decided to grow his business by opening a retail store,

expanding his line to include blinds and window treatments. “I found that simply showing up and having integrity was the key to success,” he said.

His retail operation, Carolina Window Fashions, grew robustly,

and with the efficiency of his own manufacturing plant for the shutters, it was difficult for others to compete. “I was doing installations in Charlotte, Greensboro, Eastern Tennessee and even down to Florida,” he said.

As motorized shades and automated window coverings became more popular, Seiz opened a dealership for Hunter Douglas, the leader in the industry. However, Hunter Douglas limited their “Gallery” level distribution — which featured the full product line along with premium displays — to just one retailer. In Boone, Appalachian Blind & Closet, a business opened in 1993, was a Gallery distributor, so Seiz’s Carolina Window Fashions had to settle for a smaller line from Hunter Douglas.

“I really wanted a Hunter Douglas

Gallery, though, so I made an offer to purchase Appalachian Blind,” Seiz said. “But the owner wasn’t ready.”

Five years later, after the housing recession took its toll on the High Country, Seiz and the previous owner came to an agreement in 2014 and Seiz purchased Appalachian Blind & Closet. He then rebranded his business under that name a few years ago.

Since the pandemic hit in 2020, Seiz said his company has doubled its

business. “Waves of people realized they could work from home and have flexibility in where they live. They decided to move to their second home in the mountains, or purchase a new home where they always wanted to live. It was a reset for everyone, getting away from the cities and crowds,” Seiz said.

The housing industry in the High Country exploded, with a spike in demand which drove up housing prices and squeezed inventory of available listings, Seiz said. New and existing housing sales meant more demand for window coverings and closet designs.

While his company revenue grew, Seiz said his awareness of the needs in the community also increased the tug on his heart. “We have a serious shortage of affordable housing in the area, and the issue is one I want to devote some time to,” he said.

Greg Seiz, former owner of Appalachian Blind & Closet Company in Boone, stands in front of a painting by Jim Crompton, on display in the company’s reception area. The artwork, depicting a scene in Foscoe, caught Seiz’s eye a few years ago while visiting the Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk. “I visualized the painting hanging in this spot, two years before I was able to purchase this building,” Seiz said. Photo by Jan Todd

A large showroom at Appalachian Blind & Closet is dedicated to designing custom closets, with cabinetry options to fit different budgets and styles. Photos by Jan Todd

A Heart for Change

Seiz is no stranger to a path through struggles. A difficult childhood led him down the road to substance abuse, addiction and desperation. In his early twenties, the intervention of a stranger helped him turn the corner to recovery.

“Life is hard,” Seiz said. “But one person can make a huge difference in another’s life.”

As Seiz reached sobriety, he developed a desire to help others. Prior to moving to Banner Elk, Seiz and a partner started a nonprofit organization, Empowering Directions. They worked with incarcerated adolescents — who had been convicted as felons within the adult system — in South Florida’s Broward County jail system.

“Trauma triggers patterns of behavior. If we can create a break in that pattern, to allow the person’s brain to go in an empowering direction instead of a negative direction, it can change lives,” Seiz explained.

“I understand the relationship between trauma and incarceration rates,” Seiz continued. “It is so hard for someone age 25 to heal and turn around after enduring childhood trauma. The earlier you can address it with children, the better you can prevent them from turning to to alcohol, drugs and other bad decisions in their future lives.”

In the High Country, Seiz has supported and become involved in a few nonprofit efforts, including the Western Youth Network (WYN) — an organization that seeks to transform the community by nurturing and empowering children so they can live healthy, engaged and fulfilled lives.

Many of the children served by WYN have endured Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as poverty, abuse, hunger, parents with addictions, domestic violence and other adversities.

“I’m very passionate about WYN, because of my own history,” Seiz shared.

His support of WYN began with regular monthly

I’d like to help people with the business side of running nonprofit organizations. That is my purpose right now. I feel guided, and I trust in God to lead me. I know it’s going to be a fun adventure.

- GREG SEIZ

Greg Seiz addressed donors and supporters at the Western Youth Network (WYN) “Wish Upon a Star” fundraising gala in 2022, sharing his own story of childhood trauma, addiction and recovery. His personal history drives his passion to support WYN and other nonprofits in the High Country, he said. After selling Appalachian Blind & Closet Company, a business he spent 25 years growing into a successful venture, Seiz plans to devote his time and energy to helping nonprofits grow and operate efficiently, enabling them to make an even bigger difference in the community. Photo by Jan Todd

A large showroom at Appalachian Blind & Closet is dedicated to designing custom closets, with cabinetry options to fit different budgets and styles. Photo by Jan Todd

Greg Seiz and his staff at Appalachian Blind & Closet after their ribbon cutting ceremony in June of 2022.

Photo courtesy of Appalachian Blind & Closet.

donations, then he stepped up his involvement and volunteered in the organization’s community-based mentoring program. WYN trains adults to work directly with middle-school youth. Mentors meet weekly with their mentees, serving as role models and nurturing stable relationships that help children heal and build resilience.

Seiz said he has had a “sort of awakening” in the past few years. “I’ve been letting go of some of my possessions and things I thought would bring me closer to people — but had actually been taking me farther away,” he said.

Part of that journey led him to the decision to sell his company he’d spent the quarter of a century building. He hired a broker in 2022 and found a buyer for Appalachian Blind & Closets, closing the sale in late November.

I like the small town feel of this area. I’m looking forward to this phase of life. - ERIC CURRENCE

Eric Currence, new owner of Appalachian Blind & Closet Company, is a retired officer of the U.S. Army. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and was stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In addition to his military career, Currence has extensive experience as a commercial real estate investor. Photo by Jan Todd

What’s next for Seiz? He plans to pour his energies into helping nonprofits from a business perspective.

“Most nonprofit startups fail, because people start out to do good things, but don’t realize they are going into a business. You have to have sustainability, different revenue streams, and people to do the work. With every venture there is an entrepreneurial equation,” he explained.

“I’d like to help people with the business side of running nonprofit organizations. That is my purpose right now. I feel guided, and I trust in God to lead me. I know it’s going to be a fun adventure,” Seiz said.

Jennifer Warren, executive director of WYN, said she has had some early conversations with Seiz about the organization’s operations.

“He has given me some advice about what he has done with his companies, how he made them a success,” Warren said.

Warren acknowledged that many times nonprofits are led by people

Adjacent to the main showroom is a garage and office area with custom cabinetry on display for the ultimate home garage. Photo by Jan Todd

with backgrounds in social work or counseling — not necessarily those with experience in running businesses.

“Greg and I talked about building a model for our programming and planning for future growth. Before a company can really expand, you have to be clear about what you do and how you do it, and identify your formula for success,” Warren shared.

Warren said Seiz gave her tips about operating from a managerial standpoint. “Sometimes leaders act more as day-to-day staff members. As we expand, I have to concentrate more on leadership instead of the activities of the day,” she said.

Warren said the demand for WYN’s services has doubled from last year — with increased needs resulting from the pandemic, inflation and growth in the community. She relies on WYN’s Board of Directors, Advisory Board and community leaders such as Seiz as WYN expands in new directions to better serve the area’s youth.

New Management for Appalachian Blind & Closets

Meanwhile, there is a new face at the helm of Appalachian Blind & Closets. Eric Currence, a newly retired U.S. Army officer with 27 years in the service, seized the window of opportunity opened by Seiz.

Currence, who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

“As I prepared to retire from the Army, I began looking for a business to buy. I started researching about two years ago, took some online courses and assembled a team with an accountant and a lawyer,” Currence said.

He had extensive experience in commercial real estate investing, and wanted a business related to the industry, he said. He considered opportunities in plumbing, HVAC, septic and other businesses related to the home.

“When I saw the ad for Appalachian Blind & Closets, things moved fast. I made the decision within a week,” he said. Meeting the people, looking at the numbers and seeing how the business was run guided his decision.

“They have systems and processes which are orderly, something I’m used to from the military,” he said. The company’s reputation and the friendliness of the staff were also important factors, he said.

Eric Currence is the new owner of Appalachian Blind & Closet Company. He purchased the business from Greg Seiz in late November, 2022. Photo by Jan Todd

Reception area of Appalachian Blind & Closet Company, located at 8599 NC Hwy. 105 in the Foscoe area. Photo by Jan Todd

Appalachian Blind & Closets employs twenty people. Currence plans to host a Business After Hours event with the Boone Area Chamber in February to introduce himself to other businesspeople and show off the company’s new

location at 8599 NC Hwy. 105 in Foscoe, which Seiz opened in June, 2022.

“I like the small town feel of this area,” said Currence. “I’m looking forward to this phase of life.” t

Appalachian Blind & Closet Company is a Gallery location for Hunter Douglas, the leading manufacturer of blinds. They carry a complete line of manual and automated blinds and shades, plus awnings and shutters. Programmable automated window coverings can be programmed to adjust automatically to protect interiors from UV rays, manage heat and cooling loss, and provide appropriate lighting for different times of the day. Photo by Jan Todd

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Tom Lanier Signs Off After More Than 50 Years of Radio

The voice of Tom Lanier is a familiar companion on the radio waves around Boone and Blowing Rock. His even timbre rolls the listener into the next radio hit, keeps ski enthusiasts up to date on the slopes in condition reports, and infuses community events, such as the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Horn in the West, with excitement as he narrates.

As of this January, Lanier has retired from his 33-year stretch of radio broadcasting in the High Country and his 51st year of voice and television talent. His first experience broadcasting was from his childhood home in Statesville, NC at the age of four.

“I had a small piece of wood, maybe a broken off broom handle,” Lanier recalled. “I was interviewing my cousin, pretending to be a newscaster.”

Lanier has been entertaining audiences ever since, a friendly fixture of the High Country radio and airwaves.

David Jackson, President and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, said, “Whenever something important happens in a community, there are often voices inside your head that you can hear talking about those topics. When something big happens in Boone, I hear it in my head in Tom Lanier’s voice.”

Lanier studied music for a short time at Appalachian State University before dropping out to serve four years in the U. S. Air Force as a weapons control systems technician for Phantom fighter jets. Upon his return to App State in 1971 to study with the new College of Business, Lanier began working at Boone’s radio station, WATA, then located on King Street close to Farmer’s Hardware. He was tutored on the art of radio announcing by the station’s

STORY BY ABIGAIL F. SHERRIN

general manager at the time, Zara Jane Smith. His time in radio evolved from news director to program director to general manager, adding his voice to events from Nixon’s resignation in 1974 after the Watergate Scandal to the attacks on 9/11.

The freelance portion of his extensive resume spans voice work on training videos and commercials, spokesperson appearances on camera, and a few small roles on television shows, including a notable small role in the 1983 CBS miniseries “Chiefs.”

A storied career led Lanier to be a radio announcer on Classic Hits 100.7 and 99.1 at the Curtis Media Group studio in Boone.

Rick Prusator, the regional vice president for the company stated, “One of the best parts of my job is being lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with true professionals and wonderful

individuals like Tom Lanier. Tom is a true friend, a great guy, and I thank him for everything that he has done for his listeners and the High Country.”

Having no desire to take higher paying jobs outside the High Country area, Lanier mused on his time behind the microphone.

“I just enjoy what I do,” he said. “It’s like being in my living room, talking to people about what’s going on. I like the music I play, I love this community, and I’m just having fun.”

Tom Lanier’s retirement precedes his and his wife Margaret’s move to Charlottesville, Virginia, where the couple have one son, Morgan, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. Tom has expressed his humble attitude to the attention he has received from his community regarding his career in the High Country and looks forward to his time with family. t

Tom Lanier enjoyed his last day in the studio and on the air Friday, January 20th.