October Magazine by High Country Press

Volume 18 · Issue 10 October 2023

The Art of Living Retreat Center

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Liam Purcell Against the Grain Wilson Family Reunion

Feeding Avery Families Mountain Vista Window Washing · Watauga Parks & Rec

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C O N T E N T S Against the Grain By Anna Beth Adcock

“It’s also been important to us to contribute and give back to a community that’s really supportive of small farming and small-scale agriculture. The High Country is really unique in that way and we are so fortunate to live in a place where people really see and value the work of farming." - Holly Whitesides

Liam Purcell By David Coulson

"I always cared very deeply about the connection with the audience, the feeling you give them at the end of the night. I don’t care about how they felt about this note, or that, if they were impressed by it, but that they feel like they are part of a community..." - Liam Purcell

Food For All: Feeding Avery Families By Tim Gardner

“When we began planning this new facility, all of us realized that we didn’t simply need a bigger warehouse. Instead, we needed a facility that could grow and grow with our community and that we could share with, and be shared by, our friends and fellow collaborators.” - Dick Larson

Art of Living Retreat Center By Kris Testori

"How we eat profoundly influences the longevity of our lives. It encompasses more than just your diet; it involves what we eat, when we eat, how much we consume, and how effectively we digest our food." - Kimberly Rossi

Mountain Vista Window Washing By Sarah Mathis

“I saw my parents working terrible jobs that didn’t care for them and had bad pay and bad hours, so I wanted to provide a job for myself, and a job for my friends, that could treat everybody a little better.” - Rowen Todd

Watauga Parks & Recreation By Peter Morris

“Since the opening of the new recreation complex, we have summer and holiday camps, upgraded aquatics, fitness classes, pickleball, basketball and volleyball, pool party space, and a community room. It’s a game changer for Watauga County!" - Stephen Poulos

Wilson Family Reunion By Sherrie Norris

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"People come from far and wide for our reunion. And, if they’re not nearby residents, like Don Norris and Dave Robertson, they come for several days. They stay with relatives, rent vacation homes, or camp out in tents near the house." - Belva Taylor Hopkins

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F RO M T H E P U B L I S H E R

A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Publisher Sam Garrett Editor Harley Nefe Design Ashley Poore Efren Ramirez “Pedro", Jon Heder “Napolean Dynamite, Sam Garrett “Sam Garrett”, and Jon Gries “Uncle Rico” prepare to watch Napolean Dynamite at The Appalachian Theatre on September 1, 2023. Photo courtesy of Astro Yeti Photo Co.

Hello Fall!

or many reasons, October is my favorite month. With the changing of seasons, comes the brisk cool air and the beautiful leaf colors across the mountains. It’s the perfect time of the year to sit at a bonfire with friends and family and keep warm with mugs full of hot apple cider. There are also plenty of autumn activities to participate in. Between haunted trails, pumpkin patches, and fall festivals, there are many offerings to explore. One event High Country Press Publications had the pleasure of attending in September was the sold out show of Napoleon Dynamite LIVE at the Appalachian Theatre, where VIP guests received a meet & greet experience with Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). One of the biggest blessings about being in the journalism industry is having the opportunity to meet many different people and sharing their remarkable stories. Our staff continued this responsibility in this issue of High Country Magazine, where we feature Liam Purcell, who grew up just down the road from Doc Watson. Purcell leads Cane Mill Road as they rock the traditional bluegrass standards they were raised on. This is a story of a young artist who had the opportunity to pursue his passion at an early age. We also put the spotlight on a young entrepreneur, Rowen Todd, who is the founder and CEO of Mountain Vista Window Washing. A business that once started out of the back of a Subaru wagon has since become a highly reputable and awarded service provider for window washing, gutter and pressure washing services, receiving young entrepreneur of the year and business of the year locally and young entrepreneur of the year awards regionally. Much of the success comes from having a crew that loves what they do. Another group that shows a similar love and passion is Feeding Avery Families, a nonprofit, Christian organization in Avery County that is dedicated to eliminating hunger by any means possible including monetary donations, volunteerism, or food bank donations. With a new Operations Center that opened this year, the nonprofit is ready to meet more needs in the community. Watauga County Parks and Recreation Department is another group that is meeting the needs of the local community. With a goal to provide quality programming to all citizens, Watauga County Parks and Recreation is creating opportunities for individuals and families to focus on health and wellness while enhancing the overall quality of life for all in the community. In speaking of wellness, another article inside for your reading pleasure is about the Art of Living Retreat Center, where health meets happiness. I, personally, have had the opportunity to enjoy a number of treatments at the Art of Living, and they offer truly amazing healing solutions. In tune with health, Against the Grain, a thriving farmland, cultivates holistic food and invites the High Country community to eat well and support small business agriculture. Last but not least, High Country Magazine celebrates the Wilson family, who has a long, storied history in the area. From meeting on Meat Camp Creek since 1933, family members have lots to share of their reunions. We hope you enjoy!

Sam Garrett - Publisher 8

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Advertising Director Michelle Harrell Contributing Writers Anna Beth Adcock David Coulson Tim Gardner Belva Taylor Hopkins Sarah Mathis Peter Morris Sherrie Norris Kris Testori Jan Todd Cover Photographer Ashley Poore Contributing Photographers Josh Floyd (Astro Yeti Photo Co.) Shirley Hollars 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.

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High Country Caregivers Hosts A Night at Chetola Fundraiser STORY BY KRIS TESTORI

Attendees enjoyed gourmet food, live music and dacing at the 4th annual A Nigh at Chetola fundraiser. Photos by Ashley Poore

igh Country Caregivers, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, wholefamily care to empower caregivers who take on the responsibility of caring for a relative's or a friend's child, hosted a spectacular fundraising event on September 14. A Night at Chetola was designed to merge philanthropy with entertainment, presenting an outstanding night infused with excitement and compassion. "This marks our fourth year hosting this event, and each year it's a full house,” said High Country Caregivers Executive Director Jacob Willis. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our supporters. It's truly heartwarming to see so many individuals come together to support our cause.” One of the kinship caregivers, Donna Miller, spoke at the event, sharing the impact of High Country Caregivers on the lives of the families in the program. “You bless these children more than you can imagine,” she told those in attendance. “You bless the grandparents more than you know. We have grandparents in their 80s on a fixed income. When, all of a sudden, they get a knock on the door, they get their grandkids. Well, their income does not change, their apartment does not get any bigger, but yet they take those children. Thank God that we have an organization and we have board members who care about us, and they get out and they talk to their friends and they raise money to make it possible. High Country Caregivers helps us, providing a way for us to care for and love these grandchildren. I don’t know if you realize what 10

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a blessing that is. Every grandparent wants their grandchild to be well taken care of and loved. Who can do a better job than the grandparents?” Miller also highlighted the social support systems provided to the kinship caregivers by HCC. “We are able to get together to talk and get support from each other, to get encouragement from each other." She emphasized, “It doesn't matter where you come from or what you have or don’t have; we all share the same thing in common. It is wonderful to receive moral and emotional support and to know that you are not the only one doing this.'” The fundraiser featured live music performances by the awardwinning 8-piece Motown Band, 'The Business,' dancing, live auctions, a silent auction, and gourmet dining. The silent auction presented a plethora of items and experiences, enticing attendees to bid generously, all in the name of making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and kinship caregivers in the High Country region. “This event showcases the generosity and community spirit of the High Country,” Willis said. “All of the proceeds will go towards HCC’s many fund-a-need programs, as well as general support for families facing the hardships of kinship navigation. In the wake of this successful event, we at High Country Caregivers express our gratitude to all the attendees, sponsors, and volunteers for their unwavering support and dedication.” t

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Photos by Astro Yeti Photo Co. October 202 3

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Carolina Gal Fools Rush . . . Up By Jan Todd

The view of a cloud inversion from Jan Todd’s home — where the clouds appear as an ocean with “islands” of mountaintops peeking through. Photo by Jan Todd

lmost nine years ago, shortly after moving to Boone, I read an article in a local publication and came across a sentence that gave me pause: “Only fools live in homes at the top of a mountain.” It worried me a bit — because my husband and I had decided to do just that. It was too late for rational thinking; we’d closed on the home and had already made our first mortgage payment. We were committed. I wasn’t sure what to expect, what problems we might encounter — and it didn’t take long to find out. After a weekend with houseguests, the float valve on a toilet upstairs got stuck and the toilet ran for a couple of days, unnoticed. We woke up to no water and called the well company for help. “You’re lucky you didn’t burn out the well motor,” the technician advised, shaking his head. “We’d need a crane to pull it up to replace it, and you’d be lookin’ at a bill for a few thousand dollars.” Turns out our well is some 800 feet deep (because we live at the top of a mountain), and only pumps 15 gallons an hour. Back in the low lands, our well pumped 15 gallons a minute. Lesson one learned: install valve alarms, turn off the well pump if we go out of town, and pay attention to the water situation. People always ask us about the “wind up there.” Yep, the wind blows. You know one of the theories about how the town of Seven Devils got its name? Its high elevation winds sound like “seven devils screaming into the night.” We don’t live in Seven Devils, but I think we have the same wind. It howls. In the summertime, a strong wind will shred the leaves on the 14

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trees. If accompanied by rain, we might wake up to lots of little leaf bits stuck to the outside of our windows. It looks like a giant salad shooter chewed up and spit the trees our way. We have to be careful about leaving chair cushions outside — they might set sail and end up in the next county. A time or two we’ve been stuck in the snow, though plows generally make it up our way before too long. Ice is a different story. It stops us in our tracks and covers the windows, giving us the illusion of living inside a bathroom shower with a frosted glass door. And yet — living up high is simply magical. Some mornings we’re treated to a cloud inversion — when there is a blanket of clouds below our house, completely covering the valley. Mountain peaks rise out of the clouds like islands on an ocean. It’s what I’d imagine heaven to look like. Other mornings, moisture from the clouds freezes on the tree branches at the top of the mountain and it looks like a winter wonderland. They call that “hoar frost” or “rime ice.” There may be a difference between the two, but I usually call it rime ice because the other name raises eyebrows, especially if I’m talking to my mother. I love to watch the changing seasons, weather patterns and the clouds floating by. We wave to the pilots in small planes as they cruise along just above our heads, and watch the hawks play in the wind currents right outside our windows. Elvis once recorded a song with the refrain, “Wise men say only fools rush in.” That’s probably true. But since I’m here, I wouldn’t mind staying awhile. t

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GROWING COMMUNITY

AGAINST THE GRAIN USHERS IN A NEW SEASON FOR LOCAL FARMING STORY BY ANNA BETH ADCOCK

arm fresh fare: found. Husband-and-wife duo Holly Whitesides and Andy Bryant have been partners in planting and producing crops since 2010. The best part? They bring the local community into the evergreen operation. Throughout the last decade, the couple has established a thriving farmland, now known as Against the Grain, that utilizes biodynamic farming practices and invites the High Country community to eat well and support small business agriculture. Cultivating healthy and holistic food and fostering the success of a local farm amid the community sounds like a win-win-win, indeed.

Back To The Roots Whitesides first dove into the world of farming about 18 years ago during a ten-year stint in the Midwest residing in Minnesota and South Dakota. “It was right around the time that GMOs [“genetically modified organisms”] were on the cusp of release in a more widespread way,” the organic farmer said. “I was looking around at our food systems, food supply, and the way food was grown and distributed — and I felt really discouraged. It dawned on me that I could say yes to something in a really positive way by taking action and growing food.” Meanwhile, Bryant found his way into the farming profession via a passion for the culinary side of cuisine and an extensive background in cooking and gardening. “He really enjoyed the aspect of preparing food, so it was a really natural thing for him to want to grow it,” said Whitesides of her husband. Both born in North Carolina, Bryant established and maintained his connection to the High Country by attending 16

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The Whiteside family. Photo courtesy of Against the Grain.

and graduating from Appalachian State University, while Whitesides has deep family roots in Ashe County. “When I came back to the east from the midwest I felt really drawn to come to the mountains, and Boone felt like a really natural place to land,” she explained of her return to the area. Fate interceded when Bryant and Whitesides crossed paths at a local dairy farm in Ashe County over a decade ago. He lived and worked on the dairy farm where she used to get milk, the two later connected at the local farmers market, and the rest is history.

Digging Into Farming Before jumping into full-time farming, Bryant and Whitesides were still working other jobs in addition to their fresh food operation (in carpentry and with W.A.M.Y. Community Action, respectively). However, after farming on rented land for a few seasons, the productive couple made the leap in the spring of 2012 to purchase their own land, which has since become Against the Grain, allowing Whitesides to turn farming into a full-time endeavor. In 2013, Against the Grain began to implement biodynamic farming practices, and a couple

Workers are all smiles at the farm. Photo courtesy of Against the Grain.

I was looking around at our food systems, food supply and the way food was grown and distributed—and I felt really discouraged. It dawned on me that I could say yes to something in a really positive way by taking action and growing food.

- HOLLY WHITESIDES October 202 3

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years later, Bryant began farming full-time as well. Today, the Bryants have grown into a family of five, with three daughters Beatrice (8), Corva (5), and Linnea (2).

Biodynamic Farming For Beginners Wondering what biodynamic farming is, really? Essentially, the practice encourages on-farm fertility via methods such as composting, integrating animals, cover cropping, and crop rotation.

Whitesides explains the concept as a mutually beneficial relationship that provides those farming the land a beautiful framework through which to think about the farm. “It [biodynamic farming] offers the perspective that the farm is an organism working toward being a self-contained organism,” she elaborated. “We are working to keep resources on the farm within the farm. … And we can see how all the parts work together to create a whole.” Just like a person with a heart, brain, and an array of organs coming together to create a working body, so too a

biodynamic farm operates with myriad pieces collaborating — from the livestock and pasture to the compost, greenhouses, and cultivated land. “All these parts work in a symphony,” Whitesides said. “That perspective helps us make decisions and plays into our holistic goal.” And this goal takes into account aspects ranging from financial and biological to the community.” In short, biodynamic farming builds the big picture and hones in on short and long term goals for the farm in a perfect partnership.

The produce from Against the Grain is just different, better. Photo courtesy of Against the Grain. 18

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She added, “In this relationship, it’s no longer the farmer dictating and trying to control a piece of land or its resources. Instead, it’s a collaboration. It’s through relationships that we learn so much about life, which is a really accessible way to think about it [biodynamic farming] if it’s something that’s new to you.” Thus, biodynamic farming proves team work makes the dream work both in agriculture and in life.

In this relationship, it’s no longer the farmer dictating and trying to control a piece of land or its resources. Instead, it’s a collaboration. It’s through relationships that we learn so much about life, which is a really accessible way to think about it [biodynamic farming] if it’s something that’s new to you.

A Growing Operation Against the Grain typically operates on a 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. schedule during the week, with Bryant heading to the market on the weekends, managing the field crew, and overseeing the production and operations side of the farm. Meanwhile, Whitesides manages the back-end of things (think: marketing, communications, customer service and human resources) allowing her a more flexible schedule to spend time with the kids and help foster the family and farm’s ability to thrive. Not to mention, Against the Grain touts a talented team of returning employees and fresh faces each season that amp up the farm’s sustainable services. “It’s really the team as a whole that makes the farm what it is,” Whitesides said. “It’s a pretty amazing group effort.” The farm spans 20 acres, plus an additional 15 acres, of highly erodible mountain soil that is expected to support a full-time farming family and provide profit to pay for the land and pay the employees that work on the land. “That’s a really big task,” Whitesides said. “We really learned that in order for the farm to regenerate its resources while also supporting a growing family, we really needed to focus on regenerating our soil, which was the foundation for everything.” And this encompasses everything from the nutrition, production, and quality of the crops to the nutrition of those that consume them. One big way Against the Grain ensures the health and

- HOLLY WHITESIDES

One of the green houses at Against the Grain. Photo courtesy of Against the Grain. October 202 3

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◊

LIGHTNING ROUND Q&A

School us on what produce is in-season when? Sept.–May: greens and root crops (kale, chard, lettuce, arugula, turnips, radishes and beets); June–Aug.: fruiting crops (cucumbers, summer squash, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants)

◊ ◊ ◊

TTips for those looking to embrace holistic eating? Don’t buy processed foods—if you don’t have them in your pantry, you won’t eat them! Any food prep ideas to try? We love our spiralizer for summer squash and zucchini. It turns ordinary vegetables into a healthy pasta substitute! How to support local farmers? Shop at the farmers’ market or join a CSA program.

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Located in the heart of Banner Elk’s Theater District

Pigs enjoying lunch at Against the Grain. Photo courtesy of Against the Grain.

longevity of its agriculture’s ability to thrive is through composting. The farm creates its own compost using manure, hay, and through acquiring pre-consumer waste from a few of the restaurants where the farm delivers produce. “It’s a really cool cycle,” shared Whitesides of the operation which includes two main partners, Lost Province Brewing Co. and Juice Boone. “We deliver to those restaurants and then backhaul kitchen trimmings and grain from the brewery, and we use those things in our compost, creating this neat loop between the farm and our community partners working together to rebuild soil.”

Cultivating Community Supported Agriculture Another pivotal piece of the farm brings the focus back on relationship-building, this time with the local community members by providing a box of produce each week for 20 weeks through Against the Grain’s community supported agriculture program. “It goes back to the relationship,” Whitesides explained. “There is this beautiful exchange between members of the community and the farm, which is pretty amazing.” CSA members invest in the farm at the start of the season when expenses are high — with everything from labor to seed costs — and trust October 202 3

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It’s also been important to us to contribute and give back to a community that’s really supportive of small farming and small-scale agriculture. The High Country is really unique in that way and we are so fortunate to live in a place where people really see and value the work of farming.

- HOLLY WHITESIDES the farm to then provide them with a box of produce in return for their investment. A few years ago, Against the Grain implemented an online software, dubbed Harvie, that allows CSA members to up the value of their experience via ranking their favorite and least favorite produce picks in order of preference on a scale of one to five. A ranking of one translates as: “Please never give me this vegetable,” and a ranking of five means, “Give me this as often as you have it!” Each week, the computer program sorts the veggies available with people’s preferences to offer customized offerings fit for each person. And it’s through this personalization piece, that both the farm and the consumer benefit. To boot, there is a brief window of time that CSA members can swap their veggies out or add a few extras to their box. Currently, Against the Grain touts a 120-member CSA, partly due to this flexible structure in place. What’s more, this year marks the third season that 20 of the 120 shares belong to the local food bank and the sixth season of the program’s cost share, which includes 10 of the remaining 100 shares that become part of a community supported cost share fund. Members of the community donate to the fund to provide cost free shares for people with a connection to the farm. “Often, local food is inaccessible because of the price,” Whitesides elaborated. “But at the same time, farmers deserve a fair price for their work. If we want local food from mountain 22

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Delicious carrots make everyone smile. Photo courtesy of Against the Grain.

farms, we have to pay what’s fair, but this also boxes people out — which is a gap we need to work as a community to close.” She added: “We feel strongly that holistic healthy food is a basic human right that shouldn’t be reserved only for those with a high level of resource, however, it’s also challenging as a small farm trying to make its way to offer food at a discounted price.” And community supported agriculture is a great place to start spreading fresh fare to the masses, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Continuing To Crop Up Community Further growing into the High Country food scene, Bryant served on the local Farmers Market Board and Whitesides served on the Food Hub advisory committee and Kings Street Advisory Committee, respectively. “It’s also been important to us to contribute and give back to a community that’s really supportive of small farming and smallscale agriculture,” Whitesides said. “The High Country is really unique in that way, and we are so fortunate to live in a place where people really see and value the work of farming.”

Producing Family When they aren’t growing fresh fare for the High Country, find the holistic living fam of five spending time outdoors together by the river, hiking, or cozying up by the creek reading a book. Ready to bite into community oriented crops? Visit the farm at 619 Camp Joy Road, scroll the website atgfarm.com, or show some love on Instagram @atgfarm. t

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BUILT ON BLUEGRASS A CONVERSATION WITH LIAM PURCELL STORY BY DAVID COULSON Photo courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

n every musician’s life, there are seminal moments that will define their career or even stay with them forever. For Deep Gap’s Liam Purcell, one of those monumental encounters occurred on a sunkissed Saturday afternoon in downtown Boone on June 3, as he took the stage at the second annual Boonerang Festival. Staring out from the stage, he could see two blocks of friends, family, and fans jammed in front of the Depot Street area. Among them were people who had known him for his entire life, those who had mentored and encouraged him in his musical aspirations from early in his childhood. As he picked up his mandolin for the start of one of the most important performances of his career, he could see the newly completed mural of local 24

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bluegrass legends Doc and Merle Watson a few feet away from the stage. Behind him on the Appalachian State University campus stood Walker Hall, where he spent countless hours practicing in a first-floor classroom on Sunday afternoons with his band, Cane Mill Road, and where his dad, William, had an office and taught in the school’s Communication Department. A couple of blocks down on King Street sat the Jones House, where Purcell took his first music lessons as a youngster. In the opposite direction on King Street, there was the vacant building that once housed the beloved Murphy’s Bar, where he participated in weekly bluegrass jam sessions, even as a kid, and honed his

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craft, escorted and chaperoned each week by renowned bluegrass mentor John Payne. It was like a memory overload as Cane Mill Road broke into their opening tune and for the next hour-plus enthralled the crowd with precision transitions and sharp-edged solos. The sustained roars from the crowd and the electric atmosphere confirmed to Purcell and his bandmates, Colton

The biggest thing for me, growing up in Deep Gap would have to be Doc Watson, getting to see him perform a couple of times before he passed. I never got to be personally introduced to him, but my dad would point him out at the post office sometimes

- LIAM PURCELL

Photos courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

Kerchner, Rob McCormac, Jacob Smith, and Sam Stage that they were at the top of their game as they concluded a late spring tour that had taken them from the Yukon Territory through several states, before finally ending up in front of an appreciative hometown audience. “That was an incredible experience,” Purcell described. “It was so much fun.” Now 21 years old, Purcell had been preparing for that concert, whether he knew or not, for pretty much his whole lifetime. “The biggest thing for me, growing up in Deep Gap would have to be Doc Watson, getting to see him perform a couple of times before he passed,” Purcell said of his early inspiration. “I never got to be personally introduced to him, but my dad would point him out at the post office sometimes. My dad would say, ‘There’s Doc Watson.’ I don’t think I understood the significance of that until many years later.”

Seeing the Appalachian Mountains’ icon perform live had an immeasurable influence on this young musician. To this day, Purcell includes Doc Watson’s classic bluegrass arrangement of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” in most of his performances. “I did get to see him play a couple of times at the Sugar Grove festival,” Purcell explained. “He was up there with Charles Welch, Jack Lawrence, and T. Michael Coleman. I still remember that to this day. I was standing near a tent pole and trying to see everyone on stage. I was like eight.” By then, the tiny youngster was already showing the first flashes of his future brilliance, but before bluegrass grabbed his heart, another musical genre helped him start to learn the basics of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar. “Actually, it was old-time music that I learned first,” Purcell said. “I didn’t get started playing bluegrass until I was 11 or 12. October 202 3

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The community around the Jones House was very old-school centered, and that was wonderful, because it gave me a very firm foundation in our Appalachian Mountain tradition. I consider myself a traditional musician. Even after going to music school and getting a foundation in jazz and popular music production, I consider myself just a roots musician.

- LIAM PURCELL That was the first thing I discovered.” Regular music lessons at the Jones House helped him develop his craft quickly, and it wasn’t long before Purcell was teaching other youngsters himself. “The community around the Jones House was very old-school centered, and that was wonderful, because it gave me a very firm foundation in our Appalachian Mountain tradition,” Purcell said. “I consider myself a traditional musician. Even after going to music school and getting a foundation in jazz and popular music production, I consider myself just a roots musician.” Those influences can still be heard in his music today. “It always will be that, because that’s the way I grew up,” Purcell explained. “That’s been really important to me as time goes on.” Purcell had a unique education growing up in Deep Gap, a few miles away from the Watsons’ home. Some would say this bright and talented youngster was “home-schooled,” but Purcell used a more humorous description. “I was actually unschooled,” he said while breaking into laughter. “My parents were both teachers. My dad (William) was a professor at ASU, and my mom (Janet) was an elementary school special education teacher.” Purcell began his education in a more traditional way before a family necessity changed things. “I went to public school up until third grade,” Purcell explained. “My younger brother, Kenyon, had Down Syndrome and some other physical and developmental issues going on. When he was in kindergarten/first grade, our parents made a decision to homeschool him and gave me the option, ‘Would you like to be homeschooled with your brother?’ I said, ‘Heck Photo courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road 26

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Photos courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

yeah, that sounds awesome. I’m going to play music; I’m going to pursue my passions!’” That choice had a major impact on the life of this tight-knit family. “The idea was not to try to create a school environment at home, through curriculum, work, or deadlines,” Purcell said. “As long as I was doing something, they were encouraging me to go out and pursue my own interests at my own speed, as long as I wasn’t wasting time.” That environment proved to be perfect for the budding musician. “It was a chance to dig into what really interests you,” Purcell said. “I got to play a lot of music, obviously, and I had some great years with my family and my brother. That’s always been super important to me.” That decision also proved beneficial in other tangible ways. Before he reached his teens, Purcell was fronting his own band, Cane Mill Road, winning numerous awards and playing in major music festivals like MerleFest. “It also allowed me to do a lot of traveling at middle-school and high-school age, without interfering with school schedules,” Purcell said. “I went to Wilkes Community 28

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The idea was not to try to create a school environment at home, through curriculum, work, or deadlines. As long as I was doing something, they were encouraging me to go out and pursue my own interests at my own speed, as long as I wasn’t wasting time.

- LIAM PURCELL

College, where they have MerleFest, at 16 and did two years there. One of the great things about music is it teaches you to be a great learner and a fast learner; it trains you to learn things quickly, to identify things quickly, and repeat them with good skills.” In 2014, Purcell and bandmates Eliot Smith and Kinsey Greene had stirred up enough attention that they were invited to Argentina to participate in a United 1302 Blowingchildren’s Rock Rd.music Nations-sponsored Boone, NC 28607 festival. It was the first of many stepping stones that brought further attention to onprintinggroup.com Purcell and the band. onprintinggroup.com Before they left for Argentina, the ce for Printing andanother Signs big step to breaking trio took

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through regionally and nationally when they added another prodigy to the band, Ashe County’s brilliant banjo player, Tray Wellington. Though Wellington has since left the group, completed bluegrass studies at East Tennessee State, and formed his own band, he and Purcell remain close friends and plan future projects together. Wellington, now based in Raleigh, will play at the Appalachian Theatre on Oct. 6, being joined on the bill by the Will Easter Band. Wellington was one of the featured performers at the first Boonerang Festival in 2022 and frequently returns to play in the area. “Tray and I are still close, and we talk

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all of the time,” Purcell said. Over the years, Purcell has experience working with different band members in Cane Mill Road. “All of the early iterations of the band really enabled us to cut our teeth and pay our dues in a major way – to build up a name,” Purcell described. “I am so grateful for all of those folks we played with. Tray and Eliot are still two of my best friends in the entire world. We lost Kinsey to a brain aneurysm a few years ago, which was pretty devastating. The current lineup has been rock-solid, and we have been together for the last three years. The things we have done professionally with this lineup I think have been great, because these are all guys who are top-level musicians.” Purcell continued, “There are two types of bands – dictatorships or complete democracies. We are definitely a democracy. We pass all the duties around. There is something beautiful about that. We have never really had that before. I love all of their different personalities on stage. If you take all of us individually and line us up on stage, it looks like a Motley crew at times. We all are very different in many respects, but that is what keeps us going and keeps people interested – letting everybody’s individuality shine through, be it through their songs, stage presence, even in the way they dress.” After beginning to release the Billboardcharting bluegrass albums “Five Speed” (2017) and “Gap To Gap” (2018), Cane Mill Road

Photo courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road 30

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Photo courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

was named the Momentum Band of the Year by the prestigious International Bluegrass Music Association I love all of their different personalities on in 2019. Their latest album “Roots” debuted at No. stage. If you take all of us individually and line us 6 on the Billboard bluegrass chart as a follow-up to 2019’s live “Let’s All Do Some Living” release. up on stage, it looks like a Motley crew at times. “People don’t see a lot of younger musicians We all are very different in many respects, but getting into bluegrass,” Purcell said. “Older bluegrass musicians want to see it because there is a lack that is what keeps us going and keeps people of younger musicians getting into bluegrass, and interested – letting everybody’s individuality everyone is afraid that the music will die off. Younger musicians and younger fans aren’t getting into the shine through, be it through their songs, stage genre the way they were 20 years ago. But as time goes presence, even in the way they dress. on, and we all mature, and as we start to write about more serious topics that we’ve actually lived through - LIAM PURCELL at this point, and we’re not just summarizing someone else’s experience – things will change.” Like most musicians, Purcell was jolted by the realities of together and to tour the burgeoning bluegrass circuit as often as the Covid pandemic in 2020, but it didn’t derail his bluegrass possible. aspirations. He received a scholarship to continue his music The summer of 2022 proved to be significant when Purcell education at the renowned Berklee College of Music. After a year accomplished something that had never been done before. of distance learning studies, Purcell left his mountain home for Performing at the RockyGrass Festival in Lyons, Colorado last the hustle and bustle of Boston. year, Purcell pulled off the unprecedented feat of winning this “For a guy from Deep Gap, it’s been a pretty incredible prestigious festival’s triple crown of competition, by capturing journey,” Purcell said. “It was a challenge for someone from a first place in the banjo, guitar, and mandolin events. rural area moving to a major city.” But for those who have watched this prodigy’s skyrocketing He admitted the change was difficult at first. success as one of bluegrass’s most promising young performers, “I felt like I was displaced, coming from this tiny place and nothing seems too surprising. landing in a big city.” Purcell said. “But I have grown to love it as I As Purcell continues to develop as a young artist, he is also have explored Boston.” showing new sides of his talent as a songwriter. In the midst of challenging studies at one of America’s finest “When I was younger and had less life experience, what I music conservatories, Purcell has still found time to keep his band thought I would do was borrow from people I respected,” Purcell October 202 3

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Photos courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

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explained. “Now that I’ve been out in the real world, I’ve had some more hefty stuff and life experience to write about.” As the members of his band also experience the rigors of touring and life on the road, they are all benefitting from the adventure. “I think that is true for all five of us in the band. It’s kind of like a collective experience,” Purcell said. “A story that moves you, be it historical, or something that is more relevant. I tend to like songs that can be defined on a very large scale, a big, overarching theme.” That attitude also comes into play when they attempt to interpret another artist’s work. The band released a new single in April in advance of the new album called “Uncle Lloyd.” Written by one of Purcell’s favorite composers, Darrell Scott, Cane Mill Road captured the essence and emotions of a man struggling in later life to reflect on and recapture his fading dreams. Purcell’s dreams are far from fading, but over a decade of leading a band and touring has broadened his perspective of the music life. “All of it isn’t easy,” he said. “A lot of it is a struggle. But for me personally, that makes it all worthwhile.” And the more of the music life he bites off, Purcell remains convinced he is heading in the direction he wants to go. Purcell’s band has recorded four studio albums, which have made it to the Billboard bluegrass charts, one live CD and is currently in the studio at work on a new project. It gives a glimpse of a maturing artist, who has paid his dues at a young age and is turning the corner on a bright future. “When I was a kid, people asked me, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do?’ And, in a sense, there was never really a question. I have always wanted to take this as far as it could go.” And for now, he keeps reaching new heights. “Every now and then, I check in with myself and ask, ‘Is this still what I want to be doing?’ And the answer is always yes,” Purcell said. “When you are younger and you are playing every spare moment you have, it’s just fun. When you get older, it's not always like that. It’s kind of sacred at its core.” If there is one thing Purcell learned early on, it is that it takes determination and hard work to succeed. “It’s a lot of hard work, and it’s taught me so much about myself,” Purcell revealed. “The folks who are with me (in the band) are really tight-knit, and we all work together on the music and the logistics, and it’s taught me a lot more than a lot of other careers would. Life experience has been my biggest teacher.” Purcell has also seen enough to lose any naivety about certain aspects of the music business. “The music industry can suck the soul out of somebody real quick,” Purcell explained. “As we grow as a band and deal with more and more aspects of the industry, I get why people fold or give it up.” And he can still find humor in the business. “There is this great quote I am trying to remember,” Purcell said

with a chuckle. “Everywhere in the music industry there is filth and vermin, dirty deals, and all these gutter-dwelling, bad people, and that’s just the good part.” He can also be reflective of the challenges in the industry: “But also there are downsides. It’s not like that everywhere, fortunately. We’ve been able to find some really good people in the industry to work with, be it recording, or our really good bluegrass community at festivals and venues.” Part of that view is framed by the unmistakable fact that bluegrass has a large network of mentors who encourage and protect young artists like Purcell. “Bluegrass is a little bit separated from the rest of the music industry,” Purcell stated. “A lot of the core group of people, pulling the strings, are some really good people.” Embarking on his final year of Berklee studies this year, Purcell is carefully laying a foundation for future success in the music industry as he hones a variety of skills. “I’m fortunate that I’ve had a lot of chances (at Berklee) to play on projects that aren’t bluegrass,” Purcell said. “And not even on mandolin most of the time, but guitar and bass. We’ve always all (in the band) been pinch-hitters on other instruments. It might take a little while to figure out, but they are all pretty similar.” He continued, “At the end of my time at Berklee, I am going to release a project as part that’s going to be a snapshot of my musicianship. I don’t plan on publicizing it heavily for commercial purposes. I want to do something that I’m not known for. You know, we should all seek out chances to broaden our horizons. One of the things that the digital realm has afforded us is to do things that aren’t tailored for the radio. One of the things that has been

Every now and then, I check in with myself and ask, ‘Is this still what I want to be doing?’ And the answer is always yes. When you are younger and you are playing every spare moment you have, it’s just fun. When you get older, it's not always like that. It’s kind of sacred at its core.

- LIAM PURCELL big for me, and a lot of people don’t do this a lot in the bluegrass realm, is focus on production technique. It’s underutilized for bluegrass. A lot of the culture is for bands to go into a studio and be recorded, let someone engineer and mix it for them and send it back to them. All of these effects and multi-tracking, why not do something you can’t do live? We have all of these creative tools. Why not use the studio like an instrument? That’s the kind of stuff I want to do on this next album. Not every road you go down is a dead end. Why not explore and experiment?” “I have learned to do a lot of audio engineering,” Purcell further said. “That has been my student job at Berklee and something I do on the side for a lot of bands, either in the studio or live.” Those new skills have had an immediate impact on Cane Mill Road’s sound in concert.

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Photos courtesy of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

“I love the study of sound,” Purcell said of his new passion. “If we’ve got 12 bands on stage (at a festival), I want us to have the best sound. That's not something a lot of people put a lot of work into. We put a lot of work into getting the most natural sound possible into our instruments.” As a maturing artist, Purcell is also continuing to develop his knack for connecting with audiences wherever he goes. “I always cared very deeply about the connection with the audience – the feeling you give them at the end of the night,” Purcell said. “I don’t care about how they felt about this note, or that, if they were impressed by it, but that they feel like they are part of a community at the end of the night, that they were able to share things together.” That was obvious on that June afternoon when he and his band took the connection with the crowd to an incredible, exhilarating place. “As time goes on, it’s really easy to lose sight of that, when things come into play, when you’re worried about business stuff, or you’re worried about technical stuff, sound, worried about playing new music. It’s about conversation. How can we keep this about what it’s really about?” When it comes to writing music, there is a lot that goes into the creative process for Purcell. “Originally, it was a lot of listening to a lot of other music and identifying elements that popped up a lot in popular forms of music,” Purcell explained. “Hearing things that interested me. My ear is pulled to this chorus. Why? What are the chords before and after it? Now that I’ve done three years of pretty heady music theory, it’s putting labels on a lot of these things most people would be able to notice, even if they are unable to articulate, or recognize these devices.” He continued, “My philosophy on a lot of things in life is when you are learning, learn the rules. I see a lot of people, especially my own age, getting in their own way in a large sense – being afraid to be introspective, being afraid to be vulnerable. Some of the most beautiful songs in the world are when people are vulnerable about their own experiences. I feel a lot of really good songs just die when people can’t turn off their inner-critic for 30 minutes, or an hour, to let things 34

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level out. I get ideas for music all of the time, sometimes even while just out walking. One of my biggest influences in music who is also one of my professors at Berklee, Mark Simos, talks about catching the seed and preserving it, until you take it home and work on it later.” When asked what elements define a good song for him, Purcell responded, “Honesty and authenticity . Being true to yourself. I think people see that in ways that are sometimes defeatist to themselves. If you have to pursue authenticity, it’s not there. You can write a great, great song as something

of a portrait of someone you know. Sit down with someone and talk to them for a while. Things that are relatable to real life are the best songs for me. Things that connect to a larger audience. Mortality, or community, or fate, or existentialist ideas, just in small ways. Things that leave it open ended for listeners to relate it to their own lives or ask questions of themselves. These are all questions we asked ourselves, and oftentimes in private. There is comfort and reassurance in shared experience.” t

I always cared very deeply about the connection with the audience – the feeling you give them at the end of the night. I don’t care about how they felt about this note, or that, if they were impressed by it, but that they feel like they are part of a community at the end of the night, that they were able to share things together.

- LIAM PURCELL

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Food For All

Feeding Avery Families Fights Hunger STORY BY TIM GARDNER

eeding Avery Families, Inc. is a nonprofit, Christian-based organization in Avery County, deep in the heart of the North Carolina High Country. This much-needed ministry is dedicated to eliminating hunger in Avery County through all possible means, including monetary donations, volunteerism, and food donations. Extraordinary achievements have been the norm for this extraordinary organization since it was founded in 2005. It has provided help to thousands of Avery residents in obtaining food and now gives other kinds of needed assistance to its residents and county departments. And of all the most needed and worthwhile organizations in the county, Feeding Avery Families ranks among the top ones. All efforts and contributions on behalf of, and to, Feeding Avery Families goes directly to Avery County families who still need help after exhausting all other available resources. Feeding Avery Families provides 60 percent of the food assistance in Avery County and is an equal opportunity food provider. Most of its work is done by dedicated, hardworking volunteers – with about 150 in the spring, summer, and fall months and approximately 75 during the winter, when many seasonal residents are away. Feeding Avery Families could not exist without their tremendous help.

The new 10,000 square foot, one-story Feeding Avery Families’ headquarters doubles the size of the organization’s previous office and distribution facility across town. And it is a state-of-the-art complex, allowing the return to client choice in which clients pick out their own food in a “grocery store” setting. Feeding Avery Families Executive Director Dick Larson said this format “reduces waste and creates personal relationships that allow us to identify and help with other client needs.” Larson added that the new operations center is “on track to be completely finished before the end of this year, and it is so neighbor (client) friendly as I and the rest of our staff had hoped. Both our neighbors who get food there as well as our staff and volunteers love it.” Larson listed a few accommodating features the operations center includes with the following remarks: “Our neighbors get to choose whether they wish to come in the complex and select their own food, or go through our

Opening of New Operations Center Officials anticipate another productive year in 2023, and a key reason why is that one of the pinnacle milestones in the organization’s 18year existence happened on April 5 of this year – the opening of the $1.2 million Feeding Avery Families Operations Center, located at 189 Old Vale Road in Newland. Officials proudly proclaim that many food items were given to 91 families on its first day. 36

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Volunteer David Soyars stocks the shelves for a grocery store experience for visitors.Photo submitted

Our neighbors get to choose whether they wish to come in the complex and select their own food, or go through our drive-thru in a paved parking lot, never leaving their vehicles. And all loading and unloading is done under cover, in the enclosed drive-thru. The covered drive-thru allows for much easier to unload donations and loading food for our initiatives.

- DICK LARSON drive-thru in a paved parking lot, never leaving their vehicles. And all loading and unloading is done under cover, in the enclosed drive-thru. The covered drivethru allows for much easier-to-unload donations and loading food for our initiatives. Also, our operation center’s loading dock can accommodate larger shipments from MANNA FoodBank, safely and out of any inclement weather.” Additional storage space at the operations center also allows the Feeding Avery Families’ staff to take advantage of last-minute opportunities to secure free food and personal care items in bulk quantities. Additional freezers and coolers allow for greater storage space for local produce and frozen meat. And the expanded space will facilitate the new Community Health Initiative, also started in 2023, improving health and lifestyle by emphasizing nutritional education counseling and medically appropriate food to those with specific health needs. The demonstration kitchen on site provides healthy cooking classes and tastings for both adults and children, along with classes by a nutrition professor

Every other Thursday, a large shipment from MANNAFoodBank in Asheville arrives. Photo submitted

Families have a wide variety of food to choose from. Photo submitted October 202 3

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What an absolute pleasure it was to receive their help. All our staff is so grateful to them. And dozens of our volunteers worked long hours setting-up shelves, moving in food and stocking the shelves. Their support helps us continue in our mission to fight against hunger and makes our organization exist to serve our neighbors in Avery County.

- DICK LARSON

Volunteers sort and prepare a variety bag of fresh produce.Photo submitted

A look inside the new Operations Center. Photo submitted 38

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and student interns. A meeting room has also been opened at the operations center for partner agencies such as the Avery County Health Department, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, and Avery County Department of Social Services to provide services to Feeding Avery Families clients. Larson noted that Feeding Avery Families will work with Avery County Emergency Management officials to equip the operations complex as an Emergency Disaster Relief Center. People forced to leave homes due to fires, natural disasters, power outages, or other emergencies can now go to the operations center until the particular crisis ends. The move into the new complex got a big boost thanks to Food Lion Feeds. On March 31, Feeding Avery Families received 2,400 pounds of pantry-stocking food donated by our friends at Food Lion. “More than 20 of Food Lion’s store managers showed up then at our operations center to help us get settled into our new digs,” Larson said. “What an absolute pleasure it was to receive their help. All our staff is so grateful to them. And dozens of our volunteers worked long hours setting-up shelves, moving in food and stocking the shelves. Their support helps us continue in our mission to fight against hunger and makes our organization exist to serve our neighbors in Avery County.” Food distribution days are now on the first four Wednesdays each month from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., and on the second and fourth Fridays each month from 4 to 7 p.m., to accommodate both our seasonal workers as well as the families who are working during the day and can’t come to Wednesday distributions. During each distribution, families get an average of 50plus pounds of food – including frozen meats, produce, bread, and more. Larson shared that Feeding Avery Families received more than $400,000 in donations for its new complex, including $100,000 from the Cannon Foundation, $90,000 from High Country Charitable Foundation, and $75,000 from Arbor Dale Presbyterian Church in Banner Elk. These donations are in addition to $500,000 previously raised, he added. Also in 2023, Feeding Avery Families received a challenge grant of $100,000 to match up to a total of $200,000. Larson said that has paid off the organization’s most recent current bank loan, making it debt free.

Statistics Show Major Success As has every year since it’s been in operation, the last full year of operational reporting in 2022 indicated a very busy and productive year for Feeding Avery Families. They provided more than $700,000 worth of free food to the hungry in Avery County. Larson provided thorough and detailed statistics about Feeding Avery Families’ accomplishments in 2022. The organization gave away 441,718 pounds of food, creating approximately 400,000 individual meals. A total of 5,486 families were served on Feeding Avery Families’ 48 Distribution Fridays during 2022. That was an increase of 12 percent from 2021. Larson noted that Feeding Avery Families received $10,000 in grants to purchase more items from local farms in 2022, including Tractor Food and Farms Cooperative in Spruce Pine of neighboring Mitchell County and Trosley Farm in Elk Park. He added that Feeding Avery Families secured 63 percent of the food for distribution at no cost, a value of $443,018. That was a decrease from 88 percent in 2021 due to less donated food and fewer opportunities to secure free food through government programs. Still, thousands of Avery Countians benefited greatly from 10,000-plus volunteer hours from 350

volunteers distributing the food to needy families and individuals in 2022. Feeding Avery Families also provides enormous help to the county’s students each year. In 2022, the organization provided 125 children in Avery County schools with a pack of groceries weekly for weekend meals and stocked pantries inside each of the eight Avery County

Smiling volunteers are there to greet and assist families at the Operations Center. Photo submitted October 202 3

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On Premises

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Volunteers gather for last minute updates for a Wednesday morning distribution. Photo submitted

schools with snacks for teachers to give hungry students during the school day. It also served 125 families each second Thursday of the month at the Mobile Community Market in partnership with Avery County Schools and MANNA FoodBank. Additionally, 300 food packs were supplied weekly to the YMCA Summer Camp program participants by Feeding Avery Families. “We will continue working with the public schools to get food to our children in need, both through the school backpack program, as well as in-school food pantries, and any other such programs that may be offered,” Larson said. He shared that grocery stores have been most generous in donating items to Feeding Avery Families. Food Lion in Banner Elk gave a total of 42,697 pounds of food, including fresh meats and deli and bakery items in 2022, which were picked up by the organization’s representatives five days each week. Also, 40,204 pounds of food was received from customers of Lowes Food in Banner Elk/Invershiel, donated through the “Friends Feeding Friends” program. Another partnership has been with 40

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The new Operations Center for Feeding Avery Families opened in April 2023. Photo submitted

the Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and the Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Community Action organization to provide more fresh, locally-grown produce. Even free dog and cat food were offered to families at many weekly Feeding Avery Families distributions. Last year, Feeding Avery Families also began a partnership

with the Community Association in the old Beech Mountain area to deliver food to residents there who could not travel to the old distribution center in Newland. Feeding Avery Families also celebrated two successful and unique fundraisers in 2022: receiving $2,026 from Linville River Pottery’s Clay for Community and $6,000 from Woolly Worm

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Longtime volunteer Katy Fletcher pushes out a large cart full of food selected by a family. Photo submitted

Staff members and volunteers are eager to help Avery County families. Photo submitted

Festival parking by volunteers. Additionally, $70,000 was received in operation grants from Wee Kirk Presbyterian, All Saints Episcopal Church, Arthur Family Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk, Avery County Rotary Club, and others.

More Noteworthy Achievements Anticipated

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Like 2022, the first nine months of 2023 have been extremely busy and prosperous ones for Feeding Avery Families. Larson said there have been continued amazing achievements this year with more expected because its programs have expanded with the opening of the operations center, with more to be added. Distribution and similar statistics for the whole year will be available in early 2024. They are anticipated to be much like those of 2022 — perhaps better. Besides moving into the center, the organization began a new outreach program for the Latino community, and hired Vanessa Benavides Phillips as Hispanic Outreach Coordinator to build relationships with the 600-plus Latino families living in Avery County. Phillips joined the Feeding Avery Families staff in February, 2023. Larson declared that Phillips “is a huge part of this organization and its future and has been very instrumental in our

Feeding Avery Families is incredibly blessed with phenomenal community support. Without that, we simply don’t exist. When we began planning this new facility, all of us realized that we didn’t simply need a bigger warehouse. Instead, we needed a facility that could grow and grow with our community and that we could share with, and be shared by, our friends and fellow collaborators.

- DICK LARSON mission and our accomplishments.” One measure of proof of the tremendous contributions of Phillips to Feeding Avery Families is that the number of Hispanic families served went from 12 at the beginning of the year to more than 200 currently, a phenomenal increase. The other full-time Feeding Avery Families staff member is Co-Director Jo-Ann McMurray. She is known by her co-workers for astutely taking advantage of opportunities to secure free food to give to clients and for coordinating the many volunteers. Bookkeeper Patty Robinson is a part-time employee, and Mark File is the webmaster for Feeding Avery Families’ website and also handles its Facebook page and photography operations. Larson noted that McMurray, Robinson, File, and Phillips have made immeasurable and lasting impacts to the organization through their respective duties. Feeding Avery Families also has an astute Board of Directors, which includes: Cathy Fields, Sheila Bauer, Laura CarringerRussell, McNair Tornow, Reverend Michael McKee, Joe Zemanek, and Larry Good. In 2023, Feeding Avery Families also began sponsoring a Community Health Initiative, partnering with many sister agencies to improve health and quality of life for Avery’s citizens through improved nutrition, health follow-ups, and access to other resources. Additionally, there will be expanded mobile food distributions to additional communities and locations for Avery County citizens who cannot come to distributions at the operations center. Fortunately, Feeding Avery Families not only provides food items to the needy in the county, but also various other personal necessities. The organization also started partnering with Project Dignity in Asheville to offer free feminine hygiene products on distribution Fridays and personal hygiene care items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and related items thanks to $5,000 given by Dogwood Health Trust and more donations from local businesses. Larson said that Feeding Avery Families has kept the cost per meal to just 35 cents, due to its officials’ ability to secure top quality food at very low costs and employing hundreds of volunteers to keep administrative costs low.

An Acclaimed Executive Director While Feeding Avery Families requires a total team effort from its many volunteers, Larson, its Executive Director since 2017, is credited for much of its success. In fact, Larson was the driving force behind the new operations center. A Cornell University graduate, Larson is an active member of the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church and the greater Avery County community. As a retired United States Marine officer and pilot, Larson’s leadership skills formed as a young man. From the Marine Corps to Duke University School of Medicine, he made the transition to vascular surgeon and university professor. He practiced general and vascular surgery in Greenville for 19 years. After retirement from the medical profession in 2000, he excelled as a woodworker and has operated Larson’s Fine Furniture for a decade. Church work and service to local nonprofits has filled Larson’s

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helping our neighbors find the assistance they need. We hope this new facility will provide some common ground Thanks be to God and to everyone for discussions, planning, and growth. When we grow who has volunteered, served on our staff, gave together, we all rise. We have had tremendous support from our County Manager Phillip Barrier and all the donations, or helped in any manner. Together, county commissioners. I have spoken with many other we have made Avery County even better, food pantry directors, and I can say, without exception, that we are better supported than any similar organization especially for our most challenged neighbors, I know.” and we will work diligently to continue to do so. “Thanks be to God and to everyone who has volunteered, served on our staff, gave donations, or helped - DICK LARSON in any manner. Together, we have made Avery County even better, especially for our most challenged neighbors, and we will work diligently to continue to do so.” time and interest in recent years. Outside of his work with Feeding Avery Families, he has volunteered with Avery Habitat for Humanity as a worker and a Board of Trustees member. He has also served on the Board of Trustees and as president of the Avery Partnership for People at the End of Life. He has also been an integral factor in a multi-county capital campaign within the According to Feeding Avery Families’ data, approximately Presbytery of Western North Carolina. 3,000 people (17 percent) living in Avery County experience He and his wife, Carol, retired to the North Carolina High some degree of uncertainty about their next meal during times Country in 2000. Dick and Carol Larson have a son, Chris, who each year. That includes between 750 and 1,000 children. Larson along with his wife, Julia, live in Cove Creek with their son, Reid. said that Feeding Avery Families’ top goal is to help many more Larson commented about Feeding Avery Families’ continued of the county’s residents in need of food, and added that it needs and expanded efforts and its new headquarters while offering more volunteers – especially those who speak Spanish. thanks for what it has accomplished: “Feeding Avery Families Feeding Avery Families always welcomes financial is incredibly blessed with phenomenal community support. contributions. Cash is the preferred donation method as the Without that, we simply don’t exist. When we began planning organization can purchase much more food with each dollar this new facility, all of us realized that we didn’t simply need a than anyone can at the grocery store. Most of the food Feeding bigger warehouse. Instead, we needed a facility that could grow Avery Families gets is purchased from the MANNA FoodBank at and grow with our community and that we could share with, and reduced cost. be shared by, our friends and fellow collaborators. We wanted a For more information about Feeding Avery Families, call 828place in which we could continue to grow the outreach efforts 783-8506, email FeedingAveryFamilies@gmail.com, or visit its that run so strongly through our community. I believe we will website at feedingaveryfamilies.org. Financial donations may be have succeeded in those goals. sent via United States Mail to: Feeding Avery Families, PO Box “We invite all of our sister, supporting agencies to join us in 1075, Banner Elk, NC 28604. t

Organization’s Foremost Goal

The new Operations Center for Feeding Avery Families. Photo submitted 44

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Discovering Health & Happiness

The Art of Living Retreat Center STORY BY KRIS TESTORI

estled amidst the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, offering breathtaking views, the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone has emerged as a hidden gem for those seeking tranquility, mindfulness, and a rejuvenating escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I recently had the opportunity to spend the day in this wellness oasis, and I left feeling refreshed, inspired, and energized. The retreat center, founded by renowned spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has become a sought-after destination for individuals and groups seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of modern life. With its serene ambiance and a strong focus on holistic well-being, the center offers a range of programs designed to promote mental, emotional, and physical balance. Upon arrival, I was immediately struck by the center's beauty. The landscapes were stunning, and the harmonious blend of modern architecture with the surrounding environment created a palpable atmosphere of tranquility. My journey started with

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a guided tour led by Kimberly Rossi, the Director of Business Development at the Art of Living Retreat Center and Shankara Ayurveda Wellness. She shared insights into the center's philosophy and mission, focusing on promoting well-being and inner peace. "People visit the retreat for a variety of reasons, such as seeking inner peace, relaxation, reconnecting with the outdoors, or simply decompressing," Rossi explained. We started our tour in the relaxation room, where guests wait for their treatments. The room exuded tranquility and serenity, clearly designed to help spa-goers unwind, de-stress, and transition into a state of relaxation before their treatments. We then headed to the heart of the center, the Sri Sri Yoga and Meditation Hall. This is a majestic structure that serves as a sanctuary for meditation and yoga practitioners. As you enter the building you feel like you’re in a whole different dimension, where time just takes a break. Soaring ceilings, intricate architecture,

and panoramic windows frame the serene mountain views. One highlight of the tour was exploring the center's extensive gardens and walking trails, and the large labyrinth. Labyrinths, which can be dated back to around 4,000 years ago and are often used now as a meditative contemplative practice. “A labyrinth is like a conscious walking experience,” Rossi said. “Like as you're walking, you're leaving something behind, right? And so you're moving forward with consciousness and intention, or maybe you have a goal or an A variety of medicinal herbs are cultivated both inside and intention – something you're walking towards. And so it's just taking steps outdoors in enchanting gardens. Photo by Ashley Poore really, like mindfully towards your goals and intentions.” For my initial treatment, I opted for an Ayurvedic A labyrinth is like a conscious walking Lifestyle Consultation. The choice left me feeling both hesitant and intrigued. Any reservations I had were experience. Like as you're walking, you're quickly dispelled when the Ayurvedic practitioner entered leaving something behind, right? And so the room. She began by asking a series of questions about my habits, mental health, and lifestyle, with the aim of you're moving forward with consciousness determining my natural state of being, identifying any and intention, or maybe you have a goal or an imbalances, addressing concerns, and collaborating on health and wellness goals. intention– something you're walking towards. To my surprise, her report was nothing like I had And so it's just taking steps really, like mindfully expected. I had feared receiving a scolding for my love of bread, wine, and coffee, and I worried about being towards your goals and intentions. told to eliminate them entirely. Instead, she approached the conversation with kindness and advocated for - KIMBERLY ROSSI moderation. She explained that Ayurveda places great emphasis on self-care techniques that can restore balance through adjustments in diet, lifestyle (including exercise), and stress management. During our discussion, she recommended specific foods to incorporate into my diet while suggesting some that I should consume more moderately. She astutely recognized my high-energy and intense nature, highlighting the need for me to find ways to calm down. In many ways, our conversation felt like therapy with a skilled therapist. My main takeaway was the realization that I was struggling with the absence of a set schedule in my life. As a freelancer juggling multiple jobs, I acknowledged the importance of learning to schedule and carve out time for the essential aspects of my life. The Labyrinths at Art of Living offers an intricate and contemplative walking paths designed to promote self-reflection and relaxation. Photo by Ashley Poore October 202 3

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How we eat profoundly influences the longevity of our lives. It encompasses more than just your diet; it involves what we eat, when we eat, how much we consume, and how effectively we digest our food. It's intertwined with our lifestyle and how we synchronize our daily routines with nature

- KIMBERLY ROSSI Lunch was a sumptuous, healthy vegetarian mexican buffet prepared with organic ingredients at the Ayurvedic Dining Hall. “The food at the Art of Living Retreat Center is an integral part of the holistic experience it offers,” Rossi said. The center places a strong emphasis on nourishing the body and mind through a combination of nutritious and flavorful meals, mindful eating practices, and a focus on wholesome ingredients. The culinary offerings at the retreat center align with its overall mission of promoting well-being, self-awareness, and conscious living. "How we eat profoundly influences the longevity of our lives," Rossi emphasized. "It encompasses more than just your diet; it involves what we eat, when we eat, how much we consume, and how effectively we digest our food. It's intertwined with our lifestyle and how we synchronize our daily routines with nature. Are we aligning ourselves with nature and striving for harmony?" Ayurveda places significant emphasis on the use of herbs and spices in dietary practices to promote balance, health, and overall well-being. These herbs and spices serve not only to enhance culinary flavors but also to provide therapeutic benefits. "We employ various herbs and diets to address individual imbalances," Rossi explained. "Ayurveda is highly customizable, recognizing each person

Photo by Ashley Poore

Jars from the Ayurvedic Herbal Apothecary: Where Custom Formulations Come to Life. Photo by Ashley Poore 48

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We employ various herbs and diets to address individual imbalances. Ayurveda is highly customizable, recognizing each person as a unique individual.

- KIMBERLY ROSSI as a unique individual." During lunch Rossi shared that the composition of guests at the retreat center is approximately 70 percent women and 30 percent men. She mentioned, “The number of men attending is gradually increasing, especially for our signature programs.” These Signature Programs encompass The Happiness Retreat, The Meditation Retreat, and The Silent Meditation Retreat. The most popular among them, The Happiness Retreat, introduces participants to a variety of practices and techniques aimed at enhancing mental and emotional well-being, reducing stress, and fostering overall happiness. The Silent Meditation Retreat is spiritual immersion that integrates The Happiness Retreat and several days of silent contemplation with unique guided meditations, yoga, and advanced breathing techniques. The Meditation Retreat educates guests on the technique of meditation to effortlessly calm the mind, boost immunity, and decrease the physical and psychological stressors you’re experiencing. The retreat center also hosts an array of programs with renowned presenters who cover diverse topics, featuring captivating titles such as "You are not Stuck," "Masterful Storytelling," "The Ultimate Longevity Workshop," and "Moving Beyond Trauma." My next appointment was for a Detoxifying Warm-Oil Massage, known as Abhyanga, one of the most popular and highly recommended therapies in Ayurveda. This Ayurvedic therapy involves the application of warm, aromatic oils, rhythmically massaged into the body to release toxins, soothe the nervous system, and provide deep rest, nourishment, and rejuvenation. The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, is situated in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, offering breathtaking views of the natural surroundings. Photo by Ashley Poore 50

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What is Ayurveda?

Art of Living offers a number of massage options for guests. Using blended oils, their talented therapists customize the massage to relieve your body, relax your mind, and uplift your spirit. Photo by Ashley Poore

yurveda is an ancient holistic system of medicine and wellness that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. The term "Ayurveda" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "Ayur," which means life, and "Veda," which means knowledge or science. Thus, Ayurveda can be translated as the "Science of Life." Key principles and concepts of Ayurveda include: • Doshas: Ayurveda categorizes individuals into three primary energy types or doshas: Vata (air and ether), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (earth and water). Everyone has a unique combination of these doshas, which influences their physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. • Prakriti and Vikriti: Prakriti refers to an individual's natural constitution, which is determined by their dosha balance at birth. Vikriti, on the other hand, represents the current imbalances or deviations from one's natural constitution. • Balance and Imbalance: Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance within the body and mind. Disease and health issues are often seen as imbalances in the doshas. • Diet and Nutrition: Ayurveda places a strong emphasis on the role of food in maintaining health. Dietary recommendations are tailored to an individual's dosha constitution and imbalances. • Herbal Medicine: Ayurveda utilizes a wide range of herbs and herbal formulations for healing and

prevention. These herbs are chosen based on their qualities and their effects on the doshas. • Yoga and Meditation: Ayurveda incorporates yoga and meditation practices to promote mental and spiritual well-being. • Detoxification and Cleansing: Panchakarma is a well-known Ayurvedic detoxification and cleansing process that aims to remove toxins from the body. • Lifestyle Recommendations: Ayurveda provides guidelines for daily routines, sleep patterns, and lifestyle choices that support optimal health. • Mind-Body Connection: Ayurveda recognizes the strong connection between the mind and the body. Emotional and mental health are considered integral to overall well-being. • Holistic Approach: Ayurveda takes a holistic approach to health, considering the individual as a whole, rather than isolating symptoms or organs. Ayurvedic practices are used for various purposes, including promoting physical and mental health, preventing illness, and managing and treating a wide range of health conditions. Ayurveda has gained recognition and popularity worldwide, and many people incorporate Ayurvedic principles into their daily lives for wellness and balance. It is important to note that Ayurvedic treatments and recommendations are often highly individualized, taking into account an individual's unique constitution and health status. t

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Spiritual Leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a world wide renowned spiritual leader, humanitarian, and the founder of the Art of Living Foundation. He was born in 1956, in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, India. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is best known for his teachings on meditation, yoga, and mindfulness, which promote personal growth, inner peace, and wellbeing. He has traveled extensively around the world, delivering talks, leading meditation and breathing workshops, and promoting interfaith dialogue and peace initiatives. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's teachings are rooted in the ancient Indian traditions of yoga and Ayurveda, presented in a contemporary and accessible manner. He has played a significant role in bringing these ancient practices to a global audience, with millions of people benefiting from his teachings. In addition to his spiritual and humanitarian work, Sri Sri Ravi Shanka is involved in various social initiatives, including education, rural development, and conflict resolution. His efforts have earned him recognition and awards for his contributions to peace and well-being. t Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher and an ambassador of peace. His vision of a stress-free, violence-free society has united millions of people around the world through service projects and courses offered by The Art of Living. Photo courtesy of Art of Living Retreat Center

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The oil is generously applied to the entire body, from the scalp to the soles of the feet. Rossi explained, “We use a significant amount of oil for the massage. Dryness, which can accelerate aging, signifies stagnation in the tissues. The warm oil massages help transport nutrients into the cells while eliminating waste.” My experience with this massage was unlike anything I had ever encountered. The warm oil was poured onto my body, creating an incredibly intense and relaxing sensation. However, I didn't fully grasp Rossi's warning about the amount of oil used until it began. A full pitcher of oil was applied during the hourlong massage. The oil was even poured over my head before I received my first-ever head massage. The massage was an incredible experience that left me feeling both deeply relaxed and invigorated simultaneously. It was the closest I've ever come to an out-of-body experience, and I can confidently say that it won't be my last Abhyanga massage. After a long steam in the communal steam room and a shower, the tour resumed. I was led to a room filled with giant steam cabinets that you actually climb into, leaving your head sticking out. “In Ayurveda, it's not ideal for the head to get hot, or the heart to become overheated,” Rossi said. “For men, because male genitals are outside the body, it's especially important to keep them cool as well. So when you sit in this cabinet, your head remains outside, and we place a cold towel on your heart and genitals while you sit and enjoy the steam therapy.” This is a traditional Ayurvedic cleansing practice, highly individualized to suit an individual's constitution (Prakriti), imbalances (Vikriti), and specific health goals. The steam cabinets are definitely on my must do list for my next visit.

AMOREM NEEDS YOUR HELP TO BRING

more quality. more compassion. more support. TO THE HIGH COUNTRY...

In 2021, the state granted AMOREM’s request to build a hospice patient care unit for residents of Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. Please consider a tax deductible donation to make this a reality. Donate today or learn more at www.amoremsupport.org/donate, 828.754.0101 or scan here!

“Our gift is an act of love.” —Family of the late Will Pierce

EVALYN PIERCE WITH FATHER WILL

JOIN THE PIERCE FAMILY TO BRING

more TO THE HIGH COUNTRY

YO U R G I F T I S A N A C T O F L O V E

P RO U D LY SERV IN G A SH E, AV ERY A N D WATAU G A CO UN TIE S SIN CE 2014

Dhanvantari is renowned as a divine physician or a doctor of celestial beings. He is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the God of Sustenance and Protection. He is widely regarded as the deity who gave us Ayurveda, the ancient science of medicine. Photo by Ashley Poore

828.754.0101  1.844.4AMOREM

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FORMERLY BURKE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE & CALDWELL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE

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The breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains unfold in all their splendor through the windows in the yoga studio, offering a picturesque view during practice. Photo by Ashley Poore

Two swans stand watch at the entrance of the Main Hall. Beyond the granite stone foyer, you'll find an inviting natural wood interior and an impressive multi-tiered skylight that imparts unexpected warmth to the venue. Photo by Ashley Poore 54

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One of the center's distinctive offerings is its diverse range of workshops and classes, spanning from yoga and meditation to artistic pursuits such as painting, pottery, and writing. Guests are encouraged to explore their creative impulses while immersing themselves in the stunning natural environment. According to Rossi, the center's belief in the therapeutic benefits of art and nature has drawn individuals from all walks of life and all over the world. As the day came to a close, I felt a deep gratitude for the unique experience. I left with a newfound sense of inner peace, clarity, and a desire to continue my journey toward wellness and mindfulness. The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone draws in visitors from around the world, offering a sanctuary where one can escape, rejuvenate, and find inner balance. The Art of Living is a global nonprofit organization founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981. It is headquartered in Bangalore, India, and has a presence in more than 150 countries. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a renowned spiritual leader, teacher, and humanitarian who has played a key role in the organization's growth and influence. The organization's mission is to promote peace, well-being, and human values through a wide range of programs and initiatives. The Boone Center is the largest center in the United States. With millions of followers and participants worldwide, Art of Living has made a significant impact on the lives of individuals seeking personal growth, stress reduction, and a deeper connection to themselves and their communities. t

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MOUNTAIN o

VISTA

A VIEW FROM

BEHIND GLASS

STORY BY SARAH MATHIS

cross bustling shopping centers and secluded mountain-side mansions, one fact remains constant: Every room in the High Country has a window with a view. Waking up every day to scenic mountain vistas is what inspires many families to settle down along the Appalachian mountains, and no one understands this community’s appreciation for breathtaking views like 20-year-old Boone resident Rowen Todd. Todd has been growing his property management business, Mountain Vista Window Washing, since he was 14 years old. He was determined to raise money in pursuit of a higher education, but felt that starting his own business would be more efficient than finding employment with someone else, as many hiring managers had already turned him down, citing his youth and inexperience. So, Todd took to the streets with a small collection of professional grade cleaning implements and began spreading the word about his new business venture. “I started out mainly doing commercial window cleaning,” Todd said. “The first shop we were cleaning was Due South Outfitters.” Being too young to drive at the time, Todd’s family was instrumental in getting Mountain Vista Window Washing off the ground. His father drove him to job sites and helped clean windows with him until Todd received his license in 2016. Afterwards, Todd got a work vehicle and took on a more independent managerial role at Mountain Vista Window Washing. “I started driving around in a Subaru Forester, strapping ladders to the top of that and working with my dad,” Todd described. “We ended up slowly hiring over the years, and 56

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Rowen Todd. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing.

Rowen’s persistence and attention to detail have helped him create a solid foundation for his professional career.As a high school student, he took to networking like no one [we’ve] ever seen. He followed up connections with outperforming the expectations of his customers. His work ethic serves him better than any business card or flier on a porch ever could. - BOONE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE now we’re up to running three vans with a team of six to eight, so it's really gotten a lot larger in the last few years.” Todd was able to balance school and work by utilizing Watauga High School’s Dual-Enrollment Program, which allowed him to take college level courses on Tuesdays and Thursdays and work during the remaining five days. He finished high school with an associate degree from Caldwell Community College and went on to attend Appalachian State University for a couple semesters before withdrawing to focus all his energy on his growing property management business. In retrospect, Todd found that his experiences at Caldwell Community College and Watauga High School, in addition to the skills he acquired on the job, were everything he needed to begin a successful and fulfilling career. “Overall, I’m really grateful for my schooling, both at the community college taking lots of business management classes and at Watauga High School having the mentorship of Stephanie Ogle, my entrepreneurship teacher,” Todd shared. Todd went on to mention other organizations that have helped Mountain Vista Window Washing grow over the years. “The Boone Chamber of Commerce has also been a huge part of supporting me, along with SCORE,” Todd explained. “It’s really been a community project, helping me do what I’m doing.” SCORE, a mentoring service that connects new business-owners to people with more experience in the field, awarded Todd with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2021. In addition, the Boone Chamber of Commerce honored Rowen Todd with the 2020 Start Up of the Year Award. This award recognizes up and coming companies in the Boone area based on their staying power, growth in sales and/or workforce, innovative products and services, strong response to adversity, contributions to community-oriented projects, and use of local resources in business operations. “Rowen’s persistence and attention to detail have helped him create a solid foundation for his professional career,” the Boone Chamber of Commerce wrote. “As a high school student, he took to networking like

Mountain Vista employee silhouetted against a curtain while squeegeeing a window. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing.

Rowen Todd and friends squeegeeing a window. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing. October 202 3

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no one [we’ve] ever seen. He followed up connections with and dryer vent cleaning. Todd was inspired to implement all of outperforming the expectations of his customers. His work these new services to adapt to a new era of his small business and ethic serves him better than any business card or flier on a porch better meet the needs of High Country homeowners. ever could. Once he gained a few customers, word of mouth Todd confided that, in the early days, he could be a little too traveled quickly. He’s always thought a step ahead and has been stubborn for his own good with regards to getting a job done. He ready to meet the challenges of a growing client base. His local went on to share a rather uncomfortable experience that taught relationships serve him well, and he has returned the favor to the him about timing and patience. business community in a genuine way.” “One time, I was pressure-washing a deck — this was when Todd was also recognized as a Boone Chamber of Commerce I was first starting out — and it was the middle of an ice storm 4 Under 40 Rising Star Finalist in 2020. This award sheds light on when I was trying to do it,” Todd described. “So, I would pressure impressive Boone area businesses run by young professionals in wash the snow and ice off of the deck, and by the time I would get four distinct categories — Business Owner, Rising Star, Non-Profit, and Education. Mountain Vista Window Washing’s first clients were all commercial venues, and that was the trend for many years. However, as was the case with many businesses in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic turned everything on its head. “During Covid, we were primarily still doing storefront windows, and then all the storefronts shut down, so they didn’t need their windows cleaned anymore,” Todd shared, laughing. “The shutdown lost us more than 80% of our revenue.” Since then, Mountain Vista Window Washing has shifted focus from local businesses to private residences, which now make up the majority of their client base. The company has also begun offering screen cleaning, track cleaning, gutter cleaning, gutter A utility pocket containing a squeegee and replacement squeegee heads. guard installation, pressure washing, soft washing, Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing.

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Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing. October 202 3

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The Mountain Vista Team: Adrian, Casey, Izzy, Rowen, Eric, Jason, and Cole from left to right. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing.

Mountain Vista employee hand-cleaning a gutter. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing.

it off, it was frozen again. It was a miserable time, and I was soaking wet, and the heat in the van didn’t work, so I’d spend 20 minutes pressure washing, and then I’d be curled up in the van for a few minutes wondering why I was doing this. I came back the next day when the storm was over, and it all looked terrible, so I did it again, and it looked really nice.” Although Mountain Vista Window Washing has met many challenges and seen many changes over the years, the business has remained a father-son endeavor. “[My dad has] taken on more of a maintenance and fill-in role, so he helps maintain all of the vehicles and equipment we use and does a lot of the commercial window cleaning with us during the summer when we’re so busy doing residentials,” Todd stated. In fact, Todd’s parents were one of the major inspirations behind Mountain Vista Window Washing. “I consider Mountain Vista to be an employee-centric business,” Todd shared. “We take care of our clients; we care a lot about them, but also the reason we’re working is to provide a quality work environment. I started it because I saw my parents working terrible jobs that didn’t care for them and had bad pay and bad hours, so I wanted to provide a job for myself, and a job for my friends, that could treat everybody a little better.” Employees are treated to flexible scheduling, competitive living wages, and

We take care of our clients; we care a lot about them, but also the reason we’re working is to provide a quality work environment. I started it because I saw my parents working terrible jobs that didn’t care for them and had bad pay and bad hours, so I wanted to provide a job for myself, and a job for my friends, that could treat everybody a little better.

- ROWEN TODD 60

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Meet the

MOUNTAIN

VISTA WINDOW WASHING

team!

ROWEN

Photos by Izzy Smeltzer

ADRIAN

COLE

ERIC

CASEY

JASON

IZZY

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Eric cleaning a gutter. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing.

Rowen Todd posing jauntily on a ladder. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing.

a free healthy lunch every day courtesy of Wildwood Community Market. And despite, or perhaps because of Todd’s employee-centric business model, the Mountain Vista Window Washing team has earned a perfect 5-star Google rating with a total of 73 glowing reviews. Many reviews cite the impressive technical skill of the Mountain Vista team. “Rowen and his crew did an excellent job of cleaning our very dirty and very difficult to clean windows (hard to reach and lots of small window panes). They spent much time successfully removing silicone overspray from several windows, a task others had tried and failed to accomplish,” Cheryl Stanley wrote. “Rowen and the Mountain Vista team can’t be beat. My windows were practically fuzzy; they were so dirty. Now they are positively gleaming. They hand washed all the windows inside and out, even the highest ones. I couldn’t be more pleased. This was my first experience with Mountain Vista, but it will not be my last!” Jeanie Derr wrote.

While others find themselves pleased with Mountain Vista’s unbeatable customer service. “The two young men who came to my home to wash the windows did a wonderful job. The windows are now crystal clear, revealing the gorgeous mountain views. I had a problem after they left with one window and the owner, Rowen, came over and fixed it ON A SUNDAY! You very rarely see customer service like this anymore,” Margaret Dula wrote. “Rowen and his team were extremely professional. responsive to my calls, showed up on time, and did an amazing job cleaning my windows. I will be calling them again for sure, and so should anyone who wants the job done properly. Thank you Mountain Vista!” Marlene Bluestein wrote. Regardless of the exact content of each review, it’s safe to say that everyone who works with Mountain Vista Window Washing walks away satisfied. When asked about his 5-star rating, Todd had this to say: “Every Google review is extremely rewarding and always fills me with joy to know we are making our clients happy. I think it's

We show up on time, we do what we say we’re going to do, and we almost never change the price on stuff. All the time I get people telling me, ‘Oh, I called five people, and you’re the only one who got back to me,’ and ‘We had someone last year who did the work and charged us double what they quoted.’ Every person’s important, and we try to do a really good job for everybody, and I think that goes back to the idea that taking care of your team helps them take care of your clients.

- ROWEN TODD 62

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a testament to our high quality service. We show up on time, we do what we say we’re going to do, and we almost never change the price on stuff. All the time I get people telling me, ‘Oh, I called five people, and you’re the only one who got back to me,’ and ‘We had someone last year who did the work and charged us double what they quoted.’ Every person’s important, and we try to do a really good job for everybody, and I think that goes back to the idea that taking care of your team helps them take care of your clients.” However, Mountain Vista Window Washing doesn’t just take care of their clients and employees; they take care of their community by donating supplies and services to those in need. “We’ve donated over $5,000 worth of services to nonprofits and schools. We did about a week of pressure-washing and window cleaning for Two Rivers Community School this spring, and we also did some free window cleaning for addiction recovery centers around Boone. We try to be a team player,” Todd said. Rowen Todd is committed to creating high quality jobs in the High Country and providing clients with positive experiences and exemplary work. To inquire about employment or get a quote from Todd and his team, call (828)-434-5299 or visit their website at https://mountainvistawinwash. com/. t

A clean window with a beautiful view. Photo courtesy of Mountain Vista Window Washing. October 202 3

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Watauga County Recreation Center:

The High Country Destination for Exercise & Community

STORY BY PETER MORRIS

ake up early, have a cup or two of coffee, eat a hearty breakfast, and take a swim. This regime is a daily opportunity for High Country residents throughout the spring, summer, fall and winter thanks to the Watauga Community Recreation Center (WCRC). It’s a venue for health-conscious people of all ages. Not a swimmer? No problem! The recreation center offers a vast array of physical enhancement applications such as basketball camps, weightlifting, exercise platforms, pickleball, parent-infant swim lessons, summer camps, Special Olympics, Senior Games, and even childcare for members – to name only a few opportunities. 64

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While many locals feared the worst with the closing of the Broyhill Wellness Center, the WCRC soon filled the gap. “The closure of the Wellness Center allowed us to absorb a new clientele of members. We learned of the closing at the same time their members did and went into instant planning. To assist with the transition, we onboarded both fitness classes and fitness staff from the Wellness Center so that their members would have some consistency and familiarity when they came to the WCRC,” explained Keron Poteat, Director of Watauga County Parks and Recreation. “Additional planning included meeting with their leadership to make this as seamless of a transition as

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possible for their members. The Wellness Center also donated some fitness equipment to us upon their closing.” Poteat has been employed with the recreation center for 28 years, beginning as a Recreation Specialist II in 1996, Special Olympics Coordinator in 1999, and WCRC director in June of this year. “The Watauga County Commissioners had a vision that the Watauga Community Recreation Center would be something for everyone, and it is,” she added. “It is amazing to look out over the facility

The Watauga County Commissioners had a vision that the Watauga Community Recreation Center would be something for everyone, and it is. It is amazing to look out over the facility and see teenagers shooting hoops, summer camp kids learning new sports, parents toting in their toddlers for Parent-Infant swim lessons, and folks of all ages playing pickleball. We serve all ages. All demographics. All walks of people. It’s perfect!

- KERON POTEAT and see teenagers shooting hoops, summer camp kids learning new sports, parents toting in their toddlers for Parent-Infant swim lessons, and folks of all ages playing pickleball. We serve all ages. All demographics. All walks of people. It’s perfect!” Comments from regular patrons of the Watauga Community Recreation Center speak well of its resources. • “Based on concept, design, functionality, openness and pools, this center was designed masterfully and with purpose. The center has a flow about it and is very spacious. Staff interactions are pleasant. It’s very well lit, clean, and entirely free of clutter and debris.” - 9-5 Traveler • “Great gym, good vibe. Plenty of facilities for a wide range of workouts, fun, and games.” Andrew Keaveney • “Great place for family! We took our child to the indoor pool and small waterpark; she had a blast! Her smile was quite big.” - Daniel Minton • “Beautiful new facility. Lots of different classes to take advantage of, including a lot of beginners, intermediate, and advanced pickleball.” - Tyler Langley • “Best experience ever. Love, love, love this rec center!” - Mimi Taylor • “A year ago, I bought membership for my children, because it's totally worth it for them to be more active and in a clean, safe environment.” - Danyale Elliott • “We all enjoy working out in the recreation center pool and always enjoy the Tot Lot area adjacent to the complex for our children; everyone’s happy!” - JP Houston Daily upwards of 600 people walk through the doors of the WCRC. During heavy programming, such as youth basketball games and swim meets, over 1,500 people visit the center. Currently, the rec center has over 7,000 active members. While Watauga County members form the bulk of membership, its doors are open to Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and Wilkes County residents, plus others, at a slightly increased membership fee. In addition to its large lap pool for adult

The front desk staff is there to welcome and check visitors in. Photo by Peter Morris & Shirley Hollars

A playground for children of all ages is located outside the recreation center. Photo by Peter Morris & Shirley Hollars October 202 3

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

The new indoor pool is the perfect spot for kids to enjoy swimming year round. Photo by Peter Morris & Shirley Hollars

swimmers, the WCRC complex also has two smaller pools for children with a variety of slides and other water playthings. The main pool also boasts of a “climbing wall” where, if you fall, you land in deep water! The original parks and recreation building was a much smaller facility; the new complex opened in 2021, nothing short of a glass enclosed architectural masterpiece. According to Poteat, “Much of what we offered ‘back in the day,’ we still do today, just on a much larger scale. For example, camps used to be full with only 30 campers. Now we have 100 campers (with a 25 person waiting list)

in just one of the summer camps that we offer. Throughout this summer, we have offered five summer day camp options for parents including Summer Adventure Camp (100 campers), Fun in the Sun Camp (60), Over Yonder (50), Teen Extreme Adventure (35), and Xtreme Dance Camp (100).”

A young swimmer, Ava Frink, enjoying the indoor waterslide at the pool. Photo by Peter Morris & Shirley Hollars

We all enjoy working out in the recreation center pool and always enjoy the Tot Lot area adjacent to the complex for our children; everyone’s happy!

- JP HOUSTON

Basketball courts and a lap pool are available for members to utilize. Photos courtesy of Watauga County Parks & Recreation Center 66

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Typical parks and recreation offerings continue such as youth sports, adult sports, swim lessons, Special Olympics and Senior Games,” she added. “With the opening of the Watauga Community Recreation Center, we have expanded greatly with fitness overflowing, pickleball bursting at the seams, open gym times, personal training, and the addition of daily childcare for members. Some of our new programming includes pickleball leagues,

Since the opening of the new recreation complex, we have summer and holiday camps, upgraded aquatics, fitness classes, pickleball, basketball and volleyball, pool party space, and a community room. It’s a game changer for Watauga County!

- STEPHEN POULOS

A track for walking and running is located above the basketball courts. Photo courtesy of Watauga County Parks & Recreation Center

A spin class is one of the many organized activities offered at the Recreaton Center. Photo by Peter Morris & Shirley Hollars 68

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Swim Safe program, Trunk-or-Treat, and Swim Meets.” Stephen Poulos, who served as the Director of the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Center for 18 years until his retirement in 2022, commented, “During my time as director, (prior the new facilities) we had a great relationship with the Watauga County Schools, who provided indoor and outdoor facilities to help run our programs and, at times, we also used Appalachian State University for some programs as well,” he explained. “We served youth and adult athletics, aquatics, summer and holiday camps, Special Olympics, and Senior Games as well as a Tot Lot playground area and Old Cove Creek Gym and camp.” “Since the opening of the new recreation complex, we have summer and holiday camps, upgraded aquatics, fitness classes, pickleball, basketball and volleyball, pool party space, and a community room,” he continued. “It’s a game changer for Watauga County!” “The athletes are family. I am truly inspired by their abilities, wisdom, and attitudes. I am thankful to have had this job for almost three decades. Knowing that the jobs that we do here make a difference in the lives of others is what it is all about.” “As I told the Board of Commissioners when retiring, they have only scratched

A staff member helps get a little girl ready to go to the tot lot. Photo by Peter Morris & Shirley Hollars

the surface of what they can do,” Poulos stressed. “There have been lots of lessons learned, and I personally and professionally think the WCRC will continue to grow and evolve. It’s a huge challenge to serve the local community and to assist Watauga County to fully utilize the WCRC. It was a total team effort with lots of folks involved.” According to the American Heart Association, regular physical activity and exercise can improve multiple areas of wellness for both young and old, which includes: • Helps in quitting smoking and staying tobacco-free. • Boosting energy levels so you can get more done. • Helps manage stress and tension. • Promotes a positive attitude and outlook. • Helps you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. • Improves your self-image and selfconfidence. • Helps you spend more time in the gym and outdoors. The Watauga Community Recreation Center is located at 231 Complex Drive, in Boone. For information contact the facility at (828) 264-9511. The daily recreation center hours are Monday to Friday 6 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. t October 202 3

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

Celebrating Wilson Family Reunions Since 1933 STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS WITH BELVA TAYLOR HOPKINS

The majority of relatives in attendance for the 90th anniversary of the first Wilson family reunion are pictured at the fellowship hall of Tabernacle Baptist Church, near the old Taylor House in Boone. Photo submitted

birthday party near Boone in 1933 was the beginning of something special for a local family; the honoree, Genelia Wilson Norris Taylor, and three of her four sisters, enjoyed the celebration so much they decided to get together every year thereafter with all their families. And thus the Wilson Family Reunion was established — a memorial tribute to their parents, the late Jonathan Israel “Levi” and Almira “Myra” Brown Wilson. Currently, most attendees are direct descendants of Genelia Taylor, for whom it all began. The Wilson couple lived on a ridge above the New River in Todd, where their parents had owned large tracts of land, and where they were both eventually laid to rest. The Wilsons’ five daughters were Matt, Molly, Genelia, Biddie, and Josie. Matt married a man named Milt Norris and moved to Oregon at a very young age. The four remaining sisters chose to remain in or near Boone. 70

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During their annual visits, the sisters came together primarily at the old Taylor House, just steps from Meat Camp Creek that flows into The New River. The house, built around 1891, usually stands vacant, but comes to life again in late July each year for about 100 relatives who find their way back to their roots. The 2023 gathering of the Wilson clan marked the 90th anniversary of the annual family reunion. The anniversary was especially endearing for Belva Taylor Hopkins, who attended the first gathering at 10 months of age, and now at 90, attended the most recent. Hopkins and her three siblings – Steve, Jodie, and Jackie – along with their families, continue to keep the tradition alive while making memories and honoring those who came before them. “People come from far and wide for our reunion,” Hopkins said. “And, if they’re not nearby residents, like Don Norris and Dave Robertson, they come for several October 202 3

Relaxing on the New River near their ancestral home was a perfect way for participants of the 2023 Wilson family reunion to spend a day. Photo submitted

Belva Taylor at 10 months of age, pictured at left at Nelia’s birthday party 90 years ago, being held by her cousin, Lowell. Photo submitted

People come from far and wide for our reunion. And, if they’re not nearby residents, like Don Norris and Dave Robertson, they come for several days. They stay with relatives, rent vacation homes, or camp out in tents near the house.

- BELVA TAYLOR HOPKINS days. They stay with relatives, rent vacation homes, or camp out in tents near the house.” This year, the four-generation entourage began filtering in on Thursday, July 20. Choosing a local restaurant for their first evening meal together is always tradition; this year’s Booneshine visit was a rousing success. By Friday, most of the family had arrived from South Carolina, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, California, Massachusetts, Canada, and beyond. Several had not seen each other in years. By day’s end, the relatives, a few friends, and neighbors, gathered in the yard for food and fellowship, enjoying pulled pork and sides prepared by Jackie’s son, Jason Taylor. Saturday’s main dish was chili made by Belva’s son, Mark Hopkins. Both meals were delicious and enjoyed by all. In the “olden days,” Belva recalled, the campers had to cook

their food over a campfire and wash their dishes in the creek, scrubbing frying pans with sand because “Grandmummy (Mary Edna Taylor) would not allow campers to dirty up her kitchen!” Belva added that during those first years, there was neither electricity nor running water in the house. “Nowadays, the camp fire is largely ceremonial,” she added. Mark had also spent time working at the homeplace weeks prior, preparing for the gathering and making arrangements for Saturday’s main recreational event. “Traditionally, it’s been a canoe trip on the New River, but this year, the canoes were replaced by kayaks, which seemed to be just as much fun,” Belva said. With three preceding days packed full of fun and fellowship, Sunday’s potluck lunch is considered the actual Wilson

The Wilson Family Reunion is named for the late Jonathan Israel Wilson and Almira (Brown) Wilson, ancestors of four generations that meet each July on Meat Camp Creek. Photo submitted October 202 3

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

Family Reunion — served at noon on the fourth Sunday in July. Relatives who traveled join up with others who live in or near Boone. “We have met every year, with the exception of the war years when there was rationing of gasoline, and more recently, during the Covid epidemic,” said Belva. Having gathered in various locations for the lunch through the years, they now meet at Tabernacle Baptist Church fellowship hall near the Taylor house. “Preparing the reunion food was once a major project, with each woman wanting to show off her best dish,” Belva recalled. “Nowadays, it’s still a big deal, but not quite with the same tender, loving care.” A business meeting takes place each time, with officers elected every year, reporting on family major events of the past year “and presenting awards to individuals meeting extreme limits, such as oldest and youngest in attendance, person traveling James Hervey Taylor, pictured with his wife, Rebecca McNeil Taylor, was against the conflict the longest distance to get there, etc.” between the North and the South, but volunteered after the war started. Photo submitted This year, Belva was recognized as “the pioneer” and her husband, Frank, was the oldest in attendance.

The Wilson – Taylor Family Connection As Told by Belva Taylor Hopkins “The Wilson and Taylor families have a long, rich history in Watauga County, and the family’s senior-most member, Belva Taylor Hopkins, has spent much time researching — and living — her treasured family history. She now shares her findings and experiences: In 1925, the Watauga Democrat printed a celebratory article of James Hervey Taylor’s birthday, his 99th. It was said that he still walked a mile a day. He was born in May, 1826, the same year John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died. On January 18, 1854, James Hervey married Rebecca McNeil, and their oldest living child, Leland Taylor, was born December 25, 1855. Seven more children followed over the years. When the conflict between the North and the South began to look intolerable, James Hervey voted against secession in the popular vote, but after the war started, he volunteered. He was wounded twice and captured as well. After a prisoner exchange, it was said that he walked most of the distance from Savannah to Wilkes county, much like the story in the novel Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. After the war, he moved his family to Watauga County onto some 600 acres that he had rented. The children helped him clear and cultivate the land. Leland was 12 at the time. Ten years later, James Hervey bought 200 acres of land between the New River and Meat Camp Creek. In 1878 Leland married Sarah Bumgardner. Through the years, the family lived in several log houses which Leland built 72

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Leland Taylor believed in hard work and educational opportunities for his children. Photo submitted

This most recent gathering was not the 90th reunion, but rather the 90th anniversary of the first reunion. We have met every year, with the exception of the war years when there was rationing of gasoline, and more recently, during the Covid epidemic.

- BELVA TAYLOR HOPKINS along Meat Camp Creek. Finally in 1891, he built a lumber house, which we believe is the one that still exists. In 1899, Sarah gave birth to her sixth child and died during the delivery. For some weeks, Leland tried to keep the child alive with cow’s milk, but it also died. Several years later, Leland married a local widow, Nelia Wilson Norris, 16 years his junior. She and her first husband, Franklin Monroe Norris, had four sons together: Wade, Fred, Wilson, and Clyde Norris. She and Leland married, and at first, lived together in the Norris house near the New River; they had one son, Joe

Taylor, and two daughters, Alice and Elizabeth. In time, conflict arose between Leland and Nelia’s teenage sons; additionally, Leland’s mother had died, and James Hervey needed help, so Leland, Nelia, and little Joe moved into his log home, up the hill and across the creek from Leland’s timber house. Nelia walked back to her former home each day to check on and supervise the activities of her boys. Around 1911-1912, James Hervey, in his mid-80s, sold all his valuable bottom land between Meat Camp Creek and New River to the Carroll brothers and moved in with his daughter, Alice Stansbury. He

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HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

The Wilson sisters at Nelia’s birthday party in 1933, the event that jump-started the annual Wilson Family Reunion. Photo submitted

As the day drew to a close, someone said, ‘This has been such fun — why don’t we do it every year?’ And, so the Wilson family reunion was born. The most recent gathering, this past July, saw all but one of Nelia’s children represented.

- BELVA TAYLOR HOPKINS

Leland and Nelia Taylor’s daughters, Alice Thomas and Elizabeth Robertson, both attended Appalachian State Teacher’s College and became teachers. Photo submitted 74

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left the 13 acres across the creek for Leland, who had built the little house for his first family, and later moved his new family there. Joe never forgot the move — and the fear that his little wagon would be swept away as they forded the creek. Leland Taylor died on November 17, 1931, leaving Nelia and their two teenage daughters on the farm to manage cows, horses, and chickens, as well as to plant and harvest crops. Joe had his own business down the mountain by that time and was married that spring to Mary Edna, aka “Jack.” I, Belva Taylor Hopkins, was the first child born to that union the following December. In October 1933, Nelia’s family decided to give her a birthday party. Just after her 60th birthday on October 29 in 1931, she had been burying her husband. Two years later, it was time to honor her and celebrate family. In those days, transportation was more difficult than today, so that one of her sisters and two of her sons who lived in the West were unable to attend, but her other three sisters, five children,

spouses, and 12 grandchildren were there, as well as many nieces, and nephews. As the day drew to a close, someone said, ‘This has been such fun — why don’t we do it every year?’ And, so the Wilson family reunion was born. The most recent gathering, this past July, saw all but one of Nelia’s children represented. I, Belva Lee Taylor Hopkins, was at that birthday party as a baby in 1932 that started it all, and I was there again, 90 years later.”

Family Ties to Appalachian and the Doughertys As told by Belva Taylor Hopkins “Education was very different in the 19th century from today, especially in the mountainous back woods. The schools were usually one-teacher schools of 20 or 30 students of all ages and stages of progress. The teachers usually had little more education than their neighbors, but, perhaps, a tad more ambition. However, the scarcity of quality schools — nor the necessity of manual labor — indicated a lack of interest in knowledge. The oldest living son, Leland, felt the heaviest responsibility to help his father, and as time passed, remained tied to farming and animal husbandry. However, it was said that he laid down his hoe as soon as the mail came in bringing newspapers and periodicals

to read. All of James Hervey’s children were hungry for education. The second son, Adolphus, after completing all subjects in local schools, worked for his board and attended several more schools more distant from his home. At around age 25, he was granted teaching certificates by the counties of Ashe, Watauga, and Wilkes. Since schools were in session for only a few weeks each year in each locality, with careful planning he was able to teach two or more sessions each year. However, the salaries were so low that farming and livestock were his chief source of income. The third son was Hampton. The lack of good schools in Watauga County drove him far away, first to Texas where he completed law studies, and then Idaho where he became a prominent lawyer. The fourth son, Seymour, became a Methodist minister and served in many districts far from Boone as pastor and district superintendent. In 1899, Adolphus at age 42, being most interested in a better way of educating his children, was very excited to learn that the Dougherty brothers were considering establishing a teaching school. After some discussion, he was placed on the first board of trustees when the school was organized, initially under the name of Watauga Academy. He retained this position until the late 1920s and continued to be loyal to the Doughertys until his death in 1941. In 1899, Leland’s oldest child, Hoy, had completed all the education available to him, and was dreaming of finding some way to attend a more advanced school. He was very excited when

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HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

Joe Taylor, pictured here with his wife, Edna Taylor, left a legacy for his descendants, who enjoy coming back to the place he called home for many years. Photo submitted

Belva Taylor Hopkins and her husband, Frank Hopkins, the senior-most members of the Wilson family gathering, enjoy watching the younger generation from the porch of her father’s childhood home on Meat Camp Creek. Photo submitted. 76

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B. B. Dougherty told him that he was starting a school (equivalent to a high school) and would like to have him there. The problem for Hoy now became raising enough money to pay for room and board in Boone. His family’s farm was more than five miles out of town, and his father, although willing, simply didn’t have the cash to pay for his boarding. However, he had given him a colt earlier, so Hoy sold it to pay his board for nine months of schooling and became one among the first 50 students at Watauga Academy. The following year, Hoy secured a teaching job to pay for board and kept up his studies. In the summer of 1902, he learned that he could be accepted into college; he worked day and night, with B.B. Dougherty’s help, and entered Trinity College in September of 1902. From there, he went on to earn a PhD and spent his life as a university professor. He later mused that he didn’t know what his fate could have been if the Dougherty brothers hadn’t started Watauga Academy — because it was the only window he had seen to the outside world. In 1899, the same year Watauga Academy started, Leland’s wife died. In 1905, he married Nelia Wilson Norris, and in a few more years, three more children were born, all of whom would have more academic opportunities open to them because of the new school and its subsequent expansion. Because of the Dougherty brothers’ effort and devotion, by 1907 they had secured state funding and land for building dormitories for what was by then called Appalachian Training School. I do not know much about the Norris boys’ attendance at ATS, but I do know the oldest son, Wade, was of appropriate age and that he became a school teacher in a similar manner to Adolphus, by combining it with farming. The second and third sons, Fred and Clyde, moved west, but the third son, Wilson, remained in

Siblings representing the Joe Taylor family at their dad’s old home place on Meat Camp Creek are from left: Jackie, Belva, Steve and Jodie. Photo by Sherrie Norris

Boone and became the postmaster. He had eight children, all of whom much later went to Appalachian. In 1921 Appalachian became an official normal school authorized by the State Board of Education. It provided a program of high school education and a standard two-year normal school designed for aspiring elementary teachers. Then, in 1929, Appalachian became a four-year teachers’ college, authorized to confer degrees. It was then called Appalachian State Teacher’s Collage. Leland’s brother, Adolphus, was still a trustee. In this era, Leland’s new family went to Appalachian. The oldest of Leland’s second family, my father, Joe Taylor, went to Appalachian and worked for his room and board with the Hardin family. However, later he went into business and never became a teacher. My two aunts, Alice and Elizabeth, Leland’s daughters, both became teachers. From down the mountain in Caldwell County, my mother also came to Appalachian and became a teacher. At this time, North Carolina schools started at first grade without a kindergarten. In 1938, my aunts, working at Appalachian, were helping to establish kindergarten standards for the state. I stayed with them for a couple of months and went to the experimental kindergarten that they were working with. Much later, 1953, on the advice of my Aunt Alice — and in order to satisfy my school teaching ambitions — I transferred to Appalachian from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, and finished my last two years of college there. It equipped me well enough to be accepted later for advanced degrees at Harvard University. While I was at Appalachian, three cousins from the Wilson-Norris family were also attending. Many more cousins went to Appalachian through the years, making it uniquely entwined with my family’s history.” t

On Friday evening, as the crowd gathers in, longtime family friend and neighbor, Larry Carroll, standing center right, is recognized by Jason Taylor, for his watch care over the Taylor House and property. Photo submitted.

The old Taylor homeplace sat idle for many years, but now serves as a gathering place for the heirs of Leland and Nelia Wilson Taylor, on the banks of Meat Camp Creek. Photo by Sherrie Norris

Much later, 1953, on the advice of my Aunt Alice — and in order to satisfy my school teaching ambitions — I transferred to Appalachian from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, and finished my last two years of college there. It equipped me well enough to be accepted later for advanced degrees at Harvard University.

- BELVA TAYLOR HOPKINS October 202 3

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ADVERTISERS INDEX

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Dianne Davant & Associates.. Inside Front Cover

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High Country Magazine is distributed year round in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties at no cost to readers. This is possible because of the investment made by our advertisers. We are thankful to them and hope you will support their businesses and organizations.

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In Memoriam... Elizabeth Young: A Champion to the End STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS

Elizabeth Young will be long be remembered for her concern and kindness to others through years of community service. Photos submitted.

ew death announcements have affected more people across Watauga County than that of Elizabeth Young on Sunday, Aug. 20. Most knew Elizabeth from the Hunger & Health Coalition in Boone, where since 2014, she served until recently as the nonprofit organization’s Executive Director. Others might have become acquainted with her in her earlier role as Director of Community Relations at Deerfield Assisted Living, or after her promotion there to the facility’s Executive Director. Perhaps you recognized her as a member of the board of directors at Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the Blowing Rock Rotary Club, or High Country Caregiver Foundation. Or maybe you can’t remember just which of the many community organizations she was helping with as a volunteer at their special events. It’s OK if you didn’t know of the lengthy list of services she provided behind the scenes — there were so many. And she never did anything for recognition or public acclaim, but always with great passion, sincere commitment, and boundless energy. One thing is for certain, Elizabeth Young has left her mark on the High Country community and way beyond. The lives she touched are countless; the acts of service she provided are without measure. The following statement was released by the Hunger and HealthCoalition staff, which helps to sum up the wide spectrum of her influence: “Nothing really comes to mind as we try to write this, words 80

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

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are simply inadequate. Our hearts are completely broken as we mourn the loss of Elizabeth. Her vivaciousness is one in a million, she was a magnet of energy and all things good. She poured her heart and soul into this organization. Elizabeth was the first to say “good morning” to everyone and her lively “yoohoo” was her own way of announcing her presence before she walked in your door. As if she needed any introduction. She loved her community, both near and far. She was terrible at parking, she always took up two parking spaces. Likely her only fault. Her eyes would light up when our Fresh Market was full of nourishing produce. She knew it would impact the lives of those that needed it most. She offered an abundance of grace and compassion for every person she came across. Elizabeth had this innate ability to make you feel like you were the most important person in the room, because to her, you were. Everyone had a story, everyone had a purpose and she cared so deeply about yours. She brought out the best in everyone, especially our staff. We are all better because of her and the impressions she has made on our hearts will last for, well ever. Because that’s just who Elizabeth was. We miss her terribly and our hearts are aching. We ask for continued support to our staff during this incredibly difficult time and to lift those up who were closest to her. May we all continue to live each day just as Elizabeth, full of love, grace, compassion and vivaciousness. Eat that slice of pie, tell your folks you love them, don’t wait. Elizabeth wouldn’t have had it any other way.” t