High Country Magazine - December 2020 by High Country Press

Volume 15 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 3 December 2020

Merry Christmas To All

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pappy, We're gonna be fine in 2021, right?" "Son, we're mountain folk! We will always be alright!" December 2020

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C O N T E N T S

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Behind the Scenes of Election 2020

Sharing the Word of God

Watauga County Board of Election employees, board members and poll workers shared what all it takes to operate a presidential election.

Pastor Ethan Greene continues the family tradition of preaching the gospel and tells his story of how he got to where he is today.

Food in Times of Need

The New Memorial Park

Food pantries across the High Country are seeing major increases in visitors trying to keep food on the table in a struggling COVID-19 economy.

A brand new playground, new trees and a larger gazebo are just a few of the things you might notice on your next trip to Memorial Park in Blowing Rock.

Worth the Wait

The magnificent Watauga Community Recreation Center offers 100,000 square feet full of various equipment, swimming pools, basketball courts, a climbing wall and much more.

A Toast to Sara Brewer

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General Manager of the High Country ABC Store, Sara Brewer, calls it a career after 39 years at the store.

Painting by Peg Carino

on the cover

note from the artist..... Hello Everyone! We are back and so happy to see you as you stop and pick up your holiday issue of High Country Magazine. Did you notice? Our family has grown a bunch and we have taken up caroling during the holidays. Pappy needs a few singing lessons. He tends to stay off key most of the time during practice. The Bears and I are hoping for improvement in the new year! Aren't we all? I think we can all agree that will be our common interest for 2021. Let us have hope and let us pray that the coming Covid 19 vaccines perform with perfection. Until they arrive, let us continue to live responsibly and be a part of the solution. That's really all we can do by protecting ourselves and others. The Bears and I also hope that all of you will stay safe and enjoy the holidays. We were all thrown a curveball. So, let us hope and let us pray that Covid 19 will be knocked out of the park. As always, the Bears and I want to thank you again for letting us know how much you enjoy us and our High Country Christmas issue. All of you are most appreciated. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and continue to stay safe.

With Thanks, The Bear Family and Peg

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December 2020

READER SERVICES ABOUT US

The first High Country Press newspaper was published on May 5, 2005, and the first issue of High Country Magazine went to press in fall 2005. In March of 2012 the newspaper made the transformation to an online newspaper at our new website: www.HCPress.com. Our new â&#x20AC;&#x153;webpaperâ&#x20AC;? is still packed with information that we present and package in easy-to-read formats with visually appealing layouts. Our magazine represents our shared love of our history, our landscape and our people. It celebrates our pioneers, our lifestyles, our differences and the remarkable advantages we enjoy living in the mountains. Our guiding principles are twofold: quality journalism makes a difference and customer care at every level is of the greatest importance. Our offices are located in Boone, and our doors are always open to welcome visitors.

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Our magazine is a wonderful way for businesses to advertise to our readers. Our magazines tend to stay around for a long time, on coffee tables and bed stands, and shared with family and friends. To find out about advertising, call our offices at 828264-2262.

BACK ISSUES

Back issues of our magazines are available from our office for $5 per issue. Some issues are already sold out and are no longer available.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography and page reprints are available for purchase. For sizing, prices and usage terms, please call our office. Some photos may not be available and some restrictions may apply.

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Writers and photographers may send queries and samples to the editor at hcmag@highcountrypress.com.

High Country Press/Magazine P.O. Box 152 1600 Highway 105 Boone, NC 28607 www.hcpress.com info@highcountrypress.com 828-264-2262 December 2020

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FRO M T HE PUB L ISH ER

A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Advertising Director Jeffrey Green

Newspapering During an Election Time

hen an election year kicks in like the one we just went through, the news media begins ramping up for their coverage of another cycle of campaign and election news. Election coverage is one of those cornerstones of reporting that newspapers have always taken seriously, and back in the day when newspapers were the main source of information, I think voters and candidates appreciated the stories they found in their small-town newspapers. Again, back in the day, it was the small town election that the regional daily newspapers overlooked, and the only thing you saw on network TV was coverage of national elections. The election cycle news coverage usually follows the same pattern. The first event to pop up - usually in February - is the candidacy filing period, where candidates have to fill out paperwork and pay a fee for the office that they are seeking. Typically, the first news item to show up in the newspaper would be a picture of the first candidate that showed up to file at the election office. Then a few weeks later at the filing deadline, you would then see a headline about the last person to file for office. And then the ballot would be set. Thus the countdown would begin toward Election Day in November, some eight months down the road. At the news office, a list of candidates would go up on the wall, and reporters would begin to learn their names and the office they were running for. Depending on how many candidates file for an office, sometimes a primary would get thrown in there during the spring and that would provide for a few weeks of election news coverage. Next, and back in the day, during the summer months is when newspapers would begin to have campaign information dropped off at their offices. Since email was not available back then and fax machines were cumbersome, many local candidates would show up in person with their campaign info, and then even stick around for an interview. During those days, the old-timey traditional campaign events would be held, and you would find candidates showing up to make speeches at the local civic clubs. Labor Day would be when things got into full swing. Newspapers would dedicate page after page to candidate profiles. Interviews would be published and candidate forums would be reported on. In the Letters to the Editor section, there would actually be intelligent and civil discussions from readers commenting on the issues facing the candidates. Then the big event, Election Day, would arrive. In the 70s and 80s, that first Tuesday in November would be the day just about all ballots would be cast since there was no early voting like we have today. Election night would be when all the news media, plus candidates and supporters, would show up at election headquarters at the courthouse to wait for the results. Newspapers would send their pages to the printer, and it could be late Wednesday before local results would be widely known as folks would pick up their newspapers. Things have changed in today's world, where everything is instantaneous! One thing remains the same this year as it did back then, the local media was still at the courthouse this year waiting for results as the votes were tabulated. And how those results come about is the focus of our election story in this issue. It's an interesting process that is watched over by a dedicated team of election officials. 6

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Contributing Writers Nathan Ham Harley Nefe Jan Todd Sherrie Norris Tim Gardner

High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga and Avery counties of North Carolina

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2262 Follow our magazine online where each issue is presented in a flip-through format. Check it out at:

HighCountryMagazine.com Reproduction or use in whole or part of the contents of this magazine without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Issues are FREE throughout the High Country. ÂŠ 2020 by High Country Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Christmas Parades

Watauga Rec Center (Dec. 9th) and Beech Mountain (Dec. 23) Get Creative for a Parade Presentation

espite COVID-19 putting a lot of holiday events on the back Presbyterian Church, Shannon Shanely’s Class, Watauga County burner, Watauga County Parks and Recreation and the Town Parks & Recreation, and Watauga County. Santa Clause will be making a guest appearance as well. of Beech Mountain are each holding a parade event in December. To ensure the safest travel in and out of the parade area, the Watauga Parks and Recreation has organized a drive-thru Christmas parade on Saturday, December 12, from 11 a.m. until Boone Police Department will be directing traffic in and out of 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the new recreation center located at Martin Luther King Drive and State Farm Road. The second Christmas event will be the inaugural Beech 231 Complex Drive in Boone. Families can stay in the comfort of Mountain Christmas Parade their vehicles as they circle on Wednesday, December through the parking lot to 23, beginning at 4 p.m. The see different parade floats parade will begin at Beech and entertainers. Mountain Resort, where This is the second holifloats and vehicles will travday event put together by the el up Beech Mountain Parkparks and recreation staff at way and will turn around at the new rec center with the Elderberry Ridge and return initial celebration happening to the resort. The fun will at Halloween with a parking continue at the top of the lot trunk or treat. parade route with lots of “The trunk or treat fun for those in attendance. was such a huge success,” "We hope that our visisaid Keron Poteat, Recretors and our residents will ation Specialist for Watauga stay up here at the top and County Parks and Recreenjoy some kids' activities ation. “Families were happy and some games. We will and comfortable that they With the success of the Watauga Parks and Rec Halloween drive-through event (shown above), the department will try the same thing with a have the fire pits going, we'll could stay in their cars and Christmas Parade. have some hot chocolate go through the event withand some free fun and acout having to worry about tivities," says Kate Gavenus, the spread of COVID and the Director of Tourism and exposing their kids to folks Economic Development at they weren’t sure of.” Beech Mountain. "Across Numerous groups will the street, we will have some be in attendance as a parade night sledding on the sledexhibitor, including Wading hill. It's outdoors so tauga County Schools, High it's safe and fun, and people Country Dance Studio, Wacan socially distance and be tauga Library, Medi Home in some fresh cold air, so be Health & Hospice; Amy sure to dress really warm." Shook Register of Deeds, For families that would Carolina Snowbells, Laulike to remain in the comrel Gordon & Co, Boone forts of their warm vehicles Realty, New River Light & to watch the parade, parkPower, Boone Chamber of ing areas will be available at Commerce, Appalachian town hall, at the gravel parkRhythm Clogging and ing lot and the overlook on Dance, MagicBound TravIn addition to the roadside Christmas decorations Beech Mountain has el, Charlie Wallin County become famous for, the town will be also throwing a Christmas Parade this Beech Mountain Parkway. Santa will be in attenCommissioner, Girl Scout year on December 23rd. dance and will be arriving Troop 10289, Boone VFW Post 7031, Skyline/SkyBest, High Country Young Life, Grace Lu- on a fire truck. "This is Santa's last blast of fun before he really has theran Church, Hampton’s Body Shop, Sole Impact Studios, Har- to get to work," said Gavenus. This inaugural event is expected to vest House Dance Studio, Mast General Store, Rumple Memorial become an annual tradition at Beech Mountain. 10

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‘Ski Well, Be Well’ Initiative Offers Safest Environment for Winter Sports During COVID-19

he winter sports season is upon us in the High Country, and being able to safely navigate the COVID-19 atmosphere that we are living in right now has become a key point to keep skiers, snowboarders, and snow tubers as healthy as possible. The North Carolina Ski Areas Association has announced its "Ski Well, Be Well" initiative for the 2020-21 winter sports season to prioritize the health and safety of visitors, staff members, and folks in the community. “Our commitment to providing a healthy and fun environment is stronger than ever,” said Gunther Jochl, President of Sugar Mountain Resort. The importance of the ski industry in North Carolina cannot be understated, especially for the six ski areas and five counties in the state that are directly impacted. According to data from the NCSAA, the winter sports industry generates approximately $228 million each year and supports 1,500 jobs in these ski areas that are oftentimes the primary support of the winter economy for these small, rural counties. For visitors on the ski slopes, winter sports already has some extra safety measures built in to prevent the spread of viruses such as COVID-19. Being outside with fresh air and having hundreds of acres to be skiing on almost the perfect example of social distancing. Skiers and snowboarders are already going to be wearing masks, goggles, gloves, and plenty of layers of clothes to stay warm. This will also help prevent the spread of the virus while outdoors. As part of the Ski Well, Be Well initiative, face coverings will be required outside on the slopes and all ski lifts, and inside except when eating or drinking. Extra social distancing will take place in ticket lines, lift lines, and indoors where people can stop for a drink or something to eat. Extra cleaning and disinfecting will be a part of each ski resort's reopening plan in the coming days. “There is no area of our operation that we have not made adjustments to create a better experience and a more comfortable and helpful situation considering COVID,” said Brad Moretz, President of Appalachian Ski Mtn. “We’ve gone way beyond what has been asked and expected to give people a minimal amount of time in the lodge and a maximum amount of time on the snow, which I think is what everyone wants during these times.” Part of preparing for how to deal with the coronavirus during 12

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the winter season started for a lot of these resorts in the summer months with both Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain offering numerous summer activities. “We have every reason to believe that the success of the summer season will carry over to our winter season,” said Ryan Costin, President of Beech Mountain Resort. "Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the North Carolina ski industry leaders have listened and learned and responded by implementing the guidelines outlined by Governor (Roy) Cooper and the CDC to their summer and fall operations. The results are exciting and encouraging. Positive COVID-19 cases within the communities of all six ski areas continue to be significantly lower than the state average. Employment remains stable. Local businesses are operating within state guidelines and we look forward to continuing safe operation during the winter season," said Kim Jochl, President of the North Carolina Ski Areas Association. “A refreshing level of respect and compassion is felt throughout North Carolina’s outdoor community. Most importantly, we are committed to the health and well-being of those living in and visiting our mountain communities.” The Ski Well, Be Well initiative has been endorsed by over 20 organizations and groups in North Carolina. Local endorsements include the Alpine Ski Center, Avery County Chamber of Commerce, Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, Banner Elk TDA, Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Beech Mountain TDA, Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Blowing Rock TDA, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Ski Country Sports, Village of Sugar Mountain TDA and the Watauga County TDA. “The safety of our customers, our staff and our community has always been the forefront of our business model but even more so now with the pandemic. We’re prepared with a thorough operational plan that not only puts safety first but also stays consistent with local regulations and follows the Ski Well, Be Well practice. We want to encourage people to be outside in a safe manner and we’re going to do all we can to make sure we can provide that for our guests. I feel confident that we can do that,” said Talia Freeman, the Director of Marketing at Beech Mountain. For more information on Ski Well, Be Well, visit https://nsaa. org/skiwellbewell. By Nathan Ham

December 2020

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Winter Forecast

Winning Woolly Worm Predicts a cold start to winter in the high country In the first-ever virtual woolly worm race, the Avery County Chamber of Commerce faced off against the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk to determine how the winter season will shape up in the High Country. Chamber Charger was able to get the victory over Kiwanis Kicker to keep the weather prediction tradition alive despite the annual Woolly Worm Festival being canceled due to COVID-19. Each woolly worm has 13 segments and each segment represents one week of the winter season. The colors of the segments are used to predict what the winter weather season will be each year. Black segments translate to below average temperatures with snowfall. Dark brown segments predict average temperatures, light brown segments predict above average temperatures and fleck (mixture of black and brown) predict below average temperatures with light snow or frost. Chamber Charger’s first four segments were solid black, meaning a cold and snowy first month of winter. The next three segments were dark brown, signaling average winter temperatures for three weeks. The next segment color was fleck, or a mixture of brown and black. That indicates a week of below-average temperatures with frost or light snow. The next two segments were dark brown, going back to average winter temperatures, and then another segment of fleck coloring with below-average temperatures with frost or light snow. The final two color segments of Chamber Charger were black, indicating below-average temperatures and snow to close out the final two weeks of winter.

2020-21 Woolly Worm Prediction 13 Segments = 13 Weeks

Week 1 (Dec. 21 - 27) Week 2 (Dec. 28 - Jan. 3) Week 3 (Jan. 4 - 10) Week 4 (Jan. 11 - 17) Week 5 (Jan. 18 - 24) Week 6 (Jan. 25 - 31) Week 7 (Feb. 1 - 7) Week 8 (Feb. 8 - 14) Week 9 (Feb. 15 - 21) Week 10 (Feb. 22 - 28) Week 11 (Mar. 1 - 7) Week 12 (Mar. 8 - 14) Week 13 (Mar. 15 - 21) 14

Below average temperatures with snow Below average temperatures with snow Below average temperatures with snow Below average temperatures with snow Average temperatures Average temperatures Average temperatures Below average temperatures with snow/frost Average temperatures Average temperatures Below average temperatures with snow/frost Below average temperatures with snow Below average temperatures with snow

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Ray’s Weather Predicts below average snowfall The 2020-21 Fearless Winter Forecast from Ray’s Weather Center is predicting a winter with slightly warmer than average temperatures and about 20 percent less snowfall then average. “While we will have snow and cold periods, it will be difficult to lock in cold for long periods of time,” Russell explained in his forecast summary. The current La Nina effect in the Pacific Ocean is one of the main keys that will likely result in less snowfall in the area. The 60-year average for Boone is 40.1 inches. For the 2020-21 winter season, Russell is predicting 29 inches of snowfall. Higher elevations such as beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain will see their fair share of snowfall with both mountain tops expected to receive 70 inches of snow this winter. Banner Elk is predicted to see 34 inches of snow while Jefferson and West Jefferson in Ashe County are predicted to receive 18 inches of snowfall. Last year ended up being one of the lowest snowfall seasons on record in the High Country with Boone seeing just nine inches of snow and West Jefferson and Jefferson both measuring just two inches of snow. Even higher elevations like Beech Mountain got just 45 inches of snow, a total of 33 inches less than what was predicted to fall during the 2019-20 winter season. The 2020-21 Fearless Winter Forecast can be found at www. RaysWeather.com

Ray’s 2020-21 Forecasted Snow Totals City Expected Total Snow/Ice Asheville: 10 inches Banner Elk: 34 inches Beech Mountain: 70 inches Boone: 29 inches Galax: 16 inches Hickory: 4 inches Jefferson/West Jefferson: 18 inches Sparta: 16 inches Spruce Pine: 17 inches Sugar Mountain: 70 inches Wilkesboro/North Wilkesboro: 6 inches Wytheville: 19 inches

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High Country Magazine

Election Day at Valle Crucis School Gym

ELECTION Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All About the Votes 16

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December 2020

The 2020 Presidential Election brought out record numbers of early voters, thousands of absentee ballot requests and over 200 High Country citizens that decided to come out and work at the polls. Story by Nathan Ham â&#x20AC;˘ Photography by Ken Ketchie

n the late spring and early summer months of 2020, while many people were worried about how the COVID-19 pandemic was going to put a damper on their summer vacation plans, a select group of individuals was planning for something that had never happened in this country before. How to conduct a national, presidential election in the middle of a raging world pandemic? In North Carolina, every county has a board of elections as well as paid workers who make sure each election is operated as smooth and clean as possible. In Watauga County, Matt Snyder is the Director of the Watauga County Board of Elections and has two full-time employees working for him: John Hill (Elections Specialist) and Donna Houck (Deputy Director). The Watauga County Board of Elections has five

TIME # 2020 AND the Process of Having All Votes Counted Correctly December 2020

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Early voting at Deep Gap Fire Department

gh Country Magazine PollH iWorkers at ASU PlemmonsDecember Student2020Union

Debbie Reece at Election Office

members currently comprised of three Democrats and two Republicans. Michael Behrent is the current chair, Marv Williamsen is the Secretary, Eric Eller, Nancy Owen, and Matt Walpole are the final three members of the board. “We would like to think that we are one team just serving in different capacities. The board is nominated by county political chairs and appointed by the state board, or in the case of the chairman, appointed by the governor. They tend to handle some of the legal aspects. This year they have handled legal and financial aspects while we have taken the operations side of things," said Snyder. "Many of the decisions that happen within the county like where election sites are located, those are board functions. The statutes define a lot of their responsibilities of

The Poll Workers

ver 200 people in Watauga County were willing to work at polling places on Election Day or work at one of the six one-stop early voting sites across the county leading up to the election. Joe Lowman worked the early-voting location in Blowing Rock for the first time but had been a poll worker on Election Day several times before. “This is a very satisfying experience; we are helping with something that is very important to all of us. The atmosphere is really one of positive cooperation and an affirmation of democracy,” he said. Watauga County spent $129,475.89 paying one-stop early voting officials and $44,735.61 paying Election Day voting officials. A number of grants allowed for poll workers to make a little more money this election cycle with the COVID challenges. "So many new people stepped up this year to help out," said Matt Snyder.

Joe Lowman in Blowing Rock

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High Country Magazine

ASU Plemmons Student Union • Boone 2

Blowing Rock School Gym

Hardin Park School Gym

Watauga High School Gym

Watauga County Administration Building

which some they are able to pass on to the staff, but we work in concert with our board and under their guidance and direction. They have some different duties, and we have some different duties." Snyder explained that his job and what his staff helps out with is to make sure that the county board has all of the information that they need to do their job. "We try to make them aware of whatever situations are coming up and let them discuss and debate and decide how to handle that. They all have pretty much full-time jobs, and we are grateful for their willingness to serve," Snyder added. "This year, a lot has been asked of them. We let them know what is going on and work with them to keep them in the loop and make decisions as we go through all of this. We have a very well-qualified board. Our board members have pretty impressive backgrounds. They are people that I feel confident in handling the challenges and decisions that are put before them and do so with a lot of experience and knowledge to factor into those decisions. It’s like our own all-star team.” Planning for this election started right after the North Carolina primary elections on March 3, right about the time that COVID-19 cases began to pop up all over the United States. With Watauga County having 20 different precincts, one concern that immediately came to mind was the number of people fitting into small buildings in their respective precincts. Snyder and the board had to quickly come up with alternative locations with the coronavirus arriving in the High Country. "We looked at COVID concerns and how we could have our elections. Some of our polling sites are so small we could not do it with COVID social distancing, so we went to the board and shared a game plan. The school system and the board of education were gra-

The Polling Stations

or the 2020 Presidential Election, there were six early-voting sites in Watauga County. Those sites by Mail. The early voting site at App were open from October 15 through State would be the busiest location October 31 - and from 8:00 a.m. to for early voting with 6,597 votes 7:30 pm most days. Over 5,000 cast there. On Election Day the 20 votes were cast on that first day of precincts represented in the county One Stop Early Voting or Absentee 20 High Country Magazine December 2020

Hardin Park School Gym

Foscoe - High Country Vacation Homes

Valle Crucis School Gym

Deep Gap Fire Department

Blowing Rock Town Hall

were open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with many poll workers showing up at 5:30 that morning to get things ready. The 20 precincts are set up in communities around the county to mininize the driving distance to the voting sites.

26,938 voters from across Watauga County chose to vote in person during the early voting period and on Election Day - November 3

Watauga County Voters

here were 32,346 voters that cast their ballot in Watauga County. That represented a turnout of 71.6 percent of the 45,164 registered voters in Watauga. 5,408 of those voters chose to vote by mail - 4,453 voted in person and the ma-

jority of voters (22,485) voted during the one-stop early voting period. By age group - in the 18 to 25 group there were 9,313 voters; in the 26 to

40 age group there were 5,580 voters; the 41 to 65 group had 10,431 voters and 65 and over group had 6,959 voters. The breakdown of voters by party affililations was: 9,062 Democrats, 10,092 Republicans and 12,860 Unaffiliated.

cious enough to allow us to use their gym facilities. We asked the board if they would be willing to consider moving the precincts in smaller sites to the school gyms to make that happen, and they did. For any polling site within a precinct that is moved within that precinct, the county board has full control over that,â&#x20AC;? said Snyder. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The main focus has been safety and COVID precautions. How do we go about getting everybody

into eight gyms? That requires looking through the statutes and working with the state and the county to see what our options are and how we can make that happen. We've been very pleased with the board's approach to this. COVID has been a number one concern of theirs, and how the state has supported the county board in making things as safe as we can by doing some things that are a little bit different and unusual. I don't

like moving 75 percent of our voters out of their normal voting site, but this year that is kind of what it meant. To go to these school gyms, we had to move people out of where they normally vote to somewhere different. So the board was gracious enough, the board of education was gracious enough, and the state executive director was gracious enough to allow all of that to happen so we could try to keep folks safe.â&#x20AC;?

December 2020

High Country Magazine

Matt Snyder stands in a room at the Ag Center where polling station equipment is ready for delivery and Kathy Idol surveys the 31 computers used at polling stations that were returned on election night to election headquarters at the Watauga Courthouse

s is the case during every election, tons of equipment are needed to make sure that citizens can cast their votes without any issues. Before the polls open, workers test everything from the ballot scanners to making sure that the extension cords that are needed are all long enough. 63 laptops and printers are in use or prepared as backups at the precincts and none of

Absentee and Early Voting Set the Tone for 2020 Since March, people have been encouraged to keep their distance from others to do their best to avoid contracting and sharing COVID-19. In addition to the precinct changes on Election Day in Watauga County, it was pretty clear from early on that voters had the same idea as election employees and board members to keep themselves as safe as possible. Absentee by mail voting is typically handled by Donna Houck each year because there are not usually that many requests for ballots. Things changed in a big way this year with over 8,000 absentee ballot requests made to the Watauga County Board of Elections office. Houck had seven other people working alongside her working in the conference room at the Agricultural Conference Center across the street from the courthouse sending out these absentee ballot requests and processing the ballots as they were returned. "It's all very specific, so it has to be perfect, and they have done an awesome job of dotting the i's and cross22

High Country Magazine

The Equipment the laptops are connected to the internet for safety purposes. “That keeps us about as safe and secure as we can be. We have pretty good resources for a little county in the mountains,” Snyder said. “We are considered critical infrastructure by the Department of Home-

land Security.” On hand were also 30 ADA compliant voting machines plus all the paper and forms needed for the election process. And then there are the outdoor signage and inside signs for instructions and rules. The county maintenance delivers much of the equipment, but the computers and paperwork are all handled by the precinct judges or computer operators.

ing the t's and making sure everything is what it is supposed to be. You've got the signature of the voter, you've got the signature of the witness, you have the printed name of the witness and you have the printed street address of the witness. It all has to be on that envelope, so they have been checking those as they come in and making sure everything is what it needs to be. If it's not, we contact the voter and send out information on what they need to do to fix their ballot. If it's something like having no witness signature, there is no cure for that, so we have to spoil the ballot and reissue another ballot," explained Snyder. "There are a lot of moving parts and pieces, and it takes a lot of people to make that happen. You've got stuff going on here, stuff going on there, board members passing all of the ballots back to review them, approve them, and initial them. We have to open them up, and we have to run the ballots through. The ballots have been folded multiple times, and the machines don't like that sometimes, so they may have to remark a ballot under the supervi-

sion of the board. A lot is going on, and this year with the sheer volume, it just magnifies how much it takes and how much manpower it takes.” One-stop early voting was even more popular in the 2020 Election with 22,485 votes cast during the early-voting period, easily more popular than absentee voting and in-person voting on Election Day. "We all have a passion to make sure that elections are available to all Watauga County citizens and that every eligible Watauga County citizen is able to vote and is as easy as possible for them to do, such as having six one-stop locations around the county. The focus is making sure voters in Watauga County have easy accessibility to the polls and that every one that is eligible to vote can vote. Then we work together to find the best way to make that happen," said Snyder. “Everybody takes pride in their job. Everybody is here on time, they work hard while they’re here, they’ll stay late and do what they need to do if it’s required. Everybody wants to do a really good job.”

December 2020

The Unsung Heroes that Make Elections Possible in Watauga County It takes a lot more than just the three full-time employees at the board of elections office. Early voting locations have site managers, Election Day precincts have chief judges, and all sites have several workers that are searching through addresses, making sure voters are at the right precincts, making sure all equipment is still working, and many other tasks that would take too long to list. Site managers at the early voting sites work split shifts to cover the 14-hour days. "We got lucky this year. All of our site managers came back, and they have been the cornerstones we have built this foundation of early voting on because most of our folks are brand new, and without these site managers that have been doing this for years to help them do the right thing, this might be a different story," Snyder said. "I'm so grateful for all of our site managers to come back this year because they have really made a difference. They have taken a lot of these new people and helped shepherd them and support them so that things have gone very smoothly." Joe Lowman has been an Election Day poll worker several times before, but this year was his first time working during the early-voting period. Lowman worked at Blowing Rock Town Hall's early voting location. He described the whole voting process as a "celebration of citizenship." “People have very different opinions of some of the candidates, especially the presidential options, but you don’t see it in people’s behavior. People are here to play their part but are not here to be acrimonious or fight,” Lowman said. Audrey Hartley is a long-time poll worker, working elections for the last 14 years. She was happy about the voter turnout and that the workers were following the correct safety protocols to make everyone feel as safe as possible. "I was so grateful that things went so smoothly this election, and I was so proud of all of the workers that we had because we had a lot of new workers. I was also very pleased with all the training that Matt Snyder had provided for us from the December 2020

High Country Magazine

Matt Snyder stands in the conference room at the Ag Center that was used by eight employees to count mail in and absentee ballots for over 35 days.

Counting Ballots by Mail

t was truly a historic year for absentee mail-in voting. Donna Houck, the Deputy Director of the Watauga County Board of Elections, typically handles the mail-in ballot counting during elections. This year though, the mail-in ballots were so plentiful that Houck along

with seven other workers did the ballot counting in the conference room across the street at the Agricultural Conference Center. Watauga County had 5,408 mail-in ballots cast in the 2020

Presidential Election, making up 16.7 percent of the total votes counted in the county. The counting site was open from September 7 through October 31. There were over 8,000 requests for mail in ballots while 5,408 were actually returned for processing.

county and the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that we needed," Hartley said. "The voters that came into our sites had several comments about how grateful they were about the cleanliness and the precautions that we were taking with cleaning and wearing masks, gloves, and gowns and making sure that it was a safe environment for them to come out. We had a great turnout this year. It was higher than I've seen in a long time, and

I think it showed that people were very interested. They felt very safe in coming out and casting their votes." Other citizens felt the need to step up and spend their time working the election as part of their civic duty. Angela Kelly, the owner of Proper Restaurant in Boone, was one of those first-time election workers. She spent much of her time working curbside voting at an early-voting site and said it was a great ex-

perience. She met a lot of workers that had been doing this for 10 or 15 years. “I know it is important, especially this year because so many people who do that kind of work are elderly, and it was a little bit risky for them to do that," said Kelly. "It was a great experience. I encourage anyone to do it if you've ever thought about it before." The most memorable thing Kelly recalled was when a man came in and got

Photo by Steve Frank

ike many counties in North Carolina, Watauga set a record for the number of absentee mail-in votes and had a great turnout from one-stop early voting as well. When the numbers were calculated, only 4,453 citizens in Watauga County waited to vote 24

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Election Day Nov. 3rd in-person on Election Day. With 32,346 votes cast in this election, that means only 13.8 percent of votes countywide were actually cast on Election Day. The

December 2020

county still had about 120 citizens working at polling locations. “It’s a massive undertaking and we’re lucky to have the people that we have in this county,” Snyder said. With so many voting early, election day voting was probably at a histoical low.

his voting rights reinstated. "We were almost in tears when it was over," she said. Several young voters came in to register and vote for the first time, another positive step for the future of our democracy.

The Work Never Stops Like most average voters, no one thinks about what goes on behind the scenes to make every vote count. Voters will show up for early voting or on Election Day, mark their ballot, and go on with the rest of their day. For the staff and board members, the work never really ends. "The day after the election is when our work really starts. We compare it to Christmas. You're getting everything ready, and you're busy, but then after the day is over, we put everything up, and the work begins. Since Election Day, all of the stuff that the election officials took out to the polls, we start the day after the election, getting it unpacked, getting it repacked, and then post voter history after the canvass," said Donna Houck, Deputy Director for the board of election. "We always have records requests to work on and the 30day count where we have to count all early-voting ballots

Tracking the Results As They Came In

recinct workers from all 20 precincts across Watauga County would begin to arrive at the courthouse after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m. on November 3 where the board of elections office is located with completed ballots, memory cards with the vote tabulations on them and equipment and other necessities throughout the night. Media representatives were also eagerly awaiting voting updates as precinct totals continue to arrive throughout the evening. The Beech Mountain precinct typically is the last one to come in, and arrived around 9:30 that night - and the election officials were able to wrap things up around 10:00 p.m. this year. and sort by precinct. We have to run them back through the voting machine and get the count by precinct for the state board. That is a big job. Every vote counts. I have learned so much since I have been here in the process, and yes, every vote counts, and everybody should vote." Houck began working part-time at the board of elections in October of 2008. She was hired full-time in July of 2010 under the leadership of former director Jane Ann Hodges. Three years ago, Houck earned her North Carolina Elections Administration Certification from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. She is a native of Watauga County and grew up in the Todd community where she still resides to this day after marrying her high school sweetheart, Dana. The work doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always revolve around elections either. There is plenty to do during other times of the year as well.

Precinct judges and staff return memory cards with vote tabulations to the courthouse where police officers were on hand to help.

Board of Elections staff are on hand to collect the data and input the information into computers for vote totals.

A thorough checklist is gone over carefully by election staff to make sure everything is in order.

Toward the end of election night Matt Snyder looks over election results from the 20 precints as votes were tallied December 2020

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The Board of Elections held some 16 board meetings during this election cycle. Here the board met on November 9 to review mail in ballots to see if they qualify.

The Board of Election's members are Michael Behrent - Chair, Marv Williamsen - Secretary, Eric Eller - Member, Nancy Owen - Member and Matt Walpole - Member

ith so many additional challenges for the 2020 Presidential Election, such as the major increase in the number of absentee ballots and the proper safety procedures required for COVID-19, the Watauga County Board of Elections met two and sometimes three nights a week in September and October. Traditionally there are 3 absentee by mail meetings, but this year there were 10

Board of Election Meetings board meetings because of the volume of those ballots. After the election, there have been another 6 meetings. Most of those meetings lasted at least two to three hours, and one such meeting lasted from 5 p.m. until midnight as board members approved absentee ballots and took on discussions about

the many memos sent out by the state board of elections. The meetings are attended by the members of the Watauga Board of Elections, Matt Snyder and members of his staff depending on the type of meeting, and the county attorney. "I appreciate their seriousness with which they take their resposibilities and their focus of doing things the right way," said Snyder. "The voters should appreciate that."

"All through the year, we are always doing registrations, either removing people that have moved or registering people that have moved in. I can't remember a downtime, but very rarely do we ever have a time when we have to look for something to do," Houck said. Donna and the rest of the staff were especially busy this year with a major increase in absentee ballots and the nu-

merous COVID-19 protocols required by the state board of elections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one has ever had to figure out how to run an election in the midst of a global pandemic. So many things had to adapt and change; from training, to election sites, to safety equipment. Many people had to be willing to come forward and risk their health and their family's health to enable voting," Houck said. "Even

with these unprecedented challenges, the board, election staff, and every single person who worked at a polling site did it. Many of our poll workers were new and had to learn a lot very quickly. When we work side by side, there is nothing we can't overcome together." Election specialist John Hill has worked at the board of elections for three years, and the majority of work involved

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December 2020

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The full-time staff at the Watauga County Board of Elections office is John Hill (Elections Specialist), Donna Houck (Deputy Director) and Matt Snyder (Director).

this year was making sure the equipment was functioning properly, as well as instituting the COVID-19 precautions to make everything safe for this election. Hill said he was proud that all of the poll workers wore their gloves, gowns, and masks as they were supposed to do. "They did such a beautiful job, and I'm so proud. We saw around 32,000 people coming in to vote, and to our knowledge, not one person has gotten sick as a result of the act of voting. That's a huge win for us and the people," Hill said. "We were very fortunate that the state gave us a lot of really good tools to facilitate this election." Each voting site was fogged with disinfectant to make sure the space was as clean as possible, including all of the voting precincts on the night before Election Day. John is retired from the Navy after serving as an engineer and nuclear repair officer. After the Navy, he went on to work as an engineer for Emerson Electric. After retiring from that job, Hill found yet another way to serve his country. "Being a career military officer, I knew nothing about this process. I thought they worked a couple of days a year. Being able to do this job gives you a purpose, and I enjoy the people I work with. They are so dedicated," said John. "Matt cares a lot about what he does, but he also takes the time to be a human being, 28

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December 2020

which is tough to do sometimes, especially when you are dealing with COVID and all the things that we are forced to deal with. Donna is his right hand and knows everybody and when people come in, they see people who care that they get their vote done correctly, and I am proud to be a part of that." Director Matt Snyder was born in Watauga County and grew up in Clemmons. He graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a degree in economics and began his first career working in the IT department at Sara Lee (now Hanes Brand) for four years. After that, Snyder made a big change and started working in the film industry. He worked on independent feature films and TV commercials around North Carolina for nearly eight years. He then moved to New York City in August of 2001, a month before the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. This led to his next career move, finding a way to serve and give back to the country. "That was probably my original impetus for looking at a different career field, being in New York City on 9/11, and thinking back to my brother being a veteran. My dad was a bronze star paratrooper in World War II, my uncle was a retired colonel in the Air Force, my grandmother was an Army nurse in World War I, and my grandfather was one of the few

voters in Watauga County than ever beofficers who served in World War I and to have them." Nancy Owen has been on the board fore with basically no problems was just World War II. They had always had a service background. My life had been pretty for five years and two presidential elec- amazing,” said Owen. “Matt maintains easy for me, so I thought I needed to find tions. She praised the staff as well for his composure through everything. He something more I could do as my civic their hard work to make this election doesn't let things bother him. The state sends out these memos; they duty," Matt said. bombard us daily with different That’s when the opportudirectives. You think you are gonity came about to come back ing down this line, and you have to Boone and serve the people. to make a U-turn because the Snyder took over the Director state has changed its mind. Matt of Elections position in July of takes it all in stride. He never lets 2015. Matt continues to receive anything bother him, he's as cool many positive reviews over his as a cucumber, and you have to six years in Boone. be under these stressful situa"I have been extremely imtions. We have the best candidate pressed with how well Matt for that job." was able to put together and While the work never comes train, during a pandemic, a Matt Snyder reports to the Board of Elections during a to an end at the board of elecgroup of poll workers, many of meeting held on November 13 at the County tions office, Matt and his staff whom had never done this in Administration Building in the Commissioners’ Board Room. can look back on the hundreds their lives. The entire electoral of hours put in to making this election process went extremely smoothly," said happen. “This election would not have been as safe and secure as possible. Each and board member Matt Walpole, who is the most recent appointee to the Wa- possible without Matt, Donna, John, every poll worker and early voting site tauga County Board of Elections. "We and their teams. The directions from worker can also take a minute and apprework well together. I think Matt has the state were coming in so quickly, and ciate everything they did, stepping up in done a wonderful job. Donna and there were so many different rules and a time of need and filling in for many seJohn did extraordinary work as well. regulations we had to follow because of nior citizens that simply did not feel safe Donna has been there several years, COVID. The rules changed daily, and enough in this era of COVID-19 to be and both she and John are intelligent they were coming in daily. That we were working in the public during this election and hardworking. We are really lucky able to adapt and able to have more season. It was a job well done. t

December 2020

High Country Magazine

Everyone Deserves To Eat Watauga County

Poverty Rate = 31.3% ( 2nd highest in N.C.)

U.S. Poverty Rate = 15.1% N.C. Poverty Rate = 16.8%

More than 42% of Watauga County residents qualify for food assistance

Hunger in Watauga County 41.4% school kids on free/ reduced lunch 1-in-4 children under 18 are food insecure 1-in-3 children from single parent households are food insecure

Food Pantries Across the Nation Work to Combat Food Insecurity Watauga County Food Pantries Deliver Over 50,000 Pounds of Food Monthly Story by Harley Nefe • Photos by Ken Ketchie

“I

want you to know that if it wasn’t for this pantry, we wouldn’t eat. I’m 76 and my husband’s 81, and every month we have to make decisions on what medicines or bills to pay for. God bless you. You’re the only reason we have food.” These were the exact words from a woman visiting the food pantry at the

Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina on Oct. 7. Watauga County has been designated the third poorest county in the state of North Carolina. Nearly 15% of Watauga County residents have incomes less than $10,000 annually. More than 42% of Watauga County residents qualify for food assistance.

“I tell people if you go two miles off King Street, two miles off Downtown West Jefferson, two miles off Downtown Banner Elk, you will see abject poverty. People just don’t want to look at it,” said Todd Carter, Director of Development for Hospitality House. “Our numbers here in Watauga County are actually higher than the state’s average on food

Cars line up to pick up their food boxes at the Hunger and Health Coalition. December 2020 lients used to be able to pick out their own food; however, food boxes are being packed now due to COVID-19.

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Watauga County Food Pantries Are Busy

Driver of the Second Harvest Food Bank truck brings in a pallet of food.

insecurity, so we have a bigger issue.” Across North Carolina, 1 in 5 children go to bed hungry. In Watauga County, 1 in 4 children do not get enough to eat on a regular basis. For children of single parents, that number is 1 in 3. Hospitality House is just one agency in the High Country that has a food pantry program to help individuals and families in difficult situations. Another

Hunger and Health Coalition volunteer wheels out a box of food for clients since they are not allowed to go inside due to COVID-19.

one is the Hunger and Health Coalition, which is located next to Hospitality House. Carter said people will ask him, ‘Are you duplicating services? Why don’t you partner together?’ “They don’t realize that we partner together on so much stuff, and the bottom line is there is so much hunger here. We need more food pantries, not less. We’re giving it out as fast as

Second Harvest truck full of food.

it comes in,” Carter said. “And it’s just been exacerbated extremely with COVID-19. The amount of new people that we have that have never been here before just skyrocketed.” Hospitality House and the Hunger and Health Coalition along with other local food pantries in the High Country such as Casting Bread, Greenway Baptist Church, Blowing Rock CARES and more have all been working toward the

As food is unloaded, volunteers work to put the food in its appropriate place. December 2020

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Living Wage in Watauga County Median Household Income in Watauga County = $39,443 U.S. Median Household Income = $55,322 N.C. Median Household Income = $48,256

Living Wage in Watauga County = $53,043 1 adult/2 kids = $27.41/hr • 1 adult/3 kids = $34.64/hr 2 adults (one works)/2 kids = $24.81/hr

Minimum Wage = $7.25/hr A loaded semi truck from Second Harvest Food Bank came to Hunger and Health Coalition where a number of other agencies, including Greenway Baptist Church and Casting Bread, also gathered to pick up their food.

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December 2020

1 full-time adult working at $7.25 = $15,080/yr 2 full-time adults working at $7.25 = $30,160/yr

Nearly 15% of Watauga County residents have incomes less than 10,000 annually same goal — to combat food insecurity. “We’re all very good about collaborating and seeing what each other’s strengths are and not duplicating,” said Elizabeth Young, Executive Director of Hunger and Health Coalition. However, now with COVID-19, food pantries have come across new challenges and opportunities that have brought the organizations even closer. “The unity of us all working together — we’re doing a lot of things together that these organizations have never done before, and I’m proud of that,” said Sam Garrett, Executive Director of Casting Bread. “I think we would all like to celebrate that.” This unity of working together and communicating has all been very intentional as Carter further emphasizes, “We have to do it together. It makes good sense. Why wouldn’t we?” Directors of the different food pantries had conversations with each other when COVID-19 struck to figure out how to adjust operations, as many components changed. “Obviously, we’re inventing everything as we go on,” Young said. Due to state mandates and city ordinances, food pantries have had to change to drive-thru services rather than having clients walk up and choose the food they want. Now, food pantry personnel deliver food boxes to clients’ cars, which has changed the relationships and dynamics with clients. “We've tried to be very creative and tried to not change the way food distribution looks to deter people,” said Tina Krause, Executive Director of Hospitality House. “Having to serve more on a to-go level has been quite an adjustment for us and trying to stay with our mission and care about people and show that care with food in a respectful way, but in a safe way with to-go.” Carter said that dignity is paramount to food pantries. “We want to provide dignity to our clients and have them come in to pick what they want to eat. It’s so simple. We all pick what we want to eat every single day,” Carter explained. “Now, they have to take what we give them. That’s atypical to how we all operate.” Another way COVID-19 has altered operations is with volunteers. Many food pantries around in the High Country had to rule out certain volunteers based on risk categories like having many clients with compromised immune systems and underly-

ing health conditions or the possibility of having to stop operations. “We’re extremely strict on safety protocols here because if one of us gets it, we shut down and can’t provide for our community,” Young said. Though COVID-19 has brought a lot of implications to food pantries in the High Country, it hasn’t all been negative. “Everybody seems to be focusing on the negative, the craziness of 2020, just how bad 2020 is, and we’re definitely trying to look at it from a different perspective,” Garrett said. A lot of older clients have shared stories that because of COVID-19, this is the first time in years that their kids or their grandkids have all gotten together and had dinner at their house. “Some of those stories have been awesome to hear and to realize people are evaluating what’s important; that’s always a positive regardless of Covid or not Covid, so family has been emphasized as important,” Garrett said. “Making sacrifices and doing things that you normally wouldn’t do to try to help your family or protect your family or “I think we have warm care for your family. Those are all some really positive things welcoming teams that I think have come out of where people would this.” Another positive aspect is the immediately feel loved community effort it takes to feed if they find themselves those in need. in a hard spot.” “The community over the past nine months has just been Elizabeth Young, phenomenal,” said Kathryn Executive Director of Scott, President of Blowing Rock Hunger and Health Coalition CARES. “People come to Blowing Rock and Boone, see what the need is, talk to people, and the next thing I know we are getting a check in the mail from somebody in Charlotte, WinstonSalem, Raleigh. We’ve been very fortunate to do what we have been doing because of other people stepping up.” It’s not just the food pantries working to combat food insecurity, community partners and businesses support them. Food pantries receive food to distribute from many different outlets. A lot of the food pantries are a part of the Feeding America food chain and get food from the Second Harvest Food Bank in Winston Salem. For every dollar raised, food pantries can purchase about $5 worth of food from them, and then they receive shipments every week. Food pantries will use that federallyfunded food and supplement it with food donated from local

Sam Garrett received donations of turkeys and hams for Thanksgiving. He drove a ruck to Nashville to pick up the food, and volunteers were waiting to unload the truck when he returned.

Affordable Housing

= $844 fair market monthly rent in Watauga County At the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, a worker must work 2.2 full-time jobs to afford rent In order to afford rent and utilities for a safe, modest two-bedroom apartment workers would need to earn $3,760 annually ($16.23/hour), 40 hours per week, all year long

December 2020

High Country Magazine

Food pantries such as Hospitality House, Hunger and Health Coalition and Casting Bread have made it their mission to combine resources and work together in the High Country to provide food to as many people as possible that are in need. Working together has become even more of a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured here are Todd Carter (Director of Development at Hospitality House), Tina Krause (Executive Director at Hospitality House), Sam Garrett (Executive Director at Casting Bread) and Elizabeth Young (Executive Director at Hunger and Health Coalition). grocery stores, restaurants, businesses and individuals. Something else that doesn’t go unnoticed among food pantries is the battle of the stigma of being ashamed or embarrassed about getting food from these organizations. Carter said he has people ask him all the time about what they can do to help. “The first thing you can do is look people in the eye and acknowledge their humanity because these are folks that have shame that they live with and the indignation of ‘I can’t even afford to feed my family,’” Carter said. “So, it starts with basic human eye contact. Don’t look away. Look them in the eye and acknowledge you’re a fellow human being. It starts right there.” Food pantry personnel are constantly trying to encourage the public to use their resources if they are in need for food. “We don’t have a food shortage

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problem in America; we have a logistics problem. We’ve got all the food in the world; we just need to figure out how to get it from the place it’s sitting to the people who need it,” Garrett said. “We

“We have seen many people who have never had to ask before; they’ve lost their jobs to the pandemic and some of them are just devastated having to come and ask for help and for food.” Jan Martin, Director of the Greenway Baptist Church Food Pantry

definitely want to communicate that at every chance we get. We are open; we have the capacity to give; we’ll figure out a way to get you food if you need it.”

December 2020

Cars lined up at the Hunger and Health Coalition for food distribution

Another stereotype food pantries often fight in the community is being called enablers. “I’ve been telling people that whatever you want to call it, we’re going to try to do it well; we’re going to try to do it for more people,” Garrett said. “I always get this, ‘Well aren’t there people scamming the system or taking advantage?’ What is the absolute worstcase scenario? The worst that is going to happen is that some scammer is going to have extra food on their shelf. OK.” Studies have shown that any system has a certain abuse percentage to it. For food systems, the abuse percentage is 8%-12%. “Are we going to focus on putting a barrier and things on those 8% or are we going to focus on doing it right for the 92%?” Carter asked. “It’s just a waste of resources trying to do something else.” Food pantry personnel understand

December 2020

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how difficult it can be for people to utilize the resources. “We have seen many people who have never had to ask before; they’ve lost their jobs to the pandemic and some of them are just devastated having to come and ask for help and for food,” said Jan Martin, Director of the Greenway Baptist Church Food Pantry. Pam Hobbs, who is a volunteer at the Greenway Baptist Food Pantry, said some people come by and say, ‘I needed to see you guys.’ Some clients live alone; therefore, during the pandemic, it’s been tougher, and food pantries tend to be their only connection to the outside world. “You don’t ever know somebody’s story; I have learned that that is the case. You don’t know what somebody is dealing with,” Hobbs said. She further said, she is viewing the pandemic as an opportunity to help others and being a part of the process. “It’s why we’re here. I think we all have extremely friendly teams that are welcoming and loving even in times of Covid, where we’re having distance and you can’t see facial expressions quite

as well,” Young said. “I think we have warm welcoming teams where people would immediately feel loved if they find themselves in a hard spot.” The food pantry industry is not only impactful for the clients, but it is also rewarding for the workers. A meaningful moment that happened to Krause took place at the Hos-

“I tell people if you go two miles off King Street, two miles off Downtown West Jefferson, two miles off Downtown Banner Elk, you will see abject poverty. People just don’t want to look at it." Todd Carter, Director of Development for Hospitality House

pitality House when they were serving dinner, and she decided to go through the line and grab a plate. “It was almost time for them to

close the line, and the lady said, ‘I’m sorry, we’re already out of ham.’ And I said, ‘That’s OK, I’ll just have a few vegetables,’ and so she put a couple of scoops on my plate. I turned to walk out with that plate, and as I was walking by somebody grabbed my sleeve and I turned and looked and this older lady was sitting there at the table and she held onto my sleeve, and she said, ‘Here, you can have half of mine. I got two pieces.’ And she reached to put the extra piece of meat on my plate, and I was like, ‘No, no, it’s OK. I don’t need it, it’s fine.’ But she said, ‘No, you didn’t get a serving. Let me give you half of mine,’” Krause said. “There was nothing I could do but accept that gift from somebody who was there because of their need. And she split what she had. She had no idea who I was, and that I didn’t really need that, but it was just one of those moments where you realize these are people that if they see a need, they are also reaching out. They’re reaching out to somebody else, one of their other neighbors that if they got enough, they are going to share it with somebody else.” t

Hunger and Health Coalition volunteers work to pack food boxes for their clients.

The Hunger and Health Coalition Helping Since 1982

he Hunger and Health Coalition is the High Country’s oldest and largest nonprofit food pantry. For the past 38 years, it has provided food assistance for vulnerable populations in Watauga County. “Largely our clients are caregivers, are working multiple jobs at once and are underemployed,” said Elizabeth Young, Executive Director of Hunger and Health Coalition. “So many in our community are just not getting paid a living wage.” The Hunger and Health Coalition serves roughly 10% of Watauga County’s population. 40% of the county is actually eligible for their services based on federal poverty guidelines. “Some people utilize our services for a couple of months until they land on their feet and get a better paying job, and some people are living in systemic and generational poverty and are with us for a longer time especially when facing mental illness or drug addiction,” Young said. The Hunger and Health Coalition has a food pantry program, which provides boxes of nutritionally balanced food on an emergency basis and on a more regular basis. Food boxes from the pantry have items varying depending on the types of foods that have been donated, but a typical box might contain a mix of canned fruits, canned vegetables, tomato products, soups, canned proteins (such as tuna or chicken), frozen meat, dairy, carbohydrates (such as pasta or rice) and breakfast items. To help keep the food pantry stocked, the Hunger and Health Coalition also

has a program called A Simple Gesture where people in the community can get involved and give food. A Simple Gesture is an ongoing canned food drive program where folks can donate when they go to the store. They can pick up one extra item for people in need and drop it in a bag that’s been given to them. Each week when they go grocery

shopping, they purchase one additional can or non-perishable item that will be placed in the bag. At the end of every two months, the Hunger and Health Coalition has volunteers that go and pick up those bags from the individuals’ doorsteps or the community drop off sites. “That’s a great no-touch way to get engaged through the holidays and beyond,” Young said. Another initiative the Hunger and Health Coalition has been working toward is developing a local food purchasing program. “We started an intentional food purchasing program about six years ago to keep money within our community because we know farmers are often struggling themselves,” Young said. “As Covid hit, people saw shortages of their favorite things in the grocery store, like flour and sugar. We saw the same shortages on a much grander scale through the sources that we order from, so being able to lean on that local food purchasing program has been essential for us, and it has really

helped us boost all of our healthy offerings and keep money in our community. This has been a major lifeline for us.” Early on in the pandemic, when the Hunger and Health Coalition placed an order from Second Harvest Food Bank, they received about 25% of that order fulfilled. “Thankfully we’re able to really draw on those relationships to bring in a lot more healthy food for our clients by purchasing very specifically local produce and regional produce,” Young said. “It helped us to continue to shift the needle in a stronger direction. One of the things that we hear again and again is that people want healthy produce. As we look to continue to provide greater health and wellness for our community, that’s certainly a priority of ours.” Due to the Hunger and Health Coalition being a nonprofit, they rely on donations and fundraising to have the facilities to serve others. Usually, their money is split between grants, events and donorship. However, because of COVID-19, events have disappeared since March. The Hunger and Health Coalition lost about $150,000 in events this year from cancellations. Therefore, they have been relying more heavily on donations from individuals in the community and grants to help make a difference. “To me, being able to make swift changes in the community is exhilarating,” Young said. “I feel like we are able to identify needs quickly or hear about other things that are going on, and being able to swiftly address them, to me, is something that is really exciting.”

December 2020

High Country Magazine

Hospitality House - Helping Rebuild Lives Since 1984 H

ospitality House is a regional non- House, which has been a huge expense. “We did more food boxes in the first profit transitional living facility Their food cost has gone up 176%. six months of Covid than we normally and crisis assistance resource center. “We can’t do family style and share do in a year,” Carter said. “On the onSince 1984 when Hospitality House a ketchup bottle and share a gallon of set, we were doing between 25-30 boxwas founded, the mission of the agency milk. We have to buy individual milks es a day, and it does tend to be a little has been to rebuild lives slower on the weekends, but and strengthen the comwe probably did around 600 munity by providing a safe, boxes a month.” nurturing, healthy environA huge percentage of ment in which individuals people utilizing Hospitaland families experiencing ity House’s food pantry are homelessness and povertypeople who are living on related crises are equipped fixed incomes and can’t afto become self-sufficient ford food. and productive. “The food services are Hospitality House’s prithere to help supplement mary services include houshouseholds so that they ing, crisis assistance and don’t have to make those hunger relief. choices and they can con“One of the goals when tinue to feed their families, we moved into this new even if they are coming in A volunteer at Hospitality House is pictured here with numerous location was to expand the and eating or coming in boxes of food that clients will soon arrive to pick up. food services, and within and getting to-go boxes — the first month we increased that’s a savings to them,” by 80%,” said Tina Krause, Executive and individual ketchups and individual Krause said. Director of Hospitality House. salts,” said Todd Carter, Director of DeOver the past 18 months, the numHospitality House has a two-part velopment for Hospitality House. “Just ber of seniors using the pantry has infood operation starting with its commu- the cost associated with trying to con- creased by 25%. nity kitchen, Bread of Life, which is the tinue to feed people during a pandemic “In America, 6 million seniors go only kitchen in the High Country serving and doing it the safest way possible has hungry every day,” Carter said. “And three meals a day, seven days a week, it’s just happening everywhere. 365 days a year. Meals are provided Then you have the strain it’s been to all residents and any community on families with their kids being members who have a need at no home and eating more and not havcharge and no questions asked. ing access to all the food at school, “Before Covid, we were seeing and it’s a serious issue.” a lot of people who would ride the A single parent living in Watauga bus over and eat, and you could tell County with two kids has to make they were on their lunch,” Krause $27.41 an hour to afford the living said. “A meal in Boone is $8, $9, wage. An adult with three kids has $10 a meal, and having those doors to make $34.64 an hour. open for a person to just walk in “You hear the stories — well and be able to eat and go out withtoday you’re going to eat macaout any questions was just really impor- definitely put a strain on us.” roni and cheese. We have to save the tant to us to help supplement.” The second part of the food opera- hotdogs for lunch tomorrow. We can’t Hospitality House is averaging serv- tion available to the public to provide have them both for dinner. That’s the ing more than 12,500 meals a month. hunger relief is Hospitality House’s stretching that folks have to do,” Carter Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, food pantry. said. “It’s inhumane that people should Hospitality House’s dining room is open Hospitality House brings in and go hungry in this country. And to see only to residents. Community members distributes between 30,000-40,000 kids and seniors, it’s heartbreaking. can drive up or walk up and receive their pounds of food every month. So, you do hear the stories, and it just food in takeout containers. Since March, the demand for food makes you want to work harder and do Everything is being served individu- out of the Hospitality House’s food whatever you can. I wish I could say it ally in disposables at the Hospitality pantry increased by 49%. wasn’t a reality for so many people.”

High Country Magazine

December 2020

Many volunteers who help at the food pantries were once clients themselves. This is true for Diann Miller, who is the Operations Manager for Casting Bread. She and her husband were doing well, then all of a sudden she got sick and her husband suffered a workplace injury. However, Casting Bread was there to help them. “Casting Bread took me under their wings, and they helped me with transportation back and forth to the doctors. And I said whenever I got better, I would give back, and I’ve been given this opportunity to give back for 12 years. God’s blessed us dearly,” Miller said.

Casting Bread Grows From an Idea at Faithbridge

asting Bread is a nonprofit located on the campus of FaithBridge United Methodist Church, which launched the organization in 2006. Their 15th anniversary will be next year. “FaithBridge had a lot of people come asking for food. Not asking for money, not asking for gas, not asking for rent. Asking for food,” said Sam Garrett, Executive Director of Casting Bread. Therefore, FaithBridge set up a little small food pantry, which was a plastic two-door cupboard from Home Depot that slowly turned into its own separate 501(c)3 entity. “One of the messages that I’m constantly begging for is I want to connect with people who are in a position to maybe identify people who have had some need and to let them know that we are here,” Garrett said. “We have the most generous guidelines to allow people to qualify to get a box every month or every week or every other week.” Casting Bread’s numbers are growing, as they have had more new people come and use their pantry every month than they ever had in the last five years. “I’m constantly telling folks about the need that is here and that’s real, that people need food,” Garrett said. “We have people that are adjunct

faculty at App State, we have people that are full-time teachers at the high school, we have people that have MBAs and post-master level degrees that life happens, and there’s a need. It might not be a need forever, but

for three months, for two months, we have people that have needs.” With the increase in the number of clients utilizing the food pantry, Casting Bread has also seen a 30%-40% increase in its volunteer base in the last six months. “We’ve got people who had never heard of Casting Bread before that are volunteering every week now and loving it,” Garrett said. “We definitely have a lot of volunteers that are faithful, and I believe they understand the fun and the joy that comes out of vol-

unteering. So, I think they will stick around long after Covid.” Apart from COVID-19 impacting the number of clients and volunteers Casting Bread has been seeing, they also had to shut down for two weeks out of precaution. “We had someone come by to say hi and to see if we needed help one day, and that night they were diagnosed with Covid,” Garrett said. Casting Bread had to get a third party to fumigate and sanitize. “We had to shut down for two weeks, which is potentially devastating for our clients,” Garrett said. “I was out here on those days that we weren’t open just apologizing to people saying, ‘I’m so sorry.’ Communication with our client base is very difficult because a lot of them aren’t on social media and a lot of them don’t go on our website; a lot of them don’t get emails. A lot of them are using AT&T track phones from Walmart, and every three months they don’t pay their bills and they get a new phone number. The ability to communicate that we were closed for two weeks, we had to sit out here and greet people and apologize. It shines a light on the demographic on who we’re working with.” Garrett further said that before opening again all of Casting Bread’s

December 2020

High Country Magazine

Casting Bread Ministries Located: 194 Aho Road, Blowing Rock Open for Pantry Food Box Pick-Up: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Website: https://www.increasefoodsecurity.org

Hunger and Health Coalition Located: 141 Health Center Drive, Suite C, Boone Open for Pantry Food Box Pick-Up: Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Website: https://www.hungerandhealthcoalition.com

Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina Located: 338 Brook Hollow Road, Boone Open for Pantry Food Box Pick-Up: 7 Days a Week from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

personnel were tested, and nobody had COVID-19. For operations to run smoothly, Casting Bread is always looking for donations. Out of their annual budget, 15%-20% comes from foundations or grants. 5% of the money comes from Corporate America, and the rest comes from individuals. Casting Bread has seen hundreds and hundreds of individuals that give different amounts like $15-$20 a month or $200 a year, which helps the organization. “We have some generous individuals,” Garrett said. “We ask people to give generously and joyously. We want people not to just write a check for some tax deduction, but we want people to know what we do, and we love people who come to volunteer and give out of an overflow of how they’ve been provided for.” Garrett further said, “We are encouraging people to give thanks and to look at the positive and just to stay positive. And even through the craziness of the election and the craziness of racial unrest and just the craziness that is 2020, we’re trying to flip the narrative and encourage people to be positive and to be thankful. There are so many things to be thankful for in our opinion.” t

Website: https://www.hosphouse.org

Greenway Baptist Church Located: 880 Greenway Road, Boone Open for Pantry Food Box Pick-Up: Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Website: https://www.greenwaybaptist.com

Blowing Rock Cares Located: 1218 Main Street, Blowing Rock Open for Pantry Food Box Pick-Up: Mondays from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Website: http://blowingrockcares.com/wordpress

The Many Helping Hands of Food Pantries Across Watauga County

There was only so much room in this edition of the High Country Magazine to feature the numerous food pantries First Baptist Church of Boone that are fighting hunger. Located: 375 W. King Street, Boone Blowing Rock CARES started in 2009 at the Blowing Rock School before transitioning to Rumple Memorial PresWebsite: http://www.boonefirstbaptist.org/ byterian Church. According to Blowing Rock CARES president Kathryn Scott, anywhere between 175 to 200 boxes of Feeding Avery Families food a week are given out in the community. Located: 508 Pineola Street, Newland “We try our best to take care of our clients and take care of any other organizations and families that have needs,” Food pick up on the first four Fridays of each month, Scott said. 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Appointments required. Greenway Baptist Church has a food pantry that serves Five community food pantries located outside of five approximately 60 families every week. The pantry started schools in Avery County as a mini-pantry in the gym before growing into its own Website: https://feedingaveryfamilies.org wing of the building. “We always seem to have enough volunteers to help out, and they’re great,” said Jan Martin, who is the Director of Reaching Avery Ministry the Greenway Baptist Church Food Pantry. “They do just Located: 147 New Vale Road, Newland aboutSusan anything I ask them to do. We have some that are A $4 Million Gift From McAshan always faithful in bringing a carload of food.” Website: https://www.ramsrack.com 40

High Country Magazine

December 2020

High Country Magazine

At Long Last 100,000 square foot Facility and a $35 Million Project

he lights are on, the gym floor the employees’ awareness of their misStory by Jan Todd • Photos by Ken Ketchie is shined, and the pool is filled sion by allowing daily witness to the with water — ready for Watauga County residents and users of the recreation center. visitors to begin enjoying the long-awaited Watauga CommuThe center — which is adjacent to the Town of Boone’s nity Recreation Center (WCRC), located on the corner of State Greenway Trails, the “Tot Lot” playground and Appalachian Farm Road and Martin Luther State University’s intramural King Jr. Street in Boone. and club sports fields — is The recreation center is planning additional outdoor a sight to behold: a 100,000 amenities including four tensquare foot facility featuring nis courts, a basketball court, a six-lane competition pool dedicated pickleball courts with a climbing wall, a leisure and a picnic shelter, all to be pool with a 20-foot slide, four ready in mid-2021. The proxmulti-use gym courts, a fitimity allows families and visiness center with weights and tors to experience a variety of exercise rooms, birthday parrecreational opportunities in ty rooms, fitness classrooms, all seasons. event space and an elevated Stephen Poulos, the direcjogging track. tor of Watauga County Parks The $35 million facility and Recreation, said the also encompasses Watauga WCRC is designed primarily County’s Parks and Recre- After decades of planning, construction on the 100,000 square foot for the local residents. “Apation offices — reinforcing palachian has a great facility Watauga Community Recreation Center began in October 2018.

Aquacise • Aquatics • Baseball • Basketball Camps • Dance • Fitness • Football • Lacrosse 42

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Pickleball • Senior Games • Soccer • Special Olympics • Swim Lessons • Tennis • Volleyball

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High Country Magazine

On the second floor of the rec center are free weights, spin bikes, treadmills and Keiser Pneumatic machines — offering a variety of options for fitness.

The self spotting weight training equipment allows a lifter to work out alone, safely without a human spotter.

Free weights, kettle balls, a stretching machine and punching bag provide training and fitness options for all ages. Equipment will be spaced to allow for distancing to meet Covid-19 regulations. 44

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December 2020

on campus, but it is just for their students and staff. The (Paul H. Broyhill) Wellness Center is excellent as well, particularly for rehab, therapy and personal training. The Watauga Rec Center is designed for families and everyone else in the county, plus tourists and visitors.” Poulos said the different recreation facilities in the area aren’t really in competition with one another but work together to promote healthy lifestyles for the community in different ways. “Twelve percent of the population exercises on a daily basis,” Poulos said. “Just twelve percent! Our goal is to get more people to exercise regularly. I’m a firm believer in quality of life, and exercise is important.” “Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, some people have adopted a healthier lifestyle, getting outside with their families. Some have lost weight, but others have gone the opposite direction,” he continued. The pandemic delayed the opening of the WCRC, which was completed in late May. At the time, North Carolina was in the “Safer at Home” Phase II of restrictions, and gyms were not allowed to open. “We needed two months to hire and train staff, so not knowing when we would be allowed to open was a challenge,” Poulos said. When the state moved to allow 30% capacity in gyms and exercise facilities, it was still not practical to open WCRC. Poulos and his staff used the extra time to work through the construction punch-list, alter layout of equipment and class scheduling to accommodate for social distancing at a targeted 50% capacity, and plan for cleaning and procedures necessary to keep everyone safe once they were able to open the doors. “When we open, patrons will be asked to log in and out at the front desk so that we’ll be able to do contact tracing, if necessary, and can monitor number of people in the classes and other areas. We’ve set up hand sanitizer stations and markings on the floor to encourage safe distancing,” Poulos explained. He and his staff consulted with the N.C. Parks and Recreation Association to share and learn about procedures and best practices.

The pool features a state-of-the-art system that manages pH levels, chlorine and saline in the pool, plus ultraviolet light to clean the water.

A long time coming

Though the wait during the pandemic has seemed long for those eager to use the new recreation center, some in the community have been waiting for decades. Poulos said the late Dr. Bill Horn, a pediatrician in for 30 years, worked tirelessly on the development of a recreation center for several years, primarily to create activities for the youth of Watauga County. His wife, Mary, shared some old papers about plans for the project, dated in the 1970’s. When Poulos was hired by Watauga Parks and Recreation in 1992, Deb Wynne, the previous director, told him the blue recreation building that housed the staff was “temporary,” phase one of a new facility to come. A little over ten years ago, efforts ramped up again. Dr. Scott St. Clair, a pediatrician at Blue Ridge Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, helped form High Country Recreation — a non-profit organization tasked to help develop a recreation infrastructure in the community. “We thought we needed to change the community conversation from the recreation center as a “needless expense” to a “critical community investment.” We worked hard to find out what the community wanted through surveys and numerous community town halls. The consensus that developed was a recreation center that was centrally located and connected to the existing recreation infrastructure of trails and fields,” St. Clair said. St. Clair said his committee looked at other N.C. communities similar in size to Watauga County, and found that only two of the 26 counties — one being Watauga — did not have an indoor recreation cen-

The competition pool, with starting blocks for swim meets, features a spectator area on the second floor above the pool.

The leisure pool has two water slides — including a 20-foot “crazy 8” slide. The pool will also be used for water aerobics and swim lessons.

The children’s play area in the indoor pool provides a place for younger children to splash and play in the water, no matter what the weather is outside. December 2020

High Country Magazine

Steven Poulos, the director of Watauga County Parks and Recreation, demonstrates the Keiser Pneumatic exercise machine. The system uses compressed air — instead of weights — to add or reduce resistance, and is designed for hundreds of different exercises.

ter. At that point, High County Recre- businesses and tourists. In sum, it will “The WCRC will be a source of ation began to talk about the need for make our community a healthier place pride for all citizens of Watauga Counthis type facility in every type forum to live.” ty,” Poulos said. they could find, St. Clair said. Poulos credited County Commission Economic impact “We emphasized the impact on the Chairman John Welch, the chairman of physical health of our citizens, The WCRC promises a posithe social well-being of our comtive economic impact in Watauga munity and the local economy,” County by providing extra jobs, he said. attracting tournaments and sports Realizing the decision would competitions, and by contributfall under the responsibility of ing to health savings for individucounty commissioners, High als and the community. Country Recreation held candiFor the first time, Watauga date forums for commissioner County will have a facility decandidates to talk about recresigned to host swim meets. The ation and their views on a new new competition pool is equipped community recreation center. with electronic starting blocks, WCRC will provide a place scoreboard, and audience viewfor the community to be active ing bleachers above the pool. “Up every month of the year, regarduntil this point, we’ve only had Steven Poulos and his staff are excited to have new offices at less of the weather, St. Clair said. the WCRC, “a source of pride for all citizens of Watauga County." a practice pool, without starting “It will give people in our comblocks,” Poulos said. “Our swimmunity an opportunity to improve their Watauga County Parks and Recreation mers couldn’t practice jumping from physical health. It will provide a space Commission Denny Norris, county starting blocks, and we weren’t able to to connect socially with people from all manager Deron Geouque and many host meets.” over the community, and it will stimu- others for having the “political will to WCRC is also designed to host baslate our economy as it attracts small make this happen.” ketball and volleyball tournaments, with 46

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

work, socialize, and relax. Attendees to tournaments at the WCRC will come from all over the region, with many staying in local hotels, eating at area restaurants, shopping and contributing to the local economy. Poulos said the number of new employees hired for the facility will be significant as well. “We’ll be hiring staff for the front desk, the childcare room, plus part-time swim instructors, lifeguards, fitness instructors. We’re going from an office open 8am-5pm on weekdays to one with extended hours daily, plus weekends and holidays. In the past, whenever the county offices were closed, we were closed. But with our new facility and programming, we’ll be open some holidays with special activities,” he said.

State of the art exercise

On the second floor above the gym is a track for walking and jogging. Six laps is approximately 1.1 mile.

spectator seating areas in the gym and curtains to separate the four full-sized multi-use courts. Basketball goals can be raised or lowered as needed, and the courts have lines painted for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. In the lobby of the WCRC, there is a concession stand that will be open during events, and vending machines available for refreshments every day. The lounge has ample seating and charging stations for phones and laptops, where patrons can

A healthy community contributes to the economy as health care needs and costs are reduced. To ensure a pleasant and beneficial experience for users of all age groups and physical conditions, Poulos and his staff researched fitness and cardio equipment options, traveling to other facilities in Charlotte and the region to try the machines, settling on the Keiser Pneumatic gym equipment. “We spent almost $300,000 on fitness equipment,” Poulos shared. Powered by air resistance instead of weights, the Keiser system is much quieter than iron-based machines and very versatile. Compressed air is used to add or reduce the resistance according to the user’s exercise needs. “One machine can facilitate 400 different exercises,” Poulos said. “We’ll have a video running that demonstrates some of the exercises, and staff to train new users on how to use the equipment.” Users can purchase a low-cost key reader to help them record workouts and track progress on their home computers. The machines provide instant feedback as well as they display number of repetitions and level of user effort during use. “The feedback makes you work harder and not be lazy when using the machines,” Poulos said. The workout area also features free weights, kettle balls for lifting, a punching bag, a lower back machine and a stretching machine. There is a cardio-machine designed for users in wheel-

The spacious lobby has charging stations for phones and computers, vending machines and a concession stand that will be open during events. Cubbies next to the gym provide a place for street shoes, so the gym floor will be protected from outside dirt. 48

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The Northeast side of the complex holds the parking lot and is where the main entrance to the facility is located. The big glass facade reveals the elevated water slide that is part of the children's play area as well as the leisure pool.

chairs, allowing arm use and passive exercise for the legs. Keron Poteat, a recreation specialist at Watauga Parks and Recreation and coordinator and coach for Special Olympics Watauga County, is particularly excited about the new opportunities for the Special Olympics athletes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of the adaptive cardio equipment will provide amazing instruments for fitness for our athletes. The Keiser Pneumatic circuit training equipment will offer them a safe,

December 2020

High Country Magazine

effective and easier method of weight training and fitness,” she said. “Our athletes will have new opportunities for competition, fitness and training in the new facility. Plus, there will be no more cancelling practices because of rain or cold; we can accomplish any type of training needed in the new facility,” she added. Poteat said Special Olympics North Carolina has ruled that local programs may not conduct any indoor training until 2021 due to COVID19, particularly since many of the athletes have special health considerations. “Once we get the program up and running again, we will begin a call for volunteers to help with Special Olympics again,” she said.

State of

materials and maximized controlled daylighting. “While the building is not LEED certified, the architects used best practices throughout for energy efficiency,” Poulos said. The pools use a saline chlorination system that presents a softer feel than a chlorinated pool and is more friendly to the environment. The competition pool will be maintained at 81 degrees, and the leisure pool — used for water aerobics and play — is 85-86 degrees. A state-of-the-art system manages pH levels, chlorine and saline, and uses ultraviolet light to further sanitize the water. Director Steven Poulos with Keron Poteat, the Recreation Specialist II, For the floors in the who runs programs for children, seniors, and special populations in Watauga County. They have worked together since the mid 1990s. pool rooms, radiant heat keeps the floors heated and comfortable so people can be barefooted even when it is cold outside. the art design

Poteat, who also oversees the Summer Adventure Camp, Event Space High Country Senior Games and other various programs for The WCRC isn’t limited to sports and exercise. A party children, seniors and special populations, said she is looking room adjacent to the pool provides space for birthday and forward to the “oohs and ahhs” when people set foot into the special occasion celebrations. The room will also be used for new WCRC. “Our fitness and aquatic center are simply going to blow arts and crafts, yoga and meeting space. The gyms can be rented for other large events. WCRC has people’s minds! Sometimes I have to pinch myself and ask if a cover for the floors so organizations can use the facility for this is really real,” said Poteat, who has been with the departdinners or other functions, while protecting the floors. ment for 25 years. Meeting rooms serve as multi-functional space for exerA spokesperson from Clark Nexsen, the architectural decise and yoga classes, clinics, and community gatherings. sign firm for the project, said, “From the onset and with the The staff is excited to share new, as well as familiar programsupport of Watauga County, we envisioned a high performing ming to the public. “With the project design with specific vast array of programming, objectives and goals. Using there is something for everyan Integrated design proone,” said Poteat. cess, we used data to sup“After so many years in port decisions about builddiscussion, it feels surreal to ing systems that support stand in the recreation cenlong term cost savings for ter,” Poteat shared. “We see the county as well as create so many dreams and hopes beautiful environments for realized. Many folks who recreation.” were instrumental along this Their approach adjourney are no longer with This photo shows the old swimming pool building as well as the dressed environmental imus. I wish they could see the recreation center offices right behind the pool complex, all of which pact, resilience and considfruits of their labor. As a dehave now been torn down. Steve jokes that when he was first hired ered the human experience. partment, we are stoked to in 1992, then director Deb Wynne told him the metal building was In the design, they incorpotemporary and new offices were on their way. Well, 29 years later be able to finally open the rated high recycled content Steven Poulos finally has his new office. doors to the community.” t materials, locally sourced 50

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

Ethan Greene

A Young Pastor with an “Old Soul” and a Powerful Message By Sherrie Norris

than Greene wants his life to count for Jesus. Plain and sim- side of Washington, DC. “I am also just as excited for what is in ple. “I want people to know that there is a God and that He store for our younger brothers, Jeremy, Isaiah and Joshua. Each of them has great strengths and I am blessed to be their brother is real and will be real to them if they will let Him be.” and to watch them as they grow. I know I am Greene doesn’t want to be known for what biased, but I have the best brothers.” he might say or not say in an interview — but The Greene brothers have been (and the he wants to be known by his life and actions younger ones continue to be) homeschooled; — “And, that I believe and live by the Bible — they have lived on a farm, kept cattle, and and through my life and sermons, I will point Ethan had a horse. “We lived on one side of as many people to Jesus as possible.” the farm and my paternal grandparents lived That’s a pretty tall order for any minister, on the other.” but given the fact that Greene is 23 years of He recalls, on many summer days, he would age, it’s pretty amazing, to say the least. walk the distance between the two homes. As pastor at Victory Baptist Church in Av“The walk was close to a mile each way, ery County, the Boone native is making an imwith some beautiful views along the way,” he pact far and wide, not only through his church shared. “Often, I would stop and admire the and community, but also through an annual views, which fueled my imagination. I dayyouth rally that he coordinates each spring in dreamed of what I would be when I grew up Cove Creek. — under the branches of the same tree that Possessing a deep Biblical knowledge and my grandpa and my dad did when they were insight, usually associated with older ministers growing up.” who have been around a few years, Greene The idea of ministry was a playful idea knew early in life that he would not only folmore than a serious thought, he admitted. “I low Jesus, but that he would serve Him in a wanted to be like dad, my hero, but I never special way. took the idea of actual ministry serious.” The eldest of five sons of local pastor MiOn occasion, Ethan joined his dad at his chael Greene and his wife, Cheryl, and now “prayer place.” a married man himself, Ethan grew up with “Dad had several prayer places on the farm, values instilled in his life from birth. He has but one, in particular, had views of the valleys much to say about those formative years that below and the mountains off into other states.” helped pave the way for his future. His mother, too, had her own prayer spot. “I wouldn’t trade my home life growing up for anything,” he said. “We weren’t a perfect Following in the footsteps of his “Not on top of a mountain, but inside our father, Ethan Greene home.” family, but everyone loved each other.” was preparing early for life Greene recalled listening to both of his parHe points to two major elements upon in the ministry. ents pray — “And it was as natural as if they which his parents built their home and family: were talking to their best friend or close rela“One was God and the second was a love for tive,” he described. “I would sometimes hear dad address God each other.” Michael Greene is the pastor at Bibleway Baptist Church in from his mountaintop prayer spot as the creator of the universe. Boone, and has been for the last 24 years, accepting that role one It was an awesome thought that someone could actually talk to and know the God who made the earth.” month before Ethan was born. Greene said he could “use up this whole article” talking “My mother is an extraordinary woman,” Ethan described. “When people would remark how difficult it must be to raise five about his parents, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and boys, she would reply, ‘It’s not a difficulty, it’s a blessing!’ She and cousins — because they all made a “wonderful impression” on dad made each of us feel that we were important — and that God him and his life. “I grew up being taught the importance and value of hard had a special plan for each of our lives.” Ethan’s brother, Andrew, next in line, lives and works out- work,” he said. “There was always a chore to do on the farm or 52

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A once shy Ethan Greene overcame many obstacles to be able to stand before an altar to deliver the word of God. in the house.” When he got his driver’s license, he went to work for a man who he now has the privilege of pastoring. “He owned a landscape business and he trusted me to watch and work on the mulch lot. I enjoyed the work and more than that, I enjoyed the people I got to meet.” From there, Greene started to pick up side jobs mowing yards, which grew into a small business that he still has today — along with being a full-time pastor. “I don’t see my yards so much as work, as much as I do a hobby that lets me get outside and clear my mind,” he said. “I don’t have a specific hobby, although my wife would argue it was eating — but anything relating to the outdoors I find enjoyable.” And speaking of that precious wife. “I met her at a youth rally I was hosting. Her brother was my piano player. I found it hard to concentrate on moderating a meeting, though, when I all I could see was the green eyes of a girl named Cathryn.” That night, he got her phone number, and after talking to her for several weeks, he asked her to be his girlfriend. “We dated from December 2015 until we got married on June 10, 2017,” he said. “ I love her more today than I ever dreamed I could when I said ‘I do’.” A piece of advice that Greene was given on his wedding day — and something that he won’t soon, if ever forget: “The ‘I do’ isn’t a one-time thing. You repeat it and live it and keep saying it. Remind yourself of the promise yowu made to your spouse on that very special day.”

He Owes it All to Jesus

All the blessings in his life, Greene said, “Every single one of them — I owe to Jesus.” When he was 8, he was introduced to Christ in a personal way. “It was on a Thursday night, April 8,

Photo by Tara Diamond

2004, to be exact, right before Easter Sunday,” he shared. “Easter was on the 11th that year and Mom had just finished reading to me the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. I had heard the story before — of Jesus being born in a Bethlehem barn inside of a crib filled with hay, living a perfect life and then being nailed to a cross, dying, being placed in a tomb, and three days after His death, miraculously getting back up, just as alive as though He had never died, and after being seen and verified by earthly witnesses, He went back to heaven.” But something about that time during the story, Greene said, “I could picture Jesus hanging on the cross, beaten and hurting, about to die and realizing that He was doing that because He loved me and wanted to give me a home in heaven one day with Him.” In the bedroom floor, he knelt down and asked Jesus to forgive him for his sins.

“I trusted Jesus to be my personal Savior, and at that very moment He forgave me for my sins, past, present and future, and gave me a peace and joy that I have never got over. Jesus changed my life! What He did for me, He can do for anyone!”

His Path to the Ministry

From that point on, Greene was anxious to share his faith with anyone who would listen. “On Friday, after receiving Christ into my heart on Thursday, our church was having a men’s prayer meeting. I was so excited to tell the men that I had gotten saved — but the most amazing part was when we started praying, I felt in my heart that now when I prayed, God was actually listening to me!” While traveling with his dad to meetings where he was preaching, the two talked about many things along the way.

December 2020

High Country Magazine

When COVID Calls — Plan Ahead! We must be creative, not complacent in carrying out our Commission

ur church has been proactive, but cautious since the beginning of COVID, stated Pastor Ethan Greene. “We had been inside of our newly renovated sanctuary for only a couple of weeks before we had to make a decision on how we conduct weekly church services — while keeping our members and visiting guests safe.” So far, the church has been able to maintain consistent gatherings by purchasing, at the of COVID onset, an FM transmitter to allow people to remain in their vehicles and hear the service broadcast live from their radio. “This allowed people to gather, but still be separate and safe,” Greene said. “We actually watched our Sunday attendance increase during COVID, because of our ‘parking lot church,” he added, describing it as approach that many other churches have also discovered. “I noticed that, even though people couldn’t sit together in church, parking beside each other was an acceptable alternative,” he shared. “People desire to be together, and this was our way of allowing this to happen ,while making sure everyone remained as safe as possible.” At the same time, the church also converted its fellowship hall into a food pantry to serve the community, and distributed groceries to families in need. “We sent postcards of encouragement to every mailing address in our church’s zip code and established a free daily text devotional for anyone who will text Victory to 828.383.9979,” Greene shared. “This free text will continue through the end of this year. We discovered that since we were doing less, in terms of physical outreach, we could increase our financial giving to our missionaries here in America and around the globe.” That effort alone has resulted in a record year of giving for their missions program. “We praise the Lord for all of His blessings!” Greene is quick to say that the Lord has been very gracious to Victory Baptist Church. “I am so thankful for all that God 54

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December 2020

Photo by Tara Diamond

has allowed us to do for Him.” While the church has returned to holding in-person services again, it still provides the option for people to remain in their vehicles and listen to the service on their radios. “Something I have learned during COVID is that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all approach, Greene described. “Every pastor and church must do what is best for them and their safety, while still working to fulfill the Great Commission.” He further Photo by Tara Diamond describes pastors and churches of the High Country as incredible. “All of us in the High Country, including pastors and churches across the nation and around the world, are dealing with a pandemic that we still know very little about. We must pray and be there to encourage one another, but let’s not forget that there isn’t a pandemic clause to the Great Commission which Jesus gave to His Church. We must be creative, not complacent in carrying out the Commission that Christ has given to His Church. People still need the Lord today, and perhaps now more than ever they are searching for the truth.”

“Many times, my dad would remind me of the importance of finding out what God wanted from me,” Greene recalled. “He never pushed ‘the call,’ or encouraged me to consider the ministry. He wanted what God wanted for my life — and I appreciate that very much.” When Greene was 9, he said, God put a love in his heart for people — one that he hasn’t been able to since shake. “I would cry over complete strangers, because I wasn’t sure if they knew Jesus,” he shared. “I would stuff my pockets full of gospel tracts and pass them out to whoever would take them. Even then, it was becoming clear that the only way for me to satisfy what was in my heart was to tell as many people as I could about the Lord.” It seemed like ministry was in his future, even then, he said. “But, there were several problems — or at least they seemed like problems to me. I was too young, I was super shy — and even though my dad was my hero — I didn’t want to spend my life in the ministry. I shrugged off the thought of preaching, every time it entered my mind.” Beginning his teenage years, Greene said, he was engaged in all sorts of activities and spent a lot of time with his friends, fishing and hanging out. “But it was always in the back of my mind, that God might want to call me into the ministry,” he said. “The thought of preaching scared me.” One winter Sunday when his dad had to call off church because of inclement weather, he asked Ethan to teach a Bible lesson to the family. “I was so scared. And after a lengthy five minutes, I sat back down. I told the Lord that if I was too nervous to teach a Bible lesson to my family, there was no way I could preach to strangers.” He remembers becoming so miserable though, that finally, in the early part of May, 2010, at the age of 14, he climbed a hill on the family farm — with a shovel in one hand and a Bible in the other. “When I found what I thought was a good spot, I used the shovel to level the ground, gathered some rocks, stacked them on top of each other and laid my Bible open. I said, ‘God, if you’re as real as this Bible says you are, and if you have the power to create the heavens and the earth as the Bible says you have, then I want to know you in a real and powerful way, and if that means that I preach just to get peace again in my heart, and if preaching is how I can know you better, then I’m willing.’” On the last Sunday of May, his dad had scheduled a youth meeting for that afternoon. “Cody Shew, a semi-professional bull rider was preaching that night on a message called ‘Divine Possibilities,’ Greene shared. “In the message, he mentioned that God could do more with your life than you could ever dream of doing yourself. All you had to do was let go and give it to God.” That Sunday evening, May 30, 2010, Greene surrendered his life to serve Christ. “Most people are willing to give Jesus their heart, but very few ever give Him their life,” he explained. “I told the Lord at the altar that night that I didn’t know how to preach, but if I made a fool of myself trying — if that’s what God wanted — I would gladly do it for Him.” Outside of salvation, answering the call of God for his

As pastor at Victory Baptist Church near Newland, Ethan Greene preaches to a packed house nearly every Sunday, having seen weekly attendance surge since he came two years ago.

Cathryn and Ethan Greene stand side-by-side in marriage and ministry. Photo by Kim Greene Scott/Timeless Treazures Photography December 2020

High Country Magazine

Backing the Blue Hundreds Attend Rally at Bibleway Baptist Church July 18

ack in the summer Greene was honored to assist his father, Pastor Michael Greene of Bibleway Baptist Church in Boone, with Back the Blue Rallies that were held in Boone, Charlotte and Raleigh. “This was not a protest of a group or organization, but a gesture of support for our men and women in uniform who risk their life to protect and serve us,” Greene explained. “Are their corrupt officers? Sure, just as there are corrupt people in any job profession. But, I’m afraid that the few exceptions have overshadowed the vast majority of fellow human beings who put on the uniform and assume the risk that they will face during the day or throughout the night to protect us. They understand that they might not come back home alive. Every call that comes in brings with it, its own level of uncertainty. The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers wear their uniform not for the paycheck, but for the protection of our communities.” The only goal Greene and his fellow organizers wanted to achieve through these rallies was to let law enforcement know that they are still praying for them — and that they continue backing the blue. “I will not let the despicable actions of Derek Chauvin, the officer involved in George Floyd’s horrendous death, as shameful as it was, diminish my overall support for our officers,” Greene stated. “I grew up with people who are now deputies, police and highway patrol officers. Race was never an issue with any one of them. They were — and still are — color blind. They condemn the actions of Derick Chauvin as much as anyone else. Their goal is to serve and protect. If we want something different from our officers, then we should contact our politicians who pass and enact the laws that law enforcement are expected to enforce.” He continued, “Officers are not above the law, they just enforce the law. If they break the law, they should face the penalty of the law just as anyone else would. Every officer I know would agree with this. The rallies were met with great enthusiasm by most and minimal opposition by a few.”

Hundreds of folks attend the Saturday afternoon rally. 56

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December 2020

Pastor Michael Greene of Bibleway Baptist Church speaks at the Back the Blue Rally

Ethan Greene sought to let law enforcement know that they are still praying for them — and that they continue backing the blue.

life was the best thing to happen to him, he said. “And because of the call, I met my wife,” he said with a smile. “I owe everything good in my life to Jesus. I tell people all the time that the will of God is different for everyone. The will of God might be for someone to be a welder, a lawyer, a nurse or doctor. For me, it was to be a preacher. Whatever the will of God is, there is nothing like knowing what it is for your life — and then doing it!” Greene’s wife, the former Cathryn Clark, was raised in Granite Falls and has worked at Samaritans Purse. Having always wanted to be a hair stylist, she recently completed cosmetology school and currently works at a salon in Boone. “She loves it, and people love the job she does,” Greene said. “She knew I was a preacher before we started dating, so she knew what she was getting,” he said with a chuckle. “But, I’m not sure she knew what all she was signing up for.” The Greene family, from left to right: Isaiah, Cathryn and Ethan, Before their marriage, the couple had in-depth discussions of the affects of ministry on a marriage and on a fam- parents Michael and Cheryl, Joshua, Andrew and Jeremy. Photo by Kim Greene Scott/Timeless Treazures Photography ily, Greene said. “We talked about the pros and cons. These conversations never fazed her.” watched how Cathryn has handled the pressures of life in the He continued, “One Wednesday evening, Cathryn and I pulled into the parking lot of a church where I was scheduled to ministry. She is right there with me. She likes to say that she is my preach that night and I asked her a question. She knew that I had cheerleader. She certainly is! She can be brutally honest with me, previously assisted a pastor in Boston, Mass. several years prior, but she is always full of compassion. Outside of trusting Christ to so before we walked into church I asked her, just as serious as I be my Savior, nothing has changed my life any more than being could be: ‘Cathryn, if God told me to move to Boston to pastor, married to Cathryn.” Before he had his driver’s license, he would have to ask would you be alright going with me?’ Without batting an eye, her immediate response was: “Ethan, if you tell me that God wants for rides to get from church to church “Either from my mom, you to preach in Boston, or somewhere else around the world, (not dad, because he was busy preaching himself), grandparents I’ll follow you wherever.’ I’m not pastoring in Boston, but I have or older friends. I never claimed to be an evangelist, although

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High Country Magazine

While he has no regrets that he gave his I was traveling quite a bit and doing the tain country twang that I loved from the start — I had never heard anything like life to Jesus at such an early age, he said, duties of one.” Greene was 16, he said, when God put that before. I consider him one of my best “There are challenges that I face, but no friends and like a brother I never had. We matter what age you are, trials are going to pastoring in his heart. “I started praying for the church I talk several times a week. He’s so kind and come. I read recently where only about 15 was to pastor at 16, even though it would he listens. He has so much wisdom, you percent of the pastors in America now are be five years before God answered that just wouldn’t expect that from a man so under the age of 40. I consider myself very prayer,” he said. “Around the same time young. I’m 28 and I look up to him. God is blessed to be a part of the percentage.” Jesus outweighs all of the negathat God was dealing with my heart tives, Greene stressed. “If I had a to preach, I met a man who quesmission, it would be to build people’s tioned me about my direction in confidence in the Bible and to point life. After I told him I was already as many people to Christ as possible. involved in ministry work, he asked People aren’t going to respond to if I felt like I was missing out on the Christ if they don’t believe, and they things that most my age would be inaren’t going to believe without the terested in?” Bible. Romans 10:17 says: “So then Greene said he remembered a faith cometh by hearing, and hearing song that mentioned how Christians by the word of God.” do, in fact, miss out. “The song imPeople have often asked Greene plies that Christians have missed out what version of the Bible he uses — on the heartaches and sorrows of sin. or would recommend. “My reply is That was my reply.” the King James Bible, no matter what Greene said he will always be apage or background. I have heard preciative to all the men who opened the arguments both for and against their pulpits to him when he was just it, and my personal choice and congetting started. viction is to stay with it. I have not “They trusted me and loved on found a reason not to trust it. It’s me,” he said. “ I am forever indebted been reliable and powerful and if it to them. I have often been called an ‘old soul,’ and I suppose that is parA young Ethan Greene being baptized by his isn’t broke, in my estimation, then there’s nothing to fix.” tially true. But what can you expect father, the Rev. Michael Greene. Greene said he has been told that from a teenager following around and listening in to conversations of men using him in a mighty way. His influence is he would never see a church or youth program grow if he held onto that version of who are more than twice his age?” on the small end of something big.” Derrick Wilson, pastor for the last 20 the Bible. “I was told it was too hard to read or years at Timbered Ridge Baptist Church Walking the Walk After Greene started in the ministry, near the Bethel Community, is also a dear understand. But, they told me that too late. I was 8 when I read through my Bible, the one of his spiritual heroes became a man friend and mentor to Greene. “I’ve known him a long time, and as a King James Bible, for the first time, and I who had died five years before he started preaching: Adrian Rogers with Love Worth good friend to his daddy, I watched him had no problem with it. Once I finished, grow up,” Wilson said. “There’s not a fin- I read through it again, and I have read Finding Ministries. “Outside of my dad, his recorded ser- er young man in this country than Ethan through it several times since. I have friends mons did as much to bolster my faith in Greene. He started helping me preach who disagree with me on this issue, and the Word of God as anyone else,” he said. when he was about 15, right after he an- that’s all right. I have made my choice.” Why is he so convinced? “Since I answered the call into the min- nounced his calling to preach. He’s sure “I believe the King James Bible, written istry, God had blessed me with many friends been a blessing to me and Timbered Ridge. in the ministry, and not just older men, but Anytime I needed to be gone for some rea- in the old English language, gives a very thorough, in-depth and beautiful picture many who are around my own age, who I son, he would be there to fill in for me.” Wilson said he was blessed to help in of Christ,” he said. “The book does a magcan call or meet up for fellowship.” One of those friends, Corey Enge- Greene’s ordination service, and at his nificent job painting a picture of Jesus to bretson, pastor of Floyd Baptist Church wedding. “The Lord is really using that its readers. That’s what I’m looking for, in Eden, shared: “Ethan is a man of great young man. I think the world of him and to make much of Jesus, and that’s exactly what it does.” character who loves the Lord and has a his sweet wife.” Wilson said Greene also helps him mind and wisdom way above his years. Who he is behind the pulpit is who he is with services at Deerfield Ridge Assisted God Answered His Living in Boone on the third Sunday of behind closed doors.” Prayer to Pastor The two met several years ago when every month. In January, 2017 God answered Greene is thankful for his friends, he Greene’s prayer to pastor a church. “After Greene was speaking in a church of a mutual pastor friend and have gotten to said, but admitted that ministry can still be serving as interim at a few other churches, know each other well. “He’s got a moun- “a lonely thing.” and then coming to Victory Baptist Church 58

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to also serve in an interim position, I was voted in unanimously to be their pastor.” He can’t describe the emotions he felt that day, Greene said, “Except by saying it was a mixture of both absolute fear and overwhelming joy.” He was 21, he and Cathryn had been married for six months, and he was going to be the second pastor in the church’s almost 40-year history. “Preacher James Beaver was 91, and he and his wife, before she passed away, had been married more than 50 years. What a contrast!” he said. “The church had started in a house basement and then moved around to occupy space in a greenhouse once, and a burned-out trailer another time, before ultimately buying an old general store on Squirrel Creek Road,” he described. “As the church grew, they added a main seating area to the back of the store front and that was their church. Preacher Beaver, as we call him, is still an encouragement to me. He’s not in the best of health and isn’t able to attend church much anymore. I will go and see him, and each time I do, I try to make it clear how grateful I am to him for his faithful leadership all those years. I feel like I’m reaping benefits in fields he sowed in for most of his ministry.” When Greene got the call to fill in, the congregation was averaging 35 to 40 in attendance on Sunday mornings, and most of those were older members. “But, what I saw in that group of believers was a desire to see God do something big and to use them to reach others in their community,” Greene said. “Not a one of them, to my knowledge, believed that God was finished with their church. I laid out a vision for the future and they jumped right on board. After they voted me in, we went straight to work.” Change was a big part of the process, he recalled. “There was a change in leadership, a change in the service structure, a change with just about everything — except with the Word of God and our music. We are still preaching from the King James Bible and we still have a conservative tone to our music. In two years, we have watched God, not me or my ministry, but God grow His church in rural Avery County from 40 to a consistent 100 plus congregants on Sunday mornings.” To make additional space, the church recently remodeled its sanctuary, which increased seating capacity by more than 50 seats. “On our first Sunday back in the building, we had 153 in attendance,” Greene shared. “I remember back to what my wife’s former pastor had told me once: ‘If you will be faithful to preach the Word, Christ will build His Church.’ That’s been our philosophy. We preach unapologetically that the Bible is a book of absolute truth and not situational ethics. It has the power to change anyone’s life who will believe and obey it. It may be contrary to today’s society and culture, but if God said it, that settles it

Newlyweds Ethan and Cathryn Greene share a love for the Lord, for each other and their ministry. “Outside of trusting Christ to be my Savior, nothing has changed my life any more than being married to Cathryn,” said Greene.

Cathryn and Ethan Greene take a stand for life from Boone to Washington, DC. December 2020

High Country Magazine

for me, whether I believe it or not!” David Cooke, deacon at Victory Baptist Church, had this to say about his young pastor: “He’s the most advanced in preaching God’s word of any young man that I’ve ever heard. We’ve been able to watch him grow since he’s been here and it’s not like anything we’ve ever seen before.” Cooke said the church thought Greene would be a great minister for the youth — “And he loves the youth, but what he’s doing for our older adults is unbelievable. God is using this young man in a special way. There’s not many like him. We love him.” Cooke said the church has really grown

since Greene came as its pastor — even during the recent period of renovation, attendance was growing with services in the fellowship hall. What makes him stand out, we asked Cooke? “He’s committed to God.” It bothers Greene, he said, to see our nation turning its back on God. “In God we Trust is our motto and on the principles of the Word of God we have stood and been blessed by God for it, but if we don’t get back to taking a stand on the scriptures again — instead of apologizing and trying to reinterpret what the Bible says — we are going to find ourselves in a bad place, nationally, much quicker than

we had imagined possible. “ Greene refers to the following scripture, found in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” In May, Greene celebrated 10 years in the ministry. “If God will help me, I plan on doing the same thing for the next 10 years and however long I have on earth — believing the Bible and preaching Jesus! I told my wife that I hope one day, at the end of my life, people can simply say that I was a man who believed and lived by the Bible.” t

Victory’s Response to COVID

hat do you do when COVID voided most of your calAlready established are hiking trails through nearly 50 endar for 2020? According to Pastor Ethan Greene, acres of forest and a beautiful mountain stream runs along you just need to start planning for 2021 — “When hope- the backside of the property.” fully, the virus will be under control.” If not, then, he said, Immediate plans include widening the existing road that plan for 2022. reaches the cleared fields on top of the property where you What has helped to keep Greene from getting discour- can see Mt. Mitchell in the distance by looking in one direcaged in this very unusual and uncertain year? “ To remember tion, and Grandfather Mountain by looking in the other, that God is absolute control.” Greene shared. Also, electricity and water to the top of the In all of the planning at the church, Greene said, it’s most mountain should be available by the end of 2021. important to make sure that the gospel takes center stage — “Our prayer and hope is to already be holding evange“instead of a backseat in all of our events and activities.” listic meetings and youth outreach events on the mountain Furthermore, the biggest by next summer,” Greene added. news of 2020 for Victory Bap“This is truly an endeavor of tist Church, Greene emphasized, faith, but God is already proving isn’t COVID, but rather, the purto be more than able to provide chase of land in Avery County for for the needs of His children.” the future home of Camp Victory In addition to the scriptures, and a Christian Retreat. Greene said, the following quote “What started out as a vision by the late Hudson Taylor, a misfor a place to which we could sionary and founder of the China bring children and teenagers to Inland Mission, has been a great tell them about Jesus right here encouragement to him throughin the High Country, has turned out this whole process. It reads, into a reality,” he said. “We have “God’s work done in God’s way watched God prove Himself to will never lack God’s supply.” be not only capable, but willing “I believe that to be 100 perto make the impossible, possible Earlier this year, the Church purchased 81 acres of land. cent true!” Greene surmised. “I (Matthew 19:26).” am both humbled and amazed by Earlier this year, Victory Baptist Church voted to pur- the generosity of not only Victory, but also by others outside chase 81 acres of land for the purpose of dedicating it to of our church who see the need and believe in the vision that God — and for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ, we have to reach others for Christ.” Greene explained. Greene expressed sincere thanks to the growing list of “Our intentions include, but are not limited to, establish- Camp Victory ministry partners. ing a summer Christian youth camp, and erecting cabins for “The only real hope for our country is Christ, and our out of town pastors, missionaries and Christian workers to young people need Jesus more than anything else!” stay free of charge, so they can take a break from the presFor more information on Camp Victory, future plans sures of ministry and relax in the beautiful mountains of or to see progress reports, visit www.victorybaptistnewland. Western NC.” com and click on the Camp Victory page. 60

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High Country Magazine

MAIN STREET 1888 Museum

Park Benches & New Trees

Library

Gazebo Town Hall

Bathrooms The New Playground

Volleyball Court

Police Dept. Parking Lot

Basketball Courts Tennis Courts

Police Dept. Building 62

High Country Magazine

Horse Shoe Pits

December 2020

BLOWING ROCK'S

Pickleball Courts

Memorial Park

Blowing Rock’s Crown Jewel

Gets A Facelift Story by Nathan Ham and Photos by Ken Ketchie

ake a moment to think back to some of your favorite childhood memories. Everyone probably has at least one memory of time spent at a playground at a school or a local park, swinging high into the sky or hanging on the monkey bars without a care in the world. Blowing Rock native Sam Glover remembered back to the days of living within walking distance of Main Street in Blowing Rock, just behind the Presbyterian Church. Each day, he and his friends would go to school, then walk to Memorial Park after school, maybe getting some candy or swinging by Sonny’s Grill for a bite to eat. Glover also recalled the days during the summer when there wasn’t school and he and his friends would slide down one of the climbing poles at the playground at the same time that the fire department sounded its whistle at noon each day. Memorial Park has changed some since Glover’s childhood, and the latest prized project at the park recently reached its completion point. The brand new playground opened on September 4 with one of the largest renovations the park has gone through since it was constructed. An estimated $600,000 was spent on the project with half the cost coming from the Town of Blowing Rock and

the other half from the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority. “The Blowing Rock TDA Board of Directors was happy to contribute funds toward the playground renovation project,” said Tracy Brown, Blowing Rock TDA Executive Director. “Part of our goal at the TDA is to provide funding

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High Country Magazine

The new playground at Memorial Park in Blowing Rock features brand new equipment and this poured-in-place rubber mat that allows for safer play for children. The rubber replaces years of sand, dirt and mulch that used to cover the ground beneath the old playground.

to projects within the town that benefits both the visitor and the local taxpayer. It was only fitting that we provided significant funding to lessen the burden on the town since a good portion of use will be by visitors. Memorial Park and the playground are iconic pieces to a Blowing Rock experience. We’re excited to get the park back open and to see both locals and visitors enjoying the new and greatly improved playground.” Glover and fellow Blowing Rock native and friend, Sam Hess, were two of the major supporters of upgrading the playground at Memorial Park. “Sam Glover and I took our girls there last summer, and we approached some town council members. We know pretty much everybody here, we grew up here, and our parents have been involved. I just thought it would be something worth bringing up and asking,” said Hess. Money for park renovations had already been allocated for projects spread 64

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out over the next few years. With the money available, the thought process turned to find out if making a big splash and completely upgrading the playground all at once was a possibility.

"It was probably two years ago when my wife said we should try to do something to make the park really awesome. The idea really stuck with us. We talked a little bit with some of the folks from the town and basically, we started looking at it and took an approach on how

December 2020

we could get something done here," said Glover. "The request that we had was to make the park a centerpiece for the town. Let's make an investment in it instead of just doing a little bit here and there over the next few years. Let's make it something that we could promote and be proud of." Hess agreed and thought the playground upgrade could be done all at once to look like a cohesive project. The two friends presented their cause to the Blowing Rock Town Council and after the council took their annual budget retreat, they returned with a lot of positive feedback and decided to fast-track the playground project and approved it in March of this year. “Everyone was really surprised. It was something that didn’t really have any opposition and they just hit the ground running with it,” said Hess. “Myself and Sam Glover grew up here, so we know the transition of the park

The parks and recreation staff as well as Blowing Rock town officials wanted to keep the playground equipment as close to a natural look as possible to blend with the rest of the park, so the equipment looks like it is made out of wood.

and how it’s developed over the years. He and I knew it was on the agenda but it just kept getting kicked down the road because no one had really spearheaded it and so we went to the town council members and the Parks and Rec Department and really couldn’t have done it without Jennifer Brown and Shane Fox and Charlie Sellers and all the town council members.” With Blowing Rock being such a major tourist destination, the upgraded playground at Memorial Park will not

only benefit the residents that call the village home, but also the many visitors that come to down during the year. Hess and Glover made sure to include that in their presentation to the town council. “It was something that they talked about doing so we just presented the advantages and how from a young family's perspective the asset of having that in the Town of Blowing Rock and grow-

ing our community here. It wasn't just for tourism, it was for the community and that was something that we felt may not have been addressed in years past because tourism is obviously the forefront of Blowing Rock and the success of Blowing Rock, and so it was kind of our job and what we wanted to accomplish, just trying to portray the asset of investing in a park that is centrally lo-

The park features a memorial garden planted by the Blowing Rock Garden Club, a non-profit organization that started in 2001 to promote civic beauty and preserve native plants. December 2020

High Country Magazine

This new 30-foot gazebo was installed in the park in 2015, replacing the older gazebo that was roughly half its size. The larger gazebo was constructed and completed at the cost of $78,540. The previous gazebo had stood here since 1976.

cated in Blowing Rock, and we couldn’t to make it safer. All the ground area has ground and talking about things we be happier,” Hess said. “The company to be cushioned," Sellers said. couldn't live without, it was the rubber that we used, they had a prior relationsurface because it is less maintenance ship with and they actually had children Build It and They Will Come than when you have mulch," said Jennifer themselves and they spent time in BlowAs the parks and recreation depart- Brown, the Parks and Recreation Direcing Rock themselves and so they had a ment and town officials came together tor for Blowing Rock. "We also wanted personal interest in this as well. I think to begin the planning process, there to make it to where there was no transithat’s what you see in the final product, were several requirements that needed tion between grass, the concrete, and the is them really understanding what makes to be met to make sure the playground surface. We wanted it all to be smooth Blowing Rock Blowing Rock and what fit in with the rest of its surroundings in and for there not to be any trip hazards. makes it unique to really any other park Memorial Park. Our landscape department worked really in the country.” "When we were planning the play- hard with making sure the grass came up Blowing Rock Mayor and met the concrete border Charlie Sellers has seen a and kept the rubber inside the lot of change inside the park playground." since his childhood. The The rubber poured in playground improvements place surface brings added have been the biggest changsafety for children to be able es that have happened at Meto fall and not have to worry morial Park. about landing on the hard "This last improvement ground or getting covered we did this year was the third in mud, dirt, and mulch like major improvement to the in the past. Brown says that park. There have been little everything at the playground additions made at different is ADA (Americans with Distimes, but this was the third abilities Act) approved. major addition or change. "There are no major fall We totally revamped the park zones. The rubber is thicker Memorial Park and Main Street lit up for the holidays. because nowadays, you have in certain places than oth66

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High Country Magazine

ers. It's not maintenance-free, but it's a lot less maintenance. We don't have mulch blowing all over the park," she added. Sam Hess has already seen a major increase in people taking their children to the playground, including his own family. “We have a two-year-old and when she first got there, she loved it so much she decided to run around and then lay down on the rubber turf and took a nap. We try to go there in the early morning now because we know there’s a ton of people wanting to go to the playground now. It’s really cool to see the reaction to people who have come to Blowing Rock for years,” said Hess. “I get to see all the kids running around and screaming, and it's really cool to see that. We go there every weekend and meet people, and it's just amazing the response that we've gotten from people we just met. We are very, very happy with the This monument sits at Memorial Park as a town and it's really cool to see a positribute to the many veterans that served in the tive impact on the town. It's only the armed forces and is the reason the park tip of the iceberg." has the name that it does. Another important decision faced by the town was a way to make the playground fit in with the wanted to incorporate trees and the sort rest of Memorial Park and other sur- of things you could possibly find out rounding areas. here in nature,” Brown explained. “The “We wanted the playground to fit pieces that look like wood are actually Blowing Rock, so when we were talking concrete. There’s a tree slide that’s acabout it as a team, obviously we’re in na- tually concrete on the outside. All the ture and we are in the mountains so we little stumps you can climb on that look

like pieces of wood, all of that is concrete. It’s really cool because it’s not just your typical plastic playground. That was a huge draw for us when we were designing the playground itself. We didn’t want it to be out of place, we wanted it to feel like it was just meant to be here.” Sam Glover, who works remotely for a tech company and moved back to Blowing Rock about five years ago, has noticed the increased popularity of the new playground and Memorial Park overall. "It's pretty evident if you drive downtown, there are lots of families and people at the park. Overall, I think it is going to be a really good investment for the town and something they can showcase to drive both tourism and a way to bring young families here," Glover says. "By creating a nice park and space, not just the playground but the park overall, they have done a really good job making it look nice with a lot of green space and a good mixture of everything." Looking ahead to the future, town officials in Blowing Rock are expecting Memorial Park and all it has to offer to be yet another great reason to come and experience everything the quaint mountain town has to offer. “Parks and Recreation has a master plan for the whole department, but we are working on having a master plan for the park itself. We are going to focus on

Photo by Lonnie Webster

The Blowing Rock Town Council made the tough and controversial decision to remove 12 maple trees at Memorial Park. The trees were rotting on the inside and posed potential safety hazards. The maples were replaced by black gum trees in 2019. 68

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Richard Trexler with the Blowing Rock Historical Society shared these three photos. On the left are two photos of the old playground at the park that included the old metal swings back in the 70s. On the right is a picturesque fall afternoon at Memorial Park.

sidewalks and ADA accessibility, renovating the tennis courts and volleyball court and having it flow into our other parts to where there's connectivity between Broyhill and Memorial Park. We're hoping to get started on that sooner rather than later because we have bond money left over to do that. We are looking into grants and things to offset the costs that we don’t have with the bond money,” Brown said. "Our goal is to keep moving forward. A few years ago we had to take out some of the large maples in front of Main Street because they were dead. That was a big ordeal. People don't ever want to see trees come out of the ground, but we replanted them. That's our goal, as we have trees that are decaying and dying, we will replace them. We want to have a plan for that. The park will continually be evolving with the number of people that come into town and love our park. We are looking to add more restroom facilities and different things to keep up with the moving times. It's not just going to sit here. Our goal is to let it evolve and to add new things for visitors to come and enjoy."

What Else has Changed at Memorial Park

Blowing Rock's iconic Memorial Park sits right on Main Street in downtown and has gone through some major changes and upgrades since the park was first constructed in the 1930s. The early days of the park featured a playground, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, and horseshoe pits. The park has grown to include a brand new playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, and of course the continued presence of the horseshoe pit. Upgrades began in 2015 with the placement of a brand new 30-foot wide gazebo that replaced the original 14-foot gazebo that had sat in the park since 1976. The larger gazebo was constructed and completed with a price tag of $78,540 with $40,000 of the funding coming from the Blowing Rock Rotary Club, $10,000 from the Watauga Community Band, and $10,000 in materials from New River Building Supply. A parks and recreation bond approved by Blowing Rock voters also allowed for an additional $34,880 in site improve-

ments for the park area. “It just came out beautiful. Everybody chipped in and that’s the thing that makes it really nice; it was such a community-wide project,” said Blowing Rock Rotary Club President John Marshall in 2015. In December of 2017, the tough decision was made to remove 12 maple trees in Memorial Park that were suffering from trunk rot and root decay. The trees were removed in February of 2018, a sad day for many in the community. “In all 12 trees the wood was compromised, some of them outright rotten. We can’t risk a tree or huge limbs falling and injuring the very people we invite to enjoy our park. We loved the trees, we’re sorry that they’re gone,” said former Blowing Rock Town Manager Ed Evans in 2018. The space along Main Street would not be left open for long. The first group of replacement trees arrived just three weeks later during the first week of March. The black gum trees that replaced the maple trees were chosen because they are not susceptible to the type of tree rot that the maple trees suffered. By the end

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of March, 13 trees measuring between 20-25 feet tall had been planted. Beautification around the park continued in May of 2018 with new layers of sod planted in Memorial Park and a new sidewalk constructed that connected the town hall side of the park to existing sidewalks nearby. Additional enhancements to the picnic shelter, a new stone wall constructed near the benches at the front of the park, and new mulch were all added later in the summer.

Over 70 Years of Memorial Park History Memorial Park has been at the center of Blowing Rock for decades, but the story of how the park came to fruition and the many additions over the years cannot be forgotten. In 1885, the first hotel in Blowing Rock opened in the spot where Memorial Park is now located. The Watauga Hotel was considered the largest and most luxurious hotel in the area. The hotel soon had some competition when the Blowing Rock Hotel opened in 1889 and the Green Park Inn opened in 1891. In addition to the main hotel building,

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six small cottages were constructed, one of which is still standing today at the edge of the park and is the home of the Blowing Rock Historical Society. The Watauga Hotel had its own set of problems to deal with early on. The tin roof suffered severe damage from winter storms in 1886 and 1902. Eventually, the hotel was torn down and rebuilt by new owner Thomas Coffey in 1905. The hotel stood until 1926 when a devastating fire burnt the hotel down and almost every structure on Main Street. The Watauga Hotel reopened in a new spot previously occupied by the Hob Knob Inn but burnt down once again in 1953. The area that was home to the original Watauga Hotel set vacant until the idea came about for a park. The Town of Blowing Rock purchased the property and Memorial Park was born in 1939. A special referendum vote from town citizens was 141 in favor of the town purchasing the property to 51 opposed to it. “When the park was first built, they had the tennis courts built, and one set of tennis courts which set where the current police department is, were build to be flooded for ice skating in the winter,” recalled Blowing Rock Mayor Char-

December 2020

lie Sellers. “A number of years ago, the town decided they didn’t need all those tennis courts so they tore that section down and built the police department.” Sellers estimated that originally, the town of Blowing Rock paid the Coffey family between $30,000 and $40,000 for the property. Looking back, the mayor said his first memories of the park include a big, steel A-frame style look for the swings made of three-inch piping. The park also had horseshoes, a big metal slide, big wooden seesaws, and a small merrygo-round. "Back when I was growing up, there was just sand underneath the swings and we survived. We'd skin our knees, and there was the occasional broken arm, but that happens," Sellers said. The park was dedicated to two World War II veterans not long after the war ended. In addition to the physical features of Memorial Park, it cannot be overlooked that many successful Blowing Rock events got their start right there inside the park. Art in the Park, WinterFest, and Christmas in the Park all began at Memorial Park. t

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Cheers To 39 Years Sara Brewer Wraps Up a Career That Started By Chance in 1981 Story by Harley Nefe • Photos by Ken Ketchie

ara Brewer, General Manager of thought and she said, ‘That’s got a lot said it had a nice, big planter in front of the High Country ABC Store, has of benefits to it. You’d be crazy if you the store with tomato plants. The store left good spirits behind as she re- didn’t take that job.’” also had big, huge windows. It was a big tired after working with the business for Brewer started working at the Banner store, as the whole building itself at that 39 years. Elk ABC Store on Oct. 28, 1981, mak- point was 3,000 square feet. Brewer was born and “I walked in, and the asraised in Avery County, besistant manager was this big, ing a child of Banner Elk and gruff retired marine. He growing up there. She went was a cook for the marines, to Banner Elk Elementary and he was missing like half School in Downtown Banof three of his fingers. He ner Elk, which was a first smoked like a freight train, grade through eighth grade and he was just this gruff, school. Then she went to Avold man, and I thought, ‘I ery High School, graduated, don’t know if I’m going to and went to Pfeiffer Univerlike him or not,’” Brewer sity in Misenheimer, North said. “And I worked with Carolina, for two years. him quite a bit and got to In the early years during know him and loved him high school, Brewer worked to death. He was one of the at Grandfather Mountain and nicest guys ever. He taught on and off with her mother. me everything I knew at that One Saturday morning, point. I just thought, ‘Well, she was having breakfast at this is different.’” a little locally owned cafe in Back then, ABC Store emBanner Elk when Bob Gregployees had to stamp every ory, who was the manager single bottle they put on the at the ABC Store came in. shelf with its code number, Brewer had gone to church and they couldn’t talk to anywith him and had known body. They couldn’t tell cushim forever. tomers, ‘This product sells “He sat down and said, better than that product.’ ‘Sara, want a job? I got a job Employees couldn’t get out opening,’” Brewer said, telland mingle with the customing the story. “I asked him, ers, which was a state rule. ‘What kind of job are we disThe stores didn’t have the incussing here?’ And he told teractions that they do now. me all about it.” Another difference BrewGregory offered Brewer er noted between when she a job as a clerk at the Banner first started working and the The High Country ABC Store's current Elk ABC Store, which was ABC Store now, is that they built in 1977-1978. It was location opened in 2005, and the building didn’t have as much variety located where the Banner do now. is owned by the High Country ABC Board. as they Elk Police Station is now. “You didn’t have all these After breakfast, Gregory flavored vodkas. You didn’t asked Brewer to come by the store to re- ing $5 an hour. She was 21 years old. have flavored bourbons. You didn’t ceive a job application to fill out. He want- Brewer worked her way up from clerk have flavored everything else like we do ed her to start that upcoming Monday. to assistant manager and then manager. now,” Brewer said. “I said OK, and I did!” Brewer said. She reflected on what the Banner Elk When she first started, she worked “I went and asked my mom what she ABC Store looked like back then and full time as a clerk; therefore, she han72

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December 2020

Sara Brewer in the High Country Municipal ABC Store. She started her career at the then Banner Elk ABC Store in 1981 as a sales clerk. She became manager in 1992 and has been the manager of the combined ABC Stores that merged when the Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain and Seven Devils locations combined in 1998.

“We had a customer and he loved differences of where it’s made in Scotdled the cash register, stocked, unloaded single malt scotch and wanted all these land as to what taste it has. And hence, trucks, and kept the store clean. “Because I had a marine as my im- single malt scotches, and I couldn’t have my education began.” After working at the Banner Elk mediate boss, the storage room was kept told you what that was. I didn’t know immaculately clean and in order,” Brew- that. I didn’t know anything about ABC Store for about five or six years, the marine who was er said. “Believe me, the assistant manager it was in order. It was 2019-2020 Distribution of High Country ABC Profits decided to retire, good training.” and the opportunity As Brewer conAlcohol Education arose for Brewer to tinued to reminisce Banner Elk: $140,000 start training for his about her first years Western Youth Network: $3,150 Seven Devils: $140,000 job. The job responwith the company, she Mountain Alliance: $10,000 Sugar Mountain: $140,000 sibilities included said the job was fun Club 12: $5,000 Law Enforcement: $3,000 ($1,000 each ordering liquor to and she enjoyed it. Cycle4Life: $1,500 town) come in and training “I found it very Alcohol Abuse: $9,735 Taxes: $950,153 new employees. interesting the more Total: $29,385 I got into it,” Brewer “I was hooked; it was a good job,” said. “I really liked Brewer said. “You what I was doing.” At first, she never really knew that them,” Brewer said. “Well, he brought had every other weekend off. It was flexmuch about liquor; however, she quickly me a book to read about them, so I ible for me to go do other things. At that began to learn about it. Through the years, learned what the difference was in sin- time, it paid well. Plus, you had paid sick she picked up on it and learned the dif- gle malt scotches by reading a booklet and vacation and holidays and part of a ferences between a bourbon and a scotch about whether it’s made in the highlands retirement system.” Brewer was the assistant manager and an Irish whiskey and all the liquors. or the lowlands or space side or just the December 2020

High Country Magazine

for four or five years, and each town. then her manager decided The High Country ABC to retire and she began Store made enough money training for his job. The to where the deficit that manager at the time wantSugar Mountain had coming ed to hire from within and into the agreement was paid to promote someone. off in 4.5 years. The store It was a natural progresdid it about two years earsion and in January 1992, lier than what that merger Brewer started working as agreement was written for. the manager. Once that money was made, After she became maneach of the three towns, as ager, there were discussions they still currently do, get about state regulations of 33.3% of the profit distribuski resorts. If a place sertion, and the towns budget viced so many people withand decide what they want The sales counter at the store has two registers. The store's opening in a four to six month pe- hours had been from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. before the COVID-19 pandemic to do with the money. riod, the area could qualify The High Country ABC hit. Now the High Country ABC Store Is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to have an ABC Store. Store is the first in the state Seven Devils ended up to successfully merge three voting on having an ABC separate systems into one Store with 45 permanent and has served the towns of residents around 1994. Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain, Then not long after in and Seven Devils since 1998. 1996, Sugar Mountain had The High Country ABC their vote and got an ABC Store provides the conStore election passed with trolled sale of alcoholic 25 permanent residents. beverages for the commuEventually, the adminnity, to individual customistrator at that time of the ers and liquor-by-the-drink ABC Commission visited the establishments in the area, area and talked to the three and is now located at the different ABC Boards about Grandfather Village ShopThe retail part of the store has 1800 square feet of space and merging the three towns. ping Center near the interduring the month of October the store sold 26,395 bottles of Brewer said it was a section of Highways 105 liquor including mixed beverages to area restaurants. unique situation and had and 184 at Tynecastle. not been done before, but if However, High Country they could pull it together to ABC was not always at that where each town could benlocation, and it has seen efit from it, it would be betmany renovations over the ter than having three ABC years. One of Brewer’s unStores sitting less than a mile forgettable memories duraway from each other being building renovations cause they weren’t making a involves a still she wanted lot of money for their towns in the store. because they were splitting Brewer went online and up the business so much. found a family in Georgia The merger was writthat makes stills for sale, ten up where each ABC and she ordered one. EvenStore came into the agreetually it arrived in a huge ment with all of their assets, box, and Brewer wanted to and the profit distributions see what it looked like, so A display area in the back of the store features high end single would be divided accordshe opened the box and had malt scotch and small batch bourbons with one bottle, ing to how much each town the still sitting on a table. a Richard Hennessy Cognac #48 that cost $4696.95 came in with. However, an officer in It was set up on a 7-year the area heard about the plan, and it was agreed upon that Seven Devils would get 50% still and turned Brewer in to the ABC Commission because it of the profit, Banner Elk would get 30% and Sugar Mountain was not properly authorized. would get 10%. When what Sugar Mountain couldn’t bring Brewer then received a call one morning from the adminto the table was paid back, then it would change to 33.3% for istrator of the ABC Commission, who is a friend of hers, and 74

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Bonnie Betz has resumed the manager duties for the store upon Sara Brewer's retirement. She is here at her desk participating in an ABC Board meeting attended by Donna Dicks, Winston Amman and Ann Fontaine.

he was laughing on the phone. He said, “‘Sara, I hate to do this, but I just got a call that you have a still that’s not authorized that’s sitting in your office … What else are you doing up there?’” Brewer responded jokingly, “‘I am running moonshine out the back door as fast as I can … Why do you think our

profits are up?’” Brewer then explained to him, “‘You know me better than that. We were in the middle of remodeling and adding onto the store. My office is in shambles. My computer is torn a part. We are getting ready to move everything upstairs this next week. The still came in, and I wanted to see what it looked like. It was a kid

at christmas. I tore the box up, and I took the still out and set it on the table. Can we please have a still in our new store?’” He told her to put her request in writing, and when she did and sent it, the letter came back to her stamped approved. ABC stores in North Carolina are not state-owned or operated but are maintained in individual communities with

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governing board members ‘Without the restaurants, appointed by local town or especially in the spring county councils. months, what are we goAlthough a large portion ing to do?’” Brewer said. of sales revenue is returned “Well, panic set in to the to the state in the form of general public, and people taxes, each ABC board also immediately thought we distributes a significant were going to close down amount of funds, generated so they were beating down through sales, to their local the doors carrying out cases governing bodies. of liquor like you wouldn’t Between 1998 and the believe, buying it by the High Country ABC Store’s case, buying half-gallons last audit on June 30, it has rather than fifths. We have All staff's hands are on deck twice a month when a truckload of stock given the three towns near- arrives early in the morning for unloading. Helping on this day was from made more money since ly $5 million. March than I have ever left to right: Sean Ulmer, Bonnie Betz, Sara Brewer, Kelsey Hayes and “At most of our meetseen. Sales are soaring.” Melissa McLean. Bob Hagadorn was in the truck. ings, the chairman of the One of the bigger chalABC Commission will allenges Brewer faced earlier ways get up and say, ‘By this year was figuring out the way, our golden child is how much liquor to order High Country ABC because knowing the restaurants they’re the true merged were closed, but the store Board that we thought was doing more indoor would never come through, sales through their registers and any of you other towns than they ever have before. and counties that want to “It’s been a challenge do this, you need to see this year, believe me, to run Sara and get her agreement this store and keep makand do what they did,’” ing the money, to keep the Brewer said. stock here, to meet the deShe further said, “This mands of your customers,” is a single store system that Brewer said. a lot of people don’t realize Then as the restaurants Bonnie Betz and Sara Brewer team up to keep track of boxes how much we do in here beslowly started to open back being unloaded from the truck. Typically, around a cause they think, ‘Well, how up, the High Country ABC 1,000 cases are delivered each time. many stores do you have, Store continued to see sales Sara?’ I say, ‘I only have one grow. store.’ We’re doing over 4 “We’re blessed to have million dollars a year now, the country clubs and the which usually you have a ski resorts because they all system that has two or three buy from us,” Brewer said. stores in a county doing that A big part of sales rekind of money. It’s amazing volves around marketwith the profit percentage.” ing and fads, and the ABC When asked how she Store general manager has keeps the profit percentto make decisions on what age of sales so high, Brewer goes into the store and what responded, “We just keep they think is going to sell the store running, which is the best and in what sizes. keeping an eye on expenses “At one point the fad The warehouse area in the back of the store fills up as but also keeping the product was flavored vodkas. You boxes are unloaded from the delivery truck. in here that people are going had everything from blueto buy and having enough of berry to peanut butter to it in here and to keep up with what the customers want.” popcorn to birthday cake,” Brewer said. “We had Mountain Customers in the High Country showed the ABC Store just Dew flavored vodka for a while. I mean every berry you can what they wanted — liquor — and how much the store means think of has a flavored vodka now.” to them, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. To help general managers make decisions about their store “When those restaurants shut down, I was sitting here on and to learn more about products, there are conventions that March 17 going, ‘Now what do we do?’ Because I thought, take place that offer educational classes on different aspects of 76

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Sara sits at her desk in a spacious office that is located above the warehouse space with views of Grandfather Mountain. One of her legacies will probably be the still that she had ordered during a building renovation. It was an idea that got her in a bit of trouble.

the ABC Store industry. Brewer started attending these conventions and learning more as to what all the different products were and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special about one over the other and meeting different people. Through that, she became a board member of the North Carolina ABC Association Board of Directors. Brewer has also been a part of vari-

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ous committees and the head of some of them. She was a chair of a committee that traveled to different towns and counties throughout North Carolina to reach out to and teach county commissioners and town council members about the ABC System. They explained why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important because it gives back to the communities through the profit

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distributions that support alcohol education and law enforcement. Brewer said being a part of the committees and putting together conventions has been a lot of work, but that it has been fun. Bonnie Betz, who is taking over as General Manager of the High Country ABC Store, said Brewer is well respected across the ABC System, and

with her holding numerous positions with ABC organizations for many years, a lot of people know her. Betz is going on her eighth year of working at the High Country ABC Store. She started as a clerk and was referred to Brewer by a friend. I knew from the getgo that she would eventually end up here,” Brewer said. “She has that way with people, and she knows how to get things done.” Three years ago, Betz stepped into the finance officer and assistant manager roles and has been working really closely with Brewer. “She's been learning my job this year, and she will do a great job,” Brewer said. “She’s very good with customers and preaches customer service to the other clerks.” When asked about what customer service means to her, Betz said, “We’ve always tried the minute anyone walks in the door to greet them, because one thing we hear all the time is, ‘Oh, you are so friendly here, that’s why we come here because y’all are willing to help us and answer our questions.’” The High Country ABC Store wants everybody to feel comfortable and be able to shop there. Donna Dicks, who is the chair for the High Country ABC Board, has known Brewer since she was 14. Dicks has been a member of the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church for almost 45 years, and Brewer was raised in that church. “We share a lot of church committee work and a lot of different projects we have worked on through the years,” Dicks said.” She’s been a real mainstay in the church; she’s been one of those solid people you call on when you need something.” Brewer and Dicks have church relationships, personal relationships, and business relationships as well. “We appreciate her because she has grown with the business, she has adapted to changes, she has been a great spokesman for keeping the ABC system in place and it has just been a win-win for everybody,” Dicks said. “She is a fiery, independent woman who has done well with her career. She has done a great job.” Brewer’s last day was Dec. 1. “I’m going to miss a lot of it just because of what I’ve done through those 39 years, but you know when it’s time for you to move on to a new chapter,” Brewer said. “I got a new chapter in my life now, and I want to go see what that’s like and enjoy it.”t December 2020

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Parting Shot...

Lees McRae AT 120

Photo Courtesy of Lees McRae College

New Artificial Athletic Turfs A Key Part to Lees-McRae College Honoring its Past

radition tempered with innovation--that's Lees-McRae College. Founded in 1900 in Banner Elk by the Reverend Edgar Tufts, Lees-McRae is one of America's oldest and most prestigious small institutions of higher learning. And as Lees-McRae celebrates its 120th anniversary through the end of 2020, the current chapter of the school's story has looked different than previous years. Like schools across America, Lees-McRae made a quick pivot to online instruction last spring, using the ingenuity and creativity of faculty and staff to maintain a quality learning environment for students amid the coronavirus pandemic. Lees-McRae also has developed a new Strategic Plan as well as a Facilities Master Plan—both long-term frameworks for how the college will look in the years to come. Among the more significant physical improvements have been the installation of new artificial playing surfaces at the school's oncampus Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Complex. These turfs ad been on the school’s drawing board for more than 20 years. Their construction began in September and concluded in November 2020. Tate Field, home to the men's and women's lacrosse and soccer programs, has been converted to playing home matches on FieldTurf's 2.25” Vertex turf. Additionally, portions of the Bobcats’ softball field have been 80

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converted to the Triple Play Turf System, also from FieldTurf. The latter turf comprises the area behind softball’s home plate, extends down both foul lines, and includes the bullpens with the dirt infield and natural grass outfield remaining intact. While the college proudly calls the mountains home, the combination of grass fields and unpredictable weather has challenged numerous student-athletes over the years. The new turfs create sustainable playing surfaces that will be free of any of these prior difficulties. For current athletes, news of the field enhancements could not have come at a better time. With a mandate by Conference Carolinas, of which Lees-McRae is a member, to postpone fall sports competition until the spring of 2021, the four Bobcat teams that share Tate Field will greatly benefit from the new turfs. In addition to guaranteeing unmatched quality and level of performance, FieldTurf used cutting-edge CAD-based design capabilities to develop a look and feel that is unique to Lees-McRae. The Vertex and Triple Play turfs are hybrids of monofilament and slitfilm fibers that maximize performance for all those who compete on them. "I’m most happy, downright ecstatic and so proud that these turfs have been completed,” said Vice President for Athletics and Club Sports Craig McPhail. “I'm so ex-

December 2020

cited for our student-athletes and coaches to be able to utilize this field to enhance their experience at Lees-McRae. This marks the continued evolution of our school’s Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Complex. It also makes our over-all athletic facilities compare favorably with the other schools in our conference and many other National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II schools. “Unquestionably, this is one of the top milestone achievements in Lees- McRae’s rich sports history. We have dreamed about these improvements and now that they have come to fruition helps make everyone associated with our college feel especially good to be a Lees-McRae Bobcat!” School President Dr. Lee King added: “The new playing turfs address a top priority that further elevates our institution and places us at the mountaintop for excellence in intercollegiate athletics. Despite these challenging times, Lees-McRae is constantly looking to the future and building for tomorrow. I’m proud of what these turfs means for our students, our coaches, our fans and our community.” For 120 years, Lees-McRae College has been a treasure and these crown jewel athletic facility improvements ensure its future significance will be even more colossal. By Tim Gardner

December 2020

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December 2020