Volume 10 • Issue 4 April / May 2015
Remembering
P.B. Scott's Music Hall Neighborhood Yoga • Go Outside and Live Centennials of Avery County • AMP Photography Winners April / May 2015
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C O N T E N T S Look Back at P.B. Scott’s 14 AMusic Hall While P.B. Scott’s Music Hall in Blowing Rock existed for only seven years, the memories of that magical place still haven’t faded away. Relive those moments at the 10th annual reunion at Canyons in May.
14
30 Downtown Yoga
Local entrepreneur Valerie Midgett is just about done with renovations to turn the top floor of Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware into the new expanded space of Neighborhood Yoga, which is now 10 years old.
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42 Centennials of Avery County
Meet cousins Mary Guignard Elder and Louise VonCanon Holshouser. Both grew up together in Banner Elk, attended Lees-McRae College and still reside in Avery County. Oh yeah, they were also born more than 100 years ago.
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52 Redefining the Patio
The “outdoor room” is the favorite space in a home. Read about the latest trends in outfitting your patio with cooking appliances, sophisticated seating, fireplaces, customized lighting and decorative concrete.
66 Give It Your Best Shot
Described as “homegrown,” the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is now in its 12th year. More than 1,000 images were submitted but only several made the cut. Take a look at the best images entered into the 2015 competition.
on the cover
52
Lonnie Webster Lonnie Webster has a passion for capturing life through photography and believes each picture should tell a story, bringing out the character and nature of the image in front of the camera. He's available for all types of photography and even lessons. Visit his website at: www.lonniewebster.com
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Mast Farm Inn, Valle Crucis, NC 4
High Country Magazine
April / May 2015
SPRING SALES EVENT
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 “webpaper” 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 downtown Boone, and our doors are always open to welcome visitors.
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High Country Magazine
5
FRO M T HE PUB L ISH ER
A Publication Of High Country Press Publications
P.B. Scott's shared a parking lot with Coffey's Restaurant where Twigs Restaurant is today. The music hall was behind me, just beyond the tree line.
Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie
Art Director Debbie Carter
P.B. SCOTT’s
Ken Ketchie
The Memories of P.B. Scott's Music Hall
I
t was a bittersweet night on June 18, 1983 when P.B. Scott's had its last concert before the doors closed for good that evening. It just so happened that The Spongetones were scheduled to play that night. Famous for their Beatles renditions, The Spongetones were a raging favorite as they blasted out a string of ‘60s music. Folks who followed the news on P.B.'s knew this night was coming. It had almost happened a number of times before in the two previous years as the music hall had a very public battle with the Town of Blowing Rock to stay open. Word spread quickly, and the faithful filled the parking lot with six packs in hand because the club's liquor license had been revoked a couple of days earlier by a decision from the N.C. Supreme Court. I had a wreath made on behalf of my newspaper that was hung next to the entrance that night. It was a door that thousands of people had passed through since it Ketchie with wreath at final night. first opened on Oct. 1, 1976. The memorial wreath read, "Gone For Now, But Not Forgotten. Thanks For The Good Times, Thanks For The Memories." Little did I know then just how much P.B. Scott's would not be forgotten. And little did any of us know just what a profound moment in time those six and half years were. Almost every night, the music hall not only pumped out music and entertainment, it also became a gathering place where a new generation found each other as they made the High Country their new home. And many friendships have remained and even some love stories and marriages have survived from the geodesic dome that brought so many people together over 30 years ago. Everyone has their favorite memories, the stories that kinda make you tingle all over. The one that still stands out in my mind is the deafening noise that was made for the encores when from three levels of the music hall, fans would simultaneously stomp their feet on the wooden floors in unison, sometimes making the place feel like it was going to collapse. That still rings in my head. That roar of approval from the crowd I'm sure is what made many of the performers have some of their best shows there. So thank you P.B. Scott's for all the memories. You definitely have not been forgotten by a generation of loyal fans. 6
High Country Magazine
April / May 2015
Contributing Writers Jesse Wood Kate Cahow Becky Alghrary-McRee
Contributing Photographers Todd Bush Sarah Weiffenbach
High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga and Avery counties of North Carolina
www.HCPress.com 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. © 2014 by High Country Press. All Rights Reserved.
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April / May 2015
High Country Magazine
7
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Calendar of E vents APRIL 2015 1-30
10
25
Relay for Life - Spring Thaw 5k,
$2 Admission for NC Residents & Students, 828-264-2792
25
Artifacts Yard Sale, Early Learning
Tweetsie Railroad's Opening Day,
Mystery Hill Dollar Days,
Blowing Rock, 828-264-9061 16-19
Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival, Blowing Rock,
1
First Friday Art Crawl,
Hands-On Seasonal Cooking Class,
2
Watauga Farmers' Market Opens,
Comedian Ron White, ASU Holmes
2
Village Vision Community Festival,
8
Music on the Lawn: Out of the Blue,
Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival, Blowing Rock,
9
Ashe Little Theatre - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ashe Civic
Art in the Park, American Legion Grounds, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7851
9
Watauga Arts Council Workshop: Landscape Painting Basics,
Convocation Center, 828-262-7890 16
An Old Time Music Show, BRAHM, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9099
16-19
blueridgewinefestival.com
17-19
Center, 336-846-2787
17
速
18
natural. comfortable. home. 9452 NC Hwy. 105 S
between Boone & Banner Elk
23
Linens.com
8
High Country Magazine
April / May 2015
Inn at Ragged Gardens, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703
Boone Business Expo, Boone Mall,
15
Music on the Lawn: The Harris Brothers, Inn at Ragged Gardens,
booneareachamber.com
Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703
Naturalist Weekend at Grandfather Mountain, Linville, 828-733-2013
Watauga Arts Council Workshop: Design Your Own Scarf, Blue Ridge
22
Music in the Valle: Tellico,
MerleFest, Wilke's Community College, 800-343-7857
29-30
Boone Bike Rally, High Country
Art Space, Boone, 828-264-1789
23-26
Horn in the West, greeningmyplate. brwia.org
15-17
West Jefferson, 336-846-2787
800.554.3696
dewoolfson
Ashe Arts Council presents: Spring Fest, Early Learning Center,
Horn in the West Parking Lot, Boone, 828-355-4918
14
Motown in the Mountains,
Green Park Inn, Blowing Rock, 336-264-3611
Downtown Boone, 828-262-4532
Blue Ridge Art Space, Boone, 828-264-1789
Koresh Dance Company, ASU,
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, 828-262-4046 17
Center, West Jefferson, 336-8462787
Architectural Conference Center, Boone, 828-264-3061
16
Greenway Trail, Boone, 828-297-4876
MAY 2015
blueridgewinefestival.com
16
Watauga Education Foundation: Shooting Stars, ASU, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, 828-262-4046
Grandfather Mountain Dollar Days, $3 Admission for NC Residents, Employees & their Guests, www.grandfather.com
1-30
24
(American/Bluegrass) Valle Crucis Community Park, 828-963-9239 Fairgrounds, 828-733-8060
DON’T FORGET
EVENTS
Don't Forget Mother's Day! Mother's Day is a modern celebration honoring one's own mother, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. This year Mother's Day falls on May 10th.
MAY 10
DISCOVER OUR POSITIVE ALTITUDE!
Everts To Be Installed as Chancellor Dr. Sheri N. Everts will be installed as Appalachian State University’s seventh chancellor on Friday, April 17, in the Holmes Convocation Center on campus. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. The public is invited. Speakers at the installation include N.C. Gov. Patrick L. McCroy, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, N.C. Rep. and Appalachian alumnus Nelson Dollar, UNC President Thomas W. Ross and Chancellor Everts. A reception for campus and community members will be held beginning at 3 p.m. in Roess Dining Hall on campus. For more information, including a video stream of the event the day of the ceremony, visit http://chancellor. appstate.edu/installation.
APRIL 17
Play tennis, hike, shop, tube, zipline or just relax while enjoying some of the best views around! From nature lovers to adrenaline junkies, there is so much to do and see in the area, and staying in Seven Devils makes everything easily accessible from our great central location. You will find an array of lodging choices... whether you stay for a weekend, a season or a lifetime!
CORRECTION
In our December Issue, the article Wonder Women, some photographs of Lucy Calista Morgan were missing photography credit. • Portrait of Lucy Morgan, Photography by Joe Clark, Courtesy of Penland School of Crafts • Lucy Morgan Weaving, Photograph by Bayard Wooten, Courtesy of Penland School of Crafts • Lucy Morgan and Edward Worst, Photograph by Bayard Wooten, Courtesy of Penland School of Crafts • Group Photo - Penland Weaving Institute, 1934, Copyrighted Material, Craft Revival Project, Penland School of Crafts
Town of Seven Devils For Zip Line: 828/963-6561
For Information on the Town of Seven Devils: 828/963-5343 • www.SevenDevils.net Ad Sponsored by the Seven Devils Tourism Development Authority April / May 2015
High Country Magazine
9
mountain
echoes
MerleFest: ‘So Many Things … So Little Time’
S
pring has arrived, and we all know what that means: MerleFest! MerleFest, which takes place in our backyard in Wilkesboro, is one of the country’s premiere music festivals and features three nights and four days of music from Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26. Camping and parking are close by, and local Boy Scout troops take care of the transportation logistics, which are well coordinated and well worth a small donation. With that covered and because of the number of outstanding musical performances scheduled, the most difficult part of the festival is trying to decide which awesome bands to enjoy. Now in its 24th year, MerleFest, which was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson (Doc Watson’s son) as a fundraiser for the Wilkes Community College, has always had this “problem.” For lovers of “traditional-plus” music, this year’s lineup – as has been the case
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High Country Magazine
for more than two decades – is truly phenomenal. Scythian, Lee Ann Womack, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, Hot Rize with Red Knuckles and The Trailblazers, and Trampled by Turtles are playing. And this is all on Thursday (!), the first day of the festival when only a few of the 13 stages are up and running. Throughout the course of the four days and three nights of MerleFest, The Marshall Tucker Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Willie Watson (formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show), Avett Brothers, Dwight Yoakam, Robert Earl Keen, The Waybacks (and its always-awesome Album Hour), The Del McCoury Band, Peter Rowan, Donna the Buffalo, Chatham County Line, The Honeycutters, The Kruger Brothers, Sam Bush Band – and on and on and on – will perform. In addition to the musical performances, MerleFest features a songwriters contest, jam camps, nature walks, a pickin’
April / May 2015
place for all skill levels, an extensive kids playing area, concessions with a nice variety of fare and vendor shops that fill about three parking lots. As one of the MerleFest’s mottos state, “So many things … So little time.” For more information, click to www. MerleFest.org, where you can download printable schedules, purchase tickets, plan your itinerary, learn about camping sites, find directions, download the festival’s mobile app, etc. See you there! By Jesse Wood
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High Country Magazine
11
mountain
echoes
Casa Rustica Hits a Hole in One
Chef Michael Foreman and Casa Rustica owner Rick Pedroni stand at the bar in the Fairway Cafe and Venue on the Boone Golf Club. Photos by Ken Ketchie
C
asa Rustica is breathing new life into the Boone Golf Club and the restaurant’s catering operation with a new venture at the Fairway Café and Venue, which officially opened up to the public for lunch at the end of March. Not only will the venue be open to the public during normal lunch hours and for golfers through the evening, Casa Rustica owner Rick Pedroni has created a new space for the community to hold special events – from weddings and corporate gatherings to parties and dinner-theatre nights.
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High Country Magazine
“We’re dusting it off and putting new life into [the Fairway Café],” Pedroni said. “[The golf course] has a lot of history, a lot of people, believe it or not, in the community met here, wed here and had parties here.” This is a tradition Pedroni hopes to continue. Casa Rustica, which has served ItalianAmerican cuisine in Boone since 1981, started catering during the recession with the inception of its sister company, C.R. Catering Co. As the catering business outgrew the restaurant on N.C. 105, Pedroni
April / May 2015
had been on the lookout for new space for a while now. As a member of the Boone Golf Club for the past 15 years, Pedroni knew about the Fairway Cafe, which has been under utilized and boasts one of the best views in town. “My wife said I really planned this out well,” Pedroni joked. “I got a little bit closer to golf.” Along with cosmetic renovations and revamping the kitchen to accommodate public lunches, food and drink for the golfers, special events and the catering home base, Pedroni hired Michael Foreman, who is an acclaimed culinary specialist behind Blowing Rock establishments: Gideon Ridge Inn, Bistro Roca and the New Public House and Hotel. The Fairway Café and Venue features a diverse menu with the following themes: Southern BBQ, High Country, Low Country, Traditional American, Italian, Mexican and an array of appetizers. Groups can request plates off the menu or a private buffet. Foreman said the Fairway Café will follow the farm-to-table trend he incorporated in Blowing Rock that features healthier, lighter fare with a cool, innovative twist. Fairway Café, which can accommodate about 140 people (inside and outside), is open to the public for lunch. Call 828-2640233 or click to www.crcateringco.com to reserve the space for special events or for catering at the club or onsite. By Jesse Wood
April / May 2015
High Country Magazine
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P.B. Scott 's Music Hall The identifying feature of P.B. Scott’s was the Buckminister Fuller geodesic dome with an interior similar to The Globe Theatre in London.
“The myth of P.B. Scott’s is so big that people will tell you anything.” Joe Scarborough
Sound engineer for P.B. Scott’s Music Hall
“It really flies in the face of logic that it existed at all." Bart Conway
Owner of Canyons and former partner at P.B. Scott’s April 27, 1981. B.B. King in concert with special guests Arhooly. The legendary King of Blues is back with “Lucille,” the most famous guitar in show business history. **B.B. King also performed June 7, 1978 and April 3, 1979 at P.B. Scott’s in Blowing Rock. 14
SEVEN YEARS OF MEMORIES • October 1, 1976 - June 18, 1983
P.B. Scott’s shared a parking lot with Clyde’s and Coffey’s Restaurant to form the “Devil’s Triangle.” P.B. Scott’s was famous for Friday afternoon happy hour, where the parking lot would fill with 500 ASU students during the warmer months.
P.B. SCOTT’s
I
By Jesse Wood
n the late ‘70s, B.B. King, wondering where on Earth this white guy was taking him, rode shotgun from the Hickory airport to play a show at a relatively new club, P.B. Scott’s Music Hall in Blowing Rock. Bart Conway, current owner of Canyons, was the chauffeur, while King’s eccentric tour manager, Be-Bop, sat in the backseat. As Conway navigated the steep incline on U.S. 321 leading to Blowing Rock and through the abundance of fog in the mountains, the legendary bluesman turned and asked, “You sure you have a place for us to play?” “Yes sir,” Conway replied. “Don’t you worry about it Mr. King. We have two sold out shows waiting for you.”
Photography by Randy Kelly There wasn’t a bad seat in the three-level dome because the performer was never more than 40 feet from the audience. 15
Papa John Creach
May 12, 1981. This ace musician has been playing his violin for over 4 decades. He’s been a member of Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna and a guest star on the Starship tour. Creach is rapidly becoming a rock superstar.
Greg Allman
Muddy Waters
Oct. 14, 1982. Another superstar plays P.B. Scott’s First show in Western N.C. in many years. Hits include “Midnight Rider” “Hitchin Post” and “One Way Out.”
July 7 & 8, 1978. Muddy Waters is another classic blues legend that performed at P.B. Scott’s. He performed on July 7 and 8, 1978. The first calendars didn’t feature band bio. He played again on September 11, 1978.
P.B. Scott’s Music Hall. Fussell, who owned This is just part of the lore of P.B. list goes on. “It really flies in the face of logic that Grandfather’s Restaurant in Linville for a Scott’s Music Hall, which closed down several years after it opened in 1976: it existed at all,” Conway said. “We don’t couple of years, noticed that many of his How in the world did a geodesic dome in have the demographic up here to support employees were driving to Blowing Rock a quaint little village reminiscent of May- that kind of business. What was created to party every weekend. Back then Blowberry draw the caliber of talent fit for big- was a very, very unique place. There will ing Rock was the only place you could purchase alcohol within a 50-mile radius. One ger markets on the East Coast like Miami, never be one like it.” weekend some of the younger Atlanta, Washington, D.C., “kids” talked Fussell, who and New York. EDITOR’S NOTE: Many of these band descriptions come from the monthly calendar that was mailed to 10,000 members. The calendar mailwasn’t a big partier, into tagIn those seven years that ings were innovative because P.B. Scott’s was among the first venues to ging along. He soon realized it was open, P.B. Scott’s do this. Some of the calendars are missing, so info with ** comes from a that the establishments selling churned out performances different source. alcohol there had little to offer from national and internabesides a bottle and a barstool. tional acts like J.J. Cale, Lightning HopLiving in the Georgia capitol before kins, Bonnie Raitt, Ricky Skaggs, Arlo Free Beer on moving to the High Country, Fussell was Guthrie, John Prine, Muddy Waters, New Opening Night familiar with the Great Southeast Music Riders of the Purple Sage, Papa John Creach, Emmylou Harris, New Grass ReIn the early ‘70s, Brian Fussell who was Hall in Atlanta, which had many headliners vival, Harry Chapin, Guy Clark and the then 28-years-old, thought of the idea for that would eventually frequent P.B. Scott’s.
Doc & Merle Watson
Oct. 1, 1976. ** This picture is from the very first concert in P.B. Scott’s on Oct. 1, 1976. Doc and Merle would play again at P.B.'s 16 Hon i gSept. h C o14, u n1982 t r y with M a gJack a z i nLawerence e April / and May Joe 2015Smothers.
Earl Scruggs Revue
Sept. 1978. ** Earl Scruggs Revue played at P.B. Scott’s in the early days. Earl Scruggs is a banjo legend that is credited with perfecting the three-finger roll.
John Hartford
Mike Cross
Jerry Jeff Walker
Dave Mayo Photography
May 3, 1983. John Hartford in concert with special guest the Smokey Hollow Band. The man of the thousand sounds is back once again with his dynamic one-man show.
Apr. 24, 1978. Mountain minstrel and humorist from Lenoir with albums to his credit – “Child Prodigy” and “Born in the Country”
June 1, 1981. This street-wise story teller sings about what he sees and lives the way he sings, natural and easy. He’ll be with us for two shows. 7:00 pm at $5.00 and 10:00 at $7.00
That, he said, was the impetus for starting the club in Blowing Rock: to offer a different experience and a reason for people to go out and enjoy themselves. And boy did they – but not before initial financing was secured; land was leased; and the geodesic dome, which would become the hall’s identifying feature, was built. Fussell happened to employ two waiters at Grandfather’s Restaurant – Tom Sims and Kevin Brogan – that had a friend in Tennessee – Tom Grill – who built a smaller geodesic dome home, one about the third of the size of what would go up in Blowing Rock. Fussell formed a limited partnership called “Pie in the Sky” with Sims and Brogan. He raised $45,000 and found five acres of land in the process of development behind where Twigs Restau-
rant and Bar is located today. After signing a long-term lease for $435 per month, Fussell also secured the rights to more than 300 parking spaces. After the Town of Blowing Rock approved the building plans, the construction went anything but smooth. The main floor was built; the skeleton of dome erected and sheathing installed to tie everything together. “Somewhere in there Tom Grill discovered that the dome was about an inch and a half out of round,” Fussell wrote in memoir of sorts published on HCPress. com. “[Grill] attached a cable to his Toyota pickup and was using that to try to get the framework into round. One of the struts snapped and most of the top of the dome collapsed, while people were hanging on its outside. Amazingly, no one was serious-
ly injured, just a few cuts and bruises.” So the crew backed up to punt. It disassembled the structure and hired an engineer, who designed 300-foot-diameter domes for railroad engines in Chicago, to review the original plans. During this backtracking, the group opened Little P.B.’s on Jan. 1, 1976, in the lower parking lot to create cash flow during the reconstruction. Little P.B.’s served beer, Chicago-style pizza and homemade pretzels, the latter of which were made by Joe Scarborough, who with a background in sound engineering would later become the soundman when P.B. Scott’s opened in the fall of ’76 – without its ABC permit in hand. Back in those days, the local ABC officer had to hand carry the permit that allowed an establishment to sell alcohol from
Emmylou Harris
** On a blog post devoted to P.B. Scott’s, Kim Rogers remembered: “My memories of P. B.’s include seeing Emmylou [Harris] practicing sitting down by the creek that separated P. B.’s from Coffey’s parking lot. She didn’t have grey hair then…”
George Thorogood
Feb. 6, 1980. Billboard Magazine Entertainer of the Year. Recently on Saturday Night Live. April / Mayclub 2015appearance H i g h Cin o the u n tSouth. ry Magazine Only
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Delicious Espresso & Coffee Drinks Homemade Baked Goods Breakfast, Lunch & Soup Items Cozy Mountain Setting Free WIFI
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Oct. 31st - Every Year. Everyone came out to the annual Halloween Cirkus Costume Party at P.B. Scott’s all dressed up. “This was our Mardi Gras and New Years all wrapped in one,” manager Randy Kelly said.
3616 Mitchell Ave., Suite 1 Linville, NC • 828-733-9333 Mon-Fri 7am-3pm • Sat & Sun 8am-3pm
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When the rock bands played, all the seats were removed on the lower level to make room for dancing. During the low-key sets, chairs and tables covered the floor.
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Coyote was a popular regional band that played regularly. Coyote was described as “good variety of foot stomping music” in the calendars. The band was one of the acts that played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights during some weekends.
P.B. Scott’s crew members Michael Umphett (background) and Randy Kelly all dressed up for Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey Band.
Then Charlotte Mayor Eddie Knox and his wife pose with Allen Sharpe who was in the city promoting the new location.
Raleigh to the place of business. But the local ABC officer stalled and took his sweet time. He didn’t deliver the permit until three days after it was issued and two days after P.B. Scott’s opened on Oct. 1, 1976 with Doc and Merle Watson. So what did the owners do? What you would expect. They went out and bought kegs for patrons to enjoy during opening weekend. “We spent $800 to $1,000 on beer and gave it all away,” Fussell recalled in The Mountain Times in 1981.
quented the music hall. They usually won’t stop talking, reminiscing on the days gone by, or they can’t remember! Even the musicians had raving reviews of P.B. Scott’s, which is part of the reason they trekked up the mountains to play for a pay cut and smaller audience than normal. (P.B. Scott’s had an initial capacity of 500 until additions increased that number to 700.) B.B. King’s agent, for example, requested to play at P.B. Scott’s after Leon Redbone told him about the club. “P.B. Scott’s was just a magical place,” said Jamie Hoover, a guitarist in The Spongetones, a popular power-pop band that performed at P.B. Scott’s numerous times. “It was just a great place to see a band.”
The Magical Music Hall
P.B. Scott’s was special – just stop and ask anybody who fre-
April / May 2015
High Country Magazine
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Harry Chapin
Molly Hatchet
Dave Mayo Photography
Aug. 1, 1979. Harry Chapin – Original ballads, folk music and a great storytelling ability. He performed a number of times at P.B. Scott’s.
Robert Junior Lockwood
JJ Cale
Sept. 25, 1979. **J.J. Cale performed two shows at P.B. Scott’s in Blowing Rock, and each time he played off of the intimacy and set up the stage like a living room.
Nighthawks
High Country Magazine
Jan. 28, 1979. **Robert Junior Lockwood is the only direct student of blues icon Robert Johnson. Lockwood’s mother dated Robert Johnson on and off for a decade.
Bob Margolin
Oct. 5, 1980. **Nighthawks were one of the nation’s best blues bands and performed many times at P.B. Scott’s back in the day. The band, which is based out of Washington, D.C., still tours. 20
May 1 & 2, 1979. **Molly Hatchet performed two sold out shows. When the band performed this show, it only had one album out. The band has gone on to record more than 10 albums since then.
April / May 2015
Sept, 27, 1981 • Rock ‘n energy like the Nighthawks. He just started his own band after playing for years with Muddy Waters. He has shared the stage with Eric Clapton and Johnny Winters. Bringing his uniquely acquired touch to all styles of Blues, Rock and Roll and Rockability music.
The skylit dome, with two balconies, had three levels and the inside was all wood. For the first year, the sound was all over the place due to intricacies of managing sound in a dome. After Bose agreed to customize a sound system in return for advertisement on P.B. Scott’s merchandise and fliers, the sound problems were solved with the help of Scarborough. The dome was a 58-½ foot semi-sphere and the audience, no matter where they stood in the building, was never more than 40-feet away from the stage. In fact, people on the balcony were practically hovering over the performers. “It was a special place in the fact that we were a very small club and a lot of the big name acts like Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, those kinds of people normally would never think to play in a place that small,” Scarborough, the resident sound engineer, said. “But over time it built a reputation, slowly getting bigger and bigger name acts. Word spread around to the point people said, ‘I want to play that club,’ and they usually walked away saying, ‘This is so freaking intimate. I love it.” Scarborough recalled when J.J. Cale, who played at the venue twice, accentuated this intimacy. Both times J.J. Cale set up the stage like a living room: easy chairs, stands with lamps and a coffee table. His whole band, with equipment and all, was playing in the “living room” and the lights were turned down real low. “They did the whole gig that way,” Scarborough recalled. As intimate as the venue was, it was also just as much of a party place. But as founder Brian Fussell said there was nothing “sinister” about what was going on. There might have been some heavy drinking, some weed and a Quaalude or two. It wasn’t uncommon at the time for someone to pull out money to pay for a beer and have a Quaalude roll across the length of the bar. “I don’t know. There were some drugs around but we never had any problems with guns or violence. Looking back, it was a pretty benign experience,” Fussell said. “It was basically harmless.” P.B. Scott’s manager Randy Kelly said that while the High Country, then know as the High South, felt like the “Wild West” back in those days with an influx of new people and new businesses becoming established, P.B. Scott’s “was not a rough bar.” Kelly, whose job included crowd control occasionally, had to play the bad cop with the help of some football players from Appalachian State University that were bouncers. If he saw anybody with a weapon, which happened once , or if somebody was too inebriated, those people were escorted out the music hall. Occasionally some dummy would pour beer or spit off the balcony onto the patrons or the band members on purpose. These people were asked to leave, and once member IDs were issued, those people had their ID taken away as well. And Halloween! P.B. Scott’s became famous as the place to be on Halloween where everyone came all dressed up. The P.B. Scott’s Halloween Cirkus Costume Party was looked forward to all year long. Kelly said there were people who worked for a month on costumes to show off on Oct. 31. One of the more, let’s say, unforgettable costumes that still lingers in the minds of P.B. Scott’s fans was Herm the Sperm. “This was our Mardi Gras and New Years all wrapped in one,” Kelly said.
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The Rise of P.B. Scott’s & The Sharpe Factor
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len Sharpe entered the picture. Allen Sharpe shared office space with Ric Mattar and met Brian through him. Sharpe would become known as the driving force behind the music hall. He became involved after the dome collapsed. “I was asked to help bring cash infusion into the company so the facility could be completed,” Sharpe said. “Ric Mattar and myself were able to do this.” Sharpe became president of the music hall, and has been credited with many of the ideas that put PB’s on the map and kept the doors opened. That began when Sharpe and Kelly talked about finding one band, which made the venue money, and then booking that band every month. That band happened to be Snuff. At this time, P.B. Scott’s owed money to the beer distributers, and Kelly brokered a deal, promising the distributors that P.B. Scott’s would pay half of its beer bill the Monday after Snuff played if beer distributors would essentially spot the venue beer for four months. Soon, Kelly said attendance on the other weekends picked up, and all of sudden the place was packed and beginning to churn a profit. It wasn’t long before Kelly was receiving 20 calls a day from bands wanting to play in the venue. While the
April / May 2015
Mar. 1, 1978. The Razz - High Energy Rock and Roll
Jan. 27 & 29, 1980. TKE fraternity at Appalachian State University held many boxing tournaments at P.B. Scott’s for a couple years in the early ‘80s
There would only be two more monthly calendars after this one from April of 1983. At it's peak more than 10,000 calendars would be sent by mail to P.B. Scott's members. big acts would stroll through town on off nights, popular regional acts like Snuff, Bonnie Gringo Band, Super Grit Cowboy Band, Sidewinder, Nighthawks and Sugarcreek packed the house with locals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Thursday was ladies night. “People would come from all over to go to ladies night,” Bart Conway said. Each of those three nights had a distinct clientele. For example, Conway added that Friday night was a bit of a “different animal” with folks from Tennessee and Hickory coming to town. Most nights of the week featured live music or an event. P.B.’s also pioneered the idea of having the same band play three nights in a row on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Conway, who sought investors for the club for Sharpe as visions of a “House of Blues” kind of franchise for P.B. Scott’s danced around in people’s minds, said that one night he was courting real estate agents when Sidewinder was about to play. “The house lights come on and all of a sudden they start playing,” Conway said, “and one of the real estate agents turns to me and says, ‘I’ll take my commission in stock right away.’” It was a good thing for P.B. Scott’s that quite a few other people bought into the dream because there wasn’t money initially available to pay for the national acts. For example, when Bonnie Raitt first came to town, Fussell said he had to put his ’72 Volkswagen down as collateral for a loan to pay Raitt and company. He said he did that a couple other times, too. After P.B. Scott’s was opened for four months, Sharpe said that interior renovations were completed to move the focus of the facility from mostly a restaurant to a venue for live entertainment. The steps that were in the middle of the lower level were moved to the side so as not to impede the view of the stage. A riser was added to the balcony to increase the view of the stage from the rear of the balcony. A dressing room was added and stage
Wall Of Frame • Headliners At P.B. Scott's Earl Scruggs Tim Weisberg Leon Russell Arlo Guthrie Herbie Mann Michael Murphy The Dirt Band New Grass Revival Jesse Winchester The Producers NRBQ Delbert McClinton Doc Watson Buck White Ricky Scaggs Jerry Jeff Walker Guy Clark John Prine The Dixie Dregs Ramsey Lewis Charlie Byrd The Night Hawks B.B. King Catfish Hodge Band Lightning Hopkins Molly Hatchet Nantucket Wet Willie Le Roux
Toby Beau Mike Cross Sea Level J.J. Cale Bonnie Raitt Amazing Rhythm Aces Harry Chapin Vasser Clements Leon Redbone Doug Kershaw Don McLean Norman & Nancy Blake Hank Williams, Jr. John Hartford The Dillards Papa John Creach Matt “Guitar” Murphy Lacy J. Dalton George Thorogood & The Destroyers New Riders of the Purple Sage Pure Prairie League Gregg Allman Elvin Bishop Juice Newton Muddy Waters Rita Coolidge James Cotton April / May 2015
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Bonnie Raitt
Aside from local legend Doc Watson, Bonnie Raitt was the first national act to play at P.B. Scott’s Music Hall, and the venue’s founder Brian Fussell had to use his ’72 Volkswagen as collateral to pay her in 1976. Raitt’s first performance in Blowing Rock took place within a couple months of the venue opening. She was about 27 at the time. While Raitt had released five albums and achieved critical acclaim by the time she first arrived at P.B. Scott’s, she hadn’t yet had major commercial success.
enlarged. Eventually, a third-level balcony was constructed, in- Beach, where that group would build a building that the owners of P.B. Scott’s designed and would lease it to them. In the end, creasing capacity by about 150 or so. When they realized that the original sound system wasn’t go- though, that group wasn’t able to secure the financing for the ing to work, Sharpe wrote a letter to Dr. Amar Bose in Framing- project. Sharpe hooked up with Charlie Hicks, owner of Ameriham, Mass., enclosing a brochure of the music hall, and asked if can Medical Financial, which was a company valued as a penny Bose would install a sound system in return for advertising on all stock. AMF invested in the P.B. Scott’s building in Charlotte, and once word got out that AMF owned shares in P.B. Scott’s, AMF’s of its brochures, t-shirts, fliers, etc. “Probably one of the most successful things we did was to stock rose to about $20. P.B. Scott’s in Charlotte opened to rave reviews but had trouble change the facility to a private club,” Sharpe said. “This enabled us to utilize the archaic system of brown-bagging. But the real attracting a crowd when there wasn’t a big-name act performing. reason we did this was so we could get the name and address of And investors who care more about a return on their investments all persons who patronized us. We took this information, entered than the quality and reputation of the facility had other “easier” it into a database and then mailed all of our members a calendar options for returns. Kelly noted that the Charlotte venue shut down when AMF said it each month.” During its heywasn’t making “enough” day, the P.B. Scott’s Music money. Remember that Hall calendar was on evduring this time CD (cererybody’s fridge. About tificate of deposit) rates 10,000 of those calendars were topping out in the were mailed out each double digits. AMF soon month. closed down the hall and As Kelly and others liquidated its assets. mentioned, Sharpe saw By those that knew things that weren’t workhim, Sharpe was considing and had ideas on ered a charmer, a likehow to make the venue able and nice guy. There profitable. He then spearis one story of a meeting headed a P.B. Scott’s franArtist rendition of the look of the Charlotte facility. While P.B. Scott’s in Charlotte between all of the sharechise in Charlotte, which opened to rave reviews, the music hall there was short lived because the venue didn’t make enough money compared to other investment opportunities in the mid-‘80s. holders and Sharpe. The opened a few months shareholders came in before the music hall was pissed off, demanding a closed in Blowing Rock. This is similar to what House of Blues would start to do a de- return on their investment. But Sharpe calmly talked about the cade later. “Prior to the closing of P.B. Scott’s in Blowing Rock, it “dream” and about the franchise opportunities and how the curwas evident that certain people in Blowing Rock would not stop rent times were just a bump in the road. “At the end of the meetuntil they had closed our doors for good.” Says Sharpe. “I began ing, they were pulling out their wallets,” Kelly said. Others, such as Fussell, weren’t happy with how they felt looking at other areas to develop and open a new P.B. Scott’s.” Sharpe said that he signed a contract with a group out of Myrtle Sharpe maneuvered people out of the original ownership. (He 24
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This picture of the geodesic dome hangs in Canyons Restaurant as a gift from fan Jean Workman Travers, who is a big reunion supporter.
originally became an owner by brokering a deal with Fussell’s partners – Tom Sims and Kevin Brogan – for their shares.) Referring to the financing of the Blowing Rock facility, Fussell said, “It’s like in that Producer’s movie where they sell 10 percent [of a company] to 42 people.” Referring to Charlotte years later, Fussell said, “Everyone’s stock was supposedly restricted, but somehow other people ended up with a whole bunch of shares, and which they sold at various times and prices as the stock price went up.” Fussell added
that there were a “gazzilion” shares outstanding with affiliates of Sharpe and Hicks holding many of them. Ric Mattar, a lawyer in downtown Boone at the time who worked with Sharpe and Fussell on some P.B. Scott’s legal matters, added, “[Sharpe] worked hard to run that business and was sort of the driving force … Alan was a wonderful person to be around. He was a nice guy, but stepped on some toes when some people did not really like what he did to change ownership.” While P.B. Scott’s would have never come to be without Fus-
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Lightnin' Hopkins
Randy Kelly with Lightnin' Hopkins
Mar. 17, 1981. “The Bluesmaster” remembered by all you who saw him 4 years ago at the best blues concert imaginable. We finally got him to come back! sell, who was seen as a less dominant personality than Sharpe, the Blowing Rock location would likely have closed before it did without the financial finesse of Sharpe. “He has to be given some credit,” Scarborough said. Even Fussell agrees that Sharpe “saved” P.B. Scott’s. Fussell noted that Sharpe’s hiring of Randy Kelly and another employee, Mike Drummond, were Sharpe’s “best contributions.” Sharpe described the days of P.B. Scott’s offering “many great moments of delight, pleasure, frustration and disappointment.” He mentioned that great employees such as Joe Scarborough, Randy Kelly, Mike Drummond, Marty ?, Pam ?, Ricky ? etc., were instrumental to the success of P.B. Scott’s. “As to any shortcomings or failures of the business, I accept all of the credit or blame and am open to discussions with those individuals or groups making such criticism since I devoted so much of my time and energy to make P.B. Scott’s a successful and unique business,” Sharpe said.
‘Welcome to Boring Rock’
After the club shuttered its doors in 1983, the marquee at P.B. Scott’s read “Welcome to Boring Rock, No Music or Fun! & No Drinking! Enjoy Your Stay.” It’s an understatement to say that the old guard in Blowing Rock didn’t appreciate P.B. Scott’s and all of the noise and ruckus it brought to town. Actually more people drank in the parking lot than they did in the music hall. Founder Brian Fussell recalled at a Blowing Rock Town Council meeting that one of the council members stated that he “hated” P.B. Scott’s. In a newspaper account in 1979, an elderly resident who lived behind the music hall complained about P.B. Scott’s: “The windows look like a prehistoric monster and the noise that bombards our eardrums sounds like the wail of a lost soul in Hades.” 26
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Lightning Hopkins stands with Randy Kelly in mid-March 1981. Hopkins was one of many of the blues legends that the club managed to bring to their stage. In another story regarding this resident, one time there was a reggae band that was to perform at P.B. Scott’s one evening. Before the show, this group, which featured Rastafarians with huge dreadlocks, set up a campfire with rocks and logs on a vacant, private lot beside the venue that was within view of this resident’s window. Kelly happened to walk out the backdoor, see the band cooking up this stew and then saw the neighbor’s shocked expression from seeing Rastafarians, likely for the first time, in her backyard. P.B. Scott’s had good intentions in trying to be a good neighbor. Kelly said a decibel measurer was installed inside the venue and bands were told not to play louder than a certain level. The operators even closed the venue an hour earlier than the normal 2 a.m. closing time. Still, though, it was tough to keep amped-up teenagers and 20-somethings from hooting and hollering in the parking lot as soon as the band played its last note. “After a night of hard-driving music, dance and drink the dome spills 600 screaming, tire squalling, motor rushing young people into the Blowing Rock night. The result is instant wakeup for anyone living in the vicinity,” reporter Mike McLaughlin wrote in the Watauga Democrat in 1979. In the same article even Kelly acknowledged that the complaints were somewhat justified: “How can we say they’re wrong? When you and I are 70 are we going to want to live next to a rock-n-roll club?” Ric Mattar, who was an investor in P.B. Scott’s and one of the lawyers who represented the club, noted that a lot of people in Blowing Rock didn’t like what the town had become as far as being a magnet for partying college students. He said that there was enough citizen pressure placed on the Blowing Rock Town Council. “Obviously, politicians have to be answerable to its citizens,” Mattar said. “The town in its own way encouraged the ABC people to crack down on P.B’s. Ultimately, it was the ABC law that put P.B.’s out of business.”
Randy Kelly Randy Kelly was one of the biggest contributors to the success of P.B. Scott’s Music Hall. Allan Sharpe, an investor and owner of the venue, brought Kelly on board after the hall struggled to bring in crowds during the first few months of opening P.B. Scott’s. With the experience of running P.B. Scott’s, Kelly continued in that line of work as a stage manager at MerleFest, where he has worked for more than two decades. Kelly is also the program advisor for ASU's Plemmons Student Union and Legends nightclub where he helps to select the acts that come to the campus of Appalachian State University.
Ric Mattar Ric Mattar was one of the original investors brought in to help fund P.B. Scott’s of Blowing Rock. Mattar was also a lawyer based in downtown Boone at the time who helped owners Allan Sharpe and Brian Fussell, who was also the founder, maneuver legal matters brought on by the town and the N.C. ABC Commission. Mattar, who still lives in Blowing Rock and works as a real estate lawyer, attended many of the shows at P.B. Scott’s when he and his wife could find a babysitter. During the past 10 years, Mattar has had a blast attending most of the annual reunions held at Canyons. “It’s a hoot,” Mattar said. He still has the original stock certificates and corporation documents related to P.B. Scott's (see adjacent image).
Bart Conway Looking at the walls of Canyons Restaurant and Bar in Blowing Rock is like a walk down memory lane for fans of P.B. Scott’s Music Hall. Owner Bart Conway has covered the walls with memorabilia he’s collected of the old club, such as photos, autographs, posters, calendars, newspaper clippings and more. Conway, who was involved with P.B. Scott’s back in the day, has carried on the tradition of holding concerts in Blowing Rock, and many of the acts, such as Leon Russell, that played at the music hall have since performed at Canyons. Because of his involvement with P.B. Scott’s and friendship with many of the major players involved with P.B.’s, his establishment has hosted the reunion for the past 10 years.
Mike Drummond
Marty Armfield
Mike Drummond worked as the night manager at P.B. Scott’s for six years. As the night manager, he was responsible for paying the bands, so he had some neat experiences interacting with the musicians.“That was the best learning experience I had in my life,” Drummond said. “In my mind, P.B. Scott’s was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I met great people and made great friends. In my life, I never had so much fun.”
Armfield worked the front door and was a bartender at P.B. Scott’s for three years. “It was the most fun I ever had at a job – the best live entertainment I’ve ever seen and some of the most beautiful girls,” Armfield said. “It was the best time of my life.”
Emma Shoemake Shoemake worked as a bartender at P.B. Scott’s for seven years. “If you never experienced that time, you can’t grasp what a magical place it was,” Shoemake said. Today, she operates a shop in Lenoir, where her P.B. Scott’s memorabilia dots the walls. She said people come in all the time talking about those days and trying to buy the old posters, t-shirts, etc. “That’s one thing that will never be for sale,” she said.
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SNUFF
Snuff, a country-rock band, was the first band that regularly made money for P.B. Scott’s.
Super Grit
Dave Mayo Photography
Super-Grit, another regional favorite, was among the bands that played the Thursday, Friday and Saturday night circuit at P.B. Scott’s.
Catfish Hodge
Catfish Hodge, like Super-Grit and Snuff, was another regional favorite band that packed the house on a regular basis.
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At the time, ASU had an enrollment of about 7,000 to 8,000 students, many of whom descended upon the village. The age limit to drink beer was only 18 in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. With Boone and Watauga being a dry town and county, the students made a beeline to Blowing Rock all nights of the week. “A lot of the locals didn’t appreciate that,” said Mattar, “but as a young person it didn’t bother me any.” And that beeline wasn’t just to P.B. Scott’s. There were about seven other bars in town: Holley’s Tavern, Mother Fletchers, Grub Stake Saloon, Antlers, Clyde’s, Coffey’s Restaurant and The Villa Maria. These other establishments either closed when P.B. Scott’s did or reinvented themselves as primarily a restaurant. As Kelly described it, P.B. Scott’s became the “lightning rod“ for those that didn’t like what Blowing Rock had become. Kelly said the opposition’s thinking was, “If we could get P.B. Scotts, the rest would fall.” For just about half of the life of the music hall, the N.C. ABC Commission, the Town of Blowing Rock and P.B. Scott’s battled in court regarding whether or not the music hall was a legitimate restaurant and could sell alcohol because of new restrictions requiring establishments to balance food and liquor sales. “After we got our restaurant license, the state changed definition of restaurant from ‘substantial revenue from food sales’ to ‘more than 50 percent of revenue from food sales,’” Fussell said. “For some strange reason, we were not grandfathered in.” The music hall tried giving away pizzas with the cover charge, but it still couldn’t meet the minimum requirement of food sales. It also considered becoming a private club. “Even though we set ourselves up to operate as a private club, we never received the actual permit which said that’s what we were. We could not give up our restaurant permit and be certain of acquiring a private club one, so we held onto the restaurant permit,” Fussell said. As for the court case, the Town of Blowing Rock intervened on behalf of the N.C. ABC Commission. In the end after three years of litigation, the N.C. Supreme Court basically sided with the town and the state ABC Commission. Days after the N.C. Supreme Court decision, P.B. Scott’s announced it was closing for good in Blowing Rock. On June 18, 1983, The Spongetones, a regional favorite, performed the last show.
The geodesic dome featured was skylit. A picture of a soundboard at P.B. Scott’s that Joe Scarborough manned during performances. The dome featured standup room for people to dance and tables and chairs for those to relax and enjoy the performances.
One of the old P.B. Scott’s t-shirts
10th Annual & Last Reunion Takes Place May 2 Now, 32 years after P.B. Scott’s closed its doors, its memory has lived on not only in people’s minds and conversations, but with a yearly reunion that has been going on since 2005 at Canyons Restaurant in Blowing Rock. And this too is coming to an end. As for the evening’s festivities, it’s fitting that The Spongetones are performing at the 10th annual P.B. Scott’s reunion on Saturday, May 2 because the band performed the last show and were among the most popular bands to play at P.B. Scott’s. And the love was reciprocal. “We made a lot of friends up there,” The Spongetone’s guitarist Jamie Hoover said. Hoover noted that “more than anywhere in the world” – and he’s played all over it – people will come up to him and his fellow band members and say, “We used to see you guys at P.B. Scott’s in Blowing Rock. We’ll never forget it and had a great time there every time you played.” The idea for a reunion came about 10 years ago whenever High Country Press publisher Ken Ketchie, who spent many-a-night enjoying P.B.’s back in the day, called up Kelly and said, “What do you think about having some kind of PB Scott’s reunion party.” After that, the reunion became an annual event on the first Saturday in May. During the initial years of the reunion, attendance peaked at nearly 250 people. “We’ve had some of the bands that played PB’s perform at our reunions, and there have been some packed nights and some nights you’d wish you’d seen more familiar faces,” Kelly said, deciding that maybe the 10th reunion should be the last. “It was a great idea to do the first one,” Kelly said. “Let it have its day.” Ironically, or perhaps not, the reunion lasted longer than P.B. Scotts. As for The Spongetones, Kelly said he is thrilled to have band back to help make the upcoming show “a big hoorah.” Ketchie added, “If you think about it, anyone who was, say, 25 years old when PB’s opened in 1976, they're now 64. And even if you were 21 years old when PB’s closed in 1983, those folks are now in their 50’s. It’s hard to believe that there are now P.B. Scott’s fans out there who are in their 70’s and some in their 80’s.” Says Ketchie, “ Its been one of the interesting visuals at the reunions, a bunch of old people dancing there asses off like it was P.B.’s all over again!” Mattar is just one of many looking forward to attending the last reunion party and another chance to relive the magic that
The Spongtones then P.B. Scott’s, the music and the people made for seven short years in Blowing Rock. He and his wife frequented P.B. Scott’s when it was open whenever they could find a babysitter. These days with the kids grown, the Mattars have made it out to most of the reunions. “It’s been a hoot. It’s been wonderful,” he said. Mattar is also a professor at Appalachian State University, where he has worked for nearly three decades. Every year he’ll mention P.B. Scott’s The Spongtones now to the students in passing and not a year goes by that a student doesn't say, “My mom and dad still say what an awesome time they had at that place.” “It happens every year,” Mattar said. “There really wasn’t anything like it.” April / May 2015
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Enlightened Entrepreneur Story by Kate Cahow Photography by Todd Bush Local business owner and long-time Boone resident Valerie Midgett is in the final stages of fulfilling a dream to expand her 10-year-old Neighborhood Yoga studio into historic downtown. The new space will be a feast for the senses, drawing on the visual splendor of an Indian temple, and delighting both seasoned yoga practitioners and those who’ve never stepped onto a yoga mat. Look for this remarkable new destination on the top floor of Shoppes at Farmers Hardware early this summer. 30
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M
onday nights are rather special at Neighborhood Yoga, Boone’s first full-service yoga studio and, for the time being, the sole studio in downtown proper. That’s because Mondays are the only time during the entire week that owner Valerie Midgett teaches a class. On this Monday in March, as the year’s brutal winter begins its ascent into spring, the space is warm and inviting. Natural light from a bank of western facing windows illuminate spotless white walls, wood floors and a lofty ceiling. Eastern Indian music adds an exotic pitch to the scene, and candles placed in the bay window at the front of the room flicker over statues of Hindu gods and goddesses. Students saunter into the space as usual, chatting, unfurling mats in consecutive rows and stretching their bodies in preparation for Valerie to arrive. Petite and lithe, the magnetic teacher weaves her way to the front of the room and perches on the edge of the window seat – a dancer’s grace evident in her every move.
Blonde curls frame bright eyes and a radiant smile. She turns that smile on those gathered and begins. “Tonight I want to talk with you about two qualities of being we don’t typically think of pairing: humility and inspiration. “This rare combination is at the heart of yoga. It is the unity that comes into existence when inspiration and humility are combined in practice. Where pride makes us artificial, humility makes us authentic and receptive. “When we experience the awe of nature and recognize we’re but a small part of the unfathomable, we place ourselves within this context. Suddenly our self importance and the thousand details we obsess over become insignificant…” As she concludes her inspirational message for the evening and leads the class into its first pose, it’s easy to see why students flock to the only weekly class Midgett teaches. She embodies the very qualities she describes as central to yoga. Inspiration and humility are most assuredly at the heart of this modern yogi’s success.
“When we experience the awe of nature and recognize we’re
but a small part of the unfathomable, we place ourselves within this context. Suddenly our self importance and the thousand details we obsess over become insignificant…” – Valerie Midgett April / May 2015
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“In a very real way, Valerie put yoga on the map for Boone. And she continues to open the door to the many facets of yoga, which at its core is so much more than exercise.” – Todd Bush
Valerie and her husband, Ed Midgett, began building her yoga studio in the backyard of their downtown-Boone home in 2003. She calls it a “labor of love,” as they built it with their own hands. Their son Max, who will be 12 in April, was an infant when they began. Neighborhood Yoga became the first full-service yoga studio in the High Country.
Todd Bush, a renowned photographer in the High Country and a dear friend of Midgett’s who conducts a monthly group meditation and yoga philosophy discussion at Neighborhood Yoga, refers to her as “…one of Boone’s brightest angels. Valerie reflects authentic yoga tradition. She’s compassionate, gracious and humble,” he said. “One recognizes her as the real deal, a model citizen. In her presence pretense falls away and you feel inspired, welcome. “In a very real way, Valerie put yoga on the map for Boone. And she continues to open the door to the many facets of yoga, which at its core is so much more than exercise.” Currently, Valerie is in the final phase of placing Neighborhood Yoga even more firmly on the map of Boone with her expansion of Neighborhood Yoga to downtown King St. Both seasoned practitioners and those who’ve never stepped onto a yoga mat will be wowed and delighted by the new studio, the likes of which has never been experienced in the High Country and surrounding region. The story behind the expansion and her success as an entrepreneur begins with a little girl who loved to dance. 32
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The Evolving Path of an Entrepreneurial Yogi For most of us, the path to the future – to who and what we will be – is less about destination and more about the journey. Even as adults many of us find
ourselves wondering, “What will I be when I grow up?” The journey is ever evolving. It’s the little starts, stops and successes here and there that become the stepping-stones our feet light upon as we move forward on the path that define us. Though Midgett
Though asana, or the physical postures students engage in, is an important component of the training, yoga encompasses so much more. It is a way of life. Students also learn about meditation, breathing techniques, and ethical practices for daily living, including how to be of service in their communities.
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claims she was as in the dark as most about her ultimate destination, her path has always been travelled feet first. “I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember,” she said. Born in the Philadelphia area, Midgett now claims Boone as “home.” She and her husband Ed Midgett have lived in the area for 27 years, since he joined the art department at Appalachian State University. “Dance was my first love, and though I never imagined it would be my life’s work I certainly spent a good deal of my adulthood doing it,” she said. Valerie holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in dance (East Carolina University and UNC-G respectively), a master’s in exercise science (Appalachian), and is a certified yoga teacher. She describes dance as fulfilling in every way that is important to her: physically creatively, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. She and Hilary Yacovetti co-founded X Factor in 1995, a local nonprofit dance company, and began a decade of performing and touring nationally and internationally. “Most of our work was supported through grants and fellowships. It was enough to keep us creating, traveling and dancing, but we weren’t making a decent living,” she said. To do that they had to teach, and teach a lot. In fact, Valerie’s primary contributions to the High Country have been in the field of education – teaching dance, anatomy and kinesiology and yoga. Over the past 25 years, she’s taught at Lees McRae College, Appalachian, Caldwell Community College-Watauga campus and UNC Greensboro. “I travelled back and forth to Banner Elk to teach in Lees McCrae’s performing arts program for ten years,” she said. “I loved it – the students, the program. The college supported X Factor when we were just getting started by providing rehearsal and performance space. But we were teaching as many as six classes a day then rehearsing at night.” “There came a point when I found myself coming out of dance rehearsals and performances feeling depleted,” she said. During that time, Valerie and Ed had been spending a couple weeks each summer at the Appalachian loft in New York City. This gave her the opportunity to immerse herself in the city’s dance and yoga community. It’s when she began to pull away from dance and gravitate toward yoga. “It was a huge shift for me. Like many April / May 2015
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“These pieces remind me of India, of my love for the country, the practice, this way of life and the sacred places I’ve visited. I want that to be the atmosphere that greets people when they walk through the doors into the new Neighborhood Yoga.” people who do yoga, stepping onto the mat, practicing the physical postures – or asana – left me feeling an ease in my body and a clarity of mind I’d never felt before,” she said. “I became intrigued with the history of yoga and began reading the classical texts. I felt compelled to learn more about the practice in all of its aspects.” At its most basic level, yoga is a process of self-discovery that has its roots in ancient Hindu and Buddhist teachings. The tradition subscribes a code of living that encompasses physical, spiritual and ethical practices. As she ventured further into the teachings and the physical practice, Valerie experienced several “aha” moments that set her on a new path. “People often think yoga is simply about increasing physical flexibility, but that’s a very superficial way of looking at this practice. “Striving to achieve equanimity in our lives, to main-
Valerie’s passion for and adherence to the yoga path has become a lifelong commitment. She is a role model for many people in the High Country region and beyond. As a teacher and mentor she definitely walks her talk.
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Valerie is a wearer of many hats, including dancer, teacher, businesswoman, community leader and more. She donned her entrepreneur’s hat to work with building professionals and artisans in the creation of her new studio. Here she is with contractor/builder Mark Saltman and, below, visual artist Teresa Cerda who hand painted 300 tin ceiling tiles.
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“It took a while to build a regular practicing community, but they did come, I’ve realized how lucky it was we built where we did. Financially the business wouldn’t have succeeded anywhere other than our backyard.” tain mental calm even during the most challenging of times, this is the essence of yoga. When we cultivate this quality, both on and off the mat, we experience so many benefits – physical, spiritual and emotional. “The more I engaged in these ancient practices the more I realized this was something I would do for the rest of my life. And I wanted to share it with others,” she said. Midgett completed her yoga certification at Integral Yoga in Greenwich Village in 2001, and soon after began her journey to Neighborhood Yoga.
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High Country Magazine
On Water St., just two blocks north of downtown Boone, sits a century-old brick bungalow. Tucked behind the house on a short dead end street called Shanthi Way is Neighborhood Yoga. Twelve years ago this fall, married and with an infant son on the way – and still dancing and teaching, Valerie and her
April / May 2015
husband began constructing the studio in their backyard. It took the couple two years of evenings, weekends and summer vacations to complete the project. “There was nowhere in the area back then for this growing community to gather. People were practicing in each other’s homes,” she said. “I decided to provide the space for that to happen.” “It was definitely a labor of love, plus we had an infant when we started construction. For the first two years of Max’s life, when I’d pull into the driveway he’d say, ‘Daddy, bang bang bang.’” Looking back, the venture has been a resounding success, bringing together a community of like-minded individuals and providing an inspiring environment for thousands of yoga practitioners. Boone residents and visitors to the area have clambered up to 129 Shanthi Way regularly to pull out mats and engage in asana with the studio’s crew of teachers, to sit in meditation, practice pranayama (breathing techniques), learn about the ethical teachings and how to apply them in daily life, and partake in a wide range of workshops and special events. In 2007, Midgett began offering a yoga teacher training program. To date more than 150 teachers have completed the program. But early on she was concerned her studio would become simply a backyard hobby. That she’d create the space and nobody would come. She laughs at the thought now, but realizes the huge risk she and Ed took. There were many times in the beginning just one or two students showed up for classes. “It took a while to build a regular practicing community, but they did come,” she said. “I’ve realized how lucky it was we built where we did. Financially the business wouldn’t have succeeded anywhere other than our backyard.” Now Boone’s entrepreneurial yogi is taking yet another risk. She’s excited to share her vision with the community, and to give the historic space new life. “There’s so much more we can do here that there wasn’t room for in the original studio, like bringing master teachers and larger special events,” she said. “I also want this space to be a catalyst for bringing new life downtown, for getting people here after five for something other than food and drink,” Valerie said. She takes a deep breath, sighs and The temple-like atmosphere of the new Neighborhood Yoga will delight visitors. Whether they come to take a class, participate in a special event or workshop, to browse the retail space or get a snack, they will be immersed in an exotic space, with artifacts from around the world. April / May 2015
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Yoga Class Offerings
in the High Country Although there was no formal full-service yoga studio in the High Country before Valerie Midgett built Neighborhood Yoga in 2005, today there are many places offering classes – both formal studios and places a bit more off the beaten path. Check out the following: Boone area Boone Healing Arts Center 838 State Farm Rd #1, Boone, NC (828) 386-1172 or (828)-265-9553 www.bhacboone.com Children’s Council of Watauga County – For parents only, free childcare and meal, please call first 225 Birch St # 3, Boone, NC (828) 262-5424 www.thechildrenscouncil.org Greenway Healing Arts Center 950 State Farm Rd, Suite 100, Boone, NC (828) 719-9920 High Country Yoga at The Wisdom Tree 240 Shadowline Dr, Boone, NC (828) 964-7600 www.thewisdomtreenc.com
smiles. “It’s time to expand, to get people out of my backyard and become part of downtown Boone.”
Neighborhood Yoga: The Next Step in the Journey
gauntlet. They obviously don’t know me,” she laughs. Through it all, Midgett has remained true to her vision for the studio, which is inspired to say the least. It takes full advantage of the architectural and spatial novelty of 4,000 square feet of space, 10’ ceilings in the central studio, brick interior walls, large picture windows overlooking King St. Where the original Neighborhood Yoga is simple in design, the new space will be exotic, lavish in color and texture, and
Toward that end, Midgett has focused her considerable talents over the past three years planning, designing and working with an architect, an assortment of engineers, surveyors, builders and Town of Boone planning officials to expand Neighborhood Yoga into the 100-year-old Farmer’s Hardware building. The process has been a huge challenge, full of hoops to jump through and hurdles to overcome, including how to bring the space up to code while preserving its historic integrity. As with all building projects, a substantial amount of time and money has been invested – and even more patience and perseverance. But Valerie has risen to the occasion again and again. “So many people would have given up,” she said. “Even the architect and the Town of Boone inspectors “In 2012, Valerie took a group of 15 people to India. They traveled to holy cities are surprised I haven’t laid down the along the Ganga River. Another trip is planned for March 2016. 38
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Yoga ClasseS continued
International Center for Meditation and Well-Being Art of Living Retreat Center 136 Virgil Day Rd, Boone, NC (800) 392-6870 www.artofliving.org/intl-meditation-center-usa SG Ballet 2460 Highway 421 N. Suite B, Boone, NC (828) 414-1343 www.sgballet.com Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center 232 Boone Heights Dr, Boone, NC (828) 266-1060 www.wellness.apprhs.org Neighborhood Yoga 129 Shanthi Way, Boone, NC (828) 265-0377 www.neighborhoodyoga.net New Studio 661 W. King St, Boone, NC (828) 265-0377 www.neighborhoodyoga.net Studio Elenas 4469 Bamboo Road #106, Boone, NC (828) 355-9483 www.studioelenas.com Third Place 132 Appalachian St, Boone, NC (828) 406-1332 www.3rdplaceboone.com/contact-us Turchin Center 423 W. King St, Boone, NC (828) 262-3017 www.tcva.org Watauga County Project on Aging – classes at two the following locations: 1) Lois E. Harrell Center 132 Poplar Grove Connector # A, Boone (828) 265-8090 2) Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine 207 Dale Adams Rd, Sugar Grove, NC (828) 297-5195 Blowing Rock Chetola Resort 185 Chetola Lake Dr. , Blowing Rock, NC (828) 295-5535 www.chetola.com Banner Elk Back in Action Health and Fitness Center 141 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC (828) 898-9000 www.bebackinaction.com Linville The Williams YMCA of Avery County 436 Hospital Dr, Linville, NC (828) 737-5500 www.ymcaavery.org
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“Valerie is gifted in her ability to connect members of the community through dance, yoga, teacher trainings, music, meditation and so much more. “This new studio will be such a blessing to our North Carolina mountains,” – Toni Carlton, a local artist and owner of Carlton Gallery in Foscoe more versatile in the services it offers. It will include a much larger studio – roughly 1,300 square feet, changing rooms, reception area, retail space for yoga-related clothing, props and gifts, two bathrooms and a food and juice bar run by local entrepreneurs and fellow yoga practitioners Caleb Crowell and Megan Ward. “I want this space to be less like walking into a yoga studio and more like walking into a temple,” said Midgett. She’s spent a lot of time traveling around the country and even to India to collect special pieces for the space: a huge set of temple doors, a brass gong from Bali, lots of Hindu and Buddhist statues, an altar from India. “These pieces remind me of India, of my love for the
Yoga enthusiasts gather from across the region to take classes and participate in Midgett’s annual teacher-training program at Neighborhood Yoga. The teachings they focus on, both on and off the mat, provide them with the tools to transform their lives.
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country, the practice, this way of life and the sacred places I’ve visited. I want that to be the atmosphere that greets people when they walk through the doors into the new Neighborhood Yoga,” she said. As the days fly by and task after task is crossed off her to-do list, excitement mounts for the grand unveiling of Midgett’s masterpiece. Curious Neighborhood Yoga regulars and visitors to The Shoppes at Farmers Hardware climb the stairs to the third floor to get a sneak peak. For many, their excitement extends to and embraces this amazing visionary as she completes the task. Someone they call friend, teacher, mentor and role model, whose dreams and aspirations she has championed and nurtured through her work at Neighborhood Yoga. After all, in the scheme of things it is for these people, for practitioners of this ancient tradition, that Valerie has taken on the challenge. “Valerie has been a dear friend to me for many years,” said Toni Carlton, a local artist and owner of Carlton Gallery in Foscoe. “She is gifted in her ability to connect members of the community through dance, yoga, teacher trainings, music, meditation and so much more.” “This new studio will be such a blessing to our North Carolina mountains,” said Carlton. Caroline Stahlschmidt, who has been teaching at Neighborhood Yoga for several years and is a health coach with a nutrition practice out of Portland, Oregon, credits Valerie with the ability to lead others to the tools and knowledge to transform their lives – including her own. “Valerie’s dedication to Boone’s yoga community is amazing,” she said. “She literally transforms the lives of the people she touches through yoga classes and teacher trainings.” “My participation in a training planted the seeds for transformation in my life, including a career change that aligned me with my true passion. “I’m so grateful to Valerie for her mentorship and friendship,” Stahlschmidt said. “And I’m excited to see and be a part of this next step in Neighborhood Yoga’s journey.”
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North Carolina Building in 1930
Centenarian Cousins Mary Elder & Louise Holshouser By Becky Alghrary-McRee 42
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Grace Hospital, now known as Tate Residence Hall and Swank Park
Two Avery Women Experienced Century of Change
F
rom growing up together, to attending Lees-McRae College in its earliest days, to witnessing the coming of automobiles, air flight, space travel, World Wars, the Great Depression and a multitude of inventions too numerous to mention, two Banner Elk ladies have passed the 100-year mark with courage and grace. First cousins, Louise Holshouser and Mary Elder grew up along Hanging Rock Road (now Dobbins Road) in Banner Elk, descendants of the founding families of that small mountain town. April / May 2015
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Louise VonCanon Holshouser, 103 – Born May 19, 1911 Louise VonCanon Holshouser said she has no secret for living to be 103. She has always been loved and adored by her huge family and had a notable upbringing living among her relatives who were a part of Banner Elk’s growth and development. Louise, the daughter of Frederick and Bessie Jennings VonCanon grew up there on VonCanon Hill where her childhood home still has a commanding presence and long-range view of the meadows and surrounding countryside. In addition to daughter, Linda, who lives with her and is her caregiver, Louise is mother to son Bill, Jr., who passed away in 2001, and daughter Betsy. She has eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Some of these grandchildren live abroad in Holland and Bali, and she so much enjoys visits and communications from them. Louise went to school at the old Academy on Hanging Rock Road and then from 3rd grade through high school attended Lees-McRae Institute. But at age 14 she was sent to a special school in Detroit. When Louise’s mother died in the 1918 flu epidemic, Louise was only seven. She was so traumatized that she developed a stutter and had horrible nightmares. Her father sent her to the Detroit school to cure the stutter. A happy childhood memory is that of her mother brushing her (Louise’s) hair. She lost her mother at such a young age, she doesn’t have many memories of her. But Louise had a wonderful childhood in her vintage Dobbins Road home growing up with her sisters and brothers and her step-mother, “Mother Maggie” (Abernathy). She spent her fifth grade year at the local elementary school, but fondly remembers her years at the Lees-McRae institute as it was then called. She especially liked her
Louise V. Holshouser, still smiling at 103, at her childhood home on VonCanon Hill in Banner Elk where she is lovingly cared for by her daughter, Linda. gym class where she participated in the dance – the Highland fling! Louise said she never imagined that Lees-McRae would have some of the unique classes they have today like Jazz, Yoga, Ornithology, etc. as they had the normal classes of that day, English, History, Mathematics. An endearing memory of Louise’s that she recounted in the book Mountain Magnolias is about Jake, the little pony that the family owned and the children loved. “We rode the pony to school at Lees-McRae. We went every day and came back. For two years we rode the pony. John in front, Douglas in the middle, and me behind…” But, one cold October day as they crossed the creek they passed over daily, the pony decided to lie down in the
middle of the creek. “…That pony laid down right in the middle of the creek and dumped us off right in the cold, cold water. We all came home screaming and crying and yelling and had to change clothes. And the next morning Jake did it again. My Daddy was waiting for him.” According to Louise, her dad switched the pony. “I felt so sorry for that little pony, but he never laid down in the creek after that.” From her house’s vantage point she could look out and see all the herds of cattle and sheep that her father owned. VonCanon won numerous ribbons over the years for his prize livestock. The huge tracts of land VonCanon owned included the Horsebottom, the Hanging Rock, the Four Diamonds (where Diamond Creek is located today), and also
“We rode the pony to school at Lees-McRae. We went every day and came back. For two years we rode the pony. John in front, Douglas in the middle, and me behind…” But one cold October day… “That pony laid down right in the middle of the creek and dumped us off right in the cold, cold water.” 44
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At Lees-McRae in late 1920s dancing the Highland Fling. Louise is third from right.
a part of Seven Devils. She remembered the spring that was on top of Four Diamonds – so named by her Uncle Charlie who owned that portion of the land for a time. “He went out West and started liking the way they called the ranches out there. So he named it the ‘Four Diamonds,’” she said. After studying in Detroit, Lees-McRae, and graduating from college, Louise became a teacher and taught at Cranberry High School for two years. She had met Bill Holshouser at LeesMcRae when he studied French there. Bill was from Blowing Rock and needed French for his studies at Davidson. While at Davidson, Bill’s roommate was from Red Springs, and Flora McDonald College is located there. This proved advantageous for him to visit Louise when she studied at Flora McDonald. After several years the couple was married in a lovely wedding in her historic home. Linda showed a collection of 80-yearold booklets that attendees made when they were invited to a bridal shower for Louise. The books are real treasures as those who made them cut out pictures from magazines of the time showing things about Louise and Bill – “Where they met – and --Louise and Bill’s first date, and their favorite food, etc.” The Holshouser’s whirlwind adventures led them to Washington D.C. where Louise, through her church, was instrumental in
helping runaways. “Mother spent about her 104th birthday on May19. She said fifteen to twenty years of her life helping what makes her happy now is listening to Washington area runaways,” said Linda. music – and she enjoys her naps during the “There were always people in and out of day. She especially likes the duets of her the house.” College friends of son, Bill nephew Will and his daughter, Anna, on Jr.’s, also considered Louise’s house their the accordion and violin, and they made a Christmas tape for her. Louise used second home. As noted in the book, Mountain to play the piano and has always loved Magnolias, among the many people who music. Linda told of how recently, when were in and out of the Holshouser’s the nurse came to cut Louise’s toenails, Arlington home, was North Carolina’s first they played some music to soothe her Republican governor after one-hundred and, “She started wiggling her toes in years of Democratic governors, James E. time to the music,” she laughed. Holshouser (1973-1977). He Louise as an infant in her mother’s arms. One of many was Bill and Louise’s nephew, historic photos lining the walls of her home. a Boone native. During their time in Arlington and D.C., Louise also worked to feed and clothe the many people who crowded into that area for the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s. Bill, Sr. was a metallurgist, and a project he worked on was that of the Atomic Bomb. While employed by the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB), he supervised the department responsible for seeking the “black boxes” on airplanes. These are now quiet days for Louise, who will have April / May 2015
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One modern invention that she’s happy about is the computer’s ability to let her Skype and hear about her grandchildren who are so far away – especially those overseas. “She can’t see them,” said Linda, “but she can hear their voices, and it means a lot to her.” As a child, Louise always loved to read but is unable to see to read today and likes listening to audio books. At birth Louise was not given a middle name as her mother didn’t like “two names” at that time. “I was reading the Magic Garden book and I liked that name of Amaryllis so I kind of made it my middle name.” The name stuck, and ended up on one of her school diplomas, and Linda believes on Louise’s marriage certificate as well! Louise thinks that today there is “too much information.” She doesn’t like the constant and repetitive heavy media coverage. “If you listen to everything, you’d be worried all the time,” she said. A big difference in the current society as opposed to that of Louise’s younger days is the absence of a real family life. She and her children used to sit around the table and play Rummy and other games
together. “And we children looked forward to doing that,” Linda said. Louise said children today have too much scheduling and not enough free time to think, play and grow. “They have so many things to go to that there is no down time, or family group time.” Always a lover of travel, Louise is amazed at the extent of her grandchildren’s travel. And, she never could imagine the world being so full of the sex, drugs and violence of today. Among the many memorable art pieces and antique framings that line the eclectic home’s walls is a picture of Louise and Bill’s family sharing a meal and saying grace. “A man from the State Department took the picture and said they were making pictures and leaflets to drop over the Soviet Union and other countries,” said Linda. “They took a family at play, at prayer, at work, etc.,” she added – “Showing the American ways of life.” Louise now has nurses who come twice a week to check on her, and an aide who comes three times a week to assist Linda and help with household chores. “She has to have oxygen after eating so that her blood pressure doesn’t go up,” Linda
explained. She also has to have her foods pureed and requires thickened liquids. Linda diligently prepares Louise’s foods in a food processor. Louise is homebound now, but she does love to sit out on the front porch when the weather is nice. On her 100th birthday, she and her first cousin, Mary Elder, shared a party out on that long front porch. The party was attended by a multitude of friends and relatives and is a fond memory for her. She and Mary were close cousins growing up, always lived just down the road from each other, and share a lot of memories. After years in Arlington, Virginia, Louise returned to her childhood home in 1980. She has always been content to live here in her mountains, and especially in the little hamlet of Banner Elk. When told that she is amazing to reach such an esteemed age, Louise said, “I’m not amazing.” But, you’re 103! “No, I’m not,” she declared. She said she thinks 87 is a good age to be. Linda said when her doctor remarked to her recently about being 103, Louise replied in her feisty voice, “Golly Pete, no one’s that old!”
Granddaughter, Hannah, wrote a nice poem for her grandmother’s 100th birthday telling of Louise’s esteemed place and standing in Banner Elk and Avery County.
The Belle – by Hannah Holshouser
Above: Louise with daughter, Betsy, and granddaughter, Jenny. Below: Louise and younger brother, Jacob, who she
affectionately called, “Jakie Fred.”
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She rose from this small southern corner where one thrived from land and the blackberries grew for a reason she rose from two sisters and four brothers a mother gone to heaven and only a stutter and nightmares left to remind her she rose growing strong and smiling believing in God and the layered casserole she danced, she married, she taught, she gave birth she rose during a time of American upheaval she made her house a sanctuary to the runaways and the children of those runaways. she was our mother when we had none she rose dusting off the floorboards breathing life into the farmhouse where she first drew breath this is her southern corner she is this town she is this family and we owe her everything 100 years of daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother as her mother was, she is the Belle of our Banner Elk
Mary Guignard Elder, 104 – Born October 19, 1910 Mary Guignard Elder is Louise VonCanon Holshouser’s first cousin and older by only seven months. Mary reached her 104th birthday in October of 2014. She is a lovely lady who commands great respect among her family, the town and all who know her around Banner Elk and beyond. Mary said she believes that her secret to reaching the age of 104 is her ancestry – good genes. Her caregivers, who were present on a recent visit, Rebecca Campbell and Judy Hodge, say that Mary is amazing. “She eats real good, real healthy, nothing artificial, and she only takes one pill a day. If she’s hurting, she will wait and wait until she really needs relief and will take a Tylenol.” Today Mary loves having visitors in her historic home on Dobbins Road. Her house was begun by her great-grandfather, Jacob VonCanon, “the first VonCanon to come to Banner Elk,” she said, and later completed by her grandfather William VonCanon. Mary’s mother, Anna Guignard, was the daughter of William and Mary Banner Voncanon, members of two of the founding families of the town of Banner Elk. As a child Mary loved walking down
Mary G. Elder, a living history testament and descendant of the two founding families of Banner Elk. Mary is a beloved matriarch to her close family and to all who know her.
Mary G. Elder sits on the steps of her childhood home – The Lodge – in 2002 as she posed for her story in the book, Mountain Magnolias. The house is just down the road from her present historic family dwelling.
Boone Bagelry’s
Hours: Mon. - sat. 6:00am - 5:00pm sun. 7:00am - 3:00pm
Family Owned & Operated since 1988 Serving Breakfast and Lunch All Day 14 Varieties of Freshly Baked Bagels Gluten Free Options Available Free Delivery Deli Sandwiches, Omelettes, Flavored Cream Cheeses, Salads, Burgers Vegetarian Options Members of the Boone Independent Restaurant Association
• Home of the Famous Bagelicious • Featuring Bald Guy Brew Coffee Old dOwntOwn lOcatiOn
516 West King St. • 262-5585 www.boonebagelry.com
Water Wheel Cafe
Family Owned & Operated Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day Serving All Your Old Favorites from the Original Bagelry With Some NEW Menu Items Turkey, Apple Grilled Cheese, Fresh Chicken Salad w/Blueberry Balsamic, and our New Lox Hash Fresh Baked Bagels Vegetarian & Gluten Free Options Hours: Mon - sat. 6:00 am - 3:00 pm sun. 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Come Enjoy our Coffee Lounge featuring Bald Guy Brew Coffee at the 105 waterwheel
125 Graduate Lane • 262-1600 www.boonebagelry.com
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Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee Buildings in 1928 the road to visit her grandparents at their house (her present home). “My grandfather William was a Quaker and a real smart man. He bought wool from the sheep farmers and would take it down to Lenoir and have nice blankets made.” Two huge millstones in Mary’s front yard are relics from his old mill. She especially enjoys times when her family members come to visit and likes to have company and see her many friends. Mary has eight grandchildren and one step-granddaughter and now four greatgranddaughters. As a child Mary was privileged for a little mountain girl of her era. “We did have toys and we read a lot,” she said. Her family traveled frequently and lived in a number of places, Florida, Johnson City, Hickory – but she always loved to come back to Banner Elk. “I never missed a summer of coming back here.” She fondly remembers all the dances and get-togethers of families during her childhood, and said there were dances all along Hanging Rock Road. She especially loved the dances at her Uncle Fred’s (Louise Holshouser’s) home. The old Banner Elk Hotel was another hot spot of the day and was run by Mary’s aunt, Blanche Lowe. Dancing was the popular pastime during those years and nightly dances took place at the hotel, the Klonteska Inn, and in private homes. Today Mary’s life is much quieter. She doesn’t like watching TV, but still enjoys spending her time studying genealogy. She also likes antiques, has many beautiful pieces in her home, and enjoys looking at catalogs of her favorites, pieces of wood and silver. A lover of books, now that she can only read large print, she often has her children or her caretakers read to her. She does enjoy an occasional nap during the day. “Mother used to love to cook,” said daughter, Mary Frances Frisbie, who was 48
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present on our recent visit. “She can’t cook anymore, but she has taught several of her caretakers how to make her favorite cakes and pies and she still likes to collect recipes.” Years ago Mary also loved to sew and when her four children, Bill, Clifton, Mary Frances and John were little, she made many of their clothes. In addition to loving visitors during her day, Mary still loves nice clothes, and likes pretty things. “She got a bracelet for Christmas that she loves, and she still loves a table well-set,” said Mary Frances. When Mary was six years old, she entered the first grade at Lees-McRae Institute. After that she was in and out of Lees-McRae until the early years of its being a Junior College. “Clyde Cook, Howard Townsend and I were the first grade class that year. I was there first through third grade and then in fourth grade I was at the Patterson Episcopal
“We are a throwaway society today. I grew up in the Depression and we had to save and use everything we could…I have always been proud to be an American, and I do remember parts of WWI and most all of WWII.”
April / May 2015
School. I remember being in school in Hickory in the seventh grade. Because we moved and lived in several different places, I was just in and out of Lees-McRae until I finished the first year of college there,” she said. In the Lees-McRae annual – the Ontaroga – Mary’s picture in the class of 1930 shows a beautiful young lady. While at Lees-McRae, Mary served as President of the Day Students Organization. As a teenager, Mary studied for approximately two years at the Bethany School of Transfiguration in Cincinnati, Ohio. While she was enrolled there, “it was a convent, and Sister Clara was Swiss and was a wood carver.” Mary became interested in carving and was asked to carve the end of a church pew. “I don’t know how I got on to it, but I started helping her.” Meanwhile, St. John’s Cathedral in New York City was taking wooden pieces from different locations in their ongoing building projects, and the pew end that Mary carved was sent to St. John’s Cathedral. “When I was young and we were living close to Hickory and Lenoir, I liked to do a lot of roller skating, and I spent a summer in Florida with my cousin, Mary Lewis, who lived on a beautiful lake. I think that was one of the best times I ever had,” she reminisced. A special memory of Lees-McRae for Mary is that she had wonderful teachers. “And Lees-McRae was just such a part of the whole community. They had movies for the town every Friday night—but back then they had a lot of rules,” she laughed. There were still a lot of tough rules when this writer attended Lees-McRae in the early 1960s! “There were a lot of cultural events at the college that included the community like the NC Symphony concerts which were held each year.” According to Mary, Lees McRae was so much into the community that the people from the college and town blended into a
Mary G. Elder, a beauty in the 1930 Lees-McRae year book – The Ontaroga.
big circle of friends. “Lees-McRae instilled in me loyalty and the necessity for an education,” Mary said. Mary Frances and her brother, Bill, both graduated from Lees-McRae and brother, Clifton, also attended. The classes today greatly differ from those that were offered when Mary was a student. “When I was there I had Bible, English, History, and Dr. W. C. Tate taught me anatomy and physiology. They also had a law class then. A favorite teacher of mine was “Miss Margaret.” Margaret Tufts Neal was the daughter of college founder, Edgar Tufts and author of the popular historical book, “And Set Aglow A Sacred Flame.” “Another teacher I remember was Miss Miller,” said Mary. “She went to the Holy Land and brought back tear glasses. She gave us each a tear glass and said it was for tears and if it got full, it meant you were grieving.” Mary’s memory of the old days of Banner Elk is amazing. She remembers the Hall sisters and their missionary work, and also remembers taking art from LeesMcRae teacher, Miss Phoebe Wakefield’s mother. She can’t decide if the computers, cell phones, and high technology of today are all good or bad. She does think it sad that young people are so much into their gadgets that they don’t have time for a
Mary Elder’s antebellum home built by her great-grandfather, Jacob VonCanon. The house was begun before the Civil War and sits at the foot of Horsebottom Ridge, near the site of a Civil War skirmish on Beech Mountain.
closer-knit family life. “Young people today don’t appreciate the small things. When I was young at Christmas we just had the Christmas tree and we got some fruit – I remember raisins. We took care of what we had. But on the other hand, children don’t have to work as much now – I’m thinking of having to milk cows, etc. “We did a lot of family fun things with our parents and cousins back then like dances and watermelon cuttings. We had a family unit and lots of happy times, but during the Great Depression, we didn’t have anything. Now days the family units are so broken up.” Another thing that bothers Mary today is the standard of loose morals and all the violence, sex and drugs that are so openly displayed. Some of the clothes people wear on TV she deems inappropriate. “There is so much publicity (media coverage) and that makes it worse,” she added. Today’s society is so different from those days of Mary’s youth. One thing that she finds different and frustrating is today’s lack of frugality and saving. “That just burns me up. We are a throw-away society today. I grew up in the Depression and we had to save and use everything we could. The other day my caretaker emptied a box of cereal and was going to throw it away and I asked her to take out that waxpaper lining, fold it up, and we could use it again. I have always been proud to be an American, and I do remember parts of
WWI and most all of WWII.” Mary has lived in a number of different places during her life but has always loved the mountains and the Banner Elk area. “Wherever we were, we always came back to Banner Elk – it is home. During WWII while working in Burlington, NC, Mary met her husband William T. (Bill) Elder of Alamance County. When the family later returned to live in the mountains, Bill Elder purchased a significant amount of acreage atop Beech Mountain. Along with several other businessmen, including the Robbins brothers (noted High Country Developers), the land was developed into the Beech Mountain Resort, the Beech Mountain Ski Industry and the once very popular Land of OZ. “I never dreamed that I would live to be 104,” Mary mused. But she is the wellloved matriarch of her family and such an inspiration to so many. Perhaps God chose her to be a good example to others of a life well-lived and its rewards. When asked if she could ever imagine being so loved and admired by so many people. Mary answered, “I still can’t imagine that. They are just fooled. But I have gotten acquainted with a lot of people through my children.” In addition to being matriarch of her huge family, Mary Elder is also a revered Avery County citizen and matriarch of the entire Banner Elk Community.
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Backyard Heaven Barbeques, Grilling & Entertaining
Outdoor rooms are becoming a popular home upgrade
Go Outside & Live
S
itting comfortably with friends or family in the backyard on a cool summer mountain evening with a warm fire and dinner sizzling on the grill is pure pleasure, and it’s why so many more people are turning their yards and decks into inviting outdoor living spaces. You can call it the new “outdoor room.” In fact, in a study done by Saber Grills, surveying 1,500 homeowners, 83 percent said their outdoor living space is their favorite place in the home, and in the summer it’s the most used place just behind the kitchen, way ahead of the game, living 52
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Anyone can easily create an outdoor room
and dining rooms. It doesn’t matter if your home is valued at $75,000 or $775,000, the outdoor space is considered an essential part of the home. As consumer interest in the “outdoor room” continues to grow, hearth, patio and barbecue manufacturers are developing stylish, full-featured products to enhance the comfort, convenience and pleasure of entertaining or relaxing outside – no matter the climate or season. Manufacturers now have extensive product lines that can help extend a home’s living space both literally and visually. There are
Fireplaces add warmth on cool mountain nights
A quality grill anchors the space
“By changing the way installations occur, outdoor kitchens are more affordable than ever and can now be installed on a smaller level." A simple grill island can make a big statement
A well-appointed grill island with multiple prep surfaces, large grill, side burner and refrigeration barbecues and fireplaces in all sizes and styles And anyone can easily create an outdoor room. In general, the concept encompasses a grilling and eating area, pulled together with a hearth product, such as a fireplace, firepit or chiminea. Some outdoor rooms are similar to indoor kitchens, with expansive counter space and full food preparation areas complete with sinks and plumbing. It’s even possible to add a dishwasher and a refrigerator to make trips inside to clean up or grab a cold drink a distant memory. Landscaping, lighting and sculptures are additional elements that can help create a cohesive feeling within an outdoor space. Outdoor rooms are often created over a period of years to accommodate large wish lists on limited budgets. During the first year, install the hearth product and define the grilling and eating areas, then accessorize the next year. Finish off the project with the installation of landscaping. Anthony Sebastian of G&B Energy/Appalachian Energy & DesignCast Concrete of Boone and Wilkesboro says 54
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that in the past, outdoor living projects have typically been costly, time consuming and reserved for the more affluent consumer. With today’s new products and materials, time and cost are dropping. “These projects are not typically a “do-it-yourself ” weekend project,” says Sebastian. “Like a room in your house it is usually a good idea to use a contractor who can coordinate the different tradesmen and keep the project on schedule and budget.” G&B Energy has recently opened a new concrete division, DesignCast Concrete, that fits nicely with their propane and hearth-product business. “We partner with DesignCast and can now manage the entire project and work with trade partners to arrange for plumbing and electrical connections,” Sebastian said. “At DesignCast Concrete we handle the stamped concrete patio, fireplace and or grill island construction using Eldorado Outdoor Building blocks, concrete countertops, grills, storage drawers, gas connections. This approach saves time and money.” Eldorado Outdoor building blocks eliminate the need
for a foundation as they can be installed directly on top of a 4” concrete pad. They bolt together to allow for a quick one-day installation and at the end of the day, they are ready for stonework. “By changing the way installations occur, outdoor kitchens are more affordable than ever and can now be installed on a smaller level,” says Sebastian. G&B Energy and DesignCast Concrete have identified 5 Outdoor Living Trends for 2015: 1. Multiple Cooking Appliances One grill just isn’t cutting it for most homeowners anymore. Outdoor spaces are now featuring a combination of gas grills, charcoal grills, wood-fired grills, and smokers. Homeowners are even building grills into islands or cabinets. Not only are people buying more and more high end, elaborate grills, they are also falling in love with full-scale outdoor kitchens including pizza ovens, refrigerators, warming drawers and much more. Outdoor kitchens are continuing to replicate indoor kitchens with all the accessories and features. 2. Sophisticated Seating Outdoor furniture that looks like indoor furniture is a fast growing trend. Today’s outdoor living spaces are much more than just a few patio chairs. We are talking upholstered, fade resistant and weather resisThe perfect space to relax with family and friends
www.salemwindowsanddoors.com
The High Country’s Local Window & Door Specialists
Come Visit our High Country Showroom in Boone, Proudly Featuring Products. HigH Country LoCation 8968 Highway 105 South, Boone, nC 28607 828-356-7993 triaD LoCation 400 West Mountain Street Kernersville, nC 27284 336-770-5777 info@salemwindowsanddoors.com April / May 2015
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G&B Energy and DesignCast Concrete recently finished up this project in Wilkes County. The installation features a Saber Grill and side burner, a custom wood fireplace, multiple storage options with ample counter space. The finishing touch was the tiered stamped concrete patio.
tant outdoor furniture. Homeowners want outdoor seating that is as comfortable and stylish as their indoor living rooms. They are also looking for built-in seating structures or those that double as seating such as benches and seating walls. 3. Fireplaces, Fire Pits and Fire Bowls Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and fire bowls complement any outdoor area. Homeowners love fire features for their functionality, aesthetic appeal and warmth — both literally and emotionally. In fact, according to Better Homes and Gardens, more than half of all millennials have open-fire features in their outdoor space! Newer versions make fire amenities more accessible with compact design and fewer venting concerns. Gas fireplaces, fire pits and fire bowls make an outdoor space even more functional by offering an elegant glow with the flick of a switch. This ease and ambience is a huge selling point for many homeowners. 4. Customized Lighting Lighting is a key component of any outdoor space, and we can see that homeowners are making it a priority. Layered outdoor lighting seems to be a big trend starting. First, you put the general lighting into the space, which is the light that fills the area — such as a wall-mounted light. The second layer of light is added for function, safety, and security. These lights can be placed around a path and in the landscaping or can be built into your outdoor-kitchen area. This second layer of lighting adds a nice and fun touch to your space. 5. Decorative Stamped Concrete More and more people are seeking out decorative stamped concrete for their outdoor spaces. This trend has been going strong for the past couple of years, but we are now seeing homeowners choosing even bolder concrete options for their homes. Homeowners are continuing to be drawn to concrete for its value, longevity and low maintenance costs. One of the best features of concrete is the never-ending array of col56
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“Eighty percent of households own an outdoor barbecue, grill or smoker." ors and styles. Stamped concrete can be made to look like other paving materials such as brick, wood, travertine, stone, and cobblestone. Sebastian says these trends as identified by the industry’s trade foundation, are part of the exciting treads that are making patio lifestyle much more affordable and a relaxing . . . Other interesting tidbits from the Saber Grills Survey Study is that 9 percent of the folks surveyed who had an outdoor room had TV’s installed, and 49 percent had Wi-Fi, 47 percent had special lighting and 35 percent, who called themselves adventurous entertainers had two grills and invited frequent guests over to try out new recipes.
Tradition. Vision. Innovation.
Parkway Craft Center at Moses Cone Manor Milepost 294 Blue Ridge Parkway Blowing Rock, NC Mar 15. - Nov. 30 | Open Daily 9am-5pm 828-295-7938 | craftguild.org
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
Other fun results from the study The majority of grill owners use their grills year round (60 percent). Nearly all (97 percent) of grill owners used their grill in the past year. Eighty percent of households own an outdoor barbecue, grill or smoker. Sixty-one percent of households that own a grill own a gas grill, followed by charcoal (41 percent) and electric (10 percent). The male head most often makes the decision (62 percent) to cook, lights the grill (73 percent) and cooks (68 percent) on the grill. Whether male or female, nearly 78 percent of consumers cooking on the grill consider themselves to be extremely proficient or proficient in most situations. Across the board, males are most likely to make the decision to purchase a grill (66 percent). April / May 2015
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It's Gardening Time! Let us introduce you to the local gardening and landscaping businesses that are ready and waiting to assist you with making your house and lawns look as beautiful as they can be. Over the next seven pages, check out the great, local experts that offer the products and services you are looking for to help get your spring projects done right the first time. Visit their websites or give them a call. Your yards and gardens will thank you. Gardening is one of the oldest practices in the South – and in the world, really. It is a great way to be self-sustaining and lessen that grocery bill. It provides a great opportunity to be outside and physically active while doing something that will benefit you in the future. 58
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Mountaineer Landscaping
LINVILLE. Nestled along the side of the road in the quaint little town of Linville you’ll find Mountaineer Landscaping. While located at the foot of Grandfather Mountain this design center and landscape company offers unique and unusual garden treasures from pottery to shrubs, outdoor pillows to bird feeders, garden tools to soils & fertilizers, with everything else in between. How do we begin to describe the garden wonders and beauty of Mother Nature that lurks around every corner here at Mountaineer Landscaping? Beautiful, amazing, and intriguing! Mountaineer Landscaping is locally owned and operated by Wayne and Terry Brewer. They have combined their talents and experience into a unique combination of landscape design and products
to meet the needs of their customers. Whether you are looking for a special accessory or plant for your lawn, garden or home; or if you need custom landscaping to turn your yard into the garden of your dreams, you will find it here in Linville. Mountaineer Landscaping and Design Center is the place to visit. The owner of Mountaineer Landscaping, Wayne Brewer, has a lifetime of experience in landscaping, both residential and commercial. Wayne enjoys being outdoors and taking raw or overgrown properties and turning them into serene gardens to escape from our hectic lives. These treasured areas provide a place to rest and rejuvenation. The beauty that comes from Wayne’s visions and the team’s hard work is very satisfying as they leave the property knowing it will be enjoyed by all that visit us, specially
the clients! Waterfalls are a specialty for Wayne and his team. As a young boy into manhood, Wayne was an avid trout fisherman on the rivers, creeks and streams of Avery County. His wife Terry, suggests that his natural waterfall designs comes from his childhood experiences and love for the local waters. The natural appearance makes you think that Mother Nature herself designed and placed it there. What could be better! Terry’s love for landscaping & decorating enhances the landscape with garden accents and features. The home of Mountaineer Landscaping in Linville holds everything you will need to personalize your time in the garden and make you smile. Beauty and inspiration surprise you as you stroll through the store and find the perfect accessory.
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Look here for Local Businesses that can help you with all your Gardening Needs Our Business is Growing Since 1956
Mother’s Day Special
4” Geraniums ... $1.50 STORE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm Call for Saturday Hours
726 Old Jonas Ridge Road in Pineola
(828) 733-4323 • (828) 733-5150 Handicap Facilities Available
Introducing
One-Stop Shopping
for all your floral needs
MUSTARD SEED MARKET
Located Inside Vaughn’s Main Greenhouse
828-733-2425
Valle Crucis, NC • 828-963-5974
Over 30 Years of Personal Service
Unique & Unusual! Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Saturday 9 to 1; Friday 9 to 6 or call for an appointment
Annuals • Vegetables • Herbs
www.charlottesgreenhouse.com 60
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This year, we will have a huge selection for fairy gardeners down to miniature plants, garden furniture, lanterns and so much more. We offer container gardens and deck plantings, orchids, house plants and custom fresh cut flower arrangements. Some of Terry’s specialties are orchid arrangements, weddings and events that spur her creativity. Our staff is local and experienced at gardening in this beautiful part of our world and can offer words of wisdom as you plan your vegetable garden or add to your landscape. The shrubbery selections are the hardiest (some to zone five) for our area here in the High Country. We never know when temperatures may reach 15 degrees below zero or when the wind chill will send temperatures down even lower. Customers return year after year knowing they’ll find just what they’re looking for tucked within, waiting on them to arrive. So this year come visit Mountaineer Landscaping in Linville, It’s the big RED building. We’re more than a store to furnish all your landscaping needs, it’s a SCENIC attraction! 828-733-3726. www.mountaineerlandscapinglinville.com
BLOWING ROCK. The Mustard Seed Market is the High Country’s favorite destination garden center, rooted since 1992 on Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock. We offer a beautiful selection of unique plants, landscaping services, wonderful relics for your garden and home, and inspiration for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Robb and Danielle Stewart combine their creative talents and horticultural expertise within each corner of their beautiful shop. Let them design and plant your seasonal containers, give a consultation at your home, or professionally install your landscape … all while using the hardiest & healthiest plant stock and organic soil amendments. Our shop is loaded with hand-picked and eclectic embellishments for your home and garden. Rustic metal animals antiqued stone statuary, terrariums, recycled Adirondack chairs, fairy gardens,
April / May 2015
industrial lights, solar lanterns, vessels of every kind, and the best shea butter soap! We expend a lot of effort caring and maintaining our quality plants and educating you, our valued customer, in the proper care for your ultimate gardening success! We’d love to see y’all Open seasonally … spring through fall. Monday-Saturday 9-6 We hope you have time to come visit us and get inspired or just unwind as you wander around our beautiful nursery and garden shop on the creek! (828) 295-4585. www.themustardseedmarketnc.com
BOONE RENT-All & parties too and AVERY RENT-ALL
BOONE AND BANNER ELK. Since 1972 Boone Rent-All & Parties Too in Boone and Avery Rent-All in Banner Elk have been helping the High Country “Do Spring.” The whole idea behind renting equipment is there are some things that you only need on occasion and it doesn’t make sense to own them. It makes sense to rent them. Tillers, aerators, dethatchers and spreaders are examples. You save money by only paying for the time you use it. You have no maintenance or storage hassles and you get top quality equipment. It’s a great deal! But there is some equipment you should own. Things like lawn mowers and string trimmers. At Avery Rent-All we offer the full line of Stihl outdoor power equipment for sale and service. And at Boone Rent-All & Parties Too we offer the full line of Husqvarna outdoor power equipment. So for the equipment you use on occasion we offer our extensive line of rental equipment. For the equipment you own we offer the absolute best equipment available Husqvarna and Stihl and the best service anywhere. So Spring into your chores with help from Boone Rent-All in Boone and Avery Rent-All in Banner Elk. Boone Rent-All. 828-2645000 or boonerent-all.com / Avery Rent-All 828898-6301 or averyrent-all.com.
Forget Me Nots
SUGAR GROVE. Opened in 1980 as Forget Me Nots Organic Flower and Vegetable Farm, the love of cut flowers, dwarf conifers, native plants, fragrant shrubs at-
People’s Choice
Winner In Recognition of Excellence
• Licensed Pesticide Sprayer • Septic Tank Installation • Hydro-Seeding • Excavating • Boulder Walls • Waterfalls
Hwy. 105 in Linville at the foot of Grandfather Mountain 828.733.3726 | Design • Installation • Maintainance Member: NC Nursery & Landscaping Association April / May 2015
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Gardening, Landscaping and Nurseries
Forget-Me-Nots
Landscape Gardens, Design and Stonescaping Uniting Artistry, Experience and Organic Sustainability With the Fine Joinery of Plant, Soil and Stone in a Thriving Relationship between Craftsman, Client and Environment
NATIVE, NATURAL LANDSCAPES:
boulder gardens & walls • drystack stone walls • drylaid stone paths & patios ponds & waterfalls • flowering trees and shrubs attracting birds & butterflies hardy unique conifers • organic perennial flower, herb & vegetable gardens edible landscapes • rain gardens • drainage & erosion issues mowing & weedeating • full landscape maintenance
31 Years Locally Offering You More Than You Expect! Bob Gow
828-773-3763
Jamal Gow
828-964-5448
Website: forgetmenotslandscape.com
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tracting butterflies and birds, the texture and breezy movements of grasses, and the winter architecture and bark of deciduous trees naturally led to the creation of a nursery and landscape design and installation. We, locally, innovated the organic, sustainable landscape. For 29 years, we have been building divine, nutrient rich well drained soils while dressing the curves with enduring colors and textures. We are horticultural fanatics. We focus on the natural affinities between plants and recreating unique niche environments. Doing so, we create healthy, living art. This same passion floods our stone and boulder work. Strongly influenced by our Blue Ridge Mountain landscape and by the gardens of mountainous Japan, or stone walls, paths, patios, massive steps, and boulder gardens unite art and function with the dance of joy in our labor. An artisan’s integrity is the foundation of our design and construction. We have fun and consider each project a unique gift to you. We hope to do more than construct. Employing a small crew of dedicated crafts persons, our backgrounds in classical and contemporary horticulture and our deep commitments to the ageless tradition of dry stonework inspire our clients in a common creative process. Each landscape and stonescape project is a unique outgrowth of the immediate and surrounding physical environment and personal interests of the clients and their home. A free consultation would be a time for us to listen to you and find where our visions merge. (828) 773-3763 or (828) 9645448. www.forgetnenotlandscape@yahoo.com
farmers rentals and power equipment
BOONE. Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment is the High Country’s one-stop shop for equipment rental, sales and service since 1986. Farmers Rentals offer a wide-ranging rental inventory with top name brands, complete parts and service department and a very knowledgeable staff to assist you. Whether you require general tools, contractor hardware, outdoor power equipment, contractor supplies or repair
Gardening, Landscaping and Nurseries parts—we have all the tools you need to get the job done right, at the right price! From power tools to snow blowers, to excavators and forklifts – we are proud of our wide selection. Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment is a family owned and operated business. When we opened our doors back in 1986, our mission was to provide expert advice, service, and top-quality equipment sales and rentals. To this day, we continue to expand and strengthen our services by offering contractors and do-it-yourselfers a high quality tool selection. We know that when you have a job to do, choosing the best equipment for your home or business is essential. At Farmers Rentals you can count on our experienced and friendly staff to help you decide which product is ideal for your job, saving you time and money. We are always ready to serve your needs – for your next project, take advantage of our convenient hours, competitive
rates, advance reservations, and delivery / pickup service. Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment has a wide-ranging inventory with top name brands such as Ferris, Bobcat, Snapper, Honda, Jet Woodworking Tools and more. We are the area’s elite, full-line dealer of Stihl power equipment. With sales, service and parts all under one roof, you can be confident that Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment’s Circle of Service will be here for you long after your purchase. Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment includes: Contractor supplies and hardware. Outdoor power equipment supplier. Extensive lawn and garden equipment. Snapper and Simplicity lawn tractors. Walk behind mowers—Honda walk behind mowers generators and pumps. Tillers. Snow blowers.
Ferris and Bobcat commercial mowing equipment—Sales, Service and Parts. Full-line Stihl power equipment dealer, with gold level technicians. Complete parts and service for all brands they sell and rent. Complete line of power pressure washers and cleaners and accessories. Laser (gas and kerosene) vented heaters, as well as Eden Pure space heaters. Buck wood stoves. We service all the brands of outdoor power equipment that we sell. At Farmers Rentals, our technicians are factory trained to give our customers the best possible service. Our in-house parts department is also stocked full of all the accessories and the replacement parts that you need to keep your equipment in top condition. Whether you need our services or equipment for your home or business, call or visit us today. 828.264.6044. www. farmersrentals.com
We’ve Got What You Need!
Everything You Need This Spring to Get Your Yard & Garden Picture Perfect!
Push and Riding Lawnmowers
We’ve Got It! Rent or Buy Today!
Leaf and Debris Blowers
Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment is the High Country’s one-stop shop for equipment rental, sales and service since 1986. Family owned and operated, we offer a wide-ranging rental inventory with top name brands, complete parts and service department and a very knowledgeable staff to assist you.
Chainsaws
www.farmersrentals.com Mc/aMex/ViSa/DiScoVer 828.264.6044 678 highway 105 ext. • boone, north carolina 28607
find Us on facebook
Monday-Friday 7:30-5:30 Saturday 7:30-1:00 Closed Sundays April / May 2015
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They're ready! Check out our local vendors' greenhouses and shops for what you need for springtime gardening and landscaping. vaughAn'S nursery, greenhouse AND FLOWER SHOP
PINEOLA. Since 1956 Vaughan's Nursery Greenhouse & Garden Center has been taking care of all your flower, shrubbery and landscaping needs. Vaughan's is situated on 12 acres with 18 greenhouses and an acre dedicated solely to perennials. The nursery offers the best variety of flowers and shrubs of any business of its kind in the High Country. Vaughan's is also the only nursery in the area that grows all their annuals right there on the property. While some businesses bring in plants fully-grown and ready to go, it starts with the bulbs or seeds at Vaughan's. Vaughan's does both wholesale and retail business and offers some great specials on the retail side. For Mother’s Day customers can get four-inch geraniums at a discounted rate. There will also be discounts on various products 64
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throughout the summer. Plus, Vaughan's has added an addition to make all your floral needs a one stop shopping experience. Vaughan's has incorporated a full service retail florist division. "The Flower Shop" is located inside Vaughan's main greenhouse and can be reached at 828-733-2425. Vaughan's is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call for current Saturday hours. They are located at 726 Old Jonas Ridge Road in Pineola. (828) 733-4323 • (828) 733 - 5150
CHARLOTTE'S GREENHOUSE
VALLE CRUCIS. A three generation family business, Charlotte's Greenhouse, renown gourmet lettuce growers, has been located in Valle Crucis for thirty nine years. They offer an extensive selection of annuals, herbs, vegetables, perennials and succulents. This year the selection of vegetables bred to grow in containers has expanded; a wonderful way to have a small garden in limited space. Other col-
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lections include deer resistant varieties, cultivars that attract and nourish endangered monarch butterflies. Plants are locally grown, pesticide free, adapted and timed for our special environment. Our very knowledgeable staff, besides Charlotte, includes her daughter, Sharlie, an excellent resource, and her son Fred. The Greenhouse has a unique selection geared to gardeners who like to make their combinations with plants that are rarely found or in sensible sizes; who needs a gallon sedum or keeps that full blown ten inch hanging basket alive all summer long. Come brainstorm for the right colors, height, or texture of plants you need, or solve a problem area. The greenhouse will open Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Saturday 9 to 1; Friday 9 to 6 or call for an appointment. Visit us on the web or on Facebook. 828-963-5974. www.charlottesgreenhouse.com
Gardening, Landscaping and Nurseries GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN NURSERY GARDEN CENTER AND LANDSCAPING
BANNER ELK. Since 1976, Grandfather Mountain Nursery Garden Center and Landscaping has been passionate about plants and creating pleasant outdoor environments in which you can live, play and relax in. We offer much more than “the big guys” because we have maximum product knowledge, a greater variety of product, and many special services to aid our customer and can offer value priced products. We are a team of Landscaping professionals dedicated to making your landscape garden a success. Our success is evident in the many long-term relationships we have developed with our clients and their landscapes. Our vision and passion makes us the landscape leaders in the High Country and we are recognized as one of the most progressive green industry businesses in the area. The Garden Center offers a vast array of lawn and garden merchandise and related accessories. We are constantly on the look to stock the finest quality in plant materials and garden products. We are pleased to offer dwarf, rare, unique and hard to find varieties of plant material as well as the more common varieties. By maintaining a personal relationship with our suppliers, we obtain the “pick-of-the-crop” and are able to provide premier plants to our customers. Our stock is hand cared for and maintained by our superb garden center staff. We continually update our garden accessories and stock the classical to the whimsical garden accessories. And of course, we keep on hand specialty fertilizers, chemicals, pavers, statuary, fountains, gardening books, tools, a wonderful array of gardening gloves, arbors, plant markers, and lots more. Our garden center staff can provide you with a wealth of information about your gardening questions and help offer solutions and suggestions. Delivery service is also available. Come peruse the offerings at the garden center - it truly will be your breath of fresh air. 828-963.5025. www.grandfatherland-
scaping.com
FOR THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO RENT AND THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO OWN
WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
Grandfather Mountain
Nursery Garden Center and LandscapingSM Great Landscapes Take Knowledge & Experience While Extraordinary Landscapes Take Passion and Vision Serving the High Country since 1976
The Garden Goddess Theresa Foxx
Proud to be a Local Woman Owned Business
Customized maintenance & landscape plants tailored to your lifestyle Establish unique new landscapes & renovate “tired” ones Cater to our client’s discriminating tastes by offering a wide range of exceptional products & services Recognized as one of the most progressive green industry businesses in the North Carolina High Country Committed to excellence in every phase of operation Our vision and passion makes us the landscape leaders in the High Country!
Located at the Base of Grandfather Mountain
11466 Hwy 105 • Banner Elk, NC 28604 • grandfatherlandscaping.com PHONE: (828) 963-5025 • FAX: (828) 963-7637 April / May 2015
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Appalachian Mountian Photography Competition A ‘Homegrown’ Photogr aphy Competition By Jessie Wood
E
xperience the best of the 12th annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition in the ensuing pages. In December, a three-judge panel of expert photographers combed through more than 1,000 images to select 42 finalists that depicted Southern Appalachia’s unique culture, majestic scenery and the character of its people. And the winners are in! Flip through to see the artists who won top honors, categories and special mentions at this year’s Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition, which ASU Outdoor Programs Associate Director Rich Campbell described as truly “homegrown.”
As one of the most prestigious photography competitions in the region, the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition continues to grow. Now in its 12th year, the competition – based on entries alone – has grown 10 fold. In the first year, AMPC attracted 100 entries. This is compared to 700 submissions in 2011 and more than 1,000 images for this year’s competition, which is a program of ASU’s Outdoor Programs in partnership with the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. AMPC, which featured $4,000 in cash prizes this year, is made possible through the sponsorship of Blue Ridge Parkway
Rich Campbell of Appalachian State University Outdoor Program and People's Choice Award Winner, William Mauney (right)
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Foundation, the Mast General Store, Footsloggers Outdoor & Travel Outfitters and Appalachian Voices. A portion of the proceeds from the competition support ASU’s Outdoor Programs Student Outdoor Learning Expedition. SOLE trips are educational journeys of discovery that take students around the world. If you want to see the images in person, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, located in downtown Boone, hosts an exhibition in the Mezzanine Gallery through June 6. For more information, click to www.appmtnphotocomp.org.
Best in Show Winner, Kelly Clampitt
PHOTOS BY SARAH WEIFFENBACH
Kelly Clampitt and the image Dawg with Plotts (above) took top honors receiving the designation of Best in Show. Kelly will take home a cash award of $1,000 furnished through competition proceeds. William Mauney’s image The Table Rock Fire Star Trails (below) is the public’s pick in this year’s Footsloggers’ People’s Choice Award and will receive $350 cash award furnished by Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters.
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Above:
Winners
Blue Ridge Parkway – Beyond the Black Top $250 award from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and a $250 gift certificate from Mast General Store "Taking in the View near Moses Cone Manor" by Charles Johnson LEFT MIDDLE:
Adventure $250 gift certificate from Mast General Store "Powder Hounds" by Kristian Jackson LEFT BOTTOM:
Culture $250 gift certificate from Mast General Store "Man of Steel" by Chuck Almarez
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PHOTO BY SARAH WEIFFENBACH
List of Finalists Adventure: Kristian Jackson “Powder Hounds” Bailey Winecoff “Toucan Brandon” Ben Keys, Jr. “Chuting” David Vanderlaan “Kayaker” Lynn Willis “The Classic High Country Ride” Tommy Penick “Highland Bouldering” William Mauney “At the Start”
Blue Ridge Parkway – Beyond the Blacktop: Charles Johnson “Taking in the View near Moses Cone Manor” Dianne Sherrill “Coming Down 'The Lump' Hill” Donna Harris “Flat Top Trail Tunnel” Lynn Willis “Linville River Flooding from Plunge Basin" Mark VanDyke “Blue Ridge Parkway Post & Stake Fencing” Sharon Canter “Winter’s Eve at the Mill”
Culture: Chuck Almarez “Man of Steel” Alan R. Clark “Gone but not Forgotten” James K. Fay “Hungry Hungry Holstein” Kelly Clampitt “Dawg with Plotts” Ken Barrett “Red Barn” Matthew Irvin “Valle Crucis Pumpkins” Steven Tweed “Cornbread & Milk” Victor Ellison “Time Capsule”
Our Ecological Footprint: Lynn Willis “Lethal and Leveled” Catherine Hopkins “Slope Sliding Away” Houck Medford “NC DOT Disaster at Deep Gap” Kathryn Greven “Dying Giants” Kristian Jackson “The Spokesman” William Mauney “The Table Rock Fire Star Trails”
Flora and Fauna: Frederica Georgia “Gotta Goat” Derek Cernak “Pipestem Friends” Drew Senter “Mirror Image Cubs” Josh Stamm “Terraced” Kelly Clampitt “Floating Wood Frogs” Spencer Black “Searching For Love” Victor Ellison “Tranquility”
Landscape: Kathryn Greven “Thru the Mist” Catherine Hopkins “Appalachian Storm Surge” Daniel Burleson “Merging Seasons” Deborah Scannell “Ice Chaos” Mickey C. Moten “Foggy Bottom Pumpkin Patch” Mickey C. Moten “Crabtree Falls NC” Robert H. Clark “Morning on the Ridge” Tim Williams “Least Resistance”
Unique furniture, housewares, art, jewelry, boutique clothing and accessories. Come see the variety of items for your home or office decor. Now accepting donations to benefit
Feed All Regardless of Means REAL. GOOD. FOOD. 196 Perkinsville Dr., Boone Open Wed. - Sat. 11-4
828.355.9995 consign@LilianJade.com April / May 2015
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Above:
Winners
Flora & Fauna $250 gift certificate from Mast General Store "Gotta Goat" by Frederica Georgia LEFT MIDDLE:
Our Ecological Footprint $250 award from Appalachian Voices and a $250 gift certificate from Mast General Store "Lethal and Leveled" by Lynn Willis LEFT BOTTOM:
Landscape $250 gift certificate from Mast General Store "Thru the Mist" by Kathryn Greven
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PHOTO BY SARAH WEIFFENBACH
Honorable Mention TOP: Our Ecological Footprint
"The Table Rock Fire Star Trails" by William Mauney middle: Flora & Fauna
"Searching for Love" by Spencer Black BOTTOM: Landscape "Merging Seasons" by Daniel Burleson
From Top: Sharon Canter “Winter’s Eve at the Mill” - Tommy Penick “Highland Bouldering” - Kristian Jackson “The Spokesman” Kathryn Greven “Thru the Mist” PHOTOS BY SARA WEIFFENBACH April / May 2015
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Parting Shot...
By
Bob Caldwell
In August of 2005 at three months old, the High Country Press staff included: Back Row (left to right) Ken Ketchie, Jamie Goodman, Sam Calhoun, Lowell Simmons, Ian Ellis, Scott Watson, Lewis McNeil. Front Row: (left to right) Ryland Williams, Laila Patrick, Celeste von Mangan, Kathleen McFadden, Myra Patterson, Leigh Ann Cairns and Katharine Osborne.
High Country Press Turns Ten Years Old On May 5th by Jesse Wood
T
en years ago on May 5, 2005, Ken Ketchie and company founded High Country Press. This was after a three-year hiatus from the publishing business since selling the vastly popular Mountain Times Publications, which spanned Ashe, Avery and Watauga. Unfortunately, Ketchie jumped back into the newspaper industry at the wrong time. To use stock-market analogy, he bought in at the very end of a very long bull market. In 2005, newspaper ad revenue hit a historical peak in the United States at $49.44 billion. Less than 10 years later, that total would drop 55 percent to $22.3 billion in 2012, according to the Newspaper Association of America. The beginning of 2012 happened to be the time that Ketchie stopped publishing the weekly High Country Press, which had become the community’s favorite publication 72
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for both news and happenings about town. Ketchie “saw the writing on the wall” over the Christmas holiday in 2011 when both of his parents – not millenialls, mind you – were hovered over their laptops reading the news! So enter HCPress.com, which also recently celebrated an anniversary of its own. In March, the website turned 3 years old. During that first month in 2012, HCPress.com only saw 20,000 visitors, but it wasn’t long before the website was reaching well over that mark every week – and on occasions, in one single day. Since HCPress.com went live, there have been 3,770,458 visits by 1,773,484 users, who looked at 7,909,702 pages – as of April 3, 2015. While the format is different from the “good ole” newspaper days, nothing has really changed. Instead of flipping through a hard copy, we’re just scrolling with our fingers or
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clicking with a mouse to catch up on what’s going on in the community. The staff, although not nearly as big as shown in the picture 10 years ago, still covers the government meetings, political scuffles, business spotlights, sports, real estate transactions and the events that happen throughout the days, weeks and months of the year. On our third anniversary, we launched the redesign of HCPress.com. It still features the exhaustive coverage and eye-popping ads of the old site but just with less clutter. We hope you like it, and thanks for reading. P.S. - Don't forget about our hard-copy publications, High Country Magazine and High Country Visitors Guide, both of which feature digital companions that can be found on the homepage.
Boone’s Premier Tile Showroom
Come See Our New Showroom Space!
Owners Trudy and David Shell
STore HourS: Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm Saturday: By Appointment 1852 H w y. 105, Bo one • 828-265- 0472 • w w w.Mo un t a inT il eNC .c o m April / May 2015
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