Hc magazine december 2014 by High Country Press

Volume 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 3 December 2014

Merry Christmas December 2014

High Country Magazine

December 2014

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December 2014

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A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Contributing Writers Madison Fisler Lewis Allison West Melanie Bullard Randy Johnson Emma Speckman Jesse Wood Contributing Photographers Todd Bush Finance Manager Amanda Giles Advertising Director Jeffrey Green

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December 2014

High Country Magazine

Calendarof Events DECEMBER 2014

11/28-1/25 Festival of Lights, Chetola Resort, 828-295-5550 4-7

Christmas in Oz, Y’all, Harvest House Performing Arts Venue, 828-312-0263

Downtown Boone Christmas Parade, Boone,

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828-268-6280

An Appalachian Christmas, Mountain Home Music,

www.mountainhomemusic.com

Christmas in the Park and Parade of Lights, Banner Elk,

828-898-8395 6-7

Anniversary Weekend, Appalachian Ski Mtn,

828-295-7828

Ashe County Holiday Market, West Jefferson, www.ashefarmersmarket.com

12-14 12-24 13-14

SugarFest, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521 Santa at Sugar, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521 The Nutcracker Ballet, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, ASU, 828-295-6621

SPY Super Session, Appalachian Ski Mtn., 828-295-7828 Skiing with Santa, Appalachian Ski Mtn., 828-295-7828 USSA Holiday Giant Slalom Competition, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, Appalachian Ski Mtn.,

828-295-7828

31 31

6 10

Appalachian Ski Mtn., 828-295-7828

Smith Shred for the Cup Rail Jam,

Septuagenarian Party, Sugar Mountain Resort, National Winter Trails Day, Sugar Mountain Resort, Winterfest, Beech Mountain Resort, 828-387-2011 K2 Pop This! Ollie Contest, Appalachian Ski Mtn.,

High Country Magazine

Valentine’s Day Family Weekend, Appalachian Ski Mtn.,

828-295-7828

Valentine’s Day Fireworks Celebration,

Appalachian Ski Mtn., 828-295-7828

828-295-7828 10

Blowing Rock WinterFest, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7851 GNU/Libtech Shred for the Cup Big Air,

13-16

828-898-4521

10-11

22-25

New Year’s Eve Celebration, Beech Mountain Resort,

828-898-4521

Burton’s Party in Your Park, Beech Mountain Resort,

828-387-2011

FEBRUARY 2015

Appalachian Ski Mtn., 828-295-7828

18-19

New Year’s Eve Celebration, Sugar Mountain Resort,

JANUARY 2015 4

828-898-4521 828-387-2011

Banner Elk Christmas in the Park and Parade of Lights, December 6

December 2014

Dragon Go Big or Go Home, Appalachian Ski Mtn., 828-295-7828

20-22

Totally 80s Retro Ski Weekend, Beech Mountain

Resort, 828-387-2011

Volcom/Electric Shred for the Cup Slopestyle Finals,

Spyder 2014 Sample Sale, Sugar Mountain Resort,

Appalachian Ski Mtn., 828-295-7828

828-898-4521

wRECklESS Rail Jam, Beech Mountain Resort,

828-387-2011

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EVENTS

ASM's New Year's Eve Extravaganza

Ring in the New Year at Appalachian Ski Mtn. during the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza on Wednesday, Dec. 31. The event features night skiing until 11:30 p.m., a torchlight parade and, of course, fireworks at midnight. Don’t forget ice skating from 10 to 11:45 p.m. and dinner specials through midnight. For more information about this New Year’s Eve Blast that is much more than a party, call 828-295-7828 or click to www.appskimtn.com.

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High Country Magazine

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For the Love of Painting

Blowing Rock Business Owner’s Painting Dons Cover

eleste Phillips, the Blowing Rock-based artist whose landscape oil painting dons the cover of this magazine, grew up just down the mountain in Caldwell County on a on a farm in Hudson with Black Angus cattle, horses and, of course, bales of hay dotting the countryside. “Hay rolls are something I just love,” Phillips said. While the landscape painting features the peaks of Grandfather Mountain in the background, Phillips said that the featured landscape with snow-covered conifers, an icy stream and milk-red barn with a Christmas wreath doesn’t exist – except in her mind. Phillips, who owns Celeste’s Interiors on Main Street in the small village, attended Governor’s School of North Carolina in high school and went on to Appalachian State University, where she majored in art and minored in music. She taught art for a while in public schools and college at Charleston, S.C., before moving back home and eventually ending up in Blowing Rock to stay. She said she came from a family with an artistic background – furniture and shoe design to interior decorating. But for her, painting is what she loves to do when she’s not operating Celeste’s Interiors in downtown Blowing Rock. 12

High Country Magazine

December 2014

“I just lose myself in it really,” Phillips said. “I like worrying about the composition part of it and it’s a lot a like, almost a mathematical formula, balancing texture and composition and color, and that whole process is fun for me to put together in a painting whether it’s something I see literally or bits and pieces in my head that I put together to form a painting.” While Phillips said she primarily paints landscapes and loves to depict horses and the outdoors, she spent several years deep in portraits and has also been interested in architectural renderings. Primarily she paints in oils, but each winter she visits a little island in the Caribbean, where she prefers to paint with watercolors. As for this cover, Phillips said she was “excited and honored” to be featured on the cover of High Country Magazine’s annual December/January edition that features a painting from a local artist. It was also a slight challenge, Phillips said, to have to abide by and work within the boundaries of a magazine layout. “It was a little bit different,” Phillips said, “but I enjoyed the challenge.” For more information about Phillips’ artwork, click to www. celestesinteriors.com or call 828-295-3481. By Jesse Wood

December 2014

High Country Magazine

mountain

echoes

Ski-Slope Time Machine: Totally 80s Retro Weekend at Beech B

reak out your rad shoulder pads, gnarly parachute pants and fresh spandex and head on up to Beech Mountain Feb. 20-22. The highly anticipated Totally 80s Retro Ski Weekend is back in the village, and it looks like the locals can’t wait to go back in time once again. “A lot of the skiers in the area just love it, because it gives them something different to do,” said Craig Distl of Beech Mountain. “A lot of locals make it a point to come every single year, and a lot of the younger folks love the 80s vibe.” This year will mark the fourth year of the event, where Beech Mountain is transformed into a 80s paradise with music, contests, specials and much, much more. “There will be live music Friday night at the Mile High Tavern,” Distl said. “The restaurants all throughout the town will offer dinner specials for $19.80 per person and there will be lodging specials too!” Also featured both on and off the slopes will be live 80s music, appearances by The Carolina Ghostbusters and their Ecto-Mobile, a replica of the Night Rider car and a Bret Michaels impersonator. For

the competitive folks out there, participants can enjoy a Madonna Look Alike Contest and a Retro Apparel Contest. “It’s like a ski slope time machine,” Distl said. “You come up and you have gone right back to the 80s. People wear their 80s ski clothes and everyone wears 80s style off of the slopes too. It is a fun celebration of a great decade that gives a really good vibe in town. Local businesses get involved, and you can see people in town wearing acid wash jeans and members only jackets. It’s a trip back in time to a time when things weren’t so complicated.” This event has been popular with locals and visitors alike since its inception, and for those who live in the area, it is a great way to see home in a whole new light. “We try to always have fresh and unique stuff every year,” Distl said. “Everybody pulls together, it isn’t just the ski resort or just the town. The music is playing everywhere in town, and it touches something in people young and old. It is lighthearted. We live in a very serious time, and it is a little break from all of that. People always like an excuse to get out the 80s clothes, and here is your chance!” By Madison Fisler Lewis

CHETOLA RESORT’S DAY PROGRAM SNOW Every Snow Day for Watauga County

Campers will enjoy: Arts & Crafts | Swimming & Fitness | Healthy Snacks Campers must bring lunches & bathing suits

Full Day: 10am-5:30pm

$35 per day | $30 each addt’l sibling or Chetola members

Half Day : 10am-2:30pm or 1pm-5:30pm $20 per half day

To register, call Chetola Recreation Center at 828-295-5535 either prior to or on the snow day. If it is before 7am or after 8pm, leave the name and age of the child(ren) to automatically register.

www.Chetola.com 14

High Country Magazine

December 2014

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High Country Magazine

The L eader of the New A ppalachian Era ASU Chancellor Sheri Noren Everts Talks Snow, Football and the Future of Appalachian State University By Madison Fisler Lewis

uring a welcoming ceremony in March, Appalachian State University’s outgoing chancellor Kenneth Peacock presented then chancellorelect Sheri Noren Everts with plenty of Appalachian regalia to welcome the newly elected campus leader to the community that she would come to call home. Among the many gifts was a name plaque that proudly proclaimed her name and her newly acquired title. Today, that name plaque sits in a place of honor on Chancellor Sheri N. Evert’s desk in her office, where the university leader is poised to take the world of higher education by storm. But while many may know her as just the chancellor of the fifth-largest university in the 17-campus wide UNC system, the woman at the helm of the Appalachian State University is much more than just a name and a title on a desk. Now at the very helm of an established institution

High Country Magazine

December 2014

of higher education, the new chancellor has not at all forgotten her roots. Everts started her life in education in a one-room schoolhouse in Geneva, Nebraska – Grace Lutheran Day School to be exact – where she and her siblings first established their lifelong love of learning. Everts graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in English instruction and secondary education. After a career teaching middle school and high school in her native Nebraska and in Kansas, the budding education professional returned to her alma mater, where she earned a master’s degree in literacy education and English in 1991 and later, a doctorate in administration, curriculum and instruction in 1994. After attaining her highest degree, Everts earned a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska –

Chancellor Story # 2

December 2014

High Country Magazine

photo courtesy of Appalachian State by marie freeman

The Appalachian State University family welcomed incoming Chancellor Everts with a special welcome ceremony in March, held at Roess Dining Hall on campus.

“

I am really amazed that the kindness has lasted as long as it has. I am in my honeymoon phase with the university, but everyone has just been so kind to me and my family. Omaha. There, she quickly rose through the ranks and in 2000, she was named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, was later promoted in 2003 to Associate Vice President and was named Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs in 2006. There, she served until 2008, when she left her home state of Nebraska to join Illinois State University as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. In July 2014, Everts officially took over the reins as the first female chancellor of Appalachian State University. In the months since she first took her position, and at last positioned that name plaque on her desk, Everts says that she has been listening, learn18

High Country Magazine

ing and enjoying her new role. Everts freely admits that she came from very humble beginnings. She was the daughter of two farmers in Nebraska. Her father, Herman, only achieved a high school education, and she describes her father as a

December 2014

”

“unique combination of a published writer and a successful farmer.” At the same time, her mother was only able to finish eighth grade due to the struggles of the Great Depression. Though her parents did not possess a formal education, what they lacked in degrees they made up for with the morals and dedication to education that they instilled in their children. Everts has personally lived and learned all of the ways that education can change lives. She, along with her seven siblings, all possess college degrees, all thanks to the sacrifices made by her parents. “It is true, I attended a one room school house in Geneva, Nebraska from kindergarten through fifth grade,” Everts said on a chilly afternoon in

Top: Everts, the middle child on the bottom row being held in the lap of her brother, and her family in a family portrait. Center: The Everts family, grilling out on the family farm in Nebraska. Bottom: Everts’ family on their Nebraska farm. Missing is her eldest sister who is taking the photo.

October. She sits in a chair in the sitting area of her office and reminisces about her beginnings in education as the season’s first threat of snow softly rattles the windows. “I remember specifically my younger sister and I really enjoyed the opportunities that came with that. If we did well in a subject, the teacher would let us teach, and when we got home we would play school. I am a first generation college graduate, so that was the beginning. Five of the eight of us [children in the family] have at some point been teachers, so it probably runs in the family. I never left school, I love it.” When first venturing out after achieving her first degree in education, Everts found herself back inside of a classroom. This time, however, she was the one at the front of the room and it was she who was imparting the lessons. While enjoying her first years of teaching at a junior high and high school level, Everts learned an important lesson that has helped her through all of her future endeavors. “When I started, I was a junior high and high school English teacher, and one thing I remember most was how exhausting it was,” Everts said. “That was a very exhausting profession and the school day doesn’t end when the final bell rings. But the thing I remember the most was how much I learned from my students. They didn’t agree with me most of the time and that was a wonderful experience. I was amazed at how many students don’t enjoy reading and writing and it was a challenge to find materials that would interest and excite students. For me it was a wonderful opportunity to learn from people who didn’t agree with me, and that happened often. It was not unusual for students to hate my subject, but that was a great opportunity.” In her first few years as a teacher, Everts identified many issues in education that she was determined to address. December 2014

High Country Magazine

photo courtesy of Appalachian State by marie freeman

Though she has come far, Everts started from humble beginnings. She was the daughter of two Nebraska farmers, from whom she and her many siblings learned the importance of education, kindness and perseverance. Always striving to better herself, and to become a better educator, Everts returned to college to pursue a master’s degree in literacy education. “I had an opportunity as a master’s student to help a professor in a linguistics' course,” said Everts. “That really inspired a love of college teaching that I didn’t really expect to have. I had always loved middle and high school students. I was encouraged by my professors, and I became an instructor when I got my PhD at the University of Nebraska. Those were wonderful opportunities that illustrated that the things I loved about junior high and high school were things that I could expand and incorporate into teaching at the university level. I could prepare teachers 20

High Country Magazine

that, too, enjoyed students and enjoyed that opportunity to teach students to love something. I think it is vitally important that students read, write, listen, learn, it is a component of success.” And through her extensive career, Everts has not had to face her challenges alone. She has the support of her very loving – and very educated – family to help her along the way. “My husband has a medical degree, and he is a former university president, so we share a lot of experiences and learning opportunities with each other and that has been a marvelous thing,” said Everts. “It’s not many chancellors who are married to someone who used to be a university chancellor! It is great to have

December 2014

someone that understands the opportunities and commitment. I have been a professor as long as my children have been alive. They grew up on a university campus. I could see that they thought it was typical to come to campus to learn how to ride a bike and count change for the vending machine. They have always been comfortable on campus and have seen how important it is for me that I provide opportunities for other students.” While she has had many experiences that she credits with her success in the realm of education, she also points to a friend and mentor in the university circle who helped her to become the leader that she is today. “I was mentored by a wonderful President Al Bowman who retired before I left [Illinois] to come to Appalachian. He was an excellent boss, leader and he was a conscious mentor. That can be awkward if you are trying to teach important lessons, but for me he was a great example of how to listen and involve people and ensure people are part of the solution. You listen to people that don’t agree but people need to feel listened to, and I learned a lot of that from my mentor.” The idea of listening to those around her is a notion that Everts has carried with her into her new job. Since she first took office in July, Everts has made it her mission to spend her time listening and learning from those in the Appalachian community and beyond. “I think it is important [to listen] because I am new to Appalachian,” Everts said. “While I have a great deal of leadership experience at two other universities, they are very different campuses from Appalachian, so I wouldn’t presume what it is that makes Appalachian so special. People don’t agree, but there are a few themes that have developed since I was listening. They talk about the faculty caring so much about them that they helped not only in their discipline, but helped them with their lives. It was a level of caring that will bring tears to the eyes, and these are dedicated faculty who are very humble about the impact they make on students lives. I have heard that overwhelmingly. Everyone at Appalachian is committed to students and their success. That doesn’t happen everywhere. “There are some that want us to do more about the diversity of the student body and faculty and staff. That is something that I have heard in many circles. As I am listening, I want to make sure I am listening to lots of different groups. I want

to hear from lots of groups of people, staff, students, and people from the community. What is it about Appalachian that we want to never change? “I learned transparency is enormously important. It is a small community separate from other large communities. I think most people know what is going on anyway, so providing the information is a useful thing to do. You have a community that wants to do the best for this institution and ensuring people have the information they need is valuable.” Along with listening and learning, over the past several months, Everts has managed to find time to really experience Appalachian State University, Boone and the High Country area. “I am really amazed that the kindness has lasted as long as it has,” Everts said with a laugh. “I am in my honeymoon phase with the university, but everyone has just been so kind to me and my family.” The kindness of the community toward the chancellor of Appalachian State University is not new. It is one of the many things that have carried over from Ken Peacock’s decade-long tenure. “I absolutely feel I have big shoes to fill,” Everts said of her predecessor’s contributions to Appalachian. “Ken and Rosanne Peacock have done a wonderful job of offering assistance to me. They are gracious people, they always want the best for Appalachian, and I know that Ken and Rosanne worked very hard to make sure that the community accepted us as they were accepted. That is a marvelous privilege, to build on their legacy.” But even though Everts feels that she has big shoes to fill coming on the heels of Peacock, she is decidedly poised to make an impact of her own on the university and on the community. “Each chancellor has to do things their own way,” said Everts. “Ken was just a fabulous individual and leader, but I cannot be Ken Peacock. I can only be Sheri Everts. I think it is a wonderful opportunity. I believe that the opportunity to follow a successful chancellor is a gift, you don’t have to fix things, you just build on the greatness of the institution.” Everts believes that the continuance of the Campaign for Appalachian is a great extension of Peacock’s legacy. The campaign, which is nearing completion, finds itself very close to reaching the $200 million goal to support the university. Everts also mentioned that she plans to continue the emphasis on providing students with a “transformational Appalachian experience.” December 2014

High Country Magazine

Chancellor Everts participates in her first-ever Appalachian State University Homecoming Parade as chancellor. Here, she is driven down King Street in downtown Boone where she waves at students and community members on the street.

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“

I just want to continue on the path that Appalachian is on. It is a great university, and I want to move it forward and I am pleased and delighted to work for the students here. We will do it together and we will be fine.

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December 2014

Chancellor Everts, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and Boone Area Chamber of Commerce President Dan Meyer pose for a picture during a special presentation of “Wake Up Watauga” at the Daniel Boone Inn.

Chancellor Everts’ furry friends Pearl and Astor enjoy their first Boone snow in October 2014, donning their Appalachian sweaters for the occasion. “That is something that people never want us to change,” Everts said. “I mentioned also the continued commitment to increasing diversity among faculty, staff and the student body and that has not changed. That is something that the campus has outlined as important, and so it is.” But aside from continuing the work of Ken Peacock, Everts is also tackling her own efforts. Among them are Appalachian’s commitment to healthcare and the transition of the university into the Sun Belt Conference. “The role Appalachian plays in helping provide better access to healthcare in our state and region is critical,” she said. “Our newest college, the College of Health Sciences, has seen phenomenal growth. The number of Health Science majors has nearly doubled since 2008. We are in the process of adding two new graduate programs, an M.S. in Nursing and a Master of Heath Administration. Also, the first cohort of students in our collaboration with Wake Forest School of Medicine to offer a Physician’s Assistant program on our campus started in July 2014. Of course, this stellar college needs a home that can support the growth, provide classrooms and lab space and offer a centralized hub for faculty.” Everts has also made no secret of her love of football. “I love football,” Everts said. “Some folks joked to me when I was announced as chancellor that I was raised on corn and football. It isn’t a choice if you grow up in Nebraska, you grow up loving football. I love football, I love Appalachian football. To play at the Rock, it is a wonderful atmosphere. People are having fun and enjoying the experience. I think people have a great attitude about it being a game and on this team they are student athletes and we want to be supportive of them.” While she is more than a little excited to be experiencing her first season of Appalachian Mountaineer football, she also has the added excitement of helping to lead the school into its first year of Sun Belt competition. But while the future of the school’s athletics is definitely exciting, Everts has turned to addressing another university issue head on, where many others might shy away. “I would say that there is nothing worse than losing a student,” Everts said of her biggest challenge as chancellor thus far, referring to the death of freshman Anna Smith earlier this semester. “That piece will always be part of my first semester at Appalachian and that is a very difficult piece. We all get up in the

Chancellor Everts attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Geneva, Nebraska, shown here in a recent photograph.

Everts and her siblings set to head off to their first day of school. Everts credits her early education as the catalyst for starting a lifelong love of education.

“

I am a first generation college graduate, so that was the beginning. Five of the eight of us [children in the family] have at some point been teachers, so it probably runs in the family. I never left school, I love it. December 2014

High Country Magazine

” 23

photo by madison fisler lewis

photo courtesy of Appalachian State by marie freeman

morning to do this for students, and to lose one is very difficult. That will be the item that sticks with me long after the semester ends. Student health and safety are priority one. Educating the campus on what we have been doing to keep students safe has been the key and lately there have been a lot of conversations on these topics. I think that we can’t communicate too much in regards to safety.” When asked if she believes anything can be learned from the campus tragedy, the chancellor had this to say: “I think that in this case, first and foremost, we should keep in mind that the pain that we feel is very small compared to that of Anna’s family and to be reminded of that is important. It is also important to be reminded of how the community and campus came together at a very difficult time. People went out of their way to make sure that people felt safe, and supported, and cared for. People made sure to help others that were having trouble. Campuses are small communities that can work together in adversity, but that is something that we should continue to work for so we don’t ever take that for granted.” Everts also spoke passionately about student safety as it applies to assaults that have been documented on college campuses all over the country “This is one of the issues that we need to confront head-on,” Everts said. “It is one that we need to communicate about the realities and the issues associated with it. That is one of the areas in which Appalachian administration excelled long before I was here with the ‘It’s Up to Me’ campaign. The entire campaign is really to educate students about many issues associated with it and to educate the entire campus. That piece is really incumbent upon us to communicate and ensure that we do not blame the victims. That is an enormous part as well. I think transparency is an important thing. It is not merely a word; it is something I am dedicated to. We don’t want to frighten people, but they need to know the facts when we have them. It is important to communicate.”

Since she first arrived at Appalachian State University, Everts has been active in her new role. During her first semester, she has spent time listening to the campus community; attending meetings; meeting students, faculty and staff and establishing herself as the institution’s new leader. 24

High Country Magazine

December 2014

“

I absolutely feel I have big shoes to fill. Ken and Rosanne Peacock have done a wonderful job of offering assistance to me. That is a marvelous privilege, to build on their legacy.

”

Chancellor Everts stands with former chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock. Since she first took office, Everts says that she has been astounded at the kindness of the former chancellor, who did his part to ensure her acceptance by the community and the campus.

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The new chancellor is a huge fan of football, and expressed excitement at helping to lead the university into the Sun Belt Conference. She made an appearance at many football games in 2014, even taking the time to meet the students in the stands.

The chancellor isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only one in her family with a love of football. Shown here from left to right, is her nephew, Jake; daughter, Elizabeth; friend, Cassie and niece, Emily.

High Country Magazine

December 2014

“

I love football. Some folks joked to me when I was announced as chancellor that I was raised on corn and football. It isn’t a choice if you grow up in Nebraska, you grow up loving football. I love football, I love Appalachian football.

”

Though she has faced many challenges in her relatively short tenure so far, Everts finds that what really makes her job worth coming to are the students of the university that she has already grown to love. “We have such great students and any time I have a free moment, or not, I try to walk across Sanford Mall to see students and they are so delightful,” she said. “Regardless of what meeting I am going to, I love stopping and talking to them. I think our students are bright and special, but that level of caring was very impressive. The service learning community engagement component is why a lot of students choose Appalachian, and that component of service was an important part of why I wanted to become an educator, and I see that in students that want to make the world a better place and I enjoy working with them.” While Dr. Everts has already made quite an impression on the students, faculty, staff and community members, she maintains that right now she has one major goal for herself, and it is a lofty one. “My goal is to be worthy of this great institution, Everts explained. “These are servant leadership roles and I want to serve this institution well. I will approach this in a transparent format, communicating things transparently. We will do it together and we will be fine. I just want to continue on the

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Though Everts has already made quite an impression on the university community, she maintains that she has one major goal for herself: to be worthy of this institution.

path that Appalachian is on. It is a great university with a great trajectory, and I want to move it forward and I am pleased and delighted to work for the students here.” “Anytime spent with students is a delightful joy, including times when they don’t agree with me,” she said. “One of the things I enjoy as I listen to them is their passion and that is a marvelous thing. Even if it’s a point of view that I don’t hold, it’s still something they are passionate about. We want to support ideas, not always ideas that are ours, but ideas that will change the world.” Though her first semester as chancellor could be deemed a “trial by fire,” Everts plans to continue to approach her job with an open mind, and with open ears. And as her first semester at the helm of Appalachian State University draws to a close, Everts will be preparing for her first High Country winter. “I am keeping to myself that I love snow,” Everts said with a broad smile. “But I am from Nebraska, we get feet of snow! I think it is going to be beautiful. Road conditions do worry me since these are mountains, not flat lands like from where I am from. Maybe by the 12th snowstorm, I won’t think that it is so pretty.” She has come a long way from her humble beginnings in that one room schoolhouse in Nebraska. In her lifetime, Everts has made the transition from being a student, to a teacher and finally to the helm of one of North Carolina’s top universities, learning all that she could along the way. Today, she can only imagine how proud two farmers in small-town Nebraska would be of her success. As for the rest of us, let’s hope that she enjoys the snow, because it looks there are many years of triumph in the making for Appalachian State University under the leadership of Chancellor Sheri Noren Everts.  December 2014

High Country Magazine

A Not So Local Jochl

Gunther Jochl

His Landmark Life in Southern Skiing Gunther Jochl’s new, namesake ski slope at Sugar Mountain, “Gunther’s Way,” is a signature achievement in more ways than one for a longtime fixture at the High Country’s biggest ski area.

Story by Randy Johnson • Photography by Ken Ketchie

nytime a major ski resort opens a top notch new slope, there’s excitement among skiers and satisfaction at the ski area. But this winter’s debut of Sugar’s new run is a truly big deal. It’s an exciting new place to ski, but the aptly named slope signals a new phase in one of the most influential careers in Southern skiing.

starts high, connects to other trails way down low, and covers a never-before-skied swath of the mountain that’s so big it’s more reminiscent of runs in New England and the Rockies. Kim sounds serious when she says the run is “imposing and enticing, too.” Early releases called the run “intermediate,” but the final judgment on difficulty will come when management and the skiing public have had time Gunther Jochl and wife Kim prepare to christen Sugar’s new run named after to let an awesome new experience sink in. Gunther. The arrow appropriately points at Kim—the name was her idea. There’s a second level of significance for Sugar’s new run. It won’t have a “generic” name. It’s a signature slope, a namesake tribute—Gunther’s Way— conceived by Gunther’s wife Kim to honor his decades of dediLet’s first tackle the size cation and commitment to Sugar. But Gunther, who has been at and scope of the new slope. Sugar “forever,” Kim says with a chuckle, doesn’t just have a new Look up from NC 184 and it’s obvious—with seven hundred ski slope to be proud of. In fact, the slope and its name reflect feet of vertical, 150 feet of side-to-side freedom, and more than something not widely known. Sugar’s longtime general manager a half-mile of slope, this expansion, says Kim Jochl, Gunther (since ski season 1976-77), and “part owner” (since the ‘80s)—is Jochl’s wife, and Sugar’s marketing and media maven, “will el- now the sole owner of the state’s biggest, now even bigger, ski evate who we are at Sugar Mountain and what skiers perceive area. The tale of how that happened is quite a story, indeed. us to be.” What Kim expects to be “her new favorite slope,” has “so many terrain changes, it’s more of what I’d call a complete ski slope, the kind I could compare to incredible slopes I’ve skied or raced on in other parts of the world.” That’s no small praise from the 1989 junior world ski champion and an eight-year member of the U.S Women’s Alpine Ski Team. The new slope 30

High Country Magazine

December 2014

From The Alps to Banner Elk Jochl’s father was originally a farmer outside the Medieval Austrian ski town of Kitzbühel, site of one of the World Cup racing circuit’s most challenging downhill contests. As World War II ended, Jochl’s dad bought a ZollHaus (customs house)

After a million plus dollars and a lot of hard work, Gunther and Kim Jochl share smiles of satisfaction—and anticipation—with local skiers about to christen Gunther’s Way with a ribbon cutting, the High Country’s newest ski run. “An early opening is cause to celebrate but who thought we could open Gunther’s Way on November 20th? It’s a proud moment and one we will remember,” said Mr. Jochl. mother told me, listen, just across the border in if you want to be an enGermany north of Kitzgineer, you have to learn bühel. Gunther was born to speak English. The in the German town of GUNTHER'S only way you’re going Sachrang, to an Austrian to do that is to go to the family, and grew up skiWAY United States.” Jochl easing in the Bavarian and ily hooked up with a ski Tirolean Alps. “Snow was job in the States. Euroour fun time,” he says. pean influence was strong Gunther’s father was part in the ski industry, even owner in a surface ski lift in the South, and Horst that served the commuand Manfred Locher of nity and his parents operBryce Resort in Virginia ated a B&B. Today, after hired him to teach skithe busy Sugar ski season, ing (the brothers still run Gunther, Kim and 14-year the resort). Austrian Sepp old daughter Olivia visit Kober, who launched his mother in Sachrang. As modern Southern skiing many do in German speakSugar opened on November 2nd and already a snow-covered Gunther’s at Virginia’s Homestead ing countries, Olivia calls Way was auditioning for its starring role in this winter’s ski season. in 1959, helped popularGunther’s mom “Oma,” ize skiing in the South by grandmother in German. Sugar’s one-time Big Red slope has just been renamed “Oma’s staffing his ski school with Europeans. In the early 1970s, Jochl found himself at snowy Munich Meadow” in her honor. By the time he was eighteen, Jochl had become a fully certi- Airport with two other instructors, dressed “in those furry fied ski instructor and part owner of a local ski school in his boots we used to wear.” One of the other instructors “thought hometown. But Gunther was studying engineering, and “my he was cool—he had a ring of Weisswurst around his neck,” a

December 2014

High Country Magazine

white Bavarian sausage made of veal and pork. They had to go through U.S. customs in New York, and the agent “took one look at the Weisswurst and said, ‘you cant bring that in.’ If we couldn’t bring it in we were going eat it. We sat down, ate our Weisswurst, and went back. ‘Can we come in now?’ The agents said, ‘No problem, guys!’” From their international flight, a Pan Am 747, where the “stewardesses all spoke German,” the instructors got on a Braniff plane with a Texas-based crew. “With all this Texas slang going on,” remembers Jochl, “I couldn’t understand a word. I was thinking, what is going to happen to us?” Their second flight arrived at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC— without their luggage. With their luggage lost, and still dressed in winter clothes, the trio suffered through nearly 80-degree temperatures until Horst Locher rescued them at the airport. The group drove over the mountains of Shenandoah National Park, “and when you get over the first range, the mountains are pretty nice,” Jochl says. “I said, ‘Horst, this isn’t bad,’ and he says, ‘No no. We’re not there yet.’” They finally reached Bryce and even in the moonlight, Jochl knew this wasn’t the Alps. “I said, ‘Horst, where are the mountains!?! There are no mountains here!’ Horst said, ‘You’ll be alright.’”Jochl was amazed. “‘Horst, are you kidding,’ I said. ‘When is there going to be snow here?’” That’s when Jochl, who would soon have a degree in engineering, heard his first explanation of snowmaking. Three days later, the new ski teachers awoke to what “sounded like a jet engine.” Their condo was right beside the air compressor house and snowmaking had started. Future engineer Jochl, already interested in ski lifts and cable cars, was fascinated by snowmaking. Mountains or not, Gunther loved it. “People were friendly as hell,” he says. “We taught skiing, partied, made decent money, met a lot of nice people.” Jochl taught a couple of years at Bryce, then, “after I graduated from college, I said, ‘what am I going to do? I’m going back to the States.’” He returned to Germany then moved to the United States for good, becoming a U.S. citizen in the mid-‘80s. Jochl’s mom wasn’t happy about his move, but he says, “I just fell in love with the life over here. People were just cool. Everything was cool,” he says with a hearty laugh. By the mid-‘70s at Bryce, Jochl had briefly met future business partner Dale Stancil, who was very involved in Southern skiing. Upon his return to the States, Jochl says, “I was looking for employment. So I went to see Joe Luter, who owned Bryce, and I said, “Joe here I am, you need me.’ He gave me the job to run Blue Knob.” Jochl managed Blue Knob, Pennsylvania one winter, then, under Dale Stancil’s wing, he ran Sugar Mountain then during the following summer he worked at Massanutten, a ski area in Virginia. Following that summer he returned to Sugar Mountain for good. In 1976, Stancil told him, “we have a chance to lease Sugar Mountain.” Jochl had met Eric Bindlechner, Sugar’s ski school director, a year before, so Jochl and Stancil flew down to check out the mountain and Chessie MacRae, “picked us up at the airport. I always thought she was some lady,” Jochl recalls. This was at the height of ski resort bankruptcies in the South, all of them aggravated by a few poor weather winters but largely sparked by an overemphasis on real estate sales. Jochl says, “Sugar was a shambles ... but not like Blue Knob. Sugar was a shambles with class.” With Jochl’s management and great weather, Sugar 32

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December 2014

Construction on the 9 acre area of the new slope was done by Banner Elk-based Eggers Construction that started on July 7 of this year.

Jochl’s a hands-on manager and he was often seen monitoring the construction progress. Jochl checks on the slope here in August.

From the air, and NC 184 in the valley below, the new run’s rightside route really balances out the mountain’s slope layout.

Situated on nine acres, Gunther’s Way is 150 feet wide and 2,900 feet long. An impressive 700 foot vertical guarantees an exciting challenge.

There’s a whole new view from the 150-foot wide swath of groomed corduroy called Gunther’s Way. That was easy to appreciate on the beautiful morning of November 20th, 2014 when a small group of lucky locals set ski and board to the never-before skied slope. indeed overcome climate— roared back in winter 1976-77. if you keep your eye on the He’s been at Sugar ever since. bottom line. “From the first time I came here, I liked Sugar Mountain,” he reminisces. “You have these places Making it Happen that just grow on you, make you Jochl set about seeing feel good. Sugar was one of those that Sugar would be one of places for me.” Dale Stancil and Southern skiing’s survivors. Ray Costin bought Sugar MounOne thing he started doing tain and Jochl took over as generwas opening Sugar earlier al manager. The two owners split than ever. “It used to be unthe mountain into two business heard of to start skiing beentities, Sugar Mountain Resort, fore the 15th of December,” Inc., the operational side of the The first snowboarders down the new slope were Jeff Johnson, Tim Ollis he says. “And that was from ski area, and a trust that owned and AJ Dulin, “I think it’s the most fun run in the area. It has some difficult north of Virginia all the way the ski area acreage. Stancil evenpitches and it’s a unique, fun run that has some steepness to it,” Johnson down here. When I came tually bought out Costin to besaid. “We had a lot of fun on it today, just lapping it all morning.” here, I said, ‘it’s gonna get come owner of Sugar Mountain cold. What else do we have Resort, Inc, and over time, Jochl became part owner. The two to do? Let’s make snow.’” Sugar started opening in November, became fast friends and still are today. He looks back at those mid-70s tough times in the ski indus- and, “everybody thought we were nuts. Dale Stancil went into try as a valuable learning experience. “The ski areas didn’t go the bar at Bryce and the bartender said, ‘have you guys lost your broke back then because of the bad times. They went broke be- marbles?’ By the time they were wondering what we did, we had cause of the good times. Because of all the money they wasted.” fantastic skiing on Big Birch and made some money—and gotIn that quote, Gunther Jochl captures a philosophy of fiscal con- ten great publicity.” The same thing happened this year shortly servatism that fits perfectly with Southern skiing. Down here, after Halloween—and The Weather Channel spent the weekend almost all the snow on the slopes comes out of a machine. Jochl broadcasting live from Sugar. To open ever earlier and easier, Jochl steadily increased snowlearned that top notch technology and sound management can December 2014

High Country Magazine

making over the years—with one goal in mind. “Our snowmaking is so big now, but my biggest goal is to make snow to the top in one setup. Everybody wants to go to the top.” Besides good marketing, operationally it’s so much easier. “It’s such a process, making snow here and there. It’s so much better to just hit it all. That’s one thing Appalachian does. They hit the button, every snow gun comes on, and they cover the whole mountain,” Jochl says. Adds Kim Jochl, “They pulverize it.”

Grooming, Too Slope grooming is another area where Sugar has led the way. The resort map says slopes, “are meticulously groomed and inspected at least twice a day ...,” and you can be sure that Jochl is often personally making those inspections and driving the grooming machine. When he’s not, his professional team of groomers amplify his own efforts. Early in the morning, and again before nighttime ski sessions, Sugar’s impressive fleet of state-of-the-art groomers is climbing all over the mountain. When Jochl arrived in the mid-70s, “nobody groomed,” he says, “it was awful. I would be grooming and people thought I was nuts, but we doubled our skiing numbers. I like to ski and I like to ski nice conditions—and our customers don’t want anything different than I want.” Giving skiers what they want on the steepest slopes at Sugar requires the area’s only winch-assisted grooming machines. Just once, drop off the edge of Whoopdedoo in a groomer cabled to a summit anchor, and you’ll understand why years ago, the steepest runs at Sugar and all over the South routinely turned into icy, almost unskiable, mogul fields. No more. Jochl tackled and tamed that issue at Sugar, setting a region-wide example of what good grooming could give to the skier—and the bottom line. It doesn’t take long grooming Boulder Dash in a winch cat with Jochl, radio communications crackling in an instrument-festooned cockpit, to realize this guy is also an airplane pilot (as is his wife).

The pump house has been redesigned and rebuilt to accommodate an additional 1,000 gallon per minute vertical water pump.

There’s more to a new slope than just cutting trees and grading the soil. Hundreds of feet of new waterline was needed to service new snowguns.

The Future Arrives 2010 was a turning point. Gunther Jochl bought out Dale Stancil to become sole owner of Sugar Mountain Resort, Inc. But the ski area acreage itself was still owned by a trust. A year later, Jochl purchased that ski area property. After realizing his dream of owning the entire resort, now, Jochl says, is the time to take it to the next level. He knew better than to make major improvements on land he didn’t own, so Sugar’s $1 million new slope and related snowmaking improvements are part of a bigger master plan. “You can call it a dream, or a plan. For me it’s both,” he says. “What was good enough 40 years ago just isn’t good enough today. The fact is people just expect more and more of us. Did we have to build that new slope? No. Is it going to take care of a lot more people. No. But having that improvement, having something for people to talk about, and anticipate, is tremendous, and not just for us, for other local slopes too. That gets a conversation going about things happening in the Southeast. And that conversation doesn’t just cover us.” What else is on the horizon? “Eventually we want a high speed lift to the top. That’s absolutely in the program—we just don’t know when.” There’s a long wish list. “We want a new rental shop,” he continues. “Our rental shop is big now, but a new building would offer a better flow, create more busi34

High Country Magazine

December 2014

It was easy to guess a new slope was underway with ten new SMI airless snowguns seen sitting off in a parking lot below Sugar’s ski lodge.

The tower-mounted snowguns cover the slope with the flick of a switch. The snow-making machines line the slope ensuring quality snow coverage.

ness, and add a lot to the creature comfort for the customer, which is still our number one priority here. Now, that we own the land, we’re in a position to do that.” There’s more. The ski area’s road access and parking will come in for finalization as other plans come into focus. “We have to continue to make it better,” Gunther says. That process has shifted gears this winter. Even though many skiers only think in terms of slopes and lifts, engineer Jochl is never happier than when showing off his air compressors and water pumps. “You look at the ski area, and that’s great, but remember,” he cautions, “this place was built in 1969. The piping, pumps, compressors, all that stuff from 1969, we replaced all that this summer, with bigger pipes, better pipes, more efficient machinery, including a major upgrade of pumping capacity.” It may not be sexy, but pumping water and compressed air up the hill puts snow on the slopes. So do the ten new airless SMI snowguns that, Jochl says, were used to open Gunther’s Way early in the season.

Passion for the Sport Jochl owns the whole enchilada now, but he says, “ownership or not, I couldn’t have worked any harder than I worked anyway.” Kim Jochl knows that work ethic. “There aren’t that many exceptionally driven people, but Gunther is one of them,” she says. “Along the way, he’ll bring a lot of people with him, but it’s not always just ‘come along.’ You have to want to struggle along with him, to work together to reach the goals, enjoy the success. It’ll be hard, but we’ll get there and it’ll be awesome.” No wonder Jochl is generous with his praise for employees. Jochl knows ski season requires that people, “pull together, and

A young Gunther Jochl (far left) was practically born on skis and a youthful pastime became his life's work. pitch in together and I have great people here. They do that.” Some Sugar employees have worked at the resort for decades. Director of Mountain Operations, “Warren Hodges has been here forever, since 1969, since we opened,” Jochl recalls. “He wants to retire but we won’t let him. What would he do? He’d

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shoot every deer out there...” Those employees include Kim’s brother, Erich Schmidinger, himself a former ski racer. “He’s a good guy, a hard worker, who carries a lot of load for me,” Jochl offers. You have to have skiing “in your blood, and he does.” For Jochl, ownership opens new opportunities for him, Kim, and Sugar. “It’s very humbling,” Gunther confesses. “We’re not big hoopla type of people. To me personally, this country is built on dreams, and of course, I had the dream that one of these days, I’m going to own Sugar Mountain. I just had to figure out how I was going to do it.” It hasn’t been easy. For Jochl, being a “foreigner was tough at times especially the business part. When you’re in a business negotiation, I often caught myself thinking, ‘if I could just express myself better.’ I had a hard time communicating, but that was my fault. I made the decision to go to a foreign country and they were kind enough to have me. Lucky for me, I learned fast.” With Sugar’s bigger future coming into focus, Jochl looks around at a remarkable life. Among the ventures he’s undertaken while at Sugar include being the US distributor for Völkl Skis. Amazingly, as a junior racer in Bavaria, Jochl actually met Franz Völkl, Jr., the company owner who just died last summer, and was responsible for Völkl’s remarkable success on the racing circuit and innovations like carbon fiber and shaped skis. “I was

December 2014

“It’s very humbling. We’re not big hoopla type of people. To me personally, this country is built on dreams, and of course, I had the dream that one of these days, I’m going to own Sugar Mountain. I just had to figure out how I was going to do it.”

one of those lucky kids who was sponsored by Mr. Völkl,” says Jochl. Mr. Völkl had a way of showing up at local races, and one day, “I was in a race and my binding pre-releases and I fall. I was a little whippersnapper, and I started throwing a tantrum.” When Jochl got to the bottom, Mr. Völkl gestured him over for a conference. “It was very short,” Jochl says. “He told me, ‘If you ever do that again you will never see another pair of my skis, you won’t even be able to buy them.’ My life stopped right there. This guy was my idol. It was like the biggest, ‘Yes, sir!’ you’ve ever seen. And I’ve been on his skis ever since.” Years later, across an ocean, in Las Vegas, Franz Völkl personally offered to sell his US distributorship to the tantrum-throwing kid racer from Sachrang. Gunther said yes. It was through Völkl’s U.S. sponsorship of U.S. Ski Team athletes that Gunther met Kim, then Kim Schmidinger. Kim and her ski racing twin sister Krista Schmidinger came to Sugar as Völkl sponsored U.S. Ski Team athletes. They liked the place, bought a house, and Kim eventually graduated from ASU. In 1997, says Gunther, “you were single, I was single, we got married.” Franz Völkl and his wife were the only Europeans at the wedding. “And now we have Olivia,” Jochl sums up. “She and our dog named Snoopy are keeping us busy.” Gunther Jochl has spent an entire, remarkable career build-

ing skiing in the South. Despite the cold and snow we get, it is a challenging climate for people who want to ski, but especially for the dreamers, the people like Gunther Jochl, who want provide it. You don’t Gunther Jochl to just walk outside and watch multi-feet of Champagne powder float down in Banner Elk (though we can hope). You have to operate topnotch hightech equipment to make snow, and to groom it, and that costs a lot of money—and takes a lot of guts. In the case of Gunther Jochl—that dedication and passion led him across an ocean on a journey measured in far more than miles. A journey into a new language, new cultures, a new country, and the ancient Southern Appalachians, a unique challenge for a mountain man from the far younger peaks of the Alps. Sugar’s slope “Tom Terrific” recalls Southern ski pioneer Dr. Thomas “Doc” Brigham, a founder of Beech, Snowshoe, and Sugar. “Gunther’s Way” is a new reminder that skiing in Dixie still has pioneers. For one of them, a uniquely “American Dream” is coming true. 

Randy Johnson is the author Southern Snow: The Winter Guide to Dixie, a 1987 “cult classic” that will be republished in the near future. His new book Grandfather Mountain—Appalachian Icon: A History and Guide will be out from the University of North Carolina Press in 2015. Visit him at: www.RandyJohnsonBooks.com.

December 2014

High Country Magazine

Sugar Gets Sweeter S

ugar Mountain touted 115 acres of slopes on its Website— but this ski season, it’ll have 125 acres with a new slope that takes a left off of the top of Switchback just as it turns below North Ridge. The 150-foot wide slope alternates between a swooping descent of a gradual upper terrace and then a steep, challenging plummet. The slope bottoms out as it joins the base of the Terrain Park slope above Easy Street, where advanced skiers can grab a surface lift back up the mountain. A new view includes Grandfather Mountain. The 2,900 foot slope, more than half a mile, boasts 700-feet of vertical drop. Jochl says, “If you put in a brand new slope 38

High Country Magazine

December 2014

and don’t expand snowmaking, you haven’t made much of an improvement,” so he added a massive new water pump that can push 1,000 gallons of water every minute up to ten new airless automatic SMI tower-mounted snowguns. All that will cost more than $1 million dollars, and includes hundreds of feet of new snowmaking pipe and changes in the resort’s pump house.

New Names Too Besides changing Big Red to “Oma’s Meadow,” to honor Gunther’s mother (called “Oma,” or “grandmother” in German),

First Tracks on November 20, 2014

here they go! With Gunther in the lead in the top right photo and World Cup racer Kim Jochl close behind, the High Country husband and wife ski duo made first tracks—and lasting memories— flying down Gunther’s namesake slope. What was it like? Kim Jochl said the run took her back to when she was competing with the U.S. Alpine Ski Team in the 1980s and early ‘90s. “It’s a wonderful, challenging run with some difficult pitches that I missed when skiing in the Southeast. The two steep pitches on Gunther’s Way really brought me back to when I skied long ago and competed at ski areas with bigger mountains,” Jochl said. “I got that feeling back again. It was very rewarding.”

Kim Jochl got inspired with her own idea for the new slope’s name. “I went up there and hiked the new slope alone ... and I realized that this was going to be the best slope on the mountain, and it just dawned on me, this is ‘Gunther’s Way,’ this is Gunther’s slope, and nothing else but that name would be fitting.” Previously, Gunther had indicated he didn’t want to name a slope after a person, so Kim set out to “figure out how I was going to tell Gunther that this was going to be his slope.” Kim decided to hijack the process, hoping “he won’t know until it’s too late for him not to like it,” she said with a laugh. But, she was, “reluctant to do something that important without Gunther’s approval.” Ultimately, she blurted out her idea. She knew, “for

him it would just be uncomfortable to have a slope named after him.” Eventually, Gunther “probably talked to some people,” she says, and “a few days later he said, ‘Ok, let’s do it.’ And that’s how it played out.” Kim thinks it’s “important to let this be a legacy for Gunther. It’s important when people have an impact, at a ski area or in a community, whether it’s my husband or someone else, to honor that. And a new slope like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I wanted to take advantage of.” Gunther looks at it philosophically. With a slight shake of his head and a smile, he says, “You only debate with Kim for so long and then she wins.” December 2014

High Country Magazine

December 2014

a Lesson in Love

“Our inner spiritual core is love. And like the sun, it can be hidden by dark clouds, clouds of fear, negativity and limiting beliefs, but it can never be put out.” – Houses of Healing: A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom

STORY BY Melanie Bullard — PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN KETCHIE

t is one of the last, perfect autumn days before winter rolls into the High Country, snatching the Carolina blue from the sky. The leaves, hanging onto their lofty trees are still glowing in the brilliant sunlight, and a few foamy clouds blow across the mountain tops. It has been a spectacular fall, weeks of shimmering crimson, yellow and orange, and temperatures ordered-up by the Chamber of Commerce. It is an autumn the women of Cellblock 14 at the Watauga County Detention Center did not see. The only blue these women have known since their incarceration is the deepest blue, which colors every iron bar and locked door in the building, and quite often their hearts. C14 is a windowless pod of holding cells inside the low-slung, industrial grey law-enforcement complex, wedged into the side of a hill on the western outskirts of Boone. C14 is home to a rotating group of female prisoners. In this two-story, beige and blue cinderblock pod of 12 double cells stacked one over the other, they don’t measure time by seasons, months, or even weeks. It is ticked off the same way they get by, day by day. One inmate, Sarah, who has been here the longest, checks her calendar to add up the time.

There is a red rash scattered across the exposed skin of her arms and neck. Sarah rarely smiles, but when she does it transforms everything about her. Another young woman, “Susie,” calculates her time. “I got here eight days after her,” says Susie, referring to her cellmate. The v-neck of her pumpkin-orange, regulation shirt frames her pale face. The shirt matches her baggy pants and rubber shoes. If they weren’t in this setting, the clothes might be mistaken for scrubs worn by nurses and doctors, but in here the shapeless uniforms, like everything else, serve to remind these women that they have few privileges and even fewer choices. They are inmates. The women are locked away because they are accused of breaking the law. Their alleged offenses range from breaking and entering, drug possession, and violating probation, to more serious matters. They will stay inside this jail awaiting trial, which could take up to two years, or longer. Until those court dates come, they will not see daylight, breathe fresh air or go outside. They will live together with strangers, inside these walls and inside their own heads and hearts. December 2014

High Country Magazine

“We are born perfect. We are not evil. Somewhere along the way their inner child was damaged. They aren’t even aware that everyone is not like that. There is so much prejudice against them. Something good should come out of their time in jail.” Mary Belanger with a copy of Houses of Healing Mary Belanger spends a lot of time inside C14. She is not an inmate, but a teacher. She retired after forty-four years, including fourteen at Green Valley Elementary. Mary’s tenure with the detention center began as more of a librarian. Several years ago, she was visiting a former student who was locked-up, awaiting trial. She brought him books, and he asked her to provide books for other inmates, who had no one on the “outside.” Mary

High Country Magazine

obliged, and working with others, and donations the library has grown to the 600700 titles it contains today Over time, the rotating group of inmates began to ask this diminutive but fierce educator, who looks and acts twenty years younger than she is, to teach them. Mary is still awestruck by the transformation when a dyslexic inmate read for the first time. “It is probably the most rewarding of

December 2014

anything I have ever done in my life, to hear the joy of him reading the story, even though it is only two pages long. It is just amazing.” As she continued to come to the jail week after week, teaching, reading and helping inmates earn their GEDs, Mary came to realize that her instincts as a middle school teacher were on target. The more she spent time with the inmates, the clearer it became that what happened to

“Break, Breathe, and Choose. You always have the power to choose.” them as children was an accurate predic- are hungry for the knowledge it brings. that,” Mary states emphatically. “They are tor of the likelihood they would wind up “We are born perfect,” Mary says. just people. They’ve all had terrible lives. incarcerated. “We are not evil. Somewhere along the There is so much prejudice against them. “Teaching middle school was the most way their inner child was damaged. They Something good should come out of their valuable education,” Mary says. “I’ve had aren’t even aware that everyone is not like time in jail.” Mary dedicates herself to cultisome of my own students in jail. vating that good. One to two days a They were the ones who were falling week, several hours a day she can be through the cracks, or about to. found reading, teaching and inspiring Children whose lives were influthe women of C14. enced by drugs, or who had discipline issues, and acting out behaviors.” Mary was compelled to work with the jailed adults to help them In this pod of cells, there is nothbreak the cycle of self-destruction ing comfortable. Not the industrial and poor choices that landed them furniture; two stainless steel tables here. She soon discovered what has surrounded by low stainless stools become the most important lesson and all attached to the floor, not the she has ever taught. It is one from blue iron bunk beds in each cell, not the Houses of Healing: a Prisoner’s the open bathroom stalls. Before Guide to Inner Power and Freedom, Mary brought in Houses of Healing, by Robin Casarjian, many of the women were even un“I read the book, and at the end comfortable in their own skin. of the first chapter I knew they needTake for example, the middleed it,” says Mary. I would put out the aged, woman, missing several of her book and it would disappear. I knew teeth. It is heart-wrenching to hear they were reading it.” her explain through tears and sobs Houses of Healing takes inmates that sadness is all she sees in herself, on a journey of self-discovery, emocrying all the time as far back as she tional healing and spiritual awakening. can remember. Mary became certified in the highly ac“I was made fun of in school,” claimed program and says the inmates she confesses to the group assembled First stop for many, the holding cell at Detention.

December 2014

High Country Magazine

It is difficult to dissect their lives, but the accomplishment these women feel as they cultivate their emotional and spiritual growth transforms not only them, but also C-14.

Mary waits for access to C14. All doors are electronically controlled.

Inmates do have access to a phone, collect calls only.

Toilet: There is little privacy for the incarcerated. Even toilets are out in the open. 44

High Country Magazine

December 2014

around the table. “I was shy, put down.” Tears well in her eyes; one of the other women gets up and grabs toilet paper from the nearby open stall and brings it to her, encouraging her to continue. This is how they roll. Talking, sharing, comforting each other, and trying to understand how they wound up here, and perhaps more importantly, comprehend what they need to do to forgive themselves and to ask those they hurt for forgiveness. They are also building skills that will keep them from returning if and when they get out. “(At first) some wouldn’t talk at all,” Mary says of the latest group of women who completed the Healing Houses program under her tutelage. “Now they write in three journals every day, work on homework together and help each other read.” It is difficult to dissect their lives, but the accomplishment these women feel as they cultivate their emotional and spiritual growth transforms not only them, but also C-14. On this day, Mary stands in her sock feet at the head of one of the stainless tables; a flipchart perched on a rolling plastic cart beside her. Her portion of the lesson complete, she eagerly takes a seat while the women take the lead. Sarah stands and begins the days review, asking her fellow students about positive and negative ways to deal with anger. The negative answers, the way they have always responded, come first. “Pay back, watch me,” says one, acknowledging this has been her lifelong survival mode. “Block it out,” says Susie, who is known to explode when she is angry. “I always wanted to fight; I was aggressive,” she admits. “Okay, ya’ll. What are some of the positives,” urges Sarah. These answers come easily too, thanks to a burgeoning mindset shift, and the tools they now posses to help them deal with overwhelming emotions. “Break, Breathe, and Choose,” says Susie. “You always have the power to choose.” “Exercise, yoga, meditate, talk, write,”

Mary peruses the library for inmates. She says the most popular fiction author is James Patterson, but Houses of Healing is the book that always disappears. the group says while Sarah makes a list on the chart, and then begins to talk about her own emotional roller coaster following her admission into the detention center. “I cried for three months straight, every day,” she says. “I couldn’t talk.” The other women nod. Sarah breaks down again thinking not of herself, but of all the others suffering for her mistakes. “I have forgiven myself, but I feel so much guilt,” she says and begins to sob. Another inmate jumps to grab the tissue for her. Sarah continues vacillating between her recent situation and her childhood traumas. Like all of these willing participants, she is reconciling much more than the consequences of her current choices. She is trying to make sense of a lifetime of pain. “I hurt myself,” she admits. “As a kid, I held it all in, and bottled up. Now I write a lot of poetry. I read my Bible every day. Praying to God helps, but you have to want to do the work, it takes you wanting to do it.” Houses of Healing opens its participants to, what it describes as a basic spiritual truth, that Love is the energy of the Universe. By working to heal themselves, program participants are working to heal the world. Mary asks the women to look at the lesson folders in front of them. They are simple orange construction paper, covered with a drawing of a lamp. On the shade are words each woman used to describe herself when the program began. There are words like: quiet, complicated, emotional, shy, pessimistic, stuck-up, judgDecember 2014

High Country Magazine

The Cost of Incarceration A State Perspective

(NC statistics gathered from the Pew Charitable Trusts and The National Association of State Budget Officers) • In North Carolina, 1 in 38 adults is now under correctional control (Prison, jail, probation) • As of 2008 (the date of available statistics) Taxpayers spend $74.77 per inmate, per day or more than $27,000 annually • NC Corrections expenditures in 2012 totaled more than $1.6 billion, or 8.1 percent of the General Fund • From 2011 to 2012 Corrections spending in NC increased 26.8 percent, the national increase average was 4 percent

National Perspective

(US statistics gathered from Lionheart Foundation) • The U.S. now incarcerates 6 to 10 times as many people as any other industrialized country in the world. • In the past two decades, more than 1000 new prisons and jails have been built in the U.S. • The U.S. criminalizes more acts than any other country in the world. The U.S. criminalizes acts that in other countries would require community service or drug treatment or would not be considered a crime at all. • One in every 100 people is locked up on any given day in the U.S. • Three-quarters of prisoners have a history of drug or alcohol abuse and one-sixth have a history of mental illness.

Getting Involved

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he Houses of Healing rehabilitation and reentry program “draws the readers in by speaking clearly and directly to the situations and feelings that almost all incarcerated men and women struggle with. It guides and supports prisoners in confronting issues such as childhood wounding, grieving, managing anger, facing the impact of crime, and taking ultimate responsibility for themselves and their actions.” It is a program of the Lionheart Foundation, a 501c3 organization that provides programs in emotional literacy for prisoners, at risk youth and teen parents. Retired educator Mary Belanger teaches the program to the women at the Watauga County Detention Center, but because group classes for men would require the time and expense of a guard, the male inmates read the book on their own. Belanger says the library at the Watauga County Detention Center does not have enough copies to meet demand. She is hopeful Houses of Healing books will be gifted to the library this holiday season. To learn more visit www.lionheart.org. Books can be sent to the Jail Librarian, C/O Watauga County Sheriff ’s Office, 184 Hodges Gap Rd, Boone, NC 28607

“I read the book, and at the end of the first chapter I knew they needed it. I would put out the book and it would disappear. I knew they were reading it.” mental, anger problem, sad, set back. Radiating out from beneath the shades are beams of light, with new words, words the women now use to illustrate their core selves, their forgiven selves, the loving, stable women they want to be. Words like: unique, happy, and mother of a beautiful, wonderful talented girl, caring, loving, and smart. They read these aloud, sometimes running a finger over the beams of light, which are decorated with sparkling glitter, glued to the paper. As her time with the women draws to a close, Mary Belanger speaks softly and with genuine affection her “girls.” “Change takes strength and power,” she tells them, adding that they are not alone in their journey of acceptance, forgiveness and spiritual awakening. Even in C14, where it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between night and day, the light of love is shining. 

Mary's library cart holds reading material and her "whiteboard," a Flip-chart she uses to teach emotional literacy.

High Country coffee table book by Todd Bush

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December 2014

High Country Magazine

Watauga County Detention: Serving the Community S

structed along Hodges mall county jails, run by the Sheriff ’s Built in 2006, the facility cost $5 million and took two Gap Road on property office tend to con- years to complete. It was constructed along Hodges that used to feature an old state prison that jure up certain images. One of the most common Gap Road on property that used to feature an old state operated for decades until the mid-1990s. is the one in the fictitious prison that operated for decades until the mid-1990s. Some of the facilities Mayberry, the jail where used by the state were Otis, the town drunk, would let himself into a cell and sleep off his inebriation. While renovated for use with the new facility. The local jail was initially located on Water Street, where that 50-year-old satire is a faded memory, as jails go, the Watauga County Detention Center is a shining modern day example of Proper Restaurant operates in what is known as the Old Jailhouse Building. That jail closed down in the ‘20s or ‘30s, Hagaman said. what a jail can be, literally. “It is one of the cleaner ones, according to the North Caro- It then moved a couple times behind the existing courthouse. Inilina Jail Inspector,” says Captain Al Reed, the Jail Administrator tially, it was in a brick building attached to the courthouse that could hold 10 or 12 people at the most, and the sheriff ’s wife within the Sheriff ’s Department. Sheriff Len Hagaman added that he’s “been in jails” all over would actually cook the meals for inmates in what Hagaman the state, some of which are newer than the Watauga County described as a primitive kitchen. In 1973, the jail moved across Detention Center, and the local jail is among the cleanest. Hagaman mentioned that his staff spends quite a bit of time cleaning but not because they don’t have other duties. He said there is a “two-fold purpose” for the upkeep. For one, cleanliness keeps some of the contagious health issues that inmates have in check. Second, Hagaman said, maintaining the facility will increase the shelf life of the building. Asked if the inmates thank the sheriff ’s office for their stay considering how nice the facility is and how well the inmates are treated, Hagaman said, “Actually, some do. Particularly the ones that have actually been in other facilities.” Built in 2006, the facility cost $5 million and took two years to complete. It was con48

High Country Magazine

December 2014

Queen Street, where a county parking lot with arched entrance exists today. By all accounts, it is one of the more caring ones. Built in 2006, to hold between 50 and 106 prisoners, the state of the art facility averages 75-80 prisoners on a given day. “When superior court is in session, the population picks up,” Reed says. That’s because the jail is a holding facility for inmates while they await trial, and often men and women are transferred in from surrounding counties for their court dates. The distinction is a very important one according to Reed, who says his staff works with the community to go beyond simply providing a clean, safe environment for people to await justice. “We have between sixty and seventy people who are cleared to come and work with the inmates,” Reed says, adding, “If the inmates want the interaction.” There are ministers, mental health professionals, nurses, doctors, facilitators from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and others who will provide a listening ear to the inmates. Reed explains it this way. “Prison doesn’t help,” he says. “Of course it makes society safe, but just penning them (the inmates) up isn’t going to help, but if we can improve the inmate’s chances of success when they get out, if it’s going to help them, as long as we (Watauga County) don’t incur the cost, it is worth it, no ifs, ands or buts.” Reed gives all of the credit for incorporating these programs to the jail staff, a job he describes as extremely difficult. “I am very proud of the work they do, and so is Sheriff Len Hagaman. It takes a very special person to do this work,” he says. “It is a hard job to do, to be locked in prison twelve hours at a time.” Reed says he encourages jail employees to have strong outside interests and support. Many of them also work as volunteer firefighters and EMS technicians. Moreover, they are encouraged to work at staying upbeat and positive. It is that encouragement that Reed, the staff and the volunteers bring to the inmates. If they are willing to make the effort, then something constructive can be a part of their incarceration. Reed says he has seen it first hand with repeat offenders who have turned around their lives. “I cannot let another human being rot in jail. Reed says. “I have them treated like I would want my family treated. They are people too, and they should be treated this way, they have not been found guilty.” 

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High Country Magazine

SHOP LOCAL! this Holiday Season

High Country Magazine

December 2014

You should enjoy this a special section we’ve put together to showcase local retail shops. It’s a well written look at your friends and neighbors in business for themselves. C heck ‘em out! Make some of your C hristmas shopping local this year. APPALACHIAN BABY COMPANY

BOONE. Locals know that Appalachian Baby Company is the sweetest place to outfit babies and toddlers. We offer the latest in quality products at reasonable prices. Tea is our leading brand. I am so proud to be able to offer Tea to the Boone community. No more driving hours to Charlotte or Hickory for this classic, popular brand! Children and parents both love Tea for the quality fabrics and modern style designed to inspire adventure. It’s a brand known for its mix and match outfits and is also a great resell brand. We also carry many quality brands such as Petunia Pickle Bottom, Jelly the Pug, Burt’s Bees Baby and Charlie Baby Organics. We are the source for those adorable Skip Hop animal lunch boxes and matching book bags. We have a wonderful array of Skip Hop toys and baby accessories. We hand make each of our beautiful baby quilts, blankets, burp towels and our now almost famous baby bibs. And we carry some really fun items like our unique “PUSH” Labor Socks and “Baby gift in a mason jar.” This jar is filled to the top with baby gifts and comes already wrapped and ready to give. We are ready for the Christmas Season and have hats, gloves, sleds, snowboards, snow tubes and snowball makers in stock. Appalachian Baby Company is located in the “Shoppes at Farmers” in the heart of beautiful Downtown Boone. Come in and visit often. Remember to Shop LOCAL.  See ad on page 54

Giv for e Loc Ho al W lida in y G es ifts

“Our terraced mountain vineyard

THE ART CELLAR

BANNER ELK. ‘Tis the season…for art! From fine art to folk art, from metalwork to glass, from pottery to paintings, The Art Cellar has that unique, treasured gift perfect for special occasions, Hanukkah, Christmas and the Winter Solstice for the art lover and the artist within. Established in 1993, The Art Cellar began as the lifelong vision of Pamela McKay, who focuses on showcasing the artwork of those indigenous to the mountains of Western North Carolina, which have had an impact on so many in the arts. Whether it is fresh from the painter’s easel, potter’s wheel, sculpture studio or workbench, The Art Cellar has grand sculptures, ceramic serving pieces and the perfect coffee cup, glass

and winery nestled at the base of Grandfather Mountain is the first producing winery in Watauga County, NC. Warm breezes during the day and cool crisp nights help develop the flavors and balance Located on Vineyard Lane in Foscoe Tasting Room Open Monday thru Saturday Noon till 6:00pm & Sundays 1:00 to 5:00pm, Closed Tuesdays (828) 963-2400 • www.grandfathervineyard.com

of our wines. We think you’ll find our wines unique. Enjoy and share with friends!” Steve Tatum, Owner

Sally and Steve Tatum Are Proud To Welcome You To The First Winery In Watauga County December 2014

High Country Magazine

bowls, ornaments, small paintings and much more – including gift certificates for art or framing. The Art Cellar is located at 920 Shawneehaw Avenue on N.C. 184.  828-898-5175. www.artcellaronline.com. See ad on page 52 G A L L E R Y

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Painting • Sculpture • Glass • Regional Pottery • Museum Quality Framing Open MOnday – Saturday 10:00aM – 5:00pM 920 Shawneehaw ave., hwy. 184 • Banner elk, nC • 828-898-5175 www.artCellaronline.Com

BLOWING ROCK FURNITURE

BLOWING ROCK. Walking into Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery’s showroom is sure to leave an indelible impression. The building itself is impressive: a stunning cabin of huge proportions, hardwood floors and vast windows that invite in the beauty of the surrounding area. But what draws the viewer to linger is the feeling of warmth and comfort created by the tastefully displayed array of furnishings and accessories, chosen with care to dare one not to take a seat, put up their feet and imagine themselves enjoying this beautiful setting in their own home. In the furniture business, consistency and loyalty count for a lot and the managers of Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery have gone the extra yard to prove their commitment to the customers who travel to their fine, well-designed studio on U.S. 321 bypass in Blowing Rock. Tailoring things to their shoppers’ desires, Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery regularly features eight or nine manufacturers, with an emphasis on American-made products and offer a variety of quality furnishings at an affordable price Combined with a knowledgeable and experienced sales staff that customers have come to know and trust year after year and a dedication to helping each customer recreate the feeling of peace and comfort they enjoy when they enter Blowing Rock Furniture and Gallery, it is no wonder that a successful business has been built. This has been the appeal of this location, this building and these furnishings for the last ten years. Be sure to include Blowing Rock Furniture on your holiday shopping stops.  828-295-7755. www.blowingrockfurniture.com. See our ad on page 15

BOONE MALL

BOONE. With an varied mix of stylish, namebrand establishments, such as Belk, JC Penney, TJ Maxx, Panera Bread, Gamefather, Bath and Body Works, Radio Shack, Old Navy, and much more, it’s no wonder Boone Mall is called “The Hub of the High Country.” With ample parking and long hours of operation, the Boone Mall is the one-stop shop for all your holiday needs and basic necessities. Need your hair styled or nails done? Check out Regis Hair Salons and Mi Nails; Shoes? The Shoe Department; Glasses or contacts? Blue Ridge Vision; Jewelry? Saslo Jewelers; A four wheeler? Brushy Mountain Motorsports. The list is endless. Where else can you do all of that and grab a bite to eat? What other fantastic shops are there? Well, there’s Blackberry Mattress, Claire’s, Cookies ‘n Cream, GNC, Hallmark, Katalina Kids, Maurice’s, Primo’s Pizza, Pasta & Subs, rue 21, Sagesport, Sears, Super Clips, South’s 52

High Country Magazine

December 2014

Clothiers, Sports Fanatic, Tucker’s Cafe and much more. The Boone Mall is centrally located with entrances off of N.C. 105 and U.S. 321. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Don’t forget to catch Santa this holiday season, too.  828-264-7286. www.booneshoppingmall.com. See ad on page 52

CARLTON GALLERY

BANNER ELK. One of the most established fine art galleries in North Carolina, Carlton Gallery features a spirited collection of artwork in a casually elegant atmosphere. Celebrating over 30 years of business in the High Country, owner Toni Carlton selects creations from traditional to contemporary and features a wide variety of fine art and upscale handmade crafts by over 200 local, regional and national artisans. From extraordinary blown glass and exceptional pottery to designer jewelry and original paintings in oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media, they offer an array of exceptional gift ideas for visitors and collectors, alike. Workshops are conducted by gallery artists in oils, acrylics, watercolor, drawing, expressive and intuitive arts and mixed media collage. These workshops include traditional and abstract landscapes, still life, figurative and visionary. The Carlton Gallery is located at 10360 on N.C. 105 in the Grandfather Community.  828-963-4288. www.carltonartgallery.com. See ad on page 55

Old World Galleries making moments special…every day! Custom D iamond Collection

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The Country Gourmet

FOSCOE. Owner Betsy Murrelle has been serving sophisticated customers from around the world since 1974. The Country Gourmet is a gourmet kitchen and home accessory shop that abounds in style, selection and service. Located in Foscoe, The Country Gourmet has what ever you need to set a beautiful table with an endless variety of linens, table cloths, runners, place mats and napkins of every size and color. With dozens of name brand selections, The Country Gourmet carries a large selection of the finest ceramic tableware handcrafted in Italy, classic glassware, pewter and casual flatware, Italian and casual dinnerware, cutlery, cookware, kitchenware and a variety of collectible accessories for the home that will always make the perfect gift. Whether it’s a casual or an elegant occasion, The Country Gourmet has the goods to set a beautiful table, impress guests and eat and cook in style. And, owner Betsy Murrelle says, “If we don’t have what you are looking for in stock, we will find it for you!” The Country Gourmet is located at 10543-5 on N.C. 105.  828-963-5269. www.thecountrygourmet.com. See ad on page 53

The dande lion

FOSCOE. The Dande Lion, Inc., established in 1997, is at the Shoppes of Tynecastle, which is across the street from Lowes Grocery Store December 2014

High Country Magazine

shopping center. The store has grown from its first small (really small!) location up the road on Highway 105, to a quaint location in Foscoe, to our latest location at The Shoppes of Tynecastle in Banner Elk. The goal of The Dande Lion has always been to provide a wonderful shopping experience for each woman who passes through the door; it is our desire to provide the best shopping experience in the mountains. We want each woman to walk away with more than a shopping bag of new clothes. We specialize in personal shopping, assessing the preferences of each customer and then creating an outfit that fits their personality and body perfectly. Jane, the store owner and buyer, works very hard to create outfits from head to toe. At markets, she works diligently to find the perfect handbag, jewelry and shoes to match every outfit! For a truly uplifting experience, please visit the store. The beautiful clothing and ambiance coupled with the wonderful staff will certainly make you glad you did!  828-8983566. www.dandelionstyles.com. See ad on page 11

DEWOOLFSON

Offering a variety of Unique Handmade Baby gifts. We carry Skip Hop toys and accessories, Tea Collection, Charlie Baby Organics and other top quality brands for infants and toddlers. Sleds, snow tubes and snowball makers are here for the holidays.

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The Shoppes at Farmers - 661 W. King St. Boone, North Carolina 28607 54

High Country Magazine

FOSCOE. When you spend one-third of your life sleeping, a quality down pillow, comforter and/or feathered bed is one of the best investments for a rejuvenating, restful sleep. DeWoolfson is a High Country business, born and bred. Although DeWoolfson imports a variety of fabrics and goose down fills from Eastern Europe, the business’s office, store and factory are located in Foscoe, supplying European-influenced down products and fine linens to the world’s most comfortable sleepers. With a seamstress always on duty, custom comforters and the other products are made to order and shipped within 24 to 48 hours all over the High Country, nation and world. DeWoolfson also stocks one of the largest selections of luxury European linens found anywhere – from France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and other locales. These include well-known names such as Abyss and Habidecor, Matouk, Sferra, Yves Delorme and many more. Good night and sleep tight.  800-833-3696. www.dewoolfsondown.com and www. dewoolfsonlinens.com. See ad on page 22

DOE RIDGE POTTERY

BOONE. The reasonably-priced pottery is stunning, the form and color exceptional. Bob Meier fell in love with pottery in 1973 after taking a ceramics course on a whim to fill his class schedule at ASU. In 1988, he initially established his studio out of his home on Doe Ridge Road, and since then, Doe Ridge Pottery has moved to a few different locations in Boone. Today, the workshop/gallery is located in downtown Boone and hundreds of beautiful pieces decorate the gallery, which is home to 18 other talented artists - from functional

December 2014

pieces that are safe for food, drink, ovens, microwaves and dishwashers to home decor such as lamps and vases. Also, several specialty items exist, such as handmade sinks and the unusual vegetable steamer. A trip to the gallery sometimes feels like a field trip. The studio is visible from the gallery, and if you walk in at the right time, you may see potters in action, throwing clay on the wheel, entranced in that “Zen-like state.” “I enjoy the process of making things in series where you’re making the same thing over and over again,” Meier said. “You can almost let your mind wander and it’s like a mantra. You get into a zone or Zen-like state. It’s a nice place to be because you get into this rhythm of work that creates a calming, metaphysical zone.” Doe Ridge Pottery is located at 585 West King Street below The Bead Box.  828-264-1127. www.doeridgepottery. homestead.com. See ad on page 56

FOOTSLOGGERS

BOONE. The definition of a footslogger is someone who walks, trudges or marches, and Footsloggers has the footwear and accompanying gear for any trek, such as a month-long backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail or a snowy day-hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But the outdoor-retail shop offers much more than comfortable shoes for any terrain. From novices to experts, Footsloggers is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise and its stocked gear is unparalleled. Do you want to climb the most rugged cliffs or boulders that exist? Do you want to slip away from the rat race and “get lost” in the backcountry? Do you want to kayak the tumultuous waters of the region or explore nearby waterfalls? Aside from the four-season attire and highquality climbing, paddling and backpacking gear, perhaps the most intriguing items are the accessories, which are ever changing and would make perfect stocking-stuffers this holiday season. Local maps, hydration packs, waterproof matches, knives, multi-function watches, tent-repair kits, head lamps, compasses, power bars, mini camp stoves, signal mirrors, ponchos, bear bells with a magnetic silencer, and many more provisions are available at Footsloggers to make any outdoor trek a successful one. Footsloggers is located in downtown Boone and Blowing Rock.  828-295-4453 (Blowing Rock) 828-262-5111 (Boone). www.footsloggers.com. See ad on page 54

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery

BANNER ELK. As boulders corral the nearby rushing waters of the Watauga, the Grandfather Vineyard and Winery sits on a terraced mountain side, nestled at the base of Grand-

father Mountain. What once started as a hobby for the Tatum Family evolved into the first producing winery in Watauga County. It’s a treat just to overlook the scenic vineyard, however stepping into the wine-tasting room and sipping the award-winning wines is just icing on the cake. The white, red, rose and ice wines are unique – and that is not only attributed to the skill of Dylan Tatum, the winemaker with a viticulture and enology degree, but also to the weather of the High Country. The warm breezes during the day and cool, crisp nights help develop the flavors and balance the wine. Also at Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, you will find a wonderful array of wine-themed accessories and gift items –including gift certificates, so don’t forget: wine makes a great gift at Christmas time. Shipping is available to North Carolina and Florida. The vineyard is located in Banner Elk on Vineyard Lane.  828-963-2400. www.grandfathervineyard.com. See ad on page 51

MAST GENERAL STORE

BOONE & VALLE CRUCIS. Imagine downtown Boone or Valle Crucis without a Mast General Store. It’s almost inconceivable. The store is a tour de force. Whether snow is on the ground or the leaves are green, yellow red or orange, more visitors pack into the Mast General Store locations in the High Country than they do The Rock during an ASU football game. The stores are packed with the highest-ofquality goods that range from rugged apparel and gourmet kitchenware to old-fashioned toys and women’s fashions that it is also inconceivable to leave the store empty handed. Oh, and don’t forget about the Candy Barrel. During the holiday season, prices are slashed to accommodate next year’s inventory, so if you are looking for a special gift for a special somebody (even if that person is you!), be sure to stop in on your next visit to the High Country. It’s an experience guaranteed to be pleasing. Not only has Mast General Store revived the downtowns that it inhabits, but the Mast General Store Family has been good stewards of the High Country and good neighbors to the so many that call the High Country home.  828-963-6511. www.mastgeneralstore.com. See ad on page 9

Monkees

BLOWING ROCK. Monkee’s of Blowing Rock is a ladies store beyond your “girlie” imagination, known to carry the finest lines in shoes, clothing and accessories. You can be assured, if you find it at Monkee’s, it’s the most “in” thing. At Monkee’s you will experience boutique shopping as it is meant to be – fun and personal. Their associates have an incredible eye for style and are dedicated to delivering worldclass customer service. Beautifully renovated in January 2013, the locally owned boutique is all about helping ladies walk out feeling beautiful and looking their best. So come by Monkee’s in Blowing Rock to enjoy a truly personal-

CARLTON GALLERY Celebrating 32 Years

Art Songs of the Heart TONI CARLTON

Winter & Small Works Exhibition November 28th – April 30th

PAINTINGS • CLAY • GLASS • SCULPTURE • WOOD • FIBER ART • JEWELRY Located 10 Miles South of Boone on Hwy. 105 in the Grandfather Community

TUESDAY-SATURDAY 10:00-5:00 • SUNDAY 11:00-5:00 8 2 8 - 9 6 3 - 4 2 8 8 • Call or check our website for workshop dates www.carltongallery.com • carltongallery@carltongallery.com December 2014

High Country Magazine

ized shopping experience in one of the High Country’s most beautiful shopping districts. You’re sure to find that unique piece for your wardrobe or that perfect gift for someone special.  828-295-0708. www.monkessofblowing rock.com. See ad on page 5

MOUNTAIN DOG AND FRIENDS

FOSCOE. The High Country's premier dog and cat boutique is a doggone great Holiday destination for gifts guaranteed to please pets and their people. This locally-owned, one-of-a-kind store specializes in unique, useful products you won’t find in typical “pet stores.” We feature USA-made products, the highest quality, healthiest foods, tastiest treats, toys, beds, bowls, harnesses, leashes, packs, travel gear—everything your dog and cat needs. Products include design-forward pet accessories, like luxurious beds, canine clocks, and designer bowls, perfect for your home decor. Owner and Humane Society stalwart Cathy Johnson can help match dogs and cats to satisfying diets where great taste and real food ingredients make pets happy and healthy. Your pet is always welcome to come in, meet our four-legged staff. Easy to reach in the stone house in Foscoe. Find us on Facebook.  828-963-2470. www.MountainDogAndFriends.com. See ad on page57

old World galleries

Ch ri st m as at Th e Re DownTown

d Ca bo os e

Ba n n e R e l k

Wild Bird & Gift Store Not Just a Bird storE ...

Eclectic Decor & Gifts

Candles, Wind Chimes, Garden Flags For WiNtEr:

Hats, Gloves, Socks, Sleds ... and fudge! 441 Shawneehaw Ave. • Banner Elk, NC 828-898-5008 • www.wingnitnc.com 56

High Country Magazine

BOONE. Beginning with a few hundred dollars and a dream a few decades ago in Blowing Rock, Charlie and Joy Travis of Old World Galleries quickly established themselves as the go-to experts for clients in the High Country for estate jewelry, custom pieces and repair and appraisal. After taking a decade off from the retail side of things, the Travis’ have finally returned to the High Country to help keep up their established relationships and forge new friendships as well at their new location in downtown Boone. Come find out what has made Charlie and Joy Travis synonymous with quality, service and satisfaction and visit Old World Galleries in Boone for all of your jewelry needs. Their new showroom and friendly service will ensure you find exactly what you’re looking for, from a family heirloom estate piece to a beautiful gift for that someone special on your list.  828-264-6559. www.oldworldgalleries.com. See our ad on page 53

SHANNON’S

BOONE. For almost 29 years, Shannon’s Curtain, Bed and Bath has supplied customers in the High Country with indoor decorative and practical merchandise that fits their specific needs. “I opened in 1985” said owner Shannon Russing, “because there was no home furnishing store in Boone and we needed something.”

December 2014

A full-line linen store, Shannon’s offers window treatments, bedding, sheets, table linens, bath accessories, shower curtains and an array of other accessories. “We’re your complete decorating source” Russing said. “We try hard to keep our prices affordable, and we try to give people a real good value for their money.” The store’s best-selling item is its handmade quilts, Russing said, explaining that quilts fit in with the “lodge look” that is so popular in the area and can compliment nearly any décor. Russing attributes the store’s success to hard work and getting to know her customers on a personal level. Shannon’s is located at 1950 Blowing Rock Road in Boone.  828-264-8321. www.shannonscbb.com. See ad on page 55

THE SHOPPES AT FARMER’S HARDWARE

BOONE. Some places in downtown Boone are iconic and provide a link to the past. Think Boone Drug, Appalachian Twin Theater and Farmer’s Hardware. All three, which have been quintessential to downtown for decades, have had to adapt to the changes and pressures of technology and big-box stores. Farmer’s Hardware, which originally opened in 1924 as a hardware retailer, closed its doors in 2004, changed its business model and reopened the next summer as an eclectic emporium called The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware. In 1924, Clyde Greene opened Farmer’s Hardware at the current Boone Bagelry location. Soon, Farmer’s moved to the corner of Depot and King streets, where it stands, albeit in a different form, today. It’s still a local, family business, though, with Greene’s descendents running the show and providing a 21st-century vision for Farmer’s. The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware has more than 100 shops and features a wide variety of merchandise including jewelry, handbags, totes, footwear, apparel, baby gifts, handcrafts, framed art, home décor, furniture, toys, stringed instruments, kitchenware, birdfeeders and much more.  828-264-8801. www.shoppesatfarmers.com. See ad on page 57

THE STONE JEWELERS

BOONE. The Stone Jewelers has a breathtaking collection of fine jewelry studded with green amethyst, pearl, Madagascar ruby, blue sapphire, azure, Tahitian pearl, gold, diamonds and other precious metals and gems. Established in 1965, The Stone Jewelers is the premier jewelry store in the High Country, striving to offer the very best in service, quality and value. Whether you or your loved ones needs consist of a simple repair or the creation of a complex masterpiece, The Stone Jewelers can service all your jewelry needs. The store’s showcase features pendants,

necklaces, rings, bridal jewelry, earrings, bracelets and more among a number of collections that include Benchmark, Colorel | SG, Mireya, Nancy B, Master IJO Jewelry, Citizen EcoDrive, Overnight, Rego and Citizen Signature. From the birth of a child and a father walking his daughter down the aisle to a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Ronnie Wilson, owner of The Stone Jewelers, and his staff are honored to be apart of so many milestones in their customers’ lives. The Stone Jewelers is located at 240 Shadowline Drive in Boone.  828-264-2000. www.thestonejewelers.com. See ad on page 3 and 13

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Monthly Giveaways! JANSKA

JACKETS

Tatum Galleries

BANNER ELK. A fresh, new vision for your office or home– that’s what Sally and Steve Tatum have, for decades, offered the High Country with their “Home Décor Center,” known as Tatum Galleries in Banner Elk. Since it opened nearly 30 years ago, the showroom has expanded to 6,000 square feet and includes indoor and outdoor furniture, bedding, floor, wall and window treatment and a huge collection of lamps, artwork, decorative accessories and other unique furnishings. With a seasoned interior design team, the staff offers years of experience and a variety of styles and choices that can accommodate all design needs and budgets – not to mention great service! The vast collection that Tatum Galleries offers will accentuate your home with timeless furnishings. Whether you need a little direction or a complete revamping, Tatum Galleries can help. Let their beautifully decorated showroom spark your imagination and introduce you to the possibilities that await you inside your home. Tatum Galleries is located at 5320 N.C. 105 in Banner Elk.  828-963-6466. http://www.tatumgalleries.com. See ad on page 51

DOWNTOWN BOONE’S ONLY BEER & WINE MARKET

FRYE

BOOTS

BOURBON & BOWETIES HUSBAN R/C DRONES

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST www.ShoppesAtFarmers.com

MON-SAT: 10-6 • SUNDAYS 12-5 • HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BOONE • 828-264-8801

Make it a Mountain Dog ChristMas!

wingnit

BANNER ELK. WingN’It is “Your Local Wild Bird & Gift Store” with an eclectic mix of home décor and accessories. Not only do we have the largest collection of wild bird houses and feeders with no-waste wild bird seed in the mountains...... BUT, we're NOT JUST A BIRD STORE!!! All year we carry a wide variety of candles, votives, garden flags, wind chimes, linens and all things bird. We also carry a unique collection of gifts, and for the winter will be carrying hats, gloves, socks, quilts and throws AND SLEDS! This shop has everything you're looking for in one eclectic, unique location. Think of us FIRST for all your GIFTS!! And now, in season they have become “The Little Red Caboose Christmas Store" with a variety of Christmas decorations, ornaments and plenty of gift items! And, don't forget the CREAMY FUDGE!! Located in the Red Caboose in Downtown Banner Elk.  828-898-5008. www.winginitnc.com. See our ad on page 56

The Best of Everything for Pets and Their People The Area’s Highest Quality Food, Treats, Toys, Beds, Bowls & More! Centrally Located on Highway 105 in Foscoe • Open 10:00 - 6:00 • Closed Sunday 828-963-2470 • www.mountaindogandfriends.com December 2014

High Country Magazine

A Gothic Castle of Their Dreams

Photography by Todd Bush December 2014

High Country Magazine

Living Room: The elegant Holiday decorations in gold, silvers & reds blend with the color scheme of the room. The antique carved oak mantel originated in a Scottish castle and the pair of gothic mirrors on either side are also antiques. December 2014

High Country Magazine

ach November a team of Christmas decorators spend four days in Tommy and Sandy Rouse’s gothic style castle in Elk River Club installing a beautiful array of Christmas decorations to usher in the holiday season. The home's interior was designed by Dianne Davant and Associates in 2008. Davant worked with Trevor Bey, owner of the Charlotte based company, Holiday Creation to design the home's Christmas decor. Bey also decorates the Carolina Panthers stadium and the historic Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL for the holiday season. Davant, along with the Rouses, searched the country and Europe for furnishings to complement the gothic castle. Antiques including doors, windows, light fixtures, mantels and stained glass came from dealers in the High Country, Atlanta and Dallas. Pieces were collected from a castle in Edinburgh, Scotland; a French chateau; and the famous

Wackenhut Castle in Miami. “We really searched everywhere,” Margaret Handley, senior vice president of interior design for Davant’s firm, said. “It’s every designer’s dream to be able to work on a project of this scale and with this type of detail.” Davant said that it was a stroke of fortune that the owners of the Wackenhut Castle decided to build a bigger mansion at the same time the Rouses were building their home in Avery County. Davant was able to purchase many of the interior elements that once adorned the Wackenhut Castle. “The Rouses were thrilled and very open to incorporating the elements into their home,” said Davant. She described the North Carolina natives as a “lovely couple” from Dallas, Texas who wanted to have a seasonal home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Just as Handley noted, Davant said she had fun designing this home but particularly enjoyed

“The house really has so much personality. When we walk into a home, we want it to be cozy, comfortable and warm. This house really is." – Dianne Davant 60

High Country Magazine

December 2014

Exterior shot at sunset. Photo by Dan Forer OPPOSITE PAGE: The fresco by Roger Nelson on the fireplace trumeau was inspired by trumeau paintings in the tapestry room at Biltmore House in Asheville. BOTTOM RIGHT: Den: The Christmas decorations take on a more natural theme with feathers, berries, pine cones, twigs, dried hydrangeas, gold leaves, Poinsettia flowers and birds. Photo by Dan Forer

December 2014

High Country Magazine

top right: Deer Bath: Lapis blue granite carries the blue tones from the adjoining bedroom that features a lines fabric depicting deer in the forest. BOTTOM LEFT: Breakfast Area: The tapestry fabric on the breakfast chairs features medieval riders which complement the gothic theme of the home. BOTTOM RIGHT: Den: The paneling, fireplace mantel and a large bookcase were all part a home in England. Bannerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabinets created cabintry on either side of the mantel to match the original woodwork and house the TVs.

High Country Magazine

December 2014

working with the Rouses. “It was a lot of fun. The Rouses are fun people. We worked together well. We were on the same page and knew the results we wanted to achieve,” Davant said. The home, located in the Elk River development, was designed by David Patrick Moses Architect of Banner Elk and built by Enterline & Russell Builders of Blowing Rock. Banner’s Cabinet’s in Newland built the cabinetry and replicated some of the intricate carvings from the antiques on the modern woodwork. Classic Stone in Linville provided granite and stone throughout the house, and local artist Roger Nelson painted several fresco murals in the castle. Custom Coverings of Boone, owned by Mary Bumgarner, fabricated the intricate custom window treatments and bedding. “The house really has so much personality,” Davant said. “We want to make every home the best it can be and give our clients the home of their dreams. When we walk into a home, we want it to be cozy, comfortable and warm. This house really is.” Handley added, “This is a large home on a grand scale, but it still feels intimate, comfortable and inviting.” Davant founded her interior design firm in 1979 in Blowing Rock and opened an additional design studio in Florida in 1996. All of her associates are professional members of the American Society of Interior. “As in all of our design projects, it’s very important to get the clients an incredible home, beyond their dreams, in the style they prefer. We don’t try to impose our personal preferences but rather work with their personal tastes to create the best home possible,” Davant said. Dianne Davant & Associates in Banner Elk is located on 5111 N.C. 105. Reach the firm by calling 828-963-7500 or click to www. davant-interiors.com. 

DISCOVER OUR POSITIVE ALTITUDE!

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!

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 December 2014

High Country Magazine

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Rouses are fun people. We worked together well. We were on the same page and knew the results we wanted to achieve." â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dianne Davant

High Country Magazine

December 2014

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 December 2014

High Country Magazine

Ryan works from his studio at his home in Boone. The entire basement of his house is devoted to art and graphic design and he hopes to expand the operation even more in the coming years.

High Country Magazine

December 2014

Life Imitates

Art

October’s Outdoor Life Magazine Cover Artist Ryan Kirby on the Serenity of Life in the High Country and Painting Wildlife BY EMMA SPECKMAN

hen Boone artist Ryan Kirby was introduced to Andrew McKean, the editor-in-chief of the sporting and hunting magazine Outdoor Life at a cocktail hour at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade show in Las Vegas last January, he didn’t immediately know what this would do for his career. “I didn’t have an agenda, we were just hanging out and talking,” Ryan said. “I was showing him photos of my oil painting process and he was like ‘you know … we’ve been kicking around the idea of bringing back an illustrated cover. We haven’t done it in two decades.’” The two exchanged contact information and in July, McKean got in touch with Kirby and asked him to submit samples of his work and put in a formal bid to have his art featured on the October cover of Outdoor Life. A couple of weeks later, McKean chose his submissions and the design team got to work creating a mock-up painting for Ryan to work from. “They went through Lord knows how many photos they have of deer and wildlife,” Ryan said. Unlike a lot of artists, Ryan Kirby did not grow up in a family of creative types. Born and raised in rural Illinois, his father is a farmer and December 2014

High Country Magazine

“I grew up on a farm in Illinois and the outdoors were a part of our life from the very beginning, so I had that sort of passion for wildlife and for the outdoors instilled in me from an early age.”

his mother was a postmaster. He took a few drawing and painting classes in high school and had some great teachers, but Ryan was as surprised as anyone to learn he had such a distinct talent for oil painting. “When you’re in an art class with a bunch of other kids and you don’t really know what you’re doing … you don’t know how, you don’t know why, but you start to notice that your stuff looks nice.” When he was in high school he painted dogs—mainly black labs and pointers—for his grandparents and the men at the local gun club in his hometown. “I grew up on a farm in Illinois and the outdoors were a part of our life from the very beginning, so I had that sort of passion for wildlife and for the outdoors instilled in me from an early age.” Ryan got his bachelor’s degree in graphic design and multimedia from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and while he was away at school he always found time for painting. After college, he took a job as a graphic designer in South Carolina at the National Wildlife Turkey Federation. His strong background in design (he also works parttime as a freelance illustrator for outdoor lifestyle companies such as Winchester Ammunition) provided Ryan with a good sense of what Outdoor Life was looking for Ryan's paintings are realistic depictions of the animals he hunts regularly. Note his creation process on the following pages. 68

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in terms of an image that was both beautiful as a standalone art piece and would work well with text. The end result was a custom-created image of a buck running across a soybean field for the magazine. The image is titled, “Running and Gunning.” In the home he shares with his wife, Kim Otto Kirby, Ryan has an office and studio set up downstairs where he spends hours each day working on his wildlife paintings. He typically produces about 12 paintings per year, but since moving to Boone last summer, he has decided to pursue painting more and cut back on his graphic design and illustration work. Now, he hopes to be able to produce 1520 paintings in one year. Right now he paints mostly turkeys, because that’s the animal he most commonly hunts. Ryan doesn’t like to paint something that he is not intimately familiar with. He brings a camera on every hunting trip he takes and spends hours poring over photos, videos and lifelike taxidermy to make sure he has every anatomical detail, every sense of movement, perfectly detailed in his work. Ryan met his wife, Kim, in Charlotte in 2010 through mutual friends. After she graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree and a Masters of Business Administration, she worked for Wells Fargo in Internal Audit for a few years while Ryan lived in Huntersville, about 25 minutes away. The couple tied the knot in 2013 at an outdoor ceremony in Cleveland, N.C. After the wedding, Kim and Ryan continued to live and work in the Charlotte area, but they both knew they wanted a change. In the summer of 2014, a job as a coordinator in Appalachian State’s M.B.A. program became available and Kim and Ryan decided this was the push they needed to move to Boone. “The timing seemed horrible at the time but it was perfect,” Ryan said. Kim acts as the sole advisor for the 100 plus students in Appalachian State’s MBA program. In addition, Kim is responsible for recruiting, marketing and advising the MBA on-campus club. She loves being back in her alma mater and helping students achieve their dreams. In addition to her job at the university, Kim works for Ryan, managing and maintaining his relationships with clients and planning his trade show itineraries. “I’m not a social planner, but she is

Ryan's wife Kim Kirby, an alumna of Appalachian State University, works in the university's MBA department as well as manages his client relationships.

a rock star at it,” Ryan said. “Whenever I have a big decision I always default to Kim.” Both Ryan and Kim described the move to Boone as a “quality of life” decision and they hope to raise a family here someday. “The people here are just some of the

greatest people you’ll ever meet. They’ll give you the shirt off their back,” Kim said. “It’s not about how much money you make, it’s just about being kind and genuine and we just love that.” It also helps that the High Country area—particularly Bethel, N.C.—is Ryan’s favorite place to turkey hunt.

"The sun’s comin up and I just happen to look to the right and there’s a scene right there and it’s just something about the way this log lays and the foreground lies and the mountains hit the background and it’s just like, bam. 'That’s a perfect painting.'” December 2014

High Country Magazine

A Work In Progress “Sons of Thunder” – 40”x24” Oil on Canvas

{1} Most paintings start with a scene that Ryan has experienced first hand. The inspiration for “Sons of Thunder” came from a turkey hunt in the mountains of the Bethel community. “We were at the top of a mountain on opening day of spring turkey season well before first light,” recalls Ryan of the hunt. “But at fly-down time, the birds pitched down into the valley below. As my buddy Shae and I walked down and around them to try calling them from a new location, I saw this fantastic scene at the top of the ridge. The sun had just come up, and this old, moss-covered log and new spring foliage was catching all the warm, early morning sunlight. In the distance, the ridge rolled away and revealed the blue silhouette of the next mountain range a half-mile away. The whole scene just laid out perfectly for a couple of gobbling longbeards. I took several photos of the scene and mentally saved it for my return to the studio the following week.” {2} After selecting the scene, Ryan begins sifting through reference photos for the wildlife. Often he uses his own images, but in certain circumstances he seeks out professional wildlife photographers for permission to reference their photos. Such was the case with these turkeys, as the lighting and position of the birds had to match that of the scene. After combining reference photos and working out his composition, Ryan builds and begins working on the canvas. {3} With subjects that have very detailed anatomy, like the precise feather patterns of turkeys, Ryan sketches out his entire composition before applying paint. This ensures that all composition errors are corrected and the position and feathers of the birds are accurate before moving to the next phase. {4} Ryan’s next step is an underpainting, a simple wash of color over the entire

canvas. “A stark white canvas can be intimidating, like starting an essay with nothing but blank white paper,” Ryan says of this phase. “I like to start my paintings with a wash of Burnt Sienna and Terra Verde. It helps me to loosen up, get some color on the canvas and formulate an idea in my head of what the finished painting will look like. {5} Once the underpainting is complete and dry, Ryan begins to add color. He begins the color phase by working on the focal point first. In this case, he paints the birds’ heads, followed by their feathers and then working on the key areas of the foreground. The background and extreme foreground is usually the last to be painted. {6} Rather than finish one area of the painting and move to the next, Ryan prefers to work gradually all over the canvas as the painting progresses. “The painting needs to develop as a whole, rather than one isolated section at a time. I’ve found that working all over the canvas simultaneously helps me to achieve a much more unified finished piece. {7} As the painting gets close to completion, the process slows down dramatically. With most of the structure and wildlife in it’s final position, Ryan now begins evaluating colors as they relate to one another, then adjusts as he sees fit. The brightest highlights and darkest darks are painted in the final stage. {8} The finished painting after drying and a coat of varnish to protect it from fading. This piece sold to a collector in Kentucky within a week of completion. After custom ordering a frame for the painting, Ryan builds a wooden crate sized to fit the framed piece and ships it to the buyer.

{1}

{2}

{3}

{4}

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December 2014

{5}

{6}

{7}

{8}

You can read more about this painting, find out where the idea for the title came from and even watch a video in progress at Ryanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website: http://www.ryankirbyart.com/Originals/original_eastern_wild_turkey_oil_painting_Sons_of_Thunder.html

December 2014

High Country Magazine

Wonder Women Five social and cultural warriors from the High Country region are the focus of the impressive exhibit “Common Threads: Five Influential Women and their Legacies,” on display at BRAHM through January 4 BY ALLISON WEST

t the turn of the 20th Century, the feminist movement was in full swing as the lives of women began to reflect the growing trend of industrialization and technological change. In cities and towns across the nation, women were working tirelessly to promote suffrage, better education, the regulation of child labor, women in unions and liquor prohibition. (Incidentally, this pivotal moment in history also saw the birth of the world’s first distaff superhero – Wonder Woman.) Most of us have a vague recognition of the eminent female pacesetters from this era – Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony – primarily from high school history classes that 72

High Country Magazine

devoted about as much time to this revolutionary era as they did to school lunch announcements. So unless you spent additional time in Women’s Studies courses in college, even these ladies probably aren’t exactly household names. The noble undertaking to rebuild communities began post-Civil War, with women bearing the burden of getting the South back on its feet due to the sheer volume of soldiers lost. Yet even as women embraced the efforts to rebuild communities across the southern states, progressive reform in the North Carolina mountains was hampered by rugged, isolated terrain and lack of transportation into the area. The folks who lived in the mountain communities

December 2014

were falling further behind the rest of the country. Fortunately, though, crusading for political, economic and social equality wasn’t limited to major and mid-sized cities. In the High Country, a group of women who possessed intelligence and selflessness in spades engaged in active reform of our very region, influencing the lives of countless people in both the mountains and across the world for more than a century. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) showcases five of these trailblazers – Emily Prudden, Bertha Cone, Mary Martin Sloop, Lucy Morgan and Vera Lachmann – in the powerful exhibit “Common Threads: Five Influential Women and their Legacy,” on display through Jan. 4, 2015.

A Very Special Thanks to Dianna Loughlin Exhibitions & Collections Coordinator and Administrative Assistant, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum The installation shines a light on each woman’s achievements over the course of a century, with placards displaying biographies and various achievements. A handful of possessions both personal and practical, profound and routine are also on display – Dr. Mary Martin Sloop’s flashlight (which guided the health-conscious physician on her nightly walks), Bertha Cone’s steamer trunk (a behemoth that accompanied her on a two-year worldwide tour), a photo of Lucy Morgan hard at work at her loom at Penland School of Handicrafts, a cast iron frying pan from Vera Lachmann’s Camp Catawba for Boys, and Emily Prudden’s peaceful watercolor paintings. Given the breadth of each woman’s

mark on history, collecting artifacts of representative significance was certainly daunting, says BRAHM Exhibitions and Collections Coordinator Dianna Loughlin. Yet whittling down the highlight reel was not so much to present “the best of the best,” she explains, “but rather [to express] that these women sought to achieve common goals during a time when the region demanded educational reform, economic expansion and cultural progression. The facts we chose to focus on helped relay the idea of ‘common threads’ and thus tell a cohesive story while also giving each woman her due justice for her individual successes.” The most palpable connection the exhibit makes among the women is toward

their individual efforts to progress education in the region, but Loughlin contends the biggest takeaway is the humbling realization that “these selfless individuals overcame any obstacles thrown their way. They simply persevered.” They were educators and scholars, agriculturalists and missionaries, artists and mothers, slogging away for causes – for people – they felt called to champion. They were all similar but so very unique, with legacies that inspire other women (and men) to continue to carry on similar fights even today. Herewith a brief overview of the women featured in “Common Threads” and their indelible contributions to our region’s rich tapestry:

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High Country Magazine

THE WOMAN

Former students of Oberlin Home and School with portrait of Miss Emily Prudden, 1963

Emily C. Prudden LIFESPAN – 1832-1917 HER LEGACY – Deaf, middle-aged and hobbled by severe arthritis, Prudden founded 15 schools in North and South Carolina (seven of which were for blacks and all of which were funded with her own money). Built all across the Western Carolinas in towns such as Saluda, Brevard and Elk Park, NC, and Cowpens, SC, Prudden’s schools were noted for crossing geographic, racial, cultural and religious boundaries. With opportunities for African Americans limited even after WWI, Prudden set out to found some of the first formal schools for African American girls in the mountains. She didn’t stop there: She also allowed all students – most of whom were impoverished – to attend for free. Her greatest legacy, Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC, is the only school founded by her that still exists today. Established in 1910, the university currently commemorates her work by hanging her portrait in the student center. MOST FASCINATING EXHIBIT PIECE – A school trunk full of used clothing. While Prudden was financially responsible for initially funding the establishment of all her schools, she was also shrewd enough to organize the sale of used clothing to bring in additional funding for the schools. As each school became sustainable she would turn it over to a local church and move on to start another. 74

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December 2014

Statue of Emily Prudden

Miss Emily Prudden - Founder of Oberlin Home and School, circa 1900s Mitchell Day School at Pfeiffer University in Spring 1913. On June 29, 1914, a fire completely destroyed the main building shortly after the spring session ended. Photos courtesy of Pfeiffer University

THE WOMAN

Bertha Lindau Cone LIFESPAN – 1858-1947 HER LEGACY – Arguably best known as the wife of “Denim King” Moses Cone, Bertha Cone was a powerhouse in her own right. A few short years after the couple built their vacation home, Flat Top Manor on the Moses Cone Estate in Blowing Rock, Moses died. Bertha, however, continued to spend summers there and oversaw operations for the remainder of her 39 years. At the turn of the century, thanks to its agricultural efforts, the Cone Estate was the single greatest economic force in Blowing Rock. Bertha even maintained the estate’s four apple orchards, which produced more than 30,000 apples; regular shipments were sent to American soldiers in WWI. Always looking for new ways to run the estate, Bertha was an avid reader of The Progressive Farmer magazine, a dedication that may have influenced her to establish the first Grade A dairy facility in Watauga County, which sold milk and cream to hotels, Camp Catawba and the Appalachian State Teachers College. Cone Manor is now a nationally recognized park and historic site, with the house serving as a visitors’ and craft center. MOST FASCINATING EXHIBIT PIECE – A railroad track piece. Since the orchard was located down an exhaustingly steep slope south of Hwy 221, Bertha had a railroad constructed to allow workers to carry apples in carts from the orchard to the highway. Railways greatly contributed to the economic success in the mountains.

The three Lindau Sisters

Bertha Cone enjoyed sitting on a side porch at Flat Top Manor. (Photo courtesy of Judith Lindau McConnell and Nancy Lindau Lewis) December 2014

High Country Magazine

Lucy Morgan and Edward Worst

Lucy Morgan weaving

THE WOMAN

Lucy Calista Morgan LIFESPAN – 1889-1981 HER LEGACY – One of the leading activists of the Craft Revival, North Carolina native Morgan founded Penland School of Crafts in 1929, an outgrowth of a craftbased economic development project she had started several years prior: revive the art of hand-weaving in order to give women in the community a means to supplement their family’s incomes. In 1928 noted weaving expert Edward F. Worst suggested adding pottery to Penland’s program, thereby giving rise to Penland Weavers and Potters, with pewter following soon after. Morgan remained the school’s director until her retirement in 1962. Today Penland encompasses approximately 400 acres and 50 buildings, welcomes more than 1,200 each year seeking instruction and is an internationally recognized center for craft education. MOST FASCINATING EXHIBIT PIECE – The enameled copper dish, woven purse and pewter dishes lovely but not uncommonly so. It’s the sea change they represent that is the most striking. As a placard points out, “Lucy’s efforts to celebrate craft and promote profitability gave local women (and eventually men) a practical means of supplemental income while laying the early groundwork for the Craft Revival movement in the mountains.”

Lucy Morgan was buried in St. John's churchyard, Cartoogechaye, N.C. 76

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December 2014

1934: 1) Mary Coggin 2) Harriet Conley 3) Georgia Morgan 4) Lucy Calista Morgan 5) Ralph Siler Morgan, Sr. 6) Janet Turnball 7) Isadora Williams 8) Edward Worst

THE WOMAN

Mary Martin Sloop LIFESPAN – 1873-1962 HER LEGACY – A physician, educator and reformer, the Davidson, NC native is best known for bringing medical, educational and economic reforms to residents of the North Carolina mountains, primarily via her founding of the nationally acclaimed Crossnore School in the Linville Valley. In the early 1900s, refused for medical missionary work in Africa because she was deemed too old at 33, Sloop and her husband, Dr. Eustace Sloop, felt a need to redirect their ambitions toward helping the people of Appalachia, appalled by what she

called “shockingly primitive” conditions. Eustace devoted most of his time to medical needs, while Mary responded to the lack of educational opportunities and undertook what became a 40-year crusade to change lives and break patterns of poverty, moonshine and child marriages. With help from contributions around the country, including from the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sloop and her husband established and eventually expanded The Crossnore School, which provided a nine-month, 11 grade education by trained teachers with special emphasis on economics, Bible study and vocational training, including a weaving program that helped to revive a lost art. In addition to the area’s first residential school, the Sloops also brought to Avery County a hospital, dental clinic, the first electricity, the first telephone and the first paved road. What started with the elegant belief that “Education is the best way for a child to rise above his circumstances,” led to facilities filled with children who, through no fault of their own, could no longer live at home. In 1951 Dr. Mary Sloop was rewarded for her lifelong efforts and achieved nationwide attention when she was named America’s Mother of the Year. MOST FASCINATING EXHIBIT PIECE – The Crossnore School Photo Album. Tattered and brittle and overflowing with what are surely emotional stories of lives both touched and changed, the photo album is full of the faces of students, campus events and the remote yet exceptional backdrop of the surrounding mountains.

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THE WOMAN

Vera Regine Lachmann LIFESPAN – 1904-1985 HER LEGACY – Born in Berlin into a family of German-Jewish aristrocracy and highly educated, Vera Lachmann received her Ph.D. as Hitler was rising to power, even establishing a private school that the Nazis closed shortly after Kristallnacht. Lachmann fled Germany for the U.S. in 1939, teaching in various schools around the country that included Salem College in North Carolina as well as Yale. In 1944 she arrived in Blowing Rock and founded

Camp Catawba for Boys, an eight-week summer camp for six to 12 year olds that focused on the arts, music and drama, mostly serving as “an educational and cultural refuge for young Jewish immigrants.” Although the boys played sports, rode horses and swam in a spring-fed pool, Lachmann, a published poet, also instructed the campers in Latin and English, regaling the boys nightly with stories from Greek and Roman mythology. Her life partner, Tui St. George Tucker, a renowned composer and conductor with whom she lived in New York in the camp’s off-season, served as the camp’s music director. Hampered by the polio epidemic, debt and Vera’s encroaching age, the camp closed in 1970. But for 26 years, Camp Catawba housed and educated more than 400 campers whose lives were forever influenced through music and drama. MOST FASCINATING EXHIBIT PIECE – A piece of parchment paper with a Greek phrase written in black crayon that translates to “The gods are also here.” Considered one of her most valuable possessions and displayed in the camp’s small office until Lachmann’s death, the framed memento was not only symbolic of what Camp Catawba meant to her, but it was deeply personal. The creator of the piece was Erika Weigand, a friend who aided Vera in her 1939 escape from Germany.

Vera and composer Tui St. George Tucker continued to summer at Camp Catawba after the camp closed in 1975. 78

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December 2014

Vera telling the story of Homer to the boys at Camp Catawba.

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Parting Shot...

Ken Ketchie

Jerry Moore Day on October 4

Coach Moore To Be Inducted Into Hall of Fame On Dec. 9, former ASU football coach Jerry Moore will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the 54th annual National Football Foundation Awards Dinner in New York City, and Moore will also be honored during the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1. Most recently, though, App State fans recognized Moore and his wife, Margaret, at Kidd Brewer Stadium for his induction and also the previous quarter century spent on the campus and in the High Country community. Coach Moore, who led the Mountaineers to three consecutive national championships, 23 winning seasons in 24 years and the monumental upset over Michigan in 2007, was emotional as he shook hands with fans and chatted with former players this past October on game day. Normally not one to show much emotion, Mrs. Moore said Jerry was gripping her hand tightly throughout the ceremony that featured a walk through the tunnel, recognition at the 50-yard line and an interview with ESPN. “He’s gone through so many emotions [in the 80

High Country Magazine

past two years] this was just one that made him really realize how much he was really loved,” Mrs. Moore said. As Coach Moore noted, “Like everyone else, once in a while we all need a slap on the back.” Moore, of course, was referring to the circumstances surrounding his dismissal as head coach of the football team on Dec. 2, 2012, the morning after a heartbreaking 38-37 loss to Illinois State in overtime in the second round of the playoffs. The previous two years have been pretty rough on the coach, but the event at Kidd Brewer Stadium seemed to bring some closure for Coach Moore. When he was a coach, he used to tell his players after a loss, “We wasted four hours [of our life] if we didn’t learn from it.” “I may have wasted two years of my life if I didn’t learn from this,” Coach Moore said, adding when asked that “patience is probably the biggest thing” learned throughout this ordeal, which resulted from poor communication from both Moore and former Athletic Director Charlie Cobb. “Nothing tops what we did here, and when I

December 2014

say we, I am not talking about me as coach, I am talking about us as the Appalachian family, and for about two years, I wasn’t sure I was still in the family,” Moore said. “But even in family things don’t always go like you want it to. It was a great experience.” As for the ceremony, Mrs. Moore said the whole day was “overwhelming,” describing it as a “very, very special day” from the minute they woke up that Saturday morning. Both noted the “roar” from the fans in the stadium and the hugs and handshakes from former players and staff and their wives. “Their affection and gravitation toward Margaret and my family was awesome. That went on all night,” Coach Moore said. “It was an awesome night.” Moore added that in the future he’ll stay out of the way if requested, but he would rather be involved with the football program someway, somehow. I’d like to be in the parade,” Moore said. “I don’t care about leading it.” By Jesse Wood

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