Here!! Here Winter
Celebrating Alleghany & Ashe Counties N. Carolina • Grayson County Virginia
Independence Free Market THE BUSINESS OF
RECYCLING
AFTER
THE FALL
Painting Our Towns
COOKIE
TIME!
2019 Winter
HERE! | 1
y Creek Cafe Mud&dMUSIC HALL Live Music • Great Food • Intimate Concerts Group Dining • Private Events • Open Mic • Local Art
WWW.KWBLUERIDGEMTNS.COM MLS # 217694: 1188 Teaberry Rd, Warrensville, NC, 3 BR/3 BA, Beautiful custom home & 5.60 Acres +/- Offered at $479,000
MLS # 218081: 398 Riverside Dr., Sparta, NC 3BR/2 BA Stunning log cabin, Little River frontage 3.18 Acres +/Offered at $369,500
MLS # 217582: 175 Cedarbrook LN, Sparta, NC 3 bedroom 4.5 bathroom Well-appointed mountain home on 5.25 Acres +/Offered at $469,000
21
Fiddlin’
DECEMBER
GS 2 SHOWIN M 2PM & 7P
CATION SPARTA LO
MOVIE
147 Countryview Drive, Sparta, NC, 4 BR/2 BA 6.63 Acres +/-, Wonderful mountain log home near the Blue Ridge Parkway Offered at $399,500
NIGHTS
FOR HOURS & MENUS
muddycreekcafetandmusichall.com
Muddy Creek Cafe & Music Hall 60 South Main Sparta, NC (336) 372-5999
137 West Street Winston Salem NC (336)-201-5182
MLS # 218504: 209 Abshers LN, Sparta, NC, 3 BR/1 BA Gorgeous home just outside the town limits. 0.58 Acres +/- Offered at $158,000 Dennis Deal, NC Broker/Owner 336.813.9252 Leslia Cockerham, NC Broker 336.999.4496 Jim Halsey, NC Broker 336.553.7755
Jay Woodruff, NC/VA Broker 919.868.6675 WandaDeal, NC Broker/VA Sales 336.817.2834
Office: 336.372.4774
15 N. Main St • Sparta, NC 28675 Each office is independently owned & operated.
2019 Winter
HERE! | 1
Contents
AlleghanyCounty Ashe County North Carolina Grayson County Virginia
Features Shop HERE!.................... 4 Free Market..................... 6 Recycling....................... 10 After The Fall................. 14 Painting Our Towns...... 19 Cookie Time.................. 23
23
6
Independence Free Market Something for everyone
HERE! is published by Kate, Ink publisher@heremagazine.pub 2 | HERE!
Events............................ 28 Advertiser Index............ 33
10
After The Fall
Tree Identification in Winter Editor/Design: Kate Irwin Design Assistants: Isabel Engel and Hanna DeBoard
14
The Business of Recycling Reduce • Reuse • Recycle
Contributing Writers: Scott Jackson-Ricketts Bev Fermor
heremagazine.pub • info@heremagazine.pub
Winter 2019
A 'Possum in a Pear Tree
After feeding our horses, I was walking from the barn back to our house and heard a rustling in the grass and a scrambling noise close by. I knew it had to be an animal but it was possible it might be one of our cats so I swung my flashlight toward the noise to see a opossum quickly climbing our pear tree. It scurried out onto a branch and blinked it's dark eyes as I worked on getting my cell-
phone out of my pocket while holding the flashlight. The opossum was scared and my hands were very cold but I was able to quickly capture this photographic twist on the classic holiday song The Twelve Days of Christmas. We, at Here!, wish you wonderful Holidays season and a Happy New Year!
S E I R E S IC S U M Y L 20 0 2 MONTH y a M 9 1 0 2 r e b r m Dece ce/$20 Doo an
5 Adv 1 $ • . m . p 8:00 DEC. o5f “Rusted
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Jonatha oys up Cowb & the Pick Special G
JAN. 4
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0 S. MAIN SIC HALL • 6
U EK C AFE & M & B E V E R AG E S AVA IL A B L E E R C Y D D U R M M E • D IN N E AG E S W E LC O ALL
sCouncil.org rt A y n a h g e ll A Info & Tickets:
ST • SPARTA
SHOP AND
ENJOY
HERE!
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We proudly call these Blue Ridge Mountains home Real estate experts in Ashe County & beyond.
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4 | HERE!
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Winter 2019
Muddy Creek's Shrimp & Grits Delicious shrim in creamy grits, a little gravy with just the right amount of zip. Delicious for Sunday Brunch or anytime!
muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com see ad on page 1
A Touch of Grace
Outfit your home with beatuiful decor. Outfit yourself with qauality clothing. Grab a bite to eat at while you're there! THE place for Sparta gear: hats, shirts, mugs and more!
Glade Creek Animal Hospital Having a "ruff" day? We can make it better!! Loving care for your pet, online health library and ordering medications.
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custom curtains • pillows bedding • accessories gifts • home goods
Michael Glabicki of “Rusted Root” with Dirk Miller and special guest, Tolan Shaw
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Rouse House Music & Books
Celebrating the past, present & future EarthMama.org • WelcomeHomeDoor.com see ad on page 13
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2019 Winter
MONTHLY MUSIC SERIES DEC. 5
JAN. 4
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FEB. 15
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APRIL 18
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FOR INFO ALLEGHANYARTSCOUNCIL.ORG
see ad on page 21 see ad on page 3
HERE! | 5
The Free Market
A community resource, run by a community of volunteers.
W
e all have “stuff” that we no longer use or need, yet we keep it because it is still useful and we don’t want to just throw it away. The Free Market in Independence, Virginia is a wonderful community resource for things you no longer need or want but things that can be used by someone else. The idea of creating a free market became a reality in 2017 under the umbrella of Grayson LandCare in an effort to encourage reusing, recycling, and up-cycling still useful items rather than taking them to the landfill. “While in graduate school, we had several shelves in a communal laundry room where people could leave items they didn’t need,” said Kathy Cole, LandCare President, and Free Market Volunteer, “and someone else could take them and make use of them—I thought it was a great concept.”
6 | HERE!
Based on “take what you need” and “donate what you don’t need”, the Free Market’s inventory varies from day to day depending on what is donated and what is taken.
“We have received several items that we could not figure out what they were, but they were exactly the right piece or part that someone was seeking,” says Kathy Cole.
“We accept items that you might not take to a thrift shop,” says Market Manager Jean Roznik. “For example, we do not accept clothing, shoes, or novels, but we do accept cookbooks, books for children, and ‘how to’ books. Donations range from simple to surprising, and can be a single item or many items from an estate or cleaning out a home.”
The Free Market has something for everyone. Artists and crafters are encouraged to stop in and possibly find something they can use.
Neatly organized, the Free Market typically has a variety of fabric, paper, packing material, canning jars, and egg cartons. They are a great resource that accepts cardboard boxes, minor hardware such as screws, nuts, bolts, and nails; kitchen items, videos, cassettes, note cards – handy things that are still very useful.
Community outreach and engagement is an important part of the Free Market. Someone just starting out on their own can usually find cups, plates, silverware, linens and lampshades. Run on a tight budget with funding from a grant, financial donations, and support from Grayson County, the Free Market keeps track of the number of items donated and the number of items distributed. Both numbers have risen since the Market opened.
Winter 2019
2019 Winter
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“We have recently finished our fourth quarter weights and measures,” said market volunteer Bev Fermor, “and estimate the Free Market diverts approximately 46 tons per year from the landfills which represents a savings of $2,530/year in landfill fees.” Located at 1173 N Independence Ave in Independence, Virginia, The Free Market is open Wednesday and Thursday 1-5pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 2pm. Along with the market manager, approximately 30 volunteers keep the Free Market running smoothly and serving an average of 52 visitors a day. The Free Market Face Book page is an easy way to see new donations, ask questions and share “up-cycling” ideas.
Grayson LandCare is a member-driven non-profit, addressing the challenges of life in a rural, agricultural community. LandCare promotes economic self-reliance, preserves local traditions, and helps landowners to protect and enhance our natural heritage by starting conversations, problem solving, and appreciating the value of the place we call home. The Mission: • Advocate solutions for the community of Grayson County, Virginia and the surrounding area. • Increase the productivity and expand economic opportunities for local farmers, forest owners, and other citizens. • Practice sustainable and equitable management of natural resources and the environment. Grayson LandCare is a locally organized group of farmers, landowners, and residents concerned about economic and environmental problems in Grayson County and southwest Virginia. Grayson County has historically been a rural agricultural community based on small town values and the unique cultural identity of our beautiful Appalachian landscape. Unfortunately, rising land prices, higher property taxes, and competition from corporate farming threaten to overcome family farms, fragment our country landscape, and destroy our rural way of life.
8 | HERE!
A landcare group is a community-based group of volunteers working on conservation projects that contribute to environmental, social and economic outcomes. Landcare groups in Australia select and carry out their own projects, with funding assistance from corporations, government and other sources. Origins: Begun in Australia in 1989 to restore severely damaged ecosystems “one watershed at a time,” landcare now is carried out by some 6,000 community landcare and coastcare groups in coastal, rural and urban areas of Australia. Eighty-five percent of Australians recognize the official landcare logo. Landcare in the Southern Appalachians: Developing financially viable local landcare groups and getting existing landcare-like groups to sponsor landcare conservation projects in the southern Appalachian region represents an opportunity to build widespread support for the ecological restoration and protection of the southern Appalachian landscape.
Winter 2019
A Touch of Grace
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HERE! | 9
REDUCE
REUSE
THE BUSINESS OF RECYCLING
by Bev Fermor
ker. Additional hazards since brokers are unreliable when the markets are bad.
RECYCLE
FIND A PROCESSOR OR END USER If the material is accepted a payment is received to pay for all the steps outlined. If the load is substandard a reduced payment is made or possibly rejected for excess contamination. If the material is rejected the costs to the recycling program are the same. Similar farming where this is large initial investment but no guarantee a good sales price will be achieved. Many of us love to recycle but sometimes forget that a successful recycling program is dependent on being able to If recycling is so challenging why bother? sell the recyclables. The perfect recycling business would • Recycling diverts materials away from the landfills. take place at one site where only high value recyclables are When a landfill is full another has to be built, using your collected, sorted by type, processed and turned into new tax dollars. Do you want you look out over a landfill in products. This type of arrangement is rare due to the large your neighborhood? financial investment needed and limited supply of high value materials, especially in a rural area. So the next best solu- • Returns valuable resources to beneficial use, cheaper tion is to collect and bale at one site then haul to a nearby than utilizing new materials, saving energy and water, processor, or go through a broker who markets the materireducing greenhouse gas emissions. al after a full load has been consolidated. Unfortunately, as more people become involved in the recycling chain, more • Saves the County money on tipping fees so those dollars can be invested elsewhere such as schools. people need to take a percentage of the final sale price. The following table outlines basic steps that are undertaken. • Creates businesses and jobs
Step Challenge COLLECT MATERIALS Public engagement to collect sufficient material. Businesses are good source of quality material. Curbside single-stream recycling is convenient and captures more recyclables from the public but is rare in a rural area. TRANSPORTATION Expensive so need to maximize weight on the truck so might involve storage to consolidate a full load and baling costs. SEPARATION BY MATERIAL TYPE Investment in a suitable building, sorting equipment and labor. Costly material recovery facilities are rare in a rural area.
Changing markets generate new opportunities In recent years the opportunities for recycling markets have changed. It was cost-effective to send lower value recyclables overseas where labor is cheaper. Consequently, many mom and pop recycling businesses sprung up in Asia that were not always well regulated, resulting in the higher value materials being picked out and the remainder dumped, often ending up in rivers and the oceans. Over the years China has persevered to address the problem by first banning the import of mixed plastics and mixed paper. In March 2018, China required loads of sorted recyclables to not exceed 0.5% contamination. China’s actions have stimulated investment in recycling businesses in other parts of the world such as India, Vietnam but also created better incentives for expansion of the US recycling infrastructure.
FIND A RECYCLER OR CONSOLIDATOR In a rural area this might involve hauling many miles or the For example, US paper mills have invested more than $1 bilmaterial might need to go through a broker who can consol- lion in plans for construction, expansion or conversion to use idate loads, so incurring an additional payment to the bro- recycled cardboard and mixed paper, some of which are in 10 | HERE!
Winter 2019
Virginia, Kentucky and South Carolina. Similarly Polywood who utilize plastic milk jugs to make outdoor furniture has invested $35 million in a new production campus in Roxboro, NC, with the potential to create 384 jobs and consume 40 million pounds of plastic a year. Correction of the waning markets will not be instant but US investments will create opportunities for rural communities to consolidate loads through a broker and utilize them. In addition rural communities are attractive to these investors due to relatively low real estate prices, if other criteria are met such as good road access and workforce. How can Alleghany Alleghany County Recycling, Ashe Ashe County Recycling and Grayson Grayson County Recycling Program Counties recycle efficiently?
• Check the county websites to see what your county will accept and stick to it! Don’t be a wishful recycler. Counties have worked hard to develop their recycling programs but they need your help to believe in them. • Reduce contamination. The biggest problem a recycler faces is contamination, leading to a load of recyclables being rejected by the buyer, so costs have been incurred to the program but no payment is received. Contamination does not just refer to the half empty ketchup bottle or the greasy pizza box but also wishful recyclers who put Polystyrene, bubble wrap, cling film, flower pots, into the plastics recycling container. • Keep “tanglers” out of the recycling. These include Christmas lights, dog leashes, hosepipes, plastic bags etc. They get wrapped around equipment, causing breakdowns, lost time, extra labor costs often leading to net loss. • Take your recyclables out of the plastic bag you carried them in. Do not put the plastic bag in the recycling container but recycle your grocery bags at the grocery stores such as Ingles, Food City, and Food Lion. Depositing your recyclables in a plastic bag often results in them being thrown in the trash.
How Long Does It Take To Decompose? 80 Years
100%
Recycla
ble
Aluminium cans take around 80 years to fully decompose
100%
Recycla
500 Years
ble
Plastic bottles take around 500 years to fully decompose
1 Million Years
100%
0% Re1c0 Recyyccla lab ble le
Glass bottles take around a million years to fully decompose
Opportunities in our area • Hi Lands Recycling, Mouth of Wilson, VA is a metal recycler and will accept metals, vehicle batteries, not computers. • Hazardous waste collection. Check with your county for this annual event to recycle paint, batteries, and hazardous materials. • Plastic bag collection at grocery stores. Will also accept other clean plastic wrappings. Ensure coins and receipts have been removed from grocery bags! • Free Market (see article page 6). They will take items for reuse that cannot be recycled such as usable Pyrex, Corn-
2019 Winter
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FACTS 1. Nine-tenths of all solid waste in the United States does not get recycled. 2. Landfills are among the biggest contributors to soil pollution. Roughly 80% of the items buried in landfills could be recycled. 3. Although 75% of America’s waste is recyclable, we only recycle around 30% of it. There are a few easy steps you can take to start recycling better. 4. A single recycled plastic bottle saves enough energy to run a 100watt bulb for 4 hours. It also creates 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than would be created when making a new bottle. 5. Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as it takes to burn it. 6. It only takes 5 recycled plastic bottles to make enough fiberfill to stuff a ski jacket. 7. Motor oil never wears out, it just gets dirty – and it can be recycled. 8. Over 11 million tons of recyclable clothing, shoes, and textiles make their way into landfills each year. 9. The United States throws away $11.4 billion worth of recyclable containers and packaging every year. 10. Nine out of ten people said they would recycle if it were “easier”.
ing and other cookware that has been treated to withstand extreme heat, mirrors (not broken).
What else can you do? • Reduce/eliminate your use of single use items such as plastic straws, disposable cups, to-go containers • If glass cannot be recycled in your area buy your beer in cans and your wine in boxes. • Buy products with recycled content to help build demand. • Try to reduce and reuse as much as possible. Visit the Free Market, Independence, VA for ideas see Free Market beginning on page 6. • Historically we never used plastics. Find ways to not use them.
Wishful recyclers column • Glass. In some areas glass can be recycled. Glass recycling is a challenge because it is low value, heavy, sharp, different colors and full of air. It needs to be separated by color, crushed to increase the density on a truck. The weight can mean the average truck cannot handle it. Consider donating canning jars, flower vases and reusable glass to the Free Market (page 6). • Polystyrene/Styrofoam. In some instances it can be recycled but it needs to be very clean, free of tape and large volumes are needed since it full of air, so not much can be loaded on a truck. In some industrial areas where large volumes of clean polystyrene are available e.g. electronics packaging, the foam is degassed, densified, transported to processors such as International Cushioning Company, extruded and remolded into new packaging materials. Visit the Free Market to see the packaging materials they take such as Styrofoam boxes. • Tanglers. The Free Market will take
12 | HERE!
your bubble wrap; often local artisans will reuse it for packaging. Grocery bags take to the grocery stores to the container at the entrance for used grocery bags; also include plastic wrappings around toilet tissue, Kleenex, paper towels. Old clothes can be taken to Alleghany Cares, even if it is torn; they have connections with the textile recyclers. • Greasy pizza box and other dirty stuff. Do the recycling businesses a favor and throw it in the trash, unless you can compost it.
What else is being done to help us recycle? • Recycling Partnership is a non-profit organization with many business investors who are working to make better choices on packaging so that packaging can be reduced or more easily be reused or recycled. The organization offers grants to communities and guidance on how to improve a recycling program. Website: recyclingpartnership.org/funding
• NC DEQ Recycling offers assistance to NC recycling businesses. Website: deq.nc.gov/conservation/ recycling • VA DEQ recycling offers assistance to VA recycling businesses. Website: deq.virginia.gov/Programs/ LandProtectionRevitalization/RecyclingandLitterPreventionPrograms/ Recycling.aspx • NC Recycling Markets Directory website: p2pays.org/dmrm/start. aspx • Special Recyclables website: deq. nc.gov/conservation/recycling/recyclable-materials • Recycling in Schools website: wastereductionpartners.org/services • Waste Reduction Partners will carry out solid waste, energy and water assessments for businesses (not residential) in NC for free. website: wastereductionpartners.org/services
Winter 2019
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www.earthmama.org 2019 Winter
COMPUTERS: if your computer still works you can donate it to a library, school or charity. If it no longer operates TIRES: Tires are harmful for landfills. They take up a lot of space and can leach dangerous chemicals over time and can cause a fire hazard. Tires can be shredded for rubber much , recycled into new tires and recycled into rubber containers PAINT: Paint is considered a hazardous waste. You cannot dispose of paint by dumping it into a drain or storme sewer. Many recycling centers accept paint which can be blended into some fuels at different manufacturing facilities BATTERIES: If you are not already using rechargeable batteries, please consider giving them a try. Most recycling centers will accept batteries depending on the type. TELEVISIONS: Old TV sets fill landfills and can leak dangerous chemicals harmful to animals and humans as well. If the TV works, you can sell it, or giv it to charity. If it does not work, most recycling centers take them free of charge. PAPER: Every type of paper can be recycled including notebook paper, newspapers, food packaging, etc. All recycling centers accept paper.
“I“Richard love Rouse’s stories… Rouse’s stories sparkle The Welcome Home Door with thoughtful is like sitting with him descriptions and at a campfire, listenhomespun charm. ing his compelling Histowriting is clear storyteller’s and lucid,voice—you and you will want be immensedon’t the evening lyend. entertained as to ” each story unfolds —Frank Levering, with drama and Writer/Producer PBS intrigue. A great read!”Simple Living series - Kabir Sehgal, New York Times bestselling author “Richard’s stories sparkle withRouse thought-is “Richard ful descriptions and a master of people and place. Great homespun charm. His writersisare writing clearstudents and of people, lucid, and youRouse will beis surely this. Savor immensely enterthese stories as you tained as each story would superior unfolds drama wine -with rare, complexintrigue. yet uncompliand A great cated, a real joy.” read!” - Daniel Mallock,author - Kabir Sehgal of Agony New and Eloquence: York Times Johnbestselling Adams, Thomas author Jefferson, and a World of Revolution
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FOOD: instead of throwing old food in the trash, set up a copmpost pile and thrput it there. You can use it to fertilize your garden. CELL PHONES: cell phones can be recycled for their parts which are re-used in new cell phones. MAGAZINES: since magazines are made up of paper, all recycling centers and recycling services will accept these. You can also donate them to local schools or libraries. BOOKS: Books can be donated to schools, libraries and other charities. Also these can be recycled at recycling centers or PLASTIC BAGS: Most supermarkets accept used plastic bags to be recycled. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: contact your hazardous waste center to learn how to recycle your fire extinguisher. CLOTHES: Clothes are one of the easiest things to recycle as so many charitable organizations accept them. APPLIANCES: Washers, dryers, stoves and refrigerators are accepted by thrift shops or charities. If the appliance is no longer working, take it to your recycling center
After The Fall Every autumn we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of reds, orange, and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter. For most of us tree identification is much easier when the trees have their leaves - much more challenging after they fall.
Article and photos by Scott Jackson-Ricketts
14 | HERE!
Winter 2019
A
dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees. The keys are often illustrated and consist of a series of descriptive choices that lead the user to the correct name or identification of a given item. "Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts". In a real sense, these keys work
Lateral Bud: The buds formed on the side of a twig, not the bud at the end of the twig
Terminal Bud: The bud formed at the tip of the twig
Vein scars: little dots or lines that are scars within the leaf scar; these are the cork filled ends of veins that supply water to the leaves.
2019 Winter
on the process of elimination principle. For the Winter edition of HERE!, I'm going to focus on the identification of trees and shrubs without leaves and obvious fruit. Tree identification during winter includes fallen dead leaves and spent fruit lying about the ground, but the goal is to hone new skills in identifying trees without
these elements. The immense diversity of trees and shrubs in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers an opportunity to challenge oneself during a winter woodland walk. Without leaves and fruit, bark and twigs are important clues and can be used to identify trees in the winter. Twigs offer many clues to the identification of the tree, below is a brief review on parts of a twig:
Bud scale: Small scale-like structures that are modified leaves covering the bud during its winter dormancy
Lenticel: A small corky area or speck serving as a breathing pore Pith: a central strand of spongy tissue in the stems of most vascular plants. A clean cut with a sharp knife will reveal this inner core of the twig. Leaf Scar: A scar left on the twig when the leaf falls
HERE! | 15
When identifying trees, taking a walk in the forest should be treated as any biological investigation; one should pay attention to the landscape and habitat to obtain the first clues for plant identification. Be it in a river bottom, on top of a hill, in the highlands, on a farm or other disturbed eco-niche, each habitat will have its own characteristics based on many factors including climate, topography (landscape), human impact, and even which direction the land faces. Evaluating these localized conditions over time can provide insight into water and sunlight levels, as well as soil formation.
TERMS USED: Mesic: neither dry nor wet, requiring a moderate amount of moisture. Xeric: requiring only a small amount of moisture (in our area usually found in southern exposure and upslope). Hydric: requiring an abundance of moisture (typically a northern exposure riparian on the bank of a natural watercourse, and/or as well as riparian and down-slope terrain). Recently I took a walk through the forest to identify winter trees. Walking along a ridge, I headed South/ Southwest choosing a mesic (neither dry nor wet, requiring a moderate amount of moisture) site at approximately 2300'. At 10:00 a.m., the weather was calm and sunny, and the temperature was a chilly 38°F. Many of the trees were still full of leaves, finding one without those clues was not easy. I was reminded that it is not easy to access a healthy twig unless the tree is a sapling (a young tree). The tree I chose was 30 feet tall, but it offered many small branches and twigs within a comfortable reach. At five feet above ground the trunk measured 2½" in diameter. Note the bark detail in the picture. Snapping off a live twig, I brought it back to my office to work through the dichotomous key. (I used May Theilgaard Watts and Tom Watts Winter Tree Finder which I highly recommend.) Pages 2 through 5 cover habitat, human disturbance, more detailed description of location and other clues, such as fence rows, tree lined streets, woodpecker holes, and so on. 16 | HERE!
Winter 2019
Starting on page 6 we begin the key in earnest. The first choice is conifer or not, which leads me to page 2 because the twig is not from a conifer tree. Then I am directed to determine location of leaf scars…either opposite or alternate. Ours are opposite, but are they whorled or paired…paired and so on. After following the key, the end result was a red maple. My camera is not capable of close up shots, so you will just have to experience this for yourselves. It takes some prac-
tice, patience and familiarity with the details…but it is quite amazing. For more identification assistance, I also use the book Bark, by Michael Wojtech. Double checking, I head to red maple on pages 94 and 95. Compare the photo in the book to my picture of the trunk . The woodlands have much to offer the hiker/explorer. It might be obvious by now, but I am a book nerd. For instance, May Watts produced a series of small pocket guides back when I was quite young. In the early 60s she published a book called Reading the Landscape. To this day it holds up well. This book is not woodlands specific, but Reading the Forested Landscape by Tom Wessels is and is one of my favorite reads of all time. Tom later came out with A Field Guide to Reading the Forested Landscape called Forest Forensics. Often as a learning process evolves, the emergence of one thing leading to another builds up to a knowledge bank that always has room for more. Spending significant time on our public lands, rich with the elements of this potential knowledge, creates a familiar closeness that in turn supports these wild places through love and love of curiosity.
2019 Winter
HERE! | 17
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State
Zip Code
MAIL TO: Here! Magazine • 115 Atwood St. • Ste 503 • Sparta, NC 28675 18 | HERE!
Winter 2019
Painting Our Towns
Alleghany Junior Appalachian Musicians House, Sparta, NC
2019 Winter
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A
rtistic additions to communities large and small, outdoor murals are public art that transform the buildings on which they are painted into large-scale art, canvases of color and creativity, displaying visual treats. The true transformation from murals, however, runs deeper than the artistry of the murals themselves; the real works of art are the changes these collaborative projects can inspire within communities. Those who work on and with murals, whether designing, painting, or organizing participants for their creation, know that these community contributions are timeless. Within Alleghany, Ashe, and Grayson Counties you can discover more than twenty murals paint-
20 | HERE!
ed by many talented artists. Some have been commissioned by non-profits, others by businesses or individuals. All of them enrich us—residents and visitors alike. These murals that we share are beautiful ornaments that create community connections, conversations, foster a legacy of local heritage and relationships along the way. Among the murals in Alleghany, Ashe, and Grayson Counties are specific works of art representing the traditional music we enjoy and share here. A recent collaboration of art, inspiration and elbow grease added two colorful new murals to buildings in Sparta, North Carolina.
Winter 2019
José Luis Vílchez and Cora Rose Lewicki, a creative young couple with an ambitious itinerary of traveling across the United States then into South America sharing art and music with the communities they visit, came to Sparta on their journey. With support from the Alleghany Arts Council – volunteers and funding – they left Sparta with two beautiful murals. One of their works is painted on the Alleghany Junior Appalachian Musicians' House at 360 North Main Street in Sparta. A panorama of mountains and musical instruments, it also honors Helen White, founder of the Junior Appalachian Musicians program that began twenty years ago in Alleghany County.
Murals in Independence Virginia decorate several buildings on Main Street with "snapshots" of local history and commerce. A colorful mural painted in 2011 by local artist Charles Akers, stands as a tribute to Uncle Wade
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Ward, a well-known Grayson County farmer and famous clawhammer banjo player. Along with Kyle Creed, Wade Ward is thought by many to embody the "Galax" style of clawhammer banjo playing. Uncle Wade made many recordings and his Gibson RB-11 banjo is housed in the Smithsonian. The beautiful murals in Ashe County are well known throughout North Carolina and beyond. One of the more iconic murals highlights one of the richest parts of mountain life
22 | HERE!
and heritage - traditional music. This mural, “New River Traditions,” exemplifies how instrumental the music of Appalachia is in the culture of Ashe County. Painted in 1998 by Marianne DiNapolis Mylett, “New River Traditions” features two musicians, an older man playing the fiddle, and a teenage boy playing banjo. The mural is a beautiful reminder that music and art transcend generations and bring people together. To learn more about Ashe County's murals: ashecountyarts.org/murals.php
Winter 2019
Cookie Time
Cookies are a portable delight that can bring back memories and make new ones. Some family recipes are tightly held special secrets. The cookie recipes on the following pages were generously shared and can be enjoyed any time of the year. We hope that you will make and share these cookies and remember that they were shared Here!
2019 Winter
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Russian Teacakes Also called Mexican Wedding Cakes. 1 cup butter of margarine, softened ½ cup confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 ¼ cups Gold Metal Flour* ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup finely chopped nuts Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, sugar and vanilla. Work in the flour, salt and nuts until dough holds together. Shape dough into 1-inch balls Place on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. While warm, roll in confectioners’ sugar. Cool. Roll in sugar again. Makes about 4 dozen cookies. *Do not use self-rising flour in this recipe. VARIATION Ambrosia Balls: Omit nuts: add 1 cup finely cut coconut and 1 tablespoon grated orange peel with the flour.
This cookie recipe has been a tradition in my family for over 70 years. When I moved to Alleghany County in the 1990's I met a wonderful family - we've been great friends ever since. They have the same recipe and we share these cookies each year. Carol McElhaney
24 | HERE!
Winter 2019
Half-Moon Cookies
These iconic cookies are an Upstate New York favorite! We used to walk from school to Light's Bakery at lunch time and purchase one of these wonderful cookies. Light's made them big enough to share! with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside. 3. Beat the butter at medium speed for 30 seconds to loosen it up. Keeping the mixer running, gradually add the sugar, and cocoa powder and then gradually increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy about 3 minutes. 4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggs, vanilla. Beat at medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. FROSTING: 5. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the • 6 tbsp butter softened bowl again. With the mixer on low speed, • 2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar alternately add the flour in four additions • 1/3 cup milk and the milk in three additions (beginning • 1 tsp vanilla extract and ending with flour), and mix until just FUDGE FROSTING: combined. • Half of the vanilla frosting 6. Give the mixture a few final stirs with a • 1/3 cup cocoa powder rubber spatula to ensure all of the flour has • 2 tbsp milk been incorporated. INSTRUCTIONS 7. Use spoon to portion out mounds of Cookies dough onto the prepared baking sheets 1. Adjust the oven racks to lower-middle and about 2 inches apart. Gently press each upper-middle positions and preheat the oven mound of dough into a 3-inch circle. Bake to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets until the edges of the cookies are set and INGREDIENTS Cookies: • 3 3/4 cups flour • 3/4 tsp baking powder • 2 tsp baking soda • 2 1/4 cups sugar • 16 tbsp butter softened • 3/4 cup cocoa powder sifted • 1/4 tsp salt • 2 eggs at room temperature • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cups milk
2019 Winter
light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. VANILLA FROSTING 1. Cream the butter in a small bowl. Blend in the confectioner's sugar, vanilla, alternately with the 1/3 cup milk. Beat until the consistency is creamy, with no lumps! 2. Remove just over half the frosting into a separate bowl, leaving the remainder to be turned into the fudge frosting TO MAKE THE FUDGE FROSTING 1. To the mixing bowl, add 1/3 cup cocoa powder, plus 1-2 Tbsp of additional milk. 2. Beat until the cocoa is all mixed in and the frosting is nice and smooth. 3. Frost the top of the cookies, half of the cookie should be frosted with the white frosting. Half the cookie should be frosted with the chocolate. Prep Time 25 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Total Time 35 minutes
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I have been obsessed with Macarons since taking a trip to Atlanta for a Quiz Bowl competition; the competition was great, but the food was the most memorable aspect of my trip. We went to two different gelato shops, and in both, there were macarons being sold; they were a bit pricey, but I figured since this was Atlanta I would try a macaron. I fell in love with these beautiful little French cookies and set out to try and make them at home. I did research like any responsible teenager and set to work. This is the result of my trial and error, they are a bit time-consuming but well worth the wait - enjoy! Hanna DeBoard
For Macarons:
the spatula and make a figure 8. 4. Place this mixture into a piping bag with a round tip, or a plastic 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar baggie with a corner cut off of it (My personal go-to). 1 cup super finely ground almond flour 5. Put dots of batter onto the corners of a baking pan (to hold down the 1 teaspoon salt, divided parchment paper) and then place parchment paper over this. 3 room temperature egg whites 6. Pipe the batter onto the parchment-lined baking sheet in 1 ½-2” ¼ cup white sugar circles spaced about 1 inch apart. Tap the baking sheet 5-7 times on a ¾ teaspoon vanilla flavoring table to remove air bubbles. 7. Let the Macarons rest at room temperature for 45 minutes to an For the Filling: hour until they are dry to the touch. 1 ½ stick of salted butter, or ¾ cup room temperature 8. Preheat your oven to 300, then bake your macarons for 8-20 minutes 2 ½ -3 cups of powdered sugar (depending on your oven) until the macarons have risen, and they don’t 1 teaspoon vanilla extract stick to the parchment. Instructions: 9. Place them on a rack to cool. 1. Mix together the powdered sugar, almond flour, and half of the salt. 10. For the filling, put the butter in a large bowl and beat until it is Pour these into a food processor or blender and blend until the mixture is smooth, add the vanilla and beat until it is incorporated. extremely fine. Sift this mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. 11. Add the powdered sugar slowly and whip until the filling is smooth 2. In a separate bowl, or stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat and silky. the egg whites and the other half of the salt until soft peaks form. Keep 12. Once the macarons have cooled, pipe or spread your filling onto a beating the eggs while gradually adding the white sugar and beat until macaron and then sandwich it with another. stiff peaks form. Add in the vanilla, beating until just fully incorporated. 13. Place your macarons in an airtight container and let them rest in the 3. Add 1/3 of the almond flour mixture to your egg whites and fold refrigerator for 24 hours before eating them; trust me, they’re so much gently until combined, continue this process until all of the almond flour better if you wait mixture is incorporated. Continue gently folding until you can hold up Yields 16-30 Macarons 26 | HERE!
Winter 2019
Frosted Apricot Jewels A perfect combination of tart and sweet. You won't be able to eat just one.
INGREDIENTS 1 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter 1 package (3 ounce size) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup flaked coconut 1/2 cup apricot preserves
FROSTING 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon soft butter 1/4 cup apricot preserves
DIRECTIONS Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; cut in butter and cream cheese until fine. Blend in coconut and apricot preserves. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool and frost. Sprinkle with chopped nuts or more coconut if desired. To make frosting, combine frosting ingredients and beat until smooth. If you make the frosting a little bit thin, you can drizzle it from a fork for a simple decorative look.
2019 Winter
My step-mother Ora Lee Brady made these every Christmas along with many other goodies. These were my favorites. She was an amazing cook; I have many of her recipes. Vickie Moyer HERE! | 27
Italian Anis Cookies A favorite among Italians and Sicilians during the holiday season. My Nonna (Anna Galioto who Immigrated from Sicily to Milwaukee in the late 1920s) would make these as special treat for all the grandkids. My mom Joan Galioto and I made these for a sweet treat for Thanksgiving. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do . INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3 eggs 1/4 cup milk 2 tsp anise extract 1 tsp orange zest 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 3 1/4 c. all-purpose flour, start at 3, add to get right consistency so it doesn’t stick when rolled in 1 inch balls 1 tbsp baking powder FOR THE GLAZE: 2 c confectioners' sugar 3 tbsp water 1/4 tsp anise extract Nonpareils for decoration (colored round sprinkles)
FOR THE COOKIES: • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. • Cream butter & sugar together in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. • Add eggs, beat well with mixer, until the mixture is light and looks frothy. • Add milk, anise extract, orange zest and vanilla extract and mix until combined. • Add 3 cups of flour and baking powder to a separate bowl and whisk until evenly combined. • In 2-3 increments, add flour mixture to the bowl with the wet ingredients, mixing in until just combined. • Add additional flour as needed, 1 tbsp at a time, until you can roll a cookie's worth of dough between your palms with minimal sticking. I added 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) during this time, bringing the total flour used to 3 1/4 cup.
The amount of flour you need may vary. • Using a 1 1/2-tbsp cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough and roll with hands to form balls. Some of the dough will stick inside the scoop but that's okay. Place on baking sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart. • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies are very lightly brown on the bottom. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. FOR THE GLAZE: Once cookies have cooled completely, whisk together 2 cups confectioners' sugar, 3 tbsp water, and 1/4 tsp anise extract. Dip the tops of each anise cookie into the glaze, and then sprinkle nonpareils over top. Let glaze harden completely before storing. Note: if the Anis taste is too strong for your liking. Substitute more vanilla or use orange or lemon extract. All are great with this cookie Andrea K Galioto-Evans
28 | HERE!
Winter 2019
Santa's Sugar 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks) 1 cup granulated sugar 2 tsp. vanilla 1 egg, room temperature 2 egg yolks, room temperature 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt ICING: 2-2/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted 2 Tbsp. meringue powder 4 Tbsp. water Yields: 4 dozen cookies DIRECTIONS Beat butter, granulated sugar and vanilla in mixer bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. ADD egg and egg yolk; beat on low speed until blended. Gradually ADD flour and salt, beating just until blended. Refrigerate dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Heat oven to 350°F. Work with 1/2 of the dough at a time, keeping remaining dough refrigerated. ROLL
out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. CUT out cookies using cookie cutters; PLACE 1 inch apart on parchment paper-lined or ungreased baking sheets. Bake in 350°F oven until edges are lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. COOL on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. ICING: Combine powdered sugar, meringue powder and water in mixer bowl. BEAT on high speed until light and fluffy, 6 to 8 minutes. If icing is too thick, thin with small amount of additional water. TIPS: Buttery soft sugar cookies – a holiday classic! The perfect cookie to decorate! Cut into fun shapes and top with icing and sprinkles! Chilled dough is easier to handle and holds its shape better. Insider trick: roll the dough, cut out the shapes, and put the entire baking sheet in the fridge for a few minutes before baking! When my children were little, we had "Cookie Night" and these were the highlight - frosting, sprinkles, bright colors.These are fun to decorate and perfect for celebrations any time of the year. Kate Irwin
2019 Winter
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Alleghany County RECURRING EVENTS Mondays Line Dancing: 6:00-9:00pm, Alleghany Jubilee. Come on out to learn or just have fun!
Gap Civil, 1st Sat. of Dec., Jan., & Feb. 7-10pm Dec. 21, 7-9pm, Russell Lapinski @ Muddy Alleghany Jubilee, Main Street Sparta. Creek Café. Timeless songs, heart warming stoSmokehouse Night at Crave, 2nd Sat.of each ries, an all around good time! month 5-9pm, Your Favorite Smokehouse! Each month features a variety of special culinary creations inspired by some of the South’s most famous BBQ joints!
Dec. 21, 7-10: Muddy Creek Movie Night: Fiddlin' is a foot-stomping celebration of true Americana and artistic expression. This Tuesdays hopeful, inspiring documentary shines a light Rise and Shine Band, 7-9pm, Alleghany JubiPrime Rib Dinner at Crave, 3rd Sat. of each on what is best about America. Filmed in the lee. Great dancing with the house band every month, 5-9pm, Crave Sparta. Delicious Prime Appalachian Mountains at the World's Oldest Tuesday night! Fiddler's Convention, Fiddlin' shows the upRib Dinner! Wednesdays Crave Sparta Seafood, 4th Sat. of each month, lifting and healing power of music. For info & tickets: muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com/ Laconia Ale Works Draft Night, 4-9pm Draft 4-9pm, Crave Sparta. A Rotating Selection of your favorite dishes from the Seven Seas! A lil’ muddy-creek-sparta Night!!! $1 off all Laconia Drafts. All day! bit of Everything from Calabash to Kathmandu Dec. 28, 7-9pm, Chris Moyse @ Muddy Creek Thursdays is sure to please your special Palate. Café. All ages show - cafe stage - tips encourThirsty Thursdays at Pizzeria, Thirsty Thurs- Sunday aged! Winner of the 2017 Kerrville New Folk days and Wing Night! Live music Sundays, Dec. 1 & 15, at Muddy songwriting competition and recently selected Team Trivia, 7:00pm at Laconia Ale Works pre- Creek Café, 11-1pm Mike Caudill, an Alleghany performer at the 2018 & 2019 Dripping Springs native, was captivated by bands including the Songwriter Fest, Chris Moyse is a nationalsented by Keller Williams Elite-Blue Ridge! Beatles, Creedence Clearwater, and other Rock ly-touring folk songwriter out of Nashville, TN. Open Mic, Muddy Creek Cafe & Music Hall, &Roll greats, but it didn’t end there Country Open Mic Night 6-9pm, all musicians/singer Legends Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and JANUARY EVENTS songwriters are welcome! Come early to assure especially Glenn Campbell, whose 12 string Jan. 4, 7-9:30pm, Farewell Friend/Laura Jane a slot! Vincent @ Muddy Creek Café. A multi-layered guitar burned into his soul . approach alternative folk country, Farewell Fridays DECEMBER EVENTS Friend delves into lush orchestral textures, gritHigh Country Seafood CO. Pop Up @Laconia Ale Works, Fridays & Saturdays,5pm, Until Dec. Dec. 6, 7-10pm, Magnolia Green @ Muddy ty distorted guitar solos, and minimal acoustic 28, Delicious seafood by High Country Seafood Creek Café. Free show - tips encouraged Roots, landscapes to tell stories about love, loss, and identity. All ages show - cafe stage - tips enCo. The Menu changes weekly, but some thing Rock, Americana. you can expect: Oysters, shrimp, fish basket, ta- Dec. 8, 11am-1pm, Dianna Fallon @ Muddy couraged cos, po boys, etc. Creek Café, cafe stage - tips encouraged - all Jan. 1, 12:01am, Resolution Run 5K run/walk ages show folk/Americana/gospel/roots. in Sparta. Starts and ends at Laconia Ale Works, Saturdays 433 N. Main Street, Sparta. Enjoy the lights Alleghany Jubilee Mountain Park Band plays Dec. 14, 7-10pm, Ronnie Glenn @ Muddy Creek throughout town and celebrate at the finish Dec.14, Jan. 11,and Feb. 8 & 28; 7-10pm One of Café. All ages - free show - cafe stage. line! the region’s favorite dance bands! Dec. 14, 8-11pm, Dirty Logic - A Steely Dan Crave Sparta Crab Leg Night, 1st Sat. of the Tribute, Muddy Creek Café. All ages show $15 month 5-9pm, Crave Sparta. Alaskan Snow door $20 advance Crabs and Peel & Eat Shrimp 30 | HERE!
Winter 2019
Alleghany County Jan. 4, 8pm Amythyst Kiah,Grammy nominated Sparta, NC. For info: alleghanyartscouncil.org singer songwriter performs as part of And The Jan. 25, 2 & 5pm Movie: WILD ROSE is a joyBeat Goes On, Alleghany Arts Council's monthly ous human story steeped in music, courage, music series. Muddy Creek Cafe & Music Hall,
family, and achieving your dreams - no matter how far away they may appear. For info & tickets: muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com/muddy-creek-sparta
Ashe RECURRING EVENTS
8pm Location: The Florence Thomas Art School 10 S Jefferson Ave., West Jefferson. Jump start your creativity , she will lead you step-by-step Mondays Board Game Night at New River Brewing: and keep you entertained along the way. Join 4-9pm, New River Brewing, 108 S Third Ave. Raney and experience what being an artist can West Jefferson, Board game night on Monday do for your spirit, your stress level and your evenings, community, friends, craft brews, bbq sense of accomplishment! and board games. Bring your own or use one Music Bingo at the Brew Haus: Every Thursday of theirs. night EXCEPT the 2nd Thursday of the Month, Tuesdays Teaching Tuesdays, Every Tuesday, 11am, Todd Mercantile3899 Todd Railroad Grade Rd. Todd, NC 28684, learn all about wild edible plants in this free one hour class on the front porch of the Mercantile in Todd! Wednesdays Smart Ashe Team Trivia, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Wed. of each month, Boondocks Brewing’s Brew Haus, Boondocks Brewing. Bring your friends and join the fun. Entry is free and the fun is unforgettable. Thursdays Line Dancing Lessons, 7,-9pm, Blue Ridge Theater & Event Center, 9331 Old Hwy 16 S West Jefferson, Join Blue Ridge Theater & Jennifer Pasley-Smith for an hour of line dance instruction & an hour of free dance! $5.00/person at the door. Third Thursdays, 6 pm - 8 pm, Date Exceptions: November 14th and December 5th Time: 6 pm -
2019 Winter
Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild meets at the Ashe County Senior Center. Share the art of past, present, and future quilting.
Fridays Ashe Outreach Fish Fry & Bluegrass Music: 1st & 3rd Friday of each month, 4 - 8pm, 11719 HWY 88 W, Creston, North Carolina. Join a community event for some of the best fish around and enjoy bluegrass music at Riverview ComBoondocks Brew Haus, this is not your Regular munity Center! $10/plate donation includes Bingo. Music Clips will be played and you match fish or chicken, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, the song to your Bingo Card. All music genre are drink and dessert. Support feeding a communicovered...everything from Hank to Frank and a ty of 2,300 folks/month who desperately need few TV shows mixed in. Limited menu and cash your help to keep food on the table. For takebar provided. Come enjoy a fun night out!! out orders call 336-385-1314. Workshop to Expand Your Creative Voice: 2nd Hotel Tavern Concert Series: 6:30 - 9:30pm, Thurs. of each month, 12:30 to 3:30pm & 5:30 The Hotel Tavern, West Jefferson, NC Enjoy to 8:30pm. Other times available upon request. some live music at The Hotel Tavern! www.theLocation: 189 Annapurna Drive, Todd, NC, The hoteltavern.com workshop will introduce many visual thinking concepts and techniques used by professional Phipps General Store Jam, Every Friday night, artists and designers... REGISTER NOW! $35.00 7 – 10pm, Phipps General Store, 2425 Silas Creek per session, 518-727-5523. miltatop@gmail. Rd, Lansing, NC 28643, Phipps General Store opens up their doors for a jam session that can com Presenter: Milt Sigel. be one of the most lively in the region. Bingo!: 1st & 3rd Thurs. of each month, 6:30 - 7:30pm, Lansing Volunteer Fire Department Foraging Fridays: Fridays, 9am, Todd Mercan9281 NC HWY 194 N, Lansing, NC, Come warm tile, 3899 Todd Railroad Grade Rd., Todd, NC, up and play Bingo for cash prizes! Only $10 en- Pack a sack lunch and spend 3 hours shopping in natures grocery stores, then create awesome try fee. dishes with your wild edible plants you foraged Quilt Guild Meeting: 2nd Thursday of the yourself! Class is $30 month, 2-4pm, Ashe County Senior Center, The HERE! | 31
Old Time CommUnity Dance and Pot Luck Dinner: ‘Teen Friday’, Whatever Friday falls on the 13th- 19th, Todd Mercantile 3899 Todd Railroad Grade Rd, Todd, NC, CommUnity potluck dinner and oldtime dance. Make a favorite dish (or pick one up at the store) reconnect with old friends, make new ones and enjoy a variety of delicious foods. After the dinner we’ll break down the tables and chairs and rosen up the bows. Then get ready to promenade your partner around the room and kick up your heels to the live band!
Saturdays Essential Oils 101: 3pm, 3899 Todd Railroad Grade Rd., Todd, NC 28684, Sponsor: Todd Mercantile Learn step by step and give easy, simple and affordable tactics that anyone can do with the best essential oils on the planet. FREE!
DECEMBER EVENTS
Sat. Dec 7, Felted Hat Workshop, 10am - 4pm, Florence Thomas Art School 10 S Jefferson Ave., West Jefferson, All levels all materials provided. $105, Registration required. Design and assemble a wet felted wool cap perfect for the cold Greenfield Jam Sessions: Friday Evenings, winter days ahead. To create the pattern/mold 7pm-until, Greenfield Campground 120 Green- that will fit perfectly, the wearer needs to be field Circle, West Jefferson, Weekly jam ses- present at the beginning of the class. All materisions! Come pick a while or dance to the music als provided no experience necessary. their pickin’ - we guarantee a great time! Free Fri. Dec. 13, Snowman Barn Quilt Workshop, event. 9am - 12pm, Florence Thomas Art School 10
S Jefferson Ave., West Jefferson, Take the barn quilt tradition to another level and get into the holiday spirit at the same time. Utilize traditional techniques with MDO board, size 1’ x 3’, and exterior latex to add this “Snowman” into your weather safe holiday decor! All Levels All materials provided Ages 12+, $40, register online or call 336.846.3827
FEBRUARY EVENTS High Country Artisan & Crafters Market: Feb 2 & 16 & March 2 & 16, Blue Ridge Theater & Event Center, 9331 NC Hwy 16 S West Jefferson NC, Blue Ridge Theater & Event Center Artisan’s & Crafters - do you want a place to sell your items while the Farmer’s Market is closed for the Winter? Join us for an indoor market. For more info and a downloadable reservation form: www.blueridgetheater.com.
Grayson County RECURRING EVENTS
Feb 23 & Mar 29, Film Series, 2:00pm, 1908 Parade 6pm. 276-233-1104, friesfestivals.com, willowhaus@yahoo.com Courthouse Independence, VA. Wednesdays Dec. 14, 5-7pm, Troutdale Community The 1908 Courthouse Jam, 6:30-9pm., Historic Events Christmas Dinner, Troutdale Fire & Rescue 1908 Courthouse, Independence, VA. For info Chili Cook-off & Winter Market: Enter or judge Squad, Troutdale, VA. Chili Cookoff ($5 tasting) farm fresh products, call 276-773-3711 crafts & pesticide-free Christmas trees, activi- Dec. 19, 7pm, New River Bell Ensemble Holities, music & food, 11am–3pm, independence- day Concert, 1908 Courthouse, Independence, Thursdays VA. Visit artsculturalcouncil.org to learn more. The Fries Historic Theater Jam Session, 6:30-9pm., farmersmarket.org 276-768-0597 Fries Theater, Fries, VA. Info: 276-744-2231 Dec. 7: Christmas on Town Square: Indepen- Dec. 13, 7-9pm, Camerata Christmas ConIndependence VFW Bingo, 7-8pm., VFW Build- dence, VA. Santa, Refreshments, Grayson Coun- cert, Historic 1908 Courthouse, 107 East Main ty Chorus Performance, the Treasury Gift Shop St, Independence ing, Independence, VA open all day! Feb. 9, 2020, Arts Council Winter Series, HisFridays toric 1908 Courthouse, 107 E. Main Street IndeDec. 7: Christmas Festival & Parade: Annual Bingo @ Goodwill Grange, 7-8pm., Goodwill Christmas Event. Independence Town Park. Parade pendence, VA. Grange 3pm: “Christmas Around the World”, maryann@ Feb 23, 2020, Film Series, 2-3pm, Historic Independenceva.com or 276-768-8656 Sundays 1908 Courthouse, 107 East Main St. IndepenArts Council Winter Series, Feb 9, Mar 22, His- Dec. 7, Christmas on the Mountain: Fries dence. Grayson Celebrates Women Film and toric 1908 Courthouse Foundation Indepen- Community, Center, Main St., Fries, VA. 8:30 Discussion on Women achieving the right to dence, VA. am-6pm. Decorations, arts, crafts & more, Ap- vote. palachian breakfast & soup/sandwich lunch. 32 | HERE! Winter 2019
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Winter 2019