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editor’s
note PUBLISHER Gene Fowler
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Photo by Alexandra Rutherford
Tom Mayer
EDITOR Kayla Lasure editor@aawmag.com 828.278.3619
CONTRIBUTORS A copy of the original All About Women from 2005.
This year marks 16 years for the All About Women magazine. That’s 16 years of featuring local women and ensuring their stories are told. The magazine got its start in 2005 with a summer edition; the very first was printed in house here in Boone on newsprint instead of a glossy product like the one you’re currently holding. Jill Jordan was All About Women’s first editor, and she said the publication started as a means to empower and spotlight local women. Receiving support from the community, Jill said the staff set out to print quarterly — printing three editions in 2005. By the end of the year the magazine was taking off, and Jill said it was decided to print monthly. While All About Women is currently a bi-monthly publication, we still are just as intentional about bringing stories to readers about women from the region who are doing great work. I now succeed a line of leading women in this magazine. Jill served as editor until June 2008, followed by Sherrie Norris through September 2016. In 2016, Anna Oakes took the reins as All About Women editor. I know each of these women poured dedication, time and energy into this publication — as will I.
Having lived in the High Country for a little more than four years, I find myself being in awe of the strong network of women here in the area. It is my pleasure to be able to feature several of them in All About Women as they are “Making Their Mark” — the theme for this edition. Racial justice, mental health, grief support and education — these are just some the sectors of which High Country women are showing up and doing their part in bettering the community around them. Reach out to us with topics or local women you’d like to see featured in future magazines. As Women’s History Month wraps up at the end of March, I feel a sense of pride to be a part of this magazine. I hope you, the reader, feel a sense of appreciation for the women in the High Country as year by year we continue to showcase them and their endeavors.
Ansley Puckett Elisha Childers Bonnie Church Heather Brandon Heather Jordan Hollie Eudy Marion Edwards Mary McKinney Nina Mastandrea Sarah Rodriguez Sue Spirit
PRODUCTION & DESIGN Meleah Bryan
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by Kayla Lasure
Any reproduction of news articles, photographs or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. © 2021 Mountain Times Publications 4 | March-April 2021
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CONTENTS
features
16
16 Rising Up With Resilience: Women of Watauga Commited to Trauma Awareness 18 Fighting for Change: Three Leaders Advocate for Racial Justice 21 Providing Solace: Local Women in Funeral Service Care 24 Mebane Rash: A Lifelong Storyteller
18
relationships 11
Mom’s World: Holding on & Letting Go
12 Children’s Council: The Women Who Support the Workforce
29
14 The Marriage & Family Corner: Making our Most Important Mark
health 26 Beauty: Makeup Hygiene Tips for Skin Health 27 Living Well: Preventing Mindless Munching
style & leisure
12
28 Travel: Faraway Places 29 Summer Camps
in every issue 04 Editor’s Note 06 Women in the News 08 Young at Heart: Master Your Future
March-April 2021 | 5
Women in the News Galactic Gal: Boone-native seeks to make STEM info more accessible
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hen Boone-native Camille Bergin Calibeo was 4 years old, she saw a Space Shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla. — and that was the moment she became hooked on all things outer space. Chasing the dreams of her younger self, Calibeo now lives in Denver, Colo., working for Lockheed Martin Space. Hoping to enable and inspire the next generation to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Calibeo created The Galactic Gal — a science communication channel that discusses aerospace and different careers within the field. Growing up, Calibeo attended Parkway Elementary School. She attended Watauga High School her freshman year before transferring to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts from which she graduated in 2015. She had completed an internship at at Lockheed Martin while in college, and graduated
A
Calibeo created her Galactic Gal communication channel last May, and has expanded her efforts to include Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Galactic Gal aims to “make space for everyone” by explaining aerospace concepts in a way that anyone can understand . On her channel, Calibeo highlights aerospace career and educational opportunities while also showcasing space exploration missions that not only expand the reach in the solar system but also improve life on Earth. Calibeo’s channels can be found on social media platforms by searching for “The Galactic Gal.” - Kayla Lasure
Local starts Casting Bread donation initiative
n inspirational podcast led a local woman to start donating fruit weekly to Casting Bread Food Pantry, and later she launched a “Fruit for Families” initiative. According to Sarah Holmes, approximately 204 pounds of fruit — including cherries, pineapples, grapes, oranges and bananas — had been donated to Casting Bread during the course of three weeks as of early February. Holmes was inspired to begin the endeavor after listening to a podcast called “The Daily,” hosted by New York Times political 6 | March-April 2021
from the University of Tennessee Knoxville with a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering in 2019. Calibeo explained that Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor in the world, and is responsible for building fighter jets. She works in the space sector of the company, which conducts deep space missions and works with space satellites. Wanting to share this type of knowledge with others, Calibeo saw an opportunity within social media platforms to distribute information to all parts of the world — including those traditionally lacking access to aerospace education and job opportunities.
journalist Michael Barbaro. On Nov. 25, 2020, Holmes listened to the episode entitled “A Day at the Food Pantry,” which addressed the current reality of food pantries across the country. She learned how the need continues to increase while the number of service providers shrinks nationwide. Thirty years prior, Holmes’ personal ethos was shaped by an inspirational poster she saw on a co-worker’s wall with the statement, “A good idea is nothing but a fantasy without action.” Soon after she heard the
November podcast, she was reminded of that message and decided to take action. Holmes committed to spending $20 a week on fruit and delivering it to Casting Bread. She took it a step further and set up a GoFundMe page to encourage others to help provide fruit for families. With the donations she received from family and friends, she had more than doubled the amount of food she donates each week to Casting Bread. Casting Bread’s Executive Director Sam Garrett met Holmes in late January as she and her husband delivered grapes on a chilly Tuesday afternoon. “Sarah is truly putting inspiration to work,” Garrett said. “It is amazing how much impact people can have when they decide to act.” Find more information about Holmes and her initiative by visiting gofundme. com and searching “Fruit for Families by Sarah Holmes.” aawmag.com
Women in the News Clawson steps down from Boone Town Council after 20 years
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erving the town of Boone in roles such as a Boone Town Council member, mayor and mayor pro-tem since 1997, Loretta Clawson retired from her duties effective Jan. 31. “I would like to thank the town of Boone staff, town council and most of all the citizens of Boone who have unwaveringly stood by me all these many years,” Clawson said. “I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you.” She was first elected to the Boone Town Council in 1997, and served in that role before being
T
elected mayor in 2005. She was the mayor of the town of Boone until 2013, and chose not to run for reelection. Two years later, the town of Boone selected Clawson to fill the unexpired term of another councilperson. Clawson said due to her “love for the town” she ran and was reelected for Boone Town Council in 2015 and again in 2019; Clawson was elected to a four-year term during the 2019 election. She left the council serving as mayor pro-tem; she had served a cumulative total of 11 years in that role.
In addition to her time on town council, Clawson served on the N.C. League of Municipalities for eight years. She has also been involved with the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund board, N.C. Council on Aging, the Watauga Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the Boone Torch Club, the North Carolina Folklife Institute and the Boone Historical Preservation Commission. Additionally, Clawson was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2012. With her new found retirement, Clawson hopes to finally have time to write a book. She assured council members that she still plans to be active in the community, and wished them the best as they continued to serve the town. - Kayla Lasure
WAMY staff member selected as 2020 Afterschool Alliance’s NC Ambassador
he Afterschool Alliance announced that Emily Neff, the director of youth development at WAMY Community Action Inc., was selected to serve as an Afterschool Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance in 2020-21. Neff, a Watauga County native and Appalachian State University graduate, is one of 18 leaders in the U.S. chosen for this prestigious honor this year. Afterschool Alliance stated that Neff is a highly-accomplished and caring individual with a passionate goal to assist and provide for the children and their families within the community. Ambassadors will continue their work supporting local after school programs while serving the one-year Afterschool Ambassador term, organizing public events, communicating with policymakers and community leaders while increasing awareness and support for after school and summer learning programs.
WAMY has operated an after school program located in Avery County for over 20 years. The program focuses on serving at-risk youth from kindergarten through elementary school with tutoring, mentoring, social enrichment and health/ nutrition. In 2016, Neff, along with her Youth Development team at WAMY, created the Mountain Adventures Summer Day Camp in Watauga County. This program operates out of Cove Creek School, and serves on average 150 students each summer. The summer program provides breakfast, lunch and snacks each day as well as activities, field trips, guest speakers,
swimming and outdoor academic explorations. “Creating the summer program has been an amazing experience and journey,” Neff said. “I have met so many wonderful people and children throughout the years and each summer I am just as excited to be at camp as the kids are.” The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. WAMY Community Action — representing Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties — has a motto of “breaking the cycle of poverty.” March-April 2021 | 7
YOUNG AT HEART
Master
Your Future After four exhaustive years
of splitting my time between work and school work, in December 2020, I earned my shiny, new, master’s degree in educational media from Appalachian State University. In case you don’t know what educational media is — it’s one part instructional design, one part media literacy, one part digital media creation, one part web design and a splash of vodka, shaken not stirred. Note: the vodka was for me!
Back to (Graduate) School In a July 2018 All About Women article titled “Back to (Graduate) School,” I wrote about my decision to go back to school “16 years after finishing my undergraduate degree and a few months shy of my 40th birthday.” I shared why I enrolled in a master’s program — to improve my current skills and gain new ones, and to
stay current with best practices — as well as the struggle to balance work, school and life. At that time, I was almost halfway through the program, which is 100 percent online and housed in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies at App State’s Reich College of Education (RCOE). It took me four years — one class at a time, three classes per year — but as an App State employee, I was able to earn a master’s degree at no cost to me, which was a major factor in my decision to go back to school. If graduate school wasn’t enough excitement, during the program, I changed jobs, had a bout with breast cancer and endured my first ever pandemic. Along the way, I also discovered that one of my goals was to become a better leader and mentor, to inspire others to be better — especially other women. I’ve been fortunate in that I have known many women leaders — both personally and professionally — and each
I’ve been fortunate in that I have known many women leaders — both personally and professionally — and each one has taught me something about leadership and/or modeled a behavior that I wanted to emulate. 8 | March-April 2021
one has taught me something about leadership and/or modeled a behavior that I want to emulate. This list includes three of my professors: Theresa Redmond, Amy Cheney and Krista Terry.
Theresa Redmond Dr. Theresa Redmond is an associate professor in App State’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction where she teaches in media studies and teacher education. We met when I took her Global Perspectives in Media and Technology course — as a trial to see if I wanted to enroll in the program — and we’ve stayed in touch via email and occasional lunches. I felt an instant connection with Theresa. Her instruction was eye-opening; it was fun and rigorous, most importantly, relevant. I learned a great deal about using digital tools to create multimedia presentations — tools I continue to use in my current role as a digital communications specialist with App State’s University Communications (UComm). I learned from her that graduate course work was not busy work but could and should be relevant to my personal and professional interests. For example, for one assignment, I examined my local community and reflected on my role within it, as well as the role of media and technology in the personal and professional aspects of my life. My favorite project, however, was one that focused on Star Wars fandom — specifically cultural ownership, participatory culture and fan aawmag.com
Dr. Theresa Redmond Theresa Redmond is an associate professor in Appalachian State University’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, housed in the Reich College of Education, where she teaches in media studies and teacher education. She studies how digital media and communication technologies impact learning, literacy and expression. Before joining the faculty at App State, Theresa taught middle and high school visual arts, infusing media literacy education as often as possible through creative, hands-on teaching approaches guided by the belief that all learning requires community, creativity and care.
“I believe that the best way I can inspire or mentor my female students and colleagues is to create space for care and creativity and, of course, to listen and guide in a way that is invitational so they are empowered to choose their own way forward.” activism. Doing the research and creating the multimedia project hardly felt like work at all! Theresa encouraged me to pursue topics that held meaning for me and inspired me as she was inspired by another woman — her mother. “My mother experienced the women’s rights or feminist movement of the late 20th century first-hand and observed tremendous progress and change — as well as struggle — regarding the role of women in American society and culture,” Theresa says. “As a high school home economics teacher, she embodied her philosophy that the feminist movement was not to equate women with men or expect women to be as men in the culture, but rather to recognize the unique capacities of women and value them for their uniqueness in the culture.” Theresa added that through some of her recent scholarly and personal work, she’s come to understand that the space we hold together is held together, in part, because we are women. “I believe that the best way I can inspire or mentor my female students and colleagues is to create space for care and creativity and, of course, to listen and guide in a way that is invitational so they are empowered to choose their own way forward,” she says.
Krista Terry Dr. Krista Terry is an associate professor in App State’s Department of Leadership and Educational Studies where she teaches in the instructional technology
and higher education program areas. She also serves as a learning design specialist with App State’s Center for Academic Excellence. I took two courses from Krista — Instructional Design and Advanced Instructional Design — and I learned a lot about how to design engaging and effective online instruction, as well as the importance of adaptability and how to successfully contribute to virtual teams. Krista shared that it’s important for her to “pay it forward” because she’s benefited from having some outstanding women mentors. “When I’ve faced significant challenges, having these women along the way to inspire me, and give me the confidence that I needed to keep going, and achieve my goals was indescribably impactful.” I took Instructional Design early in the program, and like Theresa, Krista encouraged me to choose projects that were relevant to me. At the time, I was serving as the director of communications for App State’s RCOE and was working to improve the college’s digital signage system. This became the focus for my final project, a training session that Continued on next page
Dr. Krista Terry Krista Terry is an associate professor in Appalachian State University’s Department of Leadership and Educational Studies, housed in the Reich College of Education, where she teaches instructional technology and higher education program areas. She also serves as a learning design specialist with App State’s Center for Academic Excellence, where she brings her 20 years of online teaching experience, professional development background and scholarship in the area of instructional design and evidence-based pedagogies. Krista is also a former faculty fellow at the University of North Carolina System Office and is a distinguished fellow and past president of the International Society of Exploring Teaching and Learning.
“As a teacher, one of my ‘values’ is that I try to be open, authentic, and approachable so that students who might be interested in collaborating beyond the classroom feel comfortable seeking me out. It’s a great experience to serve the role of ‘official’ mentor to these talented students, many of whom are women.” March-April 2021 | 9
focused on designing media, and would lay the groundwork for later projects and professional work. When I took Advanced Instructional Design, I was halfway through the program; I also transitioned from the RCOE to my current position with UComm. Krista helped me dig deeper into what makes online instruction good — and this is less subjective than you might think — via an opportunity to help create an online professional development course for App State faculty. This real-world instructional design experience was and continues to be relevant to the work I do at the university. Krista says, “As a teacher, one of my values is that I try to be open, authentic and approachable so that students who might be interested in collaborating beyond the classroom feel comfortable seeking me out. It’s a great experience to serve the role of official mentor to these talented students, many of whom are women.” Krista also helped me grow as a leader and showed me that working with virtual teams is both rewarding and challenging and requires a lot of flexibility — a skill that has served me well during the COVID-19 pandemic with a shift to teleworking and virtual collaboration.
Amy Cheney Dr. Amy Cheney is the director of digital teaching and learning for App State’s RCOE, and a professor of instructional technology in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. She also served as the educational media program director for much of my time in the program; I would often contact her for course suggestions, and to make sure I was on track. I was only able to take one course with Amy — Professional Development, Innovation and Systemic Change — but it was one that was particularly impactful; the work I did throughout the course for my final project was again relevant to my current position. Amy also pushed me to continue to develop myself as campus leader and to foster systemic change. Amy says, “It is truly amazing to watch both students and junior faculty gain confidence, become advocates for themselves and their passions, and get to 10 | March-April 2021
Dr. Amy Cheney Amy Cheney is the Director of Digital Teaching and Learning for Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education and a professor of instructional technology in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Prior to coming to App State, she worked in K-12 education for thirteen years. Cheney also serves on the Board of the North Carolina Technology in Education Society as a past-president and the higher education liaison. Her scholarship has included two edited books, along with numerous book chapters and refereed journal publications. Her research interests are presence and community, systems thinking and emotional design in and for immersive online learning environments.
“It is truly amazing to watch both students and junior faculty gain confidence, become advocates for themselves and their passions, and get to the work of transforming our educational systems. If I’m able to play even a small role in that, it’s well worth it!” the work of transforming our educational systems. If I’m able to play even a small role in that, it’s well worth it!” I don’t want to bore you with the details, but the project was an intensive examination of App State’s digital signage system along with the steps I took to improve the system and its perception value on campus. After advocating for institutional training and support of digital signage for a number of years, this became one of my responsibilities when I moved to UComm, and is work I continue to do on a daily basis. Amy also introduced me to a very amusing and helpful book, “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, which I revisit when I feel stuck and/or need a reminder about how and when a little change can make all the difference. Amy shared that one of her professional joys has been cultivating women leaders. “Though education has been primarily a woman’s profession, historically, it has only been within my lifetime that we have truly risen to leadership roles. I had quite a revelatory moment at a conference a few years back: though at that time I had been in education for 26
years, it was only then that I had my first direct report to a woman. It was a sobering thought,” she says.
Mastery Accomplished? Was it worth it? There were days when I questioned my decision to go back to school — days that I sequestered myself in my office to finish a paper or project. But I’m pleased by what I accomplished and relieved that I am finished! Did I master my future? That’s a work in progress. But, I value the time I spent with Theresa, Krista and Amy, and I look forward to continued collaboration as colleagues. I know that they are there if I need encouragement or another push to be better.
heather brandon Considers life to be one big anthropological field experience. She observes and reports. She enjoys travel, food and wine and adventures with her husband, Roger.
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Relationships
MOM’S WORLD
Holding on & Letting Go Finding Ourselves through the Push-Pull of Motherhood Most moms I know are wearing a lot of hats. They might
have the teacher hat, the recreation director hat, the housekeeper hat, the financial manager hat, the chef hat, the cheerleader hat, the conflict manager hat, the taxi driver hat; the list goes on. But amidst all of those hats, those roles, those tasks, those responsibilities, they generally think of themselves first as a mom. I’ve told many women at the start of pregnancy that the identification of yourself as a mother often starts with that first glimpse of a positive pregnancy test. In your mind’s eye, you are already holding that baby in your arms. Even when women were not planning or even desiring a pregnancy, that identity is hard to shake. If you yourself had a great mom, there’s the hopeful aspiration of being “as good a mom as her,” and if you had a mother that was less than ideal, there’s the anxiety-ridden fear of whether or not you will find your way to being a better mother than what you had. Either way, in the context of myself and other moms I know, the work of daily life is juggling the other parts of our self — our work, our other relationships, our own well-being — with that part that is genetically programmed at our core to ensure our kids have what they need. We are simultaneously weighted down and lifted up by being needed by our children. Even when we are complaining about the 24-7, 365-day-ayear job, it is also that which brings us the deepest sense of satisfaction, accomplishment and joy.
As women progress through this role as a mother, so much happens internally within ourselves beneath all the hats. With infants and toddlers, we are in survival mode — basic needs at the center to skate by on three to five hours of sleep, try not to forget to eat or hydrate and see if we can still put a sentence together with adults. As our kids get to school-age, we are no longer knee-deep in diapers, but rather school events, academics and the shuttling to and from these activities. We might get a little time to exercise and have some time to hang out with adult friends, but time for self is still often at a minimum. Then, as our kids grow and mature through all the complexities of peer pressure, relationships and academic requirements of high school and beyond, as they are searching for who they are without us, we are trying to figure out who we are without them. It’s not like it is a clean break, as if there’s some defined time when they are independent and “living their life,” but it does feel like there is a time when it’s like we are standing in a doorway between their life as our child and their independent life they are meant to live. The cultural anthropologist Victor Turner called this liminal space or liminality, from the Latin root word “limen,” which means threshold. When we stand at that threshold with each of our children, it is a turning point. We are holding them back so we can hang on to what we know and what feels safe, while at the
same time we are pushing them forward to be who they are meant to be. In physics, it would be seen as that potential energy where it has that imminent possibility to move forward. It is both scary and exciting to stand in this doorway with your child, as they navigate their emotions, desires, fears, hang-ups, talents and motivations to start to see forward to their life’s potential. As a mother, I have had to look hard into myself and embrace what Kahlil Gibran wrote about children: You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, But seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. So as our children move forward and find their identity, as mothers we too move forward and find ours. Our identity is not in the hats, or in the tasks, the jobs or the responsibilities. We are a product of all of our experiences and relationships in this world. And so, I believe that women who are mothers find themselves and grow into who they are with every step back and every step forward that we make with our kids. Here’s to opening that door and seeing the beauty on both sides of it.
heather jordan, CNM, MSN Comments or questions? 828.737.7711, ext. 253 landh@localnet.com
March-April 2021 | 11
Moriah Stegall. Photo by Kayla Lasure
Julie Page. Photo submitted
Mary Stiles. Photo by Kayla Lasure
The Women Who Support the Workforce BY ELISHA CHILDERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S COUNCIL OF WATAUGA COUNTY
Our nation’s early education workforce — commonly known as
child care — is primarily made up of women. These women own, operate and care for children in early childhood care and education programs, or care for children in their homes, allowing parents to go to work everyday. Together, they form the “workforce behind the workforce.” When N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper announced stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19 in 2020, all of our lives were turned upside down. In a matter of days, we were expected to start working from home, and at the same time transition our children to virtual school at home. At my house, this meant my husband and I were carving out office space in our home alongside a high school senior and two college students who were suddenly back home — with a couple of extra dogs in tow. We upgraded internet service and added Wi-Fi boosters to make sure everyone had the internet support they needed. Having older, more self-sufficient children made our transition relatively painless. It was far more difficult for parents of young children to make all of these changes and to effectively balance
12 | March-April 2021
work, their child’s education and family life at home. Many in our community did not have the option to work from home. Many workers had to get up and go to work even during these times. For working parents with young children, our local early care and education providers became a lifeline. They, too, have been recognized as an essential workforce. Initially, there was an exodus of children from early childhood programs. This meant loss of tuition money, which is necessary to pay staff and keep centers open and serving children. “I still had to pay staff,” says Moriah Stegall, director of the Appalachian State University’s Child Development Center. The ASU Child Development Center provides care for the children of faculty and students. “We were financially hemorrhaging, but I knew I might lose my staff and not get them back if I laid them off,” she says. Mary Stiles of Merry-Land Academy and Child Care says in the beginning of the pandemic she was scared she was going to lose her business. Mary has been caring for children in Boone since 1994.
Like everyone, workers in this industry didn’t know what was going to happen and were afraid and wondering if they would lose their jobs. Julie Page cares for five children in her home-based business — Little Jewels Family Child Care Home in Vilas. Immediately, her enrollment decreased to two children. “There was so much confusion and differing information in the beginning, I closed for three weeks, not knowing how long things would last,” she says. While she was closed, Julie delivered activity bags to the homes of the children in her program and visited with them from a distance. Within weeks, the state ruled that licensed programs could only stay open if they agreed to enroll children of essential workers and implement an intensive cleaning and safety protocol. Cleaning supplies became scarce, and providers were making decisions about the additional exposure and safety of their own staff and families if new children entered their programs. The demand for care for school-aged children also began to rise as many famaawmag.com
ilies were seeking out-of-home learning support for their children. Many care providers stepped up to the plate and began caring for school-aged children in their programs. At Merry-Land Academy and Child Care, opening the doors to school-aged children meant they needed more staff, but Mary struggled to find workers. People were fearful of exposure to COVID-19, and the pool of potential workers who were receiving unemployment benefits were receiving higher wages from unemployment than this industry could afford to pay. This meant the owner, Mary, who had been working toward retirement prior to COVID-19, went back to work. “I am at the center every morning by 7 a.m. to help manage the morning chaos when children arrive. I am also now the cook, along with being responsible for everything else,” Mary says. Mary has earned the title, “the best cooker” from the children in her program. This new title fills her heart with joy, and makes the extra hard work worth it. “Since I care for children in my home, I had to consider potential exposure my business caused to my family,” Julie says. Julie lives at home with her husband, her daughter and granddaughter. As information became more clear about COVID-19 and its impacts, she reopened her home-based center. She enrolled new children for summer care, including two school-aged children. “It was something we thought long and hard about,” she says. “Because these children are moving in and out of our ‘bubble’ every week, attending their school on some days and coming back to our home with the other children on other days.” The strict rules for cleaning required by the state for licensed child care programs to stay open have helped children stay healthy so far, “but it is a constant worry, and every time someone gets a runny nose, they have to go home,” Julie says. As time passed, it became obvious that this workforce is necessary for other businesses to fully recover. Our legislators were paying attention and used COVID-19 relief funds to provide financial support in the form of loans, grants and bonuses to the workers who had stayed in their jobs. This has allowed the child care industry to keep their doors open and staff employed.
The state also provided cleaning and safety supplies like wipes, bleach, paper towels and personal protective equipment. Some providers also purchased air purifiers and disinfectant foggers with their own funds to keep their facilities safe for the children and staff. Providers say the help to pay their staff and to secure cleaning supplies has been welcome and helped them keep their footing. We still don’t know the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our community’s economy. Enrollment of children remains lower than before, which will impact income to these businesses as COVID-19 relief support dwindles. In Watauga County, we are fortunate that all of our programs have stayed open and are serving children while parents work. It is not the same in other North Carolina communities, and advocates across the state are working on solutions to support this industry for the long term. Like others in the community, Julie, Mary and Moriah are yearning for things to be normal again, at the same time agreeing that what they considered normal in the past may never be again. Mary dreams of being able to visit her son in New Zealand. Julie misses the days of being able to allow children three of their favorite activities: dress up play, modeling clay and water tables — an activity center that uses water to assist with motor skills. None of these activities are currently allowed for group activity during the pandemic. Moriah is seeing the benefits of the changes they made in their operations, which include lower enrollment, consistent teachers and a shortened schedule. With improved teacher-child ratios and children having more time at home with their families, she reports that children are more self-regulated. “The children are more light-hearted,” Moriah says. She hopes we can use this opportunity to reimagine what workhome-life balance could really look like and how we can do things that are better for our kids moving forward. “While I want things to return to normal, I am concerned with the ‘rush for normalcy’ and a missed opportunity to redefine normal in a way that benefits children and families,” she says. The Children’s Council is a partner in the North Carolina Partnership for Children (commonly known as Smart Start)
system and is the Child Care Resource and Referral agency for Watauga County. We also administer our local NC Pre-K program, which provides high quality early childhood education to qualifying 4-year-olds, focused on ensuring the healthy growth and development of children and school readiness. Our work with local early care and education providers runs deep as we provide support to this important workforce. We are astounded by their resilience in the face of adversity and recognize and celebrate them as women who are making their mark and doing extraordinary things for our community. While their primary focus is on serving children and their families, their impact on the larger business community is significant. They are providing safe, quality care for children during the day, allowing people to go to work. The Children’s Council of Watauga County is a nonprofit organization providing programs and services for children in their first years of life and the adults who care for them. Visit www.thechildrenscouncil.org to learn more and to review the programs and services available.
Make Your Dream a
REALITY
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Relationships
THE MARRIAGE & FAMILY CORNER
Making our Most Important Mark At the ripe old age of 20, I married for the first time with a wide-eyed belief that as a stepmother, I would make a positive impact on the lives of two darling school-age boys. At the far more ripe ages of 24 and 25, I gave birth to two daughters. I was filled with glorious faith that the sheer force of my love for and resolute commitment to them would frame their lives for certain health, happiness and fulfillment. After all, my mother’s unwavering love, presence and goodness had propelled me through poverty, adversity, and trauma — both my own and what we shared — to possibilities that had not been known to her. Isn’t that the hope of every parent: for their child’s life to be better, go further in important ways, than their own? To be clear, those reflections contain both sincerity and sarcastic reflection on my naïveté. It seems highly unlikely that I would have found myself where I am now without adopting my mother’s steadfast love and keen ability to recognize and appreciate good, even when most people would mostly — or only — notice harsh realities. One example of this benefit came in managing my older daughter’s medical needs. When she was born more than three months early, I was advised that I would be able to take her home in three months, “barring any complications.” I noted the chilling possibility of complications and then firmly fixed my focus on joy that she would come home and that we would deal resolutely with any complications that came her way.
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love THINGS WE
What I want for my children has both changed and stayed the same. I want them to embrace their “good enough-ness” and their magic. I maintained these patterns and taught them to my daughters: recognize and engage the positive and fiercely address any danger. This practice yielded other benefits such as — somewhere along the way — it led me to accept that the way I believe in my children is really a template for how to believe in myself, too, so I am growing into loving myself that way. However, in my tender middle-age years, I finally find myself able to recognize that this practice both saved us and harmed us. In the midst of continuing adversity and trauma, the ability to hold fiercely to available resources can be the difference between actual life and death. In those times, such a dogmatic habit is an immense strength. I am glad my mama showed me this power and that I showed it to my children. When immediate safety is regained, other considerations become possible. Today, my life is no longer characterized by unsafe relationships and poverty. And, joyfully, my daughters’ progress in their own recovery means I no longer brace for news of tragedy every time the phone rings or someone comes to my driveway. Security frees me to continue the practices of love, hope, faith and gratitude while leaving room for other practices. I am glad for the opportunity now to develop new strengths and for my children and me to support such in one another. Indeed, in their unique ways, my daughters have courageously fought me to make more room for the healing power of being OK with not being OK and of being OK with “good enough.” These challenges were important to reject the unintended pressure for positivity in the face of their own suffering.
They were also pivotal to guide us away from the false sense of security that can come from hyper-focus on positivity and guide us towards recognizing needs for change to allow a fundamentally better life. My own recovery practices and therapy have led me to see the harm of holding too tightly to any practice, no matter how beneficial it might be. Our lives are far better by having more room for both/and. What I want for my children has both changed and stayed the same. I want them to embrace their “good enoughness” and their magic — not only their magic. Just as I stand on the shoulders of my dear mama, I want to give them sturdy shoulders on which to stand as they reach beyond me to be happy and healthy and to contribute positively to their world in their own unique ways. I hope to continue growing into my own shoulders, feet and voice. At my ripe old ages of 20 and 24, I sought to make my most important mark by shaping lives for my children to thrive. In my tender middle age, I now seek to make my most important mark by shaping myself for better health and happiness. Thereby, our relationships are better able to support us all for this healing and growth. After all, isn’t that the hope of every parent? It is my hope for each of you, also.
MARY MCKINNEY, MA, LMFT McKinney Marriage and Family Therapy Call and texts: 828.263.4113 mmftinboone@gmail.com mckinneymft.com
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WCCI Leadership: Hayley Bayne, Marisa Cornell, Yolanda Adams, Candis Walker, Adam Hege, Jennifer Warren, Kellie Reed Ashcraft and Denise Presnell. Not pictured: Suzi Woodard, Stephanie Thomas, Graham Aitken and Crystal Kelly. Photo by Moss Brennan
Rising Up With Resilience Women of Watauga Committed to Trauma Awareness Sixty percent of the population has experienced at least one traumatic event at an early age. Fifteen percent have survived four or more traumatic experiences before the age of 18. The lifelong ramifications of this kind of trauma are far-reaching and oftentimes unidentified, leaving many to view their lives through a lens filled with chaos and trauma. The Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative’s (WCCI) mission seeks to provide a knowledge to communities that is nothing short of empowering. WCCI is the voice of hope in a world that is too often bleak and meaningless. Those in the organization are determined to take the brokenness of human experience and create something resilient by helping others rise from their trauma. The group is guided by a leadership of 12 community members — 10 of which are women. The leadership consists of Hayley Bayne, Marisa Cornell, Yolanda Adams, Candis Walker, Adam Hege, Jennifer Warren, Kellie Reed-Ashcraft, 16 | March-April 2021
Denise Presnell, Graham Aitken, Suzi Woodard, Stephanie Thomas and Crystal Kelly. The team includes representatives from groups such as the Children’s Council of Watauga County, Mediation and Restorative Justice Center, Western Youth Network, Blue Ridge Children’s Advocacy Center of Southmountain Children and Family Services, Appalachian State University, Watauga County Schools, Blue Mountain Center for Integrative Health and the local faith community. Roughly 95 percent of the group’s membership is made up of women, according to WCCI Chair Denise Presnell. In 2013, Denise’s life was changed. Through the pursuit of a Master’s of Social Work degree, she discovered a 1998 study that developed the concept of ACEs —or Adverse Childhood Experiences. This study, conducted with 17,000 people, determined that common traumatic childhood experiences had powerful long-term effects of which obesity and depression were only the beginning. Closely working with Jennifer —
executive director for the local nonprofit the Western Youth Network — as part of her MSW internship, Denise’s passion for ACEs and trauma awareness became her mission. Her assertion, “If you’re interacting with humans, you need to know this stuff” grew into a 2017 conference that drew a crowd of more than 400. From there, the initial steering committee became WCCI, and is now known throughout the Watauga community as the hub of resources for help and guidance. As the lead and founder of WCCI, Denise’s commitment to share the life-altering message ACEs contains began on a personal level. “I learned that I get to choose the kind of person I am,” Denise says. “I can’t change the past, but I can change how I react. The trauma has already happened, but I don’t have to perpetuate it.” She wants to extend this message to as many others as possible — “Our past does not define us; it is not our destiny.” With passion fueling determination, WCCI and its goals have quickly spread aawmag.com
throughout the Watauga community. A changed focus from its initial “State of the Child” forum to “State of the Community” is a result of the growing awareness of how much each person is affected by trauma at any point throughout their lives. It is this awareness that drives the mission of this organization. Once established as an on-going initiative, the burgeoning volunteer group was divided into four areas that meet monthly: awareness, events, policy and prevention. These groups work on building an annual conference that promotes awareness, a community presentation that defines trauma, a collection of local ACEs and trauma prevention and intervention data on behalf of WCCI and several programs that blend awareness of ACEs with other community organizations. In collaborative efforts with local systems, WCCI has trained faculty at all schools in the Watauga County Schools system on trauma and resiliency. Each school has been redesigned as a “compassionate school” that includes installing calm corners in classrooms, building resiliency skills in children and instituting a School Trauma and Resiliency Team, Denise says. WCCI also works closely with agencies in different sectors such as law enforcement, local public mental health providers, nonprofits, social services, public health and nursing. Through the myriad ways in which this organization has infused itself into the community, the message remains very straightforward and constant: It is imperative that trauma is prevented and treated in its many forms. Healing and
Keegan O’Boyle, Elizabeth Kerley and Mollie Furman pack resilience kits for the 2021 virtual WCCI Conference. Photo submitted
resiliency are possible at any age and for any community. To date, it is primarily women who embrace the mission of WCCI. Denise describes this female-driven work environment as “… an incredible journey of healing for me in having safe spaces, and learning how to change my reactions. I have women friends whom I can trust that I can ask about how to handle my life. These women have finished the process of raising me. They have helped me to understand compassion and consistency. This is my life’s work. It has changed me professionally and personally as well.” Many of the WCCI staff share these sentiments. Kellie, a member of the leadership team as the co-lead for the Data Committee as well as the co-lead for the Policy Committee, describes that her involvement with WCCI has been the most empowering and exciting experience that she has ever been involved in. “We ‘live’ connection, compassion and commitment to change. The shared leadership, vision and vulnerability that I experience with these groups and this effort has excited me by what we may be able to accomplish together in the community,” Kellie said. Similarly, Yolanda — who serves as the family resource coordinator for Watauga County Schools — describes her involvement with WCCI and the Latino community as one of the best experiences of her life. She works with 185 families in the Watauga area, often serving as a liaison between Latino families and community resources. She has found that sharing her story of trauma encourages others to share their own. “I took my own personal experience and shared it with them,” Yolanda says. “My vulnerability helps them to be vulnerable themselves.” In regard to WCCI’s relevance, Yolanda explains, “The impact and shift we have seen in our community — it is palpable now. It is out there. People are practicing it. People are sharing stories, and knowing that by doing that they can change lives.” Three years into WCCI’s inception, March 2020 brought a worldwide pandemic. Trauma became widespread, affecting all in various ways. Stephanie, Prevention Committee co-leader, shares that she feels passionate
about the de-stigmatization of trauma and mental health. “Both trauma and mental health issues are not unique to certain individuals — they are something anyone can experience. One of the things the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us is that many people who may not have experienced trauma in the past are experiencing it now,” Stephanie says. Stephanie also shares that even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, those in WCCI were discussing how trauma can impact those involved. A message discussed in 2019 by the Prevention Subcommittee proves more valid given the world’s current status: “When hard things happen, it can affect how we think, feel and behave. We can help each other, and together we can heal,” Stephanie says. Jennifer, co-chair of the Policy Committee and who played a part of the identification of ACEs research, describes that the pandemic has “never stopped our work; we just went about it in different ways.” These ways include “Wednesday conversations,” which offer a variety of sessions about trauma, prevention and resilience and have successfully met with 40-50 people virtually each week. Denise describes, “in some ways the pandemic has expanded our outreach. It has affected all of us. There is a growing awareness of the way toxic stress impacts the quality of our lives. Our organization provides the knowledge of how to manage and negate that toxicity.” Before the daily lexicon included the words pandemic, social distancing, shelter-in-place, quarantine or facial covering required; before social events were limited and restricted; and before society became well-versed in a virtual way of life — WCCI was at work. Well before the world became smothered by a virus, the Watauga community was on its way to learning the empowering language of awareness and resilience. WCCI was there before the fire, prepared to keep this community rising through adversity.
Hollie Eudy Hollie Eden Eudy is a high school English teacher whose passions include reading, writing and running. She lives with her husband, daughter and Pekapoo, Presley, in Dahlonega, Ga.
March-April 2021 | 17
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Just trying to leave the place that I was in better than where I found it is ultimately my greatest inspiration for the work that I do and what motivates me to get things done. - Korbin Cummings
Fighting for Change Three leaders advocate for racial justice in the High Country
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Mary Lyons (left) and Korbin Cummings (right) serve as local racial justice advocates. Photo by Kayla Lasure
Social justice, racism and racial injustice were all points of conversation
that gained global attention in 2020, but three High Country women have been leading conversations about these issues for years. Motivated by passion and civic duty, Cara Hagan, Korbin Cummings and Mary Lyons are leaders in Boone and the High Country working on behalf of the Black community for change. Inspired by the world around her, Cara is an interdisciplinary artist and creator of Small and Mighty Acts and the Creative Justice Initiative — organizations that teach and encourage civic duty and reimagine culture in a more inclusive form. Cara founded the Creative Justice Initiative — an effort of Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts — in 2020 and uses it to create aawmag.com
Organizer Mary Lyons speaks to participants gathered for a Black Lives Matter demonstration in 2014. File photo
systematic change in the community through design, art and humanities. With a lifelong love of art, Cara always knew she wanted to be an artist from a young age. Now, her art and advocacy work are important parts of her life in the community. “I always have wanted to be involved as an active citizen in whatever community I’m living in,” Cara says. “I always want to be a citizen who is not just living but participating in daily life with other people in the goings-on and doing my part to make the world a better place.” Part of this work includes leading Small and Mighty Acts, which offers support to initiatives, and holds educational workshops and fundraising events. Working through both the Creative Justice Initiative and Small and Mighty Acts, Cara was an active part in creating discussions around Black Lives Matter and inequality in the High Country this summer — creating pins, yard signs and stickers to spread the word. “We never solved the issues of racism, we’ve never solved the issue of economic inequality between races, we’re committed to racial stratification in this country,” Cara says. “That’s why we did so much this summer.” Similarly, Korbin focuses on Boone and Appalachian State to create change on campus and in the community. As the director of diversity and inclusion for the university’s Student Government Association and an active member of Black at App State — a grassroots group of students and alumni — Korbin says the possibility of a better future inspires her. “Just trying to leave the place that I was in better than where I found it is ultimately my greatest inspiration for the work that I do and what motivates me to get things done,” Korbin says. Continued on next page
Cara Hagan serves as the founder of both Small and Mighty Acts and the Creative Justice Initiative. File photo
Korbin Cummings talks to a crowd during a 2020 vigil for Breonna Taylor. File photo
March-April 2021 | 19
I think we have a lot of work to do as human beings. Our work is never done in terms of how we relate to each other, how we live on the Earth and how we do right by each other. - Cara Hagan As a political science major with a concentration in pre-law, Korbin has worked on diversity and inclusion and with the Student Government Association at Appalachian State since she was a freshman. She also served as president of the Appalachian Social Justice Educators for two years. During the last year, she — along with other students in the Black at App State Collective — met with university leaders to advocate for equity for students of marginalized communities. Korbin says she also works for change for those in the Black community with intersectional identities such as Black trans, queer and nonbinary people. “We won’t see any type of true liberation until we’re all willing to work together toward a collective goal, which is ultimately equity and freedom for us to do what we want to do,” Korbin says. “So, that freedom to live how you want to live, to love how you want, to do what you want.” As a member of the Black at App State Collective, Korbin works to create longevity around conversations of race and inequality, demanding change that would protect Black students. “For me, being a Black woman, it’s especially important for me to figure out ways that I can advocate for others who look like me and for those who don’t look like me,” Korbin says. In 2014, Mary was also asking for similar changes at Appalachian State and Boone, organizing demonstrations on campus and creating social platforms for racial discourse. “If we’re not being deeply intentional about continuing to push the needle, about leading as a campus within the (University of North Carolina) System, we’re going to get left behind,” Mary says. “We’re going to fail to attract really great students.” Disheartened by the similarities between demands for change during her time at Appalachian State and Korbin’s, 20 | March-April 2021
Mary wants better experiences for Black and brown people in Boone. “We as a community need to be supporting folks, so they have the best possible experience here so that they’re able and willing and eager to give back to the community, but also so that they are enriched and not drained while they’re here,” Mary says. “And it’s been kind of heartbreaking to see that, that is not the reality across the board.” Mary now works with Black in Boone, a Black-led advocacy group that fights for change for the Black community in the High Country through education and action. Black Lives Matter demonstrations and discussions took place across the country during the later half of 2020 after the March 13 death of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. This was followed by a June 4 virtual meeting of Black in Boone for the group to reintroduce itself to the community — as it had been formed a few years prior but it’s activity and status ebbed and flowed with participation. Lyons helped to lead the June 4 meeting, and explained the group’s goals and intentions moving forward. Formed to be intentional about conversations around race, Mary says the group works to create solutions and build toward something that isn’t just “continued hardship.” “Knowing that I am able to build and contribute to a foundation that supports other Black women in moving up their leadership, and will make leading into the future easier, more joyful and possible, is one of the primary things that keeps me committed to our people and this community,” Mary says. Small and Mighty Acts constructed an Altar for Black Lives in summer 2020 as a call to action and place for the community to come together and grieve. The altar was featured at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum the following February
during Black History Month. While the exhibition was at the museum, Cara helped to lead or coordinate workshops and events surrounding the topic of social justice. Hoping to lead by example, Cara and Mary hope that other women can be honest about their capacity; knowing when to give matters your time and energy. Cara says listening to your body is the best way to understand when your energy is “moving in a positive direction.” “Show up when you’re able and when you’re not able to, be OK with what it is you can do,” Cara says. “I think it’s a practice of building awareness of knowing what our energetic capacities are and how we ought to use them.” Korbin, Mary and Cara say they fight for racial justice in the High Country because they feel it needs to be done and they hope to encourage other people to do the same. All three women echo a similar hope — to make Boone a better place for everyone, especially the Black community. “Ultimately, I just want people to know that I was able to help, and I was able to serve my community in the best way possible,” Korbin says. “I do this work because I love to help, and I love to serve, and that’s what I want people to remember me by.” Although the three women have been working toward change for years, Cara says there’s still work to be done as a society and community. “I think we have a lot of work to do as human beings,” Cara says. “Our work is never done in terms of how we relate to each other, how we live on the Earth and how we do right by each other.”
Ansley Puckett Ansley is a junior journalism major at Appalachian State University from Columbia, South Carolina. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose in a book.
aawmag.com
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Providing Solace Local Women Play Role in Conducting Funeral Service Care When facing a tragedy such as the loss of a loved one, the support and guidance provided by those coordinating the funeral services can play a key role for families who are grieving. The daily grind of working in a funeral home is filled with unexpected phone calls, body retrievals, meeting with the deceased’s family members to make funeral arrangements, preparing bodies for services, writing obituaries, taking care of the business aspect of the funeral home and being available around the clock. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the funeral service has been traditionally dominated by men, but today more than 60 percent of mortuary science students in the United States
are women. High Country funeral homes are now reflecting this nationwide trend. Some of the women of the High Country have been in the funeral home business for decades, and others are just beginning their careers. But, at the heart of each of these women is a passion to help grieving families. This passion propels them through the daily grind of working in the mortuary business.
Women of the High Country Margaret Lusk, a funeral director at Yancey Funeral Services in Burnsville, said the lack of monotony in her job is
why she loves what she does. “I guess the reason I love it so much is that it’s not actually the same thing every day,” Margaret says. “If you’re a life-long learner, this is the profession for you because (there are) so many different levels — the science level, the embalmment, the anatomy. You have the religious aspects of that, all the different types of religions. You have the psychology of that. You have the business part where you’re doing contracts ... There’s just so many different levels.” Margaret’s curiosity into the funeral industry began when she attended her aunt’s funeral at age 14. She wandered Continued on next page March-April 2021 | 21
Margaret Lusk
Autumn Huffman Elledge
Linda Absher Holman
I just love it because when I leave at the end of the day I feel like I made a difference for somebody. - Linda Absher Holman 22 | March-April 2021
into the prep room and saw the tools used to prepare the deceased, and her interest was piqued. But time went by and Margaret got married, had two children and she worked in a factory for more than 16 years. Employment in the funeral industry had always been on her heart, but as time passed she was not sure if she was capable of a career shift. Then after her father passed away and she was at a funeral home, she had a conversation with the funeral director that shifted the course of her professional career. She began working part time at a funeral home and decided to get the schooling she needed for a career in the mortuary business. For the past 18 years, Margaret has cared for grieving families through working at different funeral homes. For the past nine years, she has served the Burnsville community while working at Yancey Funeral Services. Autumn Huffman Elledge, an apprentice at Badger Funeral Home in West Jefferson, has just begun serving her community, but her interest to work in the funeral home industry began as a child when she would play “funeral” with her friends — such as in the instance if a neighborhood pet died. The passion for the field continued to grow after she completed an internship in high school at Badger Funeral Home. She then headed to college to learn business skills and complete mortuary school training, and now Autumn is an apprentice at Badger Funeral Home. In the coming months she will complete her embalming licensure. Across town at Boone Family Funeral Home in West Jefferson, Linda Absher Holman has been serving the area for 26 years. She is the general manager, a funeral director and insurance licensee at the funeral home. Linda describes her entrance into the funeral home industry as non-traditional. She was working in a finance office when she met with the owner of Boone Family Funeral Home. She was asked to do the books and assist with finances for the funeral home. After helping with the funeral home’s accounting matters, she obtained her insurance license, her funeral director license and went back to school to gain the needed certifications for a full-time career in the mortuary business. She says she loves her job even with
the hard work, long hours and dedication it requires. Linda adds that she’s developed deep relationships within her community, and feels a responsibility to be there for them in their time of need. “I just love it because when I leave at the end of the day I feel like I made a difference for somebody,” Linda says. Down in Avery County, Brandy Hampton, a funeral director and embalmer at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland, is also helping families who are hurting through some of their most difficult moments. Brandy entered the mortuary business because of her husband, who was a funeral director at the time. She saw the gratification he received from helping grieving families, and she wanted to join him. Brandy then went to mortuary school and also received her embalming licensure. After losing her husband in a motorcycle wreck last year, Brandy said she is able to use her grief to better serve the families who walk through the doors at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Additionally, she’s gone though the death of a parent, a sibling and her son. “I think I have kind of seen just about every aspect of somebody that walks through my doors (dealing with) their loss,” Brandy says. “Not that everybody’s loss is the same, but I kind of have a general idea where they’re coming from.” Carolyn Austin, president of Austin & Barnes Funeral Home in Boone, has been in the business for almost five decades. Carolyn said she and her husband Johnnie purchased a funeral home in 1975 and began operating it. Then in 1993, they changed the name to Austin & Barnes as it remains today. Carolyn began working at the funeral home in the evenings after her day job of working as a secretary and bookkeeper at Hardin Park School. Now, Carolyn operates Austin & Barnes Funeral Home with her son Michael. Carolyn said working in the funeral home business has been extremely gratifying. “All I can say then is the funeral business, it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done because it’s fantastic to know that you’ve helped somebody after they’ve lost a family member,” Carolyn says. “I just hope that I have brought aawmag.com
a little encouragement to our hurting families.”
Passion for the Job Ranging from less than a decade of experience to almost five decades, each of the High Country women have a deep passion to serve their community. “It’s such a gratifying job, career,” Brandy says. “It is tough. You have to learn to put this wall up and separate your emotions from what the family is going through. But when a family comes back a couple weeks later, whether they’re picking up death certificates or if they’re picking up cremains, and they come up and say ‘we don’t know how we could have gotten through all this without you’ — that for me is what makes my day.” Brandy says she is most proud of the families she is still connected to years after she helped arrange their family member’s service.
Brandy Hampton
Carolyn Austin
“When they call me back or send me an email or just a message and let me know how they’re doing, that just makes my heart full; it really does,” Brandy says. A deep sense of accomplishment is felt as these women play a vital role in the grieving process of families in their community.
Earning Their Place in the Industry In a business filled with men in previous years, Autumn said some of her customers are taken by surprise when they see a woman arrive at their home. They’re surprised that a woman can handle the physical aspects of working in the mortuary business. These women often have to transport the deceased or prepare graveside services in a variety of weather conditions. Linda describes the skepticism she has faced as a woman in the business, especially in recent years in the High Country where the mortuary business was dominated by men. Yet, she believes women bring unique and needed gifts to the business. “I’m gonna be honest with you because it was a man’s world up here,” Linda says. “But now ... here you’re seeing more women get into the field. I honestly think they add that personal touch. It’s like wrapping a gift. My husband can wrap a gift, but I think I wrap better. The woman can add that personal touch, and I think that makes all the difference in the world.” Margaret says she has noticed mothers and grandmothers feeling more comfortable to talk to a woman as they navigate the funeral process for their loved ones. Autumn adds that she has seen widowers sometimes prefer to speak with a woman at the funeral home as he decides arrangements for his late wife. Brandy believes some women’s ability to be able to sympathize outwardly with grieving families allows them to deeply connect with their customers. Yet as women with responsibilities often involving the home and children on top of work, a career in the mortuary business comes with sacrifices. “You are dedicated to your profession,” Linda says. “We do not know when death will occur. It could occur on
Christmas, Thanksgiving, on your child’s birthday. It’s a lot of give and take.” Linda’s hard work was rewarded in 2018 when she won runner-up for Funeral Director of the Year as awarded by American Funeral Director magazine. Yet, she said her biggest accomplishment is the staff she has around her at Boone Family Funeral Home. “A woman has to be a little bit tough, but she can make it,” Linda says. “If I can, anybody can.”
Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges COVID-19 has changed every aspect of life in recent months, and the funeral home industry is no different. Each of these women have had to adjust to meet safety requirements while still giving families a time to say goodbye to their loved ones who have passed away. Masks, social distancing and hand sanitizing stations have become standard practice for funerals homes. Brandy says Reins-Sturdivant became creative during the pandemic and hosted drive-by visitations for families in which cars would line up and occupants would be able to give their condolences to the grieving family in a safe manner. Linda expressed the challenge of not being able to physically comfort a grieving family through a hug or handshake during this time of COVID-19. Autumn says she and her coworkers at Badger Funeral Home have worked to make the necessary safety changes because “everyone needs that chance to have a service if they wish.” Yet despite these unexpected challenges, the women of the High Country have shown why they belong in the mortuary business. They’ve made a name for themselves as they’ve provided high quality care to grieving families. “It’s definitely changed because years ago, it was just a man’s world, but I think women (are) an asset to the funeral industry,” Linda said. Sarah Rodriguez By day, Sarah works in social media marketing. But after hours, she enjoys hiking, finding the best tacos and watching football.
March-April 2021 | 23
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A Lifelong Storyteller EdNC Leader Moves to High Country, Continues Passion of Writing Clockwise from top: Mebane Rash rock climbs with her son and Appalachian State University students in the Linville Gorge; Mebane Rash climbs a ladder at Grandfather Mountain; Mebane Rash meets with students of T.C. Henderson School of Science and Technology. Photos submitted
Mebane Rash, the CEO and editor-in-chief of nonprofit online publication, EducationNC (EdNC), always knew she wanted to tell the stories of North Carolinians. Especially when it came to education. A native of North Carolina, Mebane grew up in the fourth ward of Charlotte — a neighborhood just north of the rapidly growing city. Because of this, she had a front row seat to both the challenges and opportunities her fellow community members faced. From young journalist taking on assignments while in summer camp, to building a flourishing education news outlet and her years working in law in-between, Mebane is passionate about the work that she calls “the love of her life.”
A Start in Storytelling It was really only time until the excitement of storytelling took its hold on her. 24 | March-April 2021
“I come from a whole family of storytellers,” she says. “My grandparents were great storytellers; handing down stories in the ‘mountain style’ from my grandmother’s family. Those stories had all kinds of lessons in them as well as secrets about where the best plunge pools and springs are.” Any magazine or book that landed on the coffee table, she read. Anything she could get her hands on to learn more about the world she lived in she immediately gravitated towards. She says there’s something in getting to know people and building relationships, and from there, building a bigger and better world with more opportunity for people that drove her to write and pursue storytelling. It started for her when she was just in the sixth grade. “I was a lot like I am now (as a child),” Mebane says. “My first job was at the Charlotte Observer as a kid-to-kid columnist.” She would receive her assignments
from Roth Neil, then-publisher and her life-long mentor. Young children would mail their questions to her, and she would respond to them — usually on the topics of homework, siblings, parents or school. “He would send me work to do even when I was away at summer camp,” she says laughing. She loved every moment of it, and was instantly hooked. “I loved being in the newsroom — the excitement, the buzz,” she says. With exposure from her step-mother, who was on the NC Board of Public Policy and Research (NCCPPR), the ever-curious Mebane — just 10 years old at the time — knew that ultimately she wanted to become involved in public policy. Every month, the NCCPPR journal arrived at her house, “and I read it cover to cover every time,” she says. She says that from the get-go, she had a deep interest in thinking about how to work with others to make their life experience better. She attributes her aawmag.com
time living in Charlotte’s fourth ward to providing her with the specific experience of witnessing important issues such as wide-spread gentrification. “I was thinking about public policy at a very early age because I was living in it,” she says. Years later, Mebane would attend Piedmont Community College, then the University of North Carolina School of Law. After graduation, she began working for the NC Board of Public Policy and Research as a public policy analyst and the editor for the journal. There, she learned the stark difference between viewing the world as it’s derived through research, versus having conversations with the very real-world people who the issues impact day-in and day-out. “You have to take the time out to go and have meaningful conversations and figure out what’s really going on (in their lives) versus what we think is going on,” she says. This is a lesson she would take with her through the rest of her life.
“Fail Forward, Fail Fast” In its simplest form, the purpose of EdNC is to tell the stories of students, schools and the state to better the future, says Mebane. EdNC, established in 2015, mainly covers K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities across North Carolina, but has since expanded its coverage to include both community and historically Black colleges. The organization was begun by superintendents in rural North Carolina who saw the decline of news organizations in the area, meaning the great work of leaders, teachers and students in those areas had little chance in being shared. They also felt like they didn’t have a voice in the North Carolina General Assembly, Mebane says. Though EdNC was first set in place by these superintendents, it was Mebane who took the lead and ran with the idea. From there, the organization has flourished from being a staff roster of just three to now 15 across the state. “When they were handing it off to me they said ‘fail forward, fail fast,’” she says.
“And in that freedom, we have been able to build something that was not designed to be a traditional news outlet, or really even serve the needs of our funders or board, but to serve the people that need to hear this information the most.” In those early months, Mebane recalls having more than 150 meetings to understand how their future readers received their news about education — how they consumed content, the sites they visited, their consumer patterns and other intel. “What was captivating to them?” she says. “We really wanted to build a website around all of those interviews and take into consideration all of the education stakeholders we wanted to serve. It’s been a privilege … not many people get to build a media outlet that way.” Mebane says it’s really important for people in the community to know that EdNC is here to give a voice to every single one of the 100 counties and 116 school districts in North Carolina. “(At EdNC) we want to welcome everyone,” she says. “From the ones out West that voted 70-plus percent for then-President Trump as well as our urban blue crescent stretching from Charlotte up to Raleigh, and that includes all of the very purple counties in between.” For Mebane and her staff at EdNC, it circles back to the relationships they want to build for a stronger education system in North Carolina. “We believe in this architecture, and it’s been really important to us to have all different kinds of voices,” she says.
A Day in the Life As with any news organization, each day is different, but Mebane did share some essentials that she and her team follow to be the “best in the world at listening,” she says. “We spend a lot of time cultivating that as a skill and a practice (at EdNC) and we are certainly organized to do that.” Every Monday morning, as the first big meeting of the week, the entire team comes together to talk about current events, tasks and share what they are working on. Mebane says having a meeting like this gives the rest of the team the ability to go out in the community for the remainder of the week and focus on
listening. “That listening informs our storytelling and research — that deep desire to listen and learn with the community that we serve,” she says. Mebane begins her day early, as many editors do. Specifically, she gathers the elements needed for the EdDaily newsletter. From there, she works with her staff to manage the news content throughout the day in addition to overseeing the nonprofit from the enterprise level. Though Mebane may often be caught working beyond the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., she says it’s a priority of hers to make sure her staff are well taken care of. “If you allow it to, (the news) can control every minute of every day,” she says. “So we try to wind down everything at 5 p.m.”
Home in the High Country Though Mebane was born and raised in Charlotte, she says it’s the High Country that she’s always called home. As young as she can remember, her weekends were filled with long days playing in rivers, waterfalls and hiking trails all along Western North Carolina. Previously living in Raleigh, Mebane now resides in Deep Gap “It’s a part of the world that has always been home to me,” she says. “And I have loved every minute of living my life here.” “It’s so different to wake up, walk outside, look at the mountains and breathe in the mountain air. It has a soothing effect on the soul that in a day-to-day kind of way I could not have imagined the difference, but is truly remarkable,” she says. Though Mebane looks forward to many more years of serving the leaders, teachers and students of North Carolina, she had one last remark to say about her life’s work through EdNC. “It’s been my privilege to tell the stories of our students, our state and our future.”
Nina Mastandrea Nina has 10 years of experience as a freelance writer, graphic designer, content creator and award-winning journalist in the healthcare, outdoors, and endurance sports industries. When she’s not creating, she’s riding her bike, teaching spin and exploring North Carolina.
March-April 2021 | 25
Health
BEAUTY
Makeup Hygiene Tips for Skin Health If you’re like most of us, your beauty regimen has dropped a few notches during the last year and you’ve been relegated to eyebrows, liner and mascara only — since that is the only thing most people see on your face these days while wearing a mask. For those of us who meet virtually through Zoom, we’ll throw a little concealer on the dark under eye circles if we have discovered the wonderful ring light that makes you look soft and glowy, or we just laze out and put up a profile picture. Chances are our makeup usage has dwindled and our products have lain dormant for quite some time. We are all looking forward to resuming our full makeup regimen in the near future when we are all safe and can show our beautiful faces again. At this point, the entire world has been educated on sanitation protocols. With that being said, it makes sense that cosmetic sanitation and beauty hygiene are important for good skin health. Ask yourself “How long have I had this makeup?” In case you haven’t considered it, makeup has an expiration date, though manufacturers are not required to include it on labels. All products contain ingredients that degrade at some point. So how do I keep up with what is expiring? Best recommendation is to date your products with a permanent marker — just a suggestion. The following information will provide toss out guidelines and sanitation tips to keep your makeup “safe”. Most formulas — liquids, creams, and compacts — can last up to a year if kept out of sunlight and heat. Remember, once the air hits your product degradation begins. Always wash and dry your hands 26 | March-April 2021
when using your fingers for beauty product application.
Toss Rule
Liquid foundation and cream: after 6 months to 1 year Mascara: 3 months Eyeliner: 3 months (liquid and gel) 2 years (pencil) Powder products: 2 years (bacteria does not fare well in dry powder products) Lipsticks: 1 year You can sanitize makeup with a spray bottle filled with isopropyl alcohol (70 percent) from the drugstore; do not use ethyl alcohol. Keep in mind that these disinfecting tips can help clean items, but they can’t completely get rid of bacteria. It’s always safest to buy new products. Below is some great information from the experts.
Powder Powder cosmetics, such as eyeshadows, are one of the easiest things to disinfect. First, take off the top layer of powder gently with a tissue, since that’s where most of the grime will have collected. Then, give the whole thing a spray with 70 percent alcohol, and set it out until dry.
Lipsticks You can clean your lipsticks in much of the same way you clean your powders. Use a tissue to wipe the top layer away, then dip the exposed end of the lipstick in 70 percent alcohol. Keep it in for about 30 seconds, then let it dry. However, keep in mind that lipstick will go bad faster than powder, thanks to its high oil content.
Liquids Liquid cosmetics (like foundation) are harder to clean up and go bad sooner since moist environments harbor more bacteria than dry ones do. However, you can at least clean the cap, nozzle and outer parts of a bottle using a cotton ball soaked in alcohol.
Pencils You can either wipe off the top layer of a pencil with a tissue or sharpen it away. Then, spray the exposed part with rubbing alcohol or dip it inside the alcohol, as you did with your lipstick. Make sure it’s completely dry before using it.
Tools To sanitize your tools — like sharpeners and eyelash curlers — place them in a bowl of rubbing alcohol for a few minutes, then wipe them off with a clean cloth. Unlike makeup, these tools can last a very long time with proper care and cleaning. Change out the pads on your eyelash curlers every few months, but clean them with alcohol in between replacements. Don’t forget to clean your makeup brushes regularly, too. Use a brush cleanser of mild shampoo. With these cleaning tips, plus regularly replacing items that are too old, you can avoid infections, breakouts and more while still using your favorite products. Stay healthy and beautiful! Marion Edwards Marion Edwards is a Licensed Esthetician, Professional Makeup Artist and Certified Trainer for Motives Cosmetics. She can be contacted at 828.773.1500.
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Health
LIVING WELL
Preventing
Mindless Munching Working from home with constant access to food can lead to some serious over-eating, especially if you are stressed or bored. Here are some proven ways to resist mindless munching.
Decode your Hunger Pangs Hunger pangs are there to remind you when it is time to refuel, but they also can be triggered by boredom or stress. Tune into your cravings and decode them. Ask yourself these questions. • Is this desire to eat physical hunger or emotional hunger? • Is my stomach rumbling? Is my energy low? Am I craving healthy food? It might be physical hunger. Time to eat a healthy meal. • Am I stressed, bored or tired? Am I craving sugary, fatty or salty snacks? This is probably emotional hunger. Take a breather. Do a crossword puzzle. Go for a walk. Drink some water.
Detox your Kitchen Do not try to control with will power that which you can control with environment. Will power is like a piggy bank filled with a limited supply of pennies.
Steeling yourself against cravings will empty it fast, and it may be a struggle to resist. Better to keep temptation at bay by not having it in your environment. If you don’t have junk food in the cupboard, you won’t eat it. Get the sugary, salty, fatty, ‘easy to overindulge’ snacks out. Get the healthy foods in. Out with the bad, in with the good. You can further resist the temptation of the junk food aisle by ordering your groceries online and picking them up.
Stick to a Schedule Without a schedule, you are more likely to eat mindlessly throughout the day. If you wait until you are ravished, it is more likely you could overindulge. A scheduling example: breakfast at 9 a.m., snack at 11 a.m., lunch at 1 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Space your main meals four to five hours apart and have a small snack, as needed, between meals. Set a cell phone reminder until you establish a routine. Make sure those meals and snacks are nourishing. Like Michael Pollen, the author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” prescribed in his book, “Eat real food, not too much, mostly plants.”
Think Before You Drink Keep a water bottle nearby and sip on it throughout the day. The neurons in the brain that trigger hunger and thirst are near each other. Sometimes hunger pangs can be a signal that you are dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water will short-circuit that false alarm. Keep the sugary and so called “diet” drinks out of your kitchen. Sugar will sabotage your energy and waistline. Artificial sweeteners have been shown to throw off natural appetite regulation. Restrict your alcohol consumption to one to two drinks in the evening. If you find that you are self-medicating with alcohol, explore other coping options: a yoga flow, a brisk walk or a chat with a friend. Seek help if you are losing control of your alcohol habit.
Add a Touch of Grace Occasionally enjoy your favorite treats. Just indulge mindfully rather than spontaneously. Savor every bite and move on with your day.
bonnie church Certified Life and Wellness Coach Author/columnist, motivational speaker Certified Trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution
March-April 2021 | 27
Style & Leisure
TRAVEL
Faraway Places A Stamp Collection Sparks A Love of Africa As a stamp collector at 10 years old, I faithfully walked down-
town to the YMCA stamp club every Saturday morning — my world stamp book tucked under my arm. My brother, Jeff, with his boring old USA stamp book, made fun of me because I loved my brightly-colored, sometimes exotic, African stamps and their foreign and faraway-sounding names: Abyssinia, Tanganyika, Bechuanaland, Gold Coast, Nyasaland, Somaliland, Upper Volta, Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. England was trying to be the ruler of the world. A lot of the stamps had pictures of King George VI mixed in with African warriors and wild animals. Not much later the new young queen, Elizabeth, was added to the bright colors and exotica. A new song, amazingly enough, was gaining popularity at that exact time in 1948. It seemed to voice my sentiments: “Faraway places with their strange-sounding names, faraway over the seas, those faraway places with their strange-sounding names are calling, calling me …”. The call of world travel, however faint, was sounding in my heart. Much later I found out that, from the 1960s on, as African nations gained their independence, they chose new names. Abyssinia became Ethiopia; Tanganyika was now Tanzania; Bechuanaland became Botswana; Gold Coast became Ghana; Nyasaland became Malawi; Somaliland became Somalia; Upper Volta became Burkina Faso; Northeren Rhodesia
28 | March-April 2021
became Zambia; and Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. We never studied Africa in fifth grade, or any other grade. My knowledge of Zimbabwe came from being a United Methodist minister promoting the founding of Africa University in Zimbabwe — a college for students from all over Africa. Zimbabwe’s United Methodist bishop, Abel Muzorewa, was an inspiration to us all — a staunch supporter of Black selfrule and national pride. Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980. In 2013, 65 years after my stamp club days, I finally set foot in southern Africa — Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe — on safari. I was especially excited about Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe, once a darling of African liberation, had become a miserable dictator who had left the Zimbabwean people in extreme poverty. Our small travel group stopped at a little grocery store with almost empty shelves. We were about to visit a communal homestead housing some 20 families, who were living on very little. We spent $18 at the store to buy them hand soap, washing soap, tea, salt, rice, cooking oil, biscuits, bread and juice. Later we spent time with sixth graders at St. Mary’s School, girls so thin they were suffering from malnutrition. Overseas Adventure Travel, our travel group, was trying to arrange for them to have a hot breakfast each morning. We succeeded!
Back at our safari camp, we could see that our Zimbabwean hospitality staff were very proud of their country and their work at the camp, even though they were heartsick at the way most of their fellow citizens were treated. Their national bird, the fish eagle, is for them a beloved symbol of freedom and new life — their fervent hope for Zimbabwe. On our last evening, the staff joined hands around the campfire with us to sing the African national anthem. Their love for their poor, battered country shone in their eyes. It had taken me 30 years post-stamp club before I learned even a little about Zimbabwe. It had taken me 35 more years until I finally stepped on southern African soil. That night around a safari campfire, I cried for Zimbabwe. sue spirit Writes poetry and essays about nature, spirituality, writing and travel. She has a little cabin in the mountains. degreesoffreedom@frontier.com
aawmag.com
Kids
Summer Camps YOUR GUIDE TO
COMPILED BY KAYLA LASURE
Registration has already begun for many of this summer’s
camps for kids in the High Country, and they fill up fast. Here you’ll find a listing of area recreational, educational and arts camps for toddlers to teens. Many camps in all three categories include both outdoor and indoor activities. *Provides accommodations for children with special needs.
RECREATIONAL/ OUTDOOR-ORIENTED Camp Buckeye
Weekdays June 14 - July 30, ages 5-15 Beech Mountain’s Camp Buckeye is a day camp for kids ages 5 to 15. Make lifelong friendships and memories while gaining knowledge of the outdoor world on Beech Mountain. Play different sports, explore trails and creeks, visit new places, get wet and wild on the slip-n slide and learn there is nothing like having summer fun on Beech Mountain. More info: beechrecreation.recdesk.com or call (828) 387-3003.
iCamp*
July 26-30, all ages iCamp is a week-long summer camp for children with special needs located at Camp Sky Ranch in Blowing Rock. Activities revolve around a daily theme, are adaptive to the needs of the attending children and aim to share the love of Christ regardless of age or ability. More info: www.facebook.com/icamplifenc, email Jack Sharp as jack@icamplife.com or call (828) 264-0002.
Summer Adventure Camp Weekly sessions June 7 - July 30, rising 1st graders-rising 7th graders
The Watauga County Parks and Recreation Summer Adventure Camp is an eight-week day camp program for rising first graders-rising seventh graders. The camp is centrally located at Watauga High School. Camp is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This structured camp provides themed weeks with activities, field trips, arts and games related to the week’s theme. Once a week, campers will visit the Watauga Community Recreation Center, and other field trips may include Rocky Knob Park
or area playgrounds. More info: call (828) 264-9511.
Camp UREC
Camp UREC will not be hosted in summer 2021.
Walker Family Band Camp July 4 - July 10, all ages
The Walker Family Band camp will be held on July 4 to July 10 at the Blowing Rock Conference Center, and is available for both children and adults. The camp welcomes families and musicians of all ages interested in traditional Celtic, old-time, jazz improvisation and more, with classes for fiddle, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo, penny whistle, ukulele, dance, pottery and children’s activities are available throughout the week of camp. Each night offers a jam session for attendees. The Walker Family Band Summer Music Camp fosters holistic approaches towards personal growth, group dynamics, music making and loving relationships. This year is the 19th consecutive camp at the Blowing Rock Conference Center. More info: www.thewalkerfamilyband.com. Continued on next page March-April 2021 | 29
Melanie Mendez, Laila Triplett and Katie Mitchell explore Rocky Knob Park during Mountain Adventure Summer Day Camp with WAMY Community Action.
Laurel Ridge Camp
Assorted sessions from June 13 - Aug. 11, grouped by grade level Laurel Ridge summer camps revolve around growing participants’ faith, conquering fears, making new friends and enjoying nature. Camp games, activities, great fun, food and fellowship all await. Pre-junior, Junior, Middle High and Back to School for College Age are camp options for attendees. Sessions vary based on campers’ grade level. More info: laurelridge.org/summer-and-specialty-camps/#Traditional-Summer-Camp.
Camp Crinkleroot*
Camp Crinkleroot will not be hosted in spring 2021, but the program is looking for university students to help staff the fall 2021 Camp Crinkleroot. For more information, contact Mary Sheryl Horine at horinems@appstate.edu or visit ihhs. appstate.edu/outreach/autism/recreational-opportunities/camp-crinkleroot.
Camp GOTR
Undetermined as of late March if will be held Camp Girls on the Run is a summer camp for grade-school school girls. Activities will include interactive lessons, physical activity and creative expression through arts, crafts and storytelling. Camp GOTR provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for girls to develop self-confidence and learn life skills they can use as they grow. More info: gotr.appstate. edu/summer or email Mary Sheryl Horine horinems@appstate.edu. 30 | March-April 2021
Taylor Welch and Emma Raymond enjoy time swimming during during Mountain Adventure Summer Day Camp. Photos submitted Oliver Rheingans
Fit Academy
Weekdays June 7 - July 30, ages 5-12 At Fit Academy, campers will experience daily group exercise, games, nutrition education, cooking lessons and extraordinary fun. Fit Academy promotes healthier lifestyles for all children. The camp is open to Wellness Center members and non-members and will operate five days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from June 7 until July 30. Campers can choose to come any number of weeks and will pay weekly. More info: Register at wellness.apprhs.org/fitacademy. Contact Heather Casey at (828) 266-1066 or hcasey@apprhs.org for more information.
Summer Horse Camp June 21-25, June 28 - July 2, July 12-16, ages 6-18
Yonahlossee Stables will host its Summer Horse Camp from June 21-25, June 28-July 2 and July 12-16. Camp hours are from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The programming will include ground lessons, private lessons, group lessons, proper horse care and daily crafts. Each session ends with a show, food and family fun. More info: www.facebook.com/YonahlosseeStables or call (828) 963-4223.
Holston Presbytery Camp June 2 - July 2 for resident camps, 2nd- through 12th-graders June 6 - Aug. 6 for day camps, grades 1-6 Holston Presbytery Camp is located on Wildcat Lake, just one mile up
Hickory Nut Gap Road from Highway 184 near Banner Elk. Holston offers a variety of day and residential camps. The camp provides opportunities for canoeing, rock climbing, backpacking, camping, campfires, outdoor cooking, Bible studies, evening worship, arts and crafts, kayaking, zip line, fishing, orienteering and more. More info: www.holstoncamp.org or call (844) 465-7866.
Mountain Adventures Day Camp*
Weekdays June 7 - Aug. 13, preschoolers through rising 6th-graders, grouped by age Mountain Adventure Summer Day Camp will be geared towards outdoor enrichment, health and wellness, promoting social interactions between peers, academic enrichment and providing development assistance to each student; depending on their specific needs. Camp counselors will plan daily activities for their specific groups which will include field trips, swimming, guest speakers and other enrichment activities. Camp hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Students are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enrollment packets can be picked up at the WAMY Community Action Inc. office, at 225 Birch Street Suite 2 in Boone. More info: emily@wamycommunityaction.org or call (828) 264-2421.
Camp Lutherock
Weekly camps June 6 - July 31, rising grades 3-12, also offers a family camp aawmag.com
Lutherock is located on the south slope of Sugar Mountain near Boone on 750 acres. Multiple camp options are available. Outdoor activities, Bible study and worship are a part of each day’s schedule. Family camp allows for adults and children to come togethe, and the family can choose from various outdoor adventure activities, including Lutherock’s new dual zip line and Sky Park. More info: lutherock.org or call (828) 209-6301.
Blowing Rock Parks and Rec Summer Day Camp June 7 - Aug. 5 Monday-Thursday, rising kindergarteners through rising 6th-graders
The Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation Summer Day Camp believes that day camp programming should emphasize learning to appreciate the outdoors and our environment, and that campers should be out in and a part of the environment as much as possible. Children swim, hike, play sports, fish and go on field trips. Camps in 2021 will be limited to 30 campers, and registration is only open to children of town of Blowing Rock employees and children with a Blowing Rock zip code. More info: www.blowingrockparks. recdesk.com/Community/Program or call (828) 295-5222.
Camp Ginger Cascades
June 6-1, mini camp session for grades 1-3 June 20-22, mini camp session for grades 4-5 June 13 - July 16, week-long camp for grades 2-12
Western North Carolina, just outside Lenoir, Camp Ginger Cascades is one of three outdoor program properties operated by Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont. During the summer months, Ginger Cascades offers overnight resident and day camp programs for girls. Girls do not have to be a Girl Scout to attend programs. More info: www.camplikeagirl.org.
Climbing areas for Intermediate Climbing Camp will host taller cliffs and intermediate levels of climbing. Each day will be facilitated in a manner that challenges participants on a personal level. Campers will come away with new skills, knowledge and a memorable experience. More info: info@rockdimensions.com or (828) 265-3544.
Teen Extreme Adventure
Full day camps offered from June 7 through week of Aug. 14; grades K-rising - 6th-graders
Weekdays June 28 - July 30, rising 7th- through 9th-graders
Watauga County Parks & Rec is hosting weekly camp sessions at the Watauga Community Recreation Center in Boone. Hiking, field trips, swimming and adventures will be arranged for campers to explore the Blue Ridge Mountains. Camp sessions are weekly from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. More info: keron.poteat@watgov.org or call (828) 264-9511.
Rock Dimensions Climbing Adventure Camp Weekdays June 14 - Aug. 6, ages 8-16
Intermediate Climbing Camp June 21 - 25 and July 19 - 23; ages 11 and older Rock Dimensions’ climbing adventure camp provides five days of land-based outdoor activities that includes Rock Climbing, Rappelling, Caving, Ropes/ Challenge Course and a Climbing Tower. The climbing days are suitable for beginning climbers and those who have some basic experience in a gym or outdoors. Intermediate Climbing Camp is more focused on developing climbing skills.
Deer Valley Athletic Club
Deer Valley Athletic Club is excited to provide an active summer camp experience for Deer Valley Athletic Club Members and guests. Full day summer camp is offered from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Kids will experience an hour of tennis and an hour of a second sport such as volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, kids fitness or soccer. Lunch and snacks are provided. Campers will also enjoy time for swimming, crafts and enrichment activities. Tennis and gymnastics camps will also be offered. More info: www.deervalleyracquetclub.com, hampton@dvac.club or call (828) 262-3337.
Western Youth Network Summer Day Camp* Watauga: June 7-24, July 5-22, rising 6th - rising 9th
Ashe: June 7-July 30, rising 1st grade - rising 7th grade WYN’s summer camp gives campers Continued on next page
Located in the beautiful foothills of
Wyatt Tipton poses in front of a splatter paint art creation his group made during Mountain Adventure Summer Day Camp. Far right: Campers with the Western Youth Network Summer Day Camp enjoy a local hike. Photos submitted
March-April 2021 | 31
Campers learn how to make a pizza during an educational summer camp through the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Photos submitted Campers in an educational summer camp with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute work together to mix some ingredients.
of all socioeconomic backgrounds the opportunity to have a fun and enriching summer experience. Through WYN’s camp, campers have a safe and healthy place to spend their out-of-school hours while making summer memories that every young person deserves. Campers can enjoy hiking, tubing, swimming and other activities. Some accommodations for children with disabilities are available. The camp in Watauga will be held at the WYN Facility at 155 WYN Way in Boone; camp is Monday-Thursday with drop off between 8 a.m.-8:30 a.m. and pick up from 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. There will be a cap of 25 students per day for social distancing, and a well-fitted mask is mandatory. The home base for the WYN Summer Camp is Ashe is 626 Ashe Central School Road, Jefferson. The summer camp in Ashe will run Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. More info: canipeh@westernyouthnetwork.org or visit www.westernyouthnetwork.org/enroll-youth/.
EDUCATIONAL Appalachian State Academic Camps Dates and ages vary
Appalachian offers multiple academic camps in varying subjects. More info: www.conferences-camps.appstate.edu/ youth-camps. 32 | March-April 2021
Mountain Pathways Camp May 31-July 2 and July 12-31, 18 months to 12 years
Mountain Pathways will offer eight weeks of summer enrichment and fun for children to explore a variety of subjects with Montessori inspired lessons and activities, gardening and lots of outdoor time and playing in the creek. Camp hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More info: mountain-pathways.org/summer-camp or call (828) 262-5787.
Baking Magic
June 7-11, July 6-9 and July 19-23, age 9 and older Learn the science behind the magic of baking and pastries. Students will prepare and enjoy such items as cupcakes, puff-pastry desserts, tarts and finish the week off with their own “specialty” cake. The June 7-11 and July 19-23 camp sessions will go from 9 a.m. until noon. The July 6-9 camp session will go from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday. More info: call (828) 2973811 or email eterry@cccti.edu.
Pizza! Pizza!
June 14-18 and June 28 - July 2, age 9 and older Learn to make a different pizza every day including calzones, gourmet and dessert pizzas. Topping the week off will be a dough-tossing contest. The camp
session lasts from 9 a.m. until noon. More info: call (828) 297-3811 or email eterry@ cccti.edu.
Cooking 101 for Teens
July 12-16, July 26-30, ages 13-18 This class is perfect for the teen who loves to cook or wants to learn more. Students will learn how to create different types of bread, discuss and practice basic cooking techniques and make sauces and handmade pasta. The camp session lasts from 9 a.m. until noon. Space is limited for each class. Students will be required to complete a health screening and temperature check prior to the start of each class and before parents can leave their student on campus. Campers will also be required to wear a mask during the class except when eating. More info: call (828) 297-3811 or email eterry@cccti.edu.
Radio Camp
June 21, July 12, July 26, Aug. 2; middle and high school students 88.5 WFDD, the public radio station licensed to Wake Forest University and serving 32 counties in the Piedmont and High Country of North Carolina, has a summer program for middle and high school students. The camp this year is in a virtual format. At Radio Camp, participants can learn how to conduct interviews using a phone and how to turn those interviews into a great-sounding aawmag.com
feature story that might air on Saturday mornings on 88.5 WFDD. Spots are limited. More info: gabriel_maisonnave@ wfu.edu, call (336) 758-2462 or find “88.5 WFDD” on Facebook.
ARTS Xtreme Dance Camp
Aug. 2-6, ages 5-15 (rising 1st-9th grades) Extreme Dance Camp is a one-week camp during the summer for girls and boys. The camp focuses on clogging, hip-hop and cheerleading. The camp meets at Watauga High School from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The campers perform a special end-of-camp program. Camp is led by instructor Amber Hendley along
with other experienced dance instructors from across North Carolina. Registration begins May 3. More info: Call Watauga Parks and Recreation at (828) 264-9511.
Next Generation Kids: CineMagic!
Dates and location to be determined, kindergarten through high school, grouped by age Next Generation Kids’ CineMagic camp is a performing arts camp where kids can learn songs from recent Hollywood musicals; musicals previously scheduled to be featured were LaLa Land, Rocket Man and Bohemian Rhapsody. Feel like a Hollywood star recreating the most memorable moments in Hollywood movies, along with many others. More info: www. nextgenkids.com or call (407) 312-3710.
Northwestern Studios Dance Camp June 7 - July 23, ages 2 to 9
Dates for Summer Dance sessions from Northwestern Studios vary depending on age range. There are mini dance camps for ages 2-4, camps for children age 3-5, Junior Dance Intensives for 6- to 9-year olds as well as other camps for 6-9 year olds in cheer/tumbling, musical theatre and a boys camp. More info: www. northwestern-studios.com/summer-dance.
Creative and Performing Arts Camp
The Creative and Performing Arts Camp at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk will not be hosted in summer 2021.
Girls’ Night Out (or In) DELIVERY & TAKEOUT AVAILABLE
Happy Hour Every Day!
4pm - 6pm 1/2 off Appetizers • Daily Drink Specials
March-April 2021 | 33
Girls’ Night Out (or In) DELIVERY & TAKEOUT AVAILABLE
Sushi Night is Always the Best Girl’s Night Out Dine in-Mon-Sat 4:00-9:00PM
THUR $4DRAFT BEERS
Take-out-Mon-Sat 4:00-8:00PM Closed Sunday
SUN SELECTGLASSES OFWINE$4
Begin your Girl’s Night Out during the day Your favorite glass of wine is
Half Price
All Day Every Tuesday!
34 | March-April 2021
The best Girl’s Night Out is a Date Night In when someone else does the cooking! Call or check our website for our Friday Date Night specials... and no, we didn’t forget the wine!
aawmag.com
Too many Quarantinis? The COVID-19 pandemic not only is its own public health crisis, but has exacerbated another ongoing public health crisis in America: the misuse of alcohol, especially for women. The pandemic has induced stress for many who are now dealing with increased health risks, job losses, personal losses, school closures, and increased isolation. Unfortunately, many have increased their alcohol consumption as a coping strategy which sends an unhelpful message to our youth who are also coping with the stress of the pandemic. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported a 54% increase in national sales of alcohol for the week ending March 21, 2020, compared with 1 year prior. Watauga County has seen similar, sustained increases in liquor sales. According to the ABC Commission, Blowing Rock’s retail sales increased 41% in April of 2020 compared to April of 2019. Before the pandemic hit, national alcohol consumption trends were showing that women’s drinking amounts have been on the rise for several years, closing a historical gender gap. As spring arrives and we make a path for new beginnings, let’s do a self check to see if we can benefit from the resources below..
1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? 2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? 3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? 4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)? Scoring: Item responses on the CAGE questions are scored 0 for “no” and 1 for “yes” answers, with a higher score being an indication of alcohol problems. A total score of two or greater is considered clinically significant. Resources for Watauga County: High Country Community Health: 828-262-3886 Daymark Recovery Services at The Watauga Center : 828-264-8759 For ASU students: call 828-262-3148 and ask for Ben Asma Online resource: www.booneaa.org
This message has been brought to you by the Watauga Substance Action and Prevention Coalition Please visit WSAP.org for more information
ALL ABOUT WOMEN READERS,
we want to hear from you!
Tell us about High Country women and trends and issues we should feature. Tell us how we’re doing. What are you enjoying? What would you like to see? Email editor@aawmag.com