All About Women July-August 2018

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If you could live anywhere other than where you live now — where would it be?

Sue Spirit “San Francisco! Fog, my favorite weather! A hot fudge sundae at Ghiradelli Square, the “San Francisco Chronicle,” a cable car ride to Chinatown, restaurants of every ethnicity, Glide Memorial United Methodist Church (the jumping-est church ever), City Lights Bookstore, the trail from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Presidio, the San Francisco Bach choir, the ferry to Sausalito and more! Heaven!”

Hollie Eudy “A small village in Italy… for the sun, the customs and the food!”

Heather Brandon “On an island... not too large and not too small... that is outside the hurricane belt... with perfect beaches and crystal clear water... and year-round 80-degree temps... and no bugs or tropical diseases... that is affordable... and has amazing food!

Unfortunately, this may be a fictional location.”

Melanie Davis Marshall “If I were to have a second home or live anywhere else in the world, it would still be in the Appalachian mountains. I would lean toward West Virginia or Kentucky to be near family. I have a mountain heart and cannot imagine living elsewhere.”

Bonnie Church “I would stay right here in the High Country. I love the gentle four seasons, breathtaking mountainscapes and friendly people. My children and grandchildren live here too. On the spur of the moment we can gather for a meal or a hike. This is where I will live the rest of my days, happily.”

Kellen Short “Is it cheating if I say Boone? I moved to Colorado in 2015 after spending most of my life in the High Country, and if I had deeper pockets I’d have a home in both states.”

Anna Oakes “The Southern Appalachians are my first love, but if I could flirt with another, perhaps it would be Vancouver, Canada — a port city, surrounded by the snow-capped North Shore Mountains and a temperate rainforest. I’d picnic at the 1,000-acre Stanley Park and watch the container ships come and go.”

4 | July-August 2018

PUBLISHER Gene Fowler

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tom Mayer

EDITOR Anna Oakes editor@aawmag.com 828.278.3602

CONTRIBUTORS Heather Brandon Children’s Council of Watauga County Bonnie Church Reagan Dellinger Marion Edwards Hollie Eudy Heather Jordan Kayla Lasure Melanie Davis Marshall Laney Ruckstuhl Kellen Short Sue Spirit

PRODUCTION & DESIGN Meleah Bryan Brandon Carini Kristin Obiso

ADVERTISING 828.264.6397

COVER PHOTO by Andy Bilinski Photography

Any reproduction of news articles, photographs or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. © 2018 Mountain Times Publications aawmag.com

CONTENTS

18

features 18

Featured Home

21

Building Greener

24 Shari Smith & Working Title Farm 28

Decorating: Think Green, White & Light

30 Strategies for a Successful School Year 34 Back to School Festival

homestead 09 Hardscaping 10

Hillbetty Revival: Farming Catfish

relationships 12

Mom’s World: Teach Your Children Well

14

Children’s Council: Ready for Kindergarten?

style/leisure 16

30-35

Travel: Tears, Triumphs & Travel

health 36 Living Well: Purge That Pantry 38

Beauty: Beauty of the Skin Microbiome

food & drink 44 Recipe: Ginger Soy Chicken Breasts

in every issue 06 Editor’s Note 07

Women in the News

40 Young at Heart: Back to (Graduate) School 42 By the Book 45

All About Town

July-August 2018 | 5

editor’s

note

My friend Katie and I pose for a photo following Paul Simon’s amazing concert at Greensboro Coliseum.

My favorite fruit is ripening to its deep purple hue. In these hot weeks of July, blackberries need not be imported, nor even cultivated — the wild brambles line the roads and hillsides, ready for harvest by those fortified with gloves, long pants and decent shoes. I savor them tart from the vine or sweetened with sugar in a bubbling cobbler.

And that’s how my summer’s been going so far — a little sweet and a little tart.

Let’s get the tart out of the way: Several of my close family members have been battling pretty serious health issues, and in early June, we lost my dear friend and colleague, Jeff Eason, a veteran newspaper reporter, editor and occasional contributor to this magazine. It’s still hard to believe as I write those words, more than a month later.

But there have already been plenty of sweet moments.

I dug my toes into the sand at Oak Island on a weekend that offered clear, breezy weather, fresh seafood and ice cream. I traveled to Greensboro for Paul Simon’s concert on June 19, a part of his Farewell Tour, and I’m oh-so-glad I did. His voice sounded superb, he was backed by a gigantic band and he played everything we wanted to hear, and two encores. I’ve spent three sunny days floating down our beautiful rivers — one of my favorite pastimes. I’ve shared dinners and shows and cookouts with friends.

There’s still more to go on my summertime bucket list: I have yet to go backpacking, spend a day at Watauga Lake, spend a Friday evening at Music in the Valle or paddle down the New in a canoe.

Here’s hoping you cross a few more items off your seasonal bucket list, and that your summer is mostly sweet.

aawnc

6 | July-August 2018

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Women in the News Kratt Named Appalachian Theatre’s First Executive Director

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he Appalachian Theatre of the High Country Inc. recently announced that arts management professional Laura Kratt would begin as the organization’s first executive director on July 16.

The Appalachian Theatre first opened its doors in 1938 and held live shows until 1950. An overheated popcorn oil-induced fire caused the theater to be gutted that year.

When the theater reopened, it operated as a movie theater until it closed once more in 2007.

ATHC formed in 2012 to renovate and revitalize the King Street landmark.

The theater’s $350,000 exterior renovations won a Main Street award for the Art Deco façade in March of this year, and the interior is expected to be completed by summer 2019. ATHC began the final construction phase in December 2017.

Chairperson John Cooper said at the board of trustees meeting on June 27 that the ATHC conducted a nationwide search for a full-time executive director, only to find Kratt 100 miles away in Charlotte. The search committee voted unanimously to hire Kratt.

“It is a real pleasure to work alongside these dedicated volunteers and trustees who have worked so diligently to reopen this historic theater,” Kratt said in a statement. “I know we all want to make it a vital contributor to the cultural landscape and economic development of downtown Boone and the High Country.”

Kratt has more than 20 years of experience managing the visual and performing arts.

Prior to coming to the Appalachian Theatre, Kratt managed National Historic Landmark theaters in New York and Georgia as well as university presenting programs at Washington University, Wingate University and the University of Cincinnati.

Vice Chairman Keith Martin noted that Kratt will be responsible for hiring additional staff at the theater.

Additional information about the Appalachian Theatre and their ongoing capital campaign may be found on the theater’s new website, www.apptheatre.org.

Laura Kratt began as Appalachian Theatre’s new executive director on July 16.

SkyLine Hires Shepherd As New CEO

S

Kim Shepherd takes over as SkyLine CEO following Jimmy Blevins’ retirement.

kyLine Chief Management Officer Kim Shepherd has been named the new CEO of SkyLine following the June 30 retirement of CEO Jimmy Blevins. Shepherd has been serving as CMO since November 2016 and was previously executive director of customer operations.

In her 20 years at SkyLine, Shepherd has held various leadership positions over the years, including repair services supervisor, customer service manager and executive director of customer operations, overseeing both customer service and field service departments.

“We are very pleased to announce that Kim Shepherd will lead SkyLine and its subsidiary operations into the next dynamic era of telecommunications,” said SkyLine Board President R.C. Mitchell. “She brings a broad level of expertise and knowledge having led multiple areas of SkyLine’s operations that have focused on connecting our customers to the latest technology and delivering a high level of customer service. In this newest role, Kim will carry her predecessors’ forward-thinking and visionary legacy forward, and keep SkyLine at the forefront of technology as a rural telecom leader, positioning our service areas toward continued economic growth and prosperity.”

SkyLine has received multiple national awards and recognitions over the past few years specifically tied to the company’s efforts to complete a fiber-optic overbuild of its cooperative service footprint, the company said.

July-August 2018 | 7

Women in the News Watauga Cub Scout Troop to Allow Girls in Program

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ub Scout Pack 109, based out of Boone United Methodist Church, is opening its program to allow girls to join — likely the first in the area to do so.

Cub Scouts is focused on aiding younger children in building leadership skills, character and self-reliance, said Joseph Cazier, Cub Scout Pack 109 committee chair. Organized by the Boy Scouts of America, the Cub Scouts has been exclusively for boys for the more than 100 years of the program.

However, Boy Scouts of America announced in October 2017 that it will allow packs the option to permit girls into the program.

“What Boy Scouts of America has said is that each pack can make a decision whether to move forward with this or not,” Cazier said.

“A pack can decide to remain a boys-only pack — for now or for whatever period of time — or if a pack wishes they can choose to open up their pack for girls to attend.”

Cazier said Pack 109 decided to open up its program — typically for children in first through fifth grades — to girls starting this next school year, as the pack typically follows the school schedule. Families can register both boys and girls in the Cub Scouts starting June 11.

“It’s opening scouts up so more people can benefit,” Cazier said. “I think that openness will make our pack better because we’ll have a greater diversity of talent and interest of people who participate, which will enrich it for everybody.”

Cazier said the decision was made after a pack committee meeting was held with senior leadership. The committee discussed the decision and then conducted a survey of all of its current scout families and asked them what their thoughts and opinions were. Survey results were presented at a meeting with the pack’s extended leadership — including the pack committee, den leaders and other interested members of the pack.

“We talked through the results, talked through what we thought was best and unanimously our leadership voted to go ahead with girls in scouts,” Cazier said.

Currently, Pack 109 serves about 50 to 60 children. Allowing girls into the pack will present logistical challenges, which Cazier said the pack is excited to meet. For example, he said the decision means the group will need more space, additional den leaders and other kinds of process changes.

“It’s really about including,” Caizer said. “We’re calling it family scouting. The whole family can now participate in scouts and any girls in our community who wish to do what cub scouts has to offer would be included and treated exactly the same as any of the boys.”

This change now allows parents to bring their children of either gender to one place to participate in activities. Cazier said the change will be beneficial for parents.

Families interested in Pack 109 can send Cazier an email at josephcazier@gmail.com, and he can connect people to the right information. He said Pack 109 will also host a recruiting drive around the start of the school year where fliers should be passed out at some of the schools.

Delta Kappa Gamma’s Gamma Delta Chapter Announces Awards

T Pictured from left are Kimberly Simmons (parliamentarian), Susie Miller (president), Mandy Taylor (first vice president), Sherrie Hines (second vice president), Barbara Lyons (secretary) and Dana Henson (corresponding secretary).

8 | July-August 2018

he Gamma Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational honor society whose mission is to promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education for women, held meetings in April and May to finish out the 2017-18 school year.

In April, Ashe County High School student Mattie Joines was awarded a $500 scholarship.

The 2018 Eta State Convention of Delta Kappa Gamma held in April recognized Gamma Delta with two chapter awards and two individual awards. Gamma Delta received an Excellent Overall Chapter rating as well as an Excellent rating for Chapter Communications.

Suzanne Irwin was the recipient of the Golden Key Award for Region IX and Kimberly Simmons was the Rising Star Recipient. All these awards were shared during the May meeting, and new officers for the 2018-2020 term were installed.

The new officers for 2018-2020 are Susie Miller (president), Mandy Taylor (first vice president), Sherrie Hines (second vice president), Barbara Lyons (recording secretary), Dana Henson (corresponding secretary), Ina Cox (treasurer), and Kimberly Simmons (parliamentarian). Gamma Delta meetings will resume this fall. aawmag.com

Homestead

Defining Hardscape and How to Use It Curb appeal is beneficial in various ways. Curb appeal can make a home more attractive to prospective buyers and give existing homeowners a place they want to come home to. In its study of the worth of outdoor remodeling projects, the National Association of Realtors found standard lawn care and overall landscape upgrades were most appealing to buyers, as well as the most likely to add value to a home.

Although plants, grass and other items can improve curb appeal, homeowners should not overlook hardscaping.

Hardscaping is an industry term that refers to the non-living features of a landscape. These features can include everything from decks to walkways to ornamental boulders. Introducing paths or paver walls to a property helps develop that home’s hardscape. Hardscape and soft elements often work in concert to create inspiring landscape designs.

DIY landscape designers can heed certain tips to make the most of hardscape features on their properties.

Hardscaping refers to the elements in a landscape that aren’t living, such as paths, walls and fences.

Choose Materials As with many landscaping projects, homeowners must first determine what types of additions they would like on their properties. Common hardscape features include patios, decks, walkways of pavers or bricks, and retaining walls. Hardscape elements can be functional or simply decorative features that add whimsy to the yard.

Choose a Theme The right style allows hardscaping and softscaping materials to work together. For example, homeowners may want to give their yards an eastern feel, complete with a koi pond and decorative bridge or trellis. A formal English garden,

however, may include manicured paths with stepping stones and ornate topiaries.

Mixing too many styles together can take away from the overall appeal.

The pros suggest looking at the overall plan of the design, even if all of the work can’t be completed at once. This way the eventual finished project will be cohesive.

Think About the Purpose Hardscaping can look good but also serve key purposes. Pebbles or gravel can mitigate trouble areas that don’t grow grass or plant life well. Retaining walls hold back soil in yards with sharply inclined hills. Mulch can set perimeters around trees and shrubs, as well as

planting beds. Fencing, another form of hardscaping, is essential for establishing property boundaries and adding privacy.

Consult a Professional While many hardscaping additions can be handled by novices, large-scale projects, such as patios and decking, can change the grading of the yard.

Professionals can map out how to handle drainage issues and meet building codes.

In addition, professional installation can ensure hardscaping features last for years to come.

Hardscaping should blend with the nature around it and take its cues from the surrounding environment. This can help softscaping and hardscaping work as one.

July-August 2018 | 9

Homestead

HILLBETTY REVIVAL

Farming Catfish PHOTOS BY MELANIE DAVIS MARSHALL

Above: This very small stream created by my spring overflow is supporting the pond fully.

Below: The feeder pool is the small dugout containing my pump, pushing 1,000 gallons a day through the 1-inch hose up the bank to the pond.

10 | July-August 2018

Catfishing — and I not am referring to the creepy online dating trend — is actually much easier than I anticipated.

A small stream and a big shovel will get you started.

I am fortunate that my farm had a medium-sized pond, pre-stocked when I purchased it, but I have been doing the maintenance, which is surprisingly easy.

The stream is the small overflow from the spring that feeds my house. It has a steady stream that does not run dry, even in the dead middle of the dog days of summer. At the end of a culvert, a small dugout collects a feeder pool of no more than 18 inches deep, enough to hold maybe 15 gallons of water and submerge a pump. The pump is on 24 hours a day, but registers barely a blip on my electric bill.

The pond itself is a manmade hole, lined with specifically designed pond liner for durability, measuring about 20 feet across and four deep in the center.

This depth does not maintain a temperature cold enough to sustain trout, but is perfect for catfish. The top of the pond has an outlet pipe for overflow to redirect the overflow back to the creek.

When I first purchased the farm, my first emergency trip to Lowes Hardware was for a replacement pump when the older one died. It had been in the pond for a few years, since it was dug and filled initially. In my haste, I did not research well and purchased a pond pump with a 500 gallon-a-day output. Learn from my rookie mistake.

The pond level stayed fine, but the flow wasn’t strong enough to circulate the water well. I didn’t notice in the winter months, but as the temperature raised I noticed the water was getting murky and a little scum was collecting on the surface. aawmag.com

The fish were fine, no deaths, but I worried it would get to that point, so back to Lowes.

This new pump is 1,000 gallons a day. Doubling my output made a world of difference. Within 24 hours, the water was clear enough to see my catfish swimming around again.

The water surface is back to a nice, mountain clear. Though I worried my 18-inch feeder pool wouldn’t be able to keep up, I haven’t had any issues with it running too low.

A game fish feed is available at most farm supply stores for a very reasonable price, but be warned, raccoons love game fish feed. A simple trash can will not stop the scavengers from helping themselves.

My pool contains an estimated 40 to 50 fish, and I go through about 100 pounds a season. They go into a dormant state when the water temperature is below 50 degrees.

The feeder pool also attracts some harmless snakes. I see them frequently when I go out to clean the pump, but they tend to be small. Nothing a poke with a

This pond not only houses catfish as a food source but adds a nice landscaping touch to Hillbetty Heaven.

stick won’t shoo away.

The pump needs cleaning in my feeder pool usually about once a month, sometimes more after heavy rains push more silt in the pool. The silt has to be shoveled out occasionally to maintain depth in the feeder pool, maybe three to four times a year.

Happy fishing. I recommend a cornbread batter and hushpuppies.

Melanie Davis Marshall Melanie is a born-again Hillbetty attempting to revive her Appalachian roots. She lives in Creston with her two dogs and 21 chickens.

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Relationships

MOM’S WORLD

Teach Your Children Well This fall will be a new adventure for me, as I have one child in middle school, one entering high school and one who will be a junior in college. When I think about the phases of life that each of them is in, it’s sometimes hard to know how to be the best parent to each of them. I want to connect to them, but have to acknowledge silently to myself that they are all working on building relationships beyond our home and family. And that is what they are supposed to be doing.

I try to reflect on what was in my head and my heart during these times, yearning to impart some wisdom while my maturing kids are hell-bent on doing it their way. That is also what they are supposed to be doing. If I have learned anything in almost 20 years of parenting, it is that the epitome of a good parent is one who raises an independent, confident, unique 12 | July-August 2018

person that contributes to society in his or her own way and loves themselves and their neighbors. Despite this point of wisdom, children being independent from us does not imply that we are completely obsolete in their lives. I’ve seen a lot of trips around the sun, and I still value the ear of my mom and dad when things are tough.

My youngest will revel in being by himself in middle school without the shadow of both older brothers. Teachers tell me that he keeps life interesting. Academically, he does well. He loves board games, uses Google Translate to email or talk to his teachers in German at times, reads if strongly urged, and probably watches too much of “The Simpsons.” His outlook on the world is naive and mature at the same time. Naive because he hasn’t experienced enough of the complexities of life and the world to be jaded; mature,

because he’s the youngest of three boys, which means that he saw “Lord of the Rings” from probably the time he was 4 or something and has listened to more metalcore (courtesy of his older brother) than most 11-year olds. Despite his maturity on some levels, I still worry about bullying. I worry about safety in the schools. I worry about him navigating social groups and feeling comfortable in his own skin, particularly as puberty hits and kids can become mean.

For my middle son, Joe, I flip between the matter-of-fact standpoint of “yeah, he’s going to high school” to the all-caps version of HE’S GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL. It is expected and normal for him to grow up, but, despite the fact that he has an older brother that I, in theory, helped raise, he is a completely different kid. I don’t feel like my experience of raising my eldest gave me a head-start aawmag.com

You who are on the road Must have a code that you can live by And so become yourself Because the past is just a good bye.

- from “Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

on how to handle 14- to 18-year-old boys.

Joe can’t wait to drive, while his brother finally got his license just shy of his 20th birthday because 1) his second permit was about to expire and 2) I told him he had to.

Joe is fairly social, which in turn means that there will be more opportunities for him to go out, be in a car, be at social events with other teens and peer pressure. Will is typically an introvert.

I take comfort in knowing that Joe is a good kid, while at the same time I worry about every parent’s nightmare of a good kid that makes a bad decision, lets testosterone over-take driving judgment, lets peer pressure over-rule common sense, and ill consequences result. He will likely experience heartbreak, an unacceptable grade, athletic wins and defeats, and a multitude of other teen challenges.

Ultimately, I do see him as driven, goalsetting and committed to those things that he deems worthwhile. I am anxious and excited at the same time to see what classes he loves, which ones he hates, and how he continues to develop into a young man.

Lastly, my rising junior Will gets to enter the ranks of upperclassmen and hone his already laser-sharp focus of what he wants to do in aerospace engineering. He comments that he wants to “put off adulthood for as long as possible” and yet, I see him becoming an adult in so many ways. He continues to excel in

courses with titles that are even intimidating to me, with equations that hurt my brain. He solidifies some friendships, while others have dissipated. He struggles with his own demons of depression and anxiety, while, as only an adult can, shows that he has insight into what helps him get through and what drags him down. He has insight, cynicism, respect for women, love of intense music and coffee and the ability to articulate. I try to fight his pessimism. And even with that, I love who he is becoming and strive to connect with his mind in a way that communicates to him that his words and ideas are worthwhile and important, that his passion and anger and love and alternative perspectives may not be the same as mine, but they are his — and I want to know them.

Overall, I look at my three kids preparing for three different schools, three different phases in their lives, with their three different and very unique personalities. I want them to do well. I want them to be happy. I want them to find love and belonging both at home and at school. I want them to be themselves, even when it makes some people uncomfortable, even when it goes against the grain, even when it is hard. heather jordan, CNM, MSN Comments or questions?

828.737.7711, ext. 253 landh@localnet.com

July-August 2018 | 13

Relationships

READY FOR

BY HUNTER VARIPAPA

On the first day of kindergarten, what does a child need to know? I am often asked this question by families eager to have their child “ready” for school. Here at the Children’s Council, one of our goals is for all children to enter school ready to succeed, and we have lots of programs to help achieve this goal. Two of these programs are the NC Pre-Kindergarten Program and the Raising A Reader Program.

The Children’s Council of Watauga County serves as the coordinating agency for the Watauga County NC Pre-Kindergarten Program. This program offers enriching early learning experi-

14 | July-August 2018

ences to children who are at risk, which enables them to walk into kindergarten feeling confident and excited to learn. As the coordinator for Watauga County, our agency handles the processing of child applications and the placement of children into each of the seven classrooms, as well as ongoing monitoring to ensure each classroom meets all of the NC PreKindergarten requirements.

We work with Watauga County Schools, which is the contract administrator for the Bethel, Green Valley, Hardin Park and Valle Crucis sites, and Appalachian State’s Lucy Brock Child Development Program, the contract administra-

tor for Cove Creek, Blowing Rock and Parkway sites. Each classroom has highly qualified teachers who have specialized in early childhood education. These teachers come equipped with the knowledge on how to individualize curricula to fit the needs and interests of the children in their classrooms.

For a child to qualify for NC Pre-Kindergarten funding, they must have one or more of the following risk factors: be living in poverty, have a developmental delay/disability, have a parent who is an active member of the U.S. military or who has been injured or killed in the military, have Limited English Proficiency,

aawmag.com

Children in these classrooms are actively engaged in learning experiences where the curriculum is based on the children’s interests and developmental needs. or have a chronic health condition that affects their development. In addition, some of the sites offer private pay slots to children who do not have one of these risk factors, and those private pay slots are offered through the Lucy Brock Child Development Program and Watauga County Schools. All of the children in these programs benefit from rich learning environments and experiences. Bus transportation is provided through Watauga County Schools for children who attend a program that is in their school district.

Each day, children in these classrooms are actively engaged in learning experiences where the curriculum is based on the children’s interests and developmental needs. These experiences are tailored to foster the development of the children so they are ready to succeed. The children sing songs, read books, play with blocks, sand, water, play dough and much more. They dress up, create individualized art, illustrate and tell their own stories. Families are invited to share in their child’s educational

experiences by being involved in family events, conferences and by being actively engaged in the classroom. The children’s development is assessed by their teachers through naturalistic observation as they play and learn.

The Children’s Council of Watauga County also oversees another program called Raising A Reader, which is integrated into each of the NC PreKindergarten Programs. This program is funded through the High Country United Way. This program supports early literacy development through the active partnership of the teachers, children and families. Teachers share the importance of reading with children to families during family literacy events. The Raising A Reader Program helps families establish a daily shared reading experience with their children. Each week children receive a Red Book Bag to take home to share with their families that holds four highquality books. The teacher integrates the books in read-aloud story times and other classroom learning experiences. At the

end of each year, all of the children and families are invited to attend a Blue Book Bag Event at the Watauga Public Library, where they learn about the benefits and programs of the library. The children receive their own Blue Book Bag so they may check out their own library books.

It also gives the families and children an opportunity to get their own library card.

The Children’s Council of Watauga County County sees the benefits to children being in these enriching early learning experiences. The children and their parents learn skills that will carry them confidently through their life. They learn to problem-solve and learn how to collaborate with others. The children get to see that their educational experiences are exciting. Families learn that they are an integral part of their child’s educational journey.

For more information about the NC Pre-Kindergarten Program or the Raising A Reader Program, contact Hunter Varipapa at (828) 262-5424 or hunter@ thechildrenscouncil.org.

July-August 2018 | 15

Leisure

TRAVEL

Tears, Triumphs and Travel Stitching Together the Pieces of a Broken Armenia It’s March 1918. An emaciated, lice-ridden baby and her fading mother are dying in a ditch near Sivas, in Armenia, a country nearly destroyed by the murderous Ottoman Turks. Mary, an American missionary who happens to be walking by, spots the two. With her dying breath the mother pleads, “Please, take my baby!” Mary does, feeding milk to the skin-and-bones baby with an eye dropper, and covering her body with healing salve.

The mission doctor says, “If that baby survives three days it will be a miracle.”

The baby thrives, and soon Mary pledges to adopt her. She names her Araxi, for the river Arax at the foot of Armenia’s Mount Ararat.

It is three years into the genocide of Christian Armenia at the hands of the neighboring Muslim Turks. One and a half million people have been killed and over half the nation destroyed. Mary, born in Armenia to missionary parents and later brought up in the United States, 16 | July-August 2018

has volunteered to return to Sivas with the Near East Relief organization to help rehabilitate the starving, homeless, dying Armenians. Now, in addition to overseeing schools and orphanages, she is raising baby Araxi.

March 3, 2018. My friend Araxi turns 100 years old. Raised mostly in the United States, she has had a career as a beloved elementary school teacher in Middleburgh, New York, has married and raised two children, and has been the bass drummer for the Middleburgh Summer Band. Never forgetting her Armenian beginnings, Araxi has written a book, “Triumph from Tragedy,” the story of her adoptive grandparents, her mother Mary, and the 1915 genocide of Armenia.

She also proudly shows how to make yogurt Armenian style, wrapped in a wool blanket.

Fast-forward some 90 years from the genocide. It’s April 2008. I’m off on a trip to Turkey with Overseas Adventure

Travel. I pack Araxi’s book, hoping to discuss its unbelievably horrible contents with Adnan, our trip leader. Adnan turns out to be an open, fun-loving, irreverent guide, forever stopping on the street to introduce us to “tastings,” morsels of delectable Turkish food. He often halts our minivan at the drop of a hat so we can meet people and learn their customs. One such stop is at a village oven, where three women are taking their turns baking bread. We share some of a warm loaf and give the women a big bottle of Coke.

Adnan has promised to be openminded and to cover all topics Turkish, however controversial. But there is one tasting he will not share with us. We soon discover that he, like most Turks, refuses to believe that there was a genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

He is adamant that he will not discuss the subject, declining to even look at Araxi’s book.

“Eat your food! The Armenian chilaawmag.com

dren are starving!” is the refrain children in the USA in 1915 regularly heard. The same chant could have been resurrected in 1988, when a devastating earthquake hit Armenia, killing 25,000 people and totally destroying 58 towns and villages.

It was three years before the fall of the Soviet Union, under whose boot the Armenians had suffered for 70 years. To top it all off, as the Soviet Union faded, a bloody battle began between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan over the disputed mountainous territory of NagornoKarabakh, located within Azerbaijan but populated mostly by Armenians. That conflict killed 30,000 Armenians, leaving destruction, homelessness and hunger in its wake. An uneasy 1994 cease-fire left Armenia the victor and in charge of the territory. Was there ever a country as maligned and tromped-on as Armenia?

It’s 2017. A woman named Anne comes to speak to the Boone United Methodist women’s circle about Project Agape in the Nagorno-Karabakh area of Armenia. She asks the group if they would like to pack plastic Christmas shoe boxes for the children whose families are still struggling with poverty some 25 years now after the Azerbaijani-Armenian war. Each box is to contain candy, toys, school supplies, toiletries, caps and gloves and a Christmas note. “Yes!” the group exclaims.

It all begins in 1992. Four Armenian men, two bankers and two milk factory executives, travel to New York City, each loaded down with two heavy suitcases

filled with gifts of Armenian cognac. They have no idea where they are going, only that they have heard of a woman in North Carolina who might be able to help them.

Armenians had lost most of their cows in the 1988 earthquake, and their children are suffering for lack of milk. People of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church rally immediately to stuff the eight suitcases with powdered milk to send back to Armenia.

Better yet, on the spot, they decide to send an exploratory team of nine United Methodists, with the intention to partner with the historic Armenian Apostolic Church.

“It sounded like the world was going to come to an end in Armenia and suck us all into it,” they declare.

Project Agape, the only humanitarian project allowed in Nagorno-Karabakh, begins in 1992 and has been going strong ever since. Together with the local people, the United Methodists help get a college and seminary going again, build a school, water system, Agape Hospital, four clinics, a cattle project, and a children’s home.

Children in every family are recipients annually of the Christmas shoe boxes.

Besides visiting the many-faceted Project Agape, what would a traveler to Armenia expect to do and see? Armenia has few tourists. Those who do visit arrive in an ancient, mountainous country, the first Christian nation in the world, as of 301 CE. Breathtaking centuries-old monasteries are dotted about. Travelers discover a nation with its own ancient

alphabet. Mt. Ararat — beloved by the Armenian people, the Biblical home of Noah and his ark, and located in Armenia before the genocide — is now a part of Turkey, but is still the symbol of Armenia’s heritage. An imposing genocide memorial is located in the capital, Yerevan.

Travelers will find a welcome among the gregarious Armenian people. Healthy homegrown food is shared everywhere: figs and peaches, nuts, honey, yogurt and homemade cheeses with herbs. An Armenian favorite is Zhingyalov hats: flatbread stuffed with diced vegetables and herbs.

It seems miraculous that a nation of people neglected and defeated for over a hundred years can reach out so generously. Maybe their history of persecution is exactly why. The Armenians will never forget their sad heritage. They are determined now to spread joy and acceptance instead of hatred and destruction.

sue spirit Writes poetry and essays about nature, spirituality, writing, and travel. She has a little cabin in the mountains. degreesoffreedom@frontier.com

July-August 2018 | 17

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Magnificently Restored

FARMHOUSE Location 804 Justus Road Banner Elk, NC

18 | July-August 2018

This magnificently restored farmhouse sits on over six acres of farmland, with some truly stunning outdoor features.

Outbuildings include a large venue area with steel appliances, bath, and a large stone fireplace. It even includes a covered bridge that leads to a beautiful trout pond. aawmag.com

Photos by Andy Bilinski Photography

Naturally, this is a perfect venue for weddings, family parties or any other large events.

While it’s nice to relax in the shade and listen to the babbling brook, this house truly shines when we step inside. The master suite includes a fireplace, its own balcony overlooking the creek, dual closets, dual bathrooms with a Jacuzzi tub, and a walk-through tile shower. The upgraded kitchen features gas range, butcher block counter tops and stainless appliances.

The large bedroom suite sits over a two-car attached garage.

It’s not all looks, either. The property includes a threecar detached garage, a wellequipped workshop, and an indoor gym.

Continued on next page

July-August 2018 | 19

The current owner is looking to sell this beautiful property for $1.325 million, ering a one-year home warranty.

Architectural plans for a remodel are also available. If you’re interested, call Rita Storie at 828.406.2479.

$1.325 million 20 | July-August 2018

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Feature

Building Greener High Country Homeowners Invest in Their Properties — and the Environment

For homeowners and builders in the High Country, the popularity of “green building” continues to grow — and the “green” doesn’t refer to paint color.

Environmentally friendly utilities, construction methods and even materials are increasingly being used in homes to help the planet. But in many cases, the efforts have a personal benefit for residents, too.

Green energy and water can help save money over time, giving people a large

return on investment.

Area builders such as Bob Cambron with Boone-based BCS Custom Builders say they are especially enthusiastic about sustainable energy, though interest has seemed to decline as state tax credits are no longer available.

“The financial incentive is foremost the biggest appeal to homeowners,” Cambron says. “I have not had one potential client coming to me and demanding green building techniques because it is

good for the environment — it has always been a financial decision.”

But Cambron said sustainable energy is getting less expensive — and he projects it will continue to be on the rise as it becomes affordable.

“Going along with that are new building and insulation products which serve to increase the efficiency of home operation,” he says. “For example, home heating Continued on next page July-August 2018 | 21

Photos courtesy High Country Timberframe

This recent project by High Country Timberframe is an environmentally friendly home in the High Country.

and cooling products have advanced incredibly, operating more efficiently and at less cost. Roofing and insulation products are far more advanced than in the past as well as door and window construction and the use of insulating glass.”

Tom Ortiz-Owens, president of High Country Timberframe & Woodworking Co., says that one of the easiest ways to increase energy efficiency without con22 | July-August 2018

verting to alternative power is to properly seal air from getting into the home.

“In a well-sealed home, insulation can be much more effective — not having to constantly be confronted by cold or hot air leaks into the living space,” OrtizOwens says. “With an effectively sealed building envelope, our company specializes in active fresh air components that completely exchange all of the air inside

the home several times per hour.

“Our clients deserve to know that their home doesn’t just look nice from the outside but it is also nice in all of the areas that one cannot see,” he added.

Another Boone certified green builder, Capehart & Washburn, encourages people who are building homes to be conscious of all the materials they use, according to its website.

“We focus on building energyefficient homes that are very well insulated, and use high-efficient heating and cooling systems as well as materials, equipment and appliances that are Energy Star rated,” the company said on its website.

The company also tries to use “local, renewable, and recycled building materials” in its construction, cutting back on environmental impacts from start to finish.

“Being green is not only healthy for the homeowner, but it is good for the environment, local business and lowering utility bills,” the company says. aawmag.com

If you’re a homeowner in the region who isn’t looking to build a new property, don’t fret! There are affordable, simple ways to renovate your property to invest in both the environment and your wallet’s future.

“It appears to be a trend to remodel rather than build new because … the expense of demo and rebuild can be significant,” says Mark Kirkpatrick, builder and founder of Mountain Construction Inc. in Banner Elk. Kirkpatrick says from when he opened his business in 1985 to over two decades later, remodeling was only a fraction of the work he did – about 20 to 30 percent. But today, it’s about 50 percent,

as people with older homes increasingly look to update them, many with greening in mind.

“About 15 years ago, I realized that, as our planet grew, it is good to consider land conservation and sustainable energy options,” Kirkpatrick adds.

According to Kirkpatrick’s blogs on the subject, there are many ways to make your home a little friendlier to Mother Nature without full-blown construction, such as installing solar panels, investing in sustainable plumbing, using LED lighting and sealing your crawl space to cut down on your heat use in the winter.

With programs like Appalachian State University’s sustainable building sciences

concentration, the trend is expected to continue to rise in the region, Kirkpatrick says.

“Energy efficiency matters,” ASU’s Building Sciences program states on its website. “As state and federal agencies prioritize energy efficiency, they need leaders who understand how buildings work and how to find ways to make them work better.”

Laney Ruckstuhl Laney Ruckstuhl is a former Watauga Democrat reporter who left the mountains for the big city to attend Boston University.

She is currently a metro correspondent for the Boston Globe.

This renovated mountain home has been upgraded with green additions.

Photos courtesy Mountain Construction

Reclaimed lumber is a great way to reuse materials.

July-August 2018 | 23

Feature

Shari Smith & Working Title Farm Writer, Editor and Publisher Opens Home to Artists and the Creative Process PHOTOS BY DAVID CORTNER

On a rugged, one-acre plot five minutes from Boone, thirdgeneration farmer Shari Smith is tending her crops.

Unlike her father and grandfathers before her, Shari’s crops don’t sprout from the land. From the fertile soil of Working Title Farm, the outputs are songs and books and pieces of art.

And the farmers? They’re some of the South’s best authors, songwriters, musicians and artists, who worship the 24 | July-August 2018

Southern literary gods and seek to reveal truth through their crafts.

For days or weeks at a time, Shari’s invited guests gather at this creative retreat to collaborate, create new art — and to have a good time doing it.

“It’s an amazing community,” Shari says. “I feel very lucky to be a part of it, let alone to have done something that’s spirited it into reality.”

A writer, editor and publisher from Claremont, N.C., Shari started writing to

share the voices of Southern workingclass people underrepresented in the literary canon. She published features in several leading magazines and released her first book, “I Am a Town,” in 2014. A year later she launched TRIO, a project that examines the relationships between words, vision and sound. A songwriter and visual artist are given one book and tasked with creating a song and a work of art inspired by the novel. The “trios” form an exhibit that travels to museums, galleraawmag.com

I want there to be a place for people to come and create. That will always be my main focus.

- Shari Smith

Shari Smith. Photo submitted

ies and events throughout the year.

When she moved to Boone two years ago after a short stint in Alabama, Shari planned to buy a property on King Street, live on the third floor and operate a bookstore and small music venue below. She conducted research, found an investor and was ready to pull the trigger until she found her home on a mountainside just outside town.

Secular yet sacred, private yet communal, this would be the gathering place for writers and musicians to create.

The name came easy.

“Everything is always a work in progress,” Shari says. “I don’t think any of us have ever written a book and been 100 percent satisfied with it. We’re always working on something, and so since a working title is an unfinished project, I decided that that’s what it’s going to be.”

In an acre of dense woods, she hacked out areas to gather in small groups: a chiminea with chairs, a garden tucked behind stock tanks, a fire pit where musicians and songwriters gather in the evenings to pass the bourbon and share songs. Sometimes writers will gather with coffee cups around the kitchen table in her modest home, or seek seclusion in the adjacent guest cabin. They’ll drag a television outside and create an outdoor living room to watch films based on books.

When the property is filled to capacity, neighbor and friend Bryan Allred grants access to his luxurious Bob Timberlake-

designed home nearby to continue the magic-making.

Author Jana Sasser of Edisto Island, S.C., first visited last summer after ditching her corporate job to become a fulltime writer. Her first book, “Gradle Bird,” just earned the 2018 Southern Book Prize from the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance. She describes the farm as seductive and magical.

“It kind of changed my life in a certain way because I met some people who I call my best friends now, because I hadn’t really been immersed in the artists’ community that much,” Jana says. “The first time I went up there, it was like losing my virginity. It was just so inspiring and really confirming that these are my people.”

During a typical gathering, Shari might lead a few writing exercises to get the creative juices flowing, but much of the creation happens organically. The combination of individuals there tends to spark collaborations and positive energy that yields innovative results — and a lot of laughs, Shari says.

“You eventually just say, please stop talking. My face hurts. I’m tired of laughing,” she says.

Participants work independently or collaboratively, and they gather in the evenings and bless their meal with song.

Nashville singer-songwriter Radney Foster compares the gatherings to Gertrude Stein’s Paris salons of the 1920s or the Algonquin Round Table in New York. His book, “For You to See the Stars,” a companion to his CD of the same name, was the first work published under the Working Title Farm imprint.

On his way home from his first meetup in Boone, Radney called his wife and then Shari trying to encapsulate the experience.

“I just felt like I met this tribe, these creative people that I feel incredibly connected to because it is so different than Nashville in its focus,” he says. “I said, I feel like a kid when you’ve gone to church camp for a week and all the friends that Continued on next page July-August 2018 | 25

you make.

“Shari said, that’s what we’re going to call this thing: Literary Church Camp.”

The “farmers” are one another’s biggest fans and support one another in every creative endeavor, said singer-songwriter Eric Erdman of Mobile, Ala. He said the collaboration across mediums is not just a benefit of the farm’s model but an imperative, and he credits Shari’s vision with helping refashion his creative process.

“The weight and amount of waves she’s able to make from that little cabin in Boone is a testament to her, to how much she’s respected around not just one indus-

try but around many, many industries and mediums,” Eric says. “If she has a project on the moon, I’ll figure out a way to get there.”

Shari says she chose Boone specifically because it felt ripe for this creative endeavor. She appreciates that the “farmers” can skip down to town to grab a bite and then disappear to her home to continue creating.

She’s excited for possible collaborations with the Appalachian Theatre and hopes that impromptu meetups with top writers and musicians will become commonplace for locals and tourists alike.

Shari’s also dreaming of a project that

would combine outdoor writers and flyfishers who share a romantic preoccupation with the natural world.

As the name suggests, the farm is a work in progress, and even Shari isn’t certain what crops the connections formed here will yield.

“I want there to be a place for people to come and create,” she says. “That will always be my main focus.”

Kellen Short Kellen Short is a former Watauga Democrat reporter who now calls Colorado home. Reach Kellen at kellen.m.short@gmail.com.

Pictured lower left is Jeff Smith, a landscape architect and prolific reader, and lower right is Patrick Crouch, a musician from Lenoir.

26 | July-August 2018

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Classic Mountain Living A desirable location within a mile from town! Enjoy a beautiful pasture view and a breathtaking view of Mt. Jefferson from your front porch. Inside you will find like “new" home with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, eat in dining, kitchen with custom cabinets accessorized with cut glass door knobs and pulls, office and vaulted ceiling living room all on the main level. Upstairs you will find another bedroom currently being used as a sitting room. 2 water sources currently — 1 well for pressure washing and watering the lawn but the home is also connected to city water. A little bit of history inside the home to include custom cabinets and fireplace mantel, stairs and hand railings which were made from red oak timber off the property. Beautiful landscaping around this home, wonderful walkways. Cozy secluded lot on 1.5 acres of land, close amenities; Jefferson Landing, Hospital and shopping within a 2-minute drive. Call today to see this beautiful home.

Andrea Witherspoon Broker/Owner

204 East Main Street • West Jefferson, NC 28694 866.246.2307 Toll Free • RegencyPropertiesNC.com

Feature

Decorating: Think Green, White and Light The High Country is known for its beautiful mountains, valleys, waterfalls and land. It’s especially a great place to build or buy a house and grow a family. Many houses in the area have been around for a while, and the styles are often outdated.

A house doesn’t always have to stay the same, and it can easily be redecorated with a few easy changes inside and outside of the home.

Ally Mangini, a rising senior in the interior design program at Appalachian State University, expressed the importance of lighting in a recent interview.

“Lighting can completely change a space and it’s mood, but it’s often overlooked,” says Ally.

The type of lighting you choose to put in the space you are designing Ally Mangini, Appalachian or redecorating State University interior is extremely design major.

Photo submitted important. A diffused and small amount of lighting in a room can make the scene intimate and calm. Bright direct lighting can make a room feel intense and professional.

If you are looking to make a room feel more relaxed and casual, such as a sitting area, bedroom or living room, use indirect and perimeter lighting. Use dim lamps and uplighting in the corners of the room to illuminate the ceiling.

Some of Ally’s favorite residential design trends are neutral and light palettes to make a space, especially a small space, 28 | July-August 2018

Molly Northern Interiors. Photo submitted

feel more clean and open.

Ally also places importance on considering the space you are remodeling or decorating before you start. Levels of comfortable, mood, light, the purpose of the room, and the rooms and other spaces beside the area you are redoing.

Local interior designer Molly Northern, who is known in the High Country for her sense of style and eye for all things beautiful, agreed with Ally.

Molly is all about fresh, clean whites and hints of green to decorate a house or cottage in the mountains. aawmag.com

“Mountain homes in the past have been decorated with dark woods, dark colors and fabrics. But those dark colors are heavier and more winMolly Northern, The Bee and the Boxwood owner. tery. So I love Photo by Alison Idol for any house

in the mountain to be decorated bright and white, but still have a rustic touch to it — different colors of greens, pretty wood always go great in any home,” says Molly.

Outside of a house, Molly personally loves ferns. “They aren’t too much, but they’re just enough to give a house a clean, open and fresh landscape,” she says.

The Bee and the Boxwood, Molly’s store located on 215 Boone Heights Drive, is full of handpicked gifts and home ac-

cessories. The store also serves as Molly’s studio where she creates and designs for a wide array of clients in the High Country.

Reagan Dellinger Reagan is a High Country native who attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A Few Things to Consider When Redecorating • White, white, white. This will make your house feel more open and clean. It’s also a flexible color to work with.

• If you want to accent your rooms with a color, pick something simple. Green is always a go-to!

• If you are on a small budget, you don’t have to do everything all at once. Take your redecorating one step at a time.

• Just like on the inside, the outside of your house should be lathered in green plants, and can have a few accent flowers here and there.

• Hints of dark wood can make a house feel rustic — a characteristic perfect for a mountain home.

• Always make sure the space you are remodeling is comfortable. You want an area to be both welcoming and aesthetically pleasing.

Molly Northern Interiors. Photo by Amanda Sisti

Appalachian State University Interior Design Program Appalachian State's interior design program is a fouryear degree program that prepares students for a professional status in the world of design.

Each year, the program makes a name for itself on campus by sending students off to competitions, like Ally, and coming home with awards. This past year, students in the program attended the Eaton Source Awards, High Point Design contest and the International PAVE competition.

Ally Mangini won a SOURCE award for her incredible Turkish restaurant lighting design in the Eaton Source Award competition.

Ally Mangini’s Turkish lighting design, courtesy of Eaton Powering Business Worldwide.

July-August 2018 | 29

Feature

Strategies for a Successful School Year AREA EDUCATORS SHARE ADVICE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS Preparing for a new school year and helping your child during the year can be a daunting task. Educators from the area have offered plenty of advice to parents and students as the new school year approaches.

Those who contributed to this list are as follows: Maria Nash (Hardin Park School ďŹ rst grade), Olivia Haigler (Watauga High School agriculture instructor/FFA advisor), Amy Forrester (Hardin Park ďŹ fth grade English language arts and science), Christy Welch (Mabel School school counselor), Courtney Hartzog (Hardin Park School school counselor), Brian Bettis (Bethel School principal), Corrie Freeman (Hardin Park fourth grade), Nathan Colvard (Ashe County High School social studies) and Tiffiany Harmon (Hardin Park cafeteria staff ).

30 | July-August 2018

aawmag.com

BACK TO SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS • Set a reasonable bedtime for your child and establish a routine; keep it going all year — even during summer as much as possible. Children who get adequate sleep have better physical and mental health.

• Research has shown that for every half of an hour of sleep a child is deprived, they would score one grade level lower on standardized tests.

• Children who are overtired often show the same behaviors as children who have ADHD. • Sleepy children struggle to maintain positive peer relationships in the classroom. They also struggle with maintaining their attention to school work.

• Some schools recommend that students read at least 20 minutes every day. It’s also encouraged that parents read to their children as well.

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR • Educators recommend that keeping a well-maintained attendance record is critical for a student’s education, as it’s difficult to make up valuable instruction by quality, certified teachers.

Even when given make-up work, the student is missing valuable time with their teacher. It’s encouraged that long family vacations be scheduled during the summer.

• Parents should make every effort to get their child to school on time. Students that arrive just before or after the tardy bell start their day feeling rushed and behind.

• The time in their homeroom class is great for preparing for their days, getting settled and taking care of personal needs so that when the tardy bell rings, they are ready to learn.

• Creating a PowerSchool account with their child’s school is something that parents are encouraged to do. PowerSchool has a parent portal option to allow parents to see where teachers in grades 3-12 are keeping tabs on student grades and progress.

• Keeping up with important dates in a student’s life is important for parents. This is especially important for students at the high school; for example, it’s important for a high school parent to know when FAFSA registration opens.

• Other important dates to remember are when college applications are due, parent conferences, PTA meetings, end-of-course exams, end-of-grade exams, etc.

• Keep interactions with children regarding school as positive as possible. It makes a huge difference in student success when the home environment is supportive and consistent when it comes to education.

• For example, if a child has more homework than expected, rather than expressing how overwhelming it is directly to the child, parents should let the teacher know how long it’s taking to get done. Most teachers would rather modify assignments to meet the students’ needs than give work that ends up contributing to stress or tension at home.

STAYING INVOLVED Some educators think that the important thing that students and families can do to have a successful school year is to be involved.

• Students can be involved in their daily academic work and in positive interactions with their friends, but they can also be involved in researching things they are curious about and by asking questions about the things they are learning.

• Parents can be involved by helping their child with homework and talking with them about things they are learning. As a child’s brain is not fully developed until around age 21, if they have the choice to be on social media or do their homework, they could make the wrong choice. Parents should help guide their students to stay on track with homework.

• If a student needs help with their homework and parents are unable to assist them, parents should encourage their student to reach out to the teacher.

• Educators think it is important that parents remain in communication with their child’s teacher by asking questions.

• Watauga County Schools provides many opportunities for parents to be involved in school Parent Teacher Organizations, committees, fundraising efforts, etc. Ask your child’s school how to become involved with its parent organization.

• It’s recommended that parents attend the parent night events at their child’s school. This gives the parent a chance to meet the teacher, ask questions and establish a relationship.

• Get students involved in extracurricular activities or things that are meaningful to them — such as church events, sports, academic teams or the arts.

• Extracurricular activities help to build confidence and friendships as well as maintain a healthy mind and body.

• If a student does get involved with a club, group, sport, extracurricular, etc., parents are asked to be involved and supportive. Parents can check with the teacher/coach/advisor and ask what ways they can help in supporting the student or organization. This will mean a lot to the adult leader and the student as they see parental support and involvement in something they enjoy.

Continued on next page

July-August 2018 | 31

KEEPING ON TRACK Organization is a major pillar of students being successful during the school year, and parents can be hugely beneficial in helping their child set up and maintain a system.

• A good organization tip is to have a folder with one side labeled “To Do” and the other “Turn In.” This can go in a backpack or the front of a binder. This helps students get their work and supplies from school to home, back and turned in.

• Parents can help in maintaining organization throughout the year by checking and cleaning out binders and folders with their child once a month.

• A quiet space at home to do homework and study is also important. In this space students can also keep supplies they may need when working on assignments or projects and file away work they have already completed and had graded.

• If a student is uncomfortable with how they are being treated, it’s important that they process this with their parent. Together, parents and students can come up with a strategy for how to address the situation.

• If a child isn’t being physically hurt, threatened or repeatedly put down mentally, it’s encouraged that they first try a strategy on their own — such as avoiding a student that has been unkind to them, staying with safe friends, turning someone else’s mean words into a joke, firmly telling a classmate to stop or how someone’s behavior is making others feel.

• If students try one or two strategies on their own and the problem persists, it’s encouraged that students talk with their teacher, school counselor, principal, school social worker or other trusted adult at the school. Students may need a parent’s help having this conversation.

• Many students at all grade levels struggle to manage and plan out their time. Parents can be supportive by helping their child come up with a routine for homework time daily and how much time to allot for each assignment.

• Parents are encouraged to foster independence in their child at an early age. Allowing kids ownership of their decisions pushes them to set higher expectations and challenge themselves in a greater capacity. It’s important that children are supported and guided while they are also building autonomy.

PROVIDING SUPPORT

• It’s also important for parents to allow their children to fail while teaching them how to navigate both successes and failures.

• If a child is struggling with school work, health, mental health or a significant life change, parents should talk to their teacher, school counselor or principal so that all involved can work together to support the student. Don’t be afraid to ask school counselors for help.

32 | July-August 2018

Kayla Lasure Is a Kentucky born reporter currently living in Boone. She enjoys traveling, watching “Grey’s Anatomy” and spending time with her two cats, Owen and Mushu.

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Feature

The 2015 Watauga County Back 2 School Festival draws a large number of parents and students to the Watauga High School gym. The event has grown larger each year it has been held, and this year about 1,000 students are expected to attend.

Back 2 School Festival RETURNS AUGUST 4

Planning for the sixth annual Back 2 School Festival is already in full swing. Last year close to 1,100 students received backpacks, school supplies, shoes, haircuts and lunch during the half-day festival.

“We are fortunate in Watauga County to have the support of such compassionate and giving community members.

Thanks to donations from local businesses, churches, community groups and individuals, more than 1,000 students and families who would otherwise struggle to afford school supplies can start their year confident and well-equipped,” said Scott Elliott, Watauga County Schools superintendent.

School social workers, understanding the impact of the festival, are also able to access supplies from the Back 2 34 | July-August 2018

School Festival storage unit throughout the school year, helping recently enrolled students or those experiencing a need during the year.

“That students are able to start school prepared and ready to go, with all the materials needed to be successful, is a huge boost not only to their academic performance but their confidence and self-esteem as well,” said Hardin Park School social worker Denise Presnell. “I wish donors could see the kids walking in with huge smiles on their faces, their backpacks on, full of necessary supplies, eager and ready to start the new school year.”

According to the 2018 NC Data Card from children’s advocacy organization NC Child, 46 percent of Watauga County children live in poor or low-income

households. Having just over 4,800 school age children in the county means that around 2,200 school children need assistance with school readiness.

“These numbers tell us that we are only half way to meeting the demand,” stated Back 2 School Festival Coordinator Kendra Sink. “We need to raise between $35,000 and $40,000 in order to help all of the families that need assistance.”

Businesses and civic groups can sponsor the festival at various levels, which range between $250 and $5,000. For a $100 contribution, individuals can have their name listed on the Donor Board at the festival.

To date, the festival has received a grant from the Watauga County Community Foundation and a major contribution from Mast General Store. Presenting aawmag.com

Left: Free backpacks are available for students at the annual Back 2 School Festival.

Below: From left, Briana Jones, a rising junior at Watauga High School, gets a new ‘do courtesy of Katie Trez-Cagle, owner of Thairapy Hair Studio in Boone. Free haircuts made the cosmetology department at Watauga High School one of the most popular destinations during the fifth annual Back 2 School Festival.

Volunteer Linda Coutant helps a local family make fresh produce choices at the Hospitality House booth at the Back 2 School Festival at Watauga High School.

sponsors so far include 4 Forty Four Builders, Watauga County Commissioner Larry Turnbow and Snow Masonic Lodge No. 363.

The Back 2 School Festival started in 2013 as a collaborative effort between the Children’s Council, Western Youth Network, Hospitality House, Quiet Givers and others seeks to improve school readiness efforts in order to have a greater impact on the community. Its objective is to serve any family struggling to afford the high costs of back-toschool shopping in a relaxed, distinguished and respectful environment.

Their goal for the festival is for all kids to start school feeling confident and prepared for the year ahead.

The 2018 Back 2 School Festival will take place Saturday, Aug. 4, at Watauga High School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Contributions may be made online at back2schoolfestival.org/donate/ or checks made payable to The Children’s Council, with “B2SF18” in the memo line, may be mailed to Back 2 School Festival, P.O. Box 102, Boone N.C. 28607.

For sponsorship information and to learn more about the Back 2 School Festival, visit back2schoolfestival.org.

July-August 2018 | 35

Health

LIVING WELL

Purge That Pantry There is no way to totally avoid exposure to chemicals in the environment, or hormones and antibiotics in products like meat and milk.

Nonetheless, it is important to do all you can to limit your exposure.

36 | July-August 2018

aawmag.com

Toxic overload creates hormonal imbalances that make you feel lethargic, unfocused and moody. If you are overweight, it is worse. Toxins lodge in fat cells. The more fat on your bones, the more toxic you will be.

To lend your body a hand in keeping the toxin levels down: • Filter your water • Eat organic. Especially the dirty dozen: strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes and sweet bell peppers.

• More toxic than the chemicals in your food are some common foods eaten in excess. So, grab a trash bag and go to the pantry and get rid of the biggest culprits that put a whammy on weight, focus, mood and energy.

Toss the Sugar An occasional sweet is not going to destroy your health, but if you are eating sugar in excess you will be at best sluggish, moody and dull; at worst you will be overweight and unhealthy.

So why not purge temptation from your pantry? I am not just talking about the white stuff. Sugar is disguised by other names, such as “high fructose corn syrup.” High fructose corn syrup is actually a high octane sugar made from corn. It is cheap to produce and easy to disguise.

It is slipped into everything from ketchup to canned fruit.

To purge your pantry, toss the following: • Bags of sugar (white sugar, turbinado, cane sugar) • Even so-called healthy sugars can wreak havoc on your blood sugar — coconut, honey, agave and maple syrups.

• Anything with high fructose corn syrup on the label • Sugary bars, shakes and cereals (Look at the label. Anything with more than 5 grams of sugar per serving should be tossed.)

Wipe your tears. There is grace in the journey. As long as this bad stuff is not the centerpiece of your life, you can enjoy it occasionally. But, enjoy it away from the house. Keeping it out of your pantry will help to keep it out of your mouth.

Do your shelves look a bit empty?

Time to add some real food: lean proteins, vegetables (especially the green stuff ), fruits, nuts and seeds. If you need something sweet, try some healthier alternatives: stevia, erythritol or xylitol. They sweeten your food without spiking your blood sugar.

Toss the Factory Food We are a busy people. We have stuff to do. It is convenient to buy foods already prepared for us —foods in a box or wrapped in plastic sleeves.

The problem is, the body does not recognize this factory food as real food, because it is not. For example: those little sleeves of “cheese food” you melt on your burger have more in common with the square plastic envelopes they are stored in.

Get the trash bag. If it is processed beyond recognition, with unpronounceable names on the label, toss it.

You got this! First, take those trash bags to the dumpster. Then, take your reusable grocery totes to the local farmers market or the produce aisle of your grocery store. Out with the bad. In with the good.

bonnie church Certified Life and Wellness Coach Author/columnist, motivational speaker Certified Trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution

Toss in Some Grace There you stand with a tear in your eye and a fistful of Oreos. With a quiver in your voice you ask, “You mean, I can never eat my fat- and sugar-laced favorite junk food again?”

July-August 2018 | 37

Health

BEAUTY

Beauty of the Skin

Microbiome

Lately there has been buzz around the subject of the human microbiome. So what in the world is the human microbiome? It is the community of ecosystems that inhabit our bodies. Each ecosystem has its own mix of microorganisms, much like each continent has its own indigenous ecosystem. These systems contain a mix of bacteria, yeast, parasites, viruses, etc. that live on and in you. These bugs, as they are called, take up residency on your skin, in your nose and throat, gut, mouth and anus, and our body is the ecosystem that harbor this microbial universe.

I agree that the thought of trillions of living things dwelling on and in you is a little freaky, but you can take comfort in knowing that they are on your side, fighting to keep you healthy and to further your wellbeing. Think of them as your protectors, standing against would-be marauders and pathogenic enemies who want to take you down. We already know a little 38 | July-August 2018

about the importance of the gut microbiome, and you really need to read up and learn about how to take care of your little friends, because scientists have discovered that they play a very influential role in our overall health and wellbeing. Studies have linked the lack of healthy bugs to weight gain, mental health, diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure, autoimmune disorders and cancer, to name a few.

It’s hard to stay in my lane, so I have to confine myself to the skin microbiome and give a few tips to keeping it healthy. From what we can tell, a healthy skin microbiome protects against infection in much the same way a good gut microbiome does, by crowding out overgrowth of pathogenic organisms —think of it as a microbial suit of armor. The skin microbiome prefers a relatively acidic environment (pH is around 5.0), which also the inhibits growth of pathogens.

The microbiome and skin immune system “talk” to each aawmag.com

other regularly, dampening inflammation. When the microbiome is out of line, the immune system can release various antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin to help balance things out. Likewise, our good bacterial residents can inhibit the release of inflammatory compounds from the immune system. The microbiome also aids in wound healing, limits exposure to allergens and UV radiation, minimizes oxidative damage and keeps the skin plump and moist.

We are a culture obsessed with cleanliness, and I know that almost every one of you has a bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse. Excess use of antimicrobial hand sanitizers and harsh soaps cause disruption of good flora. Skin maladies associated with imbalance include psoriasis, allergies, eczema, contact dermatitis, acne, poor wound healing, skin ulcers, dandruff, yeast and fungal infections, rosacea and accelerated skin aging. A few tips: 1. Eat healthy and stay hydrated — good fats, proteins, carbohydrates, colorful vegetables and clean water.

Keep processed foods and extra sugar out of the diet.

2. Identify and remove trigger foods.

For example, dairy and gluten are both associated with exacerbating a range of skin issues, including eczema and acne.

3. Take care of your gut — skin issues are influenced by the gut microbiome and gut health in general. Take a daily high-quality probiotic. Much research exists on the use of probiotics in preventing or treating many skin conditions.

4. Minimize the use of hand sanitizers and soaps —‘nuff said.

5. Keep your stress levels in check.

Your Bugs are Beautiful!

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

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.

July-August 2018 | 39

YOUNG AT HEART

Back to (Graduate) School Some people get plastic surgery, others sports cars… but for my mid-life crisis, I decided to go back to school for a master’s degree.

Sixteen years after finishing my undergraduate degree and a few months shy of my 40th birthday, I began a graduate program in educational media at Appalachian State University.

Educational media?

Educational media focuses on media networks, learning technologies, instructional design, online learning environments and more. The program has three concentrations: K-12, online learning and professional development as well as new media literacies and global perspectives.

I am enrolled in the online learning and professional development track.

The program, which is 100 percent online, is housed in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies at 40 | July-August 2018

Some people get plastic surgery, others sports cars… but for my mid-life crisis, I decided to go back to school for a master’s degree. aawmag.com

I feel guilty about the invitations I have had to turn down, the Saturdays and Sundays I have had to sequester myself in my office to finish a paper or project.

Appalachian’s Reich College of Education, where I am employed as the college’s communications liaison.

Why Graduate School?

Full disclosure alert: as an Appalachian employee, I am able to take three classes per year free of charge, so I am working towards a master’s degree at no cost to me. However, I had to take the GRE, apply to the program and be accepted just like any other student.

I had been considering the program for a year or so, but was hesitant to take the plunge due to work and life commitments. Therefore, when I accepted my current position with the college, I felt like it was now or never.

As a non-traditional student and working professional, I believe that I contribute a great deal of real-world experience to the program. In addition, because my instructors are also my colleagues, there is an added level of support and encouragement.

I took my first class during the spring semester of 2017. Since then, I have taken courses on media and literacy, computer networking and instructional design.

As I write this, I am completing my fifth class — a photography and digital imaging class in which I am learning a great deal. I find the work both challenging and intellectually stimulating. The coursework provides opportunities to improve

my communications-related skills, to gain new media and technology skills and to stay current with best practices.

That being said, I do hope there will be a financial reward somewhere down the line.

After my next class, this fall, I will be half way through the program. Ugh… half way! Two years down, two to go. It sometimes feels like it will take forever at this rate.

Why Not Graduate School?

To be honest, there are days when I question my decision. While I am a believer in life-long education, going to school, even one class at a time, while working full time is hard.

Do you enjoy leisurely nights?

Weekends? Right now, for me, those are few and far between. I feel guilty about the invitations I have had to turn down, the Saturdays and Sundays I have had to sequester myself in my office to finish a paper or project.

As a non-traditional student and working professional, I sometimes struggle to balance work, school, spending time with my husband Roger, exercise, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, seeing friends and family… I feel like I am forgetting something or somethings, but you get the idea.

In addition, because my instructors are also my colleagues, I feel that there

is an added level of pressure to do well.

Roger tells me that I work too hard. I counter that I work just hard enough to get a perfect score.

Master Your Future!

Will I breathe a sigh of relief when I am finished? Absolutely!

Will I feel accomplished in having completed a master’s degree program?

Definitely!

Perhaps more so than when I completed my undergraduate degree. It remains to be seen, but I suspect I will have a greater appreciation for this degree — probably because of the challenges involved.

If you are considering going back to school, no matter your age, now is the time!

It will be hard, and you will likely have to make sacrifices. It will also be rewarding, and you will learn new skills and gain new knowledge. If that was not reward enough, remember that you will also get to wear one of those snazzy, polyester cap and gown combos when you graduate! 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.

July-August 2018 | 41

Boy Bites Bug Rebecca Petruck

Rebecca creates a story that employs a measure of shock value to establish a dialogue about racism, prejudice, integrity, respect and friendship.

42 | July-August 2018

“I’m Will Nolan and I am an entomophagist,” he said, concentrating to say it correctly: en-toe-moff-ah-jist.

“That means I eat bugs on purpose.”

And eat, Will does. Ants, stinkbugs, earthworms, scorpions and various other members of the insect kingdom throughout Rebecca Petruck’s latest young adult book, “Boy Bites Bug.” As unorthodox as it seems, Rebecca creates a story that employs a measure of shock value to establish a dialogue about racism, prejudice, integrity, respect and friendship.

Using the awkward nature of middle schoolers as an avenue to evaluate stereotypes and discrimination based on ethnicity, social status and gender, Rebecca’s protagonist initially eats a stink bug to distract his classmates and end an unexpected moment of name calling.

Will’s quick decision results not only in vomiting, but also a temporary close of the school library and his permanent nickname “Bug Boy.” Through a series of mishaps, Will begins to recognize that his own perceptions are not entirely free of bias: “Will’s gut coiled up again. He hadn’t known it until he saw it, but Will had expected Eloy’s house to look Mexican, like his dad’s restaurant or something. There was a colorful woven hanging on the wall, and on end tables and shelves some really neat carvings of funky animals painted in bright colors, neither of which looked like they were from around here. But basically Eloy’s house was pretty ordinary. Why had Will assumed it wouldn’t be? What kind of person did that make Will?

The icky feeling shifted to full-on pukiness.”

As Will begins to examine his own perceptions and recognize a prejudiced lens in some of his closest friends, he starts to question himself and his friendships. “Darryl and he had been friends for a long time, but would a real friend make him feel crappy for trying to be a decent person? Shouldn’t the friend want to be decent, too?”

Because it would have been much easier for Will to acquiesce to his friends’ racist insults, readers are drawn to the integrity with which Will approaches his family, the sport of wrestling and the differences in others. His adolescence and naiveté make readers appreciate his vulnerability and aid in the creation of a seventh-grade-bug-eating-hero.

Will’s father’s advice further enables “Bug Boy” to better understand the nuances of change beginning to emerge in Will and his friends.

“Sometimes,” Dad said, “people outgrow each other. It doesn’t mean we stop caring or forget the good times, but maybe we realize we need different things, things we can’t get from each other anymore… he got what Dad meant. Will and Darryl and Simon were getting older, and they were changing. Will didn’t want to just change though. He wanted to have some choice, to think about who he wanted to be. He liked how Eloy had pushed him — accidentally or not — to think differently. He liked being Bug Boy, too. Not only because Bug Boy was cool, but because Bug Boy got people to think differently, too, to try things they never thought they would.”

A delightful page-turner, Rebecca Petruck makes eating bugs palataawmag.com

able. Readers will adore Will’s sincerity while admiring the wisdom he finds in himself: “It didn’t matter how he reacted. What mattered was Will doing something he believed in. Doing it had made him feel closer to his family and strengthened a friendship that Will had learned was really important to him.” A great choice to read with children, “Boy Bites Bug” invites a dialogue about listening to your instincts and embracing others — along with a few bug-crunching recipes!

Hollie Eudy Hollie Eudy is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the Appalachian Mountains.

About the Author Rebecca Petruck, while researching “Boy Bites Bug,” prepared and ate cricket tacos and wax worm cookies from ingredients that arrived alive — and were delicious!

Rebecca is also the author of “Steering Toward Normal,” an American Booksellers Indies Introduce New Voices and Kids Indie Next List pick, as well as a BCCB Best Book of the Year. Formerly of Minnesota, Rebecca now lives in the mountains of North Carolina. You may visit her online at rebeccapetruck.com.

July-August 2018 | 43

Food & Drink

Ginger Soy Chicken Breasts with Cilantro Coconut Sauce

Just about anything can be cooked over an open flame. No matter the type of grilling they’re using, cooks who prepare meals over an open flame can’t help but notice the distinctive flavor that’s unique to grilled foods.

Trying something new this grilling season can open cooks’ eyes to a host of flavors they might not instantly associate with grilling. The following recipe for “Ginger Soy Chicken Breasts” from Eric Treuille and Birgit Erath’s “Grilling” (DK Publishing) is one such meal that can open cooks’ eyes to the many wonderful foods that can be cooked over an open flame.

Ginger Soy Chicken Breasts Serves 4 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger 3 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil 1 tablespoon medium dry sherry 1/2 cup soy sauce 4 boneless chicken breast halves, slashed (see below) Salt Black pepper Combine ginger, garlic, sugar, sesame seeds, sesame oil, sherry and soy sauce. Add chicken and toss to coat evenly.

Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, turning once. Grill according to instructions below. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve hot with Cilantro Coconut Sauce (optional).

To slash chicken breasts: With a sharp knife, cut 3 parallel slashes through skin, about 1/4-inch deep.

Outdoor grill: Grill skin-side down on medium-hot coals until crisp, about 7 minutes. Turn and continue grilling until chicken is opaque with no trace of pink, another 5 minutes.

Indoor grill: Preheat broiler. Broil skin-side up until skin is crisp, about 7 minutes. Turn and continue cooking until chicken is opaque with no trace of pink, another 5 minutes.

44 | July-August 2018

Cilantro Coconut Sauce Makes 2 1/8 cups 1 handful cilantro leaves 1 handful fresh mint leaves 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1 green chile, seeded and chopped 1 avocado, peeled, halved and pitted 1/2 teaspoon grand cumin 1 teaspoon sugar 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 11/2 cups coconut milk Salt Tabasco sauce Place cilantro, mint, garlic, chile, avocado, cumin, sugar, lime juice, and coconut milk in a food processor or blender; pulse to a purée. Add salt and Tabasco sauce to taste. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Serve chilled.

To avoid discoloration, store in a bowl with plastic wrap, pressing directly on the sauce to prevent contact with air. aawmag.com

ALL ABOUT TOWN Top Left: Alice Harmon, left, and 10-year-old Leah Harmon pose for a photo before the Boone Fourth of July parade.

Photo by Thomas Sherrill

Below: Pictured from left at the Blue Ridge Conservancy’s auction fundraiser, held in June at the Blowing Rock American Legion Hall, are Andi Gelsthorpe, owner of Miss Match Rentals; Abby Willis with Stick Boy Bakery and Nikki Robinson of Blue Ridge Conservancy.

Photo by Lynn Willis

Above: Cheryl Vest of Simply Stones speaks with a customer at the Christmas in July Festival in downtown West Jefferson.

Bottom Left: Elena Johnson holds a puppy at the Happy Tails tent at the 32nd annual Christmas in July Festival held July 7 in downtown West Jefferson.

Photos by Colin Tate July-August 2018 | 45

ALL ABOUT TOWN Top Right: Bob Danza (left) and Dianne Mehrhoff share a dance at the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce’s Concerts in the Park series at Tate-Evans Town Park on June 21.

Photo by Carl Blankenship

Middle Left: Zika Rea, Blue Ridge Conservancy board chairperson and founder of Zap Fitness Running in Blowing Rock, addresses the crowd at the Blue Ridge Conservancy auction in June.

Photo by Lynn Willis

Middle Right: Terri Brown and her 14-year-old Dot represent the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation during the Boone Fourth of July parade.

Photo by Thomas Sherrill

Bottom Right: April Flanders, right, plays the fiddle with the band Nate Harris and the Spice Creek Ramblers at the at the Blue Ridge Conservancy auction in June.

Photo by Lynn Willis 46 | July-August 2018

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