All About Women Magazine - March 2009

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Music in the Mountains

Celebrating some of the area’s great female vocialists and musicians - past and present Featuring Laura Kaufman Page 34 MARCH 2009

Choose to Move More Every Day Physical activity is essential for all of us. Children, adults, and seniors can benefit from moderate activity every day. Take a walk with a friend, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or work in your yard. Dancing works too and is great fun!

Thirty minutes or more of motion for adults and 60 minutes for children on most days can help keep you in shape and feeling good. Can’t find a 30 minute chunk of time? Break it up throughout the day.

For more tips on how to move more every day where you live, learn, earn, play, and pray, visit

This message is brought to you by The Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project-Appalachian District Health Department, and Watauga County Healthy Carolinians.

2 MARCH 2009

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Jack Pepper Is All About Women

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MARCH 2009 3

contents PROFILES / FEATURES 6 Remembering Lulu Belle 10 Mennonite Church Choir 12 Mary Greene: A Link To The Past 13 Cottrell Sisters 18 Playing By Heart And Keeping The Tradition Alive 19 “Queen Bee” Sweetens The Blues And Mountain Music Opens New World 22 From Crossnore To Vietnam 23 What’s New With Melissa Reaves 24 It’s All About Family 25 Celebrating Social Workers 28 Diversity Celebration 29 Diana Wilcox: Mountain Heritage 33 The Forget-Me-Nots 36 Porterfield’s Pulse On Singing 37 Remembering Ora Watson 38 The Butterpats 39 Art In Progress 40 Behind The Scenes Of Red Cross 42 Award Winning Crys Matthews 43 “Half Hillbilly And Flatlander” 44 “Miss Bessie” At 95 45 Boone Service League 46 Dottie Sykes, Director Extraordinare 49 Jessica Presnell And Sisters Three 56 Buna Hicks And Shirley Glenn 57 Remembering Ola Belle 60 Lisa Baldwin: From Alabama To Appalachian 61 The Women With Southern Accent 63 From Female Bootleggers To Chicken Soup 65 Broadway Comes To Blowing Rock

MARCH 2009 PUBLISHER Nancy Morrison nancy.morrison@averyjournal.com 828-733-2448

Music In The Mountains

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MARCH 2009

editor Sherrie Norris sherrie@aawmag.com 828-264-3612 ext. 251 SALES/MARKETING MANAGER Sara Sellers sales@aawmag.com 828-264-3612 ext. 248

In every issue 8 Women In Education 11 Get Movin’ 14 Food & Entertainment 16 It’s A Woman’s Job 20 All About Crafts 26 Minding Her Own Business 30 Heartfelt 32 High Country Courtesies 34 Cover Feature: Laura Kaufman, Voice Of An Angel 48 You Go, Girl!

50 Pet Page 51 By The Book 52 Cent$ & Sensibility 54 Mom’s World 58 Your Home 62 Young At Heart 64 Healthy Lady 65 March Calendar

Graphic Artist Dan Johnston dan@aawmag.com CONTRIBUTING Artist Meleah Petty Contributing writers Tiffany Allison Genevieve Austin Sharon Carlton Bonnie Church Yozette “Yogi” Collins Mark Freed Rebecca Gummere Paulette Isaacs Heather W. Jordan Corrinne Loucks Molly Petrey Vicki Randolph Susan Tumbleston Teri Wiggans Heather Young PHOTOGRAPHER Mark Mitchell Cover photo by Mark Mitchell Taken on the porch at Westglow Resort and Spa in Blowing Rock, NC Any reproduction of news articles, photographs, or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. ©Copyright 2009 A Mountain Times Publication

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Nancy’s note...

Well, here I am writing about almost the only thing in the world that I can’t do at least passably well—music! My mother, Nancy Stroupe, was very talented musically. She was an English teacher for 35 years at Newland High and Avery County High School and led the Glee Club, sang in the Crossnore Presbyterian Church choir and often played organ for the services, played piano for all the special school occasions such as graduation, and kept our house filled with music as I was growing up. How I envied her talent!

But one of the saddest facts of my youth was that I could sing beautiful music in my head—that disappeared as soon as I opened my mouth! I couldn’t reproduce the sounds I could hear in my head. I don’t know what that is called, but it was an embarrassment for me growing up. At first, my mother thought I was tone deaf, but since I could spot a sour note in the middle of a symphony, she concluded that wasn’t the problem. Also, I could match the notes if I stood next to someone who could carry a tune.

Later, in Charlotte, I took voice lessons—which didn’t help much but did reassure me that my tonal memory was intact. (I also found that I could get closer to the proper tune after a glass of wine, so go figure!)

Anyway, I took piano lessons and, yes, poor Tommy Hartley, Avery’s longtime piano teacher, had his hands full with me. He was not alone. I think I had nine piano teachers growing up. One even died during my lessons (well, right before I was to show up). Another piano teacher (also my eighth-grade teacher), Elsie Beasley, always tried to find something positive to say: “One thing about Nancy, she can always tell when she hits a wrong note!”

But I did play lead trumpet in the school band for years and I can play a pretty good rendition of chopsticks on the piano!

My musical pathway took a sudden 180-degree turn when I married wellknown Charlotte bandleader, Jerry Goodman. (I think the big attraction was his musical ability!) Jerry was a wonderful keyboardist who had come out fourth in the world on accordion. So, I joined the band.

Jerry led a number of bands, including The Jerry Goodman Group that played all kinds of music all over the east coast and the very popular Gootman Sauerkraut Show Band. We used to do 60 or more Oktoberfests each fall. I did backup singing for all his bands (how about that?), the booking, worked the sound and the lights, collected the money, led a troupe of German dancers, and played rhythm instruments. We played at Beech Mountain many times When our daughter, Danica, came along, she had inherited her father’s musical ability. Aha, I thought, I can learn piano along with Danica and maybe it will “take” this time. Wrong! She could listen to a song and immediately reproduce it on piano complete with all the embellishments. She had passed me by the time she was eight years old!

But, I take heart from the fact that I was on stage singing (?) and playing (?) with a lot of different bands for many years even though I have absolutely no musical talent! That must be some kind of record!

I can satisfy the big void that exists in my musical psyche by listening to the many talented musicians that abound in these mountains. So grab an easy chair and a cup of tea and enjoy reading about some of your very special, very talented, neighbors!

Nancy Morrison, Publisher

Sherrie’s note...

These hills are definitely alive with the sound of music and have been known to produce some of the country’s finest musicians and vocalists.

Open any local publication or visit one of the High Country’s many entertainment venues or churches on any given weekend and you are sure to discover what we’ve known for a long time—this place rocks (and rolls!). Our grass is blue and our gospel, true. Throw a little jazz in the mix, rosin up the bow and away we go!

There are guitars and banjos and pianos galore and, if that’s not enough, we’ll find you some more. (I could go on and on, but I think you’ve gotten the message!)

I have always loved music, but could never play anything except the radio. I took a few piano lessons as a youngster, but as can be attested by Tommy Hartley, Avery County’s pianist/instructor extraordinaire (I’m sure he remembers!)

- I didn’t know one key from the next.

But I do have Aldridge blood running through my veins and there’s not a one of us who can’t kick up our heels to a good ol’ fiddle tune and enjoy every second of it! (A bit of Avery County heritage, in case you’re just visiting in these parts!) I figure that counts me in – at least as a music lover – if not an entertainer.

I was in seventh heaven when my brother Joe transformed our mother’s pots and pans into his first drum set – his humble beginning as an evolving and multi-talented musician. (To this day, I’ve never heard anyone surpass him on “Wipe Out.”) Photo by As an adolescent, I recall being Mark Mitchell awakened – none too happily – on quiet summer mornings by the incessant bagpiping near my Crossnore home during the week leading up to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Our games and our local pipe bands have attracted countless pipers for many years. I had no deep appreciation for that haunting echo until I grew into an adult and finally learned to be grateful for that bit of my family heritage.

From an early age, I did enjoy the incomparable Sunday choral music and men’s quartet at Crossnore First Baptist Church, known far and wide for its cantatas and other presentations.

I loved the attention drawn to our community when Jim and Jennie’s Music Park opened and “big name” entertainers came to town.

Early in my writing career, I was honored to interview and write about Lulu Belle Wiseman Stamey, who rose to fame with her first husband, Scotty, as Country Music’s Hayloft Sweethearts.

We all have been influenced in some way by music – it is a language that touches our souls.

This month we honor “Music in the Mountains” and are paying tribute to a sampling of the area’s great women vocalists and musicians – past and present.

There’s no way we could include every female who has contributed a song or tune to this region, but we hope that we’ve covered nearly every genre of music represented in The High Country.

You’re in for a treat as you turn the pages of this month’s issue. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to read about some of our “unsung” heroines who have brought their music to the mountains, some whom you hear about more often and still others who, on a quieter note possibly, continue to keep time-honored traditions alive.

With a song in my heart, I sing quietly – because I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!

Sherrie Norris, Editor AAW staff members: Center with Guitar: Nancy Morrison; Back Row: Sara Sellers, Dan Johnston, Sherrie Norris

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MARCH 2009 5

Memories of

Lulu Belle *

*In later years, she used “Lula” instead of “Lulu” on her tapes and also on her personalized license plate because most people called her that and, she joked, she finally joined them!

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

BY SHERRIE NORRIS I will always cherish the visit I had with Lulu Belle Wiseman Stamey in the early ‘80s. She and her husband, Ernest, had just returned to their lovely Avery County log home after wintering in Florida and welcomed me warmly to their abode on a sunny spring morning.

Lulu Belle and her first husband, “Skyline Scotty” Wiseman, known in their heyday as the “The Sweethearts of Country Music,” put Avery County on the music map nearly 80 years ago and are still remembered fondly today.

They were probably the most popular husband-and-wife team within the genre and rose to fame during their lengthy involvement with the Chicago-based WLS radio show, National Barn Dance, which was in strong competition with the Grand Old Opry.

Born Myrtle Eleanor Cooper in the Boone area in 1913, the budding star moved with her family to Illinois (as did many people in search of employment) when she was a youngster.

The female half of the duo began her journey to stardom as a teenager, auditioning for the National Barn Dance in 1932. Not only did she earn a solo spot, but also her stage name - Lulu Belle – and never again required an introduction or explanation. She was known as a wisecracking country girl with a quick wit. Her most famous novelty number was “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose it’s Flavor on the Bedpost?”

In that era, the Barn Dance was a popular “hillbilly” program in the US with an estimated weekly audience of 20 million.

Lulu Belle originally performed with Red Foley. However, a short time later, Scotty Wiseman joined the show.

The handsome banjo and guitar picker, singer, and songwriter stole Lulu Belle’s heart. The two “hit it off” both professionally and personally, had a lot in common – including their southern heritage, and were soon married. They became the show’s biggest attraction, which paved the way for their appearances in seven motion pictures with celebrities such as Roy Rogers. The duo produced a number of classic recordings through the years 6 MARCH 2009

on various labels, many of which were Scotty’s originals that are still heard today, like “Brown Mountain Lights,” and “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” In 1936, the readers of Radio Guide magazine named Lulu Belle “National Radio Queen” – an amazing feat for a country performer.

In the ‘50s, Lulu Belle and Scotty hosted their own daily television program on Chicago’s WNBQ station before surprising their fans by returning to live in the hills of North Carolina, where they settled into a slower lifestyle and put their music on the back burner with the exception of occasional shows – mostly those sponsored by the Country Music Association and the Grand Ole Opry.

The couple cut three more albums in the ’60s before Scotty turned his attention back to an earlier dream of teaching school and Lulu Belle became involved in politics. She successfully served two terms in the NC House of Representatives for Avery, Burke, and Mitchell counties (1975-1978).

Scotty died in 1981 following a heart attack. Lulu Belle remarried a close family friend, Ernest Stamey, a couple of years later.

In 1986, she cut her last album, “Snickers and Tender Memories.”

Lulu Belle died on February 8, 1999 after a full life in the spotlight. She made great contributions to country music and helped pave the way for other female artists who followed in her footsteps.

Lulu Belle gave freely of her time to numerous organizations, volunteered for the American Red Cross, and taught home nursing and craft classes. She was active in the Pine Grove Methodist Church and was a loving mother to her two children, Linda and Steven, and a doting grandmother.

Memories of Lulu Belle come alive daily at the Avery County Historical Museum in Newland where a special exhibit depicts her life with Scotty – and also in the hearts of those of us who had the opportunity to sit and chat with her about the good old days.

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MARCH 2009 7

Women in Education| BY SHERRIE NORRIS

March Is “Music In The Schools Month,” But For Elementary School Teacher Monet Samuelson -

It’s A Daily Celebration.

Teaching music to over 600 students weekly in three Avery County schools – Crossnore, Banner Elk and Freedom Trail – is more than just a job for this Avery County native.

Music always has played a vital role in Monet’s life. She began singing in church at age 3, entered her first school talent show in sixth grade and won first place. During middle and high school, she performed at local fairs, festivals, talent shows, etc. She continued to sing in church, joining the choir and praise team. These days, she has little time to sing as a hobby, but loves to perform the National Anthem at special occasions and sporting events.

“Singing has always made me feel better about myself. A primary reason I became a music teacher was to help young people discover hidden talents within themselves.”

The daughter of Powell Calloway and the late Barbara Calloway, older sister to brothers Steven and Derrick, Monet is married to Alaska native, Ken Samuelson, a special education teacher at Avery Middle School. The duo, married nearly six years, met during their freshman year at Lee University and were “best friends for over three years before he finally got enough courage to ask me out!” says Monet.

As the first in either family to earn college degrees, Ken and Monet completed their masters together, will both walk across the stage for their Ed.S. degrees in May and will begin pursuing doctoral degrees in the near future.

On December 31, 2007, the couple was blessed with their first child, Bella, who has just learned how to walk and who keeps her parents very busy.

“Monet Samuleson coming to Freedom Trail has been a blessing,” says school principal Ruth Shirley. “Her love for music is evident. She has turned our program around and is an excellent addition to our staff. She is positive, eager to help, and one of the best teachers I have ever observed.” Shirley taught Monet in high school and says she’s changed very little. “She still works toward perfection and accepts nothing but the best. Her talent goes without question. As a mother she is also amazing. I am quite sure that her [late] mother – Barbara – would be proud of the wife, mother, and teacher her daughter has become. I am certainly honored to work with her.”

Monet graduated from Avery High in 1997, received a 8 MARCH 2009

Photo submitted. bachelor’s degree in music education (with emphasis in voice) from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee followed by a master’s degree in school administration from Western Carolina University.

The music program at Lee and its “numerous choirs that travel across the country ministering in song,” is what initially attracted Monet. It was not an easy decision. “I had been awarded the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship my senior year in high school and had a free ride to basically any college in the state. Lee (being a private school) was very expensive and I knew I would have to go into debt to attend. I prayed about it and felt at peace when I turned down the scholarship. My parents were very supportive.

During her four years at Lee, Monet toured extensively with The Evangelistic Singers, joining members from various cultural backgrounds and singing a variety of music with a black gospel focus. As corresponding secretary her last two years, she booked their tours and other engagements.

Monet also sang with the Chapel Praise Team, the Choral Union, and the Chorale, and was fortunate, she says, to be exposed to numerous musical styles. Monet came to love classical music and enjoyed singing opera.

After completing her master’s in 2007, Monet began pursuing her educational specialist degree, as did her husband, something they hoped to accomplish before turning 30. “We’ll be 29 when we www.aawmag.com

walk across the stage. We want to finish the bulk of our education before we expand our family.”

Her next goal? To complete her doctorate degree in education by age 35.

Monet filled maternity-leave positions in Avery and Cleveland, TN, where she student taught before she and Ken accepted teaching positions in Davidson County. They were delighted when vacancies opened in Avery.

Teaching in three schools “is very rewarding,” Monet says.

“Each has its own distinct personality and consists of students with different skills, talents, and needs.” The last thing Monet wants is for her class to be boring. “I try to use new and innovative instructional strategies in my classroom. It’s hard to teach all there is to know about music content when I only see some students for 30 minutes each week, but I use this time to instill in my students a great appreciation for music in general.”

Last year she obtained grants from the Avery Arts Council and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to create a strings program at Crossnore, enabling fourth- and fifth-graders to receive violin lessons from a certified instructor. She also created a hand bell program at Crossnore and Banner Elk using funding provided by Kiwanis. In her first year at Freedom Trail, her wheels are turning.

Crossnore’s principal Brenda Reese says, “Monet always goes above and beyond without complaining and has a way of enticing her peers to go along with her projects – making them fun for everyone! Monet conducts annual Christmas programs for both Crossnore and Banner Elk, she adds to our quarterly assemblies by allowing her students to share what they have been doing in class.

She has organized and taught in Crossnore’s no more zero’s “Fix a Fail” program. She has organized, directed, and chaperoned Crossnore’s fifth-grade trip, has tutored in summer school, and served as After School director.

“She is a hard worker – a technology buff. As an A+ teacher, she both understands and supports project-based learning with integration and collaboration as integral parts of that program.

She is well respected by her peers and was elected as Crossnore’s Teacher of the Year before she received tenure and before we knew that she, therefore, did not meet the criteria that year. However, this shows the degree of appreciation her peers have for her.”

A quote Monet discovered in her first year of teaching is posted by her desk at each school: “The fact that children can make beautiful music is not nearly as important as the fact that music can make beautiful children.” (Anonymous).

Monet believes that the arts play an integral role in the education of the “whole child.” As part of her Ed.S. internship, she works with other cultural arts teachers in the Avery school system to form a professional learning community for specialty area teachers in the district. Monthly meetings focus on sharing resources and discussing ways to promote arts advocacy.

Among her most significant life events is the 2004 death of her mother, a hard-working, highly respected registered nurse who died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack at 51. “During the last years of life, she suffered from many medical conditions, but she never let health issues affect her zest for life and her compassion for others. My mother was an inspiration to many. I can only hope to be half the mother to my daughter that she was to me.”

In 2004, Monet underwent gastric-bypass surgery, a decision highly impacted by her mother’s death. “I realized that if I followed in her footsteps, my life was already halfway over at the age of 25.

Monet has lost and kept off 150 pounds. “I feel like a brand-

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new person!” Her husband also had the surgery and lost 125 pounds.

Monet says “My faith is what shapes my life and guides me from day to day. My prayer is that I listen to what the Lord is saying and walk faithfully from day to day, fulfilling what He has in store for my life.”

A desire to work hard was instilled by her parents. “My dad always says, ‘If you’re going to dig a ditch, make it the best ditch you ever dug!’ Simple, but a good motto for life. I work hard and try to do my best. I am never satisfied with the status quo and am always looking for things to challenge myself – to improve myself and make the most of life.”

In her “free time,” Monet enjoys cooking, watching TV, singing, and playing softball.

MARCH 2009 9

Boone’s Mennonite Brethren Church Choir Keeps The Flame Burning Brightly The Mennonite Brethren Church Choir of Boone has delighted its congregation and audiences for many years with its enthusiastic, joyful and spiritual form of worship. The church’s long rich history is inscribed in numerous documentaries and its roots can be traced to the end of the nineteenth century when the area’s first African-American church and school were established in Avery County in the early 1900s.

The Boone church was founded in 1918 with approximately 20 charter members, although meetings may have been held as early as 1911. Through the years, it served as the only AfricanAmerican church in Boone.

The church choir has always received Today’s “younger” choir of the Boone Mennonite Church continues to keep a long-held tradition accolades for its vast talent as old gospel of spiritual music alive and well. Photo by Corrinne Loucks. tunes, sung with heartfelt emotion, are clearly reminiscent of a deep spiritual for the sincerity and spirituality of its worship practices. tradition that’s still alive today.

While many of the choir’s lifelong dedicated members The Mennonite Brethren Church Choir has been have passed on, the music continues to play on today with featured at numerous celebrations and events around the a younger generation keeping the flame burning brightly area, including ASU campus where, on many occasions, – and Peggy Horton is glad to be right there in the middle. its members have presented riveting tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King.

A big plus for the “mostly female choir” these days, says member Peggy Horton, is its pastor, Morris Hatton, who is also an accomplished musician and follows in his late father’s footprints as well-loved leader. According to Peggy who is currently the choir’s senior member, “ We are very lucky to have Morris as our pastor and to have Danny Whittington as our choir director. Both of these men are very talented, as are the others who play for us, too.”

A member of the church for over 50 years, Peggy says she often threatens to quit and let the younger ones do the singing. Considered “the mother of the bunch,” so far she’s been successfully encouraged to stay on. “We love to sing and Pastor Hatton is good about taking us with him to other churches where he’s invited to go.”

The choir has always been referred to in glowing terms 10 MARCH 2009

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Get Movin’

To A Healthier You

BY Susan tumbleston, be active-appalachian partnership

This time of the year, our thoughts turn to our hearts. Whether they are healthy or not, these strong, hard-working pumps made of muscle tissue serve us by pumping life-giving fuel to each of our millions of cells 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Information from the American Heart Association indicates that only a few studies about the positive benefits of physical activity on heart health have included women. However, the few that do show women may benefit even more than men from being physically fit. Early indications also show that physically fit women enjoy even greater reduced rates of death from heart disease than men, but that women who don’t exercise have twice the chance of dying from heart disease as women who do exercise.

So, what can we do to make sure we treat our hearts well and with the respect they deserve so we can live long and healthy lives?

Get moving – Though the recommended amount of physical activity is 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, just 10 minutes per day will reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Choose activities that will be enjoyable and easy to start. The key is to gradually build up your stamina, and you will. You will be amazed at how strong your body is.

Team up with a friend – A buddy with similar activity goals can be motivating and keep you accountable to someone other than yourself. A recent study shows that people are 76% more likely to stay on their walking program if someone else is counting on them. (American Heart Association) Use the time you have – Research completed by two ASU faculty members about the physical activity habits in western North Carolina found that “time” is the most common barrier to being physically active. So, include physical activity in your daily routine: 1. Park at least 5-10 spaces from the building you are entering. You can save the 15 minutes you spend circling the parking lot to get a prime space.

2. Always use the steps rather than the elevator.

3. Get up from your desk at least one time per hour and walk or stretch for at least 3 minutes - set the alarm on your computer to remind you to get up.

4. Use the 15-minute break you have each morning and afternoon at work to walk around your building.

Make a plan to move – Don’t wait for the opportunity, but plan for activity in your day. Consider your schedule and make a plan that will work for you. If you don’t like getting up early, www.aawmag.com

don’t plan exercise first thing in the morning. Set yourself up for success.

Log your activity – Keeping track of your progress is motivating for most people and also helps monitor success.

There are numerous electronic activity logs online (such as Be Active North Carolina: www.beactivenc.org, American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org, or “Be Active Your Way”: www.healthierus.gov.) If you prefer a paper log, the Be Active-Appalachian Partnership will send you an activity log book upon request For additional information, contact Susan Tumbleston at the Be Active-Appalachian Partnership, 828.262.7693 or beactive@appstate.edu.

Susan is the director of the Be Active-Appalachian Partnership. Housed in ASU’s Institute for Health and Human Services, the Partnership is supported by a five-year grant from BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina. This article is the first in a regular series offered by All About Women and the Be Active-Appalachian Partnership.

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Mary Greene - A Significant Link In Appalachian Culture

BY SHERRIE NORRIS Her father was a hard-working farmer who went about his day whistling and singing hymns; her mother, a dedicated school teacher, was known for her prolific shape-note singing.

As an accomplished musician/teacher/ folklorist, Mary Greene has successfully bridged a generational gap, capturing her ancestors’ influence that instilled within her a deep love of tradition.

Mary’s father brought home a used upright piano on a farm truck hoping she, a 5-year-old, and her brother Edward, 8, would learn to play.

Lessons followed with Lucille Cooke, “a wonderful teacher who taught me to read music, do the grapevine step (she had toured on Vaudeville), and encouraged my early efforts at playing by ear and composition.”

Mary accompanied school choruses, played piano for shape-note leader Grady Wilson at Meat Camp Baptist Church from age 12. She became an avid trumpet player who loved big band and swing music. (Later, she pursued a trumpet major in college.) Her high school band teacher loaned her a school flute, which she learned to play. She’s been doing so for church worship teams for the last Mary Greene and daughter, Kathleen Baker, share a fun moment together. Photo submitted 14 years “when not singing or playing the piano or plus nearly 200 singers, worked with me to make this happen. It was a guitar.”

In college, Mary was drawn to the guitar and more Appalachian true labor of love and one of the hardest projects I’ve ever tackled.” traditional music. Hired as a student guitar instructor by Dr. Bill Copies are still available through Mary or the Watauga County Spencer, an ASU Music Dept. professor, she received “on-the-job Arts Council. training.” Spencer got Mary “hooked” on the mountain dulcimer. “He Among Mary’s “encouragers” along the way are Charlotte Ross “who had such a love for traditional ballads, songs, and stories,” made my first instrument for me!”

Mary taught at his nationally renowned dulcimer workshop at ASU and Dr. Cratis Williams who took her under his wing and helped for about 20 years, as well as at the John C. Campbell Folk School, define her interests. Mary finished her music degree at ASU with the Swannanoa Gathering and numerous performances including independent studies with an ethnomusicologist and self-designed public television’s “Inns of America,” courtesy of Mast Inn. “I’ve taught courses in Clawhammer Banjo, Appalachian Dulcimer, and American hundreds, and maybe thousands, of people about the dulcimer in the Folk Guitar. Upon returning to ASU for a Master’s in Appalachian Studies, Mary found Dr. Pat Beaver and Dr. Carl Ross important to her last 30 years. It’s one of the most rewarding instruments to learn.”

Spencer nurtured Mary’s love of traditional music and introduced journey. “I learned so much with them.” her to local musicians, Leonard and Clifford Glenn, Stanley Hicks, Working for six months at the Folklife Festival at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville was life-changing for Mary, who met musicians “all and Ora Watson.

Ora became a mentor. Together, they formed a band called the the way from the Mississippi Delta to New York City!”

“Cacklin’ Hens” with Beth Jones, Barbara Bono, and later Amy Stacey While there, she took banjo lessons from Jethro Burns and in the 1980s. “We traveled to fiddlers’ conventions, played lots of mandolin from Buck White. She learned Irish social dance with Irishfestivals and even for a NC governor. We danced flatfoot style, played American musicians from the Bronx and hosted Nimrod Workman, our instruments at the same time and won more than one contest.” Hazel Dickens (“my heroine as a songwriter”), Tommy Jarrell, Albert Her friendship with Ora lasted 30 years – during which Mary received Hash, and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. “We had jam sessions a grant from the NC Arts Council Folklife Section to document Ora’s every night – Cajun music, a fife and drum band from Mississippi music and helped release a recording of Ora when she was about and blues singers from Memphis. Etta Baker and I made friends and I 85. “Cecil Gurganus, Rick Stone, and I helped Ora with the tunes. accompanied her onstage on the guitar. Stanley Hicks, Frank Proffitt, Jr., and Ray Hicks came to perform also. I have never before, or Then she received a NC Heritage Award in 1995!”

Mary completed her own recording, “The Unclouded Day” since, been around so many amazing musicians week after week!” in 1996. In 2004 she produced and directed a grant-funded (And crafters and folklorists, too, who had significant impacts on her life.) “The event really made me decide to actively work to educate documentary film titled “Blue Ridge Shape Notes: Singing a New Song in an Old Way.” She says, “Clint Cornett and Neil Oliver and the general public about traditional culture.” the singers of Mabel Baptist and Mountain Dale Baptist churches, Mary has organized numerous festivals representing her heritage, the first being the Appalachian Crafts & Music Festival, which she ran 12 MARCH 2009

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for five years followed by the Watauga County Spring Festival. For these festivals, she began writing folklife grants.

In 1989, she was hired to help finish music and weaving exhibits at the Appalachian Cultural Museum, stayed on as Director of Educational Services and soon also was coordinating the volunteer program. She organized public programs utilizing traditional musicians, storytellers and craftspeople.

Her documentation of the northwest NC region’s last traditional basket makers resulted in a grant funding the research process and a public symposium. Later the museum hosted a special exhibit on the project.

Performing at the Smithsonian Institute’s Festival of American Folklife in Washington DC was a highlight. She has taught courses in Appalachian Music at ASU, including educational sessions for the National Association of Music Librarians and the National Eastern Parks and Monuments Association.

In the early 1990s she completed a documentary on the last traditional basket makers in Western NC, which led to an exhibit of same in 2005 at the Appalachian Cultural Museum.

Recently completing her public school certification as a music teacher, Mary is currently a general music teacher (K-6) at Westwood Elementary in Ashe County, finding the work to be wonderful and exhausting. “It’s exciting to be a school teacher at this stage of my life. I find so many threads of my experiences being put to use in this setting.”

With a “curiosity” for world music and a desire to learn more about it, Mary wrote a grant to bring instruments from around the world into her classroom. Native American and African instruments in place, she anxiously awaits the arrival of panpipes from South America.

Mary plays a variety of instruments with her students - piano, guitar, recorder, pennywhistle, panpipes, mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, fife, and even spoons! “When studying band and orchestra, I pull out the trumpet, trombone, clarinet, and flute.”

One of her “better gifts in life” is connecting people, such as local ballad singer Bessie Eldreth and Patricia Sawin who was a doctoral candidate in folklore at Indiana University. “I knew in my heart that Miss Bessie’s life, music and stories needed to be documented.”

Recently, she helped connect Mark Freed (her former graduate assistant for the Appalachian Music class) with the Watauga County Arts Council. “Mark does an incredible job!”

For years, Mary played with the Laurel Creek String Band (Cecil Gurganus, Rick Stone, Eric Olsen [deceased], Gil Adams, and Mark Freed) – “truly a band of brothers to me and have enriched my life immeasurably.”

Working with Charlotte Ross as well as Dianne Hackworth and Orville Hicks during the last two decades has also been a great joy.

“They tell the stories and I play and sing the music!”

A more private area for Mary is her involvement with contemporary worship – either on or leading a praise team for the last 14 years. She experienced “much growth and change” while training as a Christian prayer counselor with Pastor John Padgett.

Since 2008, Mary has led the Boone United Methodist Church praise team, helping build “an amazing team” for an early service that quickly doubled in size, was televised and reached several counties.

Christian music is the real center of her life –“the roots of my beginnings as a musician,” she says. She’s come full circle back to her roots at Meat Camp Baptist Church. “My husband, Pat Baker, and daughter, Kathleen Baker, seem well content there.”

Life now, she says, is more focused on public school teaching and church music ministry. “I hope to pass on the love of music and God through these settings. But I will always treasure the old folksongs, ballads, dulcimers and shape-note songs and seek to pass them on.

Traditional music has a sweet ability to bind people together. I am honored to be one link in a long line of mountain singers of ballads, folksongs, and hymns and players of dulcimers and guitars.” www.aawmag.com

Music Is A Family Affair For Cottrell Sisters

They are often seen together, but mid-week and on Sundays, sisters Vickie Marsh and Kathy Younce are in their respective churches – Vickie leading the music at Perkinsville Baptist and Kathy at the keyboard at Mount Vernon Baptist.

Daughters of Glenn and the late Jean Cottrell, who sang together in a quartet many years ago, the sisters grew up in Boone in a musical family with their two brothers, David and Travis. As a family, they always enjoyed singing together.

The Cottrells attended Perkinsville Baptist Church, which is where much of their musical talent surfaced. The siblings are thankful, they say, for parents who always took them to church and encouraged them to sing and make music.

All four of the Cottrell children were active in choir and music groups in church, as well as chorus and band in school. Vickie has been serving as adult choir leader at Perkinsville Baptist since 1993. She directs the choir and instrumentalists and organizes the music program. Kathy served as pianist at the Perkinsville Church for 16 years and now plays keyboard at Mt. Vernon Baptist.

Little brother, Travis, who gives his siblings much credit for his success, makes international headlines on a routine basis as worship/music leader for acclaimed Bible teacher and speaker, Beth Moore.

Both Travis and David are married to great musicians. David’s wife, Kathy, has lead children’s choirs at Perkinsville for many years, sings in the adult choir and – as a school teacher – has always included music in her classroom. Travis’s wife, Angela, sings in her church choir and sings and writes songs with Travis.

Vickie, an orthodontic assistant since 1978, works for Dr. Mayhew and Dr. Scheffler in Boone. She is married to Lesley Marsh and is the mother of three daughters – Casey (Gragg), Jennifer (Klutz), and Jamie Marsh. She is the very proud grandmother of Trathen and Lainey Gragg.

Kathy is in her sixteenth year as music teacher at Davenport A+ School in Lenoir and also teaches private piano lessons in her home. She has two children, Scott Johnson and Ashley Eller, (both music majors) and is married to Jon Younce, who has three sons.

Both Lesley and Jon also sing and do so in their church choirs. Jon’s uncle was George Younce of the famous Cathedral Quartet. Kathy and Vickie are equally pleased that all of their children are musically inclined and hope they’ll keep the family tradition alive for many years to come.

MARCH 2009 13

Food & Entertainment| BY TIFFANY ALLISON

Cooking With Carla

Soup ladles flying, vegetable stock bubbling over, orders stacking up on the line, hungry customers anxiously awaiting their dinner, there is no time to make a mistake. Sound chaotic? Chaos and stress are not the first things that come to mind when one mentions Stress is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when Rachel Ray or Paula Deen pop up on the TV screen.

Actually, they promote culinary art to the public as fast, easy and convenient –offering tips to prepare gourmet meals in under 30 minuets for the entire family, but wait there’s more!

You can create these culinary concoctions with the ingredients already in your cupboard, so you don’t have to go to the store!

Anyone can be a chef in his or her own home. Convenient, right?

According to Chef Carla Fitzwater, cooking is anything but easy or convenient. The world behind the line is indeed fast paced, but unlike Rachel’s presentations, things do not always go according to plan.

“It’s a crazy lifestyle. Usually you work at night and at a really fast pace,” she says. “You never get a weekend or holiday off. You can forget that when you go into the food 14 MARCH 2009

business.”

With 13 years of experience, Carla has done everything from catering to fine dining. She got her start as a general manager at a club in North Myrtle Beach, where she ended up cooking on the line because their chef would often “forget” to show up for work. Through his absence, she discovered her love of food. “I loved it when he wouldn’t show, because I could cook,” she states.

She moved on to Cappuccino’s, a fine dining resort where her culinary skills were sharpened in the prestigious atmosphere. She started from the bottom, with soup and sauce preparation, then upgraded to the grill. By the time she left, she was trained in every position in the kitchen.

As she climbed the chef’s ladder as a woman in the culinary field, Carla ran into the common misconception that women love making desserts. But with confidence in her skills, she would not allow misconceptions to dominate her choice of expertise.

“I hate doing desserts. Because I was a girl, I always had to do desserts,” she says. “I kind of shy away from them now.”

The stress behind the kitchen has thickened her skin and she explains, “You have to prove yourself first.”

Another hurdle women have to tackle in the kitchen is respect. In a male-dominated career, Carla has learned to demand respect for her specific set of skills.

“Women who work in the kitchen for a long time are very different from women who work in an office for a long time,” she adds. In the kitchen there is not time for explanations.

When the chef says they need something to be done, it needs to be done with no questions asked. But even in the hectic environment she prides herself in her ability to have a good time.

“I have a really fun kitchen,” she says. “And I think that’s very important.”

Carla is now managing Appalachian Ski Mountain’s food service department, responsible for not only the food, but staff as well. This is her second year as the food and beverage www.aawmag.com

director and she has fallen in love with her employees. She is proud of their product and encourages them to push themselves to higher standards on a daily basis. “It’s my first office job in a long time.”

Even though she misses the “rush” of the kitchen, Carla makes time to get behind the line and assist her cooks. She has expanded Ski Mountain’s recipes with her fine dining background – adding chicken cordon blue, stuffed sole and Cajun brown-sugar-rubbed ribs to the menu. Her kitchen staff members pride themselves on serving healthy and vegetarian options to encompass every hungry customer’s needs. Cooking for large numbers of patrons is the biggest change for Carla, but she has adjusted without a problem.

“We do a lot business here, more than I’ve ever done anywhere else. I’m still shocked at the amount of food I have to order.”

In her spare time, she loves teaching her chef’s lessons about cooking in high-stress situations – one of the first being, “If you’re going to screw up, screw up with confidence.” She concludes, “There’s no time in the kitchen for wishy-washy people wondering if you should do it this way or that. Just do it and we will talk about it later.”

The main point behind that lesson, she stresses, is that mistakes will happen, but worrying about them in the moment only slows down a young chef’s ability to focus on the task at hand. The newest addition to services offered through her department is catering weddings and other special events that are held – perhaps a surprise to the general public – at the ski resort. “We are very reasonable, and I will work with any budget.”

Although Carla wears many hats, she finds time to have fun. When not tasting the newest recipe or taking care of business, she might be found snowboarding or hiking.

All things considered, however, Carla Fitzwater would rather be behind the stove cooking and planning for the next party.

“Parties are my thing,” she says. “That’s what I really love to do.”

Carla’s Chive and Dijon Crab Cakes

¼ tsp. paprika vegetable oil

1 lb. fresh crabmeat, flaked ½ cup fresh bread crumbs 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley 2 Tbsp. heavy cream 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 tsp. chives, chopped 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs ½ stick butter

Roll the trout in flour. Beat egg with water. Mix together cornmeal, ground pecans, salt, pepper and paprika. Dip floured trout into egg and then into cornmeal mixture.

Heat about 1 inch of oil in a fry pan over medium heat.

Cook trout, turning once, until both sides are golden brown and crunchy, about 5 minutes per side. Fish flakes when done.

(Moist inside, crunchy outside)

Combine first 10 ingredients in a large mixing bowl; stir well to blend. Shape mixture into 8 cakes; set aside. Place dry breadcrumbs in a bowl and dip each of the 8 cakes in the breadcrumbs. Cover both sides well. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add crab cakes and cook 5 minutes or until golden, turning once. Repeat until you have cooked all of the crab cakes. Place in a warm oven to hold. Serves 8.

Crusty Corn Trout

This is the best way to enjoy the fruits of your fly fishing trip!

4 cleaned and boned rainbow or brook trout 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 egg 1 Tbsp. water 1 cup yellow cornmeal ¼ cup ground pecans 1 tsp. salt ¼ tsp. cracked pepper www.aawmag.com

Vegetarian Chili

This is a delicious alternative to traditional chili. We top it with local cheddar from Ashe County Cheese. Yummy!

1 large onion 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 to 4 Tbsp. olive oil 1 cup chopped zucchini 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped carrots ½ lb mushrooms, chopped ½ cup chopped green pepper 2 (16-oz.) cans whole tomatoes, chopped 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste 2 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. salt ½ tsp. dried oregano ½ tsp. cumin seeds 2 (16-oz.) cans pinto beans Cook onion and garlic in olive oil until tender. Add chopped fresh vegetables, cook and stir for about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and seasonings. Bring to a boil.

Cover and simmer 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.

Add beans and heat to boiling. Simmer 5 minutes. Makes about 6 hearty portions.

MARCH 2009 15

It’s A Woman’s Job| BY SHERRIE NORRIS

Miracles Are Still Happening On The Hill

When Avery native and revered family nurse practitioner Kay Turbyfill joined the Crossnore School, Inc. staff two years ago, it was with a sense of pride. In her heart, she knew that being asked to help establish the new campus clinic for residents, employees and their families was simply a continuation of the care that school founders and the community’s first medical doctors, Eustace and Mary Martin Sloop brought to Crossnore in the early 1900s.

Even closer to her heart is the fact that the new clinic is located in the refurbished stone structure that was the original hospital built by the Sloops nearly a century ago.

Known as The Edwin Guy Building, the expertly renovated stone structure’s exterior is reminiscent of the original hospital. However, the interior is nothing short of the most modern, state-of-the-art facility available anywhere today No stranger to the area, its people and their medical needs, Kay was born in Avery County. She lived many years in the CranberryMinneapolis community and was married and had three children before she went to nursing school in the mid-1970s. Today, the youthful grandmother of three continues a lifelong devotion to serving others.

Early in her career, Kay worked for several years as a registered nurse at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Banner Elk before coming to the original Sloop Memorial Hospital as an operating room nurse and then to the Avery County Health Department.

Following in the footsteps of her mentor, the very capable Mary Catherine Estep who was Avery County’s first nurse practitioner, Kay received her practitioner’s license from UNC-CH. “Mary Catherine 16 MARCH 2009

has been a huge influence in my life and was the reason I went back to school. She was an excellent nurse practitioner and someone I have greatly admired for a long time.”

Kay began her new role in the offices of Drs. Joe and Cathy Messick and Dr. David Kimmel in Banner Elk. Having worked closely with Dr. Charles Baker, along with Estep, at the Health Department in establishing a pediatric clinic in the ‘80s, she was delighted when the opportunity came to work exclusively with Dr. Baker in his office and she stayed for 10 years.

Another unique opportunity took her to Florida for three years where she served as a hospitalist at Flagler Hospital.

In April 2006, Kay’s associates back home in Avery County began recruiting her for the Crossnore clinic, a move she’s very happy to have made.

“The prospect of starting the clinic from the ground up was very appealing to me,” Kay said. “To have the chance to work with these precious children, to live among them and to help them be healthy and happy is a tremendous blessing for me as a medical professional.”

Not only does Kay treat colds, fevers, aches and breaks, she has also helped establish a wellness program for the entire campus, including weight and stress management, diet, and exercise.

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Furthermore, her services are now offered to residents of the community.

Kay’s presence on campus has cut down on school absences as well as on visits to doctors’ offices. “I see kids in the afternoons for routine situations so there are no long waits in doctors’ offices and time missed from school.”

Having begun her medical ministry even before the new clinic was completed, Kay recalls taking her stethoscope one day, after which she obtained “an old examination table from the Health Department,” and started seeing patients. So began another chapter of “miracles” for Crossnore School.

The clinic includes two exam rooms and a full-size lab, an EKG machine, a defibrillator and oxygen. “We are well equipped to handle emergency situations and have been called on to do same.

With so many people visiting our campus, it’s important that we can take care of them if needed.”

It is also helpful, Kay says, for her to live on campus. “It allows me to observe our children in various settings. They see me as their friend – “Nurse Kay” – and easily open up to me outside the office.

It helps me to see how they are doing on a daily basis. I can usually tell if something is not quite right with them.”

Available 24/7, Kay is “all over campus” at any given time and even makes house calls to the cottages, as needed.

Kay is assisted by Lesa Fisher, LPN, who not only manages the office but performs lab work “and everything else that needs done – she’s unbelievable!” Kay says. “I couldn’t do it without her.”

Kay’s initial – and primary – focus surrounds the health and well-being of the kids on campus, she says. “Then, we decided to branch out to our employees and their families and, most recently, community folks are beginning to come to us for basic preventative care.”

A plus for area women is Kay’s expertise in bio-identical hormones and her affiliation with a Hickory compounding pharmacy. Kay constantly seeks continuing education opportunities to help her stay abreast of the latest treatment for such things as ADHD and other common diagnoses. She has been effective in seeking alternative treatments while decreasing the usage of numerous medications for such conditions.

“Every child here gets routine lab work, immunizations, and food allergy testing. Having an allergy to a certain food may produce the symptoms of ADHD. All the students on campus receive nutritional supplements. With 70 kids here last year, it’s almost unbelievable that we had no cases of flu. There were viruses, of course, but nothing serious.”

Kay is pleased that Dr. Baker is still available to her for complicated cases. “He is a valuable resource for me and is instrumental in caring for these kids.”

Kay draws strength from the “good rapport” with area doctors, with whom she has built positive relationships through the years.

She is proud of the success she has seen in the health of children since she came to Crossnore. “Fewer kids are on medications, especially for ADHD. Our kids are healthy and happy.”

Despite many problems – sadness, abuse, neglect – that often accompany students to Crossnore, Kay has witnessed how healing from the inside often takes place. “It’s not only the physical pain we see healed here, but what goes on inside their hearts and minds, as well. We have so many gifted, talented kids here and many times all they need is love and encouragement to bring it all out. They get plenty of that at Crossnore.”

Kay credits the endless energy, dedication and leadership of the school’s executive director, Dr. Phyllis Crain, for the current success at Crossnore. “Dr. Crain is an amazing lady who truly has a heart for children – and a heart for people in general. She is a woman touched by God. She’s been given a mission and she’s fulfilling that mission and has brought so many positive changes to this place. I truly believe that Mary Martin Sloop is smiling down on us.”

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MARCH 2009 17

Blind Pianist, Karen Pope, Plays By Heart

Noami Isaacs Keeps The Tradition Alive

BY PAULETTE ISAACS

BY PAULETTE ISAACS

There’s something special about Karen Pope, longtime church pianist at Willow Valley Baptist. She’s legally blind, but refuses to allow her disability to stop her music.

Karen’s interest in music began early, she recalls, with piano lessons beginning in the third grade and the majority taught by her aunt, Roetta Harmon.

Karen first played piano at church for the choir.

Karen’s visual problems actually began at birth. As a premature Karen Pope plays from the heart. Photo by baby, she was diagnosed Paulette Isaacs with retinopathy of prematurity, which affects the immature vasculature of the eyes of premature babies.

According to WebMD, the disease can become aggressive and progress to retinal detachment and blindness. Supplemental oxygen use after birth also can be a contributing factor.

Karen began wearing glasses at age two. “I pretty much led a normal life, since this was what was normal for me. I did pretty much whatever I wanted and really didn’t see it as much of a problem until about 10 years ago. Then it got really bad. I ended up with a detached retina in my left eye. After all of the strain was put on my right eye, the vision in that one began to deteriorate, too.” At this point, Karen was considered legally blind.

About four years ago, her doctor strongly suggested that Karen quit playing the piano and stop driving to minimize the strain on her eyes. “I had a really hard time with all of that, especially not getting to drive anymore. It’s really hard for me to ask for help, but I’ve learned to do it.”

Karen made the decision to continue playing the piano. “I’ve learned to recognize when I need to stop. If my eyes are really feeling strained, I just say so. Willow Valley Church’s choir leader, Kenny Greene, is very understanding and helps me out when I need to play a different song than the one he chooses or if I need one of the other girls to play the piano.”

Karen usually only has to look at the song chosen, determine the key, and then she just plays by ear. “I can read the notes, but since I’ve been playing for so many years, I pretty much know the songs by heart. If there’s a new song that I don’t know, I just need to hear a couple of lines and then I’ve got it.” At home, Karen says she often plays the piano just to lift her spirits when she’s feeling down.

“My faith is what has brought me through all of this – that’s the key. Along with my family, my church family, and supportive friends, God has given me the strength. I really enjoy playing the piano and don’t want to give it up. I’m doing it for God.” Karen lives in Sugar Grove with her husband Ernie and her son Jordan. She attends Willow Valley Baptist Church where her father, Ray Greene, is the pastor.

It was after seeing Mother Maybelle Carter on her family’s first television set as a child that Naomi Isaac’s fascination for music, and especially the autoharp, was piqued. “I thought that was the most beautiful music I had ever heard,” she states.

From those early days, music has played a huge part in her life. She took piano lessons in the 5th grade. Her family owned a pedal organ and her brother played guitar. Today, her grandson is one of the most promising musicians in the Some folks, like Naomi Isaacs, are doing local bluegrass arena.

In 1967, Naomi and all they can to keep the tradition alive. her husband Earl visited a Photo by Paulette Isaacs. music store in Lenoir where Earl spotted an Appalachian autoharp and decided to buy it for his wife. “I learned to play it on my own and played along with some records I had at the house,” Naomi remembers. She eventually put the instrument away and did not play for a while. Currently, the “Appalachian” is in the Doc Watson Museum at the Historic Cove Creek High School in Sugar Grove.

Naomi no longer reads music, but plays her instrument by ear – a common trait among musicians in these mountains.

When Naomi’s grandson, Thomas Isaacs, began showing an interest in music “and a lot of potential,” Naomi declared that she would do all she could to help him develop his talent. Some of her fondest memories are sitting around her home with Thomas “way into the night,” she playing the autoharp and Thomas on fiddle or banjo.

Being a frequent visitor and entertainer at the Western Watauga Community Center in the Cove Creek Community, Naomi has a deep desire to keep mountain music alive. “After Ronnie Hicks passed away, I thought that maybe the music wouldn’t continue at the Center.” After a discussion with fellow musician, Dan Isaacs, Naomi felt that putting a group together would be ideal. Thus, Naomi and the Homefolks was formed and includes Naomi, Dan Isaacs, Doyle James, and G.C. Bryan. “We’re in this for the music and the fellowship,” she says.

The group plays at churches, private events, and as regular guests at the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis. Recently, the store sponsored a recording of the musicians who regularly perform there.

On the project, called “From Caskets to Cradles,” Naomi and the Homefolks contributed “Little Rosewood Casket.”

Naomi’s performances on her autoharp have been enjoyed by many music fans who appreciate traditional mountain style, including those at The Carter Fold in Hiltons, Virginia. “I went up there and was a guest during Surefire’s performance in December. That night, Rita, Jeanette Carter’s daughter, asked me to play my autoharp along with her part of the show, since I play a lot like Mother Maybelle.”

In addition, Naomi was a guest during a Sammy Adkins show in Kentucky – basically stealing the show, to the delight of Adkins and the entire audience.

18 MARCH 2009

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This “Queen Bee” Sweetens Up The Blues

The journey from the High Country to the Mississippi Delta is one that Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni has made many times since the mid1980s with one purpose in mind: to meet the men and women living in this torrid and poverty-wounded region where a unique musical style was born. She traveled to learn from the people who were still singing and playing that most mysterious and passionate of American music—blues.

The people generously shared this music with Penny, who would spend nearly 25 years performing it internationally.

Born to a musical family, Penny began early - singing in school chorus and plays and playing percussion in band. She took up guitar in college.

A career in psychology brought Penny to Boone. Music became her passion and lifeblood as there she met her future musical partner and husband, Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville. As blues lovers, they were kindred spirits. They embarked on pilgrimages to the Mississippi Delta and the Deep South to learn from the masters of this genre. They found the practitioners of blues “unstinting in their guidance and uncompromising in their expectations.”

After this strict apprenticeship, they formed The King Bees in 1987, with “Queen Bee” on bass and singing and “Hound Dog” on guitar (these monikers were bestowed by fans). Soon they were on the road playing Zamagni’s originals and a mélange of blues styles. The calls to perform and tour with their blues idols started to pour in. In the years to come, Zamagni would perform with Bo Diddley, tour with B.B. King and appear with many other blues greats.

In 1994, The King Bees signed ton an international label, Tramp Records, and began playing clubs and festivals from Paris to Rome to Amsterdam. Zamagni’s originals received international airplay. They were invited on numerous occasions to appear at New York City’s prestigious Lincoln Center. Queen Bee’s singing and songwriting garnered raves in the international press.

The new millennium brought many new opportunities. The dean of Chicago blues harmonica, Carey Bell, tapped The King Bees as his band to tour worldwide. Another prospect opened—Zamagni’s dedication to blues legends developed into the concept of presenting the culture and historic significance to the High Country musicians. Her projects, The New River Blues Festival (in its seventh year), The Winter Blues Fest, and The Summer Blues Fest bring performers of international acclaim to our area.

Of her commitment to advance authentic blues artists, Zamagni says, “If you haven’t seen the real-deal blues players live, you have missed a vast musical treasure that may not be with us forever. It has been the thrill of my life to stand side-by-side with these stunningly talented folks. My goal is to delight our audiences with the most gifted performers in the blues world, and to repay the immense kindness shown to me.” www.aawmag.com

Mountain Music Opened Up New World For Susan Pepper

Susan Pepper singing with Beech Mountain Echoes at the Jones House Community Center for the Centennial Celebration of the Jones House, July 4, 2008. Photo submitted.

Unaccompanied, the multi-talented Susan Pepper sings mountain ballads and folk songs and plays the dulcimer, fretless mountain banjo, and guitar. An Ohio native, she grew up singing in the school choir and performing in musicals. When she was introduced to mountain music in 2001, it opened up a whole new musical world as well as introducing her to the cultural heritage of the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Susan moved to western North Carolina in 2003 in order to immerse herself in mountain music and culture. In December, 2008, she completed a master’s degree in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University. Her master’s thesis, “ ‘A Whistling Girl and a Crowin’ Hen Always Come to Some Bad End’ - The Singing Traditions of Three Western North Carolina Women: Hazel Rhymer, Pearl Hicks, and Zora Walker,” resulted from over three years of fieldwork with traditional singers from the region.

Susan sings songs that she learned from these three women as well as others in the region who inherited an unbroken folk music tradition through their families. In particular, Rick Ward of Vilas shared ballads from the Beech Mountain area, as well as a unique banjo style called “double knock” that he learned from his grandfather, Tab Ward. Rick and Susan have performed together in the duo Beech Mountain Echoes since 2006.

Susan loves teaching and sharing traditional mountain music with young students. She currently teaches guitar at JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) programs in Boone and in Ashe County.

She performs school residencies, workshops, and also offers private lessons in dulcimer, folk guitar, and singing. She plans to make a CD in the upcoming year The beauty of the natural scenery, the kindness of people in the community, and, of course, the rich musical and folk traditions are what drew Susan to the mountains and keep her here. She is constantly thinking of new ways to share her music and to inspire - in particular - young people to carry on the tradition.

MARCH 2009 19

All About Crafts|

BY NANCY MORRISON

Cheerful Pots for Your

Spring Blooms

Nothing lifts the spirit like those wonderful harbingers of spring—the blooms of various bulbs that are so prevalent this time of year. Why not paint some clay pots to enhance your flowers? It’s so easy and quick.

Materials needed: Terra cotta (clay) pots (8 inch recommended) Matching (8 inch) terra cotta saucers Acrylic paint in any colors you prefer Clay pot sealer (available in craft stores) Artist’s brush or disposable foam brush (1 inch) And, of course, your blooming bulbs!

New clay pots are suggested because it is hard to really clean old pots, but if you want to dress up some old pots and save money, that’s fine. Apply sandpaper lightly to remove any rough spots and wipe well.

In choosing the colors of paint for your pots, let the blossoms be your guide. Matching the color of the bloom makes a showy display. Contrasting colors also work well. The pots pictured have been left solid, but many designs can be applied after the base coat is dry.

For instance, polka dots can be added with a contrasting color by tracing around quarters or some other round object and then filling in the space with paint.

Sponges can be cut in shapes such as circles, diamonds, or stars, pressed lightly into a paper saucer spread with paint, and then applied to the pot. The possibilities are endless.

With the brush and the paint, coat the inside of the pot and the 20 MARCH 2009

inside of the saucer. The paint will dry quickly as the clay absorbs the water in the paint. When the paint is dry, complete the coat by painting the outside of the pot and the saucer. Make sure every bit of the clay pot is covered. If a second coat is needed, the paint dries fast enough to apply the next coat in an hour or so. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before applying the sealer.

In a well-ventilated area and on a drop cloth or plastic, spray the pot and the saucer inside and out with the clay pot sealer to waterproof it so the color won’t come off when the flower is watered. More than one coat can be used if needed. It is better to use two thin coats than to spray the sealer on thickly.

Tip: If possible, leave the blooming bulbs in the container they came in if it will fit down into the clay pot. It will provide more protection for the paint on the pot.

For an outstanding display, group several plants together and use different size pots. Enjoy spring! www.aawmag.com

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From Crossnore To Vietnam Jeanie Vance Has Left Her Mark

Jennie Vance on stage several years ago with granddaughter Nicole.

Photo submitted.

BY SHERRIE NORRIS Jennie Vance is the only High Country woman known to have made a personal appearance in Vietnam during the war to sing for the American troops. Joined by her husband Jimmy and their band, The Linville River Boys, in the late ’60s, Jennie wasn’t singing from the stage where most USO entertainment took place. “They asked us where we wanted to sing,” Jennie says. “I told them we came to entertain the troops and I wanted to go where the boys never got to see any of the Bob Hope shows. I wanted our trip to be different.”

The Avery County entourage was led through the Asian jungle

by Creighton Abrams, Jr., the US Army General who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968-72 and who later served as Chief of Staff of the US Army prior to his death in 1974.

“He guarded us and took good care of us,” Jennie recalls. “We were flying in a helicopter when we got there, above what I thought were beautiful fireworks. General Abrams, bless his heart, politely informed me those were bombs.”

During a three-week tour the group performed 43 times, never far 22 MARCH 2009

from danger and once forced to take cover in a foxhole.

Seeing local boys from home was a highlight, the most special of of all was Jennie’s own nephew, Chuck Clark, who, at her request, was granted a brief leave to visit.

Today, just a month short of her 81st birthday, Jennie Vance has a clear recollection of that journey. Some details of her life as a wellknown entertainer have begun to fade, but many still have a special place in her heart and mind.

Born Jennie Clark, the twelfth of thirteen children in Crossnore, she grew up in a hard-working, music-loving family. After the chores were done at night, the family often listened to the Carter Family or the Grand Ole Opry on the radio.

Jennie sang harmony with two of her brothers, Everett and Ed, often entertaining at church, school, or at home when company came.

She taught herself to play guitar on a Stella guitar that she ordered from Sears and Roebuck. “I paid $7 for that little thing from money I made picking beans.”

She graduated from high school as class valedictorian despite having skipped the 6th and 7th grades. “Daddy never let us study at night. It would have taken oil and oil cost money. I did my homework on the bus, knowing I had chores waiting when I got home.” Jennie says she learned to yodel “when I was just a young girl calling for the cattle on top of the mountain.”

As she got older, Jennie worked at the Crossnore Weaving Room as did several of her siblings, including older sister Ossie Phillips, who spent a lifetime there. “I made enough [money] to put windows in the house.”

Jennie met Jimmy Vance after he returned home from World War II. She was working in a field above Crossnore (picking beans or setting cabbage, she’s not quite sure which), when a young man with a limp walked down the nearby road. The two met soon afterward at Crossnore Theatre where they discovered their mutual love for music.

Jimmy was a gifted musician – an ace fiddle player – and together they began making sweet music in more ways than one “courting” for two years before marrying.

Jimmy had played with several bluegrass greats. Eventually, he and Jennie formed their own bluegrass band with local boys Ray Aldridge, Frank Wiseman and Bob Hobson, and toured all over the country for five years before the couple’s first child, Diane, was born.

“We played for United America Shows doing the rodeos, state fairs and carnival circuits in every state out west, for the first official bluegrass festival in Auburndale, Florida, and we played five times at the World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN.” Jennie says.

Jennie came home to help care for her elderly mother and for her growing family. They continued to play, joined on stage by their daughter Diane, herself an accomplished vocalist, and later by granddaughter, Nicole, who fiddled and clogged. They were frequently billed locally at places like Land of Oz and for 12 seasons at Tweetsie. www.aawmag.com

Catching Up With Melissa Reaves

Jennie became actively involved in local politics, representing the Republican Party at local and state levels for many years. She also served as a campaign manager for several successful candidates, including Congressman James Broyhill and Governor James Holshouser. “It was Broyhill who got us our USO tour,” she says.

Jim and Jennie entertained at many political conventions and related events, including the Avery County visit of President Gerald R. Ford in the mid-1970s.

BY REBECCA GUMMERE In the late ‘70s, they established Jim and Jennie’s High Country What’s next?

Music Park near Crossnore at which numerous well-known musicians “What’s new? performed and they hosted such events as the annual Ramp Festival. What’s best?”

These questions were put to Melissa Reaves. About her new “Holidaze” album released in December 2008, Reaves says with her eyes sparkling, “I’m proud of it. It was fun.” The album, her first since the 2006 release of “Rough Cuts,” was recorded over a period of three days just before Thanksgiving. Reaves credits her fellow musicians for its fresh, live sound. “I got great players in and they’re all friends. I knew they would groove, they were gonna get along. We just got into the room and jammed.”

Reaves admits to her own stumbling block of emotional overattachment as she prepares for recording. “I learned a lot from it,” she says of this latest project, “About me, about the recording process, and the thinking behind it, more philosophical than technical.” She brushes her blonde hair from her face and adds, Jennie Vance and her husband Jimmy performed all over the country and “I can’t say enough about not over-thinking it.” Fans can log went to Vietnam during the war as part of the USO tours. Photo submitted. onto Melissa’s MySpace page to hear a couple of songs from the album, which can be purchased online through PayPal. (www.

A music barn was later built with seats and a dance floor to myspace.com/melissareaves) About the next things on the horizon, Reaves reports a busy accommodate smaller events, family reunions and private parties.

Due to the couple’s failing health, music in the park has been silent tour schedule, already with 12 performance dates in the next three recently. It is Diane’s hope to re-open the park and bring it back to months. Fans who have attended her shows know of her impressive creativity, personable style, vocal range, and high energy delivery. life again next year.

Life has been good to the Vances in many respects, but not She also admits, “I’m really gonna get serious about exercising,” without sacrifice and hard work. For the past 17 years, they have adding, “maybe if it’s printed in a newspaper….” and gives a lovingly cared for their granddaughter, Dakota, who was born with rueful smile.

Melissa is also looking toward her next recording project, a multiple disabilities and has required total-care assistance since birth.

Dakota’s father, Todd, the youngest of the Vances’ three children, possible solo album of the experimental work she’s been doing died tragically in 1993, leaving Diane and her brother Bucky to help with a digital delayed effects pedal. The audio effects pedal records up to seven seconds of guitar music and then can both store and their parents carry the heavy load.

The Vances also experienced a fire which destroyed many of their play back the sound. Melissa describes the “organic approach” belongings. Luckily, much of their memorabilia had already been of building fragments of musical lines in the moment. “I like the idea that I have to constantly be present and create with all these donated to the Avery County Historical Museum.

Despite their occasional sadness, Jennie says it’s been a good layers.” The result is a lush, symphonic- tiering of guitar virtuosity. life, overall, commending Diane for “giving up her life to take care of Regarding another idea she has, Reaves confesses, “I’ve kind of secretly been wanting to do Melissa’s favorites.” Selections from us.”

Jenny adds, “She’s about to finally see a little happiness herself.” Pink Floyd, David Bowie and others would be on her list.

As far as what’s best in life right now, Melissa smiles and says, Diane was recently reunited with “the love of her life,” (another musician!) after 30-plus years, a joyous occasion that has delighted the “My dogs are absolutely the most beautiful, most accomplished A-student dogs out there.” She includes her “step-dogs” in the entire Vance family and will result in a July mountaintop wedding.

In addition to their music, the Vances are also known as “big mix. “They really bring me joy – they bring it to the center for bear and wild hog hunters” with Jennie taking aim at wild game more me.”

She continues, “I’m still always learning, but I feel pretty solid than once and passing on her skills to her five grandchildren and one with my musicianship. But I’m always growing and learning.” great-grandson.

The best thus far is “my friends and I feel really connected Jennie and her family are lifelong members of Crossnore First Baptist Church and have been active in many community events to the community.” Judging from her many loyal followers, the community returns the feelings of affection and adds on a bit of through the years. prideful ownership. www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 23

It’s All About Family The Hayes Family has long been known for its variety of musical styles – from old convention songs to typical southern gospel and the old hymns of the church. The group has been described as “a fresh package of southern gospel music – family style.”

Behind much of the group’s success is the highly-respected family matriarch, Lucy Hayes, a talented pianist who taught her children, and many others, to play.

When Lucy married the equally-gifted Howard Hayes, who from the time he was a teenager loved gospel music, the duo shared this great interest.

“We went to a singing school before we were married and then we were married six years before Janet, our oldest, was born.

Howard always said if we had a family that he wanted us all to sing together.”

His desire became a reality, and one from which he receives much joy.

Having traveled together all over the country, the Hayes Family has been an important vein in the flow of southern gospel music.

The Hayes Family has produced 27 recorded projects (two of which were instrumentals by Sharon, Janet, and their brother Mylon), 5 Lucy Hayes with daughters Sharon Hodges, (seated) and Janet Haas, videos, and several songbooks. The Hayes Family has participated in (standing). Photo submitted. many projects with The Gaither Homecomings in different cities and participating in the concerts, singing and quoting scripture verses. traveled with them in concerts.

“They enjoy traveling and singing,” Sharon says. “It is more work One of their most special projects was “Daddy - inspired,” says for the kids to travel, but it is neat to see how they minister in their own Janet. “It was made at The Chapel of Rest Church in Lenoir with a way. We get comments all the time of how people love to hear them circuit-riding preacher, Rev. Gary Shew, and a ‘congregation’ arriving on and it encourages others.” horse and buggy, sled, or wagon, for a concert with The Hayes Family, All seven of the Hayes grandchildren – ages 3 to 11 – travel with a message from - and a history about - the circuit riding preacher, all the family most of the time and are able to visit large cities and see of which is captured on DVD. It is a project we’re extremely proud of pastoral countrysides – scenes they would never get to experience and has been praised by fans all across the country.” otherwise.

Janet Haas, the oldest of the three Hayes children, lends her The family members agree that it requires “a few extras” for the expertise as a keyboardist as well as provides “the high part of vocals” children to travel with them – clothes for all occasions, toys, food, etc., for the family. She has also penned several of the family’s songs, which “but we have a lot of joy in having the children with us. It is wall-to-wall are among their favorites. people on a coach that will never be big enough,” says Grandmother She tells us, “When we started recording as ‘The Hayes Family,’ Lucy. “The children love it so much and enjoy singing and playing with Mama played a lot of our songs for us to sing with our dad and brother. each other, that it is hard not to keep doing it weekend after weekend.

Mama, more and more, would ask Sharon and me to play the songs The children are developing their special abilities musically and are and eventually we began playing most of the concerts. Mama still plays each talented in their own way, so, hopefully, there will be a ‘Hayes some for us and joins in singing as she has always done. As we grew Family’ around for a long time to come.” older, we got better at playing the piano and picking up new songs and Lucy adds, “We have slowed down a lot since the grandchildren learning them, as Mama taught Sharon and me to read music.” have come along and are in school. All of our ‘kids’ seem to have Sharon Hodges, whose vocal quality – and unique alto voice – is music in their blood also. We are already trying to cultivate their talents of the highest form and, along with her exceptional keyboard abilities, with piano, guitar and trumpet lessons. Mylon’s family has been to make her a favorite of many. She and Janet double on the keyboard for a two-week singing school in Chattanooga, TN to learn the shape at least one or two songs in every concert, delighting their audiences. notes and learn more about music and singing. Janet and Sharon’s “Dad and Mom loved music and prayed for us to be musically husbands, as well as Mylon’s wife, Wendy, join us at local concerts inclined,” Sharon says. “They taught us how to sing, taught us piano when they can and are such a great support to our ministry.” and bass guitar, and how to read music. They took us to singing Despite a full calendar and “around 80 dates a year,” Lucy adds, schools to learn the shape-note singing. Music was always a part of our “We do not travel as much now, because our children have their own home whether it was playing instruments or singing around the house families and they need to spend quality time at home when they can.” or listening to gospel music on the radio or record albums. As kids, we As the youngest of three, Mylon is equally as talented as his sisters. His learned trumpet and flute in school. That was a part of our concerts at abilities to play the bass guitar are surpassed by few. The Hayes Family one time. Every week, we would travel to a church somewhere locally may be reached by e-mail at: famhayes@bellsouth.net or contacted to sing as we were growing up.” by phone at (828) 264-3806. Visit www.hayesfamilyministries.com for As the Hayes children have married and had children of their own, more information. they have continued to travel, and now their children travel with them, 24 MARCH 2009

www.aawmag.com

March Honors Social Workers– Unsung Community Heroes

BY YOZETTE “YOGI” COLLINS

March is National Social Work Month, a chance to recognize the 600,000 social workers across the nation and the contributions, often unrecognized, they make in communities by providing vital resources and support to those in need.

Boone’s Lisa Shelton, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is director of Appalachian Regional Healthcare’s Employee Assistance Program, a counseling service that offers employees help with personal and work issues. Often these are one and the same since personal issues can negatively affect an employee’s job performance.

“As an employer,” says Shelton, “the last thing the Healthcare System wants is to have an employee struggling. It starts affecting their job performance and then we lose them because of something that we could have helped them with.

That’s where the Employee Assistance Program steps in.”

Shelton is in her 24th year as a social worker in Watauga County. “I knew when I was a kid – a young teenager – that I wanted to be a social worker. I didn’t always know what that meant or what it was going to look like, but I knew I wanted to be in some type of helping profession.”

Social work is certainly a “helping profession.” Social workers often serve as short-term counselors and provide help for people dealing with, and managing, life’s challenges.

Social work is a skilled profession, requiring a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college program. Seventy-nine percent of active licensed social workers go beyond the minimum and earn master’s degrees.

Shelton, who grew up in Greensboro, earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from UNCG. She has worked her entire career in Watauga County where she and her husband Dan and two sons, Walker and Christopher, call home.

When asked what the general public might not understand about social workers, Shelton says, “I think two misconceptions are that all social workers work in some type of child services program or with Medicaid. They don’t. They work in hospitals, they work in schools. There are social workers who are educators, social workers who are doing research, advocating for changes in legislation – all kinds of different arenas. It [social work] is not just about focusing on the problems or issues, but also trying to help people build on the strengths they have as well.”

Working as a social worker does encourage Shelton to recognize her own strengths as well as her weaknesses. In any service field there is the challenge for workers to have healthy boundaries, recognizing where the role of their job stops. It is not easy, so when Shelton struggles with something that her www.aawmag.com

Lisa Shelton recognizes the value of social workers to communities and businesses. Photo by Yogi Collins.

hobby of running will not solve, she appreciates the value of help. “We’re just like anybody else. We have troubles and problems and issues that come up. Sometimes we need to hook up with a counselor as well just to deal with stuff.”

There is a public perception that social workers are overworked and underpaid, but consider that teachers are often in the same situation. It is a fact that some of the most vital jobs in communities are not paid their worth. Still, with median social work salaries in the area of $45,000, it is understandable that bright, engaging people are drawn to this field of work. In fact, while employment in many occupations is expected to remain level during our nation’s current financial state, the need for social workers is expected to increase.

These statistics do not surprise Shelton. She recognizes the value social workers offer to communities and businesses and sees the field as a promising, interesting place to work. She is certainly glad she followed her instincts as a teenager. “I know it sounds corny, but I can say that, for a good portion of my profession, I’ve always looked forward to coming to work. It’s a good thing to be able to say.”

MARCH 2009 25

Minding Her Own Business| BY VICKI RANDOLPH

Audrey Hash Ham

Continues A Family Tradition Making instruments by hand is quickly becoming a thing of the past. We live in an era when bigname factories like Gibson and Martin can crank out hundreds of instruments each day. But there are still those in the High Country who slowly carry out the craft—one beautiful piece at a time. As if being a luthier (instrument maker) wasn’t a rare enough trade, Audrey Hash Ham is even more of a rarity because she is the only female fiddle maker in the nation.

Her father, Albert Hash, was one of the most famous luthiers of all time. Audrey spent years at his heels, learning his craft and taking in his workshop wisdom. She began admiring his work at a very early age. She recalls watching her father finish a fiddle when she was about three years old. “I remember thinking, how can anyone take a board and make something so beautiful?”

More than half a century later, she has come to know the

answer to that mystery quite well. She is a world-renowned fiddle maker in her own right, having crafted more than a thousand instruments. She has been involved in many different programs and has won numerous awards, but probably her proudest accomplishment is starting a local school band.

26 MARCH 2009

She and her father started a program at Mt. Rogers School in Grayson County, Virginia. Within just two months of its inception, her father passed away, leaving her to carry on his legacy—volunteering, fund raising, gathering used instruments, and even making new ones for the kids of Grayson County. Now in its 27th year, the Albert Hash Memorial Band is still going strong.

The school band is something she talks about fondly.

“When kids learn music and instruments they think, ‘if I can do this, I can do anything.’ The music is something that can never be taken away from you, no matter what,” says Audrey.

Music and the mountains go hand in hand. You can’t really have one without the other. “It’s a part of our heritage,” she says. It’s a part of the mountain heritage that Audrey and people like her keep alive by passing it on to others, especially the next generation.

“I’ve never set the world on fire, but I’ve put a lot of smiles on people’s faces, and that’s pretty good,” says Audrey. “To see someone take the stage and play one of my instruments is a feeling unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. You see a musician playing one of your instruments and it’s just good for your soul!”

Audrey Hash Ham is a joyful soul. She is full of inspiring and funny stories—more than could ever fit into one article.

She really deserves a full book dedicated to her life’s journeys. It would be a great read, full of wit and wisdom.

But for now, this mountain girl simply enjoys sharing her stories and her craft the old time way, one person at a time.

Photos used with permission of Audrey Hash Ham. www.aawmag.com

Walker & DiVenere AT T O R N E Y S

AT

L AW

With offices in Boone, North Carolina, Attorneys Jeffrey J. Walker and Tamara C. DiVenere practice in the areas of real estate, construction, contracts, personal injury/wrongful death and insurance disputes, as well as all family law matters including prenuptial agreements, divorce, child custody, wills and trusts.

Mr. Walker is also licensed to practice in Tennessee and has an office in Mountain City. He has been licensed to practice in Florida since 1980 and is Board Certified in Civil Law there. Ms. DiVenere is a graduate of Duke University (cum laude) and University of North Carolina School of Law (high honors).

828-268-9640

www.lawyernorthcarolina.com Fax: 828-262-3699 路 Toll free: 800-451-4299 jwalker@jjwpa.com 783 W. King Street tdivenere@jjwpa.com Boone, NC 28607

The Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project-Appalachian District Health Department, and Watauga County Healthy Carolinians.

www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 27

ASU Presents 8th Annual Diversity Celebration

“Look No Further” Find Everything You Need at Boone Mall.

Co

See What’s Ne

w!

me

1180 Blowing Rock Rd. in Boone

828.264.7286 • Amy’s Hallmark • AT&T • Bath & Body Works • Belk • Belk Home Store • Blue Ridge Vision • Claire’s • Cookies & Cream • Dollar General • Final Touches • GNC

• Gamestop • JC Penney • Le’s Nails • Maurice’s • Old Navy • Panera Bread • Radio Shack • Regis Hairstyles • Rue 21 • Sagesport • Saslow’s Jewelers

• Sears • Sharpcuts • South’s Clothiers • Sports Fanatic • The Shoe Depart. Encore • T.J. Maxx • Tucker’s Cafe • Waldenbooks

Paint Your Wings

A Paint Your Own Pottery and Art Studio 125 New Market Center in Boone

828-262-9919

Perfect for: 28 MARCH 2009

•Girls’ Night Out •Bunco Nights •Play-Dates

•Red Hat Club •Bridal Showers •Birthday Parties •Gifts

Where can you get free food, free entertainment, and an experience you won’t forget? Only at Appalachian State University’s Diversity Celebration!

Since 2002, this spectacular free event has hosted performers and presenters from across the Southeast, including local artists who share aspects of cultures from all over the world. The music and dance performances, multicultural food spread, cultural exhibits and soccer tournaments have allowed thousands of Appalachian students, employees and community members to experience exotic cultures, which they might not have encountered otherwise.

In an afternoon jam-packed with everything from African dance to Japanese Taiko drumming, gospel to hip hop, Brazilian martial arts to bluegrass banjo picking, Irish folk tunes to English high tea, and Appalachian folktales to Mehandi face painting, there’s got to be something you will find appealing to the senses. People come from up and down the mountain every year to experience, participate in, and showcase their talents at the Diversity Celebration.

The third annual People of the Planet Soccer Tournament will kick off the festivities on April 5th from 9 a.m. - 5 p. m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium, with April 12th as a rain date.

The Diversity Celebration itself will be held from 3 - 9 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union on Tuesday, April 7th. For a complete schedule of events or for volunteer registration, visit www.celebration.appstate.edu or call 828-262-6252 or 828.262.2144.

Everyone is welcome. Everything is free!

A partial list of upcoming entertainment and activities includes: Aboriginal culture, a cappella singing, African dance & drums, Appalachian folktales, belly dancing, bluegrass, break dancing, calligraphy, Capoeira, clogging, Contra dance, English high tea, face painting, flat-footing, gospel, hip hop, Indian music, Irish music, Japanese Taiko drumming, jazz, Mariachi, Mehandi painting, Native American drumming, Native American folktales, origami, Persian tea ceremony, puppet theatre, Scottish dance, Salsa dance, South African singing, spinning, swing dance, Underground Railroad, weaving, Welsh folk tales and World stories. www.aawmag.com

It’s All About Family And Mountain Heritage For

Diana Wilcox

Having lived all of her life, minus one year, in sight of her Granny Betty’s house in Blowing Rock, Diana Wilcox says that family and her mountain heritage are very important to her. After graduating from ASU, Diana married Mike Wilcox, also from Blowing Rock.

They have two sons, Austin and Levi, as well as Mike’s two children from a previous marriage, Mollie and Mitchell.

Music has always been a part of her life. During childhood, she listened to Doc Watson albums before falling asleep at night.

As with most teenagers, she was captured by top 40, rock, R&B, and country music. Her tastes have come full circle. She’s back to listening to Doc Watson and other bluegrass/Americana artists, and playing and singing their music as well as her own.

Diana always sang as a child, but adds, “My mother Madolyn will tell you it took several years before I learned to carry a tune!”

Growing up singing in church, she joined the choir at Blowing Rock First Baptist at 13. Her “public” debut was in a school play in the fourth grade. Her step-grandfather led the singing at Blackburn’s Chapel in Todd where some of her fondest memories with “Poppy’s choir” were made.

In the late 1990s, after years of singing gospel and contemporary music in church, Diana desired to explore another style of music.

She joined Tom and Jennifer Moore of Foscoe and Floyd Townsend of Banner Elk to form the bluegrass and folk group Patchwork. They all sang, so the quartet was based heavily on vocal harmonies.

During that time, Mike brought home a discarded guitar that he bought for $5.00. Tom taught Diana to play it and soon she was playing guitar with the group. Later, she learned to play the mandolin as well. To keep his end of a deal made with each of his children, Diana’s dad, Doug, bought her a Martin guitar as soon as she learned to play. During this time, Diana wrote her first original song, “In All Things Give Thanks,” which she refers to as musical therapy. “It started out as a list of good things in my life during a rough patch.”

After four summers with Patchwork, Diana met Phil Halbedel, Caleb Jackson, Rick Ramseur, and Melvin Turbyfill through mutual friend Becca Eggers-Gryder. “We played a few informal shows and discovered that we played well together and got along well.”

In June 2003, the group became known as Diana and the Vintage Boys. Three years later, the band released its first CD, “They’re Just Little Boys,” with four original songs, including the title cut, written by Diana. The group developed an impressive fan base and played regularly at public and private venues. When Melvin left in 2007, the group was renamed Diana and Sarvis Ridge. The band competed and was first-runner-up in the Hayes Grass Competition at the Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock in 2008.

Diana also has had the pleasure of meeting and singing with other local musicians, including Andy Owens with his groups,1800-Bluegrass and freeGrass. She had the pleasure of singing backup with Andy when he performed with the Czech Republic bluegrass band Druha Trava in Blowing Rock and in Raleigh.

A longtime desire was realized for Diana in late 2008, when

www.aawmag.com

For Diana Wilcox, music and family are a rich part of her mountain heritage. Photo by Barry Greene. she released her first solo album - a Christmas CD entitled “A Season of Peace.” It was hard to get into the “Christmas spirit” in August when she began choosing the songs, planning the arrangements, etc., but the songs she chose are ones that she enjoys singing the most and ones that she feels represent the true spirit of Christmas. Former bandmate, Melvin Turbyfill, recorded the project in his home studio, did the graphic artwork, and played mandolin on one song. Zionville’s Tony Reece helped out with beautiful dobro accompaniment on three tracks. While admitting the project is a departure from the bluegrass style for which she is known, it has been well received. It is very simply arranged, with Diana doing all the vocal work, rhythm and lead guitar, and on one song, mandolin.

Diana continues to write and learn new music and loves watching her boys keep the heritage alive as they learn to play their own instruments - Austin on dobro, and Levi on the violin.

MARCH 2009 29

Heartfelt|BY TERI WIGGANS

Opening To Your Creativity

“We undertake certain spiritual exercises to achieve alignment with creative energy of the universe.” This is a quote by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. How do we tap into that creativity? There are multiple ways. I will share the way that I am most familiar with. I have shared in past writings about the importance of becoming still, connecting with God and listening.

“Straightaway the ideas flow upon me, directly from God.” Johannes Brahms One way to become still and connect is through deep breathing and focusing on the heart area. The heart holds love, joy, compassion, gratitude, trust, faith and courage. By focusing on deep breathing from the abdomen, imagining the breath coming in through the heart and leaving through the abdomen, and then “feeling” gratitude in the heart area, you can become relaxed. The mind can become still from all of the chatter that is usually there and space can open up for connection with God. When that occurs, we are aligned with our Creator and we are able to open up to creativity.

I have shared this relaxation technique with multiple people over the past seven years. It has, first and foremost, been a healing technique to focus on love, which heals rather than fear, which causes dis-ease. I have witnessed phenomenal healings. Another phenomenal outcome is enhanced creativity.

Approximately six years ago I was working in a clinic that focused on helping clients with debilitating headaches. I taught Sharon (not her real name) the above technique to help her reduce her daily migraine headache pain. She practiced the breath and heart technique 30 minutes per day. She began to see a reduction in her severe headaches from daily to 3 or 4 per month. After years of suffering, she was thrilled she was feeling better and better. She had more energy to devote to her passion of playing the bass fiddle. She practiced, formed a band with her husband and two cousins and began playing gospel for church groups.

Then she began composing songs and ended up creating a CD. She cleared an opening for creativity to be the focus. She shared with me that playing music had become her way of connecting with God. More recently I have had the pleasure of teaching many people the heart-focused technique of connecting with God through my work at the Heartfelt Healing Center. One of our clients, Brenda Carson, has had breakthrough after breakthrough in healing. She is continuing to release old patterns of fear-based thoughts and emotions that have caused dis-eases, including fibromyalgia and breast cancer. As these dis-eases have healed, she has opened up more space for love, compassion, joy, service and connection with her “Heavenly Father.” This has also opened up space for creativity.

30 MARCH 2009

She is in the process of starting two new businesses. One is called “Ashe County Chow Chow, Straight from the Heart.” Her plans are to hire women who have struggled in their recent life and to create a family-like working environment to support them financially and emotionally. Proceeds will go to building a shelter for homeless women in Ashe County.

Her second business is called “The Olive Branch.” Brenda is an excellent pastry chef. She has produced pumpkin rolls and pistachio delights that melt in your mouth. She has altered the recipes so that these scrumptious desserts still taste delicious yet are healthier, made with spelt flour, organic sugar, sea salt and antibiotic- and steroid-free products.

Other artistic talents that have blossomed include creating impeccable and beautiful embroidery work and writing poetry.

She is flowing in a light that sparkles, glows and radiates love and creativity.

Myra Trivette is another woman who has gone through some remarkable transitions since she began practicing and focusing on the heart work and love. When she first came to the Heartfelt Healing Center, she was very fatigued and had severe pain in her joints and muscles. She was not able to function fully having to choose whether to put energy into work or her family but not able to do both. She was very frustrated because she was not receiving answers from her physician as to the core cause of her pain and fatigue.

After practicing the heart work, she began to feel better physically. The next layer of healing involved getting in touch with what she wanted in life and fully expressing herself. One of her relatives had described her as a tight box bound by chains. She now sees herself as “an open box sharing treasures that keep on growing.” Her sister had described her as a shadow and now sees her as a light, a guide and inspiration for other people. She, too, glows with love and peace.

She has created a business, “Beautiful Indian Girl,” where she takes recyclable materials and makes beautiful vessels capturing the essence of the person requesting it. Ten percent of her profits go to a charity. A goal she and her husband have created together is to invite children and teenagers with a health, social or academic challenge in life to their farm where they can interact with farm animals. Myra believes that there will be a healing for all involved through love and fun.

Karen Norris has experienced a creative opening, both within her self as well as within her home. As she began practicing the heart work, her creative juices were re-awakened. She’d had art supplies galore, yet just had not utilized them recently. She reorganized her home, cleared space for her art projects and began using colors and shapes to capture the essence of friends and family. Creating has brought her joy and a feeling of lightness.

There are so many other stories to share. Again, I invite you to practice the relaxation technique described above for a suggested time period of thirty minutes a day so you can open up to the creative potential that lies within you. www.aawmag.com

Irish Soda Bread

St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 14th from 10 - 5.

Come enjoy samples of Irish Soda Bread and door prizes!

Directions from Boone

Boone, NC 828.264.4443

Goals: · Support with natural supplements and homeopathic remedies · Teach techniques that help you relax into a healing state · Experience a healthy, joyful, loving and self-expressed life Services: · History and Physical Assessment · Laboratory Testing and Analysis · Electro-Dermal Screening · HeartMath Providers: · Dr. Samuel Williams, Health Practitioner · Teri Wiggans, RN, MSN

Take US 321 into Tennessee and continue into Jonesborough. At the Boone St. traffic light, turn left into Historic Downtown. At the stop sign, turn right on Main St. We are one block down on the right. Free parking behind the Courthouse.

Wear GREEN on Saturday the 14th and get 25% off one item!

423-913-2889

121 E. Main St. Jonesborough, TN 37659

www.TheCelticCupboard.com

www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 31

High Country Courtesies|BY Sharon carlton

Calling

Courtesies

Your mother didn’t teach you. Your grandmother could not have imagined that you would need to know.

However, due to the technology explosion that has made mobile communication affordable, and marketing strategies that persuade us of its necessity, cell phones have invaded our society, and we all need a crash course in cell phone courtesy.

Though there are wonderful advantages of being able to communicate with family, friends, and business associates virtually anywhere we go, there also exist opportunities to easily abuse that privilege by disrupting normal activities and bothering people with our conversations and texting.

How many of you have experienced a cell phone ringing at an inappropriate time or place? How many conversations have you overheard that you would rather NOT have heard? How many times have you witnessed an automobile moving haphazardly, then realized the driver was using a cell phone?

With a whopping 82.4 percent of the American population owning cell phones, this portable communication/information/ entertain-ment form has become an inevitable part of our culture.

In the U.S., 50 percent of the children own cell phones. Almost 14 percent of U.S. households use only a cell phone.

The number of cell phones has quadrupled in the last twenty years. Caught off guard, we are scrambling to address rules of courtesy in our society for this relatively new technology.

Here are some guidelines regarding where and how it is acceptable to use cell phones.

1 — Turn off your phone, or set it to vibrate rather than ring, when

you are in a public setting where quiet or respect is required.

This includes school, places of worship, restaurants, hospitals, funerals, libraries, theaters, concerts, sporting events, plays, dinners at someone’s home, family events, club/organization meetings, on airplanes, and anywhere silence is requested. If your phone does vibrate to inform you of a call, don’t answer, but wait until you can excuse yourself to respond.

2 — When talking on a cell phone in a public setting, keep your voice low. Be aware of your surroundings and stay at least 10 feet away from people. Loud tones or emotional conversations are inappropriate for public places. Watch what is going on around you, paying attention not to bump into anyone or allow yourself to move into a dangerous situation. Show consideration for others in the listening area.

3 — Do NOT use your cell phone while driving an automobile!

Statistics show that 75 percent of all accidents are caused by some form of distraction. Looking at your cell phone – however briefly – takes your attention away from your driving. Because

32 MARCH 2009

of the increased number of accidents involving cell phone use, several states, including New York and California (where hands-free devices are allowed), Connecticut, and New Jersey, have laws making driving while using cell phones illegal.

According to research published in Forbes magazine, reaction time is reduced by 9 percent while talking on a cell phone and driving. About 50 percent of the driver’s visual environment is not processed when he or she is talking on a phone while driving. If your phone rings while you are driving, don’t answer; wait until you can safely stop to respond. Safety first!

4 — When in the company of others, make them your priority.

Avoid talking on your phone or texting while interacting with other persons, whether you are in a store, a business setting, or a restaurant. If you are expecting an important call, notify your present company that you may need to accept a call. When the call comes, excuse yourself, move to as private a setting as possible to take the call, keep your conversation short, and return as soon as possible. Showing respect to the person who is with you takes precedence over phone conversations.

5 — In public, whether you are with others or are alone, keep

your calls short and to the point. Remember that you do not have to answer every call; you can wait. Your phone does not have to go everywhere that you go.

6 — Avoid annoying, distracting, or loud ringtones out of courtesy for those who may hear.

Set guidelines for children on when and how they may use their phones, and check on them. You can arrange limits to keep their calls safe (i.e., blocking outgoing 900 or long distance calls).

With the majority of our population having the potential of communicating whenever and wherever we go, we can become a society of self-absorbed, impolite individuals making public spectacles of our private conversations unless we consider the intrusive effects of our actions on others and respond accordingly.

By demonstrating respect and responsibility, we show others how to be courteous communicators.

Sharon Carlton © HCC 2009 Sharon Carlton conducts High Country Courtesies customer service workshops and is Director of High Country Cotillion, a social education program for youth. She writes and speaks on modern etiquette and life skill topics. Contact her at scarlton@ highcountrycotillion.com www.aawmag.com

The Forget-Me-Nots Fiddle Their Way Through The High Country Willa Finck, Maura Shawn Scanlin, and Ledah Finck – known collectively as The Forget-Me-Nots – are three young musicians whose musical development is integrally tied to their years growing up in the High Country.

The girls started taking violin lessons in early 1999 at the ages of two, three, and four, learning classical music via the Suzuki Method under the instruction of Nan Stricklen in Banner Elk. After learning a few fiddle tunes from Nan, the girls continued to learn tunes on their own, with the help of their parents and some well-liked CDs. The band made its official debut at the fiddler’s convention in Laurel Bloomery, TN, in the summer of 2002. The band name was a spur-of-the-moment decision for that introductory performance inspired by the fact that they all were dressed in blue.

Before long, the girls began receiving invitations to play at local events. As their classical music development blossomed, so did their Celtic fiddle repertoire, and they began to gain confidence as performers. The girls quickly began to develop a love of the music they were playing, dedicating themselves to the music and performing on a more As the stage name implies, this trio of budding entertainers will be remembered around the High Country for a long time to come. Photo submitted. regular basis.

In addition to weekly classical music lessons, violin for ten years. Encouraging daily practice when they were very the girls attended a number of summer fiddle camps, including young was accomplished through a lot of parental involvement the Swannanoa Gathering in Black Mountain; Peach Bottom and efforts to keep the process enjoyable. For example, the girls’ Fiddle Camp in Independence, Virginia; and the Ceilidh Trail dads would take them and their violins to the park for a music fiddle camp in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The girls have also had practice that also included a play date. All of the girls continue the privilege of taking short workshops with renowned fiddlers with independent daily violin practice and they try to get together such as Natalie MacMaster, Alasdair Fraser, and Laura Risk. once a week for a group practice and to share new ideas with the

Ledah and Willa’s dad, David Finck, accompanies the band. band playing backup guitar and has held the group together by

Now, as more “seasoned” performers, the trio has started handling scheduling, finances, and organizing practices. working with more harmony and arranging of their tunes, and

In recent years, The Forget-Me-Nots have had regular gigs all three girls are writing original fiddle tunes. A third CD is in at many local events, such as Mountainhome Music, Concerts on the planning stages, one that the band hopes will consist mostly the Lawn at the Jones House in Boone, Valle Crucis Park summer of original work. They are also experimenting with adding new concert series, Heritage Days at the Moses Cone Estate in Blowing instruments, including cello, flute, and bodhran.

Rock, and the MusicFest in Sugar Grove. The band also performs

The girls say that they get a lot of fun out of making – and at weddings and house parties, and occasionally travels farther performing – music. They also appreciate the fact that, by afield to play events in places like Jonesborough, Tennessee, and sharing their music, they have been able to inspire other young Raleigh. musicians.

A performing highlight for the girls was being invited to do

If you haven’t seen this group perform, make a point of doing a show on the Cabin Stage at Merlefest in 2007. The band has so. Their enjoyment of the music is plain to see and the music they recorded two CDs and recently contributed a track to a collection make is a delight to hear. To read more about The Forget-Meof regional music commissioned by the Mast Store.

Nots, hear a video clip, purchase a CD, see their performance

Although it might look easy, making music requires a lot of schedule, or inquire about booking the band for an event, visit hard work and dedication, the girls agree. Willa, Maura Shawn, their Web site at: www.theforgetmenots.com. and Ledah (now 12, 13, and 14 years old) have been playing www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 33

Relatively new to the area, Laura Kaufman has found her place among the area’s talented musicians and vocalists. Photo by Mark Mitchell.

Laura Kaufman The Voice of an Angel

BY SHERRIE NORRIS Since moving to the High Country several years ago, Ohio native Laura Kaufman has found her place among the area’s talented musicians and vocalists. Her angelic though powerful voice is often heard at local venues and her recorded music is played repeatedly by those seeking to relax the body, mind and soul.

Laura sings what she knows, having reached into her own heart and life experiences to write healing lyrics for those needing to escape the hurt. From infants to those people in their last days of life and everyone in between, Laura Kaufman’s music brings comfort to any situation.

“My dad left my mom, my brother and me when I was a year old to join a religious sect. I remember a time during the divorce when my mom and big brother were crying in the car and I sang a nursery rhyme to cheer them up.

34 MARCH 2009

“We lived with my grandparents for a while, and my mom worked several jobs to support us. My aunt and uncle invited us to live with them for a while, which was an amazing blessing. I have such good memories of that time!

“When I was four years old, a wonderful man named Dan Showers came into our lives. I loved him immediately and prayed that, if I could have anybody as my daddy, it would be Dan. My guardian angel must have heard me - soon afterward, he and my mom got married.”

Laura’s stepfather has been a great inspiration to her from the beginning - a musician who gave up life on the road for his family. “I remember Dan would sing songs from the radio with me.”

The family moved from Columbus, Ohio to the small town of Sugarcreek where Dan had grown up. They lived there until Laura graduated from high school. www.aawmag.com

It was there that Laura launched into songwriting. “I was in love with my little tape recorder. I would be in my room for hours writing songs and my mom would have to remind me to eat.” Laura also spent countless hours singing and composing in the family’s big backyard and adjoining field.

One of the first female voices to “really touch my heart,” Laura says, was Amy Grant. “I would sing along with her in the car and at home and just cry. Her lyrics would move me so much! I wanted to write music that glorified God, because I understood from a young age that He really loved me and I could actually feel His presence.”

Laura’s mother and stepfather offered great support. “Dan gave me his guitar when I was 14. I was determined to play it by the age of 15 so I could accompany myself and I did. At 15, I recorded my first album, Follow Christ. It was a simple recording with just me and my guitar, but it was precious. It sold over 1,000 copies!

“Mom and Dan attended all my concerts and transported me all over Ohio. They helped me take out a small loan so I could purchase a portable sound system and acoustic electric guitar. I worked at a local pizza place and was able to pay off the loan.”

Laura spent a short time with her biological father and his new family, but says, “As soon as they realized I wasn’t on board with their beliefs, they disconnected with me. Unfortunately I have had very little communication with them since then. It was a very tragic experience - like losing family members overnight. I really believe that everything happens for a reason - the pain of that experience has helped me to be more compassionate. The pain and the experience can be heard throughout my songwriting. Putting my feelings to music has been a crucial part of my healing process; it enables me to express the pain, rather than keep it inside.”

At 17, Laura met Doug Kaufman, who had just received his audio engineering degree from a school in Canada. “We met through a program at my high school called Artsweek. I was teaching a songwriting class with the help of a friend who invited Doug to come and talk about his work. I was so intrigued by him and his line of work and started asking him all sorts of questions. We started hanging out together. I knew after two weeks that he was the one! It was so wonderful to share the same vision with Doug. We had a strong sense of God paving the way for our ministry and lives together. We wrote a song together called ‘Forgiveness’ on our third or fourth date. It was so easy and comfortable – like we had played music together all of our lives.

“After dating for one year, Doug was offered a position as broadcast audio engineer at Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, which meant that he would be moving to North Carolina. Strangely enough, I felt so much peace about it,” Laura recalls.

The long-distance relationship survived through letters, phone calls and bi-monthly visits. “After high school, I moved to Boone. I house-sat for a precious couple, and also had the privilege of living in a house full of amazing Christian girls who poured love and encouragement into me. I kept writing, but all that was coming to me at the time was lullabies. I would dream about babies, and just felt this strong tug toward lullabies.”

It was a long process, Laura admits. “At first, we thought that the lullaby album would be only for friends and family - but then we decided to just put it out there. It’s been really cool to see the response from all over the world toward the music. I know that God has really used it - that is all I could have ever hoped for.”

After that album was released, Laura began writing a lot about the challenges she had experienced regarding her biological father. “It was a big part of my healing process to write about the pain and be www.aawmag.com

honest about what I was feeling – and at the time how it was affecting me.”

Out of her pain and struggle came “Photographs.” ”At the time, my older brother Bob was working on several TV shows in LA, and pitched one of my songs to a writer for 20th Century Fox. She liked the song and gave it to their music supervisor. They ended up licensing the song and using it on three different primetime television shows in 2006!

“It was such a huge encouragement at the time because I often struggled - wondering if that was this really what I was meant to do.

It was hard to pursue this ministry because it was very unpredictable.

But every time I would get discouraged, something would happen to remind me that I truly had purpose with every step I took.”

Around the same time that her song “I Believe” aired, she submitted another song to the competition at Merle Fest. “It was accepted out of about 1,000 songs, and I got to perform my song ‘Now’ with my husband Doug. It was such a great experience to be with all of those wonderfully talented musicians. We got second place in the gospel category.”

Since then, Laura and Doug have been sharing their music at women’s conferences, high schools, colleges, coffee shops, youth festivals and other venues.

When not on the road with her music, Laura gives music lessons and works at the Westglow spa. “I love both part-time jobs. Westglow has become like a family to me. I love meeting the different people who come in there!”

One of “those people” she met recently was Sharon Hayes, “an amazing artist, author, designer and songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri,” who was visiting with her sister at the spa. “We got to talking about her latest project – an online world for kids called ‘Angel Heaven World.’ She was looking for music for the site, and I told her about my lullaby CD. We had a really great time talking- it was amazing to hear about her vision.”

The meeting was a “divine appointment,” they agree. A business as well as personal relationship ensued, with Laura and Doug doing some custom recording of nursery rhymes for Sharon’s project as well as performing a few of Sharon’s original songs.

In a recent article appearing in The Cypress Times, Sharon Hayes referred to her encounter with Laura while in the High Country area.

“That evening after dinner I went to my room, sat on my bed and turned on my computer. I put her CD into my laptop and, the moment I heard her voice, my eyes filled with tears and I realized why God had sent me on this journey to the cold North Carolina mountains. Her voice is like an angel I thought, and by Friday of the following week she and her husband were both working on the production of the Angel Heaven™ songs. If you want to feel the same spiritual chills I felt visit AngelHeavenWorld.com and go to the ‘Music’ or ‘Sing Songs with Purrlee’ section. Laura Kaufman and her husband Doug are beautiful people with endless talent - and truly Heaven sent.”

With Doug at her side, Laura is in the process of recording her next album. “It’s going to be more artsy and a little more to the folk side of things. We are also in the process of exploring record labels and other avenues of distribution.”

Laura traveled to Quito, Ecuador for 10 days in February – serving alongside her dear friend Kirsten Eckstam through a missions’ organization called Incalink. She was scheduled to perform in orphanages, women’s prisons and other locations, hoping to impact lives there as she hopes to do back home for a long time to come. “I’m praying for the courage to walk through open doors and take on any new opportunities that come my way.”

MARCH 2009 35

Porterfield Keeps A

Pulse On Singing

On mid-semester afternoons, Dr. Priscilla Porterfield is charged Christmas a few years later and played at school and church until with teaching young people how to sing. Student and teacher may one of my first voice lessons in college when my voice teacher said, be found working on Mozart, Strauss, Rachmaninoff, or perhaps ‘It’s time to choose, to focus.’ a Spanish folk song. Days are filled with fielding questions of “For the next several years, I focused as a voice performance students and colleagues, going from a lesson, teaching a class, major at the University of Michigan’s prestigious School of Music directing a choir, to rehearsing with in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Many students other faculty colleagues for an upcoming ask me, ‘How could you stand to be in performance. school for so long?’ But I loved every

“The art of performance is always in minute of it. And I try to instill in them the moment,” she says. “Teaching others the appreciation for being able to learn to enjoy this process leaves me revitalized such a specialized craft.” and refreshed.”

Performing has been a passion for years,

Porterfield has had the privilege of she admits. “Some of my most rewarding teaching at the Hayes School of Music performance experiences have been at Appalachian State University for 18 with Bach festivals and chamber music years. festivals in California, Pennsylvania, and

“Living in Ann Arbor, in the midst in my home state of Michigan. Then, of working towards a doctoral degree several years ago, I had the opportunity in voice at the University of Michigan, to join with some friends and colleagues I received a phone call in the summer here in Boone as a part of an ensemble of 1990. It was from Julia Pedigo, my that performs baroque chamber music, longtime friend and colleague here. She called Harmonia Baroque.” said there was a need for a one-year Other performance opportunities replacement on the voice faculty here and stem from Priscilla’s being a part of asked if I was interested. Well, the rest is APPROPOS! – an ensemble made up history. One year turned into eighteen!” of six Hayes School of Music faculty

It has been a wonderful journey members. of personal and professional growth, “Being one of several conductors who Porterfield notes. have directed the Appalachian Treble

“There is no doubt in my mind that Choir through the years is also a fantastic God brought me here and knew that I part of my job. We’ve been able to be a would stay. My childhood was spent in part of so many community events and Detroit, as the youngest of five children. Dr. Priscilla Porterfield has had the privilege of teaching service projects.”

As a child of five or six, I can remember at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian for 18 An inspiring aspect of teaching today’s being placed at the end of the line of years. Photo submitted. college students for Priscilla is to see siblings (oldest to youngest, and tallest to shortest) on many an their positive response toward anything service-related. extended family gathering, with my mother at the piano, and Dad “Every semester, they [the students] jump at the chance to sing would say, ‘Now, everyone sing!’ at a local retirement center or nursing home or to collect shoeboxes

“We sang at birthday parties, Sunday night teas and church for Operation Christmas Child. This semester, we plan to volunteer services. There didn’t need to be a reason to get together. We just with a local ministry to the Christian Outreach Center, raising money did. And, just to make sure the evening would include singing, many for their food bank and helping to prepare meals for delivery to times we just called them ‘Sings!’ The extra folding chairs would be folks who need groceries provided.” brought out of hallway closets and one little homemade hymnal (‘of And, working with voice majors one-on-one has the unique the very best tunes,’ Dad would say) would be set on each.” advantage of seeing them change and grow. She adds, “Sometimes,

A variety of singers always surrounded Priscilla – aunts, cousins, from the time they are freshmen all the way to their senior year, they grow beautifully, not only as singers, but as individuals. It sisters and, of course, her mother and dad.

“In our family, you were never too young to sing and there was is a challenge, a high calling, and a large amount of good oldnever an excuse not to join in. She remembers her father stretching fashioned fun to walk this journey with them.”

Priscilla and her husband Doug are active members of Mount his arm across the pew and saying, “Sing, girl!”

“I would look up at my two Scottish aunts, who were regulars in Vernon Baptist Church of Boone and contribute significantly, not our row, and just marvel at the wide mouth, the hands moving the only to its choir, but also to various ministries therein. For several hymnal back and forth with enthusiasm, and the very wide mouth as years, they have volunteered time and talent in leadership roles at the last note was held high and long! I was mesmerized.” the Lighthouse – a church outreach serving the residents of Bradford

At age nine, Priscilla began piano lessons. “Piano lessons Park. were part of what you did in our family. Most of us chose another instrument as well – mine was the violin. I received a violin for 36 MARCH 2009

www.aawmag.com

Remembering Ora Watson

By Mark Freed of the Watauga County Arts Council

“Music keeps me young,” Ora Watson often told her friends and gone over the years. It would take many pages of this magazine to fellow musicians. Known to generations for her youthful spirit, Ora list all of the musicians, groups, and events that Ora participated passed away last March at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy in over the years. of music and dancing that touched the lives of many people in Throughout Ora’s long life, she put smiles on faces with her light-hearted personality, energetic fiddling, and flatfoot dancing, Watauga County and the surrounding region.

Ora grew up in western Watauga County where she first started playing music with her family and friends. Her father was a banjo player, her mother a singer of church hymns and folk songs, and her cousin, Charles Isaacs, was a fiddler. Ora started performing on fiddle with her sister and her cousin as The Isaac Sisters before she was a teenager, and she talked about her father driving the group around in a ModelT Ford. “Back then there were more women bands,” Ora remembered in an interview several years ago. She recalled performing at a fiddlers’ convention in front of the old Boone courthouse in which several female bands participated.

Ora married at age 17 to Dean Payne, and they had four children together. Dean died tragically while Ora was pregnant with her fourth child, so she moved to her parents’ land to farm and rear the children. During Ora Watson was still full of life and music when she passed away at age 96.

Photo taken in 2004 by Marie Freeman. this time, Ora mostly played at home and at church. As her children grew up, she began performing again. She met Arlie Watson while playing music at which she often did simultaneously while playing fiddle. Though Jack Guy’s folk toys store, and the two were married in 1969. Ora mostly known for her fiddling, Ora was also adept at guitar and banjo, and she liked to sing. and Arlie performed and recorded together for about ten years.

When Arlie passed away in 1979, Ora continued her musical I met Ora toward the end of her life. Though in her 90s, she career, joining the Blue Ridge Ramblers. The group played dances was still full of life and music. The night we met, she had performed and area events together off and on for nearly 15 years. During for a function with the Laurel Creek String Band at Hardin Park this time, Ora met Mary Greene and the two formed a friendship School. The show was over around 9:30 p.m., but Ora was still that helped create “The Cacklin’ Hens.” Other members of this full of energy. She and Cecil Gurganus came over to my house (mostly) female string band included Beth Jones, Barbara Bona, and Ora played banjo and fiddle tunes until after 11 p.m. Aside Amy Michels, and occasionally Alfred Michels. from being impressed that a 93-year-old would hang out until 11 Ora also started performing with the Laurel Creek String Band p.m. playing tunes and dancing, her two-finger banjo picking of in the early 1990s with Mary, Cecil Gurganus, and Rick Stone. The “Shortning Bread” made my hair stand on end. group made a recording in 1994, and they helped successfully Ora was so full of life, it is amazing she lived as long as she nominate Ora for the North Carolina Heritage Award, which she did. Cecil remembers, “Even when she could no longer dance, due to inner ear problems, she would sit on the sofa fiddling, with received in 1995.

In addition to the different performing groups Ora played with, her feet just a-working, or give two hands to a partner so she could she was also a regular at area jams, including the Cove Creek stand up and dance.” and Boone senior centers, the Thompson Seafood Restaurant jams Ora is certainly dancing in heaven, and I hope they are playing (with Doc Watson), and other local gatherings that have come and her favorite tune, “Ragtime Annie.” www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 37

The Butterpats

Tradition To Another

Generation

Arwen and Lorien Cockman, daughters of John and Jennifer Cockman of Boone, are continuing the Cockman family custom with a desire - from an early age - to sing and perform traditional music. They call themselves The Butterpats and their accomplishments already are surprising.

At seven, Lorien is considered the “entertainer” of the duo as she puts a lot of feeling into her singing (lead and harmony) and playing (piano and banjo).

Arwen, eight years old, plays piano, mandolin, and fiddle.

She also sings lead and harmony and is an expert yodeler. Arwen performs much of the instrumentation on their CD entitled “The Flyaway Horse,” which includes three original numbers they composed together.

Both girls take piano lessons from Christina Hayes through the Appalachian State University Community Music School. They also participate in the Junior Appalachian Musician (JAM) program through the Watauga Arts Council, where Lorien learns old-time banjo from Randy Sheets and Mark Freed, and Arwen learns oldtime fiddle from Emily Schaad.

The girls have in their favor a rich musical family heritage.

Their father John, an accomplished fiddler, performs regularly with The Cockman Family, his family’s bluegrass and gospel group, which has been nominated for Bluegrass Group of the Year by the Country Gospel Music Association and the International Country Gospel Music Association. They were also selected as one of the 12 Most Creative Families in America by American Greetings Cards and USA Today Weekend. John is the Director of Laboratories in the Physics and Astronomy Department at ASU and performs locally with eclectic acoustic band. Amantha Mill.

Jennifer, largely responsible for her daughters’ vocal and musical training, is a gifted musician in her own right (piano, flute, and resophonic guitar). She home schools her daughters, which enables them to travel and perform throughout the year.

Arwen and Lorien perform regularly with The Cockman Family and were part of the PBS Christmas Special entitled Maker of the The Butterpats are spreading their talents across the High Country and Stars: A Cockman Family Christmas. beyond, keeping alive a rich family tradition. Photo submitted.

John and Jennifer recently spent a week in historic Williamsburg, Among the girls’ musical heroes are Riders in the Sky, Nickel VA, where the girls dressed in period costume and participated in Creek, and Robin Warren.

Colonial reenactments. They also visited New York, where several Many people are curious about their name. When Jennifer of John’s fiddle tunes were featured in an off-Broadway play. The asked her daughters about naming their duet, Lorien replied that Butterpats performed with Doc Watson and David Holt in Lake they should be called The Butterpats because they love to eat Junaluska’s Appalachian Christmas. butter so much. Jennifer says, “They would happily live on a diet Other recent performances include Merlefest, Music Fest in of nothing but butter, which they make for themselves (using a Sugar Grove, Singing on the Mountain, High Country Bluegrass mixer, not a churn).”

Festival, Smokey Mountain Folk Festival, Catch the Spirit of

At home, they tend a miniature farm that includes bantam Appalachia, Old Time Fiddlers and Bluegrass Festival, Doyle chickens, mini-lop rabbits, and Nigerian dwarf goats.

Lawson Bluegrass Festival, Coastal NC Bluegrass Association “The Flyaway Horse” is available locally at the Appalachian Festival and SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show in Nashville, Music Shoppe, or online at www.cdbaby.com/butterpats.

TN. 38 MARCH 2009

www.aawmag.com

Art In Progress, History In The Making

BY CORRINNE LOUCKS

“Bold is Better” is the motto as Blowing Rock Art & History Museum the years. She first came to Blowing Rock in 1969 and returned (BRAHM) presses on to complete its capital campaign, cultivate 30 years later, much to the delight of the Blowing Rock Community. membership and broaden its base in 2009. Since inception in 1999, Joanne served as an assistant director for TX Children’s Hospital in organizers of the museum have been on a mission to “promote the Houston for eight years where she raised over $69 million for the TX visual arts, history and heritage of the mountains through educational Medical Community of hospitals. She was then wooed by DePelchin programs, exhibitions and significant permanent collections” in the Children’s Center to become their vice-president of development.

High Country.

When her daughters came to the Carolinas for school – Aime to With Executive Director Joanne Mitchell leading the way, great Furman and Charlotte to UNC Chapel Hill – Joanne decided it was things continue to happen. time to quench her longing for the The organization first formed outdoors of North Carolina. when Blowing Rock community

Blowing Rock Hospital was members, Lamont and Cora convinced it needed her expertise Hudson, offered to gift artwork in promotions and fundraising, so by renowned, locally influenced she worked there for seven years artist Elliott Daingerfield. Spending beginning in 1999. Joanne met summers in Blowing Rock in “many fabulous people” through the late 1800’s, Daingerfield her job, including community purchased land on which he built members of influence via the Edgewood Cottage (now Chestnut Blowing Rock Hospital’s annual and Main). His two additional fashion show. She was treasurer summer homes, Windwood from and membership chairperson on 1900 and Westglow from 1913, the board when the president, also remain as treasures today. announcing that a Director for Daingerfield became best known BRAHM was needed, urged her to for his religious murals and, later, consider the position. landscapes inspired by North Since joining BRAHM in Carolina’s mountains. An altar 2005, this “quiet phase” has the picture, Madonna of the Hills, was Joanne Mitchell (left) and Kelly Henson. Photo submitted. appearance of being anything presented to his church, St. Mary of but quiet for Joanne and the the Hills in Blowing Rock, in 1918. Elliott Daingerfield’s works hang organization. The museum has sponsored summer programs such in the Metropolitan Museum, The National Gallery, The Mint Museum as the Art & Antique Shows and local artists exhibits with Blowing of Art, Reynolds House Museum of American Art, among others, and Rock Framing Company. They have facilitated trips to other museums now in the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. across the country – Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia – as well Such a gift excited the community and inspired talks leading to as day trips to view art and history in Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham and the forming of BRAHM, which incorporated in 2001 and received Greensboro. official 501c, non-profit status shortly thereafter. In 2003 BRAHM BRAHM is contributing to Blowing Rock Elementary’s art program was granted a long-term lease on the same property on the corner in support of art education in the 2008/2009 school year. Daily of Chestnut and Main that holds Daingerfield’s Edgewood Cottage. tasks for Joanne and her co-worker Kelly Henson include any and The organization began soliciting respected members from the all activities supporting the $5 million raised and an additional $1 community who were offered the opportunity to participate in the million needed this year to nurture the capital campaign. They work to process of building the museum and to support the artistic and cultural cultivate the existing membership as well as broaden the membership environment of Blowing Rock and the region. base. They participate in speaking engagements and work closely Regarding fundraising – We’ve been in a quiet phase from 2005 with other community organizations to promote the art and history of until now,” Joanne Mitchell says. The goal during this time was to the area. raise the funds necessary to construct the tri-level, 21,000-square-foot Joanne emphasized her goal of making and maintaining these building in downtown Blowing Rock, across from Rumple Presbyterian connections with other organizations. She is working on a dream of and St. Mary’s of the Hills churches. BRAHM board members visited organizing a “Museum Trail” in the High Country, with collaboration other museums of similar size and function before determining the of art and cultural organizations and events meant to attract people specs for the new building. They decided it was important to fit in with to the area. She looks forward to BRAHM’s future collaborations with the residential and business feel of Main Street by utilizing mountain the Hayes Performing Arts Center in ways yet unidentified and spoke materials such as wood and stone and colors in keeping with the natural of BRAHM’s anticipation of increased alliance with local artist, Bob landscape. The museum will house exhibitions, workshops, lectures, Timberlake. classes, a theater, administrative offices and an outdoor sculpture Groundbreaking for the new museum begins this spring, but garden. With a good portion of the funds raised, groundbreaking exhibits, shows and events will be sponsored by BRAHM throughout begins this spring and it is time to “Blow The Trumpet!” says Joanne. the year. Keep up with the calendar and see samples of collections, as These western NC mountains have offered a summer retreat from well as the new museum plans, by visiting www.blowingrockmuseum. the hot winds of Houston, TX to Joanne and her family throughout org.

www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 39

Celebrating Red Cross Month And Women Behind The Scenes

From left to right: Lucy Binning, Brenda Binning, Lynn Norwood, Sonny Sweet,Tracey Wright, Judith Bevan. Photo by “Yogi” Collins.

BY YOZETTE “YOGI” COLLINS Since 1943, presidential proclamations have honored March as “Red Cross Month,” providing the organization ample opportunity to promote its services and honor its volunteers who make up 97 percent of the Red Cross workforce and are vital to its success. “Volunteers,” says Sonny Sweet, Executive Director of the Watauga County chapter, “are the heart of the Red Cross.”

Join us in saluting a few of those unsung heroines who fulfill the commitment of the local Red Cross to aid people in need.

A Daily Reminder

Lynn Norwood began volunteering as a first aid instructor 18 years ago. Two years ago, she became the second of only two paid employees in the local chapter. As administrative assistant, Lynn is the Director of Health and Safety Services overseeing all first aid and CPR classes, recruiting and training instructors.

She began working with Red Cross as a teenager in WinstonSalem, but the importance of CPR training struck home one night when she, as a young mother, was home alone with her tenmonth-old daughter. When checking on the infant who was sick with an extremely high fever, Lynn made a frightening discovery.

“Her lips were blue when I found her in her crib at 2:30 a.m. If I hadn’t known what to do, I would not have my daughter today.”

To Lynn, CPR training is so important, but so often easily overlooked, that she would like to see legislation requiring CPR training before anyone receives a driver’s license.

Meanwhile, she enjoys a job that is worthwhile and rewarding.

“I love it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. There’s nothing like working where you feel you can make a difference. With every class I teach, I give someone the tools they need to potentially save a life.”

The Heart of Community

Judith Bevan’s involvement in Red Cross began when she was a 3-and-a-half-year-old girl in need of open-heart surgery. Now fully recovered with no ill effects from the surgery, she recognizes

40 MARCH 2009

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that the numerous blood transfusions she received as a child came from people in her community. “It’s things like that which really make community important and I wanted to give back to my community,” Judith says.

She began “giving back” as a blood donor and has been a volunteer with the Watauga County Red Cross for over 20 years. Her extensive service and commitment include her current position as secretary on the Board of Directors, member of the Service Delivery Committee, and as instructor in CPR and first aid. She also served as a past co-chair of the board and says of the local Red Cross, “It’s just a great chapter. It’s unbelievable the volunteers who help us with our fundraising efforts. I can’t say enough about Sonny [Sweet]. We were about to lose our chapter before he came. Now we’re one of the strongest in the state!”

the disaster. “The people needing help were grateful and gracious and the people helping them were gracious. [After helping these people,] you better believe I came home thankful for my blessings.”

A Sweet Addition

Though Sonny Sweet is paid to do his job, we would be remiss not mention his valuable contributions. When Sweet accepted his job in 1995, the chapter was in danger of losing its charter. “I found out I had accepted a job in a place that was going out of business. If I wanted a job, I needed to turn the Watauga County chapter around.” By all accounts, Sweet turned the chapter around so that it is one of the strongest in the state, serving not only Watauga County but also the surrounding area.

That’s sweet.

The ‘Wright” Woman for the Job

Tracey Wright’s job at ASU opened the door for her to work with the school’s Black Student Association on their annual blood drive. With Tracey’s leadership, the BSA far surpassed the goals suggested by the local Red Cross chapter and signed up so many first-time blood donors that Tracey was asked to be a member of the Board of Directors.

Though humble, she is extremely proud to work with the Red Cross. “It’s one of those community agencies that provide service to any member of the community regardless of their socioeconomic status,” Wright says. “You can always count on your local chapter to provide service.”

To Tracey, Red Cross Month means, “recognizing and celebrating the hundreds of volunteers who give their time to provide training and workshops to our community. It’s also a time for our community to reflect on the service and contributions citizens and businesses make for our chapter to be able to carry out the wonderful services the [local] Red Cross does provide.”

A Family Affair

Brenda Binning’s father is somewhat responsible for her Red Cross volunteerism. While piloting a B-17 on his last mission during World War II, his plane was shot down over Germany.

Captured days later, he spent 1 ½ years as a POW. The packages that the Red Cross sent to POWs – with chocolate, playing cards and other items to remind them of home – was, as Binning puts it, “a bright spot for him during that time.”

Currently the chairman of the Service Delivery Committee, which is responsible for disaster relief and other relief service, Binning has been a Red Cross volunteer since she was 16. The activism “bug” has spread to her husband and two daughters who also volunteer with the Red Cross in Boone, helping with Blood, Sweat & Gears, an annual fundraiser to aid the disaster services program.

“I always felt like it was a good organization to be a part of.

I’m proud of the growth our chapter has accomplished under Sonny’s leadership.”

The Heart of the Local Red Cross

Becky Councill served on the local chapter’s Board of Directors for 18 years after being asked by a friend to join. “It turned out to be one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences I ever had. The most appealing part of the Red Cross is the fact that anyone who needs help is served. We help everybody.”

A highlight for Councill was working with the approximately 80 Hurricane Katrina “families” who came to the area following

www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 41

Crys Matthews,

W

Award Winning Singer/Songwriter

inner of the 2007 Regional Artist Project of The Council’s Mark Freed adds, “Crys has won a Northwest North Carolina, Crys Matthews couple of Regional Artist Project grants from the Watauga can be found on most nights in Boone at Arts Council and she will be joining the Arts Council board Café Portofino, Higher Grounds Coffee of directors this year. She is just starting to break out with Shop, or Murphy’s Pub with other local and talented musicians.

A native of southeastern North Carolina, Crys came to Boone in 1998 as a music education major at Appalachian State University. “Most people don’t know that my first love was actually the clarinet and not the keys or guitar,” she jokes. After winning a talent show at ASU in 2002, Crys decided to stop talking herself out of singing in public and to give performing a shot.

Offering an eclectic blend of funk, blues, and jazz, singer/songwriter Crys brings a refreshing new subgenre to music lovers of all ages and backgrounds. With influences ranging from Otis Redding all the way to Ani DiFranco and having been compared to artists as diverse in sound and style as Jill Scott and Tracy Chapman, it’s no wonder there isn’t a box large enough to encompass what she likes to call “FuBlueJazz.”

Offering an eclectic blend of funk, blues, and jazz, singer/songwriter Crys Matthews brings a “Music has always been a part of my refreshing new subgenre to music lovers of all ages and backgrounds. Photo submitted. life, even before I actually took my first breath,” she says. The daughter of a preacher, the 28-year- her music, performing at venues and festivals across the old admits that gospel music was her first love. “I’m always country. I really think she has a promising career ahead of amazed at how much true soul music sounds like what I her.” grew up listening to in church when I was a little girl,” she Last May, Crys was selected to perform in the OUT/ says. That gospel influence is very evident throughout her LOUD in Eugene, OR, the largest festival of its kind in the own music, especially in “Gratitude” and in the track she Pacific Northwest. She has just returned from that event and often refers to as a love letter for anyone who has ever had she says it was her wake-up call. “I used to listen to my to leave someone: “2,000 Miles.” mother talk about getting “the call” and realizing she was “Crys’s music is delightfully eclectic and she’s always very meant to be a minister and how that felt. When I walked off well received by our audiences. In our mountain community of the stage in Eugene, I understood exactly what she was there is a tendency to feature bluegrass, old-time, and talking about.” traditional music, so Crys’s blend of funk and blues is a Crys has a strong fan base stretching from the High refreshing change, even for the die-hard bluegrass fans,” Country, where she is a regular performer, to venues in says Cherry Johnson, Executive Director of the Watauga Georgia, Florida, Washington, DC, and everywhere in County Arts Council. between.

42 MARCH 2009

www.aawmag.com

Jennifer Gillenwater-

Teacher, Musician, “Half Hillbilly And Flatlander”

Jennifer Gillenwater, a teacher for over 19 years who is currently at Johnson County High School, is found most weekends playing her flute, dulcimer or guitar while singing for Family Ties Bluegrass and Gospel Band. With cousin Roger Norris, she plays at Carolina BBQ in Newland at least once a month, in the homes of ailing or elderly neighbors, at area churches and at their home church of Flat Springs Baptist Church, which is where they first began playing together about two years ago. They have also played the Woolly Worm Festival, Old Butler Days, Butler General Store, Watauga Lake Experience, Trade Grist Mill, Old Hampton Store and Shirley’s Restaurant.

“I guess my favorite place to play is the Trade Mill in the summertime,” Gillenwater states, “when we are the house band for Appalachian Service Project, an organization based at the old Trade School in which different groups of teenagers from around the USA come every week to aid in building, repairing and helping local families. Those kids – and adults – love our mountain music and are the best audience! Many of them stick around after the concert and we have a good, oldfashioned sing-a-long. It always surprises me that people from Jennifer Gillenwater, a school teacher and accomplished musician says, “It as far away as Maine can be drawn to bluegrass music.” always surprises me that people from as far away as Maine can be drawn to Describing herself as “half hillbilly and flatlander,” Gillenwater first moved to the area in 1987 when she began bluegrass music.” Photo submitted. her career as an elementary Spanish teacher at Parkway accident. I went back up to my class and the students were watching Elementary School in Watauga County, after getting her B.A. in the TV there, too. Then the second plane hit, and everyone knew Romance Languages from the University of Georgia. Her love of it was much more than an accident. I got very emotional and the all things Hispanic transpired during her senior year of high school students put their arms around me and told me to go home and when she spent one year as an exchange student in Spain with call my family. That’s exactly what I did. I remember hurrying home “Youth For Understanding.” through the streets of that town – La Unión – crying and trying not Even in her early years as a teacher, she loved to incorporate to draw attention to myself (an impossible feat since I was probably music in her lessons and soon became known as the singing, the only ‘Gringa’ some of the villagers had ever seen). Finally, I dancing, puppet-wielding Spanish Teacher. After earning her got home and tried calling the U.S., but of course, it was hours Master’s degree from ASU in 1996, she moved to Colorado to before I could get through. While trying to figure out the news on teach Bilingual Education in the Denver schools, and then on to TV, students and colleagues from the school – as well as complete secondary education in Rifle, Colorado, before receiving the strangers – began to come by my house with food or just kind Fulbright Scholarship in 2001. She taught English in southern Chile words, making sure I was okay. It blew me away! From that point, I for one year. had so many friends and was treated like royalty the entire year.”

“The whole year seemed like a fantasy, the most amazing The 9/11 experience made Gillenwater realize that Colorado experience of my life. The scenery was spectacular – glaciers, was just too far away from her southern roots. When she returned volcanoes, the bluest lakes I’ve ever seen, miles of unspoiled, to the States, she returned to the Appalachian Mountains where she deserted beaches. I remember doing a seven-day backpacking met her husband, Michael Gillenwater. The couple now reside in trip along the beach with a couple of Chilean teachers from my Poga along the Elk River, next to Jennifer’s mother, author Frances school. The only people we met were locals who were diving for Henson VanLandingham, who gave her a mountain dulcimer, shellfish or collecting seaweed to sell, or the older couple whose thus inspiring her once more to play music – “especially mountain house was the only one we saw the first five days, who invited us in music.” for dinner. It was surreal. The best part of the whole year, though, Gillenwater has also written several songs. “They just won’t was the people. I made life-long friends and will never forget the leave you alone until you get them on paper and learn how they go kindness they showed me, especially on 9/11. I cannot describe the on your instrument.” experience of being out of your country when it is attacked. Even Here’s a little bit of Jennifer’s latest song, a light-hearted, fun now when I recall it, I feel like crying. At that time, I had only been number called “Flat Tire Breakdown”: in Chile for about two months when it happened and didn’t really Five cars have passed me by; finally the next one pulls aside. know that many people yet.”

He said, honey, darlin’ sugar pie. Get in your car, take cover, and On that day, Jennifer left her classroom, and went to the faculty get dry. I’ll have your spare on in a jiffy; By the way, you look mighty lounge at the 10-minute recess for a cup of tea. “The first plane spiffy. No, I can’t take your money, don’t you know? I’m your 3rd had just hit and at that point, everyone thought it was just a horrible cousin, Billy Joe. www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 43

5 9 At

BY SHERRIE NORRIS

“Miss Bessie” Is Still Preserving Mountain Hertage

Full of life at 95, award-winning balladeer and storyteller Bessie Eldreth can dance a jig at the drop of a hat. “I’ve never been able to just sit without wanting to jump up and kick up my heels!”

At her granddaughter’s recent wedding reception, the music was “just too much” for her. “I felt kinda silly but asked my daughter if she cared if I got up and danced. She told me to go ahead, so I did. The harder I danced, the harder the band played! There’s nothing wrong with dancing – they did it in the Bible.”

Known far and wide for her dramatic ballads and ghost tales, her wit, wisdom and random moves to a good fiddle tune, “Miss Bessie,” as she is fondly known, has claimed numerous coveted awards and opportunities, including the 1994 Brown-Hudson Folklore Award and the 1998 North Carolina Folk Heritage Award.

She has been featured in various publications and documentaries, not the least of which was Patricia Sawin’s “Listening for a Life: A Dialogic Ethnography of Bessie Eldreth Through Her Songs and Stories,” published by Utah State University Press, 2004.

She was also visited in her country home in the mid ‘70s by Hollywood actress Stella Stevens, who came down the curvy Castleford Road with an entourage of “fancy cars and cameras,” to include Bessie in a feature-length Photo by Sherrie Norris. film she produced and directed called “The American Heroine.”

“I never did see it, so I don’t know if she put me in the final film or not.” As a reminder, a large autographed poster of Stevens continues to hold a place of honor in the Eldreth home.

A lifelong resident of the area, “Miss Bessie” has performed in countless venues, representing North Carolina’s traditional culture in concerts and festivals across the southeast and as far away as New York City and Washington, D.C.

Despite her fame, Bessie says, “I’m just me. None of that attention has ever done a thing to change who I am.”

She began singing at the age of three and has been singing 44 MARCH 2009

all of her life, “No matter where I was or what I was doin,’ my faith and my songs have brought me through – good times and bad. I never let my heartaches or my work keep me from singing.”

At age 11, she and her sister had their own team of horses and would be in the barn before daylight harnessing them up for a full day’s work. “We’d take them up on the mountain and drag out timber all day. Then, we’d use a crosscut saw and cut it up. We’d come in so tired at night that we could hardly move, but I’d still be a’singing.”

She married at 16 at her mother’s insistence. “The day I married, I threw myself down in a big old field and cried ‘til I thought I would die.”

As her family grew, her hard work continued. “My husband never was too industrious. I worked like a horse many days for fifty cents. I sold my only pair of shoes for two dollars one time and then used the money to buy a pig so I could feed my young’uns.”

Only a short time before her husband’s death in 1976 did she begin to perform publicly. “He didn’t like it one bit, but it was part of who I was and I realized it was something that might help somebody.”

Her first public appearance was before a large audience “of big- shot lawyers and doctors from all over. I was so nervous, I was shakin’ all over. I wish I’d had me a nerve pill when I went out on that stage, but by the time it was over, I felt right at home.”

She quickly overcame stage fright, she admits, but has never been more comfortable singing anywhere than in church. “I just love my church (Tabernacle Baptist) and have sung in the choir for as long as I can remember. The Lord gave me my talent and I always believed if I didn’t use it for him, he would take it away.”

Claiming a repertoire of 200 songs or more, most of which are preserved in memory as well as in her hand-written ballad books, Bessie Eldreth has made an outstanding contribution to music in the mountains and to the preservation of our heritage. www.aawmag.com

Honor Your Mother

in the May issue of All About Women of the High Country magazine Submit her name, a clear close-up photo and a message of 20 words or less with $49.95 to All About Women Magazine, 474 Industrial Park Dr. Boone NC 28607

Hurry - Limited Space!

Each tribtute will measure approximately 2” x 2”

Deadline is April 1, 2009 EXAMPLE

Happy Mother’s Day I hope that you have a wonderful day! You know that you deserve one.

Your son, Garrett

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Boone Service League

Plans Annual Spring Benefit

Boone Service League (BSL) announces plans for an afternoon of fabulous fashions, food, fun and shopping on Saturday, April 4. The League’s Annual Spring Benefit will be held at The Inn at Crestwood off Shulls Mills Road from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and will include silent and live auctions and plenty of entertainment.

Various items, services, gift certificates, vacations and more from the High Country and beyond will be up for grabs at this year’s auctions.

The fashion show will spotlight an assortment of everyday, casual and fine attire – compliments of area shops and boutiques.

As the organization’s largest fundraiser, the Spring Benefit combines with other events throughout the year to provide assistance to many people in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties.

BSL provides six scholarship programs for middle and high school students and rising college freshmen each year. The organization also provides assistance for general operating funds and special projects for local non-profit organizations that operate in the High Country, such as the Foster Children’s Program, Habitat for Humanity, Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, Hospice, Hospitality House, New River Behavioral Health Care, OASIS, Parents As Teachers, The Playhouse, Rainbow Center Landship House, Watauga County Schools, Watauga Education Foundation, Watauga County Humane Society, WAMY, WeCan, and many other groups. Members are also involved in hands-on service projects such as Meals on Wheels, Adopt a Street, Habitat for Humanity and many others.

This organization, living up to its motto, A Heart for the High Country, uses all the money it raises for the High Country and provides an opportunity for women in the area to show how much they care about our community.

A spokesperson says, “The women of BSL are honored to work in a community that is caring and giving. It never ceases to amaze us how willing our community is to do whatever it takes to keep the people of the High Country fed, healthy, clothed, sheltered, and educated. This event provides a way for local individuals and businesses to play a part in making our community the kind of home that we want for neighbors and ourselves.”

This year’s grant and scholarship recipients will be honored during this event.

Tickets are $35 each and $60 per couple and may be purchased from any BSL member or online at www.booneserviceleague.org.

Included in the ticket price are: lunch, a live and silent auction bid number, entertainment, admission to the fashion show and a treat bag filled with many sample items and coupons from High Country businesses. Get your ticket early because space is limited.

For more information on the Boone Service League, please visit www. booneserviceleague.org.

MARCH 2009 45

Dottie Sykes

Director Extraordinaire

Photo by Mark Mitchell.

Dottie Sykes’s inspiration to be a children’s choir director stems from her mother’s example. When her mother passed away, countless people relayed how she had positively influenced their lives through her joy of music. Dottie realized she shared her mother’s passion for music, children, and teaching.

After graduating from Meredith College in Raleigh with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, Dottie taught music in Greenville, SC, Winston-Salem, and Wilmington. In 1980, she and her childhood sweetheart husband, Dr. Charlie Sykes, moved to Boone to start his medical practice.

The local Presbyterian-Methodist Children’s Choir began with a challenge. “During Vacation Bible School, our pastor’s twelve-year-old son started asking me to become the director of the children’s choir,” recalled Dottie. After his non-stop campaigning, Dottie agreed to his request on the condition he had 20 children signed up by Friday of that week. “He did it! There were 35 children by the end of the first year!” Dottie said. After 28 years of encouraging, loving, and instructing hundreds of High Country youth, she is still going strong, with a current choir of 85 children.

She sparkles with enthusiasm for her work. “Children are spontaneous, honest, affectionate, and eager; I just adore them,” she shared. Concerning the music, Dottie said, “I don’t think anything on earth stirs the soul like music. The most difficult part is selecting music that is worthy of a place in the library of a child’s mind.”

46 MARCH 2009

Dottie’s vision for the choir extends beyond the children’s performances. “My goal is to mold and shape their character, to teach them about the Christian faith, and to help them grow in that faith. Through the rehearsals and performances they learn to be servants – hopefully, life-long servants.”

She has high expectations for each year’s choir, conducting structured rehearsals and performances with firm discipline. At each practice she cajoles her students to give their best. “You can do that better!” or “That’s right!”

Not only do the children meet those high expectations, they do it happily for Dottie, because they know that she genuinely cares for them. Beyond the music are the many traditions that Dottie has built that affirm her affection for each choir member. Every week choir members are reminded to write on the clipboard any of their extracurricular events they would like Dottie to attend. She goes to every event.

Choir members eagerly anticipate Dottie’s singing birthday calls and Tuesday birthday celebrations that include big bags of the birthday person’s favorite candy. The Taco Supper and Feed My Sheep/Sundae Party are in October, the Moravian Lovefeast and Crafts and Pizza Day are in December, the Spaghetti Dinner is in March, and the choir ends the year with the Annual Picnic. Every other year the choir opens the countywide talent show “Shooting Stars” as guest performers.

In addition, each year members participate in a service project where they are required to work for their own financial contribution to purchase supplies for a mission project. Younger choristers can’t wait to be in the upper classmen group, the “Red Hots,” and all ages delightfully contribute wads of gum to the infamous “Gum Tree.“ The atmosphere of accomplishment, acceptance, and affection produces loyal members. Some choir alumni have children who are second-generation choir participants.

The choir is a team ministry. Dottie is quick to say of her husband, “Charlie is my number one supporter.” They also work together during an annual medical mission trip at an orphanage in Jamaica.

Dottie serves as the Children’s Chorus Director for the Blue Ridge Community Theater, is on the Advisory Board of the Hayes School of Music, and tutors at Hardin Park. She www.aawmag.com

volunteers at Watauga High School one day a week so she can see “my kids” who have outgrown choir. “I am very attached to them; I want them to know I am still here for them,” she said.

“Teaching is a process of tying the parts together, of weaving the stories of faith that accompany the music,” Dottie explained.

“God is the Giver of the gift, and I am willing to be His instrument as long as I am able.”

The Presbyterian-Methodist Children’s Choir is open to all boys and girls in grades 3 –7, regardless of church affiliation.

For more information, contact Dottie Sykes at (828) 2621255.

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MARCH 2009 47

!

L R I G , O G YOU

BY MOLLY PETREY

Maggie Idol

For Maggie Idol, 14, music is a true passion. The Parkway up to me and asked if I wanted to sing at Shoppes on the Elementary seventh-grader is involved in the school’s chorus Parkway’s Fourth of July celebration. I accepted and felt and drama programs, which she says are her favorite subjects. really honored.”

With excitement, Maggie says, “I love being in school plays Maggie also sang at her church’s fundraiser for “Relay and singing in my chorus. We for Life” and at the actual participate in concerts and Relay event last June.

“My favorite kinds of music competitions each year and after the semester is over, are Christian and country. I we go somewhere fun like really like listening to Carrie Carowinds.”

Underwood, Taylor Swift, Maggie plans to audition Ricky Skaggs, Paul Overstreet, soon for Honors Chorus at Travis Cottrell, and Steven Parkway, “I auditioned last Curtis Chapman.” year, but didn’t realize how Additionally, Maggie loves Broadway musicals and hard it would be. I had to enjoys watching television’s adjust my voice from normal to a more formal, chorus“American Idol,” which she hopes will continue at least type voice. I didn’t make it last year, but I’m planning to two more years. “I’ll be try it again.” sixteen by then and I’d love Maggie is completing to audition.” what will be her last year During her school’s drama (because of age) in a local production of “Annie” last children’s choir directed by year, Maggie had the leading Dottie Sykes. “I’ll be really role, her all-time favorite to sad to leave Ms. Dottie. She is date. “Sometimes people still call me Annie.” For the the greatest teacher and I’ve loved being in her choir. My school’s upcoming spring sister Callie and my brother production of “Fiddler on Austin will still be in her choir, the Roof,” Maggie will fill so I’ll still get to see her.” the role of “Hoddle,” the Maggie Idol, a seventh-grader at Parkway Elementary School, says Maggie is also very music is her passion. Photo submitted. second daughter of the main involved at her church where, character, Tevye. she says, she discovered her love for singing and acting. “I She enjoys acting and singing in the productions of the also get to sing some of the specials on Sunday mornings Blowing Rock Stage Company. “I was in ‘A High Country and have been singing since I was three.” Always in church Christmas Carol’ last year and loved it.” plays, Maggie is also active in the youth program as well as Maggie hopes to pursue a career in acting and singing.

Vacation Bible School. “I love helping out at church. I spend “Maybe I’ll be an actress on Broadway.” Whatever the future most of my summers there helping out with VBS by building holds, she hopes it will include singing. “I love it!” props and anything else I can do.”

As the daughter of Bobby and Alison Idol, she practically Maggie performs in various community events and was born into music. Her father is the music minister at Laurel is preparing for another audition for ‘Shooting Stars” - a Springs Baptist Church; her mother has played the piano and local talent show featuring top acts from Watauga County often sings in church, as well.

Schools. “When I was seven, I made it to the finals with a Maggie is the granddaughter of Evelina and Bob Idol patriotic medley. Later, a gentleman from the audience came and Lois and Sterling Carroll, all of Boone.

48 MARCH 2009

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Jessica Presnell From Boone To The Barter Theatre And Beyond There are few stages in the region that have not been graced by the beauty and talent of local teen, Jessica Presnell. Be it singing jazz, pop, gospel and everything in between, or performing as an actress in Boone and at The Barter Theatre, Jessica can hold her own in any venue.

One of her most recent appearances was at a Blowing Rock concert with legendary pianist/actor Charlie Ellis and other jazz notables.

During the jazz concert, Jessica was billed as “a highlight of the Jessica Presnell has been described evening’s entertainment.” Sources as “a special talent whose ability to tell us that Ellis became aware of challenge all forms of music makes Jessica’s talent in productions at her a high-demand performer.” the Blowing Rock Stage Company, Blue Ridge Community Theatre and Photo submitted other special events in and around the High Country. It was he and a number of friends who convinced her to test her voice as a jazz singer. She passed with flying colors.

“She is a special talent,” Ellis says. “And her ability to challenge all forms of music makes her a high-demand performer. And her entry into performing as a jazz vocalist only further reveals her versatile talent,” he says. “I’m proud to be on the same playbill with this great talent.”

Jessica began performing at age nine in the local Shooting Stars talent competition. Her first theatrical role, at 11, was as Annie with the Blue Ridge Community Theatre, followed by her first professional role as Baby June in Barter Theatre’s “Gypsy” at 12.

She has captured other leading roles in numerous local and regional performances, such as Susan Walker in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Sharpay in “High School Musical,” and Little Red Riding Hood in “Into the Woods,” just to name a few.

Currently a junior at Watauga High School, Jessica is a member of the school’s Honors Chorus and Pacers Dance Team. She has studied voice with Priscilla Porterfield, ballet at Studio K and acting with the Blowing Rock Stage Company’s TOPS Classes, LeesMcRae’s Performing Arts Camps and WHS drama classes.

Among her musical influences, she names Natalie Cole, Kristen Chenoweth, Ashley Brown and Julie Andrews. The young and versatile actress/songstress easily steps onto the stage and into any role to which she sets her mind.

She has performed locally with numerous other musicians and has been featured on various recording projects, including her own solo album, “Just For Fun.” Her vocal performances and competitions are vast – from placing first at the NC Musical Theatre Student Auditions and qualifying regionally at Elon College, to being a finalist in the Triad Idol to NC All State Chorus, and others too numerous to mention in this space.

Upon completion of high school, Jessica plans to pursue a music theatrical degree with a minor in vocal performance. Her long-term goal is to become a professional actress and vocalist.

Sisters Three Have Gift Of Song Denette Isaacs, Delora Hodges and Deniece Marchese are three sisters who have been singing together since they were about three or four years old. They sang together at church and often serenaded their mom and each other at home or in the car. At their mom’s insistence, they took piano lessons as young girls, which later provided accompaniment for the trio.

Denette, the oldest sister, learned the art of shape notes and she enjoys attending local singing schools, where shape-note singing is taught. She, Madeline Rucker, second from left, has always found joy in the musical talent of her daughters in fact, learned to play piano using shape notes Delora, Deniece and Denette. Photo submitted. and likes to play using that form.

Most often, Delora and Deniece sing together at Mount Vernon Baptist Church where they are members. They are part of the “Celebration Choir” there and participate in the various musical productions at Mt. Vernon, sometimes singing solos or duets together.

Through the years, they have had the opportunity to sing at weddings, funerals and revival services, or other special occasions.

Music has been a very important part of their lives and has given them a special privilege of worshipping together. As a family, they love to gather around the piano and sing hymns or Christmas carols together. The sisters say they thank God for giving them the gift of song.

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MARCH 2009 49

Pet Page|By Genevieve Austin

Hoppin’ Down

The Bunny Trail

Spring is in the air and the wild bunny population is literally hopping through local yards and farms. These beautiful animals come to mind every spring as Easter approaches - the symbolism almost universal. Beautiful domestic bunnies can become wonderful house pets, but are often purchased as gifts by well-intending individuals who are not prepared for their rabbit’s needs. Consequently, “reality” is overlooked, resulting in dire situations for the rabbits.

Pet ownership is a serious consideration. When potential bunny owners have properly researched the requirements of housing rabbits, including their care and temperament, the potential for pure delight could hop right down the trail to your house.

Kimberly Richards has pet rabbits that live in the house. She knows they can be excellent companions if a home is prepared properly. “Bunnies like to chew, so giving them proper chew toys like cardboard boxes and wooden toys helps ensure they will stay away from your furniture. Wires need to also be protected or hidden for both the safety of the bunnies and electronics.”

Bunny was Kimberly’s first pet. “Bunny won my heart because of his cute, furry face and floppy ears. Many people are used to seeing bunnies in cages and may think they aren’t very active.

However, bunnies have lots of personality just waiting to come out if given the chance.”

Beyond being adorable, soft and fluffy, Bunny entertains Kimberly every day. He likes to run and hop around the room, as well as play in his cardboard box. Bunny enjoys a diet consisting of a variety of greens, a bit of fresh fruit, pellets (fiber-rich rabbit food), and hay. When Kimberly comes home from work, she says it’s a lot of fun to see Bunny “on the prowl” for green lettuce, cilantro, broccoli and a slice of banana, his favorite.”

While eating may be Bunny’s favorite activity, Winnie, one of Kimberly’s other bunnies, enjoys playing. Rearranging toys and shredding cardboard can be somewhat serious business to Winnie. Kimberly finds Slinkies and balls throughout the house in unpredictable locations – under the dining room table, in the bunnies’ litter boxes or just sitting in the middle of the floor. The shredded cardboard proves to hold significant meaning to Winnie.

Kimberly says when she attempts to clean it up , “Winnie is right there nudging my hand as if telling me to leave the mess alone.”

After eating and some fun playtime, both bunnies enjoy time spent to “settle down for a good petting,” Kimberly says Winnie affectionately licks one’s hand in appreciation for petting her.

The affection and peaceful demeanors of bunnies often make them appealing to many people, but potential bunny owners must consider the special needs that come with these adorable pets.

Kimberly says, “Most bunnies do not like to be picked up and cuddled. They can also become easily frightened with loud noises and quick movements.”

Many well-intentioned parents or relatives purchase bunnies at Easter just to find out a few months later that bunnies do not always make good pets for children. The “Make Mine Chocolate” 50 MARCH 2009

campaign seeks to educate the public about rabbit ownership and encourages families to give children chocolate bunnies instead of live ones at Easter.

If you’re thinking a bunny may be the right fit for you, Kimberly recommends the Web site, www.rabbit.org, which hosts topics such as Bunny-Proofing Your Home, Litterbox Training, and related tips.

While Kimberly wouldn’t trade her pet bunnies, she points out that people should do research before welcoming a rabbit into their family. As with dogs and cats, spaying and neutering is important for multiple reasons. Bunnies also require playtime outside their cage, chew toys of their own, and fresh greens and hay. For more information on the “Make Mine Chocolate” campaign, visit their Web site, www.makeminechocolate.org. It’s educational and fun for parents and children. Sometimes, being a fan of certain animals means that we show our appreciation through chocolate replicas and symbols of them. Education is the best channel to creating the perfect pet fit.

Kimberly believes that these beautiful, entertaining pets can become beloved friends. Her bunnies were adopted through Petfinder.com, where many other bunnies are currently up for adoption. I thank Kimberly for contacting us and for caring enough about her pets to shed light upon the special considerations and joys of choosing a rabbit for your pet. She says, “Of all the things rabbits do, making us laugh is by far the best!”

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MARCH 2009 51

Cent$ and Sensibility| BY corrinne loucks

Here’s To Your

Financial Health

While I was researching last minute tax tips, the IRS Web site kept popping up. Their last minute tips? Consider filing electronically, put your social security numbers on the return, double-check your figures, sign the form, attach all required schedules and send by April 15th deadline. How helpful is that? Oh, and don’t forget to pay – making your check out to “United States Treasury!” They remind us that payment is still due on April 15th even if you file an extension.

Whew, I feel better now.

The good news is there are several old and new tax tips that can save you money on your 2008 return. Many people are unaware of some of the simplest allowable deductions that have been available for years. And, due to current economic conditions, the government has been pitching in and coming up with new ones that may help you out for 2008. Whether old or new, hopefully more than one will help reduce your tax liability when it’s all said and done – April 15th, mind you!

1. Second Chance Rebates - Some taxpayers who did not qualify for an economic stimulus payment in 2007 are getting a second chance if they: - Filed a 2007 tax return, but didn’t qualify for a rebate, or qualified for less than the full amount due to their income, dependents or filing status.

- Had a financial or other life change in 2008 (got married, had a baby, increased or decreased income) that would qualify them for a rebate 2. Deduct job search expenses: Taxpayers who are unemployed or looking to change jobs can deduct job search expenses. The job search must be in the same line of work they are currently in and can include travel, lodging, phone calls, resume preparation, and career counseling. These can be deducted even if they don’t get a job offer. However, if this is a first job, no job search expenses are deductible.

3. Tax relief for foreclosures: Recent legislation provides tax relief to people with a home loan that was reduced, restructured or foreclosed. Taxpayers may not have to pay taxes on the amount of debt that was forgiven by their bank. Check with a tax accountant or CPA to find out if this applies to you.

4. Open or contribute to an IRA: You have until April 15th 2009 to open or make contributions to an IRA or retirement account.

Making a deductible contribution before that date may help lower your tax bill.

5. First-Time Homeowner credit: If you are buying a home for the first time, you could be eligible for the new homebuyer’s tax 52 MARCH 2009

credit worth as much as $7,500, under The Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008. The credit applies to home purchases after April 8, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. It reduces the tax bill or increases the refund -- dollar for dollar--even if it is more tax than you owe. Know that the credit is more like an interest free loan, however, that must be repaid to the IRS over a 15-year period.

6. Claiming Business Losses: If you or a business you own has a break-even or loss year in 2008, you may claim tax losses, which may qualify you for a refund of income taxes paid in prior years.

For example, an asset sold at a loss to a person who is not “related” to you as described by the IRS, could result in a refund of taxes paid in any of the last two years.

When utilizing these tax deduction tips, know that there are two things that will raise red flags for auditors. Unusually high expenses, like a $50,000 medical bill, can put you under the microscope. You need to explain why and actually include copies of the bills.

The other big red flag is deductions for charitable donations.

The average charitable donation is around 2 percent of a person’s income, so if the IRS sees a deduction that’s much higher – like 10 percent – that could raise suspicion. Again, you’ll need to document why it’s so big and include receipts.

If you wait until the last minute to file, you may need to file an extension. It’s a very short form, but still requires paying taxes on time, which means knowing what that number will be. To calculate that number, most people will have to complete most of their forms anyway. If you’ll have trouble paying in full, there are alternate payment options. You can charge to a credit card, which will cost an additional 2.5 percent that the IRS tacks on to your total. You can also set up a payment plan with the IRS. You’ll incur extra charges here, too – $52 to set up and about 10 percent (or more) annual interest. It hurts to pay more than you actually owe, but at least there are options.

Should you be blessed to receive a refund year-to-year, shoot for a smaller refund rather than larger. A big refund means that you’ve given an interest-free loan to the IRS all year. If you get a large refund this year, increase the number of exemptions that you claim on your W4, and vice versa. If you owed money, you may want to decrease the number of exemptions. Also, it would be wise to save this refund money for emergencies. Rather than deciding what to buy, this is a good time to save that recommended 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses, especially now when folks are losing their jobs.

For additional tax tips, there is an abundance of resources on the Web. See SmartMoney.com or the various tax preparer sites like H&R Block or even Turbo Tax for very helpful, free information. Be sure to consult your tax preparer to put these tips to work for you. www.aawmag.com

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MARCH 2009 53

Mom’s World| BY HEATHER JORDAN, CNM, MSN

Music With Children:

Have Wagon, Will Travel

“There’s a band out on the highway. They’re high-stepping into town. It’s a rainbow full of sound. It’s fireworks, calliopes and clowns.

Everybody’s dancing - sun went down in honey and the moon came up in wine. You know stars were spinning dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy, we forgot about the time. They’re a band beyond description like Jehovah’s favorite choir – People joining hand-in-hand while the music plays the band – Lord, they’re setting us on fire . . .” excerpted from “The Music Never Stopped,” lyrics by John Barlow, performed

by The Grateful Dead.

For many people, myself included, music provides a context for important events in our lives. Maybe it jogs the memory of a first date or your wedding dance or perhaps some fantastic college adventure.

Regardless, there is something about the emotions – which music evokes – that makes it much more than the sound and the singing.

One musical memory of mine goes back to college days when I attended what used to be “The Black Mountain Folk Festival” with my now-husband. It was really the first experience I had with a music festival, and it hooked me for life. Friends of ours actually chose to honeymoon at this festival, a far cry from a cruise to Hawaii but nonetheless full of beautiful experiences with friendly folks and good times.

What amazed me most about the experience was the “connectedness” which I felt to the crowd and the musicians. I learned that any self-consciousness spilling over from long ago seventh-grade dances quickly faded when you dance in this type of a setting, because being judgmental is simply not part of the scene.

The mood is, and was, free-spirited and joyful. Even before I had my own children, I was delighted at the family-friendly atmosphere.

Kids can certainly sense when everyone is there to have a good time, and they jump right into dancing, smiling, and playing. As time went on, in addition to Black Mountain, we attended quite a few other festivals both local (MerleFest, LEAF, SmileFest) and outside this region (Bumbershoot in Seattle, WA and JazzFest in New Orleans) and came to appreciate the way in which music draws together people of all backgrounds and provides a great opportunity for establishing a sense of community.

Beethoven wrote that music is the “mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.” Perhaps this is why the experience of live music can bring feelings of euphoria. There is something cathartic about hearing really good music and letting go of your stress. A man by the name of Frederick Delius called music “an outburst of the soul,” and I think that characterization is dead-on. Great music – whatever genre – speaks to your body, mind, and spirit.

For some, music is revelatory, invoking a sense of global belonging. Others seem to thrive on the physical experience of the beat, the melody, and the rhythm. Certain bands tap into the participatory nature of their music, which has sparked many touring and jam bands that spend very little time in the studio and the majority of their time with a live audience. While the Grateful Dead is probably the most well-known of such bands, many others have followed suit.

The beauty of the spring and fall music festivals is that it takes the experience of a single concert and amplifies it by bringing together a 54 MARCH 2009

number of musical groups and artists. In my opinion, festivals allow those of us who loved dancing and listening to live music in our college years to include our families and extended families when the bars or keg parties are no longer our style.

As my husband and I got older and our own family grew, we naturally began bringing our children to musical events and festivals.

Granted, some of the simplicity gets lost when there are kids involved.

No matter how many times I have tried to not make such festival trips a production, I can’t say I’ve been successful. Necessities include rain gear, snacks, sippy-cups, chairs, diapers, hand sanitizer, flashlights, and, of course, entertainment preferably in the form of something that glows in the dark, bounces, and/or can be thrown up in the air.

Toy swords that light up, hacky sacks, and trucks for hauling sand or dirt are popular also.

For us, we have always brought along our trusty wooden RadioFlyer wagon. The wagon serves as a carry-all for chairs, food, and other baggage and certainly comes in handy when there is a “can’tmiss” midnight show and you need a temporary sleeping spot for said children (provided the parents actually outlast the children).

Our wagon has been covered in bumper stickers and recently got repainted as its original red paint had flaked off from years of use.

We have discovered that what preparedness gains in the happiness of our children at times does limit our personal mobility in trekking from one stage to another. Even so, we are glad to include them because it seems that there are very few opportunities for kids to get exposure to a wide variety of music in a setting where the isolation, distrustfulness, and fears that can characterize our modern world are absent to a very large degree. Instead, music festivals seem to thrive on the creativity of the moment and community, oftentimes presenting opportunities for children to make their own instruments, costumes, or works of art, as well as encouraging the freedom of expression inherent in dance. It is like having free time all the time.

There is a flow to time at festivals that just doesn’t exist in everyday life. There is a schedule and blocks of time allotted for various acts, but the movement from one activity to another relies more on the mood of the moment than on the wristwatch. I think that is why most children are energized by the scene because, let’s face it, playing until you simply can play no more is the mantra by which most kids live. Sure, food and sleep are minor necessities, but pure non-stop fun and interaction would rule their world if we as parents didn’t try to provide more structure. Certainly, there is really no way to maintain this way of living and not eventually have a serious meltdown, but that is why festivals limit their time frame to somewhere between two and four days. By the end of it all, most parents and kids are ready for regularly-timed meals, sleep, and a non-Port-a-Potty bathroom without an extended line.

Overall, we are lucky in this area to have lots of family-friendly festivals. If you are up for it, consider packing up your kids, your own red wagon, some glow-in-the-dark entertainment, and checking out MerleFest, the Doc Watson Festival, or LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival) to experience music in these mountains in a way that rejuvenates the spirit and the body and connects you to the community at large.

If you have comments or questions about this article, please feel free to contact Heather Jordan, Certified Nurse-Midwife, at the office of Charles E. Baker, MD at 828-737-7711 x253 or e-mail her at landh@localnet.com. www.aawmag.com

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MARCH 2009 55

Remembering The Fiddle-Playing

Buna Hicks

A Frank Warner photo used with family permission.

The late Buna Vista Presnell Hicks, born November 11, 1888 on (old) Beech Mountain, was known for her singing and fiddle playing, but she could play a tune on nearly anything with strings, says her granddaughter, Viola Ward, who recalled the family matriarch as a late-blooming musician. “She never had time for music until she was in her 40s,” Viola says.

Married at age 13 to Roby Hicks and later raising 11 children, Buna taught herself to play guitar, banjo, dulcimer and fiddle. “She loved playing the fiddle most of all and, in her later years, she was invited to music festivals and other gatherings all over the place.”

Buna was the mother of the legendary, award-winning Stanley Hicks who inherited his talent and skills from both parents, and became known far and wide as a great traditionalist. His father, also a well-known singer and musician, made instruments by hand and taught Stanley to do the same out of native wood that surrounded their mountain home.

“Stanley had a car and he took both my grandmother and mother to the places she [Buna] was invited to play.” Possibly the farthest distance she ventured from the mountain was to Asheville to perform at a folk festival. “She became quite famous and lived to be 96 years old.

Her picture appeared in newspapers and magazines everywhere.”

Buna, or “Bunie” as she was commonly known, was one of several female string musicians in the area, something uncommon for the time.

Her unwavering and memorable voice and her playing style are fine examples of the older styles “on the Beech,” recorded first by the Warners in the 1930s.

Buna’s music can be found on various recordings, including “The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain,” collected by Sandy Paton and released by Folk-Legacy Records, as well as “Nothing Seems Better To Me: The Music Of Frank Proffitt & North Carolina, The Warner Collection Volume 2 CD” featuring various artists.

56 MARCH 2009

Buna’s Music Lives On Through Descendant Shirley Glenn

BY PAULETTE ISAACS Shirley Glenn grew up surrounded by music. Her greatgrandmother, Buna Hicks, played old-time fiddle, banjo, guitar, and lap dulcimer. Shirley’s grandmother, Hattie, sang old-time ballads and hymns.

“I spent a lot of my childhood and teen years with them. My sister Peggy and I liked to sing along with them,” Shirley recalls.

Shirley’s mother, Viola, sang ballads while doing her many chores around home and raising her children. Ollie Ward, Shirley’s paternal uncle, played old-time bluegrass on the fiddle, bracket banjo, and guitar.

The influence of her family’s musical abilities and her upbringing certainly had an impact on her adult life. “I greatly enjoyed listening to them all. They put a love of old-time music in my heart.” While she never learned to play an instrument in her youth, the musical seeds were planted in those early days.

“When my dad died eight years ago, Mom gave me an old fiddle he had. It needed some work to make it playable. I told my husband if he would fix it, I would like to try to learn a tune on it. We took it to a friend (Alfred Michaels) for help and advice, and soon it was playable. I didn’t know a thing about playing it and the older relatives were gone. I didn’t have time or money to take lessons, so I bought a book and a video and learned to read music notes. After I learned to read the notes and how to tune it, it was so exciting to play songs from books,” Shirley says.

“It’s a great hobby for me. I like to play the old-time hymns and songs my grandmother played. The hymns are my favorite.”

After winning a guitar in a drawing at a local music store, Shirley became interested in trying to play her new instrument. She learned some chords and notes on the guitar and found that she was fairly good at it.

“I never expected to have a guitar of my own and was very pleased with it. I enjoyed learning some simple chords and notes so that I can play while I sing some of the old songs and ballads that my relatives sang. I may not sing as well as they did, but I enjoy it.”

Her husband, Charlie Glenn, is a luthier (a maker of stringed instruments) and he made Shirley a dulcimer for Christmas two years ago. The dulcimer was crafted from wood that came from her Grandpa Miles Ward’s barn.

“Charlie said that I had to learn some tunes on it or he would take it back! It is special to me, and I have learned several tunes on it.”

While suffering from an excruciating case of the shingles this past Christmas that affected her head and face, Shirley only felt like playing music on her dulcimer. She learned to play “On Top of Mount Zion,” a hymn that she had enjoyed hearing sung by her grandmothers when she was younger. “It took my mind off the pain from the shingles. My husband likes to play musical instruments and sometimes we play and sing together. Playing music is a good hobby. It will take your mind off your worries and put a song in your heart.” www.aawmag.com

Ola Belle Reed:

A Life of Music And Inspiration

BY VICKI RANDOLPH “High on a mountain top, wind blowing free, wondering about the days that used to be . . .”

Those are some of the most recognized words sung by Ola Belle Reed, musician and songwriter from Ashe County, born into a large farm family in 1916.

Music was a big part of Ola Wave Campbell’s life from the start. She was picking and singing at an early age, learning old mountain songs from her mother and grandmother.

The New River Valley inspired many of the 200-plus songs she wrote throughout her lifetime – she and her claw hammer banjo an integral part of the rich musical fabric of Blue Ridge Mountain heritage and its colorful history.

She and her twelve siblings grew up in Lansing and the New River Valley remained a part of her soul for life, despite her family’s move to Maryland during the Great Depression. A strong woman who was rarely known to shed a tear, Ola Belle cried that day as she and her family piled into the bed of an old pickup truck and drove away from her mountain home.

She wrote songs about her life in the mountains for decades. She wrote of high mountains, green valleys, spring flowers, family traditions, religious values, and every aspect of Appalachian heritage imaginable.

Her songs may be old, but they still circle the globe in the form of vinyl, digital, and through the voices of others.

Many famous artists continue to sing her tunes. Her most widely recognized song, “High on a Mountain,” has been recorded by Marty Stuart, Del McCrury and many others. One of the most recent groups to resurrect her music is Olabelle, a young, eclectic group who chose to honor the late great songwriter as their namesake.

Music wasn’t just a part of the Reed family’s life – it was their life. As said by the matriarch herself in a long-ago interview, “As far as music goes, you cannot separate your music from your lifestyle. You cannot separate your lifestyle, your religion, or your politics from your music—it’s a part of life.”

According to Ola Belle and Bud Reed’s oldest son, Ralph Reed, “It was music all the time—my brother and I were backstage or onstage.

That was just the norm for us. We didn’t have a ‘Leave it to Beaver’ kind of life!”

Ralph recalls fondly how their house was always full of kids: cousins, family, neighbors, workers from the stores his family ran. It didn’t matter who you were, you were always welcome in Ola Belle’s kitchen. “Our house was alive,” he says, “and Mom was always philosophizing.” And, despite the fact that she worked so much, there was always a pot of meat and ‘taters, pinto beans or pigs’ feet on the stove.

Although she was a hard-working woman—playing music, songwriting, helping run the family’s music parks and general stores— she faithfully had time and room for everyone. “She never turned www.aawmag.com

anyone away,” her son says of the droves of kids his mother took in.

“They are all still like brothers and sisters to me.”

“We always had music around the house, and Mom was always willing to listen to someone play an instrument or new tune, no matter what the time of night or day,” says Ralph. “She always showed care and never looked down on anybody. She loved people. She always tried to find the good in everybody and everything— that’s just the way she was.”

Ola Belle Reed was not afraid to entertain anyone. She’d play for any audience, anytime. And she was consistently herself—even when she played and sang at one of the celebrations for President Jimmy Carter’s inauguration in Washington, D.C. “Mom was always just Mom,” says Ralph. “When I’d tell her how great it was that she was going to play for the president or in any number of other important arenas, she’d respond, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal.’”

Ola Belle is an icon of old time and bluegrass music and a musical legend in all respects. Her hometown of Lansing celebrates her life and music with the annual Ola Belle Reed Homecoming Festival. Family, friends and fans from around the country gather each August near the old Lansing School, which Ola Belle attended as a child, and share songs and knowledge in the form of concerts, open microphone jams and educational workshops.

Although Ola Belle is no longer with us on this earth (she passed away in 2002 one day shy of her 86th birthday), her spirit continues to breathe life into the music and the heritage of her High Country home and across the globe.

She has been the recipient of many prestigious awards, including a National Heritage Award through the National Endowment for the Arts, induction into several halls of fame, earning a gold record, and she even received an honorary doctorate from the University of Maryland for her contributions to the arts and culture of the United States. Perhaps her greatest reward, though, is the love and laughter that she has helped spread throughout the Appalachians and to the rest of the music world.

Her husband Bud (age 91) and sons Ralph and David still play together when they can, and they especially enjoy the homecoming festival where Ola Belle’s birth children, honorary children, cousins, nieces, nephews and family friends converge from across the nation to visit, reminisce and share old times and old tunes. And just as “Mama Ola Belle” would have it, newcomers or visitors are quickly adopted into the fold.

Ola Belle Reed’s life is a legacy – one that will not be ending any time soon. In her own words, so aptly sung, “I’ve worked for the rich, I’ve lived with the poor. I’ve seen many a heartache, there’ll be many more. I’ve lived, loved and sorrowed, been to success’s door. I’ve endured, I’ve endured. How long can I endure?”

MARCH 2009 57

Your Home| BY CORRINNE LOUCKS

Whats Happening With Mortgages and How Can I Get One?

It’s no secret that the mortgage industry is changing along with the real estate industry and the entire economy, but one can be prepared for mortgage approval and to take advantage of today’s lower housing prices.

The smart way to get a mortgage today is by showing lenders that you can pay. “Easy deals” of the past are now history. The first thing to do is stop building debt and start saving money. Most of the saved amount should be used as a down payment. Banks will no longer lend a high percentage with the falling housing prices, so a down payment will be needed even with good credit.

(Free credit report is available from Trans Union, Experian, or Equifax.)

For lowest rates, a credit score of at least 740 is required.

Mortgages granted with a lower credit score will cost - and overall debt ratio will need to be monitored.

Beginning Feb. 1, 2009, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corportation (Freddie Mac) now lends only to borrowers with an overall debt ratio at or below 45 percent of pre-tax income.

Determine debt-to-income ratio by adding monthly payments and dividing by total monthly income. Monthly payments on all debt should be less than 36 percent of income. If debt-to-income ratio is much above that, down payment money should be used to pay off debt instead to bring the ratio down.

If planning to apply for an FHA loan, overall debt ratio must be at or below 43 percent of pre-tax income, and mortgage debtto-income ratio (mortgage payment divided by monthly income) can’t go over 31 percent. Even though these new requirements demand lower debt ratio, they are still generous lending terms.

According to The Motley Fool, the typical debt-to-income ratio accepted by lenders is 25 percent.

The trend in today’s housing market seems to be remodeling or adding- on to current homes. Evidence of this, as well as a current need for cash for other reasons, is a rise in applications for home equity loans or lines of credit. For approval, a 650 - 680 score once did the trick, but no more. Now, a score of 680+ is needed to qualify, and some lenders won’t consider borrowers with under a 720 score. A similar practice is involved for home equity as for primary mortgage loans. Credit score, home appraisal and ability to pay will all be considered.

As a result of today’s relatively low mortgage rates, many homeowners are interested in getting a piece of the mortgage refinance action, though not all are qualifying. Recent “headline” stats include: “Raw mortgage application volume rose 8.6 percent for the week ending Jan. 30” (according to a weekly 58 MARCH 2009

survey released by the Mortgage Bankers Association). The refinance index-measuring application volume for refinances increased 15.8 percent from the previous week — accounting for 73.2 percent of total applications, a rise from the 72.8 percent reported the week before — while the purchase index declined 11.2.

Declining housing values and tighter lending requirements make it difficult for those who purchased their homes when real estate was high. Borrowers will need to have 20 percent home equity, good credit and a stable job history. Refinancers should begin by getting a free online appraisal. If the online appraisal shows a home value equal to at least 20 percent equity, chances are their refinance can happen. The lender will still require a full loan application and professional appraisal before approval. In the midst of a housing crisis, leveraging a home’s equity to save money is one way to save. Unfortunately, refinancing is not an option for everyone.

The past seven years have seen easy credit result in a high number of mortgage approvals — not necessarily good for consumers. Credit standards were relaxed and down payment requirements removed. One popular loan was the 80/20 — a loan with no down payment and the financing was a first mortgage of 80 percent of the value of the house with 20 percent of the value financed via a second mortgage. (The same theory applied to 90/10 and 95/5 mortgages.) Banks are now faced with foreclosures on these types of loans, almost all due to the relaxed standards. Because of this, the 80/20’s are becoming a thing of the past. Zero down loans may still be available, requiring the borrower to pay for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). However, even these may become history. A few products currently require a minimum down payment of 5 percent, while most require 1020 percent down payment.

Where does this leave us? FHA loans are becoming more popular, which require a borrower investment of 3 percent of the sale price and can be a gift from a relative or significant other.

Lenders also are using “risked-based pricing,” which is a fancy name for charging more if one’s credit is not as good. Depending on your credit score, you may pay .625 percent more than someone with A+ credit. Lenders are also requiring larger down payments in areas that they deem to have “declining values.”

Despite these changes, this remains one of the best times ever to buy a house. Interest rates are near historical lows and the available inventory of houses is good. There just might be a silver lining in today’s economy. www.aawmag.com

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All of us can benefit from eating more meals at home. Healthy meals can be quick, easy and inexpensive. Home-cooked meals also bring families together. Try using the “rule of thirds.” Fill two-thirds of your plate with fruits, vegetables and grains and one-third with meat. Busy families can reduce preparation time by using simple, healthy recipes and by getting the family involved.

For more tips on how to prepare meals where you live, learn, earn, play, and pray, visit

This message is brought to you by: The Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project-Appalachian District Health Department, and Watauga County Healthy Carolinians.

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MARCH 2009 59

Lisa Baldwin

From Alabama To Appalachian

Since 1995, Lisa Baldwin has taken her educational children’s music program to child development centers, libraries, schools, community programs, and festivals. Photo submitted.

Lisa Baldwin was raised in Huntsville, Alabama, in a family with strong roots in country and gospel music. She sang and played piano for her church and school choirs. While in college, Lisa heard Emmylou Harris singing a duet with Charlie Louvin and fell in love with Emmylou’s voice, song selection, and rhythm guitar style. After receiving a guitar from her parents, Lisa taught herself rhythm guitar by listening to albums by Emmylou and singer songwriters such as John Prine and Nanci Griffith.

Lisa began performing publicly in Auburn, Alabama, in 1982 where she had received a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in music from Auburn University. She met and married David Haney, who had toured with Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys.

They began playing as a duo in and around Alabama and included folk, country, blues, bluegrass, and original songs in their set lists.

Fifteen of Lisa’s original songs were included on their debut CD, “Where We Belong,” in 1998. The CD was re-released in 2004.

Lisa was chosen for the Songwriter’s Showcase at the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Louisville, Kentucky.

While living in Notasulga, Alabama, Lisa and Dave formed a bluegrass band, Dirt Road, and recorded a CD with the band. The 60 MARCH 2009

two also appeared on the “Walker Street Opry and Friends” CD, a project featuring Alabama musicians.

In 2002, Dave was offered a job at Appalachian State University.

The couple had always wanted to live in the North Carolina Mountains.

They hit the road and moved to Wilkes County in 2002, where Lisa taught elementary school and Dave became Chair of the English Department at ASU. Through a friend and teaching partner, Anne Johnson, Lisa and Dave met David Johnson (Anne’s husband) and his cousin, Eric Ellis. The four have played together on the historic Hometown Opry at Minton Pawn in North Wilkesboro.

“What a thrill it is when Mike Palmer books us on his 7:00 a.m.

LIVE radio show. I feel like I’m on the Grand Old Opry when I’m on that stage!” says Lisa. “Other fun experiences have been singing, playing, and performing with area musicians Katy Taylor, Scott Freeman, Steve Lewis, Becca Eggers, Joe Shannon, and their band members on Mountainhome Music and various projects headed up

by Hugh Sturgill.”

Lisa appears on Katy Taylor’s “Warm Covers for Cold Nights,” and Cheap Joe Miller’s “Blue Ridge Mountain Holiday Music Sampler.”

“We feel very privileged to have the opportunity to play with these great musicians and to call them our friends.”

Since 1995, Lisa has taken her educational children’s music program, Learning Through Song, to child development centers, libraries, schools, community programs, and festivals. She enjoys playing at the Watauga Public Library and The Children’s Playhouse.

This highly interactive program combines singing, playing instruments, reading, movement, and other activities both fun and educational.

Lisa’s sister, Melinda Mills, has recently joined Learning Through Song and their debut CD, “We’re Learning Through Song,” has just been released. This CD is a collection of mostly traditional children’s songs that have new lyrics and arrangements by Lisa and Melinda.

(A CD release party is being planned so check the Web site: www. learningthroughsong.com for more information.)

After 27 years of teaching, Lisa is now a student at ASU where she is working on an MA in Appalachian Studies. “It is so exciting to be learning more about Appalachian Culture, even if I am the oldest student on campus!” she jokes.

“One of the brightest moments in my musical career came two years ago when my friends, Tommy Walsh and Pat Birdsong, asked Dave and me to play at the Sugar Grove Festival. We were so excited to be a part of this wonderful event. We were sitting at the press conference and in walks Doc [Watson]. He has been a hero of mine for so long. He sang “Shady Grove” that afternoon, which is one of the first songs I learned to play and sing, and I heard it live and in person, right here in the beautiful mountains of Watauga County, North Carolina.”

Lisa says she is thankful to have Dave as her musical partner and partner in life. “He makes the music more fun and rewarding and, to quote Shawn Colvin, ‘If there were no music, I would not get through.’”

Go to www.baldwinhaney.com for more information about Lisa and her music. www.aawmag.com

The Women With Southern Accent Connie Norris and Paulette Isaacs of the group Southern Accent are committed to carrying on the tradition of bluegrass-gospel music. They enjoy the enthusiasm and appreciation of their audiences and have made many new friends along the way.

Connie grew up as one of eleven children born into the family of America and Auborn Trivette.

Evenings were typically spent listening to bluegrass records or having company over to play music, which easily lasted into the wee hours.

“Many times Mom would put us to bed at night with the sounds of bluegrass music still ringing through the house,” recalls Connie. “By the time the last four of the kids came along, Dad seemed to prefer to be at home instead of traveling to various music events. He encouraged us in our musical endeavors - bluegrass and otherwise.”

When Connie was in the eighth grade, she learned to play the clarinet at school. Her parents Connie Norris (Left) and Paulette Isaacs (right), enjoy their friendship as well were encouraging and purchased a clarinet just for as those they have made through Southern Accent. Photo submitted.

Connie. “It didn’t take long for Dad to have me playing bluegrass songs on it!” to be able to perform and record some of my original material with While she was learning to read music at school, her father was Southern Accent these past 13 years. Paulette, Dennis, Blake and teaching her to listen to songs and play by ear, which was how he Gary are the best I could ever hope to play music with. I can’t imagine had learned to play guitar. “I played clarinet for 3 years and enjoyed it any other way.” performing with the concert and marching bands in high school. I Paulette Isaacs showed interest in music when she was about also enjoyed singing in the church choir as a teen.”

8 years old, joining the choir at church. “I learned to sing the alto When Connie was 14, her dad formed a family gospel band – “a part by standing in front of Nancy Hicks and Margie Harmon when little unusual” – she recalls because it was not a typical bluegrass the choir would get up to sing. They were great alto singers and band. Connie played the clarinet, sister Liz played a saxophone, their encouraged the younger ones wanting to learn.” brother Gary played a banjo and her dad, the guitar. Sisters Sue and After marrying Dennis Isaacs in 1992, Paulette developed a love Pam joined Liz and Connie with vocals. “Back then, Gary was too shy for bluegrass. “At first, I figured I’d better learn to play rhythm guitar to sing,” Connie adds. so I could spend time with him, but it quickly became more than that.

The family traveled throughout the mountains to many churches. Music just has a way of becoming part of you. I’ve been enjoying it As the children began to marry and move away, the family band ever since.” scattered.

It was at that same time that Southern Accent was formed with Connie’s interest in music continued and she learned to “strum Dennis, Paulette, and their friend Ronnie Hicks. A short while later, a little” on a guitar that her husband had purchased. “I became Gary and Connie joined them. interested in songwriting - mostly gospel - though I have a few which Paulette is an active member of Willow Valley Baptist Church are not. I continued to sing in my church choir over the next few years. choir and currently is a stay-at-home mom to her two sons.

My collection of original songs continued to grow as I felt inspired to “The music in my life gives me a great deal of satisfaction,” she write.” says. “I feel like God has made it possible for me to do something Following her son’s birth in 1988, she placed music on the back that I really enjoy with some of the best folks in the world – Dennis, burner for a while and returned to college from 1992 to 1995, which Connie, Gary and Blake.” kept her pretty busy.

Paulette says she has learned so much from other musicians, too, In 1996, she joined Southern Accent, following her brother Gary, “especially Doc Watson,” she says. “He has such a love for music and who played bass. Soon Southern Accent developed a strong following has always been so professional. I really admire that about him.” as it became one of the area’s favored bluegrass gospel groups.

For more information about Southern Accent, call (828) 898 “Best of all for me,” Connie reflects, “I had the opportunity to 6828, visit www.southernaccent.us or e-mail to dpisaacs@localnet. sing some of the original songs I had written. I have been so blessed com www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 61

Young at Heart|BY HeatHer Young

An Instrument By Any Other Name

My tastes in music, unlike my tastes in food, are very limited.

I am without doubt a child of the ‘80s. I like my music to be drum-heavy and full of synth-pop sounds. My iPOD is filled with Duran Duran, Madonna, Prince, New Order and Cindi Lauper, to name a few. When I occasionally veer away from the sounds of my childhood, I enjoy show tunes, classical, a little Jimmy Buffet and the soundtrack to the original Star Wars trilogy (let’s face it, people – John Williams is a genius).

Unfortunately, my knowledge of all other music is sorely lacking.

Roger, my boyfriend, finds it unacceptable that I cannot name the entire catalogue of Beatles songs and that I have no patience with 20-minute jam band experimental tunes. He takes great pleasure in tuning his car stereo to a classic rock station and making me play “Name That Tune.” As you can guess, I fail miserably. He finds it highly amusing that I never learned to differentiate between The Who, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

While I am simply ignorant of some genres of music, others I refuse to even consider listening to. I will be the first to admit that I have an unnatural aversion to country music, which I call “twang.” The instrumentation is so alien to my ideal of what music should be that when I hear it playing, I often insist that the strange sounds are “making my ears bleed.”

I know, I know – I should be more open-minded, more accepting of all music. Maybe this is a case of not liking what I do not understand. Maybe if I had learned to play an instrument as a child, at least something other than a kazoo, then I would have a greater appreciation of all music.

Roger has definitely done his best to expose my ears to variety, but I still gravitate toward what I am familiar with – I guess you could call it my comfort music. But, I am willing to try and step out of that comfort zone, if only I knew where to begin.

As I ponder how I can embrace music that uses instruments other than synthesizers, I am reminded of a musical question that has plagued me for years.

What is the difference between a fiddle and a violin?

That question has caused me endless hours (all right, maybe minutes) of worry. I have asked musicians, but the answers I have received have been less than satisfactory. Some say the only difference is the style of music being played. Others insist that they are in fact two completely different instruments.

And, if violins and fiddles are different instruments, why then does it seem that violins are not only considered instruments, but also pieces of art? I am reminded that during my recent 62 MARCH 2009

visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the musical instrument collection had several violins on display, but nary a fiddle. Furthermore, even though I have very limited musical knowledge, even I have heard of Stradivari and know that his violins are priceless. There may be priceless fiddles, but I have never heard of one.

To my untrained eye, a fiddle and a violin look exactly the same. Same shapes both are played with a bow. Yet, violinists and fiddlers get very offended if you refer to their instrument by the wrong name. If you do not believe me, try asking a violinist how long she has played the fiddle and see what kind of response you get.

To begin my quest for answers, I searched for “fiddle” on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia known for its not always accurate answers. To my surprise, the site has lots of lovely tidbits from such reliable-sounding sources as The Fiddle Book

by Marian Thede and The Fiddler’s Factbook by David Brody.

I learned that both words may have originated from the same Germanic word, but that no one will stake their reputation on it. And, I ascertained that while the term “violin” refers to a specific instrument, the term “fiddle” can apply to any stringed instrument played with a horsehair bow. All right, so they may or may not have the same entomology and are the same instrument and yet different at the same time. Why do I feel as if this mystery may be tougher to crack than I first thought?

Not willing to give up, I continued my research and finally had my first “Ah Ha” moment.

I discovered that the term one would choose is often related to the type of music being played – a violin for classical music and a fiddle for folk music. That seems clear enough as I have never seen the program at a symphony performance list the fiddlers.

Finally, I gathered that violinists have always received extensive, formal training, while fiddlers may or may not have.

While I now understand that the crux of the matter seems to be related to the style of music being played, I still have no answer for where the different terms originated or why fiddles are not held in as high regard as violins.

I hope that one day, a very knowledgeable musician will be able to provide the answers for which I have been searching.

Until then, I will continue to bug my musically-inclined friends by asking, as I did when I had lunch with one the other day.

Armed with my basic understanding, but wanting to know more, I asked him, “What is the difference between a violin and a fiddle?” To which he laughed and replied, “Ten thousand dollars!” www.aawmag.com

From Female Bootleggers To Chicken Soup - Her Powerful Lyrics Say It All

A strong-willed woman steeped in tradition, Becca EggersGryder is an accomplished singer and songwriter. Her tightly crafted lyrics, combined with haunting melodies, give the listener something new to hear and discover each time one of her songs is played.

Becca is a founding member and lead singer in the community-based bluegrass group, Amantha Mill.

The band performs all types of music ranging from the traditional bluegrass to western swing to classic country to Americana to original music – all with a unique distinctive style that resonates with life in these mountains.

The themes for the various songs Becca has written vary as wildly as the weather. She has written songs about the human condition, murder ballads, childhood memories, lullabies, gospels, female bootleggers, country stores and even chicken noodle soup (with a twist, of course). In addition to conveying deep feelings through her powerful lyrics, Becca packs a punch in the vocal delivery of her songs, imparting pieces of her soul with each song. Regardless of whether Becca sings her own original material or the covers of other songwriters, Becca conveys a rich emotional coloring of the song – leaving the listener with a desire to hear it again and again.

During the day, Becca is a partner in the law firm Eggers, Eggers, Eggers and Eggers, PLLC. To contact Becca or to book the band, Amantha Mill, visit the band’s Web site: www.amanthamill.com. www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 63

Healthy Lady|BY Bonnie church CNC, Wellness Coach

Spring Cleaning Inside and Out

March is the month during which we begin to anticipate warm breezes, fragrant flowers, singing birds and spring cleaning. It is the time we compose our cleaning “to do” list and inventory our scrub brushes and potions. March is also a great time to turn our attention to internal cleansing. With our cooperation, nature provides the cleaning supplies: dietary fiber and purified water.

Dietary fiber includes all parts of plant foods that your body can’t digest or absorb. Unlike other food components such as fats, proteins or carbohydrates — which your body breaks down and absorbs — fiber isn’t digested by your body. Therefore, it passes unchanged through your stomach and small intestine and into your colon.

Fiber is often classified into two categories: those that don’t dissolve in water (insoluble fiber) and those that do (soluble fiber).

• Insoluble fiber: This type of fiber promotes the movement of material through your digestive system and increases stool bulk, so it can be of benefit to those who struggle with constipation or irregular stools.

• Soluble fiber: This type of fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like material. It can help lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels.

Dietary fiber is one of the most talked about nutrients for health promotion and disease prevention. In fact, dietary fiber is the focus of two FDA-approved health claims that appear on food labels touting the benefits of high fiber foods for the prevention of heart disease and certain types of cancer.

A high fiber diet potentially provides the following benefits:

Prevents constipation: Far too many Americans use their bathroom as a library, as they spend a lot of time there waiting for their body to evacuate. Dietary fiber and adequate water intake increase the weight and size of stool and softens it. A bulky stool is easier to pass, decreasing your chance of constipation.

Lowers your risk of digestive conditions: A high-fiber diet may lower your risk of specific disorders, such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and the development of small pouches in your colon (diverticular disease).

Lowers blood cholesterol levels: Soluble fiber found in beans, oats, flaxseed and oat bran may help lower total blood cholesterol levels by lowering low-density lipoprotein, or “bad,” cholesterol levels.

Controls blood sugar levels: Fiber, particularly soluble fiber, can slow the absorption of sugar, which for people with diabetes, can help improve blood sugar levels.

Aids in weight loss: A high-fiber diet tends to make a meal feel larger and linger longer, so you stay full for a greater amount of time. And high-fiber diets also tend to be less “energy dense,” which means they have fewer calories for the same volume of food.

Moves toxins out of intestine: Fiber moves potential 64 MARCH 2009

carcinogens through the intestines faster, decreasing the contact time between carcinogens and the intestinal wall.

Binds carcinogens: Besides pushing them through faster, fiber binds carcinogens, keeping them away from the intestinal wall. Fiber also absorbs bile acids, keeping them from acting on bacteria to produce the cancerous substances that are formed by decaying foods within the colon.

Promotes growth of healthy bacteria: Fiber also promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestines, which crowd out the undesirable bacteria and funguses.

Binds estrogen in the bowels: By binding estrogen in the bowels, fiber potentially can lessen the estrogen effect in the cells of breast tissue

In its most recent 2005 public health recommendations for fiber (published as the Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids [Macronutrients], National Academies Press, 2005), the National Academy of Sciences established an Adequate Intake (AI) level of 38 grams of total daily fiber for males 19-50 years of age and 25 grams for women in this same age range.

Americans, on average, only get about half this much fiber each day.

A healthy diet centered on whole grains, vegetables and fruit is the best way to meet your fiber needs. Here are the top 10 sources of dietary fiber: 1. Dried beans, peas.

2. Bran cereals 3. Fresh or frozen lima beans.

4. Fresh or frozen green peas.

5. Dried fruit, topped by figs, apricots and dates 6. Raspberries, blackberries and strawberries 7. Sweet corn, whether on the cob or cut off in kernels 8. Whole-wheat and other whole-grain products.

9. Broccoli 10. Baked potatoes with skin

As you increase your fiber intake, don’t forget the water.

Water is necessary for absorption and adequate lubrication of the colon lining. To lubricate the intestinal walls for waste passage, the colon manufactures mucous. If the colon is dry—i.e., one has too little mucous, or drinks too little water—the stool will be hard and dry and will stick to the colon and potentially cause constipation. As you increase your intake of fiber, make sure you are drinking 8-10 large glasses of water daily

If you are not eating a vegetable, fruit and whole-grain centered diet, you might consider adding a fiber supplement.

Check with a knowledgeable health professional before taking a fiber supplement. Excessive intake of fiber in supplemental form may lead to mineral deficiencies and could potentially block the absorption of certain medications. www.aawmag.com

Coming to Blowing Rock The highly acclaimed Emmy Award–winning actress Elaine Bromka, with 30 years in film, television, Broadway and OffBroadway, is coming to Blowing Rock for one showing of her one-woman show “Lady Bird, Pat & Betty: Tea for Three.”

The Hayes Center will host Elaine on Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m. in her funny, yet deeply moving, thought-provoking exploration of three fascinating first women and what they faced in their most unusual job.

Expressing her appreciation to All About Women of the High Country magazine “for helping publicize the show,” Elaine said that she is familiar with the area and anxious to return here for the production.

She spent several seasons with New River Dramatists, the Playwrights’ Group that originated out of River House near West Jefferson. “Gayle Winston, who runs the exquisite restaurant/ inn there is a genius, as is Mark Woods, founder of New River Dramatists,” she stated. “They’ve both become very good friends of mine, so I hope they can make it to Blowing Rock! I certainly found the area to be gorgeous, so I look forward to returning in March.”

Having co-written the show with Eric H. Weinberger, Elaine intimately portrays three remarkable, radically different First Ladies – each at a threshold moment in her life – and exposes the personal cost of what Pat Nixon called “the hardest unpaid job in the world.”

Critics say the one-woman show is “particularly apt in this

time of heightened politics.”

Elaine starred opposite Rich Little in the P.B.S. show “The Presidents” and impersonated the last eight First Ladies. Intrigued by their stories, she went on to collaborate with playwright Eric H. Weinberger, focusing on Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, and Betty Ford for this production.

Elaine has been a professional actress with roles in such films as “Without A Trace” and as Cindy, the mom, in “Uncle Buck.”

Her television roles have included those in “E.R.”, “The Sopranos”, “Providence”, “Dharma & Greg”, “Sisters”, “L.A. Law”, “Law and Order”, “Law and Order: Special Victims’ Unit”, “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”, as Stella Lombard on “Days of Our Lives”; the Emmy Award–winning “Playing for Time” with Vanessa Redgrave and “Catch a Rainbow”, for which she, herself, won an Emmy.

She has appeared on Broadway (“The Rose Tattoo”, “I’m Not Rappaport”, “Macbeth”) and off-Broadway (“Cloud 9 at the Lucille Lortel”, “Roundabout’s Inadmissible Evidence” with Nicol Williamson, the world premiere of Michael Weller’s “Split at E.S.T.” and “Candide” with the National Theatre of the Deaf.)

She has played leads at regional theaters across the country, in roles ranging from “Much Ado About Nothing”’s Beatrice to Shirley Valentine, and was cited as outstanding solo performance in New Jersey in 1997 by the Star Ledger.

A member of the Actors Studio and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Smith College, Elaine recently led a special semesterlong course, “Acting for the Media,” at Smith. As a guest artist, she taught her one-day workshop, “Acting for the Camera,” at more than sixty colleges and prep schools across the country.

For tickets or more information, contact Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock at (828) 2959627.

MARCH: 6 Spring Exhibition Celebration 7 – 9 p.m. Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. Free and open to the public. Celebrate Spring exhibitions with an evening of great art, music, food, and share it all with an art loving community. Event is part of the Downtown Boone Art Crawl.

14 Casino Night For Charity at Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship starting at 7 p.m. Free refreshments for all players.

Games will include poker, black jack, craps, roulette, Bingo and others. Minimum $20 donation for chips. Adults 18 and older only.

No cash prizes. For more information, contact Derwin at (828) 264-4456 or at derwinsherwood@yahoo.com 15 Lady Bird, Pat & Betty: Tea for Three 3 p.m. Hayes Performing Arts Center, Blowing Rock. This one-woman play paints a witty, intimate portrait of three consecutive first ladies: Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford, and provides a fresh, feminine angle from which to examine the inner workings of the White House and three extraordinary women.

(828) 295-9627 18 Lunch & Learn: 6th Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition, 12 noon – 1 p.m. Turchin Center in Boone. Featuring

Jurors Marie Freeman, Richard Rapfogel, and John Scarlata. Free admission.

21 Ashe County Spring Solstice 5k Run and Fitness Walk. Ashe County Parks and Recreation Gym (Family Central) in Jefferson. 5k Run starts at 9 a.m., 1 mile Fitness Walk, 9:15 a.m.

Proceeds divided between a local runner named to Team USA in Italy 5/09 to compete in World 24-Hour Challenge and Ashe County Parks and Recreation’s construction of new climbing wall.Contact Rita Prevette at (336) 982-6185, ritaprevette@ashecountygov.com or Annette at annettebednosky@gmail.com.

26-29 ASU Opera – “Cosi fan tutte,” Mozart’s famous opera (a betrayal of love with a happy ending) presented by The Hayes School of Music Opera Theatre at Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center Blowing Rock. Call (828) 295-9627 28 Easter Festival & Egg Hunt, Blowing Rock Memorial Park (828) 295-5222 28 Coffee House Talent Night, 7:30 p.m. Jefferson Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Jefferson. Songs, stories and sumptuous desserts. $10 adults, $5 students.

Do you have a special upcoming event?

Send us a note to: comments@aawmag.com and we’ll add it to that month’s calendar page! www.aawmag.com

MARCH 2009 65

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