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How do you spend New Year’s? Do you take part in annual traditions, parties, reflections or rituals, or is it just like any other day? PUBLISHER Hollie Eudy “New Year’s is my favorite holiday — and always has been! I love the idea of reflecting on the old — all that has happened in the year that is passing — and then with determination and purpose moving into a brand new year that holds nothing but possibility! Regardless of my plans — staying in or being out on the town — stepping from one year into the next is my favorite part of the holiday!”
Gene Fowler
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tom Mayer
EDITOR Bonnie Church “Not one party the night before, I have a clear head on New Year’s Day. I like simple little celebrations like a brunch, a brisk hike, a nap in the afternoon and a movie in the evening. It’s a good time to catch my breath after the holiday and reset before the year ahead.”
Sarah Rodriguez “As a new transplant to the Boone area, this New Year’s will most likely look different than the past for me! In previous years, my family gathered together and each selected a single word to focus on for the upcoming year instead of making resolutions. Cheers to 2020!”
Anna Oakes “In recent years I have eshewed the late-night countdowns, opting for a regular bedtime instead. But I enjoy the tradition of a hike on New Year’s Day (last year it was a 5K!) and I’ve been setting about 10 resolutions for each year.”
Anna Oakes editor@aawmag.com 828.278.3602
CONTRIBUTORS Heather Brandon Bonnie Church Marion Edwards Hollie Eudy Jessica Isaacs Lise Jenkins and Kit Flynn Heather Jordan Melanie Davis Marshall Sarah Rodriguez Sue Spirit
PRODUCTION & DESIGN Meleah Bryan
ADVERTISING 828.264.6397 Sue Spirit “New Year’s Eve is a perfect time to sit and reflect, write in my journal and read a book that challenges me to be more attentive to the needs of the world. It’s a time to ponder what direction my life is going and to make plans for meaningful travel.”
Heather Brandon “No annual traditions for me. Just another day.”
COVER PHOTO Courtesy of University Archives, Appalachian State University
Any reproduction of news articles, photographs or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. © 2019 Mountain Times Publications 4 | November-December 2019
aawmag.com
CONTENTS features 18
18
Megan Kelley, Pop Up Boone
22 Lillie Shull Dougherty, Appalachian State Co-Founder 26 Lisa Cooper, Mast General Store
homestead 09 The Absentee Gardners: Simple Gifts are the Best 10
Hillbetty Revival: Reflections on Rest
relationships 11
Mom’s World: Christmas Service
12
Every Child Deserves a Champion
style & leisure 30 Travel: Dreaming for Change 32 Entertaining Holiday Crowds
health 36 Living Well: A Day in the Life of a Health-preneur
30
37
Beauty: Holiday Beauty Survival
food & drink 38
Recipe: A Simple, Tasty Holiday Treat
39 Recipe: Easy Christmas Morning Breakfast
in every issue 06 Editor’s Note
38
07
Women in the News
16
Young at Heart: Smallidays
40 By the Book: Unsheltered 41
All About Town
November-December 2019 | 5
editor’s
note
The annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report was out in September, and with it came
A.J. and I managed to sneak in a mini-vacation to Charleston, S.C., in late October, which included great weather, relaxing on beaches, hiking and wildlife viewing at Francis Marion National Forest, a fantastic dinner at Husk and history at Fort Moultrie and the Philip Simmons House. Here we are taking a boat ride on the Folly River.
exciting news: women-owned businesses are growing twice as fast on average than all businesses nationwide. Women-owned businesses represent 42 percent of all businesses — almost 13 million — employing 9.4 million workers and generating revenue of $1.9 trillion, according to the report, which analyzes the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners and factors in relative changes in Gross Domestic Product. U.S. women started an average of 1,817 new businesses per day between 2018 and 2019. Over the past five years, the number of women-owned businesses increased at a 3.9 percent annual rate between 2014 and 2019, compared with a 1.7 percent increase in all businesses. There are an estimated 350,199 women-owned businesses in North Carolina, employing over 280,000 people and with $41.3 billion in sales, the report stated. The news is timely as this issue of All About Women highlights women who are business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators in our community: from Lillie Shull Dougherty, now recognized as the third co-founder of Appalachian State University; to Lisa Cooper, who leads the venerable and growing Mast General Store; to Megan Kelley, whose Pop Up Boone enterprise is making waves locally. As you plan your goals and intentions for the new year, maybe it’s the time to pursue your own dreams and ideas! Happy Holidays,
6 | November-December 2019
aawmag.com
Women in the News Pope Appointed Interim Dean of App State’s College of Fine and Applied Arts
A
ppalachian State Kruger, provost and execUniversity announcutive vice chancellor. es the appointment of “The College of Fine Janice Pope, professor and Applied Arts is in Appalachian’s Departintegral to the mission of ment of Communication, Appalachian. We educate as interim dean of the students to go and make university’s College of a difference in their comFine and Applied Arts. munities and the world,” Her new role took effect Pope said. Aug. 5. Pope, who is beginA national search for ning her 25th year of a permanent dean for the employment at Appalacollege will begin in the chian, joined the univer2019–20 academic year. sity’s faculty in 1995. She Janice Pope. Photo by Chase Reynolds “With her proven has previously served as dedication to Appalachian and to her chair of the Department of Communicacommunity, Janice is well-prepared to tion (2018–19), as well as assistant chair serve as interim dean for the College (2006–07) and chair (2007–13) of the of Fine and Applied Arts,” said Darrell department.
Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge Grants $170,000 to Local Nonprofits
T
he Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is making a difference for women and girls in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties — $170,000 worth of a difference. Since the organization’s inception, the Women’s Fund has given away over $1.5 million to local nonprofits as part of their annual grants cycle. The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge believes that all women have the right to equality, safety, opportunity and self-determination in every aspect of their lives. These agencies will be receiving grants to assist in creating positive change for women and girls in the High Country: Ashe Family Literacy, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, Buffalo Cove Education Center, Children’s Council, Community Care Clinic, Girls
on the Run, Hunger & Health Coalition, High Country Givers, Hospitality House, Mountain Alliance, New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae, OASIS, Partnership for Ashe, Quiet Givers, Reaching Avery Ministry, Shoes for Kids, Toe River Health District, Volunteer Avery, WAMY, Watauga County Habitat for Humanity and Western Youth Network. For information on making a donation, becoming a member, participating in events or volunteering, contact Karen Marinelli at (828) 264-4002, or email karen@womensfundoftheblueridge.org. For more information, visit www. womensfundoftheblueridge.org, or find the group on Facebook.
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Women in the News
Valle Crucis Teacher Receives Presidential Award
K
atie Matthews, a first-grade of the prestigious Presidential teacher at Valle Crucis School, Awards for Excellence in Mathhas been awarded the Presidential ematics and Science Teaching,” Award for Excellence in MathElliott said. “The award is in ematics and Science Teaching. recognition of Katie’s dedication The award represents the highest to the teaching of science and the honor a technology, engineering, development of professional develmathematics and/or computer opment for her fellow teachers.” science teacher may receive for Elliott said in her time with outstanding teaching in the United Watauga County Schools, MatStates. thews led the implementation Matthews received the award of the Science Pals program — a on Oct. 17 at a ceremony in Washscience class that pairs middle ington, D.C. schoolers with younger students Katie Matthews leads a science demonstration about water filters and soil. for joint science education. The Presidential Awardees receive Photo submitted a certificate signed by the Presprogram has since been adopted at ident of the United States; a trip each of Watauga’s K-8 schools. work represented a tremendous impact to Washington, D.C. to attend a series Elliott said Matthews was also instruon science education in Valle Crucis of recognition events and professionmental in the development of the disSchool and across Watauga County al development opportunities; and a tricts’ fi rst Watauga Teacher Leadership Schools as a whole. $10,000 award from the National Science Academy at the North Carolina Center “It is an honor to share the great Foundation. for the Advancement of Teaching and news that our very own Katie Matthews Watauga County Schools Superwas recognized as the 2012 Watauga from Valle Crucis School is a recipient intendent Scott Elliott said Matthews’ County Schools Teacher of the Year.
Potters’ Mug Show on Display through Dec. 31
P
otters of the Blue Ridge is hosting its third annual Mug Show at Doe Ridge Pottery on King Street in downtown Boone. Potters from throughout the High Country will have a variety of mugs on display and for sale throughout the holiday season. The show opened Nov. 1 and continues through Dec. 31. Potters of the Blue Ridge strive to increase positive awareness of handmade pottery made in the Blue Ridge Mountains, to foster a sense of community among area potters and to facilitate professional, high-quality, shared-cost venues for promoting and selling members’ works. The organization represents the five-county region of Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, Caldwell and Watauga counties. Mug Show artists featured in 2019
are Cindy Pacelio, Becki Henderson-Gow, Theresa McGrath, Dottie Baker, Millie Goodnight, Stephanie Balance, Carol King, Connie Cox, Nancy Graham, Patti Carmen-Whitehead, Elizabeth Lauer, Michelle Miolla, Bob Meier and Keith Lambert. Doe Ridge Pottery is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is located at 585 West King St., Suite D, Boone. For more information, visit www.doeridgepottery.com or call (828) 264-1127. For more information about Potters of the Blue Ridge, contact Bob Meier at (828) 264-1127 or Cindy Pacileo at (828) 297-4274 or cindy@cindypacileo.com. - Anna Oakes
The third annual Potters of the Blue Ridge Mug Show is on display at Doe Ridge Pottery through Dec. 31. Photo by Anna Oakes 8 | November-December 2019
aawmag.com
Homestead
Simple Gifts are the This time of year, I’m shopping for holiday gifts. I’ve decided to give the very essence of life, something that we often ignore — clean water. Okay, I can almost hear your eyes rolling. Hang in here with me for a moment; you might end up agreeing with me. Across the High Country, thousands of creeks and streams drain over 11,000 square miles. What finds its way into our creeks eventually rolls down and across our state providing water for millions of North Carolinians. A dizzying array of materials flow into our streams: the drumbeat of studies reporting the dangers of plastic bottles, prescription medicine, industrial waste, fertilizer runoff, cigarette filters and micro plastics overwhelms me on a daily basis. But the biggest pollutant threatening North Carolina’s waters is so much more mundane — it’s sediment. Otherwise known as mud. How can this be? Since the beginning of time particles of soil, plants and inorganic material have washed into streams and creeks. The When too much material finds its way to a stream bank, or when the water is blocked and doesn’t flow freely, or when too much water crashes down during a flood, a stream’s ability to flush out these materials is diminished, allowing sediment to build up. Once started, sediment buildup can
Best
Andy Hill is the Watauga Riverkeeper, which is coordinated locally via MountainTrue. Photo submitted
quickly change water chemistry, degrading a river’s ability to support life, both in the water and along its banks. That’s why Andy Hill has a row boat full of truck tires. Andy works for MountainTrue; with offices in Asheville, Hendersonville and Boone, MountainTrue fights for clean water and resilient forests across Western North Carolina. Among his many roles, Andy Hill is the Watauga Riverkeeper. He is part of a national network of Riverkeepers, people who protect our rivers. That can mean Andy puts on a tie to talk with local pol-
Absentee
Gardeners
iticians or pulls on wading boots to haul trash out of a stream — whatever it takes to get the job done. The High Country enjoys some of the cleanest water in our state, and MountainTrue helps keep it that way. This year I’m giving memberships in MountainTrue as gifts to the people who matter to me, because simple things, like water, are important and worth protecting. You can find out more at MountainTrue.org.
Lise Jenkins & Kit Flynn Absent from their gardens, Kit and Lise enjoy roaming our region exploring the intersection of horticulture and suburban living. More on Instagram @AbsenteeGardener or email: info@absentee-gardener.com.
November-December 2019 | 9
Homestead
HILLBETTY REVIVAL
Reflections on Rest The months of November and December are some of my favorite months, not only for the holidays and time spent with family and friends over amazing meals, but as months of reflection and rest. As daylight wanes and all the homestead goodies are packed away into the cellar, everything slows down, including this hillbetty. These are the months of reflection on what I tried that didn’t work, what I did that flourished, and where I want to go in the coming year with this hobby farm of mine. As I take a rest, I also plan the rest for space. In small-space homesteading, it is easy to carried away into the realm of using every square foot of the property to produce. Fallowing soil is the practice of leaving soil unplanted for a period of time, usually 1 to 5 years, to allow regeneration. The nitrogen, carbon and organic materials in the soil will return, enhancing nutrients and moisture retention. This year’s garden was half-size, as I allowed half of the garden plot to lie fallow. In the next year, I will plant only half again to allow the garden to replen10 | November-December 2019
ish soil nutrients and stay healthy. The plot is large enough to provide more than enough for my family at half capacity. The value of rest comes in the healthier plants with larger productions in the smaller space. The critters also take a rest around this time of year. As the days get shorter, the egg production of the hens slows way down. By early December I will have the heat lamps on the coop as dual functioning temperature control for ice prevention in their water supply and light stimulation, but in the month of November, I leave them to rest. The daytime temperatures are still so warm that heat lamps bring the interior temps to levels uncomfortable for the chickens. I have embraced these months as hens’ break, too. The catfish will go into their lethargic stage. Not quite a hibernation, but their metabolism and activity slow down to appear almost dormant stage. I do miss the feeding as my favorite farm chore, but they remind me of the importance of rest. I will be tucking in the young trees I have planted this year for their winter rest with an extra layer or two of mulch
for cold protection. I consider this chore more of the rest category than the hard work of digging and planting in the spring. It is not all sofa surfing and Netflix bingeing, though. I keep a journal, or scrapbook of sorts, for my little homestead that I started two years ago when I bought the place. These months of reflection allow me to document this year’s plants and progress and sketch out plans for the upcoming year. I will research for the next phase of building out the homestead. Where do I want to focus my energies in the winter and early spring prep work, or what was on my to-do list that did not quite make it to fruition this year? At this stage in my young homestead, I don’t quite have the year-round needs. For now, I will enjoy these months of rest, reflection and research.
Melanie Davis Marshall Melanie is a born-again Hillbetty attempting to revive her Appalachian roots. She lives in Creston with her two dogs and 21 chickens. aawmag.com
Relationships
MOM’S WORLD
Christmas Service When I think about Christmas, one of the first images that enters my mind is that of my Gramma and Grampa Bates’ church. All of our festivities were planned in relationship to when we would all be going to church. When we were young, we would go to the supper time 5:30 p.m. service, and as we entered adulthood we sometimes would stay up for the 11:30 p.m. “midnight” service. The sanctuary was a familiar place that was such a mainstay of my childhood that I see it in my mind’s eye, no matter what church I might be in for Christmas candlelight service in present day. My mom was raised in this Episcopalian Church that was very formal, both in terms of the appearance of the sanctuary and also in terms of the schedule of the service, the chanting in Latin, the clanging of the bells and the incense. The churches I have attended with my parents and with my own children since my childhood have contrasted with this formality in many ways. I’ve been to churches that welcomed special music, offered programs exploring controversial topics and at times branched into contemporary services. I have come to appreciate many wonderful pastors, both in the way they tried to bring the formality of religion into the real world of people’s lives and the dedication they showed to their congregation’s members. As an adult, I have realized the amount of emotional and physical energy required of a minister to do the outreach and care that they seem to do tirelessly. I guess you could say that I have come to recognize the humanity of pastors in their compassion but also their limits. As a child, I did not see the priests at my grandparents’ church as human, but in hindsight I know they were as
human as any of us. Rewinding 40 years, there I was as a child sitting in the pew with my grandparents, sisters and parents, taking in the person in front of me that seemed distant and foreign, at times chanting in a language I didn’t understand. It seemed like the priest was dressed up and acting amidst a lot of choreography and script. I listened and watched, trying to find the connection and meaning over the years of attending that church. Slowly, the words would make more sense. The familiarity of the scripture gave me some comfort, even when my questioning mind would have issues with some of the interpretations of the text. I took in the way in which this church, in all its formality — all its pomp and circumstance — accepted people from all walks of life. I remember seeing families that sandwiched well-behaved children with well-combed hair between two tired, worn-out parents with tired, worn-out clothes. I remember my uncle Mark, who struggled with schizophrenia, going by himself to the late service in jeans and long hair, just as he was. The formality of the service did not reflect the mission or message of the church, which welcomed everyone. It represented something familiar and predictable, which brought with it a solid message of acceptance that was palpable. I came to enjoy the sound of the choir, the processional, the stained glass windows and the message of love your neighbor. I came to understand what was beneath the appearance and to see how when people grow up and are loved in that community, it can lift someone up and give them hope. Maybe it’s not always the way someone needs to hear or wants to receive such a message, but Christmas service took on a whole different meaning when I thought of it in
this context. So what if you only made it in that one day? If that’s when you could come, the message was there, just as every other Sunday. When I was much older, going back when my grandmother passed away, and then when my uncle passed away, and finally after my grandfather’s death, I was overcome with emotion each time entering that church. People who had watched my mom grow up and my sisters and I grow up would approach, hug, express their condolences, jaws dropping at how we all had changed. I would recognize some folks, and others I would just nod and smile at, trying to remember their names or context. Now, when we file into a different church with my family, I see my children (when they come) searching for the purpose of the Christmas church service. They question, they disagree, they complain at times. I try to remember my own questions and complaints and have patience, while showing them love and acceptance. It is the best message I could have pulled from those countless Christmas services as a child. Lord knows, people need those two things more than just about anything in this life. May all who struggle as this holiday season approaches find what they need through the kindness and openness of a church or through other caring individuals who spread love the way Jesus (or Buddha or Yahweh or Allah) has taught to move forward into the New Year with hope and grace.
heather jordan, CNM, MSN Comments or questions? 828.737.7711, ext. 253 landh@localnet.com
November-December 2019 | 11
Relationships
Every
CHILD
Deserves a
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pi
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CHAMPION BY THE CHILDREN’S COUNCIL OF WATAUGA COUNTY
Parents have an incredibly hard time when it comes to entrusting an individual or a child care program with the safety and wellbeing of their children. Not only do parents want a safe and nurturing environment for their young ones, but they also want their children to be in high-quality settings where they can learn and grow. Children’s brains are rapidly forming during this critical developmental period 12 | November-December 2019
and research is backing up what many teachers already knew, that the first few years of life are the most critical. In fact, science shows us that 90 percent of the brain forms before the age of 5. The early learning program that a child attends has a major impact on the ways that her/his brain develops and the foundation that is built for all further learning. No longer is early education considered “just babysitting.”
Early childhood education is a highly woman-dominated field. In Watauga County, 100 percent of private child care centers and family child care homes are directed by women. This is also true nationwide, with about 94 percent of child care professionals being women. (NWLC calculations based on U.S. Census Bureau). Several directors started their own business of caring for children out of aawmag.com
an unmet need. Merry-Land owner and director Mary Stiles explains this struggle when her own children were young. “I had recently moved to Boone from Georgia. After having a baby in 1994, I realized how difficult it is to find child care in North Carolina. The quality of child care available was below my standards,” Mary says. “After no calls from the centers that had me on their waiting list, I decided I would stay at home and open a family child care home.” An ongoing issue here in the High Country, as well as nationwide, continues to be a lack of child care. Crystal Kelly, director of strategic initiatives at the Children’s Council, stated that Watauga County can be classified as a “child care desert, or a community where there are more than three children for every available child care spot.”As the need for more child care options continues to rise, many people are looking to the state, county and federal decision-makers to increase the amount of money getting filtered into early child education. Amber Fairbetter, director of Sunnyside Daycare, describes funding as one of the biggest struggles in the field. From the lack of subsidy funding for children, to the low salaries of teachers and staff, early child care is a highly underfunded field. The Children’s Council has piloted a program that directly addresses this. The Pathways to Accreditation Program provides early learning centers and family child care homes with free resources, expert trainings, supplies and materials and peer support. Financial enhancements are given to participating sites to help them to purchase needed equipment, materials, pay higher salaries to their teachers and for professional conferences for their staff. Mary explains how the program has helped her center: “We have been able to raise our lead teachers’ pay to $12 from $10 an hour. The funding from Pathways also allowed us to offer our teacher assistants higher pay rates. Our lead teachers are getting training to improve their quality of teaching through Pathways, and they pay for their substitutes! Our playgrounds have all new equipment. All our classrooms have new toys in every activity center due to the funding we are receiving from Pathways.” The council hopes that the support,
financial enhancements, high-quality trainings and teacher assistants will also encourage more early learning sites to participate in the Pathways to Accreditation Program and to encourage other individuals or businesses to start child care centers and family child care homes to address the lack of child care spots for families in our community. Pathways is unique to Watauga County and is helping to create an early education community to support not only the dedicated teachers and directors, but to ultimately increase the level of quality in the learning centers for our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. Equally important is supporting and valuing individual teachers and family child care providers. Quality child care does not just impact parents and caregivers of young children — it is a community issue that affects our education system, health system as well as our current and future workforce. The Children’s Council is proud to work with these early learning professionals so that they have the support needed to do the best work they can do to help raise our future community leaders, doctors, teachers and neighbors. In order to help early learning sites operate at the level we need them to, it will require financial investments from the community, local businesses, county and state government. The Children’s Council has worked over the last year to convene a diverse array of stakeholders in our community who are actively and passionately working on this issue. If you would like to be involved, contact our office at (828) 262-5424.
love THINGS WE
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“Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” - Rita F. Pierson
November-December 2019 | 13
High Country
WOMEN in REAL ESTATE
CINDY GIARRUSSO
DUSTY WASHBURN
IRENE SAWYER
Being born and raised in New Orleans I was instilled with the good ole' southern values of honesty and treating everyone we meet like FAMILY. In 2005 our family evacuated to the High Country when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and that's the beginning of my "love story" with real estate in the mountains. My goal as a realtor is to show my clients why WE live here, raised our children here and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. A lot of time is devoted to educating and helping families find their dream home which I consider a privilege and honor to be a part of that process. I believe investing in real estate is the best investment you can make in your lifetime, anyone can do it if they have the right professional working FOR them. No matter what your budget is, there IS "Luxury at EVERY price point" here in the High Country.
Dusty is committed to lend professionalism while providing the highest level of service to her clients. She has called Boone her home for the past 20 yrs where she attended ASU earning a degree in Design/Marketing. As a full time Realtor she was recently voted by her fellow Realtors to serve as a Member of the Board of Directors of the HCAR. In 2016 she was also voted Best of the Best Real Estate Agent by Watauga Democrat. Her ardent desire to provide the best service to her clients has driven her to achieve higher expertise through credited designations including; Certified Residential Specialist, Graduate Realtor Institute, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, and Accredited Staging Professional. You can count on Dusty to make your real estate dreams become a reality.
Irene Sawyer earned her brokers license in 2016. Prior to that, she was a licensed real estate agent in Ohio. During her first year in real estate, she was awarded the Rising Star of the Year designation, having sold $3 million in real estate her first year with an average home sale price of $156,000. Irene is an eight-year breast cancer survivor. In 2017, she founded the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation (501 C3 charitable organization). The Foundation gives 100% of its donations to breast cancer patients in the seven counties of the High Country. Irene pays 100% of the expenses of the Foundation with her real estate earnings. Today, the Foundation has received over $100,000 in donations from the community. Irene loves the High Country, and considers it "Paradise"!
Cell (828) 964-2896 Banner Elk Office (828) 737-3100 cgiarrusso@brri.net
Cell (828) 964-3132 • Boone Office (828) 263-8711 dwashburn@brri.net www.dustywashburnrealestate.com
Cell (614) 928-6544 Blowing Rock Office (828) 295-7777 isawyer@brri.net • www.hcbcf.org
14 | November-December 2019
aawmag.com
High Country
WOMEN in REAL ESTATE
JEANNE ROBINSON
MARY ELLA BAKER
HOPE CAROSELLI
Born and bred in North Carolina, this Tar Heel native has been a broker in the High Country for 4 decades. She earned a BA in English at UNC and adores the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jeanne owned and operated Carriage Square Realty in Boone for 30 years, then joined Blue Ridge Realty & Investments. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, North Carolina Association of Realtors and has served as President, State Director, Local Director and professional standards committee member for the High Country Association of Realtors. She holds the Certified Residential Specialist designation and is a Graduate of the Realtors Institute. Put her experience to work for you. Jeanne knows the area very well and relishes finding buyers and sellers what the are looking for.
Mary feels fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and has called the High Country home for 15 years. In her spare time, she visits assisted living facilities with her therapy dog and loves to run, hike, and enjoy all the beauty the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer. Mary’s detail-oriented nature, project management experience, tenacity, and negotiation skills make her the ideal REALTOR® for both buyers and sellers. Often referred to as “grace under fire,” Mary is able to keep her head through difficult negotiations and ensure a Win-Win outcome for all parties. Whether it’s the American dream of home ownership or the ideal of downsizing and simplifying, Mary is dedicated to helping you meet your goals. Contact Mary today and allow her to assist you in your next real estate transaction!
As a High Country native and Appalachian State graduate, this area is home. I discovered my love for real estate in Florida in 2004 and brought that passion back in 2011. I have always been grateful for the opportunity to serve others, and real estate helps me do just that. In the community, I am a Board Member for the Boone Chamber, High Country Young Professionals and Boone Sunrise Rotary. When not working as a Realtor, I represent Kannaway CBD as an area director. My favorite times are spent with my husband, Bill, and daughter, Chloe, skiing, camping, being outdoors, and living a life with passion and purpose. I would love the opportunity to help fulfill your home ownership goals.
Cell (828) 964-0447 Blowing Rock Office (828) 295-7777 jrobinson@brri.net
Cell (828) 773-5240 Boone office (828) 263-8711 mbaker@brri.net
Cell (828) 719-6681 Boone Office (828) 263-8711 hcaroselli@brri.net November-December 2019 | 15
YOUNG AT HEART
Smallidays Do you suffer from “holidread” – the anxiety and stress that can accompany the winter holiday season? If yes, you are not alone. According to a 2015 Healthline survey, “festive stress” is real and affects approximately 62 percent of the population with 18 percent reporting that holidays are “very stressful.” In addition, the American Psychological Society reports that women are especially susceptible to holiday-related stress because they generally bear the burden of the extra chores associated with holiday celebrations: shopping, decorating, cooking and cleaning. In the same Healthline survey, money tops the list of stressors at 47 percent, followed by overindulgence and the pressure to select the “right” gift at 16 and 15 percent, respectively. Other holiday stress inducers include: Compressed work deadlines as offices prepare for holiday closings; An abundance of invitations and pressure to do it all; Expensive travel and the associated frustrations, such as crowds and delays, that accompany some of the year’s busiest travel days; 16 | November-December 2019
Splitting time between families and/ or familial demands; Commercialism and gift-giving expectations; Getting ready for guests, hosting guests and/or being a guest in someone’s home; Nostalgic (and unrealistic) expectations of perfection and/or holiday “joy;” Having to work during one of the busiest times of the year, especially for retail and/or food service employees; and Not having friends and/or family with whom to celebrate. If that is enough to make you want a holiday from the holidays, how does one cope? There are endless lists available online with advice on how to have a stress free holiday season. Said advice ranges from setting a budget for gift giving to prioritizing invitations and from maintaining a healthy diet to choosing to have a positive attitude. I offer an alternative solution – choose
to focus less on the apparently dreaded holiday season and instead celebrate smallidays! Smallidays? I am defining smallidays as small, unexpected, random celebrations. A smalliday can be any number of things — it could be surprising your significant other with a fancy dinner on a Tuesday, making time to take a 20-minute walk in a park you love, or baking cookies for your work colleagues or neighbors just because. Need more inspiration? Here are my suggestions on how to celebrate smallidays year round.
Get Carded This suggestion is two-fold: 1. Randomly send a friend one of those “just for fun” cards. After all, they exist for some reason. 2. Thank 52 different individuals by writing a thank you note each week for a year. These can be brief – one meaningful sentence is fine. Extra points for hand-delivering the notes.
Make Food Fun Pick a food holiday to celebrate each week and/or month. There is one aawmag.com
for pretty much everything – National Croissant Day (1/30), National Cereal Day (3/7), National Sushi Day (6/18), National Watermelon Day (8/3), National Taco Day (10/4), National Pickle Day (11/14) and more – so, you should have plenty from which to choose. Use it as an excuse to try a new food, new recipe and/or new restaurant, or to throw an impromptu potluck.
DOE RIDGE PO TTERY HOS T S THE
Spread Good Cheer Make a point to tell a supervisor about a great employee, compliment someone, write a review about a product and/or company that you love, share a positive message on social media, and/or hide a love note for your signiďŹ cant other.
Doe Ridge Pottery has served the community by providing a gallery to display the beautiful work of local potters. Come visit us for our annual mug show. Featuring local potters from Potters of the Blue Ridge and many more.
Pay It Forward Pay for a stranger’s food at a restaurant or buy the person behind you coffee at a coffee shop, plant a tree, do a task for your partner that they hate doing, and/or gift a favorite book to friend.
585 W. King St. Suite D, Boone, NC 28607
Be a Good Gifter Surprise a friend or family member with a donation in their name to a favorite cause or charity for no occasion at all. Give of your time by volunteering at an animal shelter, senior center, etc. or by participating in a charity event and/or clean-up day. Send a care package to a service member or owers to someone who had a meaningful impact on you.
Stop and Listen Learn something new about a coworker by talking over coffee and/or an adult beverage. Text someone “good morning,� “good night,� or a funny message. Call your mother and ask about her day and/ or spend 15 minutes really listening to someone.
Practice Self Care Get a massage, try something new or revisit an old favorite, laugh, eat chocolate!
Happy smallidays!
NOVEMBER–DECEMBER
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heather brandon Considers life to be one big anthropological ďŹ eld experience. She observes and reports. She enjoys travel, food and wine and adventures with her husband, Roger.
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Feature
Left: Megan Kelley, CEO of Pop Up Boone, enjoys the atmosphere at Hatchet Coffee. Above: Shoppers peruse the goods at Pop Up Boone in September.
More Than Retail Pop Up Boone Fosters Entrepreneurship in the High Country PHOTOS BY JESSICA ISAACS
As a popular travel destination and thriving college town, Boone’s distinctive economic climate often presents unique challenges for artisans and makers who rely on selling their work. Lucky for them, one local gal has established a new retail opportunity that is, much like the High Country’s business culture, built on the concept of adapting to the environment at hand. Pop Up Boone, a temporary, handmade (and occasionally vintage) retail shop is making waves with its playful atmosphere, but also impacting local makers in a meaningful way. It’s also organically become a focal point for a growing spirit of empowerment and support amongst female entrepreneurs in the area. “It pops up around eight times a year, and it’s a celebration of the creativity
overflowing in our Boone community. It typically feels more like a party than a retail store,” says Megan Kelley, its CEO. “We currently pop up at Hatchet Coffee. We’re huge fans of the café and thoroughly enjoy using the bright open space to host our events.” It’s not your typical craft show, though. There are no separate booths, vendors aren’t required to staff their stations, and the whole operation sets up overnight to transform the coffee shop into a retail store with a central checkout.
POP UP BOONE As a ceramic artist struggling to sell her own work, Megan was inspired to bring Pop Up Boone to life when she encountered a similar operation in summer 2018 while on the road with her business,
Clay x Jane. “I was traveling to other cities across the Southeast attending pop ups and craft shows, but was experiencing a tremendous amount of burnout. The cost of shows and travel didn’t make it worth it financially,” she said. “I participated in a few regional pop up shops and was inspired by their streamlined process. They typically have 10-day pop up shops where makers drop off their work, pick up remaining items and receive a check in the mail. “It was so easy, and I thought… why not bring this to Boone? I did research on other handmade pop up shops and discovered they were trending across the country.” Her first pop up, held at 3rd Place in Continued on next page November-December 2019 | 19
downtown Boone, featured 12 local makers and was wildly successful. Although she didn’t have plans at the time to expand the operation, she found herself promising monthly events on a whim. Encouraged by initial success, Megan put in the work to manifest that goal. Since then, Pop Up Boone has enjoyed continued success with its new home at Hatchet Coffee, and the overall brand has begun to blossom with growth. “Artisans and makers of various styles and mediums participate in Pop Up. We attract a few different audiences, and our main demographic is overwhelmingly female,” Megan said. “This was not intentional, but it rather seems that the community and support network naturally turned into a female-centric experience. “I love the liberating feeling of Pop Up and the free-spirited vibe of the event. A lot of our inventory has a playful, uplifting vibe, which pours into the whole experience. We’re all just drinking loads of coffee, surrounded by fun people, listening to pop music, and buying cute things… so it’s bound to be a great time! I hope that Pop Up feels like a judgment-free zone for everyone who walks in.”
CREATING IMPACT Megan says her prior life and work experiences have paved the way for her role as Pop Up’s CEO. “Every time I have lived or worked within a large community, I learned the most about how to organize people and help them thrive. I lived in a large housing cooperative, worked on many farming and landscaping crews and worked on trail building crews in the woods,” she says. “All of those experiences taught me how to be smart with minimal resources, to share and care for others and to understand the power of working together as opposed to separately.” True to Megan’s vision for the operation, Pop Up’s bespoke business model yields a virtually hassle-free seller experience that generously favors their financial interests. “Many craft shows require a high overhead vendor fee, ranging from $75$400 each time. I was sick of paying those fees as an artisan without knowing the return, so I’ve created a model with an overhead fee that’s about $30 for a typical 20 | November-December 2019
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pop up. From there, the vendors pay up with a 25 percent commission on their sales,” she said. “This means that if they only sell one thing, they don’t have to take a huge loss. It’s a super low-risk model that’s quite fair in my eyes. The typical retail shop or gallery will take around 50 percent.” The Pop Up team handles marketing and curating for the events, so makers simply label their inventory appropriately and drop off their work. More than a retail experience, the process and mission of Pop Up Boone continue to unfold as it continues to create meaningful impact for participating vendors. “It has evolved into a space where women support women and feminine energy can be celebrated as a community. It’s a platform for both the seasoned artist maker, as well as the emerging hobbyist who has never sold their work before,”
said Megan. “More than anything I hope that vendors learn so much through their Pop Up experience. It’s not so much about the money they make, but the skills they build along the way through budgeting, branding and marketing, time management and developing new products. What drives me is witnessing the connections and inspiration shared firsthand during the event from vendor to vendor or customer to vendor.” Ultimately, Megan hopes that Pop Up Boone will encourage people in the High Country to explore options for making a living outside of the traditional 9-to-5, therefore lending to a stronger, more sustainable community. “It’s pretty typical to go straight for a job out of school nowadays; but, with the hype around start-ups and lots of small business support, entrepreneurship is on the rise,” she says. “It may seem like Boone would not be the place to bring
new ideas to life because it’s not a city or suburb, but I’ve found the contrary to be true. “Boone is so supportive and ready for the next fun, inspiring idea to come to life. I believe this is important because there is a lack of ‘20 somethings’ in Boone, which I believe is because of a lack of jobs. There must be a better incentive for people to stay here after school, and I think that comes with creating better, well-paying, entry-level jobs, as well as a greater diversity of activities and culture within Boone.” Visit popupboone.com or check out @popupboone on Instagram to learn more. Jessica Isaacs Jessica Isaacs is a local writer, wife and new mommy who loves the Lord and always keeps her eyes peeled for his mercies and miracles.
November-December 2019 | 21
Feature
Strength and Service Lillie Shull Dougherty’s Legacy as Co-Founder of Appalachian State
W
hile brothers D.D. and B.B. Dougherty are widely recognized as the co-founders of Boone’s Appalachian State University, the institution this year recognized a third person at its annual Founders Day ceremony — Lillie Shull Dougherty, wife of D.D., who played a vital role in bringing higher education to the area. Full of strength, a spirit of humility and a willingness to serve, Lillie Shull Dougherty (1875-1945) defied gender stereotypes of her time and garnered respect from the local community. Lillie and her husband Dauphin (Dauph) Disco Dougherty left eastern Tennessee and arrived in Boone in 1899, when the area was impoverished and secluded from central and eastern North Carolina. The couple moved across state lines to make a positive difference in the area’s primitive education system. Lillie, an experienced teacher in Tennessee and talented musician in voice, piano and guitar, willingly packed up her family’s comfortable life and traveled with her husband and newborn daughter Clara to their new home in North Carolina. Watauga Academy, the forerunner of Appalachian State University, was founded in the same year by Lillie, Dauph and Dauph’s brother Blanford Barnard (Blan) Dougherty. In the early 1900s, Lillie was a cultural anomaly. She was a full-time working mother with young children while also teaching all the primary students at Watauga Academy (Dauph taught the older students). In addition, she would cook, clean and do the wash for her family while having 10 students board in her home.
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“The story of Appalachian cannot be told without Lillie Shull Dougherty.” - Doris Stam
Above: (House) This image shows the northern side of the Dougherty House, built by Dauphin Disco and Lillie Shull Dougherty in 1903. Lillie and her eldest daughter Clara Bartlett, born 1898, can be seen standing in front of the main entrance. D.D. and daughter Annie, born 1903, can be seen to the right. The Dougherty House was located at the southern end of campus until the mid-1980s. It was acquired by the Appalachian Heritage Museum and moved to Highway 321, between Boone and Blowing Rock, in 1989. It was restored as a house museum and is located on the grounds of Mystery Hill. (Couple) Dauphin Disco Dougherty was the co-founder and co-principal of Watauga Academy (1899-1903) and treasurer and business manager of Appalachian from 1903-1929. Lillie Shull Dougherty was the official college hostess and taught music classes during the school’s early years. Left: Lillie Shull Dougherty taught music classes at Watauga Academy, was college hostess, and served as business manager and treasurer after 1929 until her retirement in 1938.
Lillie and Dauph had five kids together, keeping Lillie busy at home. Along with caring for her family and household needs, Blan also lived in the Dougherty home. Yet, Lillie was not a typical housewife of the time. As the hostess for the college, Lillie’s role was more than throwing dinner parties. She hosted important figures in her home often on short notice, helped with secretarial duties, substituted classes when needed and ensured the public perception of the school was positive, according to Dr. Karl Campbell, historian and professor at Appalachian State. As Watauga Academy began to grow in size and scope, Lillie’s steadfast support of her husband and brother-in-law was evident, and her widespread influence was seen across various parts of the school and town. Lillie supported the two men in the beginning stages of the school, yet she was not a bystander in the process — her opinion was highly valued and honored by Dauph and Blan. “Lillie was a great support to these two men,” said Doris Stam, Lillie’s great-granddaughter. “Lillie was no shy ‘door mat’ for these men to step upon. Yet, she cultivated humility and generosity, traits she shared with her husband. Without a doubt the brothers sought and valued Lillie’s opinions as the three of them shouldered together the burdens associated with running the college. Though they had different personalities, both brothers were, in their own ways, dependent upon the steadfastness of Lillie and the stability of their shared home and family life. Faith, frugality and hard work were the shared foundation of the three Doughertys.” Lillie’s legacy runs deep in the university’s history. Now considered a true co-founder in the establishing of the school with her husband and brother-in-law, she was instrumental in creating the home economics, music and industrial arts departments.
These photos Courtesy of University Archives, Appalachian State University
Continued on next page November-December 2019 | 23
Dougherty family historian Doris Stam, second from right, stands before the crowd at Appalachian’s Founders Day Ceremony Sept. 5. She led the singing of the alma mater and spoke during the ceremony about the life of Lillie Shull Dougherty and her impact as a co-founder of Watauga Academy, the school that would become Appalachian State University. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“The story of Appalachian cannot be told without Lillie Shull Dougherty,” Stam said. “Less obvious than the Dougherty brothers, she was, nonetheless, the third pillar, equally holding the weight of the whole undertaking. There were three, not two, cofounders of Appalachian State University.” Out of the classroom, Lillie used her strengths to assist with running the books for the school for a time, Campbell said. After Dauph passed away in 1929, Lillie became business manager and treasurer where she first earned a salary from the college. Lillie’s contribution to the success of the university is a legacy to remember. In her speech at Appalachian State’s second annual Founders Day celebration in September, Stam said Lillie was crucial in helping keep the school afloat during a period of poverty that struck the mountain region after the Great Depression. Campbell provided insight from a historian’s perspective on Lillie’s contribution to the founding of Appalachian State. “Historically, people look at the two men,” Campbell said. “But no historian today would look at the record and not see three equal founders.” Campbell said to fully examine the significance of Lillie’s life in the 20th century, an onlooker must place her in her historical context. By understanding Lillie’s uniqueness in the 24 | November-December 2019
early 20th century, the gravity of Lillie’s actions in co-founding the university, caring for her family and being an active part of the Boone community can be fully appreciated. A true musician and teacher at heart, Lillie’s passion for both throughout her life has impacted the generations that have followed behind. Dozens of her kin are or were musical performers or educators. According to Stam, one of Lillie’s great-grandsons is a world-renowned pedal steel guitar builder and another
relative has a graduate degree in string bass performance and played with the N.C. Symphony. Along with musicians, countless members of Lillie’s descendants are or have been teachers in higher education or grade school. Lillie loved the people in the town where she lived. She invested deeply in her family and the college, but also in the High Country community. Leaving eastern Tennessee for Boone was not an easy choice, yet Lillie fully embraced the mountain town. She exemplified hospitality as she opened her home to college students, faculty members, church members and others from the Boone area. “Lillie was of the mountain people, and for the mountain people,” Stam said. “Lillie’s contribution in mending fences and leveling differences of opinion between the town and the college — understandable with such close proximity and potentially different needs and goals — is spoken of among our family, but not widely known.” Though Lillie did not live to see what began as Watauga Academy grow to the success of Appalachian State today, Lillie’s contribution to the school cannot be overlooked. Yet, Lillie love’s for teaching and music never overshadowed her passion to love and care for her family. Lillie poured herself out as she gracefully served her family and her community. “What apt words to describe her: strength and service,” Stam said. “True
Local artist Suzie Hallier, left, and William H. Brown Jr. stand in Founders Plaza before the newly dedicated statute of Lillie Shull Dougherty. Dougherty and husband D.D., along with D.D.’s brother, B.B., were the three pillars in the founding of Watauga Academy. Brown is the great-grandson of D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty and donated the artwork created by Hallier. Photo by Chase Reynolds aawmag.com
“No historian today would look at the record and not see three equal founders.” - Dr. Karl Campbell strength, is not self-promoting but serving, and I believe it was her Christian faith that gave her that understanding and developed in her these dual attributes.” Wife. Mother. Teacher. Musician. Business manager. Treasurer. Secretary. Hostess. Event planner. Cook. Visionary. Community ambassador. University co-founder. Lillie was a well-rounded woman vital to the prospering of the High Country in the 20th century. At the September 2019 Founders Days festivities in which Lillie’s statue was dedicated on Appalachian State’s campus, Stam eloquently summarized her great-grandmother’s legacy. “The life of Lillie Shull Dougherty cannot be measured by her visible achievements as teacher or business manager at Appalachian, or even the decades of entertaining and homemaking for the school. Less apparent and more lasting was her steadfastness of purpose to serve, and the integrity of her character in doing it.”
Sarah Rodriguez Sarah is a newcomer to the Boone area. She loves traveling, reading, and all things Baltimore sports.
Right: Lillie Shull Dougherty’s statue in Founders Plaza on Appalachian State’s campus was dedicated at the second Founders Day celebration in September 2019. The statue was donated by William H. Brown Jr., one of Lillie’s great-grandsons. Photo by Sarah Rodriguez November-December 2019 | 25
Lisa Cooper is president of Mast General Store. Photos submitted
Lisa Cooper ‘Look Back and You Will See the Future’ In 1980, while enjoying what she remembers as a normal childhood in Florida, Lisa Cooper’s parents made the decision to sell everything they could and move their family to Valle Crucis to re-open the Mast General Store. Lisa, age 11, “was not excited about any of it at first, but when we started selling candy and my best friend moved to town, my outlook changed.” Living above the store for the first four years of their adventure made for an interesting early life. Lisa’s parents, John and Faye Cooper, “held high expectations for hard work and customer service. Everyone was expected to roll up their sleeves and jump into work.” Upon arrival in Valle Crucis, Lisa recalls, “We fully jumped into one mess of a store. It had 26 | November-December 2019
closed a few years earlier, and it was as if they just turned everything off and shut the doors one day. We worked really hard to get it back in running order.” Working and living in the store might have seemed unusual; however, after the first six months, Lisa realized that “retail was in my blood.” Faye, Lisa’s mother and former co-president of the store, says, “Lisa will tell you that she thought her parents were crazy to buy this old store in the middle of nowhere. One of my favorite comments of hers after about a year here was that she would most likely be able to get a job anywhere, as she could make a sandwich, pump gas, price and display merchandise and ring a cash register. She was about 12 at the time.”
Pairing years of work in the store with degrees in accounting and merchandising from UNC-Charlotte, Lisa was soon ready to take on a new role as a buyer for the store. Although she could claim a lifetime of experience and preparation for this job, Lisa had to start at the bottom and work her way up. She remembers: “I went to my Dad’s office to convince him I was ready, but he was not convinced I could do the job. Finally, he let me buy men’s clothing and gave me an opportunity to succeed. That was the start of my true career at Mast Store. I increased sales by 15 percent. I have always been a numbers geek and I found success in the numbers.” From here Lisa’s role as buyer only continued to expand. After buying for aawmag.com
most departments (including candy!), her role grew to managing departments and, eventually, learning the open-to-buy process by hand. This knowledge placed her in a position to work with all buyers. As she had learned from her parents, Lisa knew how to intertwine work with family. She pursued leadership roles in the store as her world at home grew to include three children — Justin, Hunter and Addison. “As they grew older, my focus turned into working with an incredible leadership team, which includes representatives from all aspects of the stores. Finally, with their encouragement, I stepped into the role of president.” In order to honor her parents’ vision “to keep the store as true to a general store as possible” and yet to keep this concept relevant in an ever-changing retail world, Lisa’s roles and responsibilities vary daily.
“There is no typical day or week. What is typical is an open door policy. If someone needs something from me, that always takes priority. I am blessed to work with department heads who handle the huge responsibilities, which frees me up to look at the entire organization as a whole.” Initially, Lisa found it hard to establish her voice in the world of retail: “In the beginning my introverted personality was a challenge. It was hard to speak up in meetings, and public speaking was a nightmare. My listening skills helped and, with time, my ability to speak in public settings evolved. Introverts can appear extroverted, but sometimes we need time alone to refresh.” Challenges for the business also require listening and communication. Lisa describes “staying ahead of the game” as one of the company’s primary goals. “We
have stepped up in customer experience in store and online. We have grown benefits for all of our employees, and we work hard to keep a great core team working in all of our markets.” Lisa also encourages her staff “to remind ourselves of all of our victories. We all strive to continue to make things better, so sometimes it’s hard to slow down and remind ourselves of all that we have accomplished. Victories include our benefit package and our commitment to giving back to the communities that support us!” Mark Gould, chief financial officer, has worked closely with Lisa since 2007. He has enjoyed watching Lisa embrace her role as president. He describes that “Lisa has taken the reins of the company with grace and confidence and has built a very Continued on next page
“Lisa will tell you that she thought her parents were crazy to buy this old store in the middle of nowhere.” - Faye Cooper November-December 2019 | 27
solid team around her. She continues to seek guidance from her trusted team, but will own important decisions like a true leader. She takes her role of carrying the values that her parents established within the organization very seriously. With two stores still operating in the original Valle Crucis location, Mast General Store also has locations in Boone, Waynesville, Hendersonville, Asheville and Winston-Salem in North Carolina; Greenville and Columbia in South Carolina; and Knoxville, Tennessee. Another new “old” location will open in Roanoke, Virginia, next year. Sheri Moretz, storyteller and copy editor for the store, explains, “All of the locations share the same concept as the original store, but may have a subtle twist. They are restored to a period of significance for that structure ranging in age from 1870s-ish in Columbia to the 1940s in Asheville.” About her time with Lisa, Sheri 28 | November-December 2019
reflects, “Lisa is thinking and acting on a much higher level. She wants the company to be successful because its success is shared with our 500-plus employees as well as our home communities. She has learned a lot from her parents, but she’s also building on her own broad-based background and community engagement.” With regard to her leadership as a woman at the head of successful company, Lisa carefully explains, “We are all equals at Mast Store. There is no tolerance for disrespect in the workplace. My parents set the stage for my success because of their expectations that you respect the people with whom you work. Each person in this company has a unique role that makes a difference, and we do our best to appreciate the different perspectives that everyone brings to the table.” John Cooper, her father, further describes Lisa’s commitment.
“Lisa has worked with a passion to improve the company, to both better serve our customers and to provide a good work environment for employees,” John says. “It shows in our steady growth and our ability to give back to the communities we serve.” Motivated by her family, employees and local communities, Lisa is driven to make an impact. “My team knows that I am always having a good day when we can do something good for others,” she says. Lisa’s best advice for those who take on leadership roles focuses on listening. “First and foremost, listen. I spend a lot of time listening. Ideas come from collaboration. You hire people who have talents that you do not, and you must trust and respect their talents. Be confident in your decisions and willing to admit mistakes. We are all human.” Greta Hollars, mercantile buyer, has worked with Lisa in varying capacities for 35 years. “Lisa has a special place in my heart,” Greta says. “She is a wonderful leader. She values her employees very highly and is always trying to figure out ways to do more for us. She is a very generous person who loves what she does and the people she works with.” In her free time, Lisa enjoys any time spent with her husband, Russ, and her parents and children. She loves the mountains, but “misses putting my toes in the sand.” She says, “I continue to grow and evolve as I get older. I laugh a lot; mostly at myself. My dad gave me a great sense of humor, and my mom gave me a lot of good advice. I am thankful and blessed.” With deep respect, Faye says that her daughter has what it takes to run a company like Mast. “She has a level head and an appreciation of the folks who help make it work,” says Faye. “I have told her many times, ‘I want to be like you when I grow up’” — to which Lisa adds, “You have left me big shoes to fill.” When asked about the future of the Mast General Store, Lisa responds, “Look back, and you will see the future.”
Hollie Eudy Hollie Eudy is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the Appalachian Mountains.
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Style & Leisure
TRAVEL
Mother-Daughter Duo Teams Up With
Dreaming for Change in Burundi “You are now getting to taste an appetizer of porridge similar to the recipe served daily
A mother feeds her child as part of the Dreaming for Change porridge program. Photos submitted 30 | November-December 2019
to 448 malnourished little children in Burundi, Africa,” Connie Green announced to 50 guests at a benefit dinner at the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in early September. The porridge contains maize, groundnuts, soya, sorghum and ginger. The tots are participants in Dreaming for Change, a brand new program in the village of Butanuka, spearheaded by young Burundian visionary Janvier Manirahiza. The children’s moms are excited and grateful that their kids, who have been suffering from lack of food, are now plumping up. Jacqueline, a mother of six, says, “The results are really beautiful. It’s been a great success.” And Cecile speaks of her miracle child, Ornella, 8: “She used to look almost elderly. Her body was extremely thin and skeletal. Now she is walking.” The High Country can almost claim Janvier as our own. In 2017 he was chosen for the Nelson Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, spending six weeks at Appalachian State. While he was in Boone, Janvier began dreaming of starting a project in Burundi. His father had warned him not to begin anything there because of local unrest, but soon he had initiated the porridge program, plus a microbusiness training component for 84 Burundian women, funded by the U.S. State Department. Right now $500 a week feeds the 448 kids. So far the money has come from a GoFundMe account, the dinner proceeds, sales of Burundian coffee provided by Boone’s own Hatchet Coffee Roasters, and partnership with the World Food Program. Volunteers are also applying for grants. The mother-daughter duo of Connie Green and Gael Wood is a class act, for sure. Meeting Janvier and hearing of his plans, they were bitten by the Dreaming for Change bug. The dinner party they threw featured aawmag.com
From left, Gael Wood and Connie Green display Burundian coffee beans from Hatchet Coffee Roasters.
Pictured are women who participate in the microbusiness program in Burundi.
Gael’s delicious Burundian meal and on reaching people who we think would Connie’s informative, exciting presentasympathize with the situations of the tion. children and the mothers, and want to “Dreaming for Change,” Connie muslearn more, and donate.” She adds, “I’ve es, “is a well-thought-out program with always loved big projects and challenges. long-term solutions. I want to see it grow I was looking for a project where I could and reach its goals.” give back.” Connie, a recently retired professor of “Working with Gael has shown me early childhood education and reading at how alike we are in our hearts,” Connie ASU, says, “My dream is to go to Burundi claims. “It has brought me great joy to in the near future to start a work with my daughter for small preschool program such an important cause.” that can be used as a modGael, for her part, adds, el for an expanded early “I’m enjoying working with childhood program.” my mom, as we bring dif“I’m really excited ferent skills to our project. about it,” she enthuses. My husband and kids have “Right now the kids are also been involved, and just there eating porridge. that has been wonderful, The moms don’t know as well.” what to do to stimulate Dreaming for Change’s them. I will adapt the additional plans for program for cultural the near future include appropriateness, which I teaching computer skills, Janvier Manirahiza, founder of will learn from observing providing youth vocational Dreaming for Change. the children at the feeding training, and donating center, talking with parents and visiting school supplies for older children. Partschools.” nering with the World Food Program will The children, Connie says, will learn teach agricultural skills and furnish tools basic sanitation, simple songs with and seeds for family farms and gardens. movements and hands-on activities to Burundi is one of the five poorest build fine motor skills. They will develop countries in the world. $1.90 a day is the vocabulary through games and stories. average family income. Ninety percent of She will train 40 prospective Burundian adults are farmers, tea and coffee being teachers, some of whom will be University important crops. The average woman of Burundi students. gives birth to 6.5 children, 29 percent Gael says, “I think my background of girls giving birth before age 19. Six in marketing will help spread the word percent of children die before age 5. Half about Dreaming for Change. I’m working of the children are malnourished.
Burundi is located in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, on Lake Tanganyika, adjoining Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Its population consists of Huti, Tutsi and Twa peoples. The Rwandan genocide of 1995 also affected the people of Burundi. Not to let grass grow under their feet, Connie and Gael are off again on a clear Boone football Saturday morning in October, this time to set up a muffin-and-Burundian-coffee stand on King Street. You guessed it: another Dreaming for Change porridge benefit project! sue spirit Writes poetry and essays about nature, spirituality, writing, and travel. She has a little cabin in the mountains. degreesoffreedom@frontier.com
Help Dreaming for Change Visit GoFundMe.com/Burundi-Nutriࢼon. Or, checks can be made out to: Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 381 East King Street Boone, NC 28607 (Dreaming for Change in memo line) For more info, visit dreamingforchange. org. For ques ons or to order Burundian coffee, email Connie Green at greencr1983@gmail.com. November-December 2019 | 31
Style & Leisure
Holiday Hosting in Small Spaces
Preparing menu items in the days leading up to the party can make the day of the festivities that much easier for holiday hosts.
Cooking for a Holiday Crowd Decorations and shopping draw much of the attention come the holiday season, and rightfully so. But many people’s fondest holiday memories occurred around the dinner table during meals with friends and family. Holiday foods tend to be rich, flavorful and time-consuming to prepare. However, all the effort is usually worth the satisfied smiles on the faces of loved ones. Planning holiday meals is challenging, and hosts often doubt if they have enough food for everyone. No one wants guests to leave feeling hungry, nor do they want to have tons of leftovers, much of which will inevitably end up in the trash. Determining how much food to serve involves figuring out a few key items, including the mix of guests (ratio of children, men and women), the length of the occasion, the timing of the event, and the type of meal one plans to serve. For example, if the holiday gathering is an after-dinner cocktail party, hosts can get away with offering very little food. However, hosts of holiday dinners have a lot more food to prepare. To get started, consider these general guidelines, courtesy of Allrecipes.com and The Spruce, a home living resource. • Think about which foods you plan to serve. Popular foods tend to go more 32 | November-December 2019
quickly than other items, so serve more than the general portion guidelines suggest. Shellfish appetizers, roasted or mashed potatoes, wings, and slices of rich meat are examples of popular fare. • The more foods you offer, the smaller the portion sizes can be. But because guests will likely want to try all the offerings, expect the average person to consume more food per individual when several foods are offered. • Most people will eat two to three portions each of appetizers or snacks. In fact, appetizers (for a hungry crowd) may be consumed in greater abundance than subsequent courses. • Average portion sizes for each guest include: 3 ounces of dips; 3 ounces of salad; 6 ounces of meat or main entrée; 5 ounces of starch; and 1 1/2 pieces of dessert. These estimates can be used to calculate how much food will be needed. • Think about adding “safety” items to the menu that can be pulled out in a pinch and don’t require much prep work. These can include cheese and crackers, extra bread, nuts, olives or pretzels. • Serve guests plated meals directly from the kitchen, from which hosts can dole out the right amount of food to ensure everyone gets enough to eat.
When hos ng a large crowd at home, space can be a difficult hurdle to clear. However, a few helpful strategies can help space-starved hosts pull off a holiday soiree where everyone is comfortable. • Pare down the menu. Holiday feasts don't have to resemble medieval banquets with excessive amounts of food and drink. Hosts with small kitchens and ny dining quarters can pare down the menu, limi ng offerings to just a single entree and a few simple side dishes, so everyone feels comfortable at the table and has ample room to eat. A small menu also gives hosts more me to spend with their loved ones during the fes vi es. • Don't overdo it on drinks, either. When planning the drinks menu, avoid offering cocktails, which take me to prepare and o en require guests to visit the kitchen for refrigerated ingredients. Limit drinks to wine, beer, water and so drinks, storing cold beverages in a cooler kept outside on a front or back porch or in an area outside the kitchen so cooks can work without interrup on. • Move some furniture. If your main living space is small, consider moving some bulky furniture into a bedroom or office where guests won't be spending me. Then make be er use of the open living space by placing folding chairs or other accommoda ons to ensure there's ample sea ng for everyone. A single recliner can only be enjoyed by one person, but removing it from a room may create enough space for as many as three folding chairs. • Go small on decora ons. If you know you'll be hos ng in advance of the holiday season, decorate with guests in mind. That might mean skipping a six-foot Christmas tree in favor of one that takes up less space. Avoid leaving any fragile decora ons out, as adults or overexcited kids may knock them over as they try to navigate a cramped space. aawmag.com
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Health
LIVING WELL
A Day in the Life of a Health-preneur The field of health coaching is gaining in popularity. Doctors and other health professionals understand there is an enormous gap between wanting to be well and the everyday reality of living a healthy lifestyle. Health coach Rebecca Gray is in business to fill that gap.
How would describe what you do for a living?
What is your educational background? I have certifications from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and The Nutritious Life, a program created by Registered Dietitian Keri Glassman. I have my Health Coaching Board Certification. I will complete a degree in public health by spring 2020.
What does the day in a health It is important to understand this. We coach look like? are not registered dietitians. We don’t prescribe medicine, It depends on order lab tests and the day. I wear dole out medical many hats. I maradvice. The MDs ket and brand my and RDs tell their business through patients what they social media, need to do; we help networking and them to do it. word of mouth. I Health do one-on-one and coaches are like group coaching. I life coaches, with write blogs, take a wellness bent. pictures of food, We are wellbeing host workshops, strategists. There is conduct food prep a lot of information demos, produce circulating on the videos. My to-do Rebecca Gray. Photo submitted web. Much of it is list is long. conflicting. I help my clients sift through the confusion and Is there decent income to be come up with a strategy for getting and made as a health coach? staying on track with their goals. Once a strategy has been developed, I determine Yes, you can make good income as a the tools and resources they need for health coach, but it won’t happen overimplementing that strategy. I educate, night and it will take work. Clients will inspire, motivate and provide accountnot automatically fall into your lap. You’ll ability to help them stay the course. The have to fi nd them, market to them and end goal is to awaken their “inner coach” work to gain their business. This requires so they can self-direct their journey. They confi dence, business skills, marketing know what to do and do it consistently. 36 | November-December 2019
savvy and time. My recommendation is to build your health coaching career while you still have a steady income stream, preferably in the health field. For example, I continue to work part time as a fitness instructor specializing in Barre 3. Also, add additional income streams. For example, I am a distributor with a product brokerage company that identifies top-quality, clinically supported products. This gives me access to several different manufacturers so I can match my clients to the resources they need to support their goals. This adds some retail profit to my coaching packages. The company also offer a scalable business model that rewards expanding distribution through clients and coaches. Bottomline, you need to think like an entrepreneur.
What do you love most about being a health coach? The thing I love most about being a health coach is positively impacting clients and helping them reach their goals. It’s almost a bonus that I get paid for doing so. Approximately 400,000 Americans are dying each year from diet and lifestyle disease. I feel it is my patriotic duty to do something about it. As a holistic health and wellness coach, I am.
bonnie church Certified Life and Wellness Coach Author/columnist, motivational speaker Certified Trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution
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Health
BEAUTY
Holiday Beauty Survival Yes, the holiday season is upon us and along with it comes shopping, cleaning, cooking, celebrating and a multitude of stressors. If that’s not enough, factor in the harsh wintry weather and you have the perfect combination for stressed out skin. Changes in season are always a stress on the skin and particularly so in our neck of the woods here in the High Country — snow, dryness, freezing temperatures all wreak havoc on the skin. If you are aiming for glowy, dewy and sparkly you could wind up with dark, zitty and patchy. The better you prepare for this season, the better you’re going to look going into and coming out of the holidays. Here are a few tips to help you achieve and maintain that glamorous glow all season long. 1. Bump up your moisturizer. Now that it’s getting colder you are changing up your wardrobe. Likewise, we need to make seasonal changes to our skin care wardrobe also. If you’ve been using a gel base move up to a lotion. If you’ve been using a lotion, step up to an oil-based cream that is richer and more emollient. If you’re really dry, try using your night cream in the day. 2. No alcohol-based toners or products that strip. Use deeply hydrating
masks, avoid clay masks (unless you are extremely oily.) 3. Invest in a humidifier. A few winters ago I would wake up in the morning feeling like my nasal passage had experienced a sandstorm — dry, dry. I placed a humidifier in my bedroom and discovered that not only did my dryness cease but my skin was more soft and supple. We are indoors way more in the winter and whether it’s wood, oil, electric or gas, the bottom line is heat dries. 4. Stay hydrated. Drinking water should be something you do for health. It won’t plump up your skin but it will give your body what it needs to take care of internal workings and thereby benefit your skin. 5. Slather on sunscreen. Yes, I know the sun feels so good on those days that make you shiver. Don’t be fooled those UV rays are still a’coming down and when there’s snow on the ground the snow reflects 80 percent of the sun’s light. (Don’t forget to reapply.) 6. Keep those lips kissing soft. Please do not stand under the mistletoe if you have puckered, dry, peeling and painful lips — no one will kiss you. Gently exfoliate your lips with a baby soft toothbrush and then treat with a good moistur-
izing lip balm (many to choose from). 7. Give your hands a hand. There are fewer oil glands in the skin on your hands. Couple that with the frequency with which our hands are washed and that is a recipe for dry hands. Pamper those hands with lotions and creams. Wear gloves to protect them from the harsh cold. 8. Cut the long hot showers. They feel great, but the truth is that wonderful hot shower just opened your pores so moisture can escape, thus leaving you with dry itchy skin. Treat your body by slathering on oil while skin is still damp then blotting (not rubbing) dry. I use organic oil from the grocery store; there are many — safflower, grapeseed, etc. 9. Forgotten feet. Summer is over and the sandals are put away. Don’t forget to pamper those faithful hard working feet. Keep them exfoliated and well moisturized. Give them special treatment by piling on the greasy stuff and donning socks for the night.
Marion Edwards Marion Edwards is a Licensed Esthetician, Professional Makeup Artist and Certified Trainer for Motives Cosmetics. She can be contacted at 828.773.1500. November-December 2019 | 37
Food & Drink
A Simple, Tasty Holiday Treat Baking is a holiday tradition in many families. Gingerbread cookies may be the first baked goods that come to mind when people envision the holiday season, but celebrants need not limit themselves when preparing special treats for their families. Macaroons are one beloved baked good that busy holiday hosts may believe are too time-consuming to prepare. However, the following recipe for “Coconut Macaroons with Dried Cherries” from Laurey Masterton’s “The Fresh Honey Cookbook” (Storey) is easy to whip up and makes for a tasty holiday treat.
Coconut Macaroons with Dried Cherries Makes 25 to 30 small cookies 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut 8 egg whites Salt 1/4 cup dried cherries 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon honey Preheat the oven to 350 F. Combine the unsweetened and sweetened coconut on a baking sheet. Lightly toast in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Keep close watch so the mixture does not burn, though you do want a nice toasted golden brown color. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 F. (If using a convection oven, leave at 350 F.) Whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt in a medium bowl until the whites stiffen into firm peaks. Fold the toasted coconut into the egg white mixture. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop tablespoon-size rounds, perhaps using a small ice cream scoop, of the coconut mixture onto the baking sheet. Press one or two dried cherries into the top of each macaroon. Melt the butter and honey together in a microwave on high for 20 seconds. Drizzle the mixture over the top of each macaroon. Sprinkle with a tiny pinch of salt. Bake the macaroons for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned (watch carefully to avoid burning), or for 8 to 10 minutes if using a convection oven. The macaroons should be dry to the touch. You may need to bake them longer if it is a humid day. If you live in a dry area, these will keep well for a week. Chef’s note: If you want to be really fancy, melt some chocolate and dip each one halfway into it. 38 | November-December 2019
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Easy Christmas Morning Breakfast Christmas morning is an exciting and joyous time for families. Having a fast and easy breakfast at the ready on Christmas morning allows families to jump right into the festivities rather than spending too much time in the kitchen. This recipe for “Spiced Yogurt Muffins,” courtesy of the National Dairy Council, Dannon and McCormick, can be made in advance and then enjoyed while peeking into Christmas stockings or watching holiday parades on television. This big-batch recipe is ideal for feeding a houseful of overnight holiday guests. Or it can be prepared in advance and doled out as needed throughout the week. The muffins also can be made as a treat for holiday office luncheons. Cut the recipe in half for smaller yields.
Spiced Yogurt Muffins Yield: 50 servings 6 1/2 cups Dannon plain fat-free Greek yogurt 4 cups water, room temperature 1 box (5 lbs) Gold Medal Muffin Mix, Whole Grain Variety 3 tablespoons McCormick pumpkin pie spice 2 tablespoons McCormick Chipotle cinnamon Combine yogurt and water in mixing bowl. Whisk until blended. Set aside. Add spices to dry muffin mix in a large bowl. Add yogurt and water mixture to the muffin mixture. Mix until just blended. Don’t overmix. Using a scoop, portion into greased or lined muffin pans. Bake at 350 F for 24 minutes, or 17 to 20 minutes in a convection oven, until the tops are golden brown.
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“Unsheltered”
by Barbara Kingsolver “Mary Treat. How many women has God made like you?” Thatcher Greenwood dares to ask, allowing himself to walk into the light, to become unsheltered. And, thus it is, with Barbara Kingsolver’s latest tour de force as in much of her writing, a revelatory examination of life with shadows and shelter firmly pushed away. Moving between narratives within the 19th and 21st centuries, “Unsheltered” is the story of two families who reside in Vineland, Pennsylvania. Facing many of the same trials, the families are challenged to find appropriate housing, to face the death of beloved family members, to understand that the way of the world as they believed it to be is fading away, and to train themselves to look up, to look forward, to find the possibility of the new world order of their futures. Both narratives carry the stories of women who have been crippled by societal mores, yet are dauntlessly working to 40 | November-December 2019
find their way into the light and into their own truths. Willa Knox, former journalist and mother of two, finds herself in the uncharted territory of mid-life with no job, a husband whose tenure as a professor has abruptly ended, an ailing father-in-law, children whose mid-20s problems seem insurmountable, and the inheritor of a dilapidated house in residential Vineland. Medicaid, food stamps and a house of squalor were certainly not part of Willa’s vision of her future, yet a reality she has to face. “How could two hardworking people do everything right in life and arrive in their fifties essentially destitute? They were a new class of educated nomads, raising kids with no real answer to the question of where they’d grown up.” With questions and reflections like these, Willa begins her journey of life in Pennsylvania, dividing her time between doctor’s appointments for her father-in-law and her son’s newborn. Meanwhile, readers meet Thatcher Greenwood and Mary Treat, 19th century residents of Vineland whose chance meeting as neighbors proves life-changing. Married hastily to a much younger woman, Thatcher is challenged to provide shelter for his widowed mother-inlaw and his wife’s sister. With passion he approaches his new post as the science teacher of a local school, yet is quickly smothered in the schoolmaster’s absolute derision of the new science of Darwin and his blasphemous diatribe in regard to evolution. Torn between his own beliefs and maintaining his job, Thatcher struggles to navigate the world of his in-laws and the world of his mind. Within walking distance of Thatcher’s new home resides Mary Treat, a scientist in her own right who frequently corresponds with Charles Darwin and Asa Gray, but is better known in the community as a woman whose husband left her for a younger, more glamorous replacement. Eccentric for her time or any era, Mary Treat is wholly herself, undeterred by society’s opinions. Her work as a biologist is her world. She encourages Thatcher: “Your pupils depend on it, Thatcher. Their little families have come here looking for safety, but they will go on laboring under old authorities until their heaven collapses. Your charge is to lead them out of
doors. Teach them to see for themselves, and not to fear it … To stand in the clear light of day unsheltered.” Juggling the worlds of two centuries, with characters who face many of the same obstacles, Kingsolver creates a portal into the past, present and future. With mirror-like recognition, readers see who we were and how that inevitably informs who we are and will be. Readers will find themselves caught up in these intricate worlds, cheering for Thatcher, in awe of Mary, and willing Willa to take the advice of Tig, her spirited daughter: “I’m saying when God slams a door on you it’s probably a shitstorm. You’re going to end up in rubble. But it’s okay because without all that crap overhead, you’re standing in the daylight … What you have to do is look for blue sky.” Likewise, Kingsolver eloquently urges each of us to step into the light, to become unsheltered, to break free. Hollie Eudy Hollie Eudy is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the Appalachian Mountains.
Photo by Steven L. Hopp
About the Author Barbara Kingsolver is the author of nine bestselling works of fiction as well as books of poetry, essays and creative nonfiction. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal, our country’s highest honor for service through the arts, as well as the Dayton Literary Peach Prize for her body of work. She lives with her family on a farm in Southern Appalachia. aawmag.com
ALL ABOUT TOWN Le[: Amelia, Kim and Molly Carter dress up as skeletons during Boone Boo on Oct. 30, 2019. Below: Tess Causby and Savannah Bri‚ain hand out candy outside of Boone Belles on King Street dressed as Phil and Lil from the Rugrats during the Oct. 30 Boone Boo. Photos by Kayla Lasure
Above: Kathleen Doherty, Karen Critcher, Cindy Farthing, Kendra Sink and Paige Hopkins help sign people in and hand out materials for the Jimmy Smith Run, held Friday, Sept. 27, in downtown Boone. Right: Katherine Cress, Kevyn Cress and Nancy Cress race in the Jimmy Smith Maranon alongside dog Bubba in September. Photos by Kayla Lasure
November-December 2019 | 41
ALL ABOUT TOWN Darlene Smith, Colleen Whetzel and Robin Byerly help serve food during the Valle Country Fair on Saturday, Oct. 19. Photos by Kayla Lasure
Felicity Friedl, 10, enjoys some roasted corn at the Valle Country Fair on Oct. 19.
Sharon Terry purchases some po‚ery from Tena Wenta during the Valle Country Fair.
42 | November-December 2019
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