Banner Elk My Hometown 2019-20

2019-20 The High Country is a great place to visit ... and a better place to live!

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BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

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Visit the Extraordinary Gems in Avery County

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SUBMITTED PHOTO Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce President Jo-Ann McMurray.

Welcome

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t’s all here in the beautiful mountain Town of Banner Elk. With beautiful mountain scenery, four distinct seasons and a small-town college atmosphere, Banner Elk has become the destination for visitors to the High Country!

If your interests are winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, tubing or snowshoeing, Banner Elk has it all. Nestled between the two largest winter sports venues in the South, Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain, Banner Elk offers the perfect place to stay. Whether your preference is a stay at a traditional B&B in a historic home, a cozy vacation home, or a pet-friendly hotel, Banner Elk offers accommodations to meet every need and budget.

The summer time offers world-class fly-fishing, hiking, road and mountain cycling. Banner Elk is just minutes from all levels of hiking at Grandfather Mountain, and the spectacular Linville Gorge.

The nearby Blue Ridge Parkway offers spectacular views, and Banner Elk is the nearest exit to the renowned Linn Cove Viaduct. Taking advantage of our mountain location, Lees-McRae College offers one of the premier cycling programs in the country,

not to mention a full season of shows, plays and performances at its state-of-the-art entertainment facilities and theater.

Banner Elk offers the widest array of dining in the High Country, too! Whether your tastes lean towards Italian, Chinese, Cajun, Vietnamese, seafood, prime rib or maybe you just want a great sandwich or salad, Banner Elk has a restaurant for every taste, and every wallet, with most restaurants having full ABC licensing.

So, come and enjoy a walk around our pedestrian-friendly town, filled with quaint restaurants, shops and galleries, while taking in the spectacular, ever-changing views that the mountains of the High Country offer.

If you need any assistance with your business or family relocation, retirement planning or help with a vacation itinerary, just give us a call at (828) 898-8395.

The Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce is here to make you feel like a local, because — it’s just better here!

Jo-Ann McMurray President, Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce

elcome to Avery County, where fun and extraordinary adventures are waiting for you to explore. Avery is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains where you may experience four distinct seasons. If you visit the third weekend in October you will not want to miss the annual Woolly Worm Festival which is now the Official Woolly Worm Festival of NC — one of the top 10 fall festivals in the region.

Grandfather Mountain, our not-sohidden gem, provides a Mile-High swinging bridge and 360-degree radius spectacular views with an elevation of 5,964 feet — the highest peak in the Blue Ridge section of the Appalachian Mountains. While leaving Grandfather venture on the Blue Ridge Parkway and drive over the Linn Cove Viaduct that hugs the face of Grandfather Mountain and is recognized internationally as an engineering marvel and was the last section of the Parkway to be completed.

Avery County Historical Museum is tucked away in Newland,the county seat of Avery County. This unique museum is housed in the old county jail and features exhibitions on railroads, local Civil War history and is the oldest museum in Western NC. Railroad buffs can even walk in one of the old rail cars of Tweetsie and enjoy an exhibit on the East Tennessee and Western NC Railroad. The Civil War Trail also offers three distinct landmarks here in the county, which are Blalock, Cranberry Mines and the Banner House.

The art of weaving is kept alive at Crossnore Weavers & Gallery; a National Historic Site placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and is located on the campus of Crossnore School & Children’s Home.

While on campus visit one of Ben Long’s famous Frescos named “Suffer the Little Children,” located in the E.H.

Wake Up.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Executive Director of the Avery County Chamber of Commerce, Melynda Martin Pepple.

Sloop Chapel.

While visiting ski the highest summits of the South, Appalachian Ski Mountain, Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort. Activities abound year round including hiking, biking, rafting, tubing, golf, horseback riding, antiquing, zip line, swimming, fine art festivals, art galleries, excellent cuisine, wineries, breweries, unique shopping pleasures and fun discovering Linville Caverns.

For more information, visit our website by clicking to www.averycounty. com, call (828) 898-5605 or drop by for a friendly visit. We are located in the Shoppes of Tynecastle, 4501 Tynecastle Highway, Unit 2, Banner Elk, NC, 28604. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Monday to Friday.

Melynda Martin Pepple Executive Director, Avery County Chamber of Commerce

BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN

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Welcome from your Sheriff

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hen the thoughts of small town America play in my mind, the picture of Banner Elk is what I envision.

Banner Elk has such a dichotomy. On its surface it gives the appearance of the simple times of old, but, look a bit closer, and you see a state-of-theart area with the best of restaurants, boutiques and shops.

As sheriff of Avery County, in which Banner Elk is the face for so many visitors each year, I cordially invite you to come by, visit, spend some time and get to know the best area and the best county in the entire state. I can assure those who come by that you will come back PHOTO SUBMITTED — our Southern hospitality and local charm will win you Avery County Sheriff Kevin Frye. over like it does thousands of others each year.

So, if you like small-town atmosphere, but want the best of modern conveniences; if you want one of the safest places in America but still want to have and be close to active night activities; if you want four true seasons to see God’s handiwork in nature, then you want to come to Banner Elk, in Avery County, N.C. Kevin Frye Avery County Sheriff

Welcome … to our top-tier education system

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anner Elk Elementary School is one of five elementary schools within the Avery County Schools system. It is the most recently constructed school in the county and was opened in 2011. The building is a state-of-the-art facility but more importantly is operated with an administration, faculty and staff who are dedicated to providing an exceptional educational experience for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Avery County citizens and elected officials place the highest priority on children which we consider our most precious resource. Providing safe and productive schools is an integral part of the way in which we help children to become successful and well-rounded adults.

In addition to a caring and capable staff, Banner Elk Elementary has a very active Parent Teacher Organization. The PTO, along with school and county staff, ensure that students have very diverse opportunities to learn including the designation as an “Arts A+” school that integrates the arts with curriculum. BES was recognized in December 2019 as having achieved the distinction of “Exceeding Academic Growth” for the 2018-2019 school. ACS was the first school system in North Carolina to employ the “1 to 1” initiative to provide students

Welcome

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n behalf of the Banner Elk Town Council and town staff, welcome to our special town. The transformation of Banner Elk in the past couple of years is spectacular. The Corner on Main at our one stop light is a beautiful new park with a striking clock tower (no pun intended). This is the site of our Christmas tree lighting that kicks off our Small Town Christmas weekend, as well as many other events.

Our downtown restaurants and businesses have transformed, including fun places for kids. The setting

SUBMITTED PHOTO Banner Elk Mayor Brenda Lyerly.

is so inviting to pedestrian traffic, with our beautiful elk still being the most photographed entity in Banner Elk. Banner Elk is no longer a pass-through between Sugar Mountain and Beech

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

PHOTO SUBMITTED John Greene, Chair, Avery County Board of Education.

kindergarten through twelfth grade with computers to meet the technology requirements expected in the present and future workforce.

When students complete fifth grade at BES they will go to one of ACS’s two middle schools, Cranberry Middle School or Avery Middle School, and then on to Avery High School. All of these schools are excellent places for any child to achieve their utmost potential. ACS is consistently in the top-five-percent graduation rate in North Carolina. Avery County High School is currently undergoing a

massive expansion and extensive renovation to accommodate 21st century learning.

Not only are Avery County’s schools extraordinary, the natural beauty surrounding all of our communities and our Southern hospitality make Avery County an extraordinary place to live and raise a family. It is with great anticipation and excitement that we look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. If you are new to the area or considering joining our community we welcome the chance to showcase all Avery County has to offer. For more information on ACS please click to averyschools.net.

Thank you and God bless, John Greene Chair, Avery County Board of Education

A town, home and place for all seasons

Mountain. We are a destination, with our Historic Banner Elk School full of fun and exciting activities.

The Ensemble stage, our 99-seat playhouse, has year-round plays, now to sell out capacity. The Historic Banner Elk School also has an Art Co-op available with wares from juried, local artists. Mayland Community College offers a variety of interesting classes year-round. The Book Exchange is a wonderful go-to place for adults and children with a full schedule of events. Also available in this facility are the offices of Carolina Mountain Life Magazine and a portrait

photographer.

Other opportunities for education and fun are LeesMcRae College’s May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

The College’s flagship major is the best in the nation.

Guests are welcome to visit the facility to observe care of injured eagles and raptors and other wildlife.

Also of interest is the Banner Elk Museum. Here guests can learn about the founding families of Banner Elk, see artifacts, and secure space and dates for upcoming events.

Particularly popular are the historic bus tours and the cemetery tours. The Banner Elk Park is always full of

children, dogs, walkers and picnickers. The park has been so popular that the town has expanded its size and activities.

Our area offers four beautiful seasons. Of course, the winter is dedicated to skiing and snowboarding in our area. Summer offers hiking and biking trails, golf and tennis, and the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre. With this Summer Theatre and the Ensemble Stage, we are now considered a Theater District. Our fall foliage draws many guests to our area to observe the beauty. Fall brings the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk. Summer brings four

fabulous art festivals, the July 4th parade and festivities. Winter brings the Small Town Christmas weekend, complete with a light parade and Santa.

Banner Elk has its own brewery and winery, and there are others within the area. These are popular places for weddings and events year round. Banner Elk is located off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and close to the Appalachian Trail.

Welcome visitors; and locals, aren’t we glad we live in the most special place on earth?

Brenda Lyerly Banner Elk Mayor

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

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Welcome from Lees-McRae College

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he simple word “hometown” invokes deep feelings of belonging, warmth, and a connection that lasts for generations. Lees-McRae College is proud to call Banner Elk its hometown, and we are even more proud to be Banner Elk’s hometown institution.

The town and the college are forever linked in our dual histories, and we depend upon each other to thrive. Our relationship with our hometown has never been stronger!

This year, we are proud to announce a new local partnership that further solidifies our hometown connections. Through a collaborative partnership with Beech Mountain Resort, Lees-McRae has launched a unique academic program in ski industry business and instruction. Utilizing a new classroom on Beech Mountain, our students learn the business aspects of the ski industry while simultaneously gaining the credentials to instruct and serve this High Country industry. The only one if its kind in the

Look what

Lee King, President, Lees-McRae College

Southeast, this program brings yet another niche offering to Lees-McRae to complement our motto — In the Mountains, Of the Mountains, For the Mountains. Lees-McRae College thrives because our natural environment and small town charm allow us to deliver educational opportunities like no other college in America.

We hope you will visit our campus while visiting Banner Elk and the High Country. I promise that you will fall in love with what you see!

Lee King President, Lees-McRae College

America NOTICED!

School district budgets Public hearings Property auctions Local tax changes Adoptions Find out about these and much more in your local newspaper!

Participate in Democracy.

Read your Public Notices.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Numbers to know: Important phone numbers in Banner Elk and Avery County The following is a listing of important area phone numbers at a glance for your convenience: Fire, Rescue, Police in Emergency: 911 Town of Banner Elk: (828) 898-5398 Avery County Chamber of Commerce: (828) 8985605, (800) 972-2183 Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce: (828) 8988395 Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce: (828) 387-9283 The Avery Journal-Times newspaper: (828) 7332448 Banner House Museum: (828) 898-3634 Banner Elk Town Hall: (828) 898-5398 Banner Elk Police Department: (828) 898-4300 Banner Elk Fire Department: (828) 898-4623 Banner Elk Exxon: (828) 898-5210 Lees-McRae College: (828) 898-5241 Avery County Sheriff’s Office: (828) 733-2071 Avery County Schools: (828) 733-6006 Cannon Memorial Hospital: (828) 737-7000 Mountain Electric Cooperative: (828) 733-0159 Williams YMCA of Avery County: (828) 737-5500 Beech Mountain Resort: (828) 387-2011 Beech Mountain Police Department: (828) 3872342

Sugar Mountain Resort: (828) 898-4521 Sugar Mountain Police Department: (828) 8984349 Avery County Board of Elections: (828) 733-8282 Avery County Emergency Management/Burn Permits: (828) 733-8213 Avery County Communications/911 Office: (828) 733-5855 Avery County Board of Commissioners Office: (828) 733-8212 Avery County Emergency Medical Services: (828) 733-8286 Avery County Health Department: (828) 733-6031 Avery County Mapping: (828) 733-7001 Avery County Planning Department: (828) 7338204 Avery County Register of Deeds: (828) 733-8260 Avery County Parks and Recreation: (828) 7338266 Avery County Social Services: (828) 733-8230 Avery County Senior Services: (828) 733-8220 Avery County Solid Waste: (828) 737-5420 Avery County Tax Office: (828) 733-8214 Avery County Transportation Department: (828) 733-0005 Avery County Veterans Services: (828) 733-8211 Avery County Museum: (828) 733-7111

Civics and civility: Groups that give back in Banner Elk

BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankenship@averyjournal.com

Civic organizations have a major presence in Banner Elk, with active Kiwanis and Rotary chapters meeting each week and engaging in charitable causes throughout the year. Below is information for the service-minded who want to join up with the groups.

Banner Elk Kiwanis Club Dedicated to serving children, the club meets every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Lees McRae College.

Meetings are held in Miller Commons, which is the private dining room adjacent to the MacDonald Student Dining Room. To fill out a membership application, click to www.bannerelkkiwanis.org.

Avery County Rotary Club Serving the community through fundraising and service projects, the club meets at noon on Thursdays at Puerto Nuevo Restaurant in Banner Elk. For more information about becoming a Rotarian, email averycountyrotary@ gmail.com.

Kiwanis Young Professionals Bringing together young adults of different vocations to serve the community, Kiwanis Club of the Blue Ridge Young

Professionals meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Banner Elk Winery. For more information, call Dan Brubaker at (828) 260-4792.

Area Organizations In addition to the clubs, there are a number of nonprofits in the Avery County dedicated to causes such as hunger, poverty and affordable housing.

A quick web search for any of the following organizations will give information if you are interested in volunteering with any of the organizations.

Listed alongside each organization, in parentheses, is the cause supported by each.

• Avery Association for Exceptional Citizens (Adults with disabilities) • Avery County Educational Foundation (Educational opportunities) • Avery County Habitat for Humanity (Affordable Housing) • Avery County Historical Museum (Historic Preservation) • Avery County Humane Society (Animal Care and Adoption) • Avery County Shrine Club (Children) • Banner House Museum/Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation (Historical Preservation) • Beech Mountain Community Club

(Community Group) • Children’s Hope Alliance (Children) • Disabled American Veterans Chapter 87 (Veterans Organization) • Feeding Avery Families (Hunger) • High Country Caregivers Foundation (Care for the Elderly) • High Country Charitable Foundation (Philanthropy) • High Country United Way (Philanthropy) • MAY Coalition (Economic Empowerment) • Move with Compassion Ministry (Hunger, Clothing) • New Opportunity School for Women (Economic Empowerment) • OASIS (Abuse and Sexual Assault) • Reaching Avery Ministry (Hunger, Clothing) • VFW Pat Ray Post 4286 (Veterans Services) • Volunteer Avery (Community Service) • Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge (Economic Empowerment) • WAMY Community Action (Economic Empowerment) • Williams Academy (Children) • Yellow Mountain Enterprises (Adults with Disabilities)

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

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Beer, wine and more, oh my! guests to enjoy.

For more information on Banner Elk Winery and Villa click to www.bannerelkwinery.com.

BY CARL BLANKENSHIP

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anner Elk is a hotspot for food, and the town also offers options of locally produced wine and beer on offer for anyone who wants to stop in for a drink.

GRANDFATHER VINEYARD AND WINERY

KETTELL BEERWORKS Kettell Beerworks is a family name meaning kettle, or Cauldron. An appropriate name for a brewery, the Banner Elk location is brewing up a storm.

On tap is the Vonderbier, a Munich-style lager; ROLLCAST, a Kolsch ale with fruit notes and a clean finish; Cooper Elk, an American amber ale and Velvet Panda, an creamy oatmeal stout.

Taproom Manager Kayleigh Mae said the brewery recently opened its kitchen serving up classic bar staples and began distributing throughout the state. The brews can be found throughout The High Country at a large selection of restaurants and grocery stores.

For more information click to kettellbeerworks.com, or call (828) 898-8677.

BANNER ELK WINERY AND VILLA Banner Elk Winery and Villa serves as the first winery in Avery County after opening in 2005.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Starting as a hobby-sized vineyard, Grandfather Vineyard and Winery in Banner Elk grew into a business and opened its doors in 2011.

Banner Elk Winery and Villa has earned itself as number of accolades, including multiple medals for excellence of products at the North Carolina State Fair.

While vineyard tours are only offered May through September, visitors can enjoy wine tastings year round. Some of the 10 or so products Banner Elk Winery provides

are its Cabernet Sauvignon — with tastes of dark fruits led by black currant, the Banner Elk Red — with tastes of cherry, raspberry, plum and toasted oak and the Banner Elk Blueberry “Ice” — a dessert wine with undertones of blueberry pie.

The tuscan-inspired villa on the grounds encompasses seven luxurious suites for

After beginning life as a hobby, Grandfather Vineyard and Winery grew into a commercial operation and opened its doors in 2011.

“We do offer the most wine options and the most variety,” said Nicole Tatum, tasting room manager at Grandfather. “A lot of the other wineries have between six to nine wines on their menu; we have close to 25 to 30 at any given time.”

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery ships its wares to more than 30 states, which range from $9.95 for a 22-ounce hard cider to $26.95 bottles of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wineries tasting room gives guests a few different option for sampling the wines: eight dry wines for $10, four dry reds for $6, four dry whites for $6 or four sweet wines for $6. The room is pet friendly as well. For a group of eight or more visitors, the winery requests to call 48 hours in advance.

For more information on Grandfather Vineyard and Winery click to grandfathervineyard.com.

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BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Dining Out: Where to satisfy the palate in Banner Elk’s vibrant food scene

BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankenship@averyjournal.com

Whether visiting for a weekend or putting down roots, Banner Elk offers a wide variety of culinary delicacies certain to delight the discerning palate. With options ranging from wine and cheese to burger and beer, there’s something for every taste in Banner Elk. Some restaurants in the area do have varying seasonal hours, so call ahead when making dinner plans.

Artisanal 1200 Dobbins Road (828) 898-5395 www.artisanalnc.com For those seeking the elegance of an upscale experience, Artisanal is a restaurant of choice. With daily menu changes to reflect the availability of the finest ingredients, Anita and Bill Greene take pride in creating a memorable experience down to the finest detail. Artisanal is open seasonally, call ahead for hours.

Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge Espresso Bar and Eatery 119 Central Way (828) 898-4040 Settled squarely in the heart of downtown, Banner Elk Cafe is ready and able to serve up three meals each day, ensuring that diners can always have a destination in Banner Elk, no matter the time or season. The Lodge Espresso Bar and Eatery adds a coffee house atmosphere along with a selection of coffees, drinks, fresh-baked goods and gourmet food.

A recent addition is a 2,000-square-foot tavern that holds all original handmade, hand-carved furniture and fixtures made from white pine, oak and maple wood, intentionally designed to capture the clean and rustic feel of the mountains it rests in, complete with bar specials and trivia nights.

Barra Sports Bar 140 Azalea Circle (828) 898-7727 www.bannerlkbarra.com With seven flat-screen televisions mounted around a room filled with comfortable leather couches and a Boston-style wood bar, Barra Wings Cafe and Sports Bar is the place to sit back and watch the game with friends in style.

Bayou Smokehouse and Grill 130 Main St. East (828) 898-8952 www.bayousmokehouse.com Bayou Smokehouse and Grill is the place for a good time in Cajun style, offering everything guests need to eat, play and shop under one roof. In addition to Deep Southern-style food, Bayou Smokehouse SEE FOOD ON PAGE 9

FILE PHOTO Bodegas Kitchen and Wine Bar is one of the most-recent additions to Banner Elk’s restaurant scene.

FILE PHOTO Danny Whittington and Friends play at the Banner Elk Cafe and Tavern during one of the restaurant’s weekly live show series.

In addition to a wide variety of food and drink, Banner Elk Cafe hosts live music from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings.

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and Grill maintains a general store where visitors can lay claim to any of dozens of hot sauces, local crafts and North Carolina and Louisiana gourmet cooking ingredients.

Bella’s Breakfast 142 Main Street (828) 898-2594 Serving both breakfast and lunch at affordable prices, Bella’s Breakfast is a new addition to the Banner Elk dining scene.

Bella’s Italian Restaurant 3585 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-9022 www.bellasofbannerelk.com Bella’s carries on a tradition of neighborhood Italian restaurants with something for everyone. From chicken marsala to lasagna to pizza, Bella’s offers a wide variety of crowd-pleasers, as well as catering to sophisticated tastes.

Bodegas Kitchen and Wine Bar 488 Main Street West (828) 898-7773 www.bodegasbe.com Bodegas offers Caribbean-inspired dishes including tacos, sandwiches, shareable dishes and more. Bodegas even has a Caribbean Sunday brunch menu on offer.

Cam Ranh Bay 110 High Country Square (828) 898-4121 www.camranhbaync.com Cam Ranh Bay offers authentic Vietnamese and Japanese food served in a modern, American way.

Chef’s Table at Sorrento’s 140 Azalea Circle (828) 898-1940 www.chefstablebannerelk.com The Chef’s Table restaurant of Banner Elk offers an eclectic menu featuring American, Italian and Japanese dishes.

Featuring fresh farm to table ingredients, award-winning chef Nicole Palazzo creates a menu that offers the best of Western North Carolina’s heritage and cuisine.

China House 3581 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-3533 Offering a buffet for eat in or take out, China House serves a wide variety of Chinese cuisine for the discerning diner.

Dunn’s Deli 134 Main St. West (828) 898-6731 www.dunns-deli.com Mike Dunn makes his sandwiches to order from high-quality ingredients, and he makes them overstuffed, a perfect companion to a relaxing bottle of beer, bowl of soup or cup of coffee. Dunn’s Deli is easy to find at the crossroads of downtown Banner Elk. Einstein Bros. Bagels 191 Main Street West (828) 898-8808 Einstein Bros. Bagels proudly serves gourmet bagels baked fresh in store every

BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN day and delicious egg sandwiches, signature lunch sandwiches, piping hot coffee, cookies, muffins, juices, smoothies and more.

Elevations Restaurant 3990 NC-105 (828) 898-9880 www.elevationstavernandgrill.com Adorned with rustic decor like antler chandeliers and live-edge tables, Elevations upscale cuisine is conveniently located in the Tynecastle area off Hwy. 105.

Fred and Larry’s Coffee Shop 3591 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-2110 fredandlarrys.com In addition to an ever-updating list of coffees, teas and fresh pastries, Fred and Larry’s Coffee Shop maintains a relaxed atmosphere with the help of open-mic nights on Fridays and Saturdays. Whether on the lookout for an early morning pick-me-up or a late evening jam session, visitors can find what they are looking for at Fred and Larry’s.

Hickerman’s Country Kitchen 2015 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-4223 Hickerman’s Country Kitchen offers down-home country cuisine seven days a week, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Breakfast lovers won’t want to miss the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet on Sundays.

Louisiana Purchase Food and Spirits 397 Shawneehaw Ave. (866) 734-4124 www.louisianapurchasefoodandspirits. com Since 1984, Louisiana Purchase has provided Banner Elk’s residents and visitors with an appetizing assortment of Cajun, Creole, French and Northern Italian cuisine. Seasonal selections and an award-winning wine list add variety to a menu that has garnered Louisiana Purchase a three-diamond AAA-rating.

Mountain Grounds Coffee and Tea Company Suite 10, 3390 Highway 105 (828) 898-5878 www.mountaingrounds.com Looking up at Grandfather Mountain, Mountain Grounds Coffee and Tea Company offers a lodge-style shop with a cozy atmosphere that is perfect for warming up on a winter’s day or relaxing after a long day hiking or skiing the local slopes.

Mountain Grounds maintains a full staff of fully trained baristas to guide guests through a comprehensive menu of coffee and tea choices.

Highlander’s Grill and Tavern 4527 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-9613 Freshly reopened, Highlander’s, formerly known as Nick’s Restaurant and Pub, offers visitors a convenient stop where they can enjoy lunch, dinner and drinks.

The Painted Fish Cafe and Beer Bar 2941 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-6800

www.paintedfishcafe.com Great food with fun beer and superb wines is the combination The Painted Fish looks to offer guests. Guests can always expect to find familiar dishes with a new twist to keep them exciting.

The Pedalin’ Pig 4235 Highway 105 South (828) 898-6777 www.thepedalinpig.com The Pedalin’ Pig opened its doors in 2014 bringing fresh gourmet flair to some smoky, down South favorites. From falloff-the-bone baby back ribs to mouth-watering pork belly tacos, the Pedalin’ Pig offers a menu aimed to please. Seasonal, local ingredients pair unique flavors such as a blackberry bourbon glaze or the sweet and spicy bite of a signature honey chipotle rub. BBQ pits are fired up nightly, slow roasting locally sourced meats over hickory smoked hardwoods.

Puerto Nuevo 2120 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-3332 www.puertonuevonc.com With authentic Mexican cuisine, a full bar and a fun, stylish atmosphere, Puerto Nuevo offers a complete Mexican dining experience. Puerto Nuevo features a full bar with two big screen televisions and a separate banquet hall for large events.

Reid’s Cafe and Catering 4004 Highway 105, Suite 8 (828) 268-9600

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Reid’s Cafe boasts a beautiful new space, a great wine list and an ever-changing menu that features all of your traditional homemade favorites.

Sorrento’s Italian Bistro 140 Azalea Circle (828) 898-5214 www.sorrentosbistro.com Although the Sorrento’s menu is a classic array of regional Italian delights, the bistro takes special pride in accommodating large groups for events and parties.

Stonewalls Restaurant 344 Shawneehaw Avenue (828) 898-5550 www.stonewallsrestaurant.com A longtime staple of Banner Elk dining, Stonewalls has developed a reputation over nearly 30 years for its prime rib, other specialty steaks and expansive salad bar.

Times Square Restaurant 6460 Banner Elk Hwy. (828) 742-1802 Technically outside of Banner Elk and in nearby Elk Park, Times Square Restaurant is a resurrection of an old standby. Serving up traditional Southern fare at reasonable prices, the restaurant reopened its doors under new owners.

Valle De Bravo Mexican Grill 4501 Tynecastle Highway Unit 1 (828) 898-4949 Offering authentic Mexican dishes, Valle De Bravo has a variety of dishes available from savory and mild to hot and spicy.

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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Hit the shops: local stores have plenty to love in Banner Elk

BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankenship@averyjournal.com

Regardless of what one may be looking for, it can likely be found within the confines of Banner Elk. Banner Elk is a premier shopping destination in The High Country. The following is a list of shopping opportunities in Banner Elk.

ANTIQUES AND CONSIGNMENT Those Were the Days 3440 Tynecastle Highway, Unit C (828) 898-5505 More than 4,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles and consignment. Those Were the Days focuses 1940s and ‘50s, but offers something for everyone, including old vinyl records.

The Twisted Twig Antiques and Accents 2780 Tynecastle Highway (619) 964-0038 With an selection of antique furnishings and decorations, this shop a variety of interests for the discerning interior decorator.

Banner Elk Consignment Cottage 414 Shawneehaw Ave. (828) 898-5733 Banner Elk Consignment Cottage specializes in classic furniture, art and home goods.

AJT PHOTO The interior of the tavern connected to the Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge which features craft beer, mixed drinks and appetizers, as well as trivia nights, in addition to the adjacent Lodge, where coffee and hot drink connoisseurs can enjoy a fresh brew in a comfortable setting.

CLOTHING BJ’s Resort Wear 145 Main St. (828) 898-4229 BJ’s Resort Wear offers the latest in ready-to-wear and has been serving customers in Banner Elk for more than 34 years.

The Dande Lion 4501 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-3566 www.dandelionstyles.com The Dande Lion features fun, flattering fashions, shoes, accessories and gifts, and specializes in personal shopping.

Souvenir Shirts 3175 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-6441 Opened as a family business in 1987, Souvenir Shirts offers shirts and gifts of the best quality for a reasonable price. The store sells a variety of shirts, hoodies and winter apparel.

Basecamp BE 441 Shawneehaw Ave. (706) 346-4509 Located in the distinctive red caboose downtown, Base Camp B.E. features clothing, equipment and accessories for hiking, backpacking, camping, paddling, cycling, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, fly fishing

PHOTO SUBMITTED Base Camp BE offers a number of outdoor lifestyle equipment for any season of the year.

and other outdoor activities.

JEWELRY Hardin Fine Jewelry 920 Shawneehaw Ave. (828) 898-4653 Hardin Fine Jewelry features unique gems, dazzling diamonds and eclectic gifts for that special someone, or if you just feel like indulging a little. The elegant jewelry showroom offers precious and semiprecious gemstones in exquisite settings.

SPECIALTY FOODS Avery County Farmers’ Market www.averycountyfarmersmarket.net This seasonal, weekly farmers’ market is an association of area farmers that produce organic and conventionally grown

fruits and vegetables. Other wares for sale include jams, jellies, breads, honey, maple syrup, fresh eggs and more.

Bayou Smokehouse General Store 130 E. Main St. (828) 898-8953 www.bayousmokehouse.com The general store is stocked with craft beer, wine, gourmet foods, gift items and local goods. The General Store also offers “wine amnesty,” where a bottle of wine can be purchased at retail cost in the store and enjoyed with your meal in the Bayou restaurant at no extra charge.

Erick’s Cheese and Wine 4004 Highway 105 South (828) 898-9424 www.erickscheeseandwine.com Erick’s Cheese and Wine shop has been a Banner Elk favorite for more than 30 years. Erick’s offers wines at all price points, from highly rated wines at $10 a bottle to fine wine, as well as a large selection of cheese and specialty foods.

Banner Elk Olive Oil and Balsamics 155 Banner Road SW (828) 898-4441 beoliveoil.com Offers a great selection of imported olive oils and vinegars, salts, exotic herb mixes and more; together with a host of handcrafted ceramics and culinary accessories that are guaranteed to enhance any home dining experience.

HOME AND GARDEN The Great Train Robbery 2120 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-8645

Featuring antiques, furnishing, collectibles, art and a little bit of everything, the Great Train Robbery is a one-stop shop to decorate your entire home.

Mountaineer Garden Center Florist and Greenhouses 1735 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-5219 www.mountaingardencenter.com Mountaineer Garden Center has everything you need to keep your garden growing through the seasons. The layout is sprawling, but organized, and easy to shop with lots to look at. In addition to houseplants, shrubs and every garden plant imaginable, there is also outdoor furniture and pottery.

Creative Interiors 4501 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-9636 Creative Interiors is a full-service interior design firm and retail shop offering the finest wall coverings, fabrics, furniture and accessories the design trade has to offer, all aimed at maintaining the quintessential comfort of the South.

Rustik by Underwood 65 Orchard Lane (828) 394-9663 www.rustikbyunderwood.com Whether you are looking for a beatiful, handcrafted, spalted hickory coffee table, a solid oak dining room table, or need a solid birchwood bench as a vocal point in your foyer, Rustik by Underwood can design and build a majestic, natural hardwood furniture creation to suit your style.

PETS My Best Friend’s Barkery 176 Shawneehaw Ave. (828) 898-5625 www.mybestfriendsbarkery.com My Best Friend’s Barkery offers a complete line of quality products for dogs and cats, including high-quality foods and recycled, eco-friendly toys.

SKIING OUTFITTERS Alpine Ski Center 3150 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-9701 www.alpineskicenter.com Edge of the World 394 Shawneehaw Ave. (828) 898-9550 www.edgeoftheworld.com Extreme Snowboard and Skis 3701 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-7669 www.extremenc.com Ski Country Sports 3149 Tynecastle Highway (828) 898-9786 www.skicountrysports.com

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Fine arts, entertainment and culture inhabit Banner Elk

BY ABBY WHITT abby.whitt@mountaintimes.com

One of the highest townships in the High Country, Banner Elk has no shortage of connections to Appalachian culture, which is highlighted in live theatre performances and various art galleries year-round.

There is always something happening in Banner Elk, whether it be community celebrations at the Historic Banner Elk School or Summer Theatre programs hosted at Lees-McRae College that bring students, faculty and the community together.

Cultural Arts Center at the Historic Banner Elk School Recently revived and now home to the BE Artists Gallery, Ensemble Stage productions, the Banner Elk Book Exchange and more, the Historic Banner Elk School has become a hub for the arts. The school hosts various workshops, speakers, art sales and community events throughout the year.

To stay informed about the events happening at the Historic Banner Elk School,

LEES-McRAE 2020 SUMMER THEATRE LINEUP

LMC Summer Theatre productions are comprised of professional actors cast from all over the country to come play in Banner Elk.

click to www.historicbannerelkschool.com/fundraising.

Lees-McRae Theatre Arts The Theatre Arts program at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk produces three mainstage shows each year along with student-directed scenes.

Tickets for shows, which have in the past included performances of “The Good Doctor” and “Young Frankenstein,” can be bought online at lmc.tix. com/Schedule.aspx?OrgNum=3533.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for children and stu-

dents and admission is free for Lees-McRae students, faculty and staff.

Shows for the 2020 season will be announced in the near future, and can be viewed by clicking to www.lmc.edu/academics/ programs/theatre-arts/ calendar.htm as they’re announced.

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Each summer, while some students return to their hometowns, some stay close to campus to participate in the Summer Theatre program along with other members of the community. This program

SUBMITTED PHOTO Lees-McRae’s Summer Theatre performers of the 2019 season brought Disney’s ‘Newsies’ to life in Banner Elk.

has been producing quality theatre performances on campus since 1985.

The 2020 Summer Theatre productions will tell classic stories that are sure to pull at the audience’s heartstrings and SEE ARTS ON PAGE 13

The Drowsy Chaperone will take the stage at 7 p.m. from June 23-27 and at 2 p.m. on June 27 and June 28. The show has won five Tony Awards and was called “the perfect Broadway musical”

by The New York Magazine.

The story begins when a main character, who is a lover of classic musicals, puts the vinyl of his favorite 1920s production — “The Drowsy Chaperone” — on his turntable, the record comes to life and the zany characters come busting through his refrigerator door.

In July, “America’s Artist: The Norman Rockwell Story” will brings to life the work of American artist, Norman Rockwell. Creating more than 4,000 pieces of art in his lifetime, Rockwell captured the essence of America with each paint stroke, from “Rosie the Riveter” to “The Four Freedoms,” with his paintings and illustrations reflecting America as he wished it to be.

Performances are at 7 p.m. on July 11 and July 14-16, with matinee shows beginning at 2 p.m. on July 12, 14, and 17.

The third and final show of the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Program will be the childhood classic, “Matilda the Musical” by Roald Dahl. Based on the award-winning book of the same name, Matilda tells the story of a bright young girl, who decides to rightthe-wrongs in her world by using her wit and cleverness. Teaming up with her school chums, Matilda takes on Miss Trunchbull, the evil headmistress of the school, and in the process discovers just how powerful believing in yourself can be.

The performance is open to the public at 7 p.m. from July 29 until Aug. 1, and matinee shows at 2 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2, and 4.

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curiosity. The goals of the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre program include educating both performers and audience members and providing a positive space for collaborators between the college and the community.

“From the start, LeesMcRae has made special effort to serve the communities where we live and those that surround us.

This is not always easy. We have populations who have lived in the mountains for many years, summer residents who come only for a few months, and people who come to us from vast areas when they visit our beautiful Avery County,” said Artistic Director Janet Speer. “We agonize over the plays we select because it is important to us to that address kinds of entertainment desired by our various communities.”

Speer also added that there are certain ways that the program interacts with the community including casting children from the area that wish to be included. “No child is turned away if they want to perform,” Speer said.

Ticket sales for the 2020 season will begin on Friday, April 5, 2020, and the box office will open on Wednesday, June 19. Learn more about the box office schedule at www.lmc.edu/ community/summer-theatre/box-office.htm.

PHOTO SUBMITTED A watercolor by Freeman Beard, ‘First Good Snow’ (11” x 14”) on display at the Carlton Gallery.

ART GALLERIES The eight art galleries in Banner Elk offer an array of artistry on an array of mediums. Perfect for gift-giving or bringing a pop of color to any room, the art galleries treat visitors like family, and most participate in the yearly Tour de Art, which takes place from June through November on the fourth Saturday of each month.

Banner Elk Artists Gallery The Historic Banner Elk School 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk beartistsgallery.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED ‘A Memory’ in acrylic on canvas (24” x 30”) by Noyes Capehart is displayed at the Art Cellar Gallery in 2019.

BE Artists Gallery is a cooperative of artists who have joined to open a gallery of fine arts and crafts in Banner Elk. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tues-

days through Saturdays.

Art Cellar Gallery 920 Shawneehaw Lane, Banner Elk (828) 898-5175 Artcellaronline.com

A High Country arts destination celebrating 26 seasons, The Art Cellar Gallery is located on Highway 184 in Banner Elk and is open Monday through Saturday

from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Carlton Gallery 10360 Hwy 105 S., Banner Elk (828) 963-4288 www.carltongallery.com

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Carlton Gallery is located 10 miles south of Boone, 7 miles north of Linville or Banner Elk and 8 miles from Blowing Rock on Hwy 105 south in the Grandfather Mountain community.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tuesdays through Saturdays and 11:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information about gallery workshops, artists or exhibitions call (828) 963-4288.

Clark Gallery 393 Shawneehaw Ave. S, Banner Elk (828) 898-2095 chrisclarkgallery.com Chris Clark has been representing fine art for 14 years. As a painter himself, he is sensitive to both the artists and clients needs.

The gallery represents a wide range of American artists from regional to national acclaim, and is active with American auction houses, acquiring a collection of older works that are not by artists represented in the gallery, as well as found objects.

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sunday and Monday. To learn more, visit the gallery’s website or Facebook page.

Mountain Blue Gallery 151 Shawneehaw Avenue, Banner Elk (828) 898-4477 mountainbluegallery. com Mountain Blue Gallery is located in the heart of Banner Elk, featuring fine art from renowned local and regional artists and master craftsmen. The gallery represents more than 30 artists offering a diverse selection of styles and mediums including original encaustics, oils, acrylics, ceramics, jewelry, glass, textiles and more.

Linda Sheppard Fine Art 2780 Tynecastle Hwy #D, Banner Elk (828) 719-6955 www.lindasheppardfineart.com After taking art classes as a young adult and visiting SEE ARTS ON PAGE 16

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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Higher education in Banner Elk

BY ABBY WHITT abby.whitt@mountaintimes.com

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source of entertainment in Banner Elk, Lees-McRae College is a four-year school for higher education, located only minutes from one of the most popular ski resorts in North Carolina, Beech Mountain Resort.

Lees-McRae strives to “educate and inspire students to approach life and work from a creative, collaborative and critical perspective in preparation for diverse careers and environments,” according to the college’s mission statement.

While it began informally as a multigrade school in 1900, the college was not officially founded as being an institute for higher education until 1931, after the death of its founder, Rev. Edgar Tufts in 1923.

“Lees-McRae’s impact on the entire High Country, especially Banner Elk and Avery County, is significant,” said Lees-McRae

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY Lees McRae College students skiing in Banner Elk in the 1930s.

President Lee King. “The economic impact of nearly 1,000 students is very meaningful to the community, and our athletic,

ARTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

New York art galleries and museums, Linda Sheppard is the owner of her own fine art gallery in Banner Elk. Sheppard’s work revolves mostly around portraits, landscapes and still life paintings that evoke a sense of wonder in its viewer.

theatre and community service programs enhance the quality of life of the region.”

Today, Lees-McRae

Visit the gallery in-person at 2780 Tynecastle Hwy #D in Banner Elk or online at www.lindasheppardfineart.com.

Sally Nooney Gallery 7143 N.C.-194, Banner Elk (828) 963-7347 www.sallynooney.com Sally Nooney Gallery offers unique glass sculptures to brighten a garden or entrance, and beautiful new paintings ready to grace homes. Find Sally Nooney Gallery

FILE PHOTO BY JAMES BRANCH President Herbert L. King delivers a passionate speech to a packed audience at the Evans Auditorium in 2018.

offers dozens of programs of study, broken up into majors, minors, online and in-person classes and in 2018, added its first grad-

uate program for teaching.

Additionally, nestled in the heart of the High Country, Lees-McRae offers Outdoor Recreation programs that

on Highway 194 midway between Banner Elk and Valle Crucis.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Studio 140 at Sorrento’s 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk (828) 898-5214 www.facebook.com/studio140 Studio 140 at Sorrento’s features large paintings by artist Kent Paulette. As they

highlight the rich culture of the area, including a Ski Industry Minor that was first introduced to the college in fall 2019.

enter the gallery, visitors will see paintings of animals that once roamed the area such as elk and wolves. They might hear live music coming from the next room which is dedicated to pop art portraits of famous musicians. The upstairs gallery features Paulette’s paintings of dancing female figures and abstract mountain landscapes.

The gallery is open from 5 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday through Sunday.

Keep up with all the local news, obituaries, community events, and sports.

Subscribe today!

828.733.2448

FILE PHOTO COURTESY ENSEMBLE STAGE ‘An Ensemble Christmas’ is an annual holiday variety show at the Historic Banner Elk School performed by the cast of Ensemble Stage.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

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Calling Banner Elk ‘Home’ Four-season real estate opportunities

BY ABBY WHITT abby.whitt@mountaintimes.com

Banner Elk is a town that is always moving and evolving, proven through events during each season of the year. Even through the winter, Banner Elk sees an influx of visitors coming to enjoy award-winning ski resorts that include Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort.

According to Jeremy Handysides at Eagle’s Nest Realty in Banner Elk, its constant state of activity is one of the town’s greatest enticements.

“Generally, what people are looking for is something newer with technologies already built in,” said Handysides. “We’re seeing a lot of people looking to be in a four-season type of place where something is always happening.”

Handyside noted that while buying an older home might be cheaper and at the low-end of one’s budget,

it’s important to weigh the price against how much work needs to be completed on it.

On average, Handyside says that most homes Eagle’s Nest sales are more recently constructed, with new technologies built in, and priced between $800,000 and $850,000.

However, there are homes available for every budget in Banner Elk. According to Realtor. com, there are 931 homes for sale in the Banner Elk area that range in price from $200,000 to $3.5 million.

The rental market in Banner Elk also varies, offering seasonal or temporary living spaces that will fit any need.

To learn more about the current real estate market in Banner Elk, call the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, who can direct you to the ideal realtor to fit your needs at (828) 2625437.

Look what

America NOTICED! School district budgets Property auctions Public hearings Local tax changes Adoptions

Find out about these and much more in your local newspaper!

Participate in Democracy.

Read your Public Notices.

PHOTO COURTESY SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY The Greater Banner Elk area is ripe with a variety of real estate opportunities for those interested in investing in a new home.

Places of worship in Banner Elk and Avery County • Aaron Baptist Church • All Saints Mission • Altamont United Methodist • Arbor Dale Presbyterian • Avery United Methodist • Banner Elk Church of Christ • Banner Elk Presbyterian • Banner Elk Seventh-Day Adventist • Banner Elk United Methodist • Beech Mountain Baptist • Belview Baptist Church • Big Meadows Baptist • Chapel in the Woods • Chestnut Dale Baptist • Church of Jesus Christ • Church of the Savior • Crab Orchard FWB • Cranberry Baptist • Crossnore Baptist • Crossnore Presbyterian • Curtis Creek FWB • Elk Mountain FWB • Elk Park Baptist • Elk Park Christian

• Elk Park United Methodist • Emmanuel Baptist • Evangelical Methodist • Faith Baptist • Fall Creek Baptist • Fellowship Baptist • Fellowship Presbyterian • First Baptist Church • Forest Home Community • Fletcher Presbyterian • God’s Blessing Church • Green Valley Baptist • Harmony Baptist Church • Heaton Christian • Henson Creek Baptist • Ivey Heights FWB • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Jonas Ridge Baptist • Linville Falls Community Church • Linville United Methodist • Matney Liberty Church • Midway Holiness Church • Minneapolis Baptist • Minneapolis Christian

• Minneapolis Methodist • Mt. Calvary Baptist • Mt. Pleasant Baptist • Mountain View FWB • Newland Christian • Newland Presbyterian • Newland United Methodist • Open Door Baptist • Pineola Baptist • Pineola Church of God • Pineola Presbyterian • Pleasant Hill Baptist • Plumtree Presbyterian • Powdermill Baptist • Roaring Creek Baptist • Roaring Creek FWB • St. Bernadette Catholic • Stamey Town Baptist • Sugar Mountain Baptist • Yellow Mountain Baptist • Vale FWB • Victory Baptist • Walnut Grove Presbyterian

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Peering into Banner Elk’s Past COMPILED BY JAMIE SHELL jamie.shell@averyjournal.com

Take a look back through time at historic images of Banner Elk through the years.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY Banner Elk, a once remote Appalachian community, is the home of major and ongoing missions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Three church related institutions – Lees-McRae College, Grandfather Home and Orphanage and Grace (later Cannon) Hospital, pictured – were established around the turn of the century, primarily through the efforts of the Presbyterian Church, U.S., and the Rev. Edgar Tufts. In 1923, a makeshift hospital in Banner Elk was averaging five patients per night and the need for more space was critical. Helen Hartley Jenkins donated $22,000 to build a 25-bed hospital, which was named after her sister, Grace. According to historical archives, the new hospital had running water, electricity and a coal-fired furnace. The kitchen was on the first floor along with living quarters for the director of nursing and the dietitian. Patient rooms were on the second and third floors and the operating room and nurses’ quarters were on the top floor.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY VonCannon’s Ford dealership in Banner Elk.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY The Rev. Edgar Tufts founded Lees-McRae Institute in 1900, arriving three years earlier on the orders of Virginia’s Union Theological Seminary to organize a Presbyterian church in Banner Elk. Lees-McRae Institute became Lees-McRae College in 1931, an accredited co-ed junior college, and then transitioned to a senior (four-year) college in 1990. Tufts served the Banner Elk community until his death in 1923.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY The Banner Elk Post Office building which opened circa 1962.

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PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY An unknown student posing with a Daniel Boone Trail Marker in Banner Elk.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY Polly Presnell poses in front of Banner Elk’s Grace Hospital in 1935.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

AJT FILE PHOTO The Banner Elk Bank served the financial needs of residents during the mid-20th century.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY The weaving room at Lees-McRae College in the early 1900s.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY A North Carolina historic marker recognizing LeesMcRae College and its founder, Edgar Tufts.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY The Maple Tea Room in Banner Elk was a popular dining destination for locals as well as passers-through on the Queen City Trailways Bus Line.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL HARDY An image of the early years of the Lees-McRae College campus.

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Banner Elk before the Banners Editor’s Note: The following story appears courtesy of Michael C. Hardy. Hardy is the 2010 North Carolina Historian of the Year and the author of 21 books. When not researching the depths of North Carolina’s role in the Civil War, he dabbles with local history. Learn more by clicking to www. michaelchardy.com.

BY MICHAEL C. HARDY

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any of our local communities are named for prominent local families.

Most residents and even most visitors know that the name of Banner Elk is tied to the Banner family, but there is a long history of settlement centered around the area that is today Banner Elk, a history that actually predates the Banners themselves and which has other names stamped upon it.

The story of how the Banner family came to the region is a well-known piece of local history. Martin L. Banner traveled into these parts from Forsyth County about 1848; he promptly bought property and built a cabin. He soon became bored with his surroundings and sold out to the Dugger family.

Banner then moved on to Carter County, Tenn. Martin eventually returned to area a few years later and settled in the Montezuma community.

In 1856, Lewis Banner, a brother to Martin, moved to the area and purchased 200 acres of land on Elk Creek. He brought with him his five sons and three daughters. They are the ones who gave the name “Banner” to Banner Elk. A post office called Banner’s Elk opened on June 16, 1875. Today, Banner Elk is considered one of the premier vacation sites in western North Carolina.

However, there were pioneers in the area prior to the Banners. One of the first was David Hix.

FILE PHOTO A highway marker placed in Banner Elk honors one of the town’s more widely known citizens, Shepherd Monroe Dugger, who was touted on the marker as ‘educator and humorist.’

About the same time that Samuel Bright was settling down near the present-day

site of the Avery County Airport, near Ingalls, David Hix was settling in the Val-

le Crucis area of Watauga County. His home was surrounded by a palisade wall

and was generally known as Hix’s Fort. He was living there with his family, including his two sons, Samuel and David; his two son-in-laws, Thomas and Mikel Asher; two other men named Lucus and Asher, and a hired woman named Ireland, along with her daughter, Jenny.

For a brief amount of time, the group moved further down the Watauga River, living near Dugger’s Iron Works in what is present-day Carter County, Tenn. It was here that Jenny was abducted, probably by the Shawnee; she lived for seven years near the Ohio River and married one of their warriors. She was later purchased by some “Indian traders” and was eventually able to return to her mother.

Hix lived at Dugger’s Iron Works for maybe a year before returning to Valle Crucis. One source puts him back on the upper section of the Watauga River about 1776 or 1777.

As the American Revolution broke out on the frontier as well as in the more populated sections of the Colonies, Hix’s position became more complicated and difficult. In fact, it is not even very clear where his loyalties actually were.

One source considered Hix a Tory, while another considered him to be of a more neutral position.

Clearly, Col. Benjamin Cleveland, Patriot leader and legendary foe of Tories in the backcountry, believed Hix was an enemy to the Patriot cause. At one point, Cleveland traveled from Wilkesboro and laid siege to Hix’s Fort. After a few days, Hix believed that Cleveland had retreated, and when the settlers ventured forth, Cleveland ambushed them, killing Hix’s son-in-law. Mikel, and wounding David Hix. Cleveland’s men then plundered Hix’s Fort.

At some point, it appears that the Hix family fled their fort in Valle Crucis.

The family came to the area

near present-day Banner Elk, presumably at some point during the American Revolution. John Preston Arthur, in his history of Watauga County, tells us that Hix eventually “became uneasy and retired to the wilderness near what is now Banner Elk, where he made camp and supported himself by hunting and making maple syrup and sugar, thus avoiding service as an American or a Tory.” Hix did manage to avoid swearing allegiance to either side during the war. Arthur goes on to tell us that people 100 years ago still plowed up coal “near the Lybrook farm, near the Grandfather Orphanage” and that local people knew the area as the Hix Improvement, “that being the place here Samuel Hix ‘laid out during the Revolutionary War.’” It is possible that David Hix died in the Banner Elk area in 1792 or 1793.

His will, drawn up by a resident from Washington County (now Tennessee), was probated in Wilkes County.

Arthur adds that there “were no clearings of any extent at Banner Elk, except those at the Hix Improvement, which was very small, and at Big Bottoms but there were two ‘deadenings,’ one called the Moses Deadening and the other the Lark Chopping.”

These last two were probably locations where trees had been cut in such a way where their death was certain, thus opening up new ground for cultivation.

Arthur also tells us that David Hix soon had neighbors: Baker King and Ben Dugger. There are plenty of Duggers still in the area.

Members of the Hix family are also still here in Avery County, but, over time, the name has morphed into the more familiar Hicks.

Though there were others seeking to settle in the region well before the 1840, it would be the Banner family whose name would stick to the community.

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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

‘Wild Worm Will’ takes top honors at 42nd annual Woolly Worm Festival

BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankeship@averyjournal.com

“Wild Worm Will,” known on the streets as The Long String Kid and the killer on the string, blasted to the top of the board during the final at the 2019 Woolly Worm Festival to net his place in history on Oct. 19.

The winning worm on the first day of the event always puts its name in the record books as the predicting worm for the coming winner, the strongest of the bunch.

The champion’s handler also gets to pocket $1,000 in cash, in this case Wilmington’s Leslee Brown.

Brown did not make the decision to come to the 42nd annual festival until the day before, but she came prepared to throw down the gauntlet for worm dominance, though she didn’t expect to win.

“I never win anything,” Brown said, adding she thinks the festival will now become an annual trip.

The official worm interpreter was local celebrity Tommy Burleson, who inspected the critter’s 13 segments, one for each week of winter, to give the county an idea of what is to come.

“It’s a fun festival because it’s so family oriented,” Burleson said.

Burleson, who is also director of the Avery County Inspections Department, said he is glad to see the commerce from the festival coming to the area in conjunction with other events happening the same day, including Appalachian State University’s Homecoming and the annual Valle Country Fair in Valle Crucis.

After Brown’s worm crossed the finish line and it was inspected for any signs of worm-enhancing drugs

by Woolly Worm Medicine Specialist Dr. William Burrow, Burleson took the

PHOTO BY CARL BLANKENSHIP Mary Jo Brubaker, William Burrow, Shawn Stricklen, Bobby Savel, Merryweather The Woolly Worm, Jason DeWitt, Melynda Pepple, Leslee Brown, Tommy Burleson, Daniel Binder and Brittany Love posing after Brown’s worm ‘Wild Worm Will’ claimed the prize on Saturday, Oct. 19. The proceeds from the festival are split between the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk.

fuzzy creature in hand to see what arcane secrets he could glean from its pelt.

There are four types of colors on each segment denoting different weather phenomena. The official designations for what each color means are as follows: • Black: below average temperatures, snow • Dark Brown: below average temperatures • Light Brown: above-average temperatures.

• Flick: black and brown, below average temperatures, frost or light snow.

The worm had these colors: Black, flick, flick, black, light brown, light brown, dark brown, dark brown, dark brown, dark brown, flick, light brown, light brown.

The forecast indicates a week of cold weather with snow to start of winter, followed by two weeks of chilly weather with some wintry mix, followed by another week of cold and snow, a warmer period for two weeks followed by a

cold but dry period for four weeks, a bit more wintry mix, and ending the winter with some warmer temperatures.

The buildup to the festival includes a media tour and organizing about 160 vendors to take over the grounds in front of the Historic Banner Elk School.

“Good grief, it’s here,” Woolly Worm Dude Jason DeWitt said at the festival.

DeWitt’s favorite part of the festival is the fellowship.

“Everybody is in a good mood,” DeWitt said. “When the families come up on the stage they just thank us profusely for having such a great family event. It’s wonderful, it feels great.”

The event is filled with things for kids to do, with activities toward the back of the festival grounds, food and, of course, the races.

If any kid felt their worm had come down with anything, Burrow, a local dentist when he is not practicing cutting-edge caterpil-

lar first aid, was on hand to inspect the athletes.

“We look for shading, we look to see how fast they are, we look at their eyes, (to) make sure they’re happy,” William Burrow said.

Roy Krege, an originator of the festival, longtime festival ambassador and an announcer at the event for more than three decades, likes how many people come to the festival and that the event supports two area nonprofits: The Avery County Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk. “You can’t beat that,” Krege said, adding he never expected it to grow into what it is now.

The festival is a major draw to the area, bringing thousands of visitors to Banner Elk for the weekend, and all that tourism requires the help of local first responders.

“Our main objective here is primarily to be rescue and fire standby and protection for any emergency

needs,” Banner Elk Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tyler Burr said.

The department also performs some training during the festival and sells merchandise to support the department. Banner Elk Police Department, Avery County EMS and Avery County Sheriff’s Office were also on hand for the festival.

“It clearly brings a lot of people into our community for the weekend,” Banner Elk Town Manager Rick Owen said, noting the economic impact it brings to the town.

More than the weather The festival does not just bring families and commerce to the area to enjoy the day, it is also the largest fundraiser for two county nonprofits: The Avery County Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk. The chamber supports local business, and Kiwanis’ mission is to help children

in the county. The funds raised at the event are split between the two organizations.

Mae Weed, the recently appointed President of Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk, said the festival takes in between $30,000 and $50,000 for the club. That money gets redistributed by Kiwanis through grants and supporting programs that directly support children.

Last year, an overnight wind storm forced the organizers to close the festival on the second day, but this year both days came and went without incident.

“With decent weather we generally do extremely well,” Weed said.

There are other groups that benefit from the festival as well. Banner Elk Elementary School sells woolly worms and woolly worm cages at the festival to raise money for its PTO. Principal Justin Carver said the PTO is fundraising for more arts integration at the school this year and is coming off the school’s recent fall festival.

A number of groups sell parking spaces for the event as well. One of those is the local food pantry Feeding Avery Families.

FAF distributes hundreds of thousands of pounds of food to local families each year, and they are allowed to sell parking spaces on an empty private parcel next to Banner Elk Town Hall at the festival.

Executive Director Dick Larson said two years ago the nonprofit managed to raise $5,600 from the event, though the weather last year reduced their intake.

“We try to be good stewards,” Larson said. “We try to reseed and rake if we need to or grade if we need to.”

The festival will return next fall for another round of worm races and another prediction.

BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

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Tate-Evans Park unites the community

BY ABBY WHITT abby.whitt@mountaintimes.com

The Tate-Evans Park in Banner Elk provides an assortment of outdoor entertainment and activities for the whole family. It’s home to a walking trail, two playground areas that vary to be appropriate for children of all ages, picnic tables and a covered picnic shelter. Ideal for the summer months, the park also features wading pools and a volleyball court.

Throughout the year, Tate-Evans Park hosts community events such as a Fourth of July celebration, a Spooktacular event in October and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Caroling in December.

Additionally, there are numerous birthday parties, reunions and weddings held in the park.

Summer brings a new epicenter of activity to Tate-Evans Park with its Summer Concert Series. The

amphitheatre hosts local and regional musicians each Thursday evening beginning in June and lasting until the end of August.

“The Banner Elk Chamber is fortunate to have Tate-Evans Park to hold some of our bigger events. The park, with its large amphitheater and plenty of seating space for our concert viewers, allows us to present Thursday night concerts throughout the summer months,” said Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce President Jo-Ann McMurray. “We are fortunate to have a beautiful park setting, with its many assets, that allows the Chamber to hold most of our larger events all year long.”

To learn more about Tate-Evans Park in Banner Elk, visit its website by clicking to www.townofbannerelk.org/recreation/ town-parks. The website also has an event calendar where events are posted throughout the year.

PHOTO SUBMITTED The weekly Banner Elk Concerts in the Park brings hundreds of music lovers to Tate-Evans Town Park each Thursday night throughout the summer.

Banner Elk: A great place for the Great Outdoors

BY JAMIE SHELL editor@averyjournal.com

North Carolina’s latest mantra is “Nothing Compares,” and while the state tourism board likely intended that motto to have a statewide focus, when it comes to outdoor sports, Banner Elk has it covered.

There are few places in America that can offer such a diverse range of outdoor opportunities.

Just a short drive from downtown Banner Elk, visitors can enjoy hiking, canoeing, rafting or hunting.

There is also fishing, swimming, golfing, caving, snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and tubing.

Any visitor would be hardpressed to find any outdoor activity they couldn’t accomplish in the town and its outskirts.

During the winter months, Sugar and Beech Mountain ski resorts pack the area with skiers and snowboarders who find a veritable paradise in the Appalachians.

Constantly updating their equipment, Sugar and Beech are every bit as well equipped as their Rocky

PHOTO BY SKIP SICKLER | GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION A look at the Mile-High Swinging Bridge atop Grandfather Mountain, a haven for outdoors enthusiasts that offers numerous hiking trails and exhibits, in addition to some of the region’s most breathtaking views.

Mountain cousins. Beech offers the highest ski elevations east of the Mississippi and Sugar, prior to the 2015-16 ski season, installed a new lift, the Summit Express, which ferries passengers to the mountain’s

summit in just five minutes.

Beech Mountain Resort recently announced a partnership with Lees-McRae College, offering opportunities for students to experience firsthand what it’s like

to pursue a career in ski industry management.

While Sugar and Beech mountains soar over Banner Elk, perhaps no mountain on the East Coast has such an impressive countenance as Grandfather Mountain.

Rugged and vast, the mountain is named for its profile, from which some angles looks like the face of a bearded old man.

The mountain maintains several animal habitats through the Grandfather Mountain attraction, as well as offering some truly incredible hiking.

Some of the trails on Grandfather will carry hikers to the loftiest, most exposed peaks in the Appalachians.

In the summer months, the mountain plays host to the Highland Games, which draws thousands of visitors annually to the High Country and highland athletes from all over the world who compete in traditional games of the Scottish Highlands.

For visitors looking for a more relaxed outdoor experience, Banner Elk is also home to plenty

of well-appointed golf courses, both Sugar and Beech mountains have challenging courses that are available to the public.

Just minutes from downtown is Wildcat Lake. The lake offers swimming, canoeing, picnic facilitates, volleyball courts, a playground and a beach.

Perhaps Banner Elk’s most wellknown sport is racing — woolly worm racing.

Every October, more than 20,000 people pack the town for the annual Woolly Worm Festival.

Participants are invited to bring their own worm or to buy one at the festival to try their hand at worm piloting. The worms race up a vertical string under the encouragement of their handlers.

The winning worm on the day is given the honor of predicting the coming winter’s weather.

If you are looking for a casual hike in the woods or a craggy difficult romp at more than a mile in elevation, Banner Elk can meet your needs. All of your outdoor aspirations can be met in the town and its surroundings.

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BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN

Mountain Times Publications -

25

Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Apple Hill Farm Contact Person: Lee Rankin Email: applehillfarmnc@gmail.com Address: 400 Apple Hill Rd., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-963-1662 Website: http://www.applehillfarmnc.com Banner Elk Book Exchange Contact Person: Donna Dicks Email: dbdicks@skybest.com Address: 357 Old Turnpike Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6667 Website: http://www.bannerelkbookexchange.com/ Banner House Museum/The Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation Contact Person: Meredith Olan Email: bannerhousemuseum@yahoo.com Address: 7990 Hickory Nut Gap Rd., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3634 Fax: 828-898-3634 Website: http://www.bannerhousemuseum.org Camp Big Contact Person: Stacy Stern Email: Fun@CampBigforAdults.com Address: 6993 Hickory Nut Gap, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 888-613-2267 Website: http://campbigforadults.com/ Cycle4Life Email: doug@cycle4life.com Address: 150 Forest Run, Sugar Mountain, NC 28604 Website: https://cycle4life.com/ Due South Outfitters Contact Person: Meredith Sessoms Email: contact@duesouthoutfitters.com Address: 2949 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-450-6492 Website: www.duesouthoutfitters.com Elk River Club Contact Person: Toni Littleton Email: toni@elkriverclubnc.com Address: 1000 Clubhouse Dr., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9773 Fax: 828-898-6118 Website: http://elkriverclubnc.com/ Ensemble Stage Contact Person: Lisa Lamont Email: info@ensemblestage.com Address: 182 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-414-1844 Website: http://www.ensemblestage.com/ FORUM at Lees-McRae College Contact Person: Sandy Ramsey Email: ramsey@lmc.edu Address: PO Box 128, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-8748 Fax: 828-898-8716 Website: http://go.lmc.edu/forum Grandfather Mountain Contact Person: Katie Casella Email: katie2@grandfather.com Address: 2033 Blowing Rock Hwy., Linville, NC 28646 Phone: 828-733-2013 Fax: 828-733-2608 Website: http://www.grandfather.com/ High Mountain Expeditions Contact Person: Bill Leonard Email: info@highmountainexpeditions.com Address: 3149 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-264-7368 Fax: 828-262-0572 Website: http://www.highmountainexpeditions.com Holston Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center Contact: Jim Austin Email: info@HolstonCenter.org Address: 6993 Hickory Nut Gap Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 844-465-7866 Website: http://www.HolstonCenter.org Sugar Mountain Resort, Inc. Contact Person: Kim Jochl Email: marketing@skisugar.com Address: 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4521 Website: http://www.skisugar.com ToddsCalendar.com Contact Person: Todd & Miel Mortensen Email: miel@toddscalendar.com Address: 1990 Big Hill Rd., Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-964-5405 Website: http://www.toddscalendar.com BANKING AND INVESTMENTS Edward Jones Contact Person: Cody Hoilman

Email: cody.hoilman@edwardjones.com Address: 3616 Mitchell Avenue, Suite 7, Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-733-1684 Website: https://www.edwardjones.com Fifth-Third Bank Contact Person: Kathy Boone Email: Katherine.boone@53.com Address: 1667 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6351 Website: https://www.53.com Highlands Union Bank Contact Person: Bettie Shomaker Email: bshomaker@hubank.com Address: 115 Main St. E., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5100 Website: https://www.hubank.com/ High Country Wealth Management Contact Person: Jeff Davis Email: jdavis@highcountrwealth.com Address: 82 High Country Square, Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3993 Fax: 828-898-3996 Website: http://www.highcountrywealth.com Pittman, Cammy- Loan Officer with Movement Mortgage Email: Cammy.Pittman@movement.com Address: 1251 Edgar Tufts Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-260-0015 Website: https://movement.com/lo/cammy-pittman/ EDUCATION Lees-McRae College Contact Person: Megan Hall (Director of Communications) Email: hallm@lmc.edu Address: 191 Main St., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5241 Fax: 828-898-8814 Website: http://www.lmc.edu/ Mayland Community College Contact Person: Melissa Phillips Email: mcphillips@mayland.edu Address: 785 Cranberry St., Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-733-5883 Fax: 828-733-8877 Website: http://www.mayland.edu/ HEALTH AND FITNESS Appalachian Brian Estates Contact Person: Anna Wilson Email: appalachian@choice-health.net Address: 163 Shadowline Dr., Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-264-1006 Fax: 828-265-4738 Website: http://www.univhealthcare.com Appalachian Home Care Contact Person: Ellen Harrell Email: ellen@apphomecare.com Address: 7929 NC Hwy 105 Suite B,, Boone NC 29607 Phone: 828-963-8233 Website: www.apphomecare.com Banner Elk Pharmacy Contact Person: Jay Ogburn & Hannah Stewart Email: b4121@skybest.com Address: 110 Park Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4271 Better Days and Nights Contact Person: Peter Paglen MA, NCC, LPC Email: paglen.counseling@gmail.com Address: 8562 NC Hwy 105s Suite 102, Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-333-4170 Website: https://www.betterdaysandnights.com/ Life Care Center of Banner Elk Contact Person: Aubrie Bunton Email: aubrie_bunton@lcca.com Address: 185 Norwood Hollow Rd., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5136 Fax: 828-898-8426 Website: http://lifecarecenterofbannerelk.com/ Mary Kay/Becky Frash Contact Person: Becky Frash Email: frashbeckyMK@gmail.com Address: Elk Park, NC/Lafayette, IN Website: https://www.marykay.com/beckyfrash Massage Alliance Contact Person: Lisa Rhinehardt Email: MassageallianceBE@gmail.com Address: 1873 Tynecastle Hwy, Suite 3, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Website: http://massagealliancebe.com/ Schaffer, Carol, DMD, PA, Dentistry Contact Person: Carol Schaffer

Email: cschaffer@apprhs.org Address: 436 Hospital Drive Suite 105 Sloop Medical Office Plaza Linville, NC 28646 Phone: 828-737-7722 Fax: 828-737-7931 Website: http://carolschaffer.com/ Williams YMCA of Avery County Contact Person: Trey Oakley Email: treyo@ymcaavery.org Address: 436 Hospital Drive, Linville, NC 28646 Phone: 828-737-5500 Website: http://ymcaavery.org/ BUILDERS AND HOME IMPROVEMENTS A.T.T.I.C. Design, PLLC Contact Person: Bob Mann Email: adesign@skybest.com Address: 200 Park Ave., Suite B, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-8244 Website: http://atticdesign.net/ Avery Rent-All Contact Person: Jimmy Greene Email: jimmy.greene@boonerentalsinc.com Address: 1829 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6301 Website: http://www.boonerent-all.com Dianne Davant & Associates Contact Person: Amanda Clopton Email: Angela@Davant-Interiors.com Address: 5111 Hwy. 105 S., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9887 Website: http://www.davant-interiors.com/ Distinctive Cabinetry & Design Contact Person: Pat & Dave Parks Email: dave@design105.com Address: 3990 NC 105 South, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 963-9633 Website: http://www.distinctivecabinetrydesign.com Isley Construction Co, Inc. Contact Person: Roy Isley Email: isleyconstruction@yahoo.com Address: 4236 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-898-7544, 828-733-4209 Website: http://www.isleyconstruction.homesandland.com/ Isley Materials Contact Person: Roy Isley Email: isleyconstruction@yahoo.com Address: 4236 Linville Falls Highway, Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-733-4209 Fax: 828-733-4498 Website: http://www.isleyconstruction.homesandland.com/ J.A.C.K.S. Glass and Mirror Contact Person: Kevin Williams Email: noemail@noemail.com Address: 65 Orchard Lane, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-733-9600 Website: http://www.jacksglassnc.com/ Mountain Construction Enterprises, Inc. Contact Person: Mark Kirkpatrick Email: mark@mountainconstruction.com Address: 1345 Poplar Grove Rd., Banner Elk, NC 28607 Phone: 828-963-8090 Website: http://www.mountainconstruction.com/ Mountain Craft Builders Contact Person: Bill Tuck Email: btuck@mac.com Address: 142 Teaberry Trail, Beech Mountain, NC 28607 Phone: 828-260-0013 Website: https://www.houzz.com/pro/mtncraft/mountaincraft-builders-inc New Lifestyles Carpet One Floor & Home Contact Person: Art Scurlock Email: art.carpetone@gmail.com Address: 2862 Tynecastle Hwy. (Hwy. 184), Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-528-4013 Website: http://www.newlifestylescarpet1bannerelk.com/ Ray Knowles Craftsman’s Services Contact Person: Ray Knowles Email: rayknowles@aol.com Address: Banner Elk, NC 2860 Phone: 828-504-0052 Sky House L.L.C. Contact Person: Jeff Pell, General Contractor Email: jeff.pell@skyhousecompany.com Address: P.O. Box 427, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3717 Website: www.skyhousecompany.com VPC Builders Contact Person: Matt Vincent Email: vpcbuilders@gmail.com Address: 2059 Tynecastle Highway, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Phone: 828-295-0707 Fax: 828-832-3882 Website: https://www.vpcbuilders.com/ LODGING The Azalea Inn Contact Person: Thomas Fraley Email: thomas@connectdesign360.com Address: 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-7727 Website: http://bannerelkvillage.com/ The Banner Elk Inn, B&B, and Cottages Contact Person: Beverly Lait Email: bannerelkinn@skybest.com Address: 407 E. Main St., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6223 Fax: 828-898-6224 Website: http://www.bannerelkinn.com Banner Elk Mountain Cabins Contact Person: Marsha Ruppard Email: bannerelkmtncabins@gmail.com Address: P.O. Box 1981, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-387-1209 Website: http://www.bannerelkmtncabins.com Best Western Mountain Lodge Contact Person: Shannon Maness, Gen. Mgr. Email: shannonmaness81@gmail.com Address: 1615 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4571 Website: http://www.bestwesternbannerelk.com Bluegreen Vacations Blue Ridge Village Contact Person: Kim Dalton Email: kim.dalton@bluegreenvacations.com Address: 3781 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9737 Fax: 828-898-5967 Website: https://www.choicehotels.com/north-carolina/banner-elk/ascend-hotels/nc908 Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals Contact Person: Casey Ellison, Gen. Mgr. Email: Info@BlueRidgeRentals.com Address: 2464 US Highway 421 South, Boone NC 28607 Phone: 800-237-7975 Website: https://www.blueridgerentals.com/ Carolina Cabin Rentals, Inc. Contact Person: John White Email: Inquiries@CarolinaCabinRentals.com Address: 197 Old US Highway 321, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Phone: 828-295-6000 Website: http://www.carolinacabinrentals.com/ Cornerstone Cabins and Lodge of Banner Elk Contact Person: Ray & Kim Schrader Email: ccabins@att.net Address: 64 Cornerstone Cir., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3115 Website: http://www.cornerstonerentals.com/ IFC Properties, LLC Contact Person: Rosemary Stein Email: infamclin@aol.com Address: 875 Eagles Nest Trail, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 336-212-1200 Fax: 336-570-0012 Website: http://www.vrbo.com/260138 The Inn at Elk River Contact Person: Doreen Duff Email: doreenduff4444@gmail.com Address: 875 Main St. West, Hwy. 194, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9669 Fax: 828-898-2567 Website: http://www.elkriverinn.com Little Main St. Inn & Suites Contact Person: Phil & Lori Dean Email: vacations@littlemainAddress.com Address: 607 E. Main St., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6109 Fax: 828-898-6377 Website: http://littlemainstreet.com/ The Mast Farm Inn Contact Person: Danielle Deschamps Email: reserve@themastfarminn.com Address: 2543 Broadstone Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-963-5857 Fax: 828-963-6404 Website: https://www.themastfarminn.com/ McNamara Properties Contact Person: June McNamara Email: june.g.mcnamara@icloud.com Address: 1208 Glen Eden Dr, Raleigh, NC 27612 Phone: 919-971-6001 The Lodge at River Run SEE DIRECTORY ON PAGE 26

26 - Mountain Times Publications

DIRECTORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 Contact Person: Bobbie Parks Email: thelodgeatriverrun@gmail.com Address: 2981 Banner Elk Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4709 Website: https://thelodgeatriverrun.com/ The Moose and Squirrel Chalet Contact Person: Ann Simons Email: lodging@themooseandsquirrel.com Address: 129 South Hull Avenue, Deland, FL 32720 Phone: 407-495-9897 Website: www.mooseandsquirrelchalet.lodgify.com The Old Greer House Contact Person: Claire Kimmel Email: kimmel@skybest.com Address: 1688 Balm Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-2843 Website: https://www.theoldgreerhouse.com/ Mountain Retreats Realty Contact Person: Diane Martin Email: diane@ncmountainretreats.com Address: P.O. Box 2437, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6325 Fax: 828-898-7664 Website: http://www.ncmountainretreats.com/ The Perry House Bed & Breakfast Contact Person: Mike Dunn Email: perryhouse@skybest.com Address: 153 Klonteska Dr., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 877-806-4280 Website: www.perryhouse.com Sell My Timeshare NOW Banner Elk Email: info@sellmytimesharenow.com Phone: 877-815-4227 Fax: 603-516-0757 Website: http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/buy-sell-banner-elk-timeshare-resales/ Serenity Haven Cabin Rentals Contact Person: Floyd & Patsy Townsend Email: scamper@skybest.com Address: 676 Old Turnpike Rd., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5762 Website: http://serenityhaven.net Sugar Mountain Lodging, Inc. Contact Person: Cody Hughes Email: sugarmountainlodging@gmail.com Address: 3440 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-7800 Fax: 828-898-7805 Website: www.sugarmountainlodging.com Sugar Ski and Country Club HOA, Inc. Contact Person: Hope Harvey Email: info@sugarmountain.com Address: 100 Sugar Ski Dr., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9784 Website: http://www.sugarmountain.com Swiss Mountain Village Contact Person: Charles Wilson Email: info@swissmountain.com Address: 2324 Flat Top Rd., Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Phone: 828-295-3373 Website: http://www.swissmountain.com/ MUNICIPAL Town of Banner Elk Contact Person: Rick Owen Email: manager@townofbannerelk.org Address: 200 Park Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5398 Website: http://www.townofbannerelk.org Town of Banner Elk TDA Contact Person: Craig Distl, PR representative Email: CraigD411@gmail.com Phone: 704-466-3744 Town of Seven Devils TDA Contact Person: Debbie Powers Email: townfinance@sevendevils.net Address: 1356 Seven Devils Rd., Seven Devils, NC 28604 Phone: 828-963-5343 Website: http://sevendevils.net NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Community Avery County Habitat for Humanity Contact Person: Jordan Slagle Email: slaglej@averycohfh.org Address: P.O. Box 1016, Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-733-1909 Website: http://www.averycohfh.org/ Avery County Humane Society Contact Person: Bruce Malfatone Email: averyhumaneed@gmail.com Address: P.O. Box 1213, Newland, NC 28657

BANNER ELK MY HOMETOWN Phone: 828-733-2333 Fax: 828-733-9937 Website: http://www.averyhumane.org Children’s Hope Alliance/Grandfather Home for Children Contact Person: Madison Cornwell Email: mlcornwell@childrenshopealliance.org Address: P.O. Box 98, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5465 Fax: 828-898-8513 Website: https://www.childrenshopealliance.org/ Feeding Avery Families Contact Person: Dick Larson Email: feedingaveryfamilies@gmail.com Address: 500 Pineola St., Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-783-8506 Website: http://www.feedingaveryfamilies.org/ High Country Breast Cancer Foundation Contact Person: Irene Sawyer Email: irene@hcbcf.org Address: P.O. Box 1029, Blowing Rock, NC 28607 Phone: 614-928-6544 Website: http://highcountrybreastcancerfoundation.org/ Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina Contact Person: Todd Carter Email: info@hosphouse.org Address: P.O. Box 309, Boone, NC 28607 / 338 Brook Hollow Rd., Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-264-1237 Fax: 828-265-2541 Website: http://www.hospitalityhouseofboone.org/ Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk Contact Person: Ann Swinkola Email: agswinkola@skybest.com Address: P.O. Box 2321, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9044 Website: http://www.bannerelkkiwanis.org/ Spirit Ride Therapeutic Riding Center Contact Person: Patty Adams Email: SpiritRideNC@gmail.com Address: 7156 NC Highway 194S, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 904-704-2244 Website: www.spiritridenc.org/ The Town of Banner Elk Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Contact Person: Nancy Owen Email: nowen@townofbannerelk.org Address: 200 Park Avenue, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5398 Website: https://www.bannerelk.com/ CHURCHES Banner Elk Presbyterian Church Contact Person: Rob Clemmer Email: office@bannerelkpresbyterian.org Address: 420 College Dr., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5406 Fax: 828-898-7615 Website: http://bannerelkpresbyterian.org/ Banner Elk United Methodist Church Contact Person: Rev. Theodore “Ted” Henry Email: THenry@wnccumc.net Address: 486 College Dr., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-974-3699 Website: http://bannerelkumc.org/ REAL ESTATE Anderson Mountain Realty & Rentals, Inc. Contact Person: Wendy Raines Email: andersonmountainrentals@gmail.com Address: 184 N Water St #13, Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-963-4091 Website: www.rentourcabins.com Antler Realty Contact Person: Jim Edsall Email: jim@antlerrealty.net Address: 146 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3111 Fax: 828-898-2393 Website: http://www.antlerrealty.net Banner Elk Realty Contact Person: John Davis, III Email: davisjd@skybest.com Address: 161 Silver Springs Drive, Suite #2, Banner Elk, NC 28604 P.O. Box 336, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9756 / Cell: 828-260-1550 Fax: 828-898-4898 Website: http://www.bannerelkrealty.com Bear Real Estate Contact Person: Kim Hyatt Email: kim@bearrealestate.com Address: 120 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604 P.O. Box 2498, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-260-5338 Website: https://www.bearrealestate.com/ Blue Ridge Realty and Investments

Contact Person: Todd Rice and Bill Acceto Email: info@brri.net Address: 110 Main St. Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-737-3100 Website: http://blueridgerealty.net/ Eagles Nest Realty, LLC Contact Person: Mary Sue Street Email: mstreet@eaglesnestrealtyllc.com Address: 51 Eagles Nest Trail, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 800-770-9311 Website: http://eaglesnestatbannerelk.com/ Elk River Property Owners Association, Inc. Contact Person: Bob Littleton Email: elkriverpoa@elkriverpoa.com Address: 643 Banner Elk Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9791 Fax: 828-898-4856 Website: http://www.elkriverpoa.com/ Elk River Realty, Inc. Contact Person: Rick Foster/Spencer Robbins Email: rick@elkriverclub.com Address: 539 Banner Elk Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9777 Website: http://www.elkriverclub.com/ Engel & Volkers Banner Elk Contact Person: Jami Prince Email: Jami.Prince@evusa.com Address: 610 Banner Elk Highway, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3808 Website: bannerelk.evusa.com/en/ The Farm at Banner Elk Contact Person: Mark Lehmann Email: thefarmbenc@skybest.com Address: Dobbins Rd./Farm Loop Rd., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4416 Website: http://www.thefarmatbannerelk.com/ Harry Berry Realty, Inc. Contact Person: Harry Berry Email: harry.hbrealty@gmail.com Address: 3812 Cleveland Street, Hollywood, FL 33021 Phone: 954-816-6521 Fax: 954-862-3087 Website: www.harryberryrealty.com/ Premier Sotheby’s International Realty Contact Person: Sarah Whitfield and Paige Taylor Email: paige.taylor@premiersir.com Address: 1900 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5022 Fax: 828-898-3695 Website: http://www.premiersothebysrealty.com/ Silver Springs Farms, LLC Contact Person: George Meyer Jr. & Bev Payne Email: bev@skybest.com Address: 600 Old Turnpike Rd., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6896 Website: http://bannerelkhomes.com The Summit Group of the Carolinas Contact Person: Allison Phillips Email: summitgroup@skybest.com Address: 415 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3500 Website: www.summitgrouprealestate.com Sugar Mountain Realty, Inc. Contact Person: Dereka Plyler Email: resv@staysugar.com Address: 106 Sugar Mountain Dr., Sugar Mtn., NC 28604 Phone: 800-545-9475 Fax: 828-898-8620 Website: http://www.staysugar.com/ Sugartop Resort Condominium Association Contact Person: Dennis Lacey Email: sales@sugartop.com Address: 303 Sugar Top Dr., Sugar Mountain, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5226 Fax: 828-898-8627 Website: http://www.sugartop.com/ The Vistas at Banner Elk Contact Person: Kent Smith Email: bevistas@gmail.com Address: 1873-A Penny Lane, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-3380 Website: http://www.vistasatbannerelk.com RESTAURANTS & BREWERIES & WINERIES Aramark- Lees McRae Dining Contact Person: David Masonoff Email: masonoff-david@aramark.com Address: PO Box 116, Banner Elk, NC Phone: 828-898-8088 Website: http://www.aramark.com Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge Espresso Bar and Eatery Contact Person: Les Broussard Email: skifamily04@charter.net Address: Hwy. 184, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4040 Website: www.bannerelkcafe.com

Wednesday, December 25, 2019 Banner Elk Subway Contact Person: Aaron Barlow Email: aaronbarlow@charter.net Address: 3579 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-8544 Fax: 828-898-8690 Banner Elk Winery & Villa Contact Person: Valerie Cogdill Email: vcogdill@gmail.com Address: 135 Deer Run Ln., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9090 Website: http://www.bannerelkwinery.com Barra, Sushi Club and Chef’s Table Contact Person: Angelo Accetturo Email: accetturoang@aol.com Address: 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-7727 Website: http://bannerelkvillage.com/ Bayou Smokehouse and Grill/Bayou Store Contact Person: Winston & David Ammann Email: bayouwinston@aol.com Address: 130 Main St. E., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-8952 Website: https://www.facebook.com/BayouSmokehouse/ BE Scooped Contact Person: Bailey Webb Email: bescoopednc@gmail.com Address: 144 Azalea Circle SE, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 239-222-2175 Website: https://www.facebook.com/BeScooped-421793065276163/ Bodegas Kitchen and Wine Bar Contact Person: Paul Alcazar Email: palcazar@BodegasBE.com Address: 496 West Main St, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Website: http://www.BodegasBE.com Cam Rahn Bay Contact Person: Nancy Nguyen Co Email: lnn_co@yahoo.com Address: 110 High Country Square, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4121 Website: http://www.camranhbaync.com/ Carolina Barbeque Contact Person: Dave Calvert Email: dcalvert509@gmail.com Address: 500 Pineola St, Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-737-0700 Fax: 828-737-0708 Website: http://www.carolinabbqnewland.com/ Dunn’s Deli Contact Person: Mike Dunn Email: mike@dunns-deli.com Address: 134 Main Street East, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6731 Website: www.getdunnsdeli.com/ Famous Louise’s Rockhouse Restaurant Contact Person: Shirley Yager Email: yager@boone.net Address: 23175 Linville Falls Hwy, Linville Falls, NC 28647 Phone: 828-765-2720 Website: https://www.facebook.com/louisesrockhouse Reid’s Cafe and Catering Co. Contact Person: Tina Houston Email: reidscateringco@gmail.com Address: 4004 Highway 105 S. Ste.8, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9200 Fax: 828-268-9600 Website: www.reidscafeandcatering.com Sorrento’s Italian Bistro Contact Person: Angelo Accetturo Email: accetturoang@aol.com Address: 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5214 Website: http://bannerelkvillage.com/ Stonewalls Restaurant and Banner Elk Olive Oil & Balsamics Contact Person: Scott Garland Email: scottgarlandevents@yahoo.com Address: 344 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5550 Website: http://www.stonewallsrestaurant.com RETAIL SHOPS Art Galleries Alta Vista Gallery Contact Person: Maris Hyde Email: altavista@skybest.com Address: 2839 Broadstone Rd., Valle Crucis, NC 28691 Phone: 828-963-5247 Website: http://www.altavistagallery.com The Art Cellar Gallery Contact Person: Mike and Pam McKay Email: info@artcellaronline.com Address: 920 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5175 SEE DIRECTORY ON PAGE 27

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DIRECTORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 Website: www.artcellaronline.com BE Artists Gallery Contact Person: Dick Larson Email: art@BEartistsgallery.com Location: Rooms 4 and 5 Cultural Arts Center / Historic Banner Elk School, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-260-5389 Website: www.beartistsgallery.com/ Mountain Blue Gallery Contact Person: Page Smoak Email: mountainbluegallery@gmail.com Address: 151 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4477 Website: www.mountainbluegallery.com/ Studio 140 Art Gallery Contact Person: Angelo Accetturo Email: accetturoang@aol.com Address: 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-1940 Website: http://bannerelkvillage.com/ GARDEN CENTERS Mountaineer Garden Center Contact Person: Sara & Allen Gregory Email: mgcinc1986@yahoo.com Address: 1735 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5219 Fax: 828-898-5196 Website: http://mountaineergardencenter.com/ HOME FURNISHINGS Banner Elk Consignment Cottage Contact Person: Susan Brown Email: consign@skybest.com Address: 414 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5733 Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Banner-Elk-Consignment Cottage/146834055665 The Twisted Twig Antiques and Accents Contact Person: Susan McCulloch Email: thetwistedtwigantiques@gmail.com Address: 2780 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 619-964-0038 Website: http://www.thetwistedtwigantiques.com/ JEWELRY Hardin Fine Jewelry Contact Person: Susan Hardin Email: hardinjewelry@gmail.com Address: 920 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4653 Website: http://www.hardinfinejewelry.com/ LINENS DeWoolfson Down Contact Person: Ashley Mitchell Email: info.linens@dewoolfsonlinens.com Address: 9452 NC Hwy 105 S., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 800-833-3696 Website: http://www.dewoolfsonlinens.com PET SUPPLIES AND SERVICES My Best Friend’s Barkery Contact Person: Erika Siegel Email: esiegel@mybestfriendsbarkery.com Address: 176 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5625 Website: http://www.mybestfriendsbarkery.com/ Ruth Ann’s Pet Grooming Contact Person: Ruth Ann Liberatore Email: rapjlib@aol.com Address: 114 Laurel Lane, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-260-4454 Website: https://www.facebook.com/Ruths-Pet-Grooming-581449871932092/ Sherry’s Pawsitively Pampered Dog Sitting Contact Person: Sherry McManus Email: pawsitivelypet111@gmail.com Address: PO Box 2211, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-260-1144 Website: https://www.facebook.com/pawsitivelypetpaws/ SPECIALTY FOOD AND WINE Avery County Farmers Market Contact Person: Waightstill Avery Email: averyfarms3@gmail.com Address: P.O. Box 190, Plumtree, NC 28644 Phone: 828-733-5052 Website: http://www.averycountyfarmersmarket.net Banner Elk Olive Oil and Balsamics Contact Person: Amanda Siegel Email: amanda@beoliveoil.com Address: 155 Banner Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Phone: 828-898-4441 Website: www.beoliveoil.com/ Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co. Contact Person: Heather and Will Mitchell Email: mountaingroundsnc@gmail.com Address: 3990 Hwy. 105, Suite 10, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5878 Website: https://www.facebook.com/mtngrounds Ramble Juice and Ice Cream Contact Person: Natalie Houston Email: ramblejuice@hotmail.com Address: 144 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 2860 Phone: 828-385-3386 Website: https://www.facebook.com/ramblejuice/ WINDOW TREATMENTS Carolina Window Fashions Contact Person: Greg Seiz Email: gregs@carolinawindowfashions.com Address: 66 Pershing St., Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-733-3318 Fax: 828-733-3341 Website: http://www.carolinawindowfashions.com APPAREL BJ’s Resort Wear Contact Person: Sally Breslaue Email: salbres@aol.com Address: 145 Main St., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4229 Spruced Boutique Contact Person: Julene Roe, Owner Email: spruced@icloud.com Address: 4501 Tynecastle Hwy. #4 Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-783-9051 Website: https://www.sprucedboutique.com/ SERVICES Accounting and Billing Services Patty’s Billing Services, Inc. Contact Person: Patty Robinson Email: patty@pattysbillingservices.com Address: P.O. Box 2102, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4504 Website: http://pattysbillingservices.com/ AUTO SALES Ross Chrysler Jeep Ram Contact Person: Richard Miller Email: rmiller@rossauto.com Address: 2282 Hwy 105 South, Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-264-2875 Website: http://rossauto.com CAR WASHES Banner Elk Car Wash Contact Person: Matt Bagley Email: bannerelkcarwash@outlook.com Address: 1944 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-719-7462 CLEANING AND RESTORATION Highland Pro Clean, Inc. Contact Person: Andrew Johansen Email: highlandproclean@gmail.com Address: 136 Asa St, Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-733-5089 Website: http://www.highlandproclean.com Pinacle Network Inc. Contact Person: Deborah Campa Email: c9045714159@yahoo.com Address: 505 Beachland Blvd #251,Vero Beach, NC 32963 Website: http://www.dc.yourbodyiswater.info/ Spangler Restoration Contact Person: Ashli Kemo Email: ashli@callspangler.com Address: 1638 Old 421 S., Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-297-3000 Website: https://spanglerestores.com/ COMPUTER SERVICES Highland Mapping, Inc. Contact Person: Laura Wilson Email: mail@highlandmapping.com Address: 395 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-7720 Website: http://www.highlandmapping.com/ ELECTRICAL UTILITY Mountain Electric Cooperative, Inc. Contact Person: Joseph A Thacker III, General Manager Email: mtninfo@mountainelectric.com Address: 1373 Elk Park Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-733-0159 Fax: 828-733-3213 Website: http://www.mountainelectric.com/ EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Overlook Barn

Contact Person: Katie Elder Email: events@overlookbarn.com Address: 830 Elderberry Ridge Road, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-414-1156 Website: http://www.overlookbarn.com The Barn at Cornerstone Contact Person: Kimberly Schrader Email: ccabins@att.net Address: 64 Cornerstone Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-260-1125 Website: https://www.thebarnatcornerstone.com/ Welter Entertainment Contact Person: Pete Welter Email: pete@welterentertainment.com Address: 8693 Laurel Springs W, Newland, NC 28657 Phone: 828-565-2345 Website: http://www.welterentertainment.com/ HAIR AND BEAUTY Alternatives Natural Hair Studio Contact Person: Todd & Lori Bush Email: todlor@skybest.com Address: 2989-A Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-5262 HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Boone Heating and Air Conditioning Email: booneheating@bellsouth.net Address: 164 Mr. Bish Blvd., Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-268-1125 Website: www.booneheatingandair.com/ HOME WATCH SERVICES Paramount Home Watch Services LLC Contact Person: Caleb Culverhouse Email: caleb@paramounthomewatch.com Address: 102 Skiview Lane, Unit A-1, Beech Mountain, NC 28604 Phone: 706-399-6454 Website www.paramounthomewatch.com INSURANCE Business First Insurance Contact Person: Tom Petcoff Email: tom@baronrealty.com Address: PO Box 175, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 863-665-6060 Website: http://businessfirstinsurancecompany.com Fortner Insurance Agency, Inc. Contact Person: Tim Ganley Email: pharris@fortnerinsurance.com Address: 156 Main St. E., Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-6366 Website: http://www.fortnerinsurance.com/ LifeStore Insurance Services Contact Person: Linda Gilleland Email: lgilleland@golifestore.com Address: 148 Highway 105 Extension, Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-264-2626 Website: https://www.lifestoreinsurance.com/ LANDSCAPE AND TREE CARE Hunter’s Tree Service, Inc. Contact Person: Tony & Judy Hunter Email: trees@htsinc.biz Address: 1731 Beech Mountain Road, Elk Park, NC 28622 Phone: 828-733-3320 Fax: 828-733-0023 Website: http://www.hunterstreeserviceinc.com LAWYERS AND ATTORNEYS Blue Ridge Advocacy Center Contact Person: Tom McMurray Email: tom@appalachianmediation.com Address: PO Box 2171, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-386-1116 Fax: 828-386-1119 Website: http://www.appalachianmediation.com John M. Wright, Attorney Contact Person: John M. Wright Email: johnmwrightattorney@gmail.com Address: 139 Main Street East, Banner Elk NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-9761 Fax: 828-898-9761 Website: http://www.johnmwrightattorney.com/ MAGAZINES Carolina Mountain Life Magazine Contact Person: Babette McAuliffe Email: livingcarolina@bellsouth.net Address: P.O. Box 976, Linville, NC 28646 Phone: 828-737-0771 Website: http://www.carolinamountainlifemagazine.com/ PEST CONTROL SERVICES A-1 Termite and Pest Control, Inc. Contact Person: Max Brown Email: marius_b@att.net Address: 2686 Morganton Blvd. S.W., Lenoir, NC 28645 Phone: 800-532-7378 & 828-963-8600

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Website: https://www.a-1pc.com/ PHOTOGRAPHY Todd Bush Photography Contact Person: Todd & Lori Bush Email: todd@bushphoto.com Address: 2989-C Tynecastle Hwy., Hwy. 184, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-8088 Website: http://www.bushphoto.com Printing, Signs, Mailing Services Go Postal Contact Person: Ken Gottfried Email: keng@gpostal.com Address: New Market Center, Boone, NC 28607 Phone: 828-262-0027 Website: http://www.gpostal.com The Sign Shop Contact Person: Bill Dicks Email: thesignshop@skybest.com Address: P.O. Box 426, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-898-4437 Fax: 828-898-7586 STORAGE FACILITIES Banner Manor Self Storage Contact Person: Yvonne Bailey Cantrell Email: bannermanor@bannerelkselfstorage.com Address: 161 Silver Springs Dr. & 10675 Hwy. 105, Banner Elk, NC Phone: 828-898-5896 Website: http://www.bannerelkselfstorage.com/ TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET Skyline Membership Corporation Contact Person: Brent Keith, Business; Paige Phillips, Customer Service; Karen Powell, Public Relations Email: inquiries@skybest.com Address: 16 High Country Square, Hwy 184, Banner Elk, NC 28604 & 217 Wilson Drive, Boone, NC, 28607 Phone: 828-898-1350 Website: http://skybest.com/ TRAVEL AGENTS Cruise Planners- Rennard Contact Person: Donald Rennard Email: don.rennard@cruiseplanners.com Address: 2331 Tynecastle Hwy. Suite #8, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-789-9236 Website: http://www.bookmemytrip.com/ Encore Travel Contact Person: Wendy Snider Email: wendy@encoretravelltc.com 2331 Tynecastle Hwy, Suite 4, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Phone: 828-719-6955 Website: www.encoretravelltc.net/ INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Abernathy, Fred & Sherry Aheron, Michelle Blonshine, Richard & Freddie Bolick, Allen & Rebecca Brewer, Sara Brubaker, Mary Jo and Dan Coutts, David & Linda Dalter, Linda & Bill Dolab, Sharilynn & Charles Duggan, Vance & Wilson, Laura Finci Solomon, Sandi & Luis, Tony France, Fred Hahn, Bud & Silva Helbich, Dianna Hickman, Carroll & Karin Krege, Roy & Marion Lester, Charles & Nancy Long, Jim Lyerly, Brenda McLendon, Michael and Kathleen Markarian, Berge & Meline Mulhall, Leonard & Keiko Newman, Dick & Joyce Niehaus, Kevin & Jan Nye, Judith O’Connell, Paul & Susie Olan, Meredith and Tony Ormond, Linda and Gene Penegar, Allison Ramo, Neil & Marilyn Reynolds, Roy & Cathy Privatte-Robinson, Sandra & Hemrick, Gene Rovengo, Paul Seitz, William & Carol Silver, Ted & Berns, Carol Simmons, Nancy & Stephen Sparks, Ruth & Jack Staton, Susan & David Stevenson, Nancy & Bill Sutton, Barry & Linda Swinkola, Jim & Ann Testani, Bob & Sandy Watts, Mary Wernick, Bob & Ellie Williams III, John & Linda Zimmer, Larry & Chris

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Wednesday, December 25, 2019