Community Tidbits – Autumn ’24
Following you’ll find information on local events and programs, interesting people and a variety of opportunities from innovative organizations and businesses. NOTE: PLEASE CHECK WITH ALL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS DUE TO STORM IMPACTS.
Flowers for Friends | Attention summer residents: If you’re leaving the High Country in early fall, please don’t throw away your potted or hanging plants—instead, donate them to uplift the lives of others! It’s a simple and convenient process to donate to Flowers for Friends: Call 828-898-5557 or email [email protected] and provide the date of your departure from the High Country, plus your phone number, address and number of plants. Atwater and her team will schedule a pickup time for your plants or have you drop them off at a convenient, designated area. Find out more about this unique effort on the organization’s Facebook page, Flowers for Friends—KNOW you are Special and Loved.
Early Detection Saves Lives! | To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation (HCBCF) and Invision Diagnostics will be partnering to bring their first FREE mammogram event to Banner Elk. Mammograms will be offered on Monday, September 30, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hcbcfoundation and scan the QR code on the promotional graphic. Want to support the HCBCF? The all-volunteer board of this local non-profit makes sure that 100% of the money donated or raised goes to those in need who have been impacted by breast cancer. hcbcf.org
Yum! Pancakes! | On Saturday, October 12, show up hungry for the famous Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, held by the High Country Chapter Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA). The breakfast, in con-junction with their 20th Anniversary, will be held at the Boone United Methodist Church from 7:30-10:30 a.m. The church is located on New Market Blvd, in Boone. The cost of the breakfast is $10 and can be purchased at the door. Learn more about our local MOAA at hccmoaa.org.
Autumn at Mica | This fall, plan a visit to Mica Gallery on Mainstreet Bakersville, NC, open seven days a week (except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve). And on November 8-10, stop by select studios in the area during the Toe River Arts Studio Tour. You will see extraordinary examples of contemporary craft and fine art made by artists who live in the area. Mica Gallery is artist-run with functional and sculptural works on sale from over 30 artists working in clay, wood, metals, fiber, bookarts, paper, painting, printmaking and more. Mica is located at 37 N. Mitchell Avenue in Bakersville and is open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. Follow the gallery on its website micagallerync.com and on Facebook or Instagram at micagallerync.
Seeking Foster “Fur Parents” | Love animals but not in a position to fully adopt a pet? Fostering a shelter pet is a wonderful way to help the animals in need. According to the staff at Watauga Humane Society, “We always need foster parents for a number of reasons–shelter pets that need special care such as bottle feeding, decompressing from a fearful environment, and pets that require extra medical care such as broken legs, amputations or surgeries.” They also welcome foster parents who just love having the companionship. “We offer Fun Fostering opportunities for the shelter pets that have been in the shelter the longest, and who would benefit the most from a break out of the shelter environment and into a home for a while.” If you are interested in fostering, please visit the Watauga Humane Society shelter, Tuesday through Saturday 12:30-5 p.m., to speak to one of their staff members. 312 Paws Way Boone, NC 28607, wataugahumane.org/fostering
Retrospective of Maud Gatewood at BRAHM | One of the latest exhibitions at BRAHM (Blowing Rock Art and History Museum) is The Hard Edge & The Soft Line: A Retrospective of Maud Gatewood, running now through January 5, 2025. Maud Gatewood (1934-2004) is an exceptional figure in the art history of North Carolina and the American Southeast. A painter of exacting technique with a keen eye for composition and cultural commentary, her pictures capture the Carolinas (and the expanding world beyond) across much of the 20th Century. This exhibition is a major undertaking by BRAHM–the retrospective project provides a comprehensive narrative of Gatewood’s career, as an artist and an educator, to the field of contemporary representational painting in North Carolina and the region. blowingrockmuseum.org (Above photo: After Rain, by Maud Gatewood)
“Milky Way Over the Mountains” at Earth to Sky Park | This Appalachian Astronomy Story will take visitors on a tour of the current evening sky as seen from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Join your Space Ranger as you learn about the night sky, seasonal constellations, deep space objects and mythological constellation lore from groups around the globe. The natural progression of the night sky is constantly changing throughout the year, along with our seasons. Visitors will be able to leave the planetarium with the ability to locate stars in the evening sky and share this new information with their friends! Shows are held every Friday at 6 p.m. in the Arthur Planetarium. Tickets are sold at the door—visit mayland.edu/esp/ for updates prior to your visit.
The Florence Thomas Art School |The Florence Thomas Art School provides resources for instruction, exhibit and experience in the fine arts and heritage crafts for Ashe County and the region. This year, the Art School welcomes two new Directors to the team–Jessa Gerrald, Director of Operations, and Samantha Oleschuck, Director of Community Engagement. Throughout the season, participate in a wide range of art workshops and activities. On Friday, October 11, Florence Thomas Art School will be open for the last Downtown West Jefferson Gallery Crawl of the season from 5- 7 p.m. And on Saturday, December 7, plan to attend their annual Holiday Market–you’ll enjoy art, music, food and fun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 10 S. Jefferson Ave, West Jefferson, NC 28694, florenceartschool.org (Artwork above by Betty Miller)
Racing on Solar Energy | Appalachian State University’s student-led, interdisciplinary solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, achieved a podium finish after a strong showing in the 2024 Electrek American Solar Challenge (ASC), an international solar vehicle distance road race held biennially by the Innovators Educational Foundation. Team Sunergy also took home this year’s Spirit of the Event Award for its collegiality, cross-team collaboration, expertise and technical innovation. Over the eight-day competition in July, ROSE (Racing on Solar Energy–Team Sunergy’s multi-occupant vehicle–completed 1,562 miles, racing from Nashville, Tennessee, to Casper, Wyoming. Learn more at sunergy.appstate.edu/rose/. Photo by Team Sunergy Media Advisor Kyla Willoughby
SmileOn ADG Partners with Dewey’s Bakery Holiday Store | The Adam Davis Galleher Memorial Fund began in January of 2013 after the sudden passing of a loving son, brother, and friend who touched many lives in his 26 years on the Earth. Eleven years later, SmileOn ADG has awarded over $180,000 in grants, scholarships, and charitable gifts in areas that Adam was passionate about. SmileOn ADG will once again be partnering with DEWEY’S Bakery Holiday Store in Blowing Rock for this year’s fundraiser. Look for the red and white DEWEY’S signs in mid-November at Shoppes on the Parkway and shop in-store or online every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Learn more about this special fundraising effort, get updates on locations and times, or make a donation online at smileonadg.org. Visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/deweyholidaystoreSmileon/.
Congratulations to Jane Lee Rankin! | In August, Jane Lee Rankin, owner and founder of Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk, NC, was inducted into the Western North Carolina Agriculture Hall of Fame. The Ag Hall of Fame was founded to identify and honor significant contributions in agriculture, to recognize individuals who have been responsible for agricultural advancement, and to improve and promote agriculture as a result of the honorees’ work within the agricultural community in any phase of agriculture and related endeavors. Rankin also recently authored the book, Farm Family: A Solo Mom’s Memoir of Finding Home, Happiness, and Alpacas, available at applehillfarmnc.com and at Amazon.com.
W.A.M.Y.’s Santa for Seniors | W.A.M.Y. Community Action celebrates 60 years of dedicated service to Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties! W.A.M.Y’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty by partnering with families and communities to provide the disadvantaged the support and tools they need to become self-sufficient. You can support this mission by participating in their annual Santa for Seniors service project. Simply donate gift items on their wish list and you’ll spread holiday cheer to local senior citizens in assisted living or hospice care. Santa for Seniors reaches all four counties the organization serves. For more information or to donate online, visit wamycommunityaction.org or call 828-264-2421.
Annual Reindeer Run | Lace up your running shoes (and bring your antlers)! On Saturday morning, December 7, from 9 a.m. -12 p.m., you can participate in the annual Reindeer Run in Banner Elk! The event begins at Tate Evans Park in downtown Banner Elk and is open to everyone–in fact, bring the whole family! Feel free to run, jog or walk the course. Registration opens in late October. Please visit the Williams YMCA Member-ship Desk to register or ymcaavery.com.
Keep the “Wild” in Wildlife | This fall, please refrain from feeding deer. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, feeding deer can:
– provide food sources that are often less nutritious and that can compromise the animals’ digestive systems; deer are adapted to adjust as their diet changes throughout the year–eating anything they don’t feed on naturally can cause severe illness or even death.
– discourage deer to forage for themselves, which in turn makes them less resilient.
– increase disease risk (which can spread to other deer).
The biggest action High Country residents and visitors can take to encourage healthy deer populations in our area is to keep them dependent on their natural food sources. White-tailed deer by Ken Taylor, courtesy of NCWRC
Enjoy These New Titles from Local Authors
~Queens of Blowing Rock, by Dr. Barry M. Buxton
Dr. Barry M. Buxton, an award-winning history author, chronicles a chapter in Blowing Rock’s rich history in his new publication Queens of Blowing Rock. The book centers on eight women who each made a unique mark on the town’s future. Each of these women were heroines who overcame their own difficult obstacles to make their mark on local history. With their efforts combined across time, they built schools, churches, hospitals, and libraries. Driven by an intense love for Blowing Rock and its community of people, these women worked to leave a legacy of compassion and purpose. Queens of Blowing Rock is available at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM), The Blowing Rock Attraction and online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
~She Talks to Fish, by Brian Hester & Barbara Beam
In the new novel She Talks to Fish, Maya Jones, a young Black woman from the mountains of NC, discovers her obsession for fly fishing which fuels a pilgrimage through uncharted territory riddled with obstacles that only the strongest of wills can endure. In this coming-of-age narrative, Maya’s struggles are met with brazen resilience as she confronts stereotypes, bigotry, weather, and even death with immeasurable perseverance. Co-Author Brian Hester, a native of Boone, NC, grew up waist deep in whatever river water he could find so he could develop his craft and love for fly fishing. Co-Author Barbara Beam is a gifted storyteller who grew up in Charlotte and is a proud graduate of Appalachian State University.
She Talks to Fish will be released this fall. Shetalkstofish.com, Amazon.com
An Irresistibly Delicious Candy Bar | Mast General Store and Cheerwine have collaborated on a new candy bar combining rich milk chocolate and Cheerwine’s Uniquely Southern cherry flavor. The Cheerwine Candy Bar from Mast Store Provisioners is now available at all Mast Store locations. “After the success of the ‘Over the MoonPie’ bar, I wanted to develop another Uniquely Southern bar and wouldn’t you know, one of my favorite sodas’ catch phrases is just that,” said Stefano Tringali, the Mast Store’s candy buyer. “In speaking with Cheerwine, a candy bar was something that they always had an interest in but needed a good partner for it to happen.” mastgeneralstore.com
Tour the Historic Banner Elk School | The historic 1939 stone building in downtown Banner is home to the Town’s Cultural Arts Center and one of the many stops on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails (https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/blue-ridge-craft-trails/). Shop for local arts and crafts at BE Artists Gallery (www.beartistsgallery.com), book tickets for live theatre performances at the Ensemble Stage Theater (ensemblestage.com), “bring a book, take a book” at the Banner Elk Book Exchange (BannerElkBookExchange.com), learn about the Lees-McRae student organization, Common Ground, at commongroundlmc.org, and pick up an extra copy of CML at the CML Magazine “headquarters.” (CMLmagazine.online)
Let Us Hear from You! Have an event or tidbit you’d like to share with CML readers? Send your information to the editor at [email protected].