Featuring rees original art on fine linens by Christian Fischbacher of Switzerland. Other fine bed and bath linens from Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, and around the world.
Classic Stone Works…A 30-Year Legacy, Going Strong & Better than Ever
From our humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of the High Country’s design and construction community, Classic Stone Works, Inc. has proudly served this region for over 30 years. What began as a small tile installation business that we started with just one employee, Classic Stone Works has grown into a full-service stone and tile company, with a close-knit family of 24 highly skilled and dedicated professionals whose number one job is fulfilling your dreams.
Located in the heart of Linville, NC, our 15,000-square-foot facility is more than just a workplace, it is a creative hub where vision and craftsmanship come together. Inside, you’ll find our state-of-the-art fabrication shop plus an expansive tile showroom filled with stunning surfaces for every space and style. And, outside, we boast the largest slab yard in the High Country.
Our warm and welcoming tile showroom offers an impressive selection of the latest in porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, and mosaic tile products in a wide range of sizes, colors, textures, and finishes. So, whether you’re looking for something bold and modern or timeless and classic, we carry something for every taste and project. From sleek subway tiles and wood-look planks to decorative accents and unique mosaic patterns, you’ll find all the inspiration you need under one roof.
At Classic Stone Works, we don’t just sell tile—we help bring your vision to life. Our team works closely with you to provide guidance on tile layouts, to create customized design boards with your selections, and to ensure each space flows beautifully with the rest of your project. We’re here to make the selection process easier, more enjoyable, and perfectly tailored to your style and needs.
Over the years, we’ve proudly worked alongside local interior designers, architects, builders, developers and contractors… many of whom have continued to partner with us again and again. And, whether you’re a High Country native, a seasonal resident or considering an out-of-town project, we’re always ready to help bring your dream to life with personalized service and expert care. In fact, we’ve worked with customers as far away as Manhattan, Florida and Texas.
As a locally owned and family-operated business, we treat every project like it’s one of our own. Our roots in this community run deep, and we believe in honest work, quality materials, and supporting our clients every step of the way. We don’t just build countertops—we build relationships.
Your Classic Stone Works team is ready to answer your questions, guide you through design decisions, and make your experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. From contractors and designers to homeowners just starting out, we welcome everyone—and we genuinely love what we do!
Come visit us and see why generations of clients have trusted us with their homes, their style, and their stories.
Jordan Calaway, Jim Casada, Kim S. Davis, Brennan Ford Morgan Ford, Elizabeth Baird Hardy, Michael C. Hardy
Annie Hoskins, Meisha Key, Rita Larkin, Paul Laurent Tom McAuliffe, Max Ramey, Karen Rieley Samantha Steele, Carol Lowe Timblin, Emily Webb Doug Winbon, and Steve York
Share us with a friend!
CML is published 4 times a year and is available by subscription for $35.00 a year (continental US) Send check or money order to: Carolina Mountain Life, PO Box 976, Linville, NC 28646 cmlbabette@gmail.com CMLmagazine.online 828-964-0009
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
No, I didn't eat all that ice cream.
What I did eat, though, reminded me of years gone by, sitting on the cool grass with my brother having an ice cream cone eating contest. Yup, the winner was always Kevin, who could keep the ice cream from dripping down the cone. But I do believe I won the watermelon seed spitting contests. I always imagined a watermelon patch would pop up from all our efforts each summer. Oh, the joys of the simpler life.
I’m aware that the food pyramid has ice cream at the top, for reasons you might already know. But it’s also “tops” because it is a celebratory food and does such a great job dressing up a birthday cake. Cold ice cream has a way to soothe the soul after a weary day—a true comfort food. It also screams summer! I am envisioning some fresh picked blackberries or peaches, my granddaughters and an ice cream churn on my porch in the coming days. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
There is much to celebrate this summer, and while the local rivers run wider, trees are stacked like pick-up sticks in some places, and folks are still grappling with Helene, the good news for our area is, “We’re Open!”
My hiking buddy and I recently took the Rough Ridge trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway and once we crested the top and got a bird’s eye view, we both thought of the Footsloggers t-shirt that reads, “Get High on a Mountain!”
The CML team has worked hard to pack this issue with listings of music and art events that stir the soul, theatre that reveals more about who we are as a collective, and destinations that have a way of being restorative, calming and nurturing. Inside, you’ll also find recipes, stories on our local history, entertainment options, places to golf, birding tips, business news and so much more.
We hope you will take your copy of CML with you in your car, or leave for later viewing on your coffee table or kitchen counter. Let us hear from you about what you explore and discover.
Behind the Curtain:
Get to Know Our Contributors
Jim Casada
Jim is a son of the North Carolina mountains who has been a full-time freelance writer for a quarter of a century. He is a regular contributor to regional and national magazines, has a newspaper column, and has published more than 5,000 articles in his career. He is the author or editor of dozens of books and his work has garnered upwards of 250 awards. For fuller details on his work or to sign up to receive Casada’s free monthly e-newsletter, visit his website at jimcasadaoutdoors.com Photo: Casada signing copies of one of his recent books.
Michael C. Hardy
Michael has a passion for history. He is the author of twenty-eight books, hundreds of articles, and over 1,200 blog posts. He is widely recognized for his local and state-wide histories and for his awardwinning works pertaining to the Civil War era. When not researching and writing, Michael volunteers as a historical interpreter at various historic sites in western North Carolina and east Tennessee. You can learn more about Michael at michaelchardy.com or by visiting his blog at michaelchardy. blogspot.com
Karen J. Rieley
Karen has been a resident of Beech Mountain for the past 25 years, as well as living in Jacksonville, Florida, since 1978. Having grown up in southwest Virginia, the mountains always call her back. With a master’s degree in English, writing has been integral to her career. As a grant writer, she has successfully garnered funding for nonprofits for four decades. In addition to Carolina Mountain Life, she writes for The Resident News in Jacksonville. When she’s not writing, reading or knitting, Karen spends precious time with her precocious and highly curious granddaughter, known affectionately as “The Bug” by her parents and “Butterbean” by her grandfather.
Hi, I’m Dr. Derrick Denman, DC., PA. Let me personally invite you to our office. We’re conveniently located at the Shops @ Shadowline near Harris Teeter. Feel free to stop in, allowing me to shake your hand and take a few minutes for a quick office tour! We enjoy introducing folks to our patients, who’ve benefitted from our services. Their testimonials offer hope and encouragement to others! Don’t suffer another day. There is a better way, and… We’re Here to Help!
REGIONAL HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL
Compiled
by
Karen Rieley
There is much to celebrate and enjoy this summer in the High Country! After enduring a tumultuous autumn, our communities have regrouped and are eager and ready to welcome residents and visitors to play, experience and appreciate all that the area has to offer. The following is a sampling of countless activities related to art, food, music, literature, nature, history, outdoor sports, and so much more happening throughout the summer and beyond. For additional “Happenings” in the CML region, see our Cultural Calendar, Where the Music Is, Art Remarks, Trail Reports and Tidbits.
Boone Bigfoots Baseball | Through August 2 in Boone, NC
The High Country’s baseball “home team” continues its fifth season of family fun and winning Bigfoots tradition! The Boone Bigfoots team practice and play home games at Appalachian State University’s Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium in Boone. All Sunday games are at 4:30 p.m. and all other games are at 6:30 p.m., subject to change. The All-Star event will be held July 6-7 with Playoffs on August 3-11. The Bigfoots are a 501(c3) non-profit Independent baseball organization with a mission to provide competitive baseball and fun fan entertainment for all the High Country to enjoy—all profits generated go to the Appalachian State University Athletic Scholarship Fund. Find a complete Boone Bigfoots Home Game schedule at bigfootsbaseball.com and on their Facebook page.
Wildcat Lake | Through September 1 in Banner Elk, NC
Owned and operated by Lees-McRae College, Wildcat Lake is a premier attraction in Banner Elk. The 13-acre lake features a white sand beach with a swimming area and a dock for fishing (fishing license required) and wildlife observation. In addition, there are four rental shelters with grills (reservations required), perfect for family gatherings or summer parties. Nearby are a volleyball court, playground sets, and public restrooms. Outdoor equipment is available for rent through Wildcat Lake Rentals, an experiential learning endeavor run by students in the Lees-McRae Outdoor Recreation Management program who also provide professional lifeguards on duty seven days a week throughout the summer. People may bring their own canoes,
kayaks and paddle boards, or rent them on site (lifeguards required). The lake will be open for swimming and non-motorized watercraft use 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1–6 p.m. on Sunday, through Labor Day. lmc.edu/community/ wildcat-lake.htm
Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage
Through September 7 in Blowing Rock, NC
Presented by The Blowing Rock Historical Society, this year’s Artists in Residence series at Edgewood Cottage runs for 15 weeks this summer with two artists each week. During the program the cottage becomes home to 30 artists representing a variety of outstanding, original two and three-dimensional pieces. Visit Edgewood Cottage daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day week. artistsatedgewood.org/2025-artists-schedule
Banner House Museum Tours
Through September in Banner Elk, NC
The Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation offers weekly guided tours of the Banner House Museum, Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., with guided museum tours offered 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and a “listening hour” to record oral histories from 2 – 3 p.m. The last tour begins at 2:30. Experience 19th century life in Banner Elk and the High Country in the home of Samuel Henry Banner, one of Banner Elk’s early settlers, and his wife, Jane Hyder Banner, and their seven children. The circa 1870 house has been furnished with period heirlooms donated and loaned by area residents to tell the story of Banner Elk life from the 1870s to the 1900s. Additionally, an Exhibition Room highlights local history. More information can be found at bannerhousemuseum.org
Bike Park at Beech Mountain Resort
Through September 28 in Beech Mountain, NC
From early June until late September, ski slopes become downhill mountain biking trails at Beech Mountain Resort. The Beech Mountain Bike Park provides chairlift service to the top Continued on next page
Artists in Residence, Blowing Rock
Wildcat Lake, Banner Elk
Bike Park at Beech Mountain Resort
REGIONAL HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL
of the 5,506’ peak, allowing riders to choose from a variety of trails back down to the resort village. Ten trails range from easy to expert only. Riders may bring their own bike or rent one in the resort village, but all riders must purchase chairlift passes to ride to the top. One-time use and all-day passes are available. Mountain biking lessons are also available. Hours and days of operation can vary but are typically 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday in August, and Friday through Sunday in September. beechmountainresort.com
Hickory Ridge Living History Museum Tours
Through mid-November in Boone, NC
Discover the unique history and culture of the Appalachian Mountains at Hickory Ridge Museum in Boone, NC. From traditional crafts to historic cabins, immerse yourself in the rich traditions of this stunning region. Focused on the period of 1785 - 1805, the museum provides insight into the self-sufficiency of our forefathers by highlighting the skills they possessed, such as hearth side cooking, spinning, candle making, and blacksmithing. The museum is open for guided tours, Tuesdays through Fridays, at 10 a.m., with the last tour time at 3 p.m. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. On Saturdays the museum is open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., with special hosted events scheduled for the weekend of July 5-6.
During the Horn in the West season, the museum is open from 5-7:30 p.m. for self-guided tours. Volunteers are in each cabin demonstrating a skill or lifestyle and are available for questions, photos and more. For more information about the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum and their summer events, visit horninthewest.com
Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival
June 21 & 22 in Roan Mountain, TN
June 1947 saw the first of the Rhododendron Festivals, conceived and carried out by the Roan Mountain Citizens Club as a two-day celebration to memorialize and perpetuate “the most gorgeous display of natural beauty on the North American continent.” The festival has continued uninterrupted for over sixty years. Originally, the festival was held at the top of Roan Mountain; in recent years it has been held in Roan Mountain State Park, located at the foot of Roan Mountain. The Rhododendron Festival features handmade crafts, food and a variety of traditional music,
plus an array of old-time folkway demonstrations. roanmountain.com/ rhododendron-festival
Avery County Heritage Festival | June 28 in Newland,
NC
Hosted by the Avery County Historical Society, the Avery County Heritage Festival celebrates this unique area in the High Country and its fascinating history. You’ll find craftspeople, genealogists, authors, performers and plenty of fun in the Newland town square in downtown Newland (Schultz Circle). Share family genealogy and cultural traditions that are part of Avery County’s identity. The Heritage Festival is free, and the event includes craft and food vendors, and a full lineup of musicians and cloggers. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday the 28th. averycountymuseum.org/heritage-festival/ | Photo courtesy of Avery County Genealogy Society
Mayland Earth to Sky Park Summer Shows
July through September in Burnsville, NC
Mayland Earth to Sky Park, operated by Mayland Community College, is situated ten miles northeast of Burnsville, NC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The six-acre site, surrounded by mountain terrain and the Pisgah National Forest, is home to the Bare Dark Sky Observatory, the Glenn & Carol Arthur Planetarium, a Visitor’s Center, picnic shelter, numerous gardens, and more. The Observatory houses the 34-inch “Sam Scope,” the largest telescope in North Carolina open to public use. Community Viewing Nights and private rentals are available year-round.
At the Glenn & Carol Arthur Planetarium, enjoy new summer hours with popular shows, including Flight of the Butterflies, Habitat Earth, James Webb Space Telescope: The Story Unfolds, Unveiling the Invisible Universe, Expedition Reef, and Milky Way Over the Mountains. Visit mayland. edu/esp to view a complete Summer Events calendar or go to their FB page@ EarthToSkyPark.
You Pick Flowers at Springhouse Farm
July 3 through August 30 in Vilas, NC
Springhouse Farm welcomes you to tour their beautiful flower fields, cut your own farm fresh flowers, and make a bouquet to take home every Thursday, 12 – 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., throughout July and August. The land is flat and accessible, but appropriate shoes, careful attention to walking and caution for those with bee
Rhododendron Festival
Avery County
Heritage Festival
Springhouse Farm, Vilas
HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL HAPPENINGS
allergies are encouraged. This is a great event to share with your family, including children, friends, a significant other, or just come solo and enjoy the quiet. springhousefarm.net
Independence Day Celebrations
July 4 throughout the High Country Parades, kids’ activities, fun runs, food, beverages, live music and fireworks celebrate the 4th of July in numerous High Country communities—Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Elk Park, Boone, West Jefferson, Blowing Rock, Newland, Crossnore, North Wilkesboro, Damascus, VA, Carter County and Johnson County, TN, and many other locales in our region. Festivities occur throughout the week and weekend, depending on where you decide to celebrate. Check out: bannerelk. com, bannerelk.org, beechmountainresort.com, skisugar.com, blowingrock. com/july4th/, exploreboone.com, facebook.com/thetownofnewland, ashechamber.com, visitdamascus.org, tourcartercounty.com, johnsoncountytn. gov/calendar-of-events, and highcountryhost.com. Additional links to our area’s Chambers of Commerce and Tourism Development Authorities can be found on our website at cmlmagazine.online.
Summit Crawl | July 4 in Sugar Mountain, NC
Sugar Mountain Resort’s 9th annual Summit Crawl is a fun and competitive event where you’ll climb via foot to Sugar’s 5,300’ peak as fast as you can by way of Easy Street, Gunther’s Way, and Northridge slopes. Entry fee includes a T-shirt and downhill transportation via the Summit Express. Register in-person M-F from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. through Tuesday, July 1, or online anytime until 4 p.m., Tuesday, July 1 (no same day registration). Competition begins at 9 a.m. Food and beverages are available. Classic Highway performs from10 a.m. until 1 p.m. skisugar.com/crawl
Bike Park & Scenic Chairlift Rides
July 4
through
September 1
in Sugar Mountain, NC
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, plus Labor Day, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., the bike park is open and chairlift rides aboard the Summit Express shuttles bikers and foot-passengers to the mountain’s peak and the Easy Street lift services beginner-level gravity skills trails for bikers only.
Sugar Mountain’s Teen and Tween Gravity Mountain Bike Camp will be held July 11-13 and August 1-3 for ages 11-26. skisugar.com/ bikepark#gravity
Christmas In July | July 4-5 in Downtown West Jefferson, NC
The Christmas In July Festival celebrates the Christmas tree industry and mountain heritage with handmade arts and crafts, traditional mountain music, food and family fun in the heart of downtown West Jefferson, NC. Ashe County’s longest-running festival will open with entertainment and the ever-popular food vendors followed by a special fireworks presentation at 9:30 p.m. On Saturday, July 5, the Ashe County Farmers Market will open at 8 a.m., offering a variety of handmade items, fresh produce, and baked goods. Then at 9 a.m., the festival craft vendors and local non-profits will open along Jefferson Avenue, and Those 3 Guys will start the day with a melody of popular tunes sure to get you swaying to the music. Ashe County Arts Council will host children’s activities, performers will be roving the streets showcasing their magical talents, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive straight from the North Pole. christmasinjulyfestival.com.
Saturdays in SpARTa | July 5, July 19, and August 2 in Sparta, NC
Saturdays in SpARTa is a series of outdoor concerts held in downtown Sparta every summer, featuring both traditional and non-traditional bands. These events are free, fun and family-friendly. Bring your chair, your dancing shoes and your smile and join the community!
Music on Main Summer Street Party, organized by the Alleghany Arts Council, takes place on the first Saturday night in July and August, from 5 to 9 p.m. The outdoor headliner concert kicks off at 7 p.m. Each month’s event features a different band: 8 Track Minds in July and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band in August. During each Music on Main event, organizers coordinate with town merchants to keep the galleries open late.
On July 19, 1-3 p.m., Saturdays in the Park presents The Tree of Forgiveness Band following Sparta’s farmers market. Bring a blanket, picnic basket and turn on relaxation mode! alleghanyartscouncil.org
Art on the Greene
July 5-6, August 2-3, August 30-31 in Banner Elk, NC
The area in front of the Historic Banner Elk School comes to life with Art on the Greene, featuring quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select local and regional artisans. The shows occur Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend, an early August weekend and Labor Day weekend and are filled with fine art from local and regional artists
Continued on next page
Sugar Mtn Summit Crawl
Gravity Mountain Bike Camp at Sugar Mtn Art on the Greene, Banner Elk Christmas in July, West Jefferson
REGIONAL HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL HAPPENINGS
representing a variety of media, such as ceramics, glass, metal, wood, watercolor, acrylics and oil. Over 60 juried artists display their work at each event. There is no admission fee for shoppers, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Festivities typically include food vendors and other entertainment in the heart of the village of Banner Elk, which allows patrons to make a day of it by visiting shops and boutiques in town and selecting from an impressive list of restaurants. Proceeds from the shows are used for restoration of the historic school, built in 1939.
If you’re in town for a long weekend, don’t miss the Thursday evening Summer Concerts in the Park from June 26 through August 14, 6:30 p.m., at Tate-Evans Town Park Amphitheater, sponsored by the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce. townofbannerelk.org/art-on-the-greene, bannerelk.com, bannerelk.org/concerts-in-the-park
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games | July 10-13, in Linville, NC
High in the Mountains of Western North Carolina the ancient Celtic spirit beckons. Answering the call, as hundreds of tartan banners unfurl, are the sounds of bagpipes echoing through the valley, and once again, thousands of kilt-clad Scots make their way to MacRae Meadows for their annual gathering and games. Nowhere in the New World is there a place more reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands than the home of America’s grandest Highland Games—Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. Enjoy Scottish music, dancing, foods, costumes, parades, track & field games, sheep herding and much more. For tickets, detailed schedules, maps and information on lodging, parking and shuttle buses, visit the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games website at gmhg.org. Read our feature article about the Games on the pages following Regional Happenings.
Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest | July 11 in Boone, NC
MusicFest is traditionally an all-day, family-oriented event celebrating the music and lives of Doc and Rosa Lee Watson that is held on the grounds of the Historic Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove, NC. However, due to extensive damage to the Cove Creek community from Hurricane Helene, this year’s festival will be held in Boone. MusicFest has partnered with The Appalachian Theatre to bring the legacy of Doc & Rosa Lee Watson back to the High Country for the event’s 24th year. This year’s special fundraising show is presented by Cove Creek Preservation & Development; the modified festival begins at 7 p.m. and features Charles
Welch, Scythian, and The Kruger Brothers. All proceeds will directly support Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest and its future festivals. Find more information and tickets at docwatsonmusicfest.org, and at facebook.com/ DocWatsonMusicFest/.
Annual Fairy Day in the Gardens | July 12 in Boone, NC
Enjoy an enchanting afternoon in the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, 1-5 p.m., with vendors, food and fairies! Fun, educational activities for kids, plus music and dance, are sure to provide a magical experience for all. Admission is free for children and adults dressed in mythical attire, $3 for non-costumed adults. Admission proceeds and a portion of vendor proceeds benefit the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, a nonprofit garden which highlights the importance of native plants. The gardens are located at 651 Horn in the West Drive in Boone. Stop by after a trip to the nearby Watauga County Farmers’ Market.
Art in the Park | July 12 through October 4 in Blowing Rock, NC
Enjoy fine art and handcrafts from award-winning and acclaimed artisans. Artists are jury-selected, and each show features a different set of artists, curated to present a wide variety of mediums. Find gifts and works for personal collections, functional pieces like furniture and cutlery, and wearable art like handcrafted jewelry and textiles. Artists’ tents line Park Avenue right in downtown Blowing Rock. Attendees can enjoy proximity to other shopping, as well as dining options and local parks. Remaining Saturday dates include July 12, August 16, September 6 and October 4, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., rain or shine.
Make a weekend of it and stay for the free outdoor Concert in the Park (at Memorial Park) that follows Art in the Park on select Sundays, including July 13 and August 17, 1-3 p.m. This year’s concert series includes a food drive for the Hunger and Health Coalition’s A Simple Gesture Program. Show your support with a donation of canned and other nonperishable food items at the Alair tent. Lemonade for Change will also be selling lemonade during the concert and 100% of their proceeds go to end homelessness in Watauga County. blowingrock.com/artinthepark/
Symphony
by the Lake at Chetola | July 25 in Blowing Rock, NC
The Symphony by the Lake at Chetola has long been considered the “centerpiece” of the summer season in Blowing Rock. Set against the stunning backdrop of Chetola Resort & Spa, this annual event, hosted by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, combines music, community,
Illustration by Aaron Spencer
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
Fairy Day, Boone
Art in the Park, Blowing Rock
HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL HAPPENINGS
and mountain charm for an unforgettable summer evening. Each year, over 3,000 attendees assemble on the surrounding lawn to enjoy music, food and drink under the open sky. This year’s event will be held on July 25, and the theme will be “Celtic Celebration.” Returning is The Symphony of the Mountains, with special guests Bristol Lightning. Opening music by The Jakeb Hardin Quartet begins at 5:30 p.m. with the featured event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Learn more and purchase tickets at symphonybythelake.com
Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention
July 25-26 in Jefferson, NC
Held at Ashe County Park, the 54th annual Fiddlers Convention will be filled with individual instrumental and band competitions, a Friday evening concert, great food, and good times for musicians and audience members alike. Any proceeds from the Fiddlers Convention are used to support the Junior Appalachian Musicians Program or JAM. JAM provides instruction at the Ashe Civic Center in fiddle, banjo and guitar for students in grades 3-8. ashefiddlersconvention.org/fiddlers-fest/
Brushy Mountain Peach and Heritage Festival
July 26 in Wilkesboro, NC
Located in historic downtown Wilkesboro, Brushy Mountain Peach Festival is a Street Festival centered around peaches and Wilkesboro’s Brushy Mountain heritage. Enjoy locally grown peaches, hand-made crafts, demonstrations and delicious foods from a variety of food trucks. This free festival runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. Join organizers for some pre-Festival fun at the “Peach Party” on Friday, July 25, from 5 – 9 p.m. All are invited to grab a bite and a cold drink from the food trucks and enjoy live music. The Brushy Mountain Peach and Heritage Festival is always the last Saturday in July. brushypeachfest.com
Hellbender Rugby Club Hosts Inaugural Summer Sevens Tournament | August 2 in Valle Crucis, NC
Founded in 2024, Hellbender Rugby Club is Western North Carolina’s newest men’s rugby team, bringing high-energy, community-driven sport to the High Country. With players from Boone and surrounding areas, the club is committed to growing the game of rugby and fostering camaraderie both on and off the pitch. This summer, Hellbender Rugby is proud to host its inaugural Summer Sevens Tournament on Saturday, August 2 in Valle Crucis. The event will feature fast-paced 7-a-side
rugby with teams from across the Southeast, as well as food vendors, drinks, music, and fun for the whole family. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
Hellbender Rugby Club is actively recruiting new players of all experience levels. “Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or trying rugby for the first time, there’s a place for you on the squad.” The club will kick off its first official 15s season this fall. HellbenderRugbyClub.com/tournament
Helping Hands Concert | August 8 in Banner Elk, NC
Presented by Elk River Helping Hands with support from Lees-McRae College, the last concert of the special Helping Hands Concert Series features award-winning Gary Morris and nationally recognized Presley Barker. The performance starts at 7 p.m. in the college’s Hayes Auditorium. Ticket options include general admission, VIP and special VIP Reception tickets with an artist meet-and-greet at Elk River Country Club. Elk River Helping Hands is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to assisting with the needs of people of the High Country who have experienced a devastating crisis. Through generous donations, Elk River Helping Hands has been able to respond quickly to requests for assistance in the aftermath of Helene. elkriverhelpinghands.org/events
41st Annual Crafts on the Green | August 9 in Beech Mountain, NC
This free festival features the work of local artists and artisans from the mountain region including fine jewelry, wood turnings, photography, paintings, pottery, soaps, candles, preserves and more. Crafts on the Green is held at Gazebo Park next to Fred’s General Mercantile from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy food, musical entertainment and a magic show for children. Additional local goods can be found throughout Fred’s General Mercantile, including fresh produce, jams and jellies, clothing, outdoor gear, and more. Fred’s Backside deli offers a great variety of lunch options and beverages. For more information, visit beechmtn.com/calendar/ or call 828-387-4838
Long Journey Home | August 29-September 1 in Mountain City, TN
2025 marks the 100-year anniversary of the historic 1925 Fiddlers’ Convention! Long Journey Home will celebrate this important centenary with the release of John McCutcheon’s 1925 Fiddler’s Convention Tribute Album. This album brings together Grammy-winning contemporary
Continued on next page
Brushy Mountain Peach and Heritage Festival, Wilkesboro
Symphony by Chetola Lake, Blowing Rock
Hellbender Rugby Tournament, Valle Crucis
Long Journey Home, Mountain City, TN
REGIONAL HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL HAPPENINGS
artists to perform the songs that started it all. The Long Journey Home weekend kicks off with Buskin’ on Main Street, a showcase of local and regional acoustic talent playing up and down Main Street on Friday evening. On Saturday, join a musical heritage tour, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with performances at heritage sites and live music played on front porches throughout the county. John McCutcheon will perform a concert at Heritage Hall at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. The weekend will close, as always with a Traditional Sunday Singin’, 2 – 4:30 p.m., at Heritage Hall. All events except the John McCutcheon concert are free to the public. To learn more, visit longjourneyhome.net.
New River Blues Festival | August 31 in Grassy Creek, NC
The 23rd annual New River Blues Festival is “keeping the Blues alive in the High Country!” Join other blues lovers in the meadow by the beautiful New River where you’ll find ample grounds for dancing, fun, and wading in the water. Enjoy the North Carolina mountains’ only celebration of authentic Blues Music and legendary artists, including event producers The King Bees. Gates open at noon with music from 1-6 p.m. Located at River House Inn, 1896 Old Field Creek Road, Grassy Creek. For online tickets and more information, visit newriverbluesfestival.info.
Carolina Mountains Literary Festival
September 6 in Burnsville, NC
For 16 years, the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival has brought writers and readers together in lovely Burnsville, NC. The 2025 event welcomes Keynote Speaker and Author Margaret Renkl, author of The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year (2023), which won the 2024 Southern Book Prize. This ticketed Keynote event raises funds for future Festivals, and to help carry out its mission “to foster community by supporting and celebrating literacy and the love of literature in the Southern Appalachians.” Numerous readings and workshops are spread out around downtown Burnsville during the event. Learn more about this year’s festival and how you can support its mission at https://cmlitfest.net
Antlers and Acorns | September 10-13 in Boone, NC
Antlers & Acorns, The Boone Songwriters Festival brings together “the wordsmiths, the weavers of chords and sharps and flats, the storytellers, the prophets, and the liars.” The town itself is the venue; the bars and restaurants, cafes and theatre the stage. Fans of words and music will walk the streets from one welcoming door to the next to hear their favorite
singer/songwriter tell the stories of their songs, where they came from, where they went. It’s “an intimate encounter, a weekend in the mountains, a walk in the woods,” according to festival organizers. Antlers & Acorns kicks off on Wednesday, September 10 with a Welcome Party at Booneshine Brewing Co.; on Thursday at the Appalachian Theatre, enjoy matinee and evening performances. On Friday and Saturday, six great downtown restaurant venues present “Songwriters In the Wild.” antlersandacornslodge.com
Merriweather’s Welcome Back Tour 2025 | September 13 in Charlotte, Raleigh, Johnson City, TN, and Spartanburg, SC
For anyone who loves our local Woolly Worm Festival that takes place each fall in Banner Elk, you can now experience some of that magic in your hometown!
Festival organizers have created several “off the mountain” events to share the news of Merriweather’s triumphant return to Banner Elk this fall. Where has Merriweather been, you ask? Due to Hurricane Helene, our favorite caterpillar was ‘gone with the wind,’ and last year’s Woolly Worm Festival could not take place. The woolly worms and their fans can reunite this summer through these “Together Again, Stronger Than Ever” events in four select cities.
At each location, families can participate in physical scavenger hunts with timed clues through social media, pick up some pre-release festival merchandise, and enjoy live entertainment and hospitality. Win cash prizes and a VIP package to attend the Woolly Worm Festival in October, where you can race for a championship trophy! Follow @woollywormfestivalnc on Facebook and Instagram, and buy tickets to the Woolly Worm Festival (October 18-19) at woollyworm.com
On the Same Page: Ashe County’s Literary Festival
September 16-19 in West Jefferson, NC
Enjoy a celebration of reading and writing! Authors will read from recent works and answer your questions about books and writing, and attendees can participate in a lively discussion of the “Festival Read” selection. Meet fellow readers and talk about your favorite books and authors, hone your creative writing skills in author-led workshops, and much more. All Festival events are open to the public; most are free, although some require reservations and/or tickets due to limited seating. Check out the website for author information and the complete schedule for 2025. ashecountyarts.org/on-the-same-page-literary-festival/
Mary Gauthier at Antlers and Acorns, Boone
Celebrating the 1925 Fiddlers' Convention, Mountain City, TN
HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL HAPPENINGS
Liberty Mountain
September 19 through October 12 in Kings Mountain, NC
Liberty Mountain, a dramatic, live-performance theatre event by playwright Robert Inman, captures the emotional impact and significance of the Battle of Kings Mountain that took place on October 7, 1780, helping put a stop to the momentum of Britain’s lightning-paced ‘Southern Strategy.’ The hardy pioneers who tamed and settled this area fought and won this crucial battle that turned the tide of the Revolution and led directly to the British surrender at Yorktown a year later. Performances are presented on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; performance times are Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets—including group discounts—are available through the Liberty Mountain website, libertymountaindrama.com or by calling the Kings Mountain Little Theatre at 704-730-9408
West Jefferson Olde Time Antiques Fair
September 19-20 in West Jefferson, NC
West Jefferson Olde Time Antiques Fair Celebrates Old Town history and heritage, featuring booths from locals and the region alike. Stroll the charming streets of historic West Jefferson and search for treasures galore. Hours are Friday, September 19, from 1 p.m. to dark, and Saturday, September 20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free, and food options are available for purchase. wjeffersonantiquesfair.com
AND SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE FALL FESTIVALS:
Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival
September 20 in Sparta, NC
Enjoy demonstrations, crafts, food, dance and music, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This festival has celebrated our rich mountain heritage for three decades with local and regional handmade arts and crafts, delicious food, and music and dance performances showcasing our community’s diversity. alleghanycountychamber.com/events/ blueridgemountainheritagefestival
Appalachian Autumn Market & Fall Festival
September 27 in Boone, NC
This family-friendly free event at Horn in the West/Hickory Ridge Living History Museum offers activities and experiences for all ages, including apple butter making, 18th century demonstrations, maker and food
vendors, live music and storytelling, hatchet throwing, pumpkin painting, kids’ and pets’ costume contests, raffles and more! Located at 591 Horn in the West Drive Boone, NC. horninthewest.com
Brushy Mountain Apple Festival | October 4 in North Wilkesboro, NC
Pay tribute to the apples that are grown and harvested each fall by orchardists from northwestern NC at the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, one of the largest one-day arts and crafts festivals in the region. applefestival.net
Mountain Glory Festival | October 11 in Marion, NC
Each year, the Mountain Glory Festival brings the streets of Marion to life with live music, handcrafted artwork, delicious food, and family fun. From local bluegrass performances to kids’ zones and Appalachian craft demos, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. For festival information call 828-652-2215 or visit mtngloryfestival.com.
Oktoberfest | October 11-12 in Sugar Mountain, NC
Enjoy Sugar Mountain’s two-day Oktoberfest from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., featuring live Bavarian music by the Harbour Towne Fest band. Feast on German and American food and beverages, and bring the kids to enjoy a children’s fun center and hay rides. Local and regional craftvendors show their wares. Take a scenic ride aboard the Summit Express chairlift to the mountain’s peak. Oktoberfest.skisugar.com
Valle Country Fair | October 18 in Valle Crucis, NC
Food, crafts, mountain music and family fun abound at the Valle Country Fair, just up and over the mountain from the Woolly Worm Festival in charming Valle Crucis. vallecountryfair.org
48th Annual Woolly Worm Festival | October 18-19 in Banner Elk, NC
Make plans now to attend this wildly popular annual event in downtown Banner Elk, NC, with woolly worm races, craft and food vendors, live entertainment, children’s activities, and so much more. It’s the only festival where you can race caterpillars for cash prizes. woollyworm.com
“Go
have some fun and take home some terrific memories!”
Summer Concerts in the Park, Banner Elk, photo by Mark File
West Jefferson Olde Time Antiques Fair
Liberty Mountain
An Enduring Legacy . . .
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
By Steve York
Nomatter how many times you may attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans (GMHG) each July, the experience never gets old. In fact, it just gets better.
From Thursday night’s revered Torchlight ceremony and Calling of the Clans all the way through Sunday afternoon’s inspirational closing ceremonies, the emotional spirit of attachment fans feel for the Grandfather Games seems to deepen with each visit, and can last a lifetime…indeed, for generations.
Part of that attachment is shaped by the sheer size, scope and setting of this annual four-day event. First of all, there’s no place—other than in Scotland—like Grandfather Mountain. In many spectacular ways, it mirrors the venerable Scottish Highlands, which gave birth to this centuries-long tradition of Highland Games.
Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows is where 30,000 to 40,000 people come together from all over the country and around the world to celebrate— with music, athletic competition, and pageantry—the legacy and culture of Scotland and of its proud Clan heritage. As GMHG
President Steve Quillin notes, “We are home to 109 clan societies for the 2025 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, July 10th to 13th, making our Scottish family gathering the largest in the world once again.”
Secondly, that spirit is empowered by the ever-popular track and field athletic competitions. They’re hardcore and authentic, dating all the way back to the earliest days of Highland Games in 11th Century Scotland. Each year new participants join previous competitors in challenging spectacles of strength and endurance. And each competitor comes determined to give their all in hopes of topping their rivals and setting new records as cheering crowds watch from the stands.
Thirdly, these Games have always been a family event with activities and entertainment especially created for the kids. The Children’s Tent offers a rich variety of supervised learning and participation presentations that include bagpipe and chanter lessons, Highland Dancing, Gaelic and Celtic language, music, art and coloring, wooden sword and shield play, a scavenger hunt, and a petting station for the sheep herding event.
Let’s also not forget the allure of special events such the Glenmorangie Whisky Tasting, the Hebridean Baker’s gathering, the Scottish Cultural Village presentations, plus the rows of Scottish apparel and souvenir vendors by the main entrance gate.
And, of course, there’s the music. It’s omnipresent! Games attendees are treated to nationally and internationally renowned bands offering both traditional and contemporary Celtic music on the two Grove stages daily, and at the Friday and Saturday night concerts. Beloved Pipe and Drum performances stir the hearts and lift the spirits the same today as they did hundreds of years ago. Add to that various harp, fiddle, pipe and Gaelic singing competitions that fill the air during the day, plus the spontaneous Ceilidhs that spring up throughout campsites each night, and you have a continuous musical score to accompany all the celebratory drama that plays out across MacRae Meadows during Games week.
Beyond the infectious festive excitement of this annual gathering, there is one other vital force that keeps rekindling the undying spirit ignited by the Grandfather
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Handwoven Tartan Apparel by Crossnore Weavers
Photo by James J Shaffer
Games. And that is the deep camaraderie shared by all the Clan representatives, day visitors and overnight campers who return each July.
Lasting friendships are renewed and new bonds are created over those four days. As one Clan representative and week-long camper joyfully noted, “We are all one big family! We come together to celebrate, enjoy all the events, cook our dinners over an open campfire, tell stories, share Clan ancestries and make music till late at night. It’s often a multi-generational experience with grandparents, parents and grandchildren all camping together. We treasure this time together, and can’t wait to do it all over again the next year.”
That sentiment of enduring friendships may lay at the heart of why the Grandfather Games are so well-loved by so many. Thus, it was of no surprise that some regular visitors had concerns whether last September’s hurricane Helene might have threatened this year’s Games.
Extensive rains, flooding, and damage along the Blue Ridge Parkway, across many western North Carolina communities, and spanning major access roads to and from the High Country left many wondering
if recovery would be complete enough to make holding the Games feasible. Fortunately, the heroic efforts of regional, state and national agencies—as well as local groups—have led to remarkable accomplishments since then.
GMHG President Steve Quillin gave due credit for this year’s Games readiness: “We are indebted to many in the aftermath of Helene. We especially want to recognize Linville Resorts, Grandfather Mountain Country Club, and the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, along with our staff and volunteers, all of whom have worked extremely hard to make our 69th Games possible.”
There is a classic Scottish Gaelic proverb that says, “Mairidh gaol is ceòl”… meaning, Love and music endure! Love for the Games, for ancient Scottish heritage, for rousing Celtic music, and for lasting friendships…herein lives the spirit that has distinguished the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games since their beginning in 1956. And so it will always be as long as that spirit and this mountain endure.
Complete schedule of events and additional details at gmhg.org
JULY 10 - 13,
Photo by
James
J Shaffer
Stephen Quillin Receives the 2025 National Tartan Day Award
National Tartan Day in the U.S. was officially established April 6, 1998, by the U.S. Senate. Passage of resolution, S.Res.155, formally recognized the contributions of Scottish Americans to our country, and designated that date for Americans to celebrate their Scottish heritage and culture. The April 6th date was chosen to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland’s sovereignty.
Starting in 2003, a National Tartan Day Award has been presented each year as the highest honor of acknowledgement for outstanding leadership within the Scottish-American community. This year’s 2025 Award goes to our own Steve Quillin, President of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games organization. The selection was announced on National Tartan Day; however, for the first time, the actual award presentation ceremony was scheduled for Saturday, July 12, on site at the Grandfather Games.
Upon notification of this distinguished award, Quillin offered his heartfelt appreciation, saying, “I am absolutely humbled by being chosen to receive this award. The whole concept of a National Tartan Day is an important recognition of all-things-Scottish in America—the effects on our culture and our history. It is an acknowledgement of the brave souls who preceded us. I feel as though I am now a member of an exclusive group, and I’ll do my best to do my selection justice.”
Award presenters include John Bellassai from COSCA (Council of Scottish Clans & Associations), Peter Wilson of SHUSA (Scottish Heritage USA), and Camilla Hellman of the American Scottish Foundation.
Let’s Go Fly a Kite!
By Tamara S. Randolph
Somehistorians think that kites were first flown by fishermen in the South Pacific islands more than two thousand years ago. “Leaf” kites, as they were called, were rigged with a lure and proved effective at catching fish that swam far away from a fisherman’s boat.
From about 1860 to 1910, a period known as “the golden age of kiting,” utilitarian kites served many purposes: they were used for aerial photography, meteorology, transportation and wireless communications. Kites were instrumental in the development of early aircraft, and were even used for military operations during World War II.
Today, kites power some of our favorite sports, like kitesurfing, kite landboarding, and kite buggying. And they still hold relevance in some modern scientific endeavors. But for most people, launching a simple, colorful kite and watching it go up, up, up is the best way to enjoy this high flying invention.
The Mile High Kite Festival
This summer, you don’t have to go to a sandy beach to find open space and enough wind to launch a kite. Just head to the “Beech” right here in the mountains! Located at 5,506 feet above sea level, the meadow at Beech Mountain makes it easy for hundreds of people to come together to enjoy a day of kiting in a fun and festive atmosphere.
On Saturday, August 30, the Avery County Chamber of Commerce hosts the Mile High Kite Festival, where your family and friends can meet kite makers, talk to members of a professional kite club, participate in kite crafts, enjoy food and entertainment—and yes, fly kites! The festival offers free kites for kids, as well as a kite ballet, demonstrations, and giant show kites, 50 to 100 feet long (wind permitting)!
The meadow at Beech Mountain is located at 400 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC, and the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit averycounty.com
Over 250 Arts Events Combine To Form “Anchors Of Our Identity”
By Keith Martin
In our summer issue one year ago, we opined about the boom in cultural tourism in the High Country and beyond. Those comments resonated with our readers, several of whom offered feedback. Amber Bateman, Executive Director of the Watauga Arts Council, provided valuable context to our remarks.
“Our community celebrates and embraces music and the arts, seamlessly integrating art with our love for the outdoors with concerts, music, and art festivals filling our summer days. These events are not only an integral part of our culture, they also help drive the economy. The latest study on Watauga County, conducted in 2022 by Americans for the Arts, revealed that audiences at nonprofit art events generated $26.1 million; $9.3 million of that total came from indirect event-related activities, such as dining out, hotel stays, and shopping. The nonprofit and for-profit arts sector generated more than $48 million that same year in Watauga County alone. The arts are more than just a cultural offering, they are part of our community identity and an economic anchor.
“With 250+ arts-related events happening this summer, it’s clear: the arts and the outdoors are anchors of our identity.”
The following listings in this calendar, and in the accompanying articles on Regional Happenings, An Appalachian Summer, Art Remarks and our Live Music pages, contain most of the events that have been announced from now through mid-September. Below, events are listed alphabetically by the producing company, along with their websites for additional information.
PLEASE NOTE that all the performances, dates, and times are subject to change; readers are strongly encouraged to check individual websites and/or the theatre box offices for the most current information.
Be sure to tell them that CML sent you… and enjoy the show!
On June 26, the APPALACHIAN THEATRE OF THE HIGH COUNTRY (ATHC) presents An Evening with Laura Linney featuring “The Truman Show” followed by a post screening conversation with the two-time Golden Globe and four-time Emmy award-winning actress who has been nominated for three Oscars and five Tony Awards. Linney served as the honorary chair for the App Theatre’s “Lights, Camera...AUCTION!” fundraiser in September 2020 and is the keynote speaker at the “Power of the Purse” fundraiser for the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge. Laura’s father, the late Romulus Linney, authored three novels, many short stories, and forty plays including two works set in and around Valle Crucis, NC: Holy Ghosts and Heathen Valley. “Rom” lived with his extended family for a few years during the Great Depression in the Linney/Coffey homestead on King Street near the App Theatre and returned to the Boone homestead to visit his favorite cousins, the Coffeys, throughout his life. Shortly after his death, his papers were acquired by the Appalachian State University Library and reside in their special collections research center. Welcome back, Laura.
Celebrating its 18th year together, bluegrass juggernaut Balsam Range returns to the Doc Watson Stage on June 27 with Western North Carolina artists Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals),Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, vocals), Alan Bibey (mandolin, vocals), and banjoist Marc Pruett, gearing up to release new music as they hit the road touring majestic theaters and backwoods gatherings in the name of bluegrass. International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainers of the Year, the group thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of their home county of Haywood, NC.
July 5 marks the first of two tribute performances with Both Sides Now: The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen Created by and starring Robbie Schaefer and Danielle Wertz, this cabaret-style performance
traverses decades alongside songs such as “A Case of You,” “Hallelujah,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Suzanne,” and many more. It is followed on July 10 by A Tribute to John Denver starring Ted Vigil. Billed as “The country’s number one Denver tribute artist,” Vigil embodies the late great music icon, in look as well as voice, singing his most beloved hits including “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Annie’s Song,” “Rocky Mountain High,” “Calypso,”“Thank God I’m a Country Boy,”“Sunshine on My Shoulders,” and more.
The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra is the leading professional ragtime orchestra in the United States and returns to the ATHC on July 12. PRSO recreates the syncopated stylings of a bygone era of ragtime, theater, and dance music, along with underscoring classic silent films. This year’s event “Masters of Silent Comedy” will feature a selection of ragtime melodies and screenings of silent film shorts “The Great Train Robbery” (1903), and “The Freshman” (1925) featuring Harold Lloyd. Both films are underscored by a live twelve person orchestra performing accompanying music and sound effects.
August 2 brings The Embers to Boone featuring Craig Woolard. Inducted into the SC Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and the SC Beach Music Hall of Fame, the group is honored to carry the moniker of North Carolina’s Official Ambassadors of Music. The Embers have traveled the country and the world and are widely considered to have laid the groundwork for what has become known as ‘Beach Music’ in the Carolinas, both Virginias, the Gulf Coast region and every beach in between since its inception in 1958. “Simply put—Heart and Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Feel Good Music.”
ATHC is proud to welcome The Dan Tyminski Band to the Doc Watson Stage for Americana Music on August 16 for the 2025 Doc Watson Day performance. Throughout his 30+ year career, Tyminski has left his mark
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An Evening with Laura Linney at Appalachian Theatre of the High Country
CULTURAL CALENDAR
in every corner of modern music, his voice famously accompanying George Clooney’s performance of the Stanley Brothers’ classic song, “I’m A Man of Constant Sorrow,” in the film “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou.” His vocal collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii on the song “Hey, Brother” has been streamed over one billion times to date.
On September 19 Napoleon Dynamite, Live! includes a full screening of “Napoleon Dynamite” followed by a lively, freewheeling, moderated discussion with fan-favorite cast members Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) 22 years after the beloved indie classic was released. AppTheatre.org
The ASHE COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL in West Jefferson is producing the 54th Annual Ashe County Bluegrass & Old Time Fiddlers Convention on July 25 and 26 at Ashe County Park. The most anticipated event in any season, it was founded in 1969 “to honor the music of the mountains and the musicians who make it.” The convention kicks off on Friday night with two concerts. The first features the spirit of old time mountain music with deep roots in the Galax tradition when New Ballard’s Beach Bogtrotters take the stage. They are followed by Sassafras, offering “a dynamic blend of classic bluegrass and progressive Newgrass with an international pedigree.” On Saturday, the convention offers both adult and youth competitions showcasing the best talent on instruments such as fiddle, guitar, banjo, dobro, and bass fiddle, with over $4,000 in prize money being awarded by this year’s judges Kyle Dean Smith, Kilby Spencer, and Andrew Walker, with Dale Morris serving as emcee.
In addition, Coffee House Live on July 18 celebrates the craft of music and instrumentmaking featuring performances by luthiers whose handmade instruments are on display in the Ashe Arts Center Gallery. For those unfamiliar with the term, a luthier is a skilled craftsperson who builds or repairs stringed
instruments, ranging from violins, cellos, double basses, guitars, to lutes, and mandolins. Luthiers are not just instrument builders; they assess the condition of instruments, identify structural issues, and perform necessary repairs and restorations. Also on the Ashe Civic Center stage on August 23 is Sweet Meg, a Nashville-based genre-blending vocalist with a mix of jazz, country and blues who just returned from leading a country music project for Cirque de Soleil. Meg might be familiar to audiences from her global tour with Postmodern Jukebox. AsheCountyArts.org
The ASHE COUNTY LITTLE THEATRE is producing the cult classic rock musical Little Shop of Horrors with music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. The story follows a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doowop and early Motown, includes several wellknown tunes, such as the title song, “Skid Row (Downtown),” “Somewhere That’s Green,” and “Suddenly, Seymour” and the cringe-inducing “Be A Dentist.” Performances are June 26 - 29 in the Ashe Civic Center. It will be followed by Lucas Hnath’s thought provoking play about faith in America, The Christians, from August 14 - 17. It tells the story of a pastor who does not believe in Hell preaching a sermon that finally says what he really believes. The pastor thinks all the people in his church are going to be happy to hear what he has to say… but he’s wrong. AsheCountyLittleTheatre.org
Over in Abingdon, VA, the BARTER THEATRE’s summer season continues with Aaron Sorkin’s A Few Good Men performing through August 16. When a group of Navy lawyers is assigned to defend two Marines accused of murder, they uncover a high-level conspiracy that threatens the very definition of honor. This fast-paced, high-stakes play raises questions about the price of blind loyalty, as well as our own abilities to handle the truth. Also
on the Gilliam Stage through August 17 is Disney’s FROZEN with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, book by Jennifer Lee, and based on the Disney film written by Lee. Fearless optimist Anna, along with her new friend Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven, set off on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.
Across the street in Barter’s intimate Smith Theatre is Mountain Mamas by Daryl Lisa Fazio, developed through the theatre’s vital Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights and running through August 9. After a mining accident renders her unable to move or communicate, fiercely independent Patsy Armstrong is forced to rely on her parents for everything. Then her family learns that Patsy’s injuries may be the result of her own negligence. Inspired by the legacy of women coal miners, this story of resilience and redemption teaches us once again that the truth will always set you free. BarterTheatre.com
Calling themselves “Classic Theatre for ‘Kids of All Ages,’” BARTER PLAYERS have two family-friendly offerings on the boards this summer. The Jungle Book, adapted by Catherine Bush from Rudyard Kipling’s novel, runs through July 12. When Raksha the She-Wolf discovers a human baby alone in the jungle, she adopts Mowgli the “man cub” as her own. As Mowgli grows, he is taught the law of the jungle by his mentors Baloo the Bear, Bagheera the Black Panther, and Kaa the Snake. But will their wisdom keep him safe from the clutches of Shere-Khan, the man-eating tiger? Also adapted by Bush is The Reluctant Dragon with performances through August 9. When the news gets out that a dragon is living in the hills above Tuppence, the townsfolk are determined to kill it. Then a boy named Braxton befriends the beast and discovers that not
A Few Good Men at Barter Theatre
Frozen at Barter Theatre
Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Ashe County
all dragons are vicious monsters; that some, indeed, have the soul of a poet. But can Braxton convince the village before it’s too late? BarterTheatre.com
BEANSTALK COMMUNITY THEATRE
is producing Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka the weekend of July 24 – 26 at the App Theatre in Boone. Dahl’s timeless story of the world famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to chocolate-covered life. The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder and new songs by Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde, Doctor Dolittle) and Anthony Newley. Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka is a “scrumdidilyumptious” musical guaranteed to delight everyone’s sweet tooth. For more info, visit BeanStalkNC.com, and for tickets go to AppTheatre.org
The 100th Army Band, affectionately known as the “Band of the Century” performs in the CITY OF MORGANTON MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (CoMMA) on June 28. Stationed at Fort Knox, KY, under the 81st Readiness Division, the band consists of eight distinct ensembles, including the Concert Band, Rock Band, Jazz Band, Brass Quintet, and Woodwind Quintet, and performs for high profile community and military events. With as many as 14 performances each month, the band passionately shares its dedication for military service and music with thousands of people each year. The event is free of charge, but advance ticketing is required. CommaOnline.org
The 16th season of ENSEMBLE STAGE, located in the Historic Banner Elk School, is in full swing with four shows remaining on their summer schedule. Kathryn Schultz Miller’s wildly creative adaptation of Alice in Wonderland utilizes the talents of just two versatile actors to portray all of Lewis Carroll’s
beloved characters, including Alice, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and, of course, the Queen of Hearts. Thoughtfully programmed on alternate Saturdays throughout the summer, performances take place on June 28, July 12 and 26, and August 9 at a family friendly time of 11 a.m. From July 18 - 27, a “dramatic comedy” by Stephen Sachs takes the stage with Bakersfield Mist, when an unemployed bartender spends $3 at a thrift store on a “hideous” painting to give as a gag gift, only to be later convinced it’s a lost Jackson Pollock masterpiece worth millions. Inspired by true events, this play asks questions about what makes art and people truly authentic.
Alive & Well by Kenny Finkle runs August 15 - 24. In this theatrical Rom-Com, a big city reporter from the North must reluctantly work with a roguish Southern tracker and Civil War re-enactor in order to research her story. However, in the spirit of The African Queen and Romancing the Stone, they discover oil and water can mix. “It’s a fun, entertaining joyride that will even make skeptics believe in true love.” The summer season concludes September 12 - 21 with Michael G. Wilmot’s A Red Plaid Shirt in which two friends try filling the void left by retirement in different ways; one decides he wants to explore the open road on a Harley while the other decides to pay more attention to his health. However, when their wives use a little “subtle redirection,” it is met with unexpected and hilarious results.
EnsembleStage.com
HORN IN THE WEST opens their 73rd season of Kermit Hunter’s historical outdoor drama with a reimagined production staged at the Hickory Ridge History Museum while the Daniel Boone Amphitheatre undergoes extensive renovations. This Revolutionary War drama brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the hardy mountain settlers of this region in their struggle to preserve their freedom during the turbulent years before and during the war for independence. Horn’s
new director is Clarinda Ross, a Boone native and professional actress/playwright based in Los Angeles, who says that performances will take place three nights a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) over four weekends from July 10 through August 2 and, for the first time, incorporate several local church choirs in the production. HornInTheWest.com Now in its fourth season, the family theatre production of Mutz-Mag (by Horn in the West director Clarinda Ross) is based on the Appalachian folktale as told by the author’s mother, noted storyteller Charlotte Ross, and Dr. Cratis Williams, who was known locally as “Mr. Appalachia.” It is a comic tale of a plucky girl who uses her smarts and trusty Case Knife to keep one step ahead of a Witch, a Giant, and her ne’er-do-well stepsisters. This kind and smart youngster makes her own happy ending with nary a prince in sight. Performance dates and time are June 21, 25 and 28 at 10 a.m. HornInTheWest.com/Mutz-Mag
In Banner Elk, the popular FORUM at LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE continues its eight week concert series on June 30 with the Western Piedmont Symphony, under the direction of Maestro Matthew Troy, whose mission is to make classical music accessible to everyone and to program concerts that are socially meaningful and relevant. It is followed on July 7 by So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience, starring Robert Neary, and on July 14 by Tapestry, The Carole King Songbook with Suzanne O. Davis. Bee Gees Now! is the title of the July 21 concert that pays tribute to the Gibb brothers while The Olivia Show on July 28 is an homage to the late Olivia NewtonJohn as portrayed by Tribute Artist of the Year nominee Sabrina Plaisance-Sia. The 2025 FORUM series closes out on August 4 with Liverpool Legends, which promises to bring “A Complete Beatles Experience.” Extensive program notes for each concert are available at Forum@lmc.edu
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Western Piedmont Orchestra at FORUM
100th Army Band at CoMMA
CULTURAL CALENDAR
Founded in 1985 and celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the LEES-MCRAE SUMMER THEATRE wraps up from July 18 – 24 with the most anticipated theatre event of the season, 1940!, the newest musical from Dr. Janet Barton Speer and her longtime collaborators, composers/lyricists John Thomas and Tommy Oaks. Speer describes the show as follows: “It is 1940. The Depression has ended and Hitler is making noise in Europe. But at the Mast General Store, storytellers and musicians from the back of Beech Mountain gather to spin a yarn or a song. They are a hearty lot, able to withstand a major flood and the ravages of the depression, yet maintain their charm, their humor, and their willingness to impart wisdom needed to be heard in today’s world. A fresh mountain musical full of friendly faces and familiar places.” lmc.edu/SummerTheatre
TWEETSIE RAILROAD is North Carolina’s first theme park, opening on the Fourth of July in 1957. Known primarily as a Wild West adventure park with amusement rides and a petting zoo, Tweetsie features stunning three-mile long train rides aboard a historic, coal-fired, narrow gauge steam locomotive. From a performing arts perspective, Tweetsie is a major employer of professional talent and produces 21 performances of a half-dozen live entertainment and stage shows each day. A sampling of offerings includes the Can-Can Dancers, Country Clogging Jamboree, Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration, and The Magic Show. The 2025 season runs through November 2 with a variety of holiday events. Tweetsie.com
Be sure to tell them that CML sent you... and enjoy the show!
The WATAUGA ARTS COUNCIL (WAC) in partnership with the Downtown Boone Development Association, is organizing the Fourth Annual Buskers Fest on Saturday, September 20. This much-anticipated celebration of our eclectic creative community features artists, musicians, performers, demonstrators, and creative groups lining the streets of Downtown Boone. Over 200 artists and performers will be on the streets, sharing their talents with residents and visitors while providing a chance to experience the arts like never before. Organizers tell us, “You can buy art, make art, dance, sing, make pottery, discover bands and musicians, and learn about our incredible creatives here in the High Country and beyond.” Have your Venmo app ready or bring cash for tips to support the artists. Watauga-Arts.org/Buskersfest
While you’re on the WAC website, download their Arts Map, check out the First Friday Art Crawl, art classes and workshops, gallery exhibits, opportunities to showcase your artwork, and learn about the Youth Makers Market, their entrepreneurs-in-training program. You can also go to their other site, HighCountryArts.org, to search an arts directory and view the events calendar.
Formerly an outdoor drama, the WILKES PLAYMAKERS are again partnering with Bleu Moon Productions on a co-production of A Hometown Legend: Tom Dooley, A Wilkes County Legend on two consecutive weekends from July 10 – 13 and 17 – 20 directed by the playwright, Karen Wheeling Reynolds. Step back in time and relive the haunting true story that put Wilkes County on the map. History, heartache, and hometown pride all come together in this powerful drama made famous by The Kingston Trio in their #1 hit single. WilkesPlaymakers.com
BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY THEATRE (BRCT) is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and, rather than having a summer production, they are providing funding and support for Horn in the West. In 1975 “four women sitting around a coffee table” decided that Boone was in desperate need of a performance outlet for the community to showcase its wealth of talent. Those same four women then decided that they would cook egg rolls to sell at the 1975 spring festival in order to raise money to put on a show using performers, designers and technicians from the High Country. Blue Ridge Community Theatre was born.
Ever since, BRCT has strived to provide an outlet for all community members to have a chance to showcase their talents on stage; be it through performing in a play or musical, painting backdrops or stage managing a production. “We believe strongly that community comes before theatre in our name for a reason.” For 50 years, BRCT has worked with Boone, NC, and its surrounding communities to showcase the unique artistic flair that is inherent to the High Country. The theatre encourages people of all races, ethnicities, identities, body types, and physical and cognitive abilities to audition. “Theatre is for everyone, and BRCT believes in representation and equity for all.”
Visual Artist at Buskers Fest
An Appalachian Summer
By Keith Martin
Presenting Over Two Dozen Events from
Thesummer months in our region are collectively known as “festival season” with the relatively recent additions of the High Country Jazz Festival, Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, and Buskers Fest. But the grandfather of them all has consistently been named one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society.
AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER
(AAS) is presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources. Now in their 41st year, this celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every summer in venues across the university campus in Boone, and features an eclectic mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming. The 2025 season runs from June 28 to July 26 with over two dozen events that will entertain tens of thousands of High Country residents and visitors this year. The following is a listing, in chronological order, of the upcoming programs.
Singer-songwriter Amos Lee and his blends of folk, rock, and soul opens AAS on June 28. The Philadelphia-born artist released his gold-selling self-titled first album in 2005 and has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon and Bob Dylan to Zac Brown Band and Willie Nelson.
The 14th Annual Rosen-Schaffel Competition and Winner’s Recital on June 29 provides musicians an opportunity to compete in all disciplines for a chance to win cash prizes. The competition features a panel of distinguished judges who will provide feedback and mentorship to the contestants throughout the competition before announcing the winners. This year’s undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in music degree programs are from 11 southeastern states. The winner will perform a full recital of the works they performed during the competition held earlier that morning.
According to curator Dale Pollock, the theme for this year’s Helene and Stephen Weicholz Global Film Series “is family, in its many forms and permutations.” The four selected films are: Touch on July 1, a romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents following one man’s emotional journey to find his first love, who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out; Arzé on July 8 about a single mother who takes her teenage son on a journey across sectarian Beirut in search of their stolen scooter, their only source of livelihood; How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies on July 15 concerns a man driven by his desire for a multi-million-dollar inheritance who begins to care for his terminally ill grandmother—however, winning her favor will
June 28 - July 26
not be an easy task and he is not the only one with an eye on the money; and The Last Journey on July 22, Sweden’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. This story follows a retired teacher who envisions a delightful “third age” with travel, wine, and experiences and his son, who takes his frail old father to his beloved France and lets him revisit the places he has loved most in life.
ARTtalk is a series of four events offering intimate, behind-the-scenes discussions with select artists from the visual and performing arts worlds appearing on the summer series, including “Threading Communities” with Kelsey Merreck Wagner on July 3, “Mindful Meditation” with cellist Joshua Roman on July 9, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet on July 18. The series concludes July 23 with The 5 Browns in a conversation with the Juilliard-trained sibling piano ensemble on touring and life as musicians. That evening, the five-piano classical group will perform a repertoire ranging from beloved concert hall staples to lesser known works.
The Summer Exhibition Celebration on July 3 lets participants engage with visiting artists and fellow arts advocates, enjoy live music and refreshments, and discover the exciting exhibitions showcased across six Turchin Center galleries by local, regional, national and international artists.
Also on July 3, Celebrating Country and Community through Music showcases faculty from the Hayes School of Music and young musicians from Cannon Music Camp’s 57th season in an interactive concert for all ages as a lead-up to the U.S. Semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
Ranky Tanky (a Gullah phrase for “get funky”), whose jazz-influenced arrangements of traditional Gullah music NPR calls “lively, soulful honey to the ears” joins forces on July 6 with Grammy winner Lisa Fischer, who the Minneapolis Star Tribune says brings “soul, jazz, rock, gospel, folk, pop, and classical … [and] cuts loose with funk and fierceness and rocks with abandon.” On July 9, Grammy-nominated violinist Tessa Lark, acclaimed cellist Joshua Roman, and virtuoso bassist Edgar Meyer will combine their talents for “an unparalleled evening of music.”
They are followed on July 11 by Joan Osborne & Lisa Loeb, two unmistakable voices of the ’90s, who team up for a special evening marking the 30th anniversaries of their breakthrough albums—Loeb’s Tails and Osborne’s Relish. Revisit the songs that shaped a generation, alongside new music and career-spanning fan favorites.
For the 39th year, the nationally recognized Rosen Sculpture Competition and Exhibition has showcased contemporary American sculpture in outdoor settings across the university campus. On July 12,
juror Joseph Bigley will lead the outdoor tour of the ten sculptures selected as finalists for this year’s competition, culminating with an awards reception and complimentary boxed lunch.
On July 13, Tony and Grammy winner Heather Headley, accompanied by Western Piedmont Symphony and a 12-piece choir, performs a selection of popular tunes from the Broadway and pop songbooks. Please see her CML interview in this issue for more information.
Peabo Bryson performs on July 16 with his beautifully rich, almost operatic voice. This concert celebrates his 50 years in music over a career that has earned two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, eight Grammy nominations, five gold albums, 25 top 20 singles, and six No.1 singles. His newest album, Missing You, is his 20th.
Alonzo King LINES Ballet travels to Boone on July 19 with “Deep River,” a soulful work created in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lisa Fischer and Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran. At the forefront of artistic innovation in ballet, the celebrated San Francisco-based company is recognized for its impeccable technique, captivating dancers, and rich visual works.
For their 2025 finale on July 26, AAS has chosen the 30th Anniversary Tour of Pink Martini featuring China Forbes in a music concert that draws inspiration from all over the world, crossing genres
of classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop. Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks. Three decades later, Pink Martini still tours the world, singing in 22 languages at opera houses, concert halls, film festivals, museums, and fashion shows.
For a complete schedule, performance times and locations, visit AppSummer.org
The 5 Browns
China Forbes with Pink Martini
Hanna Jubran artwork on Rosen Sculpture Walk
Eric Morgensen Photography
ANAPPALACHIAN SUMMER has done it again, presenting a Tony and/or Grammy Award-winning star for the umteenth season in a row. The accolades for this performer could fill our entire issue, but perhaps Billboard Magazine said it best: “Heather Headley is one of the great entertainers of the day, on record and on stage.”
Headley was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, moving to the USA in the early 1990s. She created the role of Nala in the original Broadway cast of The Lion King and her portrayal of the Nubian princess Aida received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Heather won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for Audience of One and was listed as one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and Essence Magazine’s “30 Women To Watch.” Her television credits include Chicago Med and the current Netflix series Sweet Magnolias, among many others.
CML caught up with Heather on a street corner in Illinois during a break in rehearsals for her sold-out concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Her answers from a wide-ranging, 30-minute phone interview have been edited only for clarity and brevity.
CML: Congrats on Sweet Magnolias being picked up for a fifth season; you must be thrilled.
HEADLEY: Having wrapped season four, we’re exceedingly humbled—in a blessed way—by the fact that very few television series make it to their fifth season; it’s a lot of emotions, but I want to acknowledge our fans and let them know how grateful we are for their support.
CML: The show is set here in the Carolinas, but filmed near Atlanta; are you bringing the town of Serenity with you to Boone?
HEADLEY: Certainly, that’s not a problem, but… I’m also coming there to find out a little more about Serenity; y’all already have it and I want to visit. Having not been to that area previously, I’m excited. I’m intrigued by the fact that your region is listed as one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Heather Headley Performs in Boone July 13
An Appalachian Summer Presents Broadway, Television, and Recording Star in Concert
By Keith Martin
CML: You’ve spoken previously about the power of strong friendships as demonstrated in Sweet Magnolias. Please tell us more.
HEADLEY: When we first began the series, I was reading a book I think it was The Night the Lights Went Out—in which a close friendship becomes estranged until one of them asks the other to help her bury a body. Without questioning why, her friend said simply, “Let me get my shovel.” That is the kind of friendship I seek, while asking myself: “Who are my ‘magnolias,’ my ya-yas, the true friends in my innermost circle?” There are not a lot of them, but they’ve seen me through the good, the bad, and the ugly, and we’ve experienced so much together. So many women reach out to me about their friendships and I tell them it’s all about accountability without judgement. I love that about our show… and my character.
CML: Do you have a favorite medium between television, film, music, and theatre both on Broadway and the West End?
HEADLEY: There are really no faves. I find them all to be like children, especially with those 4 a.m. calls on set, and I adore them all, but my firstborn love, if I had to choose, is singing.
CML: With your husband, three children, and your vibrant performance career, how do you juggle them all?
HEADLEY: The truth is they juggle me! I couldn’t do any of those things without my husband [Brian Musso, an investment advisor who played pro football for the NY Jets]. I’m married to the salt of the earth, and the pepper, and the paprika… he’s an entire spice rack! We have amazing kids, all forgiving and resilient, who at the age of six, ten, and 15, are beginning to develop lives of their own. All three are into theatre, no surprise there, but our middle child is more into things behind the scenes whereas the other two are interested in performing. I’m so very grateful for all of them.
CML: The character of Aida is not your typical heroine; having originated the role, do you consider yourself a Disney Princess?
HEADLEY: It’s funny how you bring that up, because I’ve never thought about it until someone asked me just recently. I’ll take your use of Aida as a heroine rather than a princess. That show has a special place in my heart because I met my husband in the basement of the Palace Theatre on Broadway. With Nala in The Lion King, I vowed not to return to see the show until our first born was old enough and I could watch it again through his eyes… a full circle moment. They’ve all seen it now, but it took a while for them to realize that I was the original Nala.
CML: Any new Broadway shows on the horizon? What are your future plans?
HEADLEY: I plan to be a wife and mommy to my amazing family. I love Broadway and miss it so much, but it’s more an issue of timing and the right show. That’s why NY City Center Encores is so dear to me, because it’s only a month-long commitment, which is all I can manage with Sweet Magnolias
CML: What can our audience expect to see in your performance next month?
HEADLEY: I’m always so honored, humbled, and privileged to be performing with a symphony orchestra behind me, and there’s always a choir for songs that need that element. The specific program changes by the day and with each concert, but [the Boone performance] will lean more heavily towards Broadway tunes and pop music, with an occasional “male” song that I would otherwise never perform. I don’t believe in the “fourth wall” because the audience is such a key part of my concerts, so y’all better get ready!
Heather Headley, backed by the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ron Colvard with a 12-person choir, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 13 in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at Appalachian State University. AppSummer.org
Photo by Meagan Shuptar
June 23, 24, 25
Claire Tyler
July 17, 18, 19
Zonnie Sheik 38 years with BJ’s. Wow.
July 31, Aug 1-2
Peter Ciesla
Second time with beautiful clothing. Some one of a kind.
August 11, 12, 13
Daniella Ortiz
Exquisite handbags in every color. As usual, she always has new styles.
August 21, 22, 23
Edward Guski
A little bit of everything. Special dresses.
August 28, 29, 30
Zonnie Sheik is here again if you missed her in July.
September 17, 18, 19, 20
Claire Tyler For fall. If you missed her in June.
September 25, 26, 27
ALGO of Switzerland
Will come with Spring. Our last show of the season. Wonderful.
Experience counts!
Experience counts! 39 years as a broker now leading my agents in unwavering client care and attention to detail. Come see the difference we can make for you in the purchase or sale of real estate - our dedication shines through every single moment!
Where the Music is . . .
By CML Staff
Music is made in our area all year long by skilled and talented musicians. This summer, they’re pickin’ and jamming on the stages, in the streets, at the parks, and on front porches and lawns. Here are some of our favorite places…
At Wineries and Vineyards
Linville Falls Winery – Located near Linville Falls and the spectacular Linville Gorge, the steepest gorge east of the Mississippi River, Linville Falls Winery hosts music every Thursday through Sunday until the end of September from 2-5 p.m. | 9557 Linville Falls Hwy (Hwy 221), Linville Falls, NC, Blue Ridge Parkway Mile 317, 828-765-1400, linvillefallswinery. com
Banner Elk Winery – The High Country’s original winery is just minutes from downtown Banner Elk and hosts music Friday through Sunday 1-5 p.m. through the summer. | 60 Deer Run Lane, Banner Elk, NC, 828-898-9090, bannerelkwinery.com
Grandfather Vineyard and Winery – Music in the vineyard hosts a season full of live music. Enjoy music and food trucks every day in July and every day but Monday in August starting between 1 and 2 p.m. | 225 Vineyard Lane, off NC 105 between Boone and Banner Elk, NC, 828-963-2400, grandfathervineyard.com
Villa Nove Farm & Vineyard – Nestled in the Appalachian High Country with vineyard-laced hills giving way to breathtaking 360-degree views. Open Friday and Saturday from 1-9 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. Check their Facebook page for live music updates. | 1877 Dry Hill Rd, Butler, TN, 423-768-0345, villanovevineyards.com or Facebook @ VillaNoveVineyards
Old Barn Winery – Enjoy live music at this family-owned winery located in the beautiful
mountains of West Jefferson, NC, Fridays 1-4 p.m., Saturdays 1-7 p.m. (usually two bands), and Sundays 2-5 p.m. | 2152 Beaver Creek School Rd, West Jefferson, NC, 336-846-6060, oldbarnwinery.com
At Restaurants and Bars
Old Hampton Barbecue and The Tavern at the Old Hampton Store – Live outdoor music on Thursdays and Saturdays 6-9 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12-3 p.m. Go to Old Hampton Store Facebook page for the latest updates, additions, and changes. | 77 Ruffin Street, Linville, NC, 828-733-5213, Facebook @ OldHamptonStore/ or oldhamptonstore.com
Banner Elk Café – Live bands on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year, 5:30-9:30 p.m. | 324 Shawneehaw Ave. S, Banner Elk, NC, 828898-4040, bannerelkcafe.com
Lost Province Brewing – Live music every Friday and Saturday evening starting at 6 p.m. | 130 N. Depot Street, Boone, NC, 828-2653506, lostprovince.com
Bayou Banner Elk – Karaoke vibes or DJ beats on Friday starting at 8 p.m. and live music with Brady on most Thursdays 6-9 p.m., all at the Bayou! 130 Main St E, Banner Elk, NC, 828-8988952, bannerelkvillage.com
Chef’s Table – Live Wednesday night jazz with Shane Chalke at 7 p.m. Additional live music with Paul Schiro on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 7 p.m. | 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC, 828-898-5214, bannerelkvillage.com
Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria – Live music every Friday 5:30-8:45 p.m. and family friendly pianist Andrew Cotts Thursdays and Sundays 5:30-9 p.m. | 402 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC, 828-387-4000, famousbrickoven.com
Timberlake’s Restaurant – at the Chetola Resort, features live music on the Patio Saturday and Sunday 1-6 p.m. and The Lucky Strikes Orchestra plays from 6-9 p.m. on Thursdays! | 185 Chetola Lake Dr., Blowing Rock, NC, 828295-5505, chetola.com/dining/
Casa Rustica – Live music on Thursday evenings with Todd Wright and Andy Page | 1348 Hwy. 150 South, Boone, NC, 828-262-5128, casarustica1981.com
Blowing Rock Brewing – Enjoy great food and beer with live music on Sundays from 2-5 p.m. through October. | 152 Sunset Dr, Blowing Rock, NC, 828-414-9600, Facebook @ BRBrewingCo/
Blind Elk Tap Room – Live music and food trucks on various nights and trivia on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. There’s a lot to choose from for your summertime pleasure. Please check their Facebook page for up-to-date information. | 397 Shawneehaw Ave., Banner Elk, NC, 828-898-2420, Facebook @ BlindElk/
The Beacon – Live music on Tuesday and Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and live jazz jams on select nights. The Beacon is located next to the iconic Water Wheel. | 125 Graduate Lane, Boone, NC, 828-865-0087, boonebeacon.com
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CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 25 — 47
The Pineola
Todd Summer Concert Series
At Inns and Resorts
Music on the Lawn at The Inn at Ragged Gardens – Friday evenings through September, 5:30-8:30 p.m., weather permitting. Bring your own seating, an outdoor bar and lawn menu available. Sorry, no coolers, pets, or outside food or beverages. | 203 Sunset Dr., Blowing Rock, NC, 828-295-9703, ragged-gardens. com
The Pineola Live Music Weekends – Live music Friday and Saturday nights 6:30 p.m. Food Truck Fridays at 5:30 p.m. | 3085 Linville Falls Hwy., Pineola, NC, 828-733-4979, thepineola.com
Summer Concert Series at Beech Mountain Resort – July 18, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit with Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge; July 19, Lake Street Dive with the 502s; and August 9, Charley Crockett with 49 Winchester. Tickets are available online | 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC, 828-387-2011, beechmountainresort.com
Concerts on the Lawn at Top of the Beech Inn – every Sunday evening from 5-8 p.m. for live jazz, big band, blues, beach, folk, classic rock, and soul performances. This concert series takes place on the lawn behind Top of the Beech Inn through Labor Day Weekend. Some chairs are available or bring your own. Food and drink are available for purchase. Pets on leashes are welcome. | 606 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC, 828-387-2252, beechmtn.com/events
5506’ Skybar at Beech Mountain Ski Resort – Take the ski lift to the top—the Skybar at the peak of the mountain offers live music
on Saturdays from 2:30-5:30 p.m. | 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC, 800438-2093, beechmountainresort.com
Symphony by Chetola Lake – One night only, Friday July 25. Dinner, fireworks, and the Symphony of the Mountains. $85 advance tickets only. Gates open at 5 p.m., with opening music beginning at 5:30 p.m. and featured music at 7:30 p.m. | Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock, NC, 828-295-7851, symphonybythelake. com
Grillin’ & Chillin’ Concert and Dinner Series at Sugar Mountain – Wednesdays through Labor Day, 5:30-9 p.m. on the Golf and Tennis Clubhouse Deck with weekly food specials. | 1054 Sugar Mountain Dr., Banner Elk, NC, 828898-1025, seesugar.com/summer-concerts/
At Parks
Alair Summer Concert Series in the Park, Blowing Rock – Sundays after Art in the Park to benefit Hunger and Health Coalition, July 13 and August 17 from 1-3 p.m. | Memorial Park, 1036 Main Street, Blowing Rock, NC, 828295-7851, blowingrock.com/concertinthepark
Concerts in the Park, Banner Elk – Every Thursday, through August 14, 6:30 p.m., Tate Evans Town Park next to Town Hall on Hwy 194. | 210 Park Ave., Banner Elk, NC, 828-8988395, BannerElk.org
Music in the Valle –Valle Crucis Community Park, Fridays 6 p.m. through September 6, bring your own chair or blanket. | 2892 Broadstone Rd., Banner Elk, NC (Valle Crucis), 828963-9239, vallecrucispark.org
Monday Night Concert Series in Broyhill Park – A variety of free music concerts at the gazebo in Broyhill Park on Monday nights through July at 7:30 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket. | 173 Lakeside Dr., Blowing Rock, NC, 828295-5222, blowingrock.com
Backstreet Park Summer Concerts – 5:307 p.m. every Friday except the second Friday during Gallery Crawls through August. Bring your own seating. | Downtown West Jefferson, NC, at Backstreet Park, 2nd Ave. 888-343-2743, ashechamber.com
Todd Summer Concert Series – Free live concerts held outdoors at Cook Memorial Park in downtown Todd from 6-8 p.m., June 28, July 19, and Aug. 2, 16, and 30 (and July 4 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) Bring a chair or blanket. Food is available for purchase. | 3865 Todd Railroad Grade Rd, Todd, NC, toddnc.org/plana-visit-2/summer-concerts/
Seven Devils Music on the Lawn Concerts –Live music on the lawn the 2nd and 4th Fridays through August 22 at the Park at Seven Devils, 6-8 p.m. | 157 Seven Devils Rd, Seven Devils, NC, 828-963-5343, sevendevilsnc.gov/parksand-recreation/page/2025-music-lawn
Roots in the Garden Concert Series – Free concerts starting at 6 p.m. are hosted by Daniel Boone Native Gardens on their new stage July 17 and August 21. Food, beer and wine are available. Picnics and coolers are welcome, and all beverages should be in plastic or aluminum. A chair or blanket is recommended. Dogs are not permitted in the gardens, except for service animals. Wheelchair access is
Music on the Lawn at the Inn at Ragged Gardens Sugar Mountain Grillin’ and Chillin’
available at the Rockery entrance. | 651 Horn in The West Dr., Boone, NC, 828-964-1815, danielboonenativegardens.org/music
At Stores
Live Music at the Original Mast Store –Gather around the back porch of the Little Red School House for some toe tapping music Saturday, August 2. Check the website for additional dates. | 3565 NC Hwy. 194, Sugar Grove (Valle Crucis). 828-963-6511, mastgeneralstore.com
At Churches
St. John’s Summer Sunday Concerts – The St. John’s Summer Concerts are held the first Sunday of each summer month. Concerts begin at 5 p.m. with a suggested donation of $5 per person. Child admission is free. | 645 Herb Thomas Rd, Sugar Grove, NC, 828-963-609, holycrossvallecrucis.net/st-johns-church
At Festivals
An Appalachian Summer – Annual summer arts attraction from June through July. This month-long cultural event includes live music concerts in Boone, NC. For information and tickets: 800-841-2787, appsummer.org
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games –Blaring bagpipes, delicate dancers, rocking Celtic music and a spectacular highland setting make this colorful celebration of Scottish culture one of the most highly acclaimed highland games in the country, July 10-13. | 2050 Blowing Rock Hwy., Linville, NC, 828733-1333, gmhg.org
The Doc and Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest –Held this year at The Appalachian Theatre in Boone on July 11 at 7 p.m., the festival hosts local, regional, and nationally renowned musicians, all on stage to honor Doc Watson, who got his start busking in Boone. Reserve your tickets. | 559 West King St., Boone, NC, 828865-3000, docwatsonmusicfest.org
FloydFest’25 “Aurora” – July 23-27, 5826 Floyd Highway North, Check, VA. For complete information visit floydfest.com.
Virginia Highlands Festival – July 25-August 3. Annual events include a live kickoff concert July 26, 7-9 p.m., Tunes at Noon 12-2 p.m. in various locations, Busker Fest July 26, 11 a.m3 p.m., arts and crafts and so much more. | Abingdon, VA, vahighlandsfestival.org
Ashe County Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention – is held at Ashe Park on July 25- 26. The music is focused on honoring the Old Time and Bluegrass music of the mountains—and the musicians who make it. | 527 Ashe Park Road, Jefferson, NC, 336-846-2787, ashecountyarts.org/fiddlers-fest
Fly Around Music Fest – This music festival on August 1-2 celebrates Appalachia’s natural beauty and rich musical traditions while raising funds to support the recovery from the historic floods of Hurricane Helene. | Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts, 9710 NC Hwy 194, Lansing, NC and Old Orchard Creek General Store, 9350 NC Hwy 194, Lansing, NC, flyaroundfest.com
Doc Watson Day – Celebrate the memory and influence of local legend and seven-time Grammy musician Doc Watson at the Jones
House Cultural Center Friday, August 15 at 5 p.m. (free event) and at The Appalachian Theatre on August 16 at 7:30 p.m. (ticketed event) | 604 West King St., Boone, NC, 828-268-6280, joneshouse.org and 559 West King St., Boone, NC, 828-865-3000, apptheatre.org
Long Journey Home Musical Heritage
Homecoming Tour – A showcase of local and regional acoustic talent playing up and down Main St. in Mountain City, TN, August 29-31, 423-460-3313, longjourneyhome.net
Antlers & Acorns, The Boone Songwriters Festival – Tourists will discover, students will learn, and locals will be reminded why the Blue Ridge Mountains are a sacred place, a source of inspiration, a home for creativity. Sept. 10-13, antlersandacornslodge.com
Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion – September 19-21 in downtown Bristol, VA/TN | State Street. For tickets and more information: 423-573-1927, birthplaceofcountrymusic.org
And Everywhere Else
Appalachian Theatre of the High Country –
This restored theatre has too many dates and acts to count so please check out their events page for tickets and information at apptheatre. org | 559 W King St, Boone, NC, 828-865-3000
High Country Jazz Society Concerts – take place the second Sunday of the month from 5-7 p.m. at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country in Boone except for the last concert on Oct. 5. Purchase tickets at apptheatre. org | 559 W King St., Boone, NC, 828-865-6860, highcountryjazzsociety.wordpress.com
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Doc Watson Day at The Jones House
The Village Stage Summer Concert Series –Offering live performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. through Labor Day. | The Village of Banner Elk, 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC, 828-898-5214, bannerelkvillage.com/entertainment
The Village Stage Big Band Happy Hour –On Thursday afternoons enjoy the Big Band Happy Hour starting at 5:30 p.m. on the Village Stage. It’s not often you get to experience authentic swing music with a 15-piece band! | The Village of Banner Elk, 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC, 828-898-5214, bannerelkvillage.com/entertainment
FORUM at Lees-McRae College – Mondays at 5 and 7:30 p.m. through August 4 at Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College. | 191 Main St., Banner Elk, NC; information and tickets: 828-898-8748, lmc.edu/ forum
Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music – Live music events in various locations and dates. Check their website for upcoming concerts. | mountainhomemusic.org
Concerts on the Deck – Bring a chair and your dancing shoes to the Yadkin Valley Marketplace the third Saturday of each month, now through September from 6-10 p.m. | 842 CBD Loop, North Wilkesboro, NC, 336-6677129, north-wilkesboro.com/337/Concerts-onthe-Deck
Concerts in the Commons – The second Saturday of the month 6 to 10 p.m., now through August at Carolina West Wireless Community Commons. Food trucks plus nearby splash
pad, and concerts are free. | 102 West Main St., Wilkesboro, NC, 336-838-3951, wilkesboronc. org/visitors/concerts-in-the-commons
The Orchard at Altapass – Free live music in the outdoor pavilion from June through October on Saturday and Sunday, 2-4 p.m. and Fridays in July | 1025 Orchard Rd., Spruce Pine, NC, 828-765-9531, altapassorchard.org
Crossnore Jam – Free live jam sessions. Bring an instrument if you’d like to join in! Town Meeting House on the first Friday of the month at 10:30 a.m. and every Tuesday at 1 p.m. | Crossnore Drive, Crossnore, NC, 828733-0360
Bluegrass Country Music Jam – This is a community event at the Historic Banner Elk School in the Book Exchange on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. | 185 Azalea Way, Banner Elk, NC, bannerelkbookexchange.com
Summer Concerts at the Jones House –Concerts on the lawn of the Jones House in downtown Boone on Fridays at 5:30 p.m., June through August. | 604 West King St., Boone, NC, 828-268-6280, joneshouse.org
Old-Time Acoustic Jams at the Jones House – Join local and visiting musicians every Thursday at 7 p.m. for an old-time jam. Bring an instrument and join in or just enjoy the music. | 604 West King St., Boone, 828-268-6280, joneshouse.org
Red, White, and Bluegrass Jams – at the American Legion in Blowing Rock on the first and third Tuesday of the month from April to November. Come to listen or bring your
instrument and join right in. | 333 Wallingford St, Blowing Rock, 828-295-5222, facebook. com/rwbj.boone.nc
Mountain Music Summer Jams on the Pickin’ Porch – Every second and fourth Tuesday in June, July, and August, the JAM students and instructors will start off at 6 p.m. and then bluegrass and old-time bands will play ‘til the sun goes down. | Gallery on Main 129 West Main Street, Mountain City, Tennessee, 423460-3313, jocoartcenter.org
Saloon Studios Live – This all-inclusive musical venue is the ultimate music lover’s retreat. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountain community of West Jefferson | 313 Old West Rd., West Jefferson, NC, 336-877-2374, saloonstudioslive.com
Search for additional regional music opportunities at Blue Ridge Music Trails: blueridgemusicnc.com. Be sure to check with each venue or search online for any changes to dates, times, locations, and restrictions before heading out.
Linville Falls Winery Beech Mountain Resort Summer Concert Series
“Hang Down Your Head…”
Ballad Collecting in the High Country
By Michael C. Hardy
It was a song that defined a movement. In 1958, a San Francisco folk group, the Kingston Trio, released their debut, self-titled album, The Kingston Trio. “Tom Dooley” was the first single released from the album, becoming a hit on the radio. The song is credited with starting the folk music revival of the 1960s.
“Tom Dooley” is a ballad recalling the 1866 murder of Laura Foster of Wilkes County, and the subsequent capture of Tom Dula near Mountain City, followed by his hanging for the crime in 1868. As had been common for centuries, someone wrote about the events in a ballad, a way of communicating the news through a song. Just who actually composed the original version is unknown, but it could possibly be Thomas Land.
While the song was recorded in 1929 by G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter, it was relatively unknown. In the late 1930s, Frank and Anne Warner visited the home of Frank Proffitt on Beech Mountain. The Warners were folk ballad collectors who roamed the Eastern United States collecting traditional songs. Later, they passed the song on to another folklorist and ballad collector, Alan Lomax, who published it in a collection of ballads.
Folklorists, or ballad hunters, roamed mostly rural areas of the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early on, they were seeking ballads that had crossed the Atlantic Ocean, becoming preserved by oral traditions. Beech Mountain, long before entrepreneurs built ski slopes and condos, was a prime area for collectors. Old British ballads, such as “The Farmer’s Curst Wife,” “The House Carpenter,” and “The Two Sisters,” were just a handful of those collected. “The House Carpenter” dates back to the mid-1600s. “The Two Sisters” first appeared on a broadside in 1656.
It was not just on Beech Mountain where collectors found the traditional songs. They located songs or contributors in Zionville, Silverstone, Boone, Vilas, Sugar Grove, Bushy Creek, Mast Gap, State Line Hill, Rutherwood, Shull’s Mill, Mabel, Cook’s
Left: Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley’s recordings were released in 1984. (Smithsonian Folk Ways Recordings) Right: Frank Proffitt’s folk song album came out in 1962. (Smithsonian Folk Ways Recordings)
Gap, and Beech Creek in Watauga County; Elk Park, Heaton, Crossnore, Buck Hill, Pineola, and Henson’s Creek in Avery County; and Todd, Helton, Roaring Creek, Horse Creek, and Jefferson in Ashe County.
The ballad collectors were, at times, just common people with an interest in preserving the old songs. They included the aforementioned Frank Proffitt. He collected and submitted to Frank C. Brown ballads such as “Bo Lamkin,” “Our Goodman,” “Dandoo,” also known as “The Wife in Wether’s Skin,” “The Sweet Trinity,” and “The Bramble Briar.” Obadiah Johnson of Crossnore also provided several old English ballads: “Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship,” “The House Carpenter,” and the famous “Barbara Allen.”
Other local ballad collectors not only gathered old English ballads, but those penned in the United States. Obadiah Johnson provided “On the Banks of the Ohio,” a murder ballad; “I’m Going to Get Married Next Sunday,” which is in the style of English milkmaid songs, but is not English; “The Good Old Man”; and “Great Grand Day, a cowboy song.
Many of the ballad collectors were semi- or full-time professionals. Born in 1900, Pearle Webb was a school teacher in Crossnore and Beech Mountain and submitted several ballads to be included in the North Carolina Folklore collection. These included the old British ballad “Lady Alice,” along with songs that originated in the United States: “The Babes in the Wood,” “Found Affection,” “You are False, But I’ll Forgive You,” “Springfield Mountain,” “The Wreck of the Old Ninety-Seven,” and “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.”
Edith Walker was another local who was instrumental in preserving ballads. She met a ballad collector in Blowing Rock in December 1936 and sang several old ballads which were recorded. Later, she put them together for her own manuscript
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of local ballads. Walker went on to earn a doctorate from Columbia University and taught at several different schools across the South.
Professors at what was then Appalachian State Teachers College also collected ballads. Professors W. Amos Abrams and I.G. Greer were both folklore collectors. Abrams was in the English department, and Greer taught history and government. Greer was actually from the Zionville community in Watauga County. Abrams collected several ballads from his local students, such as Mary Bost, Margaret Barlowe, and Melba Lovill.
Many of these collectors traveled around, talking to older members of families and documenting their stories. Thomas Smith of Boone did just that, recalling that the ballad, “Dives and Lazarus,” was “sung to me May 7, 1915, by Edmund B. Miller, who composed it himself, he says, over 30 years ago. He has sung it in this country to hundreds of people. Mr. Miller is a native bard or song-maker; he has composed many songs on murders, hangings, etc. His age is 65 or more years. . . He lives in [the] Meat Camp township” (Brown).
A name that frequently comes up in the discussion of collecting local ballads is Frank C. Brown. Brown, a professor at Trinty College, later Duke University, established the North Carolina Folklore Society in 1913. He traveled around the region collecting folk songs and stories. While he did not live to publish the results of his research, Duke University Press published his work in five volumes in 1952. Frank Proffitt, I.G. Greer, Obadiah Johnson, W. Amos Abrams, Pearle Webb, and Edith Walker all had their work published in the first volume.
There were other ballad collectors, famous people like Cecil Sharp, John C. Campbell and his wife, Olive Dame Campbell, and Bascom Lamar Lunsford, who roamed the mountains collecting songs and ballads from both the old country and the new. Maurice Matteson was a classically trained singer and chairman of the music program at the University of South Carolina. In 1932, he ran a Southern Appalachian Music Camp
at Lees-McRae College for a number of years. Matteson also collected ballads. His collection was published in 1936, entitled Beech Mountain Folk-Songs and Ballads.
With the revival of folk music in the 1960s, a new wave of collectors appeared. Some older recordings, like those that the Warners did with Frank Proffitt, were released as LPs. New collections were produced. Folk-Legacy Records released The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain in 1964. The album featured Lee Monroe Presnell, Buna Hicks, Hattie Presnell, and others. The album featured British ballads, such as “The House Carpenter” and “The Two Sisters,” along with songs crafted in America. Frank Proffitt Sings Folk Songs was released in 1962. The Smithsonian released the Original Folkways Recordings: 1960-1962, featuring Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley.
For those interested in life in the High Country as it once was, the songs collected in the area can tell those stories, and we can even hear the voices of those who told them, like Frank Proffitt, telling doomed Tom Dooley, “Poor boy you’re bound to die.”
Above: Nathan Hicks, Frank Proffitt, and Linzy Hicks on Beech Mountain, 1939. (Library of Congress)
Below: Anne Warner recorded Frank Proffitt on Beech Mountain in 1941. (Library of Congress)
Everything a general store used to be ... and more!
Sherpani • Columbia • Kavu
Merrell • Wolverine • Croakies
Wigwam • Sorel • Teva Norpro • Whistle Creek
While at Freds ... Stop in and Visit The Wildbird Supply Co. & Fred’s Backside Deli
Evergreen • Leanin’ Tree Two’s Company • Nature Planet
Locally crafted houses & feeders and so much more! – Celebrating our 46th Year! –Visit us
June
June 18 The Johnson Brothers
June 25 Pressley Laton Band
July 2 Slow Burn
July 9
Chasing Phoenix
July 16
Dave Brewer’s Foscoe Four
July 23 Classic Highway
July 30 Fortune 5
August 6 Kids In America 80s Dance Party
August 13
Smokin’ Joe Band
August 20 DJ Pete with Welter Entertainment
August 27 The Collective Sept 1 (Labor Day) Tanya & The Roadrunnerz
Mary Lou Higgins: Sibylline Faces Through November 25 | Schaefer Gallery
Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct Through October 19 | Fort Gallery
Andréa Keys Connell: Pattern Mapping
June 28 to December 27 | Rankin West Gallery
Arlee Mains: A Life in Watauga
June 28 to January 3, 2026 | Rankin East Gallery
Jack Boul: Land, City, Home
August 30 to March 7, 2026 | Atwell Gallery BlowingRockMuseum.org
Here and There Pine crate wood from Wing on Wo and
pbobbins@wealthenhancement com acukro@wealthenhancement com
This collection of seven short stories takes the reader to the Kingdom of Imlay, a coastal realm still filled with magic and mmythical creatures great and small. Characters such as the inquisitive Ya, the precocious Aurora, and an ambitious future-seeking King face monumental decisions that will affect those they hold dear.
The River Keeper and Other Tales is Nancy Joie Wilkie’s third collection of stories. She released Seven Sides of Self in November 2019 and Faraway and Forever in July 2023; both collections were published by She Writes Press and are available through the Simon and Schuster website.
The River Keeper and Other Tales was named the Winter 2025 Best Book in the Category of Short Stories by the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs.
Visit Nancy’s website for more information regarding her writing, music, and art—www.mindsights.net
Tuesday-Friday
www.artistsatedgewood.org
@edgewood.cottage
Memorial Day through Labor Day Weekend
Purchase quality original art for every interest and budget.
Meet different jury selected artists each week throughtout the summer.
Corner of Main Street & Ginny Stevens Lane (next to BRAHM) Blowing Rock, NC
Coming to Blowing Rock? Visit Edgewood Cottage!
Charming Edgewood Cottage, the restored original home and studio of renowned American artist Elliott Daingerfield, opens its doors every summer to welcome local juried artists. Each artist shows, tells and sells their art to visitors from near and far. In the last years, visitors have come from three different countries and over 30 states to enjoy local outstanding art.
What makes this experience so different? When you come to Edgewood, you’ll see many of the artists creating their art, either on the porch or inside of this intimate Cottage. They look forward to meeting you, talking with you about their processes and art, and answering any questions you might have. Their work includes, but is not limited to, photography, ceramics, watercolor, acrylics, wood working, folk art, oil painting, fiber art, and drawing. Art lovers of all interests and budgets are welcome to these free open studio events.
This year different artists will share the Cottage—two a week, every week—from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Several artists are planning evening receptions from 5 - 7 p.m. Follow us on Instagram @edgewood.cottage for specific times and dates.
For a detailed schedule and sample artwork, go to artistsatedgewood.org or visit @edgewood.cottage on Instagram.
Artwork by Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage
Spring Group Exhibition: Exploring Abstract Realms May 24 thru July 15 | Opening Reception May 24, 2-5pm
Mid-Summer Group Exhibition: Nature’s Palette / Landscapes Across Mediums July 26 thru September 15 | Opening Reception July 26, 2-5pm
Autumn Group Exhibition: Synchronization / Shared Artistic Pathways October 11 thru November 15 | Opening Reception October 11, 2-5pm
WINTER GROUP AND SMALL WORKS EXHIBITION: November 28 thru April 30 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE NOV 28 & 29, 10-5
Recovering Beautifully: Penland School Celebrates Art with Fortieth Auction this August
By Elizabeth Baird Hardy, photography by Robin Dreyer
In1929, when Lucy Morgan first began what is today Penland School of Craft, it was part of her efforts to economically support the region through arts-based development. Today, nearly a hundred years later, the “national craft education center” located between Spruce Pine and Burnsville, remains an oasis for artistic enrichment that has survived the decades, and now, the impact of an epic weather event, while continuing to offer opportunities for artists to grow and to share their gifts.
The Penland campus sits on 400 acres of land, with numerous buildings, barns and studios surrounded by fields and forest. Today, the school offers a wide selection of workshops, summer camps, artist-in-residence opportunities, and on-site and online programs taught by gifted, dedicated artists committed to sharing the joy of craft with learners of all skill levels.
Penland’s popular camps for children and workshops for adults provide handson opportunities to learn, appreciate, and create art. The workshops, available to learners 18 and older, are taught by distinguished artists in an array of media, offering instruction and guidance. Artists-in-residence and students can live on campus and enjoy the beauty of the campus and of the environment as they pursue their creative goals. Laura Laughridge, who joined the school as Chief Advancement Officer in 2024, says she quickly understood why people love Penland and keep coming back: “everything good about the community is there.”
Unfortunately, in September of 2024, this beautiful mountain haven experienced a catastrophic event that altered the Penland campus as it did much of the region. Hurricane Helene wrecked the roads to the school, caused some kind of damage to 29 of the 62 buildings on campus, and felled hundreds of trees on the property. The remote location of Penland, one of its most charming features, led to obstacles with road repair and recovery. Yet, even in the midst of the chaos, Penland was part of helping the community. According to Laughridge, Penland’s generator and facilities allowed local residents to shower, eat, and charge devices, with no one turned away. In fact, Penland “became a communications hub for the community, just as
churches became distribution centers” in the days after the storm. Students who were on site at the time found unique opportunities to bond with one another and to appreciate the remote location in an isolated state similar to the way it was when Morgan first founded the school. Despite the damage and lengthy process of recovery, the school is up and running for 2025. Registration is open for summer and fall workshops, and students are excitedly participating in summer programming. “They are eager to be here,” Laughridge says. Students can choose weekend or weeklong sessions that include both personal instruction and individual work time as well as movement classes, lectures, food, and fellowship.
In addition to classes and workshops, the school hosts studio tours and gallery exhibits for the public. Gallery Curator Kathryn Gremley, who has been curating exhibits at Penland since 1996, appreciates building “relationships with the artists in the exhibitions….[and] the opportunity to have conversations around their studio practice, their motivations as a maker, and how they see their work being presented to visitors.” This summer, those visitors can experience the work of Vivian Chiu, who deconstructs and reshapes crates once used to transport ceramics, creating unique vessels with a
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The entrance to the Penland campus just after the storm
rich history. In the fall, UK textile artist Celia Pym will be featured with work focused on the art of mending. Gremley stresses that “The gallery reflects [Penland’s] mission to explore the boundaries of craft, both in our special exhibitions and in our sales gallery.”
Anyone who comes to Penland, to learn, to teach, to shop, to explore, or to grow and flourish as an artist and as a human, will find ample opportunities.
One of the most exciting of this year’s Penland opportunities will undoubtedly be the Fortieth Annual Benefit Auction, scheduled for August 22-23. The auction is a beloved part of the school’s history and draws artists and collectors eager to share a love of art and their love for this remarkable place. Last year’s auction featured the unique works of nearly 200 artists and raised close to $500,000 to support the ongoing efforts of the school. Laughridge describes it as a “reunion, homecoming, benefit, fundraiser, and gala, all rolled up into one.” Some of this year’s volunteers have been involved since the auction began, and the event, celebrating history and artwork, brings together artists, supporters, and community. The premiere art auction of the Southeast is also the school’s signature event, as the annual benefit allows visitors to come see the site and visit with the creators of the works of art included in the auction.
In addition to the annual auction,
Penland hosts scholarship auctions at the end of most sessions, featuring the artwork of the students from that session and supporting the host of scholarships that allow many students to attend classes and workshops free of charge. These auctions are a wonderful opportunity to see the campus and learn more about Penland. Gremley encourages guests to the school to start their visits at the Gallery & Visitors Center “to set the stage for experiencing Penland School’s creative energy and history.” Although teaching studios are not open to the public, staff members are on hand to guide visitors so they “can get a sense of what it might be like to be a student, or to learn a bit more about craft processes.”
Although the school is still recovering, this is the perfect time to enroll as a student, enjoy the unique artwork on display, and shop for distinctive items to enjoy. Current workshop offerings, schedules, exhibits, and special event information can be found at the Penland website, where registration forms for all classes and programs are also available.
The public is warmly invited to participate in 2025’s annual auction and in the regular scholarship auctions. More information on these events and many more can be found at the school’s website, penland.org. No matter what storms time and nature present, Penland continues to beautifully celebrate the creative life.
Penland School of Craft is located at 2687 Conley Ridge Road, Bakersville, NC 28705.
Artists Dan Friday and Nick Fruin presenting a hot glass demonstration for auction patrons
The Penland auction features a beautiful display of all the donated work
Art Remarks
By CML Staff
Near the front of this issue, in our Regional Happenings column, we highlight a number of Arts Festivals taking place this season that you won’t want to miss. Here, we share with readers more opportunities to get to know artists, makers and other creative types; participate in workshops and camps; and discover treasures galore while exploring our active arts communities.
Project Dance Foundation Introduces Camp of the Arts
In early June, the Project Dance Foundation launched its new Camp of the Arts, a multidisciplinary summer arts program designed to meet a growing need in the High Country. This immersive camp offers children in grades K–12 professional instruction in dance, music, theatre, painting, and more.
While Boone is home to several vibrant arts organizations, families still face limited options for comprehensive and affordable summer arts programming. Camp of the Arts aims to fill this gap with a structured, full-summer initiative that nurtures creativity, encourages selfexpression, and fosters community among young artists.
“With flexible scheduling, professional instructors, and partnerships with local institutions like Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, and Appalachian State University faculty, and The Space @ Project Dance and more, we’ve designed a program that’s both accessible and exceptional,” says Cheryl Cutlip, Executive Director of Project Dance Foundation.
Campers can register for full-day or half-day sessions, and families can choose from multiple themed weeks tailored to various age groups. The camp is led by seasoned arts educators with deep roots in Boone’s arts scene. Camp dates are as follows: June 23–27 (Grades 4–8); July 7–11 (Grades K–3); July 14–18 (Grades 4–6); and July 21–25 (Grades 7–12). Learn more and register at projectdance.com/campofthearts.
One-on-One with Artists
Dropping by Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock this summer is one of the best occasions to get acquainted with “artists in residence” in a setting that allows you to see a wide range of work from each participating artist. Every week through Labor Day, two different artists will share the Cottage and welcome the public to stop in.
Come and meet Pat Miller (June 30-July 6), who specializes in textile art and quilts, including commissioned “memory quilts” (using the client’s special materials, such as athletic uniforms). And Skip Sickler (August 11-17), whose nature photography has been showcased
Ploenchan Vinyaratn, Emergent Sea, 2024, from the exhibition «Threading: Contemporary Art of Thailand» at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Appalachian State University.
throughout the region and beyond. Self-taught memory artist Theresa Gloster (August 25-31) conveys timeless stories through her mixed-media paintings. And Tim Boyd (Sept. 1-7) will awe you with his imagination and one-of-a-kind sculptures in stone, clay and wood—including old tree burls. These are just four of the 30 artists who are Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage this year. Works range from paintings (in oil, pastels, acrylics, gouache and watercolors), to award winning photography, to wood, fabric arts, mixed media, ceramics, stone and clay. All artwork is available for purchase. artistsatedgewood.org
Special Exhibition Celebration at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
On Thursday, July 3, head over to downtown Boone for a vibrant evening of art and celebration during Boone’s July Art Crawl (the “First Friday” Art Crawl will be held on Thursday for the month of July). The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the Appalachian State University campus hosts a special “Exhibition Celebration” to showcase two exhibits coming this season.
First is the debut of “Threading: Contemporary Art of Thailand,” a vibrant textile-based exhibition exploring cultural connections and creative traditions from Southeast Asia. A special ArtTalk with one of the artists featured in this exhibition takes place at 5 p.m. Turchin also celebrates the opening of “Image and Music: John Cohen.” This exhibition features John Cohen’s vintage Appalachian photographs of many of the region’s traditional musicians. From 6–7:45 p.m., enjoy live music from The Kraut Creek Ramblers, whose old-time Appalachian sound is the perfect tribute to the John Cohen exhibition.
“Art, culture, and community converge for this unforgettable summer evening—free and open to all!” Throughout the celebration, enjoy refreshments, and connect with artists and friends. Also during the July Art Crawl, visit the Mazie Jones Gallery, which features monthly rotating exhibits, in the Jones House Cultural Center. Plus, you’ll find art exhibits and wine tastings taking place at various downtown shops and restaurants all evening. tcva.org, exploreboone.com/event/first-fridayart-crawl
“Seat at the Table” Chair Challenge
Watauga Arts Council (WAC) is calling all artists and creative people to participate in its Seat at the Table –Arts Accessible for All Chair Challenge. Seat at the Table is a community-driven project that invites artists to repurpose chairs as a form of artistic expression.
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LIFE Summer 25 — 65
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN
Photography by Skip Sickler, at Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock and BE Artists Gallery in Banner Elk
ART REMARKS
According to the Arts Council, “This is an advocacy project to highlight the importance of including the arts in our public places, schools, community planning, events . . . aligning with our mission to make the arts accessible to all. By transforming this everyday object, artists spotlight the essential role of art in our daily lives: Proving that creativity belongs in every space, including the most ordinary.”
Artists can select their own chairs for this project, or request one from the WAC (while supplies last). Participants are asked to document their process with photos and videos before, during, and after completing their chair. “We also encourage participants to factor in one of WAC’s core principles or themes during the making of their project: accessibility, connection, empowerment, and vitality.” Visit watauga-arts. org/art-exhibits-opportunities to fill out their online pre-form. Finished chairs should be brought to WAC’s office (377 Shadowline Dr, Boone, NC) by the first week of August.
The transformed chairs will be exhibited in local businesses for the month of August, and in the fall will be pulled together for an exhibit and auction. Proceeds from the project will support programs that bring inclusive, community-centered art opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds at the Watauga Arts Council.
Two New Artists at Anvil Arts
This season, Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden and Gallery welcomes two talented artists and invites you to Linville Falls to view their work. Western North Carolina artist Marcia K Moore has a background as a forensic/research artist. In 2022, she expanded her creative pursuits by repurposing discarded bike tires into intricate art pieces, layering the treads to reflect the anatomical structures of North Carolina’s wildlife and ancient folklore. Through this innovative endeavor, she continues to reclaim both historical significance and materials, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared heritage and environmental stewardship.
Zack Noble grew up in Brooklyn, NY, where his love of metal began. As a kid, he was fascinated by pieces of metal that he found on the street. Later in life, inspired by his mother, who was a gifted fiber artist and former Penland student, Zack studied at Penland School of Crafts during his vacation time. He then applied and was accepted to the Core Student Program there and, over the course of two years in the program, Zack was able to explore the many media that is taught at Penland, including what would become his true love and lifelong obsession, blacksmithing.
Learn more about these artists at studiosculpture.com and visit Anvil Arts at 9600 Linville Falls Hwy, Linville Falls, NC.
Now Open! It’s All About the Art Gallery
It’s All About the Art recently moved into their new gallery location, where they continue to showcase exceptional art and talent and host engaging events. The team is also adding working studio space to interact with partner artists. “We’re launching a working gallery—a place where artists create in real time, just behind the gallery walls,” says Amy Reshefsky, local artist and owner of the gallery. “It’s a space fueled by inspiration, where creativity isn’t just displayed—it’s happening!”
Reshefsky continues, “Adjacent to the gallery, our Wellness Center is also nearing completion. We’re adding an outdoor patio for events and gatherings, as well as a calming Zen Room stocked with thoughtfully curated products and services to enhance your daily life.” The new gallery is open as of June 20 at 5004 NC-105 S, Banner Elk. Follow It’s All About The Art on Facebook and Instagram.
OTHER LOCAL GALLERY NEWS
The Art Cellar Gallery is celebrating its 33rd season, having first opened in June of 1993. Located just outside downtown Banner Elk, The Art Cellar has remained committed to promoting local artists across a wide range of styles and mediums. With a mission to foster a diverse art culture in the High Country, the gallery proudly offers “Fine Art for Everyone.”
Following the detrimental effects of Hurricane Helene, the lower level of the building has been fully renovated. All three floors are now open to the public, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This summer, The Art Cellar presents an exhibition lineup featuring both emerging talents and beloved regional favorites. Highlights include works by: Kathy Myers Reece, Erin Hughes, and Nathan Favors, on view from June 25 to July 19 with an Open House on June 28, 4–6 p.m.; Tony Griffin and Ben Long, on view from July 23 to August 16 with an Open House on July 26, 4–6 p.m.; and Bill Dunlap and Noyes Capehart, on view from August 20 to September 13 with an Open House on August 23, 4–6 p.m. For more information about current exhibitions and to view available works, visit artcellargallery.com.
BE Artists Gallery at the Historic Banner Elk School in downtown Banner Elk features original works by 40 local artists and makers—new consignment artists are welcomed each season through a jurying process. Visit their light-filled space in the old school, built in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. This popular
Cards and collages by Nikki Treichler
Bear sculptures by Marcia K Moore, at Anvil Arts It’s All About the Art Gallery
co-op gallery is run by its member artists and is open weekly Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. As in past years, BE Artists Gallery will also open its doors during the Art on the Greene festivals that take place in front of the Historic Banner Elk School. Upcoming weekend shows include July 5-6, August 2-3, and August 30-31 (Labor Day weekend), and shows run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. BEartistsgallery.com
Carlton Gallery, celebrating 43 years in the High Country, hosts Group Exhibitions throughout the year highlighting a new theme for each exhibition. This season’s Group Exhibitions include Sculpting Silence – Exploring Abstract Realms through July 15, featuring 20 artists. Nature’s Palette: Landscapes Across Mediums runs through the end of the summer, with an opening reception on July 26 from 2-5 p.m. Carlton Gallery is located in the Grandfather Mountain community, 10 miles south of Boone, seven miles north of Linville or Banner Elk, and eight miles from Blowing Rock (GPS: 10360 NC Hwy 105 South, Banner Elk, 28604). Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. carltongallery.com
Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery in Crossnore represents regional painters, sculptors, and fine craft persons who want to take part in benefiting the children of Crossnore Communities for Children. The gallery specifically supports Crossnore’s Youth Independent Living program which transitions students from foster care to successful independent living, and the Avery campus Student Work Program. Check out crossnore.org this season for information on Gallery shows, and to learn more about this important organization.
Beginning July 30, the Florence Thomas Art School in West Jefferson presents their gallery’s annual event, Corey Anne Celebration of Women in the Arts, which recognizes the contributions and influence of women in the arts, and supports and uplifts emerging female artists. In conjunction with the month long exhibit, the Celebration consists of an Opening Reception (August 8, 5-7 p.m.), Symposium (August 9, at 10 a.m.), Expressive Arts Workshop (August 9, at 1:30 p.m.), and Artist Panel (August 22, 6-7:30 p.m.).
A hallmark of Florence Thomas Art School’s programming, this year’s exhibition features four local women artists across a variety of mediums, on display in the gallery from July 30 through August 30. You can engage with the artists at the Symposium on August 9, and the Artist Panel on August 22. The Corey Anne Celebration of Women in the Arts honors the life of Ashe County native Corey Anne Considine. florenceartschool.org
Open seven days a week, Mica Gallery in Bakersville, NC, hosts 45 artists from Western NC. This season, the cooperative gallery of fine art and contemporary craft welcomes new works in collage, ceramics, baskets, and wood, by artists Georgia Harden, Marianne Cicala, Lisa Gluckin, Leah Leitson, Bridget VanRemortel, and Bill Miller. Mica Gallery is located at 37 N. Mitchell Avenue in Bakersville, NC. micagallerync.com
Public Art Project: Fiddles on Main Street
Over in Mountain City, TN, fiddles are a common theme, and they play a big role in a new public art project happening in the downtown area. Johnson County Center for the Arts is creating five fiddles that will be displayed inside Main Street businesses as excitement builds for the 100-year anniversary of the historic 1925 Fiddler’s Convention. These works of art can be viewed in downtown businesses through Labor Day weekend.
During the Long Journey Home Festival, Johnson County’s Heritage Arts and Music Celebration (August 29-31), the five fiddles will be auctioned off to benefit Johnson County Center for the Arts. Each year during Labor Day weekend, Mountain City comes to life with stories and songs that honor the iconic Old Time mountain music style that shaped country music as we know it.
While you’re in Mountain City in search of fiddles this summer, be sure to visit Johnson County Center for the Arts’ new Gallery on Main at 129 West Main Street, Mountain City, TN. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit jocoartcenter.org and longjourneyhome.net to learn more.
Art Installation at Fort Defiance
A new art installation commemorating the enslaved individuals who lived and worked at Fort Defiance, NC, is available for public viewing. Fort Defiance is the restored 18th-century home of Revolutionary War General William Lenoir, located in Caldwell County. The installation was created by artist Israel Solomon, a descendant of one of the plantation’s enslaved workers, and serves as a testament to the profound impact these individuals had on the economic foundation of both the Lenoir family and Caldwell County.
The new artwork is a permanent memorial in the exhibit room dedicated to telling the stories of the enslaved people who worked the land. “It’s deeply gratifying to see our ancestors honored in beautifully crafted and curated images. These vibrant, colorful panels recall the entirety of the lives of enslaved people here, not just their bondage,”
Love’s Confusing Joy, by Laura Berendsen Hughes, at Carlton Gallery
Fiddles on Main in Mountain City, TN
said Dr. Leslie McKesson, descendant and Curator of the permanent enslaved exhibit at Ft. Defiance.
Artist Israel Solomon shared, “When presented with this project, I wanted to ensure the work that I produced was based on the realities of what slavery was for Black America, but also wanted to reflect the resilience and beauty of black culture.” He added, “It is my hope that this work is a reminder of the challenges that our ancestors survived through, but also honors their lives, the struggles that they overcame, and their descendants that live on to this day and continue to break barriers while prospering.” Learn more about the artist and the historic site at historicfortdefiancenc.org and blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/fort-defiance/.
Blue Ridge Craft Trails Magazine
A project of the National Blue Ridge Heritage Area, this brand-new magazine shines a spotlight on craft throughout Western North Carolina. Over 300 artists and galleries are listed to guide visitors and craft admirers along the Blue Ridge Craft Trails. Several stories hone in on people, areas, and events from each region of WNC, including the Far West, Central Mountains, High Country, and Foothills. Beginning on page 25, you’ll find a guide to all venues on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails that are located in the High Country and Yadkin Valley.
Printed copies of Blue Ridge Craft Trails Magazine can be found at local visitor centers, galleries, and museums. A link to a digital copy of the first issue of Craft Trails Magazine is available at blueridgeheritage. com/blue-ridge-craft-trails/.
Painter Kent Paulette Collaborates with Nature Photographer Derek Halsey
A few years ago, the idea was broached for the acclaimed local painter, Kent Paulette, and nature photographer Derek Halsey to work together on a singular and special piece of art. Paulette is a well-known artist of the High Country, mostly painting nature scenes as he experiences them. Based in the mountains and forested valleys just east of Boone, Paulette routinely mixes pure mountain creek water with his paints as he prepares to work, and he says it is not uncommon for the local mama bobcat to come out of the woods to watch him do his art, “an amazing experience that only happens when one is truly in tune with nature.” Halsey has a similar approach with his photography. Living near Grandfather Mountain and Linville Gorge while always having
a camera nearby, his approach is to be aware of his surroundings and to be “empathic, open minded and intuitive with the intent of taking what nature gives me instead of setting up contrived shots.”
Paulette and Halsey became friends over an appreciation of art, nature and the music of John Hartford. When the idea came about for Paulette to paint a unique version of one of Halsey’s photographs, “no time limit was enacted—spontaneous inspiration was the goal.” Recently completed, Paulette’s painting of Halsey’s bluebird image is available for purchase for a limited time at Halsey’s High Country Captured Nature Photography website at derekhalsey.smugmug.com/HighCountryCaptured.
A Creative Way to Repurpose and Recycle
Local writer and creator Nikki Treichler recently gifted the CML team with some of her artistic paper crafts. She transformed old issues of CML magazine into attractive cards and collages to share with others. Nikki writes, “When I used to find a colorful copy of CML Magazine, I’d take it to the store’s counter to check if it really was free. It took me eight or nine seasons to get it through my head. Honestly, I still can’t believe it. It’s just too beautiful and inspiring to be free. CML is the BRIDGE to this community.”
All of us at CML are impressed with Nikki’s clever reuse of past issues, and we thank her for her kind words and for sharing her handicrafts with us!
Israel Solomon’s art installation at Fort Defiance, photo by Mary Beth McKee
Ice-dyed scarves by Mary Jane Lappin, at BE Artists Gallery
Forsythia, by Temple Reece, at Johnson County Center for the Arts
Photo by Derek Halsey
Painting by Kent Paulette
Bridget VanRemortel, at Mica Gallery
Arlee Mains
New Arlee Mains Exhibit at BRAHM Offers Intimate Window into Appalachian Childhood
By Emily Webb
Growing up in Zionville, North Carolina, Arlee Trivett Mains didn’t have access to formal art lessons or expensive supplies. She had to get creative, sketching in the dirt or using a burnt piece of wood as a pencil to draw inside the covers of books. Although art was considered a “frivolity” in Mains’ small mountain community, her parents did encourage her passion by buying her a drawing pad and a set of oil paints. Mains would paint over and over on a single canvas, perfecting her own unique style.
Mains, who passed away in 2019, was a memory painter. Her work almost exclusively depicts scenes from her childhood— trips to the community store, outdoor
country dances, neighbor children playing in a treehouse or attempting to ski using planks of wood strapped to their feet. The paintings are always exterior scenes, showcasing the beautiful scenery and quaint wooden buildings commonplace in rural Appalachia. Each painting is full of life and incredible attention to detail, from the intricate pattern on a lace shawl to a tiny pinprick of flame visible in a lantern hanging off a porch. Equally as impressive as the detail in her paintings, perhaps, is the fact that Mains never had a single formal art lesson.
Mains continued honing her craft throughout her life. As an adult, she got involved in the local folk art scene, selling
corn husk dolls at craft shows, which is where she met fellow artist Pam McKay. Although corn husk dolls are a fairly profitable art form, and several of Mains’ relatives had their dolls featured in the Smithsonian, they weren’t what Mains wanted to be creating. She was meant to be a painter. And so, when McKay opened the Art Cellar Gallery in 1993, Mains was one of the first artists McKay featured.
“She had been painting little pieces since the 1960s, but not really selling them very much,” McKay said. “When I started showing them, they flew out the door.”
According to McKay, Mains represents the epitome of area art. Her work is
Continued on next page
Arlee Mains, Saturday Night Fun, 2002, acrylic on canvas board. Promised Gift, Martha Satterwhite Folk Art Collection
powerful in its simplicity, and buyers visiting the region truly felt like they were taking a piece of the mountains home with them. Although Mains was never a prolific artist, her work consistently sold well.
The upcoming exhibit of Mains’ paintings at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) is taking place thanks to a partnership with the Satterwhite family, who amassed a sizable collection of Mains’ paintings during their visits to North Carolina. Dr. Terry and Martha Satterwhite primarily lived in Houston, Texas, but kept a summer home in Blowing Rock and developed a deep love for the mountains and for local art. After Martha’s death, Dr. Satterwhite reached out to BRAHM about displaying a portion of their collection.
BRAHM Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Ian Gabriel Wilson, who is co-curating the exhibit with McKay, hopes that the Mains exhibition will encourage visitors to view the work of non-traditional and self-taught artists through a new lens.
“I would love for our visitors to understand that there is art that meaningfully captures and articulates the world around us in ways that help us see it anew, and those aren’t always necessarily the artists who are trained in our formal art schools, or are represented in New York galleries, but there is still something rich and thoughtful that they have to share,” Wilson said. “Arlee was in fact self-taught, but was deeply engaged with the visual world—both the world around her but also with art history. She is part of a lineage of memory painters; there is this history and tradition of people who capture life on the margins of American society, or of bygone eras. Arlee was in many ways a modern woman in Boone, but was recalling and trying to capture the
ethos of her childhood in western Watauga County.”
Unlike other artists who painted what they saw, Mains painted what she knew and what felt true to her, which was almost exclusively memories of her childhood. If she couldn’t envision the scene in her mind’s eye, she didn’t paint it. McKay recalls that once a buyer commissioned a painting of a waterfall from Mains, and the painting sat in Mains’ kitchen—which doubled as her art studio—unfinished for years.
Mains was a deeply private person who preferred to stay close to home. She would occasionally make appearances at the gallery and at art shows, but she generally let her art speak for her. Each of her paintings was accompanied by a handwritten note that described the scene, which shed additional light on her memories and upbringing. Through simple narration, she brought the “characters,” who were primarily her cousins and friends, of her paintings to life and introduced a wider audience to the idyllic world of her childhood.
“When you look at her paintings, and especially when you read the narratives she provides with her paintings, it feels incredibly authentic,” Wilson said. “You understand the joy and the labor and most of all the deeply interpersonal nature of what her life was like then.”
Her paintings found homes with buyers across the country, but Mains herself was content to remain in the High Country. Now, thanks to the Satterwhite family, BRAHM, and the Art Cellar Gallery, Mains’ work will be more accessible to the very people who can most relate to her memories and her life.
“She’s from the mountains, she stayed in the mountains, she was born, raised, and died in the mountains,” McKay said. “She
was all about her family, her husband and her son. But she was most interested in telling her story about her upbringing. She was a typical mountain lady.”
The Mains exhibition will be up in the museum from June 28 through January 3, 2026. The exhibit will include audio recordings of the accompanying notes, so guests can listen to Mains’ own words while perusing her paintings. The audio recordings will also be available on the museum’s website so a wider audience will be able to engage with Mains’ work.
A general celebration of all the museum’s shows will be held on July 12, and a gallery chat with McKay and Wilson will take place on October 23. The two will discuss Mains’ life and work, and how her work fits into the larger context of selftaught and Appalachian art.
After the Arlee Mains show at BRAHM concludes, Wilson hopes to convert it into a traveling exhibition that can be displayed at other museums and galleries.
Top Images:
Left: Arlee Mains (American, 1935-2019), End of the Day, 2002, acrylic on paper, 22 by 26 inches (framed), Promised gift of Martha & Terry Satterwhite, BRAHM Permanent Collection, PG.2022.024.037, Photographed by Joshua White
Right: Arlee Mains (American, 1935-2019), Spring Chores, 1996, acrylic on paper, 19 1/2 by 23 1/2 inches (framed), Promised gift of Martha & Terry Satterwhite, BRAHM Permanent Collection, PG.2022.024.036, Photographed by Joshua White
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O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Still Keeping on the Sunny Side
Twenty-five years ago, Ethan and Joel Cohen put their quirky spin on the story of The Odyssey and added a heaping helping of traditional music. The result was a surprise hit film that continues to weave its spell. As it celebrates this auspicious anniversary, O Brother Where Art Thou? remains a fascinating cultural touchstone that is also still wildly entertaining, bringing with it some wonderful connections to the High Country.
Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the story of Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) and his associates Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) follows a convoluted journey to collect an elusive treasure. Along the way, they encounter temptation, redemption, and the devil himself. Their adventures, fraught with “ob-stack-ulls” often mirror those of the mythic Odysseus (Ulysses) on his harrowing ten-year journey home from the Trojan War to reclaim his kingdom and reunite with his wife Penelope. During their initial escape from a work crew, Everett and company encounter a blind seer who predicts their course but who also claims, “I have no name,” much as the original Odysseus calls himself “nobody” when he tricks the Cyclops Polyphemus by telling him that his name is “Nobody,” so that when Odysseus blinds the creature, he roars that he is being hurt by Nobody. The film has its own Cyclops, a devious Bible salesman (John Goodman), as well as alluring Sirens whose seductive voices lure men into danger just as they do in the epic poem, leading to a possible animal transformation like that performed by the enchantress Circe upon Odysseus’s men.
The film begins with a quotation from the epic poem, invoking the Muse, as classical poets were inclined to do. However, it quickly becomes apparent that, even with all the subtle and overt allusions, the Muse supervising this film is likely not Calliope, patron of conventional epic poems like The Odyssey, but perhaps Terpsichore, muse of dance and song, or Thalia, muse of comedy. From beginning to end, O Brother Where Art Thou? is steeped in music: chain-gang work songs, traditional hymns, blues tunes, bluegrass standards, and early recordings that helped create the “old-timey” sound preserved on recordings and sent out over the radio. One such song, “Man of Constant Sorrow,” brings instant fame for the “Soggy Bottom Boys,” the escapees and guitarist Tommy Johnson (Chris Tomas King) who claims his skill is the result of selling his soul to the devil. Like our own famous Bristol sessions that made superstars of Appalachian artists like the Carter Family, the
By Elizabeth Baird Hardy
recording is epic. Award-winning musicians whose work often includes Appalachian songs connected to our region are scattered throughout the film, lending their voices to the characters and contributing delightful cameos. David Holt, familiar to North Carolina public television audiences for programs like North Carolina Mountain Treasures, sings and plays in a fantastic, if brief, appearance. Viewers who know the songs, from their own cultural connections, from already seeing the film, or from the enormous success of the soundtrack produced by the legendary T. Bone Burnett, will sing along.
They will probably laugh along, too, as the irreverent and peculiar humor of the Cohen Brothers is still infectious. Usually serious subjects, like prejudice, political corruption, and poverty, become objects of humor, in a story weaving together fiction, literature, and fact with no attempt at depicting reality. Historical figures, like “Baby Face” Nelson, are tossed into the mix with ridiculous characters, pomade cans, and a variety of animals and musical instruments. Although some of the humor is dark enough to make viewers blush for laughing, part of the film’s lingering charm comes from its gentle treatment of the soul. Armed robber Delmar, upon having his “sins washed away” at his baptism, demonstrates true redemption, and Everett, despite his flaws, constantly believes that he can and must be reunited with his family. He declares early in the film that “It’s a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart,” and Everett, along with his fellow travelers, while they are looking for answers, often find instead that human beings, and our stories, can be beautiful, even if they are strange and illogical.
The film is a feast for the eyes as well as for the ears. The washed-out color palette that evokes both the scorching Mississippi sun and the sepia-tone of 1930s photographs complements the outstanding costumes, locations, and set designs to create both a realistically evocative image of the past and a whimsical journey through myth and music.
Rated PG-13, primarily for language, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a great choice for audiences who can appreciate its unique appeal and its remarkable soundtrack. It is streaming on multiple platforms, so those who saw it twenty-five years ago may want to R-U-N-N-O-F-T and see it again.
Published by Arcadia Publishing —Reviewed by Edwin Ansel
“Jules Verne…”
These are the first words in Michael C. Hardy’s newest book, Aviation in North Carolina: A History. You might expect such a book to begin with the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk. We’re the “First in Flight” state after all—it says so right there on the license plates. But that’s obvious and rather dull. Instead, Hardy shares with us that the legendary French writer of science fiction set his book “Master of the World” in Morganton and a nearby peak that certainly suggests Table Rock, where the evil genius Robur has created a flying machine dubbed “Terror.”
It’s kinda cool, and something I didn’t already know. Which is exactly what I want from a history book.
After this bold opening Hardy does deliver the basics. Chapter Two is devoted entirely to the “Twelve Seconds at Kitty Hawk.” From there he develops the big picture of aviation, both military and civil aviation, through the lens of North Carolina. And he covers things general aviation history books would skip over: the local tinkerers and dreamers who participated in the boom and bust of the early years of aviation; the impact of aviation on our towns and cities; the participation of our citizens in the war effort; aviation as an industry, the making of the aircraft, including rockets.
In particular, he lays out the growth of commercial aviation after World War II, the rise of Piedmont Airlines and the development of the major airports we know today. He also touches on the story of Wheeler Airlines, the first FAA-certified airline in the nation created and owned by a black person, Warren Wheeler. Wheeler Airlines trained and certified many black pilots, including the first black women pilots to fly for a major airline—something else that is kinda cool and that I didn’t already know. It seems to me that if you or someone
In this installment of Book Nook, we introduce you to a newly released book on the history of aviation in North Carolina by Michael C. Hardy, an award winning historian and CML’s history columnist. For the young people in your life—especially those who love horses—we spotlight the sequel to a middle grade novel by Melanie Sue Bowles that we reviewed in a previous issue of CML. We hope you’ll support our local and regional authors, booksellers, libraries and book exchanges this summer!
in your family has a background in aviation in North Carolina, whether in the military or in the airlines, this book will be a great resource.
But what if you don’t have that? I’ve got a background in aviation. My grandmother was a pilot in the ‘50s, flying “light” airplanes for recreation. Her brother flew jets for the Navy. I once made an airplane fall through the air like an autumn leaf and lived to tell about it. But not in North Carolina. What’s here for me?
The good stuff, that’s what. As an historian, Hardy is a demon for the details. In addition to giving a big picture of the arc of aviation over time, he paints another picture alongside it—made from thousands of tiny bits of color—that is even bigger. It’s the human side of things. This book is full of extraordinary people, and people who have risen up to meet extraordinary events; the closer you look, the more you see.
Here’s just a peek (I don’t want to be a spoiler). At age 15, Georgia “Tiny” Thompson was a single mother working in a cotton mill. Then she saw Charles Broadwick’s World Famous Aeronauts perform parachute jumps from a balloon at the fair. She left home and joined the troupe, and soon was a celebrity parachutist herself. Soon enough, she was teaching the U.S. Army how to use a parachute, and Tiny was the first person to leap from an airplane and free-fall before saving herself with a parachute.
Kiffin Rockwell also left home to be an aeronaut, in 1914, when he joined the French Foreign Legion and later helped create the “Lafayette Escadrille,” a force of American volunteer pilots. He was the first American pilot to bring down an enemy aircraft in WWI.
And you have to love this one. In the first months of WWII, citizens were required to practice “blackout” drills, dousing all outside lights and covering the windows with heavy curtains. The purpose of a blackout was to prevent enemy submarines from seeing and attacking ships sailing near the coast. But when the authorities ordered people in Blowing Rock to douse the lights, Louise
Wheelwright wasn’t having it. As she told the Chief of Police, D. W. Wooten, the drills were “all tom foolery and nothing but a play game. It is not necessary up here in the mountains… ” Which is nothing but the truth.
An example of the power of detail is this last bit: Hardy identifies the women who served in the Women’s Air Service Pilots program, the “WASPs,” giving both their birth year and the year each was deceased. Looking closely, what you see is that they all lived to a ripe old age. They were not merely pilots, they were good pilots.
In addition to the big picture, and the colorful details, Hardy also provides practical information. Got an aviation-mad young person in the house? Need something to do on a rainy day? He’s got you covered—see Chapter 9, “Looking for North Carolina’s Aviation Heritage: Museums and Static Displays.”
Scanning the notes and bibliography, you see the scope of this work. Hardy consulted about 150 newspapers to find these stories. It took six pages to list all the books and articles he consulted. A dozen different researchers contributed their time and skills. The whole thing is clearly a labor of love, and you grasp that it’s not for nothing that Hardy has been named Historian of the Year by his fellow historians. The notes also indicate that Hardy volunteers at historical sites as an interpreter. I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon than getting my history straight from the source.
Little Pearl
Melanie Sue Bowles, Author
Published by Trafalgar Square Books
—Reviewed by Tamara S. Randolph
In this charming sequel to the middle grade novel, Liberty Biscuit, author Melanie Sue Bowles continues the story of our young heroine, Kip Baker, in her fourteenth year, as she seeks out new adventures that point to exciting discoveries and valuable life lessons. Kip’s continued interest in the welfare
Book Nook
By CML Staff
of animals leads her to a special horse, Little Pearl, who’s in desperate need of her help. As she and her family rescue and rehabilitate a growing herd of animals, Kip faces some tough realities which build strength and bravery, and test her decision-making skills.
Smart and curious by nature, and always looking for opportunities to learn, Kip blazes her own trail, yet is surrounded by a supportive family who give her plenty of autonomy while also providing encouragement and opportunities to help her become her best self. And her feathered and furry friends, including her amusing rescue donkey, Liberty Biscuit, keep her company while she’s at home on the farm—her favorite place on earth.
Though fundamentally a story about a family-oriented farm girl seizing each day and simultaneously seeking direction for her future, our young, compassionate protagonist also guides the reader through some mature topics: animal cruelty, prejudice, learning struggles, change, and following one’s heart when it comes to love.
Readers will fall hard for Kip and all the Bakers—their closeness, honesty and openness to do what’s best for their blended, extended family.
If you have young people (ages 9-13) in your life—especially those who love horses, the farm life, or just a good book with strong dialogue and compelling characters, encourage them to check out Melanie Sue Bowles’ latest work of fiction, Little Pearl. Pick up a copy at your local bookseller, bookshop.org, or other online booksellers.
Author Melanie Sue Bowles lives in Wilkesboro, NC. She and husband Jim founded Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary and over the years have intervened on behalf of more than 300 unwanted, elderly, and abused horses, many of them coming to their sanctuary in the NC foothills to live out their lives in peace and with dignity. Learn more at horsesofproudspirit.org.
MORE TITLES FOR YOUR SUMMER READING LIST
The
River Keeper and Other Tales
Nancy Joie Wilkie, Author Published by Subplot Publishing, an imprint of Amplify Publishing Group
Both the main character and lead tale in this collection of seven short stories were inspired by the nearby Yadkin River, a waterway author Nancy Joie Wilkie knows well. In her latest work of fiction, she takes the reader to the Kingdom of Imlay, a coastal realm filled with magic and mythical creatures great and small. “A dreamy assortment of tales that contain kernels of worldly truth,” writes Kirkus Reviews. The River Keeper and Other Tales was recently named the Winter 2025 Best Book in the Category of Short Stories by the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs. Wilkie, also a musician, has released several CDs, including Dragon’s Door: A Tale of Ring and Sword (by “Sparrow’s Tale”), which features tracks inspired by “Aurora,” a character from another tale within The River Keeper. You’ll find Wilkie’s books and CDS on Amazon.com, with select works also available on Barnesandnoble.com
Southern Culture on the Fizz: An Effervescent Guide to Fermented Foods and Beverages from the American South
Dr. Brett Taubman, Author
Published by The University of North Carolina Press
In May, Dr. Brett Taubman, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences and director of the Fermentation Sciences program at Appalachian State University, released his latest book, Southern Culture on the Fizz, which delves into the science behind fermentation and its historical and cultural significance in the American South. From beer and kombucha to hot sauce and kimchi, fermented foods and drinks are everywhere. Fermentation has a long culinary history, especially in the southern U.S., where the hotter climate and agricultural tradition of the region helped foster the use of fermentation as a means of preserving foods.
Taubman offers an easy-to-use and fun fermentation guide, complete with fermentations that focus on southern ingredients. Taubman also discusses the groundbreaking research on its applications—from improving food safety to addressing Alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne meat allergy. Available at your favorite online bookseller
We Are Made of Stars
Rochelle Weinstein, Author
Published by Lake Union Publishing
One week in summer. Eight lives forever changed. “Imagine White Lotus meets Virgin River” but set at a cozy mountain inn, which happens to be based on the real-life Inn at Little Pond Farm in Vilas, NC. In Rochelle Weinstein’s latest novel, we meet an ensemble cast, colorful and complicated, harboring secrets and lies. Weinstein, the bestselling author of This is Not How it Ends, spends part of her time on Beech Mountain, NC, and will participate in several local book events this summer. Find out more at rochelleweinstein.com, and purchase her books on Amazon. com or at your local bookseller.
A Magic Glow on the Mountain
By Paul Laurent and Max Ramey
YOU SIT, ENGULFED IN DARKNESS, BUT YOU KNOW YOU AREN’T ALONE...
It’s9 p.m. on the Blue Ridge Parkway along Grandfather Mountain. The sun has set, but you can still make out shapes in the parking lot. You walk 10 feet down the trail, and the world goes black. The faint light of the rising moon and the glimmer of stars can’t penetrate the thickness of the canopy. The little seep along the trail gurgles a faint melody, blending to the gentle rush of the creek a little farther down the trail. You sit, engulfed in darkness, but you know you aren’t alone...
Unseen leaves rustle in the breeze overhead, and off to the side, a different sort of rustle tells you some small mammal is going about its nightly business. It might be a mouse searching for seeds, or it might be a long-tailed weasel searching for a mouse. Insects chirp and buzz, and in the distance a Great Horned Owl hoots in the trees.
Even though you know nothing in these woods will hurt you, the darkness around you creeps into the back of your mind. Invisible shadows appear in your imagination and your heart rate rises slightly. Humans inherently don’t like the
dark, and we have gone to extreme lengths to keep the night away, from campfires to street lights to flashlights.
A clear, soft light shines in front of you, no bigger than a single pea—it glows without illuminating its surroundings, and in a second it’s gone. Blackness reclaims the forest. Then another light glows up the hill, and then another. More and more fireflies light up until the forest is a mosaic of sporadically blinking lights.
Suddenly, the trickling flashes turn into a wave, and thousands of fireflies come to light all at once. For an instant the deep forest becomes the clear night sky, with countless stars twinkling all at once. In a few seconds it’s over, and darkness returns, interrupted by only the occasional flash.
Yet a few minutes later it happens again. A wave of light flashes all around you, and then darkness. The synchronous fireflies have turned the dark and foreboding forest into a place of enchantment. The slightly nervous twitch in the back of your mind has vanished completely as you stand immersed in darkness and in light,
enthralled by the magic of these little fireflies. Blue ghost fireflies meander above the forest floor as well, their steady, bluish light casting an odd contrast to the ephemeral flash of the other fireflies.
Fireflies, which are actually beetles, have an amazing ability to create light. They have an organic compound called luciferin in their abdomen. They can draw air into their abdomen, where it reacts with the luciferin to produce a chemical reaction that creates light, but very little heat. Male fireflies flash in specific patterns depending on the species, and once they attract a female’s attention, she will respond with a flash of her own; the signaling will continue until they meet up and mate. When observing fireflies, it’s very important that you don’t turn on a flashlight—if you must, use one with a red or green filter on it. The very bright light of a flashlight makes all the male fireflies feel inferior and they won’t try to flash in competition with your giant light. In turn,
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Photography by Max Ramey
Explore Banner Elk’s History
Open Wed to Sat June 7 to Sept. 20
Guided museum tours of the 1870 Samuel Banner House 11 to 2pm
Share Your Stories Oral History Recording 2 to 3pm
We welcome our Avery County neighbors to share their stories to be archived at Appalachian State University.
Download the free Pocket Sights app and let your phone lead you on a walking tour any time! Available through Apple and Google Play stores. Tips on our website.
you will attract all the lady fireflies yourself (which is kind of weird).
Synchronous fireflies are unique in that the males all flash at the same time, though in this area they are synchronized like the first day of middle school band practice—they try, but they never get exactly on tempo. Scientists theorize that one reason these fireflies flash together is to help the female make sure she is responding to the correct species. There are numerous species of fireflies in these mountains, and a few are predatory, using their flash to attract and then devour an unsuspecting and amorous firefly of a different species.
pollinators, and they will visit a variety of flowers in search of nectar. To ensure the next generation of fireflies, landowners should limit or avoid chemicals in the yard—fireflies and many other beneficial insects can be highly sensitive to pesticides and herbicides.
Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation
Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation
Banner House Museum
The female synchronous firefly will only approach a male who flashes with all of the others. Once a female has found a suitable mate, she will lay her eggs under the leaf litter on the ground. This is one reason why it’s so important to leave some leaves where they fall. When leaves are bagged and taken to the landfill, the next generation of fireflies as well as countless other creatures may be killed in the process. If you have to clear your driveway or deck, simply push the leaves to the edge and let them be. The great news is that fallen leaves will slowly biodegrade into wonderful soil for your yard, and countless fireflies, butterflies, moths, and other amazing creatures will flourish!
Insects are suffering an enormous decline due to widespread pesticide and herbicide use. Planting native plants and not using chemicals in your yard are easy, cost effective ways to help our native wildlife coexist with humans. These same insects are food for birds, lizards, and many other creatures. There are Native Plant Society Chapters throughout the region that you can contact for information about what plants you should consider for your garden, as well as easy sources of native species. The beauty of native plants is that they have evolved to survive and depend on native pollinators. For example, if certain native caterpillars strip a plant bare one month, the next month it will have new leaves and flowers. The plant is expecting the insects and will put out new leaves once they have fed, and then depend on that same insect to pollinate its flowers for the next generation. Native plants also make for a lowermaintenance yard. It turns out that if we leave nature alone, it takes care of itself, almost like it did before we got here!
When the fireflies hatch, they go through a carnivorous state in which the larvae feed on slugs, worms, and other invertebrates before they pupate. They will then emerge in the summer to put on one of the most amazing shows that can be seen in our mountains! Adult fireflies are
We sincerely hope that you’ll have the opportunity to experience the magic of the fireflies in our mountains this summer, and we encourage you to do what you can to help them flourish year after year.
Blue Ridge Parkway
News
The Power of Parkway Volunteers
By Jordan Calaway
Through the challenges of the past year, the North Carolina High Country has been uplifted by the efforts of volunteers and community members. This is also true for the region’s beloved national park, the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenic motor road was heavily impacted by record flooding from Hurricane Helene and then ice storms over the winter. The National Park Service quickly responded in force, but volunteers have rounded out these efforts to help the Parkway bounce back and recover.
Volunteers play a critical role in the operation of the Parkway in Western North Carolina. Declining federal budgets and increasing strain on National Park Service staff make these generous folks even more necessary. The High Country depends on the Parkway to attract tourists to their communities. Volunteering is an amazing way for community members to give back and get involved with their national park.
While storm recovery and park clean-up days are important ways to contribute, there are a variety of park volunteer roles. The Blue Ridge Parkway is not just a motor road, the scenic route runs through an extremely biodiverse area with rare natural resources in need of protection. One way that volunteers can help protect the region’s environment is through the Rover program. At Rough Ridge, volunteers monitor the trail and provide on-site education to discourage trampling of the rare plant species found in the area. They interact with thousands of visitors each year. Rough Ridge Rovers are a committed group who are making a positive difference in the High Country. Lenoir resident Ken Carpenter is often found leading volunteer groups in the park. He and wife Julie serve as the Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) leads for this region. Managed by the National Park Service, the VIP program receives additional funding support from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. The Carpenters coordinate workday activities for individuals or groups. Students from Appalachian State University and other local schools often join these important workdays.
Volunteers of all ages and abilities can contribute to the programming and improvement of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Those who are more interested in music than time on the trail can assist with free concerts presented on the Parkway. This season, musicians will perform on the lawn of The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Volunteers help make these free performances possible.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities in the national park, contact Jordan Calaway at jcalaway@brpfoundation.org
The Denim Ball
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Camp Yonahnoka at Linville Golf Club, Linville, N.C.
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will host The Denim Ball on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Camp Yonahnoka at Linville Golf Club in North Carolina. Guests are invited to dine, dance, bid in silent and live auctions, and enjoy the gorgeous mountain setting. The annual event benefits Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock. For tickets and information, visit BRPFoundation.org.
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN
Snap a photo and aid research at Grandfather Mountain.
Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has set up public photo stations in four locations, with one more on the way, and is inviting guests to participate in Chronolog, a citizen science project, during their next visit.
“The natural resources department is always looking for ways to involve guests in data collection,” said Will Bennett, research coordinator for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “These photo stations will help us monitor changes in some of our critical habitats using a newer platform.”
Chronolog is a time-lapse program where visitors take photos of a particular area with their own devices and upload them to the Chronolog organization’s website. In addition, guests can go to the website to see a time-lapse slideshow of images from their location and observe how the view has changed over time.
The two main goals of the Chronolog project are to get people engaged with nature in an interactive new way and to record environmental changes in forests and landscapes, like those on Grandfather Mountain. According to the Chronolog website, the worldwide project has had over 100,000 contributors across 300 organizations.
Stations have recently been set up near the Mile High Swinging Bridge, Half Moon Overlook, Scheer Bluff and Woods Walk. There will also eventually be a station outside Yonni’s Clubhouse, the hands-on science and environmental education center set to open next to the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery in the fall of 2025. An additional station is set up in an area of the mountain not open to guests and will be maintained by staff and researchers.
As the project goes on, staff will be able to review the Chronolog database and monitor how each station’s landscape has grown and transformed over the years, observing the timing of fall color or the greening of trees in the spring. This data could hold key information for issues that may impact the surrounding environment, such as tree blights or development.
Grandfather Mountain is the first organization in western N.C. to set up Chronolog stations. Other N.C. organizations include the Eno River Association, N.C. Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve, Pettigrew State Park, Carolina Beach State Park, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, N.C. State University, Cape Lookout National Seashore, The Museum of Life and Science and Bald Head Island Conservancy.
The mountain is able to participate in this project thanks to a grant from the Luke Garrison Foundation, a nonprofit corporation established in memory of Luther Snyder Garrison III.
...notes from the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com All photos courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Its mission is to provide access and encouragement for others to pursue interests in learning, science, nature, sports and church—all subjects highly valued by Luke Garrison.
“Our natural resource management staff does a lot of behind-the-scenes work each day to monitor and protect the significant flora and fauna of Grandfather Mountain,” said John Caveny, vice president of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “It’s exciting to kick off this Chronolog project and invite our guests to not only monitor the data with us, but to also take an active role in collecting the research.”
To learn more about research at Grandfather Mountain, visit grandfather.com/research. To see the time-lapse views from the sites on the mountain, visit grandfather.com/chronolog.
The time-lapse views of the locations can be accessed without a visit to the mountain on the Chronolog website and will improve over time as guests add more and more photos.
Summer Notes . . .
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Photo by Leslie Restivo courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Photo by Leslie Restivo courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Trail Reports
By CML Staff
TRAIL REPORTS
In this installment of Trail Reports, we report on topics that cover everything from parks, multi-use trails, and public lands, to paddle trails, fishing opportunities, food tours, and motor routes. Get out there and enjoy!
Road Map to High Country Adventure
For visitors and residents wanting to get to know the area a little better this summer, check out the new High Country Summer Road Trip 2025 Map, which will guide you along a 50-mile scenic loop that’s loaded with attractions, hiking trails, outdoor destinations, shops, galleries, restaurants and more. The route takes you on one of the most scenic sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and through Blowing Rock, Boone, Valle Crucis, Banner Elk and Linville. In addition, find even more things to do with short side trips, including a winding drive up to Beech Mountain.
Download the High Country Road Trip illustrated map at bannerelk. com and pair it with GPS to create your own itinerary. Printed versions are available at Visitors Centers and attractions throughout the region. Find more details on the 500+ stops along the route as well as lodging options and information on events taking place this summer at: BannerElk.com, BlowingRock.com, ExploreBoone.com, BeechMtn.com, SeeSugar.com, and HighCountryHost.com.
Local Parks Rebuild from Hurricane, with Help from Hurricanes
In response to last September’s storm, the Carolina Hurricanes, our state’s professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, launched a fundraising effort through their foundation to raise money for stormimpacted non-profit organizations and child-focused programs. The foundation raised over $1 million for Hurricane Helene relief projects in Western North Carolina. Some of those funds were devoted to the restoration of vital community parks in the region, including two right here in our area.
Valle Crucis Community Park in Watauga County is a 28-acre destination for High Country residents as well as visitors to the area. The park is open to the public year-round and provides space for a variety
of outdoor activities. Several key elements of the park were impacted by storm damage. Gifted with $100,000 from the Hurricanes, the park will see improvements including new fencing, pathway repairs, a replacement playhouse village and upgraded picnic tables and benches. The donation will also help replant trees and add signage in memory of Wally Tatomir, a beloved community member and former Carolina Hurricanes equipment manager who retired to nearby Vilas, NC.
Over in Avery County, Schultz Circle Park in Newland sustained damage to its fencing, mulch and restroom building. A $25,000 donation from the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation will help restore these elements, ensuring that this community park remains a safe and welcoming place for residents.
“As we work to support the recovery from Hurricane Helene, we are incredibly proud to make gifts that will help rebuild and revitalize the spaces that are at the heart of communities,” said Amy Daniels, Executive Director of the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation.
New Developments on Regional Multi-use Trails
Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) officially celebrated the opening of a new trail reroute in the Linville Gorge near Table Rock. The original MST route in this area was badly eroded and unmaintainable, which necessitated the need for a reroute of the hiking trail. Not only is the newly-built trail more sustainable, it also opens up tremendous views of Linville Gorge that hikers would have previously missed. “Friends of the MST is thankful for the state’s recognition of the importance of state funding for trails across North Carolina, and this project is a good example of that funding in action. . . we are [also] thankful to all the volunteers and partners that brought this new trail section to life. MST hikers will benefit from the improvements for years to come.” mountainstoseatrail.org
The USDA Forest Service’s Grandfather Ranger District and its partners in McDowell County opened new trails and additional parking areas in Old Fort after months of Helene-related repair work. The eight miles of trails provide new connections in the Old Fort trail system, which has seen a major expansion since the groundbreaking of the Gateway Trails in 2022. In total, 20 of the planned 42 miles under
Valle Crucis Park
High Country Road Trip Map, created by Mark File
New Mountains-to-Sea Trail reroute in the Linville Gorge, courtesy of MST
the Old Fort Gateway Trails project are now open for hikers, bikers and equestrians. In addition to the new trails, alternate parking areas are now open. “The vision of the Old Fort Trails Project is to improve the health and wellness of residents, grow the local economy through outdoor recreation, and build community through shared spaces on public lands. The Forest Service is excited to invite folks back this summer to experience the trails.” Information and an interactive map for trail conditions in the Grandfather Ranger District can be found at G5trailcollective.org
Visit Trail Town USA
Damascus, VA, is a small town with a big claim to fame: a number of renowned trails intersect within town limits, giving it the honor of being deemed “Trail Town USA.”
Whether you enjoy strolling, hiking, biking or motoring, you’ll find your trail in Damascus. Seven trails pass through the heart of town, bringing people, stories, and culture from all walks of life. The Virginia Creeper Trail, Appalachian Trail (AT), Iron Mountain Trail, Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route, TransAmerica Bicycle Trail / Route 76, TransVirginia Bike Route, and The Crooked Road all converge in Damascus.
The town is also known for its waterways, being located at the confluence of Whitetop Laurel, Tennessee Laurel, and Beaverdam Creeks, which form Laurel Creek before joining the South Fork of the Holston River just outside of town limits. If you know someone who loves to fish, tell them to head over to Damascus later this summer for “Trout Days” (September 12-14), a new trout fishing tournament hosted by the Town. Trout Days will be held on portions of Laurel Creek and Beaverdam Creek within town limits and will be limited to 200 registered anglers each. All Trout Days proceeds go toward supporting the Town of Damascus in long-term recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene last September. While Damascus was severely impacted by the storm and recovery efforts are ongoing, local businesses have reopened and are eager to welcome visitors to town. The popular Virginia Creeper Trail is also open from Damascus to Abingdon. Learn more about Damascus (and register for Trout Days) at visitdamascus.org.
Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation (GMSF), has partnered with Cranberry Middle School to create the TRAIL (Teaching Responsibility And Inspiring Leadership) Blazers program.
Cutting the Ribbon at Paddy Mountain Park
In May, Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) was joined by supporters, partners, and elected officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open Paddy Mountain Park in Ashe County, NC. Northern Peaks State Trail Coordinator Jordan Sellers welcomed North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Representative Ray Pickett, Ashe County Board of Commissioners Chairman Todd McNeill, West Jefferson Mayor Tom Hartman, Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources Jeff Michael, and Chairperson of the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Margaret Newbold to speak about the significance of the park’s opening. The Park, a conservation victory over a decade in the making, provides recreational opportunities for locals and tourists alike, and will serve as the West Jefferson trailhead of the Northern Peaks State Trail.
“Paddy Mountain Park is the model for how land trusts, private citizens, local governments, and businesses can collaborate to protect critical property for public access and recreation,” stated BRC executive Director Charlie Brady. “The Park is a beautiful gem providing an undeveloped visual backdrop to the Town of West Jefferson. Everyone who contributed to the completion of the Park has left a permanent legacy to the community. Hopefully, Paddy Mountain Park’s success will inspire others across the region to pursue similar projects which build healthy, resilient communities for all people.” blueridgeconservancy.org, trails.nc.gov/state-trails/northern-peaks-state-trail
Grandfather Mountain and Cranberry Middle School Launch TRAIL Blazers Program
Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, recently partnered with Cranberry Middle School in Avery County to create the TRAIL (Teaching Responsibility And Inspiring Leadership) Blazers program.
At the school’s request, the program features a series of hikes progressing in difficulty throughout the school year, with a goal of nurturing students’ skills in confidence, leadership, planning, team building
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Photo Courtesy of GMSF
Good Times and Groovy Vibes in Elkin, NC
Governor Josh Stein Cuts the Ribbon at Paddy Mountain Park, photo by Leila Jackson, Blue Ridge Conservancy
Top: Paddy Mountain, by Lynn Willis of High South Creative
AT Hikers in downtown Damascus, VA
TRAIL REPORTS
and trail etiquette. As the students gain these skills, they can apply them on and off the trail, taking on more responsibility in naturalist exploration, navigation and safety.
Mast General Store and Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation have partnered to provide all the necessary gear that the students will need for the hikes. At the end of the program the students can keep the gear to use on their own adventures.
While Hurricane Helene disrupted the initial program last school year, organizers and partners intend to implement the full program for the ’25-’26 school year. Grandfather.com
Love to Paddle? Explore the Yadkin River State Trail
The Yadkin River watershed, with headwaters located near Blowing Rock, covers nearly 4,400 square miles, provides drinking water to over 1.1 million people and supports recreational activities for 3+ million. The Yadkin River State Trail is a 163-mile paddling trail, officially authorized as part of the North Carolina State Trails System in 1985. The Trail is mostly flat with Class I ripples and a few Class II spots, and has multiple put-in and take-out areas for easy access to the river. A primary access point is where the Trail begins, at the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkes County; from there, the Trail meanders east through Elkin and then south towards Winston-Salem and beyond.
Paddlers can find an interactive State Trail Map that includes details on each access point, as well as a downloadable map, at yadkinriverkeeper.org/yadkin-river-access. Learn more about the trail and this important watershed at yadkinriverkeeper.org and trails.nc.gov.
Great Trails and Groovy Small Town Vibes
With two state parks, one national park, two state sanctioned trails—including the Yadkin River State Trail—and a national park service trail, there’s no shortage of “trail life” in Elkin, NC. Whether hiking, paddling, biking, or strolling downtown—or through the more than 40 vineyards in the area—you’re bound to work up an appetite. Here are some stops to consider when you’re hungry to explore Elkin’s “food and beverage trail.”
Elkin Rail Yard – Gather with friends at this open-air spot for a laidback daytime or evening wind-down. With a great selection of craft beers on tap and plenty of space to soak in the atmosphere, the Rail Yard’s beer garden is the perfect place to raise a glass to a day well spent on the trails.
Angry Troll Brewing | Swing by for a locally brewed pint and some delicious pizza to fuel your festivities. You might even catch some live music or trivia nights.
Embers Eclectic Pub | This cozy spot serves up craft cocktails and amazing food. A perfect stop for those who want to sip something unique in a relaxed setting.
Southern on Main | Enjoy a hearty meal—whether it’s a southern classic or an updated one—this spot once was a dry good granary, so the setting is unique.
The Wisdom Table | If wine is more your style, stop in for a themed tasting experience, charcuterie board, or food selection from the “evening specials” menu.
Fruition Cocktail Bar | For a more upscale experience, Fruition offers expertly crafted cocktails with a twist.
Royall’s BBQ | After a day on the trails, Royall’s has you covered with Southern barbecue that’s always worth the stop—because every party needs some good food to wrap things up.
Harry’s Place | A true Elkin institution, Harry’s Place is the perfect stop for a lunch during the week, and evening meals Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. “It just isn’t a visit to Elkin without a stop in Harry’s.” With its welcoming atmosphere, cold beer, and friendly local crowd, you’ll feel right at home.
Located in the heart of the Yadkin Valley wine region, Elkin is full of lively celebrations, outdoor activities, small-town charm, and a welcoming community, and is just a short drive from the High Country. Spend a day or weekend in Elkin this summer—you’ll love discovering one of the best kept little secrets in the Foothills of North Carolina. exploreelkin.com
Paddling on the Yadkin, courtesy of Yadkin Riverkeeper
Yadkin River State Trail Map
Rubies
By Tamara S. Randolph
We live in a New World—and that’s a good thing if you love Hummingbirds! Because these wee Aves inhabit only North, Central and South America, collectively known since the 16th century as the “New World”—you won’t find them anywhere else on the planet. Of the 330 species throughout the Americas, 12-15 reside in the U.S. for at least part of the year. Yet, the Rubythroated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the only species that regularly nests east of the Mississippi River, including right here in the High Country.
If you didn’t know that “rubies” were the only hummingbird you’re likely to see around here, all it takes is a quick glimpse at a male bird to reveal its identity. A brilliant, jewel-like ruby-red gorget, or distinctive patch of colored feathers—like a collar— appears on the mature male’s throat. Females and immature males sport iridescent green and gray plumage.
Full of Energy
Perhaps you’ve heard the buzzy hum of these high-energy birds as they whizzed by you. Weighing less than a nickel, they can fly forwards, backwards, upside down, and in a pendulum pattern (display flight), with a quickness that can make them difficult to track. Once you do manage to lock in on one, you likely won’t see it sitting still for long—their little hearts beat nearly 1,200 beats per minute, while their wings beat up to 70 times per second!
Rubies Love Red
The best way to spend quality time with rubies is to put out hummingbird feeders with homemade nectar, or plant some of their favorite native perennial wildflowers in your landscape. The more nectar available to hummingbirds near your home, the more likely you are to see their aerobatics and beauty. They also like to eat tiny insects, such as gnats and spiderlings. In one day, they can eat up to eight times their body weight and visit a thousand flowers!
Nature-made Nectar: Plant their favorite nectar plants and enjoy the presence of both flowers and birds year after year. Eastern redbud (Ciercis canadensis), azaleas (Genus rhododendron), crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea), red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma), and wild bergamot (Monarda fisulosa) are some good choices—all have “tubes” for easy feeding. We even have some native flowers, such as the trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), that are pollinated only by hummingbirds
Homemade Nectar: Boil four cups water, remove from stove, add one cup sugar, and stir. Let the clear nectar dissolve and cool, then pour into your feeder (leftover homemade nectar can be refrigerated for up to two weeks). There’s no need to add food coloring—as long as your feeder has a touch of red, or you hang it in a location near colorful flowers, you’re likely to get some visitors. Be sure to clean your feeder regularly and add fresh nectar several times a week.
Late Summer Exodus
In western NC, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is here all summer, departing at the end of September. Some may winter along the coast of the Carolinas down to Florida, but most migrate more than 500 miles from the eastern U.S. to Central America. Recent research reveals that rubies can travel even farther—over 1,000 miles—without a break!*
Be sure to leave your feeders out until the end of September so these travelers can fuel up before their epic migration. If you’re hoping to see more Ruby-throated Hummingbirds next spring, early fall is an ideal time to plant native perennials.
Come mid-April our flighty friends will return to us, hungry and happy to be back in the High Country.
* The Auk: Ornithological Advances
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, photo by Jim Hudgins/USFWS
Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, photo by Steve Maslowski/USFWS
GOLF GUIDE
From Jefferson Landing Resort in Ashe County to the Mount Mitchell Club in Burnsville in Yancey County, Hurricane Helene left an unimaginable, never seen before hell-scape in her brutal wake. For many, recovery will be measured in months, if not years. In spite of all the ruin wrought last September, residents and business owners have put their collective shoulder to their recovery. That’s certainly the case in the mountain golf industry, which, like its winter cousin, the ski industry, salvaged a much needed revenue-producing recreational activity in the aftermath of tragedy.
High Country Golf is open for business as usual with the exception of three popular venues.
Sugar Mountain Golf Club currently offers nine holes of a popular 18-hole layout to the public. As repairs move forward, that nine-hole layout may change as a promising restoration rebuilds bunkers, culverts and streams. Speculations as to a completion date vary, but it’s safe to say additional holes will be added to the rota throughout July and August. A severely damaged 16th hole remains the biggest obstacle to the 18-hole course being completely repaired before the first snow flies. Nevertheless, the turf at Sugar Mountain has never been healthier, or more beautifully manicured.
The Elk River Club outside Banner Elk is undergoing a complete rebuild after its namesake waterway flooded its banks leaving four feet of water over most of its playing ground. The Jack Nicklaus signature course, built in 1984, is being reshaped and re-seeded, with designers from the Nicklaus Design Group taking advantage of the opportunity to make this great layout better still. While hopes for an autumn sneak peak of the refined masterpiece still hold, only time will tell when the grand reopening takes place. But efforts suggest a “better than ever” Elk River Club.
Farther south, along the banks of the South Fork of the Toe River in Yancey County, the fate of the Mount Mitchell Golf Club remains uncertain. Built in 1975, the lovely design by Englishman Fred Hawtree suffered most of all. The club’s website offers photos of the damage, which can only be described as horrific. Only time will tell when rebuilding efforts take hold. Check the club’s website at mountmitchellgolf.com for updates.
Nevertheless, in the post-Helene era, there’s much to be thankful for, and that includes the unparalleled golfing opportunities in the North Carolina High Country.
The status of your favorite golf course is listed next.
High Country Golf: Open for Business
By Tom McAuliffe
PUBLIC COURSES
Boone Golf Club Boone, NC
All’s-well at local favorite.
Tom Adams, PGA | Architect Ellis Maples, Revision Rick Robbins
• ‘Must play’ Mountain Standard in 66th season. A mountain classic by Ross protégé Ellis Maples. Opened 1959, the Boone Golf Club proved a primary driver to growth of summer tourism in the High Country. 828-264-8760 | boonegolfclub.com
Mountain Glen Golf Club Newland, NC
Traditional April 1st opening day morale boost to High Country Golf. Robert Nowak, PGA | Architect George Cobb
• Grass roots creation modeled after Boone GC opened in 1965. A ‘play every day’ kind of club. Fine condition. 828-733-5804 | Mountainglengolfclub.com
Sugar Mountain Golf Club Sugar Mountain, NC
The popular ‘muni’ took Helene’s best shot. Nine holes opened midMay. Restoration of remaining nine holes underway. Complete bunker overhaul in progress, along with culvert and stream restoration. Expect great things with time.
Tom McAuliffe, Golf Director | Architect Frank Duane
• Dynamite par 64. Everyman’s golf club in a land of giants. 828-898-6464 | seesugar.com
Mt. Mitchell Golf Club Burnsville, NC
The High Country’s southern most favorite devastated by Helene. Restoration schedule to be determined. Note website below for notifications.
Architect Fred Hawtree 828-675-5454 | mountmitchellgolf.com
Willow Valley Boone, NC
Some flood damage on Baird’s Creek but fun nine-holer near Boone open to public.
Architect Tom Jackson (nine holes)
• One of Jackson’s earlier creations, he’s now a member of the Carolinas Golf Hall-of-Fame. The Little Green Monster is an exceptional par three course.
828-963-6865
Mountain Aire Golf Club West Jefferson, NC
Ashe County favorite running on all cylinders.
Architect/Committee, Revisions Dennis Lehmann
• Popular Ashe County stop, driving range, good course, good folks in the pro shop.
• Philip Shepherd carrying bright torch in Hagel family tradition enters his 13th season at the helm. 336-877-4716 | Mountainaire.com
Hound Ears Club rose above the water at #6
Sugar Mountain Golf #12
Grassy Creek Golf Club Spruce Pine, NC
Number 11 at Sugar Mountain Golf Club.
The popular public course opened the season with nine of 18 holes as repairs continue following Helene’s devastation.
Dodged the Helene Bullet. Opened front nine in March. Rebuilt driving range and had back nine repairs complete for April 1st debut. New ownership making great strides, naming Linville’s Scott Watson greens superintendent.
Craig Sparks, PGA
• Visit the Mitchell County mainstay and find out what all the locals love about Grassy Creek in Spruce Pine. 828-765-7436 | grassycreek.com
RESORT CLUBS WITH LODGING ACCESS TO GOLF
Jefferson Landing Country Club & Resort Jefferson, NC
The High Country’s northern most course open for play this spring.
Dan Stepnicka, PGA | Architect Larry Nelson/Dennis Lehmann
• Course access for members and on-site lodgers—great golf getaway for your group.
• Outside play welcome per space available. Call for tee times. Beautiful Ashe County classic. Clubhouse dining. 1-800-292-6274 | visitjeffersonlanding.com
Linville Land Harbor, Linville
Beautiful property on Linville River took brunt on back nine property. Front nine opened on time. Back nine restored and better than ever with new irrigation system. Supt. Dexter Bentley continues to deliver immaculate putting surfaces.
Donnie Davis, Golf Director
Architects Tom Jackson (A-9 Ernie Hayes)
• Long-time private enclave between Linville and Pineola open to public. Fabulous putting surfaces. 828-733-8325 linvillelandharbor.com
PRIVATE CLUBS/MEMBERS AND GUESTS ONLY
Some clubs below may offer short-term rental membership privileges with club or member sponsorship.
Hound Ears Club Blowing Rock, NC
Herculean effort to reopen all 18 holes for the summer of 2025. Peter Rucker, PGA. App State alum enters 43rd season in the Watauga River Valley.
Architect George Cobb (1965), revisions Tom Jackson
• Private club, member-sponsored lodging and home rentals gateway to first tee.
The ridgetop beauty escaped serious damage and opened in stellar condition Mother’s Day Weekend.
Jason ‘Catfish’ Hildreth, PGA | Architect Willard Byrd
• New golf director Hildreth trades Carolina low country for Eastern America’s Highest Town at 5,506’. Ridge Top layout with views of five states, including Kentucky when the Blue Moon is full. Members only and accompanied guests.
828-387-4208 ext. 201 | beechmtnclub.org
Grandfather Golf & Country Club—Linville, NC
Took Helene’s best shot and better than ever.
Jonah Cox, PGA | Architect Ellis Maples
828-898-4388
Blowing Rock Country Club Blowing Rock, NC
This jewel dodged big trouble and a beautiful layout better than ever. Andrew Glover, PGA | Architect Donald Ross, Seth Raynor Revisions Tom Jackson and more recently by Ross specialist Kris Spence a big hit.
828-295-3171
Elk River Club Banner Elk, NC
The Elk River devastated Nicklaus’ first signature design in North Carolina. Restoration requires reshaping, reseeding tee to green. Club taking advantage of rebuild to refine stellar layout further still. Reopening TBD, projected late September.
Dave Ambrose, PGA | Architect Jack Nicklaus/Bob Cupp
828-898-9773
Linville Ridge Club Linville, NC
Thousands of trees downed, but crew delivered mid-May, open per usual.
Matt Benton, PGA | Architect George Cobb | Revisions Bobby Weed
828-742-4140
“Eastern America’s Highest Golf Course”
Diamond Creek Banner Elk, NC
Opening May 21st in tip top shape.
Joe Humston, PGA | Architect Tom Fazio
828-898-1800
Linville Golf Club—Linville, NC
In the midst of greens renovations Helene came to town. Nevertheless, against all odds, “Old Linville” just about perfect for mid-May debut.
Bill Stines, PGA | Architect Donald Ross
Revisions Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Bobby Weed.
• Longtime public access to historic Eseeola Lodge now member and guests only. Club
828-733-4311 | eseeola.com
Hound Ears
Locally family owned business since 1990.
Authorized Club Car dealer. Sales, service, repair, pick up, delivery, custom builds. Quality products.
“We strive to treat each customer with respect. We look forward to working with each customer and their specific needs whether it be golfing, cruising the neighborhood, camping, businesses, mobility, or personal transportation.”
Holy Cross Valle Crucis Celebrates the Centennial of Its Current Church Building
By Keith Martin
Episcopal Mission Founded in 1842 Announces Public Events for Saturday, July 19
Onehundred years ago, in 1925, the Episcopal faith community in and around Valle Crucis laid the foundation of the stone church with a red door on the corner of Skiles Way and built a new spiritual home for the original mission that had been established in 1842.
This is the centennial year of the current location of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, and the parish will commemorate this blessed anniversary with a series of public events that celebrate its worship and ministry, plus four of its most cherished venues: the historic 1862 St. John’s Chapel on the lower Watauga River, the venerable 19th century Bishop Ives Cabin, the former 1910 mission school now known as the Valle Crucis Conference Center (VCCC), and the gothic revival architecture and adornments of Holy Cross Church itself, consecrated in 1925. Although located in Valle Crucis, the formal address of the property is 122 Skiles Way, Banner Elk, NC 28604.
Best known in the High Country for the annual Valle Country Fair, which has contributed over $1.25 million in proceeds to local charities and families in need, the Holy Cross family will mark their Centennial Celebration (HC100) with the goal of “connecting the community with a 183-year history of love and service to the folks in the Valle and beyond.” Featured events include free history tours led by parishioners in period costumes portraying historical figures who played a prominent role—pun intended—in the formation, development, and ministry of the mission school, conference center, and church.
These tours will take place simultaneously in all four of the above locations beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, repeating as necessary up until 4 p.m., or even later if attendance is more than anticipated; no advance registration is required. The prominent individuals being portrayed on the history tours, along with the names of their modern day reenactors, are as follows:
Bishop Levi Silliman Ives (17971867), portrayed by Walter Browning, was the second bishop of NC and in 1842 arrived in Watauga Co. to establish a school for boys, expanding it to a training school for training ministers patterned on the monastic style.
Brother William West Skiles (180762), portrayed by James B. F. Tester, arrived in Valle Crucis in 1844; he was hired by Bishop Ives to take charge of the agricultural portion of the school and entered the ministry being ordained a deacon in 1847.
Ellen Schermerhorn Auchmuty (1837-1927), portrayed by Dawn Harris, was a wealthy NYC philanthropist who contributed the funds to build the main three-story building at the Valle Crucis Mission School—with its wide wraparound porch—in 1911.
Father Lee Frontis Anthony (18891919), portrayed by Mike Alford, was priest at Valle Crucis, a beloved pastor and friend to the community who died January 1919 during the flu epidemic having contracted the disease while visiting sick church members.
Deacon Milton Crisler “Cris” Greer (1933-2002), portrayed by Noyes Capehart, began a vital outreach program known as the Towel Ministry in the 1980s and at Holy Cross in the 1990s focusing on servant ministry and help to all those in need.
Deacon Muriel Elizabeth Tedstone Moore (1934-2015), portrayed by Nina-Jo Moore, was the first female deacon at Holy Cross, ordained in 1999, whose major areas of focus were with the aging population and as an advocate for the less fortunate.
Bishop Junius Moore Horner (18591933), portrayed by John Goodrich, became bishop of the Missionary District of Asheville in 1898 (which became the Diocese of Western NC); his chief interest was education and the re-establishment of a mission school at Valle Crucis, including a boarding and day school, a dairy with cheese and ice cream plants, apple orchards, and a wagon factory.
Miss Mary Ellen Horner (18571922), portrayed by Andrea McDonough, was the sister of Bishop Horner and the principal of the Mission School from 1910 until her death from pneumonia. It was an outstanding period in the history of the school due to Miss Horner’s character and personality, with her devotion to duty an example to all.
These family-friendly tours will include docents from the parish to guide folks from place to place, with plans underway for refreshments, a printed handout with historical bios, a map of the entire property for self-guided walking tours, children’s activities, and much more. From 5 to 7:30 p.m., there will be a HC100 Centennial Celebration Dinner in and around the Valle Crucis Apple Barn catered by the VCCC and featuring food items that were actually prepared at the Mission School kitchen back in 1925. The meal is free of charge, but your RSVP is requested to HolyCrossValleCrucis.net. Note that donations are being accepted to renovate the Bishop Ives Cabin for the preservation and display of the parish and conference center history and their artifacts.
Special thanks to Church Historian Dedy Traver and Interim Rector Robert Hartmans for their assistance with this article.
Left to Right: Bishop Levi Silliman Ives, Bishop Junius Moore Horner, Father Lee Frontis Anthony, Ellen Schermerhorn Auchmuty, Deacon Muriel Elizabeth Tedstone Moore
Construction of Auchmuty Hall, 1910
Banner Elk Landmark Begins a New Chapter
By Carol Lowe Timblin
Thetwo-story white house, located on the sharp curve between Dobbins Road and Hickory Nut Gap Road in Banner Elk, has been a familiar landmark since the 1800s. Fortunately, the house was not damaged by Hurricane Helene, but many trees around it came down during the devastating storm, which hit in late September 2024.
“People said I should tear the house down,” recalls owner Mike Eggers, who bought it 40 years ago. “I decided to renovate it.”
As president of Eggers Construction Company, which specializes in earth moving and rock removal, he and his crew have moved tons of dirt for new homes and businesses in the area. His preservation of the Banner house marks the beginning of a brand new chapter on the old house that has played an important role in the town’s history.
“We have not changed the floor plan of the house, and the hardwood floors remain intact,” states Eggers. “We opened one of the fireplaces that had been covered for years. We are installing gas heat. We have added new windows, new siding, and a new roof.” He adds, “My daughter wants to turn the house into a Christmas shop.”
A Look Back
Elsie Lowe Beasley, who grew up in Banner Elk, has documented the history of the old house and the town in two books of photographs. She states that Lewis Bitting Banner, the original owner of the house, left Surry County, NC, in 1846 and settled in what came to be known as Banner’s Elk. The unique name developed because several families related to patriarch Martin Luther Banner settled along the Elk River. The apostrophe and the “S” were dropped from the name after Banner Elk became an official town in 1911, the same year that Avery County was formed.
Lewis Banner built a log cabin on the site for his wife Nancy Meadow Flipping and their eight children. He also constructed cabins across the river for the 17 slaves he brought with him, but none of the structures remain. The slaves—including Simon Peter, his wife Irene (Reen), and their five children—had various jobs on the farm. Following the end of the Civil War, they were set free. Simon Peter and his son Peter are buried in the Banner Elk Cemetery, along with early settlers and others.
When the Banners arrived in the wilderness of Watauga County, it was teeming
with bears, deer, muskrats, minks, raccoons, and other wildlife. (No sightings of elk were recorded at that time, however, as the species had been extirpated by 1800.) Banner built a tannery where he could process the large number of animal hides he collected.
During the Civil War, the Banners welcomed Union soldiers fleeing from the battlefield or prison on their way to Tennessee and Kentucky. The story goes that the refugees often hid in a thicket called the “Land of Goshen” near the Banner home. Three of the Banners’ sons—William Durritt, Samuel Henry, and Joshua Albert—served in the Union Army. After the war ended, Samuel built a grist mill on the Elk River and a home nearby that now houses the Banner House Museum. During Reconstruction, Lewis Banner served in the North Carolina Legislature.
The Banners’ log cabin burned after the Civil War, and the family replaced it with a large one-story structure. The second house had plenty of room for the family, as well as guests and travelers. It was considered “the first boarding house in the area, known for its good food and hospitality,” according to Beasley. In 1875, the first post office was
Inset: Second house of Lewis Bitting and Nancy Banner in 1886; their original log house burned down following the Civil War. Courtesy of Elsie Lowe Beasley
The Banners’ second home, c.1886, courtesy of Elsie Lowe Beasley
established in the house, with the Banners’ youngest daughter, Martha Helen (Patti), serving as the postmistress. After Lewis Banner passed away in 1883, wife Nancy lived in that house for another 15 years.
A Third Home Built to Last
Around 1898, the second Banner home was lost to fire. It was replaced with a two-story structure, flanked with rock chimneys on each end and a front porch with an upstairs covered veranda that was later removed. Upon Nancy’s death in 1902, Nancy Amelia Banner, an unmarried daughter, took possession of the house and lived there until her death in 1937.
Lewis Bitting Banner, his grandfather’s namesake, inherited the house from Nancy Amelia. Born in 1889, he was the second son of Lewis Martin Banner and his wife Isabelle Smith. When she died in childbirth, Lewis Bitting and his older brother Thomas were placed under the care of relatives while their father ran a store in town.
Later, young Lewis—a farmer by occupation—lived in the house with his wife Gladys McLaughlin until his death in 1971. The couple had met when she was
a student at nearby Lees-McRae College. They had two children, Tom and Margaret, who left Banner Elk when they were grown. (Tom married Gertrude Woody and lived in Elizabethton, TN; Margaret married Sam Mortimer and lived in Newland.) Eventually, Gladys sold the house to the owner of a local construction company, but had a lifetime estate in it until her death in 1995. After Mike Eggers purchased the house, he rented it to various families for several years.
Home to four generations of Banners, the old house is now under the trust and care of the Eggers family. Hopefully, it will remain a Banner Elk icon for another century.
You can learn more about the history of Banner Elk at the Banner House Museum (former home of Samuel Henry Banner) located at 7990 Hickory Nut Gap Road, Banner Elk, NC. Carol Lowe Timblin, a native of Banner Elk, is an award-winning writer and a frequent contributor to Carolina Mountain Life.
Historic photos courtesy of Elsie Lowe Beasley, from her book Photographs: Banner’s Elk North Carolina Album One.
Preserved interior architectural elements (the newspaper from the 1950s served as window insulation.)
Lewis Banner Home c.1920, courtesy of Elsie Lowe Beasley
RESOURCE CIRCLE
Understanding “Rare Earths”
By Tamara S. Randolph
Our amazing earth has been providing natural resources specific to our technology needs since the beginning of humanity. Eventually, humans learned to identify and extract certain elements and minerals from the earth to advance technology. Here we are in 2025, and if you follow the news, you’ve likely become familiar with “Rare Earth Elements,” “Rare Earth Minerals,” or simply “Rare Earths.” They’re crucial to today’s technology, and a hot topic in geopolitical circles, even contributing to what some call a “mineral cold war.” But where do they come from, and how do they apply to us and our everyday lives?
REEs are all around.
Let’s start with the basic AI-generated definition: Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements including the lanthanides (elements 57-71 on the periodic table) plus scandium and yttrium (transitional metals). They exist in the earth’s crust, primarily in certain igneous rocks. More relevant to us is that they are essential components in many modern can’t-live-without innovations, from our computers and smartphones, to medical imaging, to defense and aerospace engineering, to renewable energy. REEs possess unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties that certain high technologies require to perform well, or function at all.
Let’s take a look at several common REEs and their applications. Neodymium is essential for strong magnets used in smartphones, computers, electric motors, generators, hard drives, and other electronic devices. Neodymium glass is used to make lasers (eye surgery, skin cancer surgery, etc). Cerium is used in catalytic converters, a crucial part of a vehicle’s exhaust system that reduces harmful emissions. You’ll also find it in some camera lenses and lighting. Scandium is used in computers, some batteries, and aerospace components. Yttrium is used in LED light sources, electronics displays, florescent bulbs, and medical treatments (it can even help fight cancer).
Indeed, they are important to our daily lives.
While given the name “rare,” the rare earths are actually quite common on the planet. However, unlike some elements and metallic minerals, they aren’t found in high concentrations, which makes them difficult and expensive to extract. Mining for rare earths can be highly destructive to the planet and detrimental to people, as it can lead to water and soil pollution and release toxic waste materials.
To add to the challenges, large REE reserves are found in only a handful of countries, the majority located in China. Substantial deposits of certain REEs can also be found in India, Myanmar, Australia, Russia, Vietnam, Brazil, eastern Canada, and the U.S., with the Mountain Pass mine in California being one of the richest rare earth deposits globally. Demand for rare earths grows every year, yet it is apparent to many experts that our current extraction methods may not be sustainable.
What can WE do to make a difference?
We know these raw materials are limited, and that attaining them can have some negative, long-lasting impacts. Therefore, it seems logical that everyone should take an interest in conserving finite natural resources such as REEs. One way is to purchase high quality, long-lasting electronic equipment.
“Check consumer product guides to find the highest quality items that save energy and last longer,” advises the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). “Products with lengthy warranties can indicate long-term usefulness.” While they may cost more initially, you’re likely to save money in the long run.
When a device, such as a phone or computer, ceases to function as it once did, find a trusted information technology (IT) specialist to diagnose the problem and attempt to repair or refurbish that device. Often you can upgrade your computer by adding RAM, changing software or conducting other upgrades to make your current device last longer. If your electronics work fine, but no longer meet your needs, consider donating gently-used or refurbished electronics to your charity of choice.
If the time comes to discard unusable electronics, recycling them is the best way to go. E-waste is the fastest growing solid-waste stream worldwide, and solutions to manage this waste have come a long way. There are more options than ever before to conveniently recycle electronics. You can start with your own municipality’s solid waste facility.
Cole Kiziah, Recycling Coordinator at the Watauga County Solid Waste/Recycling Department, wants his county’s residents to know that the main Boone facility accepts all electronics commodities: TVs, computer components, keyboards, fax machines, printers, vacuums, microwaves, batteries, light bulbs, and other technologies that may contain REEs and other reusable materials.
Once they are dropped off, he says, “we send our electronics out with Powerhouse Recycling—they deconstruct them.” The county has partnered with this NC-based company, well known for their safety and security practices, to handle discarded electronics and recover valuable precious metals and other parts. There’s no need to worry about the security of computer data, says Kiziah. “They wipe the hard drives.” The Watauga County facility also partners with Cleanlites Recycling for handling all types of batteries and light bulbs.
Reusing or recycling electronics saves them from landing in the landfill, where materials that may still have value end up being wasted. According to scientists, all 17 rare earth elements are potentially recyclable. And while the processes for recycling and recovering REEs have room for improvement, our efforts as consumers to get our unwanted electronic gadgets and gizmos in the right hands can go a long way in returning valuable materials to our economy and conserving earth’s “rare” resources.
Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine & Processing Facility photo by Tmy350 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115261745
COUNTRY RESOURCES FOR RECYCLING ELECTRONICS
Donations:
Have functioning electronics that you no longer need? Reach out to your local charity of choice to see if they can use your donation. Some thrift stores also accept older electronics. See CMLs Community Non-Profit guide at cmlmagazine.online/cmlcommunity/.
Repair/Parts/Replacement of computers and smartphones:
n Dougnet Computer Consulting: 828-264-0959
Compu-Doc: 828-260-3306
n Boone Cellular and Computer Repair: Boone location 828-964 1161, Jefferson location 336-646 4097
n Geeks at Work: 828-262-3359
n Nordic IT Solutions: 828-263-8359
n Radio Shack of Newland: 828-733-5718
Your local Chamber of Commerce offers additional recommendations.
Local Solid Waste and Recycling facilities (for electronics, batteries and bulbs):
n Watauga County: 336 Landfill Rd., Boone, NC
n Avery County: 269 Old Vale Road, Newland, NC (behind the Avery County Board of Education)
n Ashe County: 714 S Jefferson Ave, West Jefferson, NC (and select convenience centers)
n Wilkes County: Roaring River Landfill, 9219 Elkin Hwy, Roaring River, NC
n Mitchell/Yancey Counties: NC Highway 80 in Yancey County, plus recycling centers in Spruce Pine and Bakersville
Most NC counties and some municipalities offer electronics collection services through public drop-off locations. Note that the disposal of computer equipment and televisions in landfills has been banned in North Carolina.
Nearby Retailers that offer electronics and battery recycling services:
n Staples: Boone | 828-263-0551, Morganton | 828-439-6019
n Best Buy: Johnson City, TN | 423-262-0329, Bristol, TN 423-845-6050
These retailers may also offer repair services.
Mail-Back programs:
For both home and business e-waste, EZ On The Earth offers mail-in recycling kits for recycling electronics, batteries, bulbs and more. ezontheearth.com
EcoATMs (for recycling phones and tablets for cash):
Drop your old phone into an ecoATM and earn quick cash the service is safe and secure. Find ecoATMs at Walmart Supercenters in Boone, Spruce Pine, Wilkesboro, Granite Falls, Morganton, Elizabethton, TN and other locations. ecoATM.com
For further research:
n NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Tips for Households on Reducing Electronic Wastes: deq.nc.gov/conservation/ recycling/electronics/house-holds
n Institute for Policy Studies: ips-dc.org/mapping-the-impact-and conflicts-of-rare-earth-elements/
n Geology.com/articles/rare-earth-elements/
n Ask-a-Geologist: Appalachian State University’s Geology Department can answer questions that you may have about the natural environment around you—rocks, minerals, fossils, landslides, earthquakes, water quality, fracking, climate... “We have expertise in all fields of earth science.” Ask-a-Geologist is a service that the University provides to the community free of charge. Learn more at earth.appstate.edu/outreach/ask-geologist.
RESOURCE CIRCLE
Avery County Electronics Recycling site
North Carolina Breaks Record for Tourism Spending
Governor Josh Stein recently announced that the overall North Carolina tourism economy held strong against the headwinds of Hurricane Helene. Travelers spent more than $36.7 billion on trips to and within the state in 2024. The previous record of $35.6 billion was set in 2023.
“[This] news underscores what we all know: North Carolina is a fantastic place to visit,” said Governor Stein. “As our mountain economies [work] to recover from Helene. . . we must continue to support tourism and small businesses in western North Carolina to help them come back stronger.”
Footsloggers Banner Elk Grand Opening
On Saturday, July 5, celebrate the official grand opening of Footsloggers’ new store in Banner Elk, located in the Cannon Welcome Center on the Lees-McRae
campus. A Ribbon Cutting ceremony takes place at 12:30 p.m. Enjoy live music, local food and beverages, and a raffle. The new Footsloggers will carry quality gear similar to what’s available at its three other locations (Boone, Blowing Rock and West Jefferson), plus the Banner Elk store will be an exclusive provider of Lees-McRae branded merchandise. Footsloggersnc.com
This Summer at Grandfather Mountain Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is once again offering adult field courses for 2025. “Our field course series gives adults the chance to examine some really interesting subjects,” said John Caveny, vice president of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “Combining these unique topics with course leadership from experts in each field creates a one-of-a-kind learning environment.”
Summer courses include:
• Explore the Biodiversity of Grandfather Mountain: A Habitat Identification Workshop – July 19 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Hummingbird Natural History with Banding Demonstration – Aug. 16 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Fungi in the Cloud Forest – Sept. 11 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For registration information, visit grandfather.com/field-courses
Other special events on Grandfather this season include Animal Enrichment Day on July 30, Junior Naturalist Day on August 9, Hawk Watch September 1-30, and the 54th Annual Girl Scout Day on September 6. More information is available at grandfather.com
. Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Magic Portals and Doorways
A new community art initiative, spearheaded by artist and educator Pat Kincheloe Morrison, hopes to spread healing and joy across Ashe County in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Funded by the Ashe County Arts Council through the Jane Lonon Legacy Grant, “Magic Portals and Doorways” offers children and adults in Ashe County a playful and therapeutic way to heal and reconnect after the hardships of Hurricane Helene. According to Kincheloe Morrison, the project involves creating whimsical clay fairy doors and “magical” portals to be installed at businesses and community spaces throughout the county. Be sure to pick up our Autumn issue to find out more about the project, and where you can pick up a passport for logging all “portal” sightings. ashecountyarts.org, ashechamber.com
Boone’s New Police Chief
High Country native Daniel Duckworth was recently appointed as the Chief of Police for the Boone Police Department. Chief Duckworth is a graduate of Watauga High School, Appalachian State University (B.S. in Psychology, 2003) and East Tennessee State University (M.A. in Physical Education, 2006), and has been with the Department for over 16 years. “It is an honor to serve as Chief of Police for the Town of Boone. I am committed to fostering trust, transparency, and collaboration within our community while empowering our dedicated officers to thrive.”
Grand Opening, Take Two
New Purple Pantry in Avery County
the120 middle school students to cover up to five semesters of tuition at CCC&TI. “It has been a real privilege for us to be part of the solution for Watauga County Schools and Valle Crucis. It has brought new energy and new life to this campus unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, and affirms our belief that Partnerships Matter,” said CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch.
Lear Group Real Estate, who had their Grand Opening the night before Hurricane Helene struck, is proud to announce that they are not only back in their newly remodeled (again) building in Banner Elk but opening an office in Boone as well! These two locations will also house offices for the High Country Children’s Foundation, so keep an eye out for lots of fun fundraising events in the near future. Give them a call at 828-260-1840. The two Lear Group Real Estate offices are located at 1484 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, and 743 W. King St., Boone.
A new Purple Pantry was installed at High Country Community Health in Newland, expanding a regional initiative that provides free, 24/7 access to lifesaving supplies and community-based recovery resources. This Purple Pantry, part of a growing network across Western North Carolina, is a collaboration between local harm reduction advocates and High Country Community Health. It offers essential items like Narcan (naloxone nasal spray), fentanyl and xylazine test strips, recovery literature, peer support referrals, and grief support materials, all available to the public 24/7 without barriers.
Tatum Galleries Turns 40!
Challenge Kids to Read
This summer, offer the young people in your life a “reading challenge” to encourage them to read as many books as they can—get creative with how you reward their efforts! One of the most valuable gifts anyone can offer a child is the intangible reward of becoming a lifelong reader and ever-curious learner.
The color purple is central to the pantry’s identity—not just visually, but symbolically. Purple is the awareness color for opioid addiction and overdose prevention, making the vibrant pantry a visual signal of support and solidarity for those affected by substance use disorder. The Purple Pantry is located at 448 Cranberry St. in Newland, NC. Photo: Avery Medical location of High Country Community Health on Cranberry Street— Kenton McCollum, Kristen Sturgeon, Liz Hemby, Mary McKinney, Dr. Alysia Hoover-Thompson, Pam Hodges, Sara Clark
Serving the High Country with fine furniture and interior design since 1985, Tatum Galleries is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year! Tatum Galleries offers a large selection of beautiful furniture, all weather outdoor and patio furniture, timeless accessories and interior design for residential, commercial and remodeling needs. “We offer a full range of interior design services that incorporate beauty with functionality.” Visit their showroom at 5320 NC-105, Banner Elk, NC 28604 and tatumgalleries.com.
The libraries in our two regional library systems—Appalachian Regional Library (Watauga/Ashe/Wilkes) and the Toe River Valley Regional Library (Avery/Mitchell and Spruce Pine)—are excellent summertime destinations. The Book Exchange in Banner Elk offers a great selection of books for children and young adults, including their new “Explorers’ Room” collection of science, nature and geography books and activities. Bring a book, take a book at the Book Exchange—it’s that easy! Photo: Children’s collections at the Banner Elk Book Exchange, Bannerelkbookexchange.com
CCC&TI Foundation Guarantees Scholarships
When the Valle Crucis School was severely damaged during Helene, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) hosted the school’s 6th, 7th and 8th graders on their Watauga Campus for the remainder of the school year. The Foundation of CCC&TI recently announced that they would provide scholarships for each of
The Jack Hicks Memorial Gospel Singing at the Historic Cranberry High School
Love Gospel and Blue Grass music? Head over to the Historic Cranberry High School on August 23 starting at 5 p.m. and enjoy moving tunes by experienced musicians throughout the evening. The headliner is the The Resurrection Gospel Group out of Atlanta, Georgia. This is a free event and all are welcome.
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Chief Cares Launches Blue Haven Housing Community for Hurricane Helene Displaced Families
Chief Cares, a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by country music star Eric Church and wife Katherine, broke ground in April for its first housing development to support families displaced by the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. The development, called Blue Haven, is located in Avery County, NC—an area close to Church’s heart and home.
“The land we stand on today sits in the heart of a county that has meant so much to me,”Church said during the groundbreaking. “This is a place my family and I are proud to call home… Mountain people, my people.”
This new initiative, called Blueprint for the Blue Ridge, is a scalable model for disaster recovery rooted in housing, community, and mid- to long-term support. “We realized that keeping the people in their communities after the disaster was a problem with no real solution. We wanted to change that,” Church said. “This is truly a hand up, not a handout. Dignity and community are key to the long-term success of the Blueprint.”
Blue Haven will offer between 40 and 45 homes across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom floorplans. Chief Cares and its partners have purchased land, prepared infrastructure, and started building the homes. Selected families’ housing expenses will be financially assisted to allow them to live affordably for up to three years while they rebuild their lives. In addition, families will have the option to purchase their homes—with support from Chief Cares in accessing any available resources. Families are expected to be
able to move in by the end of this summer.
While Blue Haven is the first such project, it won’t be the last. Chief Cares has plans to expand into neighboring counties, with the ultimate goal of creating a national model for disaster recovery rooted in permanence, pride, and place.
“It is our hope and belief that this will provide guidance and support to other communities facing devastation,” Church said. “A map to a destination of keeping those communities intact.”
In late May, Eric Church was named to TIME magazine’s TIME100 Philanthropy 2025, a prestigious list of the 100 most influential people shaping the future of giving. This latest honor recognizes his significant contributions to rebuilding his hometown community following Hurricane Helene. chiefcares.org | Photo: Groundbreaking at Blue Haven, with Ruth Shirley, Christian Bigsby, Eric Church (center), Governor Josh Stein, Luke Howe; courtesy of chiefcares.org.
The Avery Humane Society at 279 New Vale Road in Newland is hosting a special fundraising event on Thursday, August 28, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Venue at Boulder Creek located on Beech Mountain. Tickets are $150 per person, with all proceeds benefitting the Avery Humane Society and Avery County animals.
Entitled “Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Hope…There’s no place like FUREVER HOME,” the evening will include music by Mohr Fun
Entertainment; a live auction featuring a selection of high-value items, including travel experiences; raffles; catering by Stonewalls; and mission moments showcasing the shelter’s work through stories before, during and after Hurricane Helene.
According to Executive Director Elsa Delgado, “Our goal is to ensure the longterm sustainability of the shelter and expand our capacity to care for the animals in Avery County. A primary outcome is an inhouse vet. Having a vet on staff will allow us to provide timely medical care for our shelter animals and improve health outcomes. In addition to this critical need, funds raised will help sustain our daily operations, including food, medical treatments and safe, warm housing for the animals in our care. The event will also support our community programs such as our food pantry, children’s reading program, and low cost spay/ neuter. We hope to introduce new initiatives that further benefit the animals and families in Avery County.”
Delgado added, “This event represents the hopeful path each animal in our care takes, from intake to adoption. Just as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz ‘there’s no place like home,’ we believe that every animal deserves a home where they are loved, cherished and safe. Our community impact goes beyond the shelter. Each ticket sold is more than just a seat at our event, it’s a lifeline of hope. It means meals for a hungry animal, healing for a sick animal, and the promise of a better tomorrow.”
Seating capacity at The Venue at Boulder Creek is limited to 150 people, so the Avery County Humane Society is encouraging everyone to purchase their tickets early. For more information, visit averyhumane. org or call 828-733-2333.
Avery Humane Society’s August Fundraising Event
Community & Local Business News
The new Beech Mountain Town Hall and Visitor Center expansion was undertaken to better serve the community by providing much needed space for both the Police Department and the Visitor Center.
Originally built in the late 1990s, the Visitor Center was a 900-square-foot facility that was separated from the Town Hall by a courtyard. The new Visitor Center is just shy of 2,000 square feet and features a larger lobby, a covered main entrance and an ADA family bathroom. The space also houses the offices of the Director of Community and Economic Development and the Marketing and Tourism Director.
The new addition was designed by Town of Beech Mountain’s architect, John Merritt. Merritt’s challenge was to join the two existing buildings into one cohesive, more modern facility that would also maintain its small town charm.
In keeping with the town’s time-honored tradition of recognizing and honoring its important citizens, Beech Mountain’s Town Council signed a resolution in 2023 to honor Elena Kontinos’ years of selfless service by naming the new building the Elena Kontinos Visitor Center. She had made her home in the Town of Beech Mountain in 1986, and was a successful businesswoman (co-founder of the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria), a proud mother and grandmother, and a community leader.
Kontinos, who passed away shortly after construction began, had worked at the Visitor Center for many years greeting every guest with a warm smile and an even
warmer disposition. A formal dedication ceremony takes place early summer.
The Visitor Center serves both visitors and town residents by providing information on business services, attractions and events in Beech Mountain and the High Country.
Hours are Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (in summer and winter), and Monday through Saturday in late fall and early spring (when the Beech Mountain Resort closes). The lobby and bathrooms remain open 24/7 year-round.
“The Visitor Center is the first impression of Beech Mountain for many of our visitors,” said Town Manager Bob Pudney. “We are thrilled that construction is over, and we are once again able to welcome guests at the updated facility.” beechmtn.com
Bonnie Clark Appointed Executive Director of Feeding Avery Families
Bonnie Clark, formerly the associate executive director of Williams YMCA of Avery County, has been selected as the new Executive Director of Feeding Avery Families. Clark succeeds Sally Loftis, who served as interim executive director since September 2024.
Clark is a resident of Linville for 20+ years, is an experienced nonprofit leader, and lives with her husband and their two daughters. “It is a privilege to join Feeding Avery Families at this critical time for our community,” Clark said. “Families, youth, and seniors depend on us for healthy, nutritious food. The need is great: many in our
area are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and economic uncertainty and funding cuts only increase the strain on families. Despite these challenges, Feeding Avery Families will be there to support our neighbors.”
“Bonnie Clark is a collaborative, compassionate leader who understands the challenges we face in Avery County,” said Laura Russell, chair of the Feeding Avery Families board of directors. “She believes deeply in our call to eliminate hunger in our region, and, best of all, she has that rare combination of know-how and heart to get the job done. I am confident she will bring smart, energetic leadership to this important cause.”
Feeding Avery Families, Inc., is a 501(c)3, Christian nonprofit organization in Avery County, NC, focused on eliminating hunger by providing supplemental food assistance to those in need. Their food pantry is located at 189 Old Vale Road in Newland. All contributions (100%) go directly to Avery County families who need help after exhausting all other available resources.
Currently, over 500 families in Newland, Banner Elk, Elk Park, Beech Mountain, Crossnore and Linville receive food assistance monthly from Feeding Avery Families, whether by shopping in person or drive-thru at the Newland distribution center, or by taking advantage of mobile distributions and home deliveries across Avery County. Children and families also receive food via the backpack program to help on weekends and holidays.
To learn more about receiving food assistance, to inquire about volunteer opportunities, or to make a donation, please visit feedingaveryfamilies.org, and follow the organization on Facebook at facebook.com/ feedingavery Photo: Bonnie Clark and Sally Loftis, courtesy of Feeding Avery Families
Beech Mountain Town Hall and Visitor Center Expansion Project
Waterfront Group’s Lifeline: Aiding Communities Affected by Hurricane Helene
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastation across Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, local relief agencies and churches emerged as unsung heroes. Their immediate and selfless efforts ensured critical aid reached those in desperate need. According to Mark Adkins of Waterfront Group (WFG), “Without the locals providing firsthand knowledge of where to take supplies, the suffering would have been much worse. Hundreds of people went above and beyond to help their neighbors.”
Among those stepping up was Waterfront Group, led by Will and Mark Adkins. Will flew over 50 relief missions in the company’s helicopter, reaching areas cut off by floodwaters, while Mark coordinated supply deliveries by land. Their 50-person team worked tirelessly to collect and transport food, medicine, clothing, and animal feed.
Alongside the Eagles Nest community, $194,000 was raised for fuel and vital supplies, with remaining funds directly aiding families who lost everything. At Watauga Lake Mercantile, which WFG purchased in 2022, over 1,000 hot meals were served to electrical linemen and displaced locals.
The devastation was immense, but the resilience and generosity of the community continue to inspire recovery efforts. Waterfront Group is encouraging further contributions to help the people of Western NC and TN recover. Photo: Will Adkins’ company
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helicopter used for relief missions during Hurricane Helene, courtesy of the Waterfront Group | waterfrontgrp.com
Just a few minutes from Boone, NC, following the wandering banks of the Watauga River, sits the beautiful Watauga Lake. This pristine mountain lake, surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest, boasts some of the cleanest water in the world. With a depth of up to 250 feet and thousand-foottall mountains bordering its banks, Watauga Lake is certainly one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the High Country. The Appalachian Trail wraps its way along the hidden coves and the lake provides a wonderful spot for hiking, fishing, boating and water sports. One of its best known activities is sailing. The lake has a 46-year history with the Watauga Lake Sailing Club, which holds regattas year-round and has over a hundred members. If you’ve ever driven along Highway 321 on a sunny day you’re likely to have seen sailboats of all types enjoying the breeze that flows off and around the mountains.
“For the past twenty years I’ve been sailing Watauga Lake and enjoying every second of it,” said Captain William K. Mauney IV. “I’m honored to currently serve as Commodore (President) of the Watauga Lake Sailing Club. As a sailing instructor and captain with the U.S. Coast Guard, my goal is to spread the knowledge and joy of sailing with as many people as possible. High Country Sailing, LLC is doing just that. We provide the ultimate way to enjoy the lake; on the deck of a sailboat.”
Whether you’re looking to hone your skills as a skipper in a regatta or have never sailed a day in your life, High Country Sailing has you covered. They offer lessons, half and full day sailing tours as well as date night/sunset cruises. “Imagine moving blissfully through the water at the helm of a sailing yacht on a beautiful bluebird day or watching the sun set while sitting peacefully in the middle of the lake. When deciding your next mountain adventure, let High Country Sailing and Sail Watauga be your guide.” facebook.com/WataugaLakeSailingClub | Photo: Watauga Lake, by William Mauney
New Beyond Pilates Mindful Movement Physical Therapy Locations in Boone & Blowing Rock
Beyond Pilates is a compassionate, client-centered movement studio. They take a mindful approach to Pilates and physical therapy allowing them to meet you where you are now and guide you to where you want to be. With two beautiful locations— the flagship studio at Carriage Square in Boone and a satellite location at the picturesque Westglow Spa in Blowing Rock—Beyond Pilates offers tailored, results-driven movement sessions for “every body.”
Founded by Nicole Shipley on the belief that mindful movement is key to long-term health, Beyond Pilates integrates classical Pilates with modern, evidence-based approaches. With certified Pilates and Redcord practitioners, plus an in-house doctor of physical therapy, they work collaboratively to support clients at every stage of
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Watauga Lake Sailing Club and High Country Sailing
Community & Local Business News
their wellness journey—from addressing acute injuries and managing chronic pain to increasing strength and vitality and improving athletic performance.
In addition to private and small group sessions, their studios offer specialized programming in pelvic health, pre- and postnatal support, and more. Their physical therapy is designed to help clients with:
• Other systemic conditions (MS, POTS, Lyme disease, etc.)
Just voted Best of the Best for 2025, Beyond Pilates’ donation-based Community Care Classes make weekly movement accessible for everyone and helps them give back to the larger Watauga County community.
Whether you’re exploring Pilates for the first time, deepening your practice, increasing physical fitness, or addressing a nagging injury, Beyond Pilates provides a welcoming space to elevate health and happiness. For more information, visit beyondpilates.com.
New YMCA Coming to Spruce Pine
Get ready, Mitchell County—a brandnew YMCA is here! Opening in June in the former Pinebridge Center, the YMCA of Mitchell County brings energy, connection, and opportunity like never before. This cutting-edge facility is more than a gym—
it’s a community hub designed to inspire healthy living and strong families.
Members will enjoy:
• A 6-lane Olympic short-course pool
• A children’s splash pool
• Strength and cardio equipment
• Group exercise and functional training studios
• Locker rooms, office spaces, and more Plans are already in motion for basketball, pickleball, volleyball courts, and an indoor walking/running track to follow.
As a branch of the Williams YMCA of Avery County, membership includes access to both locations, plus thousands of YMCAs nationwide. Members can also enjoy dropin childcare, unlimited fitness classes, and discounts on youth programs, swim lessons, and more.
Everyone is welcome at the Y—they offer affordable rates and financial assistance, and some people may even qualify under their health insurance benefits.
“The YMCA is committed to providing everyone the opportunity to lead a healthier, more fulfilling life,” says CEO Trey Oakley. “We’re thrilled to open this space where individuals and families can grow, connect, and thrive.” Photo courtesy of YMCA of Mitchell County Facebook page
The first construction phase for the Howard Street Revitalization project— which is expected to take about 450 days— began at the South Depot Street/Howard Street intersection to replace underground infrastructure, a required start for this project. Drivers can expect detours throughout the first phase. However, businesses along Howard Street remain open during this important infrastructure work. Additional signage has been posted at intersections and in areas on Howard Street, Appalachian Street, Rivers Street, and South Depot Street to ensure safety of pedestrians and motorists during the construction.
Throughout this process, a minimum of bi-weekly updates will be posted on the Town of Boone’s website at townofboone. net/howardstreet. Major construction updates will also be posted on Facebook for Town of Boone, North Carolina, and on Instagram @townofboonenc.
Maps of the Howard Street Revitalization project are located in the window of the Mayor’s office at the Town of Boone Town Hall, located at 567 West King Street. For questions regarding this current phase of construction, please contact Public Works at 828-268-6230. Photos courtesy of Town of Boone
Get to Know Graystone Lodge in Boone
In April, the Town of Boone hosted an official groundbreaking for the Howard Street Revitalization project. This project, which has taken over 30 years of planning and groundwork, has been a much anticipated endeavor for the downtown community and Boone’s community as a whole.
As part of the Ascend Hotel Collection, the Graystone Lodge opened in June 2023 following major renovations that refreshed every aspect of guest rooms, common areas, and exterior. This boutique hotel chain from Choice Hotels allowed the Graystone Lodge to be uniquely designed—unlike
Boone Howard Street Revitalization Project Underway
other chain hotels with strict design requirements—to create a one-of-a-kind High Country experience. Their mission was to provide a casually elegant yet comfortable getaway, genuine hospitality, plus personalized service so guests can relax, unwind, and enjoy the charming mountain town of Boone.
Rooms feature an LED back-lit headboard of the Blue Ridge Mountains, providing the perfect ambiance for a getaway. To insure a comfortable stay, rooms include a microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron, a complimentary can of Simple Wtr, and even a sound machine for a great night’s sleep. Amenities include an indoor heated pool, outdoor seating area with a fire pit, updated fitness center, complimentary high speed WiFi, EV charging, and a complimentary hot breakfast featuring local Hatchet Coffee and Stick Boy Bread Company bagels and breads.
Co-owners Selina Bell and her brother, Justin Patel, grew up helping their parents and learning the hard work that goes into Boone area hospitality, including everything from housekeeping to the front desk and, eventually, management roles. That experience shaped their “guests-first, noshortcuts” playbook. After taking over the family business, Bell and Patel envisioned improving upon their current hotels rather than adding new ones to the area. This vision led to the creation of Graystone Lodge, a hotel that firmly establishes community relationships and local business partnerships.
Their local partnership program gives attractions, businesses, and restaurants the opportunity to have their offerings highlighted on the hotel’s website, blog, and social media. Their market is also stocked with local items like Venture chocolate, Grandfather Vineyard and Linville Falls Winery wines, Booneshine Brewing Co. and Lost Province Brewing Co. beers, Allyson Murphy art, Upcycled jewelry, and Hatchet coffee.
Follow them on Instagram, visit graystonelodge.com or email info@ graystonelodge.com to learn about their local partnerships and stay up-to-date on discounts and events.
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Mast Store’s New Chattanooga Store & “Mountain Strong” Donation to Spruce Pine Recovery
Mast General Store—a family and employee-owned retailer that first opened in 1883 and is based in historic Valle Crucis, North Carolina—announces its expansion with a forthcoming location in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The store’s anticipated opening is spring 2027. With 11 locations in 10 towns across the four states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, the new Chattanooga location results from the purchase of an historic property at 222 Broad Street in Downtown Chattanooga’s Riverfront neighborhood. The company will revive and preserve this building to honor its rich past while creating a welcoming, vibrant space that continues the Mast Store’s commitment to community, quality, and service.
“We are thrilled to be a part of Chattanooga! It’s the perfect destination for our next Mast Store,” said Mast General Store President Lisa Cooper. “We’ve had our eye on this dynamic city for more than a decade, and we couldn’t be happier that the right space for us became available at the right time.”
And there’s more good news from Mast General Store, right here in the High Country. Following Hurricane Helene, the Store began selling Mountain Strong shirts and stickers to raise money for organizations helping the region to recover from
the storm. Recently, $20,000 from these Mountain Strong funds were donated to Downtown Spruce Pine, a North Carolina Main Street community; these funds are helping businesses on Spruce Pine’s Lower and Upper Street rebuild after Helene’s flood waters rose to historic levels.
As Mast Store President Cooper noted, “Spruce Pine is one of our mountain neighbors, and their downtown was hit really hard with the water on Lower Street flooding into businesses nearly up to the ceilings of their ground floors. This contribution, when combined with other efforts, will help them rise above the many challenges of recovery.”
As of May, the total Mountain Strong investment was $130,000, including previous gifts to MountainTrue ($25,000), BeLoved Asheville ($20,000), Asheville Chamber for Small Businesses ($20,000), River Arts District Foundation ($20,000), and Boone Area Chamber Small Business Grants ($25,000).
Mountain Strong apparel and stickers are still available for those wishing to purchase and show support for the mountain communities. Each purchase helps make a difference and impact the future of Western North Carolina. mastgeneralstore.com
Villa Nove Vineyard’s Tasting Room Renovations: Elevating the Tuscanee Experience
Imagine sipping award-winning, locally crafted wines while taking in breathtaking views of the High Country. Near Watauga
Community & Local Business News
Lake, Tuscanee in Tennessee is a destination that blends natural beauty with Italian charm. Inspired by the landscapes of Tuscany, it is home to Villa Nove Farm & Vineyard—a hidden gem for wine lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Villa Nove is welcoming guests to experience the serenity of the Appalachian Mountains. Recent renovations have elevated the property’s agritourism and wine-tasting experience, with an expanded kitchen, new menu offerings including local craft beer, and additional seating that creates an inviting setting for savoring fine wines and enjoying live music. The Tasting Room hosts a variety of seasonal events, most notably the Grape Stomp—a September tradition that draws visitors from around the world to celebrate the end of the growing season. Visit Villa Nove Friday through Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. “We can’t wait to see you at Villa Nove—where every sip comes with a view!” Follow them on social media to stay up-todate with seasonal events.
Beyond the vineyard, Tuscanee offers exceptional estate-sized properties with panoramic views and access to a private marina. These stunning homesites provide the perfect backdrop for a lakeside getaway or mountain escape.
“Tuscanee is a hidden treasure, where extraordinary wine and outdoor adventure meets serene living.” There is limited availability—contact 888-435-4899 or visit tuscanee.com for more information.
finally reopened for business in early May. And, despite very little fanfare, the place quickly filled up with customers.
Widely known as your one-stop military surplus, military gear, outdoor apparel and camping supplies headquarters, PackRats is wall-to-wall with all that and more. Choose from golf clubs and sporting goods to rare books and antiques; from knives, tools and musical instruments to biker leathers and accessories; from winter clothing and ski apparel to Tupperware; from household furniture to countless collectibles.
Owned and operated by Judy and Denny Venable, along with their loyal sidekick, Becky Corrigan, PackRats first opened in Newland in 1995 and has been abuzz ever since. And now, with 2025 seasonal residents and visitors having returned, the store’s reopening could not be more timely…especially with the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in early July.
Since 2013, PackRats has been the official Camp Supply Store for campers and Games staff. Open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the full week of the Games, their store requires several additional days for setup and breakdown.
Campers aren’t reliant on PackRats for basic supplies and groceries only; they also call on them for emergency needs. “They come in, give us a list and we buy whatever we can from nearby Newland and Banner Elk—some campers even use our address to have items shipped during the Games,” noted Judy Venable. “One year, a family arrived to set up their tent on the campgrounds, but had forgotten the tent poles. So, Denny and our son-in-law were able to pull together enough parts to get their tent up.”
Over the years, the Venables and campers have become like family, with many shared memories and close ties. “Not only have we made many friends, we’ve also been adopted into a couple of the Clans. They’ll often send us food [on the] days and nights when we’re too busy to take a break from our Games store,” she added.
Apple Hill Farm announces the opening of their new retail store in downtown Banner Elk. As an extension of their beloved onsite farm store, the Apple Hill Farm Outpost offers everything that visitors have loved about the Apple Hill Farm store, plus many new and exciting gifts, local foods, and more.
Inside, shoppers will discover a wide range of alpaca fiber products—socks, scarves, hats, gloves, shawls, and vests. The Kid’s Corner is stocked with stuffed animals, engaging toys, and hands-on crafts. Fiber enthusiasts will love the Fiber Arts Room, bursting with alpaca yarns in every color, along with high-quality knitting, crochet, and needle felting supplies.
For many, the most exciting addition is the Marketplace, highlighting local agriculture, featuring products from Ashe County Cheese, Liar’s Table, Old Beech Mountain Farms, Old Turnpike Farm, Shipley Farms Beef, among others. Shop from a variety of ready-to-eat dips, heat-and-serve pies, and specialty foods made in North Carolina.
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the Outpost is a place to slow down, connect with local agriculture, and bring home something special. The Apple Hill Farm Outpost is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the summer season.
After seven months spent recovering from Hurricane Helene, Newland’s very unique PackRats store at 150 Linville Street
You can contact PackRats at 828-7333600, and visit their Newland store 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Also visit facebook.com/packrats/.
Visit the Apple Hill Farm Outpost at 414 Shawneehaw Ave S, Banner Elk, NC 28604. Call 828-898-2200 for more information.
PackRats in Newland… Re-opened and Busier Than Ever
Apple Hill Farm Outpost in Banner Elk
The
Banner Elk residents Charlie and Penny Voncanon were proud to have a road sign hand carved by the late Bill Dicks, a wellknown local sign artist. The sign for “Voncanon Drive” stood tall on Shawneehaw Avenue, near Shawneehaw Creek (a name given by the local Indians, with one meaning being swift waters). Then came the big storm…
“During Hurricane Helene, the swift waters took the signpost away!” said the Voncanons. “When we realized it was gone, we were devastated!” And they also knew there was no one in business as a sign maker who could replace Bill Dick’s work.
“My wife and I volunteered at the Historic Banner Elk School to hand out supplies to the victims of Helene,” said Charlie. “We had given up hope of seeing our sign again.”
Two weeks after Helene, a man walked in where the Voncanons were handing out supplies and he flashed their sign in front of them. “We were so surprised and elated—this could not be real!” said Charlie. “Our prayers were answered. We were all in tears!”
David Smith, the man who presented the sign, shared, “I am a lineman with Mountain Electric. I saw this post with the Voncanon name on it and I knew they were in Banner Elk. The post was getting ready to go over Elk Falls.” The sign had traveled 12 miles down the Elk River to the edge of the falls!
Voncanon said, “[It took] the same water route as my great-great-grandfather, back in the 1800s, when he went down the Elk River looking for gold!” The Voncanons felt like they had struck gold, adding, “It came back home to us after all this, back to Shawneehaw Ave!”
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Once again, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts won statewide bragging rights with four alumni receiving nominations at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Tony winner and Wicked movie star Cynthia Erivo live from Radio City Music Hall. The broadcast was watched by 4.85 million viewers, a 38 percent jump from last year, in addition to a new streaming record with a 208 percent increase over 2024.
Costume designer Paul Tazewell, UNCSA class of ’86 captured his ninth nomination and second Tony for his brilliant work on Death Becomes Her; he was previously honored in 2016 for the blockbuster hit Hamilton and most recently won an Oscar for Wicked. Chancellor Brian Cole said, “We are incredibly proud of our alumni whose talent and hard work have been recognized this year… a testament to the powerful contributions our alumni are making in the performing arts.”
According to the Broadway League, the 2024-25 Broadway season was the highestgrossing ($1.89 billion in revenue) and best-attended (14.7 million theatergoers) in history, due in no small part to the appearance of major TV and film stars, including George Clooney, Mia Farrow, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Sarah Snook, plus Broadway veterans Darrin Criss, Jonathan Groff, Jeremy Jordan, Audra McDonald, and Denzel Washington, to name but a few. Bravo, Broadway!
North Carolina Well Represented at 78th Tony Awards
Paul Tazewell
Journey of the Voncanon Sign
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IT TAKES A
Many Blue Ridge Energy employees work behind the scenes to provide safe, continuous electricity. Each person and department brings their A-game.
From system operators, who monitor and control the flow of electricity, to an IT team that secures the power delivery and communication systems, to customer service representatives who assist members online or by phone, every team member plays a vital role in keeping you safely and reliably energized.
TO POWER YOUR HOME
Dewayne Krege: “Living
Purposefully, Serving Selflessly and Loving Intentionally”
By Kim S. Davis
It
has been quite a year of well-earned recognition for Dewayne Krege, a genuine son of the High Country where he was born and raised in Banner Elk, graduating from Avery High School, then from LeesMcRae College. He continued his education at North Carolina State University, and after completing NC State’s two-year Agricultural Institute (AGI) turf-grass program, he returned to the area. Since his return, he has been contributing to the community where he was first taught to serve others.
Krege has been encouraging young people as an Agriculture Programs educator and FFA (Future Farmers of America) Sponsor in Avery County Schools since 1999 and has positively influenced generations of students. The recent accolades reflect all of his years of dedication and hard work.
When he first returned to the mountains, he worked at area golf resorts, but having been raised by two exceptionally talented teachers, Dewayne Krege didn’t stand a chance of becoming anything other than an educator. Many readers will
recognize his parents, Roy and Marion Krege, because they have been very involved in the community for decades. Both instilled in all of their children a love of God, dedication to service, and an ability to forge lasting relationships; Dewayne is quick to give them credit for how he has managed to successfully inspire others for so many years.
One of the most important lessons he learned was through his father’s example. As Krege recalls, “My dad is 82 and I am 55 and I have never heard him say a negative thing about another human.” He admits that although he aspires to do the same, it has been a challenge, but has also made him realize the importance of being a positive example to others. And he humbly recognizes that being named North Carolina Agriculture Teachers Association (NCATA) Regional Teacher of the Year for 2025 is because he has been able to “maximize what he has been gifted with.”
Along with this year’s selection as NCATA Regional Teacher of the Year, Krege was both the Avery County Career Technical Education Teacher of the Year,
and the district wide Teacher of the Year in 2022. When asked why he thinks his success has recently been duly recognized, he conceded that once he decided his life was not about himself and acknowledged his blessings, he expanded his opportunities to “pour into other people, to encourage them, and to speak the truth.” And while he was an encouraging and knowledgeable teacher before, he has now been identified as an exceptional and inspirational educator by his peers and professional organizations.
As his former colleague, this author was excited to interview Mr. Krege about his recent professional accomplishments, but he was most excited to talk about the national recognition of his students. It is such a thrill for teachers when their students succeed and are acknowledged at the national level for their hard work and talent. However, such success is not possible without superb teachers who encourage and support them along the way.
As an Agricultural Education teacher, Krege has unique opportunities to develop young people through hands-on
The Krege Family: Dewayne, Blake, Kesleigh and Kelley
experiential classroom offerings and through the FFA organization. The emphasis of FFA is on leadership, personal growth, career success, and service. It is evident that Krege is successful with his FFA students because he is a fine example of making a positive difference, respecting others, and communicating effectively all tenets of FFA.
Through FFA, students can demonstrate their knowledge and competence by participating in local, regional, state and national Career and Leadership Development events. These events are overseen by educators and industry professionals and provide opportunities for students to showcase their skills and be recognized by potential employers and professional organizations. Many students who are recognized at the national level receive extremely competitive internships and career opportunities.
This year, Krege mentored a team of four high school students in a new event hosted by FFA, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), and the Sports Field Management
Association (SFMA). Four young men from the High Country represented Avery County High School, the region, and the state very well, taking first place in the Turf Science Invitational national team competition as well as first and second place in the individual events held at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego earlier this year.
What excites Krege most about his students’ success is that it sets the stage for inspiring other students to reach their pinnacle. According to Krege, “Competition drives success. Winning begets winning. When students see their peers interning at Augusta National or becoming assistant superintendents (of golf courses) right out of school, they realize what’s possible.”
And Krege truly believes in inspiration and leading by example, so when his students perpetuate those traits, it means a great deal to this dedicated mentor and coach.
When asked what he is most proud of as an award winning teacher, he explains it’s that he has built lasting relationships and continues to be part of his students’ lives long after they leave the halls of the
high school. He is galvanized by wedding and shower invitations from his former students, by midnight phone calls seeking advice and sharing news, by continuing to be involved in the lives of those he inspired and encouraged, and of course to remain an example of a well-lived life that begins with faith in God.
It is Dewayne Krege’s faith as a Christian that has guided his path and supported his dedication to be of service to others. Again, giving recognition to his parents for raising him in a loving Christian home, he believes that “Teaching is a gift and an opportunity to share the love of Christ” through example. His goal is to seize every opportunity and to never take “the easy route that may overlook a detail or chance to encourage a student or staff member.”
In addition to his many high school students, Krege is also intentional about serving and showing love within his community. Dewayne and his wife, Kelley, who he says is a huge inspiration to him, are very involved with Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, where he is a deacon, Sunday
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Dewayne with daughter Kesleigh
School teacher, leader of a Sunday night kids’ group known as AWANA, and children’s church service leader. He also serves on the Farm Bureau Board and the Avery County Cooperative Extension Board.
Krege’s greatest blessing, he shares, is his international family. He and Kelley started their family when they adopted son Blake from Russia when he was just 14 months old. Blake Krege is now serving his country as a member of the US Army, stationed in Texas. The Kreges expanded the family when they adopted Kesleigh from Korea at 10 months of age. Kesleigh Krege will be a senior at Avery High School next year, where she will continue to be an active participant in the FFA program. It has been a time of greatly deserved recognition for Dewayne Krege, who is much more than an award winning Agriculture Teacher. He is a dedicated community servant who prioritizes relationships, encouragement of others, and love and recognition of those who have inspired and mentored him. And while he gives the credit for his success to his faith, his family, and his community, it is his community who is grateful for his selfless gift of service, engagement and compassion.
Blake with his grandmother, Marion Krege
Sunshine, Celebrations, and Second Chances
By Meisha Key
There’s something about summertime that stirs the soul.
Nature reminds us that every season brings new opportunities, and summer is a time of expansion, joy, connection, and vitality. As the warmth of the sun and the vibrant sights, sounds and scents of summer unfold, we’re inspired to awaken our sense of freedom and adventure. It is a time of heightened awareness that invites us to come alive, taking risks, embracing new experiences, and opening our eyes to the possibilities.
Summer in the mountains gives us much more than vacation days. It gives us proximity, presence, and the perfect conditions for reconnection. Whether it’s a family reunion, a spontaneous barbecue, or a shared sunrise, summer offers us a chance not just to escape, but to come home to each other.
The energy of summer is light compared to the heaviness that accompanies unresolved relationships. The essence of summer offers powerful emotional guidance when it comes to softening hardened hearts and mending strained relationships.
It invites us to open our hearts to healing—with a laugh, an extended hug, a shared memory, or even a simple truth such as, “I’ve missed this.”
What if healing relationships felt warm and inviting like summer?
For many of us, mending a damaged relationship is considered challenging, so we avoid it. While we may learn to function around it by quietly hiding behind polite smiles or distancing ourselves from one another, there is still a part of us that remains on guard. There’s no freedom in this choice, choosing to carry the weight instead of addressing what’s damaged.
What if you embodied the feelings of lightness, connection and vitality to restore and maintain your relationships? What if you took the opportunity during this time together to move toward freedom and inner peace? And what if it wasn’t so hard to initiate?
Experiment. Expand. Take simple actions to elevate the feelings of: Lightness: Step into ease by practicing gratitude, compassion, acceptance and for-
giveness. Let warmth be felt in your words and actions. Let laughter, art, music and play be your medicine.
Connection: Make space for reconnection, even if it’s imperfect. Take the opportunity to strengthen bonds and create positive memories while enjoying the outdoors and sharing new experiences. Nurture open communication by creating a safe space for honest conversations.
Vitality: Focus on aliveness and what energizes you as a compass for growth. Celebrate what makes you feel alive and free. Celebrate the victories, even the small ones. Give yourself permission to feel joy.
Bringing the qualities of summer into your inner world can create a warm and inviting environment that fosters healing, connection, and an opening for growth in your relationships. And not only the relationships you find challenging, but also the relationships in good standing. You can share with those who bring warmth into your life what you appreciate about them to deepen the connection.
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Restoring and maintaining healthy relationships is key to our collective well-being.
Every relationship impacts our mental and physical health, happiness, and overall quality of life. We have a relationship with everything around us—from our families and friends to our natural environment, to all the distractions out there, such as alcohol, technology, and politics—and given all
the relationships we experience consciously and unconsciously, the one that is most often overlooked is the one with ourselves. Healing can begin right now, with you setting an intention for how you want to feel and what you want to create this summer. Understanding your thoughts, feelings and desires will support you in interactions and conversations with clarity. Deciding what you hope to achieve, whether it’s forgiveness, understanding, or a more peaceful coexistence, will guide your actions. Be still and listen. You may hear something like,
“I welcome lightness, laughter, and second chances.”
Making an effort to heal relationships, even in small moments, can bring you one
step closer to freedom. Your capacity to show up fully will expand. Consider it an investment, because ultimately, healthy relationships contribute to a more balanced, harmonious, and fulfilling life, enhancing the collective well-being. It’s about choosing peace over pride, and presence over perfection.
We assume we’ll have more time. More moments. Another summer. When the truth is, our time here is limited, and our last moment is unknown.
You can start your healing journey now by going to meishakey.com/healing for more “Mindful Tips to Healing.” Meisha Key is a Personal & Professional Development Coach, Facilitator, Certified Life Coach, and NLP Practitioner.
Refinement
How does simplification look like refinement towards excellence?
• Look back to past circumstances and experiences
• Acknowledge what is good and true
• Seek wisdom and guidance
• Spend some time to quietly contemplate
• Identify current values
• Practice habits that align with your values
• Take it one day at a time
• Lastly, speak less, listen more Peace, and be well!
—Samantha Steele
Be Well
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN
Blackberries
WAYS
By Jim Casada
Old Will Shakespeare, who seemed to know something about everything, once wished, through the voice of King Henry IV, that “reasons were as plentiful as blackberries.” Were that the case, ours would be a far more rational world, for pretty much everywhere I’ve traveled in this country, along with a fair amount of exposure to Europe, blackberries greet the knowing eye at every turn. Widespread, abundant, and delicious, they might be termed everyman’s berry. Certainly they have a rich place in our mountain heritage and are incredibly abundant throughout the High Country.
Botanists tell us there are literally hundreds of subspecies of blackberries, and anyone who has picked a pail full has likely noticed subtle variations in the appearance and nature of berries from different briars (that holds true for size and taste as well). In many cases even the canes have a distinctive appearance, with some tending to stand tall and erect while others somewhat resemble vines when it comes to looks and growth patterns. Genetic engineering has even produced thornless blackberries. However, no self-respecting blackberry picker feels he has fulfilled all the requirements of the job until his hands are well-scratched, briar-riddled, and stained an exquisite black-purple hue that Renaissance artist Titian would have loved.
A passion for blackberries runs as a bright thread through the entire fabric of my life. Along with poke salad, they provided the first cash money I earned as a youngster, fetching a whopping two bits a gallon in the early 1950s! I worked hard for many a quarter by gathering this particularly fine example of nature’s bounty. There were episodes where chiggers gave my nether parts a red-speckled decoration which looked and itched like chicken pox, briar scratches which left me appearing like I’d been on the losing end of a tussle with an ornery bobcat, and more than once I managed to get into wasp or
yellow jacket nests. Those stinging brethren of Beelzebub invariably found me dropping my bucket while in painful retreat, although on every occasion I eventually worked up the courage to slip back, survey the situation, and retrieve it. On top of all that, in the back of my mind there was always concern about an encounter with a rattlesnake or copperhead. Daddy had told me too many tales of snake episodes from his boyhood for it to have been possible to do otherwise.
Such obstacles notwithstanding, I loved picking blackberries and “no pain, no gain” became my lodestar. They were, for the three weeks or so of peak ripeness, a source of significant income for me, and I was by no means the only youngster who picked them. Annually I earned enough money to keep me in fly-fishing equipment the remainder of the summer. Eight or ten gallons would enable me to buy sufficient monofilament of various sizes to tie two dozen or more leaders and perhaps a few flies as well when I had enjoyed particularly good pickin’.
The joy I derived from picking blackberries has in no way changed in adulthood. About the only thing which can rival the pleasure to be found in a session of pickin’ is enjoying the post-harvest fruits of one’s labor, although I’ve never been able to resist serious “sampling” during the gathering process. Anyone who has dealt with blackberries much knows, by sight and by feel, when a particular berry has reached the peak of perfection in terms of sweet, juicy goodness. Plucking such a berry is simply too much temptation. Dew drenched or sun soaked, it demands consumption on the spot. Post-harvest there’s blackberry cobbler, blackberry jam, blackberry muffins, blackberry sorbet, blackberry wine, and lesser known but truly special treats such as blackberry cornbread (if you’ve never had it, then you have a treat awaiting you), and what for me is the ultimate culinary wonder offered by this matchless gift from the wilds, a blackberry jam stack cake.
Photo by Jim Casada
Finding blackberries is no problem. You get a heads up when they bloom in spring, a time invariably associated with one final cold snap known as blackberry winter before seasonal change arrives for good. Throughout these old mountains blackberries adorn fence rows, roadsides, abandoned fields, power line rights of way, and indeed about any open area. They beckon those with willingness to undertake hard work with the promise of rewards beyond measure.
Berries were long a dependable, welcome, and important part of a mountain diet as well as sort of formal recognition of summer’s full-fledged arrival. Once a meaningful source of seasonal income for a small lad, I still derive a great deal of quiet satisfaction from a few hours spent in a berry patch. Though many decades removed from my first picking days, I don’t consider summer complete until I’ve picked a few buckets of blackberries and enjoyed the resultant treats. Mom’s invariable words of praise and scrumptious utilization of the berries of my labor are no more, but blackberries remain there for the pickin’.
I just have to wonder how many in today’s world take advantage of their abundance, because sometimes, as is the special province of older folks, I’m prone to think the stock of mountain grit, grind, and gumption has begun to run out. Still, for those anxious to perpetuate the folkways of our forebears, a pickin’ outing followed by preparation of the recipe below will offer delicious proof of the joys to be found in old High Country ways.
BLACKBERRY COBBLER
This simple but delicious recipe was my mother’s “go to” favorite when it came to dessert. She made it with fresh berries but also canned plenty of berries every summer so we could brighten up the grey, grim times of winter with a bit of summer’s sweet wild bounty.
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
1 stick of butter, melted
2-4 cups blackberries
Directions:
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk and then stir with a whisk until smooth. Add melted butter and stir it in. Pour the resulting batter into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour berries evenly over batter (do not stir). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes (until golden brown).
NOTE: This versatile recipe can also be used with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, peaches and other fruits or berries.
Jim Casada is the author or co-author of a number of cookbooks and a food-related autobiographical work, Fishing for Chickens: A Smokies Food Memoir. To learn more about these works or to obtain copies, visit jimcasadaoutdoors.com
Photo by
Jim Casada
Summer Farmers’ Markets
Our Farmers’ Markets are packed with delicious local food and handcrafted products! Pick up everything from seasonal vegetables, to meats and cheeses, to soaps, native plants and functional crafts. This convenient directory will help you find a market near you—enjoy the best of what our region has to offer! Please be sure to confirm dates/times with your markets of choice prior to scheduling a trip.
Abingdon Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 a.m.–12 p.m., and Tuesdays 3–6 p.m.
April–September (and select Saturdays year-round)
100 Remsburg Drive in downtown Abingdon, VA
Alleghany Farmers Market
Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
May–October Crouse Park in downtown Sparta, NC
Ashe County/West Jefferson Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
April–October
108 Backstreet, West Jefferson, NC
Avery County Farmers’ Market
Thursdays 3–6 p.m.
May–mid-October
Beside the Historic Banner Elk School (Behind the Banner Elk Volunteer Fire & Rescue)
185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC
Beech Mountain Farmers’ Market
First Fridays 2–6 p.m.
June–October
105 Bark Park Way, Beech Mountain, NC
Blowing Rock Farmers’ Market Thursdays 12–6 p.m.
May–October
379 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock, NC
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture’s King Street Market
Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 p.m.
May–October
126 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, NC
Damascus Farmers Market Thursdays, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.
May–October
At Laurel Creek Park, 127 W Imboden St., Damascus, VA
Johnson County Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
May–October
Ralph Stout Park in Mountain City, TN
Lansing Park Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
April–October
Lansing Creeper Trail Park, 114 S Big Horse Creek Rd, Lansing, NC
Morganton Farmers’ Markets
Saturdays 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
May–October
300 Beach St., Morganton, NC
Wednesday Mini Market, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
May–October
111 North Green St., Morganton, NC
Town of Newland Flea & Farmers Market
Saturdays 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20
Avery Square in downtown Newland, NC
Check their FB page, Town of Newland Flea & Farmers Market, for updates
Watauga County Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
April–November
591 Horn in the West Dr, Boone, NC
Wilkes County/Wilkesboro Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 7:30 a.m.–12 p.m., April–September
Tuesdays 3:30–5:30 p.m., June–September
Yadkin Valley Marketplace in downtown N. Wilkesboro, NC
High Country Food Hub, operated by Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA)
A year-round online farmers’ market where you can order fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, artisan foods, cut flowers, body care products, and plants online and pick them up at one of seven convenient locations throughout Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties.
Ashe County
Avery County
Summer Beverage Guide
CELEBRATE THE GOOD TIMES!
n Lost Province Brewing Co.
130 N Depot St, Boone, NC lostprovince.com
828.265.3506
“We’ve got a pocket full of sunshine! Orange Sunshine, that is! New England IPA brewed with Oranges!”
n Old Barn Winery
2152 Beaver Creek School Road, West Jefferson, NC
oldbarnwinery.com
336.846.6060
“The newest edition to Old Barn Winery’s lineup. Perfect for summertime sipping.”
n Kettell Beerworks
567 Main Street East, Banner Elk, NC Kettellbeerworks.com
828.898.8677
“Can’t decide what to get a full pour of? Try a beer flight! Your choice of four of any of our brews!”
“Start the summer off right with the newly released Malbec Rosé, while enjoying food from one of the food trucks and listening to live music! Check out our Event Calendar on our website for more details on this summer’s happenings.”
n Blind Elk Tap Room
397 Shawneehaw Ave S, Banner Elk, NC blindelk.com
828.898.2420
“Blind Elk Tap Room is the prime spot in Banner Elk to enjoy an impressive menu of rotational craft beer on tap, Prosecco on tap, and wine by the glass. We also feature a fridge full of even more beer labels, hard ciders, and hard seltzers.”
n Banner Elk Winery
60 Deer Run, Banner Elk, NC bannerelkwinery.com
828.898.9090
“Summer is in the air and the wine is flowing! There’s nothing like a sunny day in the mountains, a light breeze, and a glass of your favorite Banner Elk wine. Whether you’re into crisp whites or something a little sweeter, this season is made for sipping on the green and soaking up the view!”
“This meal was meant for the patio. See you soon.”
n Peabody’s Wine & Beer
1104 NC-105, Boone, NC peabodyswineandbeer.com
828.264.9476
“Peabody’s offers the friendliest on-premise program in The High Country! No fee to consume any product on site, all day every day. Anything can be chilled for your immediate enjoyment. Enjoy one of our Food Trucks, stick around for a Bocce match or just gathering with friends at one of our outdoor seating areas. It’s worth your time to shop with us!”
“Every glass (or bottle) allows you to taste the old-world elegance of California estate grown grapes skillfully crafted in Tuscanee or the unique terroir of our rich local region. Sample from a variety of our award-winning light and fruity whites to the most robust but wellbalanced reds.”
n Blowing Rock Brewing Co.
152 Sunset Dr, Blowing Rock, NC facebook.com/BRBrewingCo/ 828.414.9600
“Get a taste of summer with our bright, citrusy American Wheat Ale brewed with orange peel & coriander! Cheers to summertime fun, tasty ales & great company.”
n The Spice & Tea Exchange
1087 Main St #4, Blowing Rock, NC spiceandtea.com/tstestore/Blowing-Rock 828.372.7070
12 S Jefferson Ave, West Jefferson, NC spiceandtea.com/tstestore/West-Jefferson 336.846.8327
“It’s finally time to have a Poolside State of Mind! Introducing our refreshing, limitedtime teas—Mint Mojito Black, Peach Blossom Herbal, and Blue Hawaiian Green! Which one will you try first?”
n Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co.
3990 NC-105 S, Suite 10, Banner Elk, NC mountaingroundsnc.com
828.783.9069
“Our Flowers & Honey latte is made with homemade lavender and honey, then finished with a touch of citrus zest. It is the perfect way to welcome the season. Swing by, soak in the season, and sip on something floral and refreshing!”
n Stick Boy Bread Company
345 Hardin St, Boone, NC stickboybread.com
828.268.9900
“We have everything from fresh baked breads, steaming cappuccinos, blended fruit smoothies, delicious cinnamon rolls, and decadent chocolate tortes.”
n Mountain Dog Coffee
126 Taylor Rd, Boone, NC mountaindogcoffee.com
828.963.5282
“Need coffee and sandwiches on the go? Order online for pick up or call in to take your Mountain Dog order to-go for all your mountain adventures!”
n First Chair Coffee Shop
1103 Beech Mountain Parkway Unit 3, Beech Mountain, NC firstchaircoffeeshop.com
828.387.4244
“Summer and sunshine are here, and we’ve got the perfect pick-me-up! Take a break and get your cold brew coffee fix at our shop. Step it up with a flavor like Caramel, French Vanilla, or Lavender—let’s mix it up.”
Stump
Cabling Lightning
Pre-construction
Disease
Ice Cream Delight
This deliciously wonderful concoction is not just for the warm weather. Whether you view it as nectar from the gods, a diet buster, or an allergy trigger, ice cream is an undeniable part of our culture.
Throughout the ages, some form of ice cream has appeared in diets, beginning in 500 BC in the Persian Empire. While the ancient Chinese (200 AD) used a mixture of milk and rice to enjoy as a summer treat, the Arabs (800-900 AD) actually used a more modern recipe of milk and sugar as primary ingredients.
In modern culture, ice cream has many uses. It can be medicinal, celebratory or traditional. One of the best things about a sore throat is the excuse to eat soothing, cold ice cream. (Ask any kid.) It is also prescribed to aid recovery from tonsillectomies, dental surgeries, and tummy troubles as well. Even those of us who are in the “counting calories club,” can justify indulging in ice cream under medicinal conditions. (My arthritis is acting up. I need to relax and have some cold ice cream to stem this inflammation.)
Celebrations almost always include ice cream. I read a sign in New Orleans that I have never forgotten. “Brunch without a mimosa is just breakfast.” Likewise, I feel that a party without ice cream is just a meeting. Whether ice cream is the main attraction or merely topping a slice of pie or cake, ice cream brings the party. Coupons for ice cream are often
By Estelle Brewer
awarded as prizes for reading contests in elementary schools. Walt Disney World has certainly used the Mickey Mouse ice cream bar to entice families to celebrate a wonderful vacation spent in brutal heat among throngs of folks waiting in admission lines!
Many of us remember the soda shop days when if a boy bought you a milk shake it was universally accepted that you two were a couple. Another memory for Boomers may be the iconic swirly ice cream cones consumed at fairgrounds. It is no accident that today many of the current fast food restaurants offer the soft vanilla cones harkening back to that era. There aren’t many “dairy bars” in business now but that used to be a favorite location for dating couples. Remember the dip cones? A drippy, delicious mess....worth every drop.
And what is the 4th of July without homemade ice cream? It is a crushing disappointment, that’s what. Expect your guests to leave early! There is no substitute for homemade, porch-churned ice cream consumed while watching fireworks.
Thinking of other holiday traditions, the ice cream yule log became a tradition at my house during my formative years. I looked forward to that delicious log of butter pecan ice cream wrapped in chocolate bark made even more special due to its availability only at Christmas time. Now, I make sure to purchase the holiday peppermint ice cream for my grandchildren which also has limited
availability. And who isn’t disappointed to pull up to the speaker at Chick-fil-A® and find that the peppermint shake is no longer available? I have also discovered that adding vanilla ice cream to a punch bowl of egg nog at a Christmas Eve dinner is a certain crowd hit.
Recent diet research has led nutritionists to endorse a wide array of ice cream types. Some say that sherbet is better for you due to the artery-clogging fats in ice cream. Others say that premium ice cream is better for you with its milkfat content than frozen sugar water, which contributes to diabetes. There is even a dairy-free ice cream for those with milk allergies. Personally, I would rather eat a small amount of the full fat premium ice cream than half a carton of the “skinny,” lab-developed ice cream.
Eating ice cream should be a pleasure that we allow ourselves. People in Carmel, California, were apparently prohibited from eating or selling ice cream on public streets until 1986 when Clint Eastwood became mayor and overturned the “ice cream cone law.” Yes! He is a hero in real life too.
Enjoy your cone, sundae, float, bar, or shake this summer. Celebrate the richness of its history as well as the lusciousness of its taste.
Start a new tradition by adding ice cream to your menu. Everyone will love it!
Avery County’s Dining Catering
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Best
DINING | CATERING LODGING | EVENT VENUE
Lodging Event Venue
The High Country’s Best Vacation Rentals
• One main lodge and three cabins with mountain views
• 1-4 bedrooms available
• Event barn, outdoor pavilion, open field, meandering streams, and ponds all onsite
• Located in the heart of Sugar and Beech Mountains, with proximity to all High Country attractions
our Facebook page to view daily specials and LIVE MUSIC listings: Facebook @ Highlandersbannerelk
Help make a patient care unit in the High Country a reality with the YourChange app!
l Download the YourChange app
l Securely link your credit or debit card
l Choose AMOREM Each time you make a purchase, YourChange automatically rounds up your spare change and donates those funds to AMOREM!
• Daily lunch and dinner specials
• Large selection of appetizers, burgers, salads, and wings
• Children’s menu
• Enjoy dancing, sports viewing, and other entertainment
• Full bar and daily drink specials, 14 beers on tap
• To-Go orders available
In 2021, the state granted AMOREM’s request to build a hospice patient care unit for residents of the High Country. Donate today or learn more at 828.754.0101, www.amoremsupport.org or scan here!
From CML’s Kitchen
By Meagan Goheen
Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Corn and Zucchini
INGREDIENTS
4 poblano peppers
3 ears of corn
1 large zucchini, sliced lengthwise
1 shallot, minced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
4 oz cream cheese, softened
½ juice of lime
2-3 oz Cotija cheese
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
½ tsp paprika
2 green onions, sliced
Optional: ¼ cup cilantro, diced for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Heat your grill to 450 degrees.
Place poblanos, zucchini and corn on grill and turn until blackened on all sides, about 15-20 minutes.
Cut the peppers in half and remove seeds (peel the skin, if desired)
To a medium size bowl cut the corn off the cob.
Dice the grilled zucchini and add to the bowl along with the shallot, garlic, cream cheese, lime, Cotija cheese, salt, and pepper.
To a large cast iron skillet add the halved poblanos, and stuff them with the filling.
Add back to the grill to and close the lid for about 8 minutes.
Top with green onion, cilantro, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste.
made with love!
Marinated Flank Steak with Chimichurri
INGREDIENTS:
1 ½ lbs flank steak
Marinade
¼ cup olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp black pepper
Chimichurri
½ cup flat leaf parsley, finely minced
½ cup cilantro, finely minced
2 scallions, finely minced
1 tsp salt
½ tsp freshly cracked pepper
1 TBSP garlic, finely minced
½ tsp crushed red pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
2 TBSP red wine vinegar
DIRECTIONS:
Flank Steak...
Combine steak and marinade ingredients into a sealed tight bag and marinade for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
Chimichurri...
To make chimichurri, mix together the finely minced ingredients until combined. Set aside.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat on your stove, or you can grill. Add the marinated steak and sear for 6-8 minutes on each side. Let the steak rest.
To serve, slice it across the grain and add chimichurri sauce.
Watermelon Shaved Ice
An easy way to let the kids enjoy a delicious, yet healthy, dessert with less sugar.
INGREDIENTS:
Frozen watermelon slices
Frozen serving containers
Optional: lime, mint, honey, Tajín
DIRECTIONS:
Slice and freeze your watermelon; freeze your glass containers or other favorite serving dishes.
Grate the frozen watermelon over a micro planer or with a grater into your chosen dish.
Watermelon shaved ice is delicious on its own; cut lime, honey, mint and even Tajín are great additions.
