IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER

Sixteen slopes, five lifts, an average snow depth of 20 to 44 inches, three tubing lanes, snowshoeing and ice skating are all available at Sugar Mountain Resort. And it just keeps getting better and better. View the slopes straight from your desktop by accessing Sugar’s live, streaming webcam www.skisugar.com/sugarlive.

Ideal snowmaking temperatures and clear skies throughout this winter season continue to provide the opportunity to expand available terrain and increase the average snow depth, oftentimes leaving snow conditions fluffy, light and forgiving. Couple that with clear, Carolina blue skies, pleasant winter temperatures and things are perfect on Sugar Mountain.

There’s lots of winter left on Sugar Mountain with the bulk of events to come. NASTAR, a public ski and snowboard race, is held at noon every Saturday and Sunday. On February 19th, Sugar hosts the High Country Junior Race Series Championship giant slalom competition. BOSS HAWG, the area’s local, bluegrass band plays every other Saturday. The return of the Spyder Sample sale begins Thursday, February 23rd. Sunday, March 4th is Sugar Bear’s Birthday. Participate in the Dick Trundy Sugar Cup on Sunday, March 4th and support the American Cancer Society. Save money with a Winter Value Package www.skisugar.com/package or when you visit anytime after March 5th. For a complete list of Sugar’s events and specials please browse www.skisugar.com/calendar.

Don’t let this winter season pass you by, enjoy a fantastic winter experience; visit Sugar Mountain Resort. For more information please call 800-SUGAR-MT or view our website www.skisugar.com.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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Puppy Kindergarten is a class for puppies from 4 months – 1 year in age focusing on socialization, problem puppy behaviors.leash walking and 6 of the basic commands.
Basic Obedience is a class for dogs over 1 year in age focusing on learning 12 basic commands with distraction and proper leash walking.
AKC Programs – Dogs do NOT have to be purebred to participate in either program
AKC STAR Puppy Program is for puppies (up to 1 year) who want to get a head start on their Canine Good Citizen skills and work through puppy problem behaviors. At the end of the 6 weeks your puppy will be tested to be enrolled in the AKC S.T.A.R program
AKC Canine Good Citizen is a class for dogs (over 1 year) who are working towards their 10 skills in the Canine Good Citizen Certification.At the end of the 6 weeks your dog will be evaluated to become an AKC Canine Good Citizen.

For more info, visit: http://www.woof-pack.net

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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“This is something for the community, the patients and the staff to be very proud of,” said Richard Sparks, President & CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, “Earning positive feedback from our patients is one of the highest honors.”

HealthGrades analyzed HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) hospital survey data obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and identified those hospitals performing in the top 10% in the nation for patient satisfaction, based on survey responses from patients treated at those facilities. Hospitals had to meet bed size, survey-response size, and clinical-quality thresholds in order to be eligible for the award.

When making healthcare decisions, patients consider not only the outcome of a procedure or treatment, but the kind of experience they can expect to have at a hospital. A recent McKinsey & Co. study found that 20% of a patient’s choice is based on a hospital’s clinical reputation and 41% of patients consider patient experience measures to be an important factor in choosing a hospital. This is in sharp contrast to the conventional wisdom that such considerations are much less important.

According to HealthGrades, 80% of patients treated at the nation’s best-performing hospitals would definitely recommend the hospital compared to only 55% of patients who received care from the poorest-performing hospitals.

The more information consumers have about the health care choices available to them, the more confident they can be in selecting the best medical care for themselves and their loved ones. The Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ is a distinction generated by patients for patients.Information on award recipients and the ratings methodology is available, free to the public, at www.healthgrades.com.

“It’s clear that patients are driving higher quality in our nation’s hospitals,” said Dr. Rick May, HealthGrades Vice President of clinical quality programs. “Hospitals like Watauga Medical Center take HCAHPS survey results very seriously and invest time and resources to ensure each patient’s experience is the best possible. This is yet another example of how transparency in health care drives quality.”

When compared to hospitals performing in the bottom 10% for patient satisfaction, HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient hospitals are attributed with the following:

• 45% more patients gave the hospital an overall rating of a 9 or a 10 (10 being the highest possible)
• 34% more patients responded that they always received help from staff quickly
• 24% more patients reported that the staff always explained their medications to them prior to administering them
• 19% more patients felt their pain was always well controlled
• 45% more patients reported that they would definitely recommend the hospital to their family orfriends.

About Watauga Medical Center

Watauga Medical Center, part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, is fully accredited by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed as a 117-bed regional referral medical complex, offering both primary and secondary acute and specialty care. In addition to the main hospital, the campus of the medical center includes The Cardiology Center of ARHS, The Sleep Center of ARHS and the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, offering both radiation and chemotherapy on an outpatient basis. The Cancer Center is recognized as an approved Community Cancer Care Center by the American College of Surgeon’s Committee on Cancer.

Other units are: The Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center, The Rehabilitation Center, The Wound Care Center,  ARHS Home Health, which provides a full range of home care services, Appalachian Regional Pain Clinic, and a branch of the Northwest Area Health Education Center.tauga Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for certification as a Primary Stroke Center.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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The Blue Ridge Dinner Theater is owned and operated by Dick and Linda Copus of Winner’s Circle Restaurant & Steakhouse and former owner’s of Greenfield Restaurant. Dick and Linda have been in the restaurant business since 1990. The opening of the Blue Ridge Dinner Theater has given them the opportunity to take their restaurant experience to the next level by combining good food and good entertainment!

With the conception of the Dinner Theater, Dick and Linda strive to offer name-brand as well as local entertainment to Ashe County. It is their wish to provide something unique and different to the High Country that will bring more visitors to our area.

The Blue Ridge Dinner Buffet is included in your ticket price and provided by Winner’s Circle Restaurant & Steakhouse and is the same great buffet you new and loved at Greenfield Restaurant. You’ll have  your pick of mouth-watering entrees and side items including pan-fried chicken like Grandma used to make, roast beef, baked ham, real homemade mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, homemade biscuits and gravy. And you’ll not want to miss the homemade baked apples and cobblers. Buffet meal also includes coffee, tea, and water. Soft drinks sold separately.

Although our mailing address is 9331 Hwy. 16 S., West Jefferson, we are actually located in the small town of Glendale Springs at the old Mountain Music Jamboree.

For more info, visit: http://blueridgedinnertheater.com!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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Contact Information
800.841.ARTS

“As complex as it gets, the music remains direct, intensely expressive–with melodic passages that stay in the memory–and reaches a satisfying, powerful climax…” – Chicago Tribune

“…expands the frontier of an emerging style of what might be called American country-classical chamber music.” – The New York Times

As performing and recording artists, composers and interpreters, technicians and stylists, the Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile have established their place among the most dynamic and talented musicians across contemporary music. These five individuals continue to push the boundaries of possibility while maintaining an unerring devotion to the basic audience experience.

Punch Brothers first came together for the making of the 2006 album, How to Grow a Woman from the Ground, which earned them a Grammy nomination for the song “The Eleventh Reel” and contains a mix of covers and original songs. From there the band began touring and adopted the name Punch Brothers before releasing their second album, Punch, in 2008. Their most recent album, Antifogmatic, includes a set of collectively written material that ventures where no string band has gone before and continues to push the boundaries of their creativity.

More info, visit: http://pas.appstate.edu/schedule/id/punch-brothers

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Remember when you were in college, how great was it to have a home cooked meal and have Mom do your laundry!  Stay at our house…the perfect way to bring the family together and still be close to the FUN at ASU.

For more info, visit: http://www.goapprentals.com/

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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Seven Devils is a beautiful mountain town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It began life in the 1960s as the Seven Devils Resort and it is not difficult to understand why it was considered a resort. In 1979, the resort became the Town of Seven Devils. Fortunately, becoming a Town did not diminish the resort-like qualities of Seven Devils. It is today every bit as beautiful as it was in those early years.

Seven Devils is very much a residential community. At the foot of the mountain on Highway 105 and at Tynecastle one finds some thriving businesses. The necessities such as grocery stores, hardware, gasoline, restaurants, and medical care are only a short drive away and very convenient to the town. It is comforting to know that first-class facilities are located nearby, but not within one’s backyard or view. The heart of Seven Devils is located on the “mountain.” Although commercial activity is found on the mountain at the Hawksnest facility, it is recreational in nature. Aside from Hawksnest, the only visible commercial activity is Town Hall, the Seven Devils Resort Club, and the occasional construction of new homes.

For more info, visit: http://sevendevils.net/history.aspx

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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Prior to joining the Holiday Inn Express, managed by Coakley & Williams Hotel Group, Laura held the position as the Director of Membership for the Cascade Highlands Regional Tourism Association, where she was first introduced to the Wilkes County market.  Her love and appreciation for the area, now home,  combined with her commitment to providing exceptional customer service, is sure to take our team to the next level.

To contact Laura regarding hotel rooms, meeting space and  tourism, please call, 336-838-1800.  We look forward to another year working together to make Wilkesboro a destination of choice!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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This winter, Beech Mountain will play host to the first USSSA NC State Championship Snowshoe Race on January 7th at 1:00pm. Endurance athletes of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in this unique winter event, to be held the same weekend as Beech Mountain Resort’s Winterfest.

This event will include a recreational and competitive 5k run, a kids snowshoe scramble and a competitive 10k state championship race. The 10k will serve as an opportunity for athletes to qualify for the 2012 U.S. National Snowshoe Championships in Frisco, CO, in Feb.  Previous experience is not necessary to participate and free snowshoe loaners will be available for registrants.

The race will start and finish on the highest peak of the mile-high town and is sure to provide a unique experience with gorgeous views, challenging elevation changes and fun for all participants and spectators.  For more information, please call the Parks & Rec Department at 828-387-3003

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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Recognized for having the largest Snow Tubing Park on the East Coast, we’ve added the longest Zip line Tour as well, featuring 19 cables, four of which are known in the zip line industry as super or mega zips.

Gliding through the air with ease is trouble-free. Zippers–ages five and up–enjoy the exhilarations of speeding treetop high over valleys having expansive views and threading through the forest canopy over creeks, wild turkeys, deer, groundhogs and the occasional bear. In winter, zippers can yell to their snow tubing friends from way above as they begin their journey.

For more info, visit: http://www.hawksnest-resort.com

Plan Your NC Snow Skiing Vacation! Visit: http://www.skithehighcountry.com!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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The Valle Crucis Bed & Breakfast embraces this historical community with majestic view of the River Run Horse Farm, and blends today’s finest amenities for a mountain experience you won’t soon forget. Only minutes from local attractions and dining in Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock, we are located in the heart of what the high country has to offer.

Come and relax in one of our uniquely decorated guest rooms or spacious themed suites. Select from a suite with Jacuzzi tub and King bed for those more private occasions or a room in our main bed and breakfast with a Queen bed and front porch views that will take your breath away.

To learn more, visit: http://vallecrucisbandb.com

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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We’ve got winter Olympians, Sugar Bear, the newest ski & snowboard equipment available for demo, fireworks, great camaraderie, authentic Southern bluegrass music, a chance to win a RIDE snowboard, real-live social networking, and a rail jam complete with prizes and giveaways.

SugarFest is sponsored by the Village of Sugar Mountain Tourism Development Authority and hosted by Sugar Mountain Resort. SugarFest is scheduled for Saturday, December 10th and Sunday, 11th, 2011.

The Highlands at Sugar 828-898-9601 Sugar Mountain Resort Accommodations / Resort Real Estate & Rentals* 800-438-4555 Dereka’s Sugar Mountain Accommodations & Realty, Inc.* 800-545-9475 Sugar Ski & Country Club* 800-634-1320 Sugar Mountain Lodging, Inc. / Sugartop* 800-858-9663 * Up to 30% off your stay at participating lodging agencies

The ninth annual, two-day festival is packed with a long list of winter activities and coincides with Sugar’s 18th Annual Adult Preseason Ski Clinic. Olympic Gold & Silver medalist Diann Roffe and US National Sugar G Champion, Keely Kelleher top the list of the ski clinic’s coaching staff.

Both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am until 3:30pm, 2012 ski & snowboard equipment will be available for demo. Salomon, Volkl, Nordica, Burton, Head, Never Summer, K2, Atomic, Dynastar, Rossignol, Ride, Line, Fisher and Forum will all be represented. You must have a valid lift/slope ticket as well as a valid driver’s license or credit card in order to demo the equipment. The Sugarfest demo is brought to you by Ski Country Sports.

1992 Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist, Paul Wylie dazzle us with his amazing talent followed by an on ice skating clinic and a meet and greet session Saturday at 3:00pm. No fee is required to watch Paul’s inspiring on-ice performance. However, if you would like to skate, a valid skate session ticket is required. Sugar’s ice rink is located next to the Dave Nixon Pro Shop adjacent to parking lot D and is open for one hour and thirty minutes sessions from 10:00am until 10:00pm.

With Mother Nature’s cooperation and the newly installed snowmaking machines designated solely for the tubing area, Sugar’s Tubing Park will be open for six sessions each day beginning at 10:00am and ending a 10:00pm.

The entire family will be wowed by the thunderous and spectacular fireworks display at the base of Sugar Mountain Resort, Saturday evening at 5:45pm. Après ski isn’t a thing of the past. Kick off your ski boots, pull up a chair; indulge in some good food and warm drinks while enjoying live bluegrass music by Boss Hawg from 4:00pm until 7:00pm.

Come out and watch or throw down with some the area’s best riders in the RIDE Rail Jam Expression Session at 12:00 noon on Sunday. The winner receives a RIDE snowboard. Additional prizes and giveaways provided by Alpine Ski Center and RIDE Snowboards.

Text “RIDEBOB” to 35350 or visit www.sugarfestnc.com to enter online for your chance to win one of six RIDE snowboards to be given away SugarFest weekend.

And while you’re here why not stay for a night or two! Lodging agencies within the Village of Sugar Mountain offer discounted rates for slope-side and on-mountain accommodations during SugarFest. Winter Value Packages are available too.

For more information please contact Sugar Mountain Resort at 800-SUGARMT.

Plan your High Country Ski Trip! Visit: SkiTheHighCountry.com!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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SUGAR MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT, NORTH CAROLINA. NOVEMBER 29, 2011 Mother Nature’s in charge! And Sugar Mountain Resort is hoping the third time’s a charm. The ski area reopens tomorrow, Wednesday, November 30, 2011 for skiing and snowboarding. Warm temperatures melted away the snow on Monday, November 21, 2011, temporarily shutting the ski area down for the second time this season.

Snowmaking began at 3 a.m. this morning and continues as temperatures dropped into the 20′s. Ray’s Weatherexpects three inches of fresh snow to blanket the slopes of Sugar Mountain by tomorrow. View Sugar’s live, streaming web cam at www.skisugar.com/sugarlive to gauge snow accumulations and slope conditions.

Tomorrow the Upper and Lower Flying Mile slopes providing a run of one mile long will be open. Summit #1 lift will operate to the 3/4′s station servicing both slopes for the day and 1/2 day sessions. Tomorrow’s lift/slope ticket prices will be $30 for an adult full-day session and $25 for an adult half-day session.

Ice skating will be open tomorrow as well. For daily skate session times please check www.skisugar.com/skating.

SugarFest, December 10th & 11th is just around the corner. If you’re looking for an early season deal, take advantage of our Winter Value Packages.

Please call 800-SUGAR-MT (784-2768) or view our website www.skisugar.com for the latest slope and weather conditions.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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Located on at 668 Blowing Rock Road in Boone,

Frogurt Frozen Yogurt is…

Good for your bones :
An excellent source of calcium: Based on 2 servings (8 fl oz)
A well-balance diet with adequate calcium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Good for your tummy :
Contains probiotics to promote good health and wellness.
Helps maintain general digestive health

Good for you overall — Promotes good health and wellness :
Live Active cultures and probiotics to promote a healthy immune and digestive system
Low Sodium: Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Low Cholesterol: (NonFat / No sugar Added products)

Visit http://www.frogurtusa.com for more information!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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Start and end your holiday gift shopping in one day!

These local artists will be selling everything handmade from delicious sweet treats to jewelry, sculpture, pottery, various arts and crafts and more. This is a great opportunity to support your community, buy locally and add unique handmade gifts to your holiday shopping list! All vendors accept cash and checks and some of the vendors are able to able to accept credit cards. This event not only supports the High Country’s local art scene, but acts as the club’s main fundraiser to support similar art events that the club hosts on campus and around town.

VENDOR LIST

(as of November 10, 2011)

· A Little Art Here, A Little Art There (Sara Zagar)

· æTanner Photography (Ashley Tanner)

· after emily (Nikki Burris)

· Angelique Designs (Angi Covington)

· Apotheosis Herbal (Sara Leverett)

· Appalachian Mountain Knits (Merima Friedman)

· Aquarian Gems (Francine Barr)

· arudegirl (Susan Westphal)

· Bee Kind Family Farm (Jaime Cool)

· Bentley Originals (Teresa Bentley)

· Blue Ridge Botanicals (Lindsay Dicker)

· Bluebird Knits (Jill Maynard)

· Brookdell (Constance Dellinger-Brooks)

· By Meleah (Meleah Printz)

· Caffaknitted Designs (Katie Boyette)

· Caravan Botanicals (Jaimee Smith)

· Cathey Purvey (Cathey Purvey)

· Catwalk Pottery (Loretta Link)

· Celtic Dolphin Studios (Darla Sargeant)

· Cloister Honey (Sarah Young)

· Creations b y Sheila (Sheila Eckard)

· Critter Crafts – Spay-Neuter Committee Watauga Humane Society (Amy Carson)

· Dandy Dots (Catharine Milner)

· DogsKin Studio (John Peters)

· Elkland Art Center (Lexie Danner)

· Fatlighter Woodworks & MillerMark Pens (Gary Michael Barker)

· Fig and Honey/Hoopla Hoops (Anna Johnson)

· Finders Keepers (Brittne L. Cope)

· Fireflies (Jordan Stokes)

· FireWorx Pottery (Mark Murrey)

· Full Harbor and Fallow Fleet (Austin Saylor)

· Glendora’s Box (Glenda Stewart)

· Ineke’s Textural Expressions (Ineke Thomas)

· Jacob Ford Ceramics (Jacob Ford)

· JL Merrill Metalworks (Julie Louise Merrill)

· KAL Asymmetry Glassworks and Knitworks (Kelly Loughlin)

· Lauragami (Laura Miller)

· Layne Quilts A Little (Mareva Layne McDaniel)

· Leather & Copper (Chelsea Brendle)

· lovely Crafts (Doreen Cox)

· Luna Fae Designs (Brenda Jackson)

· Meg Parker (Meg Parker)

· Mountain Knit Wit and Candles (Mary Ferrell)

· National Art Education Association Student Chapter (Elizabeth Lauer)

· One+Tutu (Pamela D Allen)

· Outcasts & Exiles (Thomas Andrew Edmonds)

· Owl Handmade (Lindsey Sutphin)

· Payton-Alexis (Payton Brown)

· Pika Mountain (Torrey Tye)

· Poco Piu Mosso (Lindsay Scarborough)

· RagBags (Pam Washer)

· ReflectSpirit: Healing Art for Sustainable Wellness (Maloo Murrey)

· Salt Designs (Leanne Salt)

· Salvage Garden (Rebekah Epling)

· Shed Studios (Jonathan Smith)

· Sign Language (Sherry Markovitch)

· Silver & Stones (Judy Goodwin)

· Simple Bright Moon (Abby White)

· Southern Charms Jewelry (Laura Beth Surber)

· Tea and Leaf (William Mitro)

· The Quilting Biddys (BR Hoffman & Barb Elyea)

· Thompson Pottery (Brandon Thompson)

· Traveling Troubadour (Cody Maddox)

· Tyler Deal Artwork (Tyler Deal)

· Wild Creation (Anna Casebere)

· Windwalker Mountain Handcrafts (Dana Cox)

· Yellowfin Jewelry (Marta Toran)

· Alexandra Bradley

· Amber C. Brown

· Amber M. Dillingham

· Beck Long

· Courtney Evers

· Don Haywood

· Elizabeth Skinner

· Emily Meisner

· Emily Vanderlinden

· Gail Pillars

· Janes Richard Foley

· Joseph Duffer

· Justin Leitner

· Kathryn Copley

· Kelley Wolcott & Marty McCormick

· Laura Arbogast

· Lauren Bennett

· Marybeth R. Whalen

· Meagan O’Connor

· Megan Goble

· Samantha Jeanne McCalip

· Shelly Crandall

· Tiffany Christian

AMO’s Mission

The Arts Management Organization seeks to promote professionalism and networking within arts fields by increasing the awareness of the arts on Appalachian State University’s campus and in the community. This organization is open to Appalachian State University students and community members inspired by the arts and other expressive forms. Members seek to enrich the knowledge and appreciation of the arts for all who are involved.  The objectives of AMO are: to create an environment in which to learn and shareprofessional practices; to enhance the lives of artists and students by promoting all forms of art within Appalachian State University and surrounding community by providing opportunities; to provide educational opportunities for participating students; and to create lasting partnerships with other campus organizations.

About the Turchin Center

The Turchin Center is located at 423 West King St., in Boone, NC. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, and Noon – 8 p.m., Friday. The Turchin Center is closed Sunday and Monday and observes all university holidays. There is no admission charge, although donations are gratefully accepted.  For additional details about the Turchin Center or the upcoming exhibition program, please call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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SUGAR MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT, NORTH CAROLINA

Sugar’s 10,000 square foot outdoor ice rink also opens tomorrow. www.skisugar.com/skating Sessions are one hour and thirty minutes long and run from 10 am until 10 pm on Saturday. Sunday’s sessions will begin at 10 am and end after the 6 pm session. Ice skating tickets are $15 per session and include skate rental.

Sugar Mountain Sports Shop, located in the Base Lodge will open tomorrow for the season. It features the finest in winter apparel and footwear, quality gift items, and souvenirs.

For more information please call 800-SUGAR-MT or view our website www.skisugar.com for the latest slope and weather conditions. Historical opening and closing dates as well as recorded annual natural snowfall measurements can be found at www.skisugar.com/press/stats.

Also, visit www.skithehighcountry.com for more info on snow skiing in The NC High Country!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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As we scurry about enjoying the cool days of fall, we all know that colder temperatures are on the way, and many of us are ready to face whatever weather the coming season has to offer. Unfortunately, there are some in our communities who aren’t as prepared.

The Mast General Store, along with Columbia Sportswear, invites you to share the warmth in your community by “sharing” your clean, gently-worn coats, jackets, sweaters, gloves, hats, and even blankets so others can be warm this winter. You can drop off your items at the Original Mast General Store and the Mast Store Annex in Valle Crucis. Your donation to the Original Store will go to the Eastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia tornado victims and the Valle Crucis Elementary School, and the Annex will be given to the Hospitality House and Valle Crucis Elementary. Donations at the Boone Mast Store will be given to Green Valley Elementary School as well as to the April 2011 tornado victims.

It was important to us that our community partner have direct access to those in need, said Fred Martin, president of the Mast Store. Our employees, our customers, and Columbia Sportswear are all eager to help our neighbors, so we want to ensure that these coats, jackets, sweaters and blankets will go to individuals who can use them.

For over 26 years, the Hospitality House has provided emergency shelter services and transitional family housing, operates the Bread of Life Community Kitchen, and administers WeCAN  a crisis intervention and homeless prevention program in a seven county region.

Warm items will be given to teachers and staff at Valle Crucis and Green Valley Elementary Schools who will discreetly distribute coats to students they know could use extra layers for warmth this winter.

This past spring, thousands of Eastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia residents were permanently displaced when a historic outbreak of tornadoes swept away homes across the region. Countless losses have taken a tremendous toll on folks ravaged by the storms of April 2011 and because of their isolation and the size of their communities, many of their needs remain unmet.

This is the seventh year the Mast Store has undertaken this project to help provide coats for those in need in their home communities, and its the fifth time that Columbia has generously offered their own donation of 326 coats, which will be divided across all Mast Store communities. Our customers are always so helpful when we identify a need. We all have jackets and coats hanging in our closets or in storage that can be put to better use, said Martin. If you can help, please drop off your clean coats, jackets and blankets by November 30th.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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For more info and to download a brochure, visit: http://boone-nc.org/artcrawl2011

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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North Carolina Ski Areas Association (NCSAA), Banner Elk, NC Purchase your North Carolina Ski Areas Association Gold Card and ski or ride at any of the six North Carolina ski areas this winter season.

Gold Card holders may ski or ride at any North Carolina Ski Resort during any session regardless of holiday or weekend rates. Only 100 Gold Cards are available at a cost of $795 each winter season. They sell quickly.

North Carolina ski areas include Cataloochee Ski Area, Sapphire Valley Ski Area, Beech Mountain Resort, Appalachian Ski Mtn., Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort.

For more information or to purchase a gold card, please go online www.goskinc.com/goldcard. Or call 828-898-4521 Monday through Friday from 8am 4pm.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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This year look for the tubing and ice skating season to match the ski & snowboard season. Sugar Mountain Resorts historical opening and closing dates as well as annual natural snowfall can be found at www.skisugar.com/press/stats.

Join us this season as we continue to make Sugar even sweeter. For additional information please call Sugar Mountain Resort: (828) 898-4521 or visit us at www.skisugar.com.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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The first lecture on November 3 at 7 p.m. will discuss the artist and the exhibition, Living in the Light: A Retrospective, displaying a compilation of beloved photographer and former chair of the photography program at Appalachian State University, the late John Scarlata’s work.

On November 9, artist Val Lyle will hold a lecture on her current exhibition, Sanctuary, which emphasizes the aspects of life in the Appalachian mountains. Both lectures are free and open to the public. Call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org for more information.

Living in the Light: A Retrospective- John Scarlata

November 3, 2011

7-9 p.m.

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall

*Reception to follow in the galleries

Guest lecturers Jay Phyfer (Professor of photography and digital imaging, Virginia Intermont College), Gil Leebrick (Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University) and Pac McLaurin (Photography Department, Appalachian State University) joined by close friends of John Scarlata will gather for an in-depth conversation about the artist’s life and his work. Other special guests will include Joe Champagne (Professor of Photography & Digital Imaging Virginia Intermont College), Jackie Leebrick, Ben Garfinkle (Oakland California) and Tom Braswell (Photographer and Interim Gallery Director from Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University).   A reception will be held in the galleries immediately following the lecture.

Sanctuary- Val Lyle

November 9, 2011

7-8 p.m.

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall

Join artist, Val Lyle as she discusses her latest work, Sanctuary located in the Mayer Gallery. This exhibition and installation continues the artist’s exploration about what it means to be a human being in Appalachia which is in its eighth incarnation of the exhibition.

Other Upcoming Events at the Turchin Center

First Friday Reception

November 4

Free and Open to the Public

7-9 p.m.

Presented in conjunction with Downtown Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl, the Turchin Center will be open for all visitors to come and celebrate the current exhibitions as well as welcome a new exhibition by painter, Gabriel Lehman celebrating the opening of his solo exhibition My World opening on November 4.  Painter and installation artist, Val Lyle, will also be in the gallery to talk to guests about her exhibition Sanctuary.

Healing Arts: Yoga in theMayer Gallery

Saturdays, October 15, November 5 & 19

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

$10 per participant

Inside Exhibitions

Free guided tours by one of Turchin’s volunteer docents one Saturday a month on the exhibition of their choice.

Visit www.tcva.org for more information.

Fall Workshops

Turchin Center offers a variety of arts workshops for kids, older teens and adults throughout the year. Visit www.tcva.org for more information on how you can register.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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“We wanted to create a fun event that would give kids a chance to be more involved in the animals’ day and provide us with the opportunity to raise awareness about the improvements that we hope to make to our eagle habitat,” said Christie Tipton, habitat manager.

Halloween activities take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are included with regular admission. Kids in costume will get in at half price.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with Halloween-themed crafts in the Nature Museum. At 10:30 a.m. kids can go trick or treating in the animal habitats, which will be decorated in mummy, werewolf, ghost and graveyard themes.

At 11 a.m. Naturalists will meet by the Mildred the Bear statue in the Nature Museum to lead an interactive program titled “Going Batty for Bats.” Participants will learn all about bats and their importance to the environment.

Prepare to be captivated by ghost stories at 11:30 a.m. in the Nature Museum Auditorium. Local storytellers Maggie Christenbury and Owen Gray will lead scary tales to thrill the whole family.

At 12:30 p.m. kids get a chance to compete in a costume contest and vote on their favorite costume worn by the animal habitat staff. Voting takes place in the Nature Museum lobby.

Immediately following the costume contest, guests have a unique opportunity to participate in the animal enrichments by decorating pumpkins and other treats that will later be given to the animals. An enrichment is anything different that can help to break up the animals’ day such as a scent, a new toy or a treat.

Join the Mountain’s Naturalists in the Nature Museum at 1 p.m. for the “Creepy, Crawly Critters!” program. Participants will learn about creatures of the night, creatures that bite and other spooky animals.

At 2 p.m. the Habitat Staff will begin the animal enrichments. Meet at the deer overlook to watch the animals enjoy their decorated treats.

The last of the day’s programming will take place in front of the fudge shop at 2:45 p.m. An “Owl Encounter” allows guests to meet and learn about the spooky night prowlers that can be found in the High Country.

Throughout the day guests can learn more about the eagle habitat, special programs offered by habitat staff and additional opportunities to get involved on the Mountain. For more information, contact the habitat staff at 828-733-8715.

Grandfather Mountain is a globally recognized nature preserve famous for its 360-degree vistas, native wildlife habitats and Mile High Swinging Bridge. The attraction is located on US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville, NC, and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305.

The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest and participate in educational research activities.

For more information phone 800-468-7325 or plan a trip at www.grandfather.com.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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