It Just Keeps Getting Better And Better At Sugar!
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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High Country Host Welcomes New Member: Woof Pack Pet Services!
We are proud to welcome our newest member, Woof Pack Pet Services! They offer dog training, pet sitting and much more!
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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Watauga Medical Center Among Top 10% Nationally for Patient Experience for the 4th Year in a Row
For the fourth straight year, Watauga Medical Center has received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from HealthGrades. This distinction ranks Watauga Medical Center among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide based on an analysis of patient satisfaction data for 3,797 U.S. hospitals. In addition to the Overall Patient Experience Award, HealthGrades also named Watauga Medical Center among the top 5% in the U.S. for Overall Pulmonary Services in 2012.
“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 High Country Host Welcomes New Member, Blue Ridge Dinner Theater!
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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Mark Your Calendars For Blowing Rock Winterfest, 2012!
Join the Village of Blowing Rock as we celebrate the fun side of winter at the 14th Annual Blowing Rock Winterfest! From the Chili Cook-Off to WinterPaws, from the icy Polar Plunge to WinterFeast, there’s something for all age groups at Blowing Rock Winterfest.
- Shop with Blowing Rock Merchants
- Dine in our cozy restaurants!
- Free Hot Chocolate & Hayrides!
- FREE SNOW!
For more, visit: http://www.blowingrockwinterfest.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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Host Welcomes Town of Seven Devils As New Member!
The High Country Host is pleased to welcome The Town of Seven Devils as a new member!
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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Holiday Inn Express of Wilkesboro hires new Director of Sales!
As the new year approaches, the Holiday Inn Express Wilkesboro is very excited to welcome Laura Virto as the new Director of Sales for the hotel. Laura possesses over eighteen years of proven successful sales and marketing experience along with an incredible enthusiasm, contagious to all those that meet her.
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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Beech Mtn. to host NC Snowshoe Championship Jan. 7, 2012!
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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SugarFest at Sugar Mountain is December 10th & 11th!
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.
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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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The Fall Boone Handmade Market is coming up on December 4th!
Start and end your holiday gift shopping in one day! The Fall Boone Handmade Market will be held at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on December 4, 2011 from 1-5 p.m. This event is presented by the Arts Management Organization (AMO), an active Appalachian student club and is sponsored by Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. Over ninety emerging and established artists of the High Country will be selling their locally homemade goods at this indoor arts market.
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 Countrys local art scene, but acts as the clubs 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
AMOs Mission
The Arts Management Organization seeks to promote professionalism and networking within arts fields by increasing the awareness of the arts on Appalachian State Universitys 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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