Sonny Sweet—A Life of Service

By Bricca Sweet

Babette asked me to write about my darling Sonny, who died in June from the cancer that he had held at bay for nearly nine years. It’s an honor to once more pay tribute to my life’s most unforgettable character.

Sonny truly lived to serve others—to help them grow into their own full potential, to assist them through tough times, and to enhance their capacity to joyfully live life to its fullest. His own sheer exhilaration showed in almost every moment of his waking hours, and it enveloped those around him. I’ve often wondered if he took his own dad’s calling as a preacher to heart as a guidepost for the light of love and hope that he shone on others. He was fierce, passionate about his beliefs, tough, and often a bit rough around the edges. His intense sense of justice drove him to inspire others to have a fair shot at a full life.

Sonny was drafted into the Army in 1961 and found his calling in serving his nation and his soldiers. He became an intelligence officer and commanded at every level through brigade. His innovations in training became Army-wide models, and I still hear from soldiers who feel that he changed their lives. Sonny totally believed in “Be All You Can Be” long before the Army adopted the motto. He loved giving all soldiers the chance to make more of their lives than they’d imagined possible. He was pretty quick to declare “nonsense” (using other words!) when policymakers proposed practices or regulations that were unfair to soldiers.

My Sonny made his military service a firm foundation for a life of community contributions when we moved to the High Country in 1995. As Director of Watauga County’s Red Cross Chapter, he quickly worked to help the Chapter become a respected community non-profit. I was still on Active Duty in California when he came to Boone in February, and the kids and I came out over spring break to look for a house. We met Sonny at his courthouse office to walk to lunch at Boone Drug. It took forever, as Sonny stopped and talked with what seemed like every person on the street! It was his goal to meet two new people every day, a goal that he surpassed daily. When Sonny talked with people, they left feeling better about themselves than they had a few minutes before.

Sonny absolutely loved Watauga County, the High Country, and mountain people. His dad had been a preacher in Ashe County and an App State student when Sonny was a little boy (Worth Senior was even Mr. Appalachian!), and Sonny had wanted to return to these mountains all his life. Whether it was his calling to give back to the community or the recognition others had for his innate leadership skills, Sonny took part in numerous local organizations. He participated in leadership committees with Henson Chapel United Methodist Church in Vilas, labored at the Mountaineer Ruritans Fish Fry events, led and served with the Boone Kiwanis, helped found the High Country Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and participated in several area committees. He worked with the Town of Boone to start the Fourth of July parades, helped develop MOAA’s Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day celebrations, and helped begin the Blood, Sweat, and Gears bicycle ride.

Sonny engaged in numerous individual endeavors of which so many people are essentially unaware. For example, he encouraged a very “senior” citizen as a Red Cross volunteer and helped him through his final years. Sonny also helped a local storyteller with all of his final affairs—financial, medical, and personal—as disease took Jim’s life. Sonny became a personal friend of several Hurricane Katrina evacuees who sought refuge in the High Country and helped them re-start their lives. He fully appreciated that extreme disaster takes so much more from us than shelter. Sonny also worked closely with the courts to take on those sentenced with community-service and did his best to help them (mostly students) find a positive path forward. He loved having high school and college interns, several of whom credit their later life success to Sonny’s influence. Sonny was a service member who also lived a life of service.

Sonny was suddenly diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2013—we had no idea that he was even sick. Sonny quickly became physically limited, but he wanted to keep helping others while he was sick, as well as beyond his death. After a lot of reflection and consideration, we worked with Western Youth Network (WYN) to establish a scholarship fund to help those kids who most needed extra help. Sonny felt that WYN reached kids in a way that school sometimes didn’t, that it helped them find a sense of purpose, selfconfidence, and concern for others. He especially saw that WYN helped youth see, through real-world activities, mentoring, and adventure-learning, that school success might have something to do with their own lives. Thus, WYN’s Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund has helped kids, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to do so, attend WYN’s summer programs every year since 2016. Sonny was incredibly proud of this scholarship, and he hoped that it would continue to assist WYN in helping kids long after he was gone. We would love your donation to WYN’s Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund—please go to https://donorbox. org/wyn_online_donation to contribute.

Sonny’s last words to you would be “to help one another, be kind, and enjoy every moment.” Through my tears, what else can I say?

Photo courtesy Magic Cycles, Boone, NC

Middle Fork Greenway Photo courtesy Magic Cycles, Boone, NC

Photo by Todd Bush

Photo courtesy Magic Cycles, Boone, NC

One Simple Step By Mike Teague

Each and every day thousands are injured in biking or skiing accidents in the United States. While many of the injuries are minor in nature, there is one type of injury that is concerning. Head injuries, or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs can be prevented or reduced by adding one item to your attire: an approved and appropriate helmet.

When I was a child it wasn’t considered common practice to wear a helmet while riding a bike or skiing on the slopes. While I would say it is more common today to see people wearing helmets when enjoying the High Country on a bike or while on the slopes of one of our beautiful ski resorts, helmet usage isn’t where it needs to be. Over the past 40+ years there has been much research and many improvements to help prevent TBIs that result from crashes in these sports.

In a 2016 article in the The American Journal of Surgery, a group of highly qualified doctors studied 6,267 patients with intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding inside the skull) after bicycle-related accidents. What this group of doctors found was that wearing a helmet provides protection against severe TBI, reduces facial fractures and saves lives. Of the patients in this study, only 25 percent were wearing a helmet! The study found those who were wearing a helmet during the bicycle accident reduced their odds of a severe TBI by 51 percent and the odds of dying by 44 percent.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released data in May 2021 that indicated there has been an increase of TBIs in older adults. During March through September of 2020, TBIs increased by 21 percent for adults 40 years of age and older. During the same time period adults over 70 saw an increase in TBIs of 39 percent.

Many people express they believe a helmet is needed only if you are extreme trail riding, long distance cycling, or skiing steep terrain. The truth is that it takes only a simple fall from any bike or a minor slip on a ski slope to put one in danger of a TBI. The CDC/CPSC findings seem to highlight this position. As we age we tend to not take our sports to the extreme levels. While there may have been some 70-plus-year-olds that were extreme on a mountain bike in the CDC/CPSC data, I personally doubt they accounted for all of the 39 percent increase in TBIS.

Mike Boone, owner of Magic Cycles in Boone, agrees with this concern. “You never know what is going to happen. It doesn’t take a lot to cause an accident and cause someone to go over the handle bars. Wearing a helmet protects you from the unexpected.” Mike Boone goes on to say that he has had many customers come into his shop and tell him or his staff how happy they were that they were wearing a helmet during a recent bike wreck. “As an avid cyclist myself,” he adds, “I experienced a bike crash in Blowing Rock in 2005. During the crash I hit my head on the pavement, breaking my helmet. Thankfully, I only suffered cuts and scrapes in the accident, but I am certain the helmet prevented a TBI at most, or at least a concussion and/or facial injuries.”

The snow ski industry has seen a much better response in helmet usage over the past decade. The National Ski Area Association (NSAA) is reporting that nearly 90 percent of skiers wore a helmet during the 2021/2022 ski season. This number is remarkable, but there is still room to improve. According to Statista, an organization that tracks ski resorts throughout the country, there were almost 15 million skiers in the U.S. in 2017. The numbers would indicate that while the ski industry has made a big step in skier safety, we still have nearly 1.5 million skiers not wearing helmets in the U.S. each year!

Joe Donadio is Appalachian Ski Mountain’s long standing ski patrol director. Joe sees that increased helmet use on the ski slopes has greatly decreased the risk of experiencing a TBI. Additionally, he feels the risk for facial cuts, bruises and other head injuries has been reduced. “The ski industry has seen the chance to reduce risk (with helmet use) so much that many resorts now require employees, such as instructors, terrain staff and ski patrol who are working on the snow, to wear a helmet,” says Donadio. He adds that he would like to see more people consider wearing a helmet when on the slopes. “Accidents are unpredictable. It’s always more fun to be safe than to suffer from something that could have been prevented.”

Why are many still not wearing helmets while participating in these sports? If you look at some of the excuses given for not wearing a cycling helmet, they relate more to vanity than anything else. Many people don’t want their hair messed up by the helmet. Others indicate the helmet doesn’t fit right. Additionally, people say the helmets are too hot, which makes them uncomfortable to wear. While the messed up hair might be a tough one to fix, think about what could happen to your hair in a crash!

Most new helmets when they are properly fitted are lightweight, provide for good ventilation and are, yes, comfortable to wear. Mike Boone believes helmet usage has improved in our area and in the cycling community specifically, noting, “It is rare to find an avid cyclist not wearing a helmet.” In Boone’s opinion, “If you were raised around cycling and bikes, you know what to do. Those who bought their bikes at a big box store or haven’t been around bikes in the past just haven’t been exposed to the true need for helmet use. The question shouldn’t be ‘why aren’t you wearing a helmet,’ it should be ‘why wouldn’t you wear a helmet?’” Boone goes on to say, “Thousands of dollars, a hospital visit and long term injuries can easily be prevented by wearing a properly fitted helmet.”

So where do we go from here? I would hope that you read this article, immediately

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Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts (LPCCA) is holding a special fundraising event on Thursday, September 22. All LPCCA supporters, friends, artist partners and families are invited to attend! You can support Lost Province while sipping on a glass of locally crafted wine from Old Barn Winery and listening to live music performed by local musicians! Proceeds from ticket sales will help continue to build the financial support needed to restore and preserve the historic Lansing School building in Lansing, NC. Learn more at lostprovincearts.org.

This fall, the Hunger & Health Coalition celebrates 40 years of helping to relieve poverty and hunger in a compassionate manner for families and individuals who are experiencing economic hardship and food shortages. This assistance may include food, medicine, wood and referrals to other community resources. Join the organization for a day of celebration! From 1-3 p.m. on September 26, cake will be served in honor of all donors, volunteers and clients to celebrate Hunger & Health Coalition’s 40 years of feeding, loving and empowering our community! Learn more about the important work of the organization at www.hungerandhealthcoalition.com.

The Watauga County Public Library is hosting a community reading program featuring the “Books of Boone.” This series includes book discussions, author talks, and special events. Put your reading glasses on and discover Boone anew through the lens of history and storytelling! The next featured book is The Last Entry, by Dr. Jim Hamilton, on Thursday, November 10 at 6 p.m. Stop by the library or visit www.arlibrary.org/watauga for copies of books or more information. Find other events that celebrate the 150th anniversary of Boone, NC, at boone150.com.

Each year on Veterans Day (November 11, 2022), the High Country Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America holds a small ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Boone, NC. The Watauga Community Band will perform and those who have served will be honored at the ceremony. The event will be held at 11 a.m. by the Memorial on King Street in Boone (next to Town Hall). www.hccmoaa.org

The Riverwalk Quilt Guild is a community group that aims to preserve our mountain heritage of quilting; to be a source of education and inspiration for quilters; to provide fellowship to people with a common interest; and to be of service to the community. For their 2022 Service Project, Guild members are making and donating at least 10 twin-size quilts to Crossnore Communities. “Often when kids arrive at Crossnore they only have the clothes on their backs. The staff allow each child to pick a quilt—one that speaks to them—with the hope that it provides comfort and begins the healing process.” The Avery County Riverwalk Quilt Guild meets the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Newland Christian Church, located at 2800 Miller’s Gap Hwy in Newland, NC. Visitors are welcome! Learn more at https://riverwalkquiltguild.godaddysites.com or on their facebook page.

Each fall, the Mast General Store, in partnership with Columbia Sportswear, sponsors a “Share the Warmth” coat drive. Each store has carefully chosen a local organization that is well connected in the community to find new homes for each donated jacket. Please take a look in your closets and storage bins for clean, gentlyworn coats and jackets that may find a greater purpose in someone else’s closet. They can be dropped off at any Mast Store the entire month of December. Find out where you can drop off your toasty clothes at www.mastgeneralstore.com.

The Adam Davis Galleher Memorial Fund began in January of 2013 after the sudden passing of a loving son, brother, and friend who touched many lives in his 26 years on the Earth. Nine years later, SmileOn ADG has awarded over $151,592 in grants, scholarships, and charitable gifts in areas that Adam was passionate about. SmileOn ADG will once again be partnering with DEWEY’S Bakery Holiday Store in Blowing Rock for this year’s fundraiser. Look for the red & white DEWEY’S signs in mid-November at Tanger Outlets in Blowing Rock and shop in-store or online every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last year’s fundraiser raised over $23,000 for SmileOn ADG, thanks to community support. Learn more about this special fundraising effort or make a donation online at www.smileonadg.org. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ deweyholidaystoreSmileon/.

After a lifetime of serving the people and animals of Avery County, Rachel Deal passed away earlier this year. She was a huge advocate for trying to bring Animal Control Services to the County, and served on the Board of Directors of the Avery Humane Society for over 40 years. In her honor and memory, the Society has created the Rachel Deal Fund for the Stray Animals in Avery County. Consider making a gift to help care for stray animals in our community—all gifts to this fund will be used for food, shelter, medical care and support for the hundreds of stray animals brought to the shelter each year. Visit averyhumane.org, and read CML’s article on Rachel Deal elsewhere in this issue.

Lace up your running shoes (and bring your antlers)! On Saturday, December 3, from 9 a.m. -12 p.m., you can participate in the annual Reindeer Run in Banner Elk. The event begins at Tate Evans Park in downtown Banner Elk and is open to everyone—bring the whole family! Feel free to run, jog or walk the course. Registration opens in late October. Please visit the Williams YMCA Membership Desk to register or go to www.ymcaavery. com. A Race Day T-Shirt is included in the cost of registration. All proceeds will go towards the Y-Access program, a subsidy program that ensures that everyone can participate in YMCA programs and memberships. For questions, please contact Erin Spear or Erica Shingleton at 828-737-5500.

Thanks to the generous funding by the High Country Charitable Foundation, the Banner Elk Book Exchange has purchased over 120 NEW books for their collection. The focus was on Caldecott and Newbery Award winners for young readers. These books will be added to their children and young adult collections, which always need extra books. The Book Exchange has also added to their regional collection—books written by regional authors or about regional subjects. Visit the Book Exchange and “exchange” some books this season! Learn more at BannerElkBookExchange.com.

Help make this Christmas merry and bright for the boys and girls of High Country Caregivers. The organization is seeking sponsorships for their children this Christmas. For $250, you can give a child a magical Christmas this year. If you would like to sponsor a child or send a donation, call or email Kinship Navigator Caroline Johnson at 828-434-6693 or caroline@highcountrycaregivers.com.

Artist Kent Paulette, known for his colorful, largescale paintings, recently donated a 10-ft. wide, 7.5-ft. tall bear painting to Grandfather Mountain. It now hangs permanently on the wall above the entrance to the newly redesigned Nature Museum at The Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.

“Grandfather Mountain is such a special place to me,” said Paulette. “This painting was inspired by my visits to the wildlife habitats and seeing the bears there. I collected water from a waterfall at Grandfather Mountain and mixed the water directly with paint to stain the canvas…” You can view more of his artwork at www.KentPaulette.com.

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From atop Grandfather Mountain, visitors can grab a front-row seat to one of nature’s most stunning spectacles— thousands of raptors migrating over the mountains and heading south toward their wintering grounds. Guests can observe the raptors during the annual Hawk Watch, in which official counters and volunteers note the number of passersby in the sky throughout the entire month of September. Counts will be conducted every day the weather permits on Linville Peak and Half-Moon Overlook and will be posted daily at HawkCount.org. For more information visit grandfather.com. Photo courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

2022 marks MountainTrue’s 40th anniversary! One important function of the group is to test the water quality throughout western NC. In recent tests, the data concluded that microplastic pollution is widespread throughout the Watauga River Basin and other Western North Carolina waterways. MountainTrue is collaborating with communities to stop plastic pollution at its source, and working to implement a single-use plastic ban in the Town of Boone (an effort that has been successful in many communities nationwide). You can help by learning more about the problem, using less single-use plastic in your household (plastic bags, cutlery, etc.), and letting your voice be heard by town, city, county and state leaders. Learn more at the Plastic-Free WNC website at www.plasticfreewnc.com and visit mountaintrue.org to read about the organization’s collaborative history, monumental successes, and the important folks who helped shape the MountainTrue organization into what it is today. Photo: www.plasticfreewnc.com

Nexsen Ringers Community Handbell Choir presents Holiday Bells on Saturday, December 17 at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Boone United Methodist Church. Boone UMC proudly hosts this talented group of musicians as they help the High Country “ring in the season” with seasonal favorites and popular tunes! For more information, contact Dana Davis at dana@ booneumc.org or call 828-264-6090.

North Carolina writers Tonja and Emily Smith have been visiting various venues in the High Country and beyond to talk about and sign their latest book, Adventures of Bailey, Bleecker, and Banjo—Linville Gorge. Visual artist Tonja illustrated and co-authored the book with her daughter, Emily. Adventures, the first in upcoming derring-do tales of Bailey, Bleecker, and Banjo, take the three on an outdoor escapade into the rugged yet scenic Linville Gorge. Book available at local bookstores, gift shops and online.

Most people in the High Country have heard of Reba Moretz, known by many as the matriarch of the Appalachian Ski Mtn. family. As co-owner of Appalachian Ski Mtn. with late husband Grady Moretz, she spent most of her life growing the family business and promoting the regional ski industry. She has also played a key role in shaping High Country tourism, supporting Appalachian State and the arts (she is a founding member of An Appalachian Summer Festival), and advocating for the High Country medical community.

In addition, Reba is known as an accomplished musician, having earned a master’s degree in music and music education from Appalachian State Teacher’s College (predating The Hayes School of Music). Earlier in her career, she taught music at NC schools, including App State, and she has served for more than 50 years as organist at the historic All Saints Episcopal Mission in Linville, NC. Reba recently retired as the church’s organist—just a few months in advance of her 90th birthday, which she will celebrate later this fall. On this occasion, the All Saints community, and all who have been fortunate enough to hear her play over the years, pay tribute to Reba and her many decades of making beautiful music.

Several times each year, the various counties in our region provide special collection days for household hazardous waste (HHW). The proper disposal of HHW and the recycling of approved materials saves landfill space, money, natural resources and energy. The next Hazardous Waste Collection Day for Watauga residents takes place Thursday, October 13, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Learn more at www.wataugacounty.org.

The organization’s $8 million ‘Quality. Compassion. Support.’ campaign launched in September of 2021. The campaign will support the construction of a 9,000 sq. ft., seven-bed inpatient facility for hospice patients who have pain and symptoms that cannot be managed in the home or who have need for respite care.

The patient care unit will be built in Boone beside AMOREM’s Palliative Care Center, and will serve residents of Watauga, Ashe and Avery Counties.

Supporters of the campaign, including SECU Foundation, the High Country Charitable Foundation, ECRS, Watauga and Ashe Counties, and many private donors, have given or pledged over $3.3 million in the first year of fundraising.

“We are embarking on a project to enhance the lives of High Country residents,” said AnneMarie Yates, campaign co-chair. “Community support is crucial in our next phase of fundraising.”

Since expanding services to the High Country in 2014, AMOREM has provided hospice care and palliative medicine for more than 1,500 seriously and terminally ill High Country residents and their families. While most hospice care is provided in the patient’s home, needs often arise that require a higher level of care that should be provided at a patient care unit.

Currently, the only option for inpatient hospice care for High Country residents is to travel to one of AMOREM’s three patient care units in Burke and Caldwell counties.

Carol Smith, vice president of High Country services at AMOREM, is certain the project will improve quality of care for High Country hospice patients.

“We strive to deliver the best possible care for our patients and support to their families,” Smith said. “Our team has seen the need for a higher level of care to manage pain and symptoms, locally. A patient care unit in the High Country would allow our patients to receive the care they need in a comfortable, homelike setting without travelling down the mountain or facing a hospital admission.”

AMOREM, a nonprofit hospice organization, was formed from the integration of Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care and Burke Hospice and Palliative Care in May 2021.

To find more information about the campaign and AMOREM’s services, visit: amoremsupport.org/donate/high-country-capital-campaign or contact Kerri McFalls, VP of community engagement at kmcfalls@amoremsupport.org.

In 1996, Elk River resident Brent Atwater was visiting a friend in a nursing home. That visit inspired her to start Flowers for Friends. For years Atwater watched gorgeous summer plants all over the High Country get discarded at season’s end and wondered how they could be repurposed to bring joy to others. Today, Flowers for Friends has grown their vision, and continues to inspire others in the community to help in this effort to repurpose plants so that others can enjoy them.

“We redistribute plants to local and select hospitals, rehab centers, retirement communities, nursing homes, and to folks who have no one,” says Atwater. “For example, Meals on Wheels recipients who need their day brightened.” Her concept has really caught on in the community, attracting individuals and organizations to volunteer for the cause. One year, for example, Bradley Dunn, head coach of the Lees-McRae men’s lacrosse team, recruited many of his players to help pick up and deliver these repurposed plants.

Want to donate your plants? It’s a simple and convenient process:

Call 828-898-5557 or email brent@brentatwater.com and provide the date of your departure from the High Country (note that they will be accepting only potted plants this year).

Atwater and her team will schedule a pickup time for your plants or have you drop them off at a designated area.

If you’re having a wedding, party, or other event this season, Flowers for Friends will collect all unwanted flowers at the event site after it’s over.

Your donated plant is prepped to enjoy a long and healthy life, and delivered to a special recipient.

You can even track your donation—Flowers for Friends will photograph your plants to show you where they go! A card that reads “You are Special & Loved” is placed in every delivery.

If you are involved in an organization that would like to receive plants and flowers, please make arrangements to get on the Flowers for Friends schedule as soon as possible. The number of plants donated determines their delivery capacity.

And if you’re interested in helping with this worthy cause, volunteers are needed in the various High Country communities to facilitate donation awareness, collection and distribution. “We would love for you, your summer community and organizations to help us brighten the lives of others,” adds Atwater.

Find out more about this unique effort on the organization’s Facebook page, Flowers for Friends—Know you are Special and Loved. Or, call 828-898-5557 or email brent@brentatwater. com.

An Appalachian Summer Festival has long held the dream of establishing a $5 million programming endowment—and this year, the dream has been realized, thanks to a recent gift by Barbara Freiman, along with her children and grandchildren, in memory of Barbara’s husband, Larry Freiman, who passed away in 2021. Added to the commitments by Neil and Nancy Schaffel, Chris Petti and a number of Continued on next page

other generous endowment donors, this critical milestone in the festival’s growth and development has now been attained. “The Freimans have been treasured friends and ardent supporters of App State for more than 30 years,” said Chancellor Sheri Everts. “Their passion for the arts and lifelong learning has enriched our university and the surrounding communities, and their legacy will continue to uplift and engage many future generations.”

The Freiman family has donated more than $2 million to Appalachian State University in support of An Appalachian Summer Festival and the University Libraries.

“Barbara is a deeply admired member of the arts community and a long-standing supporter of An Appalachian Summer Festival, as was Larry before his passing,” said Denise Ringler, App State’s director of arts engagement and cultural resources. “These gifts represent the family’s desire to ensure arts access and quality of life for our entire region, and we are incredibly grateful for their generosity.”

In 2019, the Freimans were inducted into An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Founders Society, which recognizes “the people whose vision, generosity and hard work helped build An Appalachian Summer Festival,” Ringler said. Barbara is also a former member of An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Advisory Board.

The Freimans have long been involved with the arts in Western North Carolina. Larry, a lifelong violinist, played in the Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory, and An Appalachian Summer Festival’s 2021 Broyhill Chamber Series was dedicated in his memory. Barbara served as president of The Community Music Club in Lenoir and as a board member of the Western Piedmont Symphony. Photo: The Frieman Family

This summer, seventeen children ranging from five to twenty-three years old, of all religions, ethnicities and economic stations, were joined by Rabbi Alty Weinreb and wife Elizabeth from Boone’s Temple of the High Country at a magnificent children’s park on the grounds of Sandi Finci Solomon’s home.

This is not just a backyard—it is 2 ½ acres, down 130 stairs from Solomon’s house to a wonderland of adventure and pure fun. Here you’ll find basketball, badminton, horseshoes, and volleyball, along with soccer balls, swings, a gazebo, hammock and the piece de resistance—the Watauga River running along the property. The children—all participants in the Western Youth Network (WYN) program— swam, snorkeled, fished and did what children do best… laughed. Rabbi Alty, as he likes to be called, came prepared with percussion instruments, one for each child. He led them in creating music and in laughing games. The Rabbi’s wife, Elizabeth, an artist herself, came prepared to paint their faces in any character they chose. Sandi Finci Solomon served a delicious, nutritious meal, topped off with cupcakes and cookies. It was an experience of a lifetime for the WYN children.

Growing up is never easy, but for some it’s extremely difficult. The Western Youth Network is an organization that helps children—all nationalities, all ethnicities, and at all stages of growing up. WYN provides mentors to teach children the ways of the world, to help with their homework, to overcome any problems at home and with getting along with people. They provide after school activities and summer camps when school is on summer break. They introduce children to new experiences that might not have been available to them before WYN, such as learning to fish, sports, hiking—in short, learning how to succeed in anything they tackle.

Sandi Finci Solomon’s annual summer event at her park, in addition to her taking youth to see live theater at Lees-McRae College, and dancing in their talent show, is a labor of love. Ask her and she’ll tell you that nothing gives her more pleasure than seeing children smiling and enjoying each day. WYN is just one of the many charities and programs Solomon supports. Others include the App State Youth Film Festival and the Advisory Board for Theater and Dance, and the Lees-McRae Summer Theater Advisory Board, where the stage is named after her. But she says this annual event at her park is different; it brings together the two organizations closest to her heart, her Synagogue, the Temple of the High Country, and the Western Youth Network. - Contributed by Suzanne Lasky-Gerard, photo by Bill Liebman

A note from WYN Staff: “Our Alleghany County kiddos would like to give a huge shoutout and thank you to Sandi Solomon for opening Sandi’s Park to us again this year! Our students had a blast playing in Sandi’s backyard and enjoying a tasty lunch. Swinging, swimming, fishing, and volleyball were all huge hits! We’d like to extend our thank you to Alty and Elizabeth Weinreb for having musical activities and face painting for us, and to all of Sandi’s friends who joined us! Special thanks to Bill Liebman for capturing these sweet and special moments.” Learn about the ways in which you can support the Western Youth Network at www.westernyouthnetwork.org.

The App State Hickory Campus is one of several major construction projects underway at Appalachian State University to enhance the App State Experience. Last fall, App State closed on the purchase of the former Corning Optical Communications building, located at 800 17th St. NW in Hickory, and an adjoining 15.7 acres. The property, currently under renovation, will house the future App State Hickory Campus, with a target date of fall 2023 to begin holding classes in the building.

“We are moving forward with plans for opening the Hickory Campus to students in fall 2023,” said Appalachian State University Chancellor Sheri Everts. “The City of Hickory has been incredibly welcoming to App State. Signage has been going up on the building in recent weeks… You might also notice how much brighter the building looks than [last] fall when we bought it—the City of Hickory cleaned the exterior of the building for us a few months ago!”

Chancellor Everts added, “Partnerships with the City of Hickory and other local government, education, civic and business leaders in the area will be key to meeting the educational needs of the region. Common themes that have emerged include innovation, arts and culture, recreation, child care, student support

and academic areas that include business, education, health care, engineering, design and building sciences. There are also numerous possibilities for the Hickory area to engage with the university’s sustainability initiatives.”

She said that as the University prepares to open the new Hickory Campus, they will use the information coming out of these discussions with the community to make sure the School’s program offerings “will be strategic, thoughtful and collaborative.”

Graphic by Jim Fleri

In early September, the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain, the not-forprofit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, reached a major milestone. One of the most iconic destinations in North Carolina turned 70 years old!

“The Mile High Swinging Bridge is the crown jewel of Grandfather Mountain,” Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, said. “For 70 years, the bridge has provided a wonderful and exciting experience for all our guests and has put Grandfather Mountain on the map as one of North Carolina’s top destinations.”

For decades, the bridge has also provided a dramatic backdrop for Grandfather’s array of important educational programming, in which park naturalists and educators share the wonders of the mountain with guests.

Grandfather Mountain founder Hugh Morton had the bridge built in 1952, which marked the establishment of the park as it is known today. The construction of the bridge and the paved road to the top had been a dream of Morton’s during his life and made the mountain’s sweeping views and natural beauty accessible to everyone.

“The bridge is a testament to my father’s vision,” Catherine Morton, Hugh Morton’s youngest daughter and board member of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, said. “There were not many economic drivers in the mountains of Western North Carolina at the time, and he perceived tourism as a growing industry that could create jobs for the people in the mountains.”

Former North Carolina Tourism Director Charles J. Parker coined the name “Mile High Swinging Bridge” at the bridge’s dedication in 1952, a nod to the structure’s elevation above sea level. The bridge is 228 feet long and spans an 80-foot chasm at more than a mile high. Meanwhile, the term “swinging” refers to the fact that suspension bridges are free to sway. The bridge provides easy access to Linville peak, along with dramatic 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding mountains that spill over into Tennessee and Virginia.

In 1999, the bridge was rebuilt using the original towers. The cables, floorboards and side rails were all replaced using galvanized steel. To learn more about the Mile High Swinging Bridge, visit www.grandfather.com/ visit/things-to-do/mile-high-swinging-bridge. Photo: Far Tower Being Constructed in 1952, Photo by Hugh Morton, Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation

The Appalachian Theatre in Boone announced that veteran arts professional Suzanne Livesay has been named executive director of the venerable landmark. Bill Pelto, who led the national search, said, “Suzanne brings to us the verve of an educator, the expertise of a manager, and the instinct of an artist. I look forward to seeing her energies dedicated to enhancing the quality of the arts here in the High Country.”

The Sugar Grove resident was formerly vice president of education and community engagement at the Straz Center in Tampa, the nation’s sixth largest performing arts center, where Livesay supervised 31 full-time and 50+ adjunct faculty and staff members while administering an annual $5,500,000 budget. Previously, she served as theatre and music chair for Tampa’s Patel Conservatory, theatre/ choral director at The First Academy in Orlando, and fine arts coordinator at the Geneva Academy in Deland.

Suzanne and her family relocated to NC during the pandemic, where she has been employed by the Watauga County Schools as a K-8 music educator at Bethel and Valle Crucis Schools. She fell in love with the region in the 1990s when she was a featured soloist at The Farm House in Blowing Rock while pursuing her undergraduate musical theatre degree at Stetson University in Florida. Livesay also holds a Master of Education degree from Belhaven University in Mississippi.

“I genuinely appreciate the warm welcome and support I’ve received from our amazing High Country community and businesses,” said Livesay. “Everyday folks share memories and stories from their past audience experiences and are excited about creating new memories here. We’re ramping up our offerings with films, concerts, theatre, and more, helping everyone celebrate the Appalachian Theatre as the High Country’s showplace.”

“Suzanne has the right background and personality for the job,” said David Jackson, president and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “She is someone who can trumpet the mission of the Appalachian Theatre well, while also thinking about how the organization can be a benefit to others in our community. The seeds are there for this to be a signature moment in the theatre’s history.” – Contributed by Keith Martin

“Welcome to The Inn at Shady Lawn!” That greeting, spoken with genuine warmth and sincerity by new owner/operators Suzannah and Nathan Gittner, along with manager Becka Buchannan, is truly a welcoming sound to the many guests who’ve come to visit the High Country and enjoy the hospitality of this Continued on next page

newly renovated inn in the heart of downtown Newland, NC.

Formerly known as The Shady Lawn Motel & Lodge—a Newland landmark since opening in 1955 by the Sam Ray family—The Inn at Shady Lawn was acquired by the Gittners in the summer of 2021. After temporarily closing to invest in classic upgrades to furnishings, fixtures and decor, they reopened this past summer just in time for the rush of seasonal tourists as well as people exploring the area for a second home or permanent move to the High Country.

Nathan—a financial consultant and former Aerospace engineer—and his wife, Suzannah—previously in Human Resources and recruiting—had bought a home in Mountain Glenn and moved in on Memorial Day, 2015. They initially planned this to be a second home. But both fell in love with the area. It was Suzannah who ultimately said, “I really love it here. You travel all the time in your business…so why don’t we just move here permanently?” With that, the Gittners became fulltime residents, got acquainted with local public and business leaders and began exploring possible business opportunities.

Fascinated with the idea of running a hospitality business, the inn property seemed ideal. “Suzannah is a natural for this and a perfect hostess,” noted Nathan. “She’s a real pro and genuinely loves meeting new people and dealing with the public in this type of setting…and she especially enjoys creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for our guests. With Becka as manager, a dedicated staff, and our recent upgrades, we’ve been able to offer our guests a modern hospitality lodging experience, yet within all the coziness of an intimate Inn environment. And the local community has been greatly supportive,” he added.

Conveniently located in the center of downtown Newland, local shopping, dining and community amenities are an easy stroll or short drive from the inn. Area recreation and tourist attractions are all nearby and The Inn at Shady Lawn has some exciting plans for the future. Full details at www.theinnatshadylawn. com. – Contributed by Steve York

This summer, Lees-McRae kicked off a new cultural and continuing education series for the college, the town of Banner Elk, and the wider community. The High Country Adventure Film and Speaker Series brings renowned speakers and award-winning outdoor-related films to the Lees-McRae campus throughout the 2022–23 academic year.

In addition to being a fun and enriching event for the community, ticket sales for each event in the series will raise funds for academic and extracurricular programs at Lees-McRae. This will be a great opportunity for community members to learn more about the world around them and support the college at the same time.

“Everywhere you look on campus, there’s something that speaks to our love for the outdoors,” said Katie Wall, series organizer and program coordinator for Outdoor Recreation Management and Wilderness Medicine and Rescue. “I think the more films and speakers we can bring in to give us different perspectives on all the things that make the outdoors and living in the High Country so special and valuable, will really bring meaning to not just the Lees-McRae community, but the Avery County and Banner Elk communities as well.”

Fall events include: • Outdoor Ally Speaker Series: Rachel Olzer “All Bikes Welcome, Pedal to the People”

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. at the Lees-McRae

College Outdoor Amphitheater,

Help fund local youth programming through the C.R.A.N.K. Crew Club and the Cycling

Studies academic program. • Reel Rock Climbing Film

Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., Lees-McRae College

Outdoor Amphitheater, South Campus at

Grandfather Home

Support the Lees-McRae Climbing Team and the construction of the Adventure

Learning Lab. • Teton Gravity Research Ski and

Snowboard Film | “Mountain Revelations”

Saturday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m., Beech Mountain

Resort

This event is raising funds for the Ski and Snowboard Team and the Ski Industry Business and Instruction academic program.

This series is supported by local businesses Beech Mountain Resort, High Country Guide Service, Wittman Sports Group, Foscoe Fishing Company, Sotheby’s International Realty, Sustainable Lawn and Landscape, Headquarters Bike and Outdoor, Mountain Alliance, West Fork Anglers, and River Girl Fishing Company. Buy tickets and learn more about these fall events, as well as the 2023 lineup of events, at https://www.lmc.edu/community/high-country-adventure.htm.

Local public relations and advertising firm G&T Communications has been helping clients tell their stories, educate consumers and inform them about new services for 26 years, and recently received recognition for its efforts. The Telly Awards for video and television content across all screens announced the agency as winner of five international silver awards and two international bronze awards for TV and online commercials, including animation and video produced for social and digital outlets.

“We serve some of the best clients in the nation, including three energy utilities who finished 2021 in J.D. Power’s top 12 among electric cooperatives,” said Maggie G. Tilley, president and founder. “We help our clients achieve their goals with excellence, expertise and efficiency. But it takes a village,” she continued. “From voice talents to video production, we work with some of the most talented people in the business, in addition to our clients working with us every step of the way.”

More than 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents competed for a coveted

win during the annual event. Entrants were judged by an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multiscreen industry.

G&T Communications has a long list of awards on behalf of its clients, including a PRSA Silver Anvil finalist slot, 22 Telly awards for TV and animation ads and five utility campaigns honored with the coveted Edgar F. Chesnutt Award. The Chesnutt recognizes the “best of the best” in public relations and advertising programs among the nearly 900 electric cooperatives across the nation. The firm has offices in Boone and Asheville, NC. For more information, visit GoToPublicRelations.com.

The High Country Breast Cancer Foundation (HCBCF) is celebrating its fifth anniversary by giving thanks publicly to the many generous and caring people in the High Country who support its cause. The 5K Walk/ Run continues to be the Foundation’s biggest annual event, generating donations through race registration and sponsorship. Race participation has grown dramatically since the first event in October of 2017. The 2019 race had over 600 entrants. In 2020 and 2021, the race was held virtually due to Covid restrictions. The Foundation is excited to welcome back “inperson” walkers and runners on October 22, at 9 a.m. in Blowing Rock.

Irene Sawyer, HCBCF founder and president, is an eleven-year breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with the very aggressive triple-negative form of the disease in December of 2010. She began the road to recovery after multiple surgeries and 18 months of chemotherapy. One of the things that helped her during her journey was the support she received from her community. When Irene moved to the High Country, she noticed many businesses and members of the public were eager to show their support during October—Breast Cancer Awareness month. Her dream was to bring together all who felt a calling to support breast cancer awareness under one “umbrella,” a united front for our community.

Irene’s dream came true in 2017 when she started HCBCF as a local non-profit, with an allvolunteer board dedicated to helping breast cancer patients, survivors and their families exclusively in the North Carolina High Country. The Foundation is the link between those who can give and those who need that gift. Irene pays all of the Foundation’s expenses with the earnings from her personal real estate business. This means every penny of every dollar donated goes to work for local breast cancer patients and their families. The Foundation has paid patients’ rent, has contributed to college funds, automobile expenses, food trains, etc., and now covers the cost of a remarkable new treatment that prevents hair loss due to chemotherapy, the Paxman Scalp Cooling System.

The Foundation continues to grow and expand its outreach through all seven counties it covers. Anyone living in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes or Yancey County is eligible. To donate, request assistance, register for events or volunteer, visit hcbcf.org.

As the colder months ensue, we should all start thinking about preparing our homes and property for potential storms. Blue Ridge Energy prepares for the storm season and possible power outages by making sure line technicians and all staff are prepared to respond.

In case of an outage in your area, Blue Ridge Energy members are advised to be prepared with the cooperative’s outage reporting options and tips below:

Report Outages in the following ways: • Call 1-800-448-2383 • By using the Blue Ridge Energy mobile app • By text when signed up for outage texting

Check outage status at any time: • View the cooperative’s online outage map at https://bremco.maps.sienatech.com/ or on their mobile app.

Blue Ridge Energy posts information during major outages on its social media, including www.facebook.com/blueridgeenergy, www. instagram.com/blueridgeenergy, and www.twitter.com/blueridgeemc.

The cooperative also wants to share some safety precautions you can take before a storm hits, including creating an emergency supply kit with the following: • Flashlights with extra batteries • NOAA Weather Radio (or, sign up for notifications from emergency and weather services on your smart phone or table) • Keep cell phones charged and have fully charged battery backups • Extra water for drinking and cooking • Nonperishable food items • Manual can opener • First aid kit, including prescription medications • Extra blankets

They also recommend following the tips below to stay safe and comfortable in the event of outages: • Help prevent your pipes from freezing by turning your faucets on just enough so they can drip, especially if temperatures approach 20 degrees F. • If using a space heater or heat lamp, be sure to place it on a solid surface at least three feet away from anything combu tible. Always turn off space heaters before leaving the room or going to sleep. • Never leave a fireplace unless its embers are completely extinguished. Also consider using a glass or metal fire screen to catch sparks and rolling logs, and never store flammable liquids near sources of heat. • Know how to use your generator.

Generators should be placed in an open and ventilated area. They should never be operated inside a home—including spaces like the basement and garage—due to the danger of inhaling carbon monoxide fumes. • Never touch a downed power line. Warn others to stay away and call Blue Ridge

Energy or 911.

Blue Ridge Electric serves some 78,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and parts of Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties. Its propane and fuels subsidiary serves customers in the cooperative’s service area as well as Burke, Catawba, and Grayson County, Va. Learn more at www. BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

Savor award-winning wine and pamper yourself at The Villa, a luxury B&B. Spend your days exploring the local golfing, fishing, and skiing. Or recharge with a spa treatment and a glass of wine in front of the magnificent stone fireplace.

A weekend getaway, corporate retreat, family vacation, engagements, elopements, rehearsal dinners, or special events...it’s the perfect place to relax, re-inspire, and rejuvenate – both inside and out.

PREVENTION: continued from page 103

change your habits and begin wearing a helmet when cycling or skiing if you don’t already. As our local industry experts have indicated, accidents are unpredictable and can have life changing outcomes. If you are currently wearing a helmet during these sports, or have just decided to reduce your risk by wearing one, it is important to wear the helmet every time you hit the slopes or ride the bike. Let’s make it a beneficial habit!

So where do we go from here? I would hope that you read this article, immediately change your habits and begin wearing a helmet when cycling or skiing if you don’t already. As our local industry experts have indicated, accidents are unpredictable and can have life changing outcomes. If you are currently wearing a helmet during these sports, or have just decided to reduce your risk by wearing one, it is important to wear the helmet every time you hit the slopes or ride the bike. Let’s make it a beneficial habit!

If you are looking to purchase a helmet for either or both of these awesome sports, I encourage you to reach out to one of our local ski or bike shops and their experts. Mike Boone and his staff will be more than happy to take the time needed to get you wearing the perfect helmet. These folks are trained and very knowledgeable in many different styles of helmets and will help you get the right helmet with the right fit. I hope to you see you on the slopes or the Greenway exercising, having fun and wearing your helmet! Mike Teague is the Assistant Fire Chief of the Boone Fire Department. Feel to reach out to him at mike.teague@ townofboone.net or by phone at (828) 268-6180 with questions or topic requests.

American Journal of Surgery @ https://www. americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S00029610(16)30366-X/fulltext CDC/CPSC @ https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2021/New-CDC-Report-Finds-More-AdultsAre-Dying-from-Bicycle-Related-Accidents-CPSC-Saysit-Highlights-the-Importance-of-Helmets?language=vi National Ski Area Association @ https://www.nsaa.org/ NSAA/Safety/Helmet%20Safety/NSAA/Safety/helmets. aspx?hkey=1e6c9416-77ce-4e62-97ee-8364565e9bfe Statista @ https://www.statista.com/topics/1770/ winter-sports/#dossierContents__outerWrapper

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