Watauga County Farmer’s Market Accepting Applications

January 9, 2013 by

We have a community filled with so many talented people. Why not get paid for your talents?

farmersmarket

The Watauga County Farmer’s Market is now accepting vendor applications. You need to have a completed application with a $25 fee turned in by January 31. Remember all products must be made by you. You are not allowed to sell another individual’s products. You must reside in the following counties: Watauga, Wilkes, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and/or Johnson (TN). Membership fees are $100 per year. Weekly rent is $14 or $18.

Remember craft vendors are only accepted on odd years. This is the year the jury will be reviewing craft vendor applications. Don’t delay and get your application in before it is too late.

For more information: Visit the Farmer’s Market website or call: 828-355-4918.

Filed Under: Shopping Tagged With: ,

Calling all Girls! Upcoming Babysitting Training Program

January 7, 2013 by

childstroller.jpgAppalachian Regional Healthcare is holding a Safe Sitter Babysitting Training Program for individuals at least 11 years old.

Safe Sitter  is an up-to-date,and well-rounded youth development program with amedical basis, teaches young teen babysitters everything they need to know to keep the children in their care safe. The nationally-recognized, pediatrician developed program includes child care techniques, basic first aid, rescue techniques for choking infants and children, infant and child CPR training, and babysitting as a business.

 

 

Details:

When: Saturday, February 2nd, 2013

Time: 9 am- 4 pm

Place: Watauga Medical Center (Auditorium)

Cost: $25. Cash or make check payable to ARHS

Class size is limited.  You must call to pre-register.

Contact: Candy Jones (ARHS Community Outreach)
Phone: (828) 268-8960
Email: cfjones@apprhs.org

Students must bring their own lunch, drinks, and snacks.

Filed Under: Education, For Kids and Families, Things To Do Tagged With: ,

Almost Free Season Passes from App Ski Mtn for Watauga 4th and 5th Graders

December 7, 2012 by

Ski season is finally here. The long-term weather outlook looks much better this winter season than last winter season. Thank goodness!

Appalachian Ski Mtn. has announced an incredible deal for Watauga County 4th and 5th graders. Your student can be in public, private or homeschool. They are offering a limited season pass ($350 dollar value) for only a $25 processing fee. The pass would be good any night (including holidays), and also any non-holiday weekday, which would include any teacher workday, snowday early release day, and also the following school holidays/teacher workdays (Nov. 21, Jan. 2-4, Jan. 21, Mar. 21 & 22).

The deals do not stop at the season pass. App Ski Mtn is also offering deep discounts for lessons and over 60% off ski and snowboard rental packages. The rates are as low as $50 for the entire ski season. Helmet rentals can be rented for $5 total for the entire season. Please contact your child’s school or App Ski Mtn directly (828-295-7828) if you would like to take advantage of this offer. You will need to show a copy of your child’s 4th or 5th grade report card. If homeschooled, bring a copy of child’s birth certificate.

App Ski Mtn. will continue to offer their snowday rates of $8 ski tickets, $4 ski rentals, and $13 snowboard rentals. This applies any day school is cancelled due to weather, unless school is rescheduled for Saturday and cancelled.

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: ,

All New Children’s Theatre Makes Their Debut This Weekend

November 28, 2012 by

Get ready for some Christmas-filled fun this weekend with the debut of “Jingle Jury” by BeanStalk Little Theatre. The new children’s theatre is co-founded by Amy Beane and Andrea McDonough.

Christmas comes to life on stage as High Country kids conduct a trial in Candy Cane Courthouse and YOU are the jury! To the shock of everyone, young Jim Dandy has called Christmas spirit “a lot of nonsense.” Facing a Christmas court of justice, Jim intends to defend himself. He has his task cut out for him as a colorful parade of Christmas personalities try to prove him wrong, including reindeer-in-training, an angel from atop a Christmas tree, wise men and holiday shoppers. Even Mrs. Cratchit and Tiny Tim make an appearance. It’s up to the Toy Maker to discover why Jim is acting so strangely. The answer involves a teddy bear and some bad kids who aren’t so bad after all.

This is going to be such a fun play and the directors are amazing. My oldest daughter Madisyn has had the honor of being in Beane’s other plays at Blue Ridge Community Theatre. Madisyn will be a letter writer and a citizen in the “Jingle Jury.”

Come out this weekend and support the children’s theatre. This will be such a great avenue for the kids here in the High Country. We need more arts. Amy and Andrea are making sure that our kids are able to have access to the arts. I am grateful.

Beane said:

Blue Ridge is really branching out and doing a lot more theater with adults, so we just wanted to keep something for the youth of this county to be able to do.

“Jingle Jury” will be performed Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Harvest House Performing Arts Venue. This venue is located at 247 Boone Heights Drive in Boone, right across from the Wellness Center. The show times are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the door or in advance at McDonough’s State Farm Insurance office, located at 450 New Market Blvd., Suite 1, in Boone.

For more information, call (828) 312-0263 or email beanstalklittletheatre@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Filed Under: For Kids and Families, Things To Do, Weekend Calendar of Events Tagged With:

Flu Cases Have Been Confirmed in the High Country

November 28, 2012 by

It is that time of year. The cold and flu season is out in full force.

According to GoBlueRidge.Net, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) has reported confirmation of flu cases. I can attest to this article as my two daughters were diagnosed with the flu on Monday. It was a long weekend and I decided to take them in on Monday evening. Blue Ridge Pediatrics saw cases of the flu all day on Monday. I am sure the cases are still being confirmed as we speak. My oldest daughter’s class has been hit hard with the sickness, so I am assuming she must have got it from school.

There is no need to panic of course. I just wish I would have took M in when she first had symptoms. As they can give you medicine for the flu if you catch it within the first 48 hours. The medicine will not work if you are confirmed with the flu after 48 hours from when symptoms first started. My girls had developed bronchitis on top of the flu so they were prescribed antibiotics. We are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. The last fever was last night around 11:00pm. I am hoping we can make it a full 24-hours with no fevers.

What are the symptoms of the flu? According to BabyCenter.com:

The symptoms of flu in children are remarkably similar to those of a cold and other viral illnesses. So it’s not always easy to tell whether your child has the flu, which is caused by a specific bug: the influenza virus.

If it’s flu season (approximately October to February) and your child has the following symptoms, there’s a good chance that it’s the flu:

The sudden onset of fever, typically 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) or higher
Headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and chills, followed by respiratory symptoms such as a runny nose and a dry cough.

If congestion or coughing shows up much before the fever, it’s more likely your child has a cold.

Both girls symptoms showed up with no warning. I thought we could ride it out and I was wrong. If I can suggest, please take your child in as soon as symptoms start. It will be a much easier recovery if you can get the medicine in time.

Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Both girls have not wanted to eat much. I have not pushed the foods, only the liquids. I did not want them to get dehydrated.

Hopefully your family can escape the flu season without catching the virus. My hope is that the season will be a short one and not infect many households this year. I am ready to get the flu bug out of our house for good.

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Enjoy the Christmas festivities around the High County

November 19, 2012 by

There is something about small town living and Christmas celebrations.

Blowing Rock Christmas Parade

The High Country really knows how to celebrate this time of year. Please bookmark this post and continue to check back with all the updated information. Christmas Lightings, Parades, Church Plays, Live Nativity Scenes and etc. will be all listed below for your enjoyment this Christmas season.

Christmas Parades:

Blowing Rock
November 24, 2012
2 pm
Main Street
Info: 828-295-5222

Boone
December 1, 2012
11:00 am
King Street
Info: 828-262-4532

Banner Elk
December 7, 2012
6:00 pm
Banner Elk Firehouse
Info: 828-898-8395

Newland
December 8, 2012
5:00 pm
Downtown
Info: 828-733-1718

Christmas Tree Lightings and Festival

Blowing Rock
Nov 23, 2012
Memorial Park
Info: 828-295-5222
Visit with Santa 2-4pm
In the Gazebo
Hayrides through Blowing Rock 4-9pm
Memorial Park
Airwalks 2-7pm
Memorial Park
Free Hot Cider and Hot Chocolate 5-9pm
Memorial Park
Caroling in the Park 5-6:30pm
with the “Vagabonds”
Lighting of the Town 5:30pm
with Mayor JB Lawrence
Bluegrass Christmas 7-9pm
with Diana & Sarvis Ridge

Chetola Resort Festival of Lights
Blowing Rock
Begins November 23, 2012
November 23 and 24: Horse & Carriage Rides, Visits with Santa, Cookie Decorating, 5:30-9:30pm.

Beech Mountain Community Bonfire
November 25
Join us for a Community Bonfire on November 25th at 8pm at the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria. Come cozy up around the fire as you roast s’mores, drink cider and cocoa, and sing along to the rhythm of the guitar string. Free food, beverages, and music…what more can you ask for?!
Info: 828-387-3003

Watauga Education Foundation FlapJack Breakfast and Boone Service League Holiday Market
December 1
7:30AM-11:00AM
Watauga High School

Newland Tree Lighting
December 7
After Parade at 5:00 pm
Tree lighting, caroling, refreshments in the square.
Info: 828-733-1718

Beech Mountain Resort: Santa Visits Beech Mountain & Lighting of the Tree
December 15
Santa Visits Beech Mountain & Lighting of the Tree
4pm – 6pm
4 Seasons at Beech and the Visitors Center

Beech Mountain: Breakfast with Mrs. Claus
December 22
9AM until 11 AM
Buckeye Recreation Center
Cost: FREE (Donations are appreciated)
Age: Family Friendly

While Santa and his elves are busy making Christmas toys for all the little girls and boys, Mrs. Claus comes to Beech Mountain to have breakfast and spread Christmas cheer to all of the children of our community. Come join us at Buckeye Recreation Center as Mrs. Claus comes to read Christmas stories, visit, and take photos with the children. A light breakfast will be served free of charge, but donations are appreciated.

Filed Under: For Kids and Families, Things To Do

High Country Parent Announces New Editor-in-Chief

November 13, 2012 by

From Sarah Pinnix:

When I began the High Country Mom Squad (now www.highcountryparent.com) in 2008, I had no idea it would become the hub of information, activity, and community that it did. It was magical to watch parents come together across the region as local business also supported our community. When I started a full-time job (in an actual office), High Country Parent entered a transitional period for several months. And now, I am pleased to announce that Jennifer Houck Spink will be taking the reins as Owner and Editor in Chief. I cannot wait to see what creative and informative things she does with the site, and I assure you that she will take HighCountryParent.com to a new level of excellence and community.

Thank you Sarah! I have big shoes to fill but I will do so with great pleasure. My soul is filled with excitement and my brain has been working in over drive on how I can deliver more hearty goodness to all the parents of the High Country.

My family was originated in Ashe County. My dad went to school at the one room school house at Todd General Store. Yes, I have heard many stories of how he had to walk to school in several inches of snow. I guess you can say I was born and raised as a mountain girl. We took permanent reigns in Boone, NC in 2005. We did decide to trade the mountains for the busy city life of Raleigh for one year, but came running back fast back to Boone. This is our home. This is where we feel most comfortable. My husband Scott and I have two beautiful girls who attend school here in Watauga County.

I am not new to the online world as I have been sharing my parenting thoughts at OneMomsWorld.com since August 2005. The parenting journey can be a roller coaster but this is one ride that I never want to jump off. It has been a fun and exciting journey meeting parents all over the world through OneMomsWorld.com. Now, I am excited to share information and get to know parents right here in the High Country.

There will be new additions to the website such as an interactive guide to extracurricular activities but most of all, I want to hear from you. What would you like to see on High Country Parent? Please send me your suggestions via the contact form or leave a comment on this post. I look forward to hearing from you and getting to “know” you!

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