Feb. 22 - ASHE WEDNESDAY SERVICES: with imposition of ashes will take place at noon and 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 115 East King St., Boone; phone (828) 828-264-2206.

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Feb. 15 - FREE BUSINESS WORKSHOP: The Watauga County Small Business Center will host the free workshop "Market Research and Surveys" from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Watauga Library in downtown Boone. Olga Zatepilina will be the featured speaker. For more information or to register for the workshop, call 263-5370 or email Evelyn Asher at easher@cccti.edu.

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Feb. 10 - SCOUTING FOR FOOD DRIVE: will be conducted through Feb. 11 by the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in Watauga and Ashe counties. The drive is co-sponsored by Lowes Foods. Scouts will be distributing bags at neighborhood homes, at Lowes food stores and at the churches they attend. The food, to be collected Feb. 11 or 12, will be taken to three food banks: the Hunger Coalition and Casting Bread food pantry sponsored by Faith Bridge United Methodist Church in Watauga County and Ashe Really Cares in Ashe County. In addition, the pre-K through 8 schools in Watauga County will be conducting its second Scouting for Food in the Schools food drive. Each school maintains a food bank and the students at each school are encouraged to bring a bag of food to school during the week for their respective food banks.Read more...

Feb. 3 - OPEN HOUSE: The National Committee for the New River will hold an open house at its new office in Ashe County from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday. The location is 1 North Jefferson Ave, Suite D, West Jefferson.Read more...

Jan. 27 - BLOWING ROCK WINTERFEST: Join the Village of Blowing Rock as it celebrates the fun side of winter at the 14th annual Blowing Rock WinterFest through Jan. 29. The event includes the Chili Challenge, Polar Plunge, WinterFeast, Wine Tasting and Auction, ice sculpture contest and demonstration, pancake breakfast, Winter Paws Dog Show, live game shows and much more. For more information, call (828) 295-7851. Read more...

Jan. 20 - CHILI COOKOFF: Cornerstone Summit Church will be hosting a chili cook-off at 6:30 Friday, Jan. 20, at Boone United Methodist Church, located at 471 New Market Boulevard, Boone. The cost of tickets is $10 per person and will include the meal, as well as inclusion in a raffle for gift certificates and other prizes provided by local businesses. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the Cornerstone Summit office at (828) 265-3795. Proceeds from this fundraising event will go toward sending community members with Missions.Me to La Ceiba, Honduras, March 11-18. This trip will focus on reaching out to the area public schools and will culminate at the end of the week in a citywide crusade.Read more...

ELK KNOB STATE PARK: in Watauga County will host two educational programs this weekend that are free and open to the public. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, folks will learn all about the American black bear, including its habits, habitats and much more. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15, rangers will explore the predators that call Elk Knob home and various adaptations that allow these animals to live at the apex of the natural world. Bring a creative and open mind, as folks will be asked to design their own predators using the adaptations discussed in the program. Both programs last about an hour. Meet at the Elk Knob Park Office. For more information, call (828) 297-7261.Read more...

Wednesday - HIGH COUNTRY HOSPICE: will be hosting a four-week grief support group at the Hospice Office, 136 Furman Road, Suite 2, Boone, in February. The group will be offered at no charge and will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25. The group is open to anyone in the community who has lost a loved one.  For more information or for additional grief support services, contact the bereavement coordinator at (828) 265-3926.Read more...

Oct. 28 - HAPPY HARVEST FAMILY FEST: will be held at Mount Vernon Baptist Church from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. Dress up as your favorite fruit or vegetable for the costume contest. For more information, call (828) 266-9700 or visit www.mtvernonch.Read more...

Sept. 30 —  A FALL FESTIVAL AND A HIPPIE HOE DOWN: will be held beginning at 5 p.m. today at Hardin Park Elementary School in Boone. Dinner will be available from Carolina BBQ. There will an array of inflatables for youngsters, including laser tag and jousting. T-shirts will be available; $3 to tie dye. Special feather, tinsel or color beaded extensions can be added to your hair for $5. There will also be concessions, dunk a teacher, carnival games with prizes and a raffle. Advance admission is $10, which also covers inflatables and games; $15 at the door the evening of Sept. 30. Parents are admitted free. Wristbands for the festival are now on sale through Sept. 30 at the school. In addition, a canned food drive is under way at the school and during the festival. The school principals said if 650 wristbands are sold and 2,000 cans of food are collected, they will walk around the school and festival in costumes. For more information, email hardinparkschool@gmail.com or call 964-2618.Read more...

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: FALLS PREVENTION WEEK - Stop by the Harrill Senior Center in Boone during Sept. 19-23 for Falls Prevention Week activities.Read more...

 Almost 93 years to the day it premiered in London’s Queen’s Hall, Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” will be performed Sept. 25 by the Appalachian Philharmonia from Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music. Read more...

The High Country’s social education program for youth, the High Country Cotillion, is registering students for its new 2011-2012 season.Read more...

Aug. 17
FARMERS' MARKET: Watauga County Farmers' Market is open Wednesdays at the Kmart parking lot in Boone, along Blowing Rock Road. The Wednesday market will begin at 8 a.m. and will be open until 11 a.m. The Saturday market will be held at the Horn in the West parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon. A variety of local produce, delicious edibles, plants, cut flowers, meats, eggs, honey and crafts are offered. Visit www.wataugacountyfarmersmarket.org for more information.Read more...