Our Preferred Builder in His "Free" Time - THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN

I thought you might enjoy seeing how an important part of the team at THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN  - our Preferred Builder, Randy Banks - spends his "free" time mentoring young people in Yancey County.

Mountain Heritage High School is the sole high school in Yancey County, NC.  Its beautiful campus is approached on a winding, wooded drive after passing the gated, manned entrance.  It resembles a well-funded community college in one of our nation's larger cities more than a small town in rural Appalachia.

Its programs equal or best those of some of the nation's top public or private schools.  Its Performing Arts programs consistently win top awards at the state level.  The Drama Departments of both the high school and middle school have received top honors.  Photos below:  State's top award-wining drama by the high school; bottom - State's best actor and actress - Middle School. The Music Department, led by beloved teacher (soon to retire), Dr. Tim Babb, almost defies written accolades.  I was hoping to have a recording of the Choir presentation I attended Thursday night (perhaps a future blog post) - 17 members strong.  One talented member is a gifted operatic soprano!  This is SMALL-town RURAL America.
Their Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble are excellent as well.  Their art department is exceptional,

reflecting the character of our counties - more artists, per capita, than anywhere else in America.  The school excels academically - even has achieved notoriety on occasion in athletics.  But, the following is my absolute favorite.  This should be the fodder of national news.

Randy Banks, the Preferred Builder for THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN, was the Vice-Chair of the Yancey-Mitchell Pillars, a collaborative effort of these sister counties of Yancey and Mitchell in mentoring young people in the building trades. A Habitat for Humanity home was built ON CAMPUS by students and  mentors from the community working side-by-side in North Carolina's largest classroom - almost 10,000 square feet built at a cost of over $800,000 raised through grants and gifts.  Here is Randy telling the story on the exciting day this first Habitat for Humanity home left our Mountain Heritage High School.


Come meet these remarkable people - both our builder and our young people.  Randy will meet you on-site to discuss ideas and ball-park figures for building your dream home within THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN.  Enjoy our talented young people in performances at the high school or at our acclaimed Parkway Playhouse.  Call about special visit packages for enjoying our hometowns at a historic B&B and at the nationally-acclaimed 10-table farm-to-table Knife and Fork restaurant.  For accommodations or to receive our view book and other information, call 828-675-4869.

May, 2012 Events Near THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events in May 

The 2012 Opening for Historic Altapass Orchard

Senior Winner : Janice Friedman "Altapass Sunrise" 4th Annual Altapass Photo Contest

Celebrating over one hundred years! The Historic Orchard at Altapass is an 104-year-old apple orchard that is also an Appalachian Cultural Center celebrating the people, music, art, and natural beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains in North Carolina. Built by the Clinchfield Railroad in 1908, the Orchard sits right on the Parkway providing some of the most amazing scenery on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

The Orchard is open May 2 through early September on Monday and Wednesday-Saturdays, 10:00-5:30 and Sundays, 12:00-5:30; from mid-September through October The Orchard is open daily 10:00-5:30. 

May 02 - Bob Lominac & Friends begin the 2012 season with happy, danceable tunes. For more information...Contact: The Orchard at Altapass828765-9531

Parkway Playhouse

April 28-May 12 at North Carolina's longest continuously operating, award-winning summer theater.

An outrageously hilarious race against the clock begins when Savannah Sprunt Fairchild Honeycutt agrees to get her feisty mother all the way from Alabama to California in time for her brother's wedding. Savannah's problem: Mama won't fly.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta on Town Square

 May 5 from 10 to 2 with ethnic food, music, dance, and crafts for sale.  They will have Mexican food, folkloric dances and more. Enjoy tamales, homemade authentic food, music and fun for everyone. All proceeds will go to charity.

Penland School of Crafts Scholarship Auction

May 3 Auction takes place at 8:00 PM in the Northlight Building Each Penland session ends with an auction of work donated by students, instructors, and friends. These auctions are culminating celebrations of the work done in the classes, and they are an opportunity for neighbors, travelers, and craft enthusiasts to enjoy the energy of a Penland session. All proceeds support the Penland scholarship program.

Other Auction Dates Thursday, May 3 Thursday, June 7 Thursday, June 21 Thursday, July 5 Thursday, July 19 Monday, August 6 Thursday, August 23 Thursday, November 15

Derby Day

May 5  at Burnsville Town Center - Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center's annual Kentucky Derby Day fundraiser. The fun begins around 5 p.m. with pre-race activities. After the race, dinner will be served around 7 p.m., with music and dancing to the band, Tuxedo Junction. Call 675-5814 or visit atrcriding.com for more information.  

Mayland Community College Golf Tournament

Linville Golf Club - designed by Donald Ross

May 10 Annual Benefit Golf Tournament:
Linville Golf Club
83 Roseboro Rd, Linville, NC 28646
Support MCC Students while playing one of the best courses in NC!
Registration beings at 11:00 a.m.
Tee Time: Shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.
Captain's Choice
Cost: $600 per Team of 4
Includes: lunch, Linville Golf Club golf shirt, snacks, cocktail party and awards ceremony. Prizes: Longest drive, closes to pin, putting contest, hole-in-one, 1st & 2nd place.

Contact: Mayland Community College Foundation
1-800-463-5263 ext. 311 or 312

First Annual Grassy Creek Spring Mineral and Gem Show

May 17 The First Annual Grassy Creek Mineral and Gem Show is an extension of the regular gem show in July - August. There will be 30 vendors from all over the USA with gems, minerals, jewelry, fossils, and lapidary related items.
There will be a Bar-B-Que on Saturday by the Parkway Fire and Rescue. Food will be available daily also. Open each day 10-6

Place: Parkway Fire and Rescue Fire Station
12966 South Hwy 226 South
Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Contact: Donna Collis
828-765-5519
collisdonna@yahoo.com

Toe River Arts Council 6th Annual “Paint Out”

May 19 - Every year when spring fills the air and colors the gardens, artists from “all over" come to Burnsville, NC.  TRAC’s Annual Paint Out is modeled on the en plein air experience, a French expression that means “in the open air,” particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors. For one day, all day, artists are outdoors painting and drawing in and around the streets of Burnsville for all to enjoy.

Baby Goat Day at Mountain Farm

May 19 Visit a working farm: bottle feed kids in season, picnic on the property, enjoy refreshments from the Mountain Farm coffee shop, sit in the lavender field and inhale, cut-your-own lavender and U-Pick blueberries, too (when in season)! Have a fun filled day seeing the baby goats and shopping in their gift shop.

Contact: Mountain Farms
828-675-4856
marilyn@mountainfarm.net
www.mountainfarm.net

Graham Children's Health Services Burnsville Fit Families 5K Run Walk

May 19 Graham Children's Health Services Presents the Couch Potato to Burnsville Fit Families 5K Race program. This free training program will begin on Saturday, March 17th and will conclude with the Burnsville Fit Families 5k Race to be held on Saturday, May 19th. Join us for this free fitness opportunity to train together on our runs/walks. The Whole community is invited. The more sessions you attend the greater your chances of winning.
Where: Mountain Heritage High School Track (Burnsville Elementary track when MHHS not available).
When: Tuesday and Thurday @ 5:45pm; Saturday @ 9:00a.m BE SURE TO BRING WATER. To Register or view the training plan go to www.healthyyancey.org or call 682-7899.

Miner's Heritage Day

May 26 Gem Cutting and Gold Panning demonstrations! Free Guided Hikes! Good Music & Good Food! Free Day-time kids mine tours! Treasure Hunt for kids. Night-time Black Light Mine Tour! Other Special Events to be Anounced!

Miner’s Heritage Day Schedule

10:00 AM - FREE guided hike to a hidden mine.

12:00 PM - FREE live music with Pete & Kim McWhirter.

1:00 PM - FREE roundtable discussion of local mines and mining.

2:00 PM - FREE live music with Kenny Jobe, Billy Constable & friends.

3:00 PM - FREE guided hike to the top of the Big McKinney Mine.

9:00 PM - BLACK LIGHT MINE TOUR in the Bon Ami Mine.

$15.00 Adults/ $10 Seniors/ Children FREE

Doors open at 8:00 PM.
Contact: Emerald Village
828-765-6463
www.emeraldvillage

The Orchard's Memorial Day Celebration & Covered Dish Picnic

Senior Runner-up Photo Contest - Diana Forrest "Iris with a View"

May 28 Open to the public, live music all day is free. The stage area fills up quickly, so you might want to bring lawn chairs. Admission for the meal is a dish to share or $10 per meal. The Orchard provides traditional mountain barbecue, water, iced tea and paper goods

Contact: Orchard at Altapass
828765-9531
www.altapassochard.com

Choose your favorite events around which to plan your visit with us at THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN. Call for our special visit packages:  866-378-4769

April Adventures and Art - Near THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN

APRIL 28

The Burnsville Metric

Not a bad place to be in late April... (Photo by Michael Davis, 2006)

The route for 2012 will be the same as previous years.

Also on April 28th 

It was in Spruce Pine in the 1930's and 1940's that two of Daniel Boone's direct descendants owned and operated a forge. Lawrence and Daniel Boone VI became very well known for the iron hardware they made for Colonial Williamsburg. Spruce Pine also has the distinction of having Bea Hensley, one of NC's Living Treasures as a resident blacksmith. Bea worked as an apprentice with the Boones and still resides in Spruce Pine. Lanterns forged, handcrafted, and gifted by Daniel BooneVI hang in the historic Burnsville, NC Parkway Playhouse.  Burnsville's new state-of-the-art library showcases a commissioned 6-ft wrought iron lantern forged by Bea's son, Mike.

At the 2012 Festival, festival goers can hammer out a little metal in the Hands-On tent or just watch the professionals. Renowned blacksmiths Zack Noble, Daniel Miller, Elizabeth Brim and Joe Anderson will be demonstrating the art of blacksmithing. Don't miss all the food, fun, exhibits, demonstrations and music at this year's Festival! 

Sample works of these renowned artisans will be on display at the Toe River Arts Council gallery.

Also on April 28th

. 28 - Spring Event at Burnsville Wine and...

Come out to our spring event 4pm to 6pm $15 includes nutrition information, the benefits of wine, recipes, handouts,k healthy appetizers, glass of wine and wine glass. Instructors Medea Galligan MS Nutrition Wendy Dunn Mutual Distributors Preregister by April 24th @ Burnsville Wine and... Space is limited

Contact: Burnsville Wine and...
828-682-7409

Also on April 28th

Mama Won't Fly opens April 28th

a road trip from hell with your high-maintenance mom, and your ditzy soon-to-be-sister-in-law  in the silly misadventure Mama Won’t Fly - at our acclaimed Parkway Playhouse - the oldest, continuously operating summer theater in NC

And Anytime

This video is from CBS news about one of our local crafters:  The Woody family in Spruce Pine is now in its seventh generation of crafting traditional wooden rockers and chairs by hand. Spruce Pine Main Street hosts the annual Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival in conjunction with Penland School of Crafts, Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The festival celebrates blacksmithing’s deep roots in Western North Carolina and features live demonstrations and sales. Penland, founded in 1929 offers a wide range of summer classes as well as a gallery featuring work by artists affiliated with the school.  And...the couple dancing together at the end of the video...my sister's bridge partner - a rocket scientist - really - they get a lot of mileage out of that with jokes at the bridge tables...Meet him in person at Altapass Orchard on the Blue Ridge Parkway - an NC historic treasure held in trust, that opens May 2nd.

Come experience our mountain lifestyle and style of mountain living within THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN

These are our time-honored traditions.

Steeped deeply in the famed arts and crafts movement of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains...

Celebrated beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway area and Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina...

Honored commitment to provide and preserve the beauty, peace and simple rustic elegance of Mountain living at its best... 

The Estates... Cottages at Celo... and Cabins at Celo...

One of Western North Carolina's premier gated communities...

Between Asheville and Boone 

For more information:

THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN website

Burnsville Metric 

http://mitchellchamber.blogspot.com/2009/03/fire-on-mountain.html

info@downtownsprucepine.com

Cost:	Free
Contact:	Bryan Freeborn 828-765-3008 info@downtownsprucepine.com
Categories:	BLACKSMITH FESTIVAL

Burnsville Wine and More

Parkway Playhouse

Woody's Chairs on CBS