Appalachian’s $38.2 million north end zone project is moving down the field with approval by the university’s board of trustees on Friday. The trustees unanimously voted to endorse the 87,400-square-foot mixed-use development that will replace the Owens Field House, which was built in 1972 and which leaders say has “significant deferred maintenance issues.”

The Hospitality House of Boone cut the ribbon Nov. 28 on its new solar panel system with 54 photovoltaic panels, becoming what it says is the first homeless services facility in the United States with solar power. Appalachian State University’s Appalachian in the Community Together service group committed to $5,000 for the project.

Western North Carolina is home to abundant and rich forest carbon stocks, which can be placed in forest carbon offset programs to support carbon storage and sequestration, forest health and retention, enhance the recreational and intergenerational value of forest land, and provide additional income for families. On Oct. 6, 2017, the Appalachian Carbon Research Group (ACRG) hosted the Offsets for Future Forest Stewardship and Education Together (OFFSET) Workshop at Appalachian.

“Our students here in the Appalachian Mountains don’t have many opportunities to meet people from other countries and cultures,” says Dr. Maria Anastasiou at Appalachian State University. But a recent visit by 21 science and English teachers from 16 different countries has been changing that, both for the university and the surrounding community.

In a year, Middle Fork Elementary School will have a new name and several new staff members as part of an effort to improve student literacy and overall test scores. The school was chosen as one of nine laboratory schools in North Carolina. All schools selected are low-performing K-8 schools and are partnering with a state university for five years — in Middle Fork Elementary’s situation, it will work with Appalachian State University.