Alternative energy is the big buzz term these days, but how practical is it to create energy from the sun, wind and water? If you want to get up to speed on the current practices, products, prices and feasibility of creating your own energy, the Western North Carolina Renewable Energy Initiative at Appalachian has a course—or two or three or four—just for you coming up this spring and summer.
Until recently, borrowing money for a new kitchen, second-story addition, or other home improvement meant going to the bank, seeing a loan officer, and hoping for the best. Today, however, you have many more options.
Money Magazine—With home values tumbling and the mortgage market still in crisis, you’d think that Billie and Rodney Wylde would shelve their plans to build their North Carolina dream home - at least until the market stabilizes.
Not a chance. The thirtysomethings are set to pour the foundation on a 2,100-square-foot farmhouse with a wraparound porch in East Bend, a few miles from where they currently live. Estimated construction cost: $140,000.
During the housing boom, updating a kitchen with high end materials like cherry wood cabinets and a Viking stove was a sure bet to boost a home’s value. Homeowners often recovered about 80% of the cost when the house was later sold.
But with so much more inventory on the market for buyers to choose from, they just aren’t as impressed with the bells and whistles. Now most upscale renovations are returning less than 70% of their cost, according to a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Remodeling magazine.
Local fir tree sales Watauga Democrat, NC - Linda Gragg, director of the Boone-based North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, predicted no fall-off despite a sluggish economy. ... |
College News Asheville Citizen-Times, NC - Morrison is the editor of the Avery Journal Times and publisher of All About Women of the High Country. Hank Williams, of Avery County, was presented with ... |
Ashe County Fraser fir graces White House once again Jefferson Post, NC - North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler made the journey to the Creston knoll to celebrate Ashe County and River Ridge’s role in this ... |
Mountaineer Football Notebook: Presley Doubles Up on SoCon Awards ASU Appalachian Mountaineers, NC - BOONE, NC — Appalachian State University quarterback DeAndre Presley became the only the seventh player in Southern Conference history and the first in 17 ... |
Ski report for 11.25.08: Cross-country, anyone? News & Observer, NC - I called last night to see if there was enough natural snowfall anywhere in the North Carolina high country to warrant a trip. "Not yet," I was told, ... |
Holiday Calendar Asheville Citizen-Times, NC - 28 and 29, Western Carolina University, Ramsey Center, Cullowhee. Over 100 artists and master crafters. $3, children 12 and under are free. ... |
A bit of snow, now very cold CharlotteObserver.com, NC - Schools are closed today in Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties. Caldwell Community College's branch in Watauga County also is closed, ... |
Shirlette Ammons presents a poetry reading Dec. 4 at Appalachian Appalachian State University, NC - BOONE—Poet Shirlette Ammons will read from her work Dec. 4 at Appalachian State University. Her presentation is sponsored by the Hughlene Bostian Frank ... |
 | Local teachers turned on the light of Bright Ideas Thursday ... Watauga Democrat, NC - “We’re very fortunate in Watauga County to have some of the partnerships we have,” Younce said, mentioning the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and the ... |
First Warn Forecast | Snow in mountains WCNC (subscription), NC - CHARLOTTE, NC -- Snow showers will continue in the North Carolina Mountains through the early afternoon. Snow accumulations in Avery, Watauga and Ashe ... |
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