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left917 is the High Country's independent read: local news, music, culture, and what's on, all in one place. No app, no login, no ads. And we're writing our own stuff now, not just rounding up everyone else's. Putting on an event? Share your calendar and we'll keep it on the air. Saw a flyer for something that isn't here? Send us the photo.
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Running all October
The High Country Haint List. Haunted trails, ghost tours and a live Rocky Horror shadowcast. Everything spooky between here and Oct. 31, updated as the flyers go up. Read it →
Early voting runs through Sat, Oct. 31, 3pm. Watauga and Avery sites close the weekends of Oct. 17–18 and 24–25. Ashe stays open those Saturdays, 8am–3pm. Sites and hours.
Tue, Oct. 27.
Boone BOO! is Saturday, Oct. 31, and downtown Boone has a plan for it. Closures, parking and the schedule are in one place when you want them.
Planet
Evan Fleischer says Brazil's election was a win for the Amazon, where clearing is down about 71% since 2023. A warming planet reaches the High Country too, in leaves that ran a week late.
Voting
Early voting ends Saturday, Oct. 31, with five voting days left in Watauga. High Country voters have already cast 75% of the entire 2022 early vote: 15,508 in-person ballots against 20,658, through Oct. 26. Avery is at 89% of its 2022 total, Ashe 77%, Watauga 72%. Watauga's 9,494 in-person early votes already equal 41% of everyone who voted there in the 2022 midterm.
Democrats are voting at about twice the Republican rate, 31% of registered Democrats against 16% of Republicans in Watauga. That is who has voted so far, not who will win. Early voters are not everyone, and Election Day is still to come. Full breakdown.
Five statewide races are on every High Country ballot. Our notes.
Today's picks
Tuesday's trunk-or-treat, the last King Street Farmers Market of the season and what Council decides about Jeremiah's Italian Ice drive-through hours are in the orange button below.
◆ Book of the Week · with Huzzah Books
The Hanuman Collection; 47 Volumes, Missing No. 15
Various Authors; edited by Raymond Foye and Francis Clemente
A nearly complete collection of 46 volumes from Hanuman's influential poetry and art series published across seven years in Madras. The set includes work by poets and artists such as John Wieners, David Trinidad, Eileen Myles, Taylor Mead, and Francis Picabia.
Read the pick →
🌕 Full Moon · 100% lit
A bright moon tonight, so the Milky Way and the faintest stars wash out.
Sky's truly dark after 8:02 PM.
◆ NASA's photo today: Noctilucent Clouds over Sweden →
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