Reggae, Diwali, and SHAM

SHAM release their album tonight at Huzzah Books, with Rodeo Walrus opening. Come early for a seat.

Today

11am Reggae Lift Up Lunch at Fizz Ed on Howard St, with Small Axe, members of Rastacoustic, playing roots reggae, jazz, and jam until 2.
11am Crochet Circle Crop & Trade, free, all skill levels, bring a half-finished blanket.
4pm Diwali Festival of Lights at Neighborhood Yoga with a puja ceremony, chants, live music, and local Indian food.
7pm SHAM Album Release Show at Huzzah Books, tickets at the door. It's 45 by the 7pm set and 42 by 9, so bring a jacket.

The count

The 5th District is still unofficial. Last we checked, Hubbard 139,034, Foxx 138,935, a 99-vote gap. Here is when it can move.

Tue, Nov. 10: provisional ballots are counted, and absentee ballots with a fixable problem are counted if the voter's cure document arrives by noon.
Thu, Nov. 12: military and overseas ballots mailed by Election Day are due by 5pm.
Fri, Nov. 13: counties canvass and results become official.

Counties add ballots as their boards meet, so the numbers can move before Tuesday. Read what the State Board says happens next and what the Foxx observers can and can't do.

Worth knowing

Veterans Day closes town offices Wednesday. Boone and Blowing Rock town offices are shut Nov. 11, and Boone's regular Town Council meeting that day is cancelled.

Avery County commissioners voted Nov. 2 for a one-year moratorium on data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining, citing electricity and water use, noise, and gaps in the county's high-impact ordinance. The pause buys time to study rules elsewhere and possibly rewrite that ordinance, and commissioners say the work could finish early. More here.

The Watauga County Public Library is writing a five-year plan and wants your input. The survey takes about 10 minutes. Details.