Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

|| High Country Press Newswire

January 22, 2009 Issue

2009 Hearts of Hospitality Valentine’s Ball Dancing with the Stars February 7

On Saturday, February 7, the Hearts of Hospitality House will once again host a ball with proceeds to benefit the Hospitality House. The event will be held at the Broyhill Inn from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. This year marks the 14th annual ball. Over the past 13 years, the ball has been a semiformal affair with a large silent auction. In the beginning, it was a Christmas ball, and then later, the date was moved to be a Valentine’s Ball.

There is much activity this year around Hospitality House. One year ago, the Hospitality House Board approved a combined campaign to raise funds to build a new homeless shelter for the High Country and to provide operating dollars for WeCAN, the Bread of Life and other important ministries for the next three years. The entire community has been asked to participate in this endeavor, and the campaign is well on its way to making the $3 million goal. Currently, donations and pledges are $2.3 million. Contributing to the campaign are 450 individual and business contributors, as well as 21 faithful congregations joining the effort.

In light of the combined campaign and the wonderful response of this mountain community, the Hearts of Hospitality House members decided to make this year’s ball more of a celebration and a “Thank You” for supporters and have cut the price of the ticket in half to $50 per person. The ball will feature a sumptuous buffet dinner and dancing with to the tunes of the Todd Wright Band.

The event will not have a large silent auction, but instead will have an exciting Sweetheart Getaway auction that will include opportunities, including a cruise package, to get away to fun and exotic places with the one you love. Look for a Hospitality House silent auction as part of this year’s Celebrity Serve on April 7.

The most exciting new twist in this year’s ball is the Dancing with the Stars competition. Seven local celebrity dance teams will participate in the competition, and attendees and the community will select the winning team from these performers:

• Julia and Gerald Adams, Beach Bop
• Bianca Jacobs and Mark Brayshaw, Latin
• Robin Lane and Andy Glass, Cha-cha
• Kay and George Schieren, Shag
• Kay and Frank Borkowski, Polka
• Cay and Andy Harkins, Disco
• Live from The Rock, ASU Football “Rockettes”

The entire community is encouraged to vote with dollars. Each vote costs one dollar. You can vote by sending in your check and vote to Hearts of Hospitality House c/o Rose Bridgeman, 472 Maple Ridge Drive Boone, NC 28607. Ball attendees will be able to vote at the ball as well. The team with the most votes—and therefore with the most money raised—at the end of the dance will be crowned at the ball.

The ball will also feature a dance contest that will be open to the public following the pros’ competition. Everyone attending the ball will be invited to hit the dance floor for that old dance favorite, “In the Mood.” An astute team of judges will patrol the dance floor and politely tap dancers on the shoulder to leave the floor until a winner remains on the floor at the end of the song.

Tickets for the ball are available at High Country Bank or call Rose Bridgeman at 828-264-2733.