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Come Join Speechcenter's Professional Team of Speech-Language Pathologists in the Foothills or Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina! |
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Rehabilitative Speech-Language Pathologists Confidential CareerLine 1-877-JOBS-SLP (562-7757) |
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N.C. Map/Directions Foothills & Mountains |
Do you seek that small-town feel? Are you tired of the hectic pace of city life? Do you enjoy changing seasons? Do you enjoy nature and the outdoors? Do you want to make a difference in the community and work where your professional services are really needed? If you answered YES to any of these, being apart of Speechcenter in the High Country, Blue Ridge or Foothills may be for you. Click on a link below to see what makes this area unique. |
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| Charlotte/Statesville Metrolina |
Location Economic Situation and Employment Family Life and Education Entertainment & Cultural Activities Small Town Life and Rural Living Weather & Climate Environment & Recreation Useful Area Websites
For more detailed information about this beautiful area click here. |
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Notice of Patient Information Practices
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Approximate Travel Times, Boone to: Lenoir, Wilkesboro or Newland = 25-30 minutes Hickory = 45 minutes Winston-Salem, Statesville, NC or Johnson City, TN = 1.5 hours Charlotte, Greensboro or Asheville = 2 hours Charleston or Myrtle Beach = 6 hours Florida or New York = 10 hours |
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Location is of primary importance to most of us. We are always on the move and want to be in the most ideal setting. The High Country and Foothill areas are comfortably situated in the beautiful, northwestern part of North Carolina. The towns of Boone and Blowing Rock are neighbors in Watauga County. Banner Elk, Newland, Linville and Beech Mtn. are located in Avery County to the West. Lenoir and Hickory are to the south in Caldwell and Catawba Counties, respectively. Spruce Pine and Burnsville are located further southwest in Mitchell County. These towns sit in ideal locations to each other, the rest of the state and nation. Click HERE for directions to our office in Boone.
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Family Life and Education: The High Country, Blue Ridge and Foothills are wonderful places to raise a family. There are numerous family and pediatric practices. There are numerous daycares, Headstart Programs, high-achieving private, elementary, middle and high schools. There are several community colleges [Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, Mayland Community College, Wilkes Community College]. There are colleges and state universities, too [Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae College]. Your family will not have to go far for the best education. For example, Caldwell County had twelve "Schools of Distinction" plus four "Schools of Excellence" where students scored above 90% in reading and math, in 2001-02. SAT scores have increased 37 points in six years. Caldwell is now among the 30 highest scoring NC school systems on the SAT. The Caldwell County School System is the only school system in North Carolina to receive Awards from the Governor FIVE consecutive years. Other neighboring counties rank similarly high in the state and country for education, as well. |
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Small Town Life and Rural Living: There is a strong sense of community here. Most businesses, doctors, and banks know you on a first name basis. Violent crime is almost non-existent. Neighbors know and care for each others needs.
Just how rural is it? This area affords a variety of choices--small town or more private areas. The location is ideal. The towns of Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk have become popular travel destinations. They make up for their smaller size, with small town charm. There are more rural areas surrounding the towns. Farms and forests are abundant. It is not uncommon to see deer grazing in the early morning. Neighborhoods tend to be small and quiet. There is a sense of calmness and serenity...peaceful, laidback living.
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 Environment and Recreational Activities: The natural beauty of the High Country, Blue Ridge and Foothills are world renown! The explorer Daniel Boone enjoyed stopping in these areas on his way through the Appalachian Mountains. The landscapes can vary greatly even with one county. Within a short period of travel you can see rolling hills and plains or sloping mountains and valleys. Much has been done to preserve the flora and fauna of these areas. In fact, the city of Boone has been designated as an official "Tree City USA" for ten straight years by the National Arbor Day Foundation, for its tree-planting ways. There are numerous trails for walking, hiking and mountain biking. There are streams for fishing, rivers for canoeing, waterfalls and lakes for swimming. There are parks and campgrounds. Many families enjoy visiting local attractions like the Mile High Swing Bridge and Nature Preserve at Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls and Caverns, driving along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Children love experiencing the "Old West" at Tweetsie Railroad. Golf courses provide a beautiful and challenging change of pace. Ski and snowboard enthusiasts enjoy the varied terrains of four area ski mountains each winter [Appalachian Ski Mtn., Ski Beech, Hawksnest Golf and Ski Resort, and Sugar Mtn.]. In the Foothills, people "come to water ski, boat, swim or fish on Catawba County's three lakes — Lake Hickory, Lake Lookout Shoals, and Lake Norman — and to visit historic sites like Murray's Mill. The mill, on Ball's Creek near the small town of Catawba, is the one of the nation's last operating grist mills. Tourists and residents alike enjoy the natural beauty of the Catawba Valley area, its many city and county parks and its close proximity to the North Carolina mountains."1
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Economic Situation and Employment: The High Country and Foothills are experiencing a recent economic boom! Tourism and the recent trend to escape city-living are partially responsible for this. There is suitable employment for skilled and unskilled laborers. Your spouse or family members will find employment readily available. In fact, Watauga County has one of the lowest rates of unemployment in the state; an average of 98% of residents are employed. Regarding housing, one article noted that, "medical personnel or manufacturing employers, school teachers, or retirees, people moving to Catawba County have no trouble finding a home. Housing ranges from waterfront estates to bungalows in historic districts to homes in planned communities. The median price of a three-bedroom house is $105,000, lower than the national average of $110,511."1
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Entertainment and Cultural Activities: There is no shortage of things to do here...day or night, summer or winter! There are many fine restaurants. Many establishments are open late and have nightly entertainment. There are musical concerts that cater to all likes. Theaters are scattered throughout the area. Museums and art galleries are in no short supply. Do not forget to make time to visit the grounds and gardens of the mansion at Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Shoppers enjoy the small shops in downtown Blowing Rock and the nearby outlet Shoppes on the Parkway. There are many local heritage festivals and events the year round. Blowing Rock hosts WinterFest annually. Wilkes county receives visitors from around the world for MerleFest and the autumn Apple Festival. Valle Crucis hosts the summer Firefly Festival and the Woolly Worm Festival each fall. Boone and Blowing Rock welcome numerous craft and art shows. Parades are planned throughout the year. Farmers markets draw many during the summer. |
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Weather and Climate: The climate is another reason people move here. The summer temperatures are perfect in the High Country, with a summer average temperature around 75-80 degrees. The Foothills are always 10 degrees warmer than the High Country. We have all four seasons. The spring is warm, energizing and invigorating, summer is comfortable, relaxing and perfect for outdoor activities, autumn is colorful and vibrant, and winter brings cooler temperatures to the Foothills and the occasional snowfall to the High Country. The High Country is not locked in snow all winter, but the kids do enjoy a few snow days each season. View the current conditions at Ray's Weather. |
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The Beauty of the Seasons and Nature in the High Country and Foothills! |
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Visit NC Mountains www.visitnc.com Boone Chamber of Commerce www.boonechamber.com Visit Boone www.visitboonenc.com Area Weather www.raysweather.com Newspapers: Watauga Democrat www.wataugademocrat.com ; Mountain Times www.mountaintimes.com Area Restaurant and Shopping Discounts www.realdealsnow.com Mast General Store www.maststoreonline.com Grandfather Mountain www.grandfathermountain.com NC Festivals www.ncfestivals.com Blue Ridge Digest www.blueridgedigest.com Biltmore Estate www.biltmore.com 1 Source Article: http://www.nccbi.org/NCMagazine/1999/mag-08-99cpmain.htm Sugar Mtn. Sunset By Steve Rankin http://raysweather.com Icy Trees and Lake http://raysweather.com/snowpics.php?pic=11 Dog on Autumn Trail By Joanna Wilcox http://raysweather.com/fall2002pics.php?pic=5 Autumn Lake By Jeff Miller http://raysweather.com/fall2002pics.php?pic=6 Farm By Peter Larkins http://raysweather.com/fall2002pics.php?pic=47 |
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(c)2004 Speechcenter, Inc. Rehabilitative Speech-Language Pathologists PO Box 3168, 920 West King Street, Boone, NC Last Updated 04/7/04 Hiring now!
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