The cake—and the celebration—come just a bit later, but Avery—North Carolina’s 100th county, turned 100 Wednesday.  A committee arranged by the Avery Chamber of Commerce is planning months of celebration of the birthday, but most of the festivities will take place in the warmer weather

and will be centered on the last weekend in July when Governor Bev Perdue will highlight the three days celebration.  Plans include a parade, historic displays, reenactors encampment, music, food and much more.  Michael Hardy, named North Carolina’s Historian of the Year for 2010, outlined some of the events in Avery’s history, including Revolutionary and Civil war participation, travel on the original Tweetsie Railroad, to the first golf in Linville and hometown hero Tommy Burleson’s part in the NC State National Championship and on the US Olympic Team.  For the latest on the centennial celebration, check out the Avery County chamber’s website.