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Community Briefs

From staff reports

Published: February 23, 2009

The McDowell Honeybee Chapter is taking orders for Italian honeybees. Cost is $65 for a three-pound package including the queen. To order, call Alvin Searcy at 738-8533.

Anyone interested in learning about the Eastern Bluebird, native to our area, is asked to e-mail Carol Gilliam at ldsmommyof12@msn.com. You can also visit her blog online at www.carolsbluebirdblog.blogspot.com. February is the month in which bluebirds look for places to nest.

The following classes are being offered at MACA: intermediate basket-weaving on Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. at Old Fort Depot; guitar lessons for beginners to advanced starting Tuesday and running four weeks from 10 to 11 a.m.; belly dancing classes starting Saturday, March 14 and running four weeks from 10 to 11 a.m.; and a woodturning workshop on March 25, 26, 27 and 28 from noon to 2 p.m., 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., or 5 to 7 p.m. For more information on these classes, call 652-8610 to enroll.

The Young Democrats will hold an executive board meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Democrat headquarters. For more information, call Joel at 460-0791.

The American Legion Post No. 56 will hold a monthly meeting at the National Guard Armory Tuesday at 7 p.m. All members are asked to attend. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Legion can contact Alan Mainer at 652-2911.

The McDowell Historical Society will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Visitor's Center. Author Terrell Garren will discuss his latest book, "The Fifth Skull: Lost Boys of the Confederacy." For more information, call 442-7779.

The McDowell County Republican Party will hold its monthly dinner meeting at Countryside Bar-B-Que on Thursday at 6 p.m. Future meetings will be the fourth Thursday of each month. Call 460-2400 or 442-8059 for details.

McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families will hold its annual "Eat Out For Early Education" fund-raiser on Tuesday, April 14. Local restaurants interested in participating by donating a portion of their sales are asked to call 659-2462 by no later than Friday. Proceeds will go toward raising awareness of the importance of early education, and to benefit the Partnership's Foundation Fund.

Marion Correctional Institution is sponsoring a Polar Plunge to benefit the N.C. Special Olympics. The event is being hosted by Bear Creek Marina and will take place Saturday with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and the plunge at noon. There is a minimum donation requirement of $50 to take the plunge. For more information contact David or Greg at 659-8229, or by e-mail at mcipolarplunge@gmail.com.

College scholarships are now available through the N.C. Extension and Community Association for 2009. High school seniors or adult students are encouraged to apply. For more information or to receive an application, call 652-7874. Deadline is March 1.

The JobLink Career Center will hold the following courses: ABE/GED orientation on Tuesday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 10 at 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m., and Tuesday, March 31 at 9 a.m.; an HRD resume, application and job search beginning Monday, March 9-13 from 9 a.m. to noon; and a new class, "Surviving a Layoff' beginning Monday, March 2-6 from 9 a.m. to noon. To register, call 659-6001, ext. 105

A vendor meeting regarding the upcoming Historic Marion Tailgate Market will be held Tuesday, March 3 at Marion Depot from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Anyone interested in giving market input is encouraged to attend. For more information, call Daniel Smith at 652-8104 or Freddie Killough at 652-2215.

A workshop on blueberry production for small farms will be held Tuesday, March 10 at 2 pm in the Extension Conference Room, located in the County Administration Building. Preregistration is required by March 6 and can be done so by calling 652-8104.

An informative meeting on a new Energy Conservation Program (including solar and other forms) will be held Saturday, March 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Corpening Memorial YMCA. Cost is $10 and includes lunch and materials. Preregistration is required by March 9th and can be done by calling 652-8104.

Sheriff Dudley Greene will hold a community meeting in the lunchroom at Glenwood Elementary School on Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Members of the community are urged to meet with him about their concerns, needs and ideas.

Friends of Compassion of McDowell County will hold a benefit auction Saturday, March 14 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Marion Depot. Silent auctions tables will be open from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Ten Broeck will give a musical performance during the event. Cost is $20. For auction contributions or tickets, call Sally Reep at 442-0048 or Kim Camp at 244-3139.

Sheriff Dudley Greene will hold a community meeting in the lunchroom at P.G. Elementary School on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. Members of the community are urged to meet with him about their concerns, needs and ideas.

Glenwood Ruritan Club is offering two $500 scholarships for any full-time college student or soon-to-be as of fall 2009. Students need to live within the Glenwood Fire District. Those interested must complete a grant application, and a one-page essay describing future plans. Applications can be picked up in the guidance counselor offices of McDowell High, Marion Christian Academy, New Manna Christian School, and McDowell Tech. Applications must be returned by no later than March 20, and can be returned to 1749 Old Hwy. 221 South, Marion, NC 28752.

Hospice of McDowell County will hold a spaghetti lunch and dinner on Friday, March 27 in the fellowship hall of Marion First United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost is $7 per plate with dessert and drink included. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance. On Thursday, March 26 spaghetti plates can be delivered to businesses and schools by calling 652-1318 by no later than March 23. The cost will remain the same.

The McDowell High Class of 1999 is planning a 10-year reunion. If you are a graduate and plan on attending, e-mail mcdowellreunion99@gmail.com.

A reunion for anyone who attended Marion High, formerly located on West Court Street, will be held June 27 at the National Guard Armory. Anyone who hasn't received a mailed notification is asked to contact Leon Daniel at (757) 867-4929 or by e-mail at rldaniel@cox.net.
Helping Hands Thrift Store needs donations of resale items. Clothing, furniture, housewares or any other goods are greatly appreciated. All proceeds go to benefit Hospice. Drop offs may be made during regular store hours; every day but Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 659-1474.
Anyone interested in joining a support group for thyroid cancer patients, as well as their families and caregivers, is asked to call Terri Gates at 724-4849 or e-mail her at tlgates@verizon.net. A thyroid cancer survivor, Gates wants to hold positive, informal sessions.
The Reiki Healing Circle group will meet every third Wednesday of the month at Open Hands Natural Healing Center, located at 76 South Main St. The session will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 527-2563 or 442-3314.
Mysticism, Mythology and Magic is seeking free thinkers for a discussion group. To join, call 527-7839.
The Bear Clan Medicine Lodge will meet on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at the Old Fort library, located on Mitchell Street. For more information, contact lavonneemery@yahoo.com or call 803-7269.

Anyone interested in joining the newly formed Young Democrats group may do so by calling Joel at 460-0791.
Money is available to serve children 3 to 5 years old in need of assistance with dental care. Applications are available from the McDowell Partnership for Children & Families, located at 70 N. Main St. in Marion. Funding is limited. For more information, call 659-2462.
Children in the community who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect need a caring adult to look out for their best interests while in the court system. To find out how you can become a Guardian ad Litem, call 652-4632.
Al-Anon, a support group for families and friends of alcoholics and/or drug users, meets each Wednesday at 8 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church parish house, 339 S. Main St. Teens welcome. For more information, call 652-0088.

A Narcotics Anonymous group meets every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 to 9 p.m. and an Alcoholics Anonymous group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Both groups meet at the Hut of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church on West Court Street.

A McDowell County Alzheimer's support group will meet on the first Tuesday of each month at the McDowell Senior Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (828) 254-7363.

Local information and services are now available at the Web site www.mcdowellinfo.com. Included are a calendar of events and Web listings for the arts, business support services, education, healthcare, local government, McDowell County facts, public support systems and tourism.

If you or someone you know is a veteran of World War II and currently living in McDowell County, the McDowell County veterans services officer requests you submit a letter with your name, address and phone number for a registry to be made of all survivors. Information will remain private. Information may be submitted to CVSO, 100 Spaulding Road, Marion, NC 28752.

The Marion group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 8 to 9 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal parish house located at 339 S. Main St.

The McDowell News has hundreds of old photos from its archives that are now available to the public. These photos are from 1985 to 2000 and include sports events, group photos and random shots of people and places throughout McDowell. You can buy three photos for $1. All money collected will go toward the Newspapers in Education campaign. You can stop by the office at 136 Logan St. and look through the pictures published in our newspapers throughout the years.

McDowell County Animal Shelter has applications for adoption dogs that have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and completed an eight-week obedience training class issued by the N.C. Division of Prisons. The adoption fee is $150. For more information, call 652-6643.

HOPE, Helping Other People Excel, a nonprofit organization for mentally and physically handicapped people, is looking for donations of money or time to start an activity center. For more information, call 652-5917.