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Community Briefs

From staff reports

Published: March 12, 2009

A Blue Ridge Tenants Relocation Fund has been established at Fifth Third Bank. Anyone who would like to make a donation can stop by the bank or mail a check payable to "Blue Ridge Tenants Relocation Fund," to Fifth Third Bank, 14 S. Main St., Marion, NC 28752.

McDowell High will hold an open house today from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Parent-teacher conferences will be held and report cards issued. Also, representatives from local colleges and universities will be in attendance, and free food and door prizes will be available.

The McDowell Honeybees Chapter of the N.C. State Beekeepers Association will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Extension Conference Room of the County Administration Building. For more information, call 652-8104.

Nominations are being sought for a $750 scholarship offered by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Secretaries Association (NCCESA) through Friday. The scholarship is available to N.C. students pursuing an associate's degree in a business related field of study for the 2009-2010 school year. Application packets can be obtained through the Cooperative Extension office, located at 60 E. Court St., or by calling Jane McDaniel at 652-8104.

Nominations are being sought for a scholarship offered by the McDowell County Farm Bureau through Friday. The scholarship is available to Farm Bureau members who are seniors in high school pursuing a degree in an agricultural field of study for the 2009-2010 school year. Applications can be obtained through the McDowell County Farm Bureau office, located at 21 Buncombe St., or at your school's guidance counselor's office.

The following classes are being offered at MACA: belly dancing classes starting Saturday and running four weeks from 10 to 11 a.m.; Music for Young Minds (ages 3 to 6) starting Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon; 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.

An indoor yard sale fund-raiser will be held Saturday in the Parrish House of St. John's Epsicopal Church from 8 a.m. to noon. Proceeds will benefit students in the People to People Ambassador Program.

Foothills Community Theatre's production "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" will run an extra showing due to sold out performances on Saturday. Call 659-PLAY for reservations.

McDowell Mission Ministries is hosting a benefit shoot-out bowling tournament Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Lightning Lanes. Cost is $15 per participant or $30 for a two person team. All skill levels are invited. Interested individuals can signup by calling Cliff Wisor or Bill Warren at 659-6490. Proceeds toward the benevolence ministry for rent, utility, fuel oil and prescription medication assistance.

Friends of Compassion of McDowell County will hold a benefit auction Saturday 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.

The Marion Christian Women's Connection will hold a luncheon Monday at 11:30 a.m. in the Marion Community Building. Cost is $9. For reservations, call 652-7274.

Corpening Memorial YMCA will hold a Lifeline Screening Day on Monday, April 13 in the multi-purpose room. A four-test package including stroke, vascular disease, and heart rhythm is being offered for $139. Osteoporosis screening is an additional $10. Anyone interested in attending needs to call (800) 324-1851, and enter the source code HSC4945. Also, a free educational seminar on this event will be held Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, e-mail Jennifer Ellis at jellis@llsa.com.

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

The Glenwood Elementary's Parent Advisory Council will meet Thursday, March 19 at 6 p.m. in the school's conference room.

The McDowell Honeybee Chapter is taking orders for Italian honeybees. Cost is $65 for a 3-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.

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.

The MTCC Small Business Center and Marion Business Association are starting a new class for those interested in starting a new business, beginning Monday, March 23. Class will be held at the Historic Marion Depot from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required by calling 652-0633. Classes are free.

The JobLink Career Center will hold the following classes: an HRD career planning and assessment course on Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to noon; and a resume, application and job search course beginning Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3 from 9 a.m. to noon; To register for these classes, call 659-6001, ext. 105.

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.

Scrapbooking for a Cure, a Relay for Life fund-raiser, will be held Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Cost is $30 and includes lunch, snacks and supper. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Space is limited, so be sure to register by calling Judy Hawkins at 668-8011 or 443-4564.

Yancey Street Baptist Church will hold a benefit singing for Relay for Life on Saturday, April 18 from 2 to 8 p.m. There will be numerous groups performing.

Kindergarten registration is May 1 at all McDowell County elementary schools. Your child must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2009 to be eligible for kindergarten. This is a change to the eligible date for entrance into kindergarten. Registration packets will be ready for pickup at elementary schools by March 30. You must register your child for kindergarten at the school that is in your home district. For more information, contact Donna Gardner at the Central Office at 652-4535.

The Glenwood High class of 1969 is planning a 40-year reunion, and the planning committee needs contact information on alumni. Contact Brenda Jones Bailey at 442-6781 or Sue Atkins Morgan at 442-0577 if you have any information.

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.
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.