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Community Briefs

From staff reports

Published: March 18, 2009

The American Legion Post No. 56 needs volunteers to transport veterans to the Asheville Medical Center and other medical appointments as needed. A lift van will be furnished and a clean driving record is mandatory. Must submit a current MVR for consideration. For questions, contact Alan Mainer at 652-2911.

Registration forms for the 24th annual McDowell County Senior Games are now available at the McDowell Senior Center (between 8:30 and 4 p.m.) and Old Fort Nutrition Site (between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.). All adults 55 years of age and older who have an interest in sports and art are encouraged to signup. Registration deadline is Wednesday, April 15. For more information, call 652-8953.

The McDowell County Partnership for Children and Families will have a board of directors meeting today at 12:30 p.m. at Little Siena. Call 659-2462 for more information.

East McDowell Junior High will have "Spring Fling Bingo" for students and parents on Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $1 per playing card with proceeds going toward the McDowell Sports Booster Club. Pizza, drinks and candy will be available for purchase during this time.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Order of the Confederate Rose will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Little Siena. For more information, call 659-6377.

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

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.

McDowell Arts Council's "Soup and a Bowl" fund-raiser will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., and Saturday at noon. Tickets are $20 and include soup, salad, bread, dessert, and a handmade pottery bowl to take home. Call 652-8610 for more information or come by MACA to pick up tickets.

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 Friday 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. 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 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.

Marion City Council will meet Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 was rescheduled. For more information, call Bob Boyette at 652-3551.

A kindergarten transition meeting for parents with children leaving Head Start and the Sugar Hill More at Four Program will be held Tuesday, March 24 at 6 p.m. For questions, call 652-3229, ext. 19.

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.

A free adult CPR class will be held Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Corpening Memorial YMCA. For more information, call the McDowell County American Red Cross at 652-6531.

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.

McDowell County EMS is holding free CPR classes throughout the year. Here are some upcoming dates and locations: Monday, March 30, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Clinchfield Methodist Church; Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Hankins Baptist Church; Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., West Court Baptist Church and Glenwood Baptist Church; and Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., McDowell Senior Center. For more information, call 652-3982.

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.

Mercy Animal Rescue will hold an Easter photo fund-raiser on Friday, April 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Open Hands Healing Center, and Saturday, April 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cato Fashions. Children and pets are invited to come by and have their picture made with the Easter bunny. Appointment scheduling is required for Friday, April 3 by calling Susan Menard at 317-1939. All proceeds will go toward food, medical care and other expenses needed to care for foster pets.

MACA will offer a basket-weaving workshop beginning April 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Preregistration is required by calling 652-8610.

Mercy Animal Rescue is raffling off an Easter basket filled with goodies at the Animal Hospital of Marion. Tickets are available now for $1 per ticket, six for $5, 12 for $10 or 25 for $20. The drawing will be held April 6. For more information, call Susan Menard at 317-1939.

Marion city workers will be cleaning the Oak Grove Cemetery April 6 to 10. Please remove all flowers or other items placed on graves prior to the date. For questions, call the Public Works Department at 652-4224.

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. For more information, e-mail Jennifer Ellis at jellis@llsa.com.

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.

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.