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Swinging Under The Stars At The Sails In

Downtown Hickory On May 26

Hickory - Highland Avenue, The Crossing at Hollar Mill and Groucho's of Hickory presents the 6th annual “Swingin' Under the Stars” to be held on Sunday, May 26th from 6 to 10pm at the Sails On The Square in downtown Hickory.

Hosted by the Hickory Downtown Development Association and the Hickory Music Factory, this community swing dance event is free and open to the public. Music will be provided by the area's very popular big band, the Hickory Jazz Orchestra. The Hickory High School Jazz Band will kick things off at 6 pm, with emcee Hal Rowe of WHKY.

Free dance lessons will be available at 5pm in the flag court by CAS Dancing. Swingin' Under The Stars has been an annual cultural event in Catawba County since its inception in 2008 by Rick Cline. This very popular nostalgic family event continues to grow in attendance every year, attracting over 1500 participants annually. Swingin' Under the Stars along with the HJO 18 piece big band was formed in 2008, thanks to funding by the United Arts Council of Catawba County, and as a result, was the recipient of the 2009 “Best Outdoor Event for North Carolina”.

The Hickory Jazz Orchestra consists of local musicians and music educators. This year's SUS is a tribute to the late HJO member, Jim Calabrese.

This event kicks off the "Heritage Concert Series," which will consist four performances throughout the summer to be held on the last Sunday of the month from May-August. For more information please visit www.hickorymusicfactory.com.

SUS is also a part of the ever popular "Jazz on Tap" hosted by Rick Cline every Sunday evening at the Olde Hickory Taproom.

As the city of Hickory moves towards "a life well crafted", we hope that you will join in continuing to support our community with unique and meaningful cultural events. Sponsors of the "Heritage Concert Series" include The City of Hickory, Highland Avenue, The Crossing at Hollar Mill, Groucho's of Hickory, Hickory Downtown Development Association, United Arts Council of Catawba County, The Hickory Wine Shoppe, A Sign Co, and Olde Hickory Taproom.

For information on dance lessons call CAS Dancing at 704-880-3551. For more information on "Heritage Concert Series" please call the Hickory Music Factory at 828-308-5659.

HSCC Is Looking For In-Home Heroes To Foster Animals

Hickory - Humane Society of Catawba County is looking for people interested in fostering homeless animals.

Fostering is often necessary when animals need a little more time and TLC prior to adoption; for example, mothers with nursing litters, orphaned litters, and shy animals that need extra socializing.

HSCC will provide everything you need; the foster family will only need to bring the animal to the shelter occasionally for medical check-ups.

The time commitment and selected animal(s) are entirely based on what is convenient for the foster family

If you are interested in opening up your home and heart by becoming an in-home hero contact HSCC for more information, 828-464-8878, Monday through Saturday, noon-6:00pm or email cheryl@catawbahumane.org.

Mid-Atlantic Classic Horseshoe Tourney, May 24-25

Dallas, NC - May 24-25 2013, Gaston County Parks and Recreation will be hosting the Mid-Atlantic Classic a NHPA sanctioned horseshoe tournament. Tournament play will start on Friday evening and continue on Saturday.

It is too late to enter this year, but the event is free to attend & open to the public.

Class placement for this tournament will be based on top 3 avg. ringer% from NatStats as of May 1, 2013.

There will be trophies for all classes and prize money for adult classes only. Prize money is based upon the number of entries for the tournament.

For more information contact tournament director: Hal White 704.922.2164 or hal.white@co.gaston.nc.us or visit the County’s website at www.gastongov.com//departments/parkandrecreation.

Locations: George Poston Park, 1101 Lowell-Spencer Mountain Road, Gastonia, NC 28056

Gaston County strives to make its programs, services, and activities accessible to all. If you will require an accommodation we request that you contact our office at least 5 days before the event.

Last Weekend To Catch The Doctor In Action, May 23

Hickory - “Doctor Doolittle”, the Hickory Community Theatre’s family musical begins its final weekend of performances this Thursday May 23rd at 7:30 PM in the Jeffers Theatre at Historic Old City Hall, 30 3rd St NW in downtown Hickory.

This lavish, musical production tells the story of a beloved veterinarian who talks to the animals he treats. A large cast portrays a variety of friendly creatures and their human companions, as well as a few adversaries.

“Doctor Doolittle” marks the completion of HCT’s 2012-13 Mainstage season. During the summer hiatus, while the Encore Players Senior Theatre and the RugBug Theatre for Children make use of the Old City Council Chambers, HCT begins the next project in its five year renovation of the interior of the building. The Charles E. Jeffers Theatre will be renovated and the main floor restrooms completely redone.

This weekend’s schedule for the final performances is as follows: Thursdays, May 23 at 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25 at 8pm; and, Sunday, May 26 at 2:30pm.

This Thursday and next are bargain nights, with $10 adult tickets. Tickets for all other performances are $16 each; $14 for seniors and $7 for students and all youth 18 and under.

Tickets may be purchased at the Theatre box office 12-5, Tuesday-Friday in person or by phone at (828) 328-2283, as well as online through the Theatre’s website, www.hickorytheatre.org.

HCT is a Funded Affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. “Doctor Dolittle” is produced by Catawba Valley Medical Center.

Photo: Doctor Dolittle and Emma share a tender song with the Great Pink Sea snail in the background in ”Doctor Dolittle”, which concludes its run this weekend at the Hickory Community Theatre.

Find information and tickets online at www.hickorytheatre.org or call (828) 328-2283. Photo is by Ken Burns.

Hickory Alive! Friday Night Entertainment Begins May 31

Hickory - As warm weather and summer draws near; many people are looking to find affordable ways to have fun with their family and friends on the weekend. Filling the need for fun once again will be Hickory Alive. The annual free concert series will kick off on May 31st and run every Friday night through July 5th. The event will be held in the City Hall Parking Lot in Downtown Hickory. Featuring local bands and rising talent, Hickory Alive is a great way to start the weekend. The Hickory Jaycees are pleased to announce this year’s Hickory Alive lineup.

May 31st: 20/20

June 7th: Xerockx

June 14th: Baby Black

June 21st: Deacon Black

June 28th: The Extraordinaires

July 5th: The Ramblin Gypsy Band

In addition to the free concert, food and beverage vendors will be on hand at the event. For those over the age of 21, United Beverage will provide adult beverage sales during the event. The main act will take the stage at 7pm. Be sure to come out and enjoy the fun this summer!

The purpose of the Jaycees is to promote and foster the growth and development of young leaders. This is accomplished by providing opportunities for members to get real-world professional experience through the management of our community involvement projects, such as Hickory Alive. For more information about Hickory Alive or the Hickory Jaycees contact (828) 322-2080 or hickoryjaycee@yahoo.com. You can also visit www.hickoryjc.org.

ACAP Offers Workshop On Medicare & Medicaid, May 28

Hickory - Adult Children of Aging Parents (ACAP) will offer “Medicare and Medicaid” on Tuesday, May 28, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Women’s Resource Center in Hickory. The cost-free program will offer insight regarding healthcare insurance offered seniors through these two programs, and answer general questions that often surface as adult-children care for aging parents. Facilitators for the program are Beth Jones, Adult Medicaid Supervisor, Catawba County Department of Social Services, and Mary Mode, Executive Director, Catawba County Council on Aging.

Registration for the program is required. To register, please email Director@wrchickory.org or call 828-322-6333. Anticipating a large attendance, you are encouraged to register as soon as possible in order to ensure adequate seating.

ACAP is a program of Women’s Resource Center, 125 3rd St. NE - P.O Box 1608, Hickory, NC, www.wrchickory.org / phone 828-322-6333 / fax 828.322-1314.

Friday’s Sails Music Series Features Folk Music Trio, May 24

Hickory - Folk music singer, Katie Powderly’s Folk Trio, showcases her talent at Friday’s Sails Music Series, May 24th.

Formerly of Madison, Wisconsin, Katie Powderly recently embarked on a national tour (a 50-state tour in an RV, actually) in support of her debut LP, Slips of the Tongue, recorded primarily at Madison’s Smart Studios.

Slips of the Tongue boasts a backing band consisting of Jack White’s bass player, Bryn Davies, formerly known for her work with Justin Townes Earle; Jill Andrews and Josh Oliver from the everybodyfields; Tom Pryor from the Black Lillies; and more. Scott Minor from Sparklehorse was also an instrumental part of this recording, acting as one of Katie’s sound engineers. The participation of so many luminaries is a testament to her talent.

Katie Powderly's music permeates the boundaries of genre, inhabiting a space somewhere in and around folk. It transcends the confines of linear chronology, as well; it is vintage and current, nostalgic and prophetic. Respectful of tradition, while remaining relevant, Powderly presents a promising musical hybrid in her painstakingly hand-hewn tunes.

According to Adam Hajnos at Flying Rooster, "It's folk noir with a kind of David Lynch-y dreaminess, as though Powderly is struggling to stave off a sort of encroaching darkness. Her pairing of beauty and sadness is one not easily rivaled. But fear not-the album is not a downer. Far from it. It just demonstrates her ability to acknowledge her demons, and maybe even dance with them a little, before casting them off into the night as she makes her first tentative steps toward dawn."

Katie Powderly

"Her voice wraps itself around a melody and before you know it you're hooked; the songs lure you in, seep into your heart, and linger in your ear throughout the quiet of your day" he continues. And he's right.

The key elements of her music are her harrowingly honest lyrics sung with an almost rebellious resolve to endure in the face of immense loss. She is weary, but never weak; bewildered, but never broken; discouraged, but never defeated. There is defiance in her delivery, suggestive of an unseen strength, simmering just below the surface.

Her hopefulness is at times fragile. But it is there. She might be lovelorn, but she is not lost. Not for long, anyway.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., local musician, Thomas Michaels, presented by the Hickory Music Factory, will open the show. Katie Powderly’s Folk Trio plays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This concert is located at “The Sails on the Square” in downtown Hickory.

“As Hickory moves towards "a life well crafted" and inspiring spaces so will our students’ experience "seeds well sown," thanks to all the many wonderful performance opportunities,” said Rick Cline with Hickory Music Factory.

Celebration For Still Running For Recovery Fundraiser, May 25

Hickory - The public is invited to help celebrate local runner Angela Hamilton's success in raising over $10,000 for Exodus Homes in Still Running for Recovery with a picnic cook-out at Exodus Missionary Outreach Church on May 25, 2013 from 11;00am - 1:00pm. Free hot dogs and hamburgers will be served, and the High Road Quartet gospel group will sing in the celebration.

Many individuals and churches throughout the Hickory area supported her plan to run the Boston Marathon in April to help raise needed funds for the faith-based United Way agency that provides supportive housing for homeless recovering people returning to the community from treatment centers and prisons.

Shortly before the marathon, Hamilton got a bad case of the flu, and although she went to Boston, she was not able to run in the race. Deeply disappointed, she and her husband Dave went to the the finish line to watch the elite runners come in, and they had left the area before the bombings happened that day.

Hamilton was determined to complete a marathon for all those who had given in Still Running for Recovery, and for everyone affected by the tragedy in Boston. She ran the Cincinnati "Flying Pig" Marathon on May 5, 2013 and came in with a time of 3:51:34, requalifying for the Boston marathon next year.

After crossing the finish line in Cincinnati, Hamilton said "I am relieved to finish what I started. This one took an even greater meaning for me after the tragic events in Boston. I am glad to do it for Exodus Homes and for Boston. "

For more information about the celebration picnic, please call Rev. Susan Walker at 828-962-8196 or revsusanwalker@gmail.com

Photo: Angela Hamilton is seen shortly after crossing the finish line of the Cincinnati "Flying Pig" Marathon on May 5, 2013

Woodcrafters Meeting On Turning Spindles, May 25

Hickory - At the next meeting of the Western Piedmont Woodcrafters to be held at 9:30 AM on Saturday May 25, 2013, club member Tony Bradley will demonstrate “turning spindles on the lathe’.

The favorite products of most wood turners have been bowls, plates, and various urns and flower holders.  The original use of the lathe was for turning wood spindles to be used in building tables and chairs for use in the home, and for architectural purposes. 

Woodsmen who were employed to turn spindles in early England were called “bodgers.”  Much of the spindles which they turned were of green wood so that when built into chairs the wood would shrink as it dried so as to make the chair joints strong.

Tony Bradley will demonstrate techniques for turning multiple spindles for building furniture.  Because the spindles must be nearly identical, gauges and measuring gigs must be employed in order to mark the work piece to ensure that the pieces are cut the same. Basic woodturning techniques will also be demonstrated.

Further information can be obtained by calling 828-466-1623 or at the club’s website www.wpwoodcrafters.org.

1st African American Cultural Festival, AFR’AM, May 25

Hickory - May 25th, 2013, the 1st African American Cultural Festival will take place at 480 Catawba Valley Blvd. located on the grounds of Clinton Tabernacle A.M. E. Zion Church. The Festival is a celebration of cultural events that feature SUAH, an African Dance group, Christian Hip Hop featuring DJAX, Artists, Story Tellers, Praise & Worship featuring Minister Raymond Hollis and One Sound, Children’s Zone, craftspeople and food vendors.

Come with lawn chairs to celebrate the ambiance of the African-American spirit, history and culture. The event will provide educational, cultural and fun activities inclusive of the entire community, and bring awareness to the contributions of African-Americans and others in the vast African Diaspora.

Catawba County is host to numerous cultures. Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in which to live for all of its inhabitants. The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the historical experience of the African American people.

Nana Vee

The culture is both distinct and enormously influential to American culture as a whole. Cultural enrichment can be an invaluable tool for strengthening a community through fostering an appreciation for diversity. AFR’AM will raise awareness of and pride in the diversity of cultural heritage.

Sponsored by City of Hickory “Life. Well Crafted.” brand, City of Hickory Community Relations Council, Honda Cars of Hickory, Shurtape, Clinton’s Corner of Catawba and Clinton Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

For more information about the festival, please call 828-217-1691 or email baritiggett@charter.net.

Free Pops In The Park Concert, June 1

Dallas, NC - Gaston County Parks and Recreation and the Arts Council of Gaston County present Pops in the Park at Dallas Park June 1st starting 7 pm.

The concert will feature the Gaston Symphonic Band. Admission to the concert is free.

If you have any questions please call the Gaston County Parks and Recreation at 704-922-2164 or visit our website at http://www.gastongov.com/departments/parks-recreation. Gaston County strives to make its programs, services, and activities accessible to all.

If you will require an accommodation we request that you contact our office at least 5 days before the event.

Foothills Painters Exhibit Opens June 7 At Caldwell Arts

Lenoir, NC – The Caldwell Arts Council is pleased to announce the exhibit “Foothills Painters,” a group of artisans mostly from Catawba County.

An artist reception is scheduled for Friday, June 7, 2013, 5-7pm. The public is invited, free of charge. The exhibit will continue through June 28.

The Caldwell Arts Council is located at 601 College Avenue in downtown Lenoir, and is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm.

For more information, call (828) 754-2486 or visit the website www.caldwellarts.com

Hickory Firefighters Share Tips For Lawn & Garden Safety

Hickory – Hickory Firefighters want to remind the public of some safe practices to follow to avoid an injury when doing lawn and garden projects this season. Wear proper eye protection when using power tools and avoid loose or dangling clothing that can be caught in moving parts. Since equipment can be loud and harm your ears, remember to use earplugs. Keep mowers and power tools “off limits” to young children and teach children to stay away from persons who are mowing. Remember it is not a good idea to let children ride on mowing equipment.

Store pesticides and all lawn products in original packaging on high shelves or inside locked cabinets. Store ladders, rakes, forks, clippers and other tools properly and return them to storage after use. Check the yard for broken limbs, stones and toys that can shoot out under the mower and wear closed-toe shoes when mowing to prevent injury. Refuel mowers and other gasoline-powered tools outside, when the motor is cool, and well away from lit cigarettes, sparks and flames. Never reach under a mower when it is turned on. Use gasoline as a motor fuel only and store gasoline in an approved, vented container, up high. To learn smart tips for staying safe this spring and year round, or contact the Hickory Fire Department at (828) 323-7521 or www.hickorync.gov.

Call For Artists! Juried Exhibition At The Hickory

Museum Of Art; Enter By June 1

Hickory – The Hickory Museum of Art (HMA) is hosting an indoor juried exhibition called Road Trip in conjunction with an upcoming outdoor event called The AutoLawn, showcasing European automobiles of all makes, models, and ages. Artists are invited to submit work for Road Trip that expresses a theme relating to cars, journeys, and the open road. The exhibition will be held in HMA’s second floor Coe Gallery from August 31 – January 5.

Exhibition Theme:

The Hickory Museum of Art wants you to explore the theme of the personal automobile as it relates to your generation or your life’s journey or perhaps how it defined a certain personal Road Trip or a particular phase. How have you seen life from behind the steering wheel?

To Apply:

The Museum is using CallForEntry.org (CaFÉ) to manage this call for artists. All entries must be submitted through CaFÉ by June 30. To view the prospectus, visit the CaFÉ website or HickoryArt.org.

CaFÉ provides artists with an easy-to-use system to create a profile with contact information, upload digital images of their artwork, and apply to a number of open calls for entry at one time. There is no cost to register for this service.

Entry Fee:

Artists may submit up to three (3) images for a non-refundable $35 fee. (A $15 off coupon code is available for members of the Hickory Museum of Art. Please call Blair Phillips, Development Manager at 828.327.8576 for code.) Entry fees are non-refundable. Artists may enter their work ONLINE ONLY through CaFÉ (www.CallForEntry.org). CaFÉ accepts Mastercard/Visa.

Awards:

Best in Show, selected by the jury panel, will receive $350 and a solo exhibition at the Museum. The People’s Choice Award will be selected by the public during The AutoLawn on September 14; the winner receives $250. Voting will take place the day of event between 10 AM – 3 PM (only one ballot per person).

The Hickory Museum of Art is located in the Arts & Science Center of the Catawba Valley, 243 3rd Avenue NE, Hickory. Admission is free. For more information please visit www.HickoryArt.org or call 828-327-8576.

CSC Announces Blue Star Museums In Honor Of Military

Hickory – Today Catawba Science Center (CSC) announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the arts and military communities," said NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa. “Our work with Blue Star Families and with more than 1,800 museums ensures that we can reach out to military families and thank them for their service and sacrifice.”

“Blue Star Museums is something that service members and their families look forward to every year and we are thrilled with the continued growth of the program,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Through this distinctive collaboration between Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts and more than 1,800 museums across the United States, service members and their families can connect with our national treasures with this unparalleled opportunity to visit some of the country’s finest museums for free.”

This year, more than 1,800 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative, including more than 450 new museums this year. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer. The effort to recruit museums has involved partnerships with the American Association of Museums, the Association of Art Museum Directors, the Association of Children’s Museums, the American Association of State and Local History, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers. This year’s Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers, and 75 children’s museums. Among this year’s new participants are the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum in Northport, Michigan, the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan, Alaska, and the World Museum of Mining in Butte, Montana.

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 through Labor Day, September 2, 2013.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family members. Please see the chart of the acceptable IDs (PDF). Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.

Museums that wish to participate in Blue Star Museums may contact bluestarmuseums@arts.gov, or Wendy Clark at 202-682-5451.

Catawba Science Center is a nonprofit science and technology museum serving NC’s western Piedmont region. Special attractions include the Flutter-By Butterfly Habitat, a digital planetarium theater and a marine touch pool with live sharks and stingrays. For more information about Catawba Science Center’s Flutter-By Butterfly Habitat, events, hours or directions visit www.CatawbaScience.org or call 828/322-8169.

CSC is funded in part by the United Arts Fund of Catawba County and the NC Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative. CSC is located in the Arts and Science Center of Catawba Valley, on the SALT Block, 243 3rd Avenue NE, Hickory.

Hickory Youth Council Seeks Members, May 31

Hickory – The Hickory Youth Council is recruiting new members for the 2013-2014 school year.

All rising 9-12 grade high school students living in the Hickory city limits or extra-territorial jurisdiction are eligible to apply. The Hickory Youth Council was established in 2000 by the Hickory City Council to give the city’s youth a voice in city government.

The Youth Council consists of 25 high school students who learn about city operations, participate in community service projects, and advise the City Council about issues and policies that affect the youth of Hickory. The Hickory Youth Council is also a chartered member of the State Youth Council of North Carolina. This organization offers opportunities for leadership training, community service, and networking opportunities for high school students across the state at the State Youth Council Conferences throughout the year.

Additionally, the Youth Council tours City departments, meets City staff, interacts with key community leaders, and has the ability to serve on City boards and commissions. Some of the most recent projects that the Youth Council has created or participated in include stuffing thousands of eggs with candy for the annual Parks and Recreation Easter Egg Hunt, painting the Stanford Park Skate Park, developing the Anti-Bullying Youth Concert and Anti-Bullying Youth Video Contest, as well as participating in general service projects and monthly Youth Council meetings.

“We currently recruit members from all local high schools to serve on the Youth Council,” said Hickory Youth Council Chair Hayden Frye, who is a senior at Discovery High School. “Members are able to connect and collaborate with other youth to help address the issues that affect the youth of Hickory.”

“The youth council offers a great opportunity for youth interested in learning about city government and having their voice heard in the community,” added Frye. All applications must be received by Friday May 31, 2013.

For more information about the application process or to download an application please visit www.hickorync.gov/youthcouncil. Any questions about the application process should be directed to Dave Leonetti, Youth Council Liaison at (828) 261-2227.