Edison Project: Accepting Applications Until May 31

Hickory - The 2013 Edison Project information is up on our web site at www.catawbachamber.org we are taking applications until May 31st. We are looking for entrepreneurs who have an idea for an innovative viable business in the four county Hickory Metro Area (Burke, Alexander, Caldwell and Catawba). The competition is also open to those current businesses with cumulative revenues of less than $350,000. We invite you to submit your model for consideration and review by a panel of judges. There will also be mentors, coaches assigned to each finalist to help guide you through the process.

There will be four workshops for ALL applicants during the application process ending May 31st: The Effective Business Plan; Market Analysis and Financial Projections; Getting the Money and Presentation Practice Sessions. Finalists will be chosen on July 10th.

On our web site, click on the Edison Project logo and fill out the application along with the Executive Summary questions. Attach your $100 registration fee ($50 for higher education students) and deliver to the Chamber. You are competing for $10,000 in cash to the top three winners: 1st place $5,000, 2nd place $3,000 and 3rd place $2,000.

The finalists will be presenting their business pitches to a panel of investor’s and commercial lenders on August 28th and their written business plans are due in by September 6th. The final part of the process is on September 23rd where each finalist will present a 5 minute pitch to a community-wide audience where they get to choose who has the best new business idea in 2013. The Top 3 winners will be announced that afternoon also.

Special thanks to our Edison Project sponsors: Catawba County Government; Alex Lee, Inc. CVCC and the Committee of 100 of the Economic Development Corp. Any questions about the process please call 828 431-7230.

Musical Adventure Doctor Dolittle Opens Friday, May 10

Hickory - The Hickory Community Theatre opens its musical adventure story, “Doctor Doolittle” this Friday, May 10, at 8 PM.

The play is adapted from the musical blockbuster film starring Rex Harrison. It is the tale of Dr. Doolittle’s search to the corners of the earth for the Great Pink Sea Snail - the oldest and wisest creature on earth. A cast of thirty-one, playing creatures large and small, animal and human, spin a tale of adventure that is fun for all ages. The full performance schedule is as follows: Fridays and Saturdays, May 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 8pm; Thursdays, May 16 and 23 at 7:30pm; and, Sundays, May 19 and 26 at 2:30pm.

Tickets 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.

Photo: Dr. Dolittle (Ted Eltzroth) takes the stage in HCT’s charming new musical of the same name, opening Friday, May 10.  

Tickets: 828.328.2283. in ”Doctor Dolittle”, opening this Friday at the Hickory Community Theatre.  

American Cancer Society’s 2013 Relay For Life, May 31

Hickory - The American Cancer Society's 2013 Relay for Life of Catawba County is Friday, May 31st beginning at 6:00 pm through Saturday, June 1st.

It will be held at the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds, 1127 US 70 Hwy Newton, NC.
The Special Guest is Dave Pittman from American Idol, 9:45 – 10:45 p.m. May 31st.

For more information, please visit www.relayforlife.org/catawbanc.

The journey to end cancer starts with a single step. We invite you to take that step with us by joining the Catawba County Relay For Life event. When you walk to end cancer at Relay, it's your opportunity to not only honor cancer survivors and remember loved ones lost, but also to raise awareness about what we can do to stay well from cancer and raise money to help fuel the world's largest walk to end cancer.

Join us and help put an end to cancer!

UUCCV Presents Red June In Concert On May 17

Hickory - On Friday, May 17th at 7:30pm, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Catawba Valley will present RED JUNE, music trio who have performed at the church for the past several years. They are also well known for performing at Merle-fest as well as other local music venues.

Asheville NC’s Red June is well underway to becoming a long-time southern favorite, akin to the Appalachian heirloom apple from which they glean their name. 2012 was a big year for the band; they released their second studio album, Beauty Will Come, to high acclaim, and performed at dozens of other shows and festivals all across the country including the renowned Music City Roots show, Suwannee Springfest and the 25th Anniversary MerleFest. They also performed an official showcase to a packed house at the Station Inn in Nashville for the Americana Music Association conference and were featured with a full-page photo of band member John Cloyd Miller in Southern Living magazine.

Red June is Will Straughan on dobro, guitar and vocals, John Cloyd Miller on mandolin, guitar and vocals, and Natalya Weinstein on fiddle and vocals.

Red June

The three have been longtime friends, and first jammed together at an Asheville party in 2005. In late 2008 they formed Red June and went on to release their debut, Remember Me Well, in 2010. The album was very well received, and was voted the #1 regional release of 2010 by the listeners of the southeast’s premier independent radio station, WNCW. With their dynamic yet refined sound featuring striking three-part harmonies, tasteful instrumental work, and honest, soulful songwriting that seamlessly blends bluegrass, old-time, country and American roots music, the band is constantly breaking new musical ground.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Catawba Valley has been serving the Hickory and Catawba Valley area for over 50 years. We are a liberal church that affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
What the press is saying about Red June:

“Will Straughan, John Cloyd Miller, and Natalya Weinstein possess a airtight harmony that will impress even the toughest critic. Listen to their vocal blend on I’m Willing To Try, and you may need to have your jaw surgically removed from the floor – they are that good!” - Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

Red June web site: www.redjunemusic.com; Twitter: twitter.com/redjunemusic; Facebook: www.facebook.com/redjuneasheville

Location: 833 5th Street SE, Hickory, NC 28602

Suggested Donation: Adults $10 | Children under 12 $10

Unifour Christian Singles And Seniors Host May Events

Hickory - A series of get togethers and trips have been planned by the Unifour Christian Singles and Seniors for the upcoming months.

Dinner at Captain's Galley in Granite Falls, NC, on Friday, May 10 at 5:30 pm. Everyone pays for own dinner. Great fellowship! Seniors in the area are invited to join us. Sponsored by Unifour Christian Senior Adults.

Trip to New York August 8-12 by motorcoach. Cost is $590 per person with a $300 deposit due by May 26. Capacity is 40 persons and 28 are signed up so far. Meet in Granite Falls to depart. Sponsored by Unifour Christian Senior Adults and Singles.

Cook-out at Valle Crucis Park on Saturday, May 18, at 9:00 am. We will leave Ingles on Connelly Springs Road at 9:00 am. Bring a dish and a chair. We will return around 5:00 pm. Singles in the area are invited to join us. Sponsored by Unifour Christian Singles. Cost: we will take up gas money.

Finally, a Senior Mystery Trip on Saturday, May 25. Load vans at Ingles on Connelly Springs Road at 9:00 am. We will pickup people at Roses in Hickory at 9:15 am. Area Seniors are invited to join us.

Sponsored by Unifour Christian Senior Adults. Cost is 15.00 each and is due by May 15. Contact Annette Strassner regarding any or all of these events at 828-310-2977.

HDDA Receives 2013 National Main Street Accreditation

Hickory – Hickory Downtown Development Association has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center®, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street® programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four Point Approach® methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings.

“We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says Valecia Crisafulli, acting director of the National Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the downtown in the economy head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.”

The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by the North Carolina Main Street Center, NC Department of Commerce’s Division of Urban Development, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings.

In Fiscal Year 2011-2012, Downtown Hickory witnessed a net gain of ten (10) new businesses generating a net gain of 12 jobs. Public and private investment in downtown Hickory totaled more than $1.1 million dollars. More than 3,000 hours of volunteer time was given to downtown Hickory through the volunteer programming coordinated by Hickory Downtown Development Association. “"HDDA is proud of our Main Street track record and the continued improvements in our downtown district. Accreditation from the National Main Street Center for the fifth consecutive year serves to validate that we are doing things right in Downtown Hickory," said HDDA Board President Jason Yates.

Established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, the National Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 32 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $55.7 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 473,535 net new jobs and 109,693 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 236,418 buildings, leveraging an average of $18 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.

HSCC Offers Neuter Special For Male Cats Throughout May

Hickory - Humane Society of Catawba County is offering an “It Takes Two” $25 special on neuter surgery for male cats paid for in May. Foothills Spay/ Neuter Clinic offers surgery Monday-Friday at Humane Society of Catawba County.

Go by to make an appointment or call (828) 464-8878 during business hours, Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

HSCC and Foothills Spay/Neuter Clinic services are available to any member of the public and are not limited to residents of Catawba County.Hickory - Humane Society of Catawba County is offering an “It Takes Two” $25 special on neuter surgery for male cats paid for in May. Foothills Spay/ Neuter Clinic offers surgery Monday-Friday at Humane Society of Catawba County.

Sven is ready for adoption

Go by to make an appointment or call (828) 464-8878 during business hours, Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

HSCC and Foothills Spay/Neuter Clinic services are available to any member of the public and are not limited to residents of Catawba County.

Friday After Five Presents The Extraordinaires, May 17

Statesville, NC - Join us in Downtown Statesville Friday, May 17, for the Piedmont HealthCare Friday After Five Summer Concert Series featuring The Extraordinaires.

This FREE concert runs from 5:30 – 8:30 pm on West Broad between Kelly and Mulberry Streets in front of Mitchell Community College. Beer, wine, soft drinks and food are available for purchase.

There is no cost to attend and the public is welcome. Bring your chairs and enjoy a night of music. No pets or coolers are allowed.

For more information contact Downtown Statesville at 704-878-3436 or the Chamber of Commerce at 704-873-2892.

Follow Friday After Five Summer Concert Series on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SVLFridayAfterFive

May 17 - The Extraordinaires (R&B and The Classics)

May 31 - Summerdaze Band (Disco, Funk, Top 40 and Beach)

June 14 - The Catalinas (Beach)

June 28 – Vic Wheeler & Gruv Dawgs (Dance, Classic Funk and Rock)

Children’s Letters To God, HUB Dinner Theatre, May 10 - 18

Hudson, NC - The Town of Hudson announces its 15th Dinner Theatre Production, “Children’s Letters to God,” to be held at the Hudson Uptown Building, (HUB), on Friday and Saturday, May 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th.

The HUB is located at 145 Cedar Valley Road, Hudson. Dinner is catered by Dan’l Boone Inn and will be served at 6:30 PM each night and the show begins at 7:30 PM.

“Children’s Letters to God” is based on the best-selling book of the same name. The book contains actual letters that real children wrote to God. The play is a musical and presents vignettes and songs based on these letters. Some of the letters are funny, others thoughtful and poignant. According to Director Keith Smith, the play has a style and content that will remind some of Art Linkletter’s and Bill Cosby’s “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” and has a flavor of the Charlie Brown television cartoon specials.

The cast consists of: Brook DeLeary as Joanna, Hayden Ikerd as Brett, Caroline Collins as Iris, Matt DeLeary as Theo, Rachel Lowry as Kicker, and Frans Boersma as a multi-faceted messenger.

On the opening night of the production, the newly refurbished HUB piano will be dedicated.

Smith says that though the show is not for young people only, young people are encouraged to attend. So for one time only, the HUB is offering a reduced rate for students. To eat dinner and see the show, it is $25 for adults, $15 for students. Balcony seating for the show only is $15 for adults, $5 for students. Also, you no longer have to reserve a full table to get preferential seating up front.

All ticket sales are on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are required for dinner and may be made by going by Town Hall in Hudson, or by calling 728-8272.

Photo: Left to right: Rachel Lowry, Caroline Collins, Matt DeLeary, Brooke DeLeary, Hayden Ikerd

Focus’ Biggest Issue Is May 23rd! The Deadline

To Advertise Is Friday, May 17th!

Hickory - Focus’ famous Swimsuit/Summer Guide issue featuring local models and a guide to Summer fun will be on the stands in one month, May 23rd! The model contest is presented by Best of Beers, your local distributer of Anheuser Busch and Craft Beer.

Focus’ Summer Guide is a handy reference for things to do & see including festivals, historic sites, amusement parks, conventions—all within a day’s drive of Western North Carolina. Be sure to pick up this issue on May 23rd to plan a great summer!

To advertise your business in Focus’ most popular yearly issue, call 828-322-1036.

In addition to Best of Beers, our co-sponsors are Kelly & Company Hair Salon, The Olde Hickory Taproom and The Hickory Community Theatre.

Kelly & Co. Hair Salon is providing a free cut or style to each model. Kelly & Co. is a full service salon, offering hair styling and coloring, manicures and a line of high quality beauty products. Walk-ins are welcome! Located at 2613 North Center St., Hickory, NC, 28601. Phone (828) 323-8477.

The Olde Hickory Taproom, located on Union Square in Downtown Hickory, features great food & music every week. This Thursday 5/9 it’s SupaTight; Saturday 5/11 it’s Mountain Feist. May 13-19 is American Craft Beer Week! 828.322.1965

Hickory Community Theatre’s Vacation Extravaganza to benefit the theatre is Monday, June 10! $100 admits two & buys a chance to win a $10,000 vacation. Call the theatre at 828.327.3855 for more information.

Hickory area professional photographers and sponsors Fanjoy Labrenz and Rose Mary Cheek will photograph our models for the Swimsuit/Summer Guide.

Models will also be featured at www.focusnewspaper.com through the summer as part of our Summer Guide online.

Hickory Alive Free Concerts Begin On 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.

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. The Jaycees also provide opportunities for their members to network with other young professionals, to participate in social events, and to contribute to the community and to really be a part of it.

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.

Critter Crawl 5K Race To Benefit Eagle Habitats, May 23

Grandfather Mountain, NC - This May, the second annual “Critter Crawl” kicks off at Grandfather Mountain. The 5K race begins in MacRae Meadows and ends at the top of Grandfather. All proceeds will directly benefit upcoming renovations to the Grandfather Mountain eagle habitats.

Grandfather’s existing eagle habitats are currently vacant after long-time resident and oldest animal in the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats, Morely the golden eagle, passed away of natural causes on January 1.

For over a year, the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation has been raising money for these renovations. The goal is to combine the two existing, open-topped eagle enclosures into one large covered habitat that will hopefully house two bald eagles.

A fully enclosed habitat will allow Grandfather Mountain to acquire partially-flighted eagles and help keep the raptors safe from wild animals that might try to invade the enclosure and steal the eagles’ food. Morely’s passing as the last eagle at Grandfather, symbolizes a new era for the Mountain’s eagle habitats and his legacy will live on through the upcoming renovations.

The race will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. To accommodate runners and race spectators, the park will end ticket sales at 4 p.m. and close at 5 p.m. Online registration for the “Critter Crawl” is now available with 500 spaces for runners available. The cost per participant is $35 and includes: a “Critter Crawl” t-shirt, one parking pass and a free Grandfather Mountain day-pass to be used any time from May 24 to June 30, 2013. T-shirts will not be guaranteed for participants that register after May 9. Awards will be presented to the top three male and female competitors.

One parking pass is included in each race registration. Additional parking passes can also be acquired for race spectators during online registration or purchased with cash or check at packet pickup times. Extra parking passes cost $10 per vehicle. Spectators will be able to park in designated parking lots on Grandfather and MacRae Meadows on a first-come, first-serve basis. Shuttles will be available to transport spectators to the top from each parking area.

To register for the Critter Crawl, please visit www.grandfather.com. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.

Suzuki School Presents Free Concerts, May 19 & 20

Hickory - Suzuki School of the Arts students will be performing in a series of spring concerts that are free and open to the public. Performers will be ages 3-adult.

The first concert will be for the Guitar Studio at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory on Tuesday May 14th at 7:30pm. The second concert will be for the Violin, Viola, and Cello students at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on Sunday May 19th at 3pm in the Family Life Center.

The final concerts will be for the Piano studio on Monday May 20th at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Hickory at 5pm and 7pm in the Sanctuary.

Suzuki School of the Arts is a 501© 3 non profit organization that offers quality music instruction in the family oriented Suzuki method. Lessons are available for violin, viola, cello, piano, and guitar.

Students ages 3-103 are eligible to take lessons. SSA does not discriminate against race, gender, creed or socioeconomic status. For more information about lessons please call the Suzuki Office at 828 322 2694 or look at the website www.suzukischool.net

Photo: Macon Monday plays piano for a concert in Hickory

Memorial Service To Honor Law Enforcement Officers, May 17

Hickory- A Memorial service honoring law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, May 17, 2013, at Catawba Memorial Park, located at 3060 Highway 70 SE in Hickory.

A wreath laying ceremony, playing of bagpipes and Taps, and an honor guard firing a 21-gun salute will be included in the program. Keynote speaker will be the Honorable Sam J. Ervin, IV, Judge, NC Court of Appeals.

The yearly event coincides with National Police Week and is sponsored by the Catawba County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week, meaning that National Police Week 2013 will be Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th. Members of the Catawba County FOP will be in Washington, DC, for the national ceremonies.

On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

For more information, call the FOP Office at 828-695-1704.

Photo: Catawba County FOP Law Enforcement Memorial Monument at Catawba Memorial Park.

Safe Kids Day! Protect Kids From Preventable Injuries, May 18

Hickory – On Saturday, May 18, 2013, Safe Kids Catawba County, a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, will host the first Safe Kids Day event in Hickory, N.C. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Health First Center at Valley Hills Mall. This one-of-a-kind event brings together families, corporate partners and other supporters – all to raise awareness and funds for Safe Kids’ efforts to prevent injuries to children.

Injuries are the number one killer of kids in the United States, and 9,000 families lose a child every year to a preventable injury. That’s one family every hour.

When a child dies or is seriously injured, the lives of families and entire communities are changed forever. But, the majority of these injuries are completely preventable.

In partnership with Children’s Tylenol and through support from the GM Foundation and Wells Fargo, Safe Kids Day will be celebrated in more than 100 communities across the United States. All events will focus on celebrating kids and helping families learn simple things they can do to protect children everywhere.

More than 50 community members will join Safe Kids Catawba County for a fun day of activities to celebrate children: Date: Saturday, May 18, 2013 Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Place: Health First Center at Valley Hills Mall Safe Kids Day raises awareness about injury prevention, educates parents and caregivers on proven and practical things they can do to protect their children and raises funds to protect all children from life-changing or fatal injuries. Safe Kids works to keep kids safe at home, at play and on the road, for example:

• Protecting children in and around cars. Each year, Safe Kids hosts more than 8,000 car seat checkup events across the United States and our certified technicians install tens of thousands of car seats to keep kids safe.

• Protecting child athletes. Safe Kids clinics teach coaches, parents and young athletes how to avoid concussions and other serious sports injuries.

• Protecting children walking to school. Safe Kids works with local communities to make neighborhoods safer with improvements like speed bumps and cross walks, and with education programs for kids.

Join us at Safe Kids Day and help families everywhere protect their children from preventable injuries. Can’t attend the event in person? Learn how you can help participate or get more information at www.safekidsday.com.

About Safe Kids Catawba County Safe Kids Catawba County works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids Catawba County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury.

Safe Kids Catawba County was founded in 1998 and is led by Catawba Valley Medical Center. For more information, visit safekids.org or call CVMC’s Health First Center to reach the Safe Kids Catawba County Coordinator (828) 485-2300 ext. 6201.

Downtown Hickory Art Crawl Presented By HDDA, May 16

Hickory - The Downtown Hickory Art Crawl is Thursday, May 16. Hickory Downtown Development Association is excited to bring together downtown businesses, artists and YOU! Join in the fun on May 16 from 5:00 until 8:00 pm! Check out the new businesses participating in the Crawl and visit with your favorites. Remember all art work is for sale, so please support these local artists and businesses.

Maps for the Art Crawl may be found at the Kick Off party and all participating businesses.

The crawl begins at 5:00 pm with the Kick-Off Party at The Jackson Group, located at 219 First Ave. SW. Here you can listen to The Woodersons while viewing the watercolors of Debbie Bell, stone sculptures by Harold Humphrey, and bronze sculptures by Joel Urruty. Then grab a map and start crawling!! The festivities continue until 8:00 pm.

Next stop is Fanjoy/Labrenz, 215-A First Avenue SW, where the new works of Sally Fanjoy and James Labrenz are featured along with the metal works of Noah Gibson.

107 Government Ave SW will host acrylic on canvas by Ken Eidenmiller and digital art by Ed Shepherd. Ask Gavin Mitchell with Boyd & Hassell to show you the building which is currently for lease.

Next on the map is Taste Full Beans & Full Circle Arts located at 29 Second St NW. There you can see works by FCA members, including the hand woven tapestries of Genie Greenlaw. The artists from Foothills Painters are being featured.

Boyd & Hassell Commercial Real Estate at 200 First Avenue NW, Suite 500, features Intaglio art by Matthew Srawn and North Carolina landscape photographer Jeff Bogle.

Crawling down First Avenue NW, 248 First Ave NW hosts several artists. Here you will see the works of Tonya Andrews of Dirty Ankle Pottery, Andree Herman’s watercolors and oils and Judy Carpenter’s acrylic paintings. The property is available for lease through Boyd & Hassell Commercial Real Estate.

262 First Ave NW features the photography of Joe Young’s CVCC students, Betsy Bolick, Chelsea Penley and Kia-Smith-Harris. The property is for sale. Ask Donna Adams of Adams Commercial Real Estate Services for a tour of the building.

Charlie Shuford will be playing his jazzy saxophone outside of Hatch Sandwich Bar, located at 268 First Ave NW, for your musical pleasure.

Crawl up Third Street NW and turn the corner onto Union Square where Larry’s Music & Sound Teaching Studio, 266 Union Square, hosts the oil & wax emulsion art of Dave Groshelle.

Next, stop by Gym Dance Cheer, 264 Union Square where handmade jewelry by Christina Burleson is on display.

The Glaze Building located at 264-B Union Square, hosts the watercolor & pastel art of Richard Bruns out front. An upper floor studio space is currently for lease. Check it out.

Tony Eltora will perform folk blues on the “Sails on the Square” stage.

Union Square May 2012 Art Crawl

Rodney Smith with MUD Pottery will demonstrate in front of Our Heart and Soles, in Shoppes on the Square located at 246 Union Square.

The Hickory Wine Shoppe, 238 Union Square, hosts a wine tasting and a display of jewelry featuring the artistic flair of Charles Kimso.

Make sure to crawl into Bisque n Beads, 232 Union Square, where the watercolors and Pen & Ink of Robert Webb are inside. Outside, spray paint artist Jeramie Jones will be demonstrating his style of painting.

Tracy’s on the Square, 228 Union Square, will feature the oil paintings of Alex Reeves.

The Hickory Museum of Art hosts kid art activities in front of The Olde Hickory Tap Room located at 222 Union Square.

The Resource Warehouse and Gallery will have kids craft activities on Union Square.

The creative pottery of Lynn King will be featured at The Crushed Olive located at 216 Union Square.

After the Crawl, stop in at The Olde Hickory Tap Room, 222 Union Square, where The Harris Brothers will perform at 9:30 pm. There will be no cover charge.

Make Downtown Hickory your destination on Thursday, May 16, for the Downtown Hickory Art Crawl!

The Downtown Hickory Art Crawl is hosted by the Hickory Downtown Development Association and sponsored by Boyd & Hassell I-C Inc, who specialize in sales, leasing and property management of industrial and commercial real estate, the City of Hickory, “Life Well Crafted” and The United Arts Council of Catawba Council, who is committed to advancing the cultural life of Catawba County through grants, marketing, fundraising and facilities management.

For more information on The Hickory Downtown Development Association, membership, businesses, events and downtown Hickory, please call 828-322-1121 email info@downtownhickory.com. Please visit the website, www.downtownhickory.com.

Seeking Artists For Sam’s Smoke Off BBQ Festival, June 8

Hickory - Sam's Club is seeking artists interested in participating at Sam's Smoke Off on June 8 2013 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Smoke Off will be held at the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds located at 1127 US Highway 70 in Newton, NC. Application fees are $50.00 for craft vendors. The cut off date for applications is May 24, 2013. Please contact samssmokeoff@gmail.com for information and applications.

In addition to the BBQ cook off, there will be live music, a silent auction, arts and craft and other vendors, children's games and hot air balloon rides. Tickets are $5.00 to enter the festival and all proceeds benefit the Children's Miracle Network.

The Smoke Off is also looking for food, commercial and non profit vendors. More information may be found by calling 828 221 8686 or emailing samssmokeoff@gmail.com.

Amy’s Closet Benefits Domestic Violence Victims: Seeking Artists

Denver, NC - Amy's Closet, a consignment and re-sale store which benefits Amy's House, a safe haven for domestic violence victims, will have its grand opening Thursday, May 2, at 11am. The store is located at 751-E North NC Hwy. 16, Denver, NC.

The Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce will be present for the ribbon cutting. Vicky Lingerfelt, Executive Director of the Lincoln County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, will speak.

Amy's Closet is run entirely by volunteers, and is the brainchild of the Coalition's board, which needed to raise more funds since grants and donations have diminished for many non-profit organizations.

Shasta Steele, a devoted crafts person, decided to combine her love of crafts with this need for funding, and Amy's Closet has come to be. Artists of all types may rent booths to show their work to the public. Prices for booths range from $40-50 per month. Interested persons should call Ms. Steele for more information at 704-447-5115.

The way the charity works is that 20% is added to item prices or a donation of 20% of the sale price is made. Proceeds go directly to Amy's House domestic violence shelter in Lincolnton.

Wonderful, gently used clothing is available for sale to the public at the shop as well, said Steele. Residents of Amy's House receive vouchers to pick out clothing at the Closet for themselves and their children.

The hours for Amy's Closet are Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm and Sunday, 1-6pm. The phone number is 704-483-5515.

The Hotline for victims of domestic violence is 704-736-1224.

One in four women will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. In one study, 33% of victims of intimate partner violence stated the offender was a spouse. Fourteen percent stated the offender was a former spouse, and the same number of victims stated the offender was a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend.

Young women aged 16-24 experience the highest rate of domestic violence nationwide: 16 victims per 1,000 persons.

Last year, Amy's House assisted 621 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, in addition to housing 311 women and 352 children.

Their help line documented answering 2,146 calls pertaining to emergency situations and survivors seeking answers to situations they were experiencing. Again, the Hotline number is 704-736-1224.

Taste Of Hickory... Taste. Well Crafted. May 19

```Hickory – The Hickory area is full of talented chefs, bakers, brew masters, wine makers, coffee brewers, and more, and the Hickory Elks and Lady Elks are excited to host the Taste of Hickory again this year on Sunday, May 19th.

The Taste of Hickory was revitalized last year quickly becoming a very popular annual community event again and is sponsored this year by Ashley’s Heating & Air, Holbrook Landscaping, Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota, Carolina Tape & Supply, Republic Services, and City of Hickory’s “Life. Well Crafted.” brand. Bringing you a “Taste of Hickory” the event will showcase locally owned restaurants, Carolina breweries and wineries, other local vendors, and familiar tunes by Hickory’s own “America’s Got Talent” star Ulysses Long.

Ulysses Long

There will be competition for the “Best Taste of Hickory” in several categories with raffles and door prizes during the event. Proceeds from the event will go to the many community outreach programs that the Elks and Lady Elks sponsor including Veterans Programs, Youth Activities and Scholarships, Catawba Valley Backpack Program, the Helping Hands Program, and many Children’s Charities.

The event will be held at the Hickory Elks Lodge at 356 Main Ave NW at the corner of 4th Street NW on Sunday May 19, 2013 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will be indoors and out doors. Tickets are limited to 500 and will be available for sale on Friday April 19. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. No one under 21 will be admitted and proper ID must be presented. For more information, to sponsor the event, to become a vendor, and to purchase tickets visit the Taste of Hickory Facebook page and call The Hickory Elks Lodge at (828) 322-2527.

Catawba Co. Community Blood Drives, May

Hickory - Approximately 68 million people are living with high blood pressure in the U.S. Most don’t realize they are eligible to donate blood. Help dispel the myths of blood donation.

If you are taking blood pressure medications, you may still give life-saving blood. Ask your doctor and visit one of our five donor centers or mobile blood drives to find out if your blood pressure is in the range to donate. Don’t give up the chance to save local lives because you think you can’t! Schedule your blood donation appointment today by signing up at www.carolinadonor.org or call 704-972-4700.

Community Blood Center of the Carolinas May 2013 Blood Drives – Catawba County

May 24, 2013: Hickory Crawdads, 2500 Clement Blvd. NW, Hickory, NC 28601, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Free Crawdad Ticket for Donors!

May 24, 2013: Carmike Cinemas - Hickory, 2000 Catawba Valley Blvd Southeast, Hickory, NC 28602, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Free Movie Ticket for Donors!

More public drives can be found at Community Blood Center of the Carolinas’ web site www.cbcc.us. CBCC has donation centers in Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Hickory, and Union County (http://www.cbcc.us/about/donor-center-hours.php for center hours).

Call 704-972-4700 or go to www.carolinadonor.org to make an appointment at any location.

Catawba Soldiers On Display At The Museum Of History

Newton, NC - The Catawba County Historical Association and the Museum of History have teamed up to bring a new thrilling exhibit to the halls of the 1924 courthouse in downtown Newton.

Catawba Soldier in Afghanistan is the most recent exhibit in a series which began in 2006 exhibits that honors the wartime military service of men and women in Catawba County.

The items on display include the array of uniforms, weaponry and gear used by soldiers in the field. Featured in the exhibit is a Unites States Marine Corp MT-500 made by Harley-Davidson. This military motorcycle was designed to operate on and off-road and can run on almost any type of flammable fuel. The MT-500 is being used in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The exhibit also includes opposition army uniforms, flags, and weaponry including a mock-up of an improvised explosive device or IED. An IED, also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and used in ways other than in conventional military action. It is often constructed standard artillery rounds, attached to a detonating mechanism often a cell phone.

IEDs are commonly used in terrorist actions or in unconventional warfare by guerrillas or commando forces in a theater of operations. In the second Iraq War, IEDs were used extensively against US-led Coalition forces and by the end of 2007 they had become responsible for approximately 63% of Coalition deaths in Iraq. They are also used in Afghanistan by insurgent groups, and have caused over 66% of the Coalition casualties in the 2001–present Afghanistan War.

The CCHA is still accepting loans or donations of articles from soldiers, who have served or are currently serving in Afghanistan, to be used in this display. The exhibit will run until September 15th. The Catawba County Museum of History is located in the Old 1924 Courthouse in downtown Newton at 30 N. College Ave.

For more information, contact the Museum of History at 828-465-0383 or visit www.catawbahistory.org.

Brett’s Ride To Become Carolina Cycle Challenge

Hickory – Rotary Clubs in the Hickory Metro take the lead in continuing a bike ride that was created by Brett Gosnell’s family and friends in 2004.

Brett’s Ride became known as one of the most popular bike rides across the state for more than a dozen reasons, with one reason being that money raised went to pediatric cancer research and in nine years, more than $1 million was raised. Two other big reasons for its success were the strength and determination of this community that rallied around Brett and other children that were diagnosed with this disease, and that this event offered something to all members of this community including families with toddlers, students, casual riders, and serious cyclists.

Brett lost his life to rhabdomyosarcoma (Rhabdo) in 2006, and at the beginning of the ride just two months after his death, a challenge from Brett was read to the cyclists and it included this line, “Put helping, caring about, and serving others at the center of all that you do – not just today or tomorrow but for the remainder of your life.”

“This sentence in Brett’s Challenge is synonymous with Rotary International’s mission of ‘”Service Above Self,” said Bill Shillito, who is one of the Rotarians leading the new ride and Rotary International District Governor (2007-2008) and member of the Rotary Club of Catawba Valley. “The Rotary Club of Catawba Valley, The Rotary Club of Hickory, The Rotary Club of Lake Hickory, The Rotary Club of Newton-Conover, along with members of the Hickory Velo Club, the City of Hickory and community members, have taken Brett’s challenge to heart and want to continue the ride that began almost a decade ago. The ride will be similar, but with a new name ‘Carolina Cycle Challenge’ and plans are currently underway for the Sunday, October 6 ride.”

Funds for this year’s Carolina Cycle Challenge will continue to support pediatric cancer research.

“Brett loved this community and truly believed in making a difference in the lives of others and in his challenge he asks that we pick up where he left off and we did for many years,” said Brett’s father Mark Gosnell. “Hickory and the surrounding communities have been tremendous in their support and for that we are grateful. It is very evident that our community is making a difference and we are truly thankful. We whole-heartedly support the next chapter of this ride and know it will continue to triumph.”

Plans are underway for the October 6 bike ride, and more information about the Carolina Cycle Challenge will be available by the end of April.

CAC Hosts Bus Trip To Charlotte To See War Horse May 30

Lenoir, NC - War Horse tickets are selling fast in Charlotte, and The Caldwell Arts Council has discounted group tickets for the performance on Thursday, May 30 at 7:30pm at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. $115 includes your ticket and round-trip chartered bus fare. We’ll eat at a restaurant near the theatre (Dutch treat) the night of the show. The CAC is located at 601 College Avenue SW in Lenoir. For more info., visit us at www.caldwellarts.com or by phone at 828-754-2486.

Exodus Works Offers Car Washes & Auto Detailing Services

Hickory - Get your car HAND WASHED at Exodus Works, 510 1st Ave SW in Hickory 28602. Mon - Fri 9 to 4, Sat 8 to 1. You can bring your car, truck, SUV, RV, or commercial trucks to us or we will pick it up and bring it back to you. Quick Wash starts at $15 for exterior wash and interior vacuum. Full detail from $75 - $100 depending on size and condition of vehicle. Special rates for RV and commercial trucks.

Exodus Workers are volunteers who live at Exodus Homes. Revenue generated at Exodus Works goes to support the programs of Exodus Homes. When we hand wash your vehicle, you are helping a good person learn a new way to live after addiction or incarceration. Call James 828-962-8199 for more info.

Myths You Need To Know About Tornadoes In The Southeast

Southeast US - Tornadoes can strike any day or night throughout the year. However, tornadoes are more common from March through June, particularly for states in the Southeast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Although there is little you can do to prepare your home during an EF-2 or stronger tornado, options for improving structural performance do exist and can produce effective results during a weaker tornado. Combined with the use of a safe room, widespread use of effective strapping, which might increase the cost of a wood frame house by two percent, would create houses that are significantly more resistant to all kinds of severe wind events, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

Find out additional ways you can reduce your tornado risks before, during and after a storm by visiting IBHS’ tornado resources page at DisasterSafety.org. Meanwhile, as you prepare for a possible tornado, know the truth about the following common misconceptions regarding tornadoes.

Common Tornado Myth (Source: National Weather Service)

Myth: Tornadoes don’t cross rivers. Although some landforms may influence the distribution of tornadoes, rivers do not have any clear effect on them. The great tri-state tornado of 1925 crossed both the Mississippi and the Wabash rivers.

Myth: Open windows in your house to equalize pressure. Do not do this. Your house will not “explode” due to a tornado passing over it and taking time to open windows merely reduces your ability to seek safe shelter in time. In fact, once an opening is created, air rushers inside a structure and pressurizes it like inflating a balloon. The internal pressures build up and put pressure on ceilings and the roof, which is also getting uplift pressures from external wind forces. This can lead to the entire structure collapsing.

Myth: Get to the southwest corner of the building for safety. The safest place in a building is in a small, reinforced room (such as a bathroom or closet) near the center of the building, on the lowest floor (preferably below ground). Even safer is a tornado safe room.
Myth: Tornadoes skip. Sometimes, the damage path of a tornado will result in demolition of several buildings, followed by several lightly damaged, followed by several more demolished. This gives the impression that the tornado “skipped” over the less-damaged structures. There are several explanations for this. One is that the surviving buildings were better-constructed. Also a possibility is that the orientation of the buildings resulted in varying degrees of vulnerability.

IBHS is a leading national expert on preparing for, and repairing and rebuilding structures after a catastrophe to make them more disaster-resistant. To arrange an interview with IBHS, contact Joseph King at 813-675-1045/813-442-2845, jking@ibhs.org. Visit DisasterSafety.org for more info. about how to make your buildings more resistant to a variety of disasters, big and small.

Follow IBHS on Twitter at @DisasterSafety & FB.

Caldwell Arts Council Grant Applications Available Now

Lenoir, NC – The Caldwell Arts Council announces that Grassroots Arts Program Grant Applications are now available.

Applications must be submitted to the Caldwell Arts Council by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 12, 2013.  Allocations will be announced by July 30. A grant-writing workshop to provide assistance completing the application may be scheduled if requested.

These grants are funded by the North Carolina Arts Council and are available to non-profit organizations for cultural arts programming in Caldwell County.  Funding priority is given to qualified arts organizations, arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists, and other community organizations that provide arts programs in the county. 

The application is available on the website www.caldwellarts.com. For questions or assistance with the application, contact the Caldwell Arts Council by calling 828-754-2486 or email at info@caldwellarts.com.

What Parents Need To Know About Teen Dating Violence

Hickory - February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, aimed at increasing awareness that young adult dating violence is a big problem, affecting youth in every community across the nation. And it happens here in Catawba County. The mission of Family Guidance Center’s First Step Domestic Violence Program is to provide needed services to victims of domestic violence and to increase community’s awareness about the problem.

Consider these facts:

· 1 in 3 adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.

· 1 in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

· 1/4 of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse · Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence—almost triple the national average.

· About 72% of eighth and ninth graders are “dating” · 1/2 of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape attempt suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys.

A San Francisco Woman’s Story “It all started at the Back to School Dance my sophomore year of high school,” recounted the woman who, at the age of 15, fell victim to dating violence while at Palo Alto’s Gunn High School. “I saw this boy dancing and thought he was very cute and we spent the whole night just dancing with each other.” Soon, she was hooked. “It was perfect, you know started as a relation-ship that you see in the movies,” she recalled. That quickly changed, with the boyfriend not wanting her to hang out with her friends or to participate in any extracurricular activities. “He became my entire life,” she summed it up. He even started to drive a wedge between the girl and her parents. “I started to kind of question why I couldn’t have guy friends or why he always needed to know what I was doing and it would turn into little verbal abusive spats and then it got physical.” .

Her life changed forever one night, at a party. Her boyfriend had, she later learned, been doing drugs in a bath-room. Out of the blue, she recounted, they crossed paths in a bedroom and things turned violent. “He gave me this look and lifted his leg up and swung it at me, hit me right in the ribs, I flew across the room and hit my head on the wall, was knocked unconscious for six hours, woke up with two bruised ribs and a concussion,” she said. The boy ultimately entered a rehab program but didn’t serve any time for the assault. She found that her friends actually alienated her – she believes because the boy was such a popular athlete on campus. She elected to leave school.

She has since landed on the staff at a university in Southern California, where she lectures about teen dating abuse.
Her experience, unfortunately, is all too common.

“There are so many different kinds of abusive relationships that are going on out there and I just hope that my speak-ing out is going to help people realize and maybe part of my story clicked with you or your daughter.”

What Parents Need To Know/What Parents Can Do There Lack Of Awareness About Dating Violence?

· Only 33% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse · 81% of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue.

· A teen’s confusion about the law and their desire for confidentiality are two of the most significant barriers stopping young victims of abuse from seeking help.

Contact The Family Guidance Center at 828-322-1400, #17 Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602 - www.fgcservices.com

Feb. 15, American Legion Post 234 Hosts Valentine’s Event

Valdese, NC - Valdese American Legion Post 234 and its Auxiliary will hold a Valentine Dinner & Dance on Friday, February 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. at the American Legion building at 709 Church Street in Valdese.

Couples or singles are welcome. A catered dinner consisting of Hawaiian chicken or shrimp on a bed of rice, green beans almondine, potatoes O’Brien, salad, dessert, and beverage will be served at 7:00. Cash bar items include beer, wine, and mixed drinks. This is a smoke-free event.

Entertainment will be provided by Chickweed, a band playing a variety of top hits for dancing. Drawings for many great door prizes will be held at intermission. Suggested dress for the evening is dressy casual.

Only 100 tickets are available. They are $20 per person and are available from any Auxiliary member or at the American Legion after 1:00 daily. Call 879-8989 for more information. This is a fundraising event to support the Valdese American Legion and Auxiliary projects to help veterans, their families, and the community.

Please contact Karen Clark-Caruso if you need more information H: 879-9859 W: 879-2227

Lincolnton Lions Offer Four College Scholarships

Lincolnton, NC - Did you know the Lincolnton Lions Club has expanded their number of college scholarships? Prior to the 2012-13 school year,  East Lincoln, Lincolnton, North Lincoln, and West Lincoln High School graduating seniors were competing for one of two $500 Lions Club Scholarships.  To provide an opportunity for additional graduating seniors  from these 4 high schools  to receive a college scholarship, the Lincolnton Lions Club will be awarding one $500 college scholarship at each of their high schools.   

The Lincolnton Lions 2013 Lions College  Scholarship applications have been sent to the guidance counselors’ office at each of 4 high schools. All sections of the applications and support documents must be completed and returned prior to deadline.

Eligibility requirements include: Graduating seniors at East Lincoln, Lincolnton, North Lincoln, and West Lincoln High School must be a legal resident of Lincoln County and the United States.

Submit copies of official high school transcripts and college entrance examination  scores.                                 
                             
Letters of references

Proof of acceptance in an accredited college or university

Scholarships will be awarded based on the following criteria:

Financial need

Scholastic aptitude and achievement

Volunteer service

Extra curricular activities

Write an original essay on Volunteerism

The four 2013 Lions Club College Scholarship winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony and invited to a future Lions Club meeting. All Lions Club College Scholarships checks will be sent to each of the scholarships recipients’ college or university financial aid office.

If any previous Lions Club college scholarship winner, their family, individuals, businesses, or industry would like to make a contribution toward future Lions Club College Scholarships, please make your check payable and remit same with notion Lions College Scholarship in memo section and mail to:

Lincolnton Lions Club, 1106 Timberlane Drive, Lincolnton, North Carolina 28092.

Genealogy Workshops Offered At The Library, Thru May 23

Hickory - Genealogy Workshops offered at Hickory Public Library. Do you want to find out more about your family tree but don’t know where to start? Join Peggy Mainess in the Genealogy/North Carolina Room at the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library for a series of sixteen hour long workshops each Thursday evening from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. beginning February 7th.

Each intensive workshop will be focused on resources and techniques available for a particular topic, such as beginning family research, using census records and online resources.

Class topics are:

•Tracing Native American and African Ancestors, May 16th

•Using On-Line Resources, May 23rd

Each workshop will be held in the Genealogy/North Carolina Room from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The workshops are free but class size is limited. Pre-registration is required and will begin two weeks prior to each workshop. For more information or to register, call Patrick Beaver Memorial Library at 304-0500 ext 7235.

Patrick Beaver Memorial Library is located at 375 3rd Street NE on the SALT Block.

HSCC Serves Caldwell County’s Spay/Neuter Program

Lenoir, NC - The low-cost spay/neuter transport for Caldwell County to Humane Society of Catawba County’s Foothills Spay/Neuter Clinic has sterilized just over 800 pets since the first quarter of 2012. This number translates to around 4,000 unwanted animals.

The transport is working to help reduce the number of animals sent to the already overwhelmed animal control. Many families live with multiple pets in this area and benefit from the low-cost surgery. The program is also aimed at reducing the feral cat population in Caldwell County.

The transports rely on donations and private funding; for more information or to help this group move forward with their cause please call 828-640-7700. Humane Society of Catawba County and Foothills Spay/Neuter Clinic strongly urge all pet owners to spay or neuter their pets. Each year thousands of unwanted animals are euthanized due to pet over-population. Caldwell County residents who would like to schedule an appointment for transport please call 828-640-7700.

Photo: From left, Jane Bowers, executive director at HSCC, Olga Jenson & Pam Tolbert.

CSC Presents Conservation Quest Through May 26

Hickory - Explore Conservation Quest on Exhibit at Catawba Science Center thru May 26. Loaded with hands-on activities, Conservation Quest delivers important energy conservation messages, inspiring to make thoughtful choices about energy use to help protect the planet and promote healthy living. Learn about energy – what it is, where it comes from, how it’s used and why it’s so important to use it wisely.

Conservation Quest topics include: energy sources, energy use at home and around the world, climate change, environmental health, stewardship, conservation and the future of energy.

GO GREEN!

• Find ways to save with light bulbs, electricity and recycling

• Explore solar, wind and hydropower

• Connect circuits to power up lights, radios and fans

• See how much electricity your family uses compared to others

• Learn about climate change and greenhouse gases

• Discover ways to conserve energy at home, school and work

• Learn about food miles and how far food travels to get to you

• Take the green challenge – a computer interactive that prompts kids to make green choices

• Check out the latest energy-saving inventions and learn more about the future of energy

Conservation Quest was designed and produced using environmentally friendly materials and practices. Green design signs call out sustainable features throughout the exhibit.

• Eco-friendly graphics (banners, board, wallpaper, canvas and aluminum)

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood and water-based stains and sealants

• Fiber drums for cabinetry

• Eco-resin used instead of plexiglass

• No plastic laminates

• Marmoleum

• ENERGY STAR electronics

Catawba Science Center has may planned activities to go along with the Conservation Quest Exhibit:

Thanks to the generous support of Alex Lee, Inc., Corning Cable Systems, Duke Energy, Hendrick Hickory Honda, Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota and a media partnership with WFAE 90.3 FM, Your NPR® News Source, Catawba Science Center is proud to bring Conservation Quest to Hickory, NC.

For more information, call (828) 322-8169 or visit www.CatawbaScience.org.

Catawba Science Center is a nonprofit science and technology museum serving NC’s western Piedmont region.

CSC is located in the Arts and Science Center of Catawba Valley, on the SALT Block, 243 3rd Avenue NE, Hickory.

Conservation Quest® was created by Stepping Stones Museum for Children.

New Hickory Book Club Meets On Wednesday Nights

Hickory - Hickory has a new book club. Open to everyone, the Hickory Readers meets once a month on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble on Rt. 70 in Hickory.

For exact dates and times, and the ability to join online, visit www.meetup.com/hickory-readers.

Come join the fun; learn about new books; and make new friends. For more information, contact Patsye Thompson at patsye@mail.com.

Senior Bingo Every Wednesday At Hickory Public Library

Hickory – Weekly Senior Bingo Restarts the first Wednesday in January, 2013. Are you a senior in search of a welcoming environment to have some fun?

If so, meet with friends or new community members at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library for Bingo every Wednesday that the library is open from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Doughnuts will be provided and small prizes will be awarded.

For more information, please call 304-0500 ext. 7235. Patrick Beaver Memorial Library is located at 375 3rd Street NE on the SALT Block.

Health-Care Pro Discusses The Many Warning

Signs And How To Spot A Victim Of Domestic Violence

In the United States, women are assaulted or beaten once every nine seconds; worldwide, one in three women have been battered, raped or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to women’s advocacy organizations.

“That means most of us – while grocery shopping, at work or at home – come across several women a day who have either been abused, or are currently enduring abuse,” says Linda O’Dochartaigh, a health professional and author of Peregrine (www.lavanderkatbooks.com). “It’s a terrible fact of life for too many women, but if there is something we can do about it and we care about fellow human beings, then we must try.”

There are several abuse resources available to women who are being abused, or friends of women who need advice, including:

• www.TheHotline.org, National Domestic Violence Hotline, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)

• www.HelpGuide.org, provides unbiased, advertising-free mental health information to give people the self-help options to help people understand, prevent, and resolve life’s challenges

• www.VineLink.com, allows women to search for an offender in custody by name or identification number, then register to be alerted if the offender is released, transferred, or escapes

• www.DAHMW.org, 1-888-7HELPLINE, offers crisis intervention and support services for victims of intimate partner violence and their families

Perhaps the best thing friends and family can do for a woman enduring domestic abuse is to be there for her – not only as a sympathetic ear, but also as a source of common sense that encourages her to take protective measures, O’Dochartaigh says. Before that, however, loved ones need to recognize that help is needed.

Linda O’Dochartaigh reviews some of the warning signs:

• Clothing – Take notice of a change in clothing style or unusual fashion choices that would allow marks or bruises to be easily hidden. For instance, someone who wears long sleeves even in the dog days of summer may be trying to hide signs of abuse.

• Constant phone calls – Many abusers are very controlling and suspicious, so they will call their victims multiple times each day to “check in.” This is a subtle way of manipulating their victims, to make them fearful of uttering a stray word that might alert someone that something is wrong. Many abusers are also jealous, and suspect their partner is cheating on them, and the constant calls are a way of making sure they aren’t with anyone they aren’t supposed to be around.

• Unaccountable injuries – Sometimes, obvious injuries such as arm bruises or black eyes are a way to show outward domination over the victim. Other times, abusers harm areas of the body that won’t be seen by family, friends and coworkers.

• Frequent absences – Often missing work or school and other last-minute plan changes may be a woman hiding abuse, especially if she is otherwise reliable.

• Excessive guilt & culpability – Taking the blame for things that go wrong, even though she was clearly not the person responsible – or she is overly-emotional for her involvement – is a red flag.

• Fear of conflict – Being brow-beaten or physically beaten takes a heavy psychological toll, and anxiety bleeds into other relationships.

• Chronic uncertainty – Abusers often dominate every phase of a victim’s life, including what she thinks she likes, so making basic decisions can prove challenging.

Linda O’Dochartaigh has worked in health care is an advocate for victims of child abuse and domestic violence. She wants survivors to know that an enriched, stable and happy life is available to them. O’Dochartaigh is the mother of three grown children and is raising four adopted grandchildren.

Attention Artists & Photographers! Bethlehem Library

Is Taking Applications For 2014 Art Exhibits

Hickory - The Alexander County Bethlehem Branch Library is offering visual artists and photographers the opportunity to hang art for two month periods with an opening reception the first Thursday of the opening month. Art and photographs may be priced to sell-library does not take a commission. For more information please contact Bud Caywood at caywoodstudio@charter.net for more information. Currently accepting applications for 2014.

Please visit the library at 45 Rink Dam Road, Hickory NC 28601 (Bethlehem) to see the available wall space.

Library hours Monday and Wednesday 9:00AM-2:00PM, Tuesday and Thursday Noon-7:00PM.

Youth Dance Classes Offered On Tuesdays

Hickory - The City of Hickory Parks and Recreation Department announces new Ballet, Jazz, and Creative Movement Dance Classes at the Neill Clark Recreation Center. The classes will be taught by local instructor Bethany Baumgardner- Kirby.

Classes are open to preschoolers (ages 3 and 4) to fifth graders. Classes will be held on Tuesdays. The schedule of classes is:

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Preschool (Three and Four Year Olds)

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Kindergarten and First Grade Class

4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Second Through Fifth Grade Class

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Kindergarten and First Grade Class

Students will have the opportunity to learn about the world of dance by learning steps, positions, combinations, and routines in the different styles of dance. Students will learn the elements of dance and have a chance to explore the creative side of movement by choreographing their own dances using music, instruments, and props. The class will be a good source of exercise and will increase self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as teamwork and problem solving skills.

Bethany D. Baumgardner-Kirby is a pre-kindergarten teacher; dance teacher; a specialist in children’s creative movement, music, and drama; and an advocate for all the arts.

The Neill Clark Recreation Center is located at 3404 6th Street Drive NE in Hickory.

For more information, please contact Bethany Baumgardner- Kirby at 828-759-6942 or 828-962-7206 or Senior Recreation Programmer Steve Jones at 828-324-1200 or stjones@hickorync.gov .

Western Piedmont Symphony Announces 48th Season

Hickory - Under the direction of Maestro John Gordon Ross, the Western Piedmont Symphony is pleased to announce the concert schedule for their 48th season.

MASTERWORKS

Friends of the Quartet CHAMBER CLASSICS: Featuring the Kontras Quartet: May 18, 2013. Concerts held at the SALT Block Auditorium begin at 7:30 pm. Subscriptions are available now. Call the Symphony office now to reserve your seats (828-324-8603).

The Western Piedmont Symphony is a grant recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council and a funded affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County.

Business offices are on the SALT Block at 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory. Business hours are 9:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday-Thursday.

Family Finders Helps Foster Kids Connect With Extended Family

Hickory - “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in,” wrote poet Robert Frost.

But many foster children and youths have lost that type of family support system. Sid Daniels, who works with the Family Finding Program in Catawba County, will tell you that foster children are often very lonely because they have lost contact with their extended family. The longer they are in foster care, the more likely this is to happen. It’s his job to change that reality.

“We don’t want a kid feeling lonely — where the only people in their life are the ones that get paid to be there,” he said. Staff members go home at the end of their shift. Family members can form a lifelong bond. The Family Finding Program in Catawba County is a partnership between the Children's Home Society of North Carolina and Catawba County Social Services. Family Finders is a national program, developed by Kevin Campbell, that has shown strong results in many states.

Daniels' job as a Family Finder is part detective, part negotiator and part counselor. He first has to identify and contact family members who have lost their connection to the foster child. These could include grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, as well as parents and step-parents.

After he identifies these relatives, he tries to gauge their interest in reconnecting with the child in foster care. If they express an interest, he invites them to a couple of meetings. At the first one, he shows them a “video journal” of the young person talking about themselves and what they want in life. They discuss how the relatives may play a role in the child’s future.

Sid Daniels

In some cases, the relatives want to resume the relationship they had before, such as talking with the child on the phone, writing them letters, or visiting with them. In other cases, they might be willing to adopt the child if they cannot be reunited with their parents.
Then the process moves to planning how the relationship might be resumed. If a relative wishes to adopt or become the guardian of the child, he or she must undergo an evaluation process.

It is important to wrap the child in a network of family supporters who are willing to assist them, Daniels said. The goal is to find as many relatives as possible who are willing to participate in the process. Catawba County was one of the first counties in North Carolina to pilot Family Finding, beginning in 2008. Now it has fully embraced the model.

Daniels joined the team last fall. The process can be time consuming, but it is usually completed in three to five months, he said. “The ownership is on the family,” he said. “What do they want to do?”

Catawba County Social Services hopes that reuniting foster children with their relatives can produce a brighter future. Foster children usually age out of care at 18, although they can remain voluntarily until they are 21.

National statistics show that former foster care youths face some daunting prospects if they don’t have a support system in place. Some 49 percent are homeless within three years. Forty-three percent are high school drop outs. Fifty-six percent become unemployed within two years. Forty-two percent, of whom 60 percent are women, become parents within 2.5 years of exiting foster care.

Former foster youth are found to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at two times the level of U.S. war veterans. Fifty percent have used illegal drugs. One in four will be incarcerated within 2.5 years of leaving foster care.

Daniels believes his work can help change those statistics for local youths. That’s why he keeps on calling, emailing, sending Facebook messages, knocking on doors and meeting with family members of children and youths in foster care. He sees his job as finding “who’s going to love this kid no matter what.”

For more information, call 828-695-5600 or visit our website at www.catawbacountync.gov/dss/f&csvs/familyfinders.asp
Or contact Sean Jarman at 828-695-2134 or sjarman@catawbacountync.gov

How To Get Your Event In Focus

Email a press release for your non-profit event, fundraiser, festival or other community event to focusnews@centurylink.net. Please include your contact information along with the name of your event, who it benefits, what it features, when the event will take place, and the cost of attending. Please send a text document, not a pdf or jpeg of text information.

Also, please put the name of the event in the subject line of your email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Humane Society Of Catawba County Needs Guardian Angels

Hickory - Humane Society of Catawba County offers the opportunity to give wings to their cats and dogs through the Guardian Angel Program.

A sponsorship helps offset the costs of a thorough medical exam, vaccinations, testing and treatment for parasites, spay or neuter surgery, and microchipping for a cat or dog and gives them wings by paying the adoption fee for your “angel” to go to its “forever home” when an adoption application is submitted and approved.

Laurent Needs An Angel

Guardian Angels will receive a certificate from their sponsored angel with a photo and biography, a Guardian Angel magnet, a shirt recognizing them as a Guardian Angel, and the love of knowing they are having a positive impact on the life of a homeless dog or cat in their community. A recognition tag will be added to the Guardian Angel Appreciation Board at the shelter with your name, the animal’s name, and the date of sponsorship.

Call (828) 464-8878 or come by HSCC during business hours, Monday through Saturday 12am-6pm for more information and to sign-up. Sponsorship information is also available on the website www.catawbahumane.org.

No-Kill Animal Shelter Needs In-Home Hero Foster Families

Hickory - Humane Society of Catawba County always needs families willing to foster homeless animals. This time of year the need increases substantially. HSCC does not adopt out kittens or puppies to families until they have their spay/neuter surgery, and they have to grow big enough for surgery.

Lynne At HSCC

HSCC, being a no-kill shelter, is only able to take in kittens & puppies as space allows, but the length of their stay also keeps the shelter from being able to take in adoptable adult pets. 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.

Volunteers Needed To Deliver Meals On Wheels

Claremont, NC - There is an urgent need for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound senior citizens in the Claremont-Catawba area of Catawba County.

Volunteers pick up the meals at Bethlehem United Methodist Church-Claremont between 10:50 and 11:15 am Monday through Thursday. You can volunteer as little as one hour a month and make a difference in the life of a senior citizen.

Volunteers are also needed to deliver meals in the East Hickory, West Hickory, Maiden and Newton areas. For details about how you can help, contact Vickie Redden, volunteer coordinator of Catawba County Meals on Wheels, at 695-5610.

Meals on Wheels is a program of Senior Nutrition Services, a division of Catawba County Social Services. It relies heavily on volunteers and local donations to serve more than 1,000 seniors through home delivery of meals, Seniors Morning Out and related programs.

For more information about these programs, and how you can help, go to www.catawbacountync.gov/dss/adult/nutrition.asp or find the Meals on Wheels of Catawba County program on Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/MealsOnWheelsOfCatawbaCounty.

WRC Has Urgent Need For Personal & Cleaning Products

Hickory - Many of you are aware that one of the unique services offered by the Women's Resource Center is furnishing Personal Products and Cleaning Products to women and families in the area.

What you may not know is that Food Assistance Program Allotments CANNOT be used for these items. With your assistance we distributed more than 900 lbs of Personal Products to 121 clients and 1300 lbs of Cleaning Products to 103 clients in 2011 thru our "PANTRY".

Currently we have an URGENT NEED for the following products:

Body Lotion - Unscented (Jergins, Suave, etc) • Tissue (Kleenex, etc) • Laundry Detergent (box or bottle form) • Bleach • Paper Towels • Toilet Paper • Canned Powdered Cleaners (Ajax, Comet, etc) • Toilet Bowl Cleaners (Lysol, etc) • Floor Cleaners (Pine Sol, etc) • Window Cleaner (Windex, etc)

Please consider supporting the center! Your donations can be dropped off Monday - Thursday from 9AM til 4PM. WRC is located at125 3rd St. NE,  Hickory, NC 28601 P: 828.322-6333.

Your tax deductible donation makes it possible to furnish these critical self-esteem items for those we serve.

Loving Our Enemies

By Rev. Susan Smith

Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

A week ago, my son woke me up to tell me Osama Bin Laden was dead. I got up and listened to president Obama tell the nation that our terrorist enemy had been killed by a special forces Navy Seals team. I felt sad. Sad for the pain and misery he has caused all over the world. Sad for the victims of 9/11. Sad that a shy, deeply devoted Muslim boy could grow into a mass murderer of innocent people in the name of holy jihad. I went back to bed, not realizing that people were dancing in the streets to celebrate that Bin Laden was dead.

I have heard many say since that justice was done. Really? The definition of justice in this sense is “the assignment of merited rewards or punishments.” As a person of faith against the death penalty, I do not see this as “justice”. Killing people who kill people to prove that killing people is wrong is not justice. It might help us feel that we have gotten the revenge we want for his horrific acts, but the Bible tells us that vengeance belongs to God.

If we dance in the streets to celebrate the fact that we shot an unarmed man in the head in front of his wife – are we any better than all those who burn the American flag, hang effigies of our president, and chant “Death to America”? God is the only one who can see all the pain caused by war in humanity as a whole. The causes and effects of global, generational hatred and bitterness stemming from the murder of civilians in the crossfire of war has poisoned international relations to the point where it is almost impossible for any country to claim innocence. We have all been murderers.

No, I would not call killing Bin Laden justice, but I would say that it was necessary to prevent the murder of more innocent people. We hope that his death will decrease worldwide terrorism, but only time will tell. Instead of dancing in the streets, we should have been praying that God would help us love our enemies. We should have been praying for his soul, his family, his people, and all those in the Muslim world who looked to him as a hero. They are truly our enemies because they have declared a holy war against us. His death will not end that. Loving our enemies is the hardest thing Jesus commanded us to do, and 2000 years later we have still not learned how to do it. Consider the words of the sermon “Finding Forgiveness” delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church on Christmas of 1957:

“Why should we love our enemies? The first reason is fairly obvious. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.

"So when Jesus says 'Love your enemies,' he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil-hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

For the complete text of this incredibly Christ-like message, go to: www.findingforgiveness.blogspot.com/2009/01/martin-luther-king-on-forgiveness.html.