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Today’s Email Announcements

February Programs at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

SCHOLARS & SCONES

Thursday, February 11, 11 am

The Rise and Fall of Modern Landscape Painting

James A. Toub, Professor of Art at Appalachian State University

ADULT WORKSHOP

Saturday, February 13, 10 am – 12:30 pm

Valentine’s Day Bookmaking Workshop

**Registration required by February 10.

COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR

Tuesday, February 16, 11:30 am

A Retrospective of Eliot Clark

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROGRAM

Friday, February 19, 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Winter Old-Time Dance

Julie Gurganus and Strictly Strings

MINI MATINEE

Sunday, February 21, 2 pm

Heroes of the Underground Railroad

Bright Star Theater

MOVIES AT THE MUSEUM

Tuesday, February 23, 6 pm

Art & Copy

Mary Warlick, Executive Producer

Home Movie Day of the High Country
SATURDAY, March 19 (1 – 4 pm)
Here is your opportunity to share your home movies with a community audience.
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February Programs at Elk Knob State Park

Winter Edibles

Come learn about some of the edible plants you can find in the mountains in winter.  Meet on Saturday, February 6th, 2:00 pm at the park office.

The Science of Snow

For humans, snow can be pretty, fun, annoying, dangerous and many other things.  What does it mean for the natural world?  How does it form such intricate shapes?  Cut out a scientifically correct flake and learn how to preserve real ones.  Come find more about this magnificent crystalline wonder.  Meet Saturday, February 27th, 2:00 pm at the park office.

Free FAFSA Help Across NC on Feb. 20

College financial aid officers and specialists will be available throughout North Carolina on Saturday, February 20th to help high school seniors, their families, and college students complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.  These free FAFSA Day programs will be available at host sites open from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

Completion of the FAFSA is required to be considered for any federal and most state financial aid for college, including scholarships and grants.  FAFSA Day and other related events are sponsored by the collaboration of College Foundation of North Carolina, the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and State Employees’ Credit Union.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.  Go to CFNC.org/FAFSAday or call 866-866-CFNC toll-free for a list of event sites and register for the one nearest you.  More than 65 sites will be available the morning of Saturday, February 20.

During the week following FAFSA Day (February 22-26), State Employee Credit Union branches will be ready by appointment to help students and families with FAFSAcompletion.  Families also can get help with the FAFSA the evening of Tuesday, February 23 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro.

A February FAFSA Phone-In. also sponsored by CFNC, is another option for students and parents who have only a few questions on completing the FAFSA.  Every Tuesday night in February between 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., financial aid specialists will be available to help at the toll-free number, 866-866-CFNC (2362).

To be fully prepared to complete  the FAFSA at one of these February FAFSA events,  participants should either file their 2015 federal taxes in advance or bring the following:  (1) both the student’s and parents’ federal 1040 tax forms for 2015 (or W-2 forms and other income and asset documents if completed tax forms are not available); (2) the student’s and one parent’s FSA ID obtained in advance from the U.S. Department of Education website,fsaid.ed.gov; and (3) a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet with as much information entered as possible.  The online Worksheet is available at www.fafsa.gov.

“Early completion of the FAFSA helps students take advantage of all of the financial aid opportunities available for North Carolinians,” said Marcia Weston, of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority and CFNC coordinator of the FAFSA Day program.  “Students and parents don’t need to worry if they aren’t sure how to answer all of the questions on the form.  That’s why we have arranged to have experienced college aid professionals and financial specialists to help at each site.”

Weston also stated, “Filing 2015 federal taxes early makes FAFSA completion easier.  Most of those who file well in advance of FAFSA Day can then take advantage of the automatic transfer option to enter their tax information directly onto their FAFSA.”

She continued, “If a student or parent hasn’t yet filed taxes, they can enter estimated income information on the FAFSA, and updated tax information can be transferred to the FAFSA at a later date. “

More information is available on college and career planning on the College Foundation of North Carolina website, CFNC.org.  Families will find college cost estimators, lists of scholarship, grant and loan opportunities, information about North Carolina’s 529 college savings plan, career descriptions and requirements, virtual tours of more than 100 of the state’s college campuses and online college admission and financial aid applications.

About CFNC

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is a free service of the State of North Carolina that helps students plan, apply, and pay for college. CFNC is a joint effort of Pathways, the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, and College Foundation, Inc. 

  • Pathways, created by the N.C. General Assembly in 1999, is a state-wide initiative to increase the college-going rate of North Carolinians by providing: comprehensive college and career planning resources; electronic applications and transcripts accepted by all 110 North Carolina colleges and universities; and, information on student financial aid and college affordability. Pathways is administered by The University of North Carolina General Administration in collaboration with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Community College System, and the N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities.
  • The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), established in 1965, is the State agency that promotes access to higher education by administering financial aid and savings programs, informing students and families about paying for college, teaching educators about financial aid administration, and advocating for resources to support students.
  • College Foundation, Inc. (CFI), a nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers a large portfolio of education loans, several major grant and scholarship programs for students attending N.C. colleges and universities, and the tax-advantaged  “529” college savings program on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority. CFI also delivers information to North Carolina students and families about paying for college, assists colleges and universities with financial aid services, and provides technology support for CFNC.org.
  • State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for 77 years. With more than 1.9 million members, SECU provides services through more than 250 branch offices, 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Contact Centers and a website, www.ncsecu.org.

CFNC offers resources toll-free at 1-866-866-CFNC and at CFNC.org.

Tim White and VW Boys at Heritage Hall Feb. 13

Saturday, February 13, 7pm, Tim White and the VW Boys, sponsored by M & S Lawn Care & FUMC’s Unique Boutique. Sixteen years ago the band’s banjo player, Tim White, came up with the idea to combine comedy, bluegrass and magic to create a variety show.Whether it’s singing about if they still look good naked or about 16 chickens and a tambourine or joking with their audience members, the VW Boys offer a rare kind of entertainment for audiences of all ages.“What we have, the VW Boys, that other bands don’t have is more variety of entertaining the crowd because we’ve got something for everybody there,” guitarist and magician Dave Vaught said. “I don’t care how young or how old, we’ve got something for them.” heraldcourier.com/news/local/vw-boys-show-runs-on-humor-music-magic/article.Tickets $10Adv/$12 Door.

Friday, March 4th &  March 11th ; Saturday, March 5th & 12th – 7pm; Sunday, March 6th – 3 pm; JC Community Theatre presents Play On, by Rick Abbott, directed by Kathy Terrill. This is a hilarious story of a theater group trying desperately to put on a play in spite of maddening interference from a haughty author who keeps revising the script.  Act 1 Rehearsal, Act 2 Dress Rehearsal Night and Act 3 The actual play in which if anything can go wrong it does.  This is a play within a play.

Heritage Hall is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the Area with quality entertainment at affordable pricing. Most evening shows start at 7pm; most tickets are $10 advance and $12 at door, and most youth seats are $5. For tickets, or reservations, call 423-727-7444 and leave a message. The Box Office is open on Tuesday – Friday, 12 – 2 pm at 126 College Street, For more information visit heritagehalltheatre.org.