Upcoming Programs on the Parkway
Saturday May 28, 2016
Find a Ranger! All along the Parkway
Throughout the day – Keep a lookout for rangers giving short talks about animals and the Parkway.
Julian Price Campground Amphitheater – Milepost 296
7:00 p.m. – The Misunderstood Marsupial
What is as old as a dinosaur, as small as a cat, and calls the Blue Ridge Parkway home? Join a ranger to find out.
Approximately 45 minutes in length
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Find a Ranger! All along the Parkway
Throughout the day – Keep a lookout for rangers giving short talks about animals and the Parkway.
Upstairs Guided Tours at Cone Manor
Ranger led tours of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone.
Saturdays and Sundays
10.00, 11.00, 2.00 and 3.00
Tour is approximately 45 minutes long and reservations are required. To reserve a tour call 828-295-3782 or sign up at the NPS information desk here in the Manor House.
Reservations are accepted beginning at 10:00am Friday for the upcoming weekend only. No advance reservations, please.
The tour is free.
Cone Manor
Open House
Wednesdays & Fridays
10:30 – 12:00
The 2nd floor will be open to the public.
Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.
Soil and Water Board to Meet May 25
The Watauga Soil and Water Conservation District Board” will hold its regular Board meeting Wednesday May 25th, 2016 at 8:00 am at the Soil & Water Office located at 971 West King Street, Boone NC 28607.The public is invited to attend.
Carolina Farm Credit Photo Contest Underway
The Carolina Farm Credit Calendar Photo Contest is underway at CarolinaFarmCredit.com. Members, employees, and friends of Carolina Farm Credit can submit photos via the website until May 31, 2016.
Participants are encouraged to submit up to three photos that are taken within the Carolina Farm Credit 54 county territory. The top photos will be chosen as finalists and will be displayed for voting on the Carolina Farm Credit website later this year. The top three winners will receive cash prizes and will be featured in the 2017 Carolina Farm Credit photo calendar. See the Carolina Farm Credit website for a complete list of contest rules.
Click here to see the winners of the 2015 photo contest.
Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 36 branch offices. Other financial services available are credit life insurance, crop insurance, appraisal services, leasing programs and financial planning.
Carolina Farm Credit serves over 9,200 members with loans outstanding totaling more than $1.4 billion. The association’s territory covers the western half of North Carolina, with branch offices located in Albemarle, Asheboro, Asheville, Boone, Browns Summit, Burnsville, Carthage, Concord, Conover, Ellerbe, Graham, Hendersonville, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lenoir, Lexington, Lincolnton, Marshall, Mocksville, Monroe, Murphy, Pilot Mountain, Roxboro, Rural Hall, Salisbury, Shelby, Siler City, Sparta, Spindale, Statesville, Taylorsville, Wadesboro, Waynesville, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, and Yanceyville.
Carolina Farm Credit was recognized as a 2015 Best Employer in North Carolina. The list of the Best Employers in North Carolina was created byBusiness North Carolina, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – NC State Council and Best Companies Group.
Directors for Carolina Farm Credit are L. Kim Starnes, Chairman, Salisbury; W. Rex Bell, Vice-Chairman, Statesville; John M. Barnard, Statesville; E. Bernard Beck, Seagrove; Mark A. Bray, Lawsonville; David M. Coltrane, Pleasant Garden; Susie J. Gambill, Sparta; Joseph A. Lail, Shelby; Clark M. Newlin, Haw River; Thomas E. Porter, Jr., Concord; Tony L. Ragan, Sanford; D. Kaleb Rathbone, Waynesville; Lewis E. Smith, Lincolnton; Vickie N. Smitherman, East Bend; Dr. Alton Thompson, Summerfield.
Verizon Wireless Customer Appreciation Day on May 28
Also to celebrate our customers, we will be offering exclusive specials on select products throughout the store for this one day only! Not currently a Verizon customer? New customers can switch over to Verizon and get special offers as well!
Start off your Memorial Weekend with us during our Customer Appreciation Day and all the fun-filled festivities we will be offering! We look forward to seeing you there on Saturday May 28th!
Let’s Talk About Driving: Plan Ahead to Help Keep Seniors Independent, Safe on the Road
Piedmont Area Home Instead Senior Care Offices Encourage Conversation about Driving Cessation
GREENSBORO, N.C. – May 18, 2016 – A new scratch on the bumper or avoiding activities that require leaving home are often the first signs that families should talk with their aging parents about driving. Unfortunately, those conversations are not happening enough.
A new survey[i] by Home Instead Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network of franchise offices that provide in-home care services to seniors, found that 95 percent of the surveyed seniors have not talked to their loved ones about driving, though nearly one-third (31 percent) said that a recommendation from family or friends that they transition from driving would make them reconsider driving.
“As adults, we don’t hesitate to talk to our teenage children about driving, but when we need to address concerns with our own parents, we drop the ball,” said Elin Schold Davis, occupational therapist and project coordinator for the Older Drive Initiative of the American Occupational Therapy Association. “We know that discussing driving with aging loved ones reduces their discomfort around limiting or stopping their driving. Often, families just need to know how to start the dialogue.”
For many seniors, the idea of giving up driving sparks feelings of anger, anxiety and loneliness. To help families navigate these sensitive conversations about driving cessation, the Home Instead Senior Care network has launched a new public education program, Let’s Talk About DrivingSM, available at www.LetsTalkAboutDriving.com. The new program offers free resources and tips to help families build a roadmap, together with their senior loved one, for limiting or stopping driving when the time is right. These resources include an interactive Safe Driving Planner to help families assess their senior loved one’s driving habits and provide tools to help older adults drive safely, consider options for driving reduction or cessation, and identify alternative transportation options.
“The ability to drive gives seniors the freedom to do what they want, when they want—and we want to respect that independence,” said Patty Aiken of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Greensboro. “Proactively talking about driving with seniors allows them to take an active role in deciding when and why their driving should be reduced or eliminated, while keeping families safe on the road.”
Nearly 90 percent of aging adults rely on their cars and driving to stay independent, according to the survey. Though many seniors 70 and older are able to drive safely into their later years, it is critical for families to have a plan in place before a medical or cognitive condition makes it no longer safe for their senior loved one to get behind the wheel.
“Physical and cognitive changes, such as those caused by Alzheimer’s disease, changes in vision or medication usage, can put older adults in jeopardy on the road,” added Schold Davis. “Many drivers can continue to drive safely as they get older, but it’s important for families to work with their loved ones to create a roadmap that explores new technologies and solutions, while planning ahead. The solution may not be to stop driving completely, but could include adding senior-friendly safety features to the car or taking a safety class.”
Family caregivers can look for several potential warning signs that their senior may be losing the confidence or ability to drive, such as unexplained dents, trouble turning to see when backing up, increased agitation while driving, and riding the brake.
“We often receive calls from families after an incident occurs behind the wheel. This may be a sign their loved one needs assistance maintaining their independence in and outside of the home,” explains Aiken. “Our hope is that by having these discussions and knowing the potential warning signs in advance, we can help ensure seniors and their families stay safe and independent on their terms.”
To access the Safe Driving Planner, or to view other program resources and tips, visit www.LetsTalkAboutDriving.com. Or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office today to learn how family caregivers can help seniors plan ahead for driving cessation. Find an office near you by visiting www.homeinstead.com/state/north-carolina.
ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today this network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and 14 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individual’s needs. Services span the care continuum from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.
10 Warning Signs that Seniors May Be Unsafe Drivers On the Road
- Mysterious dents. If an older adult can’t explain what happened to his or her car, or you notice multiple instances of damage, further investigation is needed to understand if there’s been a change in the senior’s driving abilities.
- Trouble turning to see when backing up. Aging may compromise mobility and impact important movements needed to drive safely. Fortunately, newer vehicles offer back-up cameras and assistive technologies that can help older adults continue to drive safely.
- Confusing the gas and brake pedals. Dementia can lead to a senior being confused about how his or her car operates.
- Increased irritation and agitation when driving. Poor health or chronic pain can trigger increased agitation that may, in turn, lead to poor judgment on the road.
- Bad calls on left-hand turns. Turning left can be tricky and dangerous for older drivers, and many accidents occur where there is an unprotected left turn (no turning arrow).
- Parking gone awry. Difficulty parking, including parallel parking, could cause damage to an older adult’s vehicle as well as to those around it.
- Difficulty staying within the lanes. If you’ve spotted a driver zigzagging along the road, it could be a sign that fatigue or vision problems are making it difficult to stay on course.
- Delayed reaction and response time. Aging slows response times which may create a situation where an older adult may cause an accident or be unable to respond quickly enough to prevent a crash.
- Driving the wrong speed. Driving too fast or too slow may be indicators that a driver’s judgment may be impaired.
- Riding the brake. Riding the brake could be a sign that a driver no longer has confidence in his or her skills.
Foundation of CCC&TI Exceeds Fund Drive Goal
Lenoir, N.C. – The Foundation of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute held its annual Celebration Luncheon, May 17. Peg Broyhill, chair of CCC&TI’s Foundation Board, announced that the group surpassed its goal of $360,000, the highest yet for the Foundation.
The Foundation celebrated the efforts and success of volunteers, campaign leaders, board members and college officials at the luncheon. Those in attendance enjoyed lunch at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center and remarks from several community leaders.
Deborah Murray, vice chair of the CCC&TI Foundation, offered a toast in honor of the successful campaign. “This is truly a worthwhile undertaking and today we celebrate more than 2 decades of successful fundraising with Dr. Boham at the helm,” said Murray, referencing CCC&TI President Dr. Kenneth Boham’s leadership of the campaign in his final year at the college before retiring in June. “We want this campaign to be a part of your legacy and something that lives on for a long, long time. There will never be another campaign just like this one. What a grand finale.”
Broyhill recognized and thanked campaign captains, team members, college officials, students and volunteers for their hard work during this year’s drive. In addition to funds raised by community volunteers and leaders, CCC&TI’s faculty, staff and students contributed more than $37,000 for the campaign this year and were also recognized for their efforts.
Broyhill announced several new scholarships or funds that were established this year:
- Anne and Alex Bernhardt Scholarship – The Bernhardt Mentor Scholar program, which began in 2011, assists students who are single parents and first-generation college students demonstrating academic potential. Thanks to the generosity of Anne and Alex Bernhardt, this special program will expand from funding 10 students to 15 annually beginning this fall. Funds provide for tuition, books, childcare or emergency assistance, along with a mentoring component, and is coordinated by the Foundation of CCC&TI.
- Boone Worthwhile Woman’s Club Scholarship – This endowment, established last November, was funded by the Boone Worthwhile Woman’s Club to provide assistance toward the cost of tuition, fees and books for a Watauga County resident with demonstrated financial need.
- Dwight and Rose Church Dream (Scholarship) – Established by Jerry, Amy and Patricia Church, this endowment will fund Dream Awards for students from Valmead and Happy Valley Schools. This gift is in memory of their father, Dwight Church, and in honor of their mother, Rose Church.
- Bill and Rose Dietz Scholarship – Mississippi Furniture Xpress in Hildebran established the Bill and Rose Dietz Scholarship, which will fund tuition for CCC&TI truck driver training students. According to MFX President Greg Skoog, the endowment is in honor of Bill and Rose Dietz, founders of Dietz Motor Lines which operated from 1965 to 1995.
Murray and Broyhill also presented Boham with framed coordinates of a star named in his honor and a collage of photos from both CCC&TI campuses in honor of his upcoming retirement. “You not only helped us reach our highest goal yet, you have also given us the blueprint for success for the Foundation, the college, its students and the community,” said Broyhill. “Your vision has led us and inspired us to reach where we are today.”
To close out the program, Broyhill and Murray made one final presentation to Boham, a check for more than $27,000 raised by the Foundation for the Dr. Kenneth and Betty Boham Scholarship Fund.
Boham closed out the event by offering his thanks to volunteers and all those in attendance. “It’s never been about me,” said Boham, “but thank you very much. It’s been a 21 year-long labor of love. Thank you for the work you do on behalf of the college and the students. The change you make in their lives is immeasurable.”
For more information on the Foundation at CCC&TI, or to donate to the Dr. Kenneth and Betty Boham Scholarship Fund contact Foundation Executive Director Marla Christie at 828.726.2203.