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Today’s Email Announcements

NCUC to Hear Duke Gas Plant Proposal

Duke Energy Progress has applied to the North Carolina Utilities Commission for approval to build a massive, $1.1 billion gas-fired power plant in Asheville. The North Carolina Utilities Commission has allowed interested parties to intervene in its proceeding on Duke’s application, including MountainTrue and Sierra Club represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center. During its regular Staff Conference on Monday, February 22, the Commission will hear the recommendations of the consumer advocate agency and other parties. Under a special law passed during the 2015 legislative session, the Commission must make a decision on Duke’s application by February 29.

What: North Carolina Utilities Commission Staff Conference

When: 10 a.m. on Monday, February 22, 2016

Where: NCUC Hearing Room 2115, Dobbs Building, 430 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC

For more information on the scheduled event, please visit the Commission’s website at http://www.ncuc.net/.  Please note that this item is last on the Staff Conference agenda, available here:  http://starw1.ncuc.net/NCUC/ViewFile.aspx?Id=f34b3b4a-e375-4c8b-8a4d-4e3aa0ea58e7

If you have questions about the NCUC filings by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of MountainTrue and Sierra Club, please contact Gudrun Thompson or D.J. Gerken at 919-967-1450.

If you would rather not receive future communications from Southern Environmental Law Center, please go to https://optout.ne.cision.com/en/XLfuYQ1cGTN58VFv4EGNJJLLqmCnsVpsp3dqYit8ddkhWxXrLwioRJNobMeUvYBcAFa4eQC4xoL1L24KJqHTbo7gEe35tasiRs9258MeS7xULyWLMKp3yQUJppu95H7T39J.

Southern Environmental Law Center, P.O.Box 685, Monterey, 24465 VA, USA

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Co.

Monday February 22

Family Night-Buy any regularly priced pizza and receive one free kid’s meal.

Wednesday February 24

½ Off Beer and Wine Specials.

7pm-9pm Trivia Night: Beginning at 7pm, Lost Province will be hosting Trivia Night with John Fortenberry. Compete on your own or on a team! The competition gets started at 7pm so come a little early for a pizza and a pint and get your seat!

Thursday February 25

$3.00 Thursday-$3.00 pints on all Lost Province brewed beers (except high gravity).

College Night: Thursday nights are now College Night. We will be featuring local talent from area college students. Don’t miss out on great food and drink specials as well as up and coming talent.

7:00pm-10:00pm Live Music: Lucas Triba. Sponsored by Split Rail Records, Lucas Triba is performing at Lost Province Brewing Co on Thursday, February 25, 2016. Originally from Clayton, NC, Lucas Triba is studying Classical Guitar Performance at ASU.

Friday February 26

Tapped at 5pm, we feature something fun and new every Friday. Get it while it lasts; there is only a limited amount!

7:30pm-Closing Live Music: The Analog Poets. Dedicated to providing Flow and Harmony thru Music, the Analog Poets are comprised of Dustin Hofsess- Guitar, Jonathan Priest- Drums, and Ben McPherron- Bass.

Saturday February 27

7:30pm-Closing Live Music: Danny Whittington and A Killa Band. Jonathan Priest, Mike Runyon and Douglas James join Danny for some tasty R&B, and seriously groovin’ funk.

Sunday February 21

Lost Province Sunday: Residents of “The Lost Province” (Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany) receive 10% off food with verification of residency.

Upcoming Senior Center Programs: Tax Assistance, Mahjong

Income Tax Assistance Available at Senior Centers

The AARP Tax-Aide Program, in cooperation with the IRS and N.C. Dept. of Revenue, will again offer free tax preparation for seniors, as well as low and middle income taxpayers with incomes that are below $60,000.  Electronic filing (E-file) is available for safe and accurate preparation and fast refunds.  To be eligible, you should not have any of the following types of income:  rental, partnership, business requiring Schedule C, royalties, and sale of home or business.  If your tax return is relatively complex you will be advised to seek professional tax assistance. Federal and NC returns will be filed, but no out of state returns will be completed. The Tax-Aide Program will run from February 2 to April 12, 2016. Counselors will be at the Lois E. Harrill Center on Tuesdays and at the Western Watauga Community Center in Cove Creek on Mondays.  Please call for an appointment and for information about documents to bring with you.  (Harrill Center – 265-8090; Western Watauga Center – 297-5195).  An appointment is required.

Mahjong

The Lois E. Harrill Senior Center is excited to be offering a new game for individuals.  Mahjong is a great new game to learn.  Mahjong is played on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 10:30am.  New players are welcome.  Please call 265-8090 for details or to sign up to play!

Quilt Guild to Meet March 3

The Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 3rd, at 1:30 PM. We meet in the conference room on the second floor of the Senior Center on Poplar Grove Connector in Boone. Susan Sweet will discuss how to make labels for your quilts. This is an important part of finishing your quilt and you will learn what information to put on the labels and how to enhance them. You can use a special type of pen or colorful crayons and pencils — it all depends on the type of quilt and the recipient. Join us and add a new dimension to your quilts. Call Dolores at 295-6148 for more information.

LMC to Host Dr. Kristen Deathridge on Thursday

Join us on Thursday, February 25 as we celebrate Black History Month with Dr. Kristen Baldwin Deathridge’s lecture “Public History and the History of an African-American Appalachian Community.” The program, part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, will begin at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.

An Appalachian State University professor, Deathridge supervises the graduate program in historic preservation, as well as teaching public history to undergraduate and graduate students. She received her doctorate from Middle Tennessee State University and pursues research in the adaptive reuse of religious buildings, specifically how adaptive reuse preservation techniques may ensure the sustainability of the historic environment in changing neighborhoods.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Deathridge share her expertise on the important topic of African-American culture in Appalachia. This subject allows us to celebrate Black History Month in a meaningful way,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia. “We invite everyone to join us for her program.”

The John B. Stephenson Center for Appalachian and Comparative Highland Studies was founded in 2001 with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of the Southern Appalachian region through education, outreach, and artistic activities. For more information about the lecture or center, please contact Dr. Michael Joslin at joslin@lmc.edu.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Lees-McRae College is a private, four-year college offering diverse baccalaureate degrees, strong athletic programs and outstanding faculty. With 1,000 students hailing from 31 states and more than 8 countries, Lees-McRae’s broad core curriculum is enhanced by field-specific career preparation and experiential learning. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828-898-5241.

Financial Literacy Program at the Library March 3

The Watauga County Public Library would like to invite you to join us for the next installment in a series of Financial Literacy Workshops for adults on March 3rd from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the Western Watauga Branch Library, 1085 Old US Hwy 421, Sugar Grove, NC 28679.

Presenter:

Captian Dee Dee Rominger, Investigation Captain

with the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office.

This workshop’s focus will be on protecting yourself against fraud.

Specifically, we will learn about identity theft, credit card and check

fraud, telemarketing rip-offs and other money-related crimes. We

will learn how to evaluate offers, how to avoid common scams and

about resources that can be used to keep up-to-date or if something

goes wrong.

Food will be served at the event!

To RSVP or for more information please call
(828) 264-8784 ext. 2.

Meet the Candidates in Avery Set for March 1

The Avery County Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with The Avery Journal-Times, Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Newland Business Association, Williams YMCA of Avery County and Avery County Schools, are presenting a “Meet the Candidates” Forum from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, at Avery Middle School Cafeteria in Newland. Candidates running for offices in our county and district for the upcoming March primary election, as well as any unopposed primary candidates who are facing opposition in the November general election, are invited to join us for an evening of conversation and education as our county and state prepares to go to the polls for the first time this election year.

The event is free for the public to attend. There will be a brief “Meet and Greet” with candidates with appetizers from 6 to 6:30 p.m., with the forum beginning at 6:30 p.m. Candidates will answer questions provided prior to the event, and questions from members of the audience will also be vetted on Forum night. For more information on the “Meet the Candidates” Forum, call The Avery Journal-Times editor Jamie Shell at

(828) 733-2448, or email editor@averyjournal.com.