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Email Announcements Received Today: See What’s Going On Around The Community

1) Evening Program at Linville Falls Campground Aug. 16

On Saturday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m., Linville Falls Campground Amphitheater at Milepost 316 will host Overmountain Men and the Battle of Kings Mountain. In the fall of 1780, the prospects for victory in the Revolutionary War looked pretty bleak for the Patriots. Hope for independence was fading fast until the citizens of the Overmountain country banded together and marched over the mountains to face the threat posed by the British. Join the Ranger and a special guest speaker from the Overmountain Victory Trail Association, Ronnie Lail, to learn more about these true American heroes. This program will be approximately 45 minutes in length and is free and open to the public.

2) Upcoming Seminars Offered by WCC Small Business Center

The WCC Small Business Center will offer seminars throughout its service area in the upcoming months. These seminars are offered at no charge to participants. Pre-registration is recommended as space is limited. The Small Business Center (SBC) at Wilkes Community College will offer the seminar “How Do I Start My Own Business?” at the Wilkes Campus, the Ashe Campus and the Alleghany Center. This is an in-depth walk through the mechanics of developing a business concept, product or service assessment as well as the feasibility and basic startup cost. Discussions will cover other facts of a business startup such as the need for a business plan and cost analysis. Instructor Ruben Gonzales will offer this seminar on Aug. 28 from 6-9 p.m. in Hayes Hall in room 317 on the Wilkes Campus. Instructor Mike Tucker will offer this seminar on Sept. 9 from 6-9 p.m. at the Ashe Campus. Instructor Matt Rudisill will offer this seminar on Sept. 16 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the WCC Alleghany Center. The SBC will offer “Driving Traffic to Your Business Website Using Pay-Per-Click” on Sept. 3 from 12-2 p.m. This seminar will be held in the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Bard Room. Instructor Boomer Sassmann will introduce the Google Pay-Per-Click or PPC advertising. Participants will set up a new PPC account, execute some keyword research on a particular industry and create a starter batch of ads to be used on the “experimental ad group.” The goal is to offer a well-rounded understanding of how to set up Google Pay-Per-Click campaigns to drive search traffic to a business’s website or blog. On Sept. 8 from 6-8 p.m. at the WCC Alleghany Center, Herman Metzler will speak on “How Can I Finance a Small Business?” He will address the difficulties in trying to find money to start a new business by sharing ways to prepare and proceed to seek funding. Metzler says that there are more opportunities now more than ever before to consider when funding a small business. Metzler is a counselor with the High Country SCORE chapter in Boone. SCORE is a nonprofit association of volunteers who provide counseling and educational opportunities to entrepreneurs. SCORE has been helping prospective and existing small business owners to succeed for more than 40 years. The Small Business Center Network, comprised of 58 small business centers throughout North Carolina, supports the development of new businesses and the growth of existing businesses by being a community-based provider of training, counseling and resource information. Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College system, is a public, two-year open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC continues to build on a strong history of meeting the educational needs and cultural interests of our students, community and workforce. WCC prepares learners for success in a dynamic world.

3) Caldwell Arts Council Announces 29th annual Sculpture Celebration Sept. 6

Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, in partnership with Tri State Sculptors Association and Mountain Sculptors announces the 29th annual Sculpture Celebration to be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 at the T.H. Broyhill Walking Park at 945 Lakewood Circle in Lenoir. This event is free to the public and shuttles will run throughout the day between the park and area parking lots. The celebration will feature sculptural artwork by artists from across the eastern United States who will compete for cash prizes totaling $11,000. Realistic and abstract, traditional and contemporary, moveable and stationary, indoor and outdoor – sculptures of all types will be be on display. The juror for this year’s event is Asheville artist Randy Shull. Lenoir’s annual Sculpture Celebration is recognized as the longest-running sculpture competition in the Southeast and a driving force in the area’s sculptor-friendly environment. The event started small but now attracts artists and visitors from all across the United States. “This is a great show for both experienced artists and for a first-time experience,” said Lee Carol Giduz, Caldwell Arts Council Executive Director. Food vendors, children’s activities and live music from the Sylvio Martinat Swing Band and Strictly Clean and Decent will be featured throughout the day. Many sculptors arrive early to install larger sculptures and to pick the best spot for their work. A buffet dinner will be held to welcome them and introduce the judge and sponsors of the event on Friday, Sept. 5 beginning at 7 p.m. This event is free for registered sculptors, and $20 in advance for guests. The public is invited as well, so reserve your tickets early. For more information call 828-754-2486.

4) Butterfly Release Memorial Held Aug. 28

The Medi Home Hospice will hold its annual Butterfly Release Memorial in the Linville Village Plaza Gazebo in Linville on Thursday, Au. 28 at 11:30 a.m. Music and light refreshments will be offered. Butterflies are released in memory of a loved one who has died during the past year. To reserve a butterfly or for more information call the hospice office at 828-733-0663.