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Email Announcements We Are Receiving Today: See What’s Going On Around The Community

1) Gospel Choir Performs Dec. 3

Keith McCutchen directs the Hayes School of Music’s Appalachian Gospel Choir in a Dec. 3 performance at Appalachian State University. The program begins at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free and the public is invited. 

2) Campus Emergency Siren Test Conducted Dec. 4

Appalachian State University will conduct a test of its campus siren warning system Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 11:55 a.m.

3) Thanksgiving Click It or Ticket Campaign Kicks Off

While driving to visit with family or friends this Thanksgiving, don’t be a Turkey. Wear your seat belt, or face a $161 fine. That was the message shared in Wilmington where the Governor’s Highway Safety Program kicked off the Thanksgiving “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Officers across the state are stepping up enforcement efforts through Sunday, Dec. 1 to catch motorists who do not buckle up. “The simple act of fastening your seat belt will not only save you the cost of an expensive ticket, but it could also save your life,” said Don Nail, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Wearing a seat belt during a crash reduces chances of suffering critical injuries or death by 50 percent.” In May, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program celebrated the 20th anniversary of the campaign. The celebration continued with the announcement last month that seat belt usage rose from 87.5 percent to 88.6 percent in the past year. The increase is significant step in the right direction, but the program will not stop working until every driver in North Carolina clicks their seat belt. 

4) Boone Post Office to Extend Saturday Hours Dec. 14 and 21

The U.S. Postal Service announces the opening or extending of Saturday retail hours for Boone Post Office, 1544 Blowing Rock Road, during the last two weekends before Christmas holiday in 2013. The extension will affect Boon only on Dec. 14 and 21 when it will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The extended hours are designed to help alleviate the holiday rush and provide additional mailing and shipping convenience to customers during what is projected to be a busy shopping season. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. 

5) AARP Tax-Aide Seeks Volunteers for 2014

This year, AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer run tax assistance and preparation service is seeking volunteers to assist in tax preparation for Watauga County’s senior citizens and other taxpayers. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. You do not need to be an AARP member or retiree to volunteer. Volunteers receive free tax training and are reimbursed on a limited basis for qualified program-related mileage expenses. The volunteers help our taxpayers one-on-one at the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center and at the Western Watauga Senior Center. It is a great way t0 learn new skills and to contribute to our community. In a previous year, in North Carolina, more than one thousand Tax-Aide volunteers helped 62,000 taxpayers at more than 110 sites across the state. In Watauga County alone, our team prepares 300 tax returns each year. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging director says “this is a valuable and heavily used service. THrough this program we serve more individuals than any other volunteer staffed programs we provide.” Volunteer tax preparers learn basics of tax law, learn online tax preparation preparation software called TaxWise, and work with taxpayers in preparing and electronically filing their federal and state tax returns. Our Watauga County taxpayers have been using our services for a number of years and return to our site year after year. For more information on how you can join the Watauga County Tax-Aide team, contact Jennifer Teague at the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center by calling (828) 265-8090 or by sending an email to Rao Aluri at parkwaypub@hotmail.com. AARP Tax-Aide is a program of the AARP Foundation, offered in conjunction with the IRS.

6) Catherine J. Smith Gallery at Appalachian Presents Senior Studio Exhibition

Catherine J. Smith Gallery (CJS) at Appalachian State University (ASU) presents the Friggatriskaidekaphopbia: BFA Senior Studio Exhibition Fall 2013. The exhibition is on view from December 2 through 13, 2013 and includes work by the candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art. These student artists are exploring a wide variety of studio techniques including photography, fibers, metals, installation, ceramics, performance, and multimedia projects. A closing reception will be held at the gallery on December 13th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. The gallery is pleased to present works from the following artists: Palmer Lanier Bradshaw, Bailey Ewing, Holly Felice, Jennifer Harley, Brittney Mitro, Becca Vaughan, Leann Rafferty, Emily Smith, and Laura Seals. Katherine Meeks’ project will be on view at the Looking Glass Gallery in Plemmons Student Union. For the past year, these students have been working with Gary Nemcosky, professor in the Department of Art. Nemcosky states, “The Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition at the Catherine J. Smith Gallery happens only twice a year, but it is highly anticipated by our exhibiting and graduating students for years. This semester the show will feature a fascinating range of works from fine metals, mixed media fibers, mixed and found media fibers and performance, mixed process photography, photography installation, ceramic installations, installation/performance, mixed media sculpture featuring melting sugar and digital interactive media projected from an El Camino onto buildings, beginning with Wey Hall itself. This semester’s exhibition is a great representation of what goes on in the Art department, a very exciting place to be.”