1) 40 Post Offices Extend Hours Saturday, Feb. 15
The U.S. Postal Service, Greensboro District announces the opening or extending of Saturday retail hours for 40 select Post Offices throughout the northern half of the state on Saturday, Feb. 15, the Saturday of President’s Day Weekend. The offices listed will open doors on Feb. 15 at normal weekday opening time until 3 p.m. The extended hours are designed to enhance customer service on weekends of major holidays, when the offices are closed the following Monday. The list of offices with extended hours includes Boone, North Wilkesboro and Hickory.
2) Free Blueberry Pruning and Production Workshop Feb. 25
North Carolina Cooperative Extension of Watauga and Wilkes counties will host a Blueberry Winter Pruning and Production field day in Purlear on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 2-5:30 p.m. Blueberries are a healthful and potentially profitable specialty crop that thrives in the High Country climate. On Feb. 25, NC Cooperative Extension will lead the program with specialist Bill Cline, agent, Richard Boyland, and Extension Director Bill Hanlin and will guide participants through the decision process for selection blueberry canes to be removed to maximize plant health and production for the coming years. Environmental factors including soil drainage, fertility, weed management and insect challenges will also be discussed as bushes are pruned. Participants are welcome to bring pruning tools of their own and some tools will be available on site. In addition to hands-on pruning work on the farm, there will be time for a question and answer session on blueberry production challenges with Dr. Cline in the afternoon.
3) Watauga American Legion’s Breakfast at the Post
The Watauga American Legion Post #130 will host a Country Breakfast at the Post on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 7-10 a.m. The cost is $8 a person for an all-you-can-eat home cooked breakfast with menu items including country ham, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits and gravy, hash browns, grits, cooked apples, fresh fruit, orange juice, coffee and regular and buckwheat pancakes. The event will be held at 135 Bear Trail in Junaluska Town Park in Boone.
4) Beech Mountain’s Banked Slalom Feb. 22
Beech Mountain Resort will host the 2014 Beech Mtn. Banked Slalom on Feb. 22. There will be ski and snowboard divisions for ages 13 and under, youth 14-17 and open mens and women’s with a cash purse. Entry fee is $15 with a $30 discounted lift ticket with slalom entry. PreRegister at Recess or Edge of the World between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21. Day of registration will take place in Roots in Beech Village from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and will run in conjunction with the annual 80s Retro Weekend. The unique course will feature turns, banks, doubles, jumps and snow berms. Competitors will be timed with a requirement to hit gates along the course. The race is sponsored by RECESS, Edge of the World, Skull Candy, SMITH, LIB Tech, GNU, Armada, One Ball Jay, Dakine and Spacecraft.
5) Glee Club Holds 50th Anniversary Concert Feb. 15
Celebrate 50 years of song with the Appalachian State University Glee Club Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. in the Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Dr. Phillip Paul, professor emeritus from the Hayes School of Music faculty and Glee Club Founder, and Dr. Clinton Parker, professor emeritus and former Glee Club director will direct current and former Glee Club members. The singers will be accompanied by Joby Bell, Kimberly Franklin, Ann Miles and Lisa Runner. The program will be selected from the following: “Sweet Love Doth Now Invite,” “Behold Man,” “Salvation is Created,” “What Kind of Peace,” “Last Words of David,” “When I Fall in Love,” “Soon I Will Be Done,” and “Brother Sing On.”
6) Autism Camp Offered April 8-10; Registration Ends March 12
Crinkleroot Retreat, a free day camp to be held April 8-10, is recruiting campers age 8-14 with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The retreat will be held in Valle Crucis at Camp Broadstone and is staffed by trained Appalachian State University volunteers. Crinkleroot retreat is a program sponsored by Appalachian’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Institute for Health and Human Services within the College of Health Sciences. It is intended to provide parents and caretakers with free respite care, offer children on the autism spectrum the opportunity to participate in typical camp activities that have been modified for their specific needs, as well as celebrate April as Autism Awareness Month. Children will have one-on-one supervision and be encouraged to take part in expressive arts and nature activities, field games, s’mores making and other camp fun. Applications are due by March 12 and availability is limited to 15 campers. Parents and caregivers interested in participating in this program should contact Mary Sheryl Horine at horinems@appstate.edu to receive camp application and information or visit. www.ihhs.appstate.edu/community/crinkeroot.