1) Community Appearance Commission Meeting
The next Community Appearance Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. in the P&I Department upstairs conference room on the Post Office level at 680 W. King Street.
2) 8th Annual Relay for Life Spring Thaw 5K Run/Walk
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26 at 8:30 a.m. to be able to participate in the 8th annual Relay for Life Spring Thaw 5K Run/Walk taking place on the Greenway Trail in Boone. Registration fee is $15 with a deadline of April 15, and $20 after April 15. The family rate is $40 before April 15 and $45 after. Meeting the April 15 deadline guarantees you a 5K shirt, after this date it will be on a first come, first served basis. Cash prizes will be awarded to the overall 1st place male/female and the Master’s male/female. Awards will also be given to the top 3 male/female age group winners. Refreshments will be served and all participants will be eligible for door prizes. Plan to join us for a great time while raising money for a wonderful cause. For more information, contact Paula Ward at 828-297-4878 or visit www.WataugaRelayForLife5K.com.
3) April Programs at Elk Knob State Park
- Trail Work Days: Every Saturday beginning April 5 and running through the middle of November (except September 13), staff and volunteers will meet at the Summit Trailhead at 9 a.m. and work until approximately 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. Tools are provided but volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and bring work gloves, lunch and water. Most of the time will be spend building our new one mile trail, the Beech Tree Trail, although we may include some repair work on the Summit Trail. If you would like to be involved in a fulfilling project that will fill you with a well-deserved sense of pride, then join us on Saturdays at Elk Knob State Park. For more information, call 828-297-7261.
- Star Party: Join us for the second annual Statewide Star Party on Saturday, April 5. Come enjoy the dark skies of Elk Knob as we focus on the moon. We will use the park’s 8-inch Celestron telescope to enhance viewing of celestial objects. If you have a pair of binoculars, please bring them. It is likely to be cold at this time of year so dress appropriately for the weather. In the event of inclement weather, we will move inside the park office and use Stellarium so the weather won’t spoil the fun. Meet at the park office at 7 p.m. For more information, please call 828-297-7261.
- Butterflies and Moths – Legendary Tales: In celebration of butterflies and moths, come learn about their fascinating history, interactions with humans and amazing, little known facts about these marvelous creatures. Meet at the park office on Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m.
- Build-a-Butterfly: Designed for ages 4-7, all ages are welcome. Come learn about what kind of animal butterflies and moths are. We will discuss strange body parts, their life cycle and metamorphosis. See a ranger transformed into a butterfly. Meet at the park office on Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
4) ASU Aquatics Offers Certified Pool Operator Course
Appalachian State University Recreation is offering a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) course. This certification program is taught over a two-day period by a certified instructor to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for pool and spa operations including pool and spa chemistry testing, treatment, filtration, maintenance, automatic feeding equipment and government requirements. Classes are held at the Appalachian State University Student Recreation Center April 25 and 26 and is classroom only and does not utilize the pool. If you would like more information on this course or other aquatic related programs, please call Cheryl Eddins, Assistant Director for Aquatics at 828-262-2100 or email Cheryl at eddinscj@appstate.edu.
5) Poetry Fans Invited to Read Favorites
Lovers of poetry are being asked to share their favorite poem and tell why they chose it at the Watauga County Public Library on Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. “The Favorite Poem Event” is co-sponsored by Friends of the Library and Behind the Stacks, a local poetry group. Several community leaders were invited to read their favorite poems, however, everyone is encouraged to read or be a part of the audience. Please come early to sign in if you wish to participate in this Poetry Month Event. The Favorite Poem Project was started nationwide by poet laureate Robert Pinsky in 1997. For more information contact Ross at the Library Reference Desk at 828-264-8784 or Paula at 828-963-1164.
6) Replace Your Flags at Watauga American Legion Post #130
Spring is here and winter winds are easing, it’s time to replace worn out U.S. flags. Bring your old, tattered, ripped U.S. flags to Watauga American Legion Post #130 then purchase a Made in the USA Flag through us. Let us be your “go-to” organization for flags. It’s easy! When your current U.S. flag needs replacing, drop it off with us and we will properly dispose of it in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code and EPA rules. Then you can replace it in 2 different ways. By phone: American Legion Emblem Sales at 1-888-453-4466, specify youre calling through NC Post 130. By website: AmericanLegionFLags.com, specify NC Post 130. The flags are available in polyester, nylon and cotton in sizes from 2×3 all the way to 20×30 supersize. Indoor outdoor and ceremonial. Pricing available through the phone and website. Thank you for supporting your local veterans programs. Each purchase benefits Watauga American Legion Post 130.
7) Violinist Stefan Czermak Performs March 27 at Appalachian
Violinist Stefan Czermak will perform works my Mozart, Schumann, Chopin and other composers during a guest recital March 27 at Appalachian State University. Pianist Bair Shagdaron will accompany Czermak in the 8 p.m. performance in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. The public is invited. The evening’s progam is comprised of “Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat Major, K.380” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Two Poems, op.32” by Alexander Scriabin, “Polonaise in A-flat Major, op.53” by Frédéric Chopin, “Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor, op.105” by Robert Schumann and a suite from Suite “Much Ado About Nothing, op.11” by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Czermak, a native of Poland, graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He was awarded an honorary diploma at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1970) and later he was a prizewinner of the Henryk Wieniawski Competition in Poznan (1972), Vianna da Motta in Lisbon (1973) and Alberto Curci Competition in Naples (1974). After graduating from the conservatory, Czermak was named the first concertmaster of Wroclaw Symphony and a professor of violin at Wroclaw Conservatory. In 1984 he moved to Germany to become concertmaster of Goettingen Symphony. Since 1990 he has been concertmaster of Hamburg Symphony. Czermak founded the Hamburg Shostakovich Quartet and has been a featured soloist with premier European orchestras and music festivals.