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

1) Boone Clean-Up Day and Litter Sweep

The Town of Boone wishes to invite and encourage all citizens to join the hundreds of volunteers making a conscious decision to promote community pride while enhancing Boone’s natural beauty and quality of life. These dedicated volunteers will be seen along Boone Streets and streams for the statewide “Litter Sweep” during a two-week period beginning April 26 through May 10. The Town of Boone Kicks off the sweep with the biannual “Boone Clean-Up Day” on Saturday, April 26, clearing unsightly litter that has accumulated along our streets and streams during the winter. Town of Boone residents may participate by cleaning their premises, placing rubbish curbside and calling PublicWorks Department at 828-268-6230 for free convenient removal during the sweep. The Town of Boone will also be awarding monetary prizes to the winners of “The Most Unusual Litter Contest.” You may enter the contest by bringing unusual litter found along the roadsides and in the streams within town limited to the Public Works Center on Boone Clean-Up Day. Come join us from 12-1:30 p.m. for free refreshments and to share fun community fellowship. Interested participants may come by the Town of Boone Public Works center located at 321 East King Street between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to pick up cleaning supplies or you can pick up supplies prior to the event. 

2) Heritage Hall News from Mountain City

Barter Theatre presents “Don’t Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell” on Tuesday April 29 at 7 p.m. It’s 1939 and David O Selznick has already begun filming Gone with the Wind when he realizes his script is a dud. Only the legendary screenwriter Ben Hecht can save the day, but Hecht has never read the book! Selznick locks himself, Hecht and director Victor Fleming in his office with only bananas and peanuts to eat and a single mission: help Hecht write a new script in exactly one week. See the outrageous antics that produced one of the most classic movies of all time. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Sponsored by Johnson County Bank and Amedysis Home Health Care. 

3) Soil and Water Meeting April 23

The Watauga Soil and Water Conservation District Board will hold its regular board meeting on Wednesday, April 23 at 8 a.m. in the District Office at 971 West King Street. The public is invited to attend.

4) Alpha Psi Omega presents Pulitzer Prize-wining “Proof”

The Alphi Psi Omega Theatre Honors Society presents David Auburn’s “Proof” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18. The show will be performed in the intimate I.G. Greer Studio Theatre on the Appalachian State University campus. Tickets are $5 for Appalachian students, faculty and staff and $8 for the general public. Tickets are available at the door one-half hour prior to each performance. The play follows a troubled young woman named Catherine, who has spent years caring for her brilliant but mentally unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, the discovery of a mysterious notebook draws Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father’s instability – or genius- will she inherit?

5) Lees-McRae College Signs Cooperative Agreements in China

Lees-McRae is proud to announce they have signed cooperative agreements with four Chinese institutions. Though still in their infancy, these relationships hold many possibilities for the expansion of Lees-McRae’s global education programs. In March 2013, President Barry M. Buxton, Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Kacy Crabtree and Director of International Programs Marv Williamsen traveled to China and met with university presidents, high school principals and Ministry of Education officials to discuss strategies for Chinese students to enroll at Lees-McRae. “China is a country with a 5,000 year history and I believe they will dominate the next decade both economically and culturally,” said President Buxton. “China has the ability to mobilize citizenry behind identified priorities. Educational exchanges between our two countries respresent a wonderful opportunity for mutual respect and understanding.” Cooperative agreements have been signed at Langfang Foreign Language School, a residential high school; Oriental Institute of Technology, a junior/technical college; Shan Xi Lingshi High School, a residential high school of 6,000 students; and Oriental University City, a campus of seven different universities totally 75,000 students. This summer, Lees-McRae expects to host a delegation of businessmen from China led by Dr. Xu Hongwei, a representative of the Ministry of Education in China. Dr. Xu has been instrumental in the development of the College’s Chinese relationships. In addition, this summer the College will also potentially host a select group of 15-20 Chinese high school students for an American culture program to introduce them to the Lees-McRae campus. International students representing ten countries are currently enrolled at Lees-McRae. In addition, the College offers a variety of global education programs including exchange programs through Hanaam University in South Korea, faculty-led academic trips to New Zealand, Belize and London, and independent study abroad programs through affiliation agreements with five international education agencies. An annual study abroad fair is also held to educate students on the opportunities available to them. Prior to this visit to China, in the summer of 2013, Williamsen and instructor of business John LaCapra traveled to China to begin the initial research for these relationships. Additionally, Dr. John Thomas, former chancellor of Appalachian State University, and Dr. Jensen Jen, who lives locally, have been invaluable in constructing these relationships. 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 900 students hailing from 35 states and more than 10 countries, Lees-McRae’s broad core curriculum is enhanced by field-specific career preparation and experiential learning with an emphasis in leadership and service. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828.898.5241.

6) Meet the Candidates Forum April 17

A meet the candidates forum will be held on Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m. in the Hugh Chapman Center in Linville. The event is free. The Avery Journal Times, Avery County Chamber of Commerce, Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce and Newland Business Association sponsor the Avery County Meet the Candidates forum. 

7) Smith Gallery Presents New York Close Up

The Smith Gallery at Appalachian State University presents a screening of New York Close Up: the Documentary Series on Art and Life. New York Close Up is Art21’s documentary film series devoted to artists in the first decade of their professional career, living and working in New York City. This innovative series provides an intimate look at the next wave of artists. The screening will be showing on Thursday, April 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Smith Gallery in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Appalachian State University. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be provided. 

8) Reaves Installed as President of Appalachian’s Alumni Association

James K. Reaves of Kernersville has been installed as president of Appalachian State University’s Alumni Association. Joining Reaves on the executive board are Stephanie L. Billings of Greensboro, vice president; and Carolyn J. Clark of Boone, Secretary. Each will serve a one year term.