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

1) Organic Gardening 101 Held June 23-26

Organic Gardening 101 will be held Monday through Thursday, June 23-26 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost for the class is $20 for all four days and the class is designed for beginning gardeners or those who would like to switch to organic methods. Topics for the class will include garden planning, seed starting, how to attract beneficial insects, pest management, soil tests and amendments, composting and vermi-composting and dealing with common plant problems. Visit several home gardens for inspiration. Space is limited, so reserve your spot by paying in advance at NC Cooperative Extension at 971 W. King St. in Boone or by calling 828-264-3061. The class will be held at the Farm Incubator and Grower Project, previous site of the Appalachian State University sustainable development farm in Valle Crucis.

2) Blues Festival Seeks Volunteers

THe Pop Ferguson Blues Heritage Festival VI is seeking volunteers. The event will be held Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14 in downtown Lenoir. Organizer Clyde Ferguson said that he expects a good turnout this year. Headline acts include Mac Arnold, cormer co-producer of Soul Train and member of Muddy Waters, Phil Wiggins who will also teach the blues harmonica workshop, John Dee Holman and Pop Ferguson. Additionally, Lawyers, Guns & Money, a North Carolina blues band which had two singles reach No. 1 on the Cashbox Magazine Roadhouse Blues charts will be performing. Big names like that are expected to pull a good turnout of blues lovers, underscoring the need for volunteer assistance. Volunteer job descriptions include:

  • Transporting people by golf cart from the handicapped parking lot to the festival
  • Hauling musicians by van from festival hotel to stages
  • Providing hi-resolution photographs of the event which show and tell a story
  • Assisting street vendors with details about where to set up
  • Staffing the beer tent (non-drinkers only)
  • Placing and removing directional signage before and after the event
  • Assisting hosts at Friday night meet and greet events
  • Assisting with set-up and break down
  • Keeping trash cans emptied and monitoring portable restroom facilities
  • Staffing the souvenir and information tents
  • Assisting bands and technical crews in the stage area
  • Floating between locations to provide assistance as needed

Ferguson has broken some of the jobs into two hour shifts while others are longer. He has a total of 79 posititons to fill. Persons donating time may work more than one shift. The 2014 fetsival opens on Friday night with a free block party from 6-8 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center at 313 Greenhaven Dr. in Lenoir. Jazz musician Bryan Anderson will perform. The party then moves several blocks away to The Alibi, a downtown restaurant and pub located at 915 West Ave. An open jam session will be held from 10 p.m. until midnight. The public is invited to bring guitars and jam with artists who will be performing on Saturday. Additionally on Friday, a VIP meet and greet will be held and will include a special performance by Phil Wiggins. Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased by calling 828-757-0783. Events kick off on Saturday with free workshops from 9 a.m. until noon at Highland Coffee House on 113 Main St. in downtown. The street festival will be held from 1-10 p.m. with heritage crafters and food vendors open. Entertainment will perform from 2-10 p.m. The Pop Ferguson Blues Heritage Festival VI is made possible by a grant from the Lenoir Tourism Authority. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, call Jackie Signon with the City of Lenoir at 828-757-2107.