1) Be the Voice for a Child- Become a Guardian Ad Litem
The Guardian ad Litem Program needs your help.
The month of April is generally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. By that designation, attention is given to the sobering reality that some children are living in homes with caregivers who may abuse or neglect them. In North Carolina, anytime a child is alleged to be abused or neglected resulting in a petition filed in the local court, then that child should have an advocate to protect and promote their rights, and what is in their best interest. The model of child advocacy used in our court system consists of the District Court Judge appointing an Attorney Advocate, a GAL staff member, and a trained volunteer who work together as a team to speak up for our children. By including citizens as volunteer advocates for our children, we help bring community perspective to the issues of abuse and neglect, as well as the plight of children involved in a court system that can be intimidating and scary. Volunteers complete thirty hours of training to learn their role and responsibilities.
Currently, in Avery County, 25 abused and neglected children are involved in the court system at no fault of their own. There are 20 children who will have to go to court without an advocate, without a voice because they do not have a GAL. We need more help in giving these children a voice. Please consider what your role can be in helping the children of our community by joining our team as a Guardian ad Litem.
While we work to match our cases in need of a GAL with current volunteer advocates, there are new petitions coming in with children who will need to be represented. Within the last three months alone there have been at least 4 new petitions involving children in need of an advocate.
It has been proven that those who are abused are likely to become abusers. You can be the catalyst to help stop the cycle of abuse in these children’s lives by becoming a trained Guardian ad Litem. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. You can make a difference. Be the voice for a child.
For information on how you can receive free training to become a GAL, please call our District Office at 1-828-682-4754, our Avery County Satellite Office at 1-828-737-6721, or visit ncgal.org.
The GAL program is available in every county in North Carolina. For statewide information and referral call: 1-800-982-4041.
Thank you for your consideration.
2) Program of Chamber Music for Saxophone Performed April 13
Students of Dr. Scott Kallestad will perform An Evening of Saxophone Chamber Music Monday, April 13, at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free.
The program includes “Saxophone Symphonette” by David Bennett, “Tuxedo Junction” by Erskine Hawkins and William Johnson, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” by Thomas “Fats” Waller and “Drastic Measures” by Russell Peck.
Also on the program is “Strange Humors” by John Mackey, “Premier Quatuor, Op. 53” by Jean Baptiste Singelée, “Shepherd’s Hey” by Percy Grainger and “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” by Johann Sebastian Bach.
3) Bassoon Ensemble Performs April 12
Blazing Bassoons perform April 12 at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free. The student musicians from the Hayes School of Music will perform a variety of classical and contemporary works arranged or written for bassoon.
The program features the presto movement from Bach’s “Italian Concerto, BWV 971,” selections from “Carmen” by Georges Bizet, “Blue Moon” by Richard Rodgers, “Turkish March” by Julius Weissenborn and “Blue Set No. 2” by Peter Schickele.
The program concludes with “Radetsky March, Op. 228” by Johann Strauss Sr.
4) An Evening of Brass Chamber Music Presented April 14
Brass ensembles ranging from trumpets, trombones and euphoniums will perform April 14 in the recital hall at Appalachian State University’s Broyhill Music Center.
Admission to the 6 p.m. program is free.
The Appalachian Trombone Quartet opens the evening with “Canzon” by Samuel Scheidt. The quartet also will perform “Suita per 4 tromboni” by Kazimierz Serocki.
The ensemble neBRASSka comprised of trumpet, horn and tuba will perform selections from Gustav Mahler’s “Leider eines fahrenden Gesellen.”
The Appalachian Euphonium Quartet takes the stage with “Four Euphoniums for You” by ITO Yasuhide.
The program concludes with the third movement of Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 2” performed by neBRASSka.
5) Conference to Focus on Travel, Business and Investment Opportunities in Cuba
What opportunities will the thawing of US/Cuba relations bring for tourists, businesses and investors?
A one-day conference April 30 at Appalachian State University, “Cuba Answers,” will provide expert advice on new opportunities expected to occur in the Caribbean nation.
Sponsored by Appalachian’s Walker College of Business and the Office of International Education and Development, the conference runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union – Price Lake Room 201A.
Admission is free for Appalachian faculty, staff and students. Cost for non-university participants is $45, which includes lunch. For more information and registration, visit http://international.business.appstate.edu/calendar/144.
Speakers and panelists for the event are Humberto Blanco, director of the Center for Research of the Cuban Economy in Havana; Saul Berenthal, chief operating officer of Cuban Heritage Experiences based in Durham; Ángel Ayala, a business and financial consultant from Havana.
About the speakers
Ángel Ayala is an entrepreneur, public accountant, business/financial consultant and director of the UK-based company Tumi Music LTD, an import/export entity. He served as the director of the Spanish company Euro Business Market SL, an advertising and market promotion firm, from 2004-08.
Ayala was director of Auka Impex, a Canadian marketing firm, from 2001-2004. From 1997-2001, he served the Cuban Ministry of Tourism as the national administrative director and sales director for hotel supplies. Ayala previously worked for the International Trading House as part of Cubanacan’s international relations office, serving international companies accredited to do business in Cuba. He earned his MBA at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in Spain.
Humberto Blanco is a professor and director of the Center for Studies of the Cuban Economy at the University of Havana. He holds degrees from the University of Havana and Carleton University in Canada. He serves on the editorial board of the Management Review, published by the Higher Education Ministry of Cuba, as well as the University of Havana’s magazine “Economy and Development.”
His research interests include economic reforms and business management as well as innovation and entrepreneurship. He has provided management consultation in the areas of manufacturing, retail and the software industry. He serves on the Council of Science and Technology as part of the Commission for Updating the Cuban Economic Model.
Saul Berenthal was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. in 1960. In 1983, he started his own software development business and successfully developed two other point-of-sale ventures in a variety of industries. After selling these, he has devoted his time to a variety of projects, including the creation of the Cuban Heritage Experiences-People to People Cuba Initiative, which works to facilitate connections between Cuba and the U.S. Through this organization he has led several groups to the island, allowing them to experience his “Jewish Cuba.”
6) Hospitals to Conduct Emergency Preparedness Exercise
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) will conduct an emergency preparedness exercise at Cannon Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, April 14 and at Watauga Medical Center on Wednesday, April 15.
The exercise is intended to improve the local response and collaborative decision-making ability of the hospitals, local fire departments and local emergency services.
The emergency exercise scenarios at both hospitals will be caused by a plausible yet fictitious fire on campus. There will not be an actual fire during either exercise, however, the public may witness smoke rising from Cannon Memorial Hospital on August 14 and from Watauga Medical Center on August 15.
The exercise will take place in unoccupied patient units and will utilize staff not assigned to work that day. Patients at both facilities will not be affected or at risk at any time during the exercise. All services and scheduled procedures will continue as normal. The exercise time will not been made public to preserve the integrity of the event.
The annual emergency preparedness exercises are another way that ARHS and local emergency agencies partner to make life better and safer in the High Country.
For more information contact Gillian Baker, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, at 828-262-8958.
7) Trip to See Mary Poppins at Barter Theatre
The Lois E. Harrill Senior Center will be taking at trip to Barter Theater on Tuesday May 26th to see Mary Poppins. Seats are open to individuals age 60 and over. The cost of the tickets are $27.00/each plus the cost of your meal. Individuals need to register by Friday April 17th. Purchase of tickets is non-refundable. Please contact Jen Teague at 828-265-8090 with questions.