Ashe Mountain Times

John F. Shepherd Cemetery work

Any descendants who have family or friends in the John F. Shepherd Cemetery are being sought to assist with the continual improvements planned for this summer. The cemetery is located on Cranberry Creek Road, 2.5 miles from Highway 221. For more information, call Conley Shepherd at (336) 846-9848 or Josephine Reeves at (336) 982-2900.

 

Phipps Farm Friday Night Jam

The Sunday Bluegrass gospel jam will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. every Sunday.

Phipps Farm Friday Night Jam is held weekly (rain, sleet or snow) from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at 2425 Silas Creek Road in Lansing. Admission is free, but donations are welcome for upkeep. For more information, call (336) 384-2382.

 

Book sales

Friends of the Library new sales will end Wednesday, May 23. Gift baskets for graduates are available for sale. For the May 28 Memorial Day, specially designed baskets honoring America's past historical struggles are available and perfect for the veteran in your life. For more information, call (336) 846-2041.

 

Semper Fi

All Marines are welcome to join the Semper Fi group at 9 a.m. every Friday at Smithey's for breakfast. For more information, call Carol Pollack at (336) 877-2827.

The High Country Marine Corps League also meets at 5 p.m. on the last Monday of each month. For more information, contact Jim Prim at (336) 982-2405.

 

A matter of balance

From 10 a.m. until noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Tuesday, May 15 through Thursday, June 7, the senior center of Ashe Services for Aging will host a program entitled “A Matter of Balance.” Classes are held twice per week for four weeks for two hours each and are free. To register or for more information, stop by the senior center or call (336) 246-4347.

 

Guided canoe trip

A park ranger will lead a two hour float down the New River, beginning at 1 p.m. at Wagoner Access of New River State Park. Participants will learn basic canoeing paddle strokes and must be able to help carry and load canoes. Rangers will interpret many sights along the route. The trip is limited to eight visitors. For reservations or more information, call (336) 982-2587.

 

Arts and crafts fair

From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday, May 26, the NAMI High Country Arts and Crafts Fair will be held at Boone Mall at 1180 Blowing Rock Road in Boone. Spaces are limited so registration is encouraged to be done early. The cost is $20 if you bring your own table with 10 percent of sales going to NAMI High Country. For more information, contact Karen Gross at (828) 406-1421 or email karengross@skybest.com.

 

River Run Trail dedication

At 10 a.m., Saturday, May 26, the River Run Trail will be dedicated on U.S. Highway 221 Access Visitor Center of New River State Park. The hike will be approximately 2.5 miles. Those attending should bring water and wear sturdy shoes. For more information, call (336) 982-2587.

 

Track trail hike

At 2 p.m., Sunday, May 27, a park ranger will host a fun hike for kids. This is part of the Kids in Parks program where participants can go online after the hike to register and receive awards. Hikers are encouraged to wear appropriate clothes and shoes for the weather. The hike should last about one hour. To find out about other Track Trails around North Carolina, visit http://www.kidsinparks.com .

 

Coaching for well being

An evening of coaching for well being will be offered by Dee Petersen, RN, MA, BCC, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, May 28 and every fourth Monday evening thereafter, at the WOLF Building at 402 Graybeal Avenue in West Jefferson. Space is limited. To reserve a seat, call (336) 846-1171. The first meeting attended is free.

 

The Lansing Project

A photo exhibition, The Lansing Project, will be featured at the Fort Awesome Gallery in the old Lansing School on Highway 184 and Piney Creek Road in Lansing. The exhibit will run from June 2 through Aug. 4. The opening reception and gallery talk will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 2. The event is sponsored by the New River Winery.

 

Beginner's Shag class

A beginner's shag class will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Monday, June 4, at the Ashe Shrine Club on Morphew Lane in Jefferson. This will start a new beginner's class, taught by Eddie and Pat Hicks of the Brushy Mountain Shag Club. The cost is $5 per lesson. The class will run for six weeks. For more information, contact Jim Judson at (336) 977-1483 or (336) 877-2642.

 

Mighty Mite basketball camp

From 9 a.m. until noon, June 4-7, the Mighty Mite Basketball camp will be held at Blue Ridge Elementary for rising kindergarten through second graders. The camp stresses the fundamentals and skill development. The cost is $35 and applications may be picked up at all the elementary school offices or at Year Round Sports and The Hobby Barn in West Jefferson or at Magic Video in Jefferson. For more information, call Mike Eldreth at (336) 384-4527.

 

Junior League All Stars basketball camp

The All Stars basketball camp will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., June 4-7, at Blue Ridge Elementary School for rising third through sixth graders. The cost is $35 and applications can be picked up at each elementary school office or at Year Round Sports, The Hobby Barn or Magic Video. For more information, call Mike Eldreth at (336) 384-4527.

 

Tennis clinic

The 14th Annual Ashe County Tennis Clinic will be held Monday, June 4 through Thursday, June 7 at Ashe County High School tennis courts. Times will be 5 to 6 p.m. for rising third through eighth graders, and 6:15 to 8 p.m. for rising ninth through twelfth graders and adults. Cost is $35 for elementary and middle school students and $50 for high school students and adults. Aaron Peterson, current tennis coach at Lees McRae College and tennis pro at Deer Valley Racquet Club, will be the director. For more information or to register, call Vickie Herman at (336) 877-5656 or email larry.dix@ashe.k12.nc.us or vherman@skybest.com.

 

High Country Hoops camp

Director Marc Payne will host the 38th Annual High Country Hoops Camp June 5-7 at Ashe County High School. Camp will be held from 9 a.m. until noon for rising third through sixth grade boys and from 1 to 4 p.m. for rising seventh through tenth grade boys. Campers may register on Tuesday prior to the first a.m. session and the first p.m. session. Tuition is $50 per camper; $40 each for members of the Ashe County Lightning team; $25 each for freshmen and sophomores attending the E&H Team camp as well as seventh and eighth graders in 2012 attending the ACMS Rising Stars basketball camp.

 

Gun and knife show

The Ashe County Gun and Knife Show, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, has been rescheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23. For more information, visit http://www.AsheGunShow.com.

 

Blue Ridge Art Clan

The group will welcome Kathryn Feierabend as she demonstrates techniques of her botanical paintings and mono prints, handmade greeting cards and mountain landscapes.

Blue Ridge Art Clan (BRAC) continues to search for new members with all levels of painting skills from beginner to advance. All remaining monthly meetings are held in the downstairs meeting room of the Ashe County Library, generally on the fourth Saturday of each month (except when holidays conflict) and begin at 9:30 a.m. with a short business meeting. The actual dates for the regular meetings are May 19, June 23, July 21, Aug. 25, Sept. 22 and Oct. 27. Informal critiques of members' works are held during the winter in the Ashe Library. Dues are only $35 per year. For more information, contact Lesley Lewis, president, at (336) 877-3986 or email S9YL@hotmail.com.

  

Classmates from the 1960s

Any classmates who remember the 1960 snow as first-graders and attended Nathan's Creek, Healing Springs and Jefferson Elementary schools and then on to Ashe Central High School are being sought. Even if you did not graduate, classmates still want to see you. Contact Class President Mark Bower at (336) 977-1203 or email markbower@skybest.com. 

   

DAV Bingo

The Disabled American Veterans hold bingo on the first and third Thursday of each month at Smithey's in downtown West Jefferson. Dinner is ready at 5 p.m. and bingo begins at 6 p.m. No participation in bingo is required to come in and eat.

 

Diaper help

Northwest N.C. Diaper Help is a small organization available to help young families living in Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes counties in North Carolina and Johnson County, Tenn. The goal is to help families diaper their children more affordably, and the group is working to offer access to quality cloth diapers to people of all incomes. Those who cannot afford the cloth diapers can contact the group for an application to qualify for free cloth diapers. For more information, email nwncdiaperhelp@hotmail.com or visit http://www.nwncdiaperhelp.weebly.com.

 

Free community meal

Every Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a free community meal will be offered at the old West Jefferson Elementary School cafeteria. Soups and other meals are provided at no cost. There is no income requirement; all are welcome. This is a time for people to come together, visit, socialize and share a meal together. If the school is being used for a makeup day, call (336) 846-7687 for the temporary meal location. Free shuttle service provided by the Ashe County Transportation Association (ACTA). Stops located at Ashe Senior Village, Mountain Village, West View Terrace and Spruce Hill. For Saturday ACTA service, call (336) 977-2595. The meal is a program of Ashe Outreach Ministries. For more information, call (336) 846-7687.

 

Florence Art School

Explore your creative side at Florence Art School, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Glendale Springs. The school offers one- to five-day workshops in the fine arts and heritage crafts, from watercolor to rug hooking. For a complete list of workshops, visit http://www.florenceartschool.org or contact the office at (336) 982-2499.

 

Referrals, information for child care facilities

Ashe Child Care Resource and Referral, a nonprofit program for Ashe County Partnership for Children, provides referrals and information concerning licensed and legally operating childcare facilities in Ashe County. The office is located at Family Central in Jefferson. For more information, call (336) 982-8870.

 

Ashe medication assistance

Free and low cost medications can be obtained for those needing help with expenses through Ashe Medication Assistance. Call Shelly Elliott at (336) 846-6001 or Jeri Nichols at (336) 846-6002 or visit the office located at the Ashe County Free Medical Clinic to learn more.

 

Alcoholics Anonymous, Ashe Unity Group

Meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous, Ashe Unity Group, are held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at noon, and Sunday at 4 p.m. All meetings are held at the West Jefferson United Methodist Church at 107 West 2nd Street. Use the South entrance. The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday meetings are closed; however, the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday meeting days are open.

  

Childbirth and newborn care classes

Childbirth and newborn care classes are held on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Ashe Memorial Hospital. To register, call (336) 846-0734.

 

Survivors of domestic violence

Survivors of domestic violence meetings are on the second and last Monday of the month with dinner at 6 p.m. and the meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Women's and children's groups are both available. For more information, contact A Safe Home for Everyone at (336) 982-8851.