The McDowell County Center for the N.C. Cooperative Extension is looking to hold a food drive for the local Foothills Food Hub.Organizers are taking unexpired canned goods, rice, pasta, dry beans and any other nonperishable food you may want to share with people in our community. Donations can be dropped off at the Cooperative Extension’s office, 60 E. Court St., Marion, or to the Foothills Food Hub located in the former Badcock Furniture Building at 1930 U.S. 70 East, Marion.
McDowell Access to Care and Health (MATCH) is offering free tax preparation services for the fourth consecutive year. As part of the program, MATCH will identify all eligible tax credits to help community members maximize their refunds. Both state and federal tax returns can be e-filed at no cost. Visit a tax clinic or call 828659-5289 to schedule an appointment.
The Lions Club of Marion meets at 6 p.m. at the Hook & Anchor on Rutherford Road in Marion on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
Loving Hearts, BEAR Closet is asking for donations of blankets, charcoal, batteries (all sizes), flashlights and cleaning supplies. Contact them at 828-767-2385 or 828-803-8790 and at 337 Garden Creek Road, Marion.
Free art classes for kids at the Arrowhead Art Gallery & Studios in Old Fort happens the first Sunday of every month from 2-4 p.m. The classes use different media and are often taught by different volunteer artists. All supplies will be provided. Join the gallery for an afternoon of fun and learning. Register at https:// arrowheadart.org/classes-workshops to schedule supply pickup.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery & Studios in Old Fort will offer workshops called Ms. Lorelle’s Home School Art Class. They will be held Thursdays through May 28. The cost is $110 a month. These in-person art classes, taught by experienced artist and instructor Lorelle Bacon, are designed spe-cifically for homeschooled children who do not have access to art instruction at home. Classes are divided into two age groups: children ages 7-11 will meet from 1-3 p.m. and from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for students ages 12 and older. Each session is two hours long, allowing ample time for hands-on learning and individual attention. Students will be exploring a different art medium each quarter, including drawing, colored pencils, acrylic painting and scratchboard. Students will be introduced to the basics of each medium and will develop their skills progressively throughout the year. Classes are structured for individual learning, with hands-on instruction, follow-along demonstrations, and plenty of encouragement. This gentle guidance helps students grow confidence in their abilities while continuing to develop their skills at their own pace. Register at https://arrowheadart.org/classes-workshops.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery & Studios in Old Fort will offer Ms. Lorelle’s After School Art. These in-person art classes, taught by experienced artist and instructor Lorelle Bacon, are designed specifically to enhance a child’s knowledge and love of art. The classes will be held for the 2025-2026 school year. Students may join at any time. Each session is two hours long, allowing ample time for hands-on learning and individual attention. The classes will be held Thursdays (through the end of the school year) from 3:305:30 p.m. It is for ages 10-18 and cost per month is $110 (prorated rates available). Students will be exploring different art mediums including drawing, colored pencils, acrylic painting and scratchboard. Students will be introduced to the basics of each medium and will develop their skills progressively throughout the year. Classes are structured for individual learning, with hands-on instruction, fol-low-along demonstrations, and plenty of encouragement. Materials are furnished during class, so students can focus on creating without needing to bring supplies. For those interested in practicing at home, a supply list will be available.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer private parties with instructor and artist Catherine Brug-geman. Select a project you have seen or pick from a number of fun two-to three-hour stained glass or wire sculpture workshops. All you need are three friends. Call Bruggeman at 910-915-9104 to schedule or get a list of possibilities. Day, evening or weekend times available.
The McDowell County Democratic Party will hold a “no kings” protest on today, March 28, from noon to 2 p.m. at the McDowell County Courthouse in downtown Marion.
The McDowell County Board of Elections will hold a meeting on Monday, March 30, at 9 a.m. at the elections office at 2458 N.C. 226 South in Marion. The purpose of the meeting is for the 202627 budget preparation.
On Thursday evening, April 2, an America 250 speaker event in Marion will highlight the sometimes congenial, oftentimes fraught relations between settlers and native Cherokees on the 18th-century frontier. Cherokee storyteller Nancy Pheasant and Cherokee historian Mark Ledford will provide the Native American perspective on that formative period of American history. Their presentation begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 2, at the Marion Train Depot. The event is part of the McDowell County America 250 speaker series. It is free and open to the public.
The American Red Cross will hold blood drives in April for McDowell County. A blood drive will be held on Thursday, April 2, from noon to 4 p.m. at Nebo Crossing, 263 Barnes Road in Marion. The other one will be held Wednesday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McDowell Technical Community College at 54 College Drive in Marion.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer a class in making a macrame wall hanging. It will be held Friday, April 3 from 1-5 p.m. Students will revive a relaxing craft with a new twist (knot). Bring a twig or use one provided by the instructors. Students will create a sampler of beginner knots to form a pretty hanging. All supplies are included. Cost is $46. For more information, go to www.arrowheadart.org.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will have an Open Studio with Catherine Bruggeman on Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This studio time is for you. If you have wanted to learn the basics of stained glass and walk away with a beautiful sun catcher, this is the class for you. There are many precut patterns ready to assemble and learn the basics. You must preregister by calling 910-915-9104. Class size is limited. The class is priced by project or by the hour.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will have a talk with artist Mariela Kronen. It will be held Monday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to noon. Get ready for some inspiring creative talk. Join Kronen and other creatives in a relaxed atmosphere to share experience, ideas, questions and everything in between about our journeys as artists and crafts creatives. Please RSVP (via email) by March 31. You can RSVP at marielaatthestudio@Gmail.com.
Rotary District 7670 will host a Discover Rotary event on Tuesday, April 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Euda Wine, 164 Commerce St., Old Fort. This social event is to gauge interest in chartering a brand-new Rotary Club for the Old Fort area. Refreshments will be served and the event will be casual and welcoming to all that may be interested in creating the Rotary Club of Old Fort.
The Rotary Club of Marion and the McDowell Chamber of Commerce will host a shredding event on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Wells Fargo parking lot in downtown Marion. This event is for all McDowell County residents and businesses. The event will limit the amount to five boxes per customer. The event is free with a recommended $25 donation. Paper documents, manilla folders, hanging folders, staples, paper clips and alligator clips will be accepted. But plastic items, three-ring binders, accordion files and cardboard will not be accepted.
The Master Gardeners of McDowell County will hold their sixth annual Spring Fling Plant Sale on Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Historic Marion Tailgate Market, 67 W. Henderson St., Marion. There will be heirloom vegetables, perennials, natives, trees and shrubs — an assortment from Master Gardeners’ gardens to you. In addition to plants, there will be a garden-themed yard sale, crafts and gardening gloves. Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions. Other vendors will also be there. Proceeds from this sale supports many different projects that the Master Gardeners perform for our community.
The Special Olympics McDowell County 2026 Spring Games will be held on Friday, April 17, at McDowell High School stadium. Athlete check-in is from 8:45-9:15 a.m. and the opening ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. Athletes are from all over McDowell County will participate. Most athletes are a part of McDowell County Schools or local day programs. Individuals with disabilities 8 years old and older are able to participate in the Special Olympics. There is also the Olympic Town for children younger than 8. The events are track and field, including a choice of throws, track, long jump, and Olympic Town. In 2025, the Special Olympics had 90 athletes and 96 volunteers. The public is welcome to attend, but parking is limited so please carpool whenever possible.
The YMCA of Western North Carolina is hosting the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. located at the Corpen-ing Memorial YMCA in Marion. This free, annual event features a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families, and a healthy start to the summer season. Some featured activities include fun games, healthy cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, contests and prizes, more than 25 local vendor and community partner booths, and much more.
McDowell County Center’s Keep McDowell Beautiful program in partnership with the McDowell 250 Committee will be hosting a cleanup of the Catawba River on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. until noon.Organizers will have volunteer check in and trash drop off at the Greenlee Park. All clean up supplies including gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers, and safety vests will be provided to volunteers. Contact Matt Burneisen at Matt_ Burneisen@ncsu.edu 828-652-8104 if you have questions or would like to register a group.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer an evening open figure drawing series of classes with Lorelle Bacon. The classes will last from Wednesday, April 8, to Saturday, June 27, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Arrowhead Gallery and Studios is introducing a three-month trial of evening figure drawing sessions to gauge the arts community’s interest in establishing a regular monthly figure drawing program. The session will meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings. These non-instructional sessions provide dedicated time for artists of all levels to draw clothed human figures from a live model in a relaxed, respectful setting. The models will pose in a variety of attire, offering artists the opportunity to study gesture, proportion and drapery. A session facilitator will manage timing and ensure a smooth, professional atmosphere. Participants bring their own drawing supplies. For more information, email Bacon at lorelleartist@hotmail.com.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer a class in making a stained glass aloe plant spike with Catherine Bruggeman. The class will be held Friday, April 10, from 1-4:30 p.m. Cost is $52. Make your own forever aloe plant spikes. These two-tone glass spikes can be added to your current potted plants, or we will have clay pots and glass stones available to create a one-of-a-kind standing piece, beautiful sitting in a windowsill, and it won’t die. For more information, go to www.arrowheadart.org.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer a class in making a wire weeping willow tree with Catherine Bruggeman. The class will be held Saturday, April 11, from 1-5 p.m. Cost is $48. Bring your own small flat rock or use one of Bruggeman’s and create your own beaded weeping willow tree. Learn a new set of techniques that differ from our other trees and add them to your bag of tricks. All materials included. For more information, go to www.arrowheadart.org.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer a class called Bubble Bowls with Molly. It will be held Saturday, April 18, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Cost is $75. Bubble Bowls are a fun and quick beginner project. Perfect for groups looking for an afternoon activity. Students will use beads of clay and a mold to build bowls. You make it, we glaze it. Pick up later or pay for shipping. For more information, go to www.arrowheadart.org.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will have an open glass studio with Diane Enger. The class will be held Sunday, April 19, from 1-4 p.m. This is an opportunity for students to work on their own project with instructor input and supervision. It may be a class you missed or one you want to do again. It may be to learn a new technique or process you have seen. It could be an “I want to make this class.” You need to have taken at least one fusing class to participate in open studio and know how to cut glass. You can take an hour or so class to improve your glass cutting skills if you need to. Call 828-443-5266 to register for this class. Price varies according to project, number of hours or use of glass studio tools.
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