The candidate filing period for Soil and Water Conservation supervisor will close at 5 p.m. Monday, July 6. There are two positions available. The filing fee is $5, payable at the time of filing. Candidates must file in person at the McDowell County Board of Elections Office, located at 2458 N.C. 226 South in Marion. For additional information, contact the McDowell County Board of Elections at 828-659-0834.
Registration for the presentation of “Shrek: The Musical Kids” started on Friday, May 1. This is a presentation by McDowell Children’s Theatre’s Summer Theatre Camp (kindergarten through 12th grade). This 30-minute version of the Oscar-winning hit film and outrageous Broadway musical has roles for everyone — onstage and backstage. Camp dates and performances will be in July. Performances will take place on Friday, July 17, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 18, at 2 and 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.mcdowellarts.org/mct.
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.
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.
The Foothills Community Band rehearses every Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the MACA Center in downtown Marion. The band welcomes players of all ages and experience levels from high school students to those with decades of experience. For more information, send an email to foothillscommunityband@gmail.com.
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.
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 Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will have a series of free art classes for kids. The classes are for ages 5 to 12 years old. Adult participation is optional. The classes are from 2-4 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month. Capacity is 10 students. The free classes use different media and are often taught by different volunteer artists. All supplies will be provided.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer a new class called Skill Building Studio with Lorelle Bacon as the instructor. The purpose for this class is to help students go to the next level in their artistic pursuit. The classes will be held on Thursdays, July 2, July 9, Aug. 6 and Aug. 13. The class will be held from 1:30-4:30 p.m. The cost is $50 for each class. In this studio setting, students will bring supplies and pieces of art they are working on, start new paintings or learn how to use a new medium. It is open to all levels from beginners to advanced. Students will work at their own pace on their own projects. All mediums — including oils, acrylics, watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, drawings and scratchboard. For more information, go to www.arrowheadart.org.
The Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort will offer a class called Mosaic Art for Beginners and Overcoming Fear of Grouting. The class will be held Sunday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $80. This is a full-day class, so bring a lunch or some snacks and something to drink. Students will create two mosaics. In the first half of the class, students will learn terminology, tools, history and material needed and will begin constructing their mosaics using a combination of ceramic tiles and stained glass. After a short break, students will finalize both. For more information, go to www.arrowheadart.org.
The McDowell County Transfer Station and all seven convenience centers will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. The Transfer Station and all seven convenience centers will be open on Thursday, July 2, as well as Saturday, July 4.
Ramona Shepard of Berea College and Diamond Brand Outdoors is bringing back Machine Sewing for Beginners at MACA in Marion on Thursday evenings through July 16. This class is intended to teach the fundamentals of working with your sewing machine and four beginner projects: a drawstring bag, a cosmetic bag, pleated zipper pouch and a fabric basket. Register for Machine Sewing for Beginners at https://checkout.square.site/merchant/0K9Z15GTH5GMP/checkout/ MZHXTGYDYJYKJSNZJFENYBFL.
Theatre Kid Karaoke Night at Bigfoot Books & Brews with Yonder Theatre Collective will be held Saturday, June 27, from 7-9 p.m. (ages 17+). Yonder Theatre Collective is a new initiative (in partnership with MACA) by and for young adults ages 18 to 25 who are a building a community theater space for creative young adults to make friends, learn new skills and maintain good vibes. Email for more info: yondertheatre@gmail.com.
MACA will hold the Summer Art Camp Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24. Join Miss Cindy for July’s Art Sampler. This camp is perfect for kids 7-12 who want to try a little bit of everything — chalk marbling gypsum art, sand painting, and acrylic pours. Cost is $100 per child and the class is from 9-11:30 a.m. (includes a snack daily).
Join the next scrapbook club meeting at MACA. Bring your own project or start a new one (you can use our supplies). This laid-back club welcomes all levels of scrapbookers, journal keepers, and sketchbookers. Hosted by Joana Ortiz. The club meets on Thursday, July 2, at MACA from 6-8 p.m. (ages 16 and older).
The next Art Club for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is coming up on Tuesday, July 7, at 1 p.m. in the downstairs of the McDowell County Library, Marion branch.
Do you have a teenager 13 to 18 who might want to write, act, direct, or tech their own short play? Sign them up for MACA’s one-week summer theater intensive, Page-to-Stage course Monday, July 27, through Sunday, Aug. 2. Register here: https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuuw2cyxIz1uBv0PX-J6ig6WC996yHOatovJ99Qj5T0ylKOCw/ viewform.
MACA is partnering with Bigfoot Books & Brews and McDowell SAGE to host a screening of the indie film “Bigfoot Woods,” with a live in-person Q&A with writer/producer Bruce Pavalon and writer Abel Pavalon (on Bigfoot day). The screening will be in the Greenlee Theatre at MACA at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29. Tickets are $12 per person. This film was made for LGBTQ+ youth and their loved ones.
The McDowell County Democratic Party will hold a “Hootenanny with all the Fixins” on Saturday, Sept. 26, from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Black Bear Pavilion, 6196 Lake James Road, Marion.
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