Area briefs

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Cabarrus EMSnamed stateís topparamedic team
CONCORD ó A paramedic team from Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services was declared state champion in the N.C. Office of EMS State Paramedic Competition held Sunday in Greensboro. The team of Mark Kirk and Jeff Penninger advanced to the final round of competition by earning a victory in the Region 4 competition held in July.
This is the first state win by a Cabarrus team after seven regional wins and finals appearances by Cabarrus teams.
The competition has been in existence since 1991 as a manner of improving quality of care and training while recognizing top-performing teams from around North Carolina.
The team earned top honors in the competition based on their performance on a scenario involving a hunting accident with three patients.
Kirk currently serves as an EMS field training officer with 13 years of EMS experience and Penninger is a crew chief with 11 years of EMS experience.
Library to host exhibit on Carrie Hammer
SALISBURY ó Rowan Public library is hosting an exhibition of influential Rowan County artist and art teacher Carrie McCanless Hammer (1874-1957) and her students. Hammer studied art in Paris at the Ecole de Julienne under Madame Hortense Magne Richard.
She was a member of the prominent McCanless family of Salisbury and married Carl Hammer, newspaper editor of the Salisbury Sun. Works by her students Rachel Sloop Fesperman and Mamie Lowder Curran accompany works by Hammer.
Curated by Barbara Fesperman Upright with contributions by Mary Jane Fowler of the Rowan Museum and coordinated by Rudy Hyde, this historical art exhibition coincides with Historic Salisbury Foundationís October Tour and the 100th birthday of the Rowan Public Library.
The exhibition opened Wednesday and will be held at Rowan Public Library, 201 W. Fisher Street, through Oct. 31. Hours are Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, contact Gretchen Witt with the Rowan Public Library at 704-216-8232; or Rudy Hyde, exhibition coordinator, at 704-932-1503.
Family Fall Festival at YMCA Saturday
The J.F. Hurley Family YMCA is hosting its Family Fall Festival and Open House Membership Special Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 a.m. until noon. The event is open to the public.
Included will be an open-air market, inflatables and free ěMake and Takeî paper crafts.
At 10 a.m., Boot Camp with Bryan will take place on the Y lawn. Other free classes include Super Saturday Splash and Zumba at 9 a.m.; Body Step at 10 a.m.; and Bodypump at 11 a.m.
Bring a friend and have a blast. Persons joining the YMCA of Rowan County during the month of October pay no joiners fee.
Rowan Rifles will host lantern tour
SALISBURY ó On Saturday, the Rowan Rifles Camp No. 405, Sons of Confederate Veterans will host the 12th Annual Confederate Lantern Tour in the Old Lutheran Cemetery on North Lee Street in Salisbury.
The tours are family-oriented with the first tour beginning at dusk and additional tours taking place approximately every 30 minutes.
Assisting the Rowan Rifles will be the 63rd N.C. Confederate Troops Reactivated. A tour guide will lead the visitors down candlelit paths throughout the cemetery where historical vignettes will be portrayed by period-dressed re-enactors.
Learn about local history and the important role Salisbury played during the War Between the States. Get insight as to what the South was like during those days of war.
Tickets can be purchased at the event for $5. Children under 12 are admitted free.
For more information, email rowanscv@carolina. rr.com