The Psi Alpha Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Salisbury recently held its installation of officers for the 2013-2014 year at the home of Linda Briggs.
Brenda Gobble was sworn-in as the new chapter president. Peggy Coxie replaced Gobble as vice president and Millie Campbell was sworn-in as chapter treasurer.
The office of corresponding secretary was assumed by Dottie Setzer; while the office of recording secretary was assumed by Margie Cartwright.
Beta Sigma Phi is a philanthropic service organization, with nearly 250,000 members worldwide. It has been in existence since 1920.
The members of this non-college-affiliated sorority perform various types of charitable volunteer work, including visitation to special-needs group homes, collections for Rowan Helping Ministries Food Bank, book sales for Relay for Life, and other types of community service in the Salisbury area.

Salisbury senior a finalist in National American Miss pageant

A Salisbury High School senior will compete in the National American Miss pageant in Winston Salem July 6 and 7.
Lakeysiah Hickson, 17, has been selected as a state finalist for the competition.
Hickson is the acting president of the political science club at Salisbury High. She has also served as the secretary of both the political science and Black history clubs as well as participating in the Spanish club.
Her interests include music, fashion, shopping, photo shoots, making good grades, and reading books about law.
The winner of the pageant will receive a $1,000 cash award, the official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses and air transportation to compete in the national pageant at Disneyland in California.
The National American Miss pageants are dedicated to celebrating America’s greatness and encouraging its future leaders.
Each year, the pageant awards thousands in scholarships and prizes to recognize and assist in the development of young women nationwide.
The pageant program is based on inner beauty, as well as poise and presentation, and offers an “all-American spirit of fun for family and friends.”
Emphasis is placed on the importance of gaining self-confidence, learning new skills, learning good attitudes about competition, and setting and achieving personal goals.
The pageant seeks to recognize the accomplishments of each girl while encouraging her to set goals for the future.

Students participate in National Piano Guild

Three piano teachers recently had their students participate in the National Piano Guild of Piano Teachers at the First Baptist Church of China Grove.
Students may participate in either the memorized or unmemorized classifications, performing between one and 20 pieces.
Each student receives a membership certificate, pin and a report card.
The adjudicator for our area was Dr. Richard Lucht, retired piano professor from East Carolina University.
Lucht listened to each student, and then was able to judge them on correct notes, dynamics, rhythm and other musical criteria.
The Guild is not a competition — each student is judged only against a standard of excellence.
Those students and their teachers who completed these standards were as follows: Teacher/ Charity Hamka (Statesville) and Riley and Harrison Schwerman, Jaelyn Ward and Jill Marie Costillo; Teacher/ Dawn Merrell (Salisbury) and Abbey Deaton, Anna Everhart, Annaleigh Shuping, Kaitlyn Burgess, Lauren Thomas and Patrick Love; Teacher/ Marsha Carter (China Grove) and Ayden Basinger, Addisyn Keen, Sarah Johnson, Drew and Ava Huffman, Logan Cheeseman, Rebekah Lippard, David Freeze, Abby and Bailey Rodgers, Molly McDonald, Preston Tadlock, Nadiya Wilson, Maggie Utley, Andrew Poe, Cody Brown, Samantha Fleishaker, Claudia Utley, Micah, Matthew, and Jeremiah McNeil, Mary Overcash, Kate Carter, Grace and Coleman Carter, Kandus and Nathaniel Kimball, Victoria Pennington, Caitlin Harrison, Molly Burgess, Mason White, and Nate Cobb, Paul, J.D. and Iris Ann Faggart.

Students compete in state piano contest

Four of China Grove resident Marsha Ketner Carter’s students participated in the 2013 State Piano Contest-Festival of the North Carolina Music Teachers’ Association on April 13 at Queen’s College in Charlotte.
Each student had to perform three memorized works selected from the official state contest list, representing the Baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary periods of music.
In order to qualify for the state contest the students had to earn a superior rating at the Junior B or Senior A level at the district festival held earlier at Pfeiffer University.
The following students earned this privilege: David Freeze, son of Laird and Merri Jo Freeze of Salisbury; Andrew Poe, son of David Poe and Susan Shinn of Salisbury; Nate Cobb, son of Jaime and Malea Cobb of Kannapolis; and Paul Faggart, son of Jeffrey and Danielle Faggart of Kannapolis.
In addition, those students receiving a superior rating at the state level are invited to perform at the Honors Recital for the NC Teachers’ Association’s annual conference, held at Mars Hill College in October.

Salisbury Rowan Church Women United
“Swinging Wide the Doors of Hospitality” was the theme of the 2013 May Friendship Day of Salisbury Rowan Church Women United.
More than 140 women and a few men were in attendance during the recent luncheon meeting at Christ United Methodist Church.
Participating in the introductory portion of the program were: Rena Morgan, chair; the Rev. James King, pastor of Christ UMC; Pat Gilbert, president of Christ United Methodist Women; and Montrella Davis, Ecumenical Celebrations chair; also Dellene Gudger and Pat Gilbert; Manie Richardson and Sarah Byerly; Tonya Cornelius and Cynthia Stoner presented a skit. Other participants were Phyllis Thomside; Jean Lowery; Brenda Venning, immediate past president; Jean Allen, representative of the Good Shepherd’s Clinic; and Gwendolyn Ellis, chaplain.
This annual celebration of CWU is the one designated to honor young church women, whose names were submitted by their local church as being outstanding in Christian service.
President Lynn Bolick and vice president Doris Boyd Brown awarded certificates to the following: Dominique Abram, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist; Kristen Caroline Beecham, Milford Hills UMC; Paige Futrell Buck, First UCC; Melanie Lewis Burton, First Presbyterian; Tracey Cowan, Trinity Presbyterian; Jennifer Nicole Lewis, Jerusalem Missionary Baptist; Wendy Malloy, Sacred heart Catholic; Sherita McCall, St. Luke Missionary Baptist; Wendy Michelle Polk, Gethsemane Missionary Baptist; Jamie Webb, First UMC.
Church Women United, founded in 1941, is a national Christian organization dedicated to promoting ecumenism, peace with justice and improvement in education and health for all races, traditions and cultures.

Big Elm celebrates National Nursing Home Week

KANNAPOLIS — The residents and staff at Big Elm Rehabilitation and Living Center decided to have a little fun during National Nursing Week with the theme “TEAM Care Aboard the Love Boat.”
The Big Elm team includes residents, family, volunteers and staff.
Cannon Pharmacy sponsored a Captain’s Dinner for residents, donating $500 to provide a meal, entertainment, and decorations.
Sweet Pickles catered the meal, giving Big Elm a discount. The residents had sparkling cider to go along with champagne glasses and linen napkins.