One, Come All to Tickle the Ivories!

By Mary Miller James 

Ever itched to try your hand at the piano but didn’t know where to begin? Feel you have a little talent but want a professional nudge? Well, c’mon down to Main Street in Salisbury this Saturday morning anytime between 10 a.m. and noon where you’ll find a piano pro waiting to nurture you along. You never know, you may discover a hidden maestro in you! If you go to the Farmer’s Market at W. Fisher and S. Jackson, you’ll already be nearby. Here are those who’ve generously agreed to donate their time to be available to the public:

– Susan Wilson at Maia’s Fashions, 103 S. Main St.

– Connie Burleson at Salisbury Wine Shop, 106 S. Main St.

– Jeremy Vess at the Meroney Theatre, 213 S. Main St.

You may never get this chance again, so take advantage of these wonderful folks’ time and talent!

 

Friday: Movies in the Park

July 10: In “The Book of Life,” a young man torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds.

Pre-movie entertainment begins at 8 p.m.; movie begins at 9 p.m. at City Park.

Next: July 24 – How to Train your Dragon 2 • Aug. 7 – Cinderella (2015)

Visit www.salisburync.gov/Play

 

Sunday Summer Concert Series at Mean Mug Coffee Co.
5-8 p.m., Sunday, July 12: Singer/songwriter Hannah Case in a free performance.

The Sunday Summer Concert Series will feature a variety of local artists as well as talented performers from outside of the area. The series continues this week featuring Singer/songwriter Hannah Case performing a variety of originals and covers. 1024 S. Fulton St., next to Mambo Grill. Info on Facebook.

 

Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find at Rowan Public Library

Learn more about how comic books have changed yet remained a classic form of art and writing through the years.

Join us for “Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find” as local comic book enthusiast Andy Mansell will discuss the importance of comics and how they have changed but remained a popular and sometimes controversial source of reading for people of all generations.

Mansell has lived in Charlotte for the past ten years. He is passionate about four things: his family, classical music, baseball, and of course, great comics.  Since 2008, he has enjoyed the role of panel coordinator for the Annual HeroesCon. He moderates an (almost) monthly comic discussion group and loves to offer fresh perspectives on the grand old art form.

This program will be offered at two library locations:

Monday, July 20 at 6:30 p.m., RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)

Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m., South Rowan Regional (China Grove)

There is no charge to participate, and each attendee will be entered for a chance to win a door prize.  Adults participating in the adult summer reading program will also be given a special code for attending.  Visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-8240 for more information.

 

SUPERMAN: an American Idol at 75

Kannapolis History Associates invite you to enjoy an evening with Michael Eury

KANNAPOLIS — If you think Superman is merely a fictional character, think again. Created during the Great Depression by two Jewish teenagers, the “Man of Steel” has been, for different generations, a hero for the oppressed, a patriotic paragon, a schoolyard idol and a source of inspiration.

Come and enjoy our local author and comics historian, Michael Eury for his colorful presentation, “SUPERMAN: an American Idol at 75.”  There will be time for questions and answers. The event is Monday, July 13 at 7 p.m. in the A. L. Brown High School social room, 415 East First St. If you have any memorabilia, pictures or stories of your memories or experiences of Superman, please bring them to share with the audience.

Park in lot East of Trinity Methodist Church and use the sidewalk east of Kannapolis Performing Arts Center (auditorium). Follow the signs to KHA. For questions, call the history room at 704-932-7518 or Phil Goodman at 704-796-0803.

 

Deadline tomorrow: OCT’s Third annual 10-Minute Play Writing Contest

Deadline July 10. Call for original scripts from residents of NC and SC on the theme “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night.” This is a Halloween festival, but plays submitted should be ‘G’ or ‘PG’). Details, rules at www.oldcourthousetheatre.org or email marketing@oldcourthousetheatre.org

Sides to present the Whitney Dam story

NEW LONDON — On Sunday, July 19, Salisbury’s Susan Goodman Sides will present “The Whitney Story” for the Historical Society and the Stanly County Museum at 2 p.m. at the New London Fire Station, 310 S. Main St., New London.

Many people are familiar with the basic story of the Whitney Dam, the huge dam on the Yadkin River that was never completed.  Many questions have been asked through the years about Whitney, and there are still many gaps in the answers.

A number of years ago, Sides began collecting postcards of the dam showing pictures of the dam under construction.  The photos were intriguing, but Sides never felt she knew the real story behind the project and what happened to stop the construction just as it was on the verge of completion.  Therefore, she has done intensive research to discover what really happened at Whitney.

She has authored two books on the postcards of Rowan County.  Sides serves on the Board of Trustees of Historic Salisbury Foundation, the Rowan County Historic Landmark Commission, and the genealogical Society of Rowan County.

The Whitney program is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is suggested as seating will be limited.  To register call the Stanly County Public Library at 704-986-3755.  To register online go to http://historicstanly.org and click on the Events Registration tab. If registering online be sure to click SUBMIT to complete the registration.

The New London Museum, located next to the New London Fire Station, is open on Sunday afternoons and will extend their hours on Sunday, July 19, so that those attending the Whitney presentation will be able to visit the museum following the program.

 

Classes at Center for Faith and the Arts

Group group guitar lessons begin tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Center for Faith and the Arts for age 10 and older, and continue through Aug. 13.

Taught by Brent Lawrence, classes are held at CFA, 207 W. Harrison St.  Pre-registration is required. Visit www.faithart.org or call 704-647-0999 for cost and space availability.

Go With the Flow: An Exploration into Watercolors with Yupo Paper, a class open only to rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.

Held Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m. to noon; cost is $10.

This two-hour class will show students that paint doesn’t always need to go where you want it in order to make beautiful abstract art. Yupo paper is a recycled plastic material and isn’t really paper at all. Students will use watercolors to flow across the surface of the Yupo paper to create a piece of art that has been created in a patient and meaningful way.

Visit www.faithart.org or call 704-647-0999 for cost and space availability.

CFA is located at 207 W. Harrison St., behind Haven Lutheran Church.

 

‘2015 Splash Into Fashion!’

Great Women United presents a fashion show featuring children ages 5-18, who will  will model the latest summer fashions. The winner of the fashion show receives a $100 grand prize, a photo shoot and a chance to model at a modeling agency.

NC State Golden Glove Champions Calvin and Dominic Dickerson will be at the show, and musical entertainment includes E.S.M.G., Eloheem, Nikki and LayLay, artists from the surrounding area, as well as deejay Brand Nu from Kannapolis.

The show will be held Saturday, July 25 from   7 to 10 p.m. at the  Miller Center, 402 W. Bank St. Tickets are $8 and are on sale now. Contact event planner Chariel Dye-Emeka at 704-738-7077 or visit Facebook:Minnette Smith or Great Women United.

 

Deadline July 20 for writers competition

WEST JEFFERSON — Ashe County’s On the Same Page Literary Festival announces its annual writing competition. In association with the 2015 Festival, which will take place Sept. 15-19, the Page Crafter’s Prize recognizes writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with cash awards. Winning writers will be recognized at the On the Same Page concluding luncheon Sept. 19.

Page Crafter’s Prizes will be awarded for first and second places in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Prize money totaling $900 will be presented: $200 for first place, $100 for second place, in each category.

Deadline for submissions is July 20, 2015, (postmarked snail mail or email submissions) and winners will be notified by August 31, 2015.  Prose entries are limited to 1,000-words; no more than 50 lines of poetry will be accepted. Entries should focus on the 2015 festival theme “Telling Stories.” A non-refundable entry fee of $10 (U.S.) per submission is required. There is no limit to the number of entries per person.

Only previously unpublished entries qualify. Authors retain all rights to submitted works. Winners need not be present to win. For more details, visit www.onthesamepagefestival.org

West Jefferson is less than two hours from Salisbury.

 

Official CHICKWEED Week

The mayor is proclaiming the start of CHICKWEED Week on July 12, and July 18 as Chickweed Day and Councilwoman Karen Alexander will be reading the proclamation at the opening of the event.

This year, the main CHICKWEED event is on July 18. Preliminary CHICKWEED events include:

July 12:  CHICKWEED ‘Breaking the Chains’ Community Bike Ride. Donations accepted; 100% will be given to the Rowan Family Crisis Council. We’ll be stopping mid-way at the Green Goat Gallery in Spencer NC for refreshments. Meet at 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot across from the Rowan Public Library Headquarters at 201 W. Fisher St. There will be a drawing for free tickets to CHICKWEED and advance sale tickets will be available.  This is a leisurely ride for all ages and skill levels.  Help ‘Break the Chains’ of domestic violence and crimes against women. July 12, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

July 13:  CHICKWEED ‘Seeing Red’ Blood Drive. Give what violence takes. CHICKWEED and the American Red Cross collaborate to present a blood drive from 2-7 p.m. at 405 N. Lee St. Contact Sue McHugh  at 704-577-9965 or suemch @ aol.com to make an appointment.

July 15:  CHICKWEED ‘Big or Small ~ Save Them All!”  Mobile Mammogram Day: Novant Health brings the mobile mammogram unit to the parking lot across from Lee Street Theatre, 329 N. Lee St., to provide mammograms for all 35+ year old women on Wednesday, July 15 from 2-7 p.m. Don’t have insurance?  There are scholarships available.  Sign up early. Call Jill McNeely at 704-210-6927 and ask about a scholarship. Make appointments by calling Rhonda Puckett at 704-210-5924. All registrants must be final by July 7.

 

Union Street Live and Block Party next Thursday 

CONCORD — Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the free, outdoor Union Street Live concerts the third Thursday of the summer months.

From 6-9 p.m.on Thusday, July 16 hear two bands on two stages:

Main Stage – Ken Knox and Company on Means Ave. Music begins at 6 p.m.

North Stage – Nerve Cannon on Union St. N. in front of the library. Music begins at 7 p.m.

New to this year’s concert season is the Union Street Live Block Party. During concert nights Union Street will be closed from the Concord Library to Corban Avenue. Walk Union Street to enjoy outside dining, games, shopping, and more.

Visit www.concorddowntown.com for more information.

 

The Hermit of Fort Fisher

WILMINGTON —  The play “The Hermit of Ft. Fisher,” written by David Anthony Wright, tells the true life story of “the Fort Fisher Hermit”, Robert E. Harrell. At the age of sixty-two, Harrell found himself a failure at everything in his life. Divorced and estranged from his wife and family, with numerous business ventures having soured, Harrell left his home in Shelby in the summer of 1955. Three months later he resurfaced in the marsh areas around Fort Fisher, just south of Wilmington. He eventually began living in an abandoned ammunition bunker, without utilities, income or regular source of food.

During the next seventeen years, he lived off the land and “the kindness of strangers,” all while dispensing his own philosophical and psychological teachings to the numerous tourists and other visitors to his camp. By 1972, the State Department of Tourism estimated that Harrell had become the second biggest tourist attraction on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, after the battleship USS North Carolina. Harrell’s mysterious death in 1972 served only to heighten his reputation.

The play is scheduled for an outdoor production in Wilmington this summer, as a test of the work’s viability as an annual outdoor drama. It will be staged at the 900-seat Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre,  July 29-31 and Aug. 1-2 at 8 p.m. The venue is located at 1941 Amphitheatre Drive, Wilmington. Tickets are $20 for general admission + fees, children 6 and under free. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online through etix or the day of the performance at the door an hour before the show starts.

Information: 910-742-0416, or www.bigdawghermit.com/ or Facebook