From Webelos to Scouts
Troop 442 of Salisbury’s First United Methodist Church welcomed four new scouts who crossed over from Webelos to Scouts during their Blue and Gold ceremony on Feb. 24.
The Troop was formed 84 years ago, and this is the first time that three of the four Scouts who crossed over were females along with two new female leaders. They had a warm family welcome by all the current Scouts as well as the leaders.
The four new scouts are Bruce Phillips lll, Anastasia Ivanova, Rylee Hedrick and Faith Barton along with leaders Anne Hedrick and Lacy Bowers.
Bruce Kolkebeck and Nikolas Wolfe were their proud Webelos leaders.

 

KHA Kannapolis History Associates present Mike Legg
Monday, March 2 • 7 p.m.
KANNAPOLIS — Mike Legg, Kannapolis City Manager, will speak at the meeting, offering an update on the revitalization of downtown (or uptown) Kannapolis. He will share the progress being made on several ongoing projects, status of planned projects and what the future geography looks like.
Held in the A. L. Brown High School social room, 415 E. First St, Kannapolis. Phil Goodman, 704-796-0803.

 

Lyme Disease Support Group
Today, March 1 • 3-5 p.m.
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Room 218.
Info: Doug 704-785-5425, Elizabeth 704-636-3190, Facebook: Celebration of Hope Piedmont NC Lyme Disease Support Group

 

Music & Meditation
Mondays, March 9, 16, and 23
Brief services of Music and Meditation will be offered by St. John’s Lutheran Church during the lunch hour on three consecutive Mondays during the Lenten Season. They will be held in the Chapel at 200 West Innes St. on Mondays, March 9, 16, and 23 from 12:15-12:45 p.m.
The services will include prayer and meditation, led by Pastors Rhodes Woolly and Laura Henrik, and special music by Rosemary Kinard, Flute and Rob Durocher, Piano (March 9); Deanna Boksleitner, Organ (March 16); and Connie Burleson, Harp and Piano (March 23).

 

The Kneeling Gardeners
The Kneeling Gardeners held its January meeting at Trinity United Methodist Church. Guest speaker was Mary Bradford from The Tropics Exotic Bird Refuge in Kannapolis.
This organization is dedicated to providing care for handicapped and unwanted pet birds. Founded in 1989, Mary and her husband formed the first in the Nation, The Tropics Inc. In 1994 it became a non-profit organization. They were the original owners of a rescue in the United States to her knowledge, who still operate a refuge. Now there are thousands in the country. Their mission is to serve as a full-time refuge for exotic birds of all species; to offer public education and animal assisted therapy enrichment programs; to encourage responsible sales techniques for breeders and/or retail pet shops; to support avian research for the purpose of conquering avian diseases; to encourage responsible methods of breeding for the preservation of the species and not just for profit; and to reduce the spread of diseases among the exotic bird population.
The first aviary was built behind her house by her husband and an addition added later. A man from Charlotte brought his parrot to them. Parrots can live up to 100 years. Most people keep them 6-7 years. When they hit puberty, they scream and make lots of noise. That is why the birds are given up. Parrots were stuffed into chicken crates and smuggled into the country. Only 25% of the birds survive. Early hybrid birds were sterile. Dogs and cats can be spayed and neutered. Birds cannot be neutered, and animal control has no jurisdiction over the birds. After the population at the refuge reached 450, they realized that they had to adopt them out. The costs of feeding are great and the daily clean up nonstop. Volunteers help but the responsibility is overwhelming.
Mary is dedicated to her refuge and loves birds. Having a bird for a pet is not easy and requires knowledge and dedication. The pictures of the birds and their stories of how they came to the refuge or the handicaps they deal with was heartbreaking. Some of the birds are blind and require special attention. They have 4 Hyacinth Macaws that sell for $15,000 apiece.
Tropic Exotic Bird Refuge won a $10,000 prize on America’s Funniest Videos and has been featured on America’s Greatest Pets, National Geographic, Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures and Ripley’s Believe It or Not just to name a few. The refuge is not open to the public for insurance reasons.
If you are interest in gardening, join us on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. when Hamed Bostan from the NC Research Campus for N. C. State Plants for Human Health Institute will be our speaker.