Community Briefs

United Country Dogwood Realty Scores Top Rankings
United Country Real Estate recently announced that United Country Dogwood Realty, located in Jefferson, has achieved the company's President's Honor Group Award for 2008. This award was only earned by 10 percent of United Country's nearly 675 offices coast-to-coast.

"Even though the economy has been rough, we've focused on the things we can control, like providing outstanding customer service and superior marketing programs," said Jack Rielly, broker-in-charge. "Combined with the tools our home office provides and good, old-fashioned hard work, this strategy has allowed us to not just survive in today's market, but to thrive."

The United Country Dogwood Realty team can be contacted by phone at (336) 246-7455 or by email at nc_realty@skybest.com. Their full listings can be viewed online at www.ucdogwoodrealty.com.

Grafting and Exotic Fir Workshop Planned in Laurel Springs
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension will host the Ashe County Grafting and Exotic Fir workshop on Thursday, March 26, at 1 p.m. at the Upper Mountain research station in Laurel Springs.

This workshop will provide hands-on grafting instruction and practice; updates on pre and post-grafting handling and care; grower perspectives and an opportunity to see harvest-size grafted and exotic fir species. Rootstock and scion material will be provided for attendees. Bring a grafting knife if you have one.

For more information, contact the Ashe County center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension at (336) 846-5850 or click to www.ces.ncsu.edu/ashe.

Alleghany Hospice Plans Open House
The High Country Health Care System Hospice office in Alleghany County underwent a long awaited renovation this winter. The renovations started on January 19th and were completed in March. "I feel relieved that we are finally back in our offices and not having to work around construction," says Vickey Todd, manager of professional services. "The office in now so beautiful, bright and cheerful, everything that has been done has made a wonderful improvement in the everyday workings of our team."

To celebrate the completion of the renovations, the High Country Hospice Office is hosting an open house on Tuesday, March 31. The public is invited to drop in between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Those who stop by will tour the office, enjoy refreshments, get free blood pressure checks and will get to talk with staff that can answer any questions about hospice services. Ed Adams, attorney and hospice volunteer, will be at the open house from 2 until 6 p.m. to answer questions about advanced directives, living wills and estate planning.

The Alleghany County High Country Hospice building was bought with money raised through local fundraisers supported by the Alleghany community. High Country Health Care System Hospice provides services in Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga Counties. For more information on High Country Hospice services in Alleghany County call (336) 372-8018 or visit www.highcountryhospice.org.

Shoemaker's Story to Inform, Enterain Ashe Library Friends
The Wednesday, March 25 program for the Friends of the Ashe County Library will feature West Jefferson's Stephen Shoemaker in an informal talk entitled Blunderbuss: From Art to Alderman.

Shoemaker will share his history of growing up in West Jefferson, discovering and nurturing his talent, leaving and returning to Ashe County, and answering the call of local politics. Questions from the audience will be welcome.

The Ashe Library Friends meet the fourth Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. in West Jefferson United Methodist Church's Hensley Hall at the corner of College Avenue and Second Street. Light refreshments will be provided; and the public is invited to attend. For more information, call the Friends of the Library at (336) 384-4255.

Women's Fund Grantee Breakfast
The Appalachian Womens' Fund 2009 Grantee award breakfast will be held on Monday, April 6, at the Broyhill Inn and Appalachian Conference Center, located at 775 Bodenheimer Drive in Boone. Tickets are $15.

Directors from the nine agencies funded in 2008 will share their progress on programs made possible by AWF grants. Areas funded include domestic violence, hunger and poverty, substance abuse, homelessness, education and health care.

A buffet breakfast will be held at 8:30 a.m. The one-hour program will begin at 9 a.m. For more information, call (828) 264-4002.

Special Olympics Committee Formed
After several years of not participating in Special Olympics, Ashe and Alleghany Counties are hoping to renew interest in this very worthwhile program. A small committee has formed and is still forming to work out all the details of training and competing, safety and paperwork and they invite everyone to attend the meetings, become active members and give input and insight to their efforts. As a new committee, they have decided that bowling was a good first choice as a sport. Ashe has a good local facility and no special uniforms or equipment must be purchased.

The next meeting will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Generations Adult Day Health Care at Ashe Services for Aging on Ray Taylor Road in West Jefferson. The group hopes to prepare for the Mid-Summer Tournament in Raleigh on July 24 through July 26 and compete in the bowling event. Lots of information will be available, as will the registration and medical forms that must be filled out and returned.

Athletes, their parents/guardians, potential coaches/officials and volunteers are all encouraged to come get involved.

If you cannot attend the meeting, call Gillian Hampton at (336) 246-1500, Monday through Friday with your address and she will mail the forms to you.

All Special Olympic activities are free to athletes and their families. Money comes from local fundraising to pay for equipment, uniforms and all other expenses. All committee members, coaches and other assistants are volunteers.

Reunion at Pineland_Edwards Military Institute
Pineland-Edwards Military Institute was founded Jan. 1, 1875 in Salemburg. It was originally a one-room schoolhouse, but grew to a private school offering kindergarten to junior college studies. The school existed for the purpose of providing fine academic training, combined with a real sense of ethical non-denominational Christian values. Their belief was that starting in the formative years, the objectives of education, leadership and discipline were crucial.

The school closed in the early 1970s, at that time it was known as Southwood. All the original buildings are now all gone. The North Carolina Justice Department now has their training facility on the campus site. To many former students, this is considered hallowed ground. During the last few years, reunions have been held, but due to the size of our country and various career paths, many have lost contact with former students.

The reunions are open to all former students, regardless of dates attended, or whether someone graduated or not. The reunion committee is aggressively looking for former students who would be interested in reconnecting with old classmates at the 2009 reunion to be held on the old campus. So far, attendees from as far away as Florida, California and New York and who attended classes in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

For details, contact Julia "Dodd" Masters at (252) 443-2585, e-mail Pollyann9@aol.com or Waldo Clifton at (919) 665-4432 or e-mail WWClifton1@aol.com.

Books 'N Friends Hold Half Price Sale
A sixth anniversary semi-annual half price sale will be held March 20 and 21 at Books 'N Friends Used Bookstore, located at 35 N. Main Street in Sparta. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All proceeds go to help the Alleghany County Public Library. Donations of used books in good condition will be accepted. No encyclopedias or textbooks. For details, call (336) 372-5155.