Our View: United Way looks to community to bring home the bacon
Thumbs-up: to the High Country United Way's annual Big Pig Kiss-off. Hambo the Rambo of Pork may have been a no-show for the event, but involved community members there — who brought checks totaling more than $32,000 — said they had no beef about it. The agency has raised more than 60 percent of its $550,000 annual fundraising goal, but there's still room for community help. High Country United Way serves Watauga and Avery counties. Visit http://www.highcountryunitedway.org to learn more about the organization.
Thumbs-up: to the more than $1,000 the Watauga County Association of Educators raised for scholarships from its “Share Your Love Raffle Baskets” drawing. Watauga High School seniors will benefit, thanks to community support in the form of donations and other services.
Thumbs-up: to the myriad volunteers who make tax season a bit less taxing for area seniors and others. Both AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offer qualified assistance for residents who earned less than $50,000 in 2011. To contact VITA for information, or to make an appointment, call Watauga County Library at (828) 264-8784. The program ends April 14.
Thumbs-down: to an economy that forced the untimely closure of The Hayes Center. What began as a dream for Blowing Rock Community Arts Center ended with a foreclosure notice. The project began in better times, and those people involved certainly gave it every effort to sustain the center. Our hope is now that some patron of the arts recognizes the value of the center and what it could mean for our community — allowing the original intent of the project to prosper in some fashion.
Thumbs-up: to the more than $1,000 the Watauga County Association of Educators raised for scholarships from its “Share Your Love Raffle Baskets” drawing. Watauga High School seniors will benefit, thanks to community support in the form of donations and other services.
Thumbs-up: to the myriad volunteers who make tax season a bit less taxing for area seniors and others. Both AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offer qualified assistance for residents who earned less than $50,000 in 2011. To contact VITA for information, or to make an appointment, call Watauga County Library at (828) 264-8784. The program ends April 14.
Thumbs-down: to an economy that forced the untimely closure of The Hayes Center. What began as a dream for Blowing Rock Community Arts Center ended with a foreclosure notice. The project began in better times, and those people involved certainly gave it every effort to sustain the center. Our hope is now that some patron of the arts recognizes the value of the center and what it could mean for our community — allowing the original intent of the project to prosper in some fashion.