Adventurette
“A dyslexic man walks into a bra.” Heard this little gem from a British waiter at a Japanese...
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Author: FOCUS Newspaper
Don’t Miss Ragtime The Musical, This Thursday-Sunday, At Hickory Community Theatre!
Hickory – Opening weekend audiences for the Hickory Community Theatre’s current production...
Read MoreHickory Choral Society Auditions Are Monday, May 21, SALT Block
Hickory – Hickory Choral Society will hold auditions for the 2018 – 2019 season on Monday evening, May 21, 2018. Openings are available for Sopranos, Altos, Tenors, and Basses. Know that reading musical scores is...
Read MoreSenior Health & Wellness Fair In Dallas, NC, On Wednesday, May 30
Dallas, NC – Gaston County Senior Center will be hosting a Senior Health & Wellness Fair on Wednesday, May 30th, from 9am-12pm. All portions of the event are FREE. The event will include health screenings, games such...
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The Rider (**) R
The highly touted indie drama The Rider is a good representation of where the majority of...
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‘Hunchback’ Continues At Green Room This Friday, May 18
Newton, NC – The Green Room Community Theatre’s presents its final musical of 2017-18...
Read MoreLions Prowl Freedom Ride Is Saturday, May 26, At Blue Ridge Harley
Hickory- Have you ever wondered why people are fascinated with riding motorcycles? Perhaps some the following inspirational quotes about motorcycling will be helpful. According to Robert M. Pirsig, American writer and...
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Salinity Hosts Free Showcase Of Local Hickory Artists This Saturday, May 19, 5pm
Hickory – Meet and mingle with Hickory’s leading professional artists, showcasing...
Read MoreHumane Society Of Catawba County Offers 1/2 Off Adoptions Of Black Pets In May!
Hickory & Newton, NC – Across the nation animal shelters, like the Humane Society of Catawba County, are filled with black cats and dogs, who are often overlooked, and the last to be adopted. This May we are shining a...
Read MoreGigi Dover And The Big Love, Friday, May 11, At Sails Music Series In Downtown Hickory
Hickory – This Friday, May 11, the City of Hickory’s Sails Original Music Series will feature Gigi Dover and The Big Love, who describe themselves as offering “world music thru the eyes and ears of southerners.”...
Read MoreThe Art Crawl Guide For Next Thursday, May 17 In Downtown Hickory • 5pm! Don’t Miss It!
Hickory – May 17, 2018 brings a plethora of artwork to Downtown Hickory. The Downtown Hickory Art Crawl boasts the works of more than 60 artists along with pottery demonstrations and music, all with an easily walkable four...
Read MoreFamily Friday Night May 11 Features The Clydes, At 7pm
Valdese, NC – Valdese Family Friday Nights Summer Concert series will feature The Clydes this Friday, May 11, beginning at 7pm, located in the Town Parking area. Three time International Bluegrass Music Awards showcase...
Read MoreRegister By May 16 For Foothills Conservancy’s May 19 Dog-Friendly Picnic With Pups!
Morganton, NC- On Saturday, May 19, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina will host “Picnic With the Pups,” an outing for dogs and their owners, at its Cane Brake property, part of the Smith Cliffs/Henry Fork River Preserve in...
Read MoreWDAV 40th Anniversary Fete At Hickory Museum Of Art, May 17, With John Coffey
Hickory-The WDAV 40th Anniversary Reception with John Coffey will be hosted by Hickory Museum of Art on Thursday, May 17, from 5:30pm-8:30pm. Celebrate WDAV’s 40th Anniversary with tasty hors d’oeuvres and wine, view the Hickory...
Read MoreSears Has Lead Role In RugBugs’ ‘Rita in Remarkable Rita and the Gallant Thieves,’ At HCT This Sat. & Sun.
Hickory – The title role of Rita in Remarkable Rita and the Gallant Thieves belongs to young Katelyn Sears. This production by the RugBug Theatre program will have four more performances this weekend, Saturday, May 12 and...
Read MoreNewton PD Offers New Special Needs Identification Program
Newton, NC – The Newton Police Department is offering a voluntary Special Needs Identification Program that will alert officers when they interact with people who may have special needs. The program is designed for...
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Law Enforcement Memorial Service Is Friday, May 18
Hickory – A Memorial service honoring law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty...
Read MoreMediterranean Diet Classes Starting May 14 At Patrick Beaver Memorial Library
Hickory – Good nutrition is a key component to good health. Beginning Monday, May 14, 2018, a four week course on incorporating a Mediterranean-style eating pattern into your diet to improve your health will be offered at...
Read MoreSee The US Navy P-3 Orion At Hickory Aviation Museum, May 19
Hickory – The Hickory Aviation Museum/Sabre Society of North Carolina will be celebrating the recent arrival of a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion Submarine Hunter on Saturday, May 19th beginning at 10am through 4pm. The keynote...
Read MoreHickory Landmarks Society’s “Romance Of The Home & Garden Tour” Is Saturday, May 19
Hickory – Tickets are now on sale for Hickory Landmarks Society’s 24th Annual Romance of the Home and Garden Tour. Seven homes, and/or gardens are featured on the tour. All will be opened to the public on Saturday May 19...
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Book Sale, Spring Into Summer, Is Sat., May 19, Beaver Library
Hickory – Summer is just around the corner, and that means lots of time for reading and...
Read MoreRagtime The Musical Opens At HCT This Friday, May 11
Hickory – The sweeping and emotionally evocative show Ragtime the Musical begins its 10 performance run this Friday, May 11th at 8:00pm in the Jeffers Theatre. Performances continue through the 27th. This musical is a...
Read MoreBlue Knights Host Caleb Benfield Poker Run On Saturday, June 9
Hickory – The Blue Knights NCXI are hosting the annual Caleb Benfield benefit poker run on June 9th, 2018. All proceeds fund the Caleb Benfield Challenge, a firefighter challenge held in his memory. Registration is from...
Read MoreAlexander Library & HMA Exhibit, She Persisted, Honors Coretta Scott King & Women Of Civil Rights
Hickory & Taylorsville, NC – In their new exhibit, “She Persisted: Coretta Scott King and Women of the Civil Rights Movement,” the Alexander County Library and Hickory Museum of Art have partnered to offer perspectives...
Read MoreRagtime Author E. L. Doctorow’s Widow Helen, & His Biographer, At Library This Saturday, May 12
Hickory – Helen Doctorow and E.L. Doctorow’s biographer Bruce Weber will be at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 10am. Hickory Community Theatre’s Artistic Director Pamela Livingston will...
Read MoreThird Barnes Reunion Set For Sat., May 19, 11am, In Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro, NC – The descendants of Irishman Brinsley (1713-1794) and Englishman Solomon (circa 1742-1807) will celebrate their 3rd Annual Barnes Reunion on Saturday, May 19, 2018. It will be between 11 am and 3pm at Cub...
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Other’s Day
Hmm… where to begin, as we toss a potential literary hand-grenade? Well first things first, in...
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Life of the Party (**) PG-13
Melissa McCarthy’s career as an actress has had an interesting trajectory since her supporting...
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Life of the Party (**) PG-13
Melissa McCarthy’s career as an actress has had an interesting trajectory since her supporting...
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Are LeBron & The Cavs Peaking Just In Time?
Just last week I spoke of how I thought the LeBron James’ play may start to deteriorate due to all...
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Value Added Living
(This column is a “Can You Imagine” Classic from 2016. Bobbi will be back next week!)...
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Tully (***) R
Charlize Theron proves once again just how amazingly versatile she is as an actress in Tully, the...
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April Blu-ray Releases
Universal: Den of Thieves (2018) (**) Two men on opposing sides of the law collide in the...
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Avengers: Infinity War (***) PG-13
After nearly twenty entries in only a decade, the first wave of the Marvel film franchise comes to...
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New Panthers In Town
The NFL draft came and went last week and word has it within the world of NFL pundits that the...
Read MoreHCT’s RugBugs’ “Remarkable Rita & The Gallant Thieves” Opens May 5!
Hickory- The youth actors of the Hickory Community Theatre’s RugBug Theatre program will premiere their latest adventure, Remarkable Rita and the Gallant Thieves, this Saturday May 5th with performances at 2:30 and 4:00pm. The...
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Hickory Downtown Development Association Receives 2018 National Main Street Accreditation
Hickory – Hickory Downtown Development Association has been designated as an accredited Main...
Read MoreDonovan Harper Plays Colehouse Walker, Jr., In HCT’s Ragtime The Musical, Opening May 11
Hickory – One of the most pivotal characters in Ragtime the Musical is Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a jazz musician seeking justice for himself and his family. Local actor Donovan Harper is taking on this compelling role in the...
Read MoreNewcomers Host Talk On Spanish Conquistadors’ Exploring This Area On Wednesday, May 9, At 10:30am
Hickory – Newcomers of Catawba Valley will learn about far earlier newcomers to the area when archaeologist Melissa Timo gives a presentation at their May 9 general meeting. She will talk about the Spanish...
Read MoreDoug McHargue At Poetry Hickory On Tuesday, May 8
Hickory – Hickory poet, Doug McHargue, will be the featured reader at the next Poetry Hickory to be held at Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse in downtown Hickory at 7:00 PM on May 8. McHargue’s first collection of poetry, The...
Read MoreCatawba Dems To Meet Saturday, May, 5, For Ric Vandett Campaign
Hickory – Get involved and support Ric Vandett for NC Senate District 42. Ric Vandett’s Campaign for NC Senate 42 will kick off the first Activist and Staff Meeting on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 2pm at 1612 Tate Blvd SE,...
Read MoreSenior Citizen Dance On Friday, May 11, At Gaston County Senior Center
Dallas, NC – Gaston County Senior Center will be hosting a Senior dance on Friday May 11, 2018 at 7pm. Admission is $5 per person and the doors will open at 6pm. Entertainment will be provided by “Country Bucks” with light...
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Valdese Family Friday Nights First Concert Is May 4, With The Crew At 7pm
Valdese, NC – Family Friday Nights in Valdese will begin the first Friday in May at 7:00pm...
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Humane Society Of Catawba County Offers $15 Heartworm Test For Doggos Throughout May!
Hickory & Newton, NC – Humane Society of Catawba County is proud to extend our heartworm...
Read MoreWRC’s Inspiring Women Features Jean Bolton On Tuesday, May 8, At Noon – Register Now!
Hickory – Enjoy an uplifting hour of Women Power and an appetizing lunch. On Tuesday May 8th, Noon til 1pm, at Women’s Resource Center. Don’t miss this inspiring speaker, call and register today! The Guest Speaker is Jean...
Read MoreNewton Elks Lodge #2042 Hosts 15th Annual Charity Golf Tournament On May 18
Newton, NC – Newton Elks Lodge #2042 announced that they will host their 15th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, May 18th at the Glen Oaks Golf Club in Maiden, North Carolina. The format for the 15th Annual Charity...
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Downtown Hickory Art Crawl Is Thursday, May 17, 5pm
Hickory – Save the date! On Thursday, May 17 the Downtown Hickory Art Crawl brings artists,...
Read MoreOvereaters Anonymous Meets Fridays At Women’s Resource Center, 11:30-12:30
Hickory – Is food a problem for you? Do you obsess over food or eating? Do you eat when you’re not hungry? Is your weight affecting your life? A 12-Step Program focusing on all eating disorders meets Fridays, 11:30am –...
Read MoreNon-Profit Organization, Rebuild, Offers Meals, Clothing At Hickory Soup Kitchen Friday, May 4
Hickory – The non-profit organization Rebuild is having a event on Friday, May 4, From 11am to 12:30pm, at the Soup Kitchen in Hickory, NC. Rebuild will be feeding over 300 less fortunate people, as well as clothing them....
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Barkin’ At The Moon Benefit For HSCC On Sunday, May 20, 4pm
Hickory – Do you love animals, and sampling craft brews? Then join your friends from HSCC at...
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Vegetable Gardening For A Resilient Community At Advanced Gardener Series On Thurs., May 10
Hickory – Join Dr. George Place, Catawba County Cooperative Extension Director for a...
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Oktoberfest Seeks Musicians & Bands Between Ages 12-25
Hickory, NC – Hickory’s Oktoberfest, held October 12, 13 and 14, 2018 is looking for The...
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Friday After 5 Summer Concert Series Kicks Off With Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band, Friday, May 4th
Statesville, NC – The Piedmont HealthCare Friday After 5 Summer Concert Series returns to Downtown...
Read MoreMay-September, HSCC Offers $7 Rabies Clinics At Various Locations
Hickory – Humane Society of Catawba County with our community partners is proud to offer offsite Rabies Clinics. One year Rabies vaccines will be available for $7. All dogs must be on a leash and under control of the dog...
Read MoreGenealogy Thursday May 10: Technical Workshop At Patrick Beaver Memorial Library
Hickory- Join Patrick Beaver Memorial Library genealogist Peggy Mainess on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 7pm for a workshop on ways technology can be used to assist in genealogical research. This session will explore the use of...
Read MorePiedmont Post-Polio Group Meets Tuesday, May 8, In Hickory
Hickory – The Piedmont Post Polio Support Group will meet on Tuesday, May 8th, at 11:00 AM, at Corinth Reformed Church, 150 16th Ave. NW, Hickory in the Althouse Blg. (located behind the main sanctuary.) Polio survivors...
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Re-Roofing It!
“Holy tin roof, Batman! Did you see that?!” “Looks like there’s a new roof in the neighborhood,...
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Thou Shalt Not Roadkill
If ever you’ve found yourself in this particular situation before, been there, done this, then...
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Novaturient
Hey, brushed up on Latin lately? Doesn’t matter, most of us are aware ‘nova’ means new. Yet, not...
Read MorePanthers Need Help
The NFL Draft starts tonight and the Carolina Panthers head into the 2018 draft needing help on both sides of the ball. I feel like I could almost cut and paste what I wrote last year prior to the draft on just what Carolina...
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You Were Never Really Here (**) R
Anyone paying serious attention to modern cinema is well aware that Joaquin Phoenix’s stock as an...
Read MoreFoxtrot (***) R
What happens when one is informed of a loved one’s death and goes through the various stages of grief only to later learn that the loved one in question is actually very much alive? How does one handle riding along on a roller...
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WIC Participants Will Soon Have A Plastic Card To Use For Benefits
Hickory – The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program at Catawba County Public Health has taken...
Read MoreTeacher Allison Andrews Returns To HCT For Musical Ragtime
Hickory-Allison Andrews, the drama teacher at Bandy’s High School, is excited to be returning to the Hickory stage as “Mother” in Ragtime, the Musical. This compelling and dramatic show will be on stage in the Jeffers Theatre...
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Hickory Parks & Recreation Seeks Oktoberfest Musicians
Hickory-The Hickory Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with Hickory Music Factory will...
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Seniors Morning Out In May Will Include Mother’s Day Celebrations & Cookouts
Hickory – Seniors Morning Out participants will enjoy a variety of activities in May including...
Read MoreFull Circle Arts’ “Tiny Art Show” Opens Thursday May 3; Reception, Thursday May 17
Hickory – Full Circle Arts of Hickory would like to invite artists and the public to see its fun and always surprising “Tiny Art Show.” The show opens on May 3, 2018 for viewing by the public, but the reception...
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Caldwell Arts Council Printmaking Workshop Is May 8-June 12
Lenoir, NC – Learn a mixed media approach to printmaking in a fun, engaging environment....
Read MoreScotts “Pitch, Hit & Run” Skills Contest In Gastonia, Tuesday, May 8
Gastonia, NC – Gaston County Parks and Recreation will host a free Pitch, Hit, and Run skills competition on Tuesday May 8th at 6:30pm on field #4 at George Poston Park. Pitch, Hit, & Run is the official skills...
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HCT’s Dramatic Comedy True West Has Final Four Shows This Week
Hickory – The Hickory Community Theatre will present the final four performances of True...
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Caldwell Arts Calls For Visual Artists For June Competition
Lenoir, NC- The Caldwell Arts Council is pleased to announce the 42nd Annual Caldwell Visual...
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Children’s Advocacy “Denim & Diamonds” Fundraiser Is This Saturday, April 28, At Broken Arrow Farm
Claremont, NC – The Children’s Advocacy & Protection Center is hosting our annual Denim...
Read MoreNC Blackberry Festival Is July 12-14 In Downtown Lenoir
Lenoir NC – The 17th Annual North Carolina Blackberry festival will take place from July 12th-14th in Downtown Lenoir. Bring the whole family for a “jam” packed weekend with live music, food, blackberry themed...
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2018 Sails Original Music Series Kicks Off Next Friday, May 4
Hickory – Friday, May 4, the City of Hickory and Bob Sinclair Music will kick off the 2018 Sails...
Read MoreNewton PD Offers Self-Defense For Women On Saturday, May 5
Newton, NC – Newton police officers will lead a free self-defense class in May for women and female teenagers. The class will be from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, May 5, on the lower level of the Newton Recreation Center at 23...
Read MoreACAP-Hickory: Caring For My Parent With A Serious Illness Is On Tuesday, May 8, 5:30pm
Hickory – ACAP Hickory (Adult Children of Aging Parents) presents “Caring for My Parent with Serious Illness: Palliative Medicine and Hospice” on Tuesday, May 8, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Location of the program (for this...
Read MorePatron Saint
Now my memories of the before are quite vague. Before, there was the earth, being within and one with it. Then slowly pushing, pulling away from, then above, reaching forever upward. Recalling back the winds gentle breezes, the...
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HCT’s RugBugs Open “Remarkable Rita & The Gallant Thieves” On May 5
Hickory—Murray Phillips, guest director for the RugBug Theatre program at the Hickory Community...
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CVCC Announces Summer Continuing Education Pottery Classes
Hickory – Resolve to get your hands dirty this summer, with Catawba Valley Community College...
Read MoreTreehouse Adventures Opens This Friday, April 27, At CSC
Hickory – Catawba Science Center is thrilled to announce the opening of its recently renovated pre-k exhibit area, Treehouse Adventures! The area formerly known as Explore it! has undergone wall-to-wall renovation and will...
Read MoreSpring “Art At The Farm” Is Set For Saturday, May 5, 10am-5pm
Hickory – The 20th Annual Spring Art at the Farm will be held at the Farm, located at 5726 Grace Chapel Road in Hickory, NC, on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Stop by to share refreshments and browse the...
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Ragtime The Musical Cast Set By HCT’s Livingstone • Opens May 11th!
Hickory – Pamela Livingstone, the Hickory Community Theatre’s Artistic Director, has just...
Read MoreWPS Masterworks Concert V Full Circle: Ode to Joy – Beethoven’s 9th
April 14, 2018 By W. Gerald Cochran Hickory, NC – The final concert of Western Piedmont Symphony’s 53rd season, “Celebrating John,” at P.E. Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University was truly an ode to...
Read MoreMoney Smart Week At Ridgeview Library Starts April 23 With Workshops For Students & Adults
Hickory – Celebrate Money Smart Week and learn the basics of better managing your money with these events held all week long. Students in Kindergarten through Fifth grade are encouraged to learn the basics of sticking to a...
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“Tiny Art” Show Intake At Full Circle Arts This Week, April 19-21
Hickory – The entry dates for Full Circle Arts’ “Tiny Art Show” are fast...
Read MoreNominations For The Spring Human Relation Awards Are Due By Saturday, May 5
Hickory – The City of Hickory Community Relations Council (CRC) is currently accepting applications for the 2018 Human Relations Awards. The annual Human Relations Awards are designed to recognize any individual, youth, or...
Read MoreCelebrate NC’s Women Authors On Thursday, May 3, With “Dessert, Wine & Chocolates”
Hickory – The public is invited to enjoy a Dessert, Wine & Chocolates evening celebrating North Carolina’s female authors beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, in the Keiser Room at the Salt Block. Authors Kimmery...
Read MoreDowntown This Saturday, April 21, Hickory Hops Is All About Beer, Food, Live Music & Good Times!
Hickory – The stage is set for the 16th annual Hickory Hops beer festival on April 21. A great way to celebrate North Carolina Beer Month, this popular event, which attracts fest-goers from throughout the eastern seaboard,...
Read MoreThis Sunday, April 22, Join Hymn Festival At St. Andrews Lutheran
Hickory – St. Andrews Lutheran Church of Hickory is excited to host a community-wide Hymn Festival. It will be held on Sunday, April 22 at 5pm at St. Andrews, located at 629 8th Street NE. The public is invited and welcome...
Read MoreCatawba Valley Harvest Show Is Saturday, June 9, Newton
Newton, NC – The Catawba Valley Harvest Association Annual Harvest Show is set for Saturday June 9, 2018, at 10am (rain date is June 16). It will be at Sigmon Farm Park, 420 East N Street, Newton, NC. Come see old time...
Read MoreHCT’s Fan Club Thursday, 6:30pm Meet The True West Cast! Snacks!
Hickory – The Hickory Community Theatre is hosting another of its “Fan Club Thursdays” on April 19 for True West, a dark comedy by Sam Shepard currently on stage in the Firemen’s Kitchen. There are three other performances...
Read MoreDeadline Is Midnight Tonight, April 19! FOCUS Seeks Models For The Swimsuit/Summer Guide!
Hickory – Celebrating 40 years in print this year, FOCUS’ annual Swimsuit & Summer Guide issue, will be on the stands Thursday, May 24! Thanks to all the great men & women who’ve entered this year! The deadline to...
Read MoreMagazine Bowl Craft Celebrates Earth Day At Ridgeview, April 20
Hickory – Hey teens! Celebrate Earth Day with a commitment to reduce and reuse by taking recycled magazines and transforming them into a decorative bowl. Participants are invited to the Ridgeview Library on Friday, April...
Read MorebloomHMA Floral Tableaux Weekend Is April 26-29 At The Hickory Museum Of Art
Hickory – For four magical days, see Matthew Diffee’s cartoons and other art made even more exciting when surrounded by an artistic floral design show and related events during the bloomHMA Weekend, April 26-29, at Hickory...
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Letter Carriers Help MDA With $6 Crawdads Voucher On April 26
Hickory – The National Association of Letter carriers is joining forces with the Hickory...
Read MoreCatawba Hospice Golf Tourney Is May 14; Register By May 1
Newton, NC-Catawba Regional Hospice is gearing up for its 16th annual Friends Fore Hospice golf tournament, which will take place on Monday, May 14, at Catawba Country Club in Newton. A yearly favorite, this community event...
Read MoreDiscovery High Students Plan Walkout On Friday, April 20
Newton, NC – Discovery Hight School in Newton, NC, plans a walkout this Friday morning, April 20, at 10am, in solidarity with the movement to end gun violence in our country and to remember those we lost that day 19 years...
Read MoreCatawba County Library To Take Part In Statewide Star Party, April 20
Newton, NC – The Catawba County Library is participating in a statewide celebration focused on outer space and celestial bodies. On Friday, April 20, from 6pm-8pm, the Conover Branch (403 Conover Station SE, 828.466.5108) will...
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Truth or Dare (**) PG-13
Truth or Dare is the latest entry from the folks at horror outlet Blumhouse Productions, an outfit...
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Isle of Dogs (** ½) PG-13
It goes without saying that there are two things that will greatly enhance one’s appreciation of...
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Zoocalypse
Date: April 9th 2018. Destination: The North Carolina Zoological Park, Asheboro, NC. Purpose for...
Read MoreThe LeBron Talk Has Started
Leave it to a first-round game, one loss to the Indiana Pacers, to start talk of just where LeBron James will play basketball next season. Talk has started because James has yet to commit to returning to Cleveland. The...
Read MoreCotton Tales
On quiet evenings if you walk outside at just the right time, you’ll discover a momma rabbit forging around the multiple flower beds that line my driveway. I’ve noticed her for years hopping across the gravel to inspect her next...
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Troubled Times For The Pats?
Is the New England Patriots dynasty on the ropes? All that has been coming out in New England...
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Chappaquiddick (***) PG-13
It’s a surprise that it’s taken so long to dramatize the events surrounding one of the most...
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Blockers (* ½) R
Certain to make my year-end worst list for the calendar year of 2018, Blockers is the latest to...
Read MoreA Quiet Place (***) PG-13
The horror thriller A Quiet Place is actor John Krasinski’s second turn at bat as director, following the thoroughly unmemorable 2016 indie effort, The Hollars. Thankfully, it’s a step up as opposed to what most expected from...
Read MoreExodus Homes Partners With United Way To Help Addicts
Hickory – When people think of Exodus Homes, many times they think about homeless people coming back to the community from jails and prison. The faith-based supportive housing agency agency wants the community to know that...
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Lenoir Rhyne University Playmakers’ ‘Serafina’ On Saturday, April 14, After Little Read
Hickory – Lenoir-Rhyne University will conclude its 2017-18 Playmakers season with a production of...
Read More“The Savannah Sipping Society” Opens Thursday, April 12, At Hudson Uptown Building
Hudson, NC – The Town of Hudson is proud to announce the opening of its 25th Dinner Theatre Production, the Southern Comedy, “The Savannah Sipping Society,” at the Hudson Uptown Building (HUB), 145 Cedar Valley Road. The...
Read MoreAward Winning Poets For NC’s Poetry Day, On Sat., April 21, At Lenoir-Rhyne • Register Today
Hickory – North Carolina’s annual Poetry Day will be hosted by Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory on April 21 from 11:30 to 3:30. Poetry Day is sponsored by the North Carolina Poetry Society and Lenoir Rhyne...
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Good, Grief
Friends, since the third week of January my life has been spinning out of control…and yet, almost...
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LRU’s Little Read, This Saturday, April 14, With North Carolina Author Robert Beatty
Hickory – Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Visiting Writers Series will present its annual Little...
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Bethlehem’s New Farmers Market At Mt. Pisgah Opens Saturday, April 14
Bethlehem, NC – Starting Saturday, April 14th and every second and fourth Saturday through...
Read MoreDramatic Comedy “True West” Opens At HCT This Friday, April 13
Hickory – The dark and gritty dramatic comedy True West by Sam Shepard opens this Friday, April 13th in the Firemen’s Kitchen at the Hickory Community Theatre. This American classic explores alternatives that might spring...
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Western Piedmont Symphony Maestro John Gordon Ross’ Final Concert Is This Saturday, April 14
Hickory – Maestro John Gordon Ross finishes his career at the Western Piedmont Symphony this...
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College Financial Aid Workshop At Ridgeview Library In Hickory, April 17
Hickory – Looking for more information on how to make college more affordable for you? Join...
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The Hickory Youth Council’s Decade-Themed Dance To Benefit The Rudy Project Is On April 20
Hickory – The Hickory Youth Council will host a decade-themed dance fundraiser for The Rudy...
Read More“Seussical, Jr.,” Is Set To Premiere This Saturday, April 14, At The Old Rock School In Valdese
Valdese, NC – Carolina Broadway Theatre Company (CBTC) is proud to present Seussical Jr., a whimsical musical that weaves together Dr. Seuss’s most famous tales. Featuring breezy lyrics set to sweetly accessible melodies,...
Read MoreContest Deadline Extended To April 19! Final Week To Enter! FOCUS Seeks Models!
Hickory – Celebrating 40 years in print this year, FOCUS announces its annual Swimsuit & Summer Guide issue, on the stands Thursday, May 24! The deadline to submit a photo to be a swimsuit model in FOCUS’ 2018...
Read MoreDepression & Suicide In Older Adults, Monday, April 16 At Patrick Beaver Memorial Library
Hickory – Learn about depression and suicide in older adults with the Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty Team from Vaya Health on Monday, April 16 from 10am to 12pm at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library. In this...
Read MoreGrowing A Green Future At Salt Block April 21 & The First STEM Trek! Science Festival, Too!
Hickory – The “Green” at the SALT Block will simultaneously host two events, the ninth annual “Growing a Green Future” event and the inaugural STEM Trek! Science Festival, on Saturday, April 21, between 10am and 2pm. Growing a...
Read MoreA Tradition Unlike Any Other
It is Masters week and the golfing world will have its eyes on Augusta, Georgia. This is the one tournament that seems to draw sports fans from all walks of life. The return and resurgence of Tiger Woods has added additional...
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Western Piedmont Symphony Chamber Classics IV • The Tesla Quartet: Tenebrae
March 31, 2018 By W. Gerald Cochran Hickory, NC – The Tesla Quartet presented their final...
Read MoreWilkesboro Dragway Opens New Season Sat., April 7
Wilkesboro, NC – The wait is finally over! This Saturday, April 7th, at 10am the gates will open for the 2018 racing season at Wilkesboro Dragway. For over six decades Wilkesboro Dragway has been known as the high...
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Hickory’s History On Stage In The Green Room’s Blue, April 6-15
Newton, NC – The Green Room Community Theatre stage is set back to 1944 for an amazing look...
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NRHS Train Show This Sat., April 7, At Hickory Metro, 9am-4pm
Hickory – On Saturday, April 7, 9am-4pm, the Alexander Chapter-NRHS will host the 16th...
Read MoreFlowers, Shrubs & Pollinator Gardens On Thursday, April 12, 6pm at Patrick Beaver Library
Hickory – Join Dr. George Place, Catawba County Cooperative Extension Director for a presentation about flowers, shrubs, and pollinator gardens at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 6:00 p.m....
Read MoreClaremont Rescue Squad’s 18th Annual Pig Picking & Poker Run Is Saturday, April 21
Claremont, NC – Claremont Rescue Squad will be holding their 18th Annual Pig Picking and Poker Run on April 21st, 2018. It will be held at their Base in Claremont. There will be a silent auction held at the squad, items in...
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Humane Society Offers A Variety Of Deals In April, Neuters, Spays, Vaccines & Fostering Classes!
Hickory & Newton, NC – We are now accepting appointments for 25 female cat spays and 25...
Read MorePoetry Hickory On Tuesday, April 10, Will Feature Bill Griffin
Hickory – Bill Griffin is well known in Elkin, NC, as a family physician, but he is perhaps better known across the state as a leader in NC’s poetry community. Griffin has been a small town family doctor in rural...
Read MoreApril 10, Adult Children Of Aging Parents Presents: Walking A Mile In Their Shoes: Experiencing Aging
Hickory – ACAP Hickory (Adult Children of Aging Parents) presents “Walking a Mile in Their Shoes: Experiencing Aging” on Tuesday, April 10, 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church,...
Read MoreLakeview Baptist’s Spring Craft & Bake Sale Is Sat., April 21
Hickory – Lakeview Baptist Church invites you to a Spring Craft and Bake Sale on Saturday, April 21st. From 8am-Noon. Breakfast is provided also for a small cost. Lakeview Baptist Church is located at 4080 N Center Street,...
Read MoreFolksinger Caroline Doctorow At Beaver Library, Tues., April 10
Hickory – Join chart-topping folksinger and songwriter Caroline Doctorow at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. Doctorow will focus on folk music of the early 1960’s, concentrating on...
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True West Starts Next Friday, April 13, In HCT’s Firemen’s Kitchen
Hickory – Joshua Yoder (standing) and Joshua Propst star in the dramatic comedy True West,...
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Final Week To Enter! FOCUS Seeks Models For Its May 24 Swimsuit Issue! Enter By April 12!
Hickory – Celebrating 40 years in print this year, FOCUS announces its annual Swimsuit &...
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Piedmont Post-Polio Support Group Meets Tues., April 10
Hickory-The Piedmont Post Polio Support Group will meet on Tuesday, April 10th, at 11:00 AM, at...
Read MoreCaregivers Of Children With Behavioral Health Concerns Can Attend A Free Workshop May 9 & 10
Morganton, NC – Struggling to get help for a child with behavioral health concerns? Feeling like you just aren’t being heard? Help is out there, and here’s how to find it… Come join us for a System of Care Training,...
Read MoreEddie Ide To Speak On Berlin Airlift On April 7, 14 & 28
Newton, NC – The Catawba County Library is hosting local resident and historian Edwin “Eddie” Ide to speak at three library branches about the storied Berlin Airlift and the role it played in shaping alliances and politics...
Read MoreLake Hickory Riversweep Is Sat., April 28 – Volunteer Today!
Hickory, NC – Join the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation (CRF) for our annual Lake Hickory Riversweep on the fourth Saturday in April. This event will be a fun and fulfilling opportunity to help keep the lake beautiful and...
Read MoreCounty Libraries Celebrate National Library Week, Apr. 8-14
Newton, NC – Each April, the Catawba County Library celebrates National Library Week, joining a nationwide effort to educate people about the ways that libraries transform their communities through services, programs, and...
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March Blu-ray Releases
Paramount: Downsizing (2017) (** ½) is the first misfire from director Alexander Payne, a flawed...
Read MoreThe Death of Stalin (***) R
An old cliché tells us that the truth is stranger than fiction. If one were looking for an example to prove their point, the historical comedy-drama The Death of Stalin could certainly serve as exhibit A. If the truth really is...
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Minor Holiday Complaint
Spring has sprung and now that it has sprang we can spring into action, grab it by the sproing...
Read MoreCatawba Valley Brass Quintet Free Concert On Sun., April 15
Hickory – The Catawba Valley Brass Quintet, a fairly new group, is doing a free concert at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 2780 N. Center Street, Hickory on Sunday, April 15 at 4 p.m. A reception will follow this free concert....
Read MoreNewcomers Explore Travel With Road Scholar Program, Apr. 11
Hickory-Newcomers of Catawba Valley will learn about several national and international trips available through the Road Scholar program at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 11. Road Scholar, formerly Elder Hostel,...
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After 70 Years, Dead Sea Scrolls Are Now On Display In Jerusalem
By Ilan Ben Zion, Associated Press Jerusalem (AP) – A fragment of an enigmatic Dead Sea...
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Ready Player One (** 1/2) PG-13
I’ll readily admit that I haven’t played a video game since roughly the same time that Ronald...
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Unsane (***) R
Steven Soderbergh’s latest film, Unsane—his second after a four-year breather—is the kind of film...
Read MoreFinal Four Weekend
The field has been whittled down from 68 teams to four. The Final Four. We are left with an interesting field of survivors. We have two perennial powers, Villanova and Kansas, who were number one seeds. We have the hottest team...
Read MoreDourmou: The Rats Of Saw
INTRODUCTION: This week’s article is set to an experimental format. What follows is a collaboration of Lil Red’s (that’s the spouse) words, and this writer’s attempt to place it into a written form from her perspective. Being...
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Hickory Police Department’s Career Open House Is On Tuesday, April 24
Hickory-Honesty, integrity, dedication, selflessness, Professionalism, Accountability, Compassion,...
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FOCUS Seeks Models For Its May 24 Swimsuit Issue! Enter By April 12, Details Below!
Hickory – Celebrating 40 years in print this year, FOCUS announces its annual Swimsuit &...
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Saving A City: The Story Of The Berlin Airlift, At Patrick Beaver Library, April 3
Hickory – Join Eddie Ide on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 6:30 pm at Patrick Beaver Memorial...
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Hickory Police Department Hosts Coffee With A Cop Tuesday, April 10, At Snack Bar
Hickory-On April 10, officers from the Hickory Police Department and community members will come...
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Exploring College Options At Ridgeview Public Library, Tuesday, April 10
Hickory – Are you interested in pursuing an affordable college education, a GED, or a...
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Safe Harbor Commits To $1.9M Expansion Project To Serve Critical Needs Of Women & Children
Hickory – Safe Harbor, a Christian-centered 501(c)(3) organization that services at risk...
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Free Skin Cancer Screening On Friday, 4/20, Reed Dermatology
Hickory -A Free Skin Cancer Screening will be offered as part of a community partnership between...
Read MoreSpecial Assistance & Medicaid At Paralegal Program On Tuesday, April 10, CVCC
Hickory – The Catawba Valley Paralegal Association (CVPA) will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Catawba Valley Community College Room WW120, in Hickory, NC. Local attorney Kimberly H....
Read MoreHollie Sherrill Returns To The HCT Stage In True West, April 13-29
Hickory – Local actress and teacher Hollie Sherrill returns to the Hickory Community Theatre stage as Mom in True West, opening Friday, April 13 in the Firemen’s Kitchen. Sherrill was most recently seen as Julia in Lend Me...
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Final LRU Concert Stars Abbie Conant As Aletheia, Wed., April 4, Belk Centrum – Free
Hickory – The final performance scheduled as part of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s 2017-18...
Read MoreRug Concert With Tesla Quartet Monday, April 9, Ridgeview
Hickory – The Ridgeview branch of the Hickory Public Libraries is pleased to host a free rug concert by the renowned Tesla Quartet. Music lovers of all ages, especially the very youngest, are enthusiastically invited to...
Read MoreTiny House Program At Beaver Library On Sat., April 7, 2pm
Hickory – Join Mark Rostan and Drew Estes of Campfire Homes at the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 2:00 pm for a presentation on tiny houses and what it takes to live in a 200 to 500 square...
Read MoreWine Walk Sat., April 14, 4-7pm, In Downtown Statesville
Statesville, NC – The Wine Walk in Downtown Statesville has become THE premiere event for wine lovers! Spend Saturday, April 14 from 4-7 pm in Historic Downtown Statesville tasting 70+ remarkable wines in 17 unique...
Read MoreBarnhardt Speaks Wednesday, April 11, At Final Lenoir Rhyne University Leadership Series
Hickory – The final speaker scheduled as part of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s 2018 Alex Lee Leadership Lecture Series is Alan Barnhardt, executive director of the Catawba Science Center. He will share his experience and...
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Don’t Miss RockyFest Saturday, April 21, At Rocky Face Park
Alexander County, NC – Alexander County’s big event of the year is coming soon! Mark your...
Read MoreSeniors Morning Out In April: Health & Wellness & Music!
Hickory – Seniors Morning Out participants will enjoy a variety of activities in April including a senior health and wellness fair and musical performances. Any resident of Catawba County who is 60 or better is invited to...
Read MoreMovies At The Rock Presents “Wonder” On April 6 – Free!
Valdese, NC – Movies at the Rock will show a free screening of Wonder on Friday, April 6th. The movie is being shown at the Old Rock School in Valdese for no cost to the viewers. Movies at the Rock was a fundraising project from...
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Pacific Rim Uprising (** ½) PG-13
One of the biggest movie going surprises of the year 2013 was how much I enjoyed the recent Oscar...
Read MoreNathan Crabtree Takes On New Type Of Role In “True West,” April 13
Hickory – In the play True West, one of the main characters is an aspiring screenwriter hoping to attract the attention of Saul Kimmer, a Hollywood producer. This role is a relatively small but pivotal one. In the upcoming...
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What Does Secular Humanism Say About Moral Crisis? At Ridgeview Library, Wednesday, March 28
Hickory – Bertrand Russell, the 20th century British mathematician and philosopher, once said that...
Read MoreEaster Egg Hunt At Southside Park, Sun., March 25, In Newton
Newton, NC—The Newton Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Easter Egg Hunt begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at Southside Park. This year’s event will be divided into three divisions: 3 years old and younger, ages 4-6, and...
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Hickory Police Special Olympics Benefit Golf Tourney Is May 14
Hickory – Hickory Police Department is continuing its efforts to support Special Olympics North...
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Library Hosts Family Caregiver Support Program On March 29
Hickory -Join us on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library as...
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Free Kontras Quartet Concert This Friday, March 23, At Lenoir Rhyne University
Hickory – Lenoir-Rhyne University brings the Chicago-based Kontras Quartet back to Grace...
Read MoreLife Line Health Screening Monday, April 30, Newton Recreation Center
Newton, NC – Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at the Newton Recreation Center on Monday, April 30. Five screenings will be...
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Hickory’s Oktoberfest Juried Arts & Crafts Entries Are Being Taken
Hickory – Hickory’s Oktoberfest 2018 is now accepting applications for Arts and Crafts...
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Summer Shakespeare Institute At The Green Room Is July 16-21
Newton, NC – The Green Room Community Theatre is pleased to announce the dates for its 21st...
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Foothills Folk Art Festival Invites Artists’ Applications Until June 1
Newton, NC – The Foothills Folk Art Festival is now accepting artist applications for the...
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UNC-TV Has Several Events In Hickory This Week On Thurs. & Sat., Find Out Here How To Take Part
Research Triangle Park, NC – UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina (PMNC), North Carolina’s Statewide...
Read MoreFan Club Thursday Tonight, March 22, At HCT’s The Hobbit
Hickory – The Hickory Community Theatre is kicking off the final weekend of The Hobbit with another of its new “Fan Club Thursday” events on March 22nd from 6:30 to 7:00pm, just prior to the evening’s performance, which...
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Easter Egg Hunt On Dallas Court Square, Saturday, March 24, 1-4pm
Dallas, NC – The Gaston County Museum of Art & History, in partnership with the Town of...
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Got Lotsa Old Stuff? American Pickers Is Filming In NC Soon!
North Carolina – Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to North...
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Enter Today, FOCUS Seeks Models For Its Swimsuit Issue In May! Details Below, Deadline Is April 12
Hickory – Celebrating 40 years in print this year, FOCUS announces its annual Swimsuit &...
Read MoreHoarding Disorder In The Aging At Beaver Library, Monday, March 26
Hickory – Have you accumulated a lot of things over the years and are having a hard time deciding what to discard? Are you having trouble walking through your home without tripping over bags? Do you choose not to cook...
Read MoreCity Of Hickory Plans Easter Egg Hunts For Sat., March 24 And For Seniors, Thursday, March 29
Hickory – The Hickory Parks and Recreation Department will host its 31st annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 24, at Henry Fork River Regional Recreation Park, located at 5655 Sweet Bay Lane. At this free event,...
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Loveless (** ½) R
The Russian nominee for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Oscar ceremony, Loveless, gets off to a...
Read MoreLooks Like It’s Time To Grow Up!
But…I don’t wanna grow up, don’t want grow up! I don’t wanna grow up, don’t want grow up! … I don’t wanna grow up; I’m a Toys R Us kid! They’ve got a million toys at Toys R Us that I can play with! I don’t wanna grow up;...
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Second Chance Bracket
As I predict on virtually an annual basis, most everyone’s NCAA March Madness bracket is already a...
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Meet The Two Joshes Of Hickory Community Theatre’s “True West,” Opening April 13
Hickory – The play True West, opening April 13th in the Firemen’s Kitchen at the Hickory Community Theatre, is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a devoted family man, and his older brother...
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Former Death Row Inmate Ray Hinton Speaks Tuesday, March 20, At CVCC And At Newton Courthouse
Hickory – Catawba Valley Community College’s Interdisciplinary Read Committee will hold the...
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Town Of Hudson’s North Carolina Butterfly Festival Is Friday & Saturday, May 4 & 5
Hudson, NC – The oldest festival in Caldwell County, the North Carolina Butterfly Festival,...
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Bright Star Celebrates Women In Saturday, March 17 Show At Patrick Beaver Memorial Library
Hickory – March is Women’s History Month and Patrick Beaver Memorial Library is celebrating...
Read MoreBenefit Used Book Sale Is March 22-24, 2018 At Bethlehem Fire Department
Bethlehem, NC – Mysteries, romance, westerns and more! That’s just a few of the categories you’ll find among the thousands of used books for sale next week at the eighth annual used book sale. The sale will benefit the...
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FOCUS Seeks Models For Its 40th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue! Enter By April 12, Details Below!
Hickory – Celebrating 40 years in print this year, FOCUS announces its annual Swimsuit &...
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Piedmont Percussion Spring Concert Is Sunday, March 24
Hickory – The Piedmont Percussion Program is excited to announce their Spring Concert on...
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