Hickory – If you haven’t entered to be considered for this iconic issue of FOCUS, or if you know someone who should enter, better do it today! The deadline to submit a photo to be a swimsuit model in FOCUS’ 2017 Swimsuit/Summer Guide Issue is Friday, April 21st, at midnight!

The contest is presented by RH Barringer, your local distributer of Anheuser Busch and Craft Beer.

Again this year, women and men of all types, sizes and ages over 18 are encouraged to  submit a photograph and try for a chance to be a part of this famous issue of FOCUS!

If you were chosen to model for FOCUS in 2015 or before, feel free to enter again!  Models from 2016 will have to wait a year to re-enter the contest.

Email your photo – it can be just a clear cell phone photo, waist up, with a big smile on your face – to [email protected]. Include your home, business and or cell phone number as well as your address. You will receive a response from FOCUS to confirm your entry. If you don’t receive a response within a day or two, please call the FOCUS office to let us know.

All FOCUS models chosen to appear in the issue will be notified via email or telephone by the end of the day Monday, April 24th. Call FOCUS at 828-322-1036 for more information. See the ad on page 14 this week.

Up to four men & four women will win free swimwear & lots of goodies from our sponsors, The Olde Hickory Taproom and The Hickory Community Theatre.

The Olde Hickory Station is sponsoring Hickory Hops beer festival in Downtown Hickory on Saturday, April 22nd from 1-7pm. Tickets are available now for the Festival.  Go to www.hickoryhops.com or call 828.322.1121.

Hickory Community Theatre’s next production is Rent, the hit musical based on La Boheme, beloved all over the world.  It opens in the Jeffers Theatre on Friday, May 12. Rated R for mature audiences. For tickets go to www.hickorytheatre.org or call 828.328.2283.

Hickory area professional photographer & sponsor Spencer Huffman of Pixelated Perceptions will photograph our models for the Swimsuit/Summer Guide, which will be on news stands on Thursday, May 25th.

Models will also be featured at www.focusnewspaper.com through the summer as part of our Summer Guide online and on our mobile app.

FOCUS’ Summer Guide is a handy reference for things to do & see – festivals, historic sites, amusement parks, conventions –  within a day’s drive of Western North Carolina. Be sure to pick up this issue on May 25th to plan a great summer!

Businesses should call 828.322.1036 to advertise in the Swimsuit & Summer Guide issue.  It’s a great idea, as many readers keep the issue through the fall, using the Summer Guide to find events.

Models, remember the email address is now [email protected].