Rutherford Weekly

OUR 23 rd YEAR • ISSUE NO. 17 • APRIL 30, 2015 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE THE COUNTY'S LARGEST CIRCULATION THE COUNTY'S LARGEST CIRCULATION FATZ.com Like us Follow us Jammin' Pimento Cheeseburger Weekdays 11am – 3pm New Lunch Menu Try Our Y'all Vera Kizer | General Manager 828-286-8996 Vera Kizer | Gener l al Manager Visit FATZ Cafe in Forest City at 118 Hill Top Way today! Article Provided By: Allison Flynn • allison@rutherfordweekly.com Article Provided By: Allison Flynn • allison@rutherfordweekly.com The sounds of fiddles and banjos will again fill the air around the Union Mills Learning Center during the Third Annual Music at the Mills Bluegrass & Arts Festival May 15 and 16. "Last year 600 people attended the festival," said Justin Conner, president of the Union Mills Learning Center. "We have three headliners this year - Darrin and Brooke Aldridge, David Holt and Mountain Faith - and a dozen or so other bands." The festival, Conner explained, grew out of a Friday night bluegrass concert series hosted at the Center. The concerts, as well as a monthly breakfast, serve as a means of fundraising for the Center, which was once Union Mills School and Round Hill Academy. A four phase restoration project on the main building, gym and surrounding property began in 2000. Since that time renovations have been made to the roofs on the main building and gym and the auditorium has been refinished. This year, Conner added, replacing the windows is one of the major focuses. "We also want to get the gym fixed with keypads and put fitness equipment in for members to be able to use," he said. "It would be another incentive for our members." Memberships are $12 per year, and include discounts to the bluegrass and arts festival and monthly breakfast. The Center is governed by a board of directors, and all have ties to the building, Conner said. Conner, as well as his father, attended Union Mills School. "I think about him going to school there," Conner said. "It hasn't changed a bit, and we've tried to keep it as original as possible." The concert series and other community events, and the leasing of rooms to local businesses, have allowed the building to remain a vital part of the community. "It makes me feel good that we've kept the building alive," he said. The bluegrass festival will showcase the building and grounds, with musical groups and jam sessions scheduled across the facility. The event will be emceed by WNCW music host Dennis Jones. Tickets for the Music at the Mills Bluegrass and Arts Festival are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate (UMLC members receive $2 off ticket prices.) Children 12 and younger admitted free. Tickets may be purchased online at unionmillslearningcenter. org or in person at the Center, Barley's Taproom, Gilkey General Store or The Twisted Pear. MAKING MAKING SCIENCE AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FUN TECHNOLOGY FUN Sixth graders from Rutherford and Polk counties were having too much fun learning how to dust for fingerprints, watch cans shrink from changes in air pressure and learning proper hand washing techniques to realize that they were learning about science and technology at the same time. This year marked the fourth that Isothermal Community College hosted a Science and Tech Expo. The event, which is an official event of the North Carolina Science Festival, is designed to bring students to campus to showcase the breadth of programming and the careers available in science and technology fields, said Mike Gavin, director of marketing and community relations for Isothermal. "It really started from a phone call from the public relations guys at Facebook, and so we brainstormed what we could offer to allow students to see what's on campus," Gavin explained. By offering it to middle school students, it provides an opportunity to engage them in learning and serve as a reminder of career options as they go through high school. "We recently had some Jumpstart students on campus, and they mentioned remembering coming for this event," he said. More than 1,000 students took part in 40-plus exhibits across campus on April 17. While half visited exhibits, the other half took part in an interactive science show at The Foundation. Presenters included KidSenses Interactive Children's Museum, NOAA and the Climatic Data Center, N.C. State University, Facebook, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Duke Power and others. Science teachers and students from area high schools also gave demonstrations on various activities. Free Giveaways Lite Refreshments In time for Mother's Day Lottie Dotties and Gingersnap Trunk Show Sat., May 2 nd • 10-4 ©Community First Media Community First Media FOREST CITY • 720 SOUTH CHURCH STREET All Manufactures Reps Will Be Here To Help You Design Your Special Gift Kids come and create your own special gift for mom! The Third Annual Music at the Mills Bluegrass & Arts Festival will be May 15 and 16 at the Union Mills Learning Center. The festival will feature Darrin and Brooke Aldridge, Mountain Faith and David Holt, as well as arts and craft vendors, musicians and dancers. Students from R-S Central High School demonstrated how a Van de Graaff generator can be used to power a lightbulb. The generator can also create a hair raising experience. Emily Thompson, a student at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, demonstrated how static electricity can cause your hair to lift. MUSIC FESTIVAL HELPS MUSIC FESTIVAL HELPS REVITALIZE UNION MILLS REVITALIZE UNION MILLS LEARNING CENTER (Left) Lori Morris, a crime scene investigator with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Offi ce, showed sixth graders from East Middle School how to dust for fi ngerprints. M O O R E ' S M O O R E ' S VINYL SIDING SIDEWALKS COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS MOBILE HOMES CAMPERS GRAVE STONES 828-453-8975 828-453-8975 P R O F E S S I O N A L P R O F E S S I O N A L P R E S S U R E P R E S S U R E W A S H I N G W A S H I N G ©Community First Media Community First Media ©Community First Media Community First Media Open MonDAY- SatURDAY 11am-6pm E Juice Vape Kits Glass Pipes Skateboards & More 828-229-3123 719 S. Broadway, Forest City Right off Exit 182 from US74 Smoking & Vaping Shop m p a g & o S k n m i ki ki o & g & i g & o S n k m i p p g a Va Va Va Va o S n Sh i V op p a g i g p p o S Va Va Va Va n h i V p a i To fi nd a drive near you call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org The need for blood IS CONSTANT! Every 2 seconds someone in the US needs a blood transfusion!

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