Blogs Now Part of City Website!

With the relaunch of the City’s new website, the Kannapolis blog has been integrated into the website. Now you can read blog posts on www.cityofkannapolis.com/my-community/blog. If you are signed up to receive email updates on the old blog, you will automatically be and signed up for email updates on the new blog; no need to sign up again. If you would like to receive email updates about new posts, go to www.cityofkannapolis.com/newsletters (or go to any page on the website and click the yellow “Subscribe” button on the top left) to sign up.

We hope you find the new website easy to use and would be happy to hear any feedback you have about it!

Someone Made a Movie About Dirt? Why??

The Center for the Environment at Catawba College and Salisbury’s Bread Riot will host a screening of “Dirt! The Movie” followed by a panel discussion on Thursday, March 1, at the Center facility on the Catawba campus.

Bread Riot, a non-profit food advocacy organization dedicated to “facilitating a supply of locally produced food utilizing sustainable farming practices,” will offer a “tasting” of local foods at 6 p.m. The movie will begin at 6:45 p.m.

“Dirt! The Movie,” an award winning film directed by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow, was inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book “Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth.”

The film looks at the history and current state of soil. The movie’s website notes that dirt “recycles our water, gives us food, provides us shelter and can be used as a source of medicine, beauty and culture.” While destructive methods of agriculture, mining practices and urban development have endangered the natural resource, the film points out that visionaries throughout the world are coming together to repair the soil.

Panelists will discuss the movie after the screening. Those on the panel include Jim Graham, farmer and former Davidson County commissioner; Amy Hoffner of Hoffner Farms, a certified organic dairy in Mount Ulla; Aaron Newton, local food system program coordinator for Cabarrus County; Dennis Testerman, manager of Cabarrus County Soil and Water; Sarah Moore, farmer and student environmental leader at Catawba; and facilitator John Wear, executive director of the Center for the Environment. Click here to register.

JCL Good for the Heart 5K Run/Walk

The Junior Charity League of Concord will host the JCL Good for the Heart 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run presented by Fifth Third Bank, Saturday, Feb. 25, at Les Myers Park on Lawndale Avenue. The race route follows the McEachern Greenway to McGee Park.

Registration for this chipped event is now open at www.jclofconcord.com. Cost to register through Feb. 21 is $25 for the 5K; on race day, $30. Cost to register for the Fun Run is $10. The registration fee is tax-deductible. All proceeds from the event will benefit in-need children who receive new school clothes and uniforms from the League’s Mariam C. Schramm Clothing Room.

Families and children are encouraged to participate in the event which will feature games with the Chick-fil-A cow, Smoothie King smoothies, Great Harvest Bread Company bread, cookie decorating sponsored by Dough bakery, obstacle course/exercises, heartbeat comparisons, face painting, raffle drawing and First Responder trucks and cars.

There will be prizes for the top 3 male and female finishers in the 5K Run, and age group winners will receive medals. There will be prizes for the top 3 finishers in the Fun Run. All Fun Run participants will receive a medal.

Join us for a morning of heart-healthy exercise while raising money to clothe local children!

For more information: Call 704-652-0669.  Like us on Facebook at JCL Good for the Heart 5K.

The Mariam Coltrane Schramm Clothing Room

The Mariam Coltrane Schramm Clothing Room, established in 1973, provides new, stylish school clothes to economically disadvantaged students in the Cabarrus County Schools and the Kannapolis City Schools. The League has responded as the need for assistance in the community has increased through the years, improving both the quality and quantity of clothing that the children receive ~ from the Junior Charity League Website

This event is sponsored in part by 5/3 Bank.  A community organization that supports the community.

County Offers Community Garden Space

Need a Garden Space and Maybe Assistance to Show You How?  Rare opportunity available for adults interested in developing and participating in new community garden at Cabarrus County’s Elma C. Lomax Farm. Potential participants are asked to meet Wednesday, February 22, 1:30 p.m. at 3445 Atando Road, Concord, 28025 at farm office. Proposed community garden co-located with commercial program at incubator farm with full-sun  10’ x 10’ garden plots to grow vegetables for non-commercial production. Lease price $32 for 32 weeks which includes: initial tillage if requested; irrigation; fence for deer protection; opportunity to network with other gardeners; access to restroom; and being a part of Elma C. Lomax experience.  For information, contact David Goforth, Horticultural Extension Agent, N.C. Cooperative Extension-Cabarrus County Center at 704/920-3320 for email djgoforth@cabarruscounty.us.

Start planning now for spring activities

I know I know it’s cold outside and the weather this past weekend was rainy! This is all the more reason to start making plans to get the family outside (and off the video games) at the first hint of warm weather. Here are some ideas to get you thinking.

The family camping trip: Tents have come a long way baby! Now they come with built with lighting and hinged doors that make it easy to run in and out. Add a built-in screened in front porch and you’ve got an instant cabin in the woods. Check out www.coleman.com, oh, and by the way, some new models can set up in under 60 seconds! And to make sure you’rer not forgetting anything, visit www.checklistforcamping.com and print off a checklist. There are many camping sites are available near (and far from) Kannapolis, however, Dan Nicholas Park is close by and offers not only camping, but  many other activities for families.

The fishing trip: Take a walk through Village Park (mid April through May) and you’ll see the dogwood trees in bloom. These are my “indicator” trees to let me know that the water is warm enough for some good fishing. The absolute easiest way to catch fish is with live bait (I always use minnows) A simple rod and reel with a hook, sinker and bobber is all the equipment you need, plus a bucket for the minnows of course. Visit www.takemefishing.org, a great site loaded with information. Lake Fisher in Concord is a good place for families to start fishing.

Geocaching: It’s a high tech game of hide and seek where you use a GPS unit to find hidden containers left behind by other players. Once you get started it’s very addicting and really fun for the kids when they find one. You can purchase a starter GPS unit at www.garmin.com for around $100.00, or if you have a smart phone, download a GPS app for free. For more information on geocaching, visit www.geocaching.com.  Cabarrus County Parks and Recreation even offers geocaching classes for beginners.  Check them out here.

I have two boys, Brody and Andrew, and these are some of the things that we like to do. I hope this helps shake those winter blues and remember to start planning now, because spring is right around the corner. ~ James Irvin, Parks and Recreation

Looking for Money for Your Business?

RCCC’s Small Business Center is offering a free seminar on Tuesday 6:30-8:30pm to help people improve their chances for finding business funding. Learn more about the different types of funding available, the benefits and drawbacks, the dos and don’ts of looking for money, your best options if you’re a new or existing business, and what to do today to prepare for a lender.

Here are the other upcoming free seminars.

• Thu, Feb 16 – Just Send Me a Proposal, 6:30-8:30pm
• Tue, Feb 21 – Online Marketing Tools, 6:30-8:30pm
• Thu, Mar 1 – Starting an Online Business, 6:30-8:30pm

Go to the Small Business Center website to get more details on the seminar topics and locations.

Win a Free Registration

Do you or someone you know want to start a business? The Small Business Center is also offering an in-depth course that gives entrepreneurs step-by-step instructions on how to start a small business. The class, “Starting a Business-From Concept to Launch,” begins Monday, Feb. 13 and continues each Monday through April 16. The 22.5 hour course will help participants identify their strengths as an entrepreneur and assess the feasibility of their business idea. The class will meet 6-8:30 p.m. at RCCC’s Cabarrus Business & Technology Center in Concord. Cabarrus Economic Development will sponsor the first ten participants.  Register by February 9th.

UNC Seminar Series Starts Tuesday

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute is kicking off a series of seminars highlighting the work of the NC Research Campus with its Frontiers in Nutrition Seminar Series. The seminars will be held at the Core Lab on Tuesdays from February 7 to March 6, 7:00pm to 8:30pm (with the exception of a seminar on Mon Feb 13).

The sessions are free, but seats are limited and registration is required. If you are unable to attend in person, you can join the webcast at www.uncnri.org/webcast.

Read more about the seminars below, or go to the NRI website to see the many opportunities to learn more about health and nutrition.

 

February 7, 2012
“Diet and the Risk of Cancer” Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D., NRI Director Gain insights into how diet affects your health — what you eat may help determine if you live a long, healthy life, and reduce your risk for diseases like cancer. Dr. Zeisel, international leader in nutrition research, leads the field of nutritional individuality. He specializes in how the nutrient choline impacts brain development and cognition.
Monday*, February 13, 2012
“Gut Microbes: a Trillion Tiny Friends for Life” Melanie Spencer, Ph.D. Learn how the many microbes in your GI tract influence everything from your immunity to nutrition absorption rate, as well as their critical role in your health. Having earned a doctorate in bioinformatics, Dr. Spencer, now at the NRI, explores the role of bacteria in nutrition and human metabolism. *Note this session will be held on Monday, February 13. All other sessions held on Tuesdays.
February 21, 2012
“The Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)” Philip May, Ph.D. Did you know that up to 5% of children in the U.S. may suffer from cognitive and behavioral problems caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol? Dr. May will explain FASD and how the mother’s drinking patterns and other factors may lead to different outcomes in children. Dr. May, NRI Research Professor and leading expert in FASD, works to fully define the disorder, helping to decrease the overall percentage of impacted children.
February 28, 2012
“Obesity: It’s Not Easy Being Lean” Andrew Swick, Ph.D. Ever wonder why you can’t keep those extra pounds off? Dr. Swick’s research unravels why it is difficult for some to lose and maintain a reduced weight as well as potential causes of obesity, including your environment and the importance of energy balance. Dr. Swick, Director of Obesity and Eating Disorders at the NRI, is an expert on how the gut controls food intake and the regulation of energy expenditure.
March 6, 2012
“Why Diets Don’t Work: Myths, Mysteries, & Truths” Karen Corbin, Ph.D., R.D. Fact or fiction: There is an ideal diet that will maintain your optimal health. Learn how nutrients, genetics, and other factors can make your ideal diet less of a mystery. At the NRI, Dr. Corbin, a Registered Dietitian and Research Assistant Professor, investigates the role of nutrition and genetic components in obesity and fatty liver disease.

February Activities & Events

Many opportunities to learn and have fun are coming up in February. Here are just a few brought to you by Cabarrus County and other groups.

Kannapolis Branch Library

Paranormal Night

Do you find yourself wondering if there is life after the Twilight or the Sookie Stackhouse series?  Come enjoy a spooktacular night where we can recommend paranormal titles you can really sink your teeth into. Paranormal Night is Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Kannapolis branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library. Free. Call 704-920-1180 or visit the library website for more details.

Valentine’s Day Authors Visit

The Kannapolis branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library (850 Mountain St.) is hosting three inspirational romance novelists on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. Area writers Dora Hiers, Myra Johnson and Jennifer Hudson Taylor will talk about their writing experiences and books and answer questions from the audience. Free. Call 704-920-1180 or visit the library website for more details.

Health and Nutrition

Free Yoga at the Kannapolis Farmers Market

For the month of February, free yoga classes will be offered at the Kannapolis Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons. Classes will be held on February 2, 9, 16 and 23. Enjoy Chair Yoga from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm, and from 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm Yoga Basics. Chair yoga is a form of yoga performed while sitting in a chair or leaning on a chair for support and is the gentlest form of yoga. Both classes provide the full range of health benefits yoga is known for including improved flexibility, strength, concentration and posture. Bring a mat if you have it, but there will be extra mats available as well.

The Farmers Market is open at 120 West Ave on Thursdays 3pm to 6pm. The indoor market offers fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, hams, jams, jellies, baked goods and the work of local artisans.

Living with Diabetes Class

The Cabarrus County Department of Aging is sponsoring a free, six-week Living Healthy with Diabetes workshop on Thursday, Feb. 2 from 9:30 a.m. – noon at the West Cabarrus YMCA, 5325 Langford Ave. in Concord. The program will help people with diabetes manage their health and maintain an active lifestyle. Registration is required. Call 704-920-3484 or go to the website for more details.

Learn to Cook Smart, Eat Right

Learn new, quick and easy ways to prepare food in four, hands-on classes at the Cook Smart, Eat Smart series. Classes begin Monday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at NC Cooperative Extension – Cabarrus Center, 715 Cabarrus Ave. in Concord. Cost is $40 and includes a cookbook and special gifts. Register at www.cabarruscounty.us/reservepartner or call 704-920-3315 or 704-920-3322.

Other Fun Activities

Valentines Venture at North Cabarrus Park

Bring your sweetheart to North Cabarrus Park, 760 Orphanage Road in Kannapolis, on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 1-3 p.m. for a Valentines Venture. You’ll use a GPS to search for materials you’ll need to make a craft. Open to ages 5 and older. Cost is $5. Register by Thursday, Feb. 9 at www.cabarruscounty.us/reservepartner and type in “Valentine” in the class search box. Call 704-795-4492 or go to the website for more details.

Family Connection Day ~ Read Yourself Silly

Family Connection Day – Saturday, February 4 at 11:00 am for all ages  

Flow Circus presents Read Yourself Silly.  Paul Miller uses magic and juggling to entertain families, and show us all how much fun learning through books and play can be! Bring the whole family, all ages are welcome. This program is presented in collaboration with Kannapolis Parks and Recreation.  No registration is required.

Take your kids to the library.  Have fun & connect as a family, that’s what Family Connection Day is all about.  The Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Department and Kannapolis Branch Library are presenting The Flow Circus program with Paul Miller to Read Yourself Silly.  Join us this Saturday at 11:00 at the Kannapolis Library!

This 45 minute juggling & magic show in which Paul tells the story of how a trip to the circus inspired him to visit his library to learn more about juggling which led to balloons, magic, and the history of the circus. Throughout the performance he models how learning through books can be fun and leads you to discover new interests.

  ~ From the Flow Circus Website – www.flowcircus.com

The Flow Circus program is a unique blend of magic and juggling that engaged our young readers in a way that fills their hearts with passion and their heads with dreams. Most importantly, the children were inspired to READ and they were an active part of the 2011 summer reading program.

~ Reitha Morrison, Iredell County Public Library, Statesville NC