Community news

Annual reading project: Friends of the Sherrills Ford Library has selected author Ann Patchett’s “State of Wonder” as this year’s community read. Numerous copies are available for checkout through the Catawba County Library System. On March 18, Anthony Abbott, author and professor emeritus in English at Davidson College, will lead a discussion of the book at the Sherrills Ford/Terrell Fire Station. Details: 828-465-8661; twilson@catawbacountync.gov.

Baby blankets: Denver student Julianna Peres, 15, recently presented Catawba Valley Medical Center’s new Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with nearly 30 handmade baby blankets. Peres crocheted the blankets over a period of two years.

The blankets will be among the first given to premature infants when the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opens in the Catawba Valley Medical Center’s new Pavilion this February. Each baby admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit receives its own blanket, which families take home at the end of the child’s stay.

Citizens Academy: Iredell County will offer a free Citizens Academy 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays and two Saturday mornings March 7-April 25, looking at all aspects of county government, from the Sheriff’s Office to the solid waste landfill. Application forms are at www.co.iredell.nc.us. Application deadline is Feb. 15. Details: Retha Gaither, 704-878-3050; rgaither@co.iredell.nc.us.

“What’s this Rock?:” The Davidson Lands Conservancy will host the free World of Wonder program for families with children 4 and older 10-11:45 a.m. Jan. 26 at Davidson College. Presenter will be Brad Johnson, assistant professor in the college’s environmental studies program. Bring a couple of your favorite rocks, and he’ll discuss them. Registration: Erin Burke at dlc.wow@gmail.com. Details: www.davidsonlands.org; www.woodlanddiscovery.org.

Cornelius concert: The Cornelius Concert Series will present the Vianello Trio at 5 p.m. Jan. 19 at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 19600 Zion St. Admission is free. Details: 704-892-8566; www.mtzionumc.net.

Cardio Dance: Lincoln County Parks and Recreation is offering Cardio Dance classes at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tuesday classes are held at East Lincoln Community Center in Denver and Wednesday classes at Block Smith Gym in Lincolnton. Classes are $3 per person. Details: 704-748-1518.

Musical performance: Davidson College will present a free “musical interludes” performance featuring college faculty and staff and community members at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Sloan Music Center’s Tyler-Tallman Hall on campus. Details: 704-894-2848.

Pianist Phillip Bush: The Charlotte native will perform Dvorak’s canonical Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81, at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Sloan Music Center’s Tyler-Tallman Hall at Davidson College. The performance will include musicians on the viola, violin and cello. Tickets are $15 general admission, $8 seniors, $5 ages 18 and younger. www.davidson.edu/tickets.

Women’s volleyball: Lincoln County Parks and Recreation is offering a volleyball league for women 21 and older at East Lincoln Community Center in Denver. Open gym is 2-4 p.m. Jan. 20 and 27, and games will be played on Sundays from Feb. 3 through March 24. Fee is $250 per team, and each team may have a maximum of 12 players. Team rosters and fees are due by Jan. 20. Details: 704-483-8980; lross@lincolncounty.org.

Guitar concert: The Mitchell Community College music department will present a free guitar concert by faculty member Robert Stedman at 12:30 p.m. Jan 22 in Shearer Hall on campus, 500 W. Broad St., Statesville. Details: 704-978-5425.

Dance workshop: Davidson College will host a free dance workshop at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in the college’s Lilly Family Gallery. Details: 704-894-2542.

Women’s lunch: Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, 171 Fairview Road, Mooresville will host a free Go Red for Women lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb.1 in classrooms A and B. Dr. Daniel Koehler, a cardiologist at Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute - Lake Norman will be the featured speaker. The American Heart Association established the Go Red for Women organization to educate women on maintaining a healthy heart. Reservations: 888-995-6762.

Spelling activity: Iredell County children in grades 1-6 can participate in the free “4-H Spell Well” Spelling Activity on Feb. 16 at Signal Hill Mall, 1611 Broad St., Statesville. Participation will be limited to the first 30 children per age group to register. Register at the 4-H Department of N.C. Cooperative Extension in the Iredell County Agricultural Resource Center, 444 Bristol Drive, Statesville; and at http://iredell.ces.ncsu.edu. Details: 704-873-0507.

Concord Library events: The Concord Library, 27 Union St. N., will host these free events:

•  The Great Books Discussion Group will discuss selections from “The City of God” by St. Augustine at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 in the library’s Meeting Room. Registration: 704-920-2054.

•  The Teen Book Club will discuss “The Outcasts: Brotherband Chronicles, Bk. 1” by John Flanagan at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 15 in the library’s Teen Area. Registration: 704-920-2053. Compiled by Joe Marusak