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David Martin and Erica Curtis found Chance at last year’s Paws-a-Palooza in Hall Park and adopted him that day. Photos by Ben Katz -
Nancy Allen offers up spaghetti plates during Appalachian Angels’ Spaghetti Dinner last year.
Andrews – Oktoberfest may be the biggest event in town this weekend, but it certainly isn’t the only thing available for people to do. And as Oktoberfest is held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday on Main Street, there’s plenty of time to enjoy multiple events throughout the day.
Those with pets will want to visit the Paws-A-Palooza Pet Festival from 1-4 p.m. at Hall Memorial Park, also in downtown Andrews. This is the fourth year Andrews Veterinary Hospital has presented the event to raise funds for the Valley River Humane Society.
Funds raised will help pay for medical expenses, as the hospital often provides medical treatments for animals at the shelter. The event will include activities for the entire family.
“They are welcome to bring their pets,” said Rachel Stiles, who is organizing the event for the hospital.
There will be peanut butter eating contests and discounts on microchipping. There will also be concessions, homemade pet products, toys, and auctions. Music will be playing at a safe volume for pets.
Several local businesses contributed to sponsoring the event.
Pets are welcomed at the nearby Oktoberfest activities, too.
Fall Share & Shop
Hiwassee Dam – As the weekend begins, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle School will hold its annual Fall Share & Shop on Friday. The event was created by Deborah Sanders about seven years ago for her second-grade students to meet social studies standards.
“They learn how to be community members,” Sanders said. “This kind of community service makes everyone equal.”
Everyone in the school community – students, staff, parents and others in the community – donated items they no longer needed, then students in both the elementary/middle and high schools will get to “shop” during the school day for any items they wish to have. Second-grade students help organize and sort the donated items with their parents.
“The students that get the items are so excited,” Sanders said. “It just touches your heart.”
The shop, held on the picnic tables at the front of the school, also opens to the general public from 2-3 p.m. Anything leftover at the end of the day is donated to a local church.
Sanders and her students plan to have two more Share & Shop events – one in spring, then another before the last day of school.
Benghazi-Twin Towers Memorial Ride
Murphy – The seventh annual Benghazi-Twin Towers Memorial Motorcycle Ride will travel through four counties Saturday. The ride starts in Hiawassee, Ga., and concludes in Murphy.
Registration is from 8:30-9:45 a.m. at the town square in Hiwassee. Kickstands will go up at 10 a.m. after a brief opening program.
There will be four stops along the ride, where there will be prayer, a speech, the planting of a memorial sign and the playing of “Taps.” The ride will conclude at Band of Brothers Veterans Park to coincide with the event for veterans there.
Sponsors include the Sons of Liberty Riders, Joshua’s Warriors, American Legion Riders Posts 23 and 121, and other local veterans, patriot and Christian groups.
Veterans Appreciation Day at Band of Brothers
Murphy – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Cherokee County Schools will host the fourth annual Veterans Educational and Appreciation Day starting at 10 a.m. at Band of Brothers Veterans Park, 430 Carriage Lane.
The event will begin with the posting of the colors and a ceremony. The event will include military displays from all eras, food, and live music, including performances from The Tunnel Rats. When the motorcycle ride arrives at the park at about 11:45 a.m., its final stop ceremony will be conducted. The highlight of the event will be the Special Forces Association Parachute Team jumping to the ground at 1 p.m.
For details, call 361-1087 or email ghostwalker2nd@gmail.com.
Barbecue for Lilly
Ranger – From noon-8 p.m., the Western North Carolina Shrine Club will raise funds for Lilly Cash by selling barbecue plates for $7 in the Ranger Baptist Church Family Life Center. There will also be cake sales, an auction and live music.
Cash, a high school student, was seriously injured in an automobile accident when she was younger. She needs a computer with eye-tracking technology to help her reach her goal of becoming a teacher. The computer costs $16,400.
The Ranger Baptist Church Family Life Center is at 151 Walker Road. Donations may also be made to WNC Shrine Club, P.O. Box 1116, Murphy, NC 28906.
Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction
Murphy – For Saturday’s dinner, stop by the First United Methodist Church in downtown Murphy. Appalachian Angels will be holding its annual Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction from 4-7 p.m. to raise funds for children in foster care.
Spaghetti with meat sauce or marinara sauce, a salad, bread, drink and dessert are available for dine in or take out. Tickets are $9 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12. Pizza will be available for children. For details, call 835-8490.
Lasagna Dinner & Speaker
Unaka – For those who like some history with their meal, the Unaka Community Development Club will host a Lasagna Dinner & Speaker starting at 5 p.m. in the community center, 14945 Joe Brown Highway.
Dinner will include homemade lasagna, salad, bread, drinks and dessert. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 10 and younger.
At 7 p.m., Billy Ray Palmer will present “Appalachian and Cherokee Indian Origin and Culture.” Palmer taught history, sociology and anthropology at Tri-County Community College for 31 years. He is a well-known local historian and is a regular speaker at the Cherokee County Museum.
The event will include a raffle. Mountain Heritage books, Unaka T-shirts and 911 address signs will be available for purchase.
Samantha Sinclair is the Scouting Around columnist for the Cherokee Scout. You can reach her by email, scoutingaround@cherokeescout.com; fax, 837-5832; or by leaving a message in the office at 837-5122.