What’s happening this week

March 4

March 8

• Taco Dinner: On Friday, March 8, the Rotary Club of Highlands Mountaintop will hold the Taco Dinner from 5-8 p.m. at the Highlands Recreation Park to raise funds for Polio eradication and for Alzheimer’s research. Although polio is practically gone from the face of the earth, there are still places where the virus is still found in the water. Until the virus is gone from these water sources, the threat is still with us. Successful eradication will require more time and money. Alzheimer’s Disease is a scourge that has and will affect every family in the world. Rotary supports small researchers that may come up with new and different approaches to this horrible disease. This year’s dinner will offer something different adding chili and a vegetarian option to the menu. Tickets are available from Mountaintop members for $10 each and you can have all you can eat for this price. Also, no family will pay more than $50. The Mountaintop Rotary meets each Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation on Main Street and the noonday Rotary meets every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the conference center near the ball field on Highway 64. Come and see what Rotary is all about.

Rec News:

Heart Healthy Exercise Class Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30-9:30 a.m. We have a new instructor Cindy Batson.  Contact the Recreation Department at 828-526-3556 for more information. Duplicate Bridge Wednesday and Friday 12-4 p.m. Aerobics with Tina Rogers Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00am-9:00am Zumba Classes with Connie Berry by appointment only. Call 813-625-6785. Exercise Class with Michelle Lane are held Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm.  This will be a combination class with many different type of exercise. Yogi classes: This beginner/intermediate Hatha Yoga class is designed to gently improve posture, flexability and strength. Certified instructor Susan Nastasic who has 30 years teaching experience. You will leave relaxed and rejuvenated!! Monday and Wednesday 9:30-10:30

Dance2Fit classes with Tori Schmitt on Mondays  5:30-6:30 p.m and Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. Power Flow Yoga with Nalicia Allio a certified Yoga Instructor Wednesdays from 12-1 pm. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Recreation Department After School Program began on Monday, Aug. 27. The program runs daily from 3:20-5:30 p.m. during the School year. The Recreation Department is excited to have the three indoor Pickle Ball courts and three outdoor Court open once again. Pickle Ball will be played at the Recreation Department Gym every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (notice the days and time has changed), everyone is welcome so come out and enjoy a game of Pickle Ball. We also have an outdoor net set up so pick up play can happen any time the tennis court is not being used. Macon County Boys Basketball game schedule for End of season is posted on the website at maconcountyboysbasketball.com .

Macon County Boys Basketball game scores from the week of Feb. 18-23:

Monday, February 18

Developmental League Eagles                          18                   Wolfpack                    15 Biddy League Eagles                          31                             Wolfpack                    10 Macon County Youth baseball registration is under way now through March 4 go online to mcyb.us and register. Macon County Youth Softball registration is underway now through March 16 go online towww.franklinlittleleaguesoftball.com and register. Men’s League Basketball game Schedule for the week of Thursday, February 28 and Thursday, March 7:

Monday, March 4

6:15     Toon Squad                VS.       Essential Power Systems 7:15     Team Supreme           VS.       Job Corp

Thursday, March 7

6:15     Toon Squad                VS.       Team Supreme 7:15     Job Corp                     VS.       Essential Power Systems Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team fall season began on Tuesday, September 4 and is open to all levels of swimmers ages 6-18.  To sign up contact Coach Steve Hott at 828-421-2121.

Pool Schedule:

***Winter Pool schedule began on Monday, August 27. Lap Swim Monday-Friday 6-10 a.m. 6 lanes and Monday –Thursday 3:30-7:00 1-2 lanes (shared Pool) and Saturday 10-11 2 or 3 lanes. Adult Swim-18 years plus Monday-Friday 11:30-1:30 p.m. no lap lanes and Saturday 10-11 a.m. shared with lap swim. Available Equipment- water weights, adult pool noodles, fins, water jog belt and kickboards. Public Swim Monday-Thursday 3:20-7:00 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,  Sunday 1-6 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. Water Aerobics 18 years plus Monday-Friday 10:15-11:00 a.m. Aqua Dance and Fitness- Monday 5:30-6:30 p.m. Baby and Me class Ages 6 month-3 years Friday 5:30-6 p.m. Movie Night- all ages First Friday night of every month. Pool opens at 6:30 and movie starts at 7:00. Call for movie title and prices. Pool available for pool parties Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings 6-8 p.m. Call the pool at 828-526-1595 if you have any questions concerning the pool. Senior Dinner will be Friday, March 15 at 12 noon at The Highlands Recreation Department. For any other information contact Lester Norris or Maxine Ramey at 828-526-3556.

March 8

• Summit’s Got Talent: Summit Charter School’s annual talent show will take place on Friday, March 8 at Community Bible Church in Highlands. This is a celebration of the gifts students bring to Summit and beyond! The event begins at 6 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, please contact the school at 828-743-5755. 

March 12

• Highlands School Kindergarten registration. Kindergarten Registration is a special time for both parents and students.  On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, Kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year will begin, for parents, at 10 a.m. in the school’s media center. Children who reach the age of 5 on or before August 31, 2019 are eligible for admission into the Class of 2032.

To make the transition from preschool to Kindergarten as fun and positive as possible, we would like to offer the new students a taste of great things to come by providing transportation to and from Highlands School for registration.  Beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12, a Macon County school bus will pick up eligible students from Highlands United Methodist Church and the Highlands Community Child Developments Center and bring them to school to meet their parents. Any children that are not currently enrolled at either learning facility may meet at the Highlands Community Child Development Center, located at 89 Church St., to catch the bus. PTO volunteers will be on the bus to help with the students. Riding the school bus is an exciting experience for the students. School officials encourage parents to allow children to ride to school on the bus that day whether or not the child will ride during the school year. Please be aware that the bus will be returning students to the day care centers.  In addition to the registration documents, the following items should be presented at registration on March 12 for photocopying:

1. Certificate of Immunizations (School must have within 30 days from the start of school).  Students without a complete Certificate of Immunizations presented within 30 days from the start of school will be placed on administrative suspension until in compliance.
2. Certified Birth Certificate (must present original, certified birth certificate. No copies or “uncertified” birth certificates will be accepted.
3. Proof of Residency.
4. If you are not the biological parent of the child enrolling, and/or there is a custody agreement in place, please provide any legal documents you have giving you authority to enroll the child (i.e., custody papers, name change documentation, adoption papers or educational domicile affidavits).

Registration Day schedule:

        10:00     –      10:10         Parents arrive, turn in registration documents, and meet in Media Center         10:10     –      10:50         Overview and Orientation

1.       Brian Jetter, Principal—School Information
2.       Sarah Holbrooks, Assistant Principal—School Information
3.       Nicole Lui, Guidance Counselor
4.       Terry Stamey, Media Specialist—Library & Computers
5.      Maribeth Bader, School Nurse—Health Information
6.      Annette Jenkins, Administrative Assistant—Child Nutrition
7.      Laura Deppe, PTO President—PTO information

        10:30     –      10:50         Buses Pick up Students at Pre-K’s         10:50     –      10:55         Parents meet up with children         10:55     –      11:15         Parents and children eat lunch         11:15     –      11:35         Parents and children tour school         11:35     –      11:40         Children to buses and Parents to Media Center         11:40     –      12:00         Complete registration forms and pick up goodies PTO will provide complimentary lunch for all students and their parents in the school cafeteria as part of Kindergarten Registration. Registration packets can be picked up at Highlands School or at Highlands Community Child Development Center. Call the school office at (828) 526-2147

March 13

• Blood Drive at Hudson Library: Hudson Library in Highlands is hosting a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on Wednesday March 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library. “Hudson Library is committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations,” said Hudson Librarian Carlyn Morenus. “This blood drive is our way of giving staff, colleagues and neighbors an opportunity to help save lives.” For more information about donating blood, or to schedule a donation, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go online at redcrossblood.org. Blood is a perishable product that can only come from volunteer blood donors. With someone in the U.S. needing blood every two seconds, blood products must be constantly replenished, according to the Red Cross. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative. Community members are encouraged to donate blood and help ensure that patients in local hospitals have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs. There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation may give someone a second chance at life. For more information or to request an accommodation, please call the library at 828-526-3031. Hudson Library, 554 Main Street in Highlands, is open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday.

March 15

• The Laurel Winter Photo Contest: Whether you’re a professional photographer, or just someone who loves to capture the magic of the moment on your cell phone or pocket camera, The Laurel is offering you a chance to become a cover artist. That’s right, the 2020 Laurel winter photo contest has begun, so grab your camera and start snapping your way to fame. To vote on photos already submitted click HERE.

Contest details: Enter your winter photo in our Facebook Photo Contest for a chance to be featured on the cover of the 2020 Winter edition of The Laurel Magazine. Share the contest with your friends to get as many votes as possible!  How to enter: Upload your winter photo, description and email address or tag #plateauwinter on Instagram or twitter How to win: The 3 photos with the most votes will be critiqued by a panel of local art enthusiasts, who will choose the final winner. The winner will be emailed upon completion of the contest. Contest ends: March 15, 2019 Winner will be announced April 1, 2019 Fine print: The photo must not feature people, must be taken in the Highlands, Cashiers or surrounding areas, and must be taken by the submitter. Up to 5 submissions per photographer. All photos submitted may be used by The Laurel for promotional purposes.

April 25

• Registration is now open for the 9th AnnualThree River Fly Fishing Festival April 25-27 in Highlands, N.C.! We are thrilled to kick off another tournament and are also excited to unveil the new Three River logo designed byWilliam Lamb.  As always, this fishing competition is open to men and women of all skill levels with more than 2,200 miles of public water available to fish. Each team will fish one native, one hatchery-supported and one delayed-harvest stream. Entry is $500 per team – or $450 for teams who register before February 28. This fee includes the opening night reception on Thursday at beautiful Lullwater House, the Friday happy hour check-in, the closing night dinner on Saturday, a gift bag full of great swag and the opportunity to win fantastic prizes. And the best part is, every dollar raised benefits the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund! Contact Hilary Wilkes athilary@highlandhiker.com for more information, or to register your team.