Live Saturday music offered by Friends of the Greenway (FROG) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 573 E. Main Street, Franklin. On March 1: Bill Petersen and Charlie Simmons.
“Fragments of Hope” juried exhibition runs March 3 through May 23, at Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center. It is a juried exhibition intended to depict the impacts of Hurricane Helene on the lives of artists and artisans in Western North Carolina. Local photographer and contributor to Macon Sense, Mark Krancer, is represented.
Franklin Little League Girls Softball registration for age 4 to 14, is now open through March 10. Visit franklinlittleleaguesoftball.com to find a centralized registration system called Sports Connect where you can register your child and pay the fee online. Cost is $55.
The Nantahala Hiking Club will meet Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. Along with club business, Edwin Grant from the Macon County Sheriff’s Department will discuss the newly created Missing Persons Unit and how the department would like to leverage the NHC knowledge of the Appalachian Trail. The public is welcome.
Magnolia Mission basketball tournament fundraiser will be held March 23 at the Robert C. Carpenter community building, with games beginning at 10 a.m. Food trucks with concessions, raffle items, games for kids and more. Registration for players ends March 9. Proceeds support foster, adoptive, and biological families in Macon County. Sign up at magnoliamission.org.
Aglow International Franklin Lighthearted meets the third Saturday of each month at 164 Iotla Church Rd., at 10 a.m.
James Thompson’s Classic Country Sound bluegrass and gospel music the first and third Friday at 60 Firehouse Road behind the Otto Fire Department. Hosted by the Otto Community Development Organization.
Head Start is accepting applications for the ’25/’26 school year. Offering engaging curriculum and the opportunity to grow in a safe, nurturing environment for children ages 0-5 years of age. Call (828)524-4471, x324; or visit www.maconnc.org.
“Spoon” Karaoke at Rathskeller Wednesday, March 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. 58 Stewart St., Franklin.
Trivia nights are the fourth Monday of each month, from 6-8 p.m., at Otto Community Center, 65 Firehouse Road, Otto; Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Lazy Hiker on Main Street in Franklin; every other Wednesday at 6:30 at Rathskeller Coffee Bar and Pub, in Franklin; and Mondays at 7 p.m. at Currahee Brewing Company.
Tax preparation and filing assistance is being offered at no charge at the Macon County Public Library on Mondays and Tuesdays through April 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment only. Appointments can be made online at www.wnctaxaide.as.me; by calling the Library’s Reference Desk at (828)524-3600; or by visiting the library located at 149 Siler Farm Road, Franklin.
Franklin Lions Club meets the second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Louisa Chapel Methodist, 470 Louisa Chapel Road, Franklin.
A free weaving program for veterans at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center is offered twice monthly by Teresa Bouchonnet, for stress relief and enjoyment. For information about the program’s dates and times, contact Teresa Bouchonnet at (828)371-0171 or [email protected].
Otto/Franklin Nar-Anon Meetings, Nar-anon Family Groups are a Worldwide fellowship for those whose lives are/have been affected by addiction. New in-person weekly meeting starting Tuesday March 4, 7 p.m., at Hickory Knoll Global Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 86 E. Hickory Knoll Rd., Franklin. Contact (408)829-4452.
Franklin Alcoholics Anonymous “Open Meetings” are for anyone who thinks they may have a drinking problem or for anyone interested in the A.A. recovery program. In-person meetings are held Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. at No Wrong Door, 102 Thomas Heights Rd.; Sundays at 1 p.m., and Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at 5:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church Outreach Center, 66 Harrison Ave.; and Saturdays, at 10 a.m., Tuesdays at 8 a.m., and Thursdays at 12 noon at St. Agnes Episcopal Church on 66 Church St. Online meeting information is available by visiting www.aawnc80. org.; or, to speak with a member of A.A., call (828)349-4357.
Franklin Al-anon “Live and Let Live” Family Group in-person meetings are Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at St. Agnes Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 66 Church St., Franklin. Contact (334)224-4785.
Email calendar items to [email protected].
March is Youth Art Month
The month of March is a national celebration of visual art education also called Youth Art Month, (YAM), with this year’s theme titled “Healing Through Color.” Originally initiated in 1961 by the Art & Creative Materials Institute, Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety. The Council for Art Education administers the program at the national level providing a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including: problem solving, creativity, observation, and communication. Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers, and school and community activities take place annually, traditionally during March, to celebrate visual art education for grades K–12.
Since 2019, Macon County Art Association has invited Macon County art teachers to select student work to exhibit at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin. This year, because of space constraints at the gallery, the exhibit will be at Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center in the auditorium March 1- 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
A reception will be held on Saturday, March 15, from 1-3 p.m., that is open to the public with refreshments served. In Highlands, in celebration of Youth Art Month, Stephanie Hudson, art instructor at the Highlands Schools, will have her students’ art work, both 2-D and 3-D, on display at the Hudson Library.