Community Notes: March 15-18 | News & Observer

Upcoming events in Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs and Morrisville.

Applications are being accepted through May 9 for the annual Friends of the Page-Walker Scholarship. The $1,000 award will be presented June 7 to a high school senior in Cary who has been accepted to attend a college or university. For more information, go to friendsofpagewalker.org.

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WakeMed Healthworks offers free community fitness classes for seniors at Cambridge Village of Apex, 10000 Cambridge Village Loop. For more information, call 919-363-2080.

The Wake County Solid Waste Management Division is offering discounted compost bins through March 31. Residents can pre-order bins for $50 each. Participants will be required to pick up their bins at North Wake Solid Waste Management Facilities in Raleigh. For more information, go to wakegov.com/compost.

The Town of Cary is seeking volunteers for its annual Spring Litter Sweep from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at various locations around town. Volunteers also are needed to help maintain the community garden at Carpenter Park and the garden beds at the Compost Education Center in Bond Park. To register to volunteer, go to bit.ly/2mcatt4, townofcary.org.

Applications are being accepted through 5 p.m. Monday, April 3, for grants to help needy participants attend the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Nonprofits that support breast cancer patients can apply for the Passing the Promise grants online at bit.ly/2mBiFFz. The 21st annual 5K run/walk Race for the Cure is Saturday, May 6, at the Frontier Research Triangle Park, Durham. For more information and to register, go to komennctc.org.

Registration is underway for the free Cary-area EMS Citizens’ Academy in April. Classes are 6:30-10:30 p.m. Thursdays April 6-27. Instructors will provide an introduction to emergency medical services. Participants also will receive CPR training and will tour a 911 communication center. Open to adults ages 18 and older. To apply, go to caryems.org.

Wake County is offering free Hepatitis C testing for area baby boomers at the Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends those born from 1945-1965 get tested. Call 919-557-2501 for an appointment. wakegov.com/HepC, bit.ly/2mxqzj1

The Stevens Nature Center holds activities at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, 2616 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 919-387-5980.

Silver Naturalists: Wildflowers of the Bluffs (ages 55 and older): 1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 15. Cost: $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

Adult Nature Programs: Wildflowers 101 (ages 16 and older): 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 18. Cost: $6 residents, $8 nonresidents.

Curiosity Club: Feeling Froggy (ages 5-8): 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 18. Cost: $12 residents, $16 nonresidents.

Junior Naturalist: Spring Wildflowers (ages 5-8 with a caregiver): 2-3 p.m. Sunday, March 19. Cost: $8 residents, $10 nonresidents.

The Wake County Public School System is offering the following classes through its Lifelong Learning Program. For more information, call 919-694-0559 or go to wcpss.net/adult-edu.

Athens Drive High School

Memoir Writing: 6:45-9:15 p.m. March 15-29. $85.

5 Simple Secrets to Award-Winning Grant Writing: 7:30-8:30 p.m. March 21. $79.

Holly Springs High School

Flipped Learning: 6:30-9:00 p.m. March 16 to April 6. $125.

Event Planning for Beginners: 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 21 to April 25. $125.

DIY Decorating on a Budget: 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 23 to April 13. $75.

Fundamentals of Drawing: 7:15-9:15 p.m. March 23 to April 27. $115.

Essential Oils: 6:45-8:30 p.m. March 30. $40.

Reedy Creek Middle School

Real Vision - Vision Board Creation: 6:30-9:30 p.m. March 27. $45.

The program Mindful Eating: Understanding Your Relationship with Food is 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, at West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary. Registration requested. 919-463-8500, bit.ly/1qCRI2x.

Learn what your handwriting says about you at the Handwriting Analysis program from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, at Eva Perry Regional Library, 210 Shepherd’s Vineyard Drive, Apex. Registration requested. 919-387-2100, bit.ly/28JmtKu

In Cary, the program is 7-8 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary. Registration requested. 919-463-8500, bit.ly/1qCRI2x.

The next Citizen Science volunteer workday is 1:30-3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill. Free. For ages 10 and older. Advance registration required. 919-387-4342, bit.ly/1YF8gC1

Welcome spring at the Signs of Spring program from 5-6 p.m. Friday, March 24, at Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Road, Apex. Open to all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $1 per person; advance registration required. 919-662-2850, bit.ly/2l0TacH

The Apex Farmers Market’s monthly Winter Market is 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 25, inside the Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 N. Salem St., Apex. apexfarmersmarket.com, 919-249-1120, thehalle.org

Take part in a technology-driven treasure hunt from 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, on the American Tobacco Trail, 1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Road, Apex. GPS coordinates will be used to track down hidden caches. GPS units provided; personal devices or smartphones with geocache apps allowed. Cost: $1 per person. For ages 6 and up. Advance registration required. bit.ly/1WUKMbu

Anna’s Angels Foundation, a nonprofit supporting Down syndrome research, holds its annual gala at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Prestonwood Country Club, 300 Prestonwood Parkway, Cary. Tickets: $100-$115. Duke University Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe will be the keynote speaker. For tickets or to make a donation: 919-604-3350, michellepfeiffer@nc.rr.com or gifts.duke.edu/annas_angels. annas-angels.org

Learn about the origins of the names of major streets in Cary at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop, downtown Cary. The program, Why Do They Call It That? The History Behind Cary’s Street Names, is part of the Historic Preservation Series sponsored by the Friends of the Page-Walker. Free. 919-460-4963, friendsofpagewalker.org

The workshop Business Ownership Options: Franchising vs. Independent Business is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, at West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary. Registration requested. 919-463-8500, bit.ly/1qCRI2x.

The Bond Park Boathouse, 190 Bond Park Drive, re-opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1, for the 2017 season. Boat rentals will be available. 919-469-4100, bit.ly/2mbYHio, townofcary.org

The program Ready, Garden, Grow: An Introduction to Vegetable Gardening is 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary. North Carolina Master Gardeners will teach the class. Free. A book based on class material will be available for purchase after the program. Registration requested. 919-463-8500, bit.ly/1qCRI2x

The Cary Women’s Giving Network is accepting grant applications from area nonprofits through noon Tuesday, April 4. Funds are available for projects that benefit women and children. For more information and to apply, go to nccommunityfoundation.org.

A community fish fry is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 7, at White Plains United Methodist Church, 313 SE Maynard Road, Cary. Tickets for the fundraiser are $9 in advance or $10 the day of the dinner. Dine in or take out. 919-467-9394, George@wpumc.com, wpumc.com

The seventh annual North Carolina Science Festival is April 7-23 at various locations throughout the state. More than 400 events are planned for all ages. Special area programs include An Evening with Astronaut James Lovell from 7:30-9 p.m. at Memorial Hall at UNC-Chapel Hill, 114 E. Cameron Ave. Tickets: $18-$65; 919-843-3333, bit.ly/2lL8zm8. For a schedule of festival events and ticket information, go to ncsciencefestival.org.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, April 7, for Teen Morrisville 101. The free, four-week program is the town’s annual citizen’s academy for high school students. Classes are 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays April 19-May 10 at Morrisville Town Hall, 100 Town Hall Drive. Open to all area students but preference will be given to Morrisville residents. For more information and to apply, go to townofmorrisville.org or bit.ly/2m8dPwC.

Holly Spring’s annual Spring Fling and Community Yard Sale is Saturday, April 8, at Sugg Farm at Bass Lake, 2401 Grigsby Ave. The yard sale is 8 a.m. to noon, Spring Fling is 10 a.m. to noon and an egg hunt begins at noon. Free admission. bit.ly/2mu2PMS, hollyspringsnc.us

The 39th annual Cary Road Race is 7 a.m. Saturday, April 8, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary. The event features a 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run. Cost: $12-$20. 919-469-4061, bit.ly/2mYhZYd, townofcary.org

Registration is underway for Morrisville’s Bike Safety Rodeo from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 8, at Fire Station 1, 200 Town Hall Drive. Free. The event, sponsored by the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department, features half-hour sessions offering lessons in bike safety and a ride through an obstacle course. Personal bikes required. Participants will receive a free bike helmet. Open for toddlers to age 18; children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To register for a session, go to townofmorrisville.org, townofmorrisville.org/bikerodeo or bit.ly/2liVa2D.

The 18th annual Frog Fest is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Road, Apex. The event will feature exhibits of live frogs and reptiles, music, children’s activities and food trucks. Free. 919-662-2850, bit.ly/1pfvdsN

The Holly Springs Farmers Market’s monthly indoor Winter Market is 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 15, at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St. bit.ly/2efeQm7

Registration is is due Sunday, April 16, for the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department’s next Community Emergency Response Training classes. The free CERT classes will be held April 27-30. For more information and to register, go to townofmorrisville.org/cert. townofmorrisville.org

Dorcas Ministries is seeking dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and volunteers for the North Carolina Men’s Dental Bus clinic in April. Professionals interested in providing services are asked to email kbraam@dorcas-cary.org or leave a message at 919-469-9861, ext. 202. Those interested in volunteering can go to bit.ly/2kwqYko for shift information and to sign up. The clinic is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Dental care for people without insurance will be provided. bit.ly/2lop474

Cary’s Chatham Street Chowdown food truck rodeo kicks off its season from 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday, April 23, in downtown Cary. Rain or shine. Additional events are scheduled June 25, July 30 and Oct. 1. For more information, go to bit.ly/2lhrSOL. townofcary.org

Ticket sales are underway for the 16th annual fundraiser for the Carying Place. The event is 6 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Prestonwood Country Club, 300 Prestonwood Parkwary, Cary. Live and silent auctions, a buffet and dancing will be featured. The nonprofit provides short-term housing for homeless, working families. Tickets: $125 per person. For more information, go to bit.ly/2lhxrwv or thecaryingplace.org.

Registration is underway for the annual SPCA K9-3K Dog Walk and Woofstock from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary. The event, a fundraiser for the SPCA of Wake County, will feature live music, pet contests, beer and wine, food trucks and activities for both people and their pets. Cost: $15-$35. For more information and to register: boothamphitheatre.com, bit.ly/2ldaNcG, bit.ly/2lLX2zo

The March of Dimes’ annual Triangle March for Babies Walk and 5K is 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at Perimeter Park, 3005 Carrington Mill Blvd., Morrisville. bit.ly/2jQZ1DP

The seventh annual Teen Day Fuquay distracted driving program is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at South Park, 900 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina. Free. The event is sponsored by the Fuquay-Varina Police Department. fuquay-varina.org