Community Notes: Feb. 23 | Raleigh News & Observer

Literacy Council of Wake County

The Literacy Council of Wake County is looking for volunteer tutors for hour-and-a-half sessions twice a week for six months or more. Volunteers will work one on one with adults through the LCWC Adult Education Program. Tutors are required to participate in a training workshop; the next workshop is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, March 3; Wednesday, March 5; Monday, March 10; and Wednesday, March 12, at 916 W. Morgan St., Raleigh. For more information, call 919-787-5559 or go to www.wakeliteracy.org.

Polar Games

The Cary Ice House and the Triangle Curling Club invite people of all ages to try Winter Olympics sports like figure skating, hockey and curling from 2:20-3:20 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1410 Buck Jones Road, Cary. Registration costs $15. To register, call 919-460-2756. Registration the day of the event will be available as space allows.

Salute to Senior Service

Home Instead Senior Care of Raleigh will accept nominations for the Salute to Senior Service volunteer contest until March 1. Nominees must be 65 and older and volunteer for at least 15 hours a month. State and national contest winners will be announced in April. For details, go to www.SalutetoSeniorService.com.

Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball

Historic Interpretations will host its fourth annual Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at The Parish Center of Cary, 804 High House Road. There will be a three-course meal, live music, auction, costume contest and indoor parade. Tickets cost $45 at www.mardigrasmasqueradeball.com/HOME.html.

Long-term care seminar

Cary Presbyterian Church will host a seminar for ages 50 and older or people with parents older than 50 on long-term care types, costs and insurance from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at 614 Griffis St., Cary. RSVP to mandy.nester@carypresbyterian.org.

Parent Chat sessions

Wake County school board member Bill Fletcher hosts Parent Chat sessions in which parents can talk with him about school issues.

Here’s the upcoming schedule:

• 1 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Cary Chamber of Commerce, 307 N. Academy St.

• 11 a.m. Monday, March 17, at Caribou Coffee, 109 SW Maynard Road, Cary.

Pegasus Relays Track Meet

Cary-based nonprofit Fit & Able Productions will host the Pegasus Relays Track Meet starting at noon Saturday, March 8, at Cary Academy, 1500 N. Harrison Ave., Cary. There will be races and field events including shot put, discus, triple jump and long jump. There will also be a pizza box relay, 50-yard dash, three-legged dash and tug of war. Registration costs $25 until Friday, March 7; $35 the day of the event. For details, go to fitandable.net/ai1ec_event/track-field. To register, go to bit.ly/MFfdV3.

Book discussion

Olga Korol will talk about and sign her new novel, “City N,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Barnes & Noble, 760 SE Maynard Road, Cary.

Information for entrepreneurs

Wake County Public Libraries and SCORE will offer information sessions on starting your own business. A session in Apex will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Eva Perry Regional Library, 2100 Shepherd’s Vineyard Drive. To register, call 919-387-2100. A session in Cary will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive. To register, call 919-463-8505.

Contemporary Book Group

The Contemporary Book Group will talk about “The Orphan Master’s Son” by Adam Johnson at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at Barnes & Noble, 760 SE Maynard Road, Cary.

Healthy Homes Series

Cary-based nonprofit Fit & Able Productions’ Healthy Homes Series will include discussions on the third Tuesday of each month from 9:30-11 a.m. in the Maple Room of the Bond Park Community Center at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 150 Metro Park Drive, Cary. For details, email fitandable@nc.rr.com. Here’s the upcoming schedule of topics:

• March: Animal health and protection

• April: Financial health: insurance, financial/estate planning and real estate

Trail Treks: Salamanders

Learn about salamanders at the American Tobacco Trail from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, March 20, starting in the New Hill parking area, 1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Road, Apex. Registration, which is required at least two days in advance, costs $5 per family or $3 per person. To register, call 919-387-4342, fill out and return a registration form at www.wakegov.com/parks/att, or email harris.lake@wakegov.com.

African-American Book Group

The African-American Book Group will discuss “South by Southeast” by Blair Underwood at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at Barnes & Noble, 760 SE Maynard Road, Cary.

‘Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter’

Anne Clinard Barnhill, dressed in Elizabethan style, will talk about her new book, “Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Barnes & Noble, 760 SE Maynard Road, Cary.

Salamander Search

Learn about salamanders and look for eggs and larvae during 2014, the year of the salamander according to Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, from 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at the American Tobacco Trail starting in the New Hill parking area, 1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Road, Apex. Registration, which is required at least two days in advance, costs $5 per family or $3 per person. To register, call 919-387-4342, fill out and return a registration form at www.wakegov.com/parks/att, or email harris.lake@wakegov.com.

Cookbook discussion and tasting

Andrea Weigl will talk about and sign her new book, “Pickles and Preserves,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at Barnes & Noble, 760 SE Maynard Road, Cary. There will be samples of the book’s recipes.

Free CPR classes

The Morrisville Fire Rescue Department offers free CPR and automatic external defibrillator certification classes for Morrisville residents from 7-10 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month at Station 1, 200 Town Hall Drive. Class size is limited to 12 participants. Classes start in March and will not be held in November or December. For details or to sign up, email communitycpr@townofmorrisville.org. Include your name, address, phone number and preferred class date.

Beer and Bacon Festival

A festival featuring 75 craft beers and 15 restaurants and their bacon dishes will be from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary. VIP tickets, for admission from noon to 6 p.m., restaurant tasting stations, extra beer and wine samplings and access to the VIP deck, cost $69. Regular tickets for admission from 2-6 p.m. cost $35 in advance, $45 the day of the festival. “Designated driver” tickets are available for a discount. For details, go to www.beerandbacon.com.

Great Grapes!

Koka Booth Amphitheatre will host the Great Grapes! wine and food festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary. VIP tickets cost $39 in advance and $49 the day of the festival. Regular admission costs $26 in advance and $32 the day of the festival. “Designated driver” tickets cost $20. For details, go to www.uncorkthefun.com.