Local historian Steve Shelton from Danbury will give a talk on ‘The Story of Charley Sparks, John Sparks’ Adopted Brother,’ at the Walnut Cove Public Library at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Shelton will talk about Charley Sparks and how he came to be ‘adopted’ by John (Wiseman) Sparks, the circus man who helped found Vade Mecum Springs. –Editor’s Note: Events listed in the calendar must be submitted in writing; you can email the information to neill.caldwell@thestokesnews. The deadline is 3 p.m. Monday. The calendar is reserved for non-profit organizations, school and community events. Ongoing calendar items published as space allows. If you have a legal requirement to publish an announcement, you must purchase advertising space.
Through January
“Ever-Changing Seasons” is a collaborative show of paintings, photography, sculpture, and mixed media pieces by 10 local artists: Kitty Ray Brown, Shane Sargent, Rebecca Dresser, Amanda Adams Gordon, Ken Bridle, Tony Farrar, Joe Anderson, Fran Speight, Nancy White, Sonya Godwin.
Jan. 23
The Salvation Army will hold an Energy Fair at the King Recreation Acres Community Building, 107 White Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Assistance will be available to qualifying individuals for Duke Energy utility bills. Assistance with rent and mortgage bills will also be available. Individuals wishing to receive assistance with Duke Energy bills will need to bring photo ID, deposit paperwork and/or a current or overdue bill. Individuals wishing to receive rent or mortgage assistance should bring photo ID, an overdue bill, and a W-9 from the leasing or mortgage agency. No appointments are necessary; service will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyWS.org.
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KidSource Child Care Resource and Referral, a program of Stokes Partnership for Children, is offering training on “It’s SIDS.” Sandy Weaver, Region 10 Infant/Toddler Specialist, will be presenting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Stokes Partnership for Children. Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Risk Reduction in Child Care. Mandatory for caregivers of children 0-12 months, every 3 years. There is no charge for parents, families, grandparents and foster parents for attending the training. There is a $5 fee for childcare providers. Child care will not be available. Registration is required. Contact 336-985-2676 ext. 168 or www.stokespfc.com for information.
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The Stokes Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities Coalition will meet at 10 a.m. at Danbury Public Library.
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There will be a Self-Defense Seminar offered at the King Public Library starting at 4 p.m. The leader will be Sensei Ben Dorr.
Jan. 25
“Hank Williams, The Lonesome Tour” is presented beginning at 3 p.m. as part of the Winter Dessert Theater. Jason Petty brings Hank Williams music and story alive in this one-man show. The Lonesome Tour tells the story of one of Country Music’s greatest legends, with wit, wisdom and reflective humor. Tickets are $15 General Admission, $10 SCAC members and seniors, $5 18 and under; SCAC Member Season Ticket (all 4 shows) $30. Desserts will be available one hour before showtime. Tickets are available online or by calling the Arts Council at 336-593-8159.
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KidSource Child Care Resource and Referral, a program of Stokes Partnership for Children, will be holding CPR and First Aid training as given by the American Heart Association. John Hanes will be presenting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Stokes Partnership for Children office. This training will go over infant, child, and adult CPR and First Aid. There will also be training on the use of AED equipment. There is a 50 charge for the class. Light refreshments will be provided, but childcare will not be available. Registration is required. Call 336-985-2676 ext. 168 or visit www.stokespfc.com for more information.
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There will be an information meeting and sign-up session for Stokes County Special Olympics at the South Stokes High School Cafeteria from 2-5 p.m. This is for volunteers and participant families looking for ways to get involved. Sign up for spring and summer events. For more information, email stokescountyso@gmail.com.
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The South Stokes Fire Department will hold its annual corporation meeting at 7 p.m. at the station.
Jan. 26
The Stokes County Historical Society proudly presents local historian Steve Shelton and “The Story of Charley Sparks, John Sparks’ Adopted Brother,” at the Walnut Cove Public Library at 2 p.m. This program is an expanded version of Shelton’s presentation to the Circus Historical Society Convention last May in Sarasota, Florida. Explore the real identity of Charley Sparks and how he came to be “adopted” by John (Wiseman) Sparks, the circus man who helped found Vade Mecum Springs. For more information, visit www.sc-hs.org or email stokescountyhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.
Jan. 27
Stokes County horse owners are invited to join the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center at 1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem, at 6 p.m. to learn about forage/hay testing, nutrition/feed tag information, and balancing rations. The cost is $10 and includes a meal. Contact April Bowman, Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H Youth Development, at 336-703-2855 or awbowman@ncsu.edu for more information.
Jan. 28
The King Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting at the King Public Library with a networking hour at 6 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7. There is limited space for information booths. Call 336-983-9308.
Jan. 31-Feb. 1
Auditions for the next Broadway Comes to Danbury will be held Jan. 31 from 5-8 p.m. and Feb. 1 from 2-5 p.m. at the Arts Place. You’ll be asked to sing a prepared selection and act out a scene.
Feb. 1
The Sid Lee Mental Health Association will offer its first class, “Grief: How Do We Cope?,” Saturdays in February from 1-2:30 p.m. at Sid’s House, 530 North Main Street in Walnut Cove. This is a free class for anyone who is grieving with plans to develop into support (not therapy) groups according to interest. The purpose is to find a new community of encouragement and knowledge that reduces grief-related feelings of sadness, loneliness, isolation, forgetfulness, and any other symptom of grief. For more information, contact sidleemha@gmail.com or call 252-542-9333.
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The King Senior Center will hold its annual Chicken Stew Sale fundraiser from 4-6 p.m. upstairs at the Recreation Acres Community Building. Eat in or carry out, $7; children 6 and under eat free; includes beverage and dessert. Music will be provided by Harvey Hawks and the Country Ramblers downstairs.
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The King Elementary School PTO is sponsoring its first-ever Snowball Dance at 6 p.m. The ticket price of $20 for a whole family includes dinner, a photo and dancing to DJ Moxley.
Feb. 5
Cooking in the Park classes will be held at Recreation Acres in King Wednesdays in February from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and taught by Patti Snyder, Family and Consumer Science agent for the Stokes County Cooperative Extension. The theme of the series is baking. The course cost of $40/person includes supplies and instruction. To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/baking-in-the-park-tickets-88496390085
Feb. 7
Pickin’ at Priddy’s resumes at 7 p.m. with the group Grace and Grass at Priddy’s General Store in Danbury. Music continues on Friday nights in February. For more details, call 336-593-8786 or visit www.priddysgeneralstore.com.
Feb. 8
The Sandy Ridge Music Association welcomes NuHiWay for bluegrass and classic country music starting at 6 p.m. at the Sandy Ridge Community Building on N.C. Highway 704.
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Doug Davis and the Men in Black band will play the music of Tom Petty and The Smithereens at the Arts Place starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available online at www.stokesarts.org or by calling the Arts Council at 336-593-8159.
Ongoing
• The NAACP of Stokes County, Unit 5455, meets every third Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens center in Walnut Cove. The vision of the NAACP is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. For more information, contact the local president, Pastor Greg Hairston, at g.hairston@gmail.com.
• The Stokes Family YMCA offers a Kids Fitness class every Monday and Thursday from 5:30-6:00 p.m. There is no cost with a Y membership.
• Every Monday, AA meets from 7-8 p.m. at St. Mary’s United Methodist Church, 412 Brook St. in Walnut Cove.
• Tuesdays 10:30 a.m., King Public Library, preschool storytime.
• Every Saturday, Special Needs Friends for any teen or adult with a disability of any kind will meet Saturdays at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Madison. For more information, contact Teresa Julian at julianteresaa@gmail.com or text 336-257-0580.
• Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care’s SOLSTUS (Surviving Overdose Loss Sanely Through Unity and Support) group is open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one from a drug or alcohol overdose. For information, contact Selene Teague at 336-789-2922.
• Fourth Thursday of each month, Veterans’ Coffee, at the Town & Country Restaurant in King, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. To learn more about Trellis Supportive Care’s veterans’ outreach programs, contact Don Timmons at 336-331-1309 or dtimmons@trellissupport.org.
• Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month, health education with Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency, which provides a range of education on heart disease, diabetes, sickle cell disease, and sexually-transmitted diseases, at the Stokes Wellness Center, 3172 NC Hwy. 8 South, Unit B, Walnut Cove, from 10:45-11:45 a.m. Confidentiality is ensured.
• The last Wednesday of each month, caregiver workshop and lunch, from noon to 1 p.m. at Walnut Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care, 411 Windmill St., Walnut Cove. RSVP to Angie Bailey at 336-414-1122.
• Tuesday Bible Study, the second Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at Walnut Ridge Assisted Living. Bible Study is led by Jim Cohn, pastor of First Baptist Church of Walnut Cove.
• Thursday mornings, PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones) Support Group, 9-10:30 am at the Stokes Wellness Center. Parents with a child addicted to drugs and/or alcohol can find hope in this program. For more information, contact Diana Altrath at 336-345-6728 or Amanda Smith at 336-705-8684.
• Second Thursday of the month, guitar lessons at the Stokes Wellness Center, 6:30- 7:30 p.m. The lessons are free and all ages are welcome, but due to limited class size, registration is required. The center is located at 3172 NC Hwy. 8 South, Unit B, in Walnut Cove.
• Second and Fourth Tuesday of the month, Zumba is offered from 1-2 p.m. at the Stokes Wellness Center in Walnut Cove. The class is free to community members.
• Second and Fourth Tuesday of the month, Very Important Parent parenting class offered from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Stokes Wellness Center in Walnut Cove.
• River’s Edge Gospel Church will have Old-Time Gospel Singings the first Saturday of each month at 6 p.m. A love offering taken for expenses. For more information, call Mary Noah at 336-816-0807.
• Join the City of King Parks and Recreation and Stokes County Cooperative Extension every Friday morning at 7 a.m. for a go-at-your-own-pace walking group.
• The Stokes Family YMCA offers an Adult Grief Support group on the second Wednesdays of the month starting at 6 p.m. at the Y.