Tax Preparation
With the financial support of Eastman Credit Union (ECU), a group of East Tennessee State University (ETSU) business student volunteers, under the guidance of accountancy faculty members Dr. Anthony Masino and Dr. Michelle Freeman, will offer free tax preparation assistance again this year through the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. As an approved VITA location, the ETSU group will assist taxpayers who had $55,000 or less in income during tax year 2017. Hours have been extended for the 2017 filing season. Volunteers will be available to offer tax preparation services on the following Saturdays – March 10 and 24, and April 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sam Wilson Hall, room 318, on ETSU’s main campus.
For more information or to make an appointment, contact Masino at 423-439-4432 or Masino@etsu.edu or Freeman at 423-439-4432 or freemanms@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
Adult Softball Spring League
What better way to get your exercise this spring and have a good time with friends that by participating in the adult softball program being offered by Bristol Tennessee Parks and Recreation.The Spring League which includes Church, Open, and Recreational teams. The league will have an organizational meeting on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 2PM in Slater Center. Slater Center is located at 325 McDowell Street, Bristol Tennessee.The deadline for teams to register is Monday, April 16, 2018. There is a team fee of $375.00. Games will begin on Monday, April 30, 2018 and will be played on the fields of Whitetop Creek Park located on Highway 394. Bring your team and play this spring on some of the best fields in the area. For more information contact Freddie Hickman at 423-213-1510 or Taylor Harmon at 423-464-4048 or email tharmon@bristoltn.org.
Crafting St. Patrick Class
Those looking for a different way to observe St. Patrick’s Day can learn how to create a clover, Celtic knot or other symbol related to the holiday in a one-day class, “Crafting St. Patrick: Smithing a Celtic Knot,” on Sat, March 10.
Offered by East Tennessee State University’s Office of Professional Development, this class will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Skillville, 224 W. Market St. (The main entrance is on Montgomery St. at the back of the building).
Participants will learn basic metalsmithing techniques, including sawing, piercing, filing, sanding, hammer texturing and stamping, as well as how to make jump rings and create a green patina on the metal. They will create a piece of art out of copper or brass that may be used to hang in windows or on doors, or may be worn as a necklace. Enrollment is limited to 13. The $149 class fee includes metal and other art supplies, and a list will be provided to registrants of items they will be responsible for bringing, such as protective gear and drawing materials. Participants should make plans for lunch on their own.
For registration or more information, visit www.etsu.edu/professionaldevelopment and click the “Smithing a Celtic Knot” picture, or call 800-222-3878.
Blood Drive
Marsh Regional Blood Center will conduct public blood drives at the area locations. Visit tinyurl.com/n4aujx9 to find a location near you. In addition to scheduled blood drives, donors are welcome at Marsh Regional’s collection centers: 111 W. Stone Drive, Suite 300, Kingsport, 2428 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City and 1996 W. State St., Bristol. For more information about scheduling a blood drive at a local business, church, school or community organization, please call 423-408-7500, 423-652-0014 or 276-679-4669 or visit marshblood.com.
The Casual Word Adult Creative Writing Class
Join us for a free, fun, engaging, and different look into writing. In this class, we will not focus on structure, form, or rules, but on the freedom of writing. It is the goal of this class to open the mind to its full creative potential by allowing participants to write what they want, how they want to write it. Sessions will be student lead; we will engage in topics and subjects that are of interest to the students. The atmosphere is casual and jovial. This class is designed for all those 18 and up who wish to try their hand at creative writing. Thursdays @ 6:00 p.m. Jones Creativity Center. Bristol Public Library.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Looking for Community Volunteers
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities (BBBSGTC) is looking for community volunteers to make a difference in a child’s life. Spending approximately 4 hours a month with an at-risk youth can help them improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem. Our local Big Brothers Big Sisters office is part of one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the United States. It’s a system that has been proven to work and transforms the lives of children who might not otherwise ever get the support they need to grow and successfully meet life’s challenges.
Child-volunteer matches are made based on in-depth and comprehensive interviewing with parents, children and potential volunteers. Stringent safeguards are in place to assure that all parties are safe. Volunteer and parent engagement and training also play a big role. Anyone wanting to find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities should contact the office by calling 423-247-3240, or visiting TennesseeBig.org.
Adult Creative Makerspace
Begin March with self-expression! The Johnson City Public Library will offer a basic collage workshop on Thursday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. in the library’s second floor Buffalo Mountain Room. Collage is a type of artwork made from assembling different images and various media onto a new surface. Participants will create a collage on a small wooden box (while supplies last) to take home and display as they wish.
This workshop is free and open to the public. The Johnson City Public Library offers an adult creative makerspace the first Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.jcpl.org or call the Adult Services Department at 423-434-4454.
