Strings of Victory, a four-part bluegrass gospel band that
includes (from left) Jeff McCorkle, Madison McCorkle, Jessica
Walker, and Donnie Miller, will perform on Oct. 11 as part of First
United Methodist Church Valdese’s four-week series of gospel music
programs called “A Month of Sundays.” Jeff is Madison’s father,
while Donnie is Jessica’s father.
FOR THE PAPER
First United Methodist Church Valdese invites the community to “A Month of Sundays,” a special series of gospel music programs that will be held at 6 p.m. each Sunday in October.
The schedule includes the following programs, all of which are free and open to the public, although a love offering will be received each week:
Oct. 4: Carolina Style Chorus, a women’s group from Conover that specializes in performing four-part, a cappella music in the barbershop style.
Oct. 11: Strings of Victory, a four-part bluegrass gospel band that is made up of a pair of fathers and their daughters.
Oct. 18: Lindsey Kay Freeman, a 22-year-old Southern gospel artist who’s based in Morganton and comes from a family of singers and musicians.
Oct. 25: Howard Smith, an award-winning pianist and hymn singer from Old Fort.
First United Methodist Church Valdese is at 217 St. Germain Ave. SE. The church has offered “A Month of Sundays” in previous years as well.
For more information, contact Debra Bratcher at 360-286-6809 or debjoysings@gmail.com.
— JM
Community_news
AMOREM earns 5-star quality rating from Medicare Care Compare
AMOREM announced last week that it has been named a 5-star Quality Rated Hospice by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
This prestigious rating reflects the compassion and dedication of AMOREM’s entire team — and the trust families place in those team members during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Self
Moore
The quality rating given by CMS is based on data collected from the Hospice Item Set (HIS) and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers Survey (CAHPS), also known as the Family Caregiver Survey.
The Family Caregiver Surveys are administered by MatrixCare. Two months after a patient dies, MatrixCare sends a survey to the person most involved with the patient, which could be a relative or friend. The survey includes 38 questions based on the care received by the patient, the support provided to their loved ones, and if they would recommend that hospice to others.
“A 5-star quality rating is more than a measure of performance. It represents the trust families place in AMOREM and our commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered hospice care,” AMOREM Chief Regulatory and Experience Officer Bobbie Self said. “We are honored that the experiences shared by families and the quality outcomes achieved by our team have earned this national recognition.”
Less than 20% of hospice organizations nationwide are able to achieve a 5-star rating, and AMOREM is one of only two hospice providers in the service area to do so.
“Choosing a hospice provider is an important decision, and families should be able to see how providers compare,” AMOREM CEO April Moore said. “Medicare Care Compare gives them a way to look at quality across providers. I am proud that AMOREM has earned five stars, grateful to the families who shared their experiences, and thankful for the team whose work made this possible.”
AMOREM has been a local nonprofit hospice provider for more than four decades, previously as Burke Hospice and Palliative Care and Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, and since 2021 as AMOREM. For more information about AMOREM’s services, visit amoremsupport.org.
OCTOBER ADVANCE CARE PLANNING WORKSHOPAMOREM and Thrive will offer a free advance care planning workshop Oct. 8 in Lenoir.
The workshop will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Thrive, formerly the Caldwell Senior Center.
Advance care planning helps people make their medical wishes known in case they are unable to speak for themselves. The process includes deciding, discussing, and documenting healthcare wishes through tools such as living wills and healthcare powers of attorney.
Organizers said advance directives can help ensure a person’s healthcare wishes are known and honored while also giving peace of mind to families.
Notaries and witnesses will be available for anyone who wants to complete documents during the workshop.
AMOREM partners with Thrive to offer the workshop at no cost on the second Thursday of each month.
Space is limited, and registration is required.
For more information or to register, call 828-758-2883.
— JM
Burke_county
Learn about Burke's economic development at Coffee & Conversation
Burke Development Incorporated President and CEO Brandon Ruppe will be the featured speaker on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Coffee & Conversation, hosted by the Burke County Chamber of Commerce.
Ruppe
Attendees will hear about the latest economic development trends and initiatives in Burke County, including current projects, future plans, and efforts underway to support continued growth in the community. Breakfast will be provided, and there will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
Coffee & Conversation will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. — the program will begin at 8 a.m. — at Glory Mountain Retreat Center, 2609 Devinney Ave. in Morganton. The cost is $15 for chamber members and $25 for non-chamber members, and registration can be completed online at tinyurl.com/3tnztfw3.
The board of directors of the Western Piedmont Foundation elected Shaun Cline as its new board president for 2026-27 at its meeting Aug. 20.
Cline
Cline is a Western Piedmont Community College alumnus who works as a business banker for First Citizens Bank.
“It is an honor to serve as president of the Western Piedmont Foundation board this year,” Cline said. “On behalf of the foundation, I would like to express my profound gratitude for your ongoing support, your time, and your financial commitment. As I reflect on the past year, I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. I am so grateful to the donors, alumni, community partners, employees, and friends who made these accomplishments possible.
“I look forward to what we will accomplish together in the year ahead.”
In addition to Cline, other members of the Western Piedmont Foundation Board of Directors are as follows: officers Scott Brooks (president elect), Bobbie McCombs (past president), and Beth Heile (trustee liaison); board members Ben Brittain, Jessica Epley, Carlos Foster, Laney Greene, Kary Greer, Alan Griffin, Amanda Krause, Rexanna Lowman, Jenny Merrill, Jean Patton, Julie Powell, Debbie Sigmon, Jane Sohovich, Meg Taylor, Dalton Walters, Mike Watts, and Chance Wright; and officials Dr. Joel Welch (WPCC president), Sandy Hoilman (chief financial officer), and Mackenzie Bostian Adams (Western Piedmont Foundation executive director).
Western Piedmont Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that develops public and private support for WPCC beyond that provided by county, state, and federal funds. Donations support student scholarships, program and classroom enhancements, employee mini-grant projects, equipment needs, and other special initiatives that benefit WPCC students.
Created in 1967, the Western Piedmont Foundation was among the first fundraising organizations within the North Carolina Community College system.
— JM
Community_news
Tickets available for open fire meal in Connelly Springs
A special event is coming to The Bailey Farm in Connelly Springs from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, as Highlands Family Farm offers a calving season dinner under the open sky.
Guest chef Ulysses Gonzalez will cook beef and pork raised on the farm over an open fire, giving attendees a true farm-to-table meal that will be served right where it all begins. Farm tours will also be given.
Gonzalez is a Miami native with Argentine and Cuban heritage who has more than two decades of experience working in kitchens.
Seats are limited. To reserve yours, visit tinyurl.com/4sa5472z or sign up in person at Highlands Butchery in Valdese during business hours (11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays). The cost is $150 per person, and the menu can be found on Highlands Butchery’s Facebook page.
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