Around Burke for May 24

Note: Some events may have already occurred.

Memorial Day is Monday, May 26, and government offices, banks, and many businesses will be closed in observance of the special day. The Paper offices will be closed that day and will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday, May 27.

Rutherford College Founders Day is set for today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of Town Hall. The event will feature a variety of food vendors, lots of activities for the kiddies, a variety of arts and crafts vendors, and all-day music from the band, Fox & Company.

Applebee’s Grill + Bar in Morganton is hosting a fundraiser for Cats Cradle, a nonprofit foster-based rescue for cats. The restaurant will contribute 25% of your order total to the organization on Tuesday, May 27.

The May Coffee at the Museum program will feature Ed Phillips, CEO of Burke County Tourism. He will discuss the current tourism economy and efforts to promote Burke County after Hurricane Helene. The free program is Thursday, May 29, at 10 a.m. at the History Museum of Burke County, 201 W. Meeting St.

NC Chamber announces a small-business program called 10,000 Small Businesses through Gold Sachs. The program is completely free and offers practical business training, access to capital, and a powerful alumni network — all designed to help small businesses scale. A Zoom information session to learn more is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 30. For more information, call the Burke County Chamber of Commerce at 828-437-3021.

Mountain Grove United Methodist Church is celebrating 165 years on Sunday, June 1. Everyone is invited to the 11 a.m. service. Lunch is a covered dish to share after the service. The church is at 3625 Fish Hatchery Road.

Lake James Fire and Rescue will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 16, with board elections to be held from 4-5:45 p.m. The agenda will also include financial reports and any other necessary business. All residents of the Lake James Fire District who are 18 or older and live or own property in the district are invited to attend. Contact Board President Jim Powers at jimpowers5137@gmail.com if you are interested in running for a seat on the board.

Vacation Bible school will be held at Shiloh AME Church from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, to Friday, June 20. There will be classes for all ages, from toddlers to teens and adults with Bible lessons, songs, crafts, and snacks. “The Jesus Connection, Downloads from Heaven” (Ephesians 1:3, NLT) is the theme. The church is on North Powerhouse Road near the Lake James Fire station.

The Caldwell Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Ask the Experts program monthly through the end of the year. Each session covers topics helpful to operating a business. The Thursday, June 26, session will cover technology, including AI and ChatGPT. The program begins at 8 a.m. at the chamber office, 1909 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir. For more information, call 828-726-0616.