Members of the Harold B. Jarrett Post 342 celebrated the American Legion 94th birthday party on March 18. Attendance included National Committee member Jerry Hedrick along with Rowan American Legion Athletic Director Voight Bassinger. Commander Dennis Milbrandt gave a brief history of the American Legion, which started in 1919. Awards were given for continuous membership to:
60 years: Frank Waller Sr.

50 years: Roy Morris, William Hillard, Kermit Mitchell, James Nussman and George Williams.
The post also held its annual Easter egg hunt for handicapped children on March 25. A program was presented by children’s entertainers Burns & Company, which was well-received by the children. Prizes were awarded to all the children and a meal was served to the children and volunteers.
Money in part for this project was given by the employees of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office as well as Cloninger Ford, Ralph Ketner and Wallace and Graham. Coordinators for the Easter party were Legion Children and Youth Chairman Harry Garwood and Auxiliary Chair Phyllis Richardson.

District 9 meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary
The District 9 meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary was hosted by the Harold B. Jarrett American Legion Auxiliary on March 23. Unit 342 provided a light breakfast before the meeting.
The meeting was conducted by the District 9 President Julie Smith. Reporting Units for District 9 included: Salisbury 107, Landis 146, Lexington 255, Faith 327, Granite Quarry, 448 and Salisbury 342.
Three units in the district are Gold Units, having received 100 percent in membership, and these units are Salisbury 106, Salisbury 107 and Liberty 81.
Next year’s District 9 meeting will be held at Lexington Unit 255.
Thirteen units from across the state were represented. Department president Mary Ward, vice president Sharon Neville and Division II president Sandy Seacat were in attendance. Department chairmen and committee members in attendance were Brenda Toppin, Americanism; Linda Laws, Children and Youth; Susan Campbell, Constitution and By-Laws; Gloria Wilhelm, Girls State; Theresa Weybrew, National Security; Marlene Short, Past Presidents Parley; Betsy Lee Hodges, Public Relations; Betty Moore, State Headquarters Fund; Judy Norfolk, UDR; Janice MacLeod, VA&R Field Service; Wanda Moore, Warren Ragan Scholarship; Sue Gooch, N.E.C.; and Martha Corriher, Finance Committee.
The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest women’s patriotic service organization in the nation, devoted to America’s veterans, young people and communities. Auxiliary members dedicated more than 2.1 million volunteer hours to community service. You may join the American Legion Auxiliary if you are a mother, wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter of a veteran of World War I or II, Korean War, Vietnam, Lebanon/Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom. Eligibility also applies to step and adopted relatives.
Females who served in these conflicts may join in their own right. For more information, visit www.legion-aux.org
Kneeling Gardeners learn about hummingbirds
Michael Bradshaw from Wild Birds Unlimited talked about hummingbirds with 44 enthusiastic Kneeling Gardeners during the March meeting.
“They’re on the way! Michael exclaimed. “They’ve been spotted leaving the coastal area with their luggage packed. They should be in our area within the next two weeks.” “They travel in waves,” he told us. “The males come first, then the females, followed by the juveniles born last year.”
He proceeded to share hummingbird facts. Each adult is about the same weight as a penny.
Their eggs are the size of a garden pea; the nest the size of a golf ball. They eat every 10 minutes.
They can perch and hover but cannot walk.
Our biggest mistake in attracting them to our feeders, he said, is that we do not change the nectar in the feeders often enough. In the summer heat, it must be changed every 2 to 3 days. Once it goes bad, the birds abandon the feeder.
Club president Janet Smith presented a request from the Cabarrus County Food Policy Council for Kneeling Gardeners to maintain one of the raised beds at the Demo Garden at the Library. Correspondence from the Salvation Army expressed appreciation for bell ringers at Christmas.
Gail Puntch was acknowledged for her work as hospitality coordinator for the club. There will not be an April meeting, but members will be preparing for the May 4 plant sale at Trinity United Methodist Church in Kannapolis.
For information about donating plants, contact Earl Gray at 704-933-4476. Proceeds go to community charitable needs. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome to attend; information is available at 704-933-1127.
Spring piano recital

The piano students of Tina Brown of Rockwell presented a spring recital on Saturday, March 23 at The Lutheran Home in Salisbury. The recitals featured folk songs, hymns, popular and classical works.
Solo pieces were played by the following students: Dave Guo, Kevin Agner, Shirley Guo, Marion Hough, Shaun Pell, Beau Hinson, Gabi Jolly, Daniel Pell and Laura Agner.
Students that performed duets with Mrs. Brown were: Baleigh Trexler, Elisabeth Swinson, Rebecca Agner, Beau Hinson, Dave Guo and Ilya Wang.

Iota Psi elects 2013-14 officers
Iota Psi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, new officers were elected for the upcoming year, to be installed at the May meeting of the chapter.
They are: president, Vicki Lippard; vice president, Karen Smith; corresponding secretary, Diane Yates; recording secretary, D. Anne Simerson; Treasurer, Gail Young; city council representative, Marlene Turner; alternate city council representative, Brenda Barger.
The next city council meeting is April 8 with all Salisbury chapters of Beta Sigma Phi present. At this time old and new city members and new and old presidents of each chapter will elect new officers for the new city council officers for the year 2013-2014.
Iota Psi members are making plans for the annual Beta Sigma Phi’s Founders Day banquet to celebrate the founding of Beta Sigma Phi. Iota Psi is hosting the event in China Grove. At this time all chapters will present their chapters Woman of the Year and the City Council’s Woman of the Year.
Beta Sigma Phi is celebrating its 82-year anniversary.
The Iota Psi chapter is continuing to collect items for Rowan Helping Ministries and donations for Faithful Friends Animal Shelter.