1st Annual Assault on Hog Hill Bicycle Ride

The inaugural Assault on Hog Hill Bicycle Ride is slated for April 25, 2009. The event, to benefit Hesed House of Hope, will include activities for the entire family.

The 10-mile Family Fun Ride, and 25- and 50-mile Assault Rides will begin at Betty Ross Park, 800 Madison Street, at 9:00 a.m. Routes can be viewed here. Helmets are required to ride. The $25 entry fee includes a Hog Hill T-shirt, post-ride picnic, and opportunities to win door prizes.

For the little ones, organizers will hold a Hog Hill Tot Ride from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at the Assault Ride Start/Finish line. The entry fee is $10 and includes a free prize. The tots will ride a course around Betty Ross Park parking lot in a stroller, wagon, tricycle, or bicycle with training wheels. Helmets are required. All tots registered for the ride will be eligible to win a kid's bike.

All rides will start and finish at Betty Ross Park. For more information, visit www.hesed-lincoln.org or www.rideabike.com. To register online visit www.pre-reg.com, or to register in person stop by Ride A Bike Bicycle Shop, 116 NE Court Square, downtown Lincolnton. Packet pick-up and on-site registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, April 25th, at Betty Ross Park.

Heafner/Williams Vocal Competition March 28-29

The Lincoln Cultural Center presents the 2009 Heafner/Williams Vocal Competition, to be held in the Timken Performance Hall in the Lincoln Cultural Center. Semifinals for the competition begin Saturday, March 28th at 2pm.

On Sunday, March 29th, the final round begins at 3 pm. This will be followed immediately (approximately 4 pm) by a mini – concert presenting the 2008 winner, Marvin Kehler. Mr. Kehler will perform while the judges deliberate. Immediately following the concert, the 2009 prizes will be announced and awarded.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.heafnerwilliamsvocalcompetition.com or call 704-732-9055.

12th Annual Mugathon to Benefit Humane Society

Join Rising Sun Pottery as it celebrates its 12th Annual Mugathon to benefit the Humane Society of Lincoln County.

"Mugs for Mutts" and "Cups for Cats" will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 5pm at Rising Sun Pottery, 209 South Academy Street in downtown Lincolnton. The event will feature more than 200 dishwasher and microwave safe mugs and cups of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Mug/cup cost is $10 and includes your choice of beverage and homemade dessert. The Humane Society of Lincoln County will receive 50% of gross proceeds from the event.

Downtown Celebrates at Wampum Landmark Tavern

Wampum Landmark Tavern, formerly Lincoln Drugs, was the place to be last Friday night as it hosted the Downtown Development Association's 2009 Main Street Gala & Better Downtown Awards.

When DDA found that its annual gala was scheduled in conflict with the 2009 ACC basketball tournament, it seized the opportunity to combine the two occasions into one event. The organization staged 132 East Main Street as a sports bar for the one-night-only event, transforming the once vacant building into Wampum's - a classic tavern located in the heart of downtown Lincolnton. The facility was staged in accordance with architectural plans developed for reconstructing the space as a restaurant and bar.

The festivities began at 10:00 Friday morning with a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting hosted by the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. The doors to Wampum's officially opened at 6:00 Friday evening for the Main Street Gala & Better Downtown Awards.

Stephen Starnes, Chair of the DDA Board of Directors, presented the following awards on behalf of the organization:

Civic Leadership Award - Freedom Church
Business Leadership Award - Griffin Insurance Agency
Volunteer Leadership Award - Pete DeGregory
Downtown Cityscape Award - David and Carol Self
Downtown Renaissance Award - 36th Street Bakery, Cafe & Catering
DDA Advocate Award - Lincolnton Mayor & City Council
Main Street Champion - Buddy Collins
Pass the Torch Award - Stacy Bryant
Pass the Torch Award - John Dancoff
Pass the Torch Award - Barry Matherly
Pass the Torch Award - Alex Patton
Outgoing DDA Board Chair - Buddy Collins

Starnes also presented the following Milestone Awards, honoring significant periods of entrepreneurial success in downtown Lincolnton:

B&L Formal Wear - 5 years
Allstate Insurance - 10 years
CitiFinancial - 10 years
Eddie Sigmon & Associates, Inc. - 10 years
Raymond James Financial Services - 10 years
ABC Tax Services - 20 years
North State Books - 20 years
Techniques Styling Salon - 20 years
House of Trophies & Engraving/Classic Art & Framing - 25 years
Lighthouse Christian Book Store - 35 years
Ledford Upholstery - 40 years
Leonard Wealth Planning - 50 years

Karen Cook, Cathy Davis, and Mike Milholland were also present on behalf of the Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse to accept a donation of $1,111, which was collected in coordination with the 2008 Hog Happenin' Poker Run.

After the presentation of the awards, attendees enjoyed dinner, catered by Court Street Grille, and then all eyes turned to the six big-screens to watch Wake Forest take on Maryland.

DDA would like to thank its partners for helping to make the event possible: Aaron's Rents, First Federal Savings Bank, Tindall's Professional Photography, Lowe's, Servpro of Lincoln & North Gaston, Charter Communications, Court Street Grille, Hoke Signs & Graphic Design, Wal-Mart of Lincolnton, and - of course - the DDA volunteers who contributed many unique talents and countless hours to the transformation of Wampum's: Buddy Collins, Emma Engster, Susan Flynn, Crystal Gettys, Marsha Jordan, Max Jordan, Tammy Konrad, Vera Lanier, Wanda Milholland, Ken Morris, Brad Rivers, Shirley Smith, and Brad Whitley.

Art Saturdays at the Lincoln Cultural Center

The Arts Council of Lincoln County will be offering art classes on Saturdays at the Lincoln Cultural Center. Classes will be approximately two hours in length and topics will include basic sketching, basic beading, art tag-making, intro to watercolors, ear-ring making and much more. For more information or if you would like to teach a class, please contact the Arts Council of Lincoln County at (704) 732-9044.

Main Street Gala & Better Downtown Awards SOLD OUT

Spaces are sold out for the Downtown Development Association's Main Street Gala & Better Downtown Awards at Wampum Landmark Tavern this Friday night. If you can't make the gala, the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a grand opening and ribbon cutting at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 13th. Please RSVP to the Chamber for the grand opening.

"What's going on at the old Lincoln Drug building?"

....A question that we have heard quite a bit in the past couple of weeks. It is now time to end the suspense....the Downtown Development Association is staging 132 East Main Street (formerly Lincoln Drugs) as a sports bar for the 2009 Main Street Gala & Better Downtown Awards.

DDA is working around the clock to transform the space into Wampum Landmark Tavern for the one-night-only event that is scheduled for March 13th to coincide with the ACC Basketball Tournament. Everyone is invited to attend; however, you must RSVP to DDA to reserve your spot on the guest list. Casual attire is suggested - ACC team colors optional.

A $25 per person cover charge will include admittance to the gala and awards ceremony, dinner catered by Court Street Grille, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Six large screen TVs will broadcast the ACC tournament so you don't miss any of the action! Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.

This year's gala would not be possible without help from: Aaron's; Charter Communications; Court Street Grille; First Federal Savings Bank; Hoke Signs; Lowe's; SERVPRO of Lincoln/N. Gaston; and - of course - a group of dedicated DDA Volunteers.

If you are interested in attending the gala or learning more about Wampum's, call (704) 736-8915 or visit wampumtavern.blogspot.com.