Alison Merritt, left, president of Grainger-Hill Performing Arts Center's board, speaks to the Kinston Evening Rotary about the center. Rotary Club President Karen Sperati introduced Merritt. Built in 1925, Grainger-Hill PAC is one of the few remaining Greek Classic Revival style buildings in the area. Seating 1,000 people, many events are held annually to give Lenoir County a regional theater and to help offset the cost of maintaining the building. Second Sunday Series events are now going on featuring a variety of local entertainers. Evening Rotary meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the House of Wang.
Neuse River Senior Games lowers age limit for 2014
If you turn 50 years old anytime during 2014 you are eligible to compete in the Neuse River Senior Games and Silver Arts competition. This is just one of several changes for the 2014 games and arts event. The NRSG are scheduled for April 22 to May 2.
Nationally, Senior Games serves adults ages 50 and older; however, the idea to lower the age limit has been discussed by the North Carolina Senior Games Board of Directors for more than a decade.
This year, the 53 sanctioned games across the state voted and shared feedback about lowering the age from 55 to age 50.
“We had an overwhelming response to lower the age limit, said Lynn Harrell, associate director for North Carolina Senior Games in Raleigh, “we’re very excited to have more people involved in senior games at an earlier age so when they get involved, hopefully, they will stay involved longer and live healthier longer.”
The 2014 NRSG will also feature the sport of pickleball, similar to tennis. Participants can practice this sport at the Twin Rivers YMCA in New Bern. In addition, beginning Jan. 10, participants can practice various games at the West New Bern Recreation Center on Pinetree Drive in New Bern. These practices include cornhole, shuffleboard, table tennis, billiards, basketball, horseshoes and croquet. This will be every Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and the service is free.
The Neuse River Senior Games encompasses six counties — Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir and Pamlico. Qualifiers in the local games may go to the NCSG finals held every fall in Raleigh. Every other year participants who qualify at the State Games may continue on to the National Senior Games.
Registration for the 2014 NRSG and Silver Arts ends March 14.
For more information or to register, contact Johanne Pryor, NRSG coordinator, at 252-745-5252 or Billy Wilkes, events director, at Craven County Parks and Recreation, 252-636-6606.
For more information on NRSG, including registration forms, visit cravencounty.recdesk.com/recdeskportal, click on the Recreation and Parks Department and the Senior Games tab on the left.
NCSG information, including sports rules, is available at ncseniorgames.org. NRSG is sanctioned by North Carolina Senior Games and is sponsored by the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services.