Makenzie is a spunky Rutherford County three-year-old who loves Bluey and JJ, plus singing and "directing" music, said those close to her. She loves to play. So when she arrived at the Kidsenses InterACTIVE Children's Museum in Rutherfordton recently, she immediately began grocery shopping, a favorite among many children. Choosing veggies, steaks, milk and other things off the shelves, Makenzie placed them in a cart and rolled them to the check-out line.

Landen Proctor said Hopeworks is different from becoming part of other groups. "They come to you. They meet you more than halfway."

Proctor is part of the 15-25 high schoolers who gather at Blue Ridge Hope's Hopeworks on West Main in Forest City on Thursday afternoons. A middle school group meets on Wednesdays.

In a few weeks Cecilia Higgins, 18, is boarding an airplane for Carrick-on-Suir near Waterford, Ireland, for a 12 week internship. She will not be interning in an office complex, a newsroom or a medical facility.

(Writer's note: There are several one year anniversary ceremonies planned this week to commemorate the resilience of Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and Western North Carolina. Check details inside.)

When a 30 foot wall of water came rushing down the Rocky Broad River in Chimney Rock Village on September 27, 2024, the Village and Lake Lure were devastated as Hurricane Helene destroyed the infrastructure, homes were lost, lives were forever changed and it would be the costliest flood in history for the area.