The Macon County Community Garden began its second year last Saturday, and there is still room for a couple of gardeners to join.

The garden, located at the end of Siler Farm Road past the Macon County Library and the Macon campus of Southwestern Community College, still has two, 20 feet by 25 feet plots available, said Macon County Cooperative Extension director Alan Durden.

The garden started last year with 16 plots. The cooperative extension has increased that number to 24 plots for this season.

Bluebird houses have arrived at The Macon County News office at 107 Highlands Road. The bird houses are once again being sold to benefit KIDS Place.

The bird houses are well ventilated, have a snake-proof entrance and are designed so they can be cleaned out at the end of the season.

This year, Jim Gallant is building the birdhouses with a little help from Nick Bolli. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to KIDS Place, a children’s advocacy center in Franklin. The birdhouses are $10.

For more information, call Gallant at (828)524-9229 or Bolli at (828)369-7440.

Photo by Vickie Carpenter

In North Carolina this year, more than 1,000 babies will die before their first birthday. This is about the same as 40 empty kindergarten classes. The 2011 March for Babies event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Franklin Memorial Park.

Dr. Dan Brigman will be the 2011 Macon County Honorary Chairperson. Dr. Brigman has been the Macon County School’s Superintendent since 2006. According to Jennifer Hollifield, Macon County’s Chairperson, “We are very pleased to have Dr. Brigman as our Honorary Chairperson. He has been involved with the local March of Dimes efforts for several years by participating in the Jail-N-Bail events.”

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The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Moka Latte to the business community with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Moka Latte Express Coffee Drive Thru, located at 1537 Highlands Road, in the parking lot in front of Michael Rogers Gallery and Chris & Charlie’s Pizza.

Moka Latte offers gourmet espresso coffee drinks, hot or iced, and Dr. Smoothie brand smoothies.