Activities abound this first weekend of May. Three events in particular will be incorporating local families and friends gathering in the Tri-County Area to share in the history, character and community. Look for photos from the events online and in Monday's paper.

RELAY FOR LIFE:

First on the list of things to do, is the Relay for Life of the Foothills. An opening ceremony will start at 6 p.m. at Elkin Municipal Park as walkers relay through the night to raise money for cancer research and services.

The organization is a national charity, but Kelly Hembree, event chair, said that money raised always returns to North Carolina.

"A lot of it comes back to our research hospitals in grant form," Hembree said. "Also in services like 'Look Good, Feel Good' in which cancer victims are treated to a day at of beauty shop."

At the event Friday, cancer survivors will be celebrated, a luminary ceremony will be held for those who lost their battle with cancer, and Saturday morning after the relay a prevention commitment will be held to fight cancer.

A goal of $57,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society has been set for the event. Over $41,000 has already been raised through on-line donations. Last year's Relay for Life raised $54,000.

"We have a committee of wonderful people who work very hard at this event," Hembree said. "As well as a wonderful community to support it."

MOONSHINE RALLY:

A short distance from the Saturday morning conclusion of Relay for Life, will be the Appalachian Moonshine Rally put on by the Triad Austin Healey Club.

Rally master Jon Saylor said that he expects over 100 cars if the day offers good weather. The classic and antique cars will be on display lining up and down Main Street in front of the post office on Saturday, before their 12:30 p.m. start time.

The race course will wind through back roads of the Appalachians, but the exact course is not revealed to drivers till shortly before start. Saylor called the race a "time, speed and distance road rally".

"The winner is the one who finishes closest to the time set for the race," Saylor said. "You go to fast and you're penalized two points every second you are over and one point for ever second you are under."

The suggested speeds are set under the posted speed limits to ensure safety. There is no entry fee, but donations are encouraged that will be given to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Saylor said that in the past, typically, a very diverse group of people has taken part in the rally, "from teenagers to 75 year olds like myself". Saylor drives an Austin Healey that he bought in 1962 before they stopped making them in 1967. He does all the repairs himself and enjoys driving in the rally.

The event is not limited to Austin Healey's though. Saylor said that he expects to see all kinds of cars at the rally, and remembers that last year a scooter took part.

Last year 91 cars were entered (plus scooter), and the year before, 112 vehicles participated.

OLD JONESVILLE DAY

Jonesville celebrates the sixth annual Old Jonesville Day Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lila Swaim Memorial Park. Jonesville history, famous personages and activities will take place throughout the day.

Delos Martin, chairman of the Jonesville Historic Committee tahat sonsors the event, said that there will be something for everyone. Food, crafts, and children's entertainment will be provided along side a celebration of Jonesville's unique history from Civil War exhibits to honoring recent Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame 2007 inductee, the late David Reece.

Reece was a pianist and Jonesville native.

"When we were in school together, he didn't know a piano from a can of beans," Saylor said. "But he taught himself to play and went on to become very famous for his skills."

Edna Martin, Delos Martin's wife and member of the historic committee, said that the event was so popular for the reunion aspects of it.

"People really like coming and seeing old classmates," Martin said. A reunion tent will be set up for those who graduated from Jonesville High School.

Martin encourages people to come by the senior center around 9:30 a.m. when the group will be awarding student exhibits from Jonesville Elementary School on Jonesville's history.