Relay for Extra Help Event to be held locally

Relay for Extra Help Events will be held in Haywood, Jackson and Swain Counties. The events will get the word out that by Jan. 1, 2010, people with limited income can qualify for help in paying for health care and prescription costs through the “Extra Help” low income subsidy and Medicare Savings programs.

There will be a trained person at every pharmacy in the county on Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to assist Medicare Recipients to complete an application for Extra Help or to answer questions about the application process.

Call 828.456.6456 in Haywood; 828.586.8562 in Jackson; 828.488.3848 in Swain. Visit www.ncshiip.com.

Dental students lend a helping hand

Sylva will be one of the first towns in North Carolina to receive dental care by students at East Carolina University’s new dental school, which opens fall 2011.

The university plans 10 of these community service learning centers in rural and underserved areas throughout the state. Dental school faculty members will be based in the centers, along with advanced dental residents and senior students.

The state is below the national average in the ratio of dentists to population, and that ratio has declined recently as the population has increased faster than the supply of practitioners.

Yard sale fundraiser planned in Canton

A giant indoor thrift store sale will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, as part of a fundraiser called Moms4Moms. Proceeds will help provide emergency heat for those in need.

The sale will run 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the former An-Ton Chevrolet-Buick Showroom off I-40 at the Canton exit.