Keep NC Beautiful, in partnership with the N.C. Coca-Cola Bottlers Council, is now accepting grant applications for projects to be completed in 2012 that address litter prevention, cleanup, waste reduction, recycling and beautification.

Schools, youth and civic groups, nonprofits and KNCB affiliates are eligible to apply. Three $500 awards will be issued for each category, along with an individual category that is open for one winner at $500, or two for $250 each.

Priority will be given to applications that highlight programs or projects that coincide with the annual Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup, which runs from March 1 to May 31, and America Recycles Day, which is celebrated in November. Public educational initiatives focusing on enhancing cleanup and beautification efforts and increasing waste reduction and recycling behaviors are also of importance.

Applications can be downloaded at keepncbeautiful.org and are due by Feb. 15. Winners will be announced March 1.

For more information, contact KNCB Program and State Leader Brenda Ewadinger at (704) 442-0791 or bewadinger@keepncbeautiful.org.

Cold weather puts many outdoor activities on hiatus, but that doesn't mean participants stop preparing for next season.

Many area recreational sports organizations keep busy through the winter by planning and conducting benefit events to raise funds to pay for equipment, facilities, travel, entry fees or any of the many expenses affiliated with their activities.

Here are three fundraisers coming up over the next three weekends:

Have fun and support a great cause tonight by heading to AMF Capital Lanes in Raleigh.

From 6:30 to 9 p.m., the nonprofit Raleigh Jaycees Community Impact Fund will conduct the sixth annual Bowl-A-Thon to raise money for the Wake County 4-H Camp Scholarship Program. Bowlers and spectators are welcome.

The heat did not deter a field of more than 200 runners and walkers who turned out Saturday for the inaugural Run for the Heart 5K in Morrisville.

Veteran Triangle road racer Erik Olson, 32, of Durham covered the certified 5K course in 18 minutes flat, organizer Jim Young of Young & Associate timing company reported. Brian Smith, 27, of Carrboro, who set the pace for most of the race, followed in 18:04.

Janice Martin, 39, of Cary won the women's competition and finished eighth overall in 20:20. Cathy Gugerli, 39, of Cary was second in 22:26.

Do you have any furniture that's in good condition that's taking up valuable space? Do something charitable and donate it to The Green Chair Project.
 

More than 14,000 amateur athletes of all ages - including many from the Triangle - are expected to converge in and around Charlotte for the Powerade State Games of North Carolina.

Opening ceremonies take place at 8 p.m. Friday at the Paladium at Carowinds theme park, and competition ends June 27.

The Olympic-style festival will include a variety of age and skill levels in baseball, basketball, BMX, cycling criterium , disc golf, fencing, figure skating, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, karate, lacrosse, mountain biking, soccer, softball, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, track and field and wrestling.

The action will be fast and beginner-friendly at the Raleigh Rugby Complex on Saturday as the Raleigh Rugby Football Club hosts its annual Charity Sevens tournament.
"Sevens" competition is a smaller, quicker version of the sport, club spokesman Brent Vaughn said. Instead of the usual 15 players per side, each team sends seven to the field, or pitch, and instead of the usual 40-minute halves, teams play seven-minute halves. The result is a family-friendly format that is ideal for introducing spectators to the game.
"Spectators can expect a very fast-paced, full-contact sport that they will be able to enjoy with people around the facility who are familiar with the sport and will be happy to explain," Vaughn said. 

This track-out week is anything but a break for Austin Pittsley.

The seventh-grader at Lufkin Road Middle School in Apex has been busy
writing letters, making phone calls and putting up posters.

It's all to promote a wheelchair basketball event Friday featuring Lufkin Lightning players from his school and Junior Thunder
players from Bridge II Sports, a Durham-based nonprofit that provides adaptive and wheelchair sports opportunities in the Triangle.

Triangle racquetball players, Steven Harper has a challenge: Try it
without the ceiling and the back wall – and in the great outdoors.

On March 20, the Clayton resident and retired Navy lieutenant commander
will provide the state’s first public demonstration of an outdoor
racquetball court provided through his organization, the Military Racquetball Federation.

The free clinic will take place 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Church @ Clayton Crossings, 11690 U.S. 70 in Clayton.

We can all use free stuff these days, and that includes free entry into
a running event that is part of the Sept. 19 Celebrate Cary at Sunset
festival.

Triangle runners can have their entry fees waived for the Cary Sunset
7000 at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. The 4 p.m. race is a
7,000-yard - 1.25-mile - run, jog or walk around Symphony Lake.

Instead of paying the $15 entry fee, runners may make a donation of
food to the Food Bank of North Carolina at the Food Bank's booth during
the coinciding Celebrate Cary at Sunset Festival. A minimum donation of
$5 to $10 worth of food is required, but runners are welcome to contribute
more.