Current events
Fire meetings
The final two public forums for Columbia County officials to present the county's fire services study are scheduled for today at 7 p.m. at the Columbia County Government Center Auditorium, and Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Eubank Blanchard Community Center, Appling.
For more information, call Pam Tucker, Emergency Management Agency director, at 868-3303.
Senior projects
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Greenbrier High School is holding a parent informational meeting on senior projects on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. General information will be presented about the Senior Project, and there will be a time for questions and answers. For more information, contact Carol Shrout, English department chairwoman, 650-6043 ext. 309.
School councils
South Columbia Elementary School: School council meetings for 2003-04 are scheduled for Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 28, Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 13, Feb. 17, March 16, April 27, May 18, June 15 and July 20. The meetings will be held in the school media center beginning at 7:15 a.m. The meetings in June and July will be at 8:30 a.m.
Blue Ridge Elementary School: The 2003-2004 school council will meet Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. in the media center on the following dates: Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 14, Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 16, April 20 and May 18. For more information, call principal Joyce G. long at 868-0894.
Evans High School: The school council will meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the school's media center.
Dinner theater
Stage III Columbia County Community Theater will present Neil Simon's Rumors as a dinner theater production Sept. 4-6 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. For more information or reservations, call Fred or Maria Elser at 868-9663or 868-4329.
SCORE advice
The Service Corps of Retired Executives provides counseling and mentoring to business people who are starting a new business or expanding an ongoing business. Volunteer counselors are retired executives. Affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE is a nonprofit, public-service organization. There is never a charge for services. To contact SCORE's Augusta office, call 793-9998, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon.
New location
Jay's Christian Supply, Columbia County's first Christian bookstore, has reopened in Merchants Village, 4115 Columbia Road, Suite 2. The store carries Bibles, books, music and church supplies and soon will carry two new gift lines: Holy Bears - bears with a Christian theme - and the Life of Faith doll line and products. For more information, call the store at 863-4935.
Genealogical Society
Dr. Sophia Bamford will discuss migration patterns of the huge number of settlers from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina who found their way to Wilkes County and Lincoln County in the 1790s, after the Revolution. This meeting will be at the Augusta Museum of History, Sixth and Reynolds streets, on Thursday, Aug. 7 from 7 to 8 p.m. The event is free. For more information, contact Carrie Adamson at 738-2241.
McDuffie Friends
McDuffie County Friends of Animals' Adopt-A-Pet Days are each Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at SuperPetz on Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez. To see pets that are available, call 556-9090 or go to petfinder.com under the section for Dearing, Ga.
Free legal help
Georgia Legal Services Program staff will be in Columbia County to meet with senior citizens wanting free legal help on civil (noncriminal) issues on a first-come, first-served basis.
A GLSP staff member will meet with seniors from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 at the Bessie Thomas Senior Center, 5913 Euchee Creek Drive, Grovetown.
The GLSP office is at 209 Seventh St., Suite 400, Augusta. People ages 60 or older needing legal assistance may ask for help with legal problems, or meet the staff during scheduled visits in Columbia County. For more information, call 721-2327, or toll-free outside the area, (800) 248-6697.
Open house
Martinez Baptist Hearts and Hands Christian Day School will hold an open house Friday, Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. for K-2 through eighth grade. Limited space is available. A-Beka curriculum, daily Bible class, small class sizes, art, music, PE, library availability, community mission projects and qualified teachers are offered. The school is at 3632 Lynnwood Drive. For information, call 364-2859 or 294-0977.
Mother's Day Out
Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., is holding fall registration for the 2003-04 Mother's Day Out program for children ages 6 months through 4 years Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 9 to 11 a.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Anne's Hall. For more information, contact Gina Craw at 262-2659 or smothnursery@earthlink.net
Mother's Day Out/Preschool
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity is accepting registration for its Mother's Day Out/preschool program scheduled to begin Aug. 18. If you have children who are walking and no older than 4, contact the P.R.E. office at 722-4944, ext. 315, for more information.
Preschool registration
Registration for preschool and the Mother's Morning Out program at the Vineyard Church of Augusta is open. The preschool accepts children ages 2-5. The Mother's Morning Out program is open to 1- and 2-year-olds. Both offer classes weekday mornings. For more information or to register, call the church office at 863-9766 or Linda Shervette at 863-7414.
Hope Soap
Volunteers for Hope Soap will meet Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta on Walton Way Extension to sort and package bags of donated toiletries, primarily hotel and travel amenities. The bags will be distributed to area shelters. Three dropoff sites for Hope Soap are available: the Unitarian Universalist Church; Wild Birds Unlimited, in West Town shopping center in Martinez; and at The Columbia County News-Times office, located next to Publix on Washington Road in Evans.
Other organizations and businesses interested in becoming additional community drop-off sites are being sought, as are tax-deductible monetary donations. For additional information, call Evelyn Browne at Big Changes Start Small, 863-5863.
Girls Inc. registration begins
Registration for the after school program at Girls Incorporated of the CSRA, a non-profit United Way agency, begins Monday, Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The program runs from Aug. 12 through May 21, from 2:30 to 6 p.m. It offers programs including computers, sports, economic literacy, character building, prevention classes and a choir, and a special program including van pick-up at select schools, evening neighborhood drop-off, a homework room with adult supervision and a hot evening meal.
For more information or to register, call 733-2512.
Cat show
The Masters Cat Club, a nonprofit member of the Cat Fanciers' Association, is holding its 2003 cat show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 23, at Riverview Park in North Augusta. Many breeds will be displayed before and after showing with close access to them and the opportunity to talk to owners and breeders, many of whom have kittens for sale. The public is invited. Tickets at the gate cost $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. For more information, call Sharon Butler at 860-6820.
Senior activities
The Bessie Thomas Community Center, 5913 Euchee Creek Drive, Grovetown, offers daily events for residents ages 55 and over including bingo on Tuesday and Thursday, ceramics and other arts and crafts, trivia, devotionals and field trips. Transportation to and from the center is provided by the county's Rural Transportation Department. Call in advance to schedule the ride. All rides and center activities, not including trips, are free.
For more information or to request transportation, call 556-0308.
Taste For Life
Taste for Life, a Bible study-based weight-loss program, will be at Wesley United Methodist Church on North Belair Road on Monday mornings from 9:30 to 11 a.m. beginning Aug. 11, and on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning Aug. 13. The cost for the fall session is $25. For more information, contact Gwen Gore at 738-8771.
Homecoming
Riverside Baptist Church in Milledgeville will hold homecoming services Sunday . Gospel singing will be at 1 p.m., with special guest Wayne Williford and Good News from Sandersville. For more information, contact Jeanette Thompson at (478) 452-7560.
Worship conference
Worship Conference 2003 will be held at In Focus Church Thursday-Sunday . Worship celebrations are free and will be Thursday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 7:30 p.m. Special guests will include Bob Fitts, Lynn DeShazo, Kevin Singleton, Vic Thomas and more. Call In Focus Church at 868-7788 to register or for more information.
Farmers sought
Main Street Augusta is seeking farmers and vendors in the Central Savannah River Area to market home-grown and homemade products in downtown Augusta on Saturday mornings from August to October. For specific vendor requirements and application, contact Chris Naylor at 722-8000 or Sheri Chambers at 664-1054. E-mail inquiries: cnaylor@augustadda.org or chatzi819@aol.com.