Current events
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 American Revolution. This meeting will be held at the Augusta Museum of History, Sixth and Reynolds Street, Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. The event is free. For more information, contact Carrie Adamson at 738-2241.
Harlem reunion
The Harlem High School Class of 1983 is having its 20-year reunion Aug. 29 at Harlem High School. For more information, please contact Darryl James at 855-0544 (day) or 541-0681 (night).
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Prostate screenings
University Hospital will hold free prostate screenings, with two stops in Columbia County. The screenings will be at Lowe's home improvement stores in the area, with screenings scheduled for Friday at Lowe's on Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez, and again Aug. 23. The screenings will be from 8 to 11 a.m., and are available for men over age 50 and black men over 45. All participants will receive information, refreshments and giveaways, and will be eligible for door prizes and gift certificates. Each store will give away a grill valued at $500. No appointments are necessary. For more information, call 736-0847.
Open house
Martinez Baptist Hearts and Hands Christian Day School will hold an open house at 6:30 p.m. Friday for K-2 through eighth grade. Limited space is available. A-Beka curriculum, daily Bible class, small class sizes, art, music, P.E., 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
St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., continues fall registration for the 2003-04 Mother's Day Out Program for children ages 6 months through 4 years old today from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Anne's Hall.
For more information, contact Gina Craw at 262-2659 or smothnursery@earthlink.net
Tailgate anniversary
The Harlem High School Class of 1979 is planning a homecoming tailgate party in celebration of the 25th anniversary football season for the class. The homecoming game is game is Oct. 17 vs. the Academy of Richmond County. For more information, contact Class of '79 president Vic Johnson at radioactive@comcast.net.
Senior projects
Greenbrier High School will hold a parent informational meeting on senior projects at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 in the auditorium. General information will be presented about the senior project, and there will be time for questions and answers. For more information, contact Carol Shrout, English department chairwoman, 650-6043 extension 309.
Preschool registration
Columbia County Christian Academy, 4004 Prescott Drive in Martinez, is accepting pupils for its Mother's Day Out program, and pre-K through sixth grade classes. A-Beka curriculum is taught in small classes. For more information, call 863-0535, or 863-6973.
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, call 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.
Back-to-school service
West Acres Baptist Church, 555 Gibbs Road in Evans, is holding a back-to-school praise and worship service at 7 p.m. Aug. 15, featuring a concert with Selah and the RUSH reunion band. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door, and are available at area Christian bookstores. For more information, call 860-6573.
School councils
North Harlem Elementary School: The council will meet at 4:30 Monday in the school media center. For more information, call council chairwoman and school principal Lisa Soloff at 556-5995 or council secretary Debbie Long at 556-9576.
Lakeside Middle School: The council will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the school's staff lounge on the following Tuesdays: Aug. 19, Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Jan. 6, Feb. 3, March 2, April 13, May 4, June 1 and Jul 6. For more information, call Chairperson Felicia Dumas at 855-6900.
Lakeside High School: The council will meet at 7 p.m. in the front-office conference room of the school on Mondays during the school year on the following dates: Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, 2004, Feb. 9, March 8, April 19, May 10 and June 14. School council members are principal Jeff Carney, parents Pam Dixon and Mark Balcer, business partners Debbie McMurtrey and John Smith, media specialist Bekki Matthews and teacher Melisa Poppell.
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.
Citizen's academy
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office will hold a citizen's law enforcement academy beginning Sept. 18. Participants will be given an insight into the everyday operations of the sheriff's office, as well as firearms training. The free course is offered each Thursday evening from 6:30 to 9, and is open to Columbia County residents ages 18 or older. Anyone interested in attending the class can contact Lt. Patricia Champion at 541-3970, or Capt. Jim March at 541-4027.
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 up 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.
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, and go to the Dearing, Ga., section
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-serve basis. A GLSP staff member will meet with seniors from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. 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 call there to 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.
Teen art advisers
The Morris Museum of Art is accepting Teen Advisory Council membership applications for the upcoming school year. Applications may be picked up at the museum at 1 Tenth St. at Riverwalk, or by calling 828-3865. The application deadline is Sept. 1. for more information, call 724-7501.
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 access to them up-close and the opportunity to talk to owners and breeders, many of whom have kittens for sale. The public is invited. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors and are available at the gate. 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 55 and over residents of Columbia County 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 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays, and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Aug. 13. The cost for the fall session is $25. For more information, contact Gwen Gore at 738-8771.
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.
Parking-lot sale
Westside Christian Church will be having its annual Parking Lot Sale on Aug. 16, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items for sale include mattresses, computer desks, couches and other furniture, clothes, books and more. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the church's youth ministry. The church is just east of the intersection of Belair and Columbia roads.