Get up and go

Mosaic reception

Organizers of Mosaic United Methodist Church, a new congregation forming in the Evans area, will hold an informational reception today at Serendipity coffee shop in the Eagle Pointe Shopping Center, 4534 Washington Road, Evans. For more information, call 877-6468.

Parent to Parent

The Lakeside High School PTO presents Parent to Parent at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the school's commons area. The program, with John Clarkin as speaker, offers advice to help parents "form a protective barrier between kids and the toxic culture." For more information, call Debby Balcer, 860-6987.

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Marvin homecoming

Marvin United Methodist Church will hold its 112th homecoming today at 11 a.m. The Rev. Bill Griffin will preach. He is the director of the Georgia Commission on Higher Education. Dinner will follow the morning service. All former pastors and members are invited to attend. The church's revival begins at 7 p.m. and continues through Tuesday. The guest preacher is the Rev. Harold Lawrence, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Milledgeville, Ga. Lawrence is a noted historian, writer and preacher. For more information, call the church office at 863-0510.

Cheerleading clinic

The Evans High School football cheerleading clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the school at 4550 Cox Road in Evans. Students will learn cheers and dances in preparation for a performance at the Evans vs. Tri Cities game Sept. 26. Cost for the clinic is $40, and includes a T-shirt and snack. For more information, call Robin Santagata at 868-3663, ext. 214.

Accountants meet

The CSRA chapter of the Georgia Association of Public Accountants will hold its September meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday at Athens Restaurant on Bobby Jones Expressway.

The guest speaker is George Lively of Financial Strategy Associates, speaking on Section 105 help for the self-employed. For more information or to RSVP, call Jerry Brigham at 650-1700.

Biblical counseling

A course in Biblical counseling will be offered by the Augusta School of Biblical Studies in the Social Security Building, 2050 Walton Way, Suite 210, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The class will meet on 10 consecutive Monday evenings. For more information, call 736-7711.

EHS computer class

An Introduction to Computers class will be at Evans High School from 6 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Monday.

For more information, call 868-3663, ext. 220.

SRS information

Bill Lawless, a member of the Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board, will discuss SRS and its plans for the future during a meeting of the local Sierra Club on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.. Bring a covered dish and have dinner during the session at the Unitarian Church on Walton Way Extension. For more information, call 863-2324.

Support group

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, a ministry of First Baptist Church of Augusta, meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Walton Building, Room 105, of First Baptist Church, 3500 Walton Way, Augusta. Dr. Scott Balogh will speak on depression and bipolar disorder. For more information, call 722-0010.

Police academy

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office will hold a residents' law enforcement academy beginning Thursday . 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.

Free MDO trial

Th Church of the Most Holy Trinity is offering a free trial of its Mother's Day Out and preschool programs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, for walking children through age four. The program includes crafts, stories, songs and dancing.

For reservations or more information, call the PRE office at 722-4944, ext. 315, or Cheryl Weinand at 228-4887.

School carnival

North Columbia Elementary School's fall carnival will be from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the school on Ray Owens Road in Appling. The theme is Dragon Fair of the Medieval Times, and the event will include rides, a silent auction, a Medieval costume contest, games, food and fun. The event is a fund-raiser for the school. For more information, contact Kathy Harrell at 541-1158.

Financial programs

Wesley United Methodist Church will hold two personal finance programs.

Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Live Event will be presented via satellite from 12:30 to 5:50 p.m. Saturday. The program presents Biblical and old-fashioned way of handling money including investing, debt elimination, insurance and wealth-building.

Tickets are available at the church or on-line at www.daveramsey.com. For more information, call Associate Pastor Adam Robert at 869-0888 or Andy Hauger at 667-4516.

Ramsey's 13-week Financial Peace University will begin Oct. 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Orientation is 7 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the church.

For more information, call Hauger at 667-4516.

Church rally

A Rally 'Round the Cross revival service will be Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 at Grovetown United Methodist Church. The series will begin with an 11 a.m. kickoff service and covered-dish luncheon Sept. 28, and continue nightly at 7 p.m. A 6 p.m. supper precedes the closing-night event.

Evangelist Rev. Pierce Norman, former pastor of Lewis Memorial Church and a previous evangelism director for the North Georgia Methodist Conference, will lead the revival services. For more information, contact Mary Ann Navarro at 863-6355, or Pastor Brandon Fulmer at 863-6668.

Hazard meeting

A meeting for public review of Columbia County's draft Hazard Mitigation Plan will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Emergency Services Conference Room, Building E, in the Columbia County Government Complex in Evans. For more information, call 868-3303.

Greek festival

Augusta's annual Greek Festival will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 3 and 4, and noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 5, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 953 Telfair St. The event features entertainment, authentic Greek cuisine and a bazaar with unique gifts. Admission is free. For more information, call 724-1087.

Memory Walk

The Alzheimer's Association Augusta Regional Office will hold Memory Walk 2003 8:30 a.m. Oct. 8 at Augusta Mall, and 9 a.m. Oct. 18 at Riverwalk Amphitheater. For more information or to volunteer, call 731-9060.

Scholarship pageant

The Merchants Association of Columbia County is sponsoring its annual Fair Scholarship Pageant Oct. 11 at Greenbrier High School. Scholarships totaling $1,000 will be awarded in addition to gifts and trophies. Contestants must be residents of Georgia, between the ages of 17-24. Competition will be in swimsuit, evening gown and talent. The winner will represent Columbia County at the Georgia State Pageant in Atlanta in January, 2004.

For applications or additional information, call Pat Becton at 863-7645, or Debbie Zapata, 863-3754.

Hardy crafters sought

Organizers of Harlem's Oliver Hardy Festival, scheduled for Oct. 4, is accepting applications for crafters and vendors. For information, contact Harlem City Hall at 556-3448, or e-mail harlemcityhall@charter.net, or go to harlemga.org.

Pastor anniversary

Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church will celebrate the 21st anniversary of Rev. Robert L. Ramsey at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 21. The Rev. Joseph Henry of Omega Baptist Church in Chicago will be the guest speaker. The theme for the pastor's anniversary is A 21-Year Salute to God's Anointed One. For more information, call 860-7091.

Fall carnival

South Columbia Elementary School will hold its Pumpkin Patch Carnival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at the school on McCormick Road between Old Evans and Old Petersburg roads in Martinez. Games, entertainment and refreshments will be available, along with a silent auction to help raise funds for the South Columbia PTO.

Recycling available

Metro Augusta and Columbia County Clean and Beautiful has placed a container for recycling newspapers and magazines at Stevens Creek Elementary School on Evans-to-Locks Road. The container is available for public recycling.

Newcomers Club

The Augusta Newcomers Club helps new residents acclimate and make friends by offering a variety of activities, including lunch and a movie, dinner groups, bowling, golf and games. Monthly coffees for prospective members are the first Tuesday of each month. To attend or for further information, call Rickie Reinhardt at 650-3941, or Ruth Pearl at 650-1400.

New lab opens

Mullins Laboratories has opened a new patient service center in the Evans Shopping Center, near Omni Health and Fitness. Hours for the new office are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 868-7717.

Canal clean-up

The second annual Rivers Alive Canal Cleanup, by the Sierra Club, will be Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. starting at the headgates of the Augusta Canal at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. For more information, call 863-2324.

Tree orders

The Georgia Forestry Commission is taking orders for seedlings for the upcoming planting season. Buyers are urged to order early, as many species will be sold out later in the season. Pine seedlings are available, as are sweetgum, redbud, red maple, green ash, catalpa and many other hardwoods. Most trees cost $20 for a pack of 10 seedlings. Premium slash pine is $42 per 1,000 seedlings; bicolor lespedeza is $30 per 500. Applications and other prices are available by calling 1 800 GA-TREES or on the Georgia Forestry Commission Web site, gfc.state.ga.us.

Girl Scouts

Girl Scout troops are forming throughout the CSRA for girls ages 5-17, and the Studio 2B program also is available to girls ages 11-17. Girl Scout leaders also are being sought. For more information, call 774-0505.

Harlem day care

The Harlem Neighborhood Development Daycare Academy, a nonprofit organization helping low-income families get financial assistance for day care, is accepting new pupils.

The program is from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at the center at 280 West Forrest St., Harlem. Children age 6 weeks to 12 years are eligible. Activities include field trips, computer classes, games, movies and more.

For more information, call the Rev. Melvin Adams at 556-0209.

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 will be Oct. 17 vs. Richmond Academy. For more information, contact Class of '79 president Vic Johnson at radioactive@comcast.net.

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. 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.

Family reunion

The 77th annual Pittman family reunion will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 28 in the family life center at Bethany Methodist Church, located on Highway 335 between Nicholson and Jefferson. For more information, contact Jan Williams at janwms5350@earthlink.net.

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.

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

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.

Support group

The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Parent Support Group meets 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Martinez Elementary School. Speech-language pathologist Rhonda Lane will discuss listening therapy. For more information, contact Mary Snyder at 860-9385.

School councils

South Columbia Elementary: The council will meet Tuesday and on 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 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: The council will meet t 7:30 a.m. in the media center Tuesday and on the following dates: 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.

Greenbrier Middle: The council will meet Tuesday , and on Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 16, April 20, May 18 and June 15.

Grovetown Middle: The council will meet at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and on the following Thursdays: Oct. 16, Nov. 20, Dec. 11, Jan. 15, 2004, Feb. 19, March 18, April 22, May 20 and June 3. The meetings will be in the school conference room. For more information, call principal Carolyn Fries at 855-2514.

Westmont Elementary: The council will meet at 7:30 a.m. in the school's media center on Friday and on the following dates: Oct. 24; Nov. 21; Dec. 12; Jan. 9, 2004; Feb. 20; March 19; April 16; May 14; June 18; July 16.

Evans Middle: The council will meet on the first Tuesday of each month in the conference room of the school's media center. For more information, call principal Myrel Seigler at 863-2275.

North Columbia Elementary: The council will meet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month that school is in session.

Greenbrier Elementary: The council will meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:15 a.m. All meetings will be in the school's media center.

Evans High: The council will meet at 10:45 a.m. on the first Monday of each month, except when holidays conflict.

Brookwood Elementary: The council will meet in the media center at 4:15 p.m. on the following dates: Sept. 23; Oct. 28; Nov. 18; Dec. 9; Jan. 27, 2004; Feb. 24; March 23; April 27; and May 25. The council will meet at 10 a.m. June 22, 2004.

Bel Air Elementary: The council will meet at 7:15 a.m. on the following dates: Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Jan. 6, Feb. 3, March 2, April 13 and May 4. It will meet at 7:30 a.m. June 1 and July 29. All meetings will be in the media center.

Columbia Middle: The council will meet at 8 a.m. at the school on Columbia Road on the following Mondays: Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 1, April 12 and May 3.

Riverside Elementary: The council will meet at 8 a.m. in the media center on the following dates: Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Dec. 17, Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 24, April 28 and May 26.

Euchee Creek Elementary: The council will meet in the school conference room at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Dec. 3, Jan. 7, Feb. 11, March 10, April 14, May 12 and June 9.

Lakeside Middle School: The council will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the school's staff lounge on the following Tuesdays: 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 Chairwoman 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: Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, 2004, Feb. 9, March 8, April 19, May 10 and June 14.