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Candidate forums

The Columbia County Republican Party is sponsoring three forums this week for candidates in the Nov. 4 District 4 race for Columbia County Commission. The forums are 7 p.m. Monday at Grovetown Middle School; 7 p.m. Thursday at Harlem Middle School; and 9 a.m. Saturday at North Columbia Elementary School. All five candidates in the District 4 race are invited, and the two candidates for Grovetown City Council also are invited to Monday's forum.

Road forums

Columbia County officials will hold a transportation workshop at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Government Center Auditorium in Evans. The public is encouraged to attend to provide input on transportation issues for the county's long-range transportation plan. For more information, call 868-3376.

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Democrats meet

The Columbia County Democratic Party will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Government Center Auditorium in Evans. For more information, call Terry Holley at 868-0959.

Gifted Association

The Columbia County Association for the Gifted will present a free program for all parents of gifted children and all teachers from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Westmont Elementary School cafeteria. The event features Carolyn Coil, an internationally known speaker, educator, author and parent of gifted children, who will discuss "Differentiating for Gifted Students in the Regular Classroom."

Brookwood sings

The third-grade students of Brookwood Elementary School will perform Brookwood Sings America Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the school, 455 South Old Belair Road. For more information, call Johnny Carr, 855-7596, ext. 217.

Computer class

Introduction to computers will be offered at Evans High School on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6-9 p.m., beginning Tuesday and continuing through Nov. 13. Call 868-3663, ext. 220 for more information.

Fall festival

Bible Cathedral will hold its family fall festival 7-9 p.m. Friday at the church on 1116 Furys Ferry Road, across from Riverside Middle School. The event will include games, a hay ride, and Trunk or Treat. For more information, call 863-7090.

Festival and auction

West Acres Baptist Church, 555 Gibbs Road, Evans, will hold its fall festival and silent auction 6-9 p.m. Friday with rides, games and food.

Lewiston yard sale

Lewiston Elementary School will hold a multi-family yard sale at 7 a.m. Saturday to raise funds for the school. For more information, call Julie Lanham, 863-8144.

Salvation Army sale

The Salvation Army Church, 2020 Gardner Street, Augusta, will hold a giant yard sale 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. For more information, call 826-7933.

Church concert

Westside Christian Church will have an outdoor worship concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at the church, 4352 Columbia Road in Martinez. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 592-1046 or 863-6281.

ACS fall fest

Augusta Christian Schools fall festival will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the 313 Baston Road, Martinez, campus. The event will feature a silent auction, a rock-climbing wall, games and entertainment. For more information, call 863-2905, ext. 100.

Fall revival

White Rock Baptist Church in Lincolnton will hold its fall revival at 7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. The Rev. Steve Berry, of New Exodus Baptist Church in Hephzibah, will be the guest minister.

The White Rock Gospel Choir will start the revival at 3 p.m. today by celebrating its 44th anniversary.

Antique show

Historic Augusta's 11th annual Antiques Show and Sale will be 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday . The event will be at the Old Medical College, 598 Telfair St., Augusta. For information, call 724-0436.

Dessert concert

The Augusta Children's Chorale will perform its 13th annual Dessert Concert, 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at Sacred Heart Cultural Center. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. For more information, call Ann Roberts at 826-4718.

Lutheran drama

The Fine Arts Ministry of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church presents "Luther" by John Osborne at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 3 p.m. Nov. 16 in the fellowship hall of the church, 402 Aumond Road, Augusta. For more information, call 733-6076.

Six Flags tickets

Half-price Six Flags coupons are available from the Columbia County 4H office in the Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 B Evans to Locks Road, Martinez. For more information, call 868-3413.

Children's ringers

The Augusta Children's Ringers, a handbell and choirchime for children in grades 3-6, meets 4-6 p.m. Thursdays at the Westside Baptist Church Educational Building, 261 Flowing Wells Road. For more information, call 306-5247.

Foster parents sought

Foster parents are being sought to serve as substitute families for children in need. Those residing in Columbia County should call Christina Ruetz at the Columbia County Department of Family and Children Services, 541-1640; those residing in Richmond County should call Rosalyn Boyd, 721-7171.

Howl-oween woods

Children ages 5-17 can enjoy an evening of spooky fun at the Family Y's Howl-oween Woods Adventure Thursday at Camp Lakeside on Lake Thurmond. Children will be dropped off at the Wheeler Branch, 3532 Wheeler Road, and bused to Camp Lakeside for activities that include a hayride, Halloween craft and marshmallow roast. The fee is $8 per person, and signups are available at any Family Y branch. For more information, e-mail Scott Rouse at srouse@thefamilyy.org, or call (706) 359-3153.

Aloha Augusta

The Junior League of Augusta will hold Aloha Augusta, a dinner with celebrity waiters, at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Old Richmond Hotel, 725 Greene Street. Sponsorships begin at $300 per couple and $600 per table.

All funds raised at the event benefit Junior League community projects, including the day shelter for homeless children, Habitat for Humanity, ACE Awards, and Service Weekends and Weeknights. For more information, call 736-0033.

Bayou Bash

The Aquinas High School Bayou Bash and Auction will be 6 p.m. Nov. 8 in the school gym, 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta. The silent auction will be from 6-8:45 p.m., with a live auction at 9 p.m. of items including artwork, vacations, a trip to France and a truck. Tickets are $50. For more information, call 736-5516.

ACT deadline

Nov. 7 is the deadline for college-bound students to register to take the ACT on the Dec. 13 national test date. Students can get information from their high school counselors or register online at www.act.org.

Chefs of Augusta

Augusta Mini Theatre will present its second annual Chefs of Augusta from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 9 at Julian Smith Casino. Tickets cost $15. For more information, call 722-0598.

Aid workshop

Lakeside High School will hold a financial aid workshop for parents, Show Me the Money, 7-8 p.m. Nov. 10.

The workshop will be led by career center specialist Teresa Fox, who will utilize the school's computer lab to show parents how to navigate Internet resources for college financial aid.

Cal Thomas to speak

Columnist and commentator Cal Thomas will be the guest speaker at Augusta Care Pregnancy Center's Fall Fundraising Banquet 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel. For tickets or sponsorship information, call 724-5531.

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.

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. For information, call the Columbia County Forestry Unit at 556-3962.

Fire safety review

The Columbia County Unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission is offering free advice to county residents on whether their home is danger from brush or woods fire. Call 556-3962 for more information.

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.

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.

Foster volunteers

Community volunteers are needed to become advocates for children who are found by the court to be abused and/or neglected, and to assist at the Kids Restart visitation center, 508 Broad St. Training will begin Oct. 14. For more information, call 828-0180.

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.

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.

Scholarships available

Applications are being sought for 2004 graduates seeking scholarships to attend Georgia's military colleges. Students are nominated from each of Georgia's U.S. congressional districts, and are nominated by state senators in those districts. For more information, call the state Senate office at 1 (800) 282-5803.

Recycling available

The following Columbia County elementary schools have newspaper and magazine recycling bins for public use: South Columbia, Grovetown, Bel Air, Evans, Riverside, Brookwood, North Columbia, North Harlem and Stevens Creek.

Recycling bins also are located behind Publix on Washington Road in Evans, Marvin United Methodist Church on Wheeler Road and St. Teresa Catholic Church on Pleasant Home Road.

Aluminum can recycling centers, to benefit the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, are located at Martinez Fire Department station 2 on Gibbs Road, Station 3 on Furys Ferry Road and Station 4 on Oakley-Pirkle Road.

For more recycling information, contact Metro Augusta Clean and Beautiful, 261-4390.