Get up and go

Public hearing

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office will conduct a public hearing regarding its application for a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The hearing will be 4 p.m. today at the Columbia County Government Complex Auditorium in Evans.

Americana Celebration

American Pride Through Education, Inc., and the Columbia County school system are sponsoring an Americana Celebration at 6 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Augusta, 3500 Walton Way. For more information, call Gloria Hamilton, 863-1748.

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Fashion show

Greenbrier High School will hold a holiday fashion show at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school auditorium. Admission is $4, with proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta. The event also includes a holiday bake sale and door prizes. For more information, call 650-6040.

Fire department meeting

The Leah Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual subscribers meeting Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Station No. 2 on Burks Mountain Road. The meeting will include information on the possible consolidation of the Appling, Leah and Winfield fire departments.

Grovetown parade

The Grovetown Department of Public Safety is accepting applications for participants in Grovetown's annual Christmas parade, scheduled to begin at noon on Dec. 6. Applications are available from GDPS at 306 East Robinson Ave., Grovetown, Ga., 30813, or by calling 863-1212.

Turkey Fest

The Peppermill restaurant in Evans will serve a free Thanksgiving dinner 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to raise money for Columbia County Cares Food Pantry and Golden Harvest Food Bank. Local celebrities will serve as waiters for the event.

Happy Tails adoption

Happy Tails Rescue will hold pet adoptions each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 4-6 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-4 p.m., at Superpetz on Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez. Also, a Feline Fiestas will be 6-8 p.m. Friday , featuring cats and kittens available for adoption. For more information, call 863-5310.

Holiday shopping

Stevens Creek Elementary School will hold its Third Annual Holiday Shopping Extravaganza 5-8 p.m. Dec. 4 in the school cafeteria, with more than 30 vendors selling jewelry, Christmas crafts, pocketbooks, raffles and more. Additional vendor tables are available by calling 868-3705, extension 364.

Christmas story

The Young Artists Repertory Theatre Company, Inc., will present The Homecoming, a Christmas story, Dec. 11, 12 and 13 in the Goodwin Commons at Augusta Preparatory School. Dinner and dessert will be served at 6:30 p.m., with the performance at 8 p.m. Tickets and reservations are available by calling 210-8915.

Christmas tree lighting

Columbia County's Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Columbia County Justice Center in Evans. Spaces for craft vendors are available. A fun run will precede the event, with prizes for children and adults. For more information, call Beth Roberson, 868-3458.

Christmas parade

The Merchants Association of Columbia County is sponsoring the annual Christmas Parade in Martinez on Dec. 7. For information on participating in the parade, call Billy Becton, 863-7645, or Key Kernaghan, 650-5700.

Thanksgiving donations

United We Care in Grovetown is seeking donations of turkeys, non-perishable food items and money for the agency's annual Thanksgiving dinners for those in need. Donations may be mailed or delivered to the United We Care office at 101 Newmantown Road, Grovetown, GA 30813. For more information, call Bill Campbell, 854-8852.

Christmas pageant

Trinity Baptist Church, 4594 Columbia Road in Martinez, will hold its seventh annual Christmas pageant at 7 p.m. Dec. 6, and at 6 p.m. Dec. 7. Admission is free, and a nursery is provided. For more information, call 863-1222.

New cookbook

Stevens Creek Elementary School's first cookbook, "A Spoonful of Excellence," is available for sale. The book is compiled from more than 400 recipes submitted by the staff members and families, and costs $13. For more information, call Susan Proctor, 863-2489.

CPA meeting

The local chapter of the Georgia Association of Public Accountants will meet at 8 a.m. Thursday at Athens Restaurant, 246 Bobby Jones Expressway, Martinez. Will Barnes from the South Carolina Department of Revenue will speak. For more information, call Jerry Brigham, 650-1700.

Art at lunch

The Morris Museum of Art will present Art at Lunch: The South in Film on Friday at noon in the museum auditorium. Reservations are required. For more information, call 724-7501.

TV open house

Television station WJBF (Channel 6) will hold an open house in celebration of its 50th anniversary 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the station on Reynolds Street in Augusta. For more information, call 828-7211.

Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month. For more information about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, Columbia County residents 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.

Christmas musical

Stevens Creek Community Church, 600 Stevens Creek Road, will again present the Christmas musical Scrooge! at 7 p.m. Dec. 4-7, with a 3 p.m. matinee Dec. 7. Tickets sell out quickly, and are available at the church, at Family Christian Bookstores, or on line at www.stevenscreek.net. For more information, call 863-7002.

New Tech class

Augusta Technical College's Thomson/McDuffie campus is accepting applications for the beginning air conditioning technology diploma program for winter quarter 2004. The program will be offered in the evening beginning Jan. 6, 2004. Financial aid is available for those who are eligible. For more information, call Julie Langham, (706) 595-0166.

Nativity display

Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3131 Walton Way, will present No Room at the Inn on Dec. 5-7, featuring more than 200 nativity scenes. Shows are 4-8 p.m. Dec. 5, noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 7. The event is a benefit for Interfaith Hospitality Network. For tickets or other information, call Diane Griffin, 860-0832.

Memorial service

United Hospice of Augusta is sponsoring a memorial service 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church, 4227 Columbia Road, for those who are experiencing the grief of losing a loved one. For more information, call 650-1522.

Purple Hearts

The CSRA chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart meets on the third Saturday of each month at 3856 Leigh St., Martinez. For more information, call 731-7210.

Cell-phone recycling

Metro Augusta and Columbia County Clean and Beautiful are collecting old cell phones for recycling. Phones may be dropped off at the Columbia County landfill, Richmond County landfill, Savannah Rapids Pavilion, Evans Government Complex, Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building, Publix on Washington Road in Augusta, and at the Clean and Beautiful office at 418 Greene Street, Augusta.

For more information, call 261-4390.

Crafters needed

Crafters are being sought for Christmas in the Heart of Downtown Harlem, an event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 in conjunction with the Harlem Christmas parade. Space rentals are available for $10. For more information, call 556-0401.

Santa and Elf Run

A Santa Run for runners 14-up, and an Elf Run for those 13-under, will precede Columbia County's Dec. 6 Christmas tree lighting at the Justice Center in Evans. Sign-ups begin at 3 p.m. The first 25 to register receive a commemorative T-shirt; winners in the Santa and Elf categories will receive trophies and prizes. Registration fee is $10, or $5 with a new, unwrapped toy valued at least $5. All toys will be donated to the Columbia County Foundation for Children. For more information, call Beth Roberson, 868-3458.

Mining scholarship

Applications are being accepted for the Georgia Mining Federation's $500 scholarship, which will be awarded to a student at Evans High School. The deadline for applications is Feb. 28, 2004. For more information, call Jenny Maas, (478) 757-1211.

The Nutcracker

Brookwood Elementary School will perform its 14th annual production of The Nutcracker 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 9 a.m. Dec. 3 at the school. Performances are free. For more information, call 855-7596.

Choral society

The Columbia County Choral Society has two upcoming performances. The first is the O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at First Baptist Church of Evans, at Washington and Belair roads. Tickets are $8, $6 for seniors and students, and are available at the door. The society also will perform at the Columbia County Christmas tree lighting ceremony Dec. 6 at the Justice Center in Evans.

Fall bazaar

The women of Harlem United Methodist Church are sponsoring a Fall Bazaar 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at the church, featuring a soup kitchen, baked goods, a flea market, arts and crafts, children's activities and more. For more information, call 556-6885.

Museum holiday

The Augusta Museum of History's Holiday at the Museum will be noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 7, featuring artisans and crafters selling holiday items, children's activities and guided tours of the museum. For more information, call 722-8454.

Holiday help

Agape Outreach Ministries of Thomson is seeking donations of money, food and toys to help needy families for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, call (706) 597-8800.

Scholarship fundraiser

Master Events Planning will collect tips at CiCi's Pizza on Peach Orchard Road noon to 8 p.m. Nov. 22 to raise funds for its scholarship program for CSRA high school seniors. The deadline for applications for the scholarships is Jan. 2. For more information about the fundraiser or scholarship applications, call 798-2059.

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.

Retired educators

The Columbia County Retired Educators will meet Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at Sconyer's Barbecue Restaurant for a dutch-treat lunch. Guest speaker will be Douglas O. Allen, area manager for TEI and transportation consultant for Columbia County. Retired educators and retired staff are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food items for the Columbia County Cares Pantry. For more information, call Helen Morris, 863-7949, or Margaretha Lotz, 863-0895.

Turkey Trot

WJBF-TV's 10k Turkey Trot and 1-mile Fun Run will be Nov. 23. All category first-place winners and turkey-costume winners will receive a 19-inch television. For more information, contact Melissa Canady, 828-7211.

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.

Veterans sought

The Veterans History Project is compiling stories from World War II veterans. For more information, call 1-888-5848, or go to www.loc.gov/vets.

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. 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 elementary schools, and Evans High School.

Recycling bins also are at 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.