Current events

Battle of the Badges

Employees from Columbia County's fire departments and law enforcement agencies are competing for blood donations in the Battle of the Badges through Friday at the Shepeard Community Blood Center office at 112 Davis Road in Martinez. For information, call 737-4551.

Church concert

Musician Phil Driscoll will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at In Focus Church, 562 Old Evans Road (behind Fat Man's West). The concert is free; an offering will be taken. For more information, call 868-7788.

Civil War show

There will be a presentation of Civil War artifacts by the First Independent Brigade 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Euchee Creek Library, 5907 Euchee Creek Road, Grovetown.

Aid seminar

Evans High School's Career Resource Center will present 1,2,3 Cash, a financial aid and college admissions seminar, at 7 p.m. Thursday. For more information, call 868-3663.

Grovetown festival

A planning meeting for the Grovetown Heritage Festival will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Grovetown Museum. All interested in organizing the festival are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 863-4576.

Kindergarten preview

A preview for parents of students entering kindergarten next year at Stevens Creek Elementary will be 6-7 p.m. Jan. 29. For more information, call Susan Hadden, 868-3705.

Blood drive

The Fifth Annual Columbia County Emergency Management Agency Winter Blood Drive with the Shepeard Community Blood Center will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 29. The drive will be at the Columbia County Government Center Auditorium (Building A), located on Ronald Reagan Drive in Evans.

All donors will be treated to Mot's barbecue and will receive a special National Volunteer Blood Donor Month T-shirt. For more information, contact Pam Tucker at 868-3303 or email ptucker@co.columbia.ga.us.

Book signing

Author Buddy Sullivan will sign copies of his new book, Georgia: A State History, at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Augusta Museum of History. For more information, call 722-8454.

Bible class

A class on interpreting the Bible will be offered by the Augusta School of Biblical Studies at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and continue for 10 consecutive Thursdays at the Social Security Building, 2050 Walton Way at Heard Avenue, Augusta, Suite 210. For information call 736-7711.

Ministry anniversary

The Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church Pastor's Support Ministry will have an anniversary celebration at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, with Minister James Brunson as the speaker. For more information call 860-7091.

Retired educators

The Columbia County Retired Educators will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gibbs Library. Guest speaker will be Kathy Mills of Senior Friends. For information, call Helen Morris at 863-7949.

Preview service

Mosaic United Methodist Church, a new congregation forming in Evans, will hold a preview service at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 1 in the former Barksdale's building on Washington Road in Evans, across from Wal-Mart. Regular services will begin at 11 a.m. Feb. 22 at the Evans High School theater. For information, call Rev. Carolyn Moore at 877-6468, or visit www.mosaicumc.org.

Democrats meet

The Columbia County Democratic Party will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Columbia County Government Center Building A, Evans. For more information, call 868-0959.

Tax assistance

Basic tax assistance will be available under the AARP Tax Assistance for the Elderly Program on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting Feb. 3 and continuing each Tuesday through April 13 at Gibbs Memorial Library, 326 North Belair Road, Evans. Participants should bring a copy of their previous year's tax return.

GOP rally

Ralph Reed, Southeastern chairman for the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign, will be the featured speaker at a rally to support President Bush at 11 a.m. Feb. 7 at Greenbrier High School. The rally will be in conjunction with Republican Party precinct meetings, the first step leading to the national GOP convention. Registration for precinct meetings will open at 9 a.m., and meetings will begin at 10 a.m. For information, call party Chairman Lee Muns at 267-3499.

Boogie Bash

The Augusta Red Cross will hold the 10th Boot Scoot Boogie Bash at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. The evening will include a steak dinner, silent and live auctions and a raffle for a Club Car vehicle and John Deere Riding Lawn Mower.

Tickets cost $50 per person or $500 for a table of 10. Corporate tables are available. For more information, call the Red Cross office at 724-8483.

School council

The North Harlem Elementary School Council will hold its monthly meeting at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the media center. For information, call 556-5995.

Gardening program

The Columbia County Extension Service's Gardening at Lunch program will be 12:10-12:45 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Columbia County Government Complex Auditorium in Evans. Extension Agent Charles Phillips will present a seminar on starting vegetables and flowers from seeds.

Finance seminar

Financing Your Future, a financial management session sponsored be the Lakeside High School Family Career and Community Leaders of America, will be from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Feb. 12 in the Lakeside High gym.

Woody Merry will be the guest speaker. It is free, but space is limited. To sign up call 650-9959.

Valentine's workshop

A Valentine's workshop, Valentine's After Hours, with story time, crafts, activities and games will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Gibbs Memorial Library, 326 North Belair Road, Evans. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Call 863-1946 for information.

'Red Hot' show

Stage III, Columbia County's theater company, will present Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers in a 7 p.m. dinner theater Feb. 27-29, and a 3 p.m. matinee March 1, at the Augusta Jewish Community Center in Evans. For information, call 228-3636.

Vendors wanted

Harlem's third annual Trash to Treasure Market will be 8 a.m. to noon March 6 in the vacant lot beside Harlem United Methodist Church, on Georgia Highway 78 near the traffic signal. Call 556-0401 to reserve a free space.

Horse auction

Horses and horse equipment are being sought for the 10th annual Georgia Junior National 4-H Club Horse Benefit Auction Sale. The Feb. 28 event, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga., is cosponsored by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and benefits Georgia 4-H programs. For information, call (706) 542-9092.

Law academy

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office will hold a Citizen's Law Enforcement Academy, beginning March 4.

Participants will be given an insight to the everyday operations of the sheriff's office as well as firearms training, which will include live fire at the sheriff's office shooting range.

The free course is offered every Thursday evening between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. for nine weeks, and is open to Columbia County residents at least 18 years of age.

For information call the Sheriff's Office Community Services Division at 541-2856.

Tax office open

The Columbia County property tax division of the Tax Commissioner's Office is now open in its new Evans location.

The office moved from Appling to Building C of the Columbia County Government Complex, 630 Ronald Reagan Drive. The office's Appling location, 1959 Appling-Harlem Highway, is now open on Tuesdays only.

The Appling office's phone number is 541-1808, and the new Evans phone number is 261-8299.

Chorale auditions

The Augusta Children's Chorale, with training and performance choirs for singers in grades 3-8, will fill a limited number of openings this spring for the chorale's 2004-05 season that begins in August. Call the ACC office at 826-4718 for an audition appointment.

Amnesty meets

Amnesty International meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3501 Walton Way. For more information, call 863-4270.

Advocate training

The Court Appointed Special Advocate program of Child Enrichment Inc. is seeking volunteers at least 21 years old to advocate for abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system.

Volunteers need no experience, and will be provided with specialized training. For more information, call 737-4631.

Dinner concert

The Augusta Symphony will present its annual Encore Chamber Series Dinner Concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel Augusta. Single tickets cost $55. For more information, call 826-4705.

Benefit concert

George Winston will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at West Acres Baptist Church, 555 Gibbs Road, Evans, in a benefit for Golden Harvest Food Bank. Tickets cost $20, and a food drive will be conducted with the concert. For more information, call 736-1199, ext. 208.

Girls Inc. info

An information session for Girls Inc. will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Girls Inc. office, 1919 Watkins St. in Augusta. For more information, call 733-2512.

MDO trial

The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, 720 Telfair St., Augusta, is offering a free trial of its Mother's Day Out and preschool program from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26 for children who are walking age through age 4. For more information, call Cheryl Weinand, 228-4887.

Opera performance

The Augusta Opera will present Johann Strauss' comic opera Die Fledermaus at 8 p.m. Jan. 29 and 31, and 3 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Imperial Theater. An opera chat will be presented one hour before each performance. For information, call 826-4710.

Empty Bowl

The Augusta Jewish Community Center, 898 Weinberger Way, will hold the annual Empty Bowl luncheon 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 22. The event, a fund-raiser for Golden Harvest Food Bank and the AJCC, features pottery bowls made by art students at local schools. Visitors purchase a bowl and sample food from area restaurants, bakeries and caterers. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $5 for children 5 and younger, and are available at Golden Harvest or the AJCC. For more information, call 736-1199.

Parents sought

Foster and adoptive parents are being sought for Columbia and Richmond County children. For more information on the program, call Christina Ruetz in Columbia County at 541-1640, or Rosalyn Boyd in Richmond County, 721-7171.

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 Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., at Superpetz on Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez. For more information, call 863-5310.

AJCC classes

Classes for children and adults in art, nature, kindermusik, Spanish, yoga and karate are being offered at the Augusta Jewish Community Center, 898 Weinberger Way, Evans. For more information, call 228-3636.

Farm loans

Loans to socially disadvantaged applicants are available from the Farm Service Agency for applicants to buy and operate family size farms and ranches. For information, contact the Louisville, Ga., Farm Loan Office at (478) 625-7771, extension 102.

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.

Depression, bipolar support

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in Room 105 of the Walton Building at First Baptist Church of Augusta, 3500 Wheeler Road. For more information, call 722-0010.

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 St., Augusta.

For more information, call 261-4390.

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. For more information, call Jenny Maas, (478) 757-1211.

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.

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 tree seedlings. 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.

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.

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 Wesley United Methodist Church on North Belair Road, Marvin United Methodist Church on Wheeler Road, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church on Pleasant Home Road and at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.

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.

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.