Current events
Softball clinic
A softball clinic for girls ages 8-14 will be Saturday at Patriots Park, with all proceeds going to a scholarship in memory of Greenbrier High School golfer Daniel Hall. The clinic had been set for this past Saturday but was postponed because of to rain. For information, call 854-0829.
Retinopathy screenings
The next diabetic retinopathy screenings, sponsored by MCG Health Systems, Emory Eye Center and the Georgia Department of Human Resources, will be today at the Harlem/Grovetown Health Department. Screenings will be Tuesday at the Health Department office in Evans, and additional screenings at each site will be through June.
Pesticide test
The Georgia Commercial Pesticide Test will be given at the Columbia County Extension Service office at Savannah Rapids Pavilion on Thursday. A review session for Category 24 will be at 9 a.m., with a test at 1 p.m. The cost for the exam is $25, by check or money order only. For information, call 868-3413.
Ribbon cutting
Columbia County officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and public tours at 4 p.m. Thursday on the second floor of Building C of the Columbia County Government Center. The building houses the county's tax assessor and tax commissioner, and the Information Technology and Finance departments.
Arbor Day
Mistletoe State Park in Winfield will celebrate Arbor Day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the park with a shrub-planting party. For information, call 541-0321.
Winds concert
The Savannah River Winds will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Maxwell Arts Performing Center at Augusta State University. Admission is free.
The band also will perform at the Hopeland Gardens concert series in Aiken, S.C. at 7 p.m. May 17.
The ensemble is composed of band directors, university professors, musicians from various professional fields and college students from Georgia and South Carolina.
SHRM meets Friday
The Aiken-Augusta Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management will meet 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel Augusta. Guest speaker M. Allen Smith will give an overview of OSHA. Cost is $15, and registration is required. For information call 481-7457.
Evangelism conference
Stevens Creek Community Church will hold a Life by Life Creative Church Evangelism Conference 7-10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the church, 600 Stevens Creek Road. For information, call 863-7002.
Empty Bowl
The Augusta Jewish Community Center's annual Empty Bowl luncheon will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 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.
Services begin
Regular services for Mosaic United Methodist Church, a new congregation forming in Evans, will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Evans High School theater. For information, call Rev. Carolyn Moore at 877-6468, or visit www.mosaicumc.org.
Open house
Martinez Baptist Church's Hearts and Hands Christian Day School will hold open house and registration 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The school is at 3632 Lynnwood Drive. For information, call 364-2859.
Parkinson support
The CSRA Parkinson Disease Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the dining room at St. John Towers, 724 Greene St., Augusta. For information, call 855-7690.
'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. 26-28, and a 3 p.m. matinee Feb. 29, at the Augusta Jewish Community Center in Evans. For information, call 228-3636.
Mother's Day Out
St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church will hold fall registration for its Mother's Day Out program for children ages 6 months to 4 years, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 26 at St. Anne's Hall. For more information, call 262-2659.
Artists sought
All Columbia County visual artists are invited to meet to explore the formation of an Artists Guild. The meeting will be 10 a.m. Feb. 28 at Gibbs Library, 326 North Belair Road in Evans. For information, call Philip Hedgecoth, 650-2527.
Poster contest
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is sponsoring a national water safety poster contest open to fourth-graders.
Students are asked to design a poster with a water safety message. Local winners will advance to region competition, and those winners will compete in the national contest.
Local winners will receive a water safety kit and other items for their class. The top local winner will receive a life jacket.
For information, call Ranger David Quebedeaux at 1-800-533-3478, ext. 1130. The deadline for entries is Feb. 28.
Essay contest
March 5 is the deadline for entries in the Georgia Municipal Association Essay Contest, titled If I Were Mayor, I Would. The contest is open to all Georgia sixth-graders, including private-school students and home-schoolers. For information, go to www.gmanet.com, or call Amy Henderson, 1 (888) 488-4462.
Deputy training
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office will sponsor a Basic Peace Officer's course through the East Georgia Regional Police Academy for anyone interested in becoming a reserve deputy. The cost of the training is $2,850, and the HOPE Grant may be available.
Participants must meet all qualifications required to be a law enforcement officer in Georgia, including being at least 18 years of age, having a high school diploma or equivalent, and no prior criminal record. Participants are subject to an extensive background investigation.
Classes begin June 1. For more information, contact the Columbia County Sheriff's Office at 541-2856 or the East Georgia Regional Police Academy at (706) 592-1518.
Turkey banquet
The North Augusta Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its third annual Super Fund Banquet 6 p.m. March 4 at the North Augusta Community Center. For information, call 278-7217.
Scholarship deadline
March 5 is the deadline for high school senior athletes to apply for the Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year award, sponsored by the "Got Milk?"/Milk Mustache campaign and USA TODAY. For information, go to www.whymilk.com.
Donations needed
The Harlem High School Drama Department continues to seek donations to fund its trip to the Scotland Fringe Festival in August. For information, contact Roy Lewis at 556-5980 or rlewis@ccboe.net.
MDO registration
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, 720 Telfair St., is accepting registration for its fall 2004 Mother's Day Out/Preschool program, for children walking through age 4. For information, call 228-4887.
Donations sought
Riverfront Marine Detachment 1132 of the Marine Corps League is seeking donations of items to be handed out to Iraqi school children by Marine Corps units. For information, call Paul Brewer, 849-6632.
Burning permits
Columbia County homeowners who want to burn limbs and other yard waste must first obtain a permit number from the Georgia Forestry Commission. The permit number is free, and can be obtained by calling the Columbia County office at 556-3962, or on line at www.gfc.state.ga.us. Those obtaining a permit will be given information on weather conditions and rules governing outdoor burning.
Lewiston council
The Lewiston Elementary School Council will meet at 7:15 a.m. March 2, April 13 and May 4, and at 8 a.m. June 1 and July 29 in the school media center, 5426 Hereford Farm Road, Evans. For information, call 650-6064.
Attic sale
The Junior League of Augusta's 52nd Annual Attic Sale will be 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 6 at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds. Admission is free, and proceeds benefit community programs and services of the Junior League. For information or to donate items for the sale, call 736-0033.
Wild-game event
The Augusta West Rotary Club will hold A Taste of Something Wild, a wild-game tasting to benefit the Alzheimer's Association of Augusta. The fund-raiser will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 6 at the Julian Smith Barbecue Pit. For more information, call 731-9060.
Plant sale
The Junior League of Augusta is holding a plant sale, with flats, hanging baskets, potted plants and containers. The deadline for ordering is Feb. 25. All proceeds benefit projects of the Junior League, including the Arts Reading Program, Day Shelter for Homeless Children, ACE Awards and Habitat for Humanity. For more information, call 736-0033.
ACT deadline
Feb. 27 is the postmark deadline for college-bound students who wish to take the ACT Assessment on the next nationwide test date, April 3. Information is available from high-school guidance counselors, or at www.act.org.
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.
Class reunion
Hephzibah High School's class of 1984 is seeking class members for a 20-year reunion this fall. For information, contact Thomas Self at 592-4634, or Kim Edgar Stripling at 278-1001.
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.
Circus coming
The Royal Hanneford Circus will perform at Fort Gordon's Barton Field on Feb. 26-29. For information on tickets and showtimes, call 791-6779.
Law academy
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office will hold a Citizens Law Enforcement Academy, beginning March 4.
Participants will be given an insight to the everyday operations of the sheriff's office and 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 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.
Golf tourney
The Alzheimer's Association Augusta Regional Office will hold its annual golf tournament March 22 at The River Golf Club with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. For information, call 731-9060.
Park reservations
Starting April 19, reservations to Georgia state parks, including Columbia County's Mistletoe State Park, will be outsourced to a private company offering Internet reservations and expanded hours. For information, call (800) 864-7275, or go to www.gastateparks.org.
Visitor's information
The Augusta Metropolitan Convention and Visitor Bureau's new Visitor Information Center is now open inside the Augusta Museum of History at Sixth and Reynolds streets. For information, call 724-4067.
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.
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, ext. 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
The deadline is Feb. 28 for applications for the Georgia Mining Federation's $500 scholarship, which will be awarded to a student at Evans High School. 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 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.