Current events

Miss Harlem

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Jan. 20 is the deadline for entries in the 2008 Miss City of Harlem scholarship pageant, to be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Harlem High School. For information and applications, call (706) 556-0043 or go to www.harlemga.org.

Nature clubs

Reed Creek Park's Young Naturalist after-school clubs for grades K-2 and 3-5 meet once each month starting Tuesday, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. For information, call (706) 210-4027.

Garden series

The Columbia County Extension Service Gardening at Lunch series for 2008 begins Wednesday from 12:10-12:45 p.m. at the Columbia County library with extension agent Charles Phillips conducting a session on planning drought-tolerant landscapes. Future sessions include insect control on ornamentals, Feb. 13; handling late freezes, March 5; dos and don'ts of gardening, April 2; rain barrels and water conservation, May 14; and gardening for kids, June 11. For information, call (706) 868-3413.

Chamber meeting

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting Jan. 28, with a business showcase and VIP reception at 4:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel. Tickets cost $50 for chamber members, $450 for corporate tables of eight and $60 each for non-members. For information, go to www.columbiacountychamber.com, or call Chris Baum at (706) 364-0425, or e-mail chris@columbiacountychamber.com.

Sporting program

The University of Georgia Extension Service sponsors a clay pigeon target sporting program for students in grades 7-12. For information, go to www.ugaextension.com/columbia.

Teen drivers

The free program for parents and new teen drivers, Parents Reducing Incidents of Driver Error (PRIDE), will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Wesley United Methodist Church. To register, call (706) 721-7606.

Sierra Club

Jason Andrus, a microbiologist at Augusta State University, will make a presentation on stream bacterial sampling with Richmond County Adopt-a-Stream at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3501 Walton Way Extension. For information, call (706) 650-8314.