Get up and go
Children's choir
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The African Children's Choir will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church, 825 N. Belair Road, Evans. Admission is free, but an offering will be taken. For information, go to www.africanchildrens choir.com.
Spring fling
Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church, Hereford Farm Road at Columbia Road, will hold a spring fling and barbecue chicken dinner from 5-9 p.m. Saturday.
School carnival
Stevens Creek Elementary will hold a fiesta-themed carnival 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the school.
GOP breakfast
Georgia secretary of state candidate Doug MacGinnitie with be the guest speaker at the Columbia County Republican Party breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday at Fatz Cafe in Evans. Breakfast costs $6; reservations are not required. For information, go to www.columbia countyrepublicanparty.org or call (706) 955-2012.
Food drive
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is conducting a food drive Saturday for Golden Harvest Food Bank. Donations of non-perishable food will be collected door to door and may be left on doorsteps, or dropped off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church at 825 N. Belair Road, Evans.
Gospel sing
Mount Tabor Baptist Church, U.S. Highway 78 in Harlem, will hold a gospel sing at 7 p.m. Saturday with Terri Gibbs, Crossties, Dawn Jackson and Pureheart. Admission is free, with an offering taken for the Mount Tabor building fund.
Stamp show
The CSRA Spring Stamp Show will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at America's Best Value Inn, 3023 Washington Road, Augusta. Admission is free. For information, call Peter Igel at (706) 868-6769, or e-mail igelsp@bellsouth.net.
Rock dig
The semiannual Graves Mountain Rock, Swap and Dig will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday at the former mine on U.S. Highway 78 between Lincolnton and Washington, Ga. For information, call (706) 401-3173.
Taste of Harvest
Golden Harvest Food Bank's 18th annual Taste of the Harvest will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the Augusta Marriott. Tickets cost $50. For information, call (706) 736-1199.
Prep arts events
The Augusta Prep Idol talent show will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Hull Fine Arts Center. ArtsFest will be held 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the school, with the Thespian Showcase from 4-5:30 p.m. For information, go to www.augustaprep.org.
Dessert theater
The fifth-graders of Brookwood Elementary School, 455 S. Old Belair Road, will present an Alice in Wonderland fantasy dessert theater at 7 p.m. April 30. Tickets cost $2. For information, all (706) 855-7538.
Dog first aid
The American Red Cross of Augusta will hold a dog first aid class from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at its office at 1322 Ellis St., Augusta. Cost is $35. For information, call (706) 724-8481.
Spring fling
Westmont Elementary School will hold a spring fling carnival from 5:30-9:30 p.m. May 1 at the school.
Choral program
The Columbia County Choral Society will present "There is a River," a program of Americana choral music, at 7 p.m. May 1 at First Baptist Church of Evans, Belair at Washington roads. Tickets cost $10, or $7 for seniors, students and groups. For information, call (706) 650-2311 or go to www.ccchoralsociety.org.
Book fair
A book fair benefiting Greenbrier High School will be held 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 2 at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Augusta Mall. Chorus, guitar, band and drama students from Greenbrier will perform during the afternoon, and the school media center will receive a percentages of all sales if the customer tells the store to count the sale towards the school. Vouchers may be printed from the school's Web site.
Girl Talk
The Girl Talk session for girls ages 9-12 with nurse Trudi Dunn will be held 10 a.m. to noon May 2 at the Columbia County Library. To register, call (706) 863-1946.
Plant swap
The 12th annual Pendleton King Park Plant Swap and Sale will be 9 a.m. to noon May 2. Admission is free. For information, call Kay Mills at (706) 738-4321 or email tkmills@knology.net.
Israel Experience
The Augusta Jewish Community Center, 898 Weinberger Way, off Furys Ferry Road in Evans, will hold the annual Israel Experience from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3. Admission is free. For information, call (706) 228-3636.
Democrats meet
Mary Long, who served as a super-delegate at the Democratic National Convention, will be the speaker at the Columbia County Democratic Committee meeting and potluck dinner at 7 p.m. May 4 at the Columbia County Government Complex Auditorium in Evans. For information, call (706) 513-3400.
Spring revival
Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church, 703 Furys Ferry Road, Evans, will hold spring revival services at 7 p.m. May 4-6 with the Rev. Michael H. Baker, senior pastor of Greater St. Luke Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C. For information, call (706) 860-7091.
Theater auditions
The Young Artists Repertory Theatre Company Inc., will hold auditions for The King and I May 4, 5 and 7 at 6:30 pm in the lower school cafetorium of Augusta Prep for performances Aug 21-23. More than 50 roles are needed for ages 6 through college age, along with dancers and a large children's chorus. Audition sheets are available at www.yart.org and can be e-mailed to info@yart.com. For information, call (706) 829-1325.
Youth board
The Watson-Brown Foundation is seeking applications from high school students for the 2009-2010 year of its Junior Board program. Applicants must be in 10th, 11th or 12th grade in the coming year, have transportation to Thomson, and be able to meet with the board at least once per month from October to May. Applications are available at www.hickory-hill.org.
RV and boat show
The inaugural CSRA RV and Boat Show will be held noon to 5 p.m. May 2 at Wildwood Park in Appling, with boat and recreational vehicle displays and other outdoor recreation vendors, crafts and food. For information, including vendor spaces, call Jeb Bell at (706) 541-3761, or e-mail jbell@columbiacountyga.gov.
Canoe cruises
Mistletoe State Park will hold two-hour guided night canoe cruises starting at 7:30 p.m. May 7 and June 5. Each cruise is limited to six canoes, with three people per canoe. The cost is $30 per person plus a $3 parking fee. Canoes, paddles and other equipment is provided. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Mistletoe State Park. For information, call (706) 541-0321.
Grovetown fest
Vendor spaces are available for the annual Grovetown Heritage Festival, to be held May 9. Spaces cost $20. For information, call Rosa Lee Owens at (706) 863-1867.
Church program
Mosaic United Methodist Church's "Fruits of the Spirit" program for children ages 3 to fifth grade is held Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. For information, e-mail hugginlady04@yahoo.com.
Clothing sale
All winter clothing at the Children's Resource Center, 6347 Columbia Road, in Appling, is on sale for $3 per bag. All proceeds from the center benefit the Columbia County Foundation for Children. The Resource Center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of each month. For information, call (706) 541-2849.
Church market
Damascus Baptist Church, on Ridge Road in Leah, will hold a flea market, arts and crafts sale and bake sale, with carryout lunch plates available, starting at 8 a.m. May 2. To rent booth space, call (706) 541-1064, or e-mail rhesterdbc@hotmail.com.
Churches moving
Covenant United Methodist Church, which meets at 10 a.m. each Sunday at Greenbrier Elementary School, is moving its services to Eagle Point Plaza on Washington Road in Evans in May. For information, call (706) 399-6081.
The Church at Greenbrier has moved its services to the Evans 14 Cinemas, with Sunday services at 9 and 10:15 a.m. For information, call (706) 922-8224, or go to www.tcag.cc.
Parkinson group
Professor Cole Giller, M.D., the director of MCG's Functional Stereo-tactic Neurosurgery, will be the guest speaker at the April meeting of the CSRA Parkinson Support Group at 6 p.m. April 28 at the St. John Towers dining room, 724 Greene St., Augusta. For information, call (706) 364-1662.
Child seat check
Safe Kids East Central holds a child safety seat inspection on the second Wednesday of each month at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office substation on Ronald Reagan Drive. For information, call (706) 541-3970, or go to www.mcghealth.org.
Seniors sought
Senior citizens ages 60-older are being sought to work 20 hours per week to help children read. Positions receive an hourly stipend and mileage reimbursement. For information, call Jackie Kennedy at the Senior Citizens Council at (706) 868-0120.
Scholarships
Applications for the 2009-10 Columbia County Foundation for Children Scholarships are now available from high school counselors and from the Foundation Resource Center, 6347 Columbia Road, Appling, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or submitted electronically. The applications area available by e-mail at ccfcscholarship@gmailcom.
Garden series
The Columbia County Extension Service Gardening at Lunch series continues at 12:10 p.m. May 6 at the Columbia County Library with a session on lawns, and a June 3 program on gardening for kids. For information, call Extension Agent Charles Phillips at (706) 868-3413.
Alzheimer's group
An Alzheimer's caregiver support group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday each month at Brandon Wilde. For information, call (706) 854-3519.
Donations sought
Dropped Stitches, a group at Washington Commons that knits blankets for hospitals and soldiers, is seeking donations of yarn from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily at the retirement community on Washington Commons Drive off Washington Road across from Club Car. For information, call Holley Howard at (706) 860-0402.
Christian dances
The Christian Social Organization for Single Adults sponsors dances from 7-11 p.m. Saturdays at the Ballroom Dance Center, 525 Grand Slam Drive, Evans, off Evans-to-Locks Road. For information, call Theresa Thigpen at (706) 863-9262.
Freethought Society
The Augusta Freethought Society is seeking members for social gatherings and informal discussion. For information, e-mail augustafreethoughtsociety@gmail.com.
WWII vets sought
The Augusta-Richmond County Historical Society is seeking veterans of World War II for videotape interviews as part of the veterans history project. Volunteers to conduct the interviews also are needed. For information, call (706) 738-8242.
TOPS group
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a non-profit weight-loss support group, meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at Grovetown United Methodist Church, 206 E. Robinson Ave. For information, call (706) 863-0726.
Recycling
Drop-off containers for plastics recycling, newspapers, office paper and cardboard are now available at the Columbia County Government Complex.
TOPS meeting
Chapter 439 of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets 5 p.m. each Tuesday at Pine View Baptist Church, 117 Pleasant Home Road, Martinez.
Rotary meets
The Columbia County West Rotary Club meets at 12:15 p.m. each Tuesday at Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church on Columbia Road at Lewiston Road. For information, call Richard Swann at (706) 868-3559.
Hope Soap
Hope Soap, a private, non-profit agency that collects toiletries and packages and distributes them to area shelters, has collection sites in the community. Donations, particularly of personal-sized items from hotels, may be brought to The Columbia County News-Times , in the Publix shopping center on Washington Road, Evans, and Wild Birds Unlimited, West Town Shopping Center, Martinez.
Help needed
Volunteers are needed to help staff the gift shop and book sales area at the Columbia County Library in Evans. For information, call Barbara Williams at (706) 863-8760.
Books wanted
Friends of Columbia County Libraries are seeking donations of used books. The books are sold in the library book store, with funds used to buy new books and fund library programs. Donations are accepted at the Evans and Euchee Creek libraries. For information, call Elige Hickman at (706) 863-2880.
Pilot Club
Pilot Club International is organizing a new club in the area. For information, call Elizabeth Copeland at (706) 955-7205.
Seat inspection
Safe Kids of East Central Georgia will provide a child safety seat inspection by appointment at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Substation, Ronald Reagan Drive at Town Center Drive, Evans, on the second Wednesday of each month. For an appointment, call (706) 541-3970.
Leah High search
The Columbia County Historical Society is seeking photos, information and artifacts related to the former Leah High School for inclusion in a possible historical display. For information, call Gary or Nancy Blanchard at (706) 541-0043.
Nature clubs
Reed Creek Park's Young Naturalist after-school clubs for grades K-2 and 3-5 meet once each month. For information, call (706) 210-4027.
Marine group
A new Marine Corps Motorcycle Association is forming in the Augusta area and is seeking members. The organization will support Marine Corps efforts in the Aiken-Augusta area, including Toys for Tots, the Wounded Warrior program and the Fisher House. For information, call Paul Brewer at (706) 854-1036, or e-mail usmc1008@bellsouth.net.
Coast Guard Auxiliary meets
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at El Valle Mexican Restaurant in the West Town shopping center in Martinez. For information, call John VanOsdol at (864) 391-2170.
Outreach shop
Harlem's Hands Up Outreach Ministries thrift shop, at 110 S. Hicks St., is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday-Friday each week, with free bread available. Donations of clothing, housewares, school supplies and other items also are welcome. For information, call (706) 556-2259.
Bible study
The Rosemount Association holds a Bible study each Wednesday at noon at the Rosemount Association Building on Burks Mountain Road in Appling. For information, call Rev. Alice Dunn at (706) 863-0413.
Optimists meet
The Martinez-Evans Optimist Club meets at noon each Thursday at the Jones Creek Clubhouse. For information, call (706) 830-5730.
Volunteers needed
Golden Harvest Food Bank is seeking volunteers to help sort donations in the warehouse. For information, call (706) 736-1199.
Volunteers sought
Safe Kids East Central Georgia is seeking volunteers to help with events, such as car seat and bicycle checks, and to lead ongoing programs that teach safety to children and teens. Training is provided. For information, call (706) 721-7606.
Volunteers needed
Volunteer opportunities are available at the Columbia County Library in Evans. For information, call Jessica Thompson at (706) 863-1946, or e-mail jthompson@columbiacountyga.gov.
Literacy sessions
The Columbia County Library holds tutoring sessions for adults interested in improving their reading skills. For information, call (706) 863-1946.
Safety project
The Grovetown Department of Public Safety has implemented Project Safe House to help provide safe havens for children and the elderly. For information on becoming a block parent, call the department at (706) 863-1212.
Clothes closet
The Marvin United Methodist Church Clothes Closet, at the church at Wheeler and Belair Roads, is open each Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Donations are accepted on the first day of each month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Members wanted
New members are being sought for the MCG Children's Medical Center Red Wagon Society to plan fund-raisers, volunteer at special events and play with children who are patients at the center. Membership costs $50 per year. For information, call (706) 721-4004.
Hospital classes
Doctors Hospital offers a variety of classes each month. For information on all classes, call (706) 651-2450, or go to www.doctors-hospital.net.
Grief support
Portsbridge Hospice holds a free grief support group at 6 p.m. every other Tuesday at the hospice, located at 1365 Interstate Parkway in Augusta. For information, call Chaplain Paul Richardson, (706) 860-7374.
Drivers needed
The American Cancer Society's Augusta chapter is seeking volunteer drivers for its Road to Recovery program, which provides transportation to cancer patients. For information, call (706) 731-9900.
Fire information
The Georgia Forestry Commission, Columbia County Unit, offers advice to all Columbia County residents on whether their home is in line of fire from brush or wild land fires. For information, call (706) 556-3962.
Rape counseling
Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services offers group counseling to victims of rape, sexual assault and childhood abuse. All services are free. For information, call (706) 724-5200.
Rotary meets
The Rotary Club of Columbia County meets at 7 a.m. Wednesdays at the Brandon Wilde Clubhouse. For information, call president Lee Clark, (706) 863-2000.
Augusta striders
Augusta Striders is seeking members. Members enjoy group runs, newsletters, monthly meetings and more. For information, visit www.augustastriders.com.
Cancer support group
The MCG Breast Cancer Support Group meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the mammography area, MCG Breast Health Services, first floor, MCG Medical Center. For information, call (706) 721-0246 or (706) 721-1466.
NAMI meeting
The Augusta Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church on Walton Way. For information, call (706) 432-0021.
Diabetic network
The JDFR Family Network is available to families of children with Type 1 diabetes. For information, call (706) 733-2034.
SCORE advice
The Service Corps of Retired Executives, SCORE, provides counseling and mentoring to business people who are starting up or expanding a business. There is no charge for services. For information, call 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday, (706) 793-9998.
Foster homes sought
Georgia SAFE Therapeutic Foster Care is seeking foster homes for at-risk children and teens. For information, call (706) 210-3435.
Harvest help
Golden Harvest Food Bank is seeking volunteer groups of 10-20 people, ages 13 and up, for Saturday help in sorting donated products. For information or to reserve a time, call Laurie Harmon at (706) 736-1199, ext. 208.
Parents sought
Foster and adoptive parents are being sought for children living in Columbia and Richmond counties. For more information on the program, call Christina Ruetz in Columbia County at (706) 541-1640 or Rosalyn Boyd in Richmond County at (706) 721-7171.
Happy Tails adoption
Happy Tails Rescue holds pet adoptions each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and 4-6 p.m., and Sundays 1-4 p.m., at Superpetz on Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez. For more information, call (706) 863-5310.