Current events
Energy grants
//
USDA Rural Develop-ment is accepting applications for grants and loan guarantees for farmers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements or conduct feasibility studies. The deadline is July 31. Details are at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill.
Homecoming
Parkway Baptist Church, on William Few Parkway, will hold homecoming and a debt-retirement celebration at 9:45 a.m. today, with lunch and activities afterward. Call (706) 799-0744.
ETC. classes
ETC., at 212 N. Louis-ville St., Harlem, is holding kid's art camp from 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday, and watercolor painting class from 10 a.m. to noon July 18. Call (706) 556-8000.
Free movie
Columbia County's free Family Movie Matinees continue with Hotel for Dogs at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Jabez S. Hardin Perform-ing Arts Center at Columbia County Library. Future movies include Horton Hears a Who, July 15; Wall-E, July 22; and a surprise July 29. Tickets are distributed at noon. Call (706) 312-7192.
Seat inspection
Safe Kids East Central Georgia will hold child safety seat inspection Wednesday and the second Wednesday of each month at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Substation, Evans. Call (706) 541-3970, or visit www.mcghealth.org/safekids.
Park events
Reed Creek Park holds educational programs for children 5 and older: pond exploration, 10-11 a.m. July 9 and July 30; insect investigations, 10-11 a.m. July 10 and July 31; creek exploration, 10-11 a.m. July 16; and forest foray, 10-11 a.m. July 17. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Call the park at (706) 210-4027.
Anniversary
Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church, 703 Furys Ferry Road, will celebrate its 129th anniversary at 2:30 p.m. July 12, with Dr. Gregory Fuller of Macedonia Baptist Church, Augusta. Call (706) 860-7091.
CERT training
Applications are available through July 23 for Columbia County Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) team volunteers. For information, call (706) 868-3303.
Marvin VBS
Marvin United Methodist Church, on Wheeler Road at Belair Road, will hold vacation Bible school 5:30-8 p.m. July 13-17. For information, call (706) 863-0510.
Grovetown VBS
Grovetown United Methodist Church, 206 E. Robinson Ave., will hold vacation Bible school 6-9 p.m. July 12-16. For information, call (706) 863-6355.
Mosaic show
Mosaic United Methodist Church, on Columbia Industrial Boulevard, will hold the Studio Go! Game Show July 19 and 21-24 for ages 3 to fifth grade. A kick-off family carnival will be held 5:30-8 p.m. July 19, with the game show July 21-23 and the awards show for families July 24. Supper will be served nightly. To register, e-mail hugginlady04@yahoo.com.
Lake ministry
St. John United Methodist Church's summer lake ministry is held each Sunday at 8:45 a.m. through Aug. 30 at the church's Clarks Hill Lake site near Modoc, S.C., with non-denominational services led by area ministers and lay leaders. Visitors may drive to the church's camp off U.S. 28 (Furys Ferry Road) or come to the site by boat.
CERT training
Applications are available through July 23 for Columbia County Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) team volunteers. For information, call (706) 868-3303.
Beagle Day
The CSRA Beagle Club will hold its 10th annual barbecue and trade day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25 at the Winfield Community Center on Highway 150 in Winfield. For information, call Ricky Peace at (706) 294-6260, or e-mail kj4ikz@comcast.net.
Parkinson group
The CSRA Parkinson Support Group will hold a summer celebration potluck dinner at 6 p.m. July 28 at St. John Towers dining room, 724 Greene St., Augusta. Meat and drink provided; bring a salad, side dish or dessert. For information, call (706) 364-1662.
Christian singles
A newly established singles social club with a Christian atmosphere, Ga-Lina Christian Singles, is open each Saturday from 8-11 p.m. at Social Inc., in Village West Shopping Center on Washington Road at Furys Ferry. For information, call Elizabeth Connor at (706) 863-1214.
Youth orchestra
The Columbia County Orchestra Association is seeking third-year music students through rising seniors for the Columbia County Youth Orchestra. For information, go to www.columbiacco.org, or call Rob Nordan at (706) 860-6573, extension 114.
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. Admission is $6 for members, $8 for guests. For information, call Theresa Thigpen at (706) 863-9262.
Pet adoptions
Happy Tails Rescue holds pet adoptions from 1-4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday at Tractor Supply, 596 Bobby Jones Expressway. For information, call (706) 955-0438.
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.
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 historical display. For information, call Gary or Nancy Blanchard at (706) 541-0043.
Youth volunteers
The Columbia County Foundation for Children is sponsoring a summer volunteer/community service program for area high school students. Volunteers will assist staff at the Children's Resource Center, 6347 Columbia Road, Appling, through Aug. 6. For information, e-mail ccffc@comcast.net, or call Michel Young on Tuesdays at (706) 541-2849.
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. 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.
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.
School festival
University Hospital's Back to School Festival will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 1 at Evans Middle School on Hereford Farm Road.
Gardening at Lunch
The Columbia County Extension Service Gardening at Lunch series continues at noon Aug. 5 with a program on drought and deer-tolerant plants. Future programs include Composting, Sept. 2; Fragrant Shrubs, Oct. 7; Winter-blooming Plants, Nov. 11; and Gardening on a Shoestring, Dec. 2. For information, call (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.
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.
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.
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.