Current Events
TOPS groups
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Take Off Pounds Sensibly, a nonprofit weight-loss support group, meets at 6 p.m. each Thursday at Grovetown United Methodist Church, 206 E. Robinson Ave. For information, call (706) 863-0726.
A TOPS group also meets at 4:45 p.m. each Tuesday at Pine View Baptist Church, 119 Pleasant Home Road. For information, call (706) 863-6525.
Harlem reunion
Classmates are being sought for the Harlem High School Class of 1980's 30th reunion, to be held July 24 at Red Oak Manor in Harlem. For information, e-mail billjones904@hotmail.com.
Scholarships
Tuesday is the deadline to submit applications for the Columbia County Foundation for Children College Scholarships. Applicants must live in Columbia County and plan to attend college or technical school. Scholarships are need-based, and students are eligible to apply up to age 23. To request an application, e-mail ccfcscholarship @gmail.com.
Giant yard sale
The Rotary Club of Columbia County's Giant Columbia County Yard Sale will be held June 5 at the county Fairgrounds. Vendor spaces cost $25. For information, call Connie Redmond at (706) 863-5500.
Teen program
The University of Georgia Toastmaster Teen Leadership Program will be from1-4:30 p.m. today-Friday and June 1-3 at Savannah Rapids Pavilion, with graduation June 3. The $45 fee includes workbook, UGA certificate of achievement, award and graduation dinner. To register, call (706) 868-3413.
Grants fair
U.S. Rep. Paul Broun will hold a grants fair 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday at Savannah Rapids Pavilion for individuals seeking grant funding from state and federal agencies. For information, call Nicole Acevedo at (706) 447-3857 or e-mail nicole.acevedo@mail. house.gov.
Vendors sought
Vendors are wanted for the third annual Eryn Eubanks and The Family Fold Music Festival benefiting Lynndale School, noon to 8 p.m. June 26 at Lake Olmstead. For information, call Patrick Eubanks at (706) 736-0043 or go to www.eryneubanks.com.
Clothes closet
The clothes closet in the family life center at Marvin United Methodist Church, Belair at Wheeler Road, is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clothing is free, but donations are welcome.
Hosts needed
World Heritage Student Exchange Program is seeking local host families for high school boys and girls for the 2010-2011 school year. For information, call Kim Hines at (706) 228-4112, or go to www.world-heritage.org.
Book sale
The Columbia County Orchestra Association will hold a fundraiser sale of new and used books from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 3-5 at 3309 Lloyd Paschal Road, Winfield.
Outdoor movies
MCGHealth Children's Medical Center's fifth season of Movies Under the Stars begins June 4 with Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs at the Columbia County Amphitheater in Evans. Gates open at 7 p.m., and tickets cost $2 for adults, $1 for children 13-younger. Lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and coolers are welcome, and concessions are also available. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Future movies include Tooth Fairy , June 11; Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs , June 18, and Monsters vs. Aliens , June 25. For information, call (706) 721-4598, or visit mcghealth.org/movies.
Drama camp
Greenbrier High School's drama camp for rising first-ninth graders will be held 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 7-11 at the school theater. For information, e-mail shansen@ccboe.net, or go to www.ghspackplayers.net/drama-camp.html.
Camp Invention
Martinez Elementary's Camp Invention for first- through sixth-graders will be held 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 7-11. For information, go to www.invent.org or e-mail campinvention@invent.org.
Art camp
The Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art Summer Art Camp for ages 5-11 will be held 10 a.m. to noon weekdays June 7-30 at The Quest Church, 4020 Washington Road, Martinez. For information, call (706) 722-5495, or go to www.ghia.org.
Photo exhibit
The photography of Martinez residents Lisa Marks and Ramon Parish will be featured 5-9 p.m. June 11 and throughout the month at Zimmerman Gallery, 1006 Broad St., Augusta. For information, call (706) 774-1006, or e-mail zimmermangallery@knology.net.
Women vets
The Women's Veterans Club meets at 11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month at Ryan's Family Steakhouse, 208 Bobby Jones Expressway, Martinez. Dues cost $24 per year. For information, call April Starks at (706) 868-5601.
Bible schools
Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church, 703 Furys Ferry Road, Evans, will hold vacation Bible school at 6 p.m. June 7-11. For information, call (706) 860-7091.
Church of the Holy Comforter, 473 Furys Ferry Road, will hold vacation Bible school 6-8 p.m. June 7-11. To register, call (706) 210-1133, or go to www.holycomforterchurch.org.
Abilene Baptist Church will hold vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon June 7-11. Pre-register online at abilene1774.org, or call (706) 869-1774 or e-mail abc@abilene1774.org for information.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 402 Aumond Road, will hold vacation Bible school 9 a.m. to noon June 21-25 for ages 3 years through eighth grade. To register, call (706) 733-6076.
Alzheimer's groups
Three Alzheimer's caregiver support groups meet in Columbia County.
Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church, 5555 Hereford Farm Road: 7 p.m., second Tuesday each month. For information, call (706) 541-0085 or (706) 541-0185.
Morningside of Evans, 353 N. Belair Road: 11 a.m., second Saturday each month. For information, call (706) 228-4709.
Brandon Wilde, 4275 Owens Road: 7 p.m., third Tuesday each month. For information, call (706) 854-3519.
Mammograms
University Hospital's Mobile Mammography Unit will be at the Evans Government Center parking lot behind the Emergency Operations Center 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 16. To schedule an appointment, call (706) 774-4149. The unit also will visit Columbia County from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 21 at the hospital's Columbia County campus on Flowing Wells at Columbia Road.
Choral concert
The Columbia County Choral Society will present From Sea to Shining Sea, A Concert of Patriotic Music at 7:30 p.m. June 18 at First Baptist Church of Evans, Belair Road at Washington Road. Tickets cost $10, or $7 for seniors, students and groups. For information, call (706) 650-2311 go to www.ccchoralsociety.org.
Garden classes
The Augusta Council of Garden Clubs will hold a monthly series of gardening seminars starting June 19 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3185 Wheeler Road. Sessions are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch included. Cost is $25 per session. For information call Judy Kirkland at (706) 556-3417, or e-mail jukirkland@charter.net.
Preschool signup
Trinity Baptist Preschool, 4594 Columbia Road, Martinez, is accepting registration for the 2010-11 school year for ages 2, 3 and 4. For information, call Shannon Story at (706) 799-0637.
Hearing loss
The Hearing Loss Association of Augusta meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday each month at Room 100 of the Adult Building of First Baptist Church of Augusta. For information, call Debbie Rish at (706) 650-2496, or e-mail hlaag.rish@yahoo.com.
Class reunion
The Burke County High School Class of 1994 will hold its reunion Oct. 23. Go to bcchsclassof1994reunion.myevent.com.
Craft classes
Craft and art classes, including quilting, sewing, crocheting and pottery, are being offered at Etc, 212 N. Louisville St., Harlem. Payment in advance is required to reserve space. For information, call (706) 556-8000, or e-mail etc212@att.net.
Green school
North Harlem Elementary is seeking donations of empty printer cartridges and used cell phones for a recycling project. Items may be dropped off at the school on Fairview Drive or at Etc. of Harlem on Louisville Road. For information, call the school at (706) 556-5995.
Eyeglass help
The Grovetown Lions Club offers financial assistance for qualifying Grovetown individuals in the purchase of eyeglasses. For information, write to Grovetown Lions Club Eyeglass Program, P.O. Box 248, Grovetown, GA 30813.
Volunteers sought
The Grovetown Senior Center is seeking volunteer, licensed drivers with their own vehicles to deliver meals to shut-ins in the Grovetown area. For information, call (706) 210-8699.
Volunteers wanted
Regency Hospice is seeking volunteers. Training is provided. For information, call Nancy Browning at (706) 868-4422.
Dulcimer lessons
The Garden City Dulcimer Club is offering free dulcimer lessons. For information, call (706) 868-0120.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recycling
Drop-off containers for plastics recycling, newspapers, office paper and cardboard are now available at the Columbia County Government Complex.
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, nonprofit 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.
Seat inspection
Safe Kids of East Central Georgia provides 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.
Coast Guard Auxiliary meets
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant, 4534 Washington Road, Evans. For information, call John VanOsdol at (864) 391-2170.
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.
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.
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.
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 on Mental Illness 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 (706) 736-1199.