Current Events

GOP events

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Columbia County School Board trustee Mike Sleeper and school system mentor Andy Kingery will be the speakers at the Third District Republican Party meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the government complex auditorium in Evans. The party breakfast will be held at 8:45 a.m. Saturday at Fatz Cafe in Evans, with reservations requested by Thursday by e-mailing ptgoodwi@bellsouth.net, or calling (706) 829-1343.

Cancer benefit

The third annual Boul on the Bayou fundraiser for the American Cancer Society will be held 7-11 p.m. Friday at Savannah Rapids Pavilion, with a Cajun dinner, dancing, music and live and silent auctions. Tickets cost $75 per person. Corporate tables and sponsorship opportunities are available. For information, call (706) 731-9900 or go to www.bouleonthe bayou.com.

Cruise-in

The Kiokee Kruisers, part of the men's ministry at Kiokee Baptist Church, will hold their inaugural Cruise-In car show from 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Old Store (formerly J.D. Howell's) on Ray Owens Road at Whiteoak Road. For information, call James Anderson at (706) 541-2398 or Paul Morgan at (706) 541-9658.

Party breakfast

Columbia County Democrats will hold their August fellowship breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday at Earth Fare, 368 Furys Ferry Road, Martinez. Breakfast costs $10, and tickets may be purchased online at www. columbiacntydemocrats.com, or at the breakfast. For information, call Floyd Everett at (706) 825-8314.

Fundraiser

A car wash to benefit the Sickle Cell Foundation will be held Saturday at O'Reilly Auto Parts, 5125 Wrightsboro Road, Grovetown. For information, call Damian Wise at (706) 877-7988 or Demarco Nelson at (706) 945-8416.

Parent's night

Marshall Family Y will hold parent's night out for children of deployed soldiers ages 2-12 from 6-9:30 Saturday. Cost is free, with registration at the Marshall Family Y or online at www.thefamilyy.org.

Car show

Cheaters Inc. will hold the inaugural Logan Godbee Memorial Car Show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Curl's Tire and Auto, 3336B Wrightsboro Road, Augusta, with proceeds benefiting the March of Dimes. For information, go to www.cheaters-inc.com.

Junior Board

The Watson-Brown Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2010-2011 Junior Board program for students from Columbia, Warren, McDuffie, Taliaferro, Burke, Jefferson, Richmond, Lincoln, Wilkes, Elbert, Aiken, McCormick and Edgefield counties. Deadline for applications is Sept. 13. For information, call Michelle Zupan at (706) 595-7777 or e-mail to mzupan@hickory-hill.org.

Vendors wanted

Crafters and vendors are being sought for the fall craft show at Marvin United Methodist Church. For information, call (706) 863-1970 or e-mail marvinwomen21@gmail.com.

Soldier packages

VFW Post 6445, on Wrightsboro Road in Harlem is collecting donations of toiletries, snacks and writing materials for service members in Afghanistan. Donations may be brought to the post from 3-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, or noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 15. For information, call (706) 556-9194. Monetary donations also will be accepted.

Addiction help

Mosaic United Methodist Church's Celebrate Recovery program is holding information sessions from 7-8 p.m. each Friday in August at Bean Baskette in the Columbia County Library. Weekly group sessions will begin in September at the church, 678 Columbia Industrial Blvd., Evans, at 7 p.m. each Friday. For information, call (706) 877-6468, or go to www.mosaicumc.org.

Boat-in movie

Wildwood Park will hold a "boat-in" movie, showing Avatar on a 30-foot outdoor screen, at dusk on Sept. 4 at the park off Washington Road in Appling. Vehicle admission to the park costs $3. For information, call (706) 541-0586.

Prostate program

Urologist James Benjamin Kay, M.D., will present a free dinner program on prostate cancer and PSA testing from 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Reservations are required at www.universityhealth.org/calendar or by calling (706) 828-2502.

9-11 Mass

The Knights of Columbus will hold a commemorative mass to honor first responders and military personnel at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, 4921 Columbia Road, Grovetown. All who serve as first responders to service members are asked to attend in their respective uniforms and with their families.

Fundraiser run

MCG Children's Miracle Network will hold a Miracle Miles 10K and two-mile fun run to benefit the MCGHealth Children's Medical Center, with registration starting at 7 a.m. Sept. 11 at Lake Olmstead. For information, go to www.runsignup and search for the Miracle Miles 10K.

Diabetes info

Robin Petry, RN, CDE, will present a free diabetes information dinner program from 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Belair Conference Center, 4083 Singh Lane. Reservations are required at www.universityhealth.org/calendar or by calling (706) 828-2502.

Diabetes walk

A kick-off event for the Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The walk will be held Nov. 6 at Savannah Rapids Park. For information, contact Gretchen Daly at gvandaly@yahoo.com or (706) 955-8232, or Stephanie Fuller at s.j.fuller@comcast.net or (706) 541-0146.

Warren preschool

Warren Baptist Church holds weekday preschool and mother's day out classes for ages 1 through preK 4. For information, call (706) 860-6878 or go to warrenbaptist.org.

Rape counseling

Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services is seeking volunteer advocates from area counties. Advocates must be able to respond to area hospitals within 30 minutes of being called. For information, call Dinah at (706) 724-2746 or e-mail volunteerrcsas@uh.org.

Preschool

Trinity Baptist Preschool, 4594 Columbia Road, Martinez, is accepting registration for the 2010-11 school year for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds. For information, call Shannon Story at (706) 799-0637.

Marine League

The Marine Corps League Riverfront Marines Detachment 1132, meets the second Thursday of every month at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1002 Carolina Ave., North Augusta, with dinner at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m. For information, contact Paul Brewer at (706) 306-6667 or usmc1008@bellsouth.net.

Rotary exchange

Applications are available for Rotary Club group study exchange team members to travel to New Zealand April 1-May 10, 2011. Interviews will be held in September. Team members must be between the ages of 25-40, and not be a Rotarian. For information, call Pam Lightsey at (706) 840-2087, or e-mail plightsey@aug.edu.

Phones for soldiers

Starling Funeral Home, on Highway 78 in Harlem, is accepting donations of cell phones from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday for the Cell Phones for Soldiers drive, which raises funds to provided prepaid calling cards to deployed troops. For information, call (706) 556-6524.

Cancer group

The MCG Breast Cancer Support Group meets on the second Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the first-floor community room at the MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1411 Laney-Walker Blvd. For information, call (706) 721-4109 or go to mcghealth.org.

Gardening series

The Columbia County Cooperative Extension Service's Gardening at Lunch series with Extension Agent Charles Phillips at the Columbia County Library in Evans continues at 12:10 p.m. Sept. 1 with a program on fall vegetable gardening. Future programs include composting, Oct. 6; plants for shade gardens, Nov. 3; and garden jobs by the month, Dec. 1. For information, call (706) 868-3413.

Art reception

Twisted Fence Art Gallery, 214 N. Louisville St., Harlem, holds Twisted Tuesday on the first Tuesday every month, and in August features Columbia County artist Cyndy Epps.

Law academy

Applications are being accepted for the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Citizen's Law Enforcement Academy, which begins Sept. 16 and is offered free each Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. for 10 weeks. Download applications from the Sheriff's Office Community Services link at www.columbiacountyso.org, or call (706) 541-2856.

Help group

Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at The Sanctuary Church, 302 Byrd Road, Evans. For information, call Matt Lever at (706) 421-0089.

Teams sought

The Augusta Alzheimer's Association is recruiting teams and individuals to participate in the 20th Annual Memory Walk, to be held Nov. 6 at the Augusta Commons. For information, call (706) 731-9060, or go to www.georgiamemorywalk.org.

Survivors

Fort Gordon's Survivor Outreach Services, for families of deceased soldiers, is available at (706) 787-4767 or at myarmyonesource.com.

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.

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.

Seat inspection

Safe Kids East Central Georgia holds free child safety seat inspections on the second Wednesday of each month at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office substation, 650 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans. To make an appointment, call (706) 541-3970 or go to mcghealth.org.

TOPS groups

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), nonprofit weight-loss support groups, meeting on the following dates:

Harlem Baptist Church, 9 a.m. each Thursday; (706) 6556-3309.

Grovetown United Methodist Church, 206 E. Robinson Ave., 6 p.m. each Thursday; (706) 863-0726.

Pine View Baptist Church, 119 Pleasant Home Road, 4:45 p.m. each Tuesday; (706) 863-6525.

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.

Orchestras

The Columbia County Civic Orchestra holds weekly rehearsals 7:15-9:15 p.m. Mondays in the music suite at West Acres Baptist Church, 555 Gibbs Road, Evans. Returning and new musicians are welcome. The Youth Orchestra holds rehearsals 7-9 p.m. Thursdays in the Augusta Christian band room, 313 Baston Road. For information, call Rob Nordan at (706) 860-6573, ext. 114, or go to www.columbiacco.org.

Singers sought

The Augusta Choral Society (ACS) is seeking new members for its 2010-2011 season. For information, go to www.augustachoralsociety.org or call (706) 826-4713.

Women vets

The Women's Veterans Club meets at 11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month. Dues cost $24 per year. For information, call April Starks at (706) 868-5601.

Fencing class

Registration is now open for a 10-week class in beginning foil fencing at the Augusta Fencers Club. The class is designed for adults, but mature students as young as 13 may apply. The class meets on Thursdays from 6-6:50 p.m. at 134 Ninth St., Augusta, starting Sept. 9. Cost is $150, with equipment provided. For information, call (706) 722-8878.

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.

Regency Hospice is seeking volunteers. Training is provided. For information, call Nancy Browning at (706) 868-4422.

Golden Harvest Food Bank is seeking volunteers to help sort donations in the warehouse. For information, call (706) 736-1199.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fire information/p>

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.

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.

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.