Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

Community Notes

Extra help with Medicare

Lower income Johnstonians who receive Medicare might be eligible for extra help with drug-plan premiums, deductibles and co-payments. Sign-up for the "Extra Help" program is scheduled from 9 a.m. till noon Friday, Jan. 29, at the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield, 305 E. Market St., Smithfield. The income limits are $1,353.75 a month for individuals and $1,821.25 for couples. Bring your Medicare card and income statements. To register, call the Johnston County Cooperative Extension Service at 989-5380.

Newcomers to meet

The Clayton Newcomers and Neighbors Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Rotary Room at The Clayton Center, 111 E. 2nd St., Clatyon. Larry Bailey will speak. He is director of the Clayton Parks and Recreation Department.

Democratic women meet

Democratic Women of Wake County will hold its monthly luncheon at noon Thursday, Jan. 28, at the N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.

The speakers will be the three Democrats running for contested positions in the state's appellate courts. Judge Bob Hunter is a candidate for the state Supreme Court. Judge Jane Gray and attorney Leto Copeley are candidates for the N.C. Court of Appeals.

The buffet lunch lines open at 11:30 a.m. The cost of the luncheon is $15. For reservations, e-mail Nancy Looper at info@dwwc.net or call Martha Farmer at 782-1272. The deadline for reservations is 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Republican women meet

The Johnston County Republican Women will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at McCall's BBQ and Seafood Restaurant, 10365 U.S. 70 Business W., Clayton.

Zan Bunn, vice president of the Capital Region of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women, will be present to install the 2010 JCRW board members: Joy Paul, president; Teresa Grant, vice president; Denise Rentz, secretary; Dr. Patricia Brady-Harris, treasurer. All Republican women are invited to attend.

For more details, call 919-938-2509, e-mail joywpaul@earthlink.net or go to www.johnstoncountygop.com.

Rape-defense seminar

The Garner Police Department will offer a four-hour rape-defense seminar from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Feb. 6.

The event for women ages 12 and older will be held at the West District Police Substation, 1809 Garner Station Blvd. To register for the class, call Troy Young at 772-8810.

Prom dresses

Gently-used prom dresses will be on sale from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Smithfield Junior Woman's Club building, 405 N. 2nd St., Smithfield. Dresses will be available for $40 to $50. Proceeds will go to the Junior Woman's Club.

Volunteers sought

Amedisys Hospice Services is seeking volunteers. Hospice provides physical, emotional and spiritual support for terminally ill patients and their families. Volunteers are needed in the following areas: patient care, bereavement and office team support. Training is free and available on an individual or group basis. Upcoming group training will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, and Thursday, Jan. 28. For more information, call Lydia D. Kinton at 919-773-4865 or 866-773-8797.

Grief support groups

Grief 101, a support group for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, will be held from 10 a.m. till noon Saturday, Jan. 23, at Amedisys Hospice Services, 220 Fidelity Court, Garner. Refreshments will be served.

A second grief support group, Sharing Our Stories, sponsored jointly by Resources for Seniors and Amedisys Hospice, meets the fist and third Mondays of each month from 10 till 11:30 a.m. at the Garner Senior Center, 205 E. Garner Road. For details about either group, call 773-4865 or e-mail aritter3225@amedisys.com.

Pruning fruit trees

A fruit tree training and pruning demonstration will be held at the Central Crops Research Station, 13223 U.S. 70 Business, Clayton, from 10 a.m. till noon Saturday, Jan. 30. Dr. Mike Parker will lead the workshop.

For more details, call Shawn Banks at 919-989-5380 or e-mail shawn_banks@ncsu.edu.

Pageant, fundraiser

The Clayton Kiwanis Club will host the Miss Catastrophe all-male beauty pageant at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at The Clayton Center, 111 E. 2nd St. Proceeds from the event help area needy children. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. For more details, call 553-0462 or e-mail whittb@pyebarkerfiresafety.com.

Buying a home

A free homebuyer's workshop is scheduled from 6:30 till 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Johnston County Workforce Development Center, 135 Bestwood Drive, Clayton. For more information, call 919-634-5206.

Flu shots ongoing

The Johnston County Public Health Department will offer the H1N1 flu vaccine to adults through Jan. 29. Hours are 8:30-11 a.m. Monday through Friday at the health department, 517 N. Bright Leaf Blvd., Smithfield. Citizens should bring their insurance information and card.

Blood drives

The Red Cross in Johnston County has scheduled the following blood drives:

Jan. 29 -- 3-7 p.m., Providence Presbyterian Church, 14664 N.C. 210 in the McGee's Crossroads community.

Jan. 30 -- Branch Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, 7438 N.C. 96 North, Selma.

Making herbal soap

A seminar on making herbal soap is scheduled from 6:30 till 9 p.m. today (Wednesday, Jan. 20) at the Johnston Community College Arboretum, 1240 E. Market St., Smithfield. Participants will make soaps to take home.

The cost is $25. For more details, call 919-209-2052.

Contestants sought

The Miss Johnston County Scholarship Pageant is seeking contestants. The pageant is open to women ages 17-24 who live in or attend school in one of the following counties: Johnston, Wake, Harnett, Sampson, Wayne, Wilson or Nash.

The deadline to enter is Jan. 21. For more information, send an e-mail to MissJohnstonEd@aol.com. The pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College.

The winner will receive scholarship dollars, and she will represent Johnston County in the Miss North Carolina pageant.

Separately, the Miss Johnston County Scholarship Organization is seeking contestants for Outstanding Teen pageants in Johnston County and Garner.

Those pageants are open to girls ages 13-17.

The deadlines and contact information are the same.

Youth seek donations

The Youth Division of the Johnston County NAACP will visit the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro on Saturday, Feb. 27. The youth are seeking sponsors for the trip, which is $25 per person. To help, send an e-mail to youth adviser Gracie Wells Chamblee at graciechamblee@juno.com, call Chamblee at 919-553-8729, send an e-mail to the Rev. Russell Cotten at Info@russellcotten.org or call NAACP president Timothy Hodges at 919-780-1135.

Valentine Ball

Harbor Inc. will hold its annual Valentine Ball from 7:30 till 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Johnston County Agricultural Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield. The night will feature food, drink and dancing to music by the Upbeats. The cost is $50 per person with beer and wine, or $45 per person without. For tickets, call Harbor at 919-938-3566.

Sleep apnea support

A sleep apnea support group will meet from 5:30 till 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at Active Healthcare, 935 Shotwell Road, Clayton. The event is the quarterly meeting of the Johnston County group A.W.A.K.E. -- Alert, Well & Keeping Energetic. The speaker will be Dr. Benjamin Atkeson of Wake Heart and Vascular Associates in Clayton. CPAP Sleep specialists will be on hand to showcase the latest equipment and to provide educational resources. For details, call 919-870-8600.

Gardening seminar

The gardening seminar, Gardening 101: Growing Your Own Produce, will be held from 6:30 till 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Arboretum at Johnston Community College.

This hands-on class focuses on spring gardens, how to test and prepare beds, selecting spring vegetables and herbs, bed preparation, vegetable care and maintenance. Participants will leave with soil test kits, garden plans, and seed starts for a successful vegetable garden. The arboretum is located at 1240 E. Market St., Smithfield.

For more details, call 919-209-2052.

TOPS to meet

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, or TOPS for short, will meet Tuesday, Jan. 26, at First Christian Church, 101 S. Crescent Drive, Smithfield. Weigh-in will be at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will follow at 6.

Newcomers are welcomed to join the nonprofit weight-loss support group. A one-year membership is $26. The first meeting is free. For more information, visit tops.org or call Julie Gudac at 919-989-5500.

Farmers market

The Garner Revitalization Association will open a farmers market this spring. Anyone interested in selling locally-grown produce or other products should e-mail downtowngarner@nc.rr.com or go to downtowngarner.com and click the "contact us" link.

Boy Scout awards

The Tuscarora Council of Boy Scouts of America will hold its 87th annual awards presentation at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College, 245 College Road, Smithfield.

Tickets are $8 if bought before Jan. 29. After that date, they're $15. For more information, call 919-734-1714 or visit bsanc.org. The deadline to buy tickets is Feb. 2.