Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010

Community Notes

Little Relay Stars

The Johnston County Relay for Life is accepting applications for its 2010 Little Relay Stars Baby Photo Contest. The contest is open to Johnston County residents who will be no older than 24 months on June 4. Applications are available at Four Oaks Bank branches, online at jcncrelay.org or via fax by calling Cindy Blackwelder at 963-1146. The deadline to enter is April 19.

Local Food Fair

The Clayton Farm & Community Market will stage a Local Fresh Food Fair from 5 till 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at The Clayton Center, 111 E. 2nd St., Clayton. Johnston farmers and ranchers will be on hand to answer questions about the products, including how to buy them. Also, leaders of the Clayton Farm & Community Market will talk about their 2010 offerings. Finally, the festival will feature a screening of "FRESH: The Movie." Admission to the screening is $5, plus a service fee.

'Hush Harbor'

A Black History Month program is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in the Wall-Ennis Gymnasium at South Campus School, 521 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Smithfield. The program is titled "Hush Harbor" -- a term from antebellum America that described a place where slaves would gather in secret to practice their religion. The program is a project of the Black History Committee of the Johnston County Heritage Center.

Ornamental trees

A workshop on pruning ornamental trees is scheduled from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Johnston County Agricultural Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield. Doug White of the N.C. Forest Service will conduct the workshop, which will include hands-on practice. To register, call the Cooperative Extension Service at 989-5380 or send an e-mail to shawn_banks@ncsu.edu.

Fruit trees

A workshop on training and pruning fruit trees is scheduled from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Central Crops Research Station, 13223 U.S. 70 Business, Clayton. Dr. Mike Parker will demonstrate proper pruning of apple and peach trees. To register, call the Cooperative Extension Service at 989-5380 or send an e-mail to shawn_banks@ncsu.edu.

Growing mushrooms

A workshop on growing Shiitake mushrooms is scheduled from 10 a.m. till noon Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Johnston County Livestock Arena, 520 County Home Road, Smithfield. Those attending should bring one log, preferably red, white or scarlet oak that is four to eight inches in diameter and three feet long with bark intact. Logs need to be cut no more than two weeks before the workshop. The cost is $10. To register, call Elizabeth Wilson at 919-989-5380 or send en e-mail to elizabeth_wilson@ncsu.edu.

A trip for seniors

On March 30, the Selma Parks and Recreation Department invites older adults to travel to Chinqua Penn Plantation near Reidsville. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the plantaton includes a 27-room English country manor filled with furnishings from 30 countries. Surrounding the house are 22 acres of gardens and landscaping. The cost is $35. An optional winery tour costs $5. The deadline to register is March 3. For more information, call 919-975-1411.

Dance in Clayton

A Spring Fling Dance is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the American Legion Building in Clayton. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For tickets, call Effie Sanders at 231-1500 or Lillie Kirby at 934-7821. The dance is a project of the Cooper Heritage Alumni and Friends Association. Proceeds will go to a scholarship fund and community projects.

Kick-a-thon in Clayton

A kick-a-thon is scheduled from 10 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Revolution Self-Defense, 34 Oleander Drive, Unit 103, Clayton. Participants will collect donations for every kick performed. Proceeds will go to earthquake relief in Haiti. To take part, call Scot Schwichow at 919-359-1776 or send an e-mail to scot@revolutionselfdefense.com.

Heart disease program

"Raising Awareness about Heart Disease," a program sponsored by Community Home Care & Hospice and the Johnston County Council on Aging, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Council on Aging building, located at 1363 W. Market St., Smithfield.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Benjamin Atkeson of Wake Heart and Vascular Associates.

The free programs continue through the summer and are hosted the second Thursday of the month. Reservations are required. For more details, call 919-989-7276.

Camp registration

Registration for Camp Kaleidoscope, the town of Garner's summer camp program, begins Monday, Feb. 15. The fee is $75 per week for residents and $98 for non-residents. For more details, call 772-4688.

Pageant

The Miss Johnston County Scholarship 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.

Bridge at library

An afternoon of bridge playing is scheduled from 1 till 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the second-floor meeting room of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield, 305 E. Market St., Smithfield. The cost is $10 and includes bridge, refreshments and the chance to win door prizes. For more information, or to sign up, call 919-934-3487 or 919-938-2083.

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.

Haiti fundraiser

Here's one way to help Haiti earthquake victims. Eat at Golden Corral in Garner from 5 till 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15; 10 percent of all dinner sales and tips wil be donated to the Haiti relief effort. Members of the Garner Police Department and the District 31G Lions Club will serve customers.

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.

Home-buyer's workshop

A free home-buyer's workshop is scheduled from 6:30 till 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Johnston County Workforce Development Center, 135 Bestwood Drive, Clayton. The following will speak: Angelo Owens of Century 21 Suburban Real Estate of Primelending and Jayme Clark of Clear Choice Home Inspections. They will talk bout choosing a home, financing, tax credits, home inspections and surveys.