Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010

Community Notes

Paper shredding

A paper-shredding event is scheduled from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Sept. 11, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 2100 Buffaloe Road, Garner. Donations are accepted and will be used for maintenance and scholarships for Camp Agape, a youth Christian summer camp in the Fuquay-Varina area.

For more information, call 919-772-9044 or send and e-mail to ncbeans@aol.com.

Library seeks volunteers

The Cleveland Library is seeking volunteers to paint the children's library room, as well as the adult fiction section. Other handy-work is also needed.

The library is located in the rear warehouse units in Peddler's Village at 5533 N.C. 42 W., Suite D96, Garner. To find out more information about helping, call 919-661-6565. To find out more about the library, go to 4042needs.org/library/.

'Idol' contest seeks singers

The Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking singers for the 2010 "Clayton Idol" contest. Auditions are scheduled from 6 till 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the chamber office, 301 E. Main St., Clayton. The finals will take place Saturday, Sept. 18, during the Clayton Harvest Festival. For a registration form, call the chamber at 919-553-6352 or send an e-mail to shirley@claytonchamber.com.

Black, White and Bling Gala

The Garner Mid-Day Rotary Foundation is still seeking sponsors for its upcoming Black, White and Bling Gala 2010, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Grand Marquise Ballroom, 225 New Fidelity Court, Garner. The event is a fundraiser for the Backpack Buddies program and will feature dining and dancing. Title sponsors are Swift's Fine Jewelry of Knightdale and Grand Marquise Ballroom of Garner.

"The goal of the gala is to raise awareness of the needs of local children, and raise funds to help meet those needs," said Julie Clark, gala chair.

Sponsorships are available at a number of levels: Platinum, $5,000; Gold, $2,500; Silver, $1,000; and Bronze, $500.

Additional gala proceeds will go to the Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club's scholarship programs for Garner Magnet High School students.

Attendees have a chance to win $2,500 and a 1.18-carat diamond donated by Swift's Fine Jewelry.

Gala tickets are on sale now through Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club members. Tickets are $75 each. For tickets, information or sponsorship opportunities, call Clark at 919-271-2618, or visit garnerblackwhiteandblinggala.org.

Group seeks votes

Garner-based Backpack Tutoring Inc. is competing for votes to win one of two $250,000 grants from the Pepsi Refresh Project. The grant will be used to create a community education center in the Garner/Southeast Raleigh area to provide free educational services to pre-kindergarten and elementary school students. The grant would allow the group to expand its services to include after-school tutoring programs, kindergarten readiness programs and community events, including spelling bees and book festivals.

To win the grant, the group must receive either the most or second-most votes by Aug. 31.

There are three different methods of voting:

Online at www.refresheverything.com/backpacktutoring.

On Facebook by searching for "Pepsi Refresh Voting App" and clicking "Go to Application" under the Pepsi Refresh Project picture. Then search for "Backpack Tutoring" to vote.

Text 101939 to PEPSI (73774).

Those who wish to vote for Backpack Tutoring Inc. can do so once per voting method each day.

Health survey

The Johnston County Public Health Department is asking Johnstonians to complete its Health Opinion Survey, designed to help the department learn more about the health of Johnstonians and their quality of life.

The survey is online at johnstonnc.com/healthsurvey.

Firemen's Day

Firemen's Day is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. till 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the 50-210 Community Volunteer Fire Department, 50 Greenleaf Road near McGee's Crossroads. Plates of barbecued chicken will go on sale at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $7 per plate. Hot dogs and drinks will be available for $2.

A bounce house for kids will be open, and classic cars and tractors will be on display. The Hickory Grove Quartet will perform in the afternoon.

A bake sale and auction will begin at 6 p.m. A reverse drawing will award a $500 grand prize. Tickets for that are $20. The day will end with fireworks at 9 p.m. For more information, call 919-894-4763 or visit 50210fire.com.

Prostate screening

Johnston Health will hold its annual prostate screening from 1 till 5 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Mohamed & Lippitt Urology Center, which is located in the Medical Arts Pavilion of Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield. It's recommended that men over age 40 get tested for the disease.

The risk of prostate cancer increases with age and is more prevalent among blacks than other races.

The fee will be $15. A representative from the hospital's business office will be available to take money and file insurance paperwork. To schedule an appointment, call 938-7736.

Harbor seeks school supplies

Harbor Inc. is seeking donations of school supplies for children living in its shelter.

Among the items needed are markers, colored pencils, notebook paper, composition books, glue sticks, scissors, three-ring binders, graph paper, zipper- pouch pencil holders, book bags and crayons. For more information, call 938-3566.

Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous, a group for people recovering from compulsive eating, meets at 7:30 p.m. every Monday at Sovereign King Church, 527 Plaza Circle, Garner. The church is located next to the Dollar General store on Benson Road, near the corner of U.S. 70 and N.C. 50.

For more information, call Dale at 919-630-2592 or Barbara at 919-760-3661 or visit triangleoa.org.

'Clues on the Neuse'

"Clues on the Neuse" is scheduled from 2 till 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, along the Neuse Riverwalk and Buffalo Creek Greenway in Smithfield. The event is a celebration of Johnston County's contributions to the N.C. Mountains-to-Sea Trail. It will feature a scavenger hunt for people of all ages and entertainment by Ragged Company, the Neuse River Ramblers and Cindy Rhodes. For the scavenger hunt, participants will receive a list of 20 questions.

They will find the answers along the riverwalk and trail. Prizes include weekend getaways, gift cards from Great Outdoor Provision Company and a prize pack from River Town Outfitters.