Candlight vigil

There will be a candlelight vigil honoring the late Sgt. Michael Larson on Monday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at the new Bryan County Sheriff’s Department Complex on Hwy. 17 at what is currently known as Bryant Drive.

Bryant Drive will be renamed in honor of Sgt. Larson, who was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 10, 2006, at 10 a.m. Monday in a ceremony conducted by the BCSD and county officials. The public is invited.

Called meeting

The Bryan County Commission will hold a joint meeting with the City of Pembroke and City of Richmond Hill on Tuesday, Dec. 11 beginning at 6 p.m. at the commissioner’s meeting room in Pembroke. The purpose of the meeting is for the Department of Community Affairs staff to make a coastal plan presentation and for commissioners to discuss the county communications system and other matters that may arise. The meeting is open to the public.

Fundraiser

The Bryan County Children's Fund will have a big fundraiser this coming Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Richmond Hill family sports pub Beef 'O' Brady's. Just bring in a toy to donate and receive fifteen percent off your meal.

For those in the community who wish to make a monetary donation to the Children’s Fund program, drop off contributions at the Bryan County News office on Ford Avenue or send checks to the Bryan County Children’s Fund, P.O. Box 1857, Richmond Hill, GA 31324.

For more information, call Tara Jennings at 756-3602.

Cancelled meeting

The Dec. 24 meeting of the Richmond Hill Planning Commission has been cancelled. The next scheduled meeting is Jan. 14.

Post 164 party

Post 164, Pembroke, will have their Christmas party Thursday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. The Post and Ladies Auxiliary would like to again invite the spouses and children of deployed servicemen who live in the local area to attend. Members are asked to bring a covered dish; meats, beverages, bread, etc., will be furnished by the Post. It has been rumored that Santa may be making an early visit that night.

Active duty spouses are asked to call one of the numbers below to RSVP for an accurate count and have the first names and ages of children who will be attending. Please call: 653-4958; 653-4933; 653-5878; or 653-5476.

Friends

The Friends of the Library are in desperate need of paper back books in the mystery, spy, adventure and romance genre. These paper backs have to be in good condition - no missing covers, torn or yellowed pages. The re-sale of these books benefits the Richmond Hill Public Library. All donations are tax free. Bring books to the Richmond Hill Library. Call 756-3580 for more information.

Fort McAllister

The Winter Muster and Battle of Fort McAllister will be held Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Throughout the day guests will be able to witness final preparations of the Confederate garrison in anticipation of the attack of the Union army. The final battle of Sherman's March to the Sea will be reenacted at 4:30 p.m. A candlelight tour will follow at 5 p.m. There also will be a Christmas boat parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. and pass by the fort.

Fort McAllister Historic State Park is located on Spur 144. Admission for this event is $4 for adults and $2.50 for children. Call 727-2339 for tour information.

Retired educators

The Bryan/Evans Retired Educators Association will meet at the Pembroke United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 10:30 am. For information, call Esther Sexson (Richmond Hill) 727-3013 or Jean Owens (Pembroke) 653-4732.

Band concerts

Free Christmas Concert in the Park. Join the Richmond Hill High School and Middle School Bands as they perform Christmas music for your enjoyment on Dec. 11 at J.F. Gregory Park. The middle school will start the performance at 7 p.m. followed immediately by the High School Band. Refreshments will be available to purchase but please bring your own chair.

Chorus concert

The general public is cordially invited to the Richmond Hill High School chorus holiday concert on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Richmond Hill Primary School. There will be two groups performing, the RHHS Chorus and the RHHS Advanced Chorus.

AL Post 27

American Legion Post 27, Richmond Hill, meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in the Brogdon-Speirs Building. The executive board meets at 6 p.m. All vets are invited to attend, whether members or not, to see what the post does for Richmond Hill and soldiers overseas.

Christmas on post

The public is cordially invited to attend the Hunter Army Airfield Christmas tree lighting celebration Monday, Dec. 10, at the Hunter Club at 5:15 p.m.

Musical entertainment will be provided by local choirs. In addition to the tree lighting, children’s activities include writing at letter to Santa in Santa’s study, Rudolph’s stable, cookie decorating, refreshments in Mrs.

Claus’ kitchen, games in Santa’s workshop and professional pictures with Santa that will be available for purchase. There will also be free carriage rides at both locations, and attendees may visit with live reindeer.

The tree lighting celebration is an annual project of the Directorate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, with support from the Directorate of Public Works, the Directorate of Logistics, the Directorate of Emergency Services and the Directorate of Plans, Training Mobilization and Security.

AL Post 164

American Legion Post 164, Pembroke, meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The Ladies Auxiliary also meets at the same time.

The post is located on Highway 280 west, approximately ½ mile past Harvey’s on the right. All veterans are invited to attend. The Post is available to the community for use for family functions, etc. For more information call 653-4958 or 653-4933.

Grief support

Grief support meeting for parents who have lost a child meets every second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Pembroke Christian Church, Hwy. 280. Call Gayle Sharpe, 653-2876, for further information.

Homes tour

The 23rd annual Christmas Tour of Homes on St. Simons Island is Saturday, Dec. 23 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 on the day of the tour. Advance tickets available on St. Simons at G.J. Ford Bookshop, Pat’s Hallmark, St. Simons Drug Co. and on the Cassina Garden Club website.

For more information, call 634-8141 or visit www.cassinagardenclub.org.

Donations needed

Medical Equipment Transport Service is preparing to load a new container of donated medical equipment to ship to Cusco, Peru sometime in the next couple of weeks.

A new women’s clinic is in the process of being opened and they are in need of specialized OB/GYN equipment, as well as four laptop computers, four printers, a copy machine, a fax machine, a fridge/freezer (-20 degrees Celsius), two bookshelves, three file cabinets, two office desks and desk chairs, small office tables, patient chairs, 100 heating pads, two autoclaves/sterilizers and exam tables, lamps and stools.

Anyone interested in making a tax write-off donation can contact program Director Patti Victor at 713-4312 to schedule equipment transportation to their Savannah warehouse. METS is a program run by local Rotary 6920 district volunteers, including the Richmond Hill Rotary.

Landscape training

Professional landscape training is being offered Dec. 14 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens (BFCG) in Savannah. The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch.

Professionals in the landscape and turf industry will benefit from the training. Homeowners can learn from the class, too, and are most welcome to attend. Individuals interested in attending should register in advance by calling BFCG at 921-5460.

You can pay in advance (check or cash, no credit cards) or at the door.

Fort Pulaski

Come relive a Savannah tradition and join in the celebration of the holiday season with Fort Pulaski National Monument. On the evenings of Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15, Fort Pulaski staff and volunteers will conduct the annual Candlelantern tours which recreate the Confederate Nog Party of 1861. Refreshments, hot cider, special tours, and period music highlight these evenings of merrymaking.

Advance reservations are required. A limited number of tickets are available for each tour. Programs will be presented at 6,7 and 8 p.m. on both evenings. Anyone interested in attending should call Fort Pulaski at (912) 786-5787 between the hours of 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reservations will not be accepted after Thursday, Dec. 13. Tour fees are $5 per adult. Children 15 years and under are free, but they must have a reservation. All persons, including children, must have a reservation. No credit cards are accepted. Reservations can be made in person or over the phone.