Oct. 9 is the deadline for registering to vote to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6, 2007 Special Election and Municipal Elections. Applications are available at the Voter Registration Office in Pembroke, Courthouse Annex in Richmond Hill, Tax Commissioner’s Office in Richmond Hill, Richmond Hill City Hall, Pembroke City Hall, Pembroke Library and Richmond Hill Library. You can also obtain applications online at www.sos.state.ga.us.

The Secretary of State has established two ways to provide voters with immediate access to precinct and district information. The Poll Locator can be accessed through the Secretary of State’s web site at www.sos.state.ga.us. It requires entry of last name, first initial, and date of birth to obtain voter registration information. The Interactive Voice Response system is accessible to voters by telephone through a toll-free number, 1-888-265-1115.

For further information call the Voter Registration Office at (912) 653-3859.

Donations sought

Friends of the Martin family have opened a trust fund to help offset medical costs for Richmond Hill High School student Emily Martin.

Martin was brought to intensive care at Memorial Hospital on Sept. 22 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Little Neck Road.

Last week, the trust fund was established at Bryan Bank and Trust. All donations to the account will be used to help offset medical expenses incurred throughout Martin’s extended hospital stay, as well as for medical equipment and physical therapy that may be required during her recovery.

Donations can be made to the Martin family at Bryan Bank and Trust on Ford Avenue, 756-4444.

Smoke detectors

In an on-going effort to provide fire safety to the residents of the City of Richmond Hill, Richmond Hill Fire Department is offering free smoke detectors. These detectors can be picked up at the fire station on 722 Timber Trail.

Please stop by the station if you don’t have a smoke detector in your home or you need a new one (if your detector is 10 years or older, you need to replace it). We only have a limited quantity of smoke detectors and we giving them away on a first-come, first-serve basis. You will be required to fill out a short form for our information when you get your detector.

Bryan GOP

The Bryan County Republican Party will be meeting in the Bryan County Chamber of Commerce meeting room at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4. This is the final meeting before the Seafood Festival. Also to be discussed, Chairmanship of the Bryan County Republican Party. Refreshments and beverages will be served

River cleanup

October is Rivers Alive Month, and the Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper has started the drive early, with some river clean-ups having already started in the beginning of September.

Bryan County doesn’t currently have a Rivers Alive River Clean-up scheduled, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get one started. The OCRK wants to see you be a hero in your community – help them reach their goal of 25 river clean-up events before May 2008.

OCRK Outreach Coordinator Melanie Hendrix has all the tools you’ll need to host a successful event, with trash bags, bookmarks, T-shirts, and other river clean-up necessities. Contact her at mhendrix@ocrk.org or 912-764-2017.

Rummage, bake sale

The Richmond Hill Historical Society is holding a Rummage and Bake Sale to raise funds for the Annual Christmas Banquet.

The sale will be at the Richmond Hill Museum located at Hwy. 144 and Timber Trail in Richmond Hill on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8 a.m.-noon.

Please come out and support the preservation of local heritage. For more information please call Banquet Committee Chairman Sally Pringle at (912) 660-1100 or email BryanHistory@coastalnow.net.

Buddy Walk

The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society, a local support group for persons with Down syndrome and their families, will be hosting the Second Annual Buddy Walk Festival on Oct. 6 in Forsyth Park in Historic Downtown Savannah.

The Buddy Walk Festival will include a one-mile walk followed by a day of family fun with rides, music, food, and entertainment.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. (but pre-registration is welcomed) and the walk starts at 10:30. The Festival lasts from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information or to register, call John or Candy Bogardus at 728-8505 or 663-8573 or visit www.LDSSGA.org.

Cooling help

The Coastal GA Area Community Action Authority, Inc. will assist eligible households with cooling bills. Georgia’s Cooling Assistance program will start Monday, Oct. 1, for all income eligible households in the Bryan County area. Payments will be made directly to the home energy supplier.

To participate in the program, the family must meet an income equal to or less than 150 percent of the poverty guidelines as follows:

For a one-person household $15,315; for two persons $20,535; three persons $25,755; four persons $30,975; for five persons $36,195; six persons $41,415; seven persons $46,635; eight persons $51,855 and for each additional person add $5,220 annual income.

Applicants must bring their most recent fuel bill or statement of service from their cooling provider. They must also have proof of income for all household members for the last 30 days. This may be a check stub or an award letter granting public assistance, social security, VA or unemployment compensation. Applicants must also bring social security numbers and proof of age for all household members.

Anyone wishing to apply for benefits in Bryan County should call 1-866-423-8081 for an appointment. Households will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis. The program will close when funds are exhausted.

Pumpkin Patch

Richmond Hill Garden Club will hold their Seventh Annual Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the J. F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill.

The club will have pumpkins, mums, straw and corn stalks for sale. There will be face painting, pictures with Mrs. Pumpkin, a fish pond and a special appearance of "Mr. Magic." For more information call 727-3219.

Historian to speak

Buddy Sullivan, renowned historian, lecturer, and author, will present a program on "The Great Ogeechee River and Its Impact on Bryan County" at the Richmond Hill Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.

Mr. Sullivan is an engaging and entertaining speaker and always makes learning about our rich, coastal heritage enjoyable. Mr. Sullivan’s book on the History of Richmond Hill will be available.

The meeting will be held at the Richmond Hill Library, on 144, across from the Post Office. If you have any questions or need directions please call the Richmond Hill Historical Society Museum at 756-3697 or 756-2676.

The group's meetings are free and open to the general public. Come learn about the magnificent river that flows down the northern boundary of Bryan County and the effect it has had on local history.

Animal caregivers

The Bryan Animal Caregivers needs any and all interested volunteers. The group meets at the Richmond Hill Public Library the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. Find out how to help pets in the area, call 727-2694 and press "1" for more information.

Walk the Walk 5K

This year, United Way of the Coastal Empire’s "2007 Walk the Walk 5K" will be presented by SouthCoast Medical Group and held on Friday, Oct. 19 at City Market in Downtown Savannah.

The 5K run will begin at 6 p.m. and the walk will begin at 6:05 p.m.

Bring the entire family to enjoy food, prizes and entertainment and promote healthy lifestyles within the Coastal Empire.

To register, visit www.active.com or contact Penny Cox at (912) 651-7720.

All proceeds will benefit over 85 health and human service programs supported by United Way of the Coastal Empire in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties as they strive to fulfill their mission, "To Improve Lives by Mobilizing the Caring Power of Communities."

Burnsed reunion

The annual family reunion for the descendants of Henry Milledge and Mary Ann Bacon Burnsed will be held Oct. 14 at the Senior Citizens’ Center on Bacon Street, Hwy. 280 in Pembroke. A basket lunch will be served at 1:00 p.m.

Spiritual Impact

A Spiritual Impact Conference will be held at Pembroke City Hall on Saturday, Oct. 6 with two power packed sessions, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Guest speakers will be Rev. Lelon and Teal Jeffers of International Impact Ministries of Collins, Ga. Anyone who may be searching for a time of spiritual refreshing is welcome to attend. The conference focus will be "Word," "Worship", and "Works". For more information, please call Bishop David C. Norris at 912-653-3696 or 912-653-3597.

Magnolia Manor

Lisa Scarbrough, President and Founder of "Coastal Pet Rescue" will be the guest speaker for the Renaissance Lecture Series held by Magnolia Manor on the Coast on Oct. 11 at 5:30 p.m. For information call (912) 756-4300 or visit www.magnoliamanor.com

Singles night

Singles Night at Sensational Minds Bookstore is Friday, Oct. 5 from 7-9 p.m. Go to www.sensationalminds.com for directions or call 927-8600 for more information.

United Way

The United Way of Bryan County is holding its First Annual Ball Drop fundraiser.

Tickets are $10 each and are available at Bryan Bank & Trust, First Bank of Coastal Georgia in Richmond Hill and Pembroke, all of the Savannah Banks, and the United Way in Richmond Hill, Pembroke, and Savannah.

A helicopter will drop numbered golf balls, corresponding to ticket numbers, over the Sterling Links Golf Club in Richmond Hill on Nov. 1, at 4 p.m. The ball that lands in, or closest to, the designated hole, will win a brand new golf cart donated by Futch’s Auto and Golf Cart Sales of Richmond Hill.

The money will help United Way reach its goal of $70,000 to go toward its Bryan County programs and services. For more information, contact Janice Blunt at 756-5333 or 653-5344.