Blood drive

A community blood drive will be held Wed., June 25, 2-7 p.m. at Pembroke City Hall. Those who donate will be eligible to enter for a chance to win a $750.00 gas card. Please bring a photo ID with you.

Education forum

An Education Policy Forum is being held for local school board candidates and state legislative candidates, hosted by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Georgia School Boards Association. The event will be Thursday from 12:30-4:45 p.m. at the Savannah Technical College.

There is no cost and registration is available through Thursday by visiting www.gsba.com and clicking on "Online Registration." The registration form is also available on the Georgia Partnership site at www.gpee.org and can be faxed to 404-223-2299.

Co-ed Bunco

St. Anne’s Council of Catholic Women will be sponsoring a Co-ed Bunco on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Social Hall. Come enjoy an evening of fun, meeting old friends and making new ones. The cost is $10 per person and there will be cash and door prizes. Light refreshments will be served. No experience needed. For information call Mary Harris at 756-8072 or 656-8122.

Head Start apps

A representative from Bryan County Head Start in Pembroke will be at the Richmond Hill Library on Saturday, June 28, from 10-2 p.m.

Children for the Head Start program must be at least three years old, and not older than 5-years-old, on or before September 1.

Applications for eligibility may be completed at the center or the Richmond Hill Library.

The following documents will be required: birth certificate, proof of income (2007 W-2 or tax forms, three consecutive pay stubs, Social Security or DFCS letter, letter from employer, etc.), State of Georgia Immunization Record (Form 3231), and a physician’s letter for any child with special needs. For enrollment, the following documents will be requested; social security numbers for each family member, a physical examination, a dental examination, and a current Medicaid, Peach Care or private insurance card if applicable.

For additional information, contact the center at 653-4990.

If 15 applications are received, a bus will transport the children from one central location in Richmond Hill to the center in Pembroke.

Youth fundraiser

Senior high school students at Coastal Community Christian Church are headed to Tennessee for a youth conference. But first, they are seeking your support. Beef‘O’Brady’s restaurant will host a fundraiser night for the students Monday, June 30, with 15 percent of patrons' total bills going to the church from 3 p.m. to close. Funds raised will help the students travel to Milligan College in July for the annual Christ in Youth conference. For more information, call the church at 756-3455 or visit www.CCCConline.net.

Teen photography

"Digital Photography for Teens" is a new summer class being offered to teens ages 12-17 by Shirley Rowe of Rowe Photographers. She is accepting applications for 10 more students in the class, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 22-Aug. 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m. The cost is $25 and includes some photography materials and prints of the students’ work. At the end of the class, a display of each student’s best photographs will be displayed for family and friends. To find out more or register your teen, call 756-6161.

DDS notice

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will be closed for Independence Day on Friday, July 4. Customer Service Centers (CSCs) statewide will be open to serve customers on Saturday, July 5, and will be closed on Monday, July 7. The days following a holiday closing are typically very busy days, so please plan ahead. The DDS reminds customers that many services can be conducted online even when offices are closed. Please visit www.dds.ga.gov. for complete information.

CPR course

The Teen Center is having a CPR course on July 17, 3-7 p.m. The class is limited so please call at 756-3828 to reserve your spot. The fee will be $5 for 11 to 18-year-olds. Sponsored by CprAedTraining. For more questions or information, contact Linda at 222-0637 or learn_cpr_aed@hotmail.com.

Advance voting

Advance voting for the July 15, 2008 General Primary will begin July 7 and end July 11. Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Locations will be 151 S. College Street, Voter Registration Office, Pembroke and 9930 Ford Ave., Courthouse Annex, Richmond Hill.

Absentee voting

The Courthouse Annex, located at 9930 Ford Avenue in Richmond Hill has been established as an additional site for the purpose of receiving absentee ballots and for the purpose of voting absentee ballots for the upcoming July 15 general primary.

The office will be open June 27 and 30; July 1-3 and 7-11 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Government issued photo required. For additional information call 653-3859 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

All Bryan County polling places will be open for the election. For information, visit www.sos.state.ga.us. The Interactive voice response is accessible to voters by telephone through a toll free number, 1-888-265-1115.

U-pick blackberries

The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens in Savannah has a bumper crop of sweet, juicy, ripe blackberries for visitors to pick straight from the bush. From 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, visitors to the Bamboo Farm may pick blackberries. Pickers are provided with a bucket for picking. Blackberries are weighed after picking and cost $3 per pound. The fruit is expected to continue to ripen through July.

Visitors to the 50-acre Bamboo Farm experience one of Savannah’s hidden treasures. Display gardens, bamboo groves, pick-your-own strawberries and blackberries in season, places to picnic and to walk are to be found in this historic site.

History and BBQ

The Richmond Hill Historical Society is pleased to announce that their July 10 meeting will be at the Richmond Hill Museum. The July meeting is traditionally a "bring a dish" meal, with the Society providing Bar-B-Q and drinks. This event is free and open to the general public. Bring a dish and take this opportunity to share time with your friends and neighbors, visit the Museum and support the Historical Society.

With community support, the Historical Society and Museum can continue to promote the rich history of our area. If you have questions or need directions please call 756-3697.

Boot camp

Bottoms Up! Boot CampTM, a six-week group personal training program, is now taking registrations at Non-Stop Fitness, on Hwy. 17 in Richmond Hill.

Bottoms Up! Boot Camp will meet every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from Aug. 11-Sept. 23, at either 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. Class will not be held the Friday or Monday of Labor Day weekend.

In addition to the three weekly sessions, each client will receive a workout for two additional days each week (12 total). The total cost for the six-week program is $198 per client.

Participants must be a member of Non-Stop Fitness. If you are not a member, please ask at the front desk of Non-Stop Fitness about special rates for Bottoms Up! Boot CampTM members.

Free child care for the 9 a.m. session will be provided on-site as a member benefit of Non-Stop Fitness.

More information is available at www.shannonganun.com.

Fairytale camp

Energy Oasis announces their first summer camp, "A Knight’s Tale." The camp will give kids a chance to step into their very own fairytale and become the prince or princesses they always knew they could be.

There will be games like kiss the frog, bob for good and bad apples, if the shoe fits and many more others, all based on fairytales as well as arts and crafts and other activities. At the end of the week, there will be a tea party and everyone will get a goodie bag as a reward for their hard work.

The camp will be held at Energy Oasis June 30-July 2 from 9:30 a.m.-noon. To register your child, call 756-5865 or stop by Energy Oasis.

WIC comments

The Georgia Department of Human Resources Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will hold its annual public comment period July 14-25. Georgians are invited to comment on the program and suggest ways to improve WIC services.

Written comments can be mailed to the Division of Public Health, WIC Branch, 2 Peachtree St. NW, Ste. 10.463, Atlanta, GA 30303 and emailed comments can be sent to WIComments@dhr.state.ga.us.

For more information about Georgia’s WIC program, please call 1-800-228-9173 or visit: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/index.asp.

Driving course

It’s never too late to polish up on your driving skills. That’s why Magnolia Manor on the Coast is hosting the AARP "Driver’s Safety Program" for all persons age 50 or older on July 17 and 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost for the class is $10, payable on the day of the class. For more information, call 756-4300 or visit www.magnoliamanor.com.

Family Festival

The Richmond Hill Recreation Association’s Family Festival will be Saturday, July 5 from noon-10 p.m. at J.F. Gregory Park with free admission and parking for everyone.

Starting at 10 a.m., there will be the Miss RHRA Pageant followed by a silent auction. There will be barbecue starting at noon and there will be two Paul Bunyan shows with times TBA.

At 5 p.m., Richmond Hill Idol will start with a special appearance from Stephanie Edwards, who was in the top 24 of season six’s American Idol.

There will be crafts, entertainment, events, vendors, displays, rides and activities for kids of all ages.

4th of July

Ft. McAllister State Historic Park’s annual July 4th Celebration will include a host of events.

Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the park will celebrate our nation’s birthday with period games and ice cold watermelon. Everyone is invited to pack a lunch and join in the fun.

Saturday, join Fort McAllister on a scenic canoe trip down Redbird Creek. See the wildlife while cruising down the creek and stopping to explore the sandbars along the way. There is a $3 parking fee and $10 per canoe. Registration is required, call 727-2339 or visit the park’s Visitor Center. Life jackets will be provided, meet at the Center by 9 a.m.

Musket firing starts at 10 a.m., old-fashioned fun and games (with sack races, egg tosses, tug-of-rope, etc.) will start at 11 a.m., cannon firings will happen at noon, followed by watermelon cutting and a seed spitting contest at 1 p.m.

Wheelbarrow races and another musket firing will happen at 2 p.m., Civil War-style baseball will be at 3 p.m. with an icecream social after the game, and another cannon firing will be at 4 p.m.

Saturday evening, relax around the campfire in Fort McAllister while everyone roasts marshmallows and sings campfire songs. The group will be meeting at 8 p.m. and people are asked to bring their own chairs. Come celebrate our nation’s birthday with the troops of Fort McAllister, including cannon firings, musket firings, blacksmithing and historical games all day. Call 727-2339 for more information.

Volunteers sought

Hospice Savannah is looking for volunteers to participate in a focus group June 26th from 6-8 p.m. at Full Circle; A Center For Education and Grief Support located at 7212 Seawright Drive.

Volunteers need to be unfamiliar with or have a very limited knowledge of hospice care and hospices services. Please contact Terri Lessnau at 629-1030.

Reading club

Join the Summer Reading Club at the Richmond Hill Library on Ford Avenue.

The club is designed for children ages 2-17. Each participant will receive a reading log to keep track of their reading and can earn prizes while "Catching the Reading Bug."

Catch the Reading Bug events will be held at the Richmond Hill High School on Wednesdays at 2 p.m., with programs for all ages.

Free college

Returning soldiers and their families will have a new opportunity to begin or restart their academic careers thanks in part to OPERATION: Free College, a new outreach initiative offered by Savannah Technical College.

Free for military

The Telfair Museum of Art will hold a Military Appreciation Day Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Service members and veterans and their immediate families will be granted free admission to each of the Telfair’s three sites. Please bring military or veteran ID.

There will be live music and refreshments in Telfair Square, children's activities including face painting, kite decorating, card decorating to send to deployed soldiers, bubble-blowing, and a visit from Gnate the Gnat of the Sand Gnats and SCAD's Art the Bee.

For more information, call 790.8864 or visit www.telfair.org/militaryappreciationday.com.