Flag ceremony

Flags will be going up in Pembroke on Wednesday at 8 a.m. in honor of the Fourth of July. The Boy Scout Troop 357 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 164 will put up the flags in downtown Pembroke and members of the community are all invited to join in the annual tradition.

Miss RHRA

Help out the Richmond Hill Recreation Association by entering the third annual Miss RHRA Pageant. The contest will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 5 in J.F. Gregory Park before the start of the Family Festival. The deadline to enter the contest is Wednesday, July 2. Registration fee is $25 and all proceeds will benefit sports programs provided by the RHRA. The pageant is sponsored by the Millie Lewis Agency and InFocus Photography. For information and an application, visit www.rhrasports.org or call 756-4075.

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.

Hospital Authority

The City of Pembroke is seeking volunteers to serve on the Hospital Authority. The Authority consists of 11 trustees who meet quarterly to oversee the operation of hospital projects in the City of Pembroke. Trustees must be city residents and serve six years terms. If you are interested in serving, please contact Betty Hill, City Clerk, at 653-4413.

Recycle cellphones

From June 30-Aug. 1, the Pembroke Cub Scout Troop 357 will be collecting used cell phones for recycling to raise funds for upcoming scouting activities.

The drop off location will be at the Pembroke Telephone Company during normal business hours. There will be a recycling bin available for unwanted cell phones. Please contact Miranda Purvis at 653-6324 with any questions.

Youth Award

The Youth Hero Award is a new addition to the Pembroke American Legion Auxiliary Unit 164 Children and Youth program, and is a liaison to the Child Welfare Foundation. This year’s Youth Hero Award for the Local Unit/National Level will go to someone in the community, under the age of 18, who has performed a heroic act of physical valor.

The auxiliary is currently taking submissions for boys and girls who have performed some kind of heroic act in the North Bryan County area. To submit a hero, contact Unit 164 Vice President Cindy Milloy with the child’s name, age, city of residence, city where the heroic act took place and the date of the act. Milloy can be reached at 675-5422 or 653-5878.

Northside VBS

Northside Baptist Church, located on W.E. Smith Rd., Pembroke, invites children of all ages to Vacation Bible School, July 7-11 from 6:30–8 p.m. This year’s theme is "Good News Games, Winning With God’s Team." There will be singing, games, skits, and learning the word of God. A prize will be given to the girl and boy who bring the most friends. And there will be prizes and light refreshments each night. For more information call 653-3088.

Ron Herrod

The Emmanuel Community Church, located on Little Creek Road in Pembroke, welcomes Ron Herrod who will be speaking Saturday, July 12 from 7-8 p.m. and Sunday, July 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Herrod is the president of the Southern Baptist Evangelism Association.

Boat ramp closing

The Jekyll Island Authority and Georgia DNR have announced that the Jekyll Island public boat ramp will close temporarily beginning July 7 and should reopen in late September. During this time, the ramp will be renovated, providing improved access to the St. Simons and St. Andrew estuaries.

While the Jekyll ramp is closed, boaters should consider using the MacKay River ramp or the Blythe Island ramp as alternatives. The parking area and Ski Rixen Pond fishing piers will remain open to the public during construction.

Bryan Neck

Pastor Pete Broxton Jr. and the Bryan Neck Missionary Baptist Church family invite everyone to celebrate its 139th church anniversary. The celebrating will begin Thursday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. with Pastor Stanford L. Anderson I and Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Richmond Hill. It will continue Friday, July 11 with Pastor Berry Staley and Fairmount Missionary Baptist Church, Savannah and conclude Sunday, July 13 at noon with Pastor Floyd Hartford and Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, Richmond. Everyone is invited.

Dinners

The August Birth Month is having a variety of dinners July 18-19 at Bryan Neck Missionary Baptist Church. Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dinners consist of the following: fried fish, fried shrimp, BBQ ribs, baked chicken, potato salad, collard greens, red rice and corn bread. The price of a dinner is $8. Contact Gracie "Dolly" Green at 756-2412 or Frederick Hart at 756-5885 or on day of dinner at 727-2163.

Sand Gnats

The American Diabetes Association will be hosting a FREE day with the Savannah Sand Gnats Game for all children and teens with diabetes on Sunday, July 13.

The game against the Lexington Legends begins at 2 p.m. Tickets and special goodie bags will be available starting at 1 p.m. Advanced registration for the free tickets is required by the July 8. Upon registration, each child’s name will be entered for a chance to throw the first pitch of the game.

To register for the Sand Gnats game please contact Pamela Olson at prolson@yahoo.com or (912) 355-6760.

Magnolia Manor

Stratton Leopold, co-owner of Leopold’s Ice Cream and a motion picture producer, is scheduled to be the next guest speaker for Magnolia Manor on the Coast’s Renaissance Lecture Series. Stratton can be found doling out ice cream scoops at the famous ice cream shop in downtown Savannah as well as in Hollywood or on location around the world producing major motion pictures like Mission Impossible III, Paycheck and The Sum of All Fears. Stratton’s lecture at Magnolia Manor will be focused on the past, present and future of Leopold’s Ice Cream. It will be Aug. 14 at 5:30 p.m., call 756-4300 or visit www.magnoliamanor.com for more information.

Teen photography

"Digital Photography for Teens" is a new summer class being offered to teens ages 12-17 to help them understand how digital photography works and how to take better photographs. Shirley Rowe of Rowe Photographers is accepting applications for 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 three weeks, 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.

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 July 2-3 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.

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.

More information is available at www.shannonganun.com.

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.

Call 727-2339 for more information or a full list of events.

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.