Commodities

The Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority will be distributing USDA surplus commodity foods to eligible area residents Aug. 6-8.

Any household whose total gross income is less than the state established poverty guidelines for the appropriate household size is eligible. Persons picking up food are requested to bring a bag or box container.

Anyone picking up food for someone else must present a completed and signed authorization form for each household; hand written notes will not be accepted. The forms must be current. Food may be picked up for a maximum of two (2) households, including the household of the person making the pickup. New authorization forms (dated 5/03) may be picked up from the Community Services Center at 208 North College Street in Pembroke. The forms will not be available at the distribution sites and old authorization forms will not be accepted.

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Coastal GA Area CAA, Inc. is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap or disability.

Food will be distributed from the following sites: Wednesday, Aug. 6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Richmond Hill Courthouse Annex; and Aug. 7-8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Pembroke City Hall. For additional information, call Carolyn Frasier at 653-4993.

Y child care

Richmond Hill and the Pembroke Branch of the YMCA Before and After School Program has started registration. The registration fee is $35. For more information, please call 756-5856. Scholarships are available.

Military Job Fair

A RecruitMilitary Career Fair event will take place in Hinesville on Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Econo Lodge (formerly the Sans Hotel & Suites) at 726 East Oglethorpe Hwy., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Historical Society

The Richmond Hill Historical Society is pleased to present Roger Warren Allen, Sr. to speak on "The History of Traffic on the Ogeechee River and its Effect on the Evolution of Lifestyles along its Banks." Allen is an entertaining and informative speaker, columnist for the Statesboro Herald, and author of Remembering Bulloch County from the Babe to the Boro.

Allen will speak at the Historical Society Museum, located on Hwy. 144 at 7 p.m., Aug. 7. The meeting is open to all members and the general public at no charge. If you have questions or need directions please call 756-3697 for more information.

Bike Rodeo

The RHPD will have a Bike Rodeo Aug. 9, in cooperation with the Cub Scouts. The program is recommended for children ages 6-11 and will be held at J.F. Gregory Park from 9 a.m. to noon.

This function is designed to promote bicycle safety and the RHPD will be a raffling bicycle helmets and a toddler bicycle with training wheels.

Public Safety Day

A "Back to School" Bryan County Public Safety Day will be held Aug. 9 at the Publix Shopping Center, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The RHPD will be offering information on crime prevention and giving parents the opportunity to participate in the Indent-a-Child program, which consists of child fingerprinting kits and the opportunity for parents to have a police officer to assist the parent with obtaining viable prints from the child. For more information, visit www.childidprogram.com.

Wheelchair

The Physician Assistant Students at South University are holding their third annual Wheelchair Cleaning and Health fair. Stop by and receive free wheelchair and scooter inspection and cleaning this Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the South University Campus, 709 Mall Blvd. Hosted by South University, the free event is sponsored by Chatham Area Transit, First Transit, LIFE, Inc., and The MSL Association. Contact First Transit or Chatham Area Transit for assistance with transportation. For more information call Life, Inc. at 920-2414.

Jazzercise

Jazzercise classes held at New Beginnings Community Church in Richmond Hill will be having an Open House Aug. 25-29.

The public is invited to join the group for a free class during that week and see what Jazzercise has to offer. Jazzercise combines elements of dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing and more to create programs for people of every age and fitness level.

Classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 a.m. and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 6:15 p.m. For more information contact Judy Leibold at 251-605-4409.

'FunRaiser'

Just in time for the end of summer and back-to-school parties, Farm Rich has launched a National Block Party Contest on the Golden Isles. The "FunRaiser" is both an opportunity to win a party, plus win money to be donated to a favorite cause, charity or individual in need.

From now until Oct. 31, anyone can submit a unique or outrageously fun Block Party idea to gather friends, family or neighborhoods. Also included must be the cause, charity or individual in need they would like to receive $1,000 cash as a beneficiary from the "FunRaiser." For more information go to www.farmrich.com.

Rec volunteers

Richmond Hill Rec Association cheerleaders are looking for dedicated coaches and assistant coaches this football season. Skilled coaches are preferred for ages 6-12, but are not required.  Enthusiasm is a must! This is an opportunity to make a difference in our youth’s lives. Interested? Contact Jan Bass, coordinator at 756-6459 or RHRA at 756-4075.

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 focus on the past, present and future of Leopold’s Ice Cream, Aug. 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Call 756-4300 or visit www.magnoliamanor.com.

Saturday church

Journey Church has decided to branch out from its main campus in Bloomingdale to plant new roots in Hinesville.

The church, which touts modern messages, forward-thinking preaching, up-to-date musical styles and the motto, "This ain’t your daddy’s church," will be holding services Saturday nights starting Aug. 23, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Brewton Parker College Auditorium on Oglethorpe.

Saturday nights will be an opportunity to "meet new people, relax and worship in an atmosphere created with you in mind." The church will provide free Starbucks coffee and supervised child care at every service for those who need it. For more information on the Journey Church’s Hinesville services, call 224-6453.

Docent training

The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Garden is looking for some special volunteers to become Bamboo Farm docents. The trained volunteers will work to ensure everyone’s visit to the Bamboo Farm an enjoyable, memorable experience.

The docent class is Wednesday morning from Sept. 10 through Oct. 22, 9 a.m. until noon and each class is led by an expert in the field. When the training is complete, docents will be asked to lead tour groups or to work with the Roots & Shoots program for K-5 school children. Others may work in the office to greet visitors, assist them with wayfinding, answer general questions and/or provide program information, maps and handouts.

The only requirement is a love of gardens, an interest in people, and a willingness to attend a free, seven-week training program and commit to 60 hours as a volunteer docent.

For more information or to register, contact Jeff Webb at 921-5460 or by e-mail at coastal@uga.edu.

Bike Run

There will be a "Bike Run and Turkey Dinner" for a family whose 14-year-old son has been diagnosed with Leukemia. The ride will be Aug. 23, beginning at Johns V Twin Cycle Shop at the L. Scott Stell Park in Effingham. The cost is $25 per person. There will be a raffle and door prizes.

For more information call Crystal Dasher at 704-1583 or go to www.dasherstreasurebox.com. Monetary donations can also be made to Johnnie and Teresa Jackson, 222 Frank W. Dasher, Guyton, GA, 31312. Blood donations can be given to the Savannah Community Blood Bank, account 5216.

Labor Day

The annual Labor Day Program at Fort McAllister will be Saturday, Aug. 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This Labor Day weekend, come see some of the trades necessary in keeping a Civil War fort in working order. The program will include blacksmithing and musket firing demonstrations, as well as cannon firing. Learn about Civil War cooking and take part in some old fashion games. Also partake in a game of baseball…Civil War style! There will be fun for the whole family all day long. The cost is $4 for adults and $2.50 for children.

Monday, Sept. 1, join the fort on a scenic canoe trip down Redbird Creek. Participants will see the wildlife around Ft. McAllister while cruising down the creek, stopping to explore the sandbars along the way. To reserve a canoe, you must go to the visitor center and register ($10 fee) before Sept. 1. Life jackets will be provided and participants should be at the visitor center at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, with a departure time of 9 a.m. There is a parking fee of $3.

For more information about the Labor Day program or any other upcoming events at Fort McAllister, call 727-2339.

Labor Day at Wormsloe

The Wormsloe historic site in Savannah will present a special program, "Tools And Skills That Built A Colony" on Aug. 30 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Included in the program will be craft demonstrations from the colonial period such as woodworking, blacksmithing, candle making, weaving and more. The cost is $4 and $2 with senior and military discounts. Wormsloe is located at 7601 Skidaway Road in Savannah. For more information call Ashley Henderson at 353-3023 or email wormsloe@bellsouth.net.

Landscaping

Landscape professionals and lawn-care specialists must have a Georgia Department of Agriculture license in order to use lawn and garden pesticides. To get the license, you must pass the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s test.

Pesticide school will be held Monday, Aug. 18 for Applying Pesticides Correctly and Monday, Aug. 25 for Ornamentals and Turfgrass Pest Control. Both classes are from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, call 921-5460 or email coastal@uga.edu.

For individuals who have never taken the test, or those who want a leg up, the Bamboo Farm is offering two, one-day seminars covering a formal review of the study material. The seminar will tell you what’s important to know, and what’s not.

The seminars are held at the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens in Savannah. Pre-registration is required but you can pay at the door with cash or check (made payable to Bamboo Farm.) Just call 921-5460. Cost of the school is $20 per person for the two days, payable at the door. The cost of only one session is $10. Training manuals and study guides must be obtained from the University of Georgia prior to the seminar, call 706-542-8999.

Nonprofit info

The Coastal Nonprofit Professional meeting will be Aug. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Lulu’s Chocolate Bar, 42 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Savannah. Beverages will be available at happy hour prices and dessert samples will be served. The event is hosted by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.

The networking meeting will include a short program on how major changes taking place in the nonprofit sector and the local nonprofit community are changing the skills nonprofit professionals need to develop.

RSVPs are requested, contact Rasheed Green at 234-9688 or rgreen@gcn.org.