Community Announcements

Garner Deadlines

Thursday by 12 p.m. (the week prior to publication date) is the deadline for submission of typed, faxed and handwritten items to be submitted for the following week's paper. They can be faxed to 552-7564. The deadline for e-mailed submissions is Friday by 5 p.m. Send emails to kgriffith@raleighsouthonline.com. Submissions should be no longer than 100 words.

McCullers Ruritan Fall Barbecue McCullers Ruritan Club will hold a Fall Barbecue on Friday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., at 8116 Ten Ten Road, Raleigh, just east of 401 South Raleigh. The cost is $7, eat in or take out.

Second Annual White Deer Dash 5K & Family Fun Run To celebrate the construction of White Deer Park, with its environmental education center, the Town of Garner is hosting its Second Annual White Deer Dash 5K and Family Fun Run Sept. 26. By highlighting various “green” practices, this event will not only be fun for the family, but good for the environment. Staged at neighboring Lake Benson Park, this event will provide fitness and environmental educational opportunities for everyone in the family. Registration and a Runner’s Packet will be available on Friday, Sept. 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Avery St. Recreation Center and at Lake Benson Park on Race Day beginning at 6:30 am.

Citizen Symposium On Oct. 1 at 6 p.m., The Garner Citizen will host a public debate featuring candidates for Garner's Town Council at the Garner Historic Auditorium. The event will follow a structured format with time limits. Candidates will answer questions from the moderator, audience members and each other. The event is free. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Be the Match Marrow Registry Drive & Fundraiser Please join in to help 3-year-old Carter Pepper who suffers from a life threatening bone disease and is in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant at the Be the Match Marrow Registry Drive and Fundraiser Friday Oct. 2 at McCullers Ruritan Club (8116 Ten-Ten Road in Raleigh) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thousands of patients like Carter suffer from diseases that may be cured by a marrow transplant. They are searching for matched donors who can offer them “The Living Gift of Life.” Take the first step - join the Registry. Registration is simple: Fill out a registration form and have the inside of your cheek swabbed. For marrow registration info call Betsie Letterle at 919-414-8312 or email bletterl@nmdp.org. There will also be a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Carter along with the registry drive. Plates will be available for pick up or delivery for $8 per plate (includes spaghetti, salad w/dressing and bread). Email orders to luvermed@yahoo.com by Thursday, Oct. 1.

Greater Vision in Concert Greater Vision, America's premier Southern Gospel trio, will be in concert at Bethel Baptist Cary on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.). Call the church office at 467-6789 to purchase tickets. Prices are $17 for stage seating (rows 1-5), $12 for floor seating (rows 6-16) and $7 for balcony seating.

Class of 1984 The Garner Senior High School Class of 1984 is having our 25-year reunion the weekend of Oct. 2-4, 2009. All information regarding the reunion can be found at www.gshsclassof1984.myevent.com.

Holland’s UMC Craft Sale Holland’s United Methodist Church will hold its annual craft sale Saturday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church is located at 9433 Ten-Ten Highway in Raleigh (1/2 mile east of the Ten-Ten Highway and Old State Road intersection). With more than 40 crafters, come find homemade jewelry, Christmas ornaments, seasonal decorations, baby and children’s items, wooden crafts, dolls and accessories, glassware, purses and bags, kitchen items, floral arrangements, quilting, knitting, outdoor decorations, framed art, personalized items and crafts of all kinds. Breakfast and lunch will be available. Call the church office at 919-772-5294.

SPCA of Wake County 14th Annual Fur Ball Mark your calendars (Oct. 4, 2009) for the 14th SPCA Fur Ball, the most important night of the year for homeless pets in Wake County. Fur Ball tickets are now available at a cost of $125 per person ($80 of the $125 price is tax-deductible). A fabulous live and silent auction, heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine, live jazz by Laura Ridgeway and Friends and the most unstuffy black tie event of the season await you. The SPCA is excited to announce that the Fur Ball will be returning to the elegant State Club, located in the Park Alumni Center on the NC State Centennial Campus. Recommended dress is "Black Tie Preferred." Dark suits for gentlemen and cocktail dresses for ladies are perfectly acceptable. Purchase tickets online at www.spcawake.org/furball. Contact SPCA Events & Promotions Coordinator Paul White or call 919-532-2082.

Walk Your Child to School Day To encourage healthy lifestyle and bring attention to childhood obesity Aversboro Elementary School will be hosting its inaugural “Walk Your Child to School Day” on Oct. 7. Parents and students will meet at South Garner Park (located at 1210 Pool Dr. in Garner) at 7 a.m. and walk to Aversboro Elementary School. Please show your support for Aversboro and commitment to healthy lifestyle by participating in this event.

Mt. Zion UMC Golf Tournament Golfers are invited to participate in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church’s Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, Oct. 9 at Reedy Creek Golf Course. This four person captain’s choice team tournament will begin at noon with a shotgun start. There will be a chance at a $100,000 shootout and golfers will have the opportunity to win $10,000 for a hole in one. Prizes will be flighted. Door prizes will be given out and prizes will be awarded in closest to pin, longest drive, and putting contests. Entry fee is $60 per person and includes golf, cart use, refreshments and a meal. Entry is limited to the first 32 teams, so gather your golfers and enjoy this great day of fun and fellowship! All proceeds will benefit the Mt. Zion building fund. Rain date is Oct. 16. Visit www.mountzion-umc.org for a registration form or contact Casey Matthews at 772-6688.

Fifth Annual Ava Gardner Festival Each year the Ava Gardner Museum celebrates Ava's life and career by hosting the Ava Gardner Festival. This annual event includes heritage tours, screenings of classic Ava Gardner films, and special exhibits. This year's festival will kickoff during the Ava Gardner Festival Gala on Friday evening, Oct. 9 and will continue Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The theme for the fifth annual festival celebrates the special relationship Ava shared with Ernest Hemingway. Ava called Ernest Hemingway "Papa," and he called her "Daughter." The accomplished author admired Ava's work in the films based on his works, and considered her "the most exciting woman of her generation." On Saturday, Oct. 10, heritage tours will be scheduled throughout the day. These tours will be hosted by Doris Rollins Cannon, Johnston County native and Ava Gardner biographer, and Rick Lotz, Chair of the Museum's Board of Directors. Visitors will be shown points of interest in Ava's hometown. Call 919-934-5830.

American Legion Post 116 Oktoberfest Celebration Everyone’s invited to the first Oktoberfest Celebration at the American legion Post 116 at 6400 Johnson Pond Road in Fuquay-Varina on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 starting at 3:30 p.m. Come ready to listen to German music and eat some traditional fare. Plan to stay till the food and beer is all gone. A souvenir mug, German music, lots of Brats, Kielbasa and beer will be included in you admission. So, do a little research and dress up in you favorite hat, lederhosen, dermal or fancy Bavarian outfit. If you have any German memorabilia, pictures or memories you want to share bring them along, too! Covered dishes are welcomed, but, they have to be as close to traditional German foods as possible. Limited tickets will be $30 per adult and $5 per child at the door. Fifty advanced tickets will be available (by cash or credit card) at the Social Quarters at the Post or by phone at 9191-552-0278 for $25 per adult and $5 per child starting Oct. 1 to make reservations. So, come one, come all for an “ump-pa-pa” day! We also have two halls for rental to the public. Call Tony Smith at 919-639-0889. Remember, there is Karaoke every Friday and Saturday night at the Legion’s Social Quarters starting at 7 p.m.

Shiloh Baptist Church 149th Anniversary Homecoming Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 3414 N. Shiloh Road in Garner will be celebrating its 149th Anniversary Homecoming on Oct. 11, 2009. Services begin with Sunday School at 9:15 a.m., followed by the Worship Service at 10:30 a.m., and ending with a covered dish luncheon. Everyone is invited to attend this special celebration. For additional information, please contact Shiloh Baptist Church at 919-553-3319. Come find “Hope in the Midst of Adversity.”

Southern Regional GAP Kincare Support Group The Southern Regional GAP (Grandparents as Parents) Kincare Support Group meets once a month on the third Friday evening of the month at 6:30 p.m. The mission of the Southern Regional GAP is to provide ongoing support not only to grandparents but all family members caring for other family members. GAP meets at the Fuquay-Varina Presbyterian Church at 310 N. Ennis St. in Fuquay-Varina. The downstairs meeting room can be accessed through the back entrance. Come share resources and community support and listen to informative speakers. Bring a dish for a potluck dinner and join our group for a chance to gather useful information and talk with other family members just like you. Childcare will be provided. Meetings will be held Oct. 16, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18, 2009. Contact Ruth Cole at 919-567-1017 or Debi Sikes at 919-341-2914.

Still in Style Consignment Sale Still in Style Consignment Sale will be held Oct. 23-24, at Capital City Christian Church, 4131 Western Blvd., Raleigh. On Oct. 21, consignors drop off from 12 noon to 3 p.m. On Oct. 22, consignors may drop off items from 3 to 6 p.m. The general public sale will be held noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 23, and the 25 percent off black ticket sale will be on Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. Designer brands and accessories will be featured.

Holiday Bazaar Mt. Zion United Methodist Church invites you to its fifth annual Holiday Bazaar to be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. You’ll be able to shop many displays of arts, jewelry, crafts and holiday gifts showcasing local, unique items. There will be a snack bar with drinks, snacks and desserts. Tables are still available and forms are available on our website. Mark your calendar and plan to start your holiday shopping at Mt. Zion! Mt. Zion UMC is located at 15772 NC 50 N, ¼ mile south of the intersection of Hwy 50 and Hwy 42. Mt. Zion welcomes visitors to its fellowship! Contact the church office at 772-8415 or e-mail info@mountzion-umc.org Find more information about Mount Zion and its services and events can be found at www.mountzion-umc.org.

SJHS Class of ‘79 The South Johnston High School Class of 1979 is having their 30th year reunion Nov. 28, 2009 at the Johnston County Country Club in Smithfield, N.C. from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Call Cindy Johnson at 919-662-0004 or Debbie Barbour at 919-801-9497.

South Johnston HS 1984 Class Reunion South Johnston High School Class of 1984 is planning their 25th year class reunion for later this fall. If you were part of the 1984 SJHS class, contact Pam Stephenson at 919 894-1748, pam.stephenson@embarqmail.com or Ronnie Lee at 919-818-4270, barnstormer1932@ yahoo.com.

Garner Senior High School's Class of 1990's The 20th High School Reunion will be held Saturday Mar. 20, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Raleigh Marriott City Center (located at 500 Fayetteville St. in Raleigh) Go to www.garner1990.my event.com/ to enter your contact information, RSVP, see details of events and purchase tickets.

Memory Loss Caregiver Support Group Memory Loss and Dementia Caregiver Support Group. Provides emotional support and practical information for family members and caregivers of those with memory loss and dementia. Meets at Sunrise Assisted Living of Cary second Thursday of every month at 3 p.m. RSVP to 919-462-9147.

Volunteers Needed Can you spare one hour per month? If so, would you donate it to us? Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers who are willing to spare one hour of their time to deliver lunch to home bound citizens in the Garner area on weekdays only. For more information, please call 919-772-5057 or visit the Garner Senior Center at 205 E. Garner Road between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.

Military Families Connection This is a group of military families that live away from a base, who meet to learn from and lean on each other. It is very important to be with others that are going through the same thing that you are. We can help you through the difficult time when your loved one is in harm’s way, or will be deployed soon. We have classes, speakers as needed, and discuss problems and resources. Any-one is welcome to come. We meet the second Monday and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Triangle Baptist Church at 9713 Old Stage Road. Childcare is provided. Call 919-661-7755.

Bible Buddies New Life Wesleyan Church is offering Bible Buddies, a special needs class, for ages K-5th. Held every Sunday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The class focuses on music, sensory activities, art, snacks and one on one Bible teaching. Each child is prayed for every Sunday. All disabilities are welcome. Lots of fun for the kids and a chance for parents /caregivers to relax. Call Lisa at 919-934-7497.

Yes He Can Prayer meeting Yes He Can, a weekly prayer meeting, takes place every Sunday from 8 to 9 a.m. at East Garner Middle School’s auditorium. The prayer meeting is sponsored by the Kingdom Advancement and Empower-ment Center. For more information, call 919-772-8454 or visit www.KingdomAdvance.org. Southside Christian School Southside Christian School (near 40/42) is currently enrolling students. Low student/teacher ratio. Excellent ABeka curriculum. Degreed teachers. Join a Christian school for Christian families. Call 919-553-7652.

Scouts Needed Troop 397 meets every Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary Mother of Church in Garner (1008 Vandora Springs Road). The Troop is looking for new members, but those interested must be in at least sixth grade. The Troop does a number of activities including camping, hiking, community service projects and much more.

Red Hat Society Interested in joining a day-time Red Hat Society group? Our chapter is seeking a few new members -- congenial women 50 and older who want to have fun, meet new friends, lunch at a different restaurant each month, play RH bingo, ride to our outing in a limo, etc. We meet the first Friday of the month (subject to change for holiday months) at 11:30. For more information, please contact the Queen Mum at 661-7368.

Christian Academy Lighthouse Christian Academy NOW Enrolling Grades 1-12. A.C.E. Curriculum, We offer relaxed atmosphere, positive influence, smaller class sizes, Art, Drama, Key Club, Service Projects, History and Science Fairs, P.E., Tutoring and so much more! For more information, please call LCA at 427-8362.

Immunization Clinic Wake County Human Services offers an Immunization Clinic on Mondays and Fridays at the Wake County Southern Regional Center. The SRC is located at 130 N. Judd Parkway NE in Fuquay-Varina, directly across from the U.S. Post Office, and is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. Appointments are recommended and can be made by calling 212-7000 and requesting an appointment at SRC. Fees are based on the type of vaccine used, but all children’s’ vaccines are free for all children 18 and younger.

Volunteers needed The North Carolina Emergency Reserves (NCER) has opportunities for all who wish to be involved in most aspects of disaster-response. Membership is open to all state citizens age 18 and up. For information, call 919-269-3453 or email ncerpio@yahoo.com.

Looking for Vendors On Oct. 31 the Fuquay-Varina Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Seventh Annual Day in Downtown in the historic Fuquay downtown business district on South Main Street. The day will consist of an arts and craft fair, chili cook-off, Kids Korner, entertainment, food vendors and more. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is FREE. Call 919-552-4947 for vendor information.