Grief Support Group Grief Support Group will be offered 8 consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 2. The group will provide an opportunity for education and support for all who have experienced a loss. Please join us at Amedisys Hospice Services, 220 New Fidelity Court, Garner (behind Garner TV and Appliance). Contact Ann Ritter at 773-4865 or aritter3225@amedisys.com for more information and to register.

Upcoming events at Johnston Health Bloodmobile visit The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will accept blood donations from noon till 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 4. The bloodmobile will be parked at the north entrance of the Johnston Health Medical Mall. Please call 938-7736 to make an appointment. “Go Red” Friday Lunch & Learn Did you know that more women die from heart disease than any other illness? At noon on Feb. 5 in the Medical Mall auditorium, the public is invited to a light, healthy lunch and an informative talk about the latest treatments for cardiovascular disease in women. To reserve a seat, call 938-773. The speakers will give their talks again at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the auditorium. Breastfeeding class Want to learn about the advantages of breastfeeding your baby? New parents are invited to a class from 7 till 9 p.m. on Feb. 11 in Room 1404B of the medical mall. Please call 938-7736 to register. The fee is $30 per couple.

“Be Sweet to Your Heart” Health professionals will be offering free screenings from 7:30 till 10 a.m. on Feb. 16 in front of the Medical Mall auditorium. Screenings include blood glucose checks (fasting required), blood pressure checks and a measure of body mass index. CPR class Want to learn CPR or need to re-certify? A beginner’s class will be from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. on Feb. 17 room 1404B of the medical mall. A re-certification class will be from 1 till 4 p.m. on Feb. 10 in room 1404B of the medical mall. To register, call 938-7736. The fee for each class is $71 and includes materials.

Advanced Life Support classes Want to learn advanced cardiac life support or need to re-certify in pediatric advanced life support? A two-day ACLS class will be from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. on Feb. 16 and 17 in the mall auditorium. A PALS re-certification class will be from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the mall auditorium. To pre-register for either class, call 938-7736. The fee is $200 and includes materials. “Dance for Your Heart” Learn some new dance moves and rev up your heart at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 in front of HealthQuest. Instructors will offer free lessons on line dances, the shag and Masala Bhangra. Afterward, take a tour of HealthQuest, the fitness center of Johnston Health.

Call for Provider of the Year nominations Do you go to work each day confident that your child is getting the best early learning experience you could ask for? Does your child care provider go above and beyond to help prepare him/her for success in school and life? The Partnership for Children of Johnston County is currently accepting nominations for the 2010 Provider of the Year Awards. The awards recognize individuals and programs in 4 categories including Child Care Center of the Year, Family Child Care Home of the Year, Child Care Center Director of the Year and Child Care Teacher of the Year. Award recipients will be notified and honored on March 13 at the Country Club of Johnston County during the Partnership’s 1st Annual Provider Celebration Night, sponsored by First Citizens Bank. The award recipients will be chosen by a panel of distinguished community members. Nominations are due to the Partnership office on Friday, Feb. 5. Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.pfcjc.org, or by calling our office at 202-0002. Forms may also be picked up from your child care provider.

Queen of Hearts fundraiser on Feb. 6 The Queen of Hearts Competition is held every year in February to support the American Red Cross and the local community. The competition involves young women in the community competing to raise the most money from Jan. 28 to Feb. 28. All money raised will support the American Red Cross fundraisers for the next year. Also, the young woman who raises the most money will be named the Queen of Hearts and become an American Red Cross representative for the year 2010. Amanda Ennis is one of the competitors and will be holding a fundraiser this week. Ennis has been a cadet at 50-210 EMS since August 2008 and is an active member of HOSA at West Johnston High School. Donations can be sent to 65 Glen Road, PMB 218, Garner, NC 27529; or, Ennis will be holding a “roof sitting” fundraiser at Reedy Creek Gas and Grocery, located on Highway 210, on Feb. 6. She welcomes everyone to come out and help her get down from the roof by giving donations.

Johnston County Voluntary Agricultural District Board The Johnston County Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board will meet on Monday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Johnston County Agricultural Center.

Republican Party meeting on Feb. 9 The Johnston County Republican Party will meet on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the White Swan Restaurant Annex, 3156 S Bright Leaf Boulevard, Smithfield, at 7:30pm. For more information please contact Andrew Tyree, Chair, at (919) 634-0015.

GCAA softball registrations now open GCAA Spring 2010 softball registrations are now open through Feb. 24. GCAA is now offering T-Ball for Girls Only! If you are interested in coaching, sponsoring or being a parent volunteer please email our softball chair at softball@gcaasports.com.

MCAA Spring Soccer Registrations It’s that time of year again! Let’s get ready for MCAA spring soccer registrations! Online registrations are now open and end on Feb. 7 - visit www.gomcaa.com. Walk-in dates for registration are Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the McGee’s Middle School gym. We provide a fun, fast paced, learning environment for children of all ages. Age 3 before 7-31-09 is U4 (coed), Ages 4 & 5 before 7-31-09 is U6 (coed), Ages 6 & 7 before 7-31-09 is U8 (coed), Ages 8 & 9 before 7-31-09 is U10 (coed), Ages 10 & 11 before 7-31-09 is U12 and Ages 12 & 13 & 14 before 7-31-09 is U15 (coed) leagues. If you are interested in coaching, sponsoring or being a parent volunteer please email our soccer chair Carlton Young at mcaasoccer09@yahoo.com.

Bakers Chapel Church fundraiser Bakers Chapel Church will be holding a fundraiser for Reverend Joseph Baker on Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We will have a gospel sing featuring The Spirituals, with other special guests. We will also be having a hot dog sale and bake sale/auction. Please come out and enjoy! For more information call Gene DeWitt at (919) 938-1247.

Harbor presents 5th Annual Valentine Ball The 5th Annual Valentine Ball will be held Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Johnston County Agriculture Building. Tickets are $50 per person (including beer and wine) or $45 without cocktails. Included in tickets are hors d’oeuvres and dance music by the Upbeats. A silent auction will also be held. All proceeds fund Harbor’s shelter and transitional housing as well as counseling, new choices and children’s programs. Harbor is Johnston County’s agency for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and displaced homemakers. For individual tickets, contact Harbor at (919) 938-3566. For more information about Harbor and the services they offer visit harborshelter.org.

Upcoming workshop at JCC Arboretum Tool Up for Spring with Johnston County Extension Agent Shawn Banks Wednesday, Feb. 17, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Cost is $10. This hands-on class focuses on readying your gardening tools for easy use. Maintenance, upkeep, and small repairs will all be covered. For more information or to register, please call the Arboretum staff at 209-2052 or 209-2184.

GCA A Meet and Greet You are invited to join us, the GCAA Board of Directors, to a Meet and Greet session on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the GCAA gym. Everyone in the Cleveland community is invited. The purpose of this meeting is to share with the community what the GCAA represents and what the GCAA provides for the children in the community. We would like to announce several community events we are planning and discuss changes that are currently going on with the GCAA. Also, we would like to hear from you, the parents and businesses of the Cleveland community. We would like to hear what you feel are the GCAA’s positives and areas of improvement. Representatives from all sports offered by the GCAA will be on hand to answer questions. Please join us to discuss how the GCAA can continue to provide the best for the children of the rapidly growing Cleveland community now and in the future.

Inspiration Station-Sundays at Mount Zion UMC Mount Zion United Methodist Church extends an invitation to all to their new family-friendly, interactive Worship Service called “Inspiration Station.” It is where kids and parents can learn about God together. It is casual, upbeat and energetic. It is held every Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Chapel. Please join us for this exciting worship experience! Mount Zion is located at 15772 NC 50 N, ¼ mile south of the intersection of Hwy 50 and Hwy 42. For additional information, please contact the church office at 772-8415 or e-mail info@mountzion-umc.org Additional information about Mount Zion and opportunities for worship can be found at www.mountzion-umc.org.

New church announces services We are excited to announce the launch of Faith & Victory Church. We currently are meeting at The Hampton Inn at Hwy 40/42 at 10:30 a.m. Children's Church and coffee provided! We have Lifegroups meeting Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. For more information contact Pastor Rodney at (919) 820-9332.

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Tuesday OA is not just about weight loss, gain or maintenance; or obesity or diets. It addresses physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It is not a religious organization and does not promote any particular diet. If you want to stop your compulsive eating, welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. Overeaters Anonymous meets on Tuesdays from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Sovereign King Church, 110 Donmoor Ct. in Garner. Rotating format: Speaker, Big Book, OA/AA 12&12, Traditions and OA stories out of Lifeline. Driving Directions: From Raleigh on 70: Turn left on Mechanical at light (just before Lowes), left onto Donmoor. From Garner on 70: Turn right on McCormick, left on Mechanical, right on Donmoor. Contacts: Dale M. (919) 630-2592 or Liz V. (919) 661-0183. For more information, visit the group’s web site at www.triangleoa.org.

AWANA program at Mt. Herman Mt. Herman Christian Church, located at 8925 White Oak Road, Garner, NC 27529 has an AWANA program for children aged 3 years through 8th grade every Sunday night from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Join us if you are looking for an excellent Bible-based activity for your children. We will not meet on March 14 or April 4. Safe-child policies in place.

TUREMC  Bible Study The Upper Room Experience Ministry Church will be holding a weekly bible study on Fridays at 7 p.m. We will be studying and discussing the Scriptures about end times through the DVD series "What in the world is going on? by Dr. David Jeremiah. If you have any questions please call us at (919) 550-9627 or visit turemc.org for more information.

Benton Battlefield reenactment Tickets are available for the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina’s largest Civil War reenactment, slated for March 20-21, at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, near Four Oaks, I-95, Exit 90. Bentonville Battlefield is the largest Civil War Battlefield in the state and the site of the only offensive battle to stop General William T. Sherman’s March from Atlanta, Ga. More than 3,500 re-enactors and 30,000 spectators are expected to attend the event, which includes two battles, military and civilian encampments and special educational programs over a two-day period. For more information, visit www.bentonvillebatttlefield.com.

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