Community briefs 11/18/02

Booth space available at CB club's craft sale

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The River City CB Club is sponsoring its Annual Craft, Gifts and Collectibles Sale Dec. 7 at the group's activity center at 115 W. Yoakum in Chaffee. Sale hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Booth space is free to anyone wishing to display their crafts, gifts and collectibles. For more information, call (573) 887-6390.

Craft dolls on display at Cape public library

Craft dolls made by Tomoko Okado of Cape Girardeau are now being shown in the lobby display cases of the Cape Girardeau Public Library and will be until the end of the month. The dolls are fashioned from cotton, with wool for hair, and felt or buttons for eyes. Such dolls may take two to three weeks to complete.

Okado attended doll-making classes in Japan for 10 years. She and her husband, Terumi, came to the United States in September 2001. He works for BioKyowa Inc.

Free movie pass offered in exchange for toy

Cape West 14 Cine of Cape Girardeau will give a free movie pass to anyone who brings in a new toy for the Toybox drive sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian. A limited quantity of passes are available.

Cancer society to meet on 2003 fund raiser

The American Cancer Society will be hosting a kickoff meeting for its annual Relay for Life fund raiser at 6:30 p.m. today at Deerfield Lodge, between Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

The theme for the 2003 Relay for Life, which is scheduled for July of next year, is "Music, Music, Music." Participants in the relay will be raising money and build awareness for cancer research.

Anyone interested in participating or volunteering at the 2003 relay is invited to attend tonight's meeting. For more information, call Julie Causey at 334-9197.

League of Women Voters to tour water plant

The public is invited to join the League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri for a special tour of the Water Treatment Plant at noon today. The plant is on East Cape Rock Drive near the Cape Rock Park Lookout. Carpool transportation will be provided from the parking lot at 820 N. Sprigg at 11:45 a.m.

Poetry Coffee House to be held at library tonight

This month's Poetry Coffee House will be held at 7 p.m. today in the Hirsch Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Participants may bring selections from admired poets or read samples of their own poetry. Readers and listeners are welcome.

Scott County historical society to meet Tuesday

BENTON, Mo. -- The Scott County historical and Genealogy Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverside Regional Library in Benton. At this month's meeting, members will work on the National Register of Historic Sites project as well as make plans for the organization's December social. Everyone is invited to attend.

The society is raffling off a handmade quilt, with the winner to be drawn on Dec. 15.

For more information, call Tom Lett at 335-0909, Carolyn Frey at (573) 262-2415 or Caryl Hairston at (573) 471-5872.

38th Masonic District to meet Wednesday

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The 274th consecutive quarterly meeting of the 38th Masonic District Association will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Trowel Lodge 440 in Marble Hill. The menu will include meatballs, chicken and dumplings with all the trimmings. The meal costs $6 and will be served by Victory Chapter 431 Eastern Star. Eva Dunn will present a program on the Bollinger County Museum of Natural History.

Cape library serves up 'veggie art' Tuesday

Bring two fruits or vegetables to the Cape Girardeau Public Library at 7 p.m. Tuesday to create an original work of art as the library repeats one of its favorite sessions of the Summer Reading Program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters holds holiday fund raiser

Businesses across the community are teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Girardeau County to light up a child's life during its first mobile fund raiser. With a minimum donation of $1 for a yellow light bulb and $5 for a red light bulb, people can participate in "Light Up A Child's Life." This campaign will end Dec. 11. Call 339-0184 to find out where light bulbs may be purchased and for more information.

'Communities on the Move' to be recognized

"Communities on the Move" in Southern Illinois will be recognized at 5 p.m. Thursday at Shawnee Community College's Educational Center. Attendants will learn about funding for infrastructure, tourism, community activities, education, housing and health care. For more information, call (618) 634-9471 or (618) 252-8371.

Funds for heating help to be distributed

The East Missouri Action Agency has received $383,143 in funds from the state to provide heating assistance to low income families during the 2002-2003 winter months.

Distribution of the funds begins today through the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). For this year only, the disconnect notice for age 65 and up has been waived.

For more information or to apply for assistance, people should call the outreach office in their county -- 238-4220 for Bollinger County, 334-5533 for Cape Girardeau County or 547-2014 for Perry County.

-- From staff reports