Community briefs 11/24/03

Genealogical society meets Tuesday

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. Steve Pledger and Cathi Stoverink will present information on the Revolutionary War pension applications found recently at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center.

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Nonmembers are welcome at all meetings. For more information, call Dorothy Rowley at 243-5882.

Brazeau holding holiday walking tour, craft fair

The town of Brazeau in eastern Perry County will hold its fourth annual Christmas celebration from 3 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6. The celebration includes a walking tour of the candlelit town, winery and historic buildings; craft fair, food and Christmas music. For more information, call (573) 824-5630.

City again holding Calls from Santa program

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will hold the annual Calls from Santa program from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 through Dec. 18. To register a child for a call from Santa, call 335-5421.

Jackson Optimist clubs sponsor essay contest

The Jackson Noon Optimist Club and the Jackson Evening Optimist Club are jointly sponsoring an essay contest for students in tenth, 11th and 12th grades under age 19.

This year's contest topic is "Being the Best I Can Be." Each participant is given the opportunity to win a college scholarship up to $5,000 from Optimist International. This year there will also be monetary prizes for the first-, second-, and third-place winners at the club level.

The deadline for application and essay is Jan. 23. For more information, call Kathy Roth at 243-3486 or 243-9300, or Dennis Wheeler at 243-3167.

Christmas home tour to be held Dec. 6

The annual Christmas home tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6. A fund raiser for the Lutheran Family and Children's Services and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, the event will not include a luncheon this year; instead there will be coupons in the booklet of tickets that may be used during the holidays.

A map with locations of the tour homes of James and Marge Bauerle, John and Kim Daniels, Susan Dodd, Mike and Nancy Mathes and Dan and Alice Niswonger will be included.

Tickets may be purchased at LFCS office, 2911 Breckenridge; The Arts Council, 32 N. Main; Schnuck's; Wanda's Coiffures; High Street Station; and Bi-State Southern Convenience Stores.

For more information, call 334-5866 or 334-9233.

Volunteers needed to ring Salvation Army bell

Individuals wishing to ring bells for the Salvation Army may volunteer by calling 335-7000. The Salvation Army's goal is $225,000. Funds raised help people at Christmas and throughout the year.

Christmas dinner at Masonic Temple set

Cape Girardeau Commandery 55 K.T. will hold its annual Christmas dinner furnished by the Commandery at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Masonic Temple, 2307 Broadway, Cape Girardeau. A program immediately following dinner will honor guests of deceased Sir Knights. A regular meeting and election of officers for the coming year will follow.

Scott Co. history books to be ready next week

The Scott County Historical and Genealogy Society will have history books ready for pickup on or before Dec. 3 at Spalding Design and Florist in Benton, Mo. For more information, call Margaret Cline Harmon at 335-0989.

Upcoming events at the Cape Girardeau library

Dec. 2: From 2 to 4 p.m., Great Books 2003 will meet in the Hirsch Room to discuss "Captives and Cousins: Slavery, Kinship and Community in the Southwest Borderlands," by James Brooks.

Dec. 3: At 3:30 p.m., children 3 to 7 will meet Mary Stuart, education and outreach coordinator for the Cape Girardeau Humane Society, to learn how to help care for the region's stray animals.

Dec. 11: At 7 p.m., children are invited to construct a sweet miniature house. Registration is required. Call 334-5279. Supplies will be provided, but bring a bag of candy to share.

Dec. 12: The Morning Book Discussion Group has rescheduled its discussion of personal history to 10 a.m. in the Hirsch Community Room.

Dec. 15: The Poetry Coffee House will meet in the Hirsch Community Room at 7 p.m.

The library will be closed Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 1. Hours on Dec. 31 will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Food donations will cover Cape library fines

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will collect canned food in lieu of library fines during December. All food will be donated to FISH food pantry to help local families. Food may not be used to pay for replacement of lost items or any other library fees.

Riverside library sets December story sessions

Riverside Regional Library in Jackson will have four preschool story times in December. All start at 9:30 a.m. On Dec. 2, the theme will be "Winter Tales"; Dec. 8,"Penguins"; Dec. 16, "Let it Snow, Snow, Snow"; and Dec. 23, "Christmas Holidays."

March of Dimes seeks Web clicks

During November visit marchofdimes.com to learn more and click on the baby band. The March of Dimes will take these "clicks" to Congress and government health officials to demonstrate the intensity of interest in increasing the amount of research dollars available to find the causes of premature birth.

Seventh annual Senior Tour of Lights set

The Cape Girardeau County Seniors and Lawmen Together Council will hold its seventh annual Senior Tour of Lights at 6 p.m. Dec. 18.

Tours will leave from the Cape Girardeau and Jackson senior centers and return to the Cape Girardeau center for refreshments and musical entertainment. At the end of the evening, Jackson seniors will be taken back by bus to the Jackson Senior Center. Sponsors for this event include First Student Transportation, VIP Industries and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Call 335-1352 by Dec. 15 to sign up.

Photo shoot to benefit pet adoption group

Santa Paws will visit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and again on Dec. 6 and 7 at PAWS' Place Adoption Center, 139 E. Vienna St., Anna, Ill. Santa Paws will pose with anyone who wants photos. Donations are requested. For more information, call (618) 833-DOGS.

-- From staff reports

Entries for Holiday of Lights contest due Dec. 4

The annual Holiday of Lights Contest, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Community Beautification and Enhancement Committee, will judge entries from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Judges will select two residences and one business as winners from seven sections in the city.

To submit entries, include the name and address of nominees to be judged, phone numbers (work and home) and directions to the home or business. Include your name and phone number as well. Entries are due Dec. 4 at the chamber office. A tour map and route will be available from both the chamber and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For more information, call 335-3312 for more information.