Community briefs 2/6/03

Meeting for Memory Walk set for Feb. 18

The first Memory Walk committee meeting will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Alzheimer's Association Southeast Missouri office, 1301 N. Kingshighway, Suite 1, Cape Girardeau.

The association is looking for volunteers to serve on the Memory Walk planning committee which meets monthly. Volunteers are sought for team and sponsor recruitment as well as helping at Memory Walk 2003 planned for Sept. 20. Memory Walk is an annual event that raises money to help families and eliminate Alzheimer's disease.

A free program, "Caring for a Person with Advanced Dementia," will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, 711 N. Clark, Cape Girardeau. The program, sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association, the Visiting Nurses Association and the Cape Girardeau Public Library, will address frequently asked questions. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call the Alzheimer's Association at (800) 980-9080.

Project HOPE to present IDAs

Project HOPE, in association with The Justine Petersen Housing and Investment Corporation of St. Louis, The St. Louis Untied Way, Area Wide United Way, The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, MASW and the Center for Social Development, will present and offer Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) to the Cape Girardeau area.

IDAs offer opportunities for people and businesses to invest their own tax money in their community. An informational meeting at the Drury Lodge, with lunch provided, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27. Registration is required by Feb. 20.

For more information contact Lisa Mason at (314) 935-6158 or e-mail her at lmason@gwbmail.wustl.edu. This meeting is organized by MOKANSave, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The MOKANSave Web site is www.masw.org/mokansave.

Benefit dance Saturday for Mike Conley

A benefit dance will take place 7 p.m. to midnight Feb. 8 at the Jackson Elks Lodge with proceeds going toward medical expenses of a local resident.

Mike Conley of Jackson had a mild heart attack in December 2002. The following month, doctors found a spot on the right side of his brain. Conley is presently at the V.A. Hospital in St. Louis.

Tickets are available at the door and music will be provided by Charlie's Revue. A cash bar will be available. Donations may be made at the Bank of America Jackson location, 320 W. Main St. (Attention: Linda Conley-Jansen). For more information call 243-2887 or 243-1040.

Historical Alliance to meet Sunday

The Cape Girardeau County Historical Alliance is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Missouriana Room in the University Center on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.

The February meeting will deal with developing organizational structure, sharing information between participating groups' activities and the development of a yearly calendar of events for and about history in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area. For more information call Bill Port at 335-1429.

Events calendar for Cape Girardeau Public Library

Poetry: For those interested in poetic works, the next meeting of the Poetry Coffee House will take place in the Hirsch Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library at 7 p.m. Monday. The Poetry Coffee House is free and open to the public with accomodations for the disabled upon request.

Valentines: The opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind Valentine for someone special will take place at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the library. Call 334-5279 to reserve a space or stop by the Youth Services desk at 711 N. Clark. Accodations for disabled participants are available upon request.

Beat the Blues: Children in grades three to six are invited to beat the winter blues with fun, games and of course great book talks at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. For more information call the library or stop by the Youth Services desk.

Great Decisions: The first session of Great Decisions 2003 will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Hirsch Community room of the library. The Great Decisions series began in 1918 and is sponsored nationally by the Foreign Policy Association. The focus is on eight foreign policy issues each year. These programs are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. For more information contact the center at 651-2555 or adult services at 334-5279. Upcoming dates and topics are

Feb. 13 -- The Bush Presidency: Prospects and Promises: A New Century and a New Era?

Feb. 20 -- Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism

Feb. 27 -- Afghanistan in a New Age: The U.S. Role?

March 6 -- Nigeria

March 13 -- Women's Rights

March 20 -- The United States and Saudi Arabia

March 27 -- China

April 3 -- European Integration

April 10 -- World Trade and Food Policy.

Used oil disposal day scheduled for Feb. 22

The public may bring any oil-related waste to Express Tire, 2000 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau, from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 22, and the company will properly recycle it. This service is offered free of charge to the public.

Jackson ABWA will hold auction

The Jacksonian Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA) will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Main Street Fitness Center in Jackson. They will hold a White Elephant Auction and everyone is invited. Anyone interested in joining ABWA may contact Stacy Meyr at 204-7571.

-- From staff reports