Community digest 03/15/04

Salvation Army needs food, other products

The Salvation Army is in immediate need of soup, canned dinners, canned fruits, macaroni and cheese, canned tuna and chicken, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and women's hygiene products. If preferred, a monetary donation can be mailed to the Salvation Army at 701 Good Hope, Cape Girardeau, 63701.

St. Francis offering 'Seeds of Hope'

St. Francis Medical Center's pastoral care will offer a free six-week education and support series titled "Seeds of Hope: A Grief Support Group" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, April 15 to May 20 at the St. Claire Conference Room on the west side of the cafeteria, 211 St. Francis Drive. Participation in all six sessions is recommended but not required. Registration deadline is April 12. For more information or to register, call pastoral care chaplain Bonnie McCulley LPC at (573) 331-5118.

Professionals group meeting at restaurant

The monthly meeting of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dexter Bar-B-Q. For more information, call Sheree Jenkins at 651-2112.

Counseling center holding antique show

The Community Counseling Center is sponsoring its spring 2004 semiannual Antique and Collectibles Show beginning with an early bird presale from 8 to 9 a.m. April 4 at A.C. Brase Arena. The regular hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To reserve a space, call Larry Essner at 334-1100 or Elmer Schetter at 335-8733. All proceeds will benefit the Community Counseling Center. The next show will be Oct. 4.

AARP volunteers help with income taxes

Opportunities to meet with one of 12 AARP volunteers who will complete taxes free of charge are available four times weekly in Cape Girardeau and twice in Jackson up until the tax deadline. On Mondays they are available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Salvation Army and from 1 to 4 p.m. at Cape Girardeau and Jackson public libraries; Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Jackson Senior Center; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Senior Center; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Library. For more information, call Opal Collins at 334-1468.

Barbecue contest held with Charleston festival

Charleston, Mo., will hold a "Pigs In the Garden" barbecue contest April 16 and 17 in conjunction with its 36th annual Dogwood Azalea Festival. For more information, call Lynn or Dot Bruce at (573) 683-2458 or (573) 683-8698.

Jackson student art going up at mall

An exhibit of selected artwork from kindergarten through 12th-grade Jackson students will be held at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park today through March 27 in observance of Youth Art Month.

Genealogy workshop to cover do's and don'ts

A genealogy workshop for individuals just beginning a family search, "Getting to the Roots of Your Family: Getting Started," will be presented by Marilyn Hutchings at 7 p.m. March 29 in the Hirsch Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Participants will learn the do's and don'ts of genealogy research, research materials offered by the library and how to use Ancestry.com. For more information, call 334-5279.

Fund raiser benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Jackson and Cape Girardeau Rent-A-Centers will take part in a nationwide fund raiser for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America today through April 10. Rent-A-Center will match contributions dollar for dollar up to $100,000 and guarantee a $25,000 minimum donation to the group.

Former Cape resident to give piano recital

Diana Weaver Peoples will be giving a free piano recital at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1048 W. Cape Rock Drive. The community is invited. Peoples grew up in Cape Girardeau and is the daughter of June Weaver of Cape Girardeau. She holds a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

-- From staff reports