Community digest 12/4/06

Winter festival at the University Greenhouse

Poinsettias, wreaths, greenery, Christmas cactus, candle rings and evergreen roping will be available or ready to special order from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Featured speaker is master gardener Joe Sherinski. A 10 a.m. discussion on forcing bulbs and care of winter greens will be held at the University Greenhouse, 1039 Bertling St.

East Prairie pageants open to community

The ninth annual East Prairie Christmas Beauty Pageants will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in East Prairie High School auditorium. Age divisions for girls and boys are: 0-5 months, 6-11 months, 12-23 months, 24-35 months, 3-4 years. Additional age divisions for girls include: 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years, 11-12 years, 13-15 years, 16-18 years, and 19-21 years. Deadline to enter the pageant is Friday. Entry forms and information is available on the Web site at: www.geocities.com/christmaspageant. For more information, contact Kandi Staples at 649-2702 or Jean Barksdale at 649-2479.

SAR dedicates grave marker and cemetery

The Sons of The American Revolution will dedicate the tombstone of John Hill, a Revolutionary War soldier and longtime builder of Old Bethany Church at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. The cemetery will be rededicated this day as well. The cemetery, known as the John Hitt Cemetery, was formerly the Samuel Hitt cemetery. Family members are invited to the ceremony. Located on County Road 203. Take Route K to County Road 206, go one more block to County Road 203 and follow one mile down. The cemetery overlooks Hubble Creek. Call 335-6778 for more information.

Concert to benefit Marines' Toys for Tots

The Saxy Jazz Band featuring Kristen Swinford-Schweain of ZOEgirl and Jeremy Verhines will perform from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 17 at New McKendree South Campus, 1770 S. Hope St., Jackson, for a benefit to help promote the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Child care will be available. Call 275-8611 for more information. Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift for a needy boy or girl or to make a cash donation.

AARP needs tax preparation assistance

AARP needs volunteers to assist with tax preparation for the elderly, the disadvantaged and others. They don't need CPAs, just caring people who want to help others. Training is from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 8 to 11 at the Cape Girardeau National Guard Armory and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 15 to 18 at Sikeston Fellowship Baptist Church, 1801 Ables Road, Sikeston, Mo. In both places, a lunch break is planned (bring a sack lunch if you wish). For information or to sign up, call Laverne Nothdurft at (673) 794-2241.

Cape AARP meets today to install officers

The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of AARP 4041 will meet at 1:30 p.m. today at Grace United Methodist Church, Broadway and Caruthers Avenue. There will be an installation of officers. Members should bring finger foods for the Christmas party. Gifts are to be brought for the Christmas shop at Blanchard and Jefferson schools.

Area Democrats mark wins with potluck dinner

The Cape County Democrats will be celebrating the party's statewide and national wins at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at 773 Enterprise in Cape Girardeau. The December celebration is the group's final event for the 2006 election year. A potluck dinner will be served. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and guests are encouraged to bring a dish to share. RSVP to Brenda Woemmel at 334-5147 or jbwoemmel@sbcglobal.net by Thursday. For more information, contact Brenda Woemmel at 334-5147.

-- From staff reports