Community digest 3/29/07

Fund-raiser to benefit boy losing his sight

A Scott City Middle School student who has limited hearing has also learned he is losing his sight. His classmates are holding a fund-raising dance for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the school cafeteria. Funds will be used for the boy and his family to take a trip to Dauphin Island off the coast of Mobile, Ala. The boy has a fascination with the ocean and efforts to allow him the opportunity to see it while he still can are supported by his classmates. A sixth-grade support fund at Security Bank and Trust at Scott City is set up for those who may wish to help.

New group addresses global warming

Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative, a new group formed locally to address global warming, will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. April 10 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. For more information on the Climate Protection Initiative, visit cstl.semo.edu/SEMOCPI.

Trail of Tears Ill. chapter holds spring meeting

The spring general membership meeting of the Illinois chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will be held at 1 p.m. April 14 at Camp Ground Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Anna, Ill. The meeting, open to the public, will kick off the Trail of Tears oral history project. All individuals interested in the Trail of Tears or having family stories or information to contribute are encouraged to attend. Contact Sandra Boaz at popeun@midwest.net or (618) 833-8216 for more information.

Christ Episcopal Church to hold contra dance

Cape Friends of Traditional Music and Dance will hold a contra dance from 7 to 9:30 p.m. April 14 at Christ Episcopal Church, 101 N. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau. Gary Watson will be on fiddle and Gene King on guitar. All moves are taught and the dances walked through. Everyone is welcome. No partner, costume, or experience is necessary. Donation is discounted for dancers up to 16 years old. For more information, call John or Kathy Coffman at 334-4706, Judy Bradley at 334-5289, or John Boyd at 335-7315.

Booths available for Dogwood-Azalea Festival

The 39th annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival in Charleston, Mo., to be held April 20 to 22, has 10-by-10-foot booths spaces still available. The Arts and Crafts show will be in Rolwing Park between Commercial and Cypress streets in the heart of the festival. The festival draws more than 14,000 visitors during its three days. Electric sites are also available for an additional fee. Arts and crafts demonstrations are welcome. A few commercial vendor sites are available for two and three day slots. For more information or to obtain an application, call Claudia at the Charleston Chamber of Commerce at 683-6509.

Date for Kow Pasture Klassic announced

The 22nd annual Schindler's Tavern/Kohlfeld Distributing Kow Pasture Klassic will be held April 28 behind Schindler's Tavern in New Hamburg, Mo. Major beneficiaries are Kenny Rogers Children's Center in Sikeston, Mo., and Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. To register, call Schindler's Tavern at (573) 545-3709 or Kohlfeld Distributing at 243-3931. There will also be an auction, chances for a quilt and a raffle for a $2,000 trip for four to Las Vegas. A memorial service with the posting of colors led by Marine Corps League Detachment 1081 color guard will take place at noon.

Birding blitz to be held in Illinois in April

The sixth annual Southernmost Illinois Birding Blitz will be held April 28 and 29 throughout Southern Illinois north to Highway 13. Birding Blitz is an event where teams of birders compete with each other to see and hear the most species in a 24 hour period. Objectives include attracting birdwatchers around the region and raising money to support habitat restoration in the Cache Watershed. Money raised by each team will be used to restore wetlands in Southern Illinois through the state's Adopt-A-Swamp Program. Last year teams raised more than $2,000. For more information, call (800) 248-4373 or visit www.birdingblitz.org.

Homeless program application training set

The Governor's Committee to End Homelessness will conduct a Continuum of Care Technical Assistance Workshop in Jefferson City from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 13. Lunch will be provided April 12. The Continuum of Care, one of the competitive grants available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, focuses on assisting homeless people to move to self-sufficiency and permanent housing. Agencies can apply for permanent housing for people with disabilities or transitional housing and services. The two-day training is mandatory for all organizations planning to submit applications under the Missouri Continuum of Care (sometimes referred to as Balance of State Continuum of Care). Application forms will be available to take back to your office. Reservation deadline is April 6. Call Heather Bradley-Geary, Missouri Housing Development Commission, at (816) 759-7201 or e-mail, hgeary@mhdc.com.

<B>[--] From staff reports