Community digest 4/17/03

PWP roller skating event set for Saturday

Parents Without Partners will take the children roller skating at Cape Skate from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call 334-0797 for more information.

Riverside Library to hold story time Tuesday

Preschool story time is at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. The theme is baby birds.

Salvation Army 2003 Back-To-School Fair

A planning meeting is scheduled for noon April 28 at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau, to discuss the 2003 Back-To-School Fair. Lunch will be provided. To be prepared for the meal, contact Tina Rodgers at 335-7000 if you plan to attend.

While titled a "back to school" fair, this is an opportunity for all community organizations to provide information to the children and their families. In years past the Salvation Army has served as many as 492 grade school students and 278 junior high and high school students by providing school supplies, medical and dental information and other information about community resources.

Cape Genealogy Society to meet Tuesday

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogy Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. The program will be given by Lorena Shell Eaker, whose books on the Eaker family and German-speaking people west of the Catawba River in North Carolina are classics for those interested in this group of early Southeast Missouri pioneers. She has also written a book on the Frederick Wise family. The topic of her talk this evening will be "Are Your Treasures In My File?"

There will be no business meeting. The Cape Girardeau County Genealogy Society is an organization of some 200 members which meets on the fourth Tuesday monthly. Nonmembers are welcome at all meetings. For more information, please call Dorothy Rowley at 243-5882.

American Legion Post announces news, events

The American Legion Altenthal-Joerns Post No. 158 recently welcomed David Bruce as a new member. Leonard King was greeted. Vince Schwartz was welcomed back.

The post will place flags on veterans' graves for Memorial Day. Recently, it donated a new flag to the Millersville School.

Charles Hutson requested that Post 158 send two boys to Boys State this year. The motion was passed and interviews will begin soon.

Bingo will be held at the Veteran's Home at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Donations of fabric for historical group

Donations of printed, striped, plaid or cotton blends will benefit several craft events held this summer at libraries and the Lewis and Clark Commission event in November. Woven fabrics, not knit, will work best. Donations will be used to make little dollies, sachets and some other projects. Contact Linda at 334-1058 or 334-5294 for more information.

Pinecrest Azalea Farm bursting with bloom

The Penzels' azalea farm is open to visitors every day from now until May during daylight hours. About 3,000 azaleas are at their peak from the middle to the end of April. Owners Gene and Linda Penzel have worked hard to clear bush for visitors unable to walk through the available paths.

Take Highway 72 west to Route B and turn right onto B, continuing on B for five miles to County Road 472, then turn left. Go half a mile to Torre Lane and turn left to enter the farm. Parking is limited. For more information call (573) 270-9777 during the day or (573) 266-3537 after dark.

Youth United Way recruits funds

Sponsored by Area Wide United Way, the Youth United Way is holding a Two Mile Fun Run beginning at 8:30 a.m April 26 at the South County Park in Cape Girardeau. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds will be used to address the issues of substance abuse and teen pregnancy, issues chosen by Youth United Way members as those they felt affected their schools.

The entry fee is $20 or as much money as you can raise. T-shirts will be available to the first 50 entrants.

Call 334-9634 or visit their Web site at www.areawide unitedway.org for more information.

-- From staff reports