• Ladiga Manor will be holding a Fall Festival Thursday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.

• The Jacksonville church of Christ in Jacksonville is having a Free Clothing and Household Item Giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 8:00 a.m. — until. There will be free clothes, toys, furniture, household items, and refreshments. The event will be held in the church fellowship hall. The church is located on Highway 204, next door to Dollar General. For more information call (256) 435-9356. Everything will be free, and no monetary donations will be accepted.

• The Joy Quilt Guild will meet Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.

• The Jacksonville Garden Club will meet Wednesday, October 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Center.

• Art exhibit for the Jacksonville Community Center and the city of Jacksonville opening this weekend. The exhibit will open on October 22, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jacksonville Community Center. The show opening is for invited guests and artist only, and will open to the public Friday, at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All types of art media are welcome and there is a one time $10 entry fee (checks made out to the Jacksonville Community Center). You may exhibit as many pieces as you like for the one time fee. For more information please call the center at 435-8115.

• The New Life Sunday School class of Jacksonville First United Methodist invites you to a study of "A Case for a Creator" by Lee Strobel. The book is based on the author's belief that his road to atheism was paved by science...but, ironically so was his later journey to God. The class meets each Sunday morning at 9:45 on the 2nd floor of the Sunday School wing. The study group offers information, support and fellowship that will enhance Christian growth with the goal being to educate, network and apply their beliefs using relevant and challenging Bible-based materials.

• The Jacksonville High School Band Boosters will have their annual Haunted Forest beginning Oct. 24 at sundown.

Come get a fright for a good cause. The cost is only $5 a person. The forest is open Oct. 24, 26, 28-31 on Church Avenue in Jacksonville behind Dr. Chandler's office. Just look for the signs across from Wal-Mart.

• The Friendship Quilters Guild is having a quilt show Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, from 10a — 5p on Saturday, and from noon-5p on Sunday. The show will be held at the Pell City Civic Center, 2801 Stemley Bridge Road, Pell City. Adminssion is $3.00. For information call 256-282-1297.

• A live performance of the Judgment House will be at Piedmont First Baptist, 105 North Main Street, from Oct. 24-Nov. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. For reservations call 256-447-9496 or visit Piedmontjudgementhouse.org.

• The next Christmas trip will be December 7-11th to Branson to see Christmas shows including the famous Sight & Sound Theatre where the Miracle of Christmas is the touching story of kings, angels & the simple faithful couple used by God to present Jesus, our plan of salvation to the world. If you are interested call Bob or Eloise Crossley at 435-7263 First Baptist of Jacksonville. The total cost per person for double including transportation is $609 Deposit of $100 is due now. Balance due in November.

• Jacksonville State University's International House will hold its annual United Nations Day Tea on Sunday, October 25 from 2-4 p.m. at the Colonel C.W. Daugette Jr. International House. The program consists of a formal presentation of this year's residents of the International House dressed in native costumes and a 50-minute program of native dance and song followed by refreshments and a social gathering to the tea. This year's U.N. Day Tea will cap off the Homecoming activities of what is traditionally a very busy weekend at JSU. The JSU community including faculty, staff and the public are invited to the tea.

• The Friends of the Houston Cole Library will host Alabama author Frank Turner Hollon on Monday, October 26 at 7 p.m. in Room 1103-B of the library. Hollon will discuss his latest book, Austin & Emily. He will also discuss Life Is A Strange Place, which is scheduled to be released as a major motion picture titled Barry Munday. Hollon's additional work includes The Pains of April, The God File, A Thin Difference, The Point of Fracture, Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese, Blood and Circumstance, and Wait. In addition, he has selections in the Blue Moon Cafe series, a collection of short stories from contemporary Southern writers. Born in Huntsville, he and his family currently live in Baldwin County, where he practices law. Copies of his books will be available for purchase and signing, and refreshments will be served after the presentation. This event is free and open to the public.

• The final gardening program for the public, sponsored by the Calhoun County Master Gardeners and the Calhoun County Commission, will be held Oct. 28 from noon until 1 p.m. at the Cane Creek Community Garden, McClellan. The Garden is located across the street from Longleaf Lodge. Please bring your own lunch. The program is free. For more information, call 256-237-1621, the Calhoun County Extension Office. Topic will be Gourds Galore — Easy to Sophisticated Crafts (Jane and Skip Auiler and Martha Tucker). Check for program updates at www.aces.edu/Calhoun

• The Alabama Farmers Federation are offering scholarships for anyone planning to attend Auburn University and pursue a degree in an agricultural related field. These are for the year 2010 and the deadline to apply is Dec. 1, 2009. Also, the Calhoun County Farmers Federation Women's Committee has two $2,000 agricultural related scholarships available, and the deadline to apply for these is April 1, 2010. For rules, information or an application, please call 820-3546 or 892-3615.

• Covenant Life Ministries presents "How to Hear God's Voice", a 10-week course that runs through Sept. 15- Nov. 17. Meetings will be Tuesday Nights at 6:30 at Covenant Life Ministries located at 2327 Alexandria Jacksonville Highway in Jacksonville, Alabama. The dead line for registration is Sept. 8 and the registration fee is $45 (includes seminar workbook). To register, contact Susan Roberts at (256) 847-0004.

• Urban Dance classes for ages 8-13 and 15 and up. If more information is needed, please come by the community center or call 256-435-8115.

• Art classes for children beginning soon at the Jacksonville Community Center! For more information call 256-435-8115.

• Tumble Kids classes teach the basics of tumbling/gymnastics to kids. Classes start soon! For more information call the Jacksonville Community Center at 256-435-8115.

•• Homemakers plan trip! Make reservations now for a 4-hour fall foliage cruise with buffet luncheon, entertainment, bingo and more. For more information call Elizabeth Williams at 435-6692 and Virginia Norton at 435-9535.

• The Senior Adult Wellness Program at JSU has become so popular that we will be adding a 5th class in the fall. The Wellness program began more than 30 years ago and some of the original members still come today. Classes include: Floor Fitness (MWF, 8-9 a.m.) Floor Fitness (TTH, 9-10 a.m.) Aqua Aerobics (MWF, 7:45 — 8:45 a.m.) Aqua Aerobics (TTH, 7:45 — 8:45 a.m.) Yoga (TTH, 8-9 a.m.) All participants must be 55 years and over. For more information and costs of classes, please contact Abby Fleetwood @ 782-5523 or by email afleetwood@jsu.edu.

• Thursdays are fundays at The Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department is hosting every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Jacksonville Community Center. Residents are encouraged to bring their favorite board game to share.

• The Public Library Board of Trustees meets the third Wednesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 200 Clinton S.E. Anyone needing accommodations is asked to contact librarian Barbara Rowell at 435-6332.

• The Jacksonville High School Golden Eagle Band is looking for donations to their Clyde Cox Memorial Fund. This fund goes directly to the purchase of instruments for students to use. All donations are tax-deductible. You can send donations to JHS Band Boosters, PO Box 208, Jacksonville, AL 36265. Please mark them for the Clyde Cox fund. For more information, call the JHS band room at 782-8834.

• A senior dance for those 55 years young is held at the Senior Center from 6:30-9:30 p.m. the second Friday night of each month- so make plans to attend!!! Music, fun, friends, and food make the evening really good!!! The Fun Tyme Band will be there to provide the music. $5 per couple, $3 for single.

• Alcoholics Anonymous meets at noon each Thursday at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 400 Chinabee Ave., just off the Square. Call 847-0909 for more information.

• The Friday Night Opry Show is presented Friday nights from 6:30-9:30 at the Golden Saw Music Hall in the Williams community. For more information call 435-4696.

• A Narcotics Anonymous group meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at First United Methodist Church behind McDonald's. For more information call 435-4881.

• The Calhoun County Stamp Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays in Room 327 Stone Building, Jacksonville State University, corner of Church Avenue and 11th Street. Business, APS sales books and sharing items of philatelic interest take place during the first meeting; program and discussion, review of APS sales books during the second. Visitors and new members are welcome. Call 782-8044, 782-5604 or 435-7491 for more information.

• Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered 12 step program, meets every Friday night at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Dinner is served at 5:30. Large group meetings with worship and praise bands and guest speakers begin at 6:30. Small share/support groups meet after that at 7:30 followed with cake and fellowship. Call 225-2492 for more information.

• A thrift store, God's Abundance, is open at 5818 McClellan Blvd., in the Lenlock Shopping Center. The store helps support men and women who have been incarcerated because of drug and alcohol problems. Donations are taken during open hours only. Call operational manager Jackie Tettleton at 205-706-6048 for more information.

• Countryside Hospice will now be providing a free community Grief and Bereavement Support Group in the Gadsden area. This free service is an outreach to aid people in the community, who have lost friends and loved ones, with the grieving process. The group is open to anyone that is interested, not solely family and friends served by a hospice organization. The group will be held in the education room at the TakeCare Health Systems facility, located at 851 Goodyear Ave. Gadsden AL, 35903. Groups will be on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month (October 12th, November 9th, and December 14th of 2009) from 2pm to 3pm. For more information please feel free to contact Countryside Hospice at (256) 782-3560 or 1-888-235-3909.