New Financial Peace University classes will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Meadowbrook Baptist Church, off U.S. 78 West, Oxford. This is a nine week course on how to achieve financial peace. Each session is 1.5 hours. The cost is $99. Call the church office at 256-831-1811 for more information.
A senior citizen trip to Ellijay, Ga., for the annual Apple Festival, will depart from Oxford Civic Center at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 20. The cost is $55 each and includes the motor coach bus transportation, admission to festival, visit to Apple Warehouse and a barbecue dinner. Payment is due in cash by Oct. 1. Seating is limited for this one-day trip. Call Pam Harris at the Oxford PARD at 256-831-2660 for more information or registration.
The Alabama Country & Gospel Music Association is holding its 16th annual talent search auditions at 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 22 at the North Shelby Baptist church, 4100 Belcher Drive, Birmingham. Enter the downstairs entrance in the back of the church. Only a limited number of auditions will be accepted and the schedule will be on a first-come basis. Call 256-996-1591, 256-634-4064 (nights); or 256-845-5398 (days) or visit the Facebook page of Jo Anne Johnson or Alabama Country Gospel Music Association to print the audition/membership form.
Anniston physician and author, Gaston O. McGinnis, will hold a book signing from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Berman Museum of World History. His book, Forward Flash-Back, is a novella, and the first work of fiction by Dr. McGinnis. Admission will be free to the event and Museum exhibit halls. Call David ford at 256-237-6261 for more information.
Kids First Childcare, 1710 Hillyer Robinson Industrial Parkway, is accepting applications for fall enrollment. Enroll during September and pay only half of registration fee. Call 256-831-8881 for more information.
Beginner belly dance classes will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday’s at the Jacksonville Community Center. Call 256-435-8115 for more information.
A composting workshop will begin with registration at 9 a.m.; brunch at 9:30 a.m. and program 10-11 a.m. Sept. 27 at the Cane Creek Community Gardens at McClellan. The speaker will be William Cureton, “Captain Compost”. The cost is $15 per person paid in advance. Pre-registration is required. Call 256-237-1621 or visit the Calhoun County Extension Office at 1702 Noble St., Suite 108.
The McClellan Bookworms will meet at 10 a.m. Sept. 28 in the McClellan Center conference room. Call 256-549-9352 or 256-549-8548 for more information.
Anniston author, Brenda Wilson, will hold a book signing of her newly published book of inspirational poems, Organic Restoration for Malnourished Souls, 2-6 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Anniston City Meeting Center. Visit www.wingsofaneaglebookstore.blogspot.com for more information.
The Emma Mitchell benefit concert will begin with a pre-jam at 3 p.m. and concert at 4 p.m. Sept. 30 at the old Munford High School football field. Admission is free but donations will be accepted for Emma. A silent auction, raffles, concessions, a kid’s zone and music will be featured. All profit and proceeds will go to Emma and her family. Visit www.facebook.com/teamegmitchell for more information.
Lunch & Learn, a free gardening program sponsored by Calhoun County Master Gardeners and the Calhoun County Commission, will be noon-1 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Cane Creek Community Garden at McClellan. Bring your own lunch. Hayes Jackson, ACES, will present a program on “native plants”. Call 256-237-1621 for more information.
A Sparks reunion, for the descendants of Julia Ann McCoy Sparks and Dennis McFranklin Sparks, will be 10 a.m. today at the Community Center (Old Cragford School) in Cragford. A covered dish lunch will be served.
A Red Cross blood drive, sponsored by Advanced Orthodontics, will be 1-6 p.m. Sept. 26 at 1677 Golden Springs Road. The first 25 donors will receive a kit of professional strength whitening strips. Door prizes and snacks will be available. Call 256-831-7515 for more information.
The Calhoun County Birders will meet at 9 a.m. today at the Jacksonville Public Library. The preliminary birding schedule for the birding year will be announced. During the migratory season, the group will bird on Fridays and hold meetings on Saturdays. The public is welcome to sit in and decide when to join the group for outings. The group will visit as many sites along the newly printed Alabama Birding Trails as possible during the year. New members are welcome.
September events at the Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County include:
• Monday movies at noon
• Story time at 10 a.m. Tuesdays
• Wii play day, all day in the children’s department, Wednesday
• Southeastern Indian research, 2 p.m., Thursday, It isn’t your daddy’s genealogy, presented by Deanna Slappey
• Teen movie, 4 p.m., Sept. 25
• Kid’s craft day, all day, Sept. 26
• Hillside Cemetery, 3 p.m., Sept. 26, virtual walk-through by Tom Mullins
Free classes for familiarization with the Hispanic culture and the Spanish language, sponsored by the Calhoun County Hispanic American Association, will be 9-11 a.m. today (Saturdays through March 31, 2013) at The Anniston Star, 4305 McClellan Blvd. All instructors are expected to attend. The first and third Saturday will focus on English to Spanish; second and fourth Saturday will focus on Spanish to English. Call Gladys Denizard at 256-225-0109 for more information.
Fall trips planned by Jane Flannigan will include a Chattanooga Riverboat cruise Oct. 13 and a visit to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Nov. 26-28. Register early by calling 256-665-5803.
A preschooler story-time program will be 10 a.m. (most Thursdays) at the Jacksonville Public Library annex. Programs include “Swashbuckling”, Thursday; “The Lovely Library”, Sept. 27 and “Absolutely Apples”, Oct. 4. Call 256-435-6332 for more information.
The Children’s Market consignment sale will be 3-4 p.m. today at Jacksonville First United Methodist Church. Items for children, teens and expecting moms are to be featured. The proceeds will benefit the children’s ministry and other projects. Call 256-239-6033 or visit www.jaxfumckids.org for more information.
