Americus
Notary Training: Sumter County Superior Court Clerk, Nancy C. Smith and the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority host two free notary training sessions Nov. 17. The first session is from 10:30 a.m.-noon and the second session is from2-3:30 p.m. Both sessions will be held in Courtroom A of the Sumter County Courthouse. This training workshop is open to the public and is highly recommended to anyone who is a notary public in the State of Georgia or would like to become one. It is important to remember that a notary public should perform their duties to the utmost extent of the law, and failure to do so could result in costly lawsuits and penalties as a notary is liable for his or her actions.

Christmas Open House: The Downtown Christmas Open House is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Nov. 19. If any business is interested in participating in the window display contest and several other fun and exciting activities, call the Americus Welcome Center at 229-928-6059.

Movie Presentation: The Americus Rotary Club sponsors a special movie presentation, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Rylander Theatre. Tickets are $10 general admission. Call 229-931-0001 or rylander.org. Proceeds benefit Harvest of Hope Food Pantry.

Photos with Santa: The Americus Rotary Club sponsors free photos with Santa from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Windsor Hotel lobby. Bring your camera and a friend.

Christmas Parade: The City of Americus’ Christmas Parade is at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 downtown. If anyone is interested in participating in this year’s parade, call the Americus Welcome Center at 229-928-6059.

Food Fundraiser: Come see National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!  Fundraiser for Harvest of Hope Food Pantry families to buy food for Christmas. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Americus, the movie is at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Rylander Theater. Tickets are $10. Purchase at the box office; call 229-931-0001 or buy online www.rylander.org

Plains
Cane Syrup Day: Have you ever wondered how the yummy, sticky concoction called cane syrup is made? Ever wondered about the workings of a rural farm in Southwest Georgia during the Great Depression? If you answered yes to any of these questions (or no for that matter) come on out to the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm for Cane Syrup Day! The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site hosts the celebration of Cane Syrup Day on Nov. 21. Demonstrations will be presented throughout the day between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Ellaville
Board Meeting: The Lake Blackshear Regional Library board of trustees holds its quarterly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov.  19 at Ellaville United Methodist Church, 185 S. Broad St. The meeting is open to the public.

Cordele

Review Panel Meets: The Citizens Review Panel for the River Valley Region created under the Transportation Investment Act of 2012 meet at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 1, at the South Georgia Technical College Crisp County Center, in Room A26. The facility is located at 402 N.  Midway Road. The purpose of the meeting is to review the progress of projects included in the approved Investment list for the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST). The meeting is open to the public.

Ongoing
Americus
Relay for Life Shirt: Americus Fire & Emergency Services’ new 2015 t-shirts are in and ready for sale. Call Harriett Williams at 924-3213 to order. Funds go toward Relay for Life.

Six Flags Tickets: 2015 Six Flags Tickets are available for $41.50 each at the Sumter County Extension/4-H Office, Sumter County Agricultural Center, 127 William Bowen Pointe. (Save $25.27. Gate Price is $66.77. Cash only! Call 229-924-4476 for information. Ticket valid any regular operating day through Jan. 3, 2016.

Volunteers Needed: Learning for Everyone Inc. (LEAP) is seeking volunteers for its Mentor Partnership with the Sumter County School System. Volunteers will mentor children in the grades 3-9. Interested applicants may check out our website at www.learningforeveryone.org or contact Brittany Dawson, Mentor coordinator at 229-924-9443 or bdawson@learningforeveryone.org. They may also attend our mentor trainings. Mentor trainings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at 200 Cotton Ave.

Volunteers Needed: The Flint River Chapter of the American Red Cross seeks volunteers willing to invest time in Disaster Preparedness Education for our chapter and the surrounding areas. We are looking for dedicated individuals that are willing to speak and train others on what to do before, during and after a disaster. Any volunteer with time on his/her hands is an excellent candidate for this program. This is of vital importance to our area as we never know when a disaster will happen. Call Marvin Grace, Community Disaster Educator at 229-733-9738 or the chapter at 229-436-4845 for more information.

Weight Watchers: Weight Watchers meets Thursdays at First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Jackson St. Weigh-in is at 5 p.m., followed by meeting at 5:30 p.m. Visit weightwatchers.com

Become a Mentor:  LEAP “Learning for Everyone … Avenue to Progress” continues to provide mentorship to elementary, middle and ninth-grade academy students and free adult education classes to the citizens of Sumter County. LEAP is currently accepting applications for the 2013-2014 school year. Applicants need to be 18 or older and commit 30 minutes per week for one academic school year. For more information or to make a donation, contact Brittany Dawson at leapcis@gmail.com or call at 229-924-9443.

Mustard Seed House: Calvary Episcopal Church’s Mustard Seed House is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday on Brannan Avenue. Stop by for some great deals.

A.A. Meetings: Alcoholics Anonymous meets from 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays at New Beginnings and the Addiction Recovery Center of Middle Flint Behavioral Healthcare, 952 Anthony St. (across from GSW baseball field). Call 928-2201 for more information.

Help Available: The ROAD Program (Reaching Out to Assess Dementia) is a free and confidential memory screening. The  goal at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving is to screen for memory loss and refer for further follow-up, as indicated. Stay active in your care and decision making. Call today for free screening 229-928-1234.

GED Testing Hours: GED testing at the Stein Center are 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and the first Saturday of each month.

Recycling Project: 4-E Learning & Prevention Center Inc. is sponsoring a recycling project. Call 928-5605 to make arrangements for delivery or pick-up of large items. Bring other items to the 4-E Center, 1405 First Montgomery St. All types of metals are needed such as old vehicles, bikes, electronics, microwave ovens, file cabinets, appliances, etc.; aluminum items; paper items such as old books, magazines, etc.; plastics such as water and drink bottles and other items; and ink cartridges of all sizes, brands and kinds.

4-E Learning & Prevention Center: After School program for K-8th grade students is 2:30-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Registration fee is $25 or $60 for pickup from school. You might be eligible for free or reduced child care. Contact DFCS. To register, call 928-5605 or e-mail fourecenter@yahoo.com or apply online at www.compass.ga.gov

Youth Mentoring: Love & Mercy Outreach Programs Inc. presents the S.O.L.A.C.E. Youth Mentoring Program from 7-8 p.m. every Saturday at 1243 Faith St. Annex Building; LMOP Inc. Activities Center. All teens ages 12-18 are welcome. For more information or for a ride, contact Tanya Reese 229-591-2565 or Qaijuan Willis 229-942-7220. Also e-mail us at solaceyouthprogram@gmail.com

CPR Classes: Americus Fire and Emergency Services will offer American Heart Association CPR certification classes. Call Harriett Williams at 924-3213 for more information.

Drug Problems: Narcotics Anonymous meets 7:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays for members only. A meeting open to the public is held 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Meetings are held at Williams Road Church of Christ. Call George C. 942-3752.