AMERICUS
Applications Accepted: The Advancing Sumter Community Leadership Development Program is accepting applications for its 2017 sessions. Classes are held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from Jan. 17 – April 4. Applications are found at www.sumtercountychamber.com. Select Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Development Division, Advancing Sumter. The fee is $50. Deadline for applications is Dec. 6. For information call Andrea Oates, 229-931-2705 or aoates@southgatech.edu, or Archway Professional Mary Alice Applegate, 229-938-9385 or mapple@uga.edu.

Sumter on Ice: Sponsored by the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, the ice is officially openin Rylander Park, downtown, and will be brought daily to families throughout South Georgia throughout the month of December, closing on Dec. 30 in time to ring in the New Year. Skates in all sizes are available for children and adults of all ages to rent. The cost to skate is $5 per person for an hour; and groups can rent the rink on Mondays for holiday parties and gatherings for a group rate of $300 an hour. Hours of operation are: Monday, close to public/open to group sales; 4-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. Sundays. The ice is open Christmas Eve during regular operating hours, but will be closed Christmas Day in observance of the holiday. The Americus Times-Recorder is one of the media partners of the event.

Toys for Tots: The Georgia State Patrol has joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to collect toys for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign to make a less fortunate child smile at Christmas with a donation of a new, unwrapped you. Drop off donations at the Georgia State Patrol Post 10 at 113 William Bowen Pointe. Monetary donations will also be accepted. Make checks payable to Georgia State Patrol Post 10 for Toys for Tots, or contact Sgt. Richard Peck, S/Tpr Rodney Gardner or TFC Alec Davis at 229-931-2397. Deadline for donations is Dec. 12.

Cloverbud Day Camp: Sumter County 4-H presents Cloverbud Day Camp from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at 127 William Bowen Pointe for youth five to eight years old. Activities include holiday arts and crafts, song leading and food project, service learning, recreation, and movies. Cost is $3. Registration forms available at Sumter County Extension Office. Deadline for registration is Dec. 9. For information call 229-924-4476 or email sumter4h@uga.edu

Free Service: The Americus Fire & Emergency Services spray live Christmas trees with flame retardant, at no charge, through Dec. 23, at the City of Americus Public Safety Building, 119 S. Lee St.

Servsafe® Training: Servsafe® Training for Food Service Managers is Jan. 25 and 26. Pre-registration is required by Jan. 5. Cost is $140. Call 924-4476 for information or stop by the Sumter County Extension Office, Sumter County Agricultural Center, 127 William Bowen Pointe.

Ongoing
Americus
Free Service: Americus Fire & Emergency Services offers free blood pressure checks from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Station 1 (South Lee Street).

GriefShare: First Baptist Church offers a non-denominational video series and biblical concepts for healing after the death of a loved one. Led by caring people, participants are provided workbooks for personal study and receive encouragement through small-group discussion. Meetings are from 7-8:30 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month. There is no cost and the meetings are open to anyone grieving the death of a loved one. For information call the church 229-924-9035 or Ann Beaver 229-894-9825.

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 www.learningforeveryone.org or 924-9443. 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 Southwest Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross seeks volunteers willing to invest time in Disaster Preparedness Education for our chapter and the surrounding areas. Looking for dedicated individuals 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 229-924-2026  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, 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.

Al-Anon: You do not have to be an alcoholic to suffer from the effects of alcoholism. Al-Anon offers a safe place to recover from the effects of another person’s drinking. Meetings are 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at the AA Clubhouse, Ga. Highway 30. All meetings are confidential and open to interested persons.

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.