Published: August 29, 2008 09:55 pm      

Best Bets

Guidelines for Best Bets

Best Bets items may be submitted up to two weeks in advance and are subject to editing. Items must be received by 1 p.m. to run the following day. Items must be submitted via e-mail or U.S. Postal Service. All submissions must be typed and may be e-mailed to newsroom@itemonline.com. Handwritten submissions will seldom be accepted.

Best Bets announcements are for non-profit and community groups wishing to announce a specific event. We will not run submissions which do not fit the guidelines of Best Bets not mentioned here. Best Bets is based on space availability. We do not guarantee that any announcement will run every day, or on any specific day. Questions regarding Best Bets should be directed to Meagan Ducic at (936) 295-5407 ext. 3008, or Jay Ermis at (936) 295-5407 ext. 3025.



ANNOUNCEMENTS



Donations needed

The Huntsville Restorative Justice's ‘Bus Stop Outreach’ program needed donations of men’s shirts, belt’s and tote bags. These items will be distributed to men who have just been released from TDCJ. Bring donations to FUMC or call Carolyn Leonard at (936) 349-2190.



Food drive

John Cole Farmers Insurance will sponsor the first annual Fill the Bag food drive during the month of September, benefitting The Good Shepherd Mission and The Senior Center of Walker County. There are more than 50 drop sites in business throughout Huntsville. For more information, call (936) 295-9400 or visit the office at 253 Highway 75 N in Huntsville.



Fundraiser

Summit Christian Academy, located at 3122 Montgomery Rd., will hold a fundraiser with Abundant Funds to benefit the school will begin on Sept. 15. The new year officially begins Aug. 25 at 8:05 a.m. and is themed “Mission Minded.” Registration is still available; Summit Christian Academy offers education for children ages 18 months through sixth-grade. For more information, call (936) 295-9601or visit www.scahuntsville.org.



TODAY



Car wash fundraiser

American Bank, located on 11th Street across from Auto Zone, will host a car wash today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to benefit Fabian Alexander Barahona, a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic 11-year-old boy who sustained his injuries in a 2003 collision with an 18-wheeler on state Highway 190. Direct donations to the Fabian Alexander Barahona medical fund are available through Bank of America.



Senior Center gala

The Senior Center of Walker County will hold its second annual gala today at the Walker County Fairgrounds from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person or $150 for a table of 10. There will be dinner and a live auction; praise/worship and choir groups will sing. For more information, call the Senior Center at (936) 295-6151 or Rick Carpenter at (936) 662-7119.



Trail ride

The 2550 Ridahz will hold its first annual trail ride today at 4 p.m. on Highway 30 West. There will be food and drinks available and a live DJ, DJ Floyd. Adult admission is $6 and children ages 10 and under are $3. For more information, call Tina at (936) 355-4896 or Neisha at (936) 355-4897.



Car wash and bake sale

Sr. White football team and its cheerleaders (of the Huntsville Youth Football League,) will hold a car wash and bake sale today from 8 a.m. to noon at McDonalds, located at 2502 Sam Houston Ave.



SUNDAY



2008 Hair Show

On Sunday, Beauty and Barber Professionals of Huntsville will hold its third annual Hair Show at 6 p.m. in the Old Town Theatre, located at 1023 12th St. For more information, competition entry or to purchase tickets, call Donna Rogers at (936) 581-9616 or LaTedra Wiley at (936) 581-3210.



Labor Day barbeque

The Thomas Lake Road Volunteer Fire Department will hold a barbeque on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be sliced brisket, sausage and all the trimmings. There will be a cake auction at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults, $3.50 for children ages 6-10, children under 6 are free. All proceeds will benefit the volunteer fire department.



TUESDAY



Music lessons

Beginner music lessons for children ages 7-18 are now available with the Huntsville Youth Orchestra. Registration, free for all new students, will be on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Sam Houston State University. Call (936) 291-3184 for information.



Square dance lessons pre-registration

Pre-registration for square dance lessons will be Tuesday through the first event on Sept. 22. Square dances are smoke free and alcohol free. It helps to have a partner, but singles are also welcome. Lessons will be held on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Tri-County Services Building, 7045 Highway 75 South (about 1/2 mile south of McCoys). The lessons are sponsored by The Huntsville Promenaders Square Dance Club, and the first two introductory lessons are free of charge. For information and to register, call Lewis or Marilyn Chumbley at (936) 295-1723 or Johnny or Margaret Sicola at (936) 435-0985.



Theatre auditions

Huntsville Community Theatre will hold auditions for Lend Me a Tenor, the 2008-2009 season’s opening show, on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Old Town Theatre, located at 1023 12th St. from 5-8 p.m. For more information, call (409) 256-8542.



WEDNESDAY



Mended Hearts Support Group

The Mended Hearts Support Group will meet Wednesday at noon in the Huntsville Memorial Hospital Conference room. The program will be on holiday safety and identity thief. Registration is due by Sept. 2; call (936) 291-4594.



Mothers of Preschoolers

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), is inviting all mothers of children ages birth through kindergarten for a time-out for moms at University Heights Baptist Church on the first and third Wednesdays Sept. through May. The first meeting is Wednesday at 6 p.m.; childcare is included. For more information, call UHBC at (936) 295-2996 or Michelle at (936) 661-3799.

THURSDAY



Bowling leagues

Bowling leagues are preparing to start the fall season. For those interested in bowling in a mixed league, Thursday night has openings and you are urged to be there at 6 p.m. This is a split season and four member teams. For information, call Carl Overton at (936) 577-0964.



Huntsville Newcomers Club

Huntsville Newcomers Club holds monthly meetings and luncheons on the first Thursday of each month from September through May at the Elkins Lake Clubhouse. Membership is open to all residents in the Huntsville area. The first luncheon of the season will be Thursday. Sharla Schumaker of Conroe Regional Hospital will be the guest speaker and the topic of discussion is “Women and Heart Disease.” Reservations are required and due by Sept. 1. For reservations or information, call (936) 295-5249.



Lighthouse volunteer team

Carriage Inn Retirement Community will hold volunteer training Thursday and Friday. Lighthouse Hospice is recruiting volunteers to assist with patient care/companionship, family support and grief/bereavement support. If interested, RSVP with Dana Mulrooney by Sept. 3 by calling (281) 290-7727 or (936) 499-4125.



Wynne Home

Huntsville Arts Commission will celebrate its 30th anniversary by hosting an open house on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the Wynne Home, located at 1428 11th St. For more information, call Mikayla Migura or Linda Pease at (936) 291-5424.



West Sandy Community Association

The monthly meeting of the West Sandy Community Association will be held on Thursday at the old school at the intersection of FM 1791 and FM 3179. Games begin at 4 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Delma Shelly at (936) 344-2086.



The Society of Creative Anachronism

The Barony of Raven's Fort, whose members are devoted to the study and teaching of numerous aspects of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, will hold its monthly meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at Fire Station No. 2 on Sam Houston Boulevard. All are welcome. For more information, email gpace77586@yahoo.com.



FRIDAY



Gibbs Powell Home fundraiser luncheon

The Gibbs Powell Home Museum will host a fundraiser luncheon on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., dine-in or take-out. Lunches consist of beef tostadas, spanish rice, refried beans and cinnamon raisin bread pudding and are limited. To phone-in orders, call (936) 295-2914. Suggested lunch donation is $5 a meal and 50 cents a drink.



Fish fry

The Knights of Columbus monthly fish fry dinner will be held on Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Saint Thomas Catholic Church, located at 16th Street and Avenue M. Dinner will include fish, french fries, hush puppies, fried okra, cole slaw and iced tea. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children. Carry-out dinners are available. For more information, call Ed Jacobs at (936) 661-4014.



UPCOMING



Dance

American Legion Post No. 95, located at 1919 Industrial Drive, will hold its monthly First Saturday dance on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. The dance is open to the public, has no cover charge and features The Link Davis Band. For more information, call (936) 291-1029.



Animal shelter garage sale

The Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter will hold its annual garage sale at the Elks Lodge on Sept. 6-7. Call the shelter at (936) 295-4666 for more information.



Town Hall meetings

Citizens are invited to attend town hall meetings to share ideas about the future of the Huntsville Public Library. Meetings are scheduled for Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Walker Education Auditorium; Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the West Hill Mall Community Room; Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Mance Park Jr. High Auditorium. Two special meetings for representatives of community organizations and groups will be held on Sept. 18 at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall (bring a lunch) and at 5:30 p.m. at First National Bank’s Flag Room (sixth-floor). For more information, call Linda Dodson, librarian, at (936) 291-5470.



Small Business Breakfast

Dancing Light Fused Glass and Ceramic Studio will host the Chamber Small Business Breakfast of the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, Sept. 11 at Golden Corral at 7:30 a.m.The purpose of the Small Business Breakfast is to allow businesses the opportunity to give a short introduction about themselves and their establishment and all members attending will be included in a drawing for door prizes. Cost is $7 for Chamber members ($10 for prospective members) and is payable at the door. Reservations requested; call the Chamber at (936) 295 8113.



Journey through Bethlehem

There is a Journey through Bethlehem general planning meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, located at Highway 30 East in the Fellowship Hall. JTB is a Christmas Community Outreach program held the first weekend in December at the Walker County Fairgrounds. The event is open to the community and anyone wanting to participate is welcome. For more information, call (936) 295-7459 or visit the website at www.journeythroughbethlehem.org.



Hunter education

Hunter education classes will be Sept. 13, 14; Oct. 11, 12; Nov. 15, 16. All classes begin at 11:30 a.m. Sign-up is due by Sept. 8. For more information, call (936) 293-1090.



Divorce Recovery support group

On Sept.13, First United Methodist Church will offer a seminar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for people going through a separation or divorce. The cost is $20 and includes lunch and a workbook. Anger, depression, loneliness and finances are some topics to be covered. Free child care is available if requested three days in advance. Call (936) 295-5441 to register and for more information.



Country and western dance

Trinity VFW Post No. 6899 will hold a country and western dance on Sept. 13 from 8 p.m. until midnight. The band High Stakes will perform, and there will be wine and beer available. Membership ot required, everyone welcome. For more information, call (936) 594-9467.



DAR Meeting

The Mary Martin Elmore Scott Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, Huntsville, will begin it’s year with a meeting on Sept. 16 at 11:30 a.m. at Elkin’s Lake Clubhouse. Special guests will be, Texas State regent, Lynn Forney Young, Judge Danny Pierce, SHSU President, Dr. James F. Gaetner. Members may bring guests. Send lunch reservations to Kay Mitchell; lunches cost $12.



‘Safe Driving’ class

The Huntsville AARP will hold a “Safe Driving” class on Sep. 16, 17. The class, designed as a refresher course for experienced drivers, will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carriage Inn, in Huntsville. Classes are limited; pre-register with John Sicola, by calling (936) 435-0985.



Job hunting help

The Huntsville Public Library, located at 1216 14th St., will host professor Charles Capps of the Sam Houston State University College of Business Administration. The class will be held in two sessions: Sept. 18 and Oct. 2, from 5:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. at the library.



HHS Class of 1978 reunion

Huntsville High School Class of 1978 will hold its 30-year reunion Sept. 20 at the Elkins Lake Club House from 8 p.m. to midnight. The cost is $30 per person and $60 per couple. For payment information, visit www.freewebs.com/hornets78/reunion.htm and click on the Paypal link. For more information, visit classmates.com or call Diane Callaway Glezman at (936) 499-1031 or Kathy Dunham Troxell at (832) 248-7477.



Free Reverse Mortgage seminar

Golden Corral, located at 2050 11th St., will host Paramount Mortgage Funding on Sept. 25 for a reverse mortgage seminar at 6 p.m. Event held for mature home owners ages 62 and above. No income or credit requirements; no payments. Government insured. Dinner will be provided. Call 1-866-852-9001 to RSVP, or register online at www.texasEZreverse.com.



Cow Country Congress program

The 2008 Cow Country Congress program will meet Sept. 26 at the Corlay Farm and Cattle Co. in Dodge. Program registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and introductions commence at 9 a.m. A registration fee of $15 per person will provide each participant a steak lunch complete with all the trimmings. Reservations should be made prior to Sept. 22 by calling the Walker County Extension Office at (936) 435-2426 or any of the seven other participating county offices.



Outdoor Explorer

On Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Huntsville State Park will offer classes to learn basic safety for biking, hiking and kayaking and exploring the state park with backpacks, bikes and kayaks provided for you. Class sizes are limited to 30 and pre-registration is required. Ages 12 and up can register with an attending parent or guardian. Participants 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This program is free to the public. For more information call (936) 294-5725 or visit the Web site at www.huntsvilletx.gov/departments/community_services/recreation.htm.



Madisonville High School class of 1978, 1979 reunion

Madisonville High School class of 1978, 1979 will hold a reunion Oct. 3, 4. Persons interested in attending, RSVP by Sept. 22. For more information, visit www.mhsclassesof78and79.com.



Fair on the Square

The Fair on the Square is on Oct. 4. Registration has begun and less than 90 booths are now available. Booth spaces are 10 x 10 and $135 for craft booths. Food booths are sold out. For chamber members a craft booth is $90. Call Laura at the chamber at (936) 295-8113 for requests.



Charity turkey shoot

The Conroe Knights of Columbus will hold its 29th annual charity turkey shoot on the following days: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall No. 6456, located at 2655 FM 1488 in Conroe. There will be a target shoot, raffle tickets and barbeque. Bring your own shotgun, loaners provided.



Multicultural celebration

Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority, Inc. will host, “Hello World!” where attendants can learn about various cultures and enjoy free food and entertainment. The celebration will be at the white gazebo at the Walker Education Center on 19th Street, Oct. 11 from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Sarah at srshhollins@yahoo.com.



Walker County American Heart Walk

On Nov. 8 at Sam Houston State University’s Bowers Stadium, there will be a Walk for the American Heart Association. For more information, call (936) 291-4599.