COMMUNITY CALENDAR
THURSDAY
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Rome, Inc 17 E. Pennington Ave, will be giving away groceries on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 10 a. m. to 1 p. m. No ID required. For more information call 706-234-6413.
The NWGA Center for Independent Living is sponsoring a virtual Emergency Preparedness Forum with a focus on mental health and emergencies on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 2-4 p.m. on Zoom. For the meeting link, contact Jill Baldwin at jbaldwin@nwgacil.org or at 706-314-0008. Let her know if you need materials in an alternate format.
Rome Shakespeare Festival opens on the Town Green Thursday, Sept. 24, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 27, with 6 p.m. performances every night. Family Day activities on Saturday start at noon; Intercultural Hispanic Festivities of Music & Dance is at 2 p.m. Sunday. To order a table, visit Romeshakespearefestival.com or call 706-331-1006. Blanket seating is free. Social distancing will be observed.
SATURDAY
The Rome High School Air Force JROTC program will host a benefit car wash Saturday, September 26, from 10 am to 3 pm at 1010 Martha Berry Boulevard. Donations of any variety will be accepted.
Silver Creek United Methodist Church, 36 Reeceburg Road, will sponsor a free community lunch Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. To maintain appropriate social distancing, the event will be drive-through only. This month’s menu is hamburgers, chips, baked beans, dessert and drink. For more information, call or text 706-5066493. Everyone is welcome.
UPCOMING
The Coosa-north Georgia Regional Water Planning Council will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Registration is at 12:45 p.m., meeting is from 1-3 p.m. on the Microsoft Teams platform. Link is tinyurl.com/ CNGSEP2020, phone dial-in is 469-214-8538. The conference ID is 619 410 123#.
The American Red Cross is holding blood drives in Rome on Oct. 1, from 2- 7 p. m. at the Northwest Georgia Chapter office, 112 John Maddox Drive; on Oct. 7, from 3-7 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1941 Shorter Ave.; and on Oct. 22 from 2- 7 p. m. at the office on John Maddox Drive. Donors will receive a free COVID-19 antibody test. Go to redcrossblood.org or call 1- 800- REDCROSS to schedule an appointment. Walk-in donors will be accepted when possible.
Southern Cruisers riding club, Rome chapter, will host its annual Cruisin’ for St. Jude benefit for the children’s hospital on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Easy Living Yamaha & Polaris, 3120 Martha Berry Highway. Registration is $30 for rider and passenger and starts at 9 a.m. for the 11 a.m. escorted ride. Music, food, door prizes and auction activities also will be set up on site.
Cosmopolitan UMC, 101 Fincher St. in Cave Spring, will host its annual “Jazz On The Lawn” Oct. 4 at the church, featuring Jsmith Music. The event is free. Program ads can be purchased through Sept. 27 by calling 404- 759- 3918. Social Distancing and masks required.
Local churches will come together for a drive-in worship service to mark World Communion Sunday at 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds, 1400 MLK Jr. Blvd. Bring your own elements.
Bids for the Friends of the Library silent auction will continue until Saturday, Oct. 17, at 4 p. m. All proceeds will go to the library. For a complete list of all the items offered in all three showcases, check the Library website, www. shrls. org/ romefriends- ofthe-library.
Hospitality House Thrift Store, 610 Shorter Ave., is holding a Ladies Boutique Blowout Sale at 75% off. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. Saturday. Masks required. Proceeds benefit programs for local abused women and their children.
Rome Area History Museum will again offer Haunted On Broad tours the first two weekends in October.
Tickets are $ 10 per person and can be purchased online at RomeareaHistorycenter.org or at the welcome centers on Jackson Hill, 402 Civic Center Drive, and across from the Town Green, 300 W. First St.
VFW Post 4911 at 2632 Cedartown Highway hosts Bingo every Friday night. You do not have to be a member of the VFW to play. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the kitchen opens at 6 p.m. and the games begin at 7: 30 p. m. Cash prizes. Hot food and snacks available.
The NWGA Center for Independent Living holds a COVID- 19 Peer Support call every Monday at 2 p.m. via the Zoom website and by phone. For the link and password, or if you need assistance, contact Christina Holtzclaw at 628-246-1825 or choltzclaw@nwgacil.org.