Area Calendar of Events

Polk County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for vendors for the 2017 Homespun Festival happening on July 21 and 22 in Rockmart. Costs vary for vendors, but those seeking to bring arts and crafts to Homespun are charged $115 for a vendor fee. The deadline to apply is April 30. Call the Chamber at 770-684-8760 or e-mail homespun@polkgeorgia. com for more information or to sign up as a vendor.

Clear your calendar for March 18 as Rockmart celebrates their Welsh heritage with the annual WELSHFest taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. downtown. Check out welshfest. vpweb.com for more information.

Cedartown First United Methodist Church will hold their Ash Wednesday Service on March 1 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary, including a short devotion and imposition of ashes. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The ashes are from the burned palm branches of the previous Palm Sunday (Sunday before Easter). Come and be a part of this celebration.

Habitat for Humanity - Coosa Valley will hold a volunteer orientation on Feb. 25, 2017 at 95 Three Rivers Drive, Rome, Ga., 30161 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Habitat will discuss volunteer opportunities. Those with questions can contact Torri at torri@habitatcoosavalley. org or 706-378-0030.

The Ferst Foundation of Polk County presents their third annual “An Evening with Authors” on March 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Stone Creek Inn in Rockmart. A silent auction of autographed books and cakes will be held during the event. All proceeds go to support the Ferst Foundation of Polk County. The event is free. Call Debbie Ross at 770-546-0222 for more information or to make donations.

Single Friends is sponsoring a dance 7 til 10 pm at the Charles Parker Center in Rome on Friday, March 10th. Admission is $7. Married couples are welcome. Music by DJ Ken Hughes. Door prizes and refreshments included. For more information call Sharon at 256-443-7426. The dance is held on the second Friday of every month.

Cedartown First United Methodist Church and the Cedartown/Polk County Humane Society are teaming up to help raise money for local pets in their 2017 Cruisin’ for Critters: Blessing of the Bikes and Ride, being held on Saturday, March 11. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m., with kickstands up at 11:30 a.m. at the Cedartown First United Methodist Church at 201 Wissahickon Ave., Cedartown. $25 per bike, $10 for each additional rider. Includes blessing guardian bell and lunch, and souvenir t- shirts are available. Contact Charlotte Harrison at 706-252-4412 for more information, or Kellie Taylor at 770-684-2248.

The Polk County Police Department is hosting a blood drive on Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the department headquarters at 73 Clines Ingram Jackson Drive in Cedartown. Schedule an appointment to give blood at the Blood Assurance website at bloodassurance.org/polkpd.

This is the last chance to see Rockmart’s winter art show, “Romance.” which closes on Saturday, Feb. 25 with the gallery shuts its doors for the day. Call 770-684-7578 or e- mail LRobinson1301@ bellsouth. net for more information about Rockmart’s winter art show and the Rockmart Art Gallery.

Registration i s on now f or Cedartown Youth Baseball at Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex ending this week on Feb. 23 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Visit their website at cedartownyouthbaseball.com for more, or call 470-865-2990. Youth softball and soccer signups are underway as well.

The next monthly spaghetti dinner at American Legion Post 12 is being held on March 15 at a new time from 5 to 7 p.m., and includes spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast and salad for $5, and is open to the public. New members are invited to attend the regular meeting and dinner at 7 p.m. each second Tuesday. The Legion Riders gather at 7 p.m. each fourth Tuesday.

High school students f rom Cedartown and Rockmart will be gathering on March 1 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. for the annual College and Career Fair, this year being held in the Rockmart High School gymnasium. Those who wish to setup a booth or table can contact Sue Wray at 770-712-9216 or Gina Reil- ly at 706-766-4084 for more information on how to participate. 900 students will be on hand to participate from both schools.

Cedartown First United Methodist Church is offering a book study entitled: “Restored - Finding Redemption In Our Mess”, a new book s t udy by Tom Berlin. Cedartown First United Methodist Church is hosting this study for the 40 days of Lent. Join us as we look at the mess in our lives and how God is calling us to live beyond the challenges. Each week, beginning Sunday, March 5, Pastor Mike will share a relevant message related to that weeks topic and then lead a Wednesday night book study and discussion. Cedartown First is located in downtown Cedartown at 201 Wissahickon Avenue and the church website is www.cedartownfumc. org. or phone at 770-748-4731.

A charity event is coming up on Feb. 25 in Rockmart for the Rockmart Masonic Lodge No. 97 to help raise money for restoring the Historic Van Wert Church. The all you can eat pancake breakfast will be held from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the lodge, with all the trimmings for $6. Diners can also carry out. Donations are being accepted for the breakfast, and those interested in helping out can call Lodge secretary Tye Tomlin at 678-699-7152.

The Rockmart Farmers Market continues their winter season every Thursday this month. Check out the website Rockmartfarmersmarket. com for more information on vendors for the coming event. They’re open on Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. through the beginning of April.

Cedartown Supper Club every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6: 30 pm. Held at 71 Woodall Rd. Seventh-day Adventist Church. Enjoy a vegetarian supper and participate in a lecture on healthy, happy living. Free and for all ages. Each evening provides a different menu and lecture topic. For more information or to RSVP please call 678-901-9184.

Cedartown First United Methodist Church is excited to offer Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University on Sundays at 4 p. m. from March 12 - May 21. No classes on Easter and Mother’s Day. This is a 9 week program that has proven to help people gain control of their finances. It costs $ 99, although $44.50 will be reimbursed to those completing the study and graduating the class. For more questions, call Tanya Woods (706) 331-1223 or your may signup by vising our website at www.cedartownfumc.org.

The Polk County Historical Society will be meeting for their monthly gathering on Feb. 28 at the Hawkes Library at 7 p.m. Check back in the coming week’s edition of the Standard Journal to find out more about the upcoming program, and visit the Polk County Historical Society website for more information at Polkhist.com.

The Cedartown Performing Arts Center is now taking applications to be a part of their upcoming gala show that will not be judged, but will allow local artists to display and sell their work. This endeavor by the CPAC is part of a plan to recognize local artists and to keep art in the Auditorium Gallery on a full-time basis – either by staging periodic shows, purchase of art pieces from local artists or donations of art pieces from individual artists. There is no cost to register. March 17 is the deadline to register. An opening gala is scheduled for Saturday, March 25 at 7 p.m. Visit Cedartownshows.com to find an entry form to return to the CPAC.

Interested in becoming a Foster or Adoptive Parent? Open your heart to a child in need and find out how you can help. Join others who seek the love of a child every second Tuesday night of each month at 6 p.m. at Polk Co. Department of Family and Children Services office, located at 100 County Loop Rd. in Cedartown. Information Sessions are held to explain what is required to become a foster or adoptive parent in the state of Georgia. For more information please call Robin Forston at 404- 895-6517 or e-mail robin.forston@ dhs.ga.gov or call 1-877-210-KIDS. Visit www.fostergeorgia.com for more information.

Upcoming art lessons for kids and teens are beign held this weekend at 10 a.m. at the Rockmart Art Gallery. Art instructor Margaret Bearden will be teaching a paintalong class on Saturday, Feb. 18. Visit Facebook.com/rcac.ga for more on classes, or e-mail margaretbearden@ gmail.com. Register upon arrival.

A Personal Relationship Seminar is being held in the Activity Hall at 71 Woodall Road continues on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11:00 am. This 6 lesson program runs every other week, with the next dates scheduled for March 11, March 25, April 8, April 22 May 13. Come find freedom from the issues that affect your relationships. Learn how the Bible can equip you with tools needed to strengthen your relationships and find victory over destructive issues. Free materials. Call pastor Jeff Freeman at 706-6766893 for more info.

Join Paul Craighead at the Rockmart Cultural Arts Center gallery for weekly pottery classes. They are held Tues- day and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for $15 each, and $12 for a Thursday class from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Materials are included in the cost of the classes. Call Paul Craighead at 770-8435302 with questions. Registration open at the beginning of classes.

The Cedartown Performing Arts Center will be hosting Georgia’s first daughter Katie Deal on April 8, 2017 as she brings a selection of Patsy Cline classics to the stage in “Today, Tomorrow and Forever: A Tribute to Patsy Cline.” Tickets range from $20 to $25 depending on seating choices. Visit the website to purchase tickets, or call the box office at 770-748-4168.

Celebrate Recovery continues to meet in the First Baptist Church of Rockmart, 311 E. Elm St., Monday nights with dinner at 6 p.m. A large group gathers at 7 p.m. and small share group at 8 p.m.

The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group in Polk meets the first Monday of each month at First Baptist Church of Rockmart, 311 E. Elm St. The facilitator is April Williams. For more information call 770-546-5188.

Lutheran Services of Georgia’s Heritage Adoption Program partners with DFCS to find Forever Families for children waiting in Georgia’s foster care system. Information Sessions are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:00pm at the Rome Office, located at 336 Broad St, Suite 200. Individual sessions may be scheduled to accommodate families, as needed. For more information, contact aweaver@ lsga.org or call 706-506-0649.

The Sit N’ Stitch craft group meets each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Rockmart First United Methodist Church, 135 West Church St., Rockmart, Ga., 30153. All crafters are welcome to come and work on your own projects or help out with various local mission projects, as they become needed. Bring a sack lunch or just come when you want and leave as you need to. You do not need to be an expert, come and enjoy the fellowship. Contact Madeline Brown at 678-435-5032.

Soup and “Savior”, a local non- profit organization, meets from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays to provide needed items to deserving people. This includes a free meal (soup), clothing and gives other assistance. Meetings are held at Glad Tidings, located at 703 Robert L Parks Blvd in Cedartown. Donations are accepted.

Lutheran Services of Georgia’s Heritage Adoption Program partners with DFCS to find Forever Families for children waiting in Georgia’s foster care system. Information Sessions are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Northwest Georgia office in Rome, located at 336 Broad St. Individual Information Sessions can be scheduled to accommodate interested families. For more information, contact aweaver@lsga.org or call 706-506-0649.