July 31

— The Trinity United Methodist Church in Elizabethtown will hold its Christmas in July from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. A wide variety of items will be included such as baked goods, gift baskets, jewelry, wreaths, pillows, crafts, wood products and much more. There will be a silent auction during the sale. Lunch will also be available at a cost for $6 per plate. Plates include barbeque chicken, baked potato and salad. Lunch will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m. The church is located at 901 West Broad Street, Elizabethtown.

Aug. 5

— Four local authors will share their work with readers beginning at 6 p.m. at the Bladen County Public Library in Elizabethtown. Authors to be featured are Charles W. Suggs, Bea Freeman and Dwayne Douglas.

— The Elizabethtown Housing Authority will meet at 6 p.m. in the Elizabethtown Municipal Building in Elizabethtown.

Aug. 6

— Smart Kidz Day Care is planning a shopping trip to Concord Mills in September with an overnight stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. Money is due in full and room list. For more information contact Ilka McElveen at 862-8484 or 874-5584.

Aug. 12

— Clarkton Woodmen of the World Lodge 262 will have its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Clarkton Depot building. The meal will be hot dogs. All members are invited to attend.

Aug. 14

— Sword of the Lord Ministries will host the third annual Encouragement Day at the church on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Elizabethtown from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to the public and will include a motorcycle show, food, gospel music, arts and crafts for children, bounce houses for the children and more. Interested vendors can call 910-445-6455 to participate. All area churches are urged to participate.

Aug. 17

— The Clarkton Housing Authority will meet at 6 p.m. at the Oakdale Homes Community Building on site in Clarkton.

Aug. 20

— Deadline for payment for the Smart Kidz trip to Orlando, Fla. in October. For more information on pricing and accommodations, contact Ilka McElveen at Smart Kidz Day Care at 862-8484 or 247-6690.

Aug. 21

— A Shelter Friend will hold its annual benefit, Pets Without People, at Lu Mil Vineyard in Dublin.

Sept. 3

— Deadline for payment for the Smart Kidz trip to NC A7T University’s homecoming in October. For more information on pricing and accommodations, contact Ilka McElveen at Smart Kidz Day Care at 862-8484 or 247-6690.

Sept. 24

— Deadline for payment for the Smart Kidz trip to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This will be a four day trip Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 24-28). For more information on pricing and accommodations, contact Ilka McElveen at Smart Kidz Day Care at 862-8484 or 247-6690.

Sept. 25

— A "Stop the Violence" concert will be held at Elizabethtown Middle School starting at 5 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.) starring Grammy award-winner Shirley Caesar, along with performance by guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The event is being sponsored by Sword of the Lord Ministries in Elizabethtown.

Sept. 29

— A reunion is planned for those veterans who have served on the USS Columbus CA-74/CG-12/SSN-762 is planned for Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 at the Best Western Albany Airport Inn. Contact Allen R. Hope at 260-486-2221 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or fax to 260-492-9771.

Oct. 1

— Initial deposit due for Smart Kidz trip to the Essence Music Fest 2011 in New Orleans, La. Admission to the festival is free. Festival dates are June 30 through July 4, 2011. For more information on pricing and accommodations, contact Ilka McElveen at Smart Kidz Day Care at 862-8484 or 247-6690.

Ongoing

— The Cape Fear Farmer’s Market is now its tailgate market from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Vendor information and copies of the rules for the market can be obtained by contacting Sarah Baysden at the Elizabethtown Town Office at 862-2066.

— The Bladen County Special Olympics meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Bladen County Public Library in Elizabethtown.

— The Smart Kidz Day Care of Elizabethtown is planning a Hawaiian Get-A-Way for April 23, 2011 through April 30, 2011. For more information on pricing and accommodations, contact Ilka McElveen at Smart Kidz Day Care at 862-8484 or 247-6690.

— The late Alise Bridger will have her works on display at the Bladenboro Visual Arts Gallery. The art gallery is located in the Bladenboro Historical Building. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until noon and Saturday and Sunday 2 until 4 p.m.

— The Elizabethtown-White Lake Chamber of Commerce meets every second Tuesday at the Front Porch Restaurant at noon.

— The Garland Lodge 1511 of the Woodmen of the World Insurance Society meets the first Friday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Ammon community building. Members and guests are welcome.

— Families First, Inc. is offering a parenting program for men and women. The women will meet on Mondays at 4 p.m. and men will meet on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. These classes are open to anyone. Families First is located at 208 S. Morehead Street, Elizabethtown. For further information contact, 862-2534.

— Families First, Inc. is offering an Empowerment Group for Women meeting Fridays from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. You don’t have to be in an abusive situation to attend. We encourage all women to come and express themselves. The program is open to anyone. Families First is located at 208 S. Morehead Street, Elizabethtown. For more information contact, 862-2534.

— A new military monument has been constructed by the Bladen County Military Museum on a brick patio at 818 S. Main St., Bladenboro. Brick’s may still be purchased and are $100 each. The bricks honor all branches of service beginning with the Revolutionary War. For more information, call 863-4707.

— Bladen County Habitat for Humanity meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church.

— The Woodmen of The World Lodge 865 meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Woodmen of the World Lodge on Hwy. 242 N.

— The Woodmen of The World Lodge 208 meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodmen of the World Lodge on Whiteville Hwy. Meal will be served.

— The Kelly Historical Society meets on the third Saturday each month at 10 a.m. at the Kelly Museum. For more information, call 910-763-6966.

— The Bladen County Chapter of the NAACP will meet the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Focus Building on Martin Luther King Drive in Elizabethtown.