Lovely locks
GRAND BLANC TWP. — Grace Kaiding, a kindergartner at Reid Elementary, has already learned the importance of helping others.
Grace has been growing her hair for several years to give to Locks of Love. She recently cut off 10 inches to donate. Her mom said Grace made a big sacrifice, enduring many painful combing sessions to get rid of tangles.
Locks of Love is a civic organization that makes prosthetic wigs for children who lose their hair due to illness. For information, visit www.locksoflove.org. — P.H.

Children with
green thumbs?
GRAND BLANC — Touch the Earth Garden Club has eight garden beds at Rust Park available for children to “adopt” and cultivate their gardening skills this summer.
Individual children, siblings or children’s groups, such as a school classroom or scouts, can plant flowers or vegetables, maintain and cultivate their gardens over the summer and harvest their produce. The growing season runs roughly May-October.
Master Gardeners and adult volunteers will be on hand to help and advise. The garden club has flowers, vegetables and tools available for anyone interested.
The garden club built the beds as part of its ongoing community beautification efforts. The group also maintains flowerbeds and greenery around Heritage Museum, City Hall and in the parks.
For more information, contact Aileen Thompson at tathomps@ sbcglobal.net. — J.N.

Awards brunch
GRAND BLANC TWP. — The Genesee District Library is hosting its 2007 Black History Month Awards Brunch at 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Genesys Conference and Banquet Center.
Featured at this year’s event, emceed by ABC-12’s Dawn Jones, will be: Susan L. Taylor, editorial director for Essence Magazine; Judge Archie L. Hayman from the seventh judicial circuit of Genesee County; Pastor Larry A. Holley of Abundant Life Ministries International; Chief Theresa A. Stephens-Locke, director of public safety at Mott Community College; and Lillian McCain, a professor at MCC.
Tickets are $20 per person or $200 per table. For tickets, call 810-732-5570. — P.H.

Sunday Post
Office hours
GRAND BLANC — The post office will be accepting passport applications from noon-5 p.m. on Feb. 25 to make it easier to comply with requirements that went in to effect Jan. 23. New federal regulations require all travelers to have a passport to enter or re-enter the U.S. when traveling by air.
Customers should bring a birth certificate and driver’s license or state ID card. Fees are $67 for adults and $52 for children under 16. All must also pay a $30 execution fee and passport photos will be available for $15.
Most receive passports in six to eight weeks but an application can be expedited for an additional fee. The post office is located at 11426 Davis St. For information call 810-694-4241. — M.S.

Hit the lanes
GRAND BLANC TWP. — The Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Greater Flint will host its 28th annual Bowling Challenge Feb. 22-25 at Galaxy Lanes, 2226 Hill Rd.
Participants are asked to organize a five-member team with a minimum pledge of $40 per person. All participants get one game of bowling, shoe rental and a T-shirt.
Proceeds go to fund organizational programs and mentoring services, with the group’s ultimate goal being to provide children in Genesee County from single-parent families with a positive adult role model. For further information contact Ellen Brothers at 810-235-7247. — M.S.

Preachers’ meeting
GRAND BLANC — The Grand Blanc Church of Christ will be hosting the Mid-Michigan Preachers’ Meeting, featuring guest speaker Charles Coats, at 10 a.m. May 8. All preachers and elders are invited to attend.
Coats is a renowned preacher who has spoken at meetings in Michigan, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. He is a regular speaker at the Michigan Bible Lectureship and the 39th Street Church of Christ Lectureship in Independence, Mo. Additionally, Coats is an instructor at the Michigan Bible School and the Online Academy of Bible Studies.
For more information on the Mid-Michigan Preachers’ Meeting, visit www.churchofchrist-grandblanc.com. — A.S.

Have a ball
FLINT — The Annual Hurley Ball will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at the Hurley Health and Fitness Center and will benefit the Hurley Diabetes Center.
More than 25,000 people in Genesee County have diabetes and 68,000 residents have pre-diabetes symptoms. This past year, Hurley provided more than $30 million in uncompensated care and received no public funds to cover the cost of health care for those uninsured.
Ticket prices and sponsorships vary. Organizers hope to raise $200,000. For more information, call 810-257-9667. — M.S.

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