HANFORD -- The Kings County Historical Society will have a potluck at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27 and a Board of Directors meeting at 3:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10. A reminder that dues are due. Mail check to Bel Bogan, Membership chairman, 465 Centennial Drive, No. D, Hanford, CA 93230.

Information: Mrs. Garcia at 584-4214.

Pumpkin decoration contest

CORCORAN -- The 2nd Annual Corcoran Chamber of Commerce Pumpkin Decorating Contest need to be turned in by 3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Chamber Office. Judging will take place Wednesday at noon, at Christmas Tree Park. Pumpkin (real or plastic) can be carved, painted, decorated ... the sky is the limit.

Information: call Lisa Shaw at 992-4514 or Darrel Frey at 816-0268.

Community Diaper Drive

HANFORD -- The First 5 Kings County in collaboration with the Hanford Chamber of Commerce and the Hanford Mall will have their first annual community diaper drive at noon on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the mall. Drop off locations for the diapers are the Hanford Mall and at the Hanford Chamber of Commerce on Santa Fe Avenue and Seventh Street.

Information: call Jon-Michael Hice at 585-0814.

Tiger Class Band Review

LEMOORE -- The First Annual Tiger Classic Band Review, a marching band field show competition, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Lemoore High School Football Stadium. Bands will be attending from throughout the Central Valley and the central coast, and the competition will be judged by some of the finest judges in the state. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m., and the first band will begin at 5:30 p.m. The LHS Tiger Pride Marching Band and Color Guard will perform at 7:44 p.m. Concessions will be available. Admission will be $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Information: call 924-3751.

MS Support Group

HANFORD -- The Kings Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets the first Saturday of each month. The next meeting will be from 10 a.m., to noon, Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Central Valley Medical Center, in the chapel, behind the hospital, 1025 N. Douty St., in Hanford.

Information: call Deborah DeHolder at 585-8054.

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

Valley law enforcement and rescue personnel will face-off in a friendly competition to save lives by donating blood. Firefighters, police, sheriff, CHP, corrections, forestry and other emergency personnel will compete to bring in the most donations at the 7th annual South Valley Battle of the Badge Blood Drive. The drive begins Monday, Nov. 3 through Tuesday, Nov. 11 at various mobile drive sites across the South Valley.

The public is encouraged to donate on behalf of any participating group.

l On Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 7 a.m., to 6 p.m., the Kings County, 1400 Lacey Blvd., Hanford.

l On Thursday, Nov. 6 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lemoore Police Department, 657 Fox St. in Lemoore.

l On Friday, Nov. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Hanford Corporation Yard at 900 S. 10th Avenue.

l On Saturday, Nov. 8 from noon to 6 p.m., at the Hanford Mall.

l On Tuesday, Nov. 11 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank, 301 W. "D" St., in Lemoore.

All donors will receive a commemorative South Valley Battle of the Badges T-shirt and a variety of great donor reward coupons.

A perpetual trophy will go to the group with the highest percentage of donations, versus number of employees, in Kings County and another in Tulare County, in addition, a special trophy will be awarded to the correctional facility with the most donations.

Valley Seniors potluck

HANFORD -- The Valley Seniors will be holding their Halloween Potluck/Bingo Social at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday at the St. Brigid Youth Center, 319 N. Harris St. Non-perishable food items will be accepted to donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Bring a specialty dish to share with others.

Information: call Gladys at 584-8836.

Hanford Senior Citizens, Inc.

HANFORD -- Hanford Seniors will be holding their annual Halloween dinner party at 5 p.m., Friday. Tickets are $5 for the members and $10 for non-members. Non-members have the option of applying $5 of their ticket price toward dues for the 2009 year.

Dinner will be provided by Cal Clement Catering. Santa Maria Sirloin Steak and Pork Loin will be served, vegetables, fruit and ice cream sundaies for dessert.

Tickets are available from Jim Lint at the Veterans/Senior office Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. Frances Dias at the Senior Dances, from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday; from 7 to 10 p.m., Wednesday dances and from Gladys Mendes upstairs bingo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday. Last day to purchase tickets will be Friday, Oct. 24. Membership 2009 dues may be paid Halloween night. Information: call Gladys at 584-8836.

Trick-or-Treat alternative

HANFORD -- A fun-for-the-entire family alternative to traditional Trick-or-Treat. Come join the fun from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday at the Civic Park on Irwin Street (across from the Fox Theater). There will be games, carousel rides, carnival food, bounce houses, a costume parade and Trick-or-Treating. This event is sponsored by local area churches.

Information: call First Presbyterian Church office at 582-0283.

Flu shots for muscle disease patients

FRESNO -- Continuing a service it has provided for decades, the Muscular Dystrophy Association again is offering flu shots to people who have any of the more than 40 diseases it covers. To assist individuals in obtaining vaccinations this flu season, the Association teamed up with Walgreens to offer shots at thousands of Walgreens locations across the country through a voucher program.

MDA has 10 clinics in California where shots may also be obtained, including Children's Hospital Central California in Madera. Individuals can also find their nearest Walgreens flu clinic location by visiting Walgreens.com/flu or calling 800-FLU-9950 (800-358-9950).

For information about obtaining a flu shot or securing a flu shot voucher, call the MDA office in Fresno at (559) 453-9822 or visit MDA's Web site at www.mda.org.

Enchilada sale

The Kings County Cabrillo Club No. 9 will hold an Enchilada Sale on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Hanford Fraternal Hall Pavilion. Orders may be picked up from noon to 3 p.m. Choice of two large beef or cheese enchilada's per tray at $6 per tray. For orders or information please call Ann Culp 924-2185; Bel Bogan 584-3619; Barbara Lovier 584-7117; or Pat Scialo 584-5724.

Hobb's Grove

SANGER -- Over 100 ghouls, goblins and other ghostly types will be lurking about the 24 acres of Hobb's Grove near Sanger reveling in their 10th Year of Fear. Hobb's Grove's Haunted Forest, House, Hayride and atmosphere have become legendary in the haunt world both locally and nation wide.

Hobb's Grove will open selected nights October 10 through November 1. Tickets and concessions open at 5:30 p.m. and the haunting begins at dark. Tickets are also available at outlets and on-line. Prices range from $6 single event to $32.50 combo tickets with discounts on selected nights. Directions: Take Central Avenue, 1 mile east of Academy or Goodfellow 4 miles West of Reed.

Information: contact Cheryl Powell, Public Relations Director at 584-9116.

WHCC offers trip to New York

COALINGA -- West Hills College Coalinga makes a trip to the Big Apple possible through its PA 21: Play Production course.

To sign up for the New York trip, community members and students must take the play production course. The course is a self study course that advances the knowledge and understanding of theatre. The class will meet one time before the New York field trip and once more after the trip.

The trip is slated for April 6, through April 10, 2009 and will cost students $1,800, which includes round trip airfare; five days, four nights stay at a hotel in Manhattan; metro card; two meals per day; back stage and design/ construction tours; admission to one Broadway show and visits to the Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall and much more.

The trip is limited to 40 students and is on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information on the New York trip or to sign up, contact Harold Wiest at (559) 286-5010 or Katie Delano at (559) 244-9978. The last day to sign up is Friday, Oct. 31.

AARP Driver Safety Program

LEMOORE -- An 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Program class is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 30 and Friday, Oct. 31 at the Lemoore Senior Center, 789 S. 18th Avenue, Lemoore. Please note that Wednesday, Oct. 29 is a four hour Renewal Course from 1 to 5:30 p.m., for seniors. This course teaches seniors how to adjust driving in response to age related physical changes. It assists with rules of the road, local driving problems and safety tips. This class is offered for a minimal fee of $10 per person and anyone 50 years of age or older may attend. Contact your insurance company for a possible discount upon completion of this class.

Information: Kings County Commission on Aging Council at 1197 South Drive, Hanford or call 582-3211, ext. 2828.

Keyboarding/computer software applications

LEMOORE -- The Lemoore Adult School will have a course on keyboarding/computer software applications at the Lemoore Adult School-Room A6-N (Jamison Computer Lab). Senior Citizen Class (Microsoft Word) will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesdays, now through Dec. 16, and Monday and Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m.; Microsoft-Excel (spreadsheet) Wednesdays, September through Dec. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Information: contact Alice Moran-Santillan at 582-8580 or 707-6896.

Fall Spaghetti/Meatball Dinner

HANFORD -- The Hanford Sons of Italy Lodge No. 1543 will host its Fall Spaghetti/Meatball Dinner and Sauce Sale, today at the Hanford Fraternal Hall. Dinner will be served from noon until 4 p.m. Tickets are available at $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under from Ticket chair, Janis Hansen 582-4731. Tickets for sauce at $5/quart may be obtained from Joan Little 584-4477. Chairpersons of the event are HazelAnn and George Christin.

Blood Drive

CORCORAN -- The employees of J.G. Boswell are inviting the community to save lives at a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6 at J.G. Boswell, 710 Bainum in Corcoran. A bloodmobile will park near the front entrance. Donors will receive a variety of discounts from Valley businesses for dining, recreation, entertainment and services.

Lemoore High School

LEMOORE -- The Children's Theatre, Alice in Wonderland, presented by the Lemoore High School Players, will open with a benefit performance on Monday, Oct. 27 and stage its regular run from Tuesday, Oct. 28 and Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the Lemoore High School Auditorium. Alice in Wonderland based on the classic novel by Lewis Carroll, takes place in a topsy-turvy world where madmen and hares have tea parties, rabbits tell time, and queens play croquet in the garden using flamingoes for mallets. Learn the importance of keeping your temper, remember that nobody is "good-for-nothing."

The Benefit Performance will support the hungry in Kings County through Lemoore Christian Aid and the Salvation Army. The entire student body, especially with the support of the senior Economics students, intends to raise 8,000 cans of food during a 15 day period, beginning Oct. 14.

Tickets for the regular performances are available at the door: $5 general admission, $4 with any ASB card, $2.50 with a purple card and free with an LHS gold card.

Mariachi program starts new venture

ARMONA -- Kings Cultural Center's Mariachi Los Reyes is embracing a new venture to showcase the group's talent around the Valley.

The group, which was named Mariachi Los Reyes since the majority of its students are from Kings County, wants to expand its performance opportunities to showcase its talent.

For a minimum fee of $50, Mariachi Los Reyes can perform at your special event such as birthdays, celebrations, anniversaries, etc.

You can come and see them practice for free at the Kings Cultural Center, 14054 Front St. every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m.

For information, please call Kings Cultural Center at 589-6255 and leave a message for Monica Gonzalez, mariachi director.

Free foreclosure counseling

Self-Help Enterprises is offering free foreclosure counseling in Kings, Kern and Tulare counties.

Call the Self-Help Enterprise toll free hotline at (888) 412-0828. Spanish-speaking counselors will also be available. Self-Help Enterprises is a nonprofit housing and community development organization. For information, visit www.SelfHelpEnterprises.org.

(Oct. 26, 2008)