Fundraisers
• The Clayton High School Band Boosters and Marching Band are having a family night 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 24 at Zaxby’s on U. S. 70 East, in Clayton. Zaxby’s will donate part of the profit to the band program.
• Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library’s fall book sale is Sept. 8-11. Sept. 8 hours are 8 a.m-2 p.m., and Sept. 10 and 11 hours are 4-8 p.m. This sale is at 100 S. Church St. in downtown Clayton. The library staff is also accepting donated books for this sale. Drop books off at the library.
• The Sue Daniels Memorial Run-Walk for Backpack Buddies begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 13 at Wilson’s Mills Town Hall, 101 Railroad St. Register online at runtheeast.com.
• The Rotary clubs of Clayton will hold their annual wine-tasting fundraiser at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at The Clayton Center, 111 E. Second St. Proceeds support the clubs’ scholarship funds.
Colin Hay performance
Tickets are on sale for Colin Hay, the former Men at Work front man, who will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at The Clayton Center. Tickets are $25 for reserved seats. Buy tickets online at theclaytoncenter.com, call 919-553-1737 or stop by the Clayton Center box office, 111 E. Second St.
Call for artists
• A total of $1,825 in prize money is up for grabs in Clayton’s annual Art Faire competition in September. Artists can find entry brochures at claytonvisualartsnc.org or at the Clayton Center, 111 E. Second St.; the Coffee Mill, 105 S. Lombard St.; or the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, 301 E. Main St.
• The Johnston County Arts Council is accepting grant applications until Sept. 4. Visit jcartscouncil.org for details.
• Open auditions/registration for the Johnston county choral is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27, at the First Baptist Church of Smithfield, 202 S. Fourth St. in Smithfield. Auditions are for voice placement only. The group will meet 7-9 p.m. every Monday night except Labor Day to prepare for the annual Christmas performance. Contact Rick Trollinger, 919-971-9836 or rick@agapecruisetravel.com.
Concerts
• 2012 Clayton Town Square Concert Series concert dates, except Sept. 13, are the third Thursday of the month, 7-9 p.m. on the Town Square, 100 W. Main St.
• The Red Clay Ramblers will perform at the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium 7 p.m. Sept. 8. Tickets are $21 online, johnstoncc.edu/performingarts, $21 by telephone, 919-209-2099 or $22.50 at the door.
Market is open
The Clayton Farm & Community Market is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays on the Town Square at Main and O’Neill streets.
Local events, classes
• Members of the Clayton High School Alumni Association along with classmates, former faculty members and friends are getting together at Jones Lunch, 415 E. Main, Clayton, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 6. Call Dennis Johnson at 919-803-1480.
• The Democratic Women of Johnston County will have their annual ice cream social beginning at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23, at Melody’s (formerly Orchard House Booksellers), 117 N. Third St. in Smithfield. The speaker is Court of Appeals Judge Sam J. Ervin IV.
• Johnston Community College offers free business seminars and counseling at the Workforce Development Center, 135 Best Wood Drive in Clayton. The college is also offering a series of employability classes this fall. Contact Danielle Hussey, 919-209-2042, email dphussey@johnstoncc.edu or register online at johnstoncc.edu/sbcregistration.
Johnston Community College offers a series of continuing education courses throughout the year as well. To register, call Vic McCormick 919-209-2595.
• The Clayton Parks and Recreation After-School program’s next 10-week session for kids in grades K-5 begins Aug. 28. The after-school program operates Monday-Friday from school dismissal to 6 p.m. Call Wanda Tetterton at 919-553-1550 for more information.
• The Clayton Area Toastmasters meet 6-7 p.m. Thursdays at the Johnston County Workforce Development Center, 135 Bentwood Drive. This is an international group dedicated to helping people improve their communications and leadership skills. Call Anthony Allen at 919-585-2098 or visit claytontm.com.
• The Clayton Parks and Recreation Department is offering “Beginning Wheel,” an eight-week pottery class. Class sessions are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or 6-8:45 p.m. Wednesdays until Sept. 26. The cost is $85 for Clayton residents or $100 for nonresidents. Call 919-553-1550.
• The Johnston County Public Health Department is offering a parenting class for parents of children 5 and younger. Sessions are 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 17 and 24. To register, call Tierra Taylor at 919-989-5200.
Support groups
• The Widowed Persons Organization of Clayton meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Rainbow Lanes Family Fun Center in Clayton. Call 919-616-5131 or 919-772-7086.
• Parents-as-Teachers, a free parent-support program serves Johnston County families with children from birth to 5-years-old. For information, call Tammy Evans, 919-989-5200.
Register for preschool
• The preschool at Clayton Crossings is accepting applications for the fall and spring terms. Call 919-272-3600.
• The Partnership for Children of Johnston County is accepting applications for its prekindergarten program. Call 919-202-0002 or visit pfcjc.org.
