Information on health benefits for veterans will be available from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the Johnston County Land Use Center, 309 E. Market St., Smithfield. Enrollment specialists will be on hand to answer questions from veterans who would like to apply for benefits. The program is a service of the Veterans Medical Center in Durham and the Johnston County Veterans Service Office.

'Cinderella' seeking donations

Cinderella's Wardrobe is seeking donations of gently used prom dresses and accessories. The donations will help young women attend their high school proms. They will go "shopping" at boutique that will be open March 18-20. To donate items or money, or to help with the boutique, call Alison Kidder at 390-0110.

Caring for aging parents

A program on caring for aging parents is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at the SECU Hospice House on Hospital Road in Smithfield. A panel of experts will include a doctor, a lawyer, a social worker, a chaplain and person who has cared for an aging parent. To pre-register, which is a must, call 209-3655.

Talent show in Clayton

A talent show is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Horne Memorial United Methodist Church on Second Street in Clayton. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 11 and older. Proceeds will go to Stop Hunger Now.

'The Game of Life'

'The Game of Life," a Black History Month program, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at South Campus Community School on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Smithfield. A panel will explore how athletics help young people develop physically, socially and morally. The panelists are Tol Avery, an assistant principal at South Johnston High School; Marlon Lee, coach of the varsity girls' basketball team at Clayton High School; and Mike Atkinson, manager of First Citizens Bank in Durham. Local cheerleaders will perform. Refreshments will be served. The program is a project of the Black History Committee of the Johnston County Heritage Center.

Compassionate Friends

Want to learn more about Compassionate Friends, a support group for people who have had a child die? An informational meeting is scheduled from 6:30 till 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at Wilson's Mills Christian Church, 179 Fire Department Road, Wilson's Mills. For more information, visit compassionatefriends.org or call Sheree Murray at 553-6000.

Contestants sought

The 2011 Miss Ham & Yam Festival Pageant is seeking contestants from birth to age 26.

Contestants to age 6 will compete in party dress and casual wear. Contestants ages 7-26 will compete in beauty, talent, interview and casual wear. Also, for each age division, the pageant will recognize the contestant who raises the most money for the Me Fine Foundation.

The pageant is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at South Johnston High School. For an application, visit hamandyam.com. Applications are due by April 6. For more information, contact Deborah Rosenberg at 291-2336 or at mixedblessings@aol.com.

Kisses From Heaven

Kisses From Heaven will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at Elite Chiropractic Center, 8837 U.S. 70 Business, Clayton. The support group is for parents, grandparents and siblings who have lost a child 2 years of age or younger. Grief counselors will be on hand. For more information, call The Miracle of Matthew at 631-1438.

Storytime in Selma

The Selma Public Library offers storytime at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays in the Jernigan Building on Anderson Street. The half-hour program offers stories and activities for preschoolers. For more information, call 965-03093.

Book club to meet

The Good Read Book Club will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, in the Jernigan Building on Anderson Street in downtown Selma. The group will discuss "The Glass Castle" by Jeanne Walls. For more information, call the Selma Public Library at 965-0393.

Pageants are Feb. 19

The 2011 Miss Johnston County and Johnston County's Outstanding Teen pageants are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College, 245 College Road, Smithfield. Contestants will compete in evening gown, talent, physical fitness and interview. Tickets are $15. They're available online at johnstoncc.edu/performingarts/events and by phone at 209-2099. Also, tickets will be available at the door.

Southern Symposium is March 5

The Johnston Community College Arboretum will feature fiddle and banjo player Marvin Gaster and guitarist Richard Owens at this year's Southern Symposium on Saturday, March 5. The event will be held from 2 till 4 p.m. in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium on JCC's Smithfield campus, 245 College Road. The symposium will focus on the woods used to create the sounds of the fiddle. Tickets are $45. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. For more information, call Lin Frye at 209-2052 or Minda Daughtry at 209-2184 or see johnstoncc.edu/performingarts /eventdetails.aspx?eventid=115.

Babysitter training

Babysitter training is scheduled from 9:20 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, at the American Red Cross, 801 S. 3rd St., Smithfield. To register, or for more information, call 934-8481.

Fashion show to benefit Harbor

"Hair to Heels," a fashion show, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at DPM Studios, 468 E. 2nd St., Clayton. The show will feature clothing from businesses and designers in the Clayton. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. For tickets, or for more information, call DPM Studios at 655-5346, send an e-mail to raquel@dpmstudios.com or visit hair2heels.com. Proceeds from the show will benefit Harbor, which provides aid, including shelters, to victims of rape and domestic violence.

Black history in Benson

A Black History Month celebration is scheduled from 2 till 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at the Benson Museum of Local History, 104 W. Main St., Benson. The celebration will feature a photo exhibit. Also, the museum invites those attending to bring historical photos for scanning by the museum staff. For more information, call 894-1266.

Energy-saving program

Want to learn how to lower your electricity bill? A free program is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the Benson Municipal Building, 303 E. Church St., Benson. Energy kits will be available, and those attending will be able to sign up for energy audits. For more information, call Ben Murphrey at 894-1606.

Homebuyer's workshop

Ready to buy a house? If so, attend a free workshop from 4 till 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Johnston County Agricultural Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield. Topics include money management, financial planning and home-buying expectations. The Cooperative Extension Service will offer the same workshop March 29, May 3 and June 16. For more information, call 989-5380.

Antiques evening

An antiques evening is scheduled from 7 till 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Princeton Public Library, 101 Dr. Donnie H. Jones Jr. Blvd., Princeton. Albert Kensac of Treasury Antiques in Selma will offer informal appraisals of items. Admission is $10. For tickets, call 965-3627.

Blood drive at Whitley Church

A blood drive is scheduled from 9 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at Whitley Church, 188 Whitley Church Road, Princeton. For an appointment, call 735-7201 or 910-7262.

Free help with tax returns

Free help with income-tax preparation is available from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Fridays at First Baptist Church, 202 S. 4th St., Smithfield. Walk-ins are welcomed, but for an appointment, call 910-891-4004.

Library adds titles

The Cleveland Library has added the following titles: "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett; "The Art of Racing in the Rain," by Garth Stein; "Amazing Grace: A Dog's Tale," by Dan Dye; and "Half Broke Horses," by Jeanette Walls. The library is in Suite D96 at 5533 N.C. 42 West in the Cleveland community.

Plant a row for the hungry

The Johnston Community College Arboretum is dedicating several rows of spring and fall vegetables to feed the hungry. Volunteers are needed to help grow the seedlings in the greenhouse, transplant and maintain the crops in the ground and harvest the food for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Knowledgeable staff will help you understand each of these processes while you gain valuable hands-on experience that you can transfer to your own home garden.

For more details or to sign up, please call Lin Frye, arboretum director, at 209-2052 or Minda Daughtry, arboretum technician, at 209-2184. For more information about the project, visit gardenwriters.org/ html/par/pdfs/09_par_ mkt_brochure.pdf.

Girl Scout cookies

Over the next few weekends, Johnston County Girl Scouts will be selling cookies at three locations in Smithfield: Carolina Pottery, 1000 Industrial Park Drive; IGA, 721 N. Bright Leaf Blvd.; and Lowe's Home Improvement, 1230 N. Bright Leaf Blvd. They will be there Saturdays and Sundays; times will vary.

Calling all quilters

The Johnston County Cooperative Extension Service is putting together a couple of quilting groups. One will meet in the morning - from 10 till 11:30 Feb. 28, March 28, April 25, May 23 and June 20. Another will meet from 5:30 till 7 p.m. on those same dates. All meetings will be at the Johnston County Agricultural Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield. For more information, call Jayne McBurney at 989-5380.

Coping with grief

"No Love Lost," a program on dealing with loss, is scheduled from 10 till 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Johnston County Agricultural Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield. Janelle Cox, chaplain at Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield, will talk about the grief process and healthy grieving of loved ones. To register, call 989-5380.