A paddle trip down the Neuse River in Wake and Johnston counties will take place Saturday, Oct. 10. Frog Hollow Outdoors will provide guides, canoes, kayaks and shuttle for the trip. The cost is $35 per person, with $10 going to Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. For reservations, call 919-949-4315.

Clean up the river

A cleanup of the Neuse River is scheduled from 8 a.m. till 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. In Johnston County, the cleanup will take place at N.C. 42 east of Clayton and on the Smithfield Town Commons. To learn more, visit neuseriver.org/events/neuserivercleanup.html.

Financial seminar

A seminar titled "Money Strategies for All Times" is scheduled from 2 till 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 15772 N.C. 50 in the Cleveland community. Personal-finance author Matt Bell will conduct the seminar, which is $20 for singles and $30 for couples. The cost includes a 100-page workbook. For more information, contact Rex Spivey at 919-779-4209 or at MtZion-Workshop@nc.rr.com.

Tool drive

A tool drive is under way to benefit the Fuller Center of Johnston County. The Fuller Center, a new housing ministry, will use the tools to stock a construction trailer. For a list of drop-off sites, or to make a donation, call 1-866-966-8476 or visit FullerCenterJCNC.org.

'Guardians' sought

The Guardian ad Litem Program is seeking volunteers to serve as advocates for children who find themselves in the courts because of abuse or neglect. An information session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the Old Grand Jury Room in the courthouse in Smithfield.

Red Cross class

An instructor class in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation will meet Oct. 9-10 at the Red Cross office, 801 S. 3rd St., Smithfield. The cost is $175. For more information, call 934-8481.

Volunteers sought

Keep Johnston County Beautiful is seeking volunteers for its 2009 Festival of Trees. Volunteers are needed to unload, set up and remove trees; water poinsettias and trees; host two-hour shifts; and decorate. Also, the festival is seeking entertainers. The festival will be held Dec. 3-9 in the Johnston Medical Mall in Smithfield. To volunteer, call Susan Woodard at 934-7156, Ext. 3, or visit jcfestivaloftrees.com. To sponsor a tree, call Sarah Ann Sasser at 919-934-7433.

Seminar series

Community Home Care & Hospice has scheduled a series of free educational programs. From October through May 2010, the series will meet at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at 155 Meghan Circle in Blackstone Plaza in Selma. The series will feature guest speakers, resource materials and refreshments. The first program is "Dealing with Dementia." Dr. Marie Louise Zaldivar of Riverdale Family Medicine in Smithfield will speak. A question-and-answer session for caregivers and family members will follow. For more information, call Cassandra Cranston at 919-989-7276.

Burlington reunion

Employees of the former Burlington Industries plant in Smithfield will hold their reunion from 2 till 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Smithfield Middle School, 2455 Buffalo Road, Smithfield. The cost is $12.50 per person. The deadline to register is Oct. 25. For more information, call 919-965-5685.

Garden tour

The Arboretum at Johnston Community College is planning a tour of the Sarah P. Duke Asian Gardens in Durham on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The group will leave from the arboretum at 8 a.m. and return by 5:30 p.m. The cost is $20. To reserve a spot for the trip, call Lin Frye at 919-209-2052 or Minda Daughtry at 919-209-2184.

'Yes We Can'

The "Yes We Can Johnston County Coalition" will hold its second community meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at The Clayton Center, 111 E. 2nd St., Clayton. Topics include the H1N1 flu, new high school attendance boundaries and needed services for the poor and jobless. For more information, call 919-550-0614 or send an e-mail to information@yeswecanjccoalition.com.

Community meeting

The Wilson's Mills Fire Department will hold its annual community meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Fire Station 1, 145 Fire Department Road, Wilson's Mills.

Cleveland Library

The Cleveland Library has dropped the fee requirement for library cards issued to patrons living outside of Cleveland Township. Johnston and Wake residents 5 and older may obtain a library card for free. The library is at 5533 N.C. 42 West in the Cleveland community.

Cleveland photos

The Cleveland Firefighters Association has started its annual door-to-door photo fundraiser.

Open house

An open house is scheduled from 1 till 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Fire Station 1 on West Horne Street in Clayton. At the event, firefighters will show families how to prevent painful burns in the home. Also, families will learn how to escape from their homes in case of fire.

Women's fitness

In celebration of Women's Health and Fitness Day, Curves of Smithfield is offering a no-cost, 30-day diet plan. The program is a series of weight-management classes. The classes are based on findings from the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Laboratory at Texas A&M University. To learn more, contact Teresa Wilson at 919-938-3115 or 9ZYHWG7@curvesmail.com.