CASA to hold vigil April 3 at courthouse

At 6:30 p.m. April 3 a candlelight vigil will be held at the Cape Girardeau Common Pleas Courthouse in observance of April as the month for promoting child abuse awareness. This event is sponsored by Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southeast Missouri and the Social Work Club of Southeast Missouri State University.

CASA is an organization that provides specially trained volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children during the juvenile court process in Cape Girardeau, Perry, and Bollinger counties.

Music will be provided by members of Closure and a bake sale will be in progress with funds going to help children in foster care. The public is invited to attend.

Housing seminar today at Osage Centre

A Housing Resource Information Seminar will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. today at the Osage Community Centre at 1625 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

Representatives will talk about housing services they provide, including emergency shelter and transitional housing, permanent housing such as Habitat for Humanity and housing support services including HUD rental assistance. For more information call Shirley Ramsey at 651-3747. The seminar is free and open to the public.

Cape library to hold edible books contest

An edible books contest will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. April 5 in the Hirsch Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Entry forms are available at the Youth Services or Reference Desk.

Items for the contest must be book-related and edible. Categories include youth, adult, family and staff. All the ingredients needed are enthusiasm, imagination, a sense of humor and real food. The end product must be book-related and edible when finished (a placard to explain the item is an exception). Local business persons will judge the exhibits.

Judging is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the eating commences at 3 p.m.

Regional library to hold preschool storytime

Preschool storytime at the Riverside Regional Library Jackson branch will take place at 9:30 a.m. April 1, featuring National Library Week as the theme. National Library Week is from April 6 to 12.

Auditions for Sunday Showcase to be held

Auditions for a monthly Sunday Showcase will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Center for the Arts, 127 W. Main, Jackson.

The showcase will feature local musicians, dancers, vocalists, comedians, actors, poets and other performers. Performances will be scheduled monthly throughout the year. Call 979-3684 or 243-1450 for more information.

Early literacy program offered to parents

Success By 6 and the Cape Girardeau Public Library have partnered to host a program for parents on the importance of early literacy. The program will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the LaCroix United Methodist Church, 3102 Lexington Ave. in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau Public Library personnel will be sharing activities and handouts for parents to use at home with their children.

For more information contact Jim Watkins at 334-9634, e-mail address jwatkins@ midwest.net, or Sharon Anderson at 334-5279.

Antiques, Treasures and Curious Things sale set

Through the cooperative efforts of the Jackson Area Arts Council, Steve Logan and the Starcatchers Theatre Group will sponsor this most interesting sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Gallery 127, 127 W. Main, Jackson. Proceeds will support the Center for the Arts, a nonprofit organization.

Weekend events for Parents Without Partners

From 11:30 am until 1:30 pm Saturday, Parents Without Partners will eat at Port Cape and then tour the "Lewis and Clark Exhibition" at the River Heritage Museum.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 30, Parents Without Partners will be at Cape County Park North, pavilion 3 for kite flying, fishing, hiking, etc. Call 335-0797 for more information.

See the movie 'Apocalypse' for free

At 7 p.m. Friday Grace Bible Evangelical Free Church, in cooperation with Cloud Ten Pictures (the producers of Left Behind -- the Movie), will present the movie "Apocalypse." The 1998 film has a very timely, relevant, and hopeful message for today. The film is rated PG-13. Admission is free.

Grace Bible EFC is at 5303 Old Cape Road East at the crossroads of Interstate 55 and Kingshighway, just up the hill from Garden Hill Nursery.

All city jump rope for heart to be held Friday

From 3:30 to 6 p.m. Friday at West Lane Elementary School, the American Heart Association (AHA) will hold an all city jump rope for heart for the City of Jackson. This event is open to all Jackson elementary students. The class with the most participation will receive treat bags delivered to their classroom from the AHA.

For those who wish to participate, a parent permission slip can be brought along on the day of the event along with any donations collected. Checks can be made payable to The American Heart Association.

Students raising more than $50 will be eligible for a grand prize drawing.

The Jumping Tigers demo team will perform from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., followed by assistance in jump-rope tricks and skills until 5:30 p.m.

Pizza and juice will be provided by area restaurants from 5:30 to 6 p.m. for all participants. Parents or guardians are to pick up their students promptly at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Tarolyn Johnson, youth market specialist for the American Heart Association at (800) 579-1977 or (573) 270-1602.

MS fund raiser Sunday at Jackson Tire Center

In an effort to recruit 75 walkers and raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Jackson Tire Center team, the MS Fighters, will hold an auto-detailing event from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Jackson Tire Center, 1901 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson.

Free T-shirts will be given to all who donate $10 or more. Call 243-8481 to schedule an appointment to sign up for this complete interior/exterior auto detailing fund raiser.

-- From staff reports