Parents group plans weekend events

Parents Without Partners will hold an orientation from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. The orientation is free and open to the public. Education is Fun/Tripoli will be available until 10 p.m.

At 6 p.m. Saturday there will be a membership drive and potluck dinner at Cape County Park North. The dinner is open to prospective members.

Jackson library plans story time for preschoolers

Preschool story time begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday. On Columbus Day children will read about autumn, the harvest moon and Columbus.

Cape public library sets weekend events

The Morning Book Discussion in the Hirsch Room resumes at 10 a.m. Friday with "Delta Wedding" by Eudora Welty. Patrons may ask for a copy of the book at the reference desk.

At 7 p.m. Oct. 16, bring a pumpkin and carving tools to create an original design using carving and scraping techniques. Pumpkin stories and yummy treats will be included in the fun. Call youth services at 334-5279 to reserve a space.

The great books series will consist of six meetings held from 2 to 4 p.m. starting Friday and continuing Oct. 21, Nov. 4 and 18, and Dec. 2 and 16 in the Hirsch Community Room. The book for the Oct. 21 meeting is "Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the West" by Stephen Ambrose. For more information call the library at 334-5279 or the Center for Regional History at 651-2555.

Tour de Cape bicycle fun ride set for Saturday

The 4th Annual Tour de Cape bicycle fun ride will take place Saturday. The ride begins and ends at the John Boardman Pavilion in downtown Cape Girardeau. This is a charity ride with all proceeds going to the Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Program. For more information visit www. showme .net/recreation/BikeTour/.

Lewis and Clark gourmet dinner tickets for sale

From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday fifty Lewis and Clark enthusiasts will be treated to a Lewis and Clark Gourmet Dinner provided by Chef James Allen and his wife, Pat, at Celebrations Restaurant at 615 Bellevue in Cape Girardeau. Diners are requested to wear black tie or colonial attire.

Proceeds will be used for the Cape Girardeau Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and the Red House Interpretive Center. Contact Celebrations Restaurant at 334-8330 for tickets.

Knights to hold annual Tootsie Roll charity drive

From Friday through Sunday, Council 1111 Knights of Columbus in Cape Girardeau will conduct the 31st annual fund-raising drive for mentally retarded citizens. It is a statewide drive in which Tootsie Rolls are given in exchange for a donation.

Colorfest home tours to take place Saturday

A tour of three homes and a church will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, sponsored by PAST, Promoting Appreciation of Structural Treasures, of Union County. Tickets are available Saturday at the PAST booth at Stinson Library, the Bigler home at 304 West High St. in Anna, Ill.; the Dahmer home at 105 Willard's Ferry Road in Jonesboro, Ill., and the Vicenzi home at 111 Cherokee Ridge Drive in Jonesboro. St Anne's Church will be open for tours without charge on the day of the tour.

Bicentennial commission announces meeting date

The Cape Girardeau Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission will hold its monthly public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, 100 Broadway. Topics include plans for the Red House Interpretive Center and the Bicentennial Re-enactment scheduled for Nov. 21 to 23. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend. It will be the first large event in the state of Missouri.

Assisted-living group holds fund-raising contest

The Arbors and Auburn Creek Assisted Living recently held a kiss the ASS, Alzheimer Support System, contest to raise money for the 2003 Memory Walk. The in-house donations received determined that Julia Strauser and Marlya Simmons would kiss Coby, the donkey, brought to the facility for this purpose.

Freedom of Speech run/walk set for Saturday

A 5k run and one-mile walk will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau. For more information go to freespeechrun.org.

Fall festival to feature demonstrations, music

The Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival, sponsored by Concordia Lutheran Laymen's League and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, will hold a fall festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The festival will feature apple butter cooking, cider making, bread baking, arts and crafts, skill demonstrations, music, food and drink. Call 824-5404 for more information.

Whitewater Masons to dedicate new building

Beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, the Whitewater Masonic Lodge will hold a dedication ceremony for its new building in Whitewater. Ron Clark, district deputy grand master of the 38th Masonic district, will be performing the ceremony. It is open to the public.

Commerce reunion to be held at park Saturday

A reunion will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the city park in Commerce. The potluck meal is at noon. In case of rain, the event will be held in the United Methodist church basement. All who have lived in Commerce are invited to attend. Bring lawnchairs. For more information, call Virginia Morse at 332-1514.

Christian Women's Club to meet Monday

Sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County Christian Women's Club, October's theme, "Country Fair Special," will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Delmonico's in Jackson. Special guest Cloeda Barks will feature auction items for sale. Luncheon and day care reservations may be made by calling Bonnie Macke at 243-2866 by today.

Committee sets Crader cemetery workdays

Workers should meet at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday for fence replacement around the cemetery. Please bring lawn chairs and portable tables, sandwiches, chips, cookies and/or soft drinks to share. The cemetery committee will meet sometime during the same weekend to discuss maintenance of the cemetery.

Colonial Ball to raise funds for Osage Center

A Colonial Ball will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau. Attend in period costume or attire from this era. Tickets are now available at Schnuck's and C.P. McGinty Jewelers in Cape Girardeau and at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center in Jackson.

Ticket price will include hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. The band will be Mid-Life Crisis and Cape Friends of Traditional Music and Dance will teach contra dance steps. Pilot Stan Crader will provide a power point presentation of his recent Flight of Discovery: the Lewis and Clark Trail as seen from the skies.

Wagganer Reunion planned at Teen Town

A Wagganer family reunion dinner will be held at noon Sunday at Memorial Park's Teen Town in Fredericktown, Mo. For more information call Catherine Griffin, mornings, at (573) 783-9378.

-- From staff reports