Farmers market season begins

* The second season of the Cape Riverfront Market, organized by Old Town Cape, will begin Saturday in the parking lot at 35 S. Spanish St., across from Bel-Air Grill and Grass Roots BMW. "The first year was a huge success. There was such an amazing variety of vendors and really interesting demonstrations," said Ross Peterson, market manager. "I think people initially came for produce and found out there was so much more. Seeing the community that was created was incredible and we're looking forward to another great season." The market will include more than 30 vendors selling fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses, nuts, honey, maple syrup, jams, breads, baked goods, coffee and a variety of arts and crafts. All products are locally grown or produced. The event also will include weekly demonstrations and entertainment as well as a seating area for patrons. SNAP/EBT cards will be accepted for qualifying items. The market will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 26. The lot will be closed to vehicles from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. For more information visit www.caperiverfrontmarket.com or call Old Town Cape at 334-8085.

* The Cape Farmers Market, held in the Plaza Galleria parking lot, 2001 Independence St. from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, kicked off the season April 18. For information, call 334-7676.

* The Jackson Farmers Market begins May 7 and will be held from 3 until 6 p.m Tuesdays through September. in the band shelter parking lot at Jackson City Park. For information, contact Grant Gillard, president, at 587-1623 or Michelle Chesser, market manager, at 204-1321.

Ribbon cuttings, relocations and expansions

* Plaza Tire Service will hold a ribbon cutting at its new flagship store at 170 South Kingshighway at 5 p.m. Thursday. The original William Street location, where it opened in 1963, closed Saturday and the new, larger facility on the opposite corner of the same block opens today. Plaza Tire Service has never missed a day of service, even when plagued with fire and floods during the past 50 years, according to a company news release. Plaza Tire Service is listed as the 22nd largest independently owned tire retailer in North American by Tire Business magazine and has 56 stores throughout Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Kentucky, including three in Cape Girardeau and one in Jackson. For information, call 335-8585 or visit plazatireservice.com.

* Genesis Home Care at 2029 Independence St. held a ribbon cutting Friday. It relocated from 1606 Independence St. and is expanding its in-home health services. It provides personal, homemaker and respite care 24 hours a day, seven days a week and accepts Medicaid, veteran's benefits and private pay clients. It is branching out to include a program in which clients may choose their health care workers, which may include family members. Contact 334-7771 for information.

* Arena Golf will hold a ribbon cutting at its redesigned miniature golf course at 2901 Hawthorne Drive at 1 p.m. Friday. "The new 18 holes are much more fun and challenging with many more contours and obstacles," the company's website said. Arena Golf has batting cages, a driving range, a retail store and a club repair shop. Lessons are offered and group events can be accommodated. For more information, call 332-0860 or visit www.arenagolfcape.com.

Business training

Shawnee Community College's Illinois Small Business Development Center will host four "Social Media for Small Business" workshops:  

Thursday at SCC Metro Center in Metropolis, Ill.; May 7 at the Pulaski County Business Center in Mounds, Ill.; and May 9 at the SCC Extension Center in Anna, Ill. "We understand that small business owners need to utilize any free or low-cost tools they can to advertise their products and services. This seminar was designed to help them understand the social media tools that are available to them," said Candy Eastwood, director of the SBDC. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Etsy, Yelp and other social media platforms, as well as permission-based email programs, will be discussed. All workshops are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and cost $25. Deadlines are today for Metropolis, Friday for Mounds and May 6 for Anna. For more information or to register, contact Gabriele Farner at 618-634-3254 or gabrielef@shawneecc.edu.

Businesses offering free screenings

Southeast SportsCare will provide free athletic injury screenings at HealthPoint Fitness in Cape Girardeau from 7 to 9 a.m. Monday mornings, beginning today. No appointment is necessary. HealthPoint Fitness director of operations Jack Hembree encouraged athletes not to let their injuries go unchecked. "If you're a weekend warrior and a little dinged up, stop by our Monday morning injury screening. We can get you on the path to recovery," he said by news release. Evaluations will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Southeast SportsCare at 986-6635.

National attention

Zero-waste practices used at Proctor & Gamble's Cape Girardeau Plant were featured on "The Green Room with John Holden," which aired on the cable channel Fox Business on April 20. P&G also was featured on the show last month for its clean energy portfolio. View the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0HjlS1SvM8.

Rumors and previews

A CVS/pharmacy store is slated to go into the former Plaza Tire Service location at 2149 William St. sometime in 2014.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

2029 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

170 South Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO

2901 Hawthorne Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

35 S. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, MO

2001 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

Symphony Drive, Jackson, MO

2149 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO

2901 Hawthorne Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

5385 Industrial Park Dr, Metropolis, IL

515 E Vienna St., Suite G, Anna, IL

330 Enterprise Lane, Mounds, IL

1150 E. Vienna St., Anna., IL

14484 State Hwy. 177, Jackson, MO