HUNTSVILLE — TODAY



Miss Essence Scholarship Pageant

Miss Essence Scholarship Pageant is now open to all high school young ladies of any nationality in grades 9-12, and ages 14-19. Advanced registration is through Aug. 31 for a fee of only $25. Registration fee of $30 will begin Sept. 1. Regular registration will also be held in the Huntsville High School Commons on Sept. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Sept. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27 will be the last day for registration and will also, be the first mandatory parent meeting at the La Quinta Inn 124 I-45 North in Huntsville at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Veronica Stubblefield at (936) 581-1608 or VGS002@shsu.edu or LaTonya Hall at (936) 577-9031 or LRH009@shsu.edu.



Huntsville Hornet Football Tickets

Tickets to the Huntsville vs. College Park varsity football game taking place at 7 p.m. Thursday at Woodforest Bank Stadium in The Woodlands will be on sale from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Thursday in the Huntsville ISD Business Office, located at 441 FM 2821 E in Huntsville. Adult tickets are $6 and student tickets are $3. This is the only location for pre-game ticket sales. All tickets at the gate at College Park will be $7.



THURSDAY



Preschool Story Hour

The Huntsville Public Library hosts Story Hour every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. The theme for Thursday will be “Squirrels and Chipmunks.” For more information visit the Library’s website at myhuntsvillelibrary.com or call the Library at (936) 291-5472.



Diva Night

Tickets are on sale now for the first ever Diva Night at Magnolia Lake on Thursday. Ladies may purchase tickets at the Chamber, Lisa’s Gift Box and Curves for only $25 but only a limited number will be sold. Tickets will provide entry into this “ladies only” event,  beverages and hors d’oeuvres, drawings for door prizes and pamper stations, style show and the opportunity to spend an evening with friends.



Diabetes Support Group

The Diabetes Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday in the HMH Conference Rooms. Dr. Jason Forbes will speak on “Managing Diabetic Wounds.” Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, call (936) 291-4599.



FRIDAY



Sausage Wrap Fundraiser

Unity of Faith Missionary Baptist Church will hold a fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. For $5, supporters will receive a sausage-wrap-around, a bag of chips, cookies and a bottle of water. The interested may call the church at (936) 295-1698 to place an order or stop by 336 Watkins Street in Huntsville. Delivery is available on large orders. Sponsored by the Pastor's Aide Committee.



KC Fish Fry

The Knights of Columbus will serve their Fish Fry dinner from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at St. Thomas Catholic Church Hall, located at 16th and M Streets in Huntsville. The menu includes deep fried fish, French fries, hush puppies, fried okra, cole slaw and ice tea. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Students with SHSU ID are $6. Take-out dinners are welcome. For more information, contact Ed Jacobs at (936) 661-4014.



Hunter Education Certification Class

A Hunter Education Certification Class for persons born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, will be conducted at the City of Huntsville Service Center on Friday from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Minimum ages for certification is 9 years old; persons under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Cost for the 2-day course is $15 and covers all materials. Students should dress appropriately for outdoor activities on Saturday and bring their own personal archery equipment. All persons desiring to take this class must pre-register and bring their Social Security Card to class to register. To register or for more information please contact Joe Schmidt at (936) 293-1090.



Animal Shelter Garage Sale

The Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter’s annual garage sale will be held at the Elks Lodge, 3400 Elks Drive (behind Margarita’s), this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sales outside only from 1-5 p.m. on Friday. Donations welcome on Friday at Elks Lodge.



SATURDAY



Spinning & Weaving Demonstrations

A spinning and weaving demonstration will be given from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. Take a step back in time to see an artisan recreate a craft and trade of the 19th century.



Barbecue Fundraiser

The Huntsville Youth Football League J.V. White team will hold a barbecue fundraiser and bake sale at 10 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Card & Party Factory and O’Reilly Auto Parts.



Pre-Game Tailgate

Sam Houston State University Alumni Association invites you to attend a Pre-Game Tailgate party on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 4-6 p.m. at Floyd Casey Stadium, 3000 Dutton in Waco (behind HEB on Valley Mills). $10 per person. Fajitas and two drink tickets. Game tickets are available through the Bearkat Athletics Ticket Office by calling (936) 294-1729 or online at www.gobearkats.com.



SAVE THE DATE



SEPTEMBER



Labor Day Barbecue

Thomas Lake Road Volunteer Fire Department will host a Labor Day Barbecue on Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sliced barbecue brisket, sausage and chicken with all the trimmings. Cake Auction at 12:30 p.m. Eat in or take out. Cost for adults is $7, children 6-10 $3.50, under 6 eat for free. Proceeds go to support the volunteer fire department.



Garbage Pick-up

The City of Huntsville Solid Waste Division will run regular residential and commercial garbage pick-up on Labor Day, Sept. 6. The Recycling Center will be closed to the public, but reopen on Tuesday.



Lutheran Social Services

Lutheran Social Services of the South is looking for families that are interested in foster care and or adoption that are willing to provide a safe, secure and loving home to a child or children in need. An orientation meeting will be held on from 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7,  and from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9. Lutheran Social Services will provide the training and support needed to interested families. To RSVP contact Kandi Carruth or Kimberly Greene at (281) 298-8639 or e-mail kimberly.greene@lsss.org or kandi.carruth@lsss.org. Lutheran Social Services is located at 500 Spring Hill Dr., Ste. No. 180 in Spring.



HISD is Going Green

Huntsville ISD has a new Back to School Online Registration system for returning students. Letters were sent home to parents about the new system and each letter included their child’s unique passcode for logging into the system. Parents need to go to the district’s website at www.huntsville-isd.org and follow the link to the Back to School Online Registration system. This new process will save parents time and prevent them from having to fill out stacks and stacks of duplicate registration forms for multiple children. This registration process needs to be completed by Sept. 7. If parents do not have Internet access, they can go to the HISD Technology Department at 1220 Avenue M from 7-9 a.m. and 2-6:30 p.m., or they can go to any of our campuses and request assistance.



Youth Orchestra

Huntsville Youth Orchestra will begin the fall semester Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the SHSU Music Building on the second floor. HYO provides for anyone ages 7-18 the opportunity to learn to play violin, viola, cello or bass, regardless of previous music experience. Come learn all about us! Call (936) 344-7901 for information.



Waterwood Women’s League News

The Waterwood Women’s League will hold its first meeting for 2010-2011 at the HEARTS Veterans Museum in Huntsville on Sept. 8. The year’s upcoming activities along with other League business will be discussed. A tour of the Museum and lunch at a local restaurant will follow. If you are interested in finding out more about the WWL, please e-mail Sally Charlton at sally.outonthedeck@gmail.com for information.



Mended Hearts Support Group

The Mended Hearts Support Group will meet at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 8 in Huntsville Memorial Hospital Conference rooms A & B. The speaker will be Dr. Shulka, who will lead a discussion on acid reflux. A light lunch will be served – bring a friend. Please arrive between 11:30 a.m. and noon. Please RSVP to (936) 291-4594 by Sept. 7. Mended Hearts, a satellite chapter of Conroe Mended Hearts, is dedicated to the purpose of offering help, support, and encouragement to pulmonary and heart disease patients and their families.



Chamber Small Business Breakfast

The next Small Business Breakfast of the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by University of Phoenix will take place at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9 at Golden Corral. The purpose of the breakfast is to allow businesses the opportunity to give a short introduction about themselves and their establishment and all members attending will be included in a drawing for door prizes. Cost is only $7 for Chamber members and is payable at the door. Reservations are requested. Call the Chamber at (936) 295-8113.



MOPS Meeting

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) will hold their first meeting from 9-11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9 at Elkins Lake Baptist Church. For more information, call (936) 295-7694.



Preschool Story Hour

The Huntsville Public Library hosts Story Hour every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. This complimentary program promotes emergent reading skills for preschool aged children. Story Hour includes stories, songs, dance and finger plays and concludes with a craft activity. The theme for Sept. 9 will be “Elmer the Elephant.” For more information visit the Library’s website at myhuntsvillelibrary.com or call the Library at (936) 291-5472.



Birthday Lunch

American Legion Post and Auxiliary Unit No. 618 will hold its monthly Birthday Lunch for members and their guests on Sept. 9 at noon. All members are urged to attend. Please call (936) 856-5224 for additional information.



HEARTS garage sale

The HEARTS Veterans Museum of Texas is having its annual super garage sale Friday and Saturday Sept. 10 and 11. Organizers are still accepting merchandise for the sale — lawn and farm equipment, tools, furniture, bedding, appliances, boats, trailers, cars, trucks, computers, televisions. Those bringing merchandise will be given a tax receipt showing their donation. Call the Museum at (9360 295-5959 if you need your items picked up, or bring them to the Museum on Thursday, Sept. 10. The HEARTS Museum is located next to the Texas Prison Museum and across from the airport.



Trail Ride

Howdy Pardners, Pearl of the Prairie Riding Club, formerly Hi-Lo Riders will have it's annual Trail Ride Sept. 10-11 in New Waverly at Leo Goffney's Farm. DJ Fox Trot will be throwin' it down. Contact Aaron Edwards at (936)443-6109.



Garage Sale

The Black Saints Motorcycle Club will hold a garage sale on Sept. 11, 2010, at First Baptist Church, located at 1530 10th St. in Huntsville. The sale begins at 7 a.m. Great Deals!



Voter Registration Event

New Waverly for New Waverly Youth along with the New Waverly Public Library will hold a Voter Registration event from 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 11 in the Texas Room of the library. Bring a photo ID with current address and if you need to change your address, you can do so then. Voters must be registered no later than Oct. 2, 2010 to be able to vote in the Nov. 2 elections. Be a voice in all elections by voting. For any questions call Sue Roy at (936) 344-6555.



Guidelines for Best Bets

Submissions may be e-mailed to newsroom@itemonline.com. Best Bets is based on space availability. Questions should be directed to Lindsey Vaculin at (936) 295-5407 ext. 3052.