Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Choir concert

The choir of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Wharton, Rev. Jimmie Wright Pastor, will be presenting the program "What Train Are You On?" at 6 p.m., today, Sept. 15 . Guest speaker will be Rev. Arthur Edwards, pastor of Greater New Prospect Baptist Church in Needville.

GED and ESL classes

Wharton County Junior College will hold registration and orientation for Adult Basic Education - GED and English-as-a Second Language classes on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 8:30 am. at the WCJC, LaDieu Technology Building, Room 111 at 911 Boling Hwy. in Wharton. Night class GED registration and orientation will be on Monday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. Night class ESL registration and orientation will be Tuesday, September 18 at 6:30 pm. For further information, call (979)532-6512 or 6552.

Aerobics class

Quick Fit will host an aerobics class beginning on Monday, Sept. 17. The class, for women only, is $5 per session and runs from 6:45-7:45 p.m. at the Wharton location in Eastgate Plaza. Participants can join at any time. Call 979-532-5055 for information.

Parenting class

A free parenting class, "Giving Children Responsibility for Themselves," is being offered noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 20. It will be held at the Texana Center Conference Room, 3007 N. Richmond, Wharton. Pizza and drinks will be served and door prizes presented. For more information, call Anita Garza at 532-3098. The class is funded by DFPS S.T.A.R./U.C.A.P.

Upcoming WCYF activities

The Wharton County Youth Fair has two big events coming up this fall. The 2nd Annual Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Newgulf Golf Course. And on Saturday, Oct. 13, the Triumph's will play at the fairgrounds. To register for the golf tourney, or for more information on the tournament or the dance, please call the fair office at 677-3350.

Ballroom dancing

A final ballroom dance class will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 at First Presbyterian Church. The charge is $3 per person per class. Couples and singles are welcome.

Business seminar

Free Business Seminar, today, Sept. 15th, at 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Wharton Civic Center, providing information, tips and techniques needed to start and run a business. IBC Bank in Wharton, Wharton Economic Development Corporation and City Development Corporation of El Campo are sponsoring this seminar. Please call 532-0999 or 578-0066 to register.

WCJC concert

The Wharton County Junior College Fine Arts Department will present the annual Something Old/Something New concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20. The concert will be in the Fine Arts Building on the WCJC campus in the Horton Foote Theater. The music and drama faculty will present light and humorous entertainment. Admission is free to the public.

Alzheimer's caregivers seminar

You're meeting the needs of your loved one with dementia, but are you meeting your own? St. Thomas' Episcopal Church will host an Alzheimer's Caregivers Seminar "Stress Management for the Caregiver" presented by the Houston Alzheimer's Association. The seminar will be from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Church Parish Hall, 207 Bob-O-Link in Wharton. The public is invited.

BHS Student Council blood drive

The Boling High School Student Council will host a blood drive on Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the homemaking building. For information, call Patti Hubenak at 657-2506 or 657- 2748.

Chicken spaghetti dinner

First Baptist Church of Lane City, 9719 Beadle St., will host a chicken spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 as a fund-raiser. The dinner will include chicken spaghetti, salad, bread and a dessert. Tickets are $7 pre-sale and $7.50 at the door. The meal is drivethrough or dine-in. Call 453-1653.

Benefit concert

Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, FM 102 in Wharton, is hosting a benefit concert for Josie Humphrey, a cancer survivor. The event will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the church. All proceeds will go directly to Humphrey to defray medical costs. Call Meta Ross 282-2435 for additional information.

St. John's Church Bazaar St. John's Catholic Church in Hungerford will be holding its Annual Church Bazaar at Hungerford Hall on Sunday, Oct. 7. A meal featuring BBQ chicken, beef and sausage along with the ladies of the parish famous sauerkraut and other side dishes. The meal will be served starting at 10:30 a.m. with plates priced at $7.50 each for both eat-in or plates-to-go. The bazaar auction will start at 12:15 p.m. There will be entertainment during the day including bingo, a country store, kids rides and music by Sil Krenek. The event is open to the public.

Housing finance seminar

The Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation will hold a class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wharton Civic Center, 1924 N. Fulton St. for individuals wanting to buy a home. Participants may be eligible for down payment assistance of up to $10,000. To register, call 281-484-4663.

DAV Super Raffle

The Disabled American Veterans of Wharton County will be holding a 100 Gun Super Raffle. Tickets are $20 each with the drawing held Dec. 3. Proceeds will benefit the DAV Chapter 72 Transportation Fund. The raffle is being sponsored by Everyday Heroes Inc. For tickets, contact Bruce Williams at 979-282-9837 or Chester Houston at 979-531-0916.

B&G Club registration

The Boys & Girls Club of Wharton is now registering for the 2007-2008 After-School Program. Membership fee is $20 per person and operating hours are from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The club is open for kids ages six to 12 and is open until 7 p.m. for teens.

Flag football/volleyball

The Boys & Girls Club of Wharton is now registering for its flag football and volleyball leagues, which are open to kids in 4th through 6th grades. Cost is $3 per member and participants must be registered club members. Volunteer coaches are needed. Call Ernest Rivera at 282-9660 between the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Varner-Hogg

The Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site will now be open five days a week from Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tours of the Plantation House available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admittance into the park is $1 per person. Tours are $6 for adults, $2 for students and free for children under 6. For additional information, contact Angela Pfeiffer at 979-345-4656, opt. 5, ext. 3.

Community Calendar

A calendar of local events is maintained by the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Before scheduling an event, check with the chamber for possible conflicts. And notify the chamber, 532-1862, as early as possible to get your event on the calendar. There is no charge.

Dateline Wharton is a calendar of upcoming events in Wharton and surrounding communities. Normally space permits only events that will occur in the next two weeks. It is intended for special activities open to the public rather than regularly recurring meetings.