Accent briefs

Contributed
Published: July 13, 2008

Free prescriptions available

If you recently have been determined disabled through the Social Security Administration and are in the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage to begin, you can receive free prescription medications.

Disabled individuals of any age in the 24-month waiting period as well as those individuals 55 years old or older can receive free prescription medications through the Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging SenioRx program. Some restrictions apply. Please call (334) 678-0440 or 1-800-239-3507. The program is a partnership between Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging and the Alabama Department of Senior Services.

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Folklorist to appear at Ozark library

Spend an evening with noted Alabama folklorist Joyce Cauthen, as she presents “Please Pass the Folklore” at the Ozark-Dale County Public Library on Thursday, July 17. at 5 p.m. Guests will hear talk about kitchen and dinner table traditions, and then sample an assortment of traditional snacks. The event will be held in the Alice Doughtie wing of the library and is open to the public. For more information, call (334) 774-5480.

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Art competition set

Aug. 4 is the entry date for the Eighth Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition at the Dowling Museum and Ann Rudd ARt Center in Ozark.

Artists will compete for $1,300 in prize money and may bring up to three pieces to the museum between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Aug. 4. The museum is located at 144 E. Broad St. in Ozark. Painting, drawings, sculpture, prints, watercolors, mixed media works and photographs are all eligible.

The public and artists can attend the awards reception on Aug. 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Entry is available to living artists age 18 and older. The fee to enter is $35 for the first entry and $5 for additional entries with a maximum of three pieces. Entry forms are available on the the Dale County Council of Arts and Humanities for Web site, http://www.ruddartcenter.org. The Alabama State Council of Arts helps fund the competition. For information, call Denise Reyes at (334) 774 6326.

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Boys to Men Summit taking applications

Applications are being taken for an upcoming Boys to Men Summit, a three-day event coordinated by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Urban Program for young men ages 12 to 17.

The objectives of the summit are to improve academic success in reading, math and science; to organize a Big Brother Male Mentoring Program to support participating young men throughout their 2008-2009 academic school year; to increase parent involvement in their child’s learning and effective communication with teachers; and to provide recreation and cultural activities as incentives and awards for academic success.

The Boys to Men Summit will be held July 31 through Aug. 2 at Greater Beulah Baptist Church Family Life Center. Participating is limited to 100 young men and 100 male mentors.

Speakers include national motivational speaker, Stedman Graham, who will conduct workshops on July 31; Carter D. Womack, CEO of Leadership At It’s Best and a national president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., who will present workshops on Leadership, Men Roles and Responsibilities and Parent Involvement on Aug. 1; and Mike Schmitz, CEO of Mike Schmitz Automotive Group, who will be keynote speaker at a Men of Honor luncheon on Aug. 2.

For more information, call Boys to Men Summit Coordinator Rosalind James at (334) 794-4108.

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“The Ugly Duckling” read at Landmark Park

Landmark Park will continue its “Animal Tales” series on Tuesdays in July.

The series involves a weekly story time about animals, designed for preschool age children. Garrett and Susan Broland, Samuel Maddox and Jacy Brown will present stories with theatrical flair. Story times begin at 10 a.m. in the Interpretive Center at Landmark Park. Programs are free with paid admission to the park ($4 for adults, $3 for children 4-15, free for members and children 3 and under). Reservations are required, plus a 50-percent deposit for groups of 15 or more.

The traditional favorite fable, “The Ugly Duckling,” will be performed on July 15.

Landmark Park is on U.S. Highway 431 North in Dothan. To register for a program, contact the park at (334) 794-3452.

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Gardening group meets July 15

Gardening Friends of the Big Bend will meet at the North Florida Research and Education Center near Quincy at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15.

The group promotes gardening and gardening research by supporting and assisting the faculty and staff of NFREC, an arm of the University of Florida’s Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences. After a business meeting, Dr. Gary Knox will discuss the beginning of one of his newest research projects on disease resistance and maintenance needs of 12 varieties of roses.

For more information, contact Jill Williams at (850) 663-2280 or Gary Knox at (850) 875-7162.

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Class tackles safe food handling

The SenioRx Wellness Class will focus on safe food handling during the hot summer months. Join Gail Taylor as she leads the class on Thursday, July 17, at 1 p.m. at the Houston County Health Department’s Conference Center, 1781 E. Cottonwood Road in Dothan.

Registration begins at 12:45 p.m. People age 55 and older as well as people on disability can attend the SenioRx Wellness program, a partnership between Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging, Alabama Department of Senior Services and the Alabama Department of Health. Call (334) 678-0440 or 1-800-239-3507 to sign up.