Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail need your help Saturday to help build and maintain a segment of the trail that will eventually run from 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome on the Tennessee line to Jockey's Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. About 500 miles of the more than 900 mile trail have been completed.

The day will consist of clearing brush, moving logs, installing waterbars, repainting blazes, and picking up debris.

"This is a great opportunity for groups and individuals to be part of a project that will provide outdoor recreation for generations to come," said Jeff Brewer, FMST president, in a press release.

Volunteers should be at least 12 years old and if under 18, supervised by an adult.

The 35- to 40-mile Falls Lake segment of the trail is a 5- to 7- year project.

Volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. at Rolling View State Recreation Area on Baptist Road. From N.C. 98, turn north at the intersection with Baptist Road and go about 5 miles. Work will continue until 4 p.m. Bring a bag lunch, plenty of water, hiking boots, and wear work clothes.

For more information, call 868-6274 or go to www.ncmst.org.

COOKIES FOR BREAKFAST?

What does Santa eat for breakfast? Find out Saturday when St. Nick and friends will be at Durant Nature Park. After breakfast, photos can be taken and kids can make holiday crafts to take home.

Breakfast with Santa is from 9 to 11 a.m. and is for children ages 1 to 8 years old. The fee is $7 per child. Call 872-4140 to register.

The event will be held at Campbell Lodge. From Capital Boulevard, take Gresham Lake Road and make a right just after the railroad tracks.

MEET SANTA PAWS

Fido and other four-legged friends have high hopes for tasty treats under the Christmas tree, too. Find out their hearts' desires Saturday when Heart Pet Rescue sponsors a rabies and microchip clinic with pet photos with Santa.

The event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at The Factory at 1839 S. Main St. in Wake Forest. A professional groomer will be available for pet toenail cuts and facial trims and full grooms if time permits.

Festivities will include stocking stuffers,

face painting and a craft table for kids, T-shirts, and a drawing for a free spay/neuter. The rabies clinic is $5 and microchipping will be available for $10.

Heart Pet Rescue was started 9 years ago by a group of 10 pet lovers. They realized that finding homes for pets wasn't enough and so focused on nipping pet overpopulation in the bud -- with low-cost spay and neutering programs.

Secretary Wayne Haas explains the concept this way: 'You can add a lane to the highway but if you don't reduce the number of cars, it doesn't help the problem.'

The nonprofit organization finds home for 350 to 500 pets a year. For more details visit www.HeartPetRescue.org.

Proceeds from the event will benefit SNIP, a joint program of HEART & the SPCA of Franklin County that provides low-cost pet sterilization.

Another pet pictures with Santa event will happen Dec. 15 at Pet Supplies "Plus" at 4025 Wake Forest Road at Eastgate Shopping Center.

Santa will be posing with the pooches and other pets from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with donations benefitting The Marley Cat Tails, a nonprofit organization that focuses on feline leukemia. The cost is $10 for 4 by 6 photos or $12 for two 4 by 6 digital photos.

Call 878-0080 for more information.

CREEPY CREATURES

Slithering reptiles and hissing insects await participants of Durant Nature Park's Meet the Animals event from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Learn what animals eat, how they spend their time and other cool facts. The fee is $5 for children 5 to 12 years old.

The class will meet at the Training Lodge at the Durant Nature Park North Entrance. For more information, contact Amy Corbally at Durant Nature Park at 870-2871.