Community Notes: Dec. 20 | News & Observer

“Beat the Winter Blues,” a reverse raffle and party, will be held Feb. 5 at the American Legion Building in Benson. The evening will feature food, a chance to win $10,000 and music by the Band of Oz. Tickets are $100 for two people. For more information, or to purchase a ticket, call the Benson Chamber of Commerce at 919-893-3825.

Cedars Production Studios is in the midst of a fundraiser. The not-for-profit recording studio provides studio time to young singers and musicians. The fundraising goal is $5,000, which the studio will use to seek grant funding to underwrite its cost. Also, Cedars Productions will donate 10 percent of all money raised to With Love from Jesus, a Clayton food bank. To donate, go to https://www.aplos.com/aws/give/CedarsProductionStudios/2015AngelChallenge. To learn more, visit http://cedarsproductionstudios.com/.

Bingo play to benefit the Clayton Center for Active Aging is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at 303 Dairy Road, Clayton. The cost is $15. Also, the Center for Active Aging will offer a beginning painting class. The cost is $30 a month. Call 919-553-4350 to register. A caregivers’ support group meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month.

Here’s the schedule of upcoming STEM events at the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield: fraction art, 4:30 p.m. Jan. 4, with registration by Dec. 28; binary code bracelet, 4:30 p.m. Feb. 1, with registration by Jan. 28; and popsicle-stick catapult, 4:30 p.m. March 7, with registration by Feb. 29. The events are free. STEM is short for science, technology, engineering and math. The library is at 305 E. Market St., Smithfield. To register for a program, call 919-934-1846.

Here’s the schedule of upcoming crafts programs at the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield: Cheerio bird feeder, 4:30 p.m. Jan. 28, with registration by Jan. 20; heart wreath. 4:30 p.m. Feb. 25, with registration by Feb. 17; and cup garden, 4:30 p.m. March 31, with registration by March 23. The free programs are designed for children ages 5-11. To register for a program, call 919-934-1846.

Here are upcoming blood drives in Johnston County.

Dec. 29 – 2:30-7 p.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 2920 N.C. 42 West, Clayton.

Dec. 29 – 2-7:30 p.m. at Johnston County Correctional Institution, 2465 U.S. 70 West, Smithfield.

The Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District is taking orders for loblolly pines, eastern red cedars and hardwoods. Available hardwoods include crepe myrtle and red maple. The agency will accept orders until supplies run out. Pines are in bundles of 25; cedars and hardwoods are in bundles of 10. Seedling prices are $10 per bundle. Distribution will be Feb. 3, 2016, in the Soil and Water Conservation District Office at the Johnston County Agricultural Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield. Call 919-934-7156, Ext. 4, to place your order. Proceeds support the C.W. Warrick Memorial Scholarship.

The Johnston County Beekeepers Association will hold its annual holiday party at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at the Johnston County Agricultural Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield.

A stop-smoking class will begin Tuesday, Jan. 4, at the Johnston County Health Department, 517 N. Bright Leaf Blvd., Smithfield. The program is free. For more information, call 919-989-5200.

The Salvation Army is seeking donations of gently used furniture. To schedule pickup, call 919-934-9641.

The Johnston County Public Health Department offers walk-in flu clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours are 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Children and adults are welcome. The health department, located at 517 N. Bright Leaf Blvd. in Smithfield, accepts the following insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare Advantage plans, Tri-Care standard, Medicare, Coventry, Medicaid and Humana. The department also accepts credit cards.

The Tobacco Farm Life Museum has launched its annual fund drive. To contribute, go to gofundme.com/jhe63x3u or mail your donation to the museum at P.O. Box 88, Kenly, N.C. 27542.

Chick-fil-A in Smithfield wants to give small nugget trays to local nonprofits. Through Dec. 24, purchase a large nugget tray and the eatery will donate a small tray to a local nonprofit. The eatery is at 1300 N. Bright Leaf Blvd.

The Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department will offer Lego Winter Wonderland workshops for children ages 5-12. For children ages 5-7, the workshops are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 30-31. For children 8-12, they’re set from 1 to 4 p.m. on those two days. Both will be at the Smithfield Recreation Aquatics Center on Booker Dairy Road next to Smithfield-Selma High School. The cost is $55. For registration details and workshop descriptions, go to http://bit.ly/LEGO-Winter-Break-Camp.