Found on Facebook, Oct. 29-31

• The Greenwood Elementary Fall Festival is tomorrow morning! There will be a costume parade beginning at 1pm and games, contests, and more from 10am-2pm.

• Do your shopping at Lowes Foods tomorrow morning. Starting at 10am, the first 75 kids will be able to paint little pumpkins and nibble on cookies and cider -- all for free.

• Take some time tomorrow to checkout the annual Brick Capital Band Classic at Lee Senior. The competition runs from 1:45pm-9pm and costs $5. There will be 20 high school marching bands from eastern NC and Virginia!

• Learn how to cook and garden with herbs at Big Bloomers on Saturday. The seminar runs from 10am-12pm.

• Calling all vendors -- Highland Elementary School on Buffalo Lakes Road is holding a craft fair on November 10 from 9am-3pm. If you're interested in selling your wares, contact them at hesptoschool@yahoo.com. The cost is $25.

• There are lots of fun things happening in our area this weekend. Check the guide for details!

• Interested in going green? Make time for the Sustainable Sandhills regional sustainability symposium on Nov. 10 at the Pinehurst Resort in Moore County. You’ll gain new ideas for attracting green consumers, learn about tax credits, and more.

• Looking for an alternative to door-to-door trick or treating? The First Apostolic Church will be in Depot Park today from 6pm-9pm for “Candy for Kids.”

• In case you haven't heard, official trick-or-treating hours are 6pm-9pm this year. We hope everyone in the area has a safe and happy Halloween. Check out Lee County Partnership for Children's page for some great tips!

Found on Facebook, Oct. 28

• Don't forget about our giveaway! Tell your friends and family to "like" us on Facebook. There will be six winners!

• Head over to Central Carolina Hospital for lunch today. They’re holding a chili cook-off from 11am-1pm to benefit the United Way. It is $1 to taste and $5 for a bowl (take-out available). Call 774-2194 for more information.

• Jonesboro UMC’s annual fall bazaar is Saturday from 8am-1pm. Stop in for a ham or sausage biscuit for breakfast or a soup-and-sandwich lunch along with baked and canned goods and handcrafted items.

• Looking for free or low-cost development opportunities? Check out this list of seminars and workshops on a wide range of topics, from social networking for your business to streamlining your work flow.

• Want to have some pre-Halloween fun? Tim Hair is playing at The Flame Steakhouse tomorrow night starting at 9pm. And, of course, go back on Saturday night for the Halloween Party!

• Tomorrow is the first night of Downtown Sanford Inc’s “Screen on the Green” fall movie series in Depot Park! The movie (The Rusty Bucket Kids) will start at 7pm. Upcoming movies are The Mighty Ducks, The Goonies, and The Sandlot.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 27

• Don’t forget about the Halloween Bash tonight in Kiwanis Park. The cost is $3 and there will be a costume contest and pumpkin carving contest. Call Jamie or Carrie at 776-6221 to RSVP.

• Deal alert! Many area businesses, including Tea Room Treasures, Second Glance Boutique, and Added Accents are having major sales this week. Make sure you take advantage of these deals!

• If you’ve been looking for a general interest 4H group for your tween kids, you’re in luck. A brand new club for ages 9-12 is meeting for the first time tonight at the McSwain Center at 6:45pm. Go check it out!

• We've added more Halloween fun to our guide, including Black Belt Leadership Academy's trunk-or-treat and Power Pro Wrestling's Halloween Massacre. Make sure you check it before making your weekend plans!

• Calling all actors (experienced or not) -- the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is looking for extras for this year’s A Dickens Holiday, which will be on Nov. 26 starting at 1pm. Auditions will be this Saturday at the Arts Council building on Hay Street.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 26

• Don't forget about the 1600th Socialite Extravaganza! Suggest us to your family and friends so we can giveaway six cool prizes!

• It’s time for another Art Wine and Appetizer class at the Steele Street Cafe. The cost is $35 for everything and you’ll take home your artwork. Contact Arianne at (919) 630-8888 to register. Beginners are welcome!

• Southern Jeweler’s “pretty in pink” contest is almost over. You have only four more days to submit your photo and win a prize!

• There’s still time to participate in the Maters ‘n Taters 4H family pumpkin carving contest. They’ll provide the pumpkins and limited tools. Call Kay at 775-5623 to reserve your spot!

• The Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce has lots going on this week, including business after hours at Hampton Inn tonight and the “Essential Internet Tools for Business” lunch-and-learn on Thursday. Take advantage of this local resource!

• Want to win a free session with Anna Fonke Photography along with a CD of your ten favorite images and a print release? Then go "like" her page and then submit your photo to the Extreme Family Photo Contest.

• Evaluations for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading are tonight and Thursday from 6pm-8pm and Saturday from 10am-noon at First Baptist Church. Active military are free and partial scholarships are available!

• The Temple Theatre Company is presenting “Moore Divas and Friends” this Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm in the Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College. Doors open at 7pm and tickets cost $15.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 22-24

Did you miss our big giveaway news? Here's the scoop! And here's what you've missed:

• Love to carve pumpkins? The Maters n’ Taters 4H Club is sponsoring a family pumpkin carving contest on Tuesday starting at 6:30pm. Pumpkins and basic carving tools will be provided and prizes will be awarded in various categories. Call 775-5624 by Tuesday to save your spot.

• Give HAVEN your support at a fundraiser tonight at Ron's Barn hosted by Sheriff Carter. You’ll buy your meal like usual, but organizers will "pass the plate" for donations. Carter and HAVEN's Kay Ring will speak about our county’s needs and services.

• There’s a lot happening tomorrow. Jubi-Lee Fall Festival, Pittsboro’s street fair, the Enrichment Center’s fall festival and more. It’s a great weekend to be in Lee County!

• Head over to Steele Street Cafe tonight for live jazz provided by Bill Mann. There's no cover charge, so what are you waiting for?

• Take a stand against domestic violence at HAVEN’s 14th annual candlelight vigil in CCCC’s main courtyard on Monday night at 6pm. Call Rosa at 774-8923 for more information and check out yesterday’s @The Sanford Herald for a great article about domestic violence statistics in our county.

• Heads up, SASL parents -- Lee Senior and Southern Lee are hosting SASL nights. Lee Senior's is on Monday, Oct. 25 starting at 6:30pm and Southern's is Tuesday, Oct. 26 starting at 7pm. SASL players get in free by wearing their SASL jerseys!

Time for a giveaway!!!!

The best part of being on the SocialSanford team is making people happy through giveaways. So without further ado, we're announcing the

1600th SOCIALITE EXTRAVAGANZA!

How it works: Invite your friends, co-workers, family members, neighbors, guy at the grocery store (hey? who doesn't meet people at th grocery store?) to become a Socialite by clicking "like" on Facebook page.

When we hit 1600 members, the giveaways will begin! We'll give away a prize a day for SIX DAYS! That's six prizes, six chances to win, and every single Socialite will be in the running.

You can't beat the odds on that one. So start pushing those folks our way. The contest could end tomorrow or next week or next month ---- as soon as we get that 1600th click, the good times will roll.

What are you waiting for?!

Fine print: The giveaways will be for local pickup and for use at local businesses only.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 21

• Saturday is Make a Difference Day. Take some time to donate food to Communities In Schools’ BackPack Pals from 9am-3pm in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. Suggested food items are at this link. Volunteers are also needed!

• Want to win tickets to see Billy Elliot at the DPAC? Follow the Sanford Herald on Twitter for a chance to win one of 10 tickets. Winners will be announced soon!

• Hey soccer fans, the Central Carolina Jaycees and Sanford Area Soccer League are looking for volunteers and teams for the 2nd annual Burn Tournament to benefit the NC Jaycee Burn Center on the weekend of Nov. 6. Details at this link!

• The No Scare Fair is one weekend away. Make sure you purchase your tickets ($3 each) now so you get the time slot you want. You can buy them at any Capital Bank location or Broadway Hardware. Get more details on this and other Halloween events in our guide!

Never Fear -- Your Halloween Guide Is Here

While many folks are already shopping for Christmas, the most creative holiday of the year is upon us: Halloween! If you haven't heard yet, Sanford's official trick-or-treat time is Sunday night (Oct. 31) from 6pm-9pm. But that's not the only way to celebrate. Check out these fun and spooky events:

Friday, Oct. 22

• Zombie Walk and Jazz Funeral (Fayetteville, 9pm): Feral Art presents this first annual event. The walk and funeral procession will start from 300 Maiden Lane and last about an hour.

• Halloween Horror Film Festival (Pittsboro, 8pm-11:30pm): ChathamArts Sustainable Cinema series presents Spooky Shorts, a block of four independent horror films (rated PG), followed by Fistful of Brains (rated R), winner of best horror feature at Hauntcon 2009. Director Christine Parker will host a Q-and-A after the film. Tickets are $5 in advance/$8 at the door. There will also be a Zombie-vs-Vampire dance off and costume contest.

Saturday, Oct. 23

• Halloween Movie Night (Ramseur, 5pm-9pm): Millstone Creek Orchard presents "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" accompanied by hayrides, "spider cider," a fire pit to roast your own hot dogs and marshmallows (or make your own s'mores) -- all in the pumpkin patch. All is free except the hayride, which is $5.

Sunday, Oct. 24

• Jonesboro UMC Trunk or Treat (Sanford, 3pm-5pm): Deck the kids out in their Halloween best or decorate your trunk to wow a crowd for this fun and safe event.

Tuesday, Oct. 26

•  Pumpkin Carving Contest (Sanford, 6:30pm): The Maters 'n Taters 4H club is sponsoring this contest at the McSwain Center and will provide one pumpkin per team (2-6 people). Prizes will go to scariest, funniest, most creative, best overall, and best youth carvings. There will also be door prizes throughout the event. Call 775-5623 to participate.
   
• Reel-y Scary Cary (Cary, 6pm): Check out this 5-day film series at Koka Booth Ampitheatre guaranteed to prepare you for Halloween. Movies in the series are Poltergeist (10/26), Zombieland (10/27), Monsters Inc. (10/28), The Birds (10/29), and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (10/30), and several of the movies are preceded by an episode of The Alfred Hitchhock Hour. The cost is $3 for every over age 12. Bring your own chairs or blanket.

Wednesday, Oct. 27

• Halloween Bash (Sanford, 6pm-7pm): Dress the kids in their costumes and bring them out to celebrate Halloween at Kiwanis Park. There will be a costume contest for kids and pets and a pumpkin carving contest for kids ages 5-14. The cost is $3 and you must register by calling Jamie or Carrie at 776-6221.

Thursday, Oct. 28

• Rocky Horror Show (Raleigh, 8pm): The cult classic will be at the Memorial Auditorium through Halloween night. Tickets start at $26. There will be a special additional showing at 11 pm on October 30.

Friday, Oct. 29

• Church Street Fall Festival (Sanford, 6pm-8pm): The Boys & Girls Club of Sanford/Lee County present this festival complete with games, prizes, food, and fun. Contact Evette at 776-9743 or 776-3525 with questions.

• Black Belt Leadership Academy Halloween Party (Sanford, 6pm): Let the kids wear their costumes to this Halloween party which ends in a trunk-or-treat. There will be a costume contest, basic martial arts class, and other games.

Saturday, Oct. 30

• No Scare Fair (Sanford, 9am-6pm): This annual festival allows kids ages (2-10) to trick-or-treat in a safe, fun environment. There is a costume parade, storytelling, music, crafts, and more. The cost is $3 per person. Purchase tickets at any Capital Bank or Broadway Hardware until October 29.

• Halloween Magic (Raleigh, 11am and 4pm): The N.C. Symphony's guest conductor Timothy Myers will present Dukas' The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Gounod's Funeral March of a Marionette, and more at the Meymandi Concert Hall. Wear a costume and participate in a Halloween parade. Tickets start at $26.

• Happy Howl'oween Costume Party (Sanford, 6pm): Wear you best costume to this wine-and-cheese social hosted on the patio at Cafe 121 to benefit Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption. The cost is $10 and dogs are welcome to attend! Bring a bag of Purina-brand dog chow, puppy chow, cat chow, or kitten chow or a non-scoopable litter to be entered into a raffle for a dog grooming gift basket.

• Halloween Massacre (Sanford, 6pm): If your kid loves wrestling, you won't want to miss this Power Pro Wrestling event, which will be at the National Guard Armory on Nash St. Bell time is 7:15pm, general admission is $8, and ringside seats are $12.

• The Flame Halloween Party (Sanford, 9pm): Spend your Halloween-eve partying into the night with a special guest DJ, costume contest, drink specials, and more.

Halloween night, Sunday, Oct. 31

• Fall Carnival (Deep River, 6pm-8pm): Flat Springs Baptist Church is celebrating both fall and Halloween. Bring the kids in their costumes for games, candy, cake walks, hay rides, and more.

• Dracula (Raleigh, 2pm and 8pm): The Carolina Ballet presents this Halloween double feature set to original music by J. Mark Scearce. Attendees will also see The Masque of the Red Death, a new work based on Edgar Allen Poe's short story. Tickets start at $32.

• Steele Pig Halloween Party (Sanford, 5pm-10pm): Enjoy scary food, horror movies, and music by Picture Show. The Steele Pig will sell food, beer, and wine in the side alley. Best costume will win a $50 gift certificate to the "Pig." The cost is $10.

Did we miss your Halloween event? Shoot us an email with the details and we'll get it posted!

Found on Facebook, Oct. 20

• If you’ve always wanted to model, here’s your chance. La Chic Boutique of Sanford is looking for women and girls who wear sizes 24, 20, 22, 16/18, 10, 6, and 4 to model selections from the store on Nov. 7.

• There's a great write up in The Sanford Herald today about the "Jubi-Lee" - Downtown Sanford Fall Festival scheduled for Depot Park this weekend. For those without a subscription, here's a screen shot!

• Rev your engines -- the Sandhills Bike Fest is this weekend. It begins 9am on Friday and ends at noon Sunday and will feature vendors, games, and live music. A day pass is $14 and weekend pass is $30 per person. Call 777-6873 or click the link for more details.

• Bring your dog or cat out to Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption’s free rabies clinic at Jonesboro Heights Baptist Church on Saturday from 10am-3pm. There will be free rabies and basic shots while supplies last.

• We’ve updated the fall festival guide yet again. You’ll find details about more local fall harvest sales and bazaars, the Jubi-Lee Fall Festival, and Gross Farms’ music at the maze. Go check it out!

Found on Facebook, Oct. 19

• Saturday is the last night to take the Spirits O’Sanford ghost walk. You can purchase tickets starting at 7pm that night for the 8:30pm and 10:30pm walks, which start at the Railroad House Museum.

• The Sanford Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan -- which is meant to create pedestrian corridors that will link downtown Sanford and Jonesboro Heights with surrounding neighborhoods -- will be discussed at tonight’s City Council meeting (7pm). Go share your thoughts.

• The Arts Council is hosting another Shared Abundance Dinner this Sunday from 5-7 at the Civic Center. The cost is $10 and includes a locally handmade bowl. You can purchase tickets at Java Express, A Few Nice Things, or by calling 774-6139.

• Learn how to make necklaces out of sweet potatoes at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Lee County Center this weekend. The workshop starts at 9:30am on Saturday and costs $12. You must register by Thursday by calling Kay at 775-5624

Found on Facebook, Oct. 18

• Want to support Aloha Safari Zoo? Check out the Twilight Tour Fundraiser on Saturday night. There will be a bonfire, walking tour of the "bottom," music by local musicians, and concessions for sale. The cost is $20 and profits go toward supporting Spartacus (tiger) and Bodie (bear)!

• Bring a donation and your sneakers to a local walk to raise money for juvenile diabetes research. The walk will be on Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Westlake Clubhouse. Registration will begin at 8am and the walk starts at 8:30am. Contact Heather Little for more information.

• Are you ready for the Jubi-Lee - Downtown Sanford Fall Festival coming up on Saturday? There will be hand crafts, exhibits, and a kid area complete with crafts, games, face paint, and more (thanks to the Y and Central Carolina Jaycees)!

• Don't forget about the 6pm community class tomorrow at Central Carolina Hospital called "Mammograms Begin at 40. Period." Travis Henderson, MD, will discuss preventative measures and the recent controversial study from the government task force.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 15-17

• We are always adding new festivals and local fall events to our festival guide, so make sure you check it out!

• Give your kid your camera. Lee County 4H is holding a photography contest for pictures taken of an agricultural/rural setting in Lee County. Photos must be mounted and can be no larger than 8x10. The deadline is Nov. 15.

• Food isn’t the only thing area families need this season. Donate your gently used clothing to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sanford/Lee County’s clothing drive sponsored by the Promise Keepers Torch Club. The drive runs Nov. 1-Dec. 1 and you can drop off clothes at any club location.

• Commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month by educating yourself about mammograms at Central Carolina Hospital’s community class on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6pm. The speaker will be Travis Henderson, a fellowship-trained breast imaging, board-certified radiologist.

• Make sure your church or group’s Halloween event is included in our upcoming guide. Leave a comment with your event (unless you already have) or shoot us an email at socialsanford@gmail.com.

• Plan to eat at La Dolce Vita anytime between today and Wednesday. 20 percent of your meal price will go to support the Lee County Community Orchestra. Grab a coupon at the free concert in Depot Park at 3 pm today or call 776-4628.

• Our State Magazine is filled with great articles about NC life. You can order your subscription (or renew it) through the local chapter of Retired School Personnel for just $27.99, and a portion of that cost will go toward a scholarship for a local student. To order, call Ruth at 774-8839.

Round Up: Saturday, Oct. 16 Events

We rarely do this, but there are a slew of things happening in Sanford and Lee County tomorrow ... and so, here's a list of the events you should check out:

• Want to live green? Learn about solar thermal, solar electric, and other energy alternatives at CCCC’s Sustainable Farm on Saturday from 9am-2pm. You can also go on the green home tour on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Details at the link!

• Don’t forget about the sale at the Lee County Library that will run from 9am-noon on Saturday at the main branch.

• The Lee County Orchestra will be playing at the Arts & Community Center on Steele Street this Saturday at 8pm and again at Depot Park on Sunday at 3pm. Both concerts are free and door prizes will be awarded -- so go and enjoy!

• Looking for a good sale? Balloons Inc on Rex McLeod Drive is having a blow-out sale on all items this Saturday from 7am-2pm.

• The Divas Candlight Concert featuring Sharon Venable, KC Holiday, Peggy Taphorn, and more will be this Friday and Saturday night at First Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Temple box office or through the church. The show starts at 7:30pm both nights.

• Clean out your closets, garage, and attic for a big yard sale at the VFW (Hawkins Avenue) on Oct. 16 starting at 8am. Tables are $15 inside, $10 outside. Contact Denise at rjandchad@yahoo.com for more information.

• Sanford Mops is hosting a MOM-to-MOM sale on Saturday from 7am to noon at St. Luke’s. If you’d like to sell your stuff, the deadline to reserve space is Friday. Send an email to sanfordmops@yahoo.com or call 919-498-6061 for details.

• Get your hazardous waste material together now so you’ll have it ready for dropping off this Saturday (the 16th) at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day at the Civic Center (9am-1pm). Click this link for details on what is included.

• There are two harvest sales (Buffalo Presbyterian, Poplar Springs UMC, and Tramway Baptist) tomorrow. Make sure you check our festival guide for details!

Found on Facebook, Oct. 14

• Early voting starts today! If you aren't sure how it all works, make sure you check out our primer. Then go cast your vote!

• Just because summer is over doesn’t mean you can’t get your live music fix. Head over to the Steele Street Cafe tonight to hear the Tuesday Night Music Club!

• Don’t forget about the sale at the Lee County Library that will run from 6-8pm tomorrow evening and 9am-noon on Saturday at the main branch.

• Make sure you enter your child (ages 5 and under) in the “Delightful Darlings” contest. The entry fee is $15. Winners get a cash prize, trophy, and chance to ride in the Christmas parade. Email Celeste at for an entry form!

• Want to live green? Learn about solar thermal, solar electric, and other energy alternatives at CCCC’s Sustainable Farm on Saturday from 9am-2pm. You can also go on the green home tour on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Details at the link!

Found on Facebook, Oct. 13

• The Lee County Orchestra will be playing at the Arts & Community Center on Steele Street this Saturday at 8pm and again at Depot Park on Sunday at 3pm. Both concerts are free and door prizes will be awarded -- so go and enjoy!

• Sad news: Tea Room Treasures is closing at the end of the year. Christmas and fall items have arrived and they decorated because they didn’t want to disappoint loyal customers during the holidays. The sale starts tomorrow, so make sure you stop by and let them know how much they’ll be missed!

• Looking for a good sale? Balloons Inc on Rex McLeod Drive is having a blow-out sale on all items this Saturday from 7am-2pm.

• The Divas Candlight Concert featuring Sharon Venable, KC Holiday, Peggy Taphorn, and more will be this Friday and Saturday night at First Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Temple box office or through the church. The show starts at 7:30pm both nights.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 12

• The Lee County Library is holding another sale this weekend. It will run from 6-8pm on Friday and from 9am-noon on Saturday at the main branch. This year’s sale is run by the Friends of the Lee County Library -- making it the perfect opportunity to learn more about the group.

• Take your children (ages 5 and under) to the 3rd annual Health Fair at Jonesboro Presbyterian Church (Woodland Ave) today for free speech, hearing, developmental, dental, and vision screenings! The fair runs from 1-6pm.

• Clean out your closets, garage, and attic for a big yard sale at the VFW (Hawkins Avenue) on Oct. 16 starting at 8am. Tables are $15 inside, $10 outside. Contact Denise at rjandchad@yahoo.com for more information.

• Sanford Mops is hosting a MOM-to-MOM sale on Saturday from 7am to noon at St. Luke’s. If you’d like to sell your stuff, the deadline to reserve space is Friday. Send an email to sanfordmops@yahoo.com or call 919-498-6061 for details.

• The Lee County Board of Education wants your feedback about effective methods of communication. In addition to surveys sent home with students, an on-line survey is available until 5pm this Thursday!

• Looking for hot deals? Subcribers to The Sanford Herald can now get great deals for local businesses and products -- like The Flame Steakhouse -- right on the Herald website. Click on the banner ad to check it out.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 8-11

Sorry folks, I had a super busy weekend so posting was light on Saturday and Sunday but will be pretty heavy today. But that just means we have a lot going on in the area ... which is a good thing!

Friday, Oct. 8

• Tomorrow morning is the monthly Writers’ Morning Out in Pittsboro. The group will meet at 11am at Virlie’s Grill if you’d like to join in.

• Heading to Family Day at the Jetport tomorrow? Keep an eye out for Melissa. She’s got gift certificates from NCPROCOM and Lowes Foods (given by Donnie Worley REMAX) that she’s dying to give away. Here’s a hint: She’ll probably be found near the RE/MAX balloon!

• Tonight is homecoming at Southern Lee. Go support the Cavaliers! The game starts at 7:30pm. Remember, kids in grades 5 and under get in free!

• Planning your day for tomorrow? Flat Springs Baptist Church in Deep River is having its annual block party from 3-6pm. It will feature free games followed by a free bbq dinner with all the trimmings!

Saturday, Oct. 9

• Don’t forget about the rock-paper-scissors tournatment today at the fairgrounds. And if you’ll be at the jetport, say hi to Melissa and you could get a prize! (Hint: Look for her near the Re/Max balloon)

• Start your Christmas shopping early at 403 N. Steele Street from 10am-4pm. A collection of direct sales businesses, including Thirty-One, ViSalus, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Discovery Toys, and more will all be under one roof. There will be snacks, door prizes, and specials.

• The Lee County Health Department and Rex UNC Healthcare Mobile Mammography are partnering to offer free mammograms at the Enrichment Center on Tuesday from 10am-2:30pm. Call 718-4640 x5317 to check eligibility and pre-register

Monday, Oct. 11

• Want to win a prize from Southern Jewelers? Submit a photo of yourself dressed up in pink to support and raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Deadline for entries is Oct. 29. Prizes include tickets to the Sanford Drag Race, a diamond necklace, and more!

• Get your hazardous waste material together now so you’ll have it ready for dropping off this Saturday (the 16th) at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day at the Civic Center (9am-1pm). Click this link for details on what is included.

• Go show your support for breast cancer month at the Button Chair exhibit at Central Carolina Hospital. The exhibit, which was created by a college student in 1998 as a tribute to women in NC who've battled the disease, opens tomorrow.

• If you love poetry, you'll want to make some time for the West End Poetry Festival next weekend. The festival includes activities for children and families, as well as spoken word, traditional readings, and more.

• Heads up, grandparents and other relatives parenting a child: a grancare support group is meeting this Thursday at noon at the Enrichment Center. Lunch will be served, so call 776-0501 x 230 to reserve your spot.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 7

• There’s still time to purchase tickets for the one-night-only showing of Mike Wiley’s One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom at The Temple Theatre Company. The show starts at 8pm on Friday and tickets are $20.

• Family Day at the JetPort is this weekend! The festival runs from 9am-6pm and features free plane rides for children by the EAA Young Eagles, aircraft exhibits, balloon demonstrations and more.

• Support the Lee County Library this weekend by taking advantage of a children’s book sale at the main branch from 10am-5pm on Saturday and 2pm-5pm on Sunday. They’ll also be selling audio/visual material like LPs, CDs, and cassettes.

• Head over to The Temple Theatre Company on Saturday at 7pm for Out in the Cold, a “bentgrass” band that’s been rocking since 1977. Tickets are $15. Learn more about the band.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 6

• Want your Halloween-themed event in our round up? Shoot an email to socialsanford@gmail.com or leave a comment here with all the details!

• The Sanford Herald is holding a Candidates Forum at the Civic Center tomorrow at 6:45pm with a catered reception beginning at 5:45pm. Submit any questions you have for the Board of Commissioner and U.S. House candidates to the paper. There is no charge for admission, but you are asked to bring a canned or non-perishable food item for the Salvation Army’s food pantry.

• Tomorrow is the 2nd annual Pickin’ on the Porch and tickets are going fast. Send an email to info@sustainablesandhills.org or click the link below to reserve your spot!

• If your kid loves playing rock-paper-scissors, make sure you hit up the ROSHAMBO tournament this Saturday at the fairgrounds. The tourney entry fee is $10 and winners get a cash prize plus a cool trophy! To pre-register, call Julie at 721-1069 or contact her via email prior to the event. If registering the day of please arrive between 10:30-10:50 am.

It's Voting Season, Too (giveaway!)

If you're like me, you've been sick of robo-calls, mass mailers, and political rhetoric since at least November 2008, but there's hope on the horizon -- the mid-term elections are less than a month away!

Shake off the voter fatigue and go hit the polls for the candidates of your choice. This primer should answer all your questions and put you on the right path to the election booth:

Important Deadlines

• October 8, 2010: Last day to deliver registrations to Board of Elections (or to postmark mailed registrations).
• October 14, 2010: Beginning of one-stop, early voting period. You can register and vote in one visit.
• October 26, 2010: Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail.
• October 30, 2010: End of one-stop, early voting period.
• November 1, 2010: Day your absentee ballot must be returned.
• November 2, 2010: General election. You must be registered to participate.

Voting Sites and Times
Lee County Board of Elections
225 S. Steele Street
Early voting: Thursday, Oct. 14-Friday, Oct. 29 from 8am-5pm and Saturday, Oct. 30 from 8am-1pm
Election day: 6:30am-7:30pm

McSwain Agricultural Center
2420 Tramway Road
Early voting: Thursday, Oct. 14-Friday, Oct. 29 from 8am-5pm and Saturday, Oct. 30 from 8am-1pm
Election day: 6:30am-7:30pm

To find your polling place for the general election, click here.

What to Bring
If you haven't registered to vote or need to update your registration, make sure you bring at least one of these items with you to either register or participate in one-stop, early voting:

• Valid and current photo ID, or
• Current utility bill, or
• Current bank statement, or
• Current paycheck, or
• Current government check, or
• Other current government document that shows name and address.

Resources
Access our local Board of Elections official website here.
Learn more about one-stop early voting here.
Print out an NC voter registration form (in either English or Spanish) here.
Find out the candidates for the general election here.

Incentive
Last year, we gave away a fun prize to everyone who voted. Comment on this post when you vote -- whether it's early or on Nov. 2 -- and you'll be entered for one of several cool prizes.

So now that you have all the information you need ... let's vote!

Found on Facebook, Oct. 5

• Want to participate in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record on Thursday? You can go to the Lee County Armory at 11am or the McSwain Center at 7pm to read with the Partnership for Children. Children will make crafts, hear “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats, and take a free copy home with them!

• It’s the spookiest time of the year -- which makes it the right time for Spirits of Sanford’s Ghost Walk narrated by Jimmy Haire. The first walk is Friday (8:30 or 10:30pm), costs $20, and will start at the Railroad House Museum. Bring your camera and/or voice recorder (and an umbrella if it might rain).

• Head over to The Flame Steakhouse tonight around 9pm for DL Token. Then go back on Thursday for the weekly wine tasting on the patio (6-8pm).

• Need fund raising strategies? Sign up for a free course at the Civic Center on Oct. 14 from 6:30-9pm to learn everything you need to know to effectively and efficiently raise money for your favorite causes.

Found on Facebook, Oct. 4

• Bring national attention to children’s need for a quality early education by participating in Jumpstart's Read for the Record on Oct. 7. All you have to do is take some time that day to read to children (and you can earn special discounts to American Eagle). Click here for details!

• Want to make your own jewelry? On Monday, La Chic Boutique will be hosting a workshop on how to make bead earrings. The cost is $20 and includes the cost of all materials. Just show up and learn! The workshop will be again on Friday (Oct. 8) at 5:30. Call 910-709-9017 for details!

• Show your support for Temple Theatre Company on Tuesday night at 7pm with the Jen Chapin concert, which starts at 7pm. Tickets are only $15!

• Interested in raising chickens? Sign up for "Backyard Chicken Schemes" at CCCC and learn all you need to know. The class will be Saturday, Oct. 16 from 9am-4pm at the Civic Center. Call 775-2122 x7790 to register.

• You have another chance to enjoy the Wine, Art, Appetizers event at Steele Street Cafe on Oct. 27 from 6-8pm. The cost is $35/person and includes your supplies and instruction. You must register in advance (and it WILL sell out) at 630-6888 or arianne.hemlein@gmail.com.