Happenings: Events, activities and community announcements

Email announcements at least two weeks in advance to community@reflector.com for publication in The Standard and The Daily Reflector.

London trip

Parents and guardians of Greene Central High School students are invited to attend an information session on a spring 2025 student travel opportunity to London, in partnership with EF Tours. The session will take place from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday in the high school library. Registration is mandatory for this session at https://bit.ly/3yP1MhA and a parent or guardian must attend. Can’t make it? Choose “No, but send info” on the registration site.

Sports registration

Greene County has introduced its first-ever online Park and Recreation Registration form. County residents can now sign up and pay for youth sports online. To get started, create an account and have an active email address. To register, go to greenecountync.gov/online-sport-registration/.

School groundbreaking

Greene County Schools is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Greene Central High School at 10 a.m. Friday at 140 School Drive, Snow Hill. The public is invited as district officials celebrate the start of construction of the new facility.

Youth empowerment

Victory & Dominion Church Youth Department is hosting its annual Youth Empowerment Event at 6:30 p.m. July 26. All ages are welcome to attend and registration is free. All registered youth will receive a gift bag. To register, email vdwocyouth@gmail.com or call/text 526-7850. The church is located at 1438 U.S. 258, Snow Hill.

Coloring contest

The Greene County Animal Shelter is partnering with Greene County Public Library to sponsor a coloring contest for children ages 5-12 years old. Stop by the library at 229 Kingold Blvd., Suite G, Snow Hill, and pick up a coloring page at the front desk. This contest is limited to Greene County residents and entries are due at the library by Monday, Aug. 5. There will be a first-, second- and third-place winner and the prize will be school-related. For more information, call 253-2237 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Market on the Square

The Winterville Chamber of Commerce will host Market on the Square 4:30-7:30 p.m. every second Thursday of the month through September at 252 Main St., Winterville. Upcoming events include National Night Out on Aug. 8 and School Spirit Night on Sept. 12. For more information or to be a vendor visit www.wintervillechamber.com.

Make a blanket

Trinity Free Will Baptist Church, 3111 Golden Road, Greenville, is hosting Make a Blanket Day from 9 a.m. to noon on July 27. The event is sponsored by Project Linus of Beaufort, Greene and Pitt counties, which provides handmade blankets to children up to age 18 in the United States who are seriously ill. Liz Liles from Daughters of Worth will share their mission and how Project Linus can help. Mallory Bosse will return for another class to teach participants how to crochet borders on fleece blankets. Visit projectlinus.org.

Nature Saturdays

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Contentnea Creek, 949 Contentnea Lane, Grifton, hosts Nature Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. During this time, the park’s trails and play areas are open for visitors to explore. Visit atimeforscience.org.

Browntown picnic

The annual Browntown Community Picnic Day will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 at 4618 N.C. 258, Snow Hill. Each family invited to set up a tent or picnic table. Bring your own food/drinks and chairs. Personal grills are welcome or bring charcoal to use the community grill. Tents are available for rent via Cederic Warren. Call 315-7002 for information. The event also will feature historians on-site to examine antiques brought in by participants.

Mental Health First Aid

Adults who live or work with youth are invited to attend a session on Youth Mental Health First Aid from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 at Integrated Family Services, 2305 Executive Circle, Greenville. The course will teach participants how to apply the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE): Assess for risk of suicide or harm, listen non-judgmentally, give reassurance and information, encourage appropriate professional help and encourage self-help and other support strategies. Sign up at tinyurl.com/4nrv5nky.

Project Fan

The Pitt County Council on Aging is providing free fans to individuals older than 60 who have no air conditioning or are unable to afford utilities, have not received a fan from the COA in the last two years and can present a photo ID. Call 752-1717, Ext. 206.

Farmers Market

The Leroy James Farmers Market, 4560 County Home Road, will be open 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information call 902-1724 or visit www.PittCountyNC.gov/MarketEvents.

Health Talks

Health Talks with Jennifer Lane, health educator with the Greene County Department of Public Health, are 11 a.m. every third Thursday at the Greene County Senior Center, 104 Greeneridge Road. They are free and open to Greene County Residents. Call 252-747-5436.

Farmville Senior Council

The Farmville Senior Council, which has been a nonprofit since 1979, meets the third Wednesday of the month at the Farmville Public Library, 4276 W. Church St., Farmville. Meetings start at 1 p.m. either in-person or via Zoom. For more information or to attend online send an email to farmvilleseniorcouncil@gmail.com.

Woman’s Day service

Good Hope Free Will Baptist Church, 2506 Mill St., Winterville, will host a Women’s Day service at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 21. The theme is “100 Women in Hats.”

Hospice volunteers

3HC is seeking volunteers for its hospice program. Volunteers provide support to caregivers, offer companionship to patients and take part in meaningful activities. They also can offer spiritual support, administrative and clerical support, take part in special events and fundraising activities and assist the Wings Program for Grieving Children or the Veterans to Veteran program. Residents of Greene, Pitt, Beaufort or Lenoir counties who would like to spend time with patients and their families in need can email volunteer coordinator Nena Ellis at nellis@3hc.org.

Give blood

The American Red Cross Donation Center, 700 Cromwell Drive, is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday. Visit www.redcross.org or call 758-1140 or 1-800-733-2767 to make appointments at the center or at blood drives coming up at the following locations.

Animal adoptions

The Humane Society of Eastern Carolina, 3520 Tupper Drive, is open by appointment only from 1-5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Visit hsecarolina.org or email HSECgeneral@gmail.com for an adoption application, which must be approved before an appointment is scheduled. Call 413-7247. The organization always is in need of foster families provide temporary care for kittens, puppies, dogs, and cats. Visit hsecarolina.org/become-a-foster.

Pitt County Animal Services, 4550 County Home Road, is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays by appointment only for adoptions. No owner surrenders are available. Call 902-1725. Visit petango.com/pittshelter to view animals available for adoption. Animal services offers several volunteer opportunities including dog walking, doggie day out and reading buddy programs. Visit pittcountync.gov/153/Animal-Services

The Greene County Animal Shelter, 1985 N.C. 903 North, Snow Hill, is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Call 253-2237 for questions about adoptions and lost pets and visit facebook.com/ greenecountyanimal services. Call to schedule appointment for rabies vaccinations and for animal control issues. Call 747-8000 for after hours animal control.

Family Chess Club

The Family Chess Club meets from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at Apt To Learn, 650 E. Fire Tower Road, Suite B, Winterville. Chess lectures will be from 6-7 p.m. Chess sets are provided. All levels of players are welcome. The club is an affiliate of the United States Chess Federation and conducts sanctioned chess tournaments on occasion. Direct any questions to President Jerry Skinner, (252) 209-4148 or email howlandbakerjarvis@yahoo.com.

Garden tours

The Pitt County Arboretum will host garden tours from noon to 1 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The Northside Plant Walks utilize the arboretum and the Northside Walking Trail to tell a story about the plants with each tour. Attendance is free but visitors should pre-register for each event at pitt.ces.ncsu.edu/the-pitt-county-arboretum/northside-plant-walks/. Planned walks include:

Aug. 9: Drought Defying Darlings for Dry Gardens

Sept. 13: Landscape Plants with Medicinal Value

Oct. 11: Better Late than Never: Fall Landscape Standouts

Nov. 8: Berries, Twigs, and other Unappreciated Attributes