Diabetes class

JOHN DAY – Blue Mountain Hospital is sponsoring a five-week series of classes on diabetes on Wednesdays through Oct. 8. Classes will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. in the hospital’s conference room.

Topics covered will include the basics of diabetes, exercise, nutrition, meal planning with the dietician and foot care. The classes are free and open to the community. More info: 575-4157.

School open house

PRAIRIE CITY – Everyone is invited to a “Meet and Greet Open House,” at Prairie City School 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17. Meet the teachers and visit the classrooms.

“Recovery Romp”

CANYON CITY – The Center for Human Development will sponsor a “Recovery Romp” potluck dinner for recovering alcoholics at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19, at the Canyon City Community Hall. More info: 575-1466.

Democratic meeting

JOHN DAY – The Grant County Democratic Central Committee will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at the Outpost Restaurant. The public is invited.

Book signing

JOHN DAY – Author Mary Fitzgerald will be on hand at Dark Horse Antiques, 600 S. Canyon Blvd., from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, for a signing of her latest book, “My Twickenham: Her Family’s Story.”

Girls Circle

JOHN DAY – Families First will begin a new eight-week session of “Girls Circle,” 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 25-Nov. 13. Girls Circle is a facilitated support group for girls ages 12-17, designed to foster self-esteem, encourage self-expression and connections with peers and adult women in the community. The theme for this session will be “Body Image.” For more information and to preregister, call Randi or Teresa at 575-1006.

Movie time

CANYON CITY – The next movie showing at the Grantville Theater will be 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Doors open at 6:30. Movie titles will be posted on the door or call 575-0509 for information.

Concert to benefit hall

CANYON CITY – Elvis will be in the room Saturday, Sept. 27, as organizers kick off a fund drive to restore the Canyon City Community Hall. A concert will start at 6 p.m. in the hall featuring an Elvis impersonator who also channels Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Dion, Conway Twitty and Rick Nelson. Tickets are $15 per person, and hors d’oeuvres and dessert will be provided. There will be babysitting upstairs for an additional $5 per child. All proceeds will go toward the Community Hall Restoration Project.

Girl Scout registration

CANYON CITY – Girl Scouts will hold a registration night for all girls, kindergarten through grade 12, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, in the Humbolt Elementary School cafeteria. A parent needs to accompany their daughter to sign the registration forms. There will be a short program explaining upcoming changes in the Girl Scout program and redistricting boundaries. More info: Betty Freeman, 575-2643; leave a message from 6:30-8 p.m.

Driver safety program

JOHN DAY – An AARP driver safety course will be taught in two, four-hour sessions, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the John Day Senior Center in John Day. The course, designed for drivers age 50 and older, will present recent changes in Oregon driving laws. The fee is $10 per person. More info: Helen Bogart, 575-1636.

Candidate night

MT. VERNON – The Mt. Vernon Grange is sponsoring a “Candidate Night,” 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Mt. Vernon Grange Hall. Senator Ted Ferrioli will be the moderator. Local candidates, Glenn Palmer and Mike Durr, along with state candidates, Mike Ahern, John Huffman and Cliff Bentz, will be there to express their positions and answer questions.

The grange will furnish refreshments. More info: Jean Sagert, 575-1007.

Regional EventsDutch oven cookoff

HERMISTON – The Chuckwagon Cafe celebrates 38 years of business with the 5th Annual Chuckwagon Cafe Dutch Oven Cookoff, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. Mother and daughter owners Dorothy Beason and Cathy Stolz invite competitors to bring their dutch ovens, charcoal, tailgates, vittles and shade, two miles north of Hermiston on Highway 395. Rookies are encouraged to participate and there will be entertainment from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information about the competition, entry fees, awards and prizes, call (541) 567-6329, afternoons and evenings.

OngoingRecycling

PRAIRIE CITY – Prairie City Recycling Center is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday, unless otherwise advertised. To volunteer, call Ruth McPherren at 820-4326.

Family passes on sale

JOHN DAY – Family athletic passes are now available for the 2008-2009 school year at Grant Union High School. The passes, which cost $100 each will admit parents and family members under age 14 to all regularly scheduled events during the year, not including playoff games. Passes may be purchased at the GUHS office during regular business hours. For more information, call the GUHS office at 575-1799.

Scrap metal collection

PRAIRIE CITY – The Greater Prairie City Community Association is collecting scrap metal now through September. Large items are welcome too, such as old appliances and vehicles. The proceeds will benefit HOWDY and Camp Logan. More info: Kathy Smith, 820-4597.