Calendar items are listed by date and it may take a while before an event submitted weeks in advance appears in the paper.

F.Y.I.

• Tickets are on sale for Power of the Purse Live and Silent Auction on Aug. 24 at the MSU Riley Center. Sneak Peek: 5:30-6 p.m. Event at 6 p.m. Proceeds to benefit United Way of East Mississippi Imagination Library. Tickets $30. FMI: Call 601-693-2732.

• The 30th annual Mississippi Pecan Festival will be held Sep. 29, 30 and Oct. 1, 2017, in Richton. GPS address: 510 Wingate Road, Beaumont, MS 39423. Admission $10, children 4 and under free. Events at the weekend long festival are arts and crafts, live craft demonstrations, broom maker, basket maker, draft horse farming, mule pull, blacksmith demos, blue grass and gospel music, and much more. If you are interested in booths or contests, call 601-964-8222.

Weekly:

Tuesday

• 12 p.m. – Meridian Civitan Club meets in the Rush Hospital Private Dining Room. (except every fifth Tuesday), FMI: 601-938-6409.

• 12 p.m. – Meridian Exchange Club meets at Red Lobster. FMI: 601-479-3954.

• 12 p.m. – Meridian Downtown Optimist Club meets at Western Sizzlin’. FMI: 601-693-2336.

• 12-1 p.m., Tuesdays, Refuge Christian Recovery, a meeting for women whose loved ones suffer from alcohol and drugs, meets at First Presbyterian Church, Founders Room, 905 23rd Ave. FMI: Charlie 601-483-5927.

• 5:30 p.m. Rotary Club of East Mississippi – Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month at The Daily Grind.

• 5-6:30 p.m.- The National Alliance on Mental Illness Meridian Affiliate Connection Support Group (at least 18-years-old with mental illness diagnosis) meets at Wesley House Community Center, 1520 8th Avenue. FMI: Patricia Battle 601-527-3734 or Jill Walsh 601-917-1474.

• 5:15-6:30 p.m. – The National Alliance on Mental Illness Meridian Affiliate Family Support

Group (at least 18-years-old in support of a person with mental illness diagnosis) meets at Wesley House Community Center, 1520 8th Avenue. FMI: Patricia Battle 601-527-3734 or Jill Walsh 601-917-1474.

• 5:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesday/Thursday, Al-Anon meetings at Firehouse, 3753 19th St.

• 6:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of the month, Disabled American Veterans Ch. 56 meets at 4101 19th St. Food pantry available 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. FMI: Commander Dan Ward 601-485-1813.

Daily:

Tuesday, Aug, 22

• 10 a.m. – The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center will host a town hall for veterans, family members. stakeholders and the public, to provide feedback on VA operations and programs. The meeting will be held at the VFW Post 4396, 10310 Hwy 16 East, Philadelphia. FMI: 601-368-4477.

• 10 a.m. – Baby/Toddler Get Fit Activity and Story Time at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

• 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. – Meridian’s Fall Bash Blood Drive at the Tommy Dulaney Center at MCC, 915 Highway 19 North. Donors will be entered to win hourly door prizes including gift cards to McDonald’s, Outback and more. There will be one grand prize tailgate package including chairs, tent, cooler and a Raising Cane’s tailgate pack. Donors will receive a “Get in the Game” T-shirt and a free movie ticket through points in the online rewards store.

• 4:30 p.m – Chess Club at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Wednesday, Aug. 23

• 4:20 p.m. – YA – 7th-12-grade Quizlet Activity at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Thursday, Aug. 24

• 4:30 p.m. – K-6th Grade – Move it. Move it!

• 5:30-9 p.m. – Power of the Purse at MSU Riley Center, with auctioneer Larry Sims, along with the Cowboy.

• 7 p.m. – David Phelps direct from the Bill Gaither Homecoming TV shows and the Gaither Vocal Band will be at the Temple Theater for one performance. Ticket information: 601-693-5353 or 601-934-1033 or 601-480-0393. Tickets on sale at the Temple Theater.

Friday, Aug. 25

• 9-11 a.m. – Meridian Athletic Club Senior Health Fair. Free active aging classes and wellness fair. FMI: 601-453-5874.

Saturday, Aug. 26

• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Shape Note Singing in Sebastopol at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church on Highway 21. Free admission. FMI: 601-940-1612.

• 11 a.m.-6 p.m. – 2nd annual Meridian Day Festival on City Hall Green. Community festival full of fun, games, music, and food. There will be pony rides for the kids as well as inflatables and a dunking booth. There will be several vendors on location and the stage entertainment will be Luv Undercover Band, Scott McQuaig & the Tomcats, and Fatback. FMI: 601-479-6841.

• 3:30 – Friends will gather at Sandy Ridge Bluegrass Park for a day of fellowship, food, pickin’ and grinnin’. Bring a covered dish for supper at 6 p.m. then hang around for some blue brass music with possible banjo, mandolin, guitar, and fiddle players. FMI: 601-644-3701.

• 7 p.m. – Live at the Meridian Temple Theatre and direct from England, world-renowned Theater Organist-Pianist-Vocalist Matthew Bason. Admission $10 at the door; MTOS members and children under 12 free. MCC Life Quest members $5.

Sunday, Aug. 27

• 9:30 a.m. – New Beginning UMC, Porterville will have their church service and picnic at Okatibbee Lake East Bank Pavilion across the spillway on the hill. Service will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a picnic around 12:30. All members and friends are welcome to attend. Rev. Charles Malone, pastor. FMI: 601-483-6475.

• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Shape Note Singing in Sebastopol at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church on Highway 21. Free admission. FMI: 601-940-1612.

• 11 a.m. – Women’s Day Program at First Union Baptist Church – 610 38th Ave. in Meridian. Theme – “The Holy Ghost and Missions In a Dark World.” FMI: 601-483-4189.

• 1 p.m. – Bingo at the Meridian Activity Center.

• 2 p.m. – Galilee Missionary Baptist Church will have a Color Rama Program. Several ladies from the city will explore the colors.

• 2 p.m. – Silent Movie Sunday at the Meridian Temple Theatre featuring world renowned British Theater Organist Matthew Bason providing the Live musical score for the 1927 action thriller silent movie “WINGS.”

Monday, Aug. 28

• 11 a.m. – Adult Game (Taboo) at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Tuesday, Aug. 29

• 10 a.m. – Baby/Toddler Lego Activity and Story Time at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

• 4:30 p.m. – Chess Club at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Wednesday, Aug. 30

• 4:30 p.m. – YA – 7th-12th grade Game Day Activity at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Thursday, Aug. 31

• 1 p.m. – Bingo at the Meridian Activity Center.

• 4:30 p.m. – K-6th Grade Craft Activity at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Saturday, Sept. 2

• 8 a.m.-1 p.m. – Earth’s Bounty at Singing Brakeman Park. Fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, jams, jellies, breads, soaps, shrubs, flowers and more.