City Council to hold retreat. City Council will hold a retreat for the mayor and council members at Albemarle Hospital today at 2:30 p.m. The retreat will continue at the offices of the Northeastern North Carolina Economic Development Commission in Edenton Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

School needs help for Black History Month. Northside Elementary School is organizing black history activities for the month of February. If you or a group have talent you would like to share with elementary school students, call Pam at 335-2033 by today.

Effective Teacher Training. The Perquimans County Schools will host Effective Teacher Training classes at the Board of Education office in Hertford, Saturday, Feb. 2, 9, 16 & 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $65 per person. Preregister by calling 482-7900 ext. 2405.

Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting. The Board of Directors of Elizabeth City Habitat for Humanity will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest home at 605 Cardwell St., Elizabeth City, Saturday at 10 a.m. For more info, call Norma James at 331-2233.

Quilt Lovers to meet. The Colonial Quilt Lovers Guild will meet at the Camden Senior Center Saturday at 10 a.m. The group will also sponsor "Make A Blanket Day" as part of Project Linus at Church of the Redeemer in Camden Saturday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call Anne at 330-4447.

Groundhog Chess Open. The third annual Groundhog Chess Open will be held at 906 Fourth St., Elizabeth City, Saturday. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., and the first round starts at 9 a.m. Trophies will be awarded to winners. Cost is $10. For info, call 338-4120.

Family Research Society to meet. The Family Research Society will meet at 410 E. Main St., Elizabeth City, Sunday at 3 p.m. Sharon Gable will speak on the topic "What's at the National Archives for you?"

Northeastern CDC to hold free tax clinic. Northeastern Community Development Corp. will host a free tax clinic for low-income taxpayers Mondays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. NCDC is located at 154 Highway 158 East, Camden. For more info, call 338-5466 ext. 28.

EC-Pasquotank to release school early. All schools in the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools will be released two hours early on Monday, Feb. 4.

Currituck school board to meet. The Currituck County Board of Education will meet in closed session at Currituck County High School, Monday at 9:30 a.m.

Red Cross blood drives. The Greater Albemarle Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold blood drives at Corinth Baptist Church in Elizabeth City Monday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; at the U.S. Coast Guard's Aircraft Technical Training Center multi-purpose room, Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at Fellowship Baptist Church, Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more info, call 1-800-GIVELIFE.

Horse owners meeting. Dr. Mike Yoder, Dr. Jim Kittrell and Sue Gray of the N.C. Horse Council will be the speakers for a horse education meeting at the Chowan County Agricultural Center in Edenton Thursday at 6:30 p.m. To register, call 338-3954 by Monday at noon.

Library seeks African-American Pioneers. The W.C. Witherspoon Memorial Library is looking for names of black residents from Pasquotank and Camden counties to add to its list of African-American Pioneers. The library will also host its second Black History Program Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call Jackie King at 335-2473 or Irene at 331-7429, or e-mail jking@earlibrary.org or iward@earlibrary.org.

Pasquotank elections board to meet. The Pasquotank Board of Elections will hold meet at the elections office Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Chrome Pony Mustang group to meet. The Chrome Pony Mustang Club will meet at Golden Corral in Elizabeth City Tuesday at 6 p.m. For more info, call Virgil at 331-2210.

Program offers help filing tax returns. The AARP/IRS Tax-Aide program will offer tax filing help to senior citizens at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Senior Citizens Center each Tuesday, starting Feb. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., until April 15. For more information, call Carolyn Darling at 330-2728.

Financial aid clinic. High school seniors seeking financial aid for college are encouraged to register for a free FAFSA clinic at College of The Albemarle Saturday, Feb. 9. The clinic will be in Building B from 9 a.m. to noon. Students should register on line at cfnc.org by Tuesday.

Pasquotank producers to meet. The Pasquotank Producers awards and recognition program will be held at the Pasquotank center of the Cooperative Extension Service Tuesday at 7 p.m. A private pesticide applicator recertification class will be held Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

DAV Chapter 64 to meet. Disabled American Veterans Chapter 64 will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. The chapter will also meet Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Ministers Council to meet. The Ministers Council of Perquimans County will meet at Perquimans Middle School Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. For more info, call 426-5741 ext. 239.

Medical Assistants to meet. The Albemarle Area Medical Assistants will meet in the executive boardroom at Albemarle Hospital Thursday at 7 p.m. For more information, call 338-4353.

Economic development meeting. The Currituck County Board of Commissioners and the county Economic Development Board will meet at Moyock Middle School Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the UNC Economic Vision Study and on strategic options for future planning. Visit www.currituckgovernment.com or call 232-2075 for a meeting agenda.

Fleet Reserve to meet. The Fleet Reserve Branch and Auxiliary Unit 293 will meet at the CPOA building Thursday at 7 p.m. For more information, call 232-2410.

Currituck Democrats to meet. The Currituck County Democratic Party will meet at the Currituck Library in Barco on Thursday at 7 p.m. Speakers will include Kitty Etheridge and Marshall Adamo, a Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

Neighborhood watch group to meet. The Historical District Neighborhood Watch group will meet at the Elizabeth City Bed and Breakfast Thursday at 7 p.m.

Guild of Museum Friends to meet. The Guild of Museum Friends will meet at Museum of the Albemarle Thursday. In honor of Black History Month, Elizabeth City State University professor Jahi Issa will present a program on black soldiers in the Albemarle during the Civil War. For more information, call 338-2177.

Group mulls Camden historical society. A group of Camden residents are studying the possibility of starting a historical society in the county. Those interested in the idea can call either Alex Leary at 336-5564, Martha Ann at 771-2857, or Billy Revelle at 336-2786.

Free English classes at church. Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Grandy will be hosting free English as a second language on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. through March 17. Participants my register at class. For more information call 453-3559.

VUU alums seek members. The Northeastern North Carolina Chapter of Virginia Union University is seeking alumni to re-establish an alumni chapter. For more info, call 757-408-3723 or e-mail nencvuu@hotmail.com

NCDC accepting applications for More at Four. Northeastern Community Development Corp. is accepting applications for the More at Four program. The program that prepares 4 year olds for kindergarten is open to qualifying children in Camden County. For more info, call Mary Lee Wilkerson at 338-5466 ext. 20.

Perquimans Head Start applications. Perquimans County Head Start is now accepting applications for 3- and 4-year-old children. For more info, call Suzette at 426-5949.

NHS Class of '78 reunion meeting. The committee planning the 30-year reunion of the Class of 1978 will meet at Golden Corral Monday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 330-4514.

Early College High School sessions. The Currituck County Schools will hold information sessions for parents of eighth-graders on the school district's new Early College High School program at Moyock Middle School Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m., and at Currituck County Middle School Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. For more information call 232-2223 ext. 221.

River Road PTA to meet. The River Road Middle School PTA will meet in Room 11 at Northeastern High School Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. The group will discuss the "8.5 program," which is designed for students who need an extra semester in middle school. Parents whose child received a retention letter are urged to attend.

Corn growers meeting. The Pasquotank Cooperative Extension Service will host a meeting for corn growers Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. Ron Heiniger will be the speaker. For info, call 338-3954.

Head Start applications accepted. The Pasquotank/Camden Head Start Center is now accepting applications for the 2008-09 school year. The center is at 409 Bank St., Elizabeth City. For more info, call 335-7698.

Bicycle Ministry seeks tricycles. The Bicycle Ministry is seeking used tricycles for child patients at St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Tricycles may be dropped off at Cycle Gallery at 1008 Halstead Blvd., Elizabeth City. For more info, call Jackie Phillips at 357-2295.

Daughters of the American Revolution to meet. The Betsy Dowdy Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at the Nicholson House Cafe & Tea Parlor in Belvidere Thursday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. Clay Foreman, a Master Gardener, will speak on camellias.

Craftsman's Guild to screen crafts. The Albemarle Craftsman's Guild will hold the first screening of the year, Friday, Feb. 15. To apply, take or mail three or more samples of your craft, along with a completed application, to the Pasquotank Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service on McPherson Street before Feb. 15. For more info, call 338-3954.

Athletic Boosters Winter Festival. The Currituck County Middle School Athletic Boosters will hold its annual Winter Festival fundraiser at the school Saturday, Feb. 16. Tables are available for $25. For more information or an application, call Sheryl Lovitt at 207-4854.

Teens meet to discuss violence. A community meeting on teen violence entitled "The Solution to Teen Violence: Teenagers Talk" will be held in Courtroom A of the Pasquotank County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. For more questions, e-mail manofsteeltime@aol.com.

Nixonton Crime Watch group to meet. The Nixonton Community Crime Watch group will meet at the Ruritan Building on Halls Creek Road Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call James at 264-2934.

The Safety Education Section of the N.C. Industrial Commission will offer a new 30-hour Accident Prevention Certificate Awareness Program at the Manteo Airport pavilion Feb. 18-22. The program is designed to raise safety awareness, prevent accidents and reduce Workers' Comp claims. The cost is $4. To register, visit www.comp.state.nc.us/ncic/pages/safety.htm or call Dennis Parnell at 919-218-3000.

Pasquotank High School open house. Pasquotank County High School will host an open house Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Currituck crime prevention funds. The Currituck County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is seeking requests for proposals for $84,329 in funding for juvenile delinquency prevention programs. Nonprofit agencies wishing to apply should contact Sandra Hill at 232-2381 or Nancy Hodges at 355-9013. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. Forms may also be downloaded from www.ncdjjdp.org/jcpc/forms.html.

Agricultural producers to meet. The Pasquotank Cooperative Extension Service will host a roundtable on cotton Friday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon. John Van Duyn, Stan Winslow, Al Wood and Keith Edmisten will be the speakers. Saving money on fertilizer will be the topic Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. Carl Crozier and Wood will be the speakers.

SPCA to sponsor dog obedience classes. The SPCA of Perquimans County will sponsor basic dog obedience classes Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the class will benefit the SPCA's spay/neuter fund. For info, call 426-6587.

ECSU to host Career Fair. Elizabeth City State University's Office of Career Services will hold a Career Fair in the R.L. Vaughan Center Thursday, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Representatives from business, industry, government agencies, school systems and graduate schools will participate. For more info, call Brutus Jackson at 335-3318.

Camden crime prevention funds. The Camden County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is seeking applicants for its $53,874 in funding for delinquency prevention and intervention programs. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m. For info, call John Gurganus at 338-3349, Danelle Barco at 338-1919, ext. 229 or Nancy Hodges at 947-1565.

Agricultural producers to meet. The Pasquotank Center of the Cooperative Extension Service will host a meeting for agricultural producers on herbicide resistance management Monday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. Alan York will be the speaker. A meeting on pesticide application and commercial pest applicator recertification will be held Thursday, Feb. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Al Wood and Tom Campbell will be the speakers. For info, call 338-3954.

Cancer Society Support Group to meet. The Mt. Zion Cancer Support and Fellowship Group will meet at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Grandy Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. For more info, call 453-3559 or visit the cancer support page at www.mtziongrandy.org.

Pasquotank crime prevention funds. The Pasquotank County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is seeking requests for proposals for $137,064 in funding for juvenile delinquency prevention programs. Nonprofit agencies wishing to apply should contact Diana Gardner at 330-3535 or Nancy Hodges at 335-9013. The application deadline is Friday, March 7 at 5 p.m. Forms may also be downloaded from www.ncdjjdp.org/jcpc/forms.html.

Hospice to host teleconference. Albemarle Hospice will host the 15th annual Hospice Foundation of American's Living With Grief satellite teleconference: "Living with Grief: Children and Adolescents," at Elizabeth City State University Wednesday, April 16 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. To register, call 338-4326.

DAV van drivers needed. The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 64 in Elizabeth City is seeking qualified volunteer drivers to transport patients by DAV network transport van to and from the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Hampton, Va. For info, call 335-0997 or stop by at the office at 112 S. McMorrine St., Elizabeth City.

NCDC accepting after-school applications. Northeastern Community Development Corp. has a few vacancies remaining in its After School Program. The program is open to children in grades K-3 and participants are provided homework assistance, structured play, and enrichment activities. To register, call 338-5466, ext. 21.

GED classes offered in Currituck. College of The Albemarle's Basic Skills Program is now offering General Educational Development classes at Moyock United Methodist Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Classes are free. To register, visit the church during class hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more info, call 335-0821 ext. 2302.

Community Care Clinic moves. The Community Care Clinic has moved to 918 Greenleaf St. in the Fleet Reserve Building. For more info, call 384-4733.

Northeastern CDC offers housing services. Northeastern Community Development Corp. offers a comprehensive program of housing-related services as well as counseling and tenant mediation services. For more info, call Katrina Bryant at 338-5466, ext. 25.

HIV/AIDS services offered. HIV/AIDS case management services are available in the area by calling 332-5900.

Head Start applications in Currituck. The Economic Improvement Council is seeking applications in Currituck County for its Head Start program. Children must be 4 years old. For info, call 453-4992.

Head Start applications. The Perquimans County Head Start program is now accepting applications for 4 year olds. For info, call Suzette Hayes at 426-5949.

Moyock UMC preschool taking applications. Moyock United Methodist Church preschool has a limited number of preschool spaces available. For info, call 435-0610.

Fed school programs reviewed. The Office of Federal Programs for the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools has information available for review about its Title I, Title II and Title V programs. For info, call Linda Ward at 335-2981.

Marching Unit needs recruits. The River City Marching Unit is seeking boys and girls ages 5 1/2 to 12 to participate in upcoming parades. For more information, call Kim Wood at 312-1309 or Lisa Simpson at 312-1140.

Healthy Carolinians panel seeks members. The Healthy Carolinians of the Albemarle Chronic Disease subcommittee is seeking volunteer members. For more info, call Georgia Kight at 232-2261 or Yvonne Mullen at 338-3954.

VUU alumni group seeks members. The Northeastern North Carolina Chapter of the Virginia Union University National Alumni Association wants to re-establish the chapter in the region. For more information, call Maria James at 757-288-7140 or e-mail nencvuu@hotmail.com.

VUU alumni membership drive. Alumni from Virginia Union University are seeking alumni, family of current students and supporters in northeastern North Carolina. For more info, call 757-288-7140 or e-mail nencvuu@hotmail.com.

Witherspoon-Harris award nominees. The Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Community Relations Commission is seeking nominees for its Witherspoon-Harris Community Contribution Recognition Award. Nominees must reside in Elizabeth City or Pasquotank County and have made extraordinary community service contributions. Forms may be picked up in the City Clerk's office at City Hall.

Art League membership drive. The Perquimans Art League is holding its annual membership drive. Pick up applications in the Perquimans Art League gallery or at the Perquimans Chamber of Commerce office. For more information, call 426-3041 or 426-5657.

Treasure Point 4-H Camp fund. The Camden County 4-H Foundation has established a "Treasure Point 4-H Camp Re-building fund" to raise money to replace the log cabin destroyed by arsonists in early November. Make checks payable to the Camden County 4-H Foundation and send to either the Camden Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service or the Bank of Currituck in Camden. For more info, contact Danelle Barco call 338-1919, ext. 229.