CLUBS AND GROUPS

Join the Honourable Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Innovation, at the Delta Chamber of Commerce Breakfast at The Coast Tsawwassen Inn, 1665 56th St., Tsawwassen, on Thursday, Aug. 16. Members $30 and non-members $40. More information at www.deltachamber.ca.

There will be a Parkinson's support group meeting Monday, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at KinVillage. We are a group who either have Parkinson's Disease, or live/help someone who does have PD. We meet the third Monday of each Month to talk, learn from each other, encourage each other, or just sit back and listen to those around us. For more information call Eileen or Peter at

604-943-8350.

DIGIVATIONS is holding Train Like an Astronaut full-day programs at Delta Gymnastics in Ladner from Aug. 20 to 24. NASA Mini-Academies will be held at the Point Roberts Community Center August 11-14, 18-21 and 25-28 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) Register at www.digivations.com.

Fraser Valley Regional Library is hosting a half-day training workshop for anyone who would like to get involved in The Next Chapter Book Club, an initiative funded by Delta Literacy, hosted by FVRL and supported by Deltassist, is coming to Delta. Each week, groups of adolescents and adults, with a wide range of reading abilities, gather in public locations to read with two trained volunteers. Staff from the Down Syndrome Research Foundation will conduct the workshop. If you would like to become a Volunteer NCBC book club facilitator, please contact Shirley-Ann Reid at reidsa@telus.net. If you would like to attend this workshop and/or become a book club member, please join us for the training workshop on August 24 and then come on Fridays from 2 - 3 p.m. beginning September 21 at Ladner Pioneer Library.

Sports equipment is for sale at the Hospice Cottage Charity Shoppe. Shop early for hockey and skating equipment at great prices. Hospice Cottage open Tuesday & Thursday from 9:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9:30 to 4 p.m., sidewalk sale Monday - 1521 56th St. Tsawwassen.

Troubled by someone's drinking? Al-Anon Support Group meets in the 'Penland Room' of the Clubhouse at Sacred Heart Parish, 3900 Arthur Drive (South side, past Hall, at rear of property behind Monastery).

Celebrate Recovery is a non-profit meeting held every Friday night at South Delta Baptist Church starting at 7 pm. We are an "umbrella" group meaning we deal with any "hurt, habit or hang-up" and we come together to heal together. For more information contact recovery@southdelta.org or Kristin Kozar at 604-780-8317.

Breastfeeding? Pregnant and wanting to learn more? Get the information and encouragement you need to meet your breastfeeding goals. La Leche League Canada's South Delta Group meets for discussion the second Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m. at Ladner United Church, 4960-48th Ave. Babies and young children are welcome. Between meetings phone help is available from Ruth at 604-948-3284 and Darcie at 604-244-0284. www.LLLC.ca

Devon Gardens Elementary School (the district's only Montessori elementary school) is currently accepting registrations for primary K-3 Montessori classes for the upcoming 2012/2013 school year. Please contact Devon Gardens Elementary School at 604-581-6185 or dhope@deltasd.bc.ca for more information or to register.

The Delta Youth Support Line Society (DYSL) is looking for fabulous, friendly people to volunteer at the DYSL Wearhouse Thrift Store in Tsawwassen. This is an amazing summer opportunity to learn and develop marketable skills all while being part of a great volunteer team! For more info, or to fill out a volunteer application, contact Brenda at btyc@dccnet.com or info@dyslsociety.com.

IODE Boundary Bay Chapter is looking for new, enthusiastic women to join our local charitable fundraising organization. We are a fun group of women who strive to make a difference in our community by focusing on support for children, youth, seniors and those in need. Through several fundraising initiatives, our chapter supports organizations in the South Delta community.

IODE is a registered charity. If you are interested, we welcome you to attend one of our monthly meetings and consider joining. Our national website is www.iode.ca. We also accept donations. Contact Diane at 604-948-3198 or e-mail queenofpearls@dccnet.com.

French classes (beginners advanced and conversation) are available for adults at Ecole Bois Joli, 785-49th St., Tsawwassen. For more info call PAC of Ecole Bois Joli at 604-948-7077.

One-to-One individual help is available for Internet, email and library database questions at the Tsawwassen Library, 1321A 56th St. Call to make an appointment. Tsawwassen Library: 604-943-2271.

AL-ANON Family Groups announces that the Monday at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. meetings have relocated to 5061-12th Avenue in Tsawwassen.

South Asian Ladies, meet and share your morning with other South Asian women. Compare recipes, share stories and meet new friends. Tea and snacks provided. Join us Monday mornings, 10 a.m. to noon at Deltassist, 9097-120th St., North Delta. For more information, call 778-686-0453. A partnership between Deltassist and Sahara Services Society.

The Delta Photo Club meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the KinVillage Recreation Centre. Join photographers of all skills levels at these fun and informative weekly photo meetings. For further information, see www.deltaphotoclub.com or contact Karoline at publicity@deltaphotoclub.com.

Always wanted to write your personal history? If you don't do it who will? Join the Tsawwassen Writing Group at Tsawwassen Library the second and fourth Thursday morning each month at 10:30 until noon. Phone Belle Curd at 604-948-5441 or just show up.

Wondering about your breast cancer risk? Join our free group sessions on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. to learn how to prevent breast cancer through healthy lifestyle changes. Limited space available - reserve by phone 604-603-5140 or email info.bcprac@ubc.ca. The Breast Cancer Prevention & Risk Assessment Clinic is a project of the CCS-UBC Cancer Prevention Centre and receives funding from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation BC/Yukon. The clinic is located at BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre. http://breastcancerprevention.med.ubc.ca

Do you have OCD? Are you supporting someone with OCD? Canadian Mental Health, Delta Branch offers a support group on the first Wednesday of each month from 7-9 pm @ 11715-72nd Avenue (house). The group is facilitated by a counselling psychologist with specialized training in the treatment of OCD. Meetings are free, please call 604-943-1878 to register for your first meeting.

Feeling down? Depressed? Suffering from bipolar disorder or some symptoms?

Help is close at hand. A Support Group led by a peer facilitator meets the second and fourth Tuesday each month from 7 to 9 p.m. Meetings are held at the CMHA's new location, 4871 Delta St., Ladner. Need informative brochures? The office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Call 604-943-1878.

Are you helping/supporting someone with a mental health disorder? Or are you concerned about someone displaying some symptoms of mental health problems? Plan to attend the Family Support Group that meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Education Conference Room, Delta Hospital, 5800 Mountain View Blvd., Ladner. Call 604-943-1878.

The Delta Stamp Club meets at the Tsawwassen Library at 7:30 p.m. and talk about, trade or otherwise exchange stamps. The meetings are every second and fourth Tuesdays of every month and last approximately one and a half hours. New members are very welcome, and no one needs to be an expert on philately just interested. Come and check us out, we would love to see you. Contact Nellie at 604-940-3803 for more information.

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is accepting volunteer applications. Be part of this highly skilled group of men and women that provides a service to the community by performing marine search and rescue. All new members are provided with in-depth training and all abilities are welcome. Visit deltasar.bc.ca for more information.

Delta Hospital Auxiliary is looking for volunteers in many areas. We help provide care and comfort to those that need the services of our hospital. We urgently require a coordinator for the following areas: Ways and Means, office, cafŽ and last but not least, the gift shop. We also need a new vice-president. If you can give a few hours a week, we need you! Please call the auxiliary office at 604-946-1121 local 783212.

You are invited to join others in your community to share information and resources, coping strategies, ideas for living well with Parkinson's, good humour and more at Tsawwassen Parkinson's Support Group meetings on the third Tuesday of each month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the KinVillage Community Centre, multi-purpose room, 5430-10th Ave., Tsawwassen. For more information please contact: Robbin Jeffereys, Parkinson Society British Columbia, 1-800-668-3330, 604-662-3240 or rjeffereys@parkinson.bc.ca.

Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a non-profit international women's organization, is accepting new members. We are of all ages and our motto is "Life Learning and Friendship." Call Joyce at 604-940-0106 or Alice at 604-946-4998 if you are interested in joining.

The Canadian Cancer Society Volunteer Driver program in Ladner/Tsawwassen is in need of more volunteer drivers to take patients to and from their treatment. Training and dispatch are provided. Time commitments are flexible. If you are interested in further information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Christian Chenard, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at 604-533-1668 Ext 338 or email fvrvolengagement@bc.cancer.ca.

The Hospice Cottage Thrift Store in Tsawwassen is looking for volunteers for morning, afternoon and evening shifts on any day of the week. There is also a need for volunteers interested in books to join the book team. Please call

604-948-0660 and leave a message for Sandy Schmidt at ext.333.

The Ladner/Tsawwassen Kinsmen Club invites new and old members to join us, the first and third Mondays of each month at Kin House in Ladner. Join the only all-Canadian service club. Come have fun, meet our neighbours and help make our community a better place to live and raise our families. Supper is at 6:30 p.m., the meeting is a 7 p.m. and the fun follows. There is no age limit for members as there was in the past. For more information please call 604-946-8711. Leave a message.

Supportive Care - for people with cancer, other life-threatening or progressive illness and those who are grieving. Relaxation Group (Drop-in, Tuesday at 10 a.m.), Bereavement Walking Group (Drop-in Wednesday at 10 a.m.), Caregivers' Group, and Grief Groups. Call the Centre for Supportive Care at 4631 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Ladner; 604-948-0660 for more information.

Knitting Sisters Group. If you would like to knit or crochet for worthy causes please contact Alice at Gisborne@dccnet.com or 604-946-3060. Drop in sessions first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 am - noon at the McKee Senior Centre in Ladner. Donated yarn always welcome and appreciated.

Drop-in Bereavement Walking Group - Be physically active, receive peer support and socialize with others who have experienced the loss of a significant person. Join men and women of all ages for fresh air and a short or longer walk, followed by refreshments at the Centre for Supportive Care (4631 Clarence

Taylor Crescent, Ladner). For more information call 604-948-0660.

Drop-in Relaxation Circle - Are you living with Cancer? Are you a caregiver? Are you grieving a death? Join the Relaxation Circle Tuesdays at 10 am. Using music and guided imagery, learn to relax, improve your focus, and reduce your stress. For more information call the Centre for Supportive Care (4631 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Ladner) at 604-948-0660.

The Fraser Health Crisis Line is recruiting volunteers to provide assistance to people in the region who are experiencing emotional distress. No previous experience is needed as extensive training and ongoing support is provided. If you are interested in learning more about this challenging and rewarding opportunity, visit our website at www.options.bc.ca and follow the link for the Crisis Line. Next training starts soon.

SENIORS

The Kin Jam band invites everyone to listen and/or dance to their music the second and fourth Tuesday of each week from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. At KinVillage Community Centre. Admission is free.

FUND RAISERS

SPECIAL EVENTS

Delta Parks, Recreation & Culture, in partnership with Metro Vancouver, invites the public to Starry Night - a free family event which includes entertainment, discovery stations and self-guided twilight tours from 7:30 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18, at Deas Island Regional Park (River Road and 62B Street, Delta). The event is stroller accessible. For more information contact Lynn Davies at 604-946-3306 or email ldavies@corp.delta.bc.ca.

Twice monthly car boot sales at Centennial Beach Parking lot, 8:30 a.m. every second and fourth Saturday (Weather permitting) Only $10 per space. Next sale: Aug. 25. Sell treasures - buy treasures! Hosted by Cammidge House Volunteer Committee Boundary Bay Regional Park. For more information call Beth 604-940-9824.

Please join your friends for a "Piece of the Cake" at Deltassist's 40th Anniversary Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Deltassist's North Delta Office at 9097-120th St. This year, we will be awarding the Karen Johnson Volunteer Award to honour an outstanding volunteer who has made a special contribution toward improving the quality of live in Delta, along with a brief business meeting. Light refreshments will be served this evening. Please RSVP to 604-594-3455 by September 15, 2012.

ARTS

The Sidekick Players will hold auditions for roles in Norm Foster's "Ethan Claymore" on are Saturday, Aug. 25 (noon - 3 p.m.) and Monday, Aug. 27 (7 - 9 p.m.) in the Sidekick Rehearsal Hall, Tsawwassen Arts Centre, 1172-56th St., Tsawwassen. No appointments will be made and auditions will be on a first come, first served basis. This will be a cold read from the script and scripts are available at the Vancouver Library for perusal before auditioning. All Sidekick productions are NON-EQUITY. You must become a member of Sidekick at the first reading of the play. Characters required are:

Ethan Claymore: Male - late 30's

Douglas: Male - mid to late 50's

Martin: Male - early to mid 40's

Teresa: Female - early 30'

Young Ethan: Male - 11

Young Martin: Male - 16

(Ethan and Martin are brothers) E-Mail resume and headshot only to:

carroll.lefebvre@hotmail.com.

The Coming Events column is published every Wednesday as a community service. If you have a non-profit event, mail, drop off, fax, or e-mail (events@delta-optimist.com) the details to the Optimist by 3 p.m. Monday. Submissions are subject to space limitations (no phone calls, please).