Happy Mother's Day! Take mom to the zoo ... and more

PlayTime

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! TAKE MOM TO THE ZOO:Did you know that the Knoxville Zoo is the "Red Panda Capital of the World," having the greatest success in breeding and survival of baby Red Pandas? In 2003, the zoo celebrated the birth of two pandas bringing the total of babies born in Knoxville to 80 since 1978. There are more than 800 animals at Knoxville Zoo, and the food budget for the year exceeds $180,000. Weekly, the animals consume 9,614 pounds of hay, 327 bananas, 832 pounds of meat, 42 heads of lettuce, 2,517 pounds of grain and lots of greens. Needless to say, that's a big grocery bill -- so head out to the Knoxville Zoo for the afternoon and see for yourself how wondrous it all is. Admission is $14.95 for adults and $10.95 for children ages 2-12. Parking is $4. Call 637-5331 for more information.

Benefits

FIRST MARRIOTT BUSINESS SERVICES GOLF TOURNAMENT: Will be held at 8 a.m. May 31 at Rarity Pointe to benefit Relay for Life of Blount County. Registration is $75 per golfer. To sign up, contact Matthew Webb at 980-4028 or Matthew.Webb@Marriott.com, or Milea Ownby at 980-4276. Make registration checks payable to the American Cancer Society. The event is open to everyone.

Class, Family, Other Reunions

USS COLUMBUS CA-74/CG-12/SSN-762 REUNION: Will be held Oct. 1-4 at Holiday Inn North, Dayton, Ohio. Contact Allen R. Hope, President, at 3828 Hobson Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815-4505, or 260-486-2221 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT, or hope4391@com cast.net.

WILLIAM BLOUNT HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1983: Is preparing for its 25-year reunion. Alumni are invited to fill out a profile so they may be reached regarding the reunion by visiting classreport.org/usa/tn/maryville/wbhs/1983. The reunion committee can be reaches at classreport.org/usa/tn/maryville/wbhs/1983, at P.O. Box 1095, Louisville, TN 37777 or at wbclassof83@yahoo.com.

Classes Offered

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH CLASS: Will be held at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Cades Cove Baptist Fellowship, 2342 Duncan Road, Maryville. The class is free for anyone who would like to learn to speak Spanish. For information call 984-0465.

STREET KUNG FU CLASSES: Beginning classes in Street Kung Fu and Clear's Pentjak and Kun Tao Silat professionally and safely taught by Senior Instructor Richard Clear in Maryville are held at noon and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost is $25 per class. Class size is limited and by appointment only by calling 379-9997. Free self-defense personal safety guidelines available to the public by calling 379-9997.

KARATE AND BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: Classes are now being offered for all ages at Hatchers Martial Arts. Instructor is Pan American Champion Brad Hatcher. Call 984-3979.

SCRAPBOOKING CLASSES: Free, in-home scrapbooking classes available to anyone who is interested. Call 681-4478.

UNITY STUDY GROUP, MARYVILLE: Learn about practical Christianity and Unity/New Thought teachings from 3-4:30 p.m. Mondays at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 314 Broadway Ave. Sponsored by Unity Church of Knoxville. Call Karen at 583-0011 for details.

Clubs, Organizations

SENIOR CITIZENS PINOCHLE: Will meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Everett Senior Center.

SENIOR BRIDGE GROUP: Meets at 11:30 a.m. each Tuesday at the Everett Park Adult Center.

ALMOST DEAD POETS SOCIETY: Meets from 2:30 to 4 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays at Everett Senior Center. Open to anyone who enjoys writing and listening to poetry.

CARPENTER'S FCE: Meets at 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Carpenter's United Methodist Church.

ALCOA KIWANIS CLUB: Meets at noon each Monday at Green Meadow Country Club.

AARP CHAPTER 2296: Meets at 2 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at Everett Senior Center, 702 Burchfield St., Maryville. Guests welcome. For information, contact Bill Roback at 981-9674 or Dave Christensen at 681-4866.

SMOKEY MOUNTAIN KNIFE COLLECTORS CLUB: Meets from 6-8 p.m. the third Monday of every month in the lower meeting room of Local 309 Steelworkers building, 339 S. Hall Road, Alcoa.

RESOURCE VALLEY RACONTEURS: The Pellissippi State Technical Community College Toastmaster Chapter #6791 will meet at 11:50 a.m. every first and third Wednesday at the Blount County campus. For information contact Alberta at 981-5300. The club is open to everyone who wants to sharpen his/her speaking skills.

BLOUNT COUNTY NEWCOMERS: Meets at 10 a.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Life Event Center on Tuckaleechee Pike. Meetings feature a speaker, potluck, and drawings. Any women are welcome, new or not so new to the area.

LOST CAJUNS, SOCIAL GROUP OF LOUISIANA NATIVES: Will host the monthly social at 6 p.m. Thursday at Red Lobster, 8040 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. Reservation required. Call 748-7122.

MARY BLOUNT CHAPTER DAR: Will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Dorothy Herron Room of the Blount County Public Library. State Chaplain Drama Robeson will present the program on "The Children of Tamassee." Memorial service will be held.

Especially for kids

SUMMER SWIMMING LESSONS: The Blount County Chapter of the American Red Cross is partnering with Parks Rec to offer children's swimming lessons May 26-July 10 at John Sevier Pool. For the schedule and registration information, got to www.bccarc.org or www.parksrec.com.

Health, Fitness

KIDS DANCE FOR YOUR HEALTH CLASSES: Dream Street Infusion Dancers, formerly Free-Styl'n, has relocated. For information on times and locations, contact original creator/instructor Robin Devereaux at 681-2321 or 660-6740. The class is for children with medical issues such as diabetes, obesity, lupus, etc. Classes offered daily, call to schedule an appointment. Team, public performances, competitions available.

Self Help, Support Groups

EDITOR'S NOTE: For a listing of Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Al-Ateen meetings, please see this section every Wednesday.

NEW HEART SOCIETY: Meets at 6 p.m. the last Tuesday of every month at Shoney's on Alcoa Highway and is an organ transplant support group for all pre- and post op patients. Call 694-0269 for information.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT GROUP: Meets Monday evenings. The group provides information and support to women who are experiencing violence in their relationships or for women who have escaped the abuse. Contact Haven House at 982-1087 for time and location.

S.O.W.I.N.G CIRCLE (SUPPORTING OLDER WOMEN IN NEW GROWTH): Is a free support group offering coping skills for women 55 and older. The Circle addresses issues such as personal health care, learning to live alone, setting boundaries and finding the balance between retirement and assisting grown children with families. Meetings are held at Peninsula Lighthouse, 6800 Baum Drive, Building 2. Call Susie Wilson at 374-7158 for times and dates.

Et cetera ...

RECYCLE USED HEARING AIDS: Alcoa Rotary is working with The Hearing and Speech Foundation to recycle used hearing aids for low-income individuals. This is a non-profit organization providing hearing and speech services to individuals who otherwise would go without. Please call the Foundation at 977-0981 for more information. Donations are tax deductible.

PET ADOPTIONS AT ANIMALWORKS: Located at 3377 Regal Dr., Alcoa, behind West Chevrolet. All pets receive a health checkup, are vaccinated, spayed or neutered and dewormed. All cats tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Dogs are heartworm tested, on heartworm preventative and microchipped. Call 379-2227 for more information or stop by.