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Author Ed Francisco and poet Bill Brown will conduct concurrent writing workshops during "January Jumpstart X," scheduled for Jan. 15-17 at the Magnuson Hotel in Sweetwater. The event is being sponsored by Tennessee Mountain Writers in conjunction with the Tennessee Writers' Alliance.

Francisco will lead the fiction workshop while Brown will lead the poetry workshop.

Participation in January Jumpstart X will be limited to 20 registrants per workshop. Registration deadline is Jan. 7. For more information, visit www.tmwi.org or contact Sue Richardson Orr at orrs@usit.net.

WordPlayers to present 'Miracle Worker'

The WordPlayers and Erin Stage Co. will present "The Miracle Worker," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday, and again at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 28, at Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Road, Knoxville.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors/students, $8 for groups of 10 or more. All seats are general admission. Call 539-2490 for more information.

This classic tells the story of Annie Sullivan and her blind and deaf student, Helen Keller.

Stage Company to hold auditions

The Tennessee Stage Company will hold auditions for the New Play Festival, from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. in the Emporium Center at 100 S. Gay St. in Knoxville.

The New Play Festival will consist of a fully staged world premiere presentation of The Church of Diminishing marginal returns," by Jay Huling, staged readings of "Curves" by Sam Haven and "Best Kept Secrets" by Peggy Aultman. There will also be three table readings. Roles are available for a wide variety of ages and types.

For more information contact the Tennessee Stage Company at 546-4280.

Cadettes to host event on abuse

Local Girl Scout Cadette Troop 20552 will host "Abuse at the Improv," a session designed to help middle school students and older teens recognize and deal with peer pressure and abuse in the home and at school.

It will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, located on Sandy Springs Road in Maryville. There is no charge but donations will be accepted. Proceeds will be used toward the USS Yorktown camping trip in March, and a portion is also being donated to Haven House from the troop.

The Cadettes are doing this to raise awareness with Haven House and for their Silver Award.

Kroger launches hunger campaign

While many families continue to feel the effects of the weakened economy, Kroger's Can Hunger food drive will be important in stocking the shelves of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee with nutritious, nonperishable foods.

Under the theme Reach Out, Reuse and Reduce Hunger, customers who donate $2 will receive a reusable shopping bag for future visits to Kroger. Kroger customers can also purchase $5 or $1 icons, which represent food, to give to the Can Hunger campaign, which runs now through Dec. 31.