Life and Arts Announcements - July 3

July 4th events

---Declaration of Independence celebration - 9 a.m. James White Fort, 205 E. Hill Ave. With Stephen Holston chapter of Sons of American Revolution, Honor Guard and others. Program by Cherel Henderson of East Tennessee Historical Society at 10. Info: 865-951-1606.

---Gatlinburg Parade - Midnight (12 a.m. July 4), Parkway, Gatlinburg. River Raft Regatta at noon; fireworks, 10 p.m.

Music

---Half Moon Music Festival - 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 10, 118 Christley Lane, Ten Mile, Tenn. Info: 865-717-0584 or www.halfmoonfest.com.

---"Alive After Five" - Soulfinger, 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, July 8, Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park. Cheese tasting, portrait artists. Tickets: $4-$8; ages 17 and under, free. 865-934-2039 or www.knoxart.org.

Theater

---"Hypnotist for Hire" - Mystery and dessert, 8 p.m. Saturdays, July 9 and 16, Creative Arts Co-op Visual and Performing Arts Center, 426 Ruritan Road, Harriman. Cost: $20. Reservations: 865-765-1129 or www.creativeartsco-op.com.

Auditions

---"The Dixie Swim Club" - Athens Community Theater auditions, 5 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 11, Arts Center, 320 N. White St., Athens, Tenn. Info: 423-745-8781.

---"Stars" talent show - Marcella Center for the Arts auditions by appointment, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 16, Sweetwater, Tenn. Info: 423-337-0075.

---"Bus Stop" - Foothills Community Players auditions, 1 p.m. Saturday or 6 p.m. Monday, July 16 or 18, First United Methodist Church, 804 Montvale Station Road, Maryville. Crew needed. Info: 865-237-0314 or www.FoothillsCommunityPlayers.com.

Exhibits

---Ocean Starr - Paintings, through July, Bliss Home, 29 Market Square. Info: email anne@shopinbliss.com.

---Alexander Dumas - Paintings by World War II veteran, through July 5, Toyota of Knoxville, 10415 Parkside Drive. Reception, 2-4 p.m. July 4. Info: http://alexdumasartist.net or 865-777-3745.

Books/Writers

---Friends @ Rothrock Used Book Shop -Quilting and arts books featured in July, Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave. Info: www.knoxfriends.org or 865-215-8775.

---"In Silence I Speak: My Journey Through Madness" - Mary Van Pelt, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, Blount County Library, 508 N. Cusick St., Maryville. For mental health professionals or those seeking treatment. Info: 865-982-0981.

---"One World, Many Stories" - 1-3 p.m. Thursdays: July 7, Mary E. Tippitt Memorial Library; July 14 and 21, at Highland Manor. Picnic, July 28, Townsend City Park. For children ages 3-11. Register: 865-448-1441.

---Knoxville Writers' Guild - Members' open mike, 7 p.m. Thursday, July 7, Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave. Donation: $2. Info: 865-330-3606.

Classes/Workshops

---The WordPlayers acting classes - "CreACTivity," 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, July 11-15, Pellissippi State Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. For ages 8-10. Cost: $115. "ImaginACTion," 1-4:30 p.m. July 18-22, for ages 11-13. Cost: $125. Info: 865-539-2490 or www.wordplayers.org.

---Dance camps - Junior Dance Camp (ages 10-13), 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, July 25-29; Performance Dance Camp (ages 6-13), July 11-15; and Petite Dance Camp (ages 6-9), July 18-22, Rose Center, 442 W. 2nd North St., Morristown. Cost: $75. Classes for younger children available, $60-$100. Register: 423-581-4330.

Health

---Oak Ridge Breast Cancer Networker - 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, Cancer Support Community, 2230 Sutherland Ave. Info: 865-546-4661.

---Medic community blood drive - 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, Pellissippi State Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road , F-1 parking lot at Goins Administration Building. Type O-negative especially needed. Donors receive T-shirt, Chick-fil-A sandwich, chance to win Smokies baseball tickets. Info: 865-524-3074; www.medicblood.com

---Potty-training seminar - 6-7 p.m. Thursday, July 7, Smart Toys and Books, 9700 Kingston Pike. Demonstration of Potty Monkey developed by Knoxville pediatric urologist. Cost: $8. Info: 865-691-1154; http://smarttoysandbooks.com.

---Prostate Cancer Networker and Me, Too partner support group - 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 9, Cancer Support Community, 2230 Sutherland Ave. Info: 865-546-4661.

Clubs

---Beta Sigma Phi, Laureate Alpha Theta - Luncheon, noon, Tuesday, July 5, home of Dennis and Evelyn O'Toole. 865-689-1293.

---Welcome Wagon Club - Lunch with Linda Galyon from Knoxville Zoo, noon, Wednesday, July 6, Bearden Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike. Cost: $11. Reservations: 865-539-4089.

---Speechmasters Advanced Toastmasters Club - 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, Shoney's, 8529 Kingston Pike. Dinner at 6. Info: 865-272-9818 or email district63pr@gmail.com.

---Longstreet-Zollicoffer Camp 87, Sons of Confederate Veterans - "The first Battle of Manassas" by Jim Slice, 2 p.m. Sunday, July 10, Crescent Bend, 2728 Kingston Pike. Free.

---Tennessee Valley Machine Knitters Club - Edging with a ribber, 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, First Baptist Church, Oak Ridge. Info: 865-457<0x2011>0960.

---University of Alabama Alumni Association - Luncheon meeting, 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 15, UT Visitors Center, 2704 Kingston Pike. Info: Jack, 865-483-6645.

---Tennessee Firearms Association - Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, Gondolier Restaurant, Chapman Highway (near Lowe's). Dinner at 6 (optional).

---VFW Post 6494 Ladies Auxillary of Lake City - Will host concession stand, Monday, July 4, Lake City Ballpark. Benefits Veterans of Foreign Wars, children and cancer aid/research. Info: 423-907-2278.

---Civil War Roundtable - Dr. Michael R. Bradley on "The Bodyguard and Staff of Nathan Bedford Forrest," 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, Bearden Banquet Hall at 5806 Kingston Pike. Dinner at 7. Cost: members, $15; non-members, $17. Talk only: $5. RSVP for dinner by 11 a.m. July 11: 865-691-9001.

---Beta Sigma Phi, TAU chapter - Meeting, 7 p.m. Monday, July 11, 1411 Armstrong Ave. Info: 865-774-2554.

Misc.

---Karns Fairest of the Fair - Seeking contestants, ages 6-20, for event, July 21, Karns High School. Register by July 8. "Friday Night Lights" fundraiser with music, movie and pizza, 6-10 p.m. Friday, July 22, Cafeteria and Auditorium. Info: http://karnsfairestofthefair. weebly.com or 865-898-5776.

---Karns Community Fair - Seeking vendors, entertainment and volunteers, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, Karns High School. Info: 865-405-5103.

Reunions

---Norris High School Alumni - Dinner meeting, 5 p.m. Saturday, July 9, Anderson County High School Cafeteria, 2131 Andersonville Highway, Clinton.Cost: $20 in advance or $25. Alumni and teachers invited. RSVP by July 5: 865-494-9262.

---Stephen Gose/Johann Stephan Gose - Reunion for descendents and related families, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16, First Avenue Hall, Tazewell, Tenn. Potluck dinner. Bring dish, genealogy info, pictures, scanners. Info: email laru8652@bellsouth.net or 423-526-3603; 865-448-0032; 865-458-2866.

---Blount County Korean War Veterans - Reunion dinner, 6 p.m. Saturday, July 30, American Legion Post 13, Maryville. Cost: $20. Reservations: 865-982-6030 or 865-356-4404.

---Lake City High School Class of 1976 - Reunion, Saturday, July 30, Elk's Club, Oak Ridge. Classes 1974-1978 invited. RSVP by July 8: 865-607-3947; 865-661-5075; 865-426-9588; 865-254-1991; 865-494-5344.

Animal rescue events

The following groups will have animals available for adoption or fostering on Saturday, Agri Feed Pet Supply, 5716 Middlebrook Pike. Info: AgriFeedPetSupply.com or 865-584-3959.

---Greyhound Pets of America - Noon-2 p.m. July 9

---Belly Rubs Basset Rescue - 2:30-4:30 p.m. July 9

AARP Driver Safety Classes

Barbara Manis, 865-922-5648.

---Noon-4 p.m. July 6-7, Cheyenne Conference Room, 944 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge

---Noon-4 p.m. July 14-15, Halls Senior Center, 4410 Crippen Road

---Noon-4 p.m. July 20-21, John T. O'Conner Senior Center, 911 Winona St.

---Noon-4 p.m. Nov. 19-20, Sevier County Senior Center, 1220 Main St., Seymour

---12:30-4:30 p.m. July 26-27, Regency Court Retirement Village, 739 E. 2nd North St., Morristown

---9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 27-28, St. Mark United Methodist Church, 7001 Northshore Drive