For nonprofit, charity or fundraising events in Hamilton and area, submit items in writing to Too Good To Miss, The Hamilton Spectator, 44 Frid St., Hamilton, L8N 3G3, by e-mail to toogood@thespec.com only (no other e-mail addresses please) or fax 905-526-3510. Deadline is two weeks prior to publication.

Volunteering

Glanbrook home support program desperately needs drivers for the Glanbrook area. Mileage reimbursement provided. Call 905-692-3464.

Volunteer Hamilton, 267 King St. E. Call 905-523-4444. Find the volunteer position that's right for you. Hundreds of volunteer positions posted. Visit volunteerhamilton.on.ca.

Arbour Creek Long Term Care Centre, 2717 King St. E. at Nash Road., needs volunteers -- assisting with gardening, outings in the community, working in Clara's Cupboards and helping with special events and programs within the home. Call 905-573-4917.

Welcome Inn. Safe drivers wanted for seniors program. Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Van provided. Call 905-525-5824.

SISO needs group facilitators to assist with groups in which newcomer's come together to make friends and practise their English skills. Crafts, cooking, teaching and multi-lingual skills are all assets. Call Susan Cheeseman, 905-667-7496 or scheeseman@sisohamilton.org.

Self-help

Family support group for friends and family members affected by schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. This group operates on a drop-in basis and is held the second Thursday of every month at Port Nelson United Church, 3132 South Dr., Burlington, at 7 p.m. Call 905-338-2112.

The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Oct. 8, 7 p.m. at Bishop Ryan Secondary School, 50 Albright Rd. at Quigley. Members and visitors will "hear" the information from the 2008 CHHA-IFHOH Congress. Real time captioning and infrared system available. Call 905-575-4964 or e-mail chha-hamilton.ca

Hamilton Fibromyalgia Support group, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to noon at St. Joseph's Community Health Centre, 2757 King St. W.

Mental Health Rights Coalition. Drop in for peer counselling Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 678 Main St. E. Contact 905-545-2525 or e-mail mentalhealthrights.ca. Air hockey is Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.

Parenting

Infant Massage, a five-week program, Oct. 14, 10 a.m., at Ontario Early Years Centre, 155 Queen St. N. Call 905-521-0926 to register

Check It Out Child Development Sessions Oct. 9, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Ontario Early Years Centre Stoney Creek, in St. David's Catholic School, 33 Cromwell Cres. Community professionals are available at a variety of locations to meet with families to 6 years. Call 905- 546-3550 or 905-524-4884.

Parenting After Separation is a one-session workshop that focuses on the impact of parental separation and divorce on children and explores parenting strategies to help parents help their children through this difficult time. Every third Thursday. Free. Call 905-645-5252 ext. 2516 to register.

Community meetings

The Garden Club of Burlington Oct. 14 at noon at St. Luke's Anglican Parish Hall, 1382 Ontario St., Burlington. New members and visitors welcome. Bring your own lunch.

The Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association (HIEA) community advisory panel meeting Oct. 9, 7 to 9 p.m. in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco main office conference room E. 1330 Burlington St. E. Everyone welcome.

Brantford Garden Club Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Lions Park Auditorium 81 Edge St., Brantford. October Fall Fair competitions and sale of crafts, bake goods, preserves, and flower design.

Robert Land Community Association annual general meeting, Oct. 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre, 460 Wentworth St. N. Special presentation by Habitat for Humanity. Call 905-526-1558 or e-mail rlcabethany@bellnet.ca for more information.

Burlington Horticultural Society Oct. 8, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Senior's Centre, 2285 New St. at Drury Lane, Burlington. Integrated Pest Management. The Prevention, Observation and Intervention of Pests with Stephen Bourgeois and Ryan Carruthers. Guests: $5.

Scleroderma Support Group meeting Oct. 8, 7 p.m. at Fortinos, Mall Road., in the meeting room. For further information contact Marilyn, 905-648-1330

Apple Macintosh Users Group of Hamilton, Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m., Creative Technology, 3480 Fairview St., Unit 10, Burlington. Call 905-388-9276.

Ontario Genealogical Society, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. at the Haldimand Museum. Karen Richardson speaks about black history in Haldimand.

Around the Bay Knitting Guild, 7 p.m., Oct. 7 in Marlatts Family Centre, 195 King St. W., Dundas.

Ambitious City Toastmasters Club helps to develop your public speaking skills at the Speechcraft course. The eight-week introductory course starts Oct. 7 at 7:15 p.m. at Ronald McDonald House boardroom, 1510 Main St. W. Check actm.ca or call 905-978-0101.

Good times

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163, Limeridge Road East. Open cribbage on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Friday fish and chips, 4 to 7 pm, $8 a plate, followed by karaoke with Bonnie.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 622, 12 King St. E., Stoney Creek. Call 905-662-4171. Music and friends every Tuesday, kitchen open 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Royal Canadian Legion East Hamilton Branch 58, 1180 Barton St. E. 905-544-6385, offers Young at Heart Seniors, Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.; cards and bingo, Wednesdays, 7 to 10 p.m.; Happy Gang Jammers, fiddlers, guitars, dancing, Thursdays, 8 p.m.; mixed dart league, 8 p.m.; Friday fish and chips, 4 p.m. and karaoke at 7:30 p.m.

Cards

USCO Burlington Club 9, weekly ridge and euchre every Wednesday through Dec. 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Burlington Seniors Centre, New Street, Burlington. Call 905-336-5332.

Progressive Euchre, at Burkholder Church, 465 Mohawk Rd. E. Fridays at 7:30 p.m. $2 admission, 50/50 and prizes. All welcome.

Over 60 Club, euchre games Tuesdays, 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Old Town Hall, Wilson Street, Ancaster. All welcome. Call 905-318-0486.

Euchre, every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Anglican Church, 1188 Fennell Ave. E. Admission $2. Prizes and light refreshments.

Good food

Turkey Supper at Trinity United Church, corner of Rymal and Trinity roads Oct. 7, 4 to 7 p.m. Adults $13, children 5 to 11 $6, preschoolers are free. Tickets at the door.

Miscellaneous

West Lincoln Family Affair, What've you got to lose contest. Register at the Cabin Thrift Shop, Smithville, or Kalinka Sports Store. $1 to register, 25 cents each weigh-in. First weigh-in week of Oct. 14 Last day of contest Dec. 13. Proceeds to the West Lincoln Community Care Food Bank.

Exploring Holy Sepulchre and Gate of Heaven cemeteries Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to noon. A free trolley bus tour explores the history and development of the cemeteries. Everyone welcome. A complimentary light lunch following the tour. To register, call 905-522-7727.

Animal Welfare Association raffle, Jackson Square between the library and the market, Oct. 9, 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A Week Without Violence: A Night with Michael Kaufman Oct. 8, 7 p.m. at the YWCA, 75 McNab St. S. A look at why some men continue to use violence in their relationships and why so many others have remained silent. Call Caitlin MacLennan 905-522-9922, ext. 117, or e-mail cmaclennan@ywcahamilton.org

Aboriginal singing/drumming performance with the Ohsweken Women's Singers, Oct. 7, 7:30 to 9 p.m. in The Hamilton Spectator auditorium, 44 Frid St., presented by Wellwood. For information on Wellwood programs, all of which are free, call 905-389-5884.

Travelogue. The Rotary Club of Dundas's travel and adventure series beginning Oct. 14, 7:15 p.m. at Central Public School, Dundas. $38 for all six films or $8 per night. Condor Over America, a flight across America in a hot air balloon.

The perfect fall hike. It's time to go out and enjoy the beautiful fall colours. To find the perfect hiking trail near you, go to ontarioconservationareas.ca

Junior datebook

Dominic Agostino Riverdale Community Centre. 150 Violet Dr. Children's programs include soccer skills, various dance classes, kindergym, gymnastics, guitar lessons, babysitting course, cheerleading and much more. Minimal cost and subsidies available. Call 905-546-2424, ext. 4284.

Seniors

Friendship Club, Mountain Arena, Hester Street, offers shuffleboard, Wednesdays, 1 to 3 p.m.; euchre, Thursdays, 1 to 3 p.m., $1. Call 905-388-5075, 905-388-1916, 905-389-7092 or 905-538-9235.

Hamilton Retirees Club is looking for new members. Specially for retired folks who'd would like to socialize and participate in various activities such as euchre or darts. Meetings every Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Mountain Legion, 435 Limeridge Rd. E.

The Roxborough Senior Centre, 785 Britannia Ave. (in St. Helen School). Call 905-537-0195. Learn how to play Texas Hold'em Poker the first Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. Teaching an old dog new tricks, computer training starting Tuesdays and Thursdays in mid September.

Rosedale Seniors Club, 100 Greenhill Ave.. Euchre Mondays at 1 p.m. and bid euchre at 7 p.m. Tuesdays contract bridge at 9:45 a.m. Thursdays duplicate bridge at 1 p.m.

Warden Park Seniors, 40 Centennial Pkwy. Call 905-544-1106 or 905-546-4256

YWCA Hamilton Seniors' Active Living Centre, 75 MacNab St. S. Call 905-529-7727

Museums, parks, galleries

The Griffin House, 733 Minerals Springs Rd., Ancaster. Call 905-648-8144. Open Oct. 13, 1 to 4 p.m. Cost $3. Bob Hart, a local woodworking hobbyist displays some of his work.

Ireland House Museum, 2168 Guelph Line, Burlington. Call 905-332-9888

Norfolk Heritage Centre, 109 Norfolk St. S., Simcoe. Call 519-426-1583 or check norfolk.com

Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd. W., Burlington. Call 905-527-1158 or check rbg.ca

Streetcar & Electric Railway Museum, 13629 Guelph Line. Check hcry.org. Oct. 11, 12 and 13, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Four-kilometre rides on restored 1920s electric streetcars.

- Compiled by Kathi Aitken