Mary Rathman

Hillsborough County Extension Service and the Hillsborough County Fair are sponsoring the annual “Recycled Yard Art Contest” to promote environmental awareness and encourage the reuse/recycling of yard materials. The contest is open to all Hillsborough County residents of all ages. Entries must be delivered to the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., on Oct. 17, or between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 19. For contest rules, entry forms and information, contact Lisa Meredith at (813) 744-5519, ext. 54146, or .

The Lexington Oaks Women’s Club is looking for vendors for its fall fundraising bazaar scheduled for Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bazaar will be in the Lexington Oaks Community Center, 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Spaces are available for $15. For information and applications, call Mary Hanchar at (813) 746-1405.

The Pasco Fine Arts Council is accepting entries for the “2015 Art Annual Exhibition” on Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its new location at 4145 Fairford Drive in New Port Richey. The exhibition will run from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, with a reception on Nov. 13. All media is accepted. One entry per person. The entry fee is $30. Printable entry forms and exhibition rules are available online at PascoArts.org. For information, call (727) 845-7322.

A former orchid business will host a sale to sell surplus plants on Oct. 16 and Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 33219 Mandrake Road in Zephyrhills. Plants include Phalaenopsis, cattleyas, dendrobiums and miscellaneous orchids. Cash or check only. For information, call Betty Burkam at (941) 830-3429.

Eat at Joe’s lunchtime concert series will salute the Tampa Bay Lightning with a pep rally on Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Joe Chillura Courthouse Square, at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Morgan Street in downtown Tampa. Guests are invited to wear Bolts blue and can either bring lunch, buy food, or visit an area restaurant. There also will be food trucks, live music, The Bolt Brigade with alumni players, The Lightning Girls and ThunderBug, and giveaways. For information, call (813) 635-3500.

The Gulfview Chapter of Embroiderers’ Guild of America will meet Oct. 14 at 10:30 a.m., at Lakeside Club, 12606 Shadow Ridge Blvd., in Hudson. After a short business meeting, there will be a class on silk ribbon embroidery. The cost is $10 and open to all skill levels of stitchers. Reservations are required. For information, call (727) 389-3376.

There will be a fundraiser for Danny Burgess, running for State House District 38, on Oct. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Kafe Kokopelli, 37940 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City. Special guests include Sen. Wilton Simpson and Will Weatherford. There will be hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. No contribution necessary to attend. To RSVP, email .

The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will meet Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The guest speaker will be Jim Moll, Pasco County Florida Friendly Landscaping Program coordinator, on the topic of “Plant Nomenclature: Who Needs All Those Strange Names Anyway?” Light refreshments will be served, and there will be a native plant drawing. For information, call (727) 207-1853.

The Zephyrhills Art Club will meet Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., at Alice Hall in Zephyr Park on Fifth Avenue in Zephyrhills. The guest speaker will be Ginger Myers of Serious Fun Art Studio in Temple Terrace. Members are invited to bring a painting for the October “Abstract” themed mini show. For information, call (813) 780-8562.

Grace Lutheran Church at Carrollwood, 3714 W. Linebaugh Ave., will host a “Service of Healing” Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. The service is for individuals currently dealing with illness and other physical challenges, as well as caregivers, people who have recently experienced the death of a loved one, and anyone wanting to pray for the mending of relationships in their families, community or nation. There will be a litany of prayers, lighting of candles, silent reflection time, and a laying-on of hands and anointing with oil. For information, call the church at (813) 961-8747.