AROUND THE VALLEY

Author to sign books today, Sunday

Galina Messmer, author of “Galina’s Hope Beyond the Fire,” will hold a book signing noon-2 p.m. Jan. 23 at Majesty Bible & Gifts, 7020 N. Cedar Ave. and noon-2 p.m. Jan. 24 at Barnes & Noble, 7849 N. Blackstone Ave. The book is about the events that took place on Jan. 22, 1999, when Messmer’s ex-husband killed their three sons and himself, and her journey before and after the tragedy.

GOP women to meet

Fresno County & City Republican Women Federated will hold their meeting at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 28 at Ramada Inn North, 324 E. Shaw Ave. Sheriff Margaret Mims will speaking on “Trending Public Safety Issues.” The luncheon costs $20. Details: 559-224-3720, www.fresnorepublicanwomen.org.

Attention, foster parents

Tulare County Foster Care Licensing will hold orientation meetings for prospective foster parents at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 and Feb. 18 at its office, 26500 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia. In addition to scheduled orientations, staff members now offer personal orientations in order to be more accessible. Details: 559-623-0581.

CASA sets info sessions

CASA of Fresno & Madera Counties will hold informational sessions for those interested in becoming court appointed special advocates for foster children at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 and 6:15 p.m. Feb. 10 at their office, 1252 Fulton Mall. Details: 559-244-6485, www.casafresnomadera.org.

Help with Dream Act apps

College of the Sequoias will offer workshops to help with the 2016-17 FAFSA and Dream Act applications at each of their campuses, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 8 at 925 N. 13th Ave., Room V105 in Hanford; 6-8 p.m. Feb. 18 in Building B, Room B121, 4999 E. Bardsley Ave. in Tulare; and 6-8 p.m. Feb. 22 at 915 S. Mooney Blvd., Kern 714 in Visalia.

Bring a 2014 or 2015 income tax return (parent and student), W-2, last pay stub, records of untaxed income, Social Security number and spouse’s income information if married. The deadline to file is March 2. Details: 559-737-6178, amypi@cos.edu.

Contests for the creative

Creative Communication has announced its fall 2015 essay, poetry and art contests. Essay contest divisions are grades 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 with 10 top winners in each division. To enter an essay, write between 100 and 250 words on any nonfiction topic. The deadline is Feb. 18.

Poetry contest divisions are grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 with 10 top winners in each division. To enter, submit one original poem in English, 21 lines or less, the deadline is April 7. Essays and poems can be submitted at www.poeticpower.com or mailed to 45 E. 200 N, Suite 107, Logan, UT 84321. Include author’s name, address, grade, school name and address, and teacher’s name.

An art contest will also be held for grades K-12. More than $5,000 in prizes will be awarded to students and teachers. To enter, take a photo of your original art and submit it at www.celebratingart.com. Deadline is April 5.

Details: 435-713-4411.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "AROUND THE VALLEY."