The Friendship Council invites area residents to come out and join the group&squo;s 24th annual community picnic on Saturday, June 6, at the Harmon Field Cabin.

The picnic begins at 5 p.m., and the council says it promises to be a fun-filled event, with good down-home cooking and entertainment that includes local favorites Phil and Gaye Johnson, and Cliff and Jane Joens.

There is never an admission charge but the Friendship Council does ask that each person bring a covered dish that will feed at least seven others.

As usual at these picnics the main event will be the raffle drawing for the numerous gifts provided by local businesses. In the past there have been gifts of books, household items, cosmetics and hair styling, car washes, jewelry, beauty and healthcare items, massages, small electronic gadgets, savings bonds, travel bags, as well as many gift certificates for merchandise and meals from over a dozen restaurants.

The Friendship Council&squo;s mission is to bridge the racial gap within the local community.&bsp; The Council invites anyone in the area to join us in this mission. It&squo;s as simple as coming to a monthly meeting (they are announced beforehand in the TDB) and introducing yourself.

There are only nine monthly meetings (none going over one hour). Besides these there are two main annual events: the Harmon Field picnic, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration held in January on a day as near to his January 15 birthday as possible. &bsp;

The council is loosely based and has never required membership dues.