Agency offers help to home buyers

First-time home buyers who would like to purchase a home in Madison or surrounding counties are offered help from Rural Opportunities Inc.

Rural Opportunities Inc. will host a Homeownership Information Workshop at its office, located at 2819 N. Oakwood Ave., Muncie, on Thursday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to noon or 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

ROI offers education and down payment assistance programs to help eligible individuals and families become homeowners. These programs are specially designed to meet the needs of first-time buyers. ROI is providing up to $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible families. Attendance of the Information Workshop is required for all people interested in assistance.

For more information or to make a reservation, call (765) 286-2162.

Hospital offers free smoking cessation classes

Community Hospital Anderson will offer free smoking cessation classes using the Cooper/Clayton Stop Smoking Method. The classes will run from July 23 through Oct. 15, meeting every Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. at Community Anderson’s Education Center, 1923 N. Madison Ave.

The Cooper/Clayton Stop Smoking method was developed by Dr. Thomas Cooper and Dr. Richard Clayton. It is a 12-week program that incorporates the use of a nicotine replacement product with learned behavior skills that will enable participants to become healthy non-smokers. Participants must provide their own nicotine replacement products (if desired). The program is most effective when participants attend every session, a representative said in a press release.

The benefits of becoming a healthy non-smoker include lower insurance costs, higher levels of energy and an improved quality of life, the representative said.

For more information or to sign up for this class, call (765) 298-1660.

Local Briefs run daily and include local nonprofit events, such as dinners, breakfasts, sales. If possible, please provide the information a week in advance. Send information via fax (640-4815), e-mail (newsroom@heraldbulletin.com), mail (P.O. Box 1090, Anderson 46016) or in person (1133 Jackson St.). There is no charge.