Pope John Paul II Catholic School hosts its second annual Mardi Gras event at the Country Club of North Carolina at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

The event will feature casino gaming, a $10,000 raffle, live and silent auction, heavy hors d’ouerves and a cash bar.

Proceeds go toward increasing technology in the classrooms, educational development and scholarships.

To purchase raffle tickets or event tickets, call (910) 692-6241 or visit www.jp2catholic school.org.

Jazzy Weekend

For the 25th anniversary of the Heart ’n Soul of Jazz event, the Arts Council of Moore County and Pinehurst Resort present Harry Allen, Joe Locke and Nilson Matta’s Brazilian Voyage Friday, Feb. 12, and the Grammy-nominated Tierney Sutton Band Saturday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst Resort.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (910) 235-8415.

For Your Valentine

The Golf Capital Chorus is taking orders for its annual Singing Valentine program on Feb. 12-14 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

“You can order a serenade of love songs for the Valentine of your choice, along with a rose, a card and a box of candy, by calling Dick Curl at (910) 215-9796, or e-mailing dickcurl@nc.rr.com.

The Singing Valentine program, which has been popular for years, is one of the principal fundraisers for the chorus.

The cost is only $40.

Champagne, Chocolates and Music

David Michael Wolff and musicians from the Carolina Philharmonic will host a romantic soirée with champagne, chocolates and chamber music, “In the Name of Valentine,” Saturday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 14, at Founders Hall, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 300 Dundee Road, Pinehurst.

On Saturday, the doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the champagne and chocolates reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 6 p.m. On Sunday, the doors open at 3 p.m., and the concert begins at 4 p.m., followed by the reception at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling (910) 687-4746. General admission is $25, senior/military tickets are $20 and student admission is free.

Visit www.CarolinaPhil.org for more information about this and other upcoming Carolina Philharmonic events.

Bird Count

The 10th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, sponsored by Audubon and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, will be held Friday, Feb. 12, through Monday, Feb. 15.

No experience is necessary. The data will be used in a number of ongoing conservation research endeavors.

Visit the Web site www.birdsource.or/gbbc/howto.html to get instructions.

Those having questions can contact Susan Campbell at (910) 949-3207 or e-mail susan@ncaves.com.

Seeing Red

Mars, nicknamed the “Red Planet,” is the focus of Town Creek Indian Mound’s February Astronomy Night Saturday, Feb. 13, beginning at 6 p.m.

“Astronomy Night fans haven’t had a view of Mars this great since early 2008,” says a spokesman. “Now is the perfect time to view and photograph the planet as its red surface is fully illuminated by the sun and shines brightly in the winter sky.”

Participants are encouraged to bring personal telescopes and binoculars. The site will have its own telescopes on hand for observation. Participants may bring blankets or chairs for outside viewing and are advised to dress for the weather.

The event is free, but registration is required. Call (910) 439-6802 or e-mail towncreek@ncdcr.gov to register.

The historic site is located at 509 Town Creek Mound Road, approximately five miles east of Mt. Gilead, in southern Montgomery County between N.C. 73 and N.C. 731.

For more information on Town Creek, visit the Web site www.towncreek.nchistoricsites.org.