AROUND THE AREA
Little Rock Calendar of Events
Food distribution
The Central Arkansas Development Council announces the distribution of food commodities on Wednesday, Dec. 14 beginning at 9 a.m. at the following locations:
Ward Chamber of Commerce, Woodlawn, Austin City Hall, England Old Fire Station, Cabot Church of Christ, Lonoke County Fairgrounds, Allport City Hall, Humnoke City Hall and Carlisle old gym.
Food items may include canned vegetables, canned meats, canned fruits and dry staples such as rice, cereal, peanut butter, beans, potatoes and powdered milk. Eligibility requirements must be met (based on the 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines).
The mission of CADC is to improve the quality of life and build strong communities in Arkansas.
For more information, call Evelyn Reed at 501-778-1133.
CABOT
City Council minutes
City meetings, times and dates
Lights contest
Cabot City Beautiful is sponsoring the annual "Lights of Cabot" contest. Signed certificates and yard signs will be awarded to the best holiday lighting displays in each of the four residential wards in Cabot. There will also be a certificate and sign awarded a business with the best holiday lighting display.
Nominations of the displays can be made by calling (501) 843-0796 or (501) 843-8160 or by e-mailing cabotbeautiful@yahoo.com.
Judging will take place between Dec. 10 and 17. Certificates will be presented Dec. 18.
Art show
The Cabot Middle School North art show will be held on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Artwork by students will be on display and refreshments will be available.
The students have worked hard preparing entries for the art show.
The fifth grade artworks will be exhibited in the fifth grade hallway and the sixth grade artworks will be exhibited in the sixth grade hallway. The students have been working under the direction of Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Hicks.
Christmas pageant
The children of Cabot United Methodist Church will present the "Light of the World" Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 11 at t 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. The pageant will immediately follow ADVENTure from 5 to 6 p.m. and the church-wide Christmas potluck at 5:30 p.m., both in the Family Life Center. All are invited to attend these events.
Families will be able to make Christmas crafts together at ADVENTure, while enjoying a time of fellowship with friends at the potluck. For more information, call the church office at 501-843-3541.
Toys for Tots drive
D’Andrea for Congress is hosting a Toys-for-Tots drive on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The program’s sponsor is the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
Participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to Coffeelicious at 102 N. First St. in Cabot during the drive time.
Toy donors are invited to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate and will be entered in a drawing for a lunch for two.
Santa will also be present.
Toy drive
The ‘Christmas for Kids’ is collecting toys and monetary donations now until Dec. 16.
Drop off boxes will be located at elementary and middle schools for toys as well as Express Printing, K-Mart, all Community Bank locations and the Cabot Star Herald.
Monetary donations can be mailed to "Christmas for Kids" at 459 Stagecoach Road, Cabot, AR 72023.
Donations of money can also be brought to the Warehouse at 310 G.P. Murrell Drive in Cabot, in industrial park off Hwy. 367 while heading toward Austin.
For more information, contact Bill Holden at 743-3560, Randy Holden at 743-6171, Shelley Montoya at 605-3403 or Rita Stewart at 743-3560.
Road the Bethlehem
The 19th annual ‘Christmas Road to Bethlehem’ is a four-mile community-wide project about the nativity story.
Each home has lighted life-size Biblical figures and a Bible verse in the yard. The manger scene is at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. The road is located off of Hwy. 31 North in Lonoke County and will be open from Saturday through New Years Even from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Open houses will be held Monday, Dec. 12 to Saturday, Dec. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Programs for open house are:
Dec. 12: Lonoke County Council on Aging; Dec. 13: Glen Poole and the Pearsons; Dec. 14: Bethlehem Carriers of the Light; Dec. 15: Christ Worship Center Church; Dec. 16: The Hickory Hill Blue Grass Gospel Singers; and Dec. 17: The Gospel Tones.
Host families will be available from Monday Dec. 12 to Saturday, Dec. 17 as well. Families will be as follows: Monday: the Cox family and Roy and Ruby Kittell; Tuesday: Tommy and Bert Liles family and Todd and Tammie Tedford; Wednesday: Mary Liles and the Rickey Phillips family; Thursday: Joel and Marilyn Lewis and Jack and Martha Reagan; Friday: the Abshure family; and Saturday: Therese O’Donnell family.
All are invited to have refreshments with church members in the fellowship hall following each evening’s programs.
For more information, call Jeaneane Nipper at 501-676-2510.
JACKSONVILLE
City’s community calendar
Dog park fund-raiser
The Jacksonville Parks and Recreation has approved the installation of a fenced dog park located at wooded area at the south end of Dupree Lake in Dupree Park, according to Cathy Brand, Program Service Manager of the parks and recreation department.
The park will allow dogs to run off leash, allowing for exercise and socialization. Other central Arkansas cities have established successful dog parks, and Jacksonville will be joining more than 700 other parks nationwide.
An online public discussion board for the dog park has been established and a copy of the dog park proposal has been posted to that Web site address.
One of the first fundraisers to help defray costs of the installation of the park will be Dec. 10, when pet owners can have professional holiday portraits of their animals taken for a minimum donation of $10.
Photos will be taken at the The Jacksonville Animal Shelter at 217 South
Redmond Road. Donors will receive a 5"x7" print ready for framing.
For ore information, call the shelter at 982-2916.
JHS fashion show
The ‘Just Be Yourself — Fun and Fabulous Fashion Show" will be held on The Stage at Jacksonville High School on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Models will be coaches, teachers, students and families of Jacksonville High School.
An evening of fun, fashion and entertainment will also feature the Price Crew, the JHS Drumline, Ashley Miller and Ajoy and Kierah.
Admission is $2 for students and $3 for adults.
The event will raise money for the Journey in to Excellence project. For more information, contact Patricia White or Debbie Skidmore at 982-2128.
Live nativity
Bethel United Methodist Church will have a live nativity open to the public from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each night of Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11.
This is an annual event sponsored by the Bethel congregation in hopes of spreading the message of Jesus. The nativity is a drive-through or walk-through, featuring live animals and scenes of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth.
Bethel church is located at 7417 Jacksonville-Conway Road in Jacksonville.
Traveling north on Hwy. 107 approximately four miles past the back gate of the LRAFB to Jacksonvillle-Conway Road on the left.
Signs will be posted.
Christmas trees for sale
The Jacksonville Lions Club began selling Christmas trees on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the parking lot of the Jacksonville Shopping Center and will run continue until Thursday, Dec. 22. All funds raised from this sale, as do all funds raised by the Lions Club, will help people in need in our community, the county, and the state.
Tour of Homes
The Junior Auxiliary of Jacksonville will host their annual Christmas tour of homes from 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11.
The following homes are included on the tour: Mr. and Mrs. John Vanderhoof, Mr. and Mrs. Gid Branscum, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Carlisle, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Sherman.
Tickets are $10 and all proceeds benefit the underprivileged children of Jacksonville. For ticket information please call Mandy Watson at 501-982-1241 or 501-766-4979. Also tickets can be purchased at Double R Florist and Aspen Leaf.
Christmas open house
The city of Jacksonville’s annual Christmas Open House will be held at city hall on Friday, Dec. 16 from noon to 3 p.m.
The ceremony to present year pins and certificates to city employees will begin at 2 p.m. in the council chambers. Everyone is invited to stop by for refreshments.
SHERWOOD
City meeting times and dates
Chrismas musical
First Baptist Church of Sherwood’s sanctuary choir, orchestra and drama team will present the Christmas musical based on the birth of Jesus called ‘One Incredible Moment’ on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the worship center.
All are welcome to attend this free event at 701 Country Club Road in Sherwood. Call 835-3154 for more information.
