DECATUR COMMUNITY EVENTS

— Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Dinner

The Decatur Assembly of God will be offering free Thanksgiving meals from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., on Thanksgiving Day. The meals can be picked up for carry-out at the church, located at 732 North Main Street, or by calling 640-7516 or 752-3230 to have the meals delivered in the Decatur area.

Winter Concert

The Decatur School Band is holding a Winter Concert at 7 p.m., Dec. 10, in the high school cafeteria. Family and community members are invited.

Christmas Parade

The annual Christmas parade will be held at 6 p.m., Dec. 11. Line-up will begin at 5:15 p.m. at the Decatur City Hall. Santa Clause will be greeting children in the Decatur General Store before and after the parade.

Christmas Decorating Contest

The Chamber of Commerce is holding a Christmas home-decorating contest. The contest will be judged on Dec. 17, and the winner will be awarded “Decatur bucks” which can be spent at any Decatur business. Toy Drive

Students in the Gifted and Talented Program are holding a toy drive for the Northside Elementary School Christmas Assistance Program. Community members are asked to donate new toys and stocking stuffers. Drop boxes will be at the elementary and high school offices, the Decatur State Bank, the Gallery Cafe and the Decatur General Store until Dec. 11. For more information, contact Allie Elliot at 752-7141 or Andrea VanSant at 752-3981.

Decatur Schools

Decatur schools will close for Christmas break on Dec. 21 if there are no snow days before then. If there are snow days, Dec. 21 and 22 will be used as make-up days. School will resume on Jan. 4.

Creators Cafe

Creators Cafe, a creative writing group, will meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m., on the first Thursday of the month in the Iva Jane Peek Library. Activities will include reading and writing poetry, discussions of famous poets and their work, challenges, slam and stand up, and contests and prizes. For more information, contact Lisa Brown at 212-0311.

Town Hall Meetings

The Decatur School District holds regular town hall meetings in place of school board meetings at 7 p.m., the third Monday of the month, in the high school cafeteria. There will not be a town hall meeting in December because it would fall during the Christmas break.

VFW Meetings

The Gentry/Decatur VFW Post meets on the first Tuesday of each month - at 7 p.m. during the winter months. New members and guests are welcome. The facility is 3 miles east of Decatur on Arkansas Highway 102, right on Tilly’s Hill Road, and the first building on the right.

Council Meetings

City council meetings are held at 6 p.m., the second Monday of each month in the council room at city hall, and are open to the public. For more information, call 752-3912.

Decatur Library

Decatur library hours are 3:30 to 7 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m., on Wednesdays.

Food Pantry

The Decatur food pantry is open from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. The pantry offers free nonperishable food to Decatur residents and is located at the United Methodist Church in Decatur. Participants need to bring identification showing they have a 72722 zip code. For more information, contact David Cook at 752-3838 or the Methodist Church at 752-3551.

Singing Services

Monthly singing services at Falling Springs Church are held at 7 p.m., the first Friday of each month. Refreshments are served and everyone is welcome. The church is located west of Decatur on Falling Springs Road.

Gentry Senior Activity Center

Gentry Senior Activity Center, at 121 East Main Street (just east of the Gentry Public Library) is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals and rides to the center and activities are available Monday through Friday by calling Jackie Bader, the center’s manager, at 736-0378. Van routes are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday - Gentry, Highfill and Springtown; and Tuesday and Friday - Gentry and Decatur.

News, Pages 2 on 11/25/2009