Westside

HOMETOWN EVENTS

Gentry Christmas Parade

The annual Gentry Christmas Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 10, on Main Street. The parade will travel from the east end of Main Street by the railroad tracks to the west end (and the northeast corner of the city park). There will be awards for the best theme, best lighting, best music and best overall. The theme for this year’s parade is “A Stars and Stripes Christmas.” There is no entry fee or pre-registration for the parade. The Gentry Chamber of Commerce will also host an open house and treats with Santa from 4 to 6 p.m. that afternoon in the Gentry Chamber of Commerce Building, 212 East Main. Children are invited to talk to Santa and receive a bag of treats.

DHS Winter Concert

The Decatur School Band will hold a winter band concert at 7 p.m., Dec. 12, in the Decatur High School cafateria.

Tuesday Bible Study

Bible studies (non-denominational) are held at 7 p.m. each Tuesday at the Presbyterian Church inGravette. All are welcome. For more information, call Bill Bush, pastor, at 283-9346.

UMC 'The Journey' Study Series

The public is invited to attend a DVD-based study of the significance of the events of Jesus’ birth. The study started Nov. 20 at the Gravette United Methodist Church. The five-session series, “The Journey, Walking the Road to Bethlehem,” continues on Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at the church, located at Second and Akron in Gravette. For information, contact Phil Sturdy at 787-5000.

Food for Book Fines

Gravette Public Library will accept canned food in lieu of overdue book fines during the month of December. All items will be donated to the Feed My Sheep food pantry. For information, call 787-6955.

Highfill Christmas Dinner

The Highfill community Christmas dinner will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at the community building. Meat and drinks will be provided. Guests areasked to bring side dishes. New, unopened puzzles are also requested. They will be given to the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.

Ensemble Christmas Concert

The Ecclesia College Ensemble will perform a selection of Christmas favorites at Gravette Presbyterian Church during the 10:45 a.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 4. Ecclesia College is a Christian college located in Springdale. The ensemble is made up of seven college students and directed by Freda Goodman. Church pastor Bill Bush, a student at the college, invites area residents to attend the service.

“Love Lights A Tree”

The annual “Love Lights A Tree” ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in Centennial Park on Hwy. 59 in downtown Gravette. The public is invited to attend as the red, white and blue lights are lit in the project which raises money to help fight cancer. The tree will remain lit throughout the holiday season.

Gravette Kiwanis

The Gravette Kiwanis Club holds breakfast meetings at 7 a.m. each Friday at the cafeteria in Ozarks Community Hospital. Guests are welcome.

Decatur Food Bank

Living Water Ministries in Decatur opens its food bank every other Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 1148 Highway 102 West in Decatur. The next open date for the pantry will be Dec. 9. Anyone who needs assistance is welcome. All that is required is an identification (a photo ID is preferred) and current address. For information, contact Larry Long, 549-5645, or Janet Long, 524-2848.

Area Men’s Breakfast

The Decatur United Methodist Church has a men’s breakfast the second Saturday of each month, beginning at 8 a.m., at the Gallery Cafe in Decatur. All area men are invited to join the group for good food and Christian fellowship.

Emergency Help

Families in Gravette School District wishing to apply for emergency help with food or utilities may make application from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday through Friday, at the Main Street Care and Share store in Gravette.

Mt. Zion Singing

Regular fourth-Saturday singing will not be held at Mt. Zion Church during December.

Singing Services

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

Decatur Food Pantry

The Decatur United Methodist Church offers a food pantry program and a commodity food program for residents in Decatur from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month.

Men's Fellowship

First Baptist Church of Gentry has a monthly Men's Fellowship Gathering at 8 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month. All men are encouraged to come for the food andfellowship. Guests are welcome. For more information, contact Madden Waits at 736-5009.

VFW Meetings

Decatur VFW Post 9834 meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. New members and guests are welcome. The facility is three miles east of Decatur on Arkansas Highway 102, right on Tilly’s Hill Road, and the first building on the right.

Centerton Parade and Tree-lighting

The city of Centerton will hold its third annual Christmas parade and tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 3. The parade is at 4:30 p.m., followed by the tree-lighting ceremony.

News, Pages 2 on 11/30/2011