Hometown Events

Gentry Storytime

Gentry Public Library will hold Storytime with Grandma Betty each Friday, beginning on Jan. 15. Grandma Betty will read aloud children's favorite books from 2 to 3 p.m. in the children's area of the library. Parents are encouraged to read to their children from an early age to help them learn new words and what those words mean and to improve listening skills as children prepare for entry into school. For more information, call 479-736-2054.

SSRH Blood Drive

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital will host a blood drive from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, in the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks Bloodmobile at the SSRH parking lot, 603 N. Progress Ave., Siloam Springs. To be eligible to give blood, a donor must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and present a valid photo identification. CBCO suggests donors drink plenty of water or juice the night and morning before they donate and eat a well-balanced meal two to three hours before giving. For more information, call 800-280-5337 or visit www.cbco.org.

Christmas Eve Service

Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church will hold a Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ with scripture and song. All are welcome and invited. The church is located at 301 S. Black Ave. (corner of S. Black and W. Moffitt) in Sulphur Springs.

Christmas Eve Services

The Decatur United Methodist Church will host a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, and the Gravette United Methodist Church will host the same service at 7 p.m. that day. Both services will feature open communion, with everyone welcome. The services will also feature special music and the true story of Christmas. The public is invited to both services.

Gravette Summer Baseball and Softball League Registration

Gravette Summer Baseball and Softball League Registration is beginning and players may be registered online and fees paid with a credit or debit card at www.leaguelineup.com/gravette. A $3 fee will be added to cover the fee charged for processing. Registration and payment may also be completed in person at Arvest Bank Conference Room, Monday, Jan. 11, from 6 to 7 p.m., or at Gravette Middle School (in the old gym) on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boys must be ages 4-16 as of May 1, 2016, and Girls ages 4-16 as of Jan. 1, 2016. Registration fee for all ages is $35. Maximum family fee is $100. After Jan. 31 there will be a $10 late charge per player. Signups are needed by Jan. 31 to guarantee a spot on a team. Tryouts will be held in February. Umpires and volunteer coaches may sign up online at http://www.leaguelineup.com.

Travel Team Signup

Anyone wishing to tryout for a Gravette travel team in the following age groups is asked to contact the respective coaches as soon as possible: 9U Softball - Bill Romine, 479-640-4588; 12U Softball - Troy Bates, 479-876-4048; 11 yr old Baseball - Tony Kildow, 479-787-0250. More information is online at www.leaguelinup.com/gravette.

Pantry Holiday Hours

Share the Harvest food pantry will be closed, in observance of the Christmas holiday, on Thursday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve). The pantry will be open the next Thursday, Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve) during normal operating times, from 1 to 5 p.m. Share the Harvest Food Pantry is located within Harvest Baptist Church at 11036 N. Hwy. 59 in Gravette.

Highfill Food Pantry

The Highfill United Methodist food pantry will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. For more information, call the church at 479-736-1275.

New Food Pantry

Decatur United Methodist Church has a community food pantry open the first and third Thursday of each month. The only requirement for the pantry is that one live in the 72722 ZIP code area. An identification and a piece of mail showing one's residence in the Decatur area is required. There is also a USDA commodity program available which is income-based. Those wishing to do so can fill out an application to see if they qualify.

Lions Club

Gravette Lions Club meets at noon on the first Tuesday of every month at the In-Zone Restaurant on Arkansas Hwy. 59 N. in Gravette and at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at Imagine Before and After School Care, 206 Birmingham St. S.E. The Gentry Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at the McKee Community Room in Gentry Public Library. New members are welcome and invited.

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.

Gravette Legion

Gravette American Legion Post 25 meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Civic Center. All veterans are encouraged to attend.

Singing Services

Monthly singing services at Mason Valley Baptist Church Activity Center are held at 7 p.m. the second Friday of each month. The church is located on Arkansas Hwy. 12, between Highfill and Vaughn. Everyone is invited.

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 VFW Meetings

VFW Post 9834 meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. New members and guests are welcome.

Submissions

Submissions to Hometown Events may be emailed to [email protected].

Community on 12/23/2015