Military Wives Club to hold dance, luncheon
The Columbus Area Military Wives Club will hold a formal dinner dance Dec. 7 at Kensington Place, Lutheran Village, 1001 Parkview Blvd., Bexley.
For reservations or additional information, call (614) 231-0915 or (614) 527-9529.
The club also will meet for a luncheon Dec. 10 at Kensington Place. A social time will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon. The Pickerington High School Chorale will entertain.
For reservations, call (614) 231-0915 or (614) 527-9529 before Dec. 3.
Bexley plans Christmas tree lighting ceremony
Bexley will welcome the holiday season by lighting its Christmas tree Dec. 7.
Santa, candy canes, hot chocolate, cookies, the Bexley High School Band and holiday music will be part of the festivities, which start at 4:30 p.m. at Drexel Circle.
The mayor and Santa will light the community Christmas tree and Santa will stay to talk to the kids. Members of the Bexley Celebrations Association will serve goodies to everyone in attendance.
Donations of food, clothing and toys will be accepted for the Giving Tree and that will be placed next to Santa.
Bexley Book Club to hold book fair Dec. 13 at Easton
Bexley Community Book Club will hold its annual book fair from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dec. 13 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Easton.
On that day, The Bexley Education Foundation will receive up to 20 percent of proceeds from Barnes and Noble sales to those presenting Bexley Community Book Club book fair vouchers. Vouchers will be available at all Bexley City School buildings, Bexley Public Library and Bexley City Hall. Several businesses also have vouchers available. Go to www.bexleyeducationfoundation.org and click on the Bexley Community Book Club link to find locations.
Featuring a day filled with activities to draw community members into the store, the BCBC Barns and Noble Book Fair was designed to showcase arts programming at Bexley City Schools and involve Bexley students of all ages. Student writing, visual art and performing activities will be featured throughout the day. Gift wrapping services will be provided by Bexley-area volunteer groups.
Proceeds from Bexley Community Book Club, through sponsorships, ticket sales and book sales, will help support literacy, performing and visual arts facilities and program for the Bexley City Schools through the Arts Endowment Fund of The Bexley Education Foundation.
‘Turkey Burn’ workout burns off holiday pounds
Worried about the extra calories that may decided to stick around long after the turkey and pumpkin pie has been consumed?
Then join JCC Fitness Directors Beth McCullough and Brian Saunders for a fast-paced, full-body workout on Nov. 28 that is designed to burn as many calories as taken in the day before.
The class, which will be held from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. in the JCC gymnasium, is open free of charge to those age 15 and older. The JCC is located at 1125 College Ave., in Berwick.
For more information, contact McCullough at (614) 559-6207 or bmccullough@columbusjcc.org, or Saunders at (614) 559-6217 or bsaunders@columbusjcc.org.
Eastpointe to present ‘Journey to Bethlehem’
Eastpoint Christian Church will celebrate the season with its annual Christmas program, "Journey to Bethlehem." The program allows visitors to use all their senses and experience the Nativity Story in a rustic, outdoor setting.
Admission is free for the event, which will take place on the campus of Eastpointe Christian Church from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 and from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13. Multiple journeys will depart throughout the evening.
Eastpointe is located at 745 N. Waggoner Road in Blacklick. For more information about this interactive Christmas program, call (614) 501-8594 or visit www.eastpointe.cc.
Civic club to meet Dec. 2
The Reynoldsburg Civic Club will make its annual donation to Reynoldsburg Helping Hands when members meet Dec. 2nd at the Columbus Country Club.
Story Teller Joyce Geary will present the program at the noon luncheon. Devotions will be given by Karen Howald. Hostess will be Cathy Goodyear along with co-hostesses Dottie Belfrage, Mary Lou Palmer, Rose Anne Snoke and Cynthia Wilamosky.
Breakfast with Santa
The Knights of Columbus Council 5253 of St Pius X Catholic Church, 1061 Waggoner Road, Reynoldsburg, is sponsoring its Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 13 in the school cafeteria.
Breakfast will include pancakes, sausage and various beverages. Price is $3 for adults and $2 for children. Photos with Santa also will be offered. Proceeds will benefit area Children with Disabilities.
Breakfast with Santa
A Breakfast with Santa will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at Messiah Lutheran Church. Everyone is invited for a hot breakfast, visit and picture with Santa, crafts, games and Christmas music.
Mrs. Claus will also be present to tell the Christmas story.
There is no charge for the event and no reservations are needed.
The church is located at 1200 Waggoner Road in Reynoldsburg.
Holiday pancake breakfast to take place Dec. 13
The Bexley Historical Society and the Bexley Recreation Department are continuing a popular holiday tradition by holding their annual "All You Can Eat" Pancake Breakfast from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 13 at Jeffrey Mansion. The cost to attend is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger.
Bexley to celebrate Festival of the Arts Dec. 6
The sixth annual Bexley Festival of the Arts will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Montrose Elementary School, 2555 E. Main St. in Bexley.
The Festival is a family event showcasing more than 30 artists and crafters working in a range of media, who will show and sell their work. In addition, the Festival will feature live performances in dance, music, martial arts and other arts as well as demonstrations and fun hands-on activities for children.
This year’s performers will be the pianist Merry Pruitt, Richens & Timm Irish Step Dancers, Bexley High School Women’s Chorale, Grove City United Methodist Church Glory Ringers, Christine Avers and her piano students, Bexley High School Cheerleaders, Excel Karate students, Bexley High School Men Chorus and Festival favorite Weinstock & Friends Blues Rockers.
Shoppers will enjoy returning and new vendors offering a variety of items for sale such as jewelry, stained glass, photography, handmade books, baby items, and popular sized doll clothes. Gifts, goodies, stationary, and accessories will all be in abundance.
For the third year, the Bexley Festival of the Arts will host the Kids Gift Galley. In this area kid crafters sell their wares for $7 or less. Hand-painted wooden signs, aroma-therapy stuffed animals, jewelry, Buckeye goods, snowmen and ornaments will be created by kids.
New this year will be Amy Jones from Lollipop Portraits on site taking individual and group portraits.
"The Bexley Festival of the Arts is a fun family event, featuring activities and shopping for the entire family" event chair Nancy Martin said.
Admission to the Festival is free. Food will be available for purchase.
For more information about the festival or if you are an artist interested in a booth at the festival, call Nancy Martin at (614) 239-1902 or visit www.montrosepto.org Web site.
Reynoldsburg Police holding blood drive
The Reynoldsburg Division of Police is teaming up with the American Red Cross for a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 10. The holiday season tends to be a critical time for blood donations throughout the United States.
To schedule an appointment, contact Cheryl Kristy at (614) 322-6932. Appointments will run every 15 minutes beginning at noon and ending at 5:45 p.m. Appointments also can be made by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
Red Cross offers classes
The American Red Cross of Greater Columbus is offering several courses in December, including the two listed below. Visit columbus.redcross.org for the full calendar of courses available.
Standard First Aid with CPR/AED – Adult teaches American Red Cross Adult CPR, Basic First Aid and AED essentials. Students will learn how to recognize and respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies and other emergencies caused by injury or sudden illness, as well as when and how to use an AED. Cost is $72 and is payable prior to the course date.
The class is offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Vineyard Church of Columbus in Westerville, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 at the American Red Cross in Columbus, or from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 18 at the American Red Cross in Columbus.
The Standard First Aid with CPR – Adult Plus CPR – Child and Infant class helps students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and provide basic care for injuries and sudden illnesses until advanced medical personnel can arrive and take over. Learn to recognize a breathing or cardiac emergency in adults, infants and children. Learn about the role of the Automated External Defibrillator. Cost is $82 and is payable prior to the course date.
The class is offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 10 at Dublin Community Church in Dublin, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 13 at Worthington United Methodist Church, or from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 17 and 18 at the American Red Cross in Columbus.
For more information, call (614) 251-1444.
Winter Break Camp at JCC
Looking for something fun to do for your children over winter break? Come to the JCC of Greater Columbus, where the Children, Youth and Camping Department offers Winter Break Camp.
"We will be going on trips to Supergames, United Skates, Gym Extreme, Galaxy Golf and Games, Chiller, Bowling, and Graters, and we will also be swimming everyday," said Cori Bloch, JCC Children and Youth Program director. "We are going to have a lot of fun."
Week one runs from Dec. 22-26 (No camp on Dec. 25; however, a Family Day is being planned). Week two of Winter Break Camp runs from Dec. 29 through Jan. 2 (No camp on Jan. 1).
Members may register for one week at a discounted rate of $42.50 per day (must register for week one or week two to receive discount). Register for two weeks at a discounted rate of $40 per day (must register for both weeks to receive discount). Individual days of camp are $45 each.
Non-members may register for one week at a discounted rate of $52.50 per day (must register for week one or week two to receive discount). Register for two weeks at a discounted rate of $50 per day (must register for both weeks to receive discount). Individual days of camp for non-members are $55 each.
For more information or to register, contact Cori Bloch at (614) 559-6266 or Sue Vail at (614) 559-6251, or visit the JCC Web site at www.columbusjcc.org.
Career center offers help
Need help getting a job? New Directions Career Center (NDCC), a non-profit, United Way agency, offers men and women assistance with professional transitions. Services include but are not limited to professional assessment, career development, networking, job search techniques, interviewing skills, financial literacy, individual counseling and placement services.
November classes are filling up fast. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to get the expertise necessary in today’s competitive job market. NDCC assists individuals regardless of their ability to pay. Bring in this newspaper announcement and attend a class for $5. Scholarship programs are also available.
For more information, or to register for one of three November classes – New Directions, Advanced Career Techniques, and Creating Career Options – call (219) 849-0028, ext. 100.
Bexley leaf collection dates
The Bexley Service Department has begun its annual leaf collection program, which will end Dec. 19.
Leaves should be placed on the back side of the curb and not raked into the street or placed on the park beds under any circumstances. Leaves left in the streets slow collections, can cause street flooding, create traffic hazards and can clog the city’s storm water collection system. It is unlawful to place leaves in the street and violators can be cited. No leaves will be picked up from the alleys.
One leaf collection crew will begin on the west side of each section of the city. How quickly the leaves are collected will depend on the weather and the volume of leaves placed out for collection.
Residents can visit the city’s Web site at www.bexley.org or call the hotline at (614) 559-4202 for a daily schedule of collection activities.
Hotline volunteers needed
Caring volunteers are urgently needed to answer the Suicide Prevention Hotline. Because the hotline is answered 24 hours a day, it is vital to recruit and train enough volunteers to cover all shifts.
Volunteers at Suicide Prevention Services will receive 50 hours of training before they begin to answer the hotline. Volunteers make a commitment to answer the hotline for six hours a week for six months and many volunteers choose to continue working once they have completed their original commitment.
Volunteering for Suicide Prevention brings special rewards: training that will prove useful in many life situations, the chance to meet and work with an incredible group of caring people and the opportunity to save lives.
Training for the fall class of volunteers will begin in late November. Volunteers then work their weekly shifts from December through May.
To learn more about the program or to volunteer, call Mary Brennen-Hofmann or Susan Jennings at 299-6600.
JCC winter cruise
The JCC Travel Group is planning a Caribbean cruise on board the Emerald Princess for 10 days beginning Feb. 8, 2009.
The cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and include ports of call at Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Thomas, and Princess Cay, Bahamas. Pricing starts at $970 for an inside cabin, $1,250 for an ocean view cabin, and $1,599 for a balcony cabin. Prices are per person, double occupancy, and include 10 nights on board the Emerald Princess, all cruise features on board the ship, and all meals and entertainment. For information, contact Tour Leader Peggy Kaplan at (614) 235-8813 or (614) 560-5652.
Short term radon kits
The city of Bexley, in conjunction with the Franklin County Board of Health, has free, short term radon testing kits available for residents to check radon levels in their homes.
Radon is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, but it could be a problem in a home. Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. According to to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and leading cause among non-smokers.
To pick up a free radon testing kit, visit the Bexley Muncipal Building, 2242 E. Main St., Monday through Friday during normal business hours. For information call the Franklin County Board of Health at (614) 462-3859 or visit www.franklincountyohio.gov/health
