Suwannee Valley collects gifts for Samaritan’s Purse, world’s largest Christmas project

Suwannee Valley residents are packing shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project.

Please, drop off your filled shoe boxes at the tri-county area participating churches: Hardeetown Baptist Church, 1716 N.W. 14th St., Chiefland; and Bethel Baptist Church, 7070 SW County Road 334A, Trenton. 

For more information about location days and hours of operation, and how to fill your shoebox, please call 1-800-409-1665 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org

Bronson Church of God Hope for Kids Christmas project.

Bronson Church of God is conducting its Hope for Kids Christmas Project. New unwrapped toys can be donated or contributions made in the collection jars located in Bronson businesses.

Bronson Church of God is located on U.S. Highway 27A, south of Bronson

The Tri-County Toys for Tots campaign has started and donations of new unwrapped toys and contributions are being sought. Donation boxes are located in public buildings and businesses. See Saturday’s activities for an event to benefit Toys for Tots.

The clerks in the Levy County Clerk of Court office are holding a food drive. Canned goods and staples can be dropped off along with monetary donations.

AARP is collecting for the Senior Food Pantry. See Tuesday’s activities.

The Community Thanksgiving Service is collecting. See Wednesday’s activities.

Students at Chiefland High School are in the midst of a canned food drive with classes competing for a pizza party.

Harmony Holistic Center is also accepting food donations. Please see the Thanksgiving Dinner event in Friday’s listing.

Anchormen Quartet in concert at First Baptist

First Baptist Church of Chiefland would like to extend an invitation for you to join them for as they host The Anchormen Quartet in a free concert at the church at 7 p.m.

Crusades For Christ Tent Revival

Crusades for Christ, a ministry based in Old Town, will begin its tent revival today at its location two miles west of Old Town, just south of the caution light on U.S. Highway 19/98.

Pastors, supporters and event organizers from 22 churches in the tri-county area met in October and endorsed the event, which starts at 7 p.m.

Evangelist Bill Bozeman of Savannah, Ga. will bring the gospel message each evening following some good old gospel singing and special music. 

The tent can be accessed by turning left off U.S. Highway 19 onto Kate Green Road coming from Old Town or by turning right off U.S. 19 onto Kate Green Road coming from Cross City.

Grand Slam Bridge, with two tables in play, is held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Chiefland on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested in participating are asked to call Joan at 493-0279. Both weekly and substitute players are needed.

The Levy County Republican Party will hold its monthly meeting at BubbaQue’s in Chiefland. Fellowship and dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation and business begins at 7 p.m. The group is working to increase the Republican presence in the county through voter registration and officeholders.

The Levy County Commission meets at 9 a.m. at the County Courthouse in Bronson.

Among the items on the agenda is a vote on a proposal to locate a Ten Commandments monument at the courthouse and a resolution supporting the FAIR tax proposal. The commission will also consider amendments to the final 2008-2009 budget, naming a portion of U.S. Highway 27A the Purple Heart Highway, and consider a letter to municipalities for coordination of water issues.

The next meeting of AARP will be the chapter's Thanksgiving feast at 10:30 a.m. at the Otter Springs Lodge. The chapter will supply the turkey, dressing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Please bring vegetables and desserts to complete the meal. There are many committee reports, as well as plans for the float to be in the Bell Christmas Parade on Dec. 5.

If you were part of the chapter's Day of Service, the presentation by Rick Weder, director of the Gilchrist County Senior Food Pantry, will be enjoyable.  He will also explain some of the services that he controls through his organization and the Salvation Army.

See you at the meeting with a can in hand.

Tourist Development Council to meet

The Levy County Tourist Development Council will hold its bimonthly meeting at 6 p.m. in the Visitors Bureau office at 620 N. Hathaway Ave., Bronson.

The meeting is open to the public. For more information, please call (352) 486-3396.

Santa Fe Basin management meeting

A public meeting to discuss issues related to the kick off of the Santa Fe River Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) will be held at 9 a.m. at the Fort White Community Center, 17579 State Route 47, Ft. White. The public is invited to attend.  Please send additional questions to Terry.Hansen@dep.state.fl.us (850) 245-8561

The Yankeetown-Inglis Republican Club will meet at 6 p.m. at the Lions Club on 59th Street in Yankeetown. The program will be an update on the fair tax by George Roberts, representing Fair Tax. Org. Elections will also be held for club officers for 2010. The club is providing a delicious pork roast dinner with salad, dessert and beverage for $5 for members and $8 for guests. Besides good food, good friends, and an excellent speaker, come and find out what’s happening in 2010.

The Medicare Part D Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 31 and SHINE, a volunteer Program with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, can help answer your questions about the program.

Come see the volunteers at the Chiefland Senior Center from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. for free, unbiased, and confidential assistance. Bring your Medicare Card, current Part D Plan card, and your prescription drug bottles.  There will be a worksheet to complete.  To find a SHINE site near you or to be referred to a volunteer, call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243.

The Chiefland TOPS group meets at St. Albans church from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Both men and women are welcome.

Community Thanksgiving Service on Wednesday

The Chiefland Ministerial Association is inviting the public to a Community Thanksgiving Service on at 7 p.m. at Lighthouse Word Church.

The service will feature drama, dance, worship and ministry provided by area churches. A nursery will be provided.

It is also an opportunity for the community to participate in the Tri-County Outreach Food Drive by bringing canned food to the service.

For more information, please call 493-1554. The church is located on U.S. Highway 27A south of Chiefland.

Kids young and old are invited to come make their own "turkey" at Luther Calloway Library from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The kids will be given everything they need to create a sugary turkey cupcake creation and then gobble it down. All ages are invited to this free family event.

 Large groups are welcome, but please let the library know in advance.

For more information, contact Jenny Rodgers, Youth Services Coordinator 352-486-5552, or your local librarian.

The Fanning and Manatee Springs Working Group will meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fanning Springs City Hall, 17651 NW 90 Court. Highlights include discussion of how dye poured into a Chiefland sinkhole soon emerged in Manatee Spring; an artist’s perspective on changes in the springs; and the start of the state's new nitrate-reduction program for Fanning and Manatee Springs. The group will have a field trip on Friday, November 20 from 8:15 a.m. to noon at the Gainesville Regional Utilities wastewater treatment facility. Plans call for a presentation and tour of the pilot-scale infiltrating treatment wetland, a tool for reducing nitrate in wastewater to protect ground water. For more information please contact Working Group Coordinator Carol Lippincott at (352) 377-8693 or CarolLippincott@cox.net.

American Legion Post
 91 meeting
    

Post 91 of the American Legion would like to remind its members about their membership meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. along with Auxiliary Unit 91. The meeting will begin with Thanksgiving dinner — turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, veggies, rolls and dessert. We ask the members to bring a covered dish or a dessert to share with others. Cost of the dinner will be canned goods that can be donated to Trenton's Food Pantry. Bring a friend and it need not be a veteran.

Bleed for Your Team at 
Cedar Key blood drive

LifeSouth is teaming up with Cedar Key community to host a special “Bleed for Your Team” blood drive at the high school from 9 a.m. to noon.  The bloodmobile then moves to the front of City Hall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. All who donate will receive a special Gator or Seminole recognition T-shirt and a complimentary cholesterol screening. All donors during the month of November will be entered into drawings for sports memorabilia that include autographed footballs or a shirt signed by Coach Urban Meyer. 
Donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, and have photo identification.  Sixteen-year-olds must have written parental consent. For more information about becoming a donor or about blood drives in your area, call LifeSouth at (888) 795-2707 or visit www.lifesouth.org.

Cedar Key seniors get 
SHINE visit

Medicare Part D’s Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec 31 and SHINE, a volunteer Program with the FL Dept of Elder Affairs, will be at the Cedar Key Library from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to help answer your questions about the program. Come see the volunteers for free, unbiased, and confidential assistance.  Bring a Medicare Card, the current Part D Plan card, and your prescription drug bottles.  There will be a worksheet to complete.  To find a SHINE site or to be referred to a volunteer, call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243.

Harmony Holistic Center Thanksgiving

Harmony Holistic Center will host a Thanksgiving dinner from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The center is planning on trying to feed 100- 125 people.

The non-profit group will accept monetary donations, gift cards, turkeys, frozen, canned and dry goods for the holidays and food pantry. Toiletries and laundry soaps, blankets, sleeping bags, tote bags, handicap equipment, furniture, backpacks, household items, toys, games, clothing, shoes, diapers- adult and children.

To donate, contact Cindy Camp at Harmony Holistic Healing Center, 10691 NE 109th Street- University Oaks, Archer, or call (352) 486-6229, please leave a message or email to harmonyheals777@aol.com.

Drills & Thrills at Goethe

Come out to Goethe Trailhead Ranch and watch the excitement begin.  See teams of Riders mounted on their Horses moving to music in unison using capes, ribbons and flags!  This is the awesome sport of Equine Drill.  Each group using imaginative and original themes, props and moves in attempt to bring you to the edge of your seat.  Show starts at 11:00am and spectators are invited at no charge!  Come and see what this is all about.  For more information call (352) 486-2599 or (352) 489-8545.

Toys for Tots Bike Ride and bike raffle

The 5^th Annual Nature Coast Toys for Tots Bike Ride from BubbaQue’s in Chiefland to Charlie’s in Cross City and bike raffle beings with registration at 10:15 a.m. at BubbaQue’s.

Kickstands are up at 12:15 p.m. for the 20-mile run to Charlie's  in Cross City.

The ride is free but riders are asked to please bring a cash donation or a new unwrapped toy to be handed to a uniformed Marine at Charlie's.

For safety reasons cars or trucks are not allowed to ride in the police-escorted motorcycle ride but the public can meet the riders when they arrive at 1 p.m.

Bob Rose from WSKY radio and Jack Wiley from MIX 94.3 will also be riding in our ride.

There will be live music with three bands performing at including the Rick Gordon Band, The Salt Water Cowboys and Steel Bridge. There will be a lunch and vendors on hand.

The highlight of the afternoon will be the drawing at 3 p.m. for the winning ticket for the custom built motorcycle donated by Gulf Coast Sledz of Florida. The new, untitled bike is valued at $32,000.

Tickets are $10 each or three for $25 and are on sale at Badcocks in Chiefland, The Brick Grill in Old Town, The Print Shop of Chiefland, Capitol City Bank in Chiefland, Pro Tire in Old Town, and Bubba’s Fin and Feathers in Inglis