Polk County Living 8A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 23, 2015 COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK May the Force be with you Essay contest is open to students Polk County students in grades 9-12 are invited to enter the Fifth Annual Polk County Women for Agricul- ture’s Constitutional essay contest. This year’s topic is to “name five things you learned when you read the Constitution, and write a paragraph about each.” Three prizes will be awarded — $300 for first, $200 for second and $100 for third. Each winner will also receive two books on the Constitution by Oregon au- thor Mary Webster. Each student who enters will re- ceive a pocket copy of the Constitution. Deadline for entry is Dec. 31. Email entries to Arlene Kovash, kovasha@ gmail.com. For complete list of rules: www.owaonline.org/polk- countychapter.html. For more information: Ar- lene Kovash, 503-838-3512, or Carol Marx, camarx@aol.com; 503-362-622. Church to offer free Christmas meals St. Philips Church will offer a Christmas Day meal from noon to 2 p.m. for any- one in the community. The menu includes an oven baked ham, homemade stuffing, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, home- made rolls and cranberry sauce. Apple or pumpkin pies are available for dessert. Home deliveries are available. To order, contact Tara Ar- neson, 503-990-5632 or Sherry Maher, 503-507-0287. St. Philips Church is at 825 SW Mill St., Dallas. COMMUNITY CALENDAR LuKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer John Thoma, Cadence Thoma, Christine Cottey, Abby Thoma and Geoff Thoma were a few of the many Star Wars fans attending the premier of “Star Wars: The Force Awak- ens” on Thursday at Independence Cinema. National Guard to track Santa Claus be made by calling 1-877- 446-6723. The Oregon Air National Guard will be on high alert on Christmas Eve as they monitor Santa Claus’ annual flight. The OAND will work with the United States Air Force and the North American Aerospace Defense Com- mand to track his flight. For the official Santa tracker, visit: www.norad.mil/About- NORAD/NORADTracksSan- ta.aspx. Santa inquiries can also Volunteers needed for Christmas Cheer WVH to sell See’s candy on Thursday Volunteers are needed for Christmas Cheer at 6 a.m. Dec. 24 at LaCreole Middle School. Volunteers will help sort, shop and deliver food boxes to the community. Volunteers are also encour- aged to bring canned goods. Financial contributions can be made via check to Christmas Cheer, P.O. Box 661, Dallas, OR 97338. For more information: Warren and Sue Lamb, 503- 623-3585. West Valley Hospital vol- unteers are selling See’s candy now through Thurs- day inside the front lobby or Café West. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the scholarship fund benefitting Polk County high school seniors wishing to pursue a medical related field. LIBRARY CALENDAR DALLAS 950 Main St. • 503-623-2633 www.ci.dallas.or.us/library • Wednesday, Dec. 23, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. “Wrap-up Party.” • Thursday, Dec. 24-25 — Closed for Christmas. • Tuesday, Dec. 29, 3:30 p.m. — Story time. • Thursday, Dec. 31, 2:30 p.m. — Lego building. — INDEPENDENCE 175 Monmouth St. • 503-838-1811 www.ci.independence.or.us/library • Wednesday, Dec. 23, 10:30 a.m. — Family story time. • Wednesday, Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m. — Cuentos in Español. • Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve — Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day — Li- brary closed. • Monday, Dec. 28, 3 p.m. — Board games. • Tuesday, Dec. 29, 3 p.m. — New Year’s Kit (make things to celebrate the New Year). • Wednesday, Dec. 30, 10:30 a.m. — Family story time. • Wednesday, Dec. 30, 5:30 p.m. — Cuentos in Español. — MONMOUTH 168 S. Ecols St. • 503-751-0182 www.ci.monmouth.or.us/library • Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2 p.m. — Animat- ed movie, PG. • Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24 and 25 — Closed for Christmas. • Tuesday, Dec. 29, 10:25 a.m. — Snowy story time and craft. • Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2 p.m. — Animat- ed movie, PG. — WAGNER COMMUNITY LIBRARY 111 N. Main St., Falls City 503-787-3521, ext. 319 www.facebook.com/ WagnerCommunityLibrary/timeline • See the library’s Facebook page for up- coming events. EARLY DEADLINES Our office will be CLOSED Friday, Dec. 25 News Department: Social News Wedding, Engagements, Births, etc. .........................Wednesday, Dec. 23, 4pm Community Events Business, School, Community News ...........................Thursday, Dec. 23, Noon General News .............................................................Thursday, Dec. 23, Noon Letters to the Editor/Obituaries.................................. Monday, Dec. 28, 10am Community Calendar is a listing of upcoming events tak- ing place in Polk County that are open to the public. To submit an event for calendar consideration, please send it at least two weeks before the actual event date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503-623-2395) or email (ionews@polkio.com). — WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23 • Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank — 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E, Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members. 503-831-5634. • Yoga in the Hopyard — 6 p.m., Rogue Farms Micro Hopy- ard, 3590 Wigrich Road, Independence. Offered on the last Wednesday of every month. Free; bring your own yoga mat. 503-838-9813. • Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank — 10 a.m. to noon, Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth. For eligible community members; available every Wednesday. 541- 404-6517. • Brew and BS — 7 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. Free. Bring your own brew – beer, coffee, tea, cider, wine. Moderated discussions on topics of religion and science. 435-503-4304. • Painting, Canvas and Cocktails — 7 p.m., The Boondocks, 318 N. Main St. Fall City. All supplies, paint, canvas and instruc- tion provided. No experience necessary. $30, snack and cocktail included. 503-787-2700. — THURSDAY, DEC. 24 • James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., Dallas united Methodist Church, 565 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas. Free; everyone welcome. 503-623-8429. • Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club — Noon, First Baptist Church, 1505 Monmouth St., Independence. Visiting Ro- tarians, guests and prospective Rotarians are welcome to these luncheon meetings. Free. 503-838-4884. • Dementia Support Group — 9:30 a.m., Monmouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth. A group for people cop- ing with a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. 503-838- 5678. • Take Off Pounds Sensibly Club Meeting — 10 to 10:30 a.m. Church of Christ, 127 Heffley St. N., Monmouth. Weigh-in only. 503-930-7936. — FRIDAY, DEC. 25, CHRISTMAS DAY • Altered Attitudes Alcoholics Anonymous — Noon, Dallas united Methodist Church, 565 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas. 503- 399-0599. • Guthrie Park Acoustic Music Jam Session — 7 to 10 p.m., Guthrie Park Community Center, 4320 Kings Valley Highway, Dallas. Free (donations accepted). 503-623-0809. — SATURDAY, DEC. 26 • Polk Community Free Clinic — 7 to 11 a.m., Trinity Luther- an Church, 320 SE Fir Villa Road, Dallas. Free medical and mental health care for uninsured and underinsured. Held on the first and fourth Saturday of the month. 503-990-8772. — SUNDAY, DEC. 27 • Last Sunday at River Gallery — 2 to 4 p.m., River Gallery, 184 S. Main St., Independence. Reception to honor corner and window focus artists. Free. 503-838-6171. • Jubilee Service — 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Calvary Chapel, 628 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. Come enjoy old-time hymns and bluegrass. Hand clapping and loud singing is encouraged. 503-831-1074. — MONDAY, DEC. 28 • Willamette Valley New Horizons Orchestra — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Central High School band room, 1530 Monmouth St., In- dependence. Local orchestra for beginning through intermedi- ate musicians. Meets every Monday. Players of all levels wel- come. $25 monthly fee to cover expenses. 503-838-4884. — TUESDAY, DEC. 29 • James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., St. Philip Catholic Church, 825 SW Mill St., Dallas. Free; everyone welcome. 503-623-8429. • Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club — 6 to 7 p.m. weigh-in, 7 to 8 p.m. meeting, First Christian Church basement, 1079 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. Meetings offer programs and activ- ities aimed at losing weight. Open to anyone. First meeting is free. Advertising Department: Legals..........................................................................Thursday, Dec. 24, Noon Display Main news advertisments/inserts ...................Thursday, Dec. 24, Noon Classified Display........................................................ Monday, Dec. 28, 11am Classified Line Ads...................................................... Monday, Dec. 28, noon Call us. Our office will also be CLOSED Friday, Jan. 1 The Itemizer-Observer can help News Department: Social News Wedding, Engagements, Births, etc. .........................Wednesday, Dec. 30, 4pm Community Events Business, School, Community News ...........................Thursday, Dec. 31, Noon General News .............................................................Thursday, Dec. 31, Noon Letters to the Editor/Obituaries .................................... Monday, Jan. 4, 10am you expand your market share and make your business more profitable. Call us at 503-623-2373 and make an appointment with one of our Advertising Department: Advertising Consultants, Legals..........................................................................Thursday, Dec. 31, Noon Display Main news advertisments/inserts ...................Thursday, Dec. 31, Noon Classified Display .......................................................... Monday, Jan. 4, 11am Classified Line Ads ........................................................ Monday, Jan. 4, noon Heidi, Rachel or Karen Itemizer-Observer 147 SE Court St., Dallas • 503-623-2373 ADVERTISING THAT WORKS.