TODAY

Observation luncheon

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4765 will host its annual free Veterans Day observation luncheon at 11 a.m. today at 18615 Jefferson St., Athens. Guest speaker will be Master Sergeant Sims. More information: 256-233-1067.

SATURDAY

Reading program

The Limestone County NAACP will host Students Taking Excellence Personally = Success, or STEPS, a free reading program for students ages 3-13. The program will take place 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Round Island Creek Mission Center, 13829 Lucas Ferry Road, Athens. Transportation and lunch provided at no cost.

HOME seminar

Central North Alabama Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is partnering with the Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development to present a Home Ownership Maintenance and Education seminar. The free seminar will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Madison. This event is open to all area residents who are interested in becoming homeowners. USDA Office of Rural Development Area Director Janie Bentley will conduct the seminar.

Memorial service

Hospice of Limestone County and Mothers Against Drunk Driving will sponsor an annual communitywide memorial service at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Athens. “Celebration of Remembrance and Hope” is open to all Limestone County families and friends who have experienced the death of a loved one and would like to honor them during the holiday season. Photos of deceased loved ones in a standup frame can be brought for display on a memorial table. Refreshments will be served following service.

TUESDAY

Used book sale

Friends of Athens-Limestone Public Library will hold a used book sale from 10:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the library at 603 S. Jefferson St. in Athens. More information: 256-232-1233.

THURSDAY

Archives tour

The Limestone County Archives will open its doors to visitors from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, after a yearlong, half-million-dollar renovation. Visitors will be permitted to tour the facility and view the first exhibit in the new exhibit space, “Driving Forces: How Athens Got Here.” More information: facebook.com/limestonecountyarchives/.

UPCOMING

Christmas Open House

The 31st annual Christmas Open House will take place Nov. 17-19 on the Square in Athens. Event activities include live entertainment, Ice Skating on the Square, Blizzard Bash, gift-wrapping, tacky sweater contest and visits with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. More information: bit.ly/2017ChristmasOpenHouse.

Stuff-A-Truck

The annual Stuff-A-Truck food drive to benefit Limestone County Churches Involved will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at First National Bank on the corner of Lindsay Lane and U.S. 72. This is a rain-or-shine event.

Bake sale

The Ardmore Friends of the Library will host a bake sale from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Ardmore Public Library, 25836 Main St., Ardmore, Tennessee. Baked goods such as cakes, pies, breads and similar items in pint jars will be sold. Marie Allsup’s Christmas wreath, two plates and a crystal bowl will be given away during the event. Deborah Smith Ford, Elkton native and author of “The GRITS Guide to Life,” will attend.

Farm-City

Alabama Farmers Federation, in conjunction with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, will host Farm-City from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena on Alabama 99. The event will feature agriculture-related exhibits and activities and free lunch for the first 250 attendees. This event is free and open to all ages. More information: 256-232-5510.

Turkey giveaway

Women Empowering Women will host a 100 turkey giveaway Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Athens-Limestone Public Library at 603 S. Jefferson St., Athens. Event runs from 10-11 a.m. or until turkeys are gone. Turkeys are free to the first 100 families. More information: 256-233-5995.

Jewelry sale

Athens-Limestone Hospital Education Department and Masquerade will host a $5 jewelry and accessories sale at the following times: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19; 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20; and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21. Proceeds benefit Athens-Limestone Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Fund.

Legion fundraiser

American Legion Post 49 fundraiser, sponsored by Krystal, will be 4-9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 28 and 29. Half of net sales from customers with the appropriate flyer will be donated to Post 49 to support youth activities. Flyers are available at the American Legion. More information: Bob Borden, 256-230-6233.

Christmas showcase

The Athens City Schools Fine Arts Department will hold its second annual “One Athens Christmas Showcase” from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, on the Athens Middle School campus. Schools, churches, local businesses and other community members are asked to create large-scale toy soldiers or nutcrackers that will be set up for a toy soldier and nutcracker trail to be displayed at AMS through the holiday season. Drop off and setup for the toy soliders will be 2-5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. More information: Leah Pierce, leah.pierce@acs-k12.org.

Christmas parade

The city of Ardmore’s Christmas parade will be held 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. In the event of rain, the parade will be postponed to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11.

ONGOING

North Pole Stroll

Athens-Limestone County Tourism is accepting sponsorships for the North Pole Stroll until Nov. 17. The North Pole Stroll is a display of 7-foot cut Christmas trees located in Big Spring Memorial Park in Athens, each decorated by a sponsor. Sponsorships are $100 each. More information: 256-232-5411.

Letters to Santa

The News Courier is accepting letters to Santa from children in Athens and Limestone County. Letters may be handwritten and delivered to the office at 410 W. Green St., Athens, or emailed to ancsantaletters@gmail.com.

Leaf collection

The first round of leaf collection in the city of Athens will be Nov. 6 through Dec. 1. Here is the schedule: Nov. 6-10 for those with garbage pickup Tuesdays; Nov. 13-17 for those with garbage pickup Wednesdays; Nov. 20-22 for those with garbage pickup Thursdays; and Nov. 27- Dec. 1 for those with garbage pickup Fridays. Due to weather conditions, this schedule is subject to change. Residents are asked to keep leaves and limbs separate. Leaves mixed with limbs will not be collected.

Backyard Barbecue cook-off

Registration is now open for the first Fairview Baptist Church backyard barbecue competition and cornhole tournament on Friday, Nov. 17. The cook-off is for amateur cookers only and will include categories for chicken or pork ribs, or both. Entry is $100 per chicken or pork team, $20 for dessert competition and $30 for cornhole competition. Teams must include at least one person over age 18. Registration must be completed by Sunday, Nov. 12. Prizes based on number of entries. Proceeds after prizes will benefit Fairview youth. Additional rules and information: Donnie Story, 256-777-3428; Kathryn Riddle, 256-655-6867.

Farmers Market

The Farmers Market will be open Tuesdays and Fridays through the end of November.

Jingle Paws

Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter is now accepting photos of pets to be used for decorating trees at the North Pole Stroll in Athens’ Big Spring Park and the Tinsel Trail in Ardmore. Cost is $10 per picture. Picture must be no larger than 4×6 and will not be returned. Deadline for photos and registration is Sunday, Dec. 10. Registration forms can be downloaded at limestonepets.org.

SNAP signup

Retired Senior Volunteer Program is taking applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for ages 60 and older. The SNAP program helps low-income people buy the food they need to stay healthy. Call 256-232-7207 or come by the RSVP office at 409 W. Washington St. in Athens Mondays through Thursdays to complete the application.

Tutors wanted

RSVP is recruiting people 55 and older who would like to be a school tutor at the school of their choice. More information: RSVP, 256-232-7207.

Tanner book-lending machine

Athens-Limestone Public Library staff will be at the Tanner book-lending machine Fridays from 9:45-10:45 a.m. to make library cards, teach patrons how to use the book-lending machine and answer questions about library services. More information: Visit www.ALCPL.org or call 256-232-1233.

Stability classes

East Limestone Senior Center will host SilverSneakers stability class from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. every Thursday at 25820 Nick Davis Road. SilverSneakers is a group exercise class designed to keep participants safe on their feet. The class will include standing and walking exercises designed to decrease the risk of falling. Donations accepted. More information: 256-614-3530.

Food pantry

The Women Empowering Women food pantry will be open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and the second Saturday of each month. More information and to contribute: Janice Williams, 256-233-5995; wew5995@gmail.com; www.womenempoweringwomenofalabama.org.

MEETINGS

• Master Gardeners. Limestone County Master Gardeners Association will host its November meeting Monday, Nov. 13, at Limestone County Extension Office. Social time with refreshments will begin at 12:30 p.m., with a speaker to discuss LCCI at 1 p.m. and business meeting at 1:30 p.m. This meeting is open to the public.

• SCV. The Capt. Thomas H. Hobbs Camp 768 chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will meet 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Alabama Veterans Museum. Dr. Brandon Beck, author, historian and director emeritus of the McCormick Civil War Institute, will speak. This meeting is open to the public.

• Democrats. The Limestone County Democratic Club will hold its November meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Democrat Headquarters, 22143 U.S. 72 East. The guest speaker will be Peter Joffrion, who is running for Congressional District 5 to replace Mo Brooks. This meeting is open to the public.

• NARFE. NARFE Chapter 1480 will meet 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Veterans Museum. Dr. Jim Williams, second vice president of the Alabama NARFE Federation, will speak on legislation. Breakfast will be served. More information: Dean Morgan, 256-233-0248.

• UDC. Joseph E. Johnston 198 chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy will meet 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at Traditions Assisted Living, 22171 Traditions Way, Athens. More information: Peggy King, 256-233-8379; Linda Watson, 256-431-7493.

Limestone Ledger is a list of events hosted by nonprofit organizations. Items must be submitted in writing. Email submissions to newscouriersoundoff@gmail.com, fax to 256-233-7753 or bring to The News Courier, 410 W. Green St., Athens.