Please e-mail all calendar briefs to editor@themeridianstar.com. Calendar items are listed by date and it may take a while before an event submitted weeks in advance appears in the paper.

    

F.Y.I.

    • Due to early deadlines next week, announcements for engagements, weddings and anniversaries to The Meridian Star must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday. The address for online submissions is celebrations@themeridianstar.com. If you have any questions, call (601) 693-1551 and ask for Tracy. Obituaries for the Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day edition of The Star are due by 11 a.m. on the prior day.

    • NorthPark Church hosts several support groups each week. Griefshare meets Mondays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Single & Parenting meets Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Divorce Care meets Wednesdays 6:30 to 7:30. NorthPark Church is located at 7770 Highway 39 North in Meridian, just across from the North East Middle School.

    • “Country Alcoholics Anonymous” meets each Thursday at 7:30 p.m. out Highway 493 North, past the Bailey post office. Veer left on to GumLog Road, 1/2 mile to club house by baseball field on right. For information call (601) 737-2463.

    • 6 p.m. — The International Singing Brakeman Association meets every third Thursday at the Best Western Hospitality Room on Frontage Road. Please bring a snack/dish to share. We will eat at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, call Glyn Jones at (601) 581-1601.

    • Otha Barham plays guitar and sings easy listening music each Thursday from 2 to 4 at the Daily Grind, 4820 Poplar Springs Drive.

    • Noon — Refuge Christian Recovery, a meeting for women whose loved ones suffer from alcohol and drugs, meets every Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, Founders Room, 905 23rd Avenue. Call 601-693-1133.

Friday, Nov. 29

    1-5 p.m. — In order to meet the Thanksgiving holiday blood supply needs, United Blood Services is requesting that eligible blood donors donate blood at the Meridian Community Blood Drive. The blood drive will be held at United Blood Services, located at 1115 25th Avenue in Meridian; the bloodmobile will be in the parking lot. If you’re running short on time, you can now take more control of the donation process, by doing your interview online the day of your donation. To do this, log on to www.unitedbloodsystems.org and click on the “Health History Questionnaire”, answer the questionnaire then, print your fast track ticket and bring it with you when come in to donate.  Please note: The health history must be completed the same day as the donation. Additionally, all donors will receive a specially designed black and gold “Everyday Saints Give Blood” T-shirt. Donors may make an appointment at www.bloodhero.com, using sponsor code meridiancommunity or call 601-264-0743.

    6 p.m. — There will be a Cancer Benefit Program for Patricia Ann Coleman Mathis at the Mt. Pleasant MB Church, 4536 Old Hwy. 45, south of Meridian. The program will be highlighted with A 50 Men in Black and 50 Women in White March and various choirs and groups performing. All participants in the march are asked to march with whatever donation you are making. Please make all checks or money orders payable to Patricia or Roshanda Mathis. For more info call 601-678-7113.

Saturday, Nov. 30

      10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — If you missed the Crafty Ole Ladies of College Park United Methodist Church, the gift shop will be open from 10 -2 using the rear door. We will have decorative items and gifts for sale. All items are hand-made by the members of the church. For more information, please call 601-604-1664 or 601-483-5430.

Dec. 2-6

    Telephone Pioneer’s annual BELL’s BEST Cookbook Sale December 2nd thru 6th at 2310 7th Street, Meridian MS (AT&T telephone building) 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day. We will have all of the Bell’s Best cookbooks as well as other state’s pioneer cookbooks. We will also have THREE new cookbooks available this year as well as the RADA knives and accessories. Proceeds from sale to benefit numerous local charities. For additional information call Dorothy at 601-483-5448.

Tuesday, Dec. 3

    5:15 p.m. — The city of Meridian will host a Christmas tree lighting at City Hall that will feature Christmas carols performed by choirs from Magnolia Middle School and Central United Methodist Church.

Dec. 4

    11:30 a.m. — The monthly meeting of the Central MS Chapter 1251 of NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees) will be held at Ronnie’s Steak and Grill, 734 Pecan Ave., in Philadelphia. Christmas gifts will be exchanged. Ladies should bring a lady’s gift, men should bring a man’s gift. Cost of gifts should not exceed $15. All active and retired federal employees and spouses are invited to attend. For additional information about the meeting, please call 601-389-1946.

Dec. 5

    5-8 p.m. — Please join us at Beef O Brady’s at Bonita Lakes Mall for Spirit Night.  They will donate 10 percent of sales to Make A Wish to grant wishes in this area. Dine in or carry out, but let them know you are there for MAW Spirit. Wear you MAW shirts to show your spirit if you have one and Share the Power of A Wish. Hope to see you there.

Dec. 7-8

    6 p.m. — Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir presents Christmas Spectacular 2013 “He Came to Us” by Wayne and Elizabeth Goodine at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8. The church is located at 4032 Poplar Springs Drive in Meridian. For more information, call 601-485-5106.