Please e-mail all calendar briefs to calendar@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.

Daily:

Friday, March 9

• 10 a.m. – The City of Meridian and area businesses are hosting a sendoff to honor members of the 150th Brigade Engineer Battalion who are being deployed to Kuwait. The sendoff will be held on the lawn of the Meridian City Hall, 601 23rd Ave.

• 7 p.m. – Tyler Carroll and the Pine Ridge Blue Grass will be at Mr. Larry Wilson’s Grand Oak Blue Grass Gospel Hall in Whynot.

Saturday, March 10

• 10 a.m.-noon – Happy Smiles Dentistry, 2300 N. Hills St., is calling all new parents to join them for a Baby Bonanza. Free admission, goodie bags, and door prizes, chance to win $100 gift card. Featuring Dr. Rachel Hull, Pediatrician with Rush Hospital, Dr. Kimberly Grady, Dentist with Happy Smiles Dentistry, Meridian Police Department.

• 3 p.m.-midnight – Squealin’ for Squealers Benefit at News Restaurant. Tickets are $5. Lots of local musicians are on tap to perform.

Sunday, March 11

• 3 p.m. – Free Dinner and a Message at Community SDA Church, Hwy. 39 N, Meridian with Chef/Comedian Mark Anthony – Cooking at its Funniest, Plant Based Health Nutrition. Topics include weight loss, lower cholesterol, increase energy. FMI: 601-482-3461. www.ChefMarkAnthony.com.

Monday, March 12

• 11 a.m. – Adult Craft DIY St. Patrick’s Day Bracelet at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

• 2:30 p.m. – Ribbon Cutting for The Park – Escape Room at 2413 North Hills St.

Tuesday, March 13

• 10 a.m. – Baby/Toddler St. Patrick’s Day Craft at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library. Chess Club meets at 4:30 p.m.

• 2 p.m. – The Telephone Pioneers monthly meeting will be held at the Meridian Activity Center, 3300 32nd Ave. All current and retired telephone employees and/or spouses are encouraged to attend. FMI: Call Sandie at 601-527-1197.

Wednesday, March 14

• 1 p.m. – The Military Officers Association of American Meridian Chapter (MOAA) will meet at Western Sizzlin. FMI: 601-681-8700.

• 4:30 p.m. – Young Adults (7th-12th Grade) Shamrock Bracelet Craft at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Thursday, March 15

• 11:30 a.m. – The Lauderdale County Republican Women will hold its monthly meeting on the second floor of Weidmann’s with guest speaker Katherine Tate, candidate for U.S. Representative for Miss. 3rd Congressional District. FMI: 601-692-6789.

• 2 p.m. – K-6th Grade Movie Day at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library. Genealogy is from 2-3.

• 6 p.m. – The International Singing Brakeman Association (TISBA) Hospitality Night will be at The Red Roof Inn, Suite B, located at 2219 South Frontage Rd. Please bring a dish to share. We will eat at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. FMI: Glyn Jones, 601-581-1601.

• 6:30 p.m. – The Kemper County Forestry Association Spring meeting will be held at the Ruby Rankin Farmer’s Market Bldg., Old Scooba Rd. in DeKalb. If you plan to attend please call 601-743-2837 by 4 p.m., Monday, March 12, with the number of people coming with you.

Saturday, March 17

• 10:30 a.m. – St. Thomas Aquinas Church of Hattiesburg will host its annual Irish-Italian Festival starting with the festival’s “Rock N’ Stroll” parade. The festival is from 5-10:30 p.m. at the church, following a 4 p.m. Mass. Admission is free to these events, with tickets available for food and drinks at the entrance. FMI: 601-264-5192 or 601-299-2815 or http://www.stthomas-usm.org/, or Facebook at “17th Annual Irish Italian Festival.”

Sunday, March 18

• 2:30 p.m. – The Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Family Music Ministry will host a “Spring Gospel Singing Program” at its church located at 301 46th Ave., Meridian. Church choirs, praise teams, soloist or groups are invited to participate in two selections of their choice. FMI: 601-482-5656.

Monday, March 19

• 11 a.m. – Adult Dominoes & Donuts at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Tuesday, March 20

• 10 a.m. – Baby/Toddler Baby Animal Craft at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library. Chess Club meets at 4:30 p.m.• 3 p.m. – East Central Community College will dedicate the Lucille Wood Tennis Court at the college’s new Tennis Complex on the campus in Decatur. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony.

• 3 p.m. – East Central Community College will dedicate the Lucille Wood Tennis Court at the college’s new Tennis Complex on the campus in Decatur. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony.

• 7 p.m. – The DAV (Disabled American Veterans) will meet at the Kendallwood Bldg (Highland Park) on 19th St. and 41st Ave. There will be a potluck meal at 6:30 p.m. with each person bringing something with them for the meal.

Wednesday, March 21

• 4:30 p.m. – Young Adults (7th-12th Grade) Dominoes & Donuts at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Thursday, March 22

• 4:30 p.m. – K-6th Grade Garden Day Craft at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

• 6-7 p.m. – There will be a Community Forum (School to Prison Pipeline) at 31st Missionary Baptist Church, 3411 20th St., in Meridian to receive input from the community and discuss updates on the settlement agreement entered into with the Department of Justice and the Division of Youth Services. FMI: 601-359-4954 or 601-595-2438.

• 6:30 p.m. – Midway Baptist Church is offering Financial Peace University, a nine-week, video-based class taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey that will teach you how to take control of your money. FMI: Contact Janet Berg at 601-917-0401.

Friday, March 23

• 4:30 p.m. – The Meridian Chapter of Miss. Valley State University Alumni will have a “Call Meeting” at the Council of Organizations Bldg., 814 45th Ave. We are asking all monetary donations for our April 6, 2018, Scholarship Banquet be turned in at this time. All alumni in Meridian and surrounding counties are asked to attend. FMI: 601-482-4559.

Saturday, March 24

• 11 a.m. – Meridian and VFW Post 12124 will honor Vietnam Veterans at the Frank Cochran Center. Anyone wanting to attend call 601-737-5779 or email meridianvfw@concast.net. Specify if Vietnam Veteran or Guest with your RSVP. Those that are not Vietnam Veterans can eat for $10. Special guest speakers this year will be Precilla Wilkewitz and Cricket Holder both in Country Female Vietnam Veterans. Door prizes and giveaways for Vietnam Veterans.

• 3:30 – Friends will gather at Sandy Ridge Bluegrass Park for a day of fellowship, food, pickin’, and grinnin’. Bring a covered dish for supper at 6 p.m. then hang around for some bluegrass music with possible banjo, mandolin, guitar, and fiddle players. FMI: 601-644-3701.

Sunday, March 25

• 4-6 p.m. – Free Community-Wide Easter Egg Hunt hosted by First Baptist Church Meridian at Bonita Lakes Boat Ramp. Tethered hot air balloon rides, egg hunt, petting zoo, pony rides, rock wall, inflatables, hot dogs, chips, popcorn, drinks, snow cones. FMI: 601-484-4600.

Monday, March 26

• 11 a.m. – Adult Craft at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Tuesday, March 27

• 10 a.m. – Baby/Toddler Easter Craft at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library. Chess Club meets at 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28

• 4:30 p.m. – Young Adults (7th-12th Grade) Game Day at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

Thursday, March 29

• 4:30 p.m. – K-6th Grade Easter Egg Weaving Craft at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library.

• 9:30-11 a.m. – Business, Education, and Healthcare Expo at East Central Community College in the Brackeen-Wood Gym on the Decatur campus. Vendors interested in setting up a booth at the expo should contact Linda Vance at 601-635-6210 or lvance@eccc.edu. The deadline to register is March 27.

Friday, March 30

• 7 a.m. – The East Central Mississippi Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) will hold its Inaugural Breakfast of Champions Banquet at the Tommy Dulaney Center at Meridian Community College. Gene Stallings will be the guest speaker. FMI: Contact Jonathan Fulcher, East Central MS FCA, Area Director, 601-934-4144 or jfulcher@fca.org.

Friday, April 6

• 6 p.m. – The Meridian Chapter of Miss. Valley State University Alumni will have its annual “Green and White Scholarship Banquet” at the Council of Organizations Bldg., 814 45th Ave. The speaker will be MVSU’S new president Dr. Jerryl Briggs, Sr. and music will be rendered by the musical group “Silk”. Tickets are now available – 601-482-4559.

Saturday, April 7

• 10 a.m-5 p.m. – Meridian Mini Maker Faire at the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum Historic Soule’ Steam Works, 1808 4th St. – downtown Meridian. FMI or to register as a Maker: 601-693-9905.

Sunday, April 8

• 1-5 p.m. – Meridian Mini Maker Faire at the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum Historic Soule’ Steam Works, 1808 4th St. – downtown Meridian. FMI or to register as a Maker: 601-693-9905.

Thursday, April 26

• 11 a.m.-6 p.m. – 2018 Home and Garden show at the Tommy Dulaney Bldg. FMI: 601-693-1306 or visit embdc.org.