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BLOOD DRIVE
New Hope Lutheran Church is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, Dec. 27, from 12:30-5 p.m., at the church. All blood types are needed, but if you are type 0, A- or B- then your donation is critical at this time.
All donors participating in this blood drive are eligible to receive a long-sleeved T-shirt and a chance at winning an Amazon gift card worth $1,000. Walk-in donors are welcomed, or you can visit the Red Cross website or dial 1-800-RedCross to set your appointment time.
New Hope Lutheran Church is located along Route 45 at 119 Cobblestone Court, Spring Mills.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Howard United Methodist Church will have Christmas Eve services Sunday, Dec. 24, at 9 a.m. with a casual Christmas Carol hymn sing.
The evening candlelight service will begin at 7 p.m. After the service, you are asked to gather in the fellowship hall to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and celebrate with cake and ice cream!
LIBRARY EVENTS
Friendship Community Library in Beech Creek has been busy this month, and there are still some things left to do there during December.
Technical support is available at the Friendship Community Library each Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. Bring your cell phone or tablet to meet with Claire, the technical support person. Bring your computer related questions for Claire to help solve as well. Technical help is available on Dec. 26.
The handicapped side entrance door will be open for those needing assistance entering/exiting the library building during events there.
On Thursday, Dec. 28, the movie Willy Wonka will be shown at 4:30 p.m. Drinks may be brought from home but they must have a lid to prevent spills.
Be sure to check the Friendship Community Library Facebook page for schedule changes or call Courtney at the libraryat 570-962-2048 with questions. The Friendship Community Library is generally open on Monday's, Tuesday's and Thursday's from 3-7 p.m., but changes may vary this month because of Christmas.
LIONS NEWS
Howard Area Lions Club will hold Lions Bingo at the Beech Creek Fire Company social hall on Thursday, Dec. 28. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. Lions Bingo is held on the second and fourth Thursday evenings of the month.
At the last Bingo the Lions "gave back" to their supporters by giving away $25 Walmart gift cards to 10 players as their way to thank the players for supporting their Bingo evenings. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Lion Jim Kellerman who helps on Bingo nights in the kitchen.
Howard Area Lions Club also has several fundraisers going on that help them raise money to support individuals and groups in our area. Weis gift cards can be purchased for the face value and then used at the local Weis stores. The Lions earn a small amount for each gift card they sell.
The Lions also have their 2024 Lottery calendars on sale. The calendars are $10 each and are good for winning during the whole year based on the 3-digit evening daily number drawing. Contact Lion Lloyd at 814-355-1776 for Weis cards or lottery chances or see any Lion member for them. They make great last minute Christmas gifts!
Howard Area Lions Club has a medical equipment program where you can borrow items to use free of charge. Walkers, canes, wheel chairs, hospital beds, shower chairs and portable bedside potties are loaned out when someone needs them.
If you have these types of items in good condition that you can donate to the Lions please let us know. If you have borrowed items and are no longer using them please return them to the Lions so that others may borrow them.
Local Lions Clubs also collect used eyeglasses that are then given to underprivileged people around the world. If you have old eye glasses consider giving them to the Lions. There are drop off boxes located in and around the Centre and Clinton County areas. You can bring the glasses to any Lions event happening during the entire year.
The Milesburg Lions Club will be hosting a special New Year's Eve Bingo at the Milesburg Community Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the Bingo starts at 6:45 p.m. A pork and sauerkraut meal will be held for the Bingo supporters. Bring a dessert to share while starting the New Year off with Bingo. A $1,000 jackpot is up for grabs!
CALENDARS & SNOWFLAKES
Howard Parks and Rec committee will have 2024 calendars for sale along with this year's tree ornament, a snowflake. Both the calendars and ornaments are $10 each and benefit the beautification and upkeep of the local parks in town. This year there will be stickers, too, for $3 a sheet. The items can be purchased outside the post office on Saturday mornings from 9-11 a.m. during the month of December or by calling Debbie at 814-625-0054.
CORNHOLE LEAGUES
Cornhole is coming back to the Yearick Center! EachTuesday evening for the next five weeks, the Howard Fire Company will be running two leagues back to back. The lowest week score will be eliminated, so if you come this week you'll be right on track for the remaining five weeks.
All players are encouraged to download the "Switchholio" app so accurate stats can be kept.
Doors open at 6 p.m. each Tuesday and bags fly at 7 p.m. The cost will be $10 per person. Teams are made of two people, with each team selecting one alternate player that will be the only person allowed to fill in for the evening if a team player is absent.
No solo playing will be allowed. If one person is out and the alternate player cannot be there then the team will take a 0 for the week.
This is a BYOB event. Payouts depend on the number of teams involved. All proceeds will benefit the Howard Fire Company. For more info or questions, feel free to contact Don at 814-404-5012.
SHOE DRIVE
Marsh Creek Brethren in Christ Church is again gathering shoes to support The Gospel Tide's annual shoe drive that is being held from Jan. 2 through March 6. The drive is called "Your Soles for Their Souls." New shoes or those that have been gently worn and still in great condition are being collected.
Area churches and individuals are encouraged to donate and local pick-up is available by calling Bonnie at 570-962-2665. Bonnie lives just below Beech Creek, but there are also other congregation members spread out from Lamar, Mill Hall, Howard, Orviston, Bellefonte and Julian that can meet to pick up your donated shoes.
This is the third year that the Marsh Creek Church has participated in Gospel Shoe Drive Tide's. The goal is to collect 5,000 pairs of shoes. To learn more about The Gospel Tide's mission, visit www.thetide.org
YARNELL NEWS
Jack Miller is the rental coordinator for the Yarnell Community Center. The center is a great place to hold parties, showers or family gatherings for about 100 people. The former school house building has been nicely updated and has an open kitchen and counter area. The rear door entrance is handicap accessible, too. The rental cost is $75 per day and can be booked by calling Jack at 814-699-0548.
FIRE CO. NEWS
Centre Hall Fire Company will have their Friday Bingo on the first Friday of each month at the fire station. The first Bingo of 2024 will be held on Jan. 5. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; early bird game is at 6:30 p.m. and regular Bingo starts at 7 p.m. Food and rip tickets are also available.
Tickets are also available for the fire company's Gun Raffle set for May 18, 2024. Tickets are $10.
Millheim Fire Company has tickets for their cash and gun raffle planned for next April on sale now, too. Tickets are $20 or bargain priced at 6/$100.
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
I want to wish all of my weekly readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I really enjoy putting together this weekly column. Many of you who read my articles have let me know that you appreciate them, and I enjoy hearing from you and seeing readers at events I go to.
If you or your club, group or church has something happening in the Centre or Clinton County area that you'd like to see mentioned in Howard Happenings please send me an email with the details.
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Howard Happenings is written and compiled by Tammy Coakley who can be reached by email at tammysue0115@gmail.com or by telephone at 814-625-2684.