Thanksgiving dinner planned
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov.17, at the fellowship hall, 1401 W. New York Ave., DeLand.
Those attending are asked to bring a covered dish. Turkey, dressing, gravy, rolls and drinks will be provided.
For more information, call (386) 734-0677.
Anniversary celebration scheduled
DeLand Naval Air Station Museum's 70th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Naval base will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in front of the Museum Annex on Airport Terminal Drive, near the Airport Restaurant.
Capt. Peter L. Costello, a Naval reserve Captain who has commanded five operational units, including a P-3 squadron and a Naval Forces group that supported the operations against Libya, will be the speaker for the celebration.
The DeLand Naval Air Station opened on Nov. 17, 1942, with Naval and DeLand community fanfare, including participation by the DeLand High School band.
In addition to the address by Capt. Costello, Congressman John L. Mica and DeLand Mayor Robert F. Apgar are scheduled to be on the stage at the DeLand Airport.
The current DeLand High School Band under the direction of Daniel Cook will play a prelude and the national anthem prior to the ceremony.
Also participating will be color guards from the Daytona Beach Naval Sea Cadets Corps and Embry Riddle University.
Donations need for Hurricane Sandy victims
The Jewish Federation is collecting funds for Hurricane Sandy victims.
The federation is a 501c3 tax-deductible organization and all participants will receive a thank you note for contributing.
Anyone who would like to contribute, can mail a check to the Jewish Federation, 470 Andalusia Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174 and in the memo column put hurricane relief.
Holiday waste collection schedule for unincorporated areas
There will be no garbage, recycling and yard trash collection for residents of unincorporated Volusia County on Thanksgiving day. The makeup day will be Saturday, Nov. 24.
Unincorporated areas are outside city limits.
There also will be no collection on Christmas and New Years days. Collection days normally scheduled between Dec. 25 and Jan. 4 will be the following day. For instance, Wednesday collections will be on Thursdays.
The Tomoka Landfill and West Volusia Transfer Station will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days.
For more information, call (386) 943-7889 or visit www.volusia.org/recycle.
Kids can receive a postcard from Santa
Santa is making his list and checking it twice at Volusia County's Parks, Recreation and Culture Division.
As part of an annual tradition, recreation employees will send personalized postcards from Santa to children up to age 11.
Parents can have their children added to Santa's mailing list by e-mailing the child's name, address and ZIP code to elves@volusia.org, calling (386) 736-5953 or faxing (386) 943-7012. Requests will be accepted through Dec. 9.
Learn to ballroom dance
The City of DeLand Parks and Recreation Department will be offering ballroom dancing from 2 to 4 p.m. each Monday at the Sanborn Activity Center at Earl Brown Park.
For more information on this program, call (386) 740-6860.
Food Truck bazaar comes to town
The City of DeLand Parks and Recreation Department will present the Food Truck Bazaar from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at Earl Brown Park.
The Food Truck Bazaar, Central Florida's original traveling food truck event, is bringing the deliciousness of the Orlando food truck scene to DeLand. Enjoy a nighttime outdoors community dinner atmosphere, sit in your favorite lawn chair and eat delicious gourmet treats, burgers, BBQ and desserts. Entertainment also will be available while you enjoy your food.
For more information call (386) 740-5800.
Master gardeners to share their knowledge
The University of Florida/Volusia County Extension's master gardeners will share their knowledge during the following free programs.
'˘Q & A clinic: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25. Carole Alderman and Jane Holcomb will answer gardening questions at Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, 950 Old Sugar Mill Road, Port Orange.
'˘Community gardens: 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29. Howard Jeffries will speak at DeBary Hall Historic Site. The programs are free and reservations are not required. For more information, call (386) 822-5778.
Council on Aging conducting holiday drives
The Council on Aging is conducting a holiday food drive.
The council's Santa for Seniors collection will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at four Lohman Funeral Home locations.
'˘935 E. New York Ave., DeLand
'˘168 Providence Blvd. Deltona
'˘733 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
'˘3751 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange
Participants may drop off a gift of cash, gift card or new unwrapped gifts for a senior.
The council is also collecting for its Angel Tree. To receive a name, call the council and it will be mailed to you. Items should be returned by Dec. 7.
For information, call (386) 253-4700, Ext. 250, e-mail lcampbell@coaiaa.org or visit www.coavolusia.org.
Pet Vet Cruiser scheduled
Volusia County's Pet Vet Cruiser offers low-cost spaying and neutering services to residents of unincorporated parts of the county and the cities of DeLand and South Daytona.
The Pet Vet Cruiser will be at Oakbrook Professional Center, 931 S. Spring Garden Ave., DeLand, on Nov. 19 and 27.
Fees are based on income. Appointments are required and may be made by calling (386) 626-6643.
For more information, visit volusia.org/petvet.
Kids can receive a postcard from Santa
Santa is making his list and checking it twice at Volusia County's Parks, Recreation and Culture Division.
As part of an annual tradition, recreation employees will send personalized postcards from Santa to children up to age 11.
Parents can have their children added to Santa's mailing list by e-mailing the child's name, address and ZIP code to elves@volusia.org, calling (386) 736-5953 or faxing (386) 943-7012. Requests will be accepted through Dec. 9.
Buddhist Fellowship raising funds, awareness for the homeless
Volusia Buddhist Fellowship, a nonsectarian Buddhist organization based in DeLand, will host a special Nov, 23 event to raise food, funds and awareness for the area's hungry and homeless.
Feed Your Mind - Feed Your Neighbor, an around-the-clock meditation retreat in downtown DeLand, will give people a chance to listen, take a break from the chaos and consumerism of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to practice meditation and focus on their spiritual lives while also helping those less fortunate to have a happier holiday season.
The event will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23, and continue nonstop until 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at 113 W. Georgia Ave., across from Florida Victorian Architectural Antiques and Da Vinci's.
Volusia Buddhist Fellowship has supports the mission of the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia, a DeLand agency that feeds the hungry, houses the homeless and prevents homelessness through rent and utility assistance, with food drives and similar projects. This year, however, members of the group hit upon the idea of combining their outreach activities with an event designed to promote inner peace with a 24-hour meditation-and-food drive.
No one will sit in silence the entire time: The schedule is divided into segments that include talks, guided and silent meditation, along with ample breaks. Visitors are welcome to drop by to relax for a few minutes or a few hours - or even to meditate all night. The only 'charge' for admission is a donation of nonperishable food item for the Neighborhood Center. Monetary donations also will be accepted on behalf of the center.
For more information, call Volusia Buddhist Fellowship at (386) 738-3715 or visit www.volusiabuddhist.org or e-mail volusiabuddhist@gmail.com.
Food Addicts in Recovery to meet
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous is available to those who suffer from food obsession, overeating, undereating and bulimia. There are no dues, fees or weigh-ins at meetings. There are six meetings in Volusia County.
For more information call (386) 258-0610 or visit www.foodaddicts.org.
Fair feels the love
In its fourth year of exchanging half-price admission for two cans of nonperishable food items, The Volusia County Fair Association once again has experienced the generosity of the Volusia County Fair & Youth Show patrons, and local families will benefit for months to come.
Monday night at the fair, patrons donated 8,592 pounds of food (4.3 tons), which already has been weighed and inventoried by Second Harvest Food Bank. The collection is enough to feed nearly 300 families of four for several days.
This week's collection represented the fourth year the association has included a nonperishable food donation as part of its discount admissions offerings.
Since 2009, 25,317 pounds (12.66 tons) of food have been donated at fair.