To place an event in the Community Calendar, email: beth.key@harlandaily.com or drop a written copy of the announcement by our office at 1275 North 25th Street, Middlesboro. Announcements will not be accepted by phone and should be submitted no later than four business days before the event. If received in time, it will be published one or two days before the event. Announcements are also available to view at www.middlesboronews.com. For more details, call 606-909-4145.

Mills Brothers Garbage Service will be running a day behind the week of Christmas. Monday’s customers will be picked up on Tuesday, Tuesdays customers will be picked up on Wednesday, finishing up on Saturday picking up Friday’s customers.

THURSDAYS

The Bell County Job Club will meet for eight weeks at the Middlesboro-Bell County Public LIbrary. The club meets each Thursday. New members should arrive at 1 p.m. The job club can help you with the following: create a job search game plan; connect with quality employers; learn self-marketing and interviewing skills; get support from fellow job seekers and workforce professionals; and benefit from insider job leads. For more information, contact Brian Good at Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency at 606-337-3044 or check out the Facebook page, ekcep.us/jobclubsinfo.

DEC. 31

Mt. Gilead Baptist Church will host a WATCHNIGHT SERVICE at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. Rev. Stewart Fultz, pastor, welcomes all including singers

Pine Mountain State Resort Park will host a New Year’s Eve MOUNTAIN BASH on Dec. 31. Music by the park’s DJ begins at 9 p.m. There will be party favors, snacks and balloon drop included (must be 21 or older, no outside alcohol allowed. The Mountain View Restaurant will be open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. For more information, call 606-337-3066 or email Keith.Bowling@ky.gov.

JAN. 3

Starting Jan. 3, the Bell County Extension Office will provide a WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM to help get your New Year off to a great start. Weigh 2 Go Wednesdays classes will meet twice a month and weigh in weekly. For more information or to register, call the office at 606-337-2376.

JAN. 4

The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum will present Of the People, By the People, and For the People, a free program and discussion on modern citizenship explored through the words of Abraham Lincoln, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 4. The fourth conversation, “Citizenship at the State Level” will allow the audience to read primary source documents related to Abraham Lincoln’s conception of the idea of government when he was a representative for Illinois in the United States Senate. The audience will be provided background on Lincoln’s journey to and experience in state government. All attendees to the free event will receive a free guidebook. Individuals and groups are welcome to attend. Registration is not required, but is suggested. To learn more, contact Museum Program Coordinator Natalie Sweet at 423-869-6607 or natalie.sweet@lmunet.edu.

JAN. 6

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading REGISTRATION will be held from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. on Jan. 6 at Gap Creek Baptist Church, 200 Arthur Road, Arthur, Tennessee.

JAN. 8, FEB. 5, MARCH 5,

APRIL 2, MAY 7, JUNE 4

MONDAYS R MURDER Book Club will meet at 10 a.m. on Mondays at the Middlesboro-Bell County Public Library. The schedule includes: Jan. 8, 1222 by Anne Holt; Feb. 5, Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz; March 5, Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear; April 2, Raylan by Elmore Leonard; May 7, Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten; and June 4, The Butterfly Sister by Amy Gail Hansen. To register, call the library at 606-248-4812.

JAN. 8

NUTRITION IS OUR MISSION will be held at 1 p.m. on Mondays at the Middlesboro Library. The schedule concludes Jan. 8. Learn simple solutions to help you eat better and share recipes brought to you in conjunction with the Bell County Extension Office SNAP-Ed Department. To reserve a seat, contact Christy Blevins at the Bell County Extension Office at 606-337-2376 or sign up at the library at 606-248-4812.

JAN. 9

Tad’s Tots, a monthly program for children ages 0-5 and their caretakers, will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Jan. 9 at LMU. Each program involves a special storytime, brief museum tour, and a craft. Why do we call Abraham Lincoln “Honest Abe?” Kids can find out in this month’s session, which features a special story and craft to make and take home. Kids will also learn the importance of telling the truth, even when telling the truth is sometimes hard. If you are unable to attend after making your reservation, contact the museum at 423-869-6833.

JAN. 10

CROCHET BABY CAPS will be held at 10:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Middlesboro Library. The schedule includes Jan. 10. Registration is required. Build a better community by learning to crochet baby caps for Middlesboro ARH. Agnes Marcum will show participants how in this new monthly class. Limited to 10 – bring a G hook. To register, call the library at 606-248-4812.

JAN. 11

On Jan. 11, from 3-4 p.m., LMU will present a Community Digital History Workshop series, a monthly program that teaches participants how to make use of history databases that are available to access from both the home computer and the university. These workshops are particularly useful to those who are interested in either/or genealogy and historical research. In the January session, users will learn how to navigate the Volunteer Voices collection from the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Teachers who attend can also receive a one-hour Certificate of Completion. This opportunity is not for credit hours and does not award a CEU. For more information, call 423-869-6607 or email natalie.sweet@lmunet.edu

JAN. 23,

FEB. 13, MARCH 20,

APRIL 24, MAY 15

TIME FOR TEA AND THEE, a book club for adults, meets at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Middlesboro-Bell County Public Library. Relax with a cup of tea at these sessions. The schedule includes: Jan. 23, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr; Feb. 13, The Charm Bracelet by Violet Shipman; March 20, The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant; April 24, The Zookeeper’s Wife; May 15, In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume; June, Where She Went, Gayle Forman. Program leaders are Michele Lawson and Pamela Blank. To register, stop by or call the library at 606-248-4812.

• • • • • • •

Free RAT BAIT is available at the Bell County Cooperative Extension Service, located in the basement of the Bell County Courthouse in Pineville. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Bell County Farm Bureau and the Bell County Cooperative Extension Service. For more information, call 606-337-2376.

VOLUNTEERS are needed for the Kentucky Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (Cumberland Valley District) to read a while, play a game of checkers, discuss the day’s events, reminisce or just sit and watch TV with a local senior. If you currently visit someone in a long term care facility or would like to become involved, contact Arlene Gibson at 606-864-7391 ext. 119.

The Bell County COUNCIL ON LITERACY (Middlesboro Learning Center) is now located on the campus of Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College at 100 College Road in the classroom building, room 324, SKCTC Bell County Adult Education on the Middlesboro campus in room 326 and Pineville Learning Center at Bell-Whitley CAA in Pineville. All services are free of charge. For more information, call 606-248-2014, 606-248-3175 or 606-337-3044.

VOLUNTEERS are sought at the Middlesboro Senior Citizens Center for activity assistants, answering the phone, welcoming seniors and visitors, filing, crafting, historians, entertainment, instructors in tai chi, other forms of senior exercise and a variety of educational topics for seniors. For more information, call 606-248-2990 or stop by the center.

GED classes are being offered to anyone 19 years or older. Improve your reading, writing and mathematical skills and study to receive your GED. Follow your children by improving your education free of charge. For more information, contact the following locations: Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Middlesboro campus at 606-248-3175, Bell County Literacy Center at 606-248-2014, Pineville Learning Center at 606-337-3044 or Henderson Settlement at 606-337-7729 ext. 305.

Free saliva-based drug testing kits are provided and sponsored through UNITE and Stand in the Gap Coalition (SIGCO). Give Me a Reason (GMAR) is designed for parents/guardians to use to talk with their children and randomly test them, which gives them a reason to say no when tempted or offered drugs. Kits can be obtained at 44 different distribution points (DP) throughout the Tri-State area and at the SIGCO office, located at 502 Pennlyn Avenue in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. For more information, contact the SIGCO office at 423-300-1302. To pick up a kit, stop by on Mondays from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

The American RED CROSS is seeking volunteers with flexible schedules to respond to single and multi-family home fires in the Lake Cumberland service area which includes Casey, Adair, Cumberland, Clinton, Russell, Pulaski, Wayne, McCreary, Whitley, Laurel, Clay, Knox, Bell and Harlan counties. Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers respond to assist families with shelter, support and access to basic needs immediately following a home fire – often arriving on scene even as the fire is still burning. Volunteers may apply online by visiting http://www.redcross.org/volunteer or by contacting Chapter Executive Terry Burkhart at 859-253-1331 or terry.burkhart@redcross.org.

The Lighthouse HOMELESS SHELTER, located at 117 South Pine Street in Pineville, is open seven days a week. For more information, call 606-337-9736.

Kentucky JOB CORPS, located in Prestonsburg, is open to motivated, young people ages 16-24 meeting the federal income guidelines. The program offers career training, high school and college courses, job search assistance, housing and medical benefits. For more information, contact Cynthia Bohon at 606-433-5336 (office), 606-224-1722 (cell) or Bohon.Cynthia@jobcorps.org.

Lighthouse Lifeline of Bell County non-residential SUPPORT GROUPS are held at the Lighthouse Mission Center, located at 3609 Hwy. 119 in Pineville. For more information, contact Sharon Teaney at 606-269-2187 or Ules Baker at 606-670-1949. Men’s and women’s support groups meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and at 1 p.m. on Thursdays. Youth support groups (ages 10-18) meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Lighthouse RAY OF HOPE Children’s Advocacy Center, located at 3619 Hwy. 119 in Pineville, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For information, call 606-337-9955.

The “Something Different” NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS group meets at 7 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays at the First Christian Church of Middlesboro, located at 2130 Cumberland Avenue. Meetings are open.

Lighthouse Mission Center, located at 3609 Hwy. 119 in Pineville, will have FOOD GIVEAWAYS at 11:30 a.m. on the third and fourth Tuesday of each month. Emergency food boxes are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 606-337-1834.

A military SUPPORT GROUP for all active, separated or any former military men or women meets at 6:30 p.m. each first and third Monday of the month at the Middlesboro National Guard Armory, located on 30th Street. If you face financial, relationship, criminal, adjustment, substance abuse or other problems, this is for you.

GED CLASSES will be held on Tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse Career Training Center, located at 980 Old Bell High Road off of U.S. 119 in Pineville. For more information, call 606-337-9955.

Benchmark Family Services, serving Bell, Harlan, Clay, Knox, Laurel and Whitley counties, invites you to become a FOSTER PARENT. Free orientation classes are held from 5-6 p.m. on any Tuesday. For more information, call 606-526-6992 or toll free at 866-526-6992.

Applications are available for the Lighthouse MEDICAL CLINIC, located at 3619 Hwy. 119 in Pineville, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visits are by appointment only. For more information, call 606-337-9955.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS will meet at the Living Clean Group Wallsend Community Room in Pineville. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. on Mondays; at noon on Wednesdays, closed for addicts only; and at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call 606-499-0238 or 606-302-6972.

Narconon is reminding families that the use of addicting drugs is on the rise. Take steps to PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM DRUG USE. If you know anyone who is struggling get them the help they need. For a free brochure on the signs of addiction for all drugs, call 800-431-1754 or visit DrugAbuseSolution.com. Narconon also offers free screenings and referrals.