The Middlesboro Daily News will publish local events in the community calendar free of charge as space allows. We do not accept submissions called in via phone. All submissions should be emailed to beth.key@harlandaily.com or dropped off at our office, 1275 North 25th Street, Middlesboro. Submissions should be received no later than four business days prior to the event. If received in time, it will be published one or two days prior to the event. Announcements are also available at middlesborodailynews.com.

NOV. 8

First State Bank will honor and recognize those who have served and are serving our country during a Veterans Day Program on Nov. 8 at the Middlesboro Community Center on 30th Street (next the the Kentucky National Guard). Program and dinner begins at 4:30 p.m. First State Bank extends a special invitation to all veterans and their families. For more information, contact Pat Fulton at 606-248-9545.

Holiday Cooking School will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the London/Laurel Optimist Club. Tickets and cookbooks are available at the Bell County Extension Office. The Holiday Cooking School cookbook this year is “Paula Deen Celebrates!” The cost is $20. Tickets are limited, reserve tickets today (not sold at the door).

NOV. 9

Shawanee Order of Eastern Star No. 436 will have a turkey dinner fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Shawanee Masonic Lodge. Meals include turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. The cost is $8, adults; $5, children — carryout available.

Bell County High School will host “Celebrate America” at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 9. Lunch will be provided free for veterans, active military personnel and their spouses.

NOV. 11

Homecoming at East Cumberland Avenue Baptist Church will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 11. Rev. Damon Patterson will be the guest speaker.

Indian Creek Baptist Church will be having a special Thanksgiving celebration with several community churches beginning at 6 p.m. on Nov. 11. Everyone is welcome.

NOV. 12, 17

The Friends of the Bell County Animal Shelter (FOS) will host the 13th annual “Beastie Bash” benefit and auction fundraiser on Nov. 17 at Pine Mountain State Resort Park. The fun kicks off promptly at 5:30 p.m. with the social hour and item viewing with live entertainment by Ken Wilson and Larry Goodwin. A buffet dinner follows at 6:30 p.m. Lawrence McGeorge is the auctioneer. Donated items for the live and silent auction include Dollywood tickets, designer jewelry from Macy’s NY, handwoven baskets, a Jaime Corum equine print, and much much more. Seating is limited so tickets must be purchased by November 12. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased at Nagle Law Office in Middlesboro, Taylor Drugs in Pineville, Pizazz Salon in Harrogate, or from an FOS member.

NOV. 12, 13

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service will host a Learn, Laugh and Craft class at 1 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Bell County Extension Office. Join in as participants talk about aging gracefully and make a beautiful door hanging pumpkin. There is a class limit of 15. The deadline to register is Nov. 12. To register, call the office at 606-337-2376.

TUESDAYS

Stand in the Gap Coalition (SIGCO), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, faith-based organization, along with local churches in the Tri-State area is hosting an evening out for grandparents and caregivers by providing childcare on the second Tuesday of each month. SIGCO is now located at 325 Straight Creek Road, New Tazewell, Tennessee. A service of SIGCO is to provide free saliva based drug testing kits with instructions, called Give Me a Reason (GMAR). For more information on the evening out, addiction treatment or how you can help “Stand in the Gap“ call 423-300-1302 or email standntgap@gmail.com or mail P.O. Box 539, Cumberland Gap TN 37724.

NOV. 18

First Christian Church of Middlesboro will host the annual community Thanksgiving worship service at 3 p.m. on Nov. 18. The service will feature a wide variety of sacred and gospel vocal and instrumental music with participation from Binghamtown Baptist, Covenant United Methodist, First Baptist-Middlesboro, First Christian-Middlesboro, First Presbyterian, Hensley’s Chapel Baptist, Mt. Moriah Baptist, and Pump Springs Baptist churches. Also participating will be Todd Spangler. You are invited to begin Thanksgiving week by worshipping with your Tri-State area friends and neighbors.

NOV. 20

The Bell County Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the District Administration Building in Pineville. The schedule includes: Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service will host Painting with Pizzazz class at 10 a.m. on Nov. 20 at the Bell County Extension Office. Participants will be painting a Christmas tree. To register, call the office at 606-337-2376.

NOV. 27

The Bell County Cooperative Extension District Board will meet at 10 a.m. on Nov. 27 in the Bell County Extension Office at the Bell County Courthouse in Pineville.

NOV. 30

The Pineville Christmas Parade will begin at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30. Prizes will be awarded for best decorated entries in three categories.

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GED classes are being offered to anyone 19 years or older. Improve your reading, writing and mathematical skills and study to receive your GED. For more information, contact the following: Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Middlesboro campus at 606-248-3175, Bell County Council on Literacy at 606-248-2014 or the Pineville Learning Center at 606-337-3044.

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.

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.

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.

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.