Community Calendar

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Ellis County

Navy and Marine Corps shipmates

Navy and Marine Corps shipmates who served on the USS Columbus CA-74/CG-12 from 1944 through 1976 and the USS Columbus (SSN-762) past and present, if you would like to share memories and camaraderie with old friends and make new ones, please contact Allen R. Hope, President, 3828 Hobson Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46815-4505, 260-486-2221 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern or e-mail: hope4391@comcast.net.

hope4391@comcast.net.

Red Oak

Red Oak Masonic Lodge #461 kicks

off U.S. Flag

program for 2009

The Red Oak Masonic Lodge is now offering American Flags to the citizens of Red Oak. For an annual subscription fee of only $30 per flag (5 for $25 each) the brothers of the Red Oak Masonic Lodge will install a 3’x5’ American Flag on a steel pole at your location early on the morning of the holiday and then take it down at the close of the day. All funds raised are tax-deductible and go to several Masonic sponsored programs, including the Dallas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, please call our Lodge Flag Chairperson Danny Douthit at 972-617-2007, Gerald Peck at 214-587-9610 or Billy Ray Dickey at 972-897-8351 or mail your check to Red Oak Masonic Lodge #461.

The Texas Eliminators 8UAA select boys coach pitch baseball team is looking for players who do not turn nine years of age before May 1, 2010 to join our team for the 2009 Fall season. Open tryouts will be held Thursday, July 16 at the Red Oak Baseball Fields (Lindsey Park) from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information or to set up a private tryout, please contact Coach Jeff Johnson at 972-268-3137 or email coachjeff@life timebaseball.com.

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Explorers for youth 15-20, are meeting on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone who would like to know more please call 972-921-4400.

For several years, Sims Library has offered chess on Friday afternoons for area youth. They are now adding different games to this fun time at the library. Along with chess and checkers, participants will be able to play Sorry, Uno, Skip-bo and Boggle. If you have a favorite game, bring it along. Ages 10 and under play from 3 to 4 p.m. and ages 11-18 play from 4 to 5 p.m. every Friday afternoon.

Sims Library’s Teen Book Club, ages 11-19 is meeting on Thursday, July 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Teen Room. This month we are discussing Blizzard’s Wake by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Teen Movie Saturday at Sims Library is Saturday, July 18 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. This month’s movie stars Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren, Paul Bettany and Kathy Bates. Meggie’s father Mo has the power to bring characters from books to life just by reading those books aloud. When he sets free some nasty characters from a medieval story, it is up to Meggie to join a group of friends, both real and imagined, to set things right. Those attending the movie will receive a free movie pass to Buffalo Creek Theater.

The Navarro College Small Business Development Center will sponsor a session on Writing a Winning Business Plan on Tuesday, July 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce, 102 YMCA Drive. Cost of the workshop is $20 and is for anyone wishing to start a business or already in business. Pre-registration is required, as seating is limited. To register, call the Navarro College SBDC at 972-923-6425 or e-mail sbdc@navarr ocollege.edu.

The Ellis County Republican Women will meet on Tuesday, July 21 at 7 p.m. at the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce building, 102 YMCA Drive. The guest speaker will be Nicole Mansell. Mrs. Mansell is the Director of Public Relations for the Waxahachie ISD. She will introduce a new WISD program titled "Operation First Day of School: Equipping our Students with Excellence Benefiting the Waxahachie ISD students in need." Volunteers are needed for this new program and, if you have an interest, please attend this meeting. Everyone is welcome.

Sims Library teens, ages 13-18, are learning the basics of Genealogy on Wednesday, July 22 from 4 to 5 p.m. Sharan Farmer, Program Chairman for the Ellis County Genealogical Society is showing the teens how to track their family history.

Sims Library’s Teen Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, July 23 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Teen Room located upstairs next to the Lyceum. The T.A.B. allows teens to have a voice in teen services at the library. You will be able to tell us what books, videos, cd’s and programs you would like to see. We want to know what you are interested in. Teen Advisory Board is for ages 13-18.

In the spirit of the 1990’s though the 1950’s, the City of Wilmer presents the July-August Chautauqua Series. It will start at 7 p.m. at the Wilmer Community Center. July 14 – Indians of Texas: Pre-European Contact Period; July 24 – Indians of Texas: European Contact Period; Aug. 4 – Other Peoples come to Texas 1820 – 1872; Aug. 11 – African & Asian influences 1872 – 21^st Century. The lecture series is open to everyone.