AYSA Website
The Anna Youth Sports Association has started a website, annasports.org, to help keep parents informed of upcoming sign-ups, schedules and scores.
Food Pantry Supplies Needed
Anna Food Pantry supplies are low and burdened to meet the needs of summer lunches. We need macaroni and cheese box dinners, sugar and flour, canned and packaged pasta, 1-pound boxes of crackers and pancake mixes. Drop off donations at the pantry from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Anna UMC, 100 W. Second St.
AUMC Cookbooks for Sale
"Favorite Recipes of Anna United Methodist Church: A Collection of Recipes from Friends & Family" is on sale for $15 by Anna United Methodist Women. Includes a free cookie cookbook, "Capital Cookies", that has many unusual recipes. There are several tables in the main cookbook, such as ingredients substitutions, cooking and food terms, hints, etc. For sale between services (8:45 a.m., 11 a.m.) and Sunday School (9:45 a.m.) on Sundays at the church, 120 E. Second St., www.annatxumc.org, annaunitedmeth@sbcglobal.net. Or call Bea Gillespie, 972-924-4785.
Volunteer McKinney Center Opportunities
* Horsemanship Therapy. ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship provides therapeutic riding and physical therapy through horsemanship. Volunteer training will be held on Saturday, August 28th, from 8:30AM to 2:00PM and will include an introduction to therapeutic riding, hands-on training on how to groom and tack a horse, and how to be a side walker. For additional information or to register for training, visit the Manegait website--www.manegait.org.
* Oktoberfest. A family-friendly event, offering authentic German music, food & drink, costumes, dancing, children's activities and much more, is scheduled for September 24th and 25th on McKinney's historic downtown square. Volunteers are needed to help with setup and tear down, greet attendees, assist with children's and art areas, assist with bands and entertainment, direct patrons to the many fun activities, and ensure that participants enjoy the event. Whether you are a newcomer to McKinney or are a long-time resident, this is a great opportunity to meet others and help to make this a successful event. Look for "McKinney OKTOBERFEST" on the VMC website under New Listings.
* Run/Walk Benefit. Believe! is a 10K and Family 5K Fun Run/Walk scheduled for November 27 and benefits the scholarship program of Holy Family School. Volunteer hours can be used for community service or Green Cord hours. After volunteering at this downtown McKinney event, you can enjoy all the shopping and activities at "Dickens of a Christmas." For details, look for "Believe! 2010" under Updated Listings on the VMC Website.
For information on these and other volunteer opportunities, contact Volunteer McKinney Center at 972-542-0679 or by e-mail at volunteermck@sbcglobal.net or Web Site www.volunteermckinney.org.
Medical Center of McKinney Support Groups
Medical Center of McKinney offers a variety of health-related support groups year round. A complete listing of dates and times is available at www.medicalcenterofmckinney.com. Medical Center of McKinney's support groups include:
Grief Support Group: H.U.G.S. (Helping Us Grow Stronger). Wednesdays at 7 pm, 6 week sessions, held quarterly next session begins Sept. 1, Medical Center of McKinney's Wysong Campus, 130 S. Central Expressway, Radiology Waiting Area. The support group, supported by Samaritan Care Hospice, is led by a professional Bereavement Coordinator and is for anyone experiencing loss or is working through the grief process. Please RSVP to Debra Brannon at 972-690-6632.
NEW! Laux of Love Bereavement Support Group - Wednesday, July 28th
7 p.m., Medical Center of McKinney, 4500 Medical Center Drive, Classroom 3 & 4. Support and guidance for those who have experienced a loss from conception to 1 year. RTS trained personnel are available to provide guidance and support in your time of loss. Parents and Grandparents welcome to attend, separate sessions available for siblings. Please call 972-547-8659 to RSVP or to obtain more information.
Over Eaters Anonymous. Every Sunday, 5 p.m., and every Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Medical Center of McKinney's Wysong Campus, 130 S. Central Expressway. The program uses the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of AA to stop compulsive eating. It is committed to addressing not only the obesity and weight loss aspects, but also the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of an individual.
Library Moving and Closeout Sale
July 22 and 23, 3-6 p.m.
July 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sale will be held at the old library building, 1713 Cooper St. in Melissa.
Books for sale include collections, devotional, fiction, historical, reference, children and more.
Movies, audio books and miscellaneous items are also available.
Proceeds go to Friends of the Melissa Public Library. Come find a treasure and help support the Friends.
Chrystal Opry House Gospel Grass Event
A two-night summer Gospel Grass Festival will begin Friday, July 23. Three bands will perform each night. On Friday night, doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 with the Melody Ranch Gospel Band with guest Gospel Fare. Also performing will be Barefoot Moses and the Melody Ranch Ramblers.
On Saturday, July 24, doors will open at 5 p.m. and the program will begin at 6. Bands performing will be Hanks and Company from Seymour, Bluefield Express from the Metroplex and The Herrins from the Fort Worth area.
Admission will cost $8 for adults. Couples will be two for $15. Children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult. A concession area with food and refreshments will be available.
The Chrystal Opry House is located 1.5 miles west of Tom Bean and 6 miles east of Howe on White Mound Road a half-mile south of F.M. 902. No alcohol is permitted and no smoking is allowed inside the building. Contact Bill Hayes (903-546-6893) for more information.
Anna Soccer Sign-Ups
All soccer sign-ups will be held at Advantage Storage (located on F.M. 455 between Oak Hollow and Taco Bell/KFC). Fall outdoor soccer sign-ups will be Saturday, July 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fall season will begin the middle of September with practices starting in August. Outdoor soccer is for boys and girls ages 4 to 15 (Please bring a copy of your child's birth certificate). For further information, call 214-952-5816, email anna_soccer04@yahoo.com or check the AYSA website at www.annasports.org.
Eating Sunday
Sunday, July 25, will be Eating Sunday at Melissa Christian Church. And this Eating Sunday is a cool one: It's all salads and desserts. So bring a salad and bring a dessert and join us following worship for our monthly Eating Sunday. And even if you don't bring something, you are welcome to join us.
Dr. McConachie continues his series of messages, "A God Who..." with a message titled "A God Who Loves," based on the Scriptures, John 3:16 and 1 John 4: 7-11. Worship begins at 10:45 a.m. and all are welcome.
The crafty ladies meet each Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Hale Hall, and you are invited to join them.
Melissa Christian Church is located at the corner of Harrison and Cooper streets about two blocks east of Texas 5 in Melissa. The church phone is 972-837-4410 and the email address is melissachristianchurch@yahoo.com.
Melissa Blood Drive
The American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, in the First Baptist Church Melissa Fellowship Hall.
Ancient astronomers in Mediterranean countries came up with the phrase "dog days" for the hottest period of the summer. The dog days arrive around July 4 and are here to stay through Aug. 11.
The astronomers defined the dog days as extending from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the Dog Star) and our sun. This conjunction happened to coincide with the worst days of summer, when folks were especially plagued by disease and discomfort.
The blood supply typically teeters at low levels during the summer months due to travel schedules and the closure of schools and colleges--the source of 20 percent of blood donations.
We want you to know the air conditioning is on at American Red Cross blood donation centers and blood drives throughout the region. So make plans to escape the heat by scheduling your blood donation appointment today!
How to Donate Blood:
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (773-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment today. All blood types are needed to ensure the Red Cross maintains an adequate blood supply. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors must be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old. New height and weight restrictions apply to donors younger than 19. Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more.
Creative Round-Up
Register now for the Home Town Ties Creative Round-Up. A full day of activities, including creative writing, poetry and memoir workshops, constructive emails and more. The day is just $30 (including lunch). There will also be a social hour and banquet at the end of the day for $20 more. Half of all proceeds will be used to start a library in Anna. So mark your calendar for July 31 and join us at the Collin County Adventure Camp. For registration and more details, visit www.HomeTownTies.com.
FUMC Howe Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School
FUMC of Howe
810 N. Denny St.
Howe, Tx. 75459
Aug. 1-5
6-8 p.m.
Egypt
Joseph's Journey from prison to palace
All ages 4 and up are welcome.
FUMC phone number 903-532-6718
Anna Program Seeks Mentors
The Anna Mentor Program provides support to Anna ISD students in sixth grade through high school. Each mentor is asked to meet with his or her student once a month and help the student in making healthy life decisions. The program was established in 2004 and continues today with more than 20 local adults that are assisting Anna students in completing their education and learning life skills that will assist them in being contributors to the community. The Mentor Program will have a professional training event Tuesday morning, Aug. 3. Anyone interested in being a mentor volunteer can learn more about the program by contacting Debbie Reutelhuber at Anna ISD, 972-924-1000, or Jim Rountree at 972-924-3202.
Health-Care Program Informational Meeting
From changes in the scope and eligibility criteria for community-based services to increased coverage of Medicare benefits, health-care programs are being adjusted to meet provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The August educational session of the Collin County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will provide an update on ways the act will result in greater flexibility for meeting the needs of local residents.
The session will be held Thursday, Aug. 5, from 9 to 11 a.m., at Medical Center of Plano, 4001 W. 15th St., Plano, TX. It is free and open to aging and disability professionals, consumers, caregivers and advocates.
The gathering is titled, "How the New Health Care Law Can Help Your Clients." Featured speakers will be Marjorie McColl Petty, regional director of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, and Sylvia Garcia, health insurance specialist with the Dallas Regional Office of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
To register for the session, go to www.nctcog.org, click on "Area Agency on Aging" on the Programs bar, click on "Special Events" and then click on the workshop title. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited.
For more information about the educational session or the Collin County ADRC, please contact Marty Mascari, project coordinator, at ADRC@solbroadband.com or (940) 390-8087. For more information about the NCTCOG AAA, contact Doni Van Ryswyk at 1-800-272-3921, ext. 7193.
Anna Football Media Day
The Anna ISD Athletic Department will host a football media day for the 2010 season at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20.