Volunteers Sought

The Van Alstyne Senior Center is looking for substitute volunteers for its Meals on Wheels route. The route currently serves Van Alstyne, Howe and Gunter and delivers about 250 meals each week. At this time, Howe and Gunter are self-sufficient, but it's always great to have substitutes for them and Van Alstyne if an emergency arises. The Van Alstyne delivery route takes about 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the driver's knowledge of the streets in town. For more information, call Sandy at the Senior Center, 903-482-6341.

Medical Center of McKinney Education Classes

Medical Center of McKinney offers a variety of community education classes throughout the month of December. For a complete listing of available dates and times, and to register for any of the classes, visit www.medicalcenterofmckinney.com. For more information, call 972-369-1602.

Medical Center of McKinney's classes include:

Prenatal Yoga. Wednesdays, Jan. 6- Feb. 10, 6:30 - 7:30p.m Medical Center of McKinney, Wysong Campus, 130 S. Central Expressway, $75. This 6-week class series is an excellent fitness alternative for pregnancy. The focus is on stretching and strengthening muscles, alleviating common pregnancy discomforts, and teaching proper breathing and relaxation techniques. Prenatal Yoga is open to healthy pregnant women in their 2nd & 3rd trimesters. Beginners are welcome. Expectant mothers may begin taking classes at 12 weeks gestation and may continue until you go into labor. Participants should be less than 32 weeks pregnant at the time of the first prenatal yoga class. A physician's consent is required.

Prepared Childbirth. Thursdays, December 3, 10th and 17th, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Medical Center of McKinney, 4500 Medical Center Drive, FREE to anyone delivering their baby at Medical Center of McKinney. This class offers a comprehensive look into labor and delivery and the early postpartum weeks. You'll learn useful breathing and relaxation techniques, pain management techniques information about Cesarean births and more.

Prepared Childbirth Seminar. Saturday, December 12th, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Medical Center of McKinney, 4500 Medical Center Drive, FREE to anyone delivering their baby at Medical Center of McKinney. This program is our prepared childbirth classes in a compact full day seminar. It is a comprehensive look into labor and delivery and the early postpartum weeks. You'll learn useful breathing and relaxation techniques, pain management techniques information about Cesarean births and more. A tour of our labor, delivery and post partum units are included.

Breastfeeding and the Working Mom. Monday, December 21, 7 - 9 p.m., Medical Center of McKinney Wysong Campus, 130 S. Central Expressway, FREE to anyone delivering their baby at Medical Center of McKinney. This class covers choosing the right breast pump, when you should begin pumping, how to store breast milk safely, and much more.

Heart Saver First Aid/CPR. Wednesday, December 16 and Thursday, December 17th, 6 - 9 p.m., Medical Center of McKinney Wysong Campus, 130 N. Central Expressway, $65. This two part American Heart Association course combines CPR class and first aid class to provide basic training for first responders, childcare providers and other interested community members.

Food Drive

MedPro Pharmacy in Melissa will have a Christmas food drive from Nov. 30 through Dec. 12. Those who bring at least two non-perishable food items will receive a 2-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer.

The pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 972-837-2900.

Holiday Haul

Adams Automotive in Van Alstyne will offer free towing service to anyone who calls in and requests a designated driver during the holiday season.

Drivers, holiday hosts and bartenders can call 903-482-5784 and request a holiday Haul. A tow truck will pick up the driver and his or her vehicle and will take them home for free up to 10 miles.

2009 Holiday Haul Dates:

Christmas weekend

5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, through midnight Sunday, Dec. 27

New Year's weekend-

5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, through midnight Jan. 3, 2010.

Chrystal Opry House Christmas Concert

The Chrystal Opry Houseospel band has been working very hard on its first Christmas concert. Traditional and religious Christmas songs will be presented starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11.

Admission will cost $5 for adults with children under 12 admitted free with an adult. Special rates apply for groups of 10 or more. A snack bar 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 at 903-546-6893 for more information.

Anna Annual Christmas Parade

The Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce and the City of Anna will host the city's annual Christmas parade at noon Saturday, Dec. 12. Those who wish to participate or volunteer can contact GACC President Deana Mink at 972-924-8533.

Help-Portrait Photos

Eight photographers in the Melissa/McKinney area have come together to make a difference called Help-Portrait. (www.help-portrait.com/#/home). On Saturday, Dec. 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. they will be at the Samaritan Inn in McKinney taking family pictures of all the residents and giving them prints of those images -- all for free.

Anna Food Drive

Donations to the 28th annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive are still being accepted as the drive moves into its final weeks.

The goal is to feed 16,000 families in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The food drive is sponsored by Brookshire Grocery Company and various service organizations, including the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce.

Donations may be made by placing non-perishable food items in designated bins inside participating stores before Christmas. Items needed include canned meats, vegetables, soups, beans, rice, and pasta, among others.

BGC will give at least one baking hen to each family assisted by the drive. In 2008, the company provided more than 16,000 hens. Food drive officials expect to provide the same or more this year.

Volunteers will gather, sort, box, and distribute the food before Christmas.

X-Alt Annual Christmas Concert

X-Alt, First Melissa's praise team, once again will fill the Worship Center with the beautiful sounds of the holidays Sunday, Dec. 13. If you have never spent Christmas with First Melissa, you are in for a real treat! Tickets are $5 each for ages 4 and up with a $25 maximum for immediate family members. Concert times are 4 and 6:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the Welcome Center or by calling 972-838-2277. First Melissa is located at 2600 State Highway 121 in Melissa. For more information, visit www.firstmelissa.com.

Tree Lighting

Get in the Christmas spirit with a tree lighting, Christmas caroling and hot chocolate. Activities will begin at "the tree" at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, in the Calvary Baptist Church parking lot, south of F.M. 455 on Texas 5 in Anna. Singing may move inside depending upon weather conditions.

Annual Drop n' Shop Event

Mudpies and Lullabies will host its annual "Drop n' Shop" event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, for children 12 months through 10 years old. The cost is $25 for the first child and $10 for each sibling and includes lunch, crafts and snacks during the event. Parents will need to pre-register for the event by calling Mudpies & Lullabies at 972-837-2332 no later than Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Candlelight Services

First Melissa's Christmas Eve candlelight services will be at 4 and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. Bring your entire family for a wonderful Christmas worship experience. On Christmas Eve, Pastor Trey Graham will conclude the message series titled "Christmas Matters." The series begins Sunday, Dec. 13, at 9, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. First Melissa is located at 2600 State Highway 121 in Melissa. For more information, visit www.firstmelissa.com or call 972-838-2277.

Candlelight Service at Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church in Anna will host a candlelight service at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. The church is located on Texas 5 south of F.M. 455. All are welcome to attend our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Free Christmas Lunch

Buck Snort BBQ will host a free Christmas lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 25.

If you will be alone or know someone who needs a Christmas lunch, contact your local church or Buck Snort BBQ so we can have a meal ready for you to pick up or to be delivered to your home. You also can join us at the restaurant for food and fellowship. Anyone who would like to be a plate sponsor to help make this celebration possible can make a contribution to a local church or to Buck Snort BBQ. Donations will be accepted to help defray the cost.