CEYLON — The last of the Tuesday coffee hours will be held 8:30-10 a.m. Nov. 29, at the Sherburn Legion. Join friends and neighbors for a farewell to November coffee hours.

The Ceylon Coffee Lovers will have coffee hours from 8:30-10 a.m. Thursdays in the back room of the Lake Belt Bar and Grill in Ceylon. All area men and women are welcome.

There will be an American Red Cross blood drive from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, at the Best Western Motel in Fairmont. To get information about locations and times to donate, call at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), go online at www.redcrossblood.org or text BLOODAPP to 90999. There will also be a blood drive in Ceylon on Dec. 30. There is a drastic need for blood now so give if you can.

Condolences to the family of John Bremer who died in Arizona. He is a former Ceylon/Wilbert resident and has family in the area. Gone too soon.

Tomorrow, Nov. 27, is the first Sunday in Advent and thoughts of Christmas come with December so near. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church ladies LWML group will have a Christmas social, salad luncheon and bake and craft sale beginning 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. Proceeds of the sale will help fund their monthly mission projects.

City of Ceylon is sponsoring a Christmas Lighting Contest for Ceylon homes. Watch for further details, and the prize may be yours as a thank you for decorating for the season. First prize is $75, second is $50, and third is $25, and will be paid out as credit to your utility bill.

The non-profit group, Helping Hands of Ceylon, will have a free Community Christmas event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 18, in the back room of the Lake Belt Bar and Grill in Ceylon. Lunch, goodies for all, activities for children, and Santa visits are planned. They are asking for donations to help with the expenses. There is a donation jar at the bar and grill and donations may also be given to the board members: Shelly Reisdorfer, Judith Perkins, Angie Connell, Barb Kronback and Chris Griffin. The Lake Belt Bar and Grill also have a box where new and gently-used hats, mittens, scarfs, coats, etc. may be donated. Later parents may give these as gifts to their children. Plan to attend and thank you for your donation.