Help wanted

JOHN DAY – Help is needed for the annual Halloween Party and Teen Dance at the Elks Lodge in John Day! Especially needed are adults to supervise at the party, 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. This event, which is open to youth in grades 7-12, has been very well attended in past years.

Please call Angie Jones at 620-0595 if you are able to give any time for this valuable and popular party.

American Legion meeting

JOHN DAY – Ellis Tracy Post 77 will host a meeting for District 10 of the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary, 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in John Day. Legion members will meet in the Alec Gay Hall, with the Auxiliary meeting taking place in the Grant County Chamber of Commerce office. Harley Ray, the National Vice-Commander for the Western District, will be the guest speaker.

Lunch will be served for all members afterwards in the Alec Gay Hall.

School book fair

CANYON CITY – Humbolt Elementary School will host a Scholastic Book Fair, “Book Fair Safari,” in the school’s library, the week of Nov. 3-7.

Elementary students and teachers can preview the books for their wish lists Monday and Tuesday. The fair is then open to the community 3:30-7 p.m., Tuesday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; and 8 a.m.-noon, Friday.

Book fair customers may help the school build classroom libraries and improve children’s reading skills by purchasing books through the Classroom Wish List and One Dollar for Books programs. More info: Bonnie Zick, 575-0454.

Cooking class

MT. VERNON – The community is invited to a free vegetarian cooking class featuring healthy holiday foods 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Mt. Vernon Grange.

Included will be demonstrations of traditional favorite foods with a healthy twist, a demonstration of a simple, natural remedy for fighting the common cold using hot water, and samples of the foods prepared during the evening. Participants will receive handouts of all the recipes (plus a few extras) and the natural cold remedy instructions. To register, call 932-4197 or 932-2704. Sponsored by the Historic Remnant Church.

Movies at Grantville

CANYON CITY – Another movie is coming up at the Grantville Theater in Canyon City, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. This one will be in 3-D, with 3-D glasses for sale, too. There will also be a special Sunday matinee 2 pm. on Nov. 9, featuring newly-released PG movie.

Movie titles will be posted on the theater door or call 575-0509.

Fiddle ensemble concert

JOHN DAY – The Eastern Oregon University Fiddle Ensemble will perform a free concert 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the John Day United Methodist Church.

Under the direction of Lisa Robertson, the ensemble is open to all students by audition. Music styles featured by the group include old-time fiddle, bluegrass, Celtic, swing, Klezmer, Terra Caliente and gospel. Members will sing and perform on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, bass and bodhran (Celtic drum).

The concert is presented by the Juniper Arts Council in cooperation with EOU and the John Day United Methodist Church.

Veteran’s Day potluck

PRAIRIE CITY – The public is invited to a Veteran’s Day community potluck 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the Strawberry Grange Hall in Prairie City. Veterans, members of local fire and police departments and other emergency medical personnel will be recognized and honored.

Bowl for Special Olympics

JOHN DAY – Kountry Lanes and Smokin Pins Barbecue are holding a “Bowl-A-Thon” to support Special Olympics 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Enjoy a day of family fun while helping raise money to send Grant County Special Olympics athletes to state competition.

Christmas Bazaar

MT. VERNON – It’s time to start thinking about the Mt. Vernon Grange’s annual Christmas Bazaar, which is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 15. Tables are still available, so call Betty Elliott at 575-0545 or Jean Sagert at 575-1007 to reserve yours.

Christmas on the Prairie

PRAIRIE CITY – “Christmas on the Prairie,” sponsored by Talents and Treasures and the Prairie City Community Association, is right around the corner. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. For more information or to reserve a table, call Joy Waterhouse at 820-3325.

Regional events

Art gala tickets on sale

PENDLETON – Tickets for the Pendleton Center for the Arts’ 2008 Gala Auction are now on sale. The Nov. 8 event, with the theme, “Market in Marrakech,” will feature live and silent auctions, food, music and decor with a Moroccan flair.

Tickets are $35 per person and may be purchased by calling (541) 278-9201, or at the Center, 214 North Main in Pendleton. All proceeds will benefit programs and services at the arts center.

Ongoing

Fossil Beds

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument often provides ranger-conducted hikes, tours of sections of the monument and even stargazing at the monument’s Thomas Condon Visitor Center, 32651 Highway 19 in Kimberly. Visitation data online at www.nps.gov/joda. Click on the link “management doc” then click on ” In Depth Visitation Statistics,” Socioeconomic Atlas for John Day” and/or “The Visitor Study 2004.” The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Info: 987-2333.

Recycling

PRAIRIE CITY – Prairie City Recycling Center is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday, unless otherwise advertised. To volunteer, call Ruth McPherren at 820-4326.