The deadline for Whats Happening items is 5 p.m. Friday. Call Cheryl at the Eagle, 541-575-0710.

Thursday, Dec. 5

Child care provider orientation

6-8 p.m., 530 E. Main St., Suite 6, John Day

The Department of Human Services child care provider orientation will be offered at the Child Care Resource and Referral office. The class is required for all newly DHS listed exempt providers. Those not licensed will be paid to attend. Hours count for Oregon Registry, but not license renewal. Call 541-575-0251 or 1-800-956-0324, extension 7.

Thursday-Friday, Dec. 5-6

17th Annual Holiday Showcase

7-8 p.m., Grant Union Junior-Senior High old gym

Featuring dancers from age 3 through high school. Cost is $4 in advance; or $5 at the door, plus a can of food for the local food bank. 6 and under are free. Proceeds benefit the Grant Union Gold dance team. 541-575-1799.

Friday, Dec. 6

20th annual Carrie Young Memorial silent auction, dinner

6 p.m., John Day Elks Lodge

The menu includes spaghetti, salad and bread. All proceeds will benefit Blue Mountain Care Center, Valley View Assisted Living and homebound seniors in Grant County. To donate a silent auction item or make a monetary donation, call Lucie Immoos at 541-620-2098 or 541-575-1058.

Saturday, Dec. 7

Kids Christmas party at the Elks

Noon, John Day Elks Lodge

The party, which is open to the public, will include games, food and a visit from Santa.

Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 7-8

Christmas Past at the museum

1-5 p.m., Grant County Historical Museum, Canyon City

The museum will be decorated for Christmas and the store will be open for Christmas shopping. The cost is $3 for those 12 and older, and free for Friends of the Museum.

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Mad Hatters Christmas party

6 p.m., John Day United Methodist Church

Grant County Mad Hatters will gather for a Christmas potluck and program. Bring a dish to share and table service. Beverages will be provided. Bring a wrapped gift for the exchange and canned food for the local food banks. Call 541-820-4378 or 541-575-0766.

Wednesday, Dec. 11

Gluten-free meeting

6:30 p.m., John Day Elks Lodge

The topic will be cookies and candy. For more information, contact Sandy Bupp at 541-575-0332 or sandybupp@earthlink.net.

Friday, Dec. 13

Gospel singing night

6 p.m., Bible Way Community Church, John Day

Members of all churches are welcome to the gospel singing night. The church already has a piano and drums; people are encouraged to bring other instruments and songs, too.

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 13-14

Christmas in Mt. Vernon

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Several locations in Mt. Vernon

Participating locations include Frontier Equipment, Shiny Thimble Quilt Studio, Lous Heartfelt Quilting, Maudean Browns home, David Hamilton Winery, Ferguson Surveying and Silver Spur restaurant. There will be vendors, door prizes and refreshments. Watch for red and green balloons. For more information, call Maudean Brown at 541-932-4503.

Sunday, Dec. 15

Comfort and Joy dessert concert

4 p.m., John Day United Methodist Church

St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Canyon City and John Day United Methodist Church are co-sponsoring Comfort and Joy, a dessert concert by pianist Pat Koehler from Nyssa, Idaho. Koehler will offer secular and sacred music, and readings. The church is at 126 N.W. Canton St. People are encouraged to purchase advance tickets, which are $10 a person. All proceeds will go toward supplies for two missions, the Eastern Oregon Haiti Project and Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. Call Beth Spell, 541-620-1436 or Becky Carey, 541-575-0104.