Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

November is here; so are some events

We've eaten most of the trick-or-treat candy, set the clocks back to standard time, voted in the election and switched the thermostat from "cool" to "heat." All of which means it must be November. It's hard to believe that Veterans Day is next week, with Turkey Day trotting our way in less than three weeks, Christmas not far behind, and — gasp — a new year in less than two months. Some Saturday morning musings:

If you served in the armed forces and love the great outdoors, Yosemite is the place to be on Veterans Day. The national park will waive entrance fees for current and retired service members and their families Wednesday as a one-day salute to America's military, past and present.

As T-Day approaches, what better way to say thanks than by giving to others. A number of nonprofits are planning holiday meals for the less fortunate — and all are looking for donations of everything from food to clothing to money to volunteer help. Among them: The Modesto Gospel Mission's Great Thanksgiving Banquet and Bundle-Up is set for Nov. 25. The Salvation Army has a community Thanksgiving dinner Friday at the Red Shield Center cosponsored by the Ceres Rotary Club, followed by the annual Thanks-for-Giving meal on Nov. 26 at Modesto Centre Plaza. The United Samaritans Foundation will distribute hot holiday meals to the needy in Ceres, Hughson, Turlock and Modesto on Nov. 26. For more info on all the opportunities, contact the United Way Volunteer Center at 524-1307 or volunteer@uwaystan.org, or the individual agencies.

Speaking of nonprofits, more and more of them are struggling to make ends meet — which means finding ways to reduce expenses without cutting services. Among the latest to feel the pinch is Advancing Vibrant Communities, which is closing its office. That doesn't mean the group is stopping its worthwhile work, which ranges from organizing community clean-up days and painting over graffiti to providing goods and volunteer services to the needy to operating a thrift store at Coffee Road and Scenic Drive. For more info, go to www.vibrantcommunities.org or call 544-9571.

Also closing its doors recently was the Airport Neighbors United, the group that serves one of Modesto's lowest-income areas. Organizers are looking for help from individuals, service clubs, businesses and grants to keep their association alive. Ken White is helping coordinate the effort; he can be reached at 567-0600 or ken1white@aol.com.

Want to make reading fun your kids or grandkids? Check out the Friends of the Modesto Library book fair next week. The event will feature low-cost, high-quality books for children of all ages — including a special deal on the latest in the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series. The sale runs from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the main library.