Safe driving class offered

WEIRTON - The Brooke-Hancock-Ohio-Marshall Retired and Senior Volunteer Program will be sponsoring an AARP safe driving class for seniors from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 and 13 at West Virginia Northern Community College.

The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members for the class, which is aimed at helping drivers to compensate for diminished vision, hearing and reaction time. Completion of the two-day course often enables drivers to receive receive discounts on insurance premiums. Space is limited, so reservations should be made by calling (304) 527-3410.

Sewing class being offered

WEIRTON - The Brooke County West Virginia University Extension Service will be holding a free sewing class on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Nazarene Church on Colliers Way.

The classes will be at the beginner level, and participants may work on piecing quilt tops by hand or machine.

Additional quilting instruction also will be provided. Those interested may contact Sally Walters at (304) 748-3388.

Healthy holiday cooking covered

WELLSBURG - Tips for cooking healthy holiday dishes using a slow cooker will be offered from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Brooke County Public Library. The free program is being held by the Brooke County West Virginia University Extension Service. Participants should register no later than Nov. 10 by calling (304) 737-3666.

Job hunting help offered

WELLSBURG - Anyone needing help creating a resume or filling out an online job application is encouraged to visit the Brooke County Public Library Thursday between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Call the circulation desk at (304) 737-1551 to reserve a computer.

Christmas in the Village returns

ELDERSVILLE, Pa. - The 22nd annual Christmas in the Village Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 6, 7 and 8 at various sites in Eldersville.

Residents and groups will be selling crafts and other items at their homes and other sites throughout the village. Food will be sold at the Jefferson Township Fire Hall, Eldersville Methodist Church, Heritage Hall, Cornerstone Mennonite Church and other locations.

Directories will be available throughout the village, and each site will be marked with a numbered sign.

The festivities will begin Thursday with a community service and light-up night at 7 p.m. at Eldersville Methodist Church.

Santa Claus will be at the township hall on Nov. 7 beginning at 8:30 a.m. For tickets, call (724) 587-3832.

The festival's parade will be held at noon that day and will feature a variety of units, including Santa and a new attraction, the brightly colored Village Train created by Dave Choman.

The sixth annual Chili Cook-off will follow at the Methodist church.

A veterans memorial service will be held at the Veterans Memorial Site on Cedar Grove Road at 2 p.m. Nov. 8.

For directions or information, visit the festival's Web site at www.christmasinthevillagepa.com or call (724) 947-9015 or (724) 587-5866.

Center's Halloween event canceled

FOLLANSBEE - The trick-or-treating event at Brightwood Center slated for today has been canceled due to the flu outbreak and concerns about keeping children and residents healthy.

Lodge to hold public dinner

WELLSBURG - The Wellsburg Loyal Order of the Moose and the Women of the Moose will be sellling creamed chicken and biscuit dinners from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the lodge, which is at 844 Main St.

The cost is $7 for each dinner, which includes mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable, salad, dessert and coffee or iced tea. Take-out is available by calling (304) 737-1552.

Bicycle drawing winner announced

WELLSBURG - The Brooke County Pioneer Trail Association has announced Steve Mazzella of Wellsburg was the winner of the Gary Fisher bike donated by Wheelcraft of Wheeling.

Proceeds from the drawing will go to efforts to complete a section of the trail between Beech Bottom and Wheeling.

Auxiliary collecting coupons

FOLLANSBEE - Follansbee American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45 is collecting various coupons, even expired ones, to be sent to the families of service members abroad.

The coupons may be dropped off at the Post 45 Home at the corner of Raymond and Main streets.

The group held a membership tea on Oct. 6, and Betty Rea, a member for 60 years, explained the group's purpose and how it can help veterans and their families. All members are encouraged to attend the group's next meeting on Tuesday.

Author to read work

BETHANY - Fiction writer Donald Ray Pollock will read from his award-winning story collection, "Knockemstiff," on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Renner Art Gallery at Bethany College. The stories, set in the small community of Knockemstiff, Ohio, paint often terrifying yet humorous portraits of people who are down on their luck and out of good options.

The book will be available for purchase in the college's bookstore, and Pollock will be available to sign copies at a reception following his presentation.

Pollock grew up in Knockemstiff, which is 13 miles southwest of Chillicothe, Ohio. He dropped out of school to work in a meatpacking plant and later spent thirty-two years employed in a paper mill.

He's now a graduate student at Ohio State University and hopes to someday teach fiction writing. He lives in Chillicothe.

Pollock's work has received praise from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times and was awarded the PEN-Robert Bingham Fellowship for Writers, which is given to writers whose work is found to show great promise.

Church to honor veterans

WELLSBURG - All active, retired and former military service personnel are invited to be recognized at a special service to be held at 10:45 a.m. Sunday at Wellsburg Church of the Nazarene.

State Del. Tim Ennis, D-Brooke, will be a guest speaker for the program, which will include special music and video features.

The event is open to the public.

State ornament contest announced

CHARLESTON - Gayle Manchin, wife of Gov. Joe Manchin, is encouraging youth in grades kindergarten through 12th to create an energy-themed ornament to be displayed on the State Capitol Christmas Tree at the Capitol Rotunda.

"We have had great success with kids getting involved in this ornament competition throughout the years. This marks the fifth year for the ornament competition and we are hoping for the largest one yet," she said.

To give sufficient time for the winning classes to be notified, each decorated ornament must be received no later than Friday. For information, contact Molly George at (304) 558-2440 or molly.e.george@wv.gov.

It's the fifth year for the ornament competition, through which students have been asked to create everything from a bell to a star to a snowflake to a stocking decoration.