Community Matters, a local coalition of church based and other community non-profit service organizations will not be meeting in December, but several of its members will be participating and celebrating the community at Jasper's Holly Jolly Hometown Christmas events on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 9, around the downtown square.
Several individual coalition members will be hosting a booth between noon and 6 p.m. It will provide the group an opportunity to get the relatively new Community Matters' name some recognition in the community.
A task group met recently to plan some activities. Thew sill include a craft station for children to Create a Christmas card that will be delivered to the local nursing home residents. In addition, they can create a Christmas card or Santa Searcher to take with them upon completion. The cards can be a paper collage Christmas tree card or a thumb print Christmas card. Santa Searchers are made with two toilet paper rolls attached to make imaginative binoculars that can be decorated in various ways.
More importantly, while children are working on their projects, parents can learn more about Community Matters and its member organizations.
Members of the task group are Michelle Martin, Lois Cornwell and Janice Mann.
Other Holly Jolly Hometown Christmas events have been scheduled and are being promoted by the Jasper advertising and Promotion Commission.
A main attraction is the Farmers Market Holiday Market at the Newton County Senior Activity and Wellness Center in Jasper from noon until 4 p.m.
Live entertainment at the bandstand on the courthouse lawn will be performed throughout the afternoon: 2-4 p.m., Fair to Middlin' Band; 3 p.m., Holiday Music by local churches; 4 p.m., Holiday Music Production and at 5 p.m, the Holly Jolly Talent Show.
Other activities on the schedule are: 12-4 p.m., free face painting on the square; 12-5 p.m., arts and craft scavenger hunt; 12-4 p.m., Make a free Christmas necklace with the Crystal Cottage; 12-3 p.m., paint an ornament with Paisley Sister on the square; 2-4 p.m., cookies with Mrs. Claus at Jasper Pizza Company; 12-6 p.m., vendors on and off the square; 12-5 p.m., donation booth, raffle by the Jasper Food Room. Bring a food item to donate and receive an entry to win a prize; 2-4 p.m., make a free sundae at the Ozark Cafe and from 3-6 p.m. Have a professional photograph made with Santa at the Little Buffalo River Visitors Center and Convention Center.
