Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Wharton Farmers' Market

The Wharton Farmers' Market continues Saturday at the Wharton Courthouse Square. The market features garden fresh food and handmade craft items and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday through mid-December.

Food and clothing drive

Wharton ISD is holding a Thanksgiving food and clothing drive through Wednesday, Nov. 21. The school district will be accepting non-perishable food items, clothing and shoes (all sizes and descriptions), bed linens, blankets, towels, toiletries and cash during the drive. Contributors can bring their donations to the principal's office on any campus, the AEP or the Education Support Center, 2100 N. Fulton, during school hours.

Foundation fish fry and sale

The Henry White Scholarship Foundation will hold a fish fry and garage sale today at a home at 5931 N. U.S. Highway 59 between Hungerford and Wharton. The garage sale will start at 8 a.m. with the meal being served starting at 11 a.m. until the fish is gone. Plates are priced at $7 and include fish, corn, green beans, bread and cake. For information, contact Roosevelt or Sharon Ray at 979-532-8106.

Wharton Training School

The Wharton Training High School Alumni is holding a fund-raising garage sale starting at 7 a.m. today at Riverfront Park in Wharton.

New Mount Olive B/C fish fry

The New Mount Olive Baptist Church will have a fish fry from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today at the home of Sister Luvenia Brown on Herdon Street in Wharton.

'Harvest Drive'

The New Mount Olive Baptist Church, Rev. Jimmy Wright pastor, will present its "Harvest Drive" program at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18. The guest speaker will be B.K. Williams, pastor at Blue Run Baptist Church in West Columbia. The program is open to the public.

Glen Flora First Baptist

The First Baptist Church of Glen Flora, Rev. E. Gillis, pastor, will be having their church anniversary homecoming and family and friends day at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18. Rev C. Owens will be the guest speaker and the public is invited.

WHS seniors parents

A third meeting of the parents of the 2008 graduating class of Wharton High School will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19 at the WHS cafeteria. This meeting is for all parents of graduating seniors interested in helping with the Annual Senior Serve Fundraising Dinner and Talent Show to be held on Saturday, Feb. 2.

WHS blood drive

The Wharton High School Pals will host a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 in the auditorium. For information, contact Ryan Quinn at 532-6800.

Christmas Bell parade

The Wharton Chamber of Commerce's "Ring the Christmas Bell" Parade will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20. The route will be from East Milam Street, then around the courthouse square, turning south on Fulton and west on Burleson. There will be entertainment before the parade, and, a community Christmas Tree will be officially lighted about 6:45 p.m. Santa will be available after the parade for children and for photos in the gazebo. Parade entry forms are available at the chamber office, 225 N. Richmond Road, Wharton. You can pick them up at the chamber office or the chamber can mail, fax or e-mail a copy to you. Call 532-1862 or email helpdesk@whartonchamber.com.

STMC blood drive

South Texas Medical Clinics, P.A. will sponsor a blood drive at the Wharton Clinic from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

'Speak Out!'

Wharton County Junior College public speaking students from Dr. Mary Austin Newman's and Ms. Mary Alexander's classes will host Speak Out! at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at the Horton Foote Theatre in the Duson-Hansen Fine Arts Building on the Wharton campus. The public speaking students will present on topics of career fields. Paul Spellman, Ph.d., WCJC chair of the division of communications and fine arts and a noted Texas author will introduce the speeches. The evening will conduced with the presentation of the Sylvan and Betty Miori Speech Awards. Speak Out! is a free event and the community is encouraged to attend. For information, call 532-6300.

Feast of Sharing

The Knights of Columbus Council 3262 in Wharton is again serving the elderly and need of Wharton and surrounding communities with its traditional holiday dinner - A Feast of Sharing 2007. Supported by H-E-B, the meal will be held Thanksgiving Day and served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or until out of food on Nov. 22, at the K of C Home at 2820 N. Fulton in Wharton. To volunteer your time, talents or home baked goods or homebound deliveries, contact Leroy Dettling at 532-2218. No delivery requests the day of the dinner.

Texas Renaissance Festival

The 8th weekend of the annual Texas Renaissance Festival will feature a Celtic Christmas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23, 24 and 25. The festival grounds will be open 9 a.m. to dusk and are located on Farm-to-Market Road 1774 between Magnolia and Plantersville. This will be the final Festival weekend of the 2007 season and will include a Yuletide scavenger hunt, hot spiced mead and a visit with Father Christmas. For more information, visit online at www.texrenfest.com or contact the festival office at 1-800-458-3435.

Palacios Main Street

Palacios Main Street Market Days, a gifts and shopping spree, is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24 at Railroad Park. A second shopping day for last minute gifts and unique items is planned for Saturday. Dec. 22. Both events are sponsored by the Palacios Chamber of Commerce.

BHS blood drive

Boling High School Student Council is hosting a blood drive on November 27, Tuesday, at the Ag Building from 8:00 am to 2:30 p.m.. Everyone donating will receive a black long sleeve T-shirt. If anyone is interested in making an appointment, call Patti Hubenak at 657-2506.

4-H Poinsettia delivery

The Wharton County 4-H Exchange Program deliver the Poinsettias sold as a fund raiser for the 4-H New Hampshire trip on Nov. 28. For information, call the Wharton County Extension Office at 532-3371.

DAV Raffle

The Disabled American Veterans of Wharton County will be holding a 100 Gun Super Raffle. Tickets are $20 each with the drawing held Dec. 3. Proceeds will benefit the DAV Chapter 72 Transportation Fund. The raffle is being sponsored by Everyday Heroes Inc. For tickets, contact Bruce Williams at 979-282-9837 or Chester Houston at 979-531-0916.

Boling Christmas Parade

The entry deadline for this year's Boling Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 8. The parade is hosted by the Boling Fire and Rescue Department and Ladies Auxiliary and scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15 on Texas Street in Boling. After the parade, Santa will be at the Boling Fire Station for photos and refreshments will be served. For more information, call Lee Mrunstik at 979- 657-8716.

B&G Club registration

The Boys & Girls Club of Wharton is now registering for the 2007-2008 After-School Program. Membership fee is $20 per person and operating hours are from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The club is open for kids ages six to 12 and is open until 7 p.m. for teens.

Community Calendar

A calendar of local events is maintained by the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Before scheduling an event, check with the chamber for possible conflicts.

And notify the chamber, 532-1862, as early as possible to get your event on the calendar. There is no charge.