Events

≤ The ninth annual Bakers Fest will be held from noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Cutler Community Center, 4550 Two Mile Run Road, Cutler. Contestants setup starts at 10 a.m. The event is hosted by the Research and Identification of Early Occupancy of Southern Ohio. The entry fee is $10 and includes hotdog, bag of chips, soda and all the sweets to taste. Guests will be able to taste each entry and vote for their favorites. The kitchen will be open and serve other foods as well for an additional fee. Contestants can enter deserts in one or all categories, prizes will be given. For more information, or wanting to be a contestant, call Sheila at 740-989-5218, or email keeptabs@att.net.

≤ Belpre Rotary Club and Belpre Area Veterans will observe Wreaths Across America at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at Cedarville Cemetery. The is Rotarian Dr. Don Ery. There will be laying wreaths at graves of Revolutionary War heroes buried at the cemetery. There will be people doing different presentations, Buglers from Belpre High School Marching band will play Taps following the four gun salute from Belpre Area Veterans Honor Guard.

≤ The Village of Lower Salem will hold its annual Christmas Holiday Party on Saturday, Dec 16, for individuals living in the Village and the surrounding areas. Soups, sandwiches and cornbread will be served beginning at 4 p.m. at the Lower Salem Village Hall. Residents may bring cookies to share. Santa will arrive around 5:30 p.m. with treats for the kids. Bring your camera. This is a free event. Questions call Janet Kidd 740-585-2547.

• Award winning country music singer/songwriter Skip Ewig will be performing a Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Elizabeth Sugden Broughton Community building on 821. All proceeds will benefit the local Washington County Food Pantries. Tickets are $25 general admission and are available at Warrens IGA or calling (740)373-1518.

• Sean Maxwell will present Christmas Carols on the pipe organ, Clavichord and Virginal at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at First Congregational Church, 318 Front St., Marietta. The concert is free, but donations appreciated.

• Santa will be at the Belpre Masonic Lodge, 1411 Putnam Howe Drive, from 6-9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, and Wednesday, Dec. 20, and from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, and Saturday, Dec. 23, at the Belpre Civitan Park gazebo, weather permitting.

• A new sci-fi and fantasy book club will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Starbucks, 703 Pike St., Marietta, to discuss is “All Systems Red: the Murder Bot Diaries” by Martha Wells for ages 18 and up. Registration is required. Call the Marietta Branch library at 740-373-1057 to register.

• The Beverly Branch Library, 300 McIntosh St., will present the following events. For more information or to register, contact the library at 740 984-4060

– Dec. 16: Come have tea or hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus at noon. There will be cookies available with your drink. Write letters to Santa, make snacks for the reindeer, and listen to stories with Mrs. Claus. The event is open for all ages and no registration is required.

– Dec. 18: Come discuss banned books at 4:30 p.m. The book that is being challenged is Louisa May Alcott’s, “Little Women”. Copies are available at the library and the Hoopla app. This event is for ages 18 and up.

– Dec. 21: Make granny squares using a crochet circle at 6 p.m. The squares will be collected to be made into a blanket and it will be donated to a worthy cause. All supplies will be provided. If you don’t know how to crochet, there will be people there to teach you. This event is for teenagers and adults. No registration is required.

– Every Wednesday until the end of the year:

• Weekly Story Time will be held from 8:15 to 9 a.m. for children ages 2 to 6 who are accompanied by an adult. Story time can include stories, crafts, games and music and a small breakfast snack. Use the back door. Registration is not required.

• “Once Upon a Time We…,” an after-school program for children ages 6-12 will be held at 3:15 p.m. Topics and activities may include crafts, games, or books. Registration is not required.

• Weekly Baby Bookworm sessions will be at 10:30 a.m. Baby Bookworms is a story and play time for children 2 and under who are accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required.

– 2nd Thursdays: Cooking skills for teens and adults will be taught at 6 p.m. bring a recipe to share.

• The Barlow Branch Library, 45 White Oak Professional Center, Vincent, will present the following events. For more information or to register, contact the library at 740-678-0103.

– Dec. 22: There will be an interactive family movie night at 3:30 p.m. You will get a script and a bag of supplies to follow along throughout the movie. Popcorn and refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

– Jan. 4: A used book sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

– Wednesdays until Dec. 20: Walking through the books for all ages will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Coffee and tea will be available after the walk. Registration is not required.

– Every Thursday from Nov. 30 to Jan. 4: A family book club will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The meeting will include discussion, a reading, and related activities or snacks. The book this month is “Bound for Home” by: Meika Hashimoto. This event is for 2nd grade children or older. Be sure to pick up the book when you register.

– 3rd Thursdays from Sept. to May: Teen entertainment for grades 5 to 12 after school till 4 p.m. Decembers event is Gifts and Goodies. (Bagel Bar)

– Rube Goldberg Machine Team: Help design and build a Rube Goldberg Machine to be entered into the official online contest. The meetings will be on Dec. 29: Brainstorming, Jan. 5: Construction, Jan. 12: Filming. The event is for grades K to 4th and registration is required.

• The Belpre Branch Library, 2012 Washington Blvd., will present the following events. For more information or to register, contact the library at 740-423-8381.

– Today: Adults and teens ages 15 and up can make a pieced paper 3-D holiday scene at 2 p.m. Registration is required so call the library to register.

– Today: This month’s evening book club will be at 5 p.m. The book will be “Once Upon A Wardrobe” by Patti Callahan. The event is for ages 18 and up. Pick up the book at the library. No registration is required.

– Dec. 18: Adults and teens ages 12 and up can make decorative winter snow jars at 2 p.m. Registration is required so call the library to register.

– Dec. 21: Children ages 5 to 12 can paint a holiday canvas at 4 p.m. There will be different scenes to choose from, first come first serve with design choices. Registration is required.

– Dec. 22: Gather a team of 4 for Team Trivia night will be at 6 p.m. The event is for ages 12 and up. Registration is required.

– Dec. 26: Young adult book club will be at 4 p.m. The book in discussion is “One Way or Another” by Kara McDowell. Pick up your copy at the library today. This event is for ages 12 and up. No registration is required.

– Every Thursday: Homeschool Hangout will be held at 2 p.m. Weeks will alternate between the under-12 (U12) and over-12 (O12) age groups. No registration is required.

– Every Wednesday to the end of the year: A weekly teen pathfinder role-playing group for ages 12 to 18 will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Registration is required.

• The Marietta Branch Library, 615 Fifth St., will present the following events. For more information or to register, call 740-373-1057.

– Today: Children ages 5 to 12 can decorate a ceramic snowflake from 3 to 5 p.m. Registration is required as space is limited to 20. All supplies are provided. Call the library Ext. 219 to register.

– Dec. 18: The final film club will be at 4 p.m. The film will be “Tokyo Godfathers” with the Hoopla app. The event is for ages 18 and up with no registration required.

– Dec. 19: Create a winter themed button craft at 4 p.m. The craft will be gluing buttons on a framed canvas. This event is for ages 13 and up. Registration is required.

– Dec. 19: A puzzle competition will be held at 5:30 p.m. Teams of 3 to 4 people will combat time and other teams to win. If you don’t have a team, sign up individually and you will be assigned one. The event is for ages 12 and up, registration is required.

– Every Wednesday:

Story Hour for children ages 3 to 6 and their caregivers will be held at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Call the youth services department for more information.

– Every Thursday:

• Preschool movies for kids ages 2 to 6 will be shown at 3 p.m. Movies will last no longer than 30 minutes.

• Family Movie Afternoon is from 4 to 5:30 p.m. All movies are rated G or PG and will run no longer than 100 minutes. Open to all ages. Those under the age 7 must have a caregiver attend with them. Registration is not required. To find out the movie titles, call the library.

– Every Friday: Toddler Time featuring stories and crafts for children ages 18 months to 3 and their caregivers will be held at 10 a.m. For more information call the youth Services Department at the library.

– Loom hats for the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati: Make loom hats that will be donated to guest families at the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati. Participants ages 12 and up will meet on the Marietta Branch Mezzanine from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 28, and 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays through Dec. 29. All supplies will be provided.

– IT Specialist: An IT Specialist will be available to help with technology questions from 1 to 3:30 p.m on Tuesdays, and 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Fridays. They will help you learn how to use your cell phone, computer, tablet, the internet, or Microsoft Office programs.

• The New Matamoras Library, 100 Merchant St., will present the following events. For more information or to register, contact the library at 740-865-3386

– Today: Come wear your ugly sweater during regular library hours. Get your picture taken in your ugly sweater and be entered in a raffle. All ages are welcome.

• Run it Monday, Dec. 18 to Jan. 9: Gilman United Methodist Church, 312 Gilman Avenue, Marietta, OH will be offering a 13-week Grief Recovery Support Group starting 1:30 to 3 p.m. Jan 9. Each session, the group will watch a video, featuring personal stories of those grieving, and hear encouraging information from the grief recovery expert. Also, have a discussion/sharing time together. For more information, contact the church at 740-373-6478.

• A faith-based cancer support group will meet at noon on the second Monday of the month at Gilman United Methodist Church, 312 Gilman Ave.

• A free men’s breakfast will be held at 9 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the O’Neill Center. Donations will be accepted.

• The 1955 graduating class of Marietta High School will meet at 11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the Harmar Tavern until further notice. All classmates and friends are welcome.

• Christ United Methodist Church, 301 Wooster St., Marietta, will offer a free takeout meal from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first Friday of the month. All are welcome.

• Gilman United Methodist Church, 312 Gilman Ave., Marietta, offers worship at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Adult Sunday school class is at 9:15 a.m. Coffee, light refreshments and fellowship available. A weekly adult Bible study with Pastor Doug Thompson will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and 6 p.m. Sundays. All are welcome.

Health

• The Alzheimer’s Association support group meetings in the area include: Marietta Support Group, 10 to 11:30 a.m. first Fridays at the O’Neill Center, 333 Fourth St. Facilitator is Krissy Kearns, 937-974-2387; Belpre Chamber of Commerce, 1-2:40 p.m. second Mondays at 713 Park Drive. Facilitator is Susie Casto.

• The O’Neill Center will hold mani/pedis with appointments starting at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Cost is $16 for manicure and $33 for pedicure. Call the O’Neill Center for appointments.

• TOPS 399, Marietta, meets 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the First Church of the Nazarene. Weigh-in is between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Visitors are welcome and the first meeting is free. Call Cindy at 740-629-2957 for details.

Classes/Workshops/Programs/Seminars

• Zumba classes will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 11:30 a.m. Monday at the O’Neill Center. The cost is $5 per class or $25 for six classes. All ages welcome. For more information, call 740-373-3914.

• The O’Neill Center in Marietta will hold bingo at 9:30 a.m. Thursdays. No cost at the door to play 20 games and it is a nickel per card per game. Seating is limited. Also scheduled are: a free gentle yoga class at 10 a.m. Tuesdays; bridge at 1 p.m. Tuesdays; euchre at 1 p.m. Wednesdays; hand and foot cards at 1 p.m. Wednesdays; chair volleyball at 9 a.m first and fourth Wednesdays, except the second Wednesday of the month; Free afternoon at the movies at 1 p.m. Thursdays.

• Weekly ballroom dancing classes will be held 7-10 p.m. second, third and fourth Saturdays of the month at Miller Prosthetics, 2311 Ohio Ave., Parkersburg. Dress is casual. Cost is a $5 per person donation with singles and couples welcome.