Published: October 31, 2009 04:57 pm      

The Tribune News Briefs

• New Albany

Grace Lutheran hosts turkey supper

Grace Lutheran Church will host a Turkey Supper, Bake Shop & Bazaar from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the church, 1787 Klerner Lane, New Albany.

The Turkey Supper will include turkey, dressing, dumplings, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, slaw or carrot salad, roll, dessert and beverage. There will also be a Bake Shop & Bazaar at 2 p.m. with various booths available for holiday shopping.

Admission to the Bake Shop & Bazaar is free. Tickets for the Turkey Supper are $8 for adults and half price for children 10 and under.

Call 812-941-1912 for more information.

— Contributed



Library hosts dedication of “Our Heroes’ Tree”

Master Sergeant Scott Ham of New Albany (who has served with the Indiana Army National Guard in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq) will show slides and answer questions about his experiences at a dedication of the “Our Heroes’ Tree” at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library’s Strassweg Auditorium.

The program, honoring military heroes, is sponsored by the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University. The public is invited to participate by creating a handmade ornament honoring a service member in their family or community who is now serving in the military or who served sometime in the past. Or, write information about him/her on one of the paper ornaments available in several areas of the library, and include a picture, if available. Honor your great-grandfather who served in the Civil War, your grandfather who was in World War II, a neighbor who served in Vietnam, a sibling who is currently serving in Iraq — or, make an ornament for each of them. In addition, participants are asked to write a page about their hero/heroes to be placed in a binder (kept in the Indiana History Room). Ornaments can be brought to the Indiana History Room, and will be hung on the “Our Heroes’ Tree” located on the lower level of the library. Images will also be uploaded to Purdue University’s Virtual Heroes’ Tree, so that anyone searching the Internet will have access to the information.

Contact the Indiana History Room at 812-949-352 for more information.

— Contributed



Graceland hosts Mary Courtney concert

Mary Courtney will be in concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at Graceland Baptist Church as part of a women’s evening of praise and inspiration, sponsored by Graceland’s Real Women, 3600 Kamer Miller Road, New Albany.

Mary Courtney is a nationally known speaker and concert minister. She has appeared at the White House and on Daystar Christian Television. Former vocalist of the year, her topic will be “Let Go and Let God.” She has a powerful testimony and speaks openly about her battle with anorexia and her husband’s suicide. All women of the community are invited to attend. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is free.

Call 812-944-6448 for more information.

— Contributed



Youth Film Festival deadline near

Bellewood Presbyterian Homes for Children, which cares for abused and neglected children and young adults in Kentucky, announced today it is accepting submissions for its second Youth Film Festival — an event for ages 12-19 to encourage creativity and self-expression through filmmaking for youth in Louisville and Southern Indiana, with an entry deadline of Nov. 13.

The festival was launched last year in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit organization. The response from the inaugural event harvested film submissions from individuals and groups, and more than 300 people attended the film premiere and awards ceremony. The film festival challenges youth to work as individuals or groups and create a short film. The theme for this year’s festival is “Everyday Heroes” and was chosen because of the clientele Bellewood serves — youth who have suffered terribly in life and must learn to overcome their past in order to live confidently and independently. Entries must reflect the theme, contain the word “courage” and be less than five minutes in length (excluding credits). There is no registration fee. Cash prizes in the amounts of $500 (first place), $300 (second place) and $200 (third place) will be awarded to winners at a red-carpet ceremony on Jan. 24, 2010, at Second Presbyterian Church, 3701 Old Brownsboro Road, Louisville. The event honors all youth who submitted entries and recognizes the top three winners whose films will be screened at the ceremony.

Tickets for the event are available in advance for $5 and will be sold for $8 at the door.

Visit bellewood.org for more information on film submissions and festival sponsorships

— Contributed



• Jeffersonville

Operation Christmas Child seeks gifts

Bowles Mattress Company at 1220 Watt St., Jeffersonville, will serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, to provide toys and necessary items to children suffering from poverty and war worldwide.

This year, organizers hope to collect 1,600 gift-filled shoe boxes from families, kids, churches, schools and civic organizations in the area. Bowles Mattress Company’s hours for accepting donations are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 16-20; 8 a.m. to noon, Nov. 21 and 23; and 2 to 3 p.m. and by appointment, Nov. 22. Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoebox gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found at samaritanspurse.org.

Call 937-374-0761 or visit samaritanspurse.org for more information.

— Contributed