News briefs for Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024

ALVORD

MZ CRAFT BEE — The MZ Craft Bee, a day of scrapbooking and crafting, will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in the Fellowship Hall at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 615 County Road 1280. Call or text Donna 940-393-8662 or call Jeannie 940-427-5941. Watch the Facebook page for upcoming special events.

BOYD

EASTER EGG HUNT — The City of Boyd’s annual Easter egg hunt is 3-5 p.m. March 23 at Snodgrass Park, 501 W Hobbs Ave. It’s a free, family event with over 18,000 eggs, a live DJ with music, Easter Bunny photos and fun activities.

BRIDGEPORT

DADDY AND DAUGHTER DANCE — Tickets are on sale for the Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Daddy & Daughter Dance “The King and His Princess.” Dances are Friday, Feb. 23 from 5:30-7 p.m. and 7:30-9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 24 from 7:30 -9 p.m. at the Bridgeport Community Center. Tickets can be purchased at bridgeport.recdesk.com. Tickets are $12 per person and ages 2 and up must purchase tickets. All daughters, dads, grandfathers and uncles are invited to enjoy an evening of dancing, fun, food, prizes, photos and more! No tickets will be sold at the door.

BRIDGEPORT CHAMBER BANQUET — Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Bridgeport Chamber Banquet at wcmess.com/chambertix. The “Hollywood Whodunnit” themed banquet and awards ceremony is March 1 at the Decatur Conference Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

BALLFIELD CLOSURES — Lawdwin Ballfields, Lawdwin Soccer Fields and the the Bridgeport Public Library soccer fields will be closed until late February as the City of Bridgeport prepares the fields for the spring Bridgeport Youth Association season.

DECATUR

DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE — Decatur Junior Woman’s Club is hosting a Barbie-themed Daddy Daughter Dance Saturday at The Barn at Paradise. Daughters may be escorted by their dad, grandpa, uncle, older brothers or significant male figure in their lives. Tickets are still on sale for the 12-2 p.m. dance and the 6 p.m. dance. Cost is $65 per couple, $10 for each additional daughter and $15 for T-shirts. Visit www.eventsdjwc.com/event-registration to purchase tickets before they sell out.

ARTISAN MARKET — The February Decatur Artisan Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Decatur Rail Yard, 205 N Newark St. The event is free and includes shopping, a food truck, bounce house, snacks and drinks.

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY — The Decatur Police Department will host its Citizens Police Academy beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The 13-week course will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Decatur Police Department. Class information and registration paperwork is available online at decaturtx.org or on Facebook. Contact Royce Gastineau at 940-393-0300 or rgastineau@decaturpd.net.

NEW FAIRVIEW

COURT RESCHEDULED — New Fairview and Boyd Municipal Court was closed Jan. 15 due to the weather. All court dockets are being rescheduled for Feb. 19. Email susan@newfairview.org or boydcourt@newfairview.org for questions or concerns.

RHOME  

COMMUNITY LIBRARY PLAY CAFE — The Rhome Community Library hosts a bi-monthly Play Cafe for children of all ages. It provides indoor and outdoor games, toys, puzzles, a craft maker space, puppets and more. This is an unstructured play date that lets children get to know other children, enjoy imaginative and constructive play and learn social and developmental skills through their chosen activities. Parents get to meet other parents and chat while the children play. Play Cafe is held the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend. You do not have to live in Rhome or have an account with the library. For more information, call (817) 636-2767.

MEDICARE CLASS — Are you about to turn 65 and ready to enroll in Medicare? Are you already enrolled in Medicare but have questions or need to make changes? Dan Thompson offers a free Medicare seminar on the third Thursday of every month 12 p.m. in the Rhome Community Library Activity Room. For more information or to RSVP, call or text Dan at (214) 206-6373.

HOMESCHOOL HUMDINGER — Homeschool students are invited to Homeschool Humdinger, a monthly club for homeschoolers ages 6-18. Homeschool Humdinger is scheduled the third Friday of every month. Bring a sack lunch and visit with other homeschool students starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by an activity from 12:15-2 p.m. Different activities are held each month. There is no charge for this event which is open to the general public.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME — Preschool children are invited to the Rhome Community Library Story Time held the first and third Wednesdays of every month, September-May. Story Time is held in the Activity Room behind the library from 10-10:45 a.m. In addition to stories, children learn letters and numbers, days of the week, seasons, months and experience music, movement, fingerplay and crafts. The library provides a snack to all children in attendance. There is no charge to participate. This event is open to the general public.

SLIDELL

BLOOD DRIVE — Carter BloodCare is hosting a blood drive 9 a.m.-2 p.m. March 6 at the Slidell High School Gym, 1 Greyhound Lane. Residents as young as 17 years old — or 16 with parental consent — can safely donate blood with Carter BloodCare. There is no upper age limit for donors. Umbrellas and t-shirts will be given to local donors. Visit wcmess.com/blooddrive2 to sign up for a donation time. For questions, contact Mrs. Crisp at tcrisp@slidellisd.net or (940) 535-5260.

WISE COUNTY

FREE SELF-DEFENSE CLASS — Wise Hope invites women and children 10 years and older to join them for a free community self-defense class Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at North Texas Karate Academy, 3107 Texas Highway 101 in Bridgeport. Childcare is available. Call (940) 626-4584 to register.

DAR MEETING — The John B. Denton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet on Saturday at First Baptist Church Decatur, 1200 Preskitt Rd. Meeting room will be at the back of the church; look for DAR banner. Door opens 9:30 a.m. and meeting begins at 10:00 am. The program being presented is Presidents Wives Gowns Collection by Texas Woman’s University Library. Contact Connie Brawley, (940) 393-5971. 

REALToR NETWORKING LUNCHEON — State Representative Lynn Stucky will be speaking at the Greater Denton/Wise County Association of REALTORS Wise Networking Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 at the Decatur Conference Center. Topics include groundwater and wells. Lunch is $20. RSVP at gdwcar.com/wise-lunch/.

WISE COUNTY TAX PREPARATION — Anyone with a lower income can get free help filing taxes. Volunteers from AARP will be at the Decatur Public Library’s temporary location, 201 E. Walnut Street in the City Hall on Fridays. You do need an appointment. Visit www.decaturpubliclibrary.com or call (940) 393-0290.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT — The Wise County Caregiver support group meets 2 p.m. every third Tuesday at the Decatur Conference Center. The Alzheimer’s Association support group provides emotional, educational and social support for caregivers through regularly scheduled meetings. Participants learn to develop coping methods and maintain their personal, physical and emotional health. Call Angie Tyson, 940-393-3677.

WCCA GALA AND AUCTION —  Individual tickets and tables are now on sale for The Wise County Committee on Aging’s Boots & Bluebonnets Charity Gala and Auction. The event is a culmination of the Meals on Wheels March for Meals campaign to bring awareness to the needs of senior citizens.  The event will take place March 21 at the Decatur Conference Center. Silent auction and raffle bidding begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and the Abuelitos Ballet Folklorico will perform at 6:15 p.m., with live auction and raffle to follow. For tickets, visit www.MealsOnWheelsWiseCounty.org or for questions, call (817) 899-8529.