GC to host Town Hall

Garrison Commander Col. Richard Piscal will host a town hall meeting at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Riley’s Conference Center. Soldiers, Family members and Department of the Army civilians are encouraged to attend and voice their comments and concerns about life at Fort Riley. Representatives from directorates across post also will be on hand to answer questions.

Chapel to offer Thanksgiving service

Soldiers, Families and guests are invited to attend the Thanksgiving Day combined worship service at 10 a.m. Nov. 27 at5 Morris Hill Chapel.     

Holiday closings

The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate’s Legal Assistance Office in Patton Hall will be closed Nov. 27-28 and reopen for normal business on Dec. 1.

• • •

The vehicle registration office will be closed Nov. 27-28, Dec. 25-26 and Jan. 1-2.

• • •

The Recycle Center, the Environmental Waste Management Center and the Hazardous Material Processing Center will be closed Nov. 28.

DHR schedules ‘Nice Bike’

The Directorate of Human Resources, Workforce Development Division will offer two opportunities to enjoy Mark Scharenbroich’s “Nice Bike” motivational presentation Dec. 5.

All Department of the Army civilians and military supervisors of civilians are welcome to attend. Sessions will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Patton Hall auditorium, located on the second floor of Building 200. Limited parking is available, so carpools are encouraged.Any individual needing assistance or accessibility or desiring a smaller setting, can watch a simulcast of the event from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center, Building 319.

If anyone is in need of a sign language interpreter, please contact the Workforce Development Division at 239-2011 or 239-2205 at least five days prior to the event. 

Graduates to be recognized

Fort Riley military personnel, Family members and civilian personnel who are graduates of local colleges or SOCAD college programs are invited to participate in the Fort Riley post-wide graduation ceremony at 1 p.m. Dec. 19 at Riley’s Conference Center. For more information on participating in the ceremony, contact Gary Thompson at 239-6481. 

VFW to lay wreaths on post

USAG Commander Col. Richard Piscal will provide welcoming comments and remarks to the Wreaths Across America observance beginning at 11 a.m. Dec.13 at the Fort Riley cemetery. Chap. (Col.) Gary Norris, will offer prayers at the observance. The occasion is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Op Santa seeks donations

New toys and monetary donations for Operation Santa Claus can be dropped off at Santa’s Workshop in Building 261 on Main Post, 1st and 4th brigade headquarters, Building 500, the Post Exchange, Credit Union One, Irwin Army Community Hospital, Wal-Mart in Junction City and Manhattan, Dollar General and the Military Affairs Council in Junction City, and Armed Forces Bank on post and in Junction City.

Operation Santa donates toys to children who might not otherwise have gifts for Christmas.

Late Night Hip Hop cancelled

Rally Point will no longer be hosting Late Night Hip Hop, but is excited to begin planning for future Saturday night programs. Rally Point welcomes customers to their Kick Back Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7p.m. with free appetizers while they last. Also, Friday is Family Night from 5 to 8 p.m. with all you can eat buffet and dancing for the kids. For more information about Rally Point programs, call Mike Steffens at 784-5434.

Op Santa seeks volunteers

Each year Operation Santa Claus provides toys to the children in the Fort Riley area who may not have a chance at a Merry Christmas. Operation Santa Claus is looking for organizations or individuals who are willing to help wrap the gifts that will be given out to children. Gift-wrappers are needed from Nov. 5 through Dec. 15. For more information or to volunteer, call 239-6944, 239-2771 or stop by the workshop in Building 261 on Main Post.

ASAP offers training

The Fort Riley Army Substance Abuse Program conducts monthly classes for Soldiers in the rank of sergeant and above who have been selected by unit commanders to assist them as an ASAP subject matter expert. 

Class is scheduled for Dec. 16-18.

The Unit Prevention Leader Certification Course has a rigorous, three-day curriculum with a required final test to achieve UPL certification. The course will be taught from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each scheduled day at the Digital Training Facility in Building 7285. 

For more information, call 239-1928 or 239-4151.

Pass procedure changed

All visitors requiring access to Fort Riley between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. need to get a visitor pass at Henry Gate off of I-70 at Exit 301. Visitors are those individuals who don’t possess both a DoD identification card and a DoD vehicle decal. Visitors will still be allowed to get a visitor’s pass at all three main gates (Henry, Trooper and Ogden) Monday through Sunday after 5 a.m. and before 9 p.m.

TIPS hotline open

The Fort Riley Police Investigations Section has installed a new TIPS line in order to improve its services to the community. The line will be used to assist the investigations section with gathering information people may have, but are afraid or unwilling to come forward with. People can call the TIPS line at 239-TIPS with any information dealing with crimes such as drugs, thefts, damages, etc. Individuals may, but are not required to, leave their name.

Stay alert

All DoD personnel should be aware of their responsibility to report suspicious activity to Fort Riley law enforcement authorities at 239-6767.

Community news briefly

Light up the neighborhood

FMWR will host a holiday lights competition for the post’s housing areas. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Dec. 15. The winner in each housing area will receive a gift basket and yard sign. Judging will take place Dec. 15-19, with winners being announced Dec. 19.

Download entry forms at www.rileymwr.com and return them to the Arts and Crafts Center, Building 6918 across from the PX.

For more information, call Marilyn Paras at 239-9205 or Angelia Lentz at 239-6398.

Send messages to troops

Stars and Stripes has launched its annual Stripes Holiday Messages program online at www.stripes.com. People are invited to send messages of love and support to Soldiers stationed overseas.

The free messages will be printed in the European, Pacific and Middle East editions of Stars and Stripes on Dec. 20 as long as they are received by the Nov. 28 deadline.

Messages may include a photo and also will be available online at www.stripes.com.

Car wash to close

The Automotive Skills Center car wash will be closed for renovation until Nov. 25.

Retirees to host muster

The Kansas Cavalry Chapter of the Special Military Active Retired Travel (SMART) Club will be having a muster/luncheon at noon Nov. 22 at the Fort Riley Main Post dining facility, Building 251. This chapter currently has 54 members with 27 rigs. All active duty servicemembers, retirees and Reservists from all branches who would like to become members or find out more about the club are welcome to attend. Lunch may be purchased from the dining facility. For more information, call Danny Chunn at 785-762-5153.

Groups to host holiday party

The annual Exceptional Family Member Program and New Parent Support Program Holiday Celebration will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Riley’s Conference Center, 446 Seitz Drive.

Families involved in the programs need to RSVP to EFMP or NPSP at 239-9435 no later than Dec. 2. Food and drink will be provided. Join us in crafts and a Family Fun Activity. Santa will visit and provide a gift for each of the children.

Celebrate New Year’s at Rally Point

Rally Point will host a New Years Eve party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 31. The $10 fee will include party favors, a DJ, champagne, prizes and giveaways.

No reservations are required, but patrons must be 18 to enter and 21 years old to drink. For more information, call 784-5733.

Thrift shop sets new hours

The Fort Riley Thrift Shop hours are from 9:30a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday with consignments from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first and third Saturday of each month with consignments from 10 a.m. to noon. The Dollar Bag Room will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of each month.

Saturday, Dec. 6, Thrift Shop employees will be handing out candy canes, books and stuffed animals to patrons as they shop.

OCSC to host holiday luncheon

Fort Riley’s Officer and Civilian Spouses Club will host its December Ornament Exchange Luncheon at 11 a.m. Dec. 11 at the Washington Street Grill in Junction City. For reservations, contact Denise Ott by Dec. 4 at 785-717-3142 or deniseott@yahoo.com, or RSVP on the Web site at www.thefortrileyocsc.com. For child care, please e-mail Julie Todd by Dec. 4 at thatkindofangel@hotmail.com. Members are asked to bring a wrapped ornament to exchange during the luncheon.

Santa to visit Picerne Housing

Picerne Military Housing and the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard will be escorting Santa Claus through Historic Main Post Saturday, Nov. 22. Santa will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to area food pantries.

Santa and the CGMCG will be making stops at the following times and locations:

1 p.m., Cavalry Parade Field

1:30 p.m., Barry and Forsyth

2 p.m., Godfrey and Schofield near Qtrs. 88

2:30 p.m., Godfrey and Schofield near Qtrs. 85

3 p.m. Carpenter and Godfrey

3:30 p.m., Carpenter and Huebner

4 p.m,. Riley and Rimrock

Please come out to support the food drive, while enjoying hot cocoa, cookies and seeing Santa! For more information contact the Historic Main Post Neighborhood Office at 785-717-2240.

Free child care offered for FRGs

Fort Riley Child and Youth Services is offering free child care for family readiness group meetings. Contact your FRG leader or FRSA to make your child care reservation once CYS registration has been completed. Child care will be provided from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Warren Road Child Development Center, Building 6950, or School Age Services, Building 5810, depending on the age of the child.

Reservations for care will be taken up to three days prior to scheduled dates. Free child care will be offered Nov. 25, Dec. 3, 10, 16 and 30.

For more information, call CYS central registration at 239-9885 or stop by Building 6620 Normandy Drive.

Spiritual Ranger program guides male teens

The Spiritual Ranger program is designed to help middle school and high school age students transition from boyhood to Godly manhood through a series of spiritual and physical training exercises. Spiritual Rangers generally meet on the second Sunday of each month. Male adult volunteers are needed. For more information, call Don Ericson at 239-0979.

Sports news in brief

Driving range open 24-7

The Custer hill Golf Course Driving Range is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After hours an automatic ball dispenser, located on the back side of the club house, is available.

The machine takes tokens or keys, which may be purchased during Pro Shop hours. The machine also takes $1 bills. One bucket of balls costs $2.

For more information, call 784-6000,

New hours set at bowling center

Custer Hill Lanes and Snack Bar are now open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

The Strike Zone Bar is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Turkey Scramble set for Saturday

Join FMWR Nov. 22 for the Turkey Scramble at Custer Hill Golf Course. The two-person, flighted event will begin with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Cost is $40 for members, $50 for non-members.

For more information or to sign up, call 784-6000

Youth Sports offers skating

Youth Sports and Fitness will host Outdoor Adventure Ice Skating from 1 to 9 p.m. Jan. 10 at Kansas City’s Crown Center for students in grades three through 12.

Skaters should register at Child and Youth Services Central Registration Office, Building 6620, by Jan. 6. Registrations will be accepted from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and cost $10.

Transportation will be provided from the Teen Center, Building 5800, to the Crown Center and back. Entrance to the ice rink will be provided, but children must bring money for food.

For more information, call Youth Sports at 239-9223 or 239-9200.

ITR has KC Chiefs tickets

Fort Riley’s Information, Ticketing and Registration is selling tickets for this season’s Kansas City Chiefs football games.

Tickets for the regular season cost $70 for upper reserved seats and $100 includes box seats and coach bus transportation. Nov. 2 is military appreciation day.

For more information stop by ITR from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Building 6918 across from PX, or call 239-5614 or 239-4415.

ITR has tickets for the following games:

Nov. 23 – Buffalo Bills

Dec. 14 – San Diego Chargers

Dec. 21 – Miami Dolphins

Youth Sports offers tubing

Youth Sports and Fitness will host Outdoor Adventure Snow Tubing from 1 to 10 p.m. Dec. 30. at Snow Creek in Weston, Mo., for students in grades three through 12.

Registration is $20 per child and includes admission and equipment. Open to Family of active duty or DA civilians. Transportation will be provided, but children should bring money for food.

Registration will be at Child and Youth Services Central Registration Office, Building 6620, from noon until 5 p.m. For more information, contact Youth Sports and Fitness at 239-9223 or 239-9200.

Bowl in new year at Custer Lanes

Join FMWR at Custer Hill Lanes Dec. 31 for its New Years Blastoff Bowling Party. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. lanes can be rented for $75 per lane of eight people.

That price includes prizes, a live DJ, bowling, a balloon drop, champagne toast, children’s activities, a New Year’s breakfast and designated driver program.

Reserve a lane by calling 239-4366.

3-on-3 tourney set for new year

Sign up now for the fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. 3-on-3 basketball tournament to be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 10 at King Field House.

Register for $50 a team with a maximum of four players per team. Open to all DoD ID cardholders.

Download a registration form at www.rileymwr.com and return it to KFH by Jan. 8.

Dodge Ball tourney open

Sign up is now open for FMWR’s fourth annual dodge ball tournament. The tourney will begin at 10 a.m.

Feb. 21 at King Field House and is open to all DoD ID cardholders. Registration is $50 per team with a maximum of eight players per team.

Download a registration form at www.rileymwr.com and return it to KFH by Feb. 19.

Old Bill Grill open

Custer Hill Golf Course’s Old Bill Grill serves from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The menu includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, philly cheese steak or chicken, grilled chicken, chicken fingers, schnitzel and French fries.

Leisure time ideas

Manhattan

Event: Mayor’s Spirit of the Holiday Lighted Parade

When: 6 p.m. Dec. 5

Where: Downtown

The parade will begin in downtown Manhattan and make its way down Poyntz Avenue to Aggieville. Gather at Triangle Park following the parade for an award presentation and the lighting of the Mayor’s Holiday Tree. For more information on the parade, visit downtown.manhattanks.org.

• • •

Event: Friends of McCain Holiday Home Tour

When: 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Dec. 6

Tour the homes of Dean and Alice Armbrust; Kent and Julie Kiracofe; Joe and Darlene McGraw; Lance and Susan Saville; David and Mindy Weaver and the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Tickets will be available from Nov. 10 to Dec. 5 and are $15, $12 with a military ID, and are available at Ann-A-Lee’s, Ben Franklin Crafts, Community 1st National Bank, Edesia’s Bakery and Café, Gatherings on the Prairie in Junction City, Manhattan Town Center, McCain Auditorium Box Office, Rod’s Hallmark and Varney’s Book Store. No children under 13 are allowed, but child care will be available at the Armed Services YMCA.

Junction City

Event: Christmas Parade

When: 5 p.m. Nov. 28

Where: Sixth Street from Junction City High School to Washington Street

Floats, bands, lights and the arrival of Santa Claus will help celebrate the opening of the Christmas season.  Santa will turn on the Christmas lights in Heritage Park.

• • •

Event: Winter Gallery Walk

When: 6 p.m. Dec. 4

Where: Downtown

Fine art and fine wine - Join the JC Arts Council for a stroll through Junction City’s historic downtown and enjoy the fine art work of regional artists and sample an assortment of fine wines.

• • •

Event: Christmas Crafts for Kids - Dec. 6

When: 10 a.m., Dec. 6

Where: Library Meeting Room, 230 West 7th St.

Families can make-and-take a variety of holiday decorations to deck their halls and ring in the season. The event is free and open to the public.

• • •

Event: Flaming Festival

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6

Where: Ladies Reading Club Clubhouse, Third and Jefferson Streets

Step back in time and experience a piece of Junction City history at the Ladies Reading Club’s annual Christmas bazaar and fundraiser. Homemade Christmas crafts and treats will be available for sale along with their trademark pecan halves. The Ladies Reading Club has been in operation since 1875 and is the oldest General Federation of Women’s Club affiliate in Kansas. The clubhouse was dedicated in 1897 and is the oldest west of the Mississippi. The event is free.

• • •

Event: Holiday Historic Homes Tour - Christmas at the Museum

When: 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 7

Where: Carlson’s 228 W. 5th; Starcke House, 306 W. 5th; Gray’s, 301 W. 5th; Lundeen’s, 240 W. 3rd; Johnstone’s, 237 W. 3rd; Core’s, 406 S. Jefferson; and Davis’, 300 W. Vine 

All of the homes will be decorated for the holidays and guides will be dressed in period clothing. Carolers will stroll through the area at different times singing Christmas carols. Munson’s horse drawn trolley will be available Sunday for rides between homes. Sponsored by Geary County Historical Society and the JC Sertoma Club. This is an official Junction City Sesquicentennial event. Cost is $15 per person.

• • •

Event: Holiday Laser Light Show and Concert

When: 8 p.m. Dec. 11

Where: JC Municipal Building, 700 N. Jefferson St.

This show combines popular Christmas music with laser technology. Great for the entire family. Sponsored by the Junction City Arts Council.

Wamego

Event: A Christmas Carol

When: Dec. 5-7; 11-14 and 18-21

Where: Columbian Theatre

A Christmas Carol is a Victorian morality tale of an old and bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of one night. Mr. Scrooge is a financier/money-changer who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth. He holds anything other than money in contempt, including friendship, love and the Christmas season.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets for dinner and the musical are $37.25 for adults and $20.75 for children. For more information or to order tickets, visit columbiantheatre.com.

Topeka

Event: Miracle on Kansas Avenue

When: 6 p.m. Nov. 29

Where: Downtown

For more information on Topeka’s lighted holiday parade, visit www.miracle-on-kansas.blogspot.com.

Salina

Event:  Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Christmas Show

When:  Dec. 3

Where:  Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Ave.