Events during the month of November

Haircuts for Veterans

Veterans can get a haircut for $4 during the month of November at Virginia College’s Student Cosmetology Services.  No appointment necessary. The college is located at 5940 Beach Boulevard. You can come in Tuesday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 904-520-7740.

“The Hobbit”

Tickets are on sale now for the movie “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” You can see it at the IMAX At World Golf Village starting December 14^th. The movie features actress Cate Blanchett.  In addition to the seeing the anticipated movie, moviegoers will also see the first 9 minutes of J.J. Abrams’ film “Star Trek Into Darkness.” This will be an exclusive viewing in IMAX 3D months before the film’s official release in May of 2013. The prologue will begin showing on December 14^th with the Hobbit. For more information on how to purchase tickets or movies, go to http://www.worldgolfimax.com/coming-soon/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey.

Holiday Festival

Tickets are on sale for Mayor Brown’s Holiday Festival for Senior Citizens. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the Mary Singleton Senior Center on East First Street and at City Hall. The event will be held on December 1st at the Prime Osborn Convention Center beginning at 2 p.m. For more information, call 904-630-7392 or www.coj.net.seniors.

Holiday Gift Drive

The Children’s Home Society of Florida is hosting its annual holiday gift drive. The drive will provide gifts to nearly 1,000 children and teenagers in foster care. You can learn more about how you can help by calling 904-493-7738 or myra.simmons@chsfl.org.

 Blood Alliance and Second Harvest North Florida

The Blood Alliance is teaming up with Second Harvest North Florida during the month of November. It is donating $1 to the food bank for each blood donation made at any of the donor centers. To find a donor center, go to www.igiveblood.com or call 888-998-2243.

Food Drive

The Jacksonville Landing and Second Harvest North Florida have teamed up to host a food drive. Donations can be dropped off at the Jacksonville Landing next to Coastal Cookies every Friday in November during the Friday Arts and Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food items requested the most: canned meat, rice, beans, peanut butter, soup and canned vegetables.

Free Professional Career Counseling

Military veterans can take advantage of free military counseling starting September 20th. This free service will be available on the third Thursday of each month at City Hall. Veterans can learn more about resume help, interview preparation, and post-military career. It begins at 3 p.m. and goes until 6p.m.

Patriots and Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to our Country

You can learn more about Arab Americans service in our country during a traveling exhibit at the Jacksonville Public Library. This traveling exhibit from the Arab American National Museum is on display in the third floor Atrium of the Main Library. This interactive exhibit focuses on the contributions of Arab Americans in the U.S. Armed forces, Peace Corps and Diplomatic Corps. It is free and open to the public. This exhibit runs through December 16.

Food for Fines Program

The St. Johns County Public Library System is offering patrons the chance to resolve overdue fines and help those in need. Library staff will accept non-perishable food items in lieu of overdue library fines through January 5, 2013. All donations will be delivered to the St. Johns County food closet. Up to $1 in overdue fines will be resolved. If you do not owe a fine, you can still donate at any branch or bookmobile stop. For more information, go to www.sjcpls.org or call 904-827-6925.

Food Drive

Through December 21^st, The Artist Series is hosting a food drive to support Second Harvest North Florida. The most requested items are canned fruits, vegetables and beans, canned meat/protein-tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, pasta, soups Mac n Cheese, cereal and breakfast bars. The food should be in plastic bags and it can be dropped off at the Times Union Center.

New Art Exhibit

Reddi-Arts will host a show featuring the work of Marianne Phopahl, Cookie Davis, Andrea and Helen Ashmead.   Phopal will present “Blossoms and Dance”, a collection of photographs during the exhibit. Davis is currently exploring the use of acrylic paints on large canvas. Andrea Ashmead is an award-wining photographer who is currently using paint as her medium of choice. Helen Ashmead is an artist, and teacher. Their work will be on display through December 31^st.

Toy Drive

Duval County Tax Collector‘s office will once again serve as a toy drop-off sites for the Toys for Tots Program. You can drop off any new, unwrapped toy  through Dec.14. For more information on the program, go to www.toysfortots.org.

WinterFest

The second annual WinterFest will kcik off Saturday at Adventure Landing on Saturday. The theme park will turn into a winter wonderland. There will be a snow village with a large, outdoor ice skating rink, a 130-foot ice slide, nightly snowfalls and much more. Patrons will get a chance to enjoy Crystal Creek Lodge for a variety of winter treats and sweets from hot soup to hot chocolate. It will also be running a “White Paper Drive.” This drive will benefit Seamark Ranch, a home for kids in crisis in Clay County. Donations of new non-perishable items such as toilet paper, towels, tissue, napkins, paper plates and cups will be accepted in exchange for a free game of mini-golf.  Winterfest kicks off on Saturday, November 17 and will continue through January 13, 2013. For more information, go to www.jaxwinterfest.com.

Cypress Point Family Dentistry Food Drive

Cypress Point Family Dentistry is hosting a food drive to benefit Second Harvest North Florida. Bring in a non-perishable food item and be entered into a drawing to win a membership into Cypress Point’s Quality Dental plan or receive a dental exam and x-ray for only $10. The dentistry is located at 8130 Baymeadows Circle West, suite 103. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jacksonville Humane Society Calendar on Sale

The Jacksonville Humane Society Calendar is now selling copies of the 2013 calendar. The Portraits and Paw Prints calendar includes pictures of dogs and cats submitted by their owner. Supporters selected the pets featured in the calendar by voting for their favorite photos for $1 per vote. Calendars are $15 each and $25 for two. You can purchase a calendar at www.jaxhumane.org or at the Humane Society’s boutique on Beach Boulevard, Animal Hospital on Beach Boulevard or the thrift store.

Hippodrome Theatre Holiday’s Productions

You can get in the holiday spirit at the Hippodrome in Gainesville. The theatre will open the holiday season with its annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and A Tuna Christmas. A Tuna Christmas has been a fan favorite for 9 years. The show opens on Friday at 7:30 p.m. It will be on stage Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. through December 23.  A Christmas Carol is on stage beginning Saturday through December 2^nd, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Kids can get in free with a paying adult and a donation of a non-perishable food item or unwrapped new toy. Tickets for both plays can be purchased by call the box office at 352-375-HIPP or online at www.thehipp.org.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Ripley’s Believe It or Not wants to give you a chance to enjoy some holiday fun from around the world. Beginning Monday, the attraction will be offering half-off admission for Florida residents. This includes the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! St. Augustine Odditorium, Ripley’s Red Trains, Ripley’s Ghost Train Adventure, and Bayfront Mini-Golf. This deal runs through Friday, December 21.