Email your community events to: [email protected]

Now thru November 10 – Pinnacle Bank is accepting donations for Christmas For Our Troops, to send packages to service members both overseas and stateside. A list of popular and useful items is available at either Pinnacle Bank location, and items can be dropped off there as well. Cash is also very much appreciated to help pay for the postage to send the packages. Letters, children’s colored pictures or cards are also very much appreciated. If you have the names and addresses of any service member, please email [email protected] or [email protected] Last year 314 boxes were sent out. Help us do even more this year and let our troops know that they are remembered and appreciated!

Friday, October 30 – Columbus Public Library presents Tubular Teen Night from 6:30pm-9:00pm for children in 4th – 6th grades. This event is free and open to everyone, but please register your child by Wednesday, October 28. This month’s theme is Spook-tacular Fun!

Monday, November 2 – Associated Staffing Inc and the American Red Cross will host a blood drive at 1839 23rd Street in Columbus from 11am-5pm. To make an appointment, call 402-564-9700 or go to www.redcrossblood.org. Give the Gift of Life!

Tuesday, November 3 – The Columbus Cancer Care Support Group will meet from 5pm-6:15pm in the Prairie Room at Columbus Community Hospital. Please RSVP to 402-562-8666 if you plan to attend. The featured topic will be SHIIP – Medicare Counseling Education with Joan Plummer. Everyone is welcome!

Thursday, November 19 – CCC, Score, NEF, GROW Nebraska, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and REAP presents Table Talks, a free lunch with a side of business talk, from noon-1pm at Opportunity Central. Please RSVP to Doris Lux at 402-562-1242. Also available in Spanish. Today’s topic is Cyber Security 101.

Thursday, December 10 – CCC, Score, NEF, GROW Nebraska, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and REAP presents Table Talks, a free lunch with a side of business talk, from noon-1pm at the Columbus Chamber office. Please RSVP to Doris Lux at 402-562-1242. Also available in Spanish. Today’s topic is Building Buyer Personas To Reach Your Target Audience.

Thursday, December 19 thru Sunday, December 20 – The Crane River Theater in Kearney presents “A Christmas Story” at 7pm on Thursday thru Saturday, and matinees at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Kick off your holiday season with the adaptation of the classic Christmas movie we all know and love! A Christmas Story follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Retold with a touch of childhood fantasy, these Christmas stories remind us all why we love the holidays. Perfect for the whole family! Tickets available online, or by calling 308-627-5796.

Thursday, January 21 – CCC, Score, NEF, GROW Nebraska, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and REAP presents Table Talks, a free lunch with a side of business talk, from noon-1pm at Opportunity Central. Please RSVP to Doris Lux at 402-562-1242. Also available in Spanish. Today’s topic is Mobile Marketing Tips For Each Generation.