It is not too early to begin thinking about Christmas, especially if you have a loved one who is deployed.
Donations for the “The Night Before Christmas” and “Charlie Brown Christmas” recordable storybooks are now being accepted at Kirlin’s Hallmark at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. 
In today’s world, the recordable storybook brings families separated by military service together for the holidays. Kirlin’s, working in partnership with Operation Support Our Troops, will send the books to deployed military personnel to record their voice reading the classic and send them back to their families in time for the holidays.
The program has sent 13,000 books to Afghanistan, Iraq and various military hospitals since 2010.
For details, visit any Kirlin’s Hallmark or www.kirlinshallmark.com. The program runs through Aug. 31.
Pennies for Veterans
The collection jugs from Pennies for Veterans, co-sponsored by WKKY-FM 104.7 in Geneva, will be delivered to the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman on Aug. 4. The donation will help with the burial of indigent veterans. Money collected also will help with the upkeep of the cemetery.
The tradition of leaving a coin on the headstone of a veteran began as far back as the Roman Empire. Each coin left indicates a different military relationship. Leave a penny to show you visited; a nickel shows you trained with the deceased; a dime means that you served with the veteran in some capacity. The quarter left on the headstone shows you were with the deceased when they were killed.
The collection fills four large jugs. For more information, visit WKKY.com
University Circle salutes veterans
University Circle Salutes Veterans takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The annual event includes Mount Zion Congregational Church, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Western Reserve Historical Society History Center at East 108th Street and Magnolia Drive in University Circle.
The free event is a special tribute to veterans, with live music, classic cars, community service booths and games for the kids.
GI Gathering Aug. 11
A GI Gathering with coffee and doughnuts will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 11 at the Atwood-Mauck Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton. For details, call 440-897-2396.
Steak or chicken dinner served
Col. J.M. Chambers Foundation “Gunny’s Hall,” 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, will hold a steak or chicken dinner Aug. 11 at the hall. Steak dinners will be $15 and chicken dinners $12. Call 440-974-9380 for reservations.
Golf outing for Wounded Warriors
The World’s Largest Golf Outing is being planned for 4 p.m. Aug. 13 at Briardale Greens Golf Course in Euclid. Proceeds from the outing at more than 100 courses nationwide will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Cost is $25 per person, with registration and warm-up at 4 p.m., shotgun start at 5:30 and awards at 8. For details or to register, visit worldslargestgolfouting.com.
Conneaut bus trip to 1944
Geauga County Department on Aging will host a motor-coach trip back in time to 1944 on Aug. 18, with a visit to the re-enactment of the beach landing at Normandy performed on the shores of Conneaut.
Cost for the trip is $10 for veterans and/or spouses and $35 for nonveterans, space permitting. The bus pickups are scheduled for Chagrin Falls and Chardon senior centers.
For information or a registration form, call Amber Weinhart at 440-247-8510.
Legion serves steak dinner
American Legion Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will serve a steak dinner 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 18. Tickets are available from any legion member or by calling 440-834-8764 for details.
Red Mill Charity Miniature Golf Outing
The Wags for Warriors program provides service dogs to veterans affected by their combat experience. The dogs are found at local rescue shelters, trained and matched to veterans at no cost. The outing is $5 per golfer and includes 18 holes of miniature golf between 3 and 7 p.m. Aug. 25. One hundred percent of proceeds will benefit Wags 4 Warriors. For details, call 440-259-4211 or email redmillgolf@gmail.com.
To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.