At this time of year, everyone’s thoughts are turning to the holiday season.
Being good citizens of course, the first special November day is Election Day. As American citizens, one of the greatest rights we enjoy is the right to cast a ballot.
Once the elections are over the holidays begin. The Marine Corps’ birthday is Nov. 10, and local detachments are selling tickets for the 238th Birthday Ball. The following day is Veterans Day, Nov. 11 and many government offices will be closed.
Once past Veterans Day, the Thanksgiving season will begin. Most of the posts will be collecting items to fill baskets for families that may not be able to have a holiday without some help.
Toys for Tots will be accepting new unwrapped toys and cash donations at various locations throughout the county. These are easy to spot — just look for Marines. Toys-for-Tots always means Christmas is near.

Baskets of Appreciation 
needs help
The Third Annual Baskets of Appreciation for families of service men and women in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties is looking for volunteers to help assemble the baskets from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15 at the Lake County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.
The group also will be accepting new items such as toiletries, toys and games, DVD and CDs, stocking stuffers, healthy snacks and miscellaneous goodies, kitchen and bathroom items, sweatshirts and T-shirts in all sizes for the baskets.
Baskets 12 inches and larger also will be accepted. Items are being accepted now through November and will be stored at Uncle Bob’s storage. For details and times, call 440-975-8880.

Veterans get free haircuts
Great Clips is offering a free haircut for a veteran when a service is purchased now through Nov. 11. Get a Great Clips cut and receive a free haircut card to give to a veteran. The free haircut cards are redeemable by veterans at any Great Clips between Nov. 11 and Dec. 31 with proof of service.
Veterans will be eligible to receive a free haircut on Veterans Day or a free haircut card to redeem by Dec. 31.

Fish fry in Willoughby
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1500, 38295 Pelton Road in Willoughby, is hosting fish fry dinners the first and third Fridays of the month at the post home. For details, call the post home at 440-951-9233.

Funeral detail available 
in Geauga County
American Legion Post 459, 14059 Goodwin St. in Burton, has a full military funeral detail available to any honorably discharged veteran eligible for full military honors. The honor guard, led by Newell Beaumier, sergeant at arms, is available 24/7, with a few days’ notice. For details call “Bo” at 440-834-8764. Please leave a message if no one answers.

Catholic War Veterans 
host membership drive
Catholic War Veterans will be hosting a membership and poppy drive at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Road in Concord Township on Nov. 9 and 10 at all Masses. The group will observe a Blue Mass at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the church. All are welcome.
Post veterans also will host a membership drive following all masses at St. Mary Magdalene, 32114 Vine St. in Willowick Nov. 9 and 10. For details, call Ken Kirchner, second vice commander, at 440-257-2156 or cpd2195@yahoo.com.

Legion oratorical 
contest deadline nears
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students.
The Lake/Geauga Counties contest will be Nov. 17 at Wickliffe Senior Center, 900 Worden Road in Wickliffe. Interested students must register with Gary A. Minadeo, Lake County Oratorical chairman, before Nov. 13.
Visit the website at www.legion.org/oratorical for further information or call Gary Minadeo at 440-840-6164 or via e-mail at happy2help@att.net.

Marine Corps birthday ball
The 238th USMC Birthday Celebration sponsored by Marine Corps League Detachment 782 will be 6 p.m. to midnight Nov. 9 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall, 133 South Spruce St. in Jefferson.
The event is open to the public and is business casual.
The evening will include an open bar and Chinese auction. Celebrate the birthday of American’s Marines with your local Marine Corps veterans and members of the Pvt. Henry Kalinowski Marine Corps League Detachment 782.
Tickets are $45 per couple or $25 single and available until
Nov. 1.
For ticket information, call Tom Lucas Jr., at 440-992-5861; 440-813-3914 or e-mail to lukejr68@gmail.com.Send check or money order made out to the Marine Corps League, c/o Tom Lucas Jr., 3105 Jefferson Road Ashtabula, OH 44004.

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.

Veterans Day weekend is upon us and the department stores are offering sales and discounts. A word of advice to those veterans who are out and about: Ask the merchant or restaurant you patronize if they offer a veterans discount.
Many establishments offer discounts and even free meals to veterans with proof of service.
Retailers offer discounts on everything from cell phones to haircuts and clothing to building supplies. If you served and have proof of service, just ask and you may be pleasantly surprised to find that the final total has been discounted in thanks for your service.
 
Happy Birthday Marines
A happy 237th birthday to the United States Marine Corps, which was founded on Nov. 10, 1775, in Philadelphia at the Tun Tavern. The Col. Justice M. Chambers Detachment 555 of the Marine Corps League will host an open house beginning at noon Saturday at “Gunny’s Hall,” 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor. For details, call 440-974-9380.
 
Library offers military book sale
Madison Public Library will offer a military-theme book sale from Nov. 1 through 14 at the library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road in Madison. The sale will be open during regular library hours and all of the books have a military theme. All proceeds of the sale will benefit the Friends of Madison Public Library. For details, call 440-428-2189.
 
Operation Christmas Stockings for Soldiers
DeJohn Funeral Home and Crematory is sponsoring the fourth annual “Operation Christmas Stockings for Soldiers” through Nov. 28. The community may visit DeJohn funeral homes and pick up a free Christmas stocking to take home, decorate and stuff with Christmas cheer. Stuffed stockings returned to the funeral home by Nov. 28 will be shipped to the troops abroad in time for Christmas.
Stockings and a list of suggested items for stuffing and shipping overseas will be provided by the funeral home. Anyone wishing to participate may stop at 4600 Mayfield Road in South Euclid or 126 South St. in Chardon between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Nov. 28. For details, call 440-516-5555.
 
Aviation book sale and pancake breakfast
The International Women’s Air and Space Museum’s annual book sale and pancake breakfast will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 10 at Burke Lakefront Airport, 1501 North Marginal Road in Cleveland. The books and aviation items will be for sale and the pancake breakfast will be $5 per person. For details, call 216-623-1111 or visit www.iwasm.org.
 
Radio show offers look at First Armistice Day
The “LEGACIES” radio show on WELW-AM 1330 will broadcast a special interview at 9:30 a.m. Sunday to commemorate the First Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1918. The interview is with Marine Arthur Keller and includes his memories of the final day of the war. The interview was done by his daughter, Joyce Keller, in 1974 when her father was 75 years old.
 
Military care package collection at NDCL
Notre Dame Cathedral Latin’s Christian Leadership class is sponsoring a military care package drive through the Adopt-A-Platoon program. AAP provides an opportunity for Americans to reach out and touch an American service member’s heart.
NDCL’s goal is to raise funds and supply care packages to send to a platoon of 75 soldiers (65 men and 10 women). All items may be dropped off in the school office or Room 207. For more information, call NDCL theology teacher Douglas Murray at 440-286-6226.
 
Volunteers to help with Boulevard of Flags
Volunteers are needed to help take down the flags at the Boulevard of 500 Flags, 35150 Lake Shore Blvd. in Eastlake at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 17. If you would like to help, please report to the back parking lot between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Bring a pair of work gloves and help get the boulevard ready for winter. For details, call Joe Strand at 440-942-9344.
 
Painesville VFW serves breakfast
The Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2595 will host a breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. Nov. 18 at the post home, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville. For details, call 440-354-9090.

Breakfast with Santa
The Burton American Legion Post 459 Auxiliary will host Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 24 and 25 at the post home, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children ages 5 and younger.
The Ladies Auxiliary will present the 12th Annual Santa’s Collection Craft Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 24 at the post. Unique gifts, crafts and toys will be for sale. For table information, call Carol at 440-834-4532. All proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund.
 
Fairport Post serves fish fry meals
VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, will offer a perch fry from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch and 4 to 7 p.m. for dinner. The dinners are served on the second and fourth Fridays of the month and are open to the public. For details, call 440-352-1123.
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.