The Leesville Christmas Light Show is going on through Jan. 5 (Old Christmas). Since 2009, Corey Lee’s family has decorated their home at 7020 New Britton highway with what may be the largest Christmas display in the county. The Leesville Show is free. The lights are bright from 5 until 11 p.m. daily. Please park on the shoulder of the road or in the driveway.
Willing Vessel Ministries was dishing up the chicken bog in Whiteville on Christmas Eve despite the cold rain. A total of 596 plates were made during the annual tradition, with 196 going to nursing homes in the Tabor City area. Prayer partners were also on hand for those who were in need.
Our heroes this week are folks we have bragged on before. David Vernon Watts and Willing Vessel Ministries have provided Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to everyone several years back. Then they handed out hot cups of soup during a bitterly cold freeze last winter.
Since then, the food ministry has grown, even making several trips to the North Carolina mountains to provide hot meals for Hurricane Helene survivors and volunteers. And the food is good, not just the institutional type stuff you might expect from a massive operation like theirs. It’s not just nutrition for the body, but Willing Vessels feeds the soul too.
Look up Willing Vessels on Facebook, and help them out if you can. There’s no such thing as a donation too small when folks are helping those truly in need.
Cars and Coffee is this Saturday from 8-11 a.m. in the Lewis Smith Shopping Center parking lot in downtown Whiteville. The family-0friendly car meet welcomes all car enthusiasts. There’s no charge. Just polish up your favorite ride and head down. The show is held on the fourth Saturday of every month.
The Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum is now on its winter hours. Beginning Dec. 28, the museum will be open Saturdays 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. until February 22. The museum is on Flemington Drive at Lake Waccamaw. Admission is free.
The Lake Waccamaw State Park will hold its annual First Day hike Jan. 1 from 2-3 p.m. Meet at the visitors center and enjoy a one and a half mile guided walk where you can learn more about bay lakes and Lake Waccamaw’s unique nature.
The Museum of Science in Whiteville is one of the best kept secrets around. The museum has a number of activities geared toward families over the next few weeks.
On Jan. 4, the museum teams up with the Southeastern Swamp Stewards to enjoy a walk along the Lumber River in Fair Bluff. Meet at the boat ramp at 10 a.m. The boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. You can find out more about the Lumber River, flood control efforts, and the diverse species of wildlife along the river. Park at the visitor’s center.
If the riverwalk might be too challenging, bring your little ones to the minihike along the tree trail at the museum. A facility educator will lead the 2:30 p.m. hike where you can find out more about the museum as well as looking for wildlife, meeting painted life size animals, playing some games and getting outside for a while.
The museum’s popular PlaySpace PopUp series is continuing through the winter, along with storytime indoors. There are plenty of fun opportunities with hands-on activities to keep little hands and minds occupied. Check the Museum’s Facebook page for scheduling. The museum is located at Columbus and Madison streets in downtown Whitevile.
The Blood Connection will host the Jenna Jenkins Scholarship Drive Dec. 30 from 1 until 6 p.m. in Chadbourn. Donors will receive up to $50 in rewards for participating. Look for more on this story online.
Starting Jan. 11, Make Heaven Crowded Ministries will host a communitywide ladies Bible study inside Candlewood Farms Coffee and Bakery, 721 S. Madison St. in Whiteville, across the street from Merchantile on Madison. There will be Bible study, good food, coffee and fellowship from 9-10 a.m.
The Veterans Memorial Park of America will host the Wall the Heals in April. The traveling wall is a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The replica of the memorial in Washington along with its education center will be at the park April 25-27, and will be open around the clock. Volunteers are needed to help people find names on the wall as well as answer questions at the visitors booth. Set up and breakdown help will also be needed. Contact the park staff via Facebook for more information.
Tickets are also still available for non profit night at the Fayetteville Marksmen hockey game Jan. 11. The Marksmen will take on the Knoxville Ice Bears. A portion of all ticket sales go to the park. Call 910.840.5207 for information.
There’s always room for church announcements, civic club honors, good Samaritans, birthday parties, pageant winners, little kids with big fish – anything that makes you smile, we have room for it on the Good News. Email jeffersonweaver@columbuscountynews.com, call 910.914.69056, or just drop by our office at 1015 South Madison Street in downtown Whiteville. We welcome visitors.
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