CALENDAR

Send your North Central public event notices (including recreational sports) for free to Edmond Ortiz at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; by fax at 828-3787; or by mail to him in c/o North Central News, 17400 Judson Road, San Antonio, TX 78247. Submissions must be received by noon Friday prior to the next desired publication date. Items run on a space-available basis.

ONGOING

Clark High School AFJROTC is collecting non-perishable food items as part of its Operation Holiday Spirit food drive. Items can be placed in designated boxes in the school’s front office. Proceeds will benefit the San Antonio Food Bank.

WellMed sponsors free flu shot clinics for Medicare-eligible seniors 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through December at 415 Embassy Oaks Drive, Suite 200 and at 7622 Louis Pasteur Drive, Suite 100.

Overtime Theater, 1216 West Ave., hosts a family-friend improvisational comedy show at 9:30 p.m. Fridays ($8), and the Next State Improv Troupe performs at 10 p.m. Saturdays ($8). Call 380-0326 for details.

San Antonio Feral Cats Coalition offers cats and kittens for adoption 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Sunday at PetSmart, U.S. Highway 281 between Nakoma and Bitters roads.

La Taza Coffee House, 15060 San Pedro Ave., hosts “Heartbeat of the Soul,” a weekly session of open-mike poetry at 8 p.m. Mondays. Call 494-8292 for details.

Daily Grind Coffee Shop, 1911 Huebner Road, hosts open-mike sessions for comedians and acoustic musicians 7 to 11 p.m. Mondays. Call 481-0444 for details.

A youth chess club meets at 6 p.m. Mondays at Bannwolf Public Library at Reagan High School. The club is open to all ages and skill levels.  

Homewood Residence at Castle Hills, 1207 Jackson-Keller Road, hosts adult and senior game days noon to 3 p.m. Thursdays. Call Janice at 375-8132 for reservations or details.

Rotary Clubs: San Antonio Sunrise meets 7 a.m. Fridays at 12828 San Pedro Ave. San Antonio Northwest meets noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursdays at Cha-Cha’s, 2026 Babcock Road. For details call Larry Martin at 496-9907 or Terry Mendenhall at 492-4166. Stone Oak meets at noon Fridays at The Club at Sonterra, 901 Sonterra Blvd. Visit www.stoneoaksarotary.org for details.

Through Nov. 30 all local IBC Bank branches will be accepting donations as part of Operation Care Drop. IBC is collecting pre-made care packages purchased at area H-E-B stores or travel-sized supplies and treats capable of accommodating a quart-sized plastic bag. Donations can be placed in the “Drop Zone” at any IBC branch and should include a letter of support or thanks to a soldier overseas.

Geeks Who Drink present its trivia game at 8 p.m. Tuesdays at The Lion and Rose, 700 E. Sonterra Blvd. Prizes and free pints are up for grabs. For details visit http://geekswhodrink.com.

Optimist Clubs: Harmony Hills meets at 7 a.m. Wednesdays at Jim’s, San Pedro Avenue and Ramsey Street. Towne and Country meets at 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at Hungry Horse Cafe, West Avenue near Nakoma Road. Stone Oak Community meets at 8:45 a.m. each first Wednesday in the North Central Baptist Hospital atrium, 502 Madison Oak. Visit http://stxd.org for details.

Stone Oak Youth Theatre, 21518 Blanco Road, Suite 101, is conducting weekly classes in acting, musical theater, dance and creative movement through Dec. 19. Call 544-6595 or visit www.soyt.org for details.

Wilderness Oak Elementary School is holding a food drive for its sister school Wilshire Elementary through Monday. Several Thanksgiving food baskets will be put together and distributed to Wilshire families. For details, call 491-8363.

Paws for Pause is available with pet adoption opportunities and information every Wednesday at PetSmart, U.S. Highway 281 and Bitters Road. E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Alzafar Shrine Temple, Loop 1604 between Blanco Road and Stone Oak Parkway, hosts bingo games at 7 p.m. every third Thursday. Proceeds benefit Shriner hospitals and burn centers. Refreshments are offered.

The San Antonio Food Bank is collecting frozen turkeys to hand out to families for Thanksgiving. People can donate anytime between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Security Service Federal Credit Union service centers located at Loop 1604 and U.S. Highway 281 and Interstate 10 and DeZavala Road. Look for the H-E-B truck by the SSFCU location and drop off your frozen turkey donation with the volunteers. Canned goods and any other items needed by the food bank are also being collected through the entire this month’s end.

WineStyles, 16535 Huebner Road, Suite 112, hosts 2nd Verse, involving poets, musicians and DJs at 8 p.m. Saturdays. Call 479-5955 for details.

Bismarck Studios, 930 Proton, Suite 202, is hosting the exhibit “Cornucopia” through Nov. 29. Call 314-7747 or visit www.bismarckstudios.com for details.

North East School of the Arts is presenting final performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “Carousel” at 7:30 p.m. today to Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Lee High School. Call 442-2510 for tickets and other information.

The BackYard Theater for Kids, Wurzbach and Lockhill-Selma roads, is hosting “A Little Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving” at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 25. Call 408-0116 or visit www.stolientertainment.com for prices and other details.

The play “Children of a Lesser God” is being performed 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 22 at the Sheldon Vexler Theater at Barshop Jewish Community Center, 12500 Northwest Military Highway. For tickets and other details call 302-6835.

MEETINGS/EVENTS

The Church at Stone Oak’s Bright Beginnings school hosts a Holiday Marketplace 5 to 8 p.m. today at 20825 Wilderness Oak. Proceeds will help fund construction of a sidewalk between the church and the adjacent Wilderness Oaks Elementary School. Anyone can attend.

Churchill High School hosts an English Language Learner informational meeting for parents and students 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today in the campus cafeteria. One goal for this meeting is to enhance communication between ELL counselors/teachers and the parents of the school's ELL population.

Wedgwood Luxury Senior Living Apartments, 6701 Blanco Road, hosts the Children of Aging Parents Educational Series 6 to 7:30 p.m. today. Chris Hutchins, a physical therapist with the Medical Team Home Health Agency, presents the program “Get Up and Go with Home Therapy.” The event includes refreshments and door prizes. Call 227-9000 for reservations and other details.

Barshop Jewish Community Center, 12500 Northwest Military Highway, continues hosting its 26th annual book festival with an appearance by Stephanie Klein at 7:30 p.m. today. Call 302-6820 for tickets and other details.

Lopez High School drama students perform an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s original story “The Little Mermaid” at 4 and 7 p.m. today at the campus cafetorium. Tickets are $3.

Stone Oak Elementary School is hosting the public portion of its weeklong book fair from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today on campus.

Free, public seminars on the Humana Gold Plus program will be offered at 10 a.m. today at Texas Land and Cattle, 9911 Interstate 10 West; 10 a.m. Friday at Grady’s BBQ, 6510 San Pedro Ave.; 10 a.m. Tuesday at Jim’s, 16101 San Pedro Ave.; and 10 a.m. Wednesday at Denny’s, 6801 Blanco Road.

Sonterra Women's Association will hold its annual holiday bazaar 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at The Club at Sonterra, 901 Sonterra Blvd. Thirty-five vendors, including 10 new ones, will be available at the public event. A part of the group’s budget is dedicated toward select charities. Call Carol Churchill at 494-5209 for details.

San Antonio Musical Club holds its annual scholarship book dramatization and luncheon at 11 a.m. Friday at the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, Sahara Drive and San Pedro Avenue. Cost is $40. Call Jean French at 858-4721 for details.

Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center, 20906 Gathering Oak, hosts a fall festival 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event includes refreshments, children’s activities and a silent auction. Attendees are encouraged to donate one canned good.

Hardy Oak Elementary School hosts a holiday marketplace shopping event 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Cooking with Care’s Amy Sokol will lead a cooking class, “Easy Entertaining,” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sun Harvest, U.S. Highway 281 and Loop 1604.

The Lee High School Band hosts its annual barbecue fundraiser 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the campus cafeteria. The event includes live entertainment. Plates are $6 and may be purchased by a band member or at the school. Call Monica Ruiz-Mills at 442-0300, extension 298 for details.

Borders Books at Huebner Oaks hosts a release party for the movie “Twilight,” based on the series of best-selling books,” at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Pawderosa Ranch, 923 Clydeville Road, will host an appearance by Santa Paws for pet photos 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds will benefit Animal Friends Humane Society. Visit www.pawderosaranch.com for details.

Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County, 4804 Fredericksburg Road, hosts Pet-a-Paw-Loosa from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. The holiday-themed and pet-friendly event will include pet photos with Santa Claus, entertainment by Radio Disney, pet adoptions, microchipping and refreshments. Call 226-7461 for details.

Jo-Ann Power discusses and signs copies of “Baring Arms” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes and Noble, U.S. Highway 281 and Loop 1604.

Windcrest Animal Hospital will offer low-cost vaccinations for dogs and cats at two Saturday clinics: 12:30 to 2 p.m. at H-E-B, Wurzbach Road and Interstate 10 West, and at H-E-B, O’Connor and Nacogdoches roads. A Sunday clinic is set for 9 to 11 a.m. at Wal-Mart, U.S. Highway 281 and Loop 1604.

North Central Baptist Hospital, 520 Madison Oak, hosts a free heart health seminar, “Know Your Numbers and Cardiovascular Risks for Women," 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday.  Anyone can attend to enjoy the lecture and light, healthy refreshments. Call 297-7005 for reservations and other details.

Thousand Oaks/El Sendero Public Library, 4816 Thousand Oaks, hosts a book sale 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Used books can be donated to the library for sale.

Kinky Friedman will be on hand to sign copies and discuss his book “What Would Do Kinky Do?” at 2 p.m. Sunday at Barnes and Noble, Loop 410 and San Pedro Avenue.

The Company Theatre will present performances of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 30 at Orderup, Interstate 10 West and Wurzbach Road. Tickets are $12 in advance, $10 for students, seniors and San Antonio Theater Coalition members, and $15 at the door. Visit www.thecompanytheatre.org or call 1-800-838-3006 for details.

Reagan High School theater students will perform “The Mistress of the Inn” at 7 p.m. today, Monday and Tuesday at the campus auditorium. Tickets are $6 general admission, $7 at the door and $10 for reserved seating. Call 482-2200, ext. 248 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Team Women is an organization that provides female professions a forum with which to build business and increase sales via the cultivation of direct business referrals through face-to-face networking. Team Women has launched two new San Antonio-area chapters. One chapter, Team Women Bexar County, holds a kick-off meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the H-E-B Central Market, 4821 Broadway. Contact Judi Finneran at (760) 599-0492 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Eisenhower Middle School Orchestra Boosters will host a dinner and silent auction fundraiser 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday on campus.

Sunset North Funeral Home, Loop 1604 between U.S. Highway 281 and Stone Oak Parkway, will host a mixer for area merchants 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. Admission will be free.

The San Antonio City Council District 9 office will host a public meeting on the Camp Bullis Joint Land Use Study at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Reagan High School cafeteria.

The Johnson High School PTA will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the campus auditorium.

San Antonio Water System is conducting an outreach campaign, “Refreshing Ideas,” to show residents what the utility does. The campaign makes a stop from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Northern Hills United Methodist Church, 3703 N. Loop 1604 East.

Ex-Dallas Cowboys star Bob Lilly discusses and signs copies of his autobiography “A Cowboy’s Life” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, De Zavala Road and Interstate 10 West.

World Affairs Council of San Antonio will present a luncheon and lecture, “Media and the Elections,” at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel, 110 Lexington Ave. Costs are $30 for World Affairs Council members and $40 for non-members. For reservations, call 308-9494 or visit www.wacofsa.org.

Justine Larbalestier will sign copies and discuss her book, “How to Ditch Your Fairy,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Loop 410 and San Pedro Avenue.

San Antonio Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will have its regular monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Aldino's Ristorante, Loop 1604 and Blanco Road. Guests and prospective members are welcome. Contact Peter Baron at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 913-3458 for reservations and other details.

Go Baby Go! will sponsor a free cloth diaper how-to class for local parents 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Brook Hollow Public Library, 530 Heimer Road. Call 313-4239 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for registration and other details.

St. Luke Catholic School, 4603 Manitou, hosts its 18th annual "Focus on Christmas" Arts and Crafts Show 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 20 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 21. Activities include live entertainment, lunch and prizes. Admission is free. Call 433-2777 or e-mail Christina Maldonado at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Bexar County Republican Women will meet at 11 a.m. Nov. 21 at the Club at Sonterra, 901 Sonterra Blvd. Call Carol Kraft 492-2176 for details.

Churchill High School will host its annual fall blood drive 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 21 in the campus senior dining hall.

Melanie’s Pottery Playhouse, 2339 Evans Road, will host a Kids’ Club Christmas ornament-painting party 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21. The $20 fee includes four ornaments. Reservations are encouraged. Visit www.melaniespotteryplayhouse.com for details.

The Reagan High School Orchestra will hold its annual fundraiser at Barnes and Noble, U.S. Highway 281 and Loop 1604. Student members will perform holiday music 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 21 and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 22. Proceeds from store purchases completed either day will benefit the orchestra. Book fair vouchers should be used at purchase time; vouchers are available at the store and at www.rattlersorchestra.com.  

Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County, 4804 Fredericksburg Road, will host its annual Mutt Strutt Nov. 22. The pet-friendly fundraiser includes a walk, carnival, costume and doggie dancing contests, demonstrations and entertainment. Call 226-7461, extension 127 or visit www.humanesocietyspca.org for registration and other details.

The city of San Antonio will hold a public ceremony at 9 a.m. Nov. 22 at Voelcker Park, Longfield and Old Blanco roads, to formally dedicate the Salado Creek Greenway.

Motivational Personal Training will offer a free one-hour fitness boot camp at 9 a.m. Nov. 22 at Bush Middle School, 1500 Evans Road. Admission is a toy to donate to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.