Winter Camp: The Parks and Recreation Department is welcoming parents and guardians to register kids, ages 6-12, for the Winter Break Camp being offered from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 20-22 and Dec. 27-30 at the recreation centers listed below. Camp activities include gym games and crafts. Registration deadline is today, Dec. 15. Contact the recreation center for pricing and other details.
- Cimarron Recreation Center, 201 Red River Trail, (972) 910-0702
- Georgia Farrow Recreation Center, 530 Davis St., (972) 721-2519
- Northwest Recreation Center, 2800 Cheyenne St., (972) 721-2529
- Lee Park Recreation Center, 3000 Pamela Drive, (972) 721-2508
- Senter Park Recreation Center, 901 S. Senter Road, (972) 721-2641
Police Activities League Events: Registration is now under way for the activities listed below through a partnership between Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Irving Police Activities League. Activities are free, however, parents must meet with program coaches prior to registration. Space is limited. For more information, call (972) 254-4659.
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 20, Catamaran Lake Tour (Ages 8-18)
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 21, Hiking at Fort Richardson State Park, Jacksboro (Ages 8-18)
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 22, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Event (Ages 8-18)
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 27, Mountain Biking at Squabble Creek Trail (Ages 10-18)
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 28, Hiking at Cedar Hill State Park, Cedar Hill (Ages 8-18)
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 29, Indoor Rock Climbing at Dynorock (Ages 14-18)
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 30, Hiking at Cleburne State Park, Cleburne (Ages 8-18)
Free Gift Wrapping: The Irving Public Library will sponsor holiday gift wrapping services provided by the Young Adult Action Council (YAAC) and student volunteers with the All Wrapped Up program. Take some of the hassle out of holiday preparations by bringing gifts to the Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd., between noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 18. All Wrapped Up will offer a unique selection of wrapping paper styles. Gift wrapping service is limited to five items per person and will be available while supplies last. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Only gift wrap and tags will be provided. Gift wrapping for oversized items will not be available. Volunteers will accept canned good donations for Irving Cares. For more information, call (972) 721-2606.
Christmas Crafts: Children of all ages are invited to celebrate the holidays with a free, come-and-go craft and reading program from 3 to 4 p.m. Dec. 21 at the East Branch Library, 440 S. Nursery Road, Suite 103. For more information, call (972) 721-3722.
Toy Drive: The Police and Fire departments are again hosting the Blue Christmas Toy Drive. Through Dec. 22, donations of new, unwrapped toys for children ages 1-16 (gifts for teens are most needed), as well as canned and box food items, will be accepted at the Criminal Justice Center, 305 N. O’Connor Road; Police North Substation, 5992 Riverside Drive; Fire Administration, 845 W. Irving Blvd.; or at any Irving fire station. Visit www.cityofirving.org/fire and select “Fire Station Locations” on the left. Call (972) 721-2746 for details.
Holiday Lights Display: The Holiday Lights at Centennial Park will be on display from dusk to 10 p.m. through Dec. 26. The display will feature a festive arrangement of holiday-themed illuminated exhibits. The park is located at 444 W. Second St. For more information, call (972) 721-2501.
CERT Training: The Office of Emergency Management is hosting a free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 8-9. Training will take place at the Fire and Police Training Academy, 2603 Esters Road. CERT members will learn how to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours following a major emergency or disaster. CERT members are volunteers who others in the community will rely on to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs. Space is limited. To sign up for this volunteer training opportunity, contact Emergency Management Planner Billy Owens at (972) 721-2183 or bowens@cityofirving.org by Dec. 31. View flier for more information.
Public Input Meetings: Residents will have the opportunity to provide input to city staff and project architects on the new South Irving Library at community input meetings scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and 20 at the Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd. The new library will replace the existing Central Library location, which is slated to open late 2012. For more information, call (972) 721-2606.
State of the City: The 2011 State of the City dinner is set for Jan. 27 at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd. For ticket information, visit www.irvingchamber.com or call (214) 217-8473.
Master Composter Course: The annual two-day Spring Master Composter Training Course will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 26 at Senter East Building, 228 Chamberlain St. To register, call (972) 742-2296, or visit www.cityofirving.org/begreen, select “Educational Opportunities” and select “Master Composter Training.” A refundable deposit of $20 is required for registration. Registrants must attend both days to receive their deposit at end of the course.
Eco-Calendar: The 2011 eco-calendar features a different environmental topic each month—providing readers with tips on how to be better stewards of the planet. Free copies of the eco-calendar are available to residents at City Hall and at all public library locations. For more information, call (972) 721-2533. View a preview of the calendar online.
