Southold-Peconic: Southold Jr.-Sr. High School winter concert Dec. 15

Calling all parents who need a break: The Youth Group of First Presbyterian Church in Southold is sponsoring a Parents’ Night Out on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 5 to 10 p.m. Parents can enjoy a relaxing evening or get in some last-minute holiday shopping while their children enjoy dinner, crafts, games, stories and movies. Cost is a free-will donation. Proceeds support the youth group’s summer mission trip to the Pilgrimage, a service-learning hostel in Washington, D.C. Call the church office at 765-2597 or Kathy Tylee at 734-8029 to register or get more information.

Members of the youth group raised $453 at a Bowling for Dollars event last month in which contributors matched the highest team score in dollars. This money will be used to distribute food and clothing to the needy in New York City.

Ellie Hall is doing her part to make sure the cats and dogs at the Southold Town Animal Shelter are warm, comfortable and well-fed this winter. She is collecting blankets, towels, canned pet food, peanut butter and dog biscuits as well as gift certificates for any of these items. Donations can be dropped off the chiropractic office of Ellie’s husband, Dr. Rick Hall, on the North Road. Call 765-9520 for hours.

All are welcome to visit Peggy and Jim Murphy’s Snow Village display — featuring over 100 houses and accessory pieces with a train running through it all. Their home is located at 225 Horton Lane in Southold, just off of Route 25. It is suggested that you call 765-3598 in advance to be sure the Murphys are at home.

Happy birthday to Lucille Jones on Dec. 15; Bev Sage on the 17th; Gary Haupt on the 18th; my niece Miranda Elak, who will blow out eight candles, on the 19th; and my dad, Alec Elak, and my uncle Joe Bush, both of whom celebrate on the 20th.

Storytellers Live will give a concert at Rothman’s Gallery on Main Road in Southold Sunday, Dec. 18, 4 to 6 p.m. Catch rising stars during an afternoon of original music from songwriters Robert Bruey, Laura Hoch, Fred Raimondo and Geoff Schroeder. Admission is $10, which will help support the preservation of music and the arts in Southold Town.

The Southold junior-senior high band, chorus and orchestra will present their winter concert this Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the district auditorium. Admission is free.

The Cell Phones for Soldiers red collection box will remain in the Southold post office throughout the holiday season. Consider donating your old cell phone for recycling so our servicemen and -women can receive free one-hour phone cards. This program has collected over 1,000 phones from the North Fork over the last few years. If you know of someone who would benefit from this program, go to cellphonesforsoldiers.com to request a calling card for them.