St. Pat's Bazaar, Sweet Charity, and ways you can help your town for the holidays

Thanksgiving, the official beginning to the end-of-year holidays, is less than a week away. You can make a table decoration at the library today, or visit St. Pat's bazaar this weekend to get in the mood. And at the end of this Diary entry are two opportunities to do something for Norristown's less-fortunate this season. Get involved.

Friday, November 17, 11 am-1 pm at Norristown Library. Make your very own Thanksgiving table decoration from local, natural materials. Artist Gary Fischer will help you make your own table decoration with locally-sourced natural materials including dried leaves, vines, grasses, seed pods and beautiful bittersweet. We'll provide everything you need. Call or drop by the Front Desk to register. SPACES ARE LIMITED. Contact Cliff Hirst, 610-278-5100 x0, cliffhirstmnl@gmail.com.

Friday, 5-8:30 pm and Saturday, 10 am-8 pm, St. Patrick's Church Christmas Bazaar. Plan to come for a meal of homemade soul food and/or Mexican food. Lots of crafts, gifts, jewelry, candy, games, etc. Silent auction and raffle baskets. Santa! Dancers at 6:30 pm Friday, Carolers at 1 pm Saturday, plus other entertainment.

Friday, 6-8 pm at Alfredo's Restaurant. Norristown Welcome Committee meeting. The Committee is developing a Welcome Packet to be given to all new residents. If you're interested contact Denise Hall at poboxhall@gmail.com.

Friday and Saturday, 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm at Centre Theater. Last weekend for "Sweet Charity" by the King of Prussia Players. Info at this link.

Saturday, 9 pm-midnight at Five Saints Distillery (E Main and Green Sts.). Wes Johnson will perform.

Tuesday (and all Tuesdays in November), 6-7:45 pm, Norristown Library. Career Workshops. Local career coach Lynn Carroll will share her expertise and enthusiasm with you in a series of workshops that will be helpful to job seekers at all skill levels and in all industries. This week Build Your Network. Register at www.lynncareercoach.com/events.

Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Council Workshop. Municipal Hall.

Wednesday, 1 pm at Norristown Library. FREE movie. "The Big Sick"~a romantic comedy starring Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan and Ray Romano. Rated R. Drop in.

Thursday and Friday, Municipal offices closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Library is closed on Thursday.

Next Saturday, November 25, is Small Business Saturday. Please give Norristown's small businesses your patronage for your holiday food, spirits, gifts, holiday hair-dos, etc. Remember, spending your bucks within N-town's borders boosts our town's economy. Going to the mall doesn't.

The Norristown Police Department will once more be doing Seven Days Before Christmas, where they donate to the neediest families in Norristown. You can nominate a family at this link. Monetary donations can be made by mailing your check to the Norristown Police Foundation, 235 E. Airy St, Norristown, PA 19401. Donations of toys and other gifts, and gift cards can be brought to the Police entrance in the rear of 235 E. Airy. DEADLINE is December 1.

On Wednesday, December 13, the Lt. Patty Simons Food Drive will be gathering at Elmwood Park Zoo and they'll need volunteers anytime between 8 am-11 pm to help collect, sort, and box donated nonperishable goods for this years drive. Heated tents, food and a DJ will make the volunteer time enjoyable. Please come and help.