• Pre-School Storytime, every Wednesday, 10 – 11 am at Spectacle Books, 113 Siler Crossing Shopping Center in  Siler City. 

• Every Monday at 6:30 for the month of January, narcotics Anonymous meetings will be held at Alston Chapel Church.

• There will be a Blood Drive at Alston Chapel United Holy Church, 1832 Alston Chapel Road, Pittsboro on  Monday, December 27 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Schedule an appointment by calling 542-4111.

• Randolph Youth Theater Company will hold auditions for its spring production of Tom Sawyer on Saturday, January 8 from 1-4 pm or Sunday, January 9 from 2-5 pm. at the Randolph Arts Guild located at 123 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Auditions are open to youth ages 8-18, with or without acting experience.  No need to prepare anything in advance, but plan to read from a script.

• New Hope Audubon Society meeting will be held Thursday, January 6 at 7 pm at the Totten Center of the NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill. The public is invited. Speaker will be Birdman Dave Gulick, who will speak about the Amazon Rainforest. He will be accompanied by Bell, his Macaw to help his presentation. For information, call Judy Murray, 919-942-2985 or Tom Driscoll, 919-932-7966.

• Chatham County’s 12 collection centers will close for the holidays at 5 pm on Friday December 24 and all day Saturday, December 25. Call 542-5516 for more information.

• The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department celebrates Kwanzaa! This is a family affair and seeks to reinforce the bonds between parents and children. Bring your family and join in with the Ebone’ Dancers and Mickey Mills, Thursday, December 30 at 7 pm at Hargraves Recreation Center, Northside Gymnasium (216 N. Roberson Street). Event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact the Hargraves Recreation Center at 968-2794.