TODAY
• Optimist Club of Council Bluffs — 7 a.m., Madison Avenue Hy-Vee.
• Al-Anon Family Group — 10 a.m., The 500 Club, 410 S. 16th St.
• Council Bluffs Rotary — Noon, The Center, 714 S. Main St.
• Take Off Pounds Sensibly (Tops) Iowa 1263 — 4 p.m., Harmony Court. Use lower east door. Call Shirley at 712-642-3530 or Sheila at 712-323-5874.
• Council Bluffs MAD DADS — 7 p.m. Call 712-328-0302.
• Gamblers 12-Step Program — 7 p.m., Pacific Hills Lutheran Church, 90th and Pacific Streets, Omaha. For 24-hour hotline, call 402-978-7899.
• All Acoustic Music Jam — 1 to 4 p.m., Western Historic Trails Center.
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• White Elephant Bingo — 12:30 p.m., The Center.
• Teen Gaming — 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., Council Bluffs Public Library’s Teen Central. Mix of board and video games for students in sixth through 12th grade. Call 712-323-7553.
• Trivia Takeover — 7 p.m., Caddy Shack Bar & Grill, 1426 Fourth Ave. Five-person teams can compete for prizes. There is no charge to compete, but teams are encouraged to register early as spots fill up fast. For more, call 712-322-9708 or visit caddyshackinc.com.
• Mills County H.O.P.E. Helping Oncology Patients Excel Support Group — 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Glenwood Public Library Annex, 109 N. Vine, Glenwood. Patients and caregivers welcome. Share and hear information about cancer issues. Call 712-527-9699.
• Share & Care — 7:30 p.m., CHI Health Missouri Valley Community Memorial Hospital, 631 N. Eighth St., Missouri Valley. Support group for cancer survivors. Call 712-642-2784.
• Vietnam Veterans of America — 7:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 716 S. Fourth St.
• Poetry Club — 6 to 7 p.m., Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave., Meeting Room 2D. Discuss poetry; inquire at the reference desk for books. Call 712-323-7553.
• Winterfest Kick-Off — 5:30 p.m. Bayliss Park, 100 Pearl St., downtown Council Bluffs. The Bayliss Park Holiday Lighting has some new and exciting features in store for the 2018 event. Expect all of the favorite traditions like the holiday lights countdown, Santa, reindeer and hot chocolate plus a few surprises. The lights will turn on promptly at 6 p.m. For more information, go online to facebook.com/events/275148373121326/.
FRIDAY
• Elks Lodge TGIF Dinner — 6 to 8 p.m., 380 McKenzie Ave. Call 712-323-2589 or find Elks Lodge 531 Council Bluffs on Facebook for weekly menu.
• Southwest lowa Narcotics Anonymous — Noon, Let It Be, New Litehouse, 200 16th Ave.; 6:30 p.m., Just for Today, Faith Community Church, 2701 N. Eighth St., Red Oak; 7 p.m., Clean & Free Group, first floor McDermott building, 800 Mercy Drive; 8 p.m., Straight and Grateful, 309 Elm St., Atlantic; 8:30 p.m., Discovery Group Church of Christ, 714 Benson St., Omaha; 8:30 p.m., Rebellions, New Litehouse, 200 16th Ave.
• Bingo — 12:15 p.m., The Center, 714 S. Main St. Two to four cards for 25 cents each, plus white elephant gift.
• Freedom Seekers Al-Anon — 7:30 p.m., Broadway Christian Church, 2658 Ave. A.
• Pickin’ and Grinnin’ Country Music Jam — 6:30 to 9 p.m., Corn Crib restaurant, 12 East St., Shelby. Musicians and music lovers invited to a weekly jam session. Call the Corn Crib at 712-207-2676.
• Roller Skating at UMBA Hall — Skating every Friday night at the UMBA Hall in Underwood except holiday weekends or if Underwood Schools are cancelled due to weather. Fourth grade and younger may skate from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fifth grade and older skate from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $4. No outside skates are allowed. The party room may be reserved for birthday celebrations for $30. Private skating parties are available for two hours of skating for $300. Call 712-566-2222 to reserve a time.
• “The Women” — Chanticleer Theater, 830 Franklin Ave., Council Bluffs. This clever comedy of manners has been hailed as a commentary on the pampered lives and power struggles of wealthy Manhattan socialites. The humorous overtones of the play frequently include boyfriends and husbands though no men ever actually appear on stage. Join the adventures of “The Women” as they examine relationships and romance with the sharp tongue of Clare Booth Luce. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors (ages 60 and older), and $10 for students.
• Theatre and Art Open House — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Painted Camel Gallery, 320 Main St., Macedonia. The Painted Camel Gallery will host an open house to coincide with the Grist Mill’s theatre production of “Steel Magnolias.”
SATURDAY
• Thomas Jefferson High School Band and Orchestra Fall Craft Fair 2018 — Thomas Jefferson High School, 2501 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs. Admission is free for this annual event that features lots of area vendors and crafters. The Pancake Man and Santa will also be there. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Holiday Blowout Craft & Vendor Fair — Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd., Council Bluffs. Enjoy a day of shopping with food and prizes to raise money for Share My Smile Foster Families. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and there will be a donation drop box at the event.
• Family Activity Time — Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave., Council Bluffs, Join library staff for a fun art project: making a traditional Huichol art yarn painting. Bring the family. Free and open to the public. For more information, go online to councilbluffslibrary.org.
• Free Thanksgiving Dinner — 4 to 6 p.m. at Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1800 Fifth Ave., Council Bluffs. Gluten free options will be available.
• Southwest Iowa Classic Toy Show — Page County Fairgrounds Wibholm Hall, 200 S. Sixth St., Clarinda. Classic toy show.
• “The Women” — Chanticleer Theater, 830 Franklin Ave., Council Bluffs. This clever comedy of manners has been hailed as a commentary on the pampered lives and power struggles of wealthy Manhattan socialites. The humorous overtones of the play frequently include boyfriends and husbands though no men ever actually appear on stage. Join the adventures of “The Women” as they examine relationships and romance with the sharp tongue of Clare Booth Luce. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors (ages 60 and older), and $10 for students.
• Overeaters Anonymous — 8:30 a.m., Douglas County Hospital, town hall meeting room, first floor, 42nd and Woolworth Streets, Omaha. Call Tracy at 402-551-9711. 10:30 a.m., Unity Church, 3424 N. 90th St., Omaha. Wheelchair accessible and child care provided. Call Dala at 402-210-3755.
• Southwest Iowa Narcotics Anonymous — 5 p.m., Saturday Serenity, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 812 Farnum St., Harlan; 6 p.m., On the Right Track, 515 E. Broadway; 8 p.m., Living Clean, 303 Walnut St., Shenandoah; 8:30 p.m., Rebellions, New Litehouse, 200 16th Ave.
• Gamblers 12-Step Program — 7 p.m., 354 N. 76th St., Omaha. For 24-hour hotline, call 402-978-7899.
• Electric Music Jam — Noon to 4 p.m., Western Historic Trails Center.
• Crescent Optimist Club — 7 a.m., Henry’s Diner, 836 Old Lincoln Highway.
• Families Understanding Needs — 6 p.m., Rue Elementary School, 3326 Sixth Ave. Support group for families with children with special needs.
• Treynor Optimist Club — 8 a.m., Treynor Community Center.
• Underwood Optimist Club — 7:30 a.m., UMBA Hall.
RECURRING
• Women, Infants and Children Program — WIC Office, Omni Centre, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 9. Health screenings, food benefits, referrals. Hours vary by day. Call 712-328-5886.
• Public Open Swim — YMCA or Kirn Pool. Open swimming available daily. Visit metroymca.org for swim times and cost. YMCA members get free classes, open swimming.
• The Center — 714 S. Main St., open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Facility has a 93-degree therapy pool, wellness center, fitness classes, social events and educational opportunities. Membership and class fees vary.
• Co-ed Water Exercise — Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Lewis Central Pool at Titan Hill Intermediate School. $3.
• High School Equivalency Diploma — Adults who need a high school diploma can enroll in Iowa Western Community College’s Adult Learning Center program for the High School Equivalency Test (which replaced the GED). Study reading, writing and math in morning, afternoon or evening classes. Visit the center at Kinney Hall on Iowa Western’s Council Bluffs campus or call 712-325-3266.
• Flag Disposal — Missouri Valley residents with U.S. flags for disposal may take them to the Times-News Office, 501 E. Erie St., in Missouri Valley. Flags may also be deposited in the special drop box located near the meeting room door of the Jesse Post No. 378, American Legion in the Mondamin Community Center. They will be given to the American Legion for a flag disposal ceremony.
• Oakland Senior Center — Meal reservations, inhouse or delivered, available Monday through Friday. Call prior to 11 a.m. the day before the meal.
• Friends of Underwood Community Organization — Meets every other Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Underwood City Hall. The group would like to have more people join to come up with and implement ideas on how to make the Underwood community a better place to live and work. Like them on Facebook: “Friends of Underwood, IA Community.”
• Flag Installations — The Underwood Avenue of Flags project installs American flags on residents’ property in the morning and removes them at night on the following holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Patriot Day and Veterans Day. Avenue of Flags is sponsored by the Underwood High School Junior Optimist Club. Cost is $35 per year. Call Dale and Barb at 712-566-2820 or email agidale@aol.com. Subscribers without changes may send check to “J.O.O.I. Club,” 505 N St., Underwood, 51576.