Bird count
The Handlan Chapter of the Brooks Bird Club will be holding their annual count of birds in the Charleston area on Saturday as part of the national Christmas Bird Count. All birders are welcome to contribute. Contact Doren Burrell at doren@doren.net; 304-343-5873, for more information.
Model train open house
The Kanawha Valley Railroad Association continues its Holiday Open House each Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 20 at its location at the end of Coonskin Park. Hours are: Thursdays and Fridays, 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 to 9 p.m.; and Sundays, 1 to 6 p.m. Parking and admission are free. For information, visit www.kvrailroad.org. At Coonskin Park, follow the main road to the end of the Christmas light show to arrive at the open house.
Preceptor Alpha
Preceptor Alpha chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority will meet at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at Cannan United Methodist Church, 401 Rhone St. in Charleston, with Torchbearer Alpha chapter for their Christmas buffet. Each chapter will have their own business meeting. President Diane Domashko will have a short business meeting followed by refreshments.
SMART529 information
State Treasurer John Perdue will hold a SMART529 Holiday Open House at his Capitol office, Room E-145, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 22. Free pizza will be served and staff will be on hand to handle account sign-ups. For babies born after Jan. 1, 2015, time could be running out on SMART529's Bright Babies offer. The incentive puts $100 into an infant's college savings account, if the account is opened during the baby's first year. The money comes from an independent program management firm. In addition, a state resident may open up a SMART529 account before Dec. 31 and claim a deduction in the amount of his or her initial contribution. For more information, call 304-341-0758.
S.C. Library hours
The South Charleston Public Library will be closed for the Christmas holiday on Dec. 24, 25, 26 and 31. The library will also be closed for the New Year on Jan. 1. For more information, call Patricia Brown at 304-744-6561.
Sock drive
River Valley Child Development Services in Huntington invites community members to drop off single socks that have lost their mate as part of the "Widow Socks" project that its Charleston Connect Resource and Referral program is doing in partnership with EnAct Community Action in Charleston. Next month, all socks collected will be matched up as best they can and given to the homeless. Socks can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at River Valley's main office, 611 7th Ave., Huntington. Socks can be donated through Dec. 31. For more information, contact Suzi Brodof, executive director of River Valley Child Development Services, at 304-523-3417 or sbrodof@rvcds.org.
Items for Bulletin Board may be submitted by mail to the Charleston Gazette-Mail, 1001 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301; faxed to 304-348-1233; or emailed to gazette@wvgazettemail.com. Notices will be run one time free. Please include a contact person's name and a daytime telephone number.