Community Christmas dinner
The Rhinelander Lions Club and community volunteers will serve turkey and all the trimmings for the Community Christmas dinner 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Rhinelander. Everyone is welcome. Rapid Cab, 715-365-7433, will provide free transportation to those who need a ride to and from the dinner. Home delivery is available; call 715-282-5904, 715-490-1899 or 715-362-6534 before Tuesday, Dec. 24, to place an order. Several community businesses and individuals support the dinner with money, labor and materials. Anyone interested in helping during the event is welcome. Call Dick, 715-490-1899 or Sandy, 715-360-3581to volunteer.

Blue Christmas
In a culture that sends messages that everyone should be happy and not talk about death, grief or sadness, grief can be an isolating experience. These difficult feelings can be compounded by the holiday season. The absence of loved ones is felt more intensely, which can make those grieving want to skip the holidays all together. Blue Christmas services offer comfort to those dealing with grief or sadness during the holiday season. This year, Blue Christmas services will be held in Rhinelander at the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21. Held on the longest night of the year, all are welcome to attend and spend time with others experiencing similar struggles. Pastoral officiants from Immanuel Evangelical, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Calvary Baptist church and Ascension Hospice Chaplaincy and Bereavement Services will lead the evening of fellowship, reflection and care.

Cyberbullying presentations in the Northwoods
A professor at the UW-Eau Claire Cyberbullying Research Center will give a presentation to students, parents and the community. Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D, will speak in Rhinelander Monday, Dec. 16 at James Williams Middle School at 8:10 a.m., Rhinelander High School at 12:45 p.m., and for the community at 6:30 p.m. in the JWMS auditorium.

Patchin will also give the presentation Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6:30-8 p.m. in the Northland Pines auditorium.

The presentations will cover a broad overview of cyberbullying, social networking and sexting, including issues educators and youth-serving professionals need to know about how youth misuse and use technology to cause harm to their peers. This presentation will also define and provide examples of cyberbullying and discuss the role of teens and adults in preventing and responding to inappropriate online behaviors. It will also describe many of the online environments popular among adolescents today and strategies to use to make sure they are used safely and responsibly.

HSF welcomes donation for sports complex
Peoples State Bank of Rhinelander has pledged $100,000 to the Hodag Schools Foundation (HSF) for future improvements to the Hodag Sports Complex. Peoples Northern Market President Craig Lau said the bank looks for ways to give back to the community, and this project will benefit youth, student athletes, their families and citizen in Rhinelander by promoting health and wellness, team building and social responsibility. The sports complex will include a 50,000 square foot dome, outdoor softball fields and a baseball diamond. Approximately $6.9 million is available, between private donations and district fund balance money approved by the school board, for construction and maintenance of the complex. HSF has raised and pledged over $3.5 million to benefit the school district over the last 16 years.