Calendar: MSU to kick off JQH Arena construction Dec. 21

Through December

There are special displays at six branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library District throughout the month of December. The branches and exhibits are: Brentwood Branch, student art from Glendale High School; Fair Grove Branch, 101 Dalmations from Chana Burney and Fair Grove Elementary School Art Exhibit; Library Center, Comics, cartooning and graphic art by Robert and Margaret Carspecken, fused glass dinnerware and stained glass by Rollin Williams and photographs by members of the Southwest Missouri Camera Club; Library Station, 1969 Corvette from Pat Shikany, antique bottles from Ron Woodruff, drawings from students of Audrey Bottrell, Pokemon collection from Charlotte Lundquist and Santa Claus mugs from Wendy Sloan; Midtown-Carnegie Branch, Coca-Cola collectibles from Doug Patillo and oil paintings by Donald D. Rayburn; and Republic Branch Library, holiday decorations from library staff members and their families.

Dec. 22

Students from Pleasant View Middle School perform at 11:30 a.m. in the rotunda of the historic Greene County Courthouse. The performance will last between 20 and 30 minutes and is free and open to the public.

Dec. 31

Branson’s Titanic museum, 3235 76 Country Blvd., presents its first live New Year’s Eve Countdown beginning at 11:30 p.m. at the museum. Radio personalities from KTTS 94.7 FM will broadcast live from the free event, where the Titanic’s 100-foot mast will be used as a lightning rod to usher in the new year. Hundreds of lights will slowly circle to the top of the mast and set off a burst of rockets at midnight. Information about the countdown is available at www.titanicbranson.com.

Community

Through Dec. 20

Area Kmart Stores are teaming up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to present the Kartwheels for Kids toy drive. During the drive, customers are encouraged to purchase new toys that will be given to children who attend Boys & Girls Clubs.

Dec. 21

Missouri State University presents a ground-breaking ceremony for JQH Arena at 10 a.m. at Hammons Student Center, kicking off construction of the $67 million project. Scheduled speakers include John Q. Hammons, MSU President Michael T. Nietzel and MSU Athletics Director Bill Rowe. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (417) 836-5233.

Dec. 31

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training presents A New Year’s Night for Life at 7 p.m. at The Oasis Inn & Convention Center, 2550 N. Glenstone Ave. Bands M-Dock and Lost Highway will perform. Tickets are $125 each, with proceeds benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s efforts in southwest Missouri. The fee covers dinner, entertainment and two drink tickets; there will be a cash bar. Oasis also will offer discounted room rates for the night. For tickets or more information, go to www.anewyears

nightforlife.com.

Jan. 13

The second annual Guns vs. Hoses Charity Basketball Tournament has been rescheduled from Dec. 2 because of inclement weather. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Glendale High School gym, 2727 S. Ingram Mill Road. Springfield police officers and fire department officials will square off in a basketball game for charity. Proceeds will benefit two projects, Project Hope and Cops for Casey. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door, and concessions, T-shirt and raffle sales also will raise money. Tickets purchased for the Dec. 2 event will be honored.

Business/professional development

Jan. 4

The Board of Public Utilities will meet at 3 p.m. in the C. Frank Knox boardroom at City Utilities, 301 E. Central St.

Jan. 10

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce presents Business-to-Business Connection noon–1:30 p.m. at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway. Tickets to the structured networking event for chamber members are $10 each. Attendees are encouraged to share brochures, business cards and product samples. To register or for more information, visit www.springfieldchamber.com.

Jan. 10–11

Missouri State University’s Small Business Development Center presents How to Write a Business Plan – The Path to Success 6–9 p.m. both evenings in Glass Hall (west entrance) on the MSU campus. Using examples and worksheets, the course covers business planning, including how to translate information into a written business plan. The fee for the six-hour course is $129 per person and $99 for a second person from the same business. To register or for more information, visit www.sbdc.missouristate.edu.