On the Street

HOLIDAY SAFETY

With the winter holidays fast approaching, the Springfield Fire Department is reminding local citizens about some safety precautions that can help make celebrations happy and healthy.

Keep an eye on the range. Untended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States.

Holiday decorations should be made with flame-resistant and/or noncombustible materials.

Turn off all light strings and lighted decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.

ARTSY PASS

Arts Sampler packets are now available from the Springfield Regional Arts Council, offering purchasers the opportunity see a variety of performances in the art community. The sampler passes are $40 each. Purchasers receive one admission to Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Messiah Project, Springfield Ballet, Springfield Little Theatre, Springfield Mid-America Singers, Sweet Adelines and Vandivort Theatre. Arts Sampler packets are available from the arts council or any of the participating venues. They will be available through January. Purchasers will be put into a drawing for a sampler quilt made by the Ozark Piecemaker's Quilt Guild, with the drawing scheduled for February.

SLICE OF NICE

MRI of Springfield is conducting its third annual Warmth for Winter & Blanket drive to collect blankets and coats for needy children served by local agencies. For the past two years, MRI of Springfield has collected enough blankets for each bed at Boys & Girls Town, with enough extras to share with The Christian Foundation and Victory Mission Victory House. The coats also go to Boys & Girls Town, where they are given to the children, along with socks and undergarments. Donations of twin-sized blankets, children's coats or jackets, or socks and undergarments may be dropped off at MRI of Springfield, 1420 E. Bradford Pkwy., by Dec. 18.