VA to hold hiring event

The Olin E. Teague Veterans Medical Center will hold a Job Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Temple VA . The hiring event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Building 204 library. “We’re looking for housekeeping aids, food service workers and cooks,” said Bill Negron, public affairs officer for the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.

How do you watch TV?

Maybe it’s time The Buggles released a new hit single; after all it’s been 41 years since Video Killed the Radio Star celebrated the launch of MTV. Perhaps the new song could be titled Streaming Services Killed the Cable-TV Star. The demise of cable has been coming for years, but today’s numbers are staggering nonetheless.

FOOD TRUCK FRENZY

That Thanksgiving meal will be a distant memory by Dec. 10, and Central Texans will be flocking Downtown Temple for a taste of Food Truck Frenzy, a quarterly mobile-food extravaganza held in conjunction with the monthly market day. One of the many popular food trucks will be Lone Star Burgers, a Moffat-based business that has been cooking cow sandwiches for 7-and-a-half years.

BLUE SANTA TOY DRIVE IS DEC. 2

A downtown street party will help provide hundreds of toys, books and stuffed animals to Temple kids in need. Sammy G’s fifth annual toy drive will be Friday, Dec. 2, on South 1st Street in front of Fire Base Brewing Company, and donations will go toward the Temple Police Department’s Blue Santa Project.

HOLIDAY MARKET & FOOD TRUCK FRENZY

Burgers, bread, jewelry, artwork, pet supplies and tallow-based skin products — with more than 100 vendors confirmed, the Temple’s Holiday Market & Food Truck Frenzy likely has something for everyone on your shopping list. Presented by the Temple Small Business Coalition, Holiday Market will be 2-8 p.m. on Dec. 10 in the City Hall parking lot.

A TREE-MENDOUS YEAR

According to the Temple-based Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, there are 175 Christmas tree farms in Texas producing some 200,000 trees annually on about 2,500 acres statewide.

Bell County outdoors

Doug Holleman took these photos of a bald eagle this week south of Temple. Visit the Outdoors page for more bird watching information, local fishing reports and the Central Texas ag update.

Pets included on many shopping lists

You better not bark, you better not chew; don’t chase the cat, put down that shoe. Santa Paws is coming to town, and he has a growing number of four-legged friends on his “nice” list. According to the American Pet Products Association, 56 percent of US pet owners plan to buy holiday gifts for furry family members.

HOOFBEATS FOR HEROES

Tiffany Zeitouni uses horse therapy to help soldiers combat PTSD, stress, depression and other mental ailments. But her customers aren’t the only ones who have battled adversity. The horses used in Tiffany’s Hoofbeats for Heroes programs are donated, and most have overcome physical and mental challenges themselves.

PICKIN’ CHICKEN IS OPTION TO TURKEY

While prices have risen for turkey – the No. 1 consumer choice for a holiday meal entrée — they have also increased for other potential holiday meat entrees many consumers may choose in lieu of a gobbler for the holidays, according to Texas A&M AgriLife experts.