On Centre: Bald Eagle Area | Church’s holiday meal ready, park tours planned | Centre Daily Times

Bald Eagle Valley Community United Methodist Church is set to give its annual Christmas present to one and all.

For the 19th year, the Wingate church will serve a free Christmas Day turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Besides the main dish, guests can feast on mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, mixed vegetables, fruit cocktail, sweet potatoes, rolls and butter, cranberry sauce, desserts and a relish tray of carrots, celery, pickles and olives.

The food and fellowship will last from 2 to 4:30 p.m., but it won’t be the only free local feast on Dec. 25. Faith United Methodist Church in Bellefonte and the State College Presbyterian Church also will continue their own longstanding traditions of festive meals.

Those unable to come to BEVCUMC can still enjoy the homemade food prepared by volunteers. Of the 200 or so people the church typically feeds, roughly a third have their meals delivered to them. To arrange a delivery, call organizers Judy and Gary Dyke at 355-2647 or the church office at 353-8870 by Monday.

Park naturalist offers tours

Give yourself a break from holiday celebrating, as well as some fresh air and exercise, at Bald Eagle State Park.

The park naturalist will lead afternoon winter walks Dec. 27 and the next day along trails and discuss animal tracks, dried winter wildflowers or any other sights encountered in areas closed to hunting.

Meet at the Environmental Learning Center at 2 p.m. and expect a trek of about an hour and at least a mile.

On Dec. 29, the park has a treat in store for bird lovers.

Visitors are invited to help the park naturalist and the State College Bird Club collect avian data during the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, a nationwide event. The program includes feeder watching, species identification and counting, and birding while along trails.

Flock to the ELC for the 1 to 3 p.m. outing. For more information, call the park at 625-2775.

B-I-N-G-O!

In 2014, the Howard Area Lions Club wants two days a month at the Beech Creek-Blanchard Fire Company to be N-joyable.

From January to April, the club will sponsor bingo nights each second and fourth Thursdays. Doors to the fire company’s social room will open at 5 p.m., and food and free coffee will be available.