Recipe tour part of First Friday

The Nov. 4 First Friday in downtown Delaware seeks to create full plates and full stomachs for all our neighbors with a Thankfull celebration.

The 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. event, sponsored by Lutheran Social Services Delaware County Food Pantry, 73 London Road, will include a recipe tour through a dozen downtown shops and restaurants, a holiday-themed photo booth, and a gratitude wall.

Shelf-stable food donations also will be collected by LSS Food Pantry representatives at their donation truck, parked outside Delaware County Bank, 41 N. Sandusky St. Learn about the organization at http://lssfoodpantries.org/delaware.

Downtown visitors will welcome Santa Claus on Nov. 20 during the 2016 Christmas Parade. This year’s parade theme is “A Delaware Christmas Story.” Entry forms are available online at www.mainstreetdelaware.com/parade.html.

Main Street Delaware’s Dec. 2 First Friday will feature the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree, complete with carolers, horse-drawn wagon rides, and Santa’s House.

Ribbon cutting for playground

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new playground at St. Mary School will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Principal Gina Stull said the playground will serve the 380 students in grades preschool through eight, plus all children of the parish and the community.

The dedication and blessing of the playground are the culmination of a year of fundraising for the new space, Stull said. The school received grants from Kiwanis of Delaware as well as private donors, parents and other fundraising efforts.

The public is invited to attend.