Alva Review-Courier -

Community members gathered on the second floor of BancCentral National Friday morning for the monthly Community Coffee scheduled by the Alva Chamber of Commerce. The bank provided a table of breakfast foods and drinks as everyone enjoyed conversation.

Chamber Executive Director Jodie Bradford-Stevison opened the meeting and invited Holly Hicks to talk about some of the holiday events at BancCentral. She said the big fundraising event has started with businesses competing to get the most votes for their Christmas tree. She invited businesses to pick up a bucket at the bank and place it next to their tree. It doesn't matter if the tree is pretty or ugly. What matters is the number of dollars collected in the bucket. The winner with the most donations gets a trophy and bragging rights while the Rotary Toys for Tots program gets all the proceeds.

The bank is also holding an ornament decorating contest. You'll see more about it later, but all ages are invited to participate. To enter, pick up an ornament at the bank, decorate it and return it. Winners get a $50 gift card.

BancCentral National will hold their Christmas Open House on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. Get a free picture with Santa and enjoy goodies from the Wicked Whisk Bakehouse.

BancCentral President and CEO Taylor Horst welcomed everyone. "It's these times in the community when we get to come together and reflect on what a great community we have. I just want to say thank you and show my gratitude. This is such a great community. It's been welcoming. I've very excited to be here," he said.

"I would tell you we have a lot to be thankful for out here. I will tell you it's very difficult times, especially for those in banking knowing that the higher interest rates are hurting a lot of our customers and it's hurting banks as well because of the market compressions that we've had. So a lot of tough decisions are being made at a lot of banks."

Almost as an afterthought, Horst added, "This by the way is not my look (gesturing to his face). I had a friend that contracted ALS and so this is no-shave November and, I had a few people participate with me as well so I cannot wait until December 1 when I can take this scruff off. Not for me. I'm suffering through! But I can only imagine what those that are suffering with ALS go through. I appreciate being able to bring awareness to that."

Several people contributed to a listing of upcoming events.

The annual Thanksgiving meal at the First United Methodist Church will be 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Meals are served at the church or may be carried out. The church is also taking calls at their office for meal deliveries.

The First United Methodist Church will have a free concert on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The Enid Symphony Orchestra, Enid Symphonic Choir and NWOSU Chorale will perform "Messiah" at 4 p.m. on Nov. 26. The program is free.

Alva Health and Wellness will hold an open house on Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Alva Candy Cane Cash Giveaway winners will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Rialto Theatre. A short Christmas classic film will be shown at 4:30 p.m. with the drawings at 5 p.m.

Marione Martin

BancCentral National President Taylor Horst welcomes those attending the Alva Chamber Coffee Friday morning. He explained his unusually scruffy appearance for no-shave November is in honor of a friend with ALS.

Alva State Bank will hold their open house the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 15. Grinch Santa will be there for pictures. The bank is also inviting artists to submit designs for their annual Christmas card contest. The winning card will be used for the bank's card sent to customers.

Magen Lehr reminded everyone to Bank It for the Food Bank in Alva this quarter. Donations of money and food items may be delivered to local banks in Alva and Hopeton. Most of the banks are matching the monetary donations.

Bradford-Stevison introduced the newest Chamber member James Carlson who has a painting business based in his home. She said the Chamber will be scheduling a ribbon cutting later.

The next Chamber Community Coffee will be held at 8 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, at Alva State Bank. This is also National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day so Bradford-Stevison asked everyone to don their ugly sweaters and enter to win a prize.