Alms at Hsi Lai Temple

The Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights is holding an international ordination for 120 novices from around the world. They will become monks and nuns after the 14-day ceremony.
A highlight will be the Alms Round at 1 p.m. on Dec. 20, when the monks re-enact the tradition of begging from door to door that dates back to the time of the Buddha more than 2,500 years ago.
The temple is at 3456 S. Glenmark Drive. For more information, call (626) 961-9697.

Los Altos donates clothing

Los Altos Elementary School in Hacienda Heights has been very busy collecting warm clothes for the Fred Jordan Mission in Los Angeles.

The generous kids have gathered warm coats, scarves, shirts and pants, as well as many blankets for the homeless this holiday season.

Many area residents have also donated some much needed warm clothing during this cold snap.

Holiday show at Puente Hills Mall

Shoppers at Puente Hills Mall will enjoy special entertainment from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21.
A multi-cultural holiday stage show spotlighting family-friendly variety acts will be performed in the mall’s center court.
Presented by EDI Entertainment Group of West Covina, the holiday festival will also feature 60 vendor booths offering many gifts from various ethnic arts and crafts.
Prize drawings throughout the festival will end with a drawing for a $250 gift card on Sunday.
Puente Hills Mall is located at 1600 Azusa Ave., City of Industry. Center hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For more information, call (626) 912-8777, or visit www.puentehills-mall.com.

Have a Homestead Holiday

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The Homestead Museum continues its yuletide celebrations with Evening Holiday Tours from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20. Tours will depart every 20 minutes.

Holiday lights will illuminate the grounds as docents guide participants through Christmas traditions from the 1840s through the 1920s. Following each tour, visitors can enjoy cider and some sweet treats in the Homestead Museum Gallery.

Admission: $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, students, and children 2-12. Children under 2 are free.

Tickets are limited. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, students, and children ages 2-12. Make a reservation by calling (626) 968-8492.

The Homestead Museum is located at 15416 East Don Julian Road in the city of Industry.

Homestead celebrates Christmas past

The Homestead Museum will hold “A Southern California Christmas” from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 in Industry.

The museum will explore holiday traditions from the rancho era, Victorian times and Roaring 20s. The free festival features music, food, historic home tours and dramatizations.

For information, call (626) 968-8492 or visit homesteadmuseum.org.

Santa needs help

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Santa needs your help! He doesn’t have enough toys for the big “Here Comes Santa” events at Manzanita Park in Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights Park.

“We usually have enough toys for 500 children, but this year we only have enough for 300 kids,” reported Recreation Leader Denise Rede at Manzanita.

Time is running out, Santa will arrive at Manzanita at 4 p.m. Monday and continue onto Rowland at 6 p.m.

But there’s still time for some generous elves to drop off gifts for children ages 1 to 12. Many area families are counting on these gifts during these hard economic times.

Rede said people can drop off toys from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in the local parks. Rowland is at 1500 S. Banida Ave., in Rowland Heights, while Manzanita is on Kwis Avenue.

Help keep the Grinch from stealing Christmas.

‘Thirsty City’ at Rowland Library

The Rowland Heights Library will present “Thirsty City” an interactive play about the early years of Los Angeles and William Mulholland’s struggle to bring water to the area.

Elementary children are invited to attend the free performance on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. Funding has been provided by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.

The library is at 1850 Nogales St. For more information, call Jeff Jarrett at (626) 912-5348.

Winter shows in Rowland Unified

Rowland Unified is a busy place for the holidays. Farjardo Elementary in Rowland Heights will hold an Award Assemblies Wednesday featuring a Focus on Caring.

Hurley students in La Puente enjoyed their annual Winter Show, while Northam also enjoyed a holiday program.

Effective Parenting Class in English will be offered at Rincon Intermediate School in the Multipurpose Room, B Building from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The same class in Spanish will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., Oswalt Elementary in Walnut will perform a Winter Choral Program

Don’t forget the school board meeting from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the district offices on Nogales Street.

And good old Killian Elementary will present its fourth-grade holiday performance from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Trip to Tamale Festival

The Good Time Travel Club at the Steinmetz Senior Center in Hacienda Heights will visit the Tamale Festival in Indio on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The bus will leave at 9 a.m. and return at 7 p.m. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

It includes transportation and admission, with a two-hour stopover at Fantasy Springs Casino. Lunch is on your own at the festival or casino.

For more information, call (626) 934-7041.