The Lunenburg Chamber of Commerce held its monthly meeting Nov. 17 and used much of the occasion to promote area Christmas activities. The chamber also continued working on preparations for other activities, including its annual meeting and banquet, to be held Jan. 21 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall.

Among the Christmas activities the chamber discussed:

• A Christmas parade with be held in Kenbridge beginning at 3 p.m. Dec. 3.

• The fifth annual Small Town Christmas celebration will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Victoria on Dec. 10. Santa will be in the Victoria Public Library, the Grinch will be at Marino’s Italian Restaurant for lunch where kids can get their pictures taken with him. There will also be craft sales in the Community Center.

• The chamber’s Christmas decorations contest deadline is Dec. 6. Judging will take place Dec. 8 starting at 7 p.m. Businesses along Main Street, Broad Street and 5th Avenue in Kenbridge and on certain streets in Victoria are eligible to enter. Contact the chamber for more information.

• The Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) Chorus is offering two free concerts. One will take place Dec. 3 at Clarksville Baptist Church, the other on Dec. 4 at South Hill Presbyterian Church.

• Breakfast with Santa at the Kenbridge Emergency Squad on Dec. 3. Breakfast is $5 for adults and children. Pictures with Santa are also $5.

The chamber also noted the South Hill Chamber is holding a Christmas Farmers Market on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Winter vegetables and crafts will be available.

The chamber’s annual meeting and banquet on Jan. 21 will include a sponsored open bar during a 6:30-7:30 p.m. social hour and close 15 minutes into the dinner. There will be door prizes. The cost is $20 per person. The chamber will use the occasion to honor its Student of the Quarter and Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year. In addition, officers and directors will be elected.

Ballots for the business and citizen of the year awards have been collected and will be counted by the awards committee, which will also order the plaques for the winners.

In other business, the chamber discussed:

• Central High School (CHS) Portable Chargers — chamber members passed a motion to create a $200 sponsorship for the CHS Robotics Team.

• Carmen Gallion Taylor won the chamber’s $500 prize drawing, presented to her by President Mel Payne.

• Student Talent Show — auditions will be held in the Kenbridge Town Hall auditorium on Feb. 18, with a snow date of Feb. 25. A flyer with rules and application will be distributed starting Monday to all Lunenburg County public, private and home school students. The winner of the talent show naming contest is Chamber Secretary Trudy Berry. She came up with the name “Lunenburg’s Got Talent.” The chamber and Benchmark Community Bank will sponsor the show.

• Payne began seeking sponsors for the Little Roy & Lizzie Show and already has two $1,000 sponsorships.

In addition, the chamber also reminded members about the free showing of Farmland at both the Keysville and Alberta SVCC campuses, the Lunenburg Republicans’ Dec. 3 meeting, and the Victoria Restaurant’s taking up of non-perishable items.