Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival celebrates a world where people enjoy their work and have control over it. With 130 area craftspeople and community groups, it is a marketplace of ideas and beautifully diverse, hand made items. More than a craftsfair, it is a peace festival, with music, food and a spirit of fellowship, creating a weekend of grassroots commerce and community. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect at year's end with old and new friends and share in the life of a village marketplace that has no corporate headquarters. The Syracuse Peace Council's major fundraiser of the year, admission is sliding scale, $2-$5 (no one turned away for lack of funds) with under 16 and over 65 free.

Soft Spoken Band (SSB) will celebrate 35 years of performance excellence with a formal soulfood dinner buffet, cash bar and musical performance from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Drumlins. The band will reminisce on its longtime history of showcasing the area's best musical talents by performing a set of favorites in a MASTER JAMS ensemble of past and present members. At the conclusion of the night bandleader Reggie Seigler will disassemble the Soft Spoken Band's institution as a longtime Syracuse based musical entity by publicly announcing the band's dissolution.

Over its 35 years the musicians and singers of SSB and the multiple musical seeds that have sprouted in its light have had the opportunity to perform before thousands both here at home and across the globe. "God has truly blessed our journey and only He knows to what extent people have been inspired by it," Seigler said. A limited number of tickets will be sold and are for sale at $35 each. Proceeds from this event will be earmarked for Joined Artists, Musicians & Singers, Inc. (JAMS) future arts promotions.

This month, members of the Lead Prevention Coalition will meet to discuss progress made thus far and plans for the future. The Lead Program funding is now being distributed, and we will be explaining to everyone how the money makes its way into the community. The group also hopes to improve connections with property owners and the community, to get the maximum amount of money into the properties that need it. Please let any property owners you know who might be interested in accessing grant funding to attend. Pizza and refreshments will be provided.

Classical/Christmas music will be performed by the CNY Flute Choir at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Columbian Presbyterian Church at the corner of Routes 11 & 20 in Lafayette. To learn more, call (315) 677-3293.

The Onondaga County Office for Aging will hold a series of outreach events designed to assist seniors with applying for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). HEAP provides limited subsidies for heating and utility costs. These community  sessions are offered to help Onondaga County seniors age 60, or older, and income eligible, apply for HEAP benefits. Appointments are not needed. Seniors who are unable to attend can call (315) 435-2362 and request that an application be mailed.

In Partnership with Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement, Upstate Oasis and the Southside Community Coalition, an open house to learn about free computer classes will be offered to anyone looking to expand their knowledge of computers (especially seniors). Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to the Office of Community Engagement at (315) 443-5593 or oceed@syr.edu.

Christmas Cookie Café  will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Columbian Presbyterian Church. Create custom cookie trays from the dozens of home-made varieties available. Bring your own tray or purchase one. Cookies are $10./lb.

U.S. Census Bureau officials will be on hand from noon to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, on Level 2 in the computer lab at Central Library to answer questions and help citizens apply on the spot for 2020 Census positions. The application process takes approximately 30 minutes and is open to adults only. This is an opportunity to learn more about Census jobs and ear extra income while helping your community. Census jobs offer: flextime positions, ranging from 5 to 40 hours per week, and jobs in Onondaga County start at $17 per hour with mileage reimbursement at $.58 per mile. Census income does not count towards SNAP, TANF, Medicaid or HEAP benefits; income waivers are in effect through September 2020.

The Syracuse Black Expo Holiday Marketplace will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Syracuse Community Connections, 401 South Ave. This annual event will feature over 40 vendors from the Syracuse area and beyond and include a mini health expo by providing health information to the public. In collaboration with 411 Publication & Media, a business directory of local Black-owned businesses will be distributed. Event is free to attend. Contact Sean Herring at (315) 878-2763 or theblackexpo@gmail.com.

A Q-Kids Group for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12 and under is starting. There will be a meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. held Dec. 14. It will be the first 12 years old and under meeting held thus far and the plan is to continue regular meeting. RSVP to Karen Fuller at (315) 475-2430.