Flagstaff Cultural Partners will host the ninth annual "It's Elemental" fine crafts exhibition with an opening reception featuring food and beverages, activities and a post-reception performance by Tom Sheeley.

"It's Elemental" celebrates the talent and creativity of regional craftspeople, as well as the beauty of materials traditionally associated with fine craft work.

The exhibition features a focus on functional craft and includes creations from clay, wood, fiber, metal, glass, and paper including book making. Most of the participating artists will be available for questions during the opening reception on Saturday. The opening reception begins at 6 p.m. at the Coconino Center for the Arts. The public is invited to attend this free event.

Tickets for the Tom Sheeley concert can be purchased in advance for $15 or $18 on Saturday. For tickets and concert information, visit canyonguitar.org.

After opening night, regular hours for "It's Elemental" will be Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 19.

Holiday mail delivery deadlines loom

For military service members stationed around the globe, holiday gifts are a big morale boost.

To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be entered no later than the mailing dates listed below. APO/FPO addresses generally require customs forms. To see an online table of updated APO and FPO addresses and mailing restrictions by individual APO/FPO zip codes, visit www.usps.com.

— For packages, the deadlines (depending on zip code) for space available mail are Nov. 21 and Nov. 28;

— For parcel airlift, Dec. 1 and Dec. 4;

— For first-class mail letters and cards, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11;

— For express mail, Dec. 18.

The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. are teaming up to deliver holiday cards to service members, their families and veterans, many of whom will be far from home this holiday season. Now in its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program provides Americans with the opportunity to extend holiday greetings and thanks to service members and veterans.

From now until Dec. 7, the public is invited to send holiday cards. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran's hospitals and other locations during the holidays. Pitney Bowes is providing all screening, packaging and shipping at no charge. The Red Cross will utilize hundreds of volunteers, including some from the Grand Canyon Chapter, to sort and box cards for delivery to service men and women, veterans and family members in November and December.

"It's an honor for our community to help make the holidays special for American heroes," said Allan Kellar, Grand Canyon Chapter Service to the Armed Forces Client Specialist.

Holiday cards should be addressed and sent to: "Holiday Mail for Heroes," P.O. Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. Cards with adequate postage must be received no later than Dec. 7. Participants are asked to refrain from sending care packages, monetary gifts, using glitter or including any inserts with the cards. For a full list of recommended guidelines and best practices on the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, visit Redcross.org/holidaymail.

Send Around the Town news to Abbie Gripman at agripman@azdailysun.com, or call her at 556-2241.