Arena Diego Ipayone San Sports

Beginners Ballet classes: The MultiPurpose Center, 9031 Viscount is now offering classes for ages 4 and up Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30-7:30 p.m. Fee: $20/month. Information: 598-1155.
Beginners Hip Hop classes: The MultiPurpose Center, 9031 Viscount is now offering classes for ages 6 and up Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:30-8:30 p.m. Fee: $20/month. Information: 598-1155.
Gary Del Palacio Center "Jazz Funk" classes: Hip Hop class every Friday. Plaza Theater Performing Hip Hop class every Monday and Wednesday. Fee: $20.00, and new Jazz Funk class on Fridays, $10.00.
Carolina Recreation Center Aerobics classes: Held Monday-Thursday AM and PM. Carolina Recreation Center is located at 563 N. Carolina. Fee: $20/month. Information: 594-8934 or YbarraRM@elpasotexas.gov.
Hip Hop Dance Classes: are forming at the Leona F.

Roosevelt backers look to raise renovation money at R Party

Sixty-one years ago Roger Stetson pulled up a stool and sat down at a long lab table in Mr. Koch's science lab, across from beakers, Bunsen burners and that beautiful girl on the other side of the table.

The two Roosevelt High School 10th-graders quickly formed a friendship, sitting across from each other every home room, chatting about the latest school gossip, the upcoming dance and tennis. Yes, tennis.

Roger was "hooked" on tennis. Shirley would watch from the bleachers, which she continued to do even as the two headed to Iowa State University. They'd later wed and Roger would be called up to the Navy.

After discharge, Roger returned home and the two raised a family of four, all of whom would follow dad onto the court.

They've since picked up whistles and clipboards, focusing now on coaching.

Rivermen weekly

THIRD ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR TOSS NIGHT! The Rivermen invite everyone to bring a new or gently-used teddy bear to the game on Friday night and throw it on the ice when the Rivermen score so that less-fortunate children in the Peoria area can have a brighter Christmas. Firefighters Local 50 will be spearheading the bear collection this year and distributing the toys in time for the Holidays. Wrap your toy in a plastic bag to keep the moisture off its fur!

Pucks 'N' Purses Night will take place on Friday as well, with local businesses setting up a female-oriented expo in the Civic Center halls just in time for holiday gift ideas and shopping tips - right guys? **nudge, nudge, wink, wink** If your business is interesting in having a table at the game, call Katie Kerr at (309) 680-3791 for more information.

Events

FUNDRAISING RIDE: Ride Without Limits, a national fundraising campaign to benefit United Cerebral Palsy, will take place in the Tampa Bay area today and Sunday. The two-day, 200-mile ride requires a minimum donation of $500 for riders and a $35 registration fee. Visit www.ridewithoutlimits.org or call 1-888-547-3239.

ANGER MANAGEMENT: Family Service Association, 407 N. Parsons Ave., Suite 104A, Brandon, will begin a five-week program on Anger Management on Wednesday.

Retailers gear up for big day

Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving that traditionally gives retailers a significant sales boost - should wake up consumer's wallets with plenty of holiday shopping options this weekend.Greenwood Mall will begin its shopping blitz at 6 a.m., giving away shopping bags filled with goodies for the first 500 adult patrons who show up near the carousel entrance. Bags will be filled with retail discounts and randomly placed prizes, including a Nintendo Wii, and mall gift cards ranging from $50 to $250, according to Greenwood Mall marketing manager Shelli Rose."They typically go very fast," Rose said. "People have been known to line up as early as 4 a.m."Mall shoppers can also browse the mall's seasonal in-line stores, including Pet Dreams, which provides clothing, furniture and other trendy items for pets; Kitchen Collection, which specializes in gadgets for the kitchen; Quail Hollow Candles and Gifts, and Big Country Power Sports, Rose said.At Best Buy, product process manager Kyle Gerkins will accommodate those who flood the long lines at his store early Friday morning with port-a-potties."Last year, people started lining up on Thanksgiving morning," Gerkins said.Gerkins said the store has increased its stock to handle the crowds, especially those looking to stuff stockings with flat-panel, plasma or LCD TVs, MP3 players and video game systems.Gerkins expects the Nintendo Wii to garner considerable attention again this year, since shoppers are still hungry for the console because of supply shortcomings.Digital picture frames, which flash slideshows of snapshots loaded from a memory card, are also expected to be a huge seller.Doors will open at 5 a.m.