To get that warm, fuzzy feeling this holiday season, local members of Project Linus are hoping Utah County residents will donate a new blanket for a good cause.

The group said it is hoping to gather hundreds of blankets as part of the sixth-annual "Santa Flight" from Dec. 13-23 to children in isolated Navajo, Ute and Goshute communities in Utah. For Santa Flight, eight to 10 aircraft will be used and each flight will airlift a minimum of 12 pallets worth of toys, food, clothing and blankets. Santa Claus will be flying along in one of the planes.

Donated blankets must be homemade of new materials, in child-friendly colors and patterns and of good gift quality. All sizes of blankets are needed, from crib- to teen-sized.

The blankets may be quilted, tied, crocheted or knitted, or made of fleece (please call for requirements on fleece). Because Project Linus also donates to local hospitals, blankets must be free of strong chemical smells and come from non-smoking environments. In addition, donations of material or supplies, or monetary donations also are accepted. All blankets must be received by Dec. 15.

"Santa Flight" is a project of Angel Flight West, a nonprofit organization of private pilots who provide free air transportation for non-emergency medical treatment to those in need.

For more information, call Judy Cox at 221-9866 or 830-9268.

COUNTY WIDE

Free, introductory videos of candidates in the Nov. 7 election are available through a joint effort of Orem, Utah Valley State College and a group called Citizen's Resource for Utah County.

The videos are hosted by Google and are free to view and distribute.

Video presentations are available from candidates for Congress, the Utah Legislature, Utah County Commission and local school boards.

The videos can be viewed at http://www.citizensresource.org/content/view/52/11/.

AMERICAN FORK

The Planning and Zoning Commission has given a recommendation for Value Place Hotel to build a four-story hotel in west American Fork. It's an extended-stay hotel geared mostly to families seeking temporary housing and individuals working on a temporary basis in the area.

The hotel will have 121 units and will be west of the West Main-Interstate 15 interchange.

Shelli Swan, manager of development services for Value Place, said the company anticipated a six-month construction period, depending on the weather.

Swan said the hotel would be an economic advantage to the city, bringing guests who would spend money at area restaurants and stores.

MAPLETON

Mapleton Junior High School, 362 E. 1200 North in Mapleton, will hold a dinner/auction fundraiser today.

The silent auction begins at 6 p.m. and a dinner catered by Goodwood Barbecue Company will be served at 6:30 p.m. A live auction will be at 7:30 p.m.

PLEASANT GROVE

The R.E.A.D Adult Book Group will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss this month's book "Rough Stone Rolling" by Richard Lyman Bushman.

In this book about the LDS Prophet Joseph Smith, Bushman has researched all aspects of Smith's life from the time he was a young farm boy in Vermont to the man who died a martyr for the religion he founded and loved. For more information, contact the library at 785-3950.

SALEM

Salem is seeking public comment regarding a loan to be used for the city's pressurized irrigation system. Security for the loan would be provided through the sale of revenue bonds to the Board of Water Resources.

The bonds will be issued for a total of $6.32 million, which will be repaid to the Board of Water Resources over a period of 25 years at 1.7 percent interest rate.

It is the policy of the Utah Board of Water Resources to provide a period for public comment prior to the purchase of any non-voted revenue bonds.

In this regard, the board wishes to solicit the comments of the water users. Interested individuals are encouraged to respond in writing before Nov. 29. Comments should be addressed either to Salem City, 30 W. 100 South, P.O. Box 901, Salem, UT 84653 or the Board of Water Resources, P.O. Box 146201, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6201.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D2.