SALEM — The Salem Historical Society invites the community to its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Dale Shaffer Research Library, 239 S. Lundy Ave.

The staff of the Salem Historical Society has been hard at work preparing for the nation’s 250th birthday, and are pleased to share the plans with everyone at this month’s meeting. Be among the very first to see the exclusive commemorative merchandise created especially for the 250th anniversary.

The highlight of the evening will be the stories that built the final edition of the annual calendar, thoughtfully designed around the Ohio-250 monthly themes. Salem has played a remarkable role in the development of the country, and the calendar brings some of those stories to life. As a companion piece, the society will introduce a new set of monthly coloring pages, created for children and the young at heart, that showcase the influential people, events, and places that shaped Salem’s history.

School-aged children are invited to take part in a monthly coloring contest using these pages. During the meeting, the society will share full contest guidelines and explain how families, educators, and community groups can participate. This initiative offers a wonderful opportunity to have meaningful conversations with youth about the inspirational individuals and moments that built the community.

And, December marks the society’s traditional Holiday Cookie Celebration. Bring a plate of cookies to share.