Christmas Day

Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren, candlelight Christmas Eve service with communion at 11 p.m. Monday. Music by pianist Nick IntVeldt and soloist Deb IntVeldt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Smithsburg, candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. Monday. A Christmas Eve barn service at 20905 Twin Springs Drive, Smithsburg at 11 p.m. Monday. Call 301-733-8387. Blair's Valley First Church of God, Clear Spring, Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. Monday. The choir will present a cantata, Worship the King.

kristinw@herald-mail.com When Mercersburg Academy carillonneur James Smith sits down to play the bells on Christmas Eve, he will be bringing centuries of history to life. The academy's 49-bell Henry Bucher Swoope Carillon dates to 1926, but the history of the complex system of heavy, tolling bells is traced back to the "low countries of Europe" many centuries ago, Smith says. Public concerts are held at the academy throughout the school year to introduce audiences to the music made by the tons of bells.

SPRING MILLS, W.Va. -- Plumber Tom Newcomb became Lillian Maggio's "Christmas angel" after the tank of her hot-water heater sprung a leak. The 78-year-old Spring Mills woman, who is recovering from hip surgery, said Newcomb not only answered her emergency call for help on Christmas Day, but made the repairs for free that day. "I don't mean to cry, but he was so wonderful," Maggio said tearfully. "I'm still in shock. " After talking with her and realizing her financial limitations, Newcomb said, "I felt in my heart that it was the right thing to do. " Maggio said the emergency holiday call for service to Newcomb's A Plus Plumbing business in Martinsburg, W.Va.

A Glengary, W.Va., man charged in a Nov. 8 crash on W.Va. 45 that killed a 40-year-old Gerrardstown, W.Va., woman has died. Rocky Eugene Simmons, 33, died on Christmas Day at his home, according to his obituary. Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said Thursday that her office received confirmation that Simmons died. Games-Neely said no one else was involved in his death, but she declined to comment on the exact cause. Simmons was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence with death, according to court records.

This photo shows four generations of a local family. From left, Kenneth Edward Wiles Jr., 59, Kenneth Edward Wiles III, 32, Kenneth Edward Wiles Sr., 81, and Kenneth Edward Wiles IV, seven months, on Christmas Day.

St. John's Episcopal Church, Hagerstown, the Rev. Scott Bellows will speak at the 10 a.m. communion service this Sunday which will include congregational Christmas carols. Christian education will resume on Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. Asbury United Methodist Church, Shepherdstown, W.Va., the Christmas Day service gets under way at 10 a.m. The theme is Come Crash the Party. State Line (Pa.) United Methodist Church, 287 East Ave., on Christmas Day, there will be a 9 a.m. birthday party for Jesus.

 The Williamsport Ministerium invites the public to the fifth annual Shepherd’s Table Christmas dinner. The free dinner is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Day at Rehoboth United Methodist Church, 30 E. Salisbury St., Williamsport. Organizers says the Shepherd???s Table Christmas dinner is open to anyone who needs a hot meal or who will be alone on Christmas Day. For more information, call 301-582-3454 or go to www.rehobothumc.org.

FREDERICK, Md. - The Frederick Rescue Mission will serve a traditional Christmas Day dinner on Christmas Day. Dinner will be served at the Beacon House at 419 W. South St. The dinner is free and open to the community. The meal will be served from noon to 4 p.m. The mission also will serve a New Year's Day dinner at the Beacon House on Jan. 1, 2006. The meal will be served from noon to 4 p.m. The community is welcome at both dinners. For more information, call 301-695-6633, ext. 104.

Bethel Assembly at 515 E. Wilson Blvd. will host a Christmas Day dinner Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. in the church's gymnasium for anyone who would like to attend. Church organizers also will deliver meals to some residents of Alexander House, Potomac Towers and Walnut Towers.

Lois Whitmore Tribble was born Christmas Day, 1930 in Winter Park, Fla., with a wanderlust for life. In her 82 years, she lived all over the world, from Utah to Taiwan, with her husband of 59 years, Henry “Bud” Tribble, before passing away Jan. 9, 2013. Lois' love of adventure never ceased, though she was just as content sitting at home in Frederick, Md., with Bud, reading a good book. Lois, who prided herself on always living life the way she wanted, leaves this legacy of wanderlust and gusto for life to her children, Timothy, Leslie, James, David and Lisa, in hopes they will carry on her love for all things family and the joy of a good adventure.

Shirley Mae Hutson used to roast venison from a deer that she or her husband, Donald,  shot for Christmas dinner. Then Donald, a carpenter, stopped hunting after he fell 9 feet onto concrete during a job, said Donald Hutson, 75, who lives in the Huyetts Crossroads area. So turkey became the new Christmas Day entree. But for the past three or four Christmases, the Hutsons have gotten their Christmas dinner from the Shepherd's Table at Rehoboth United Methodist Church on East Salisbury Street in Williamsport.

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts will hold its annual raffle fundraiser with total prizes valued at more than $13,000. Prizes include a $5,000 shopping spree at R. Bruce Carson Jewelers, $500 in cash, trips, works of art and other prizes.  Twelve prizes will be awarded at a drawing Thursday, March 21, during the museum's annual membership meeting. It is not necessary to be present to win. Tickets cost one for $10; three for $25; five for $40; and 10 for $75. Tickets are available through the museum's website at www.wcmfa.org and at the museum.    Lions Club Since the Hagerstown Lions Club's regular meeting days fall on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, its next scheduled luncheon meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 8. The guest speaker will be Hagerstown Regional Airport Director Phil Ridenour, who will give an update on airport activities.

Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren, candlelight Christmas Eve service with communion at 11 p.m. Monday. Music by pianist Nick IntVeldt and soloist Deb IntVeldt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Smithsburg, candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. Monday. A Christmas Eve barn service at 20905 Twin Springs Drive, Smithsburg at 11 p.m. Monday. Call 301-733-8387. Blair's Valley First Church of God, Clear Spring, Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. Monday. The choir will present a cantata, Worship the King.

Donations of toys and food are still needed for the annual Christmas Day dinner in Franklin County, Pa. Tuesday's dinner is sponsored by the Salvation Army and run by volunteers, including Lynne Newman, who is organizing the event for the 21st year. Doors open at noon at the Salvation Army building at 159 Lincoln Way West in Chambersburg, and dinner will be served until 2 p.m. Deliveries to shut-ins and others who need a Christmas meal begin normally between 10:30 and 11 a.m. Volunteers decorate the lunch room for the holiday and wrap presents as well as help cook, cut up turkeys and deliver the meals to shut-ins and serve those who come to the Salvation Army.

St. Peter's Lutheran Church will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service Monday, Dec. 24, starting at 10 p.m.    The community is invited. The church is at 30 S. Martin St. in Clear Spring. Christmas service On Tuesday, Dec. 25, at 9 a.m., Mount Carmel United Methodist Church will hold a Christmas Day service. It will be an informal service with music, Christmas stories and readings. The community is invited. The church is on Big Pool Road near the entrance to Fort Frederick State Park.

I walked into the student lounge after school one day this week and was greeted with "Hey, Mrs. Prejean, Hope is the thing with feathers!' " I smiled, knowing that one of my students was teasing me with the first line of the poem he was memorizing for English class. As we were preparing for our school Poetry Out Loud recitation contest. Each student was required to memorize two poems. There was the usual moaning and groaning about having to learn poetry: "Tell me again, why do we need to do this?"

Spirit of Christmas can last all year To the editor: Christmas day has passed, but only the day. Christmas itself is still here. You see it in the bright eyes and laughter of our youth, on the table set with nourishing meals and desserts, in hugs and kisses for the older folks as well as the young. Games that exercise the brain. Conversations about everything. Happiness lingers for most of us, but not all. When God calls our loved ones home, we know they are in a better place, but the vacancy hurts.

Five generations of a local family are pictured on Christmas Day. From left are, Hilda Linn, 87, holding 2-month-old Jaden Shoemaker, Richard Shoemaker Sr., 64, Zach Shoemaker, 17, and Tammy Shoemaker, 44.

A Glengary, W.Va., man charged in a Nov. 8 crash on W.Va. 45 that killed a 40-year-old Gerrardstown, W.Va., woman has died. Rocky Eugene Simmons, 33, died on Christmas Day at his home, according to his obituary. Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said Thursday that her office received confirmation that Simmons died. Games-Neely said no one else was involved in his death, but she declined to comment on the exact cause. Simmons was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence with death, according to court records.