Christmas Morning

Hagerstown resident Amber Stouffer carefully surveyed a sea of donated toys and picked out some stuffed animals that she plans to give to her 13-month-old daughter on Christmas morning. “I just want to make sure my daughter has a good Christmas this year,” she said. Stouffer was among hundreds of Washington County parents who participated Tuesday in the annual toy/food giveaway sponsored by the Salvation Army and the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. The event was held in the former CVS Pharmacy building at Long Meadow Shopping Center north of Hagerstown.

On Dec. 22, I told readers another chapter in the continuing story of Alivia Koontz. The Hagerstown child is under 2, but she has already undergone two surgeries to repair a defect in her heart. In that same column, I also wrote about the fact that the 1978 four-wheel-drive Chevrolet pickup truck owned by her father, Jimmy Koontz, was on its last legs. Koontz, who works at Ski Liberty, is entering the busy part of his work year and is expected to be there, no matter how much snow is on the roads.

kristinw@herald-mail.com The South Washington County Military Support Group is again collecting holiday cards to send to local troops serving in the Middle East. Last year the group collected almost 38,000 cards that were distributed to about 70 local servicemen and servicewomen and their units. Kelly Hurlbrink, 22, a Boonsboro High School graduate, was stationed in Iraq in 2003 during the holidays. She remembers that getting cards, even from strangers, brightened her day. "It was like Christmas morning when you got a box or a card," she says.

Editor's note: The Herald-Mail Co. is highlighting 12 different individuals or groups who make a difference to others during the holiday season. By CLYDE FORD Staff Writer CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - At 90, Hugh Via might be expected to start slowing down a little. Instead, he remains active, running the Christmas Cheer booth in Charles Town's downtown. The program is similar to a Salvation Army kettle drive, with donations going to help feed and clothe the needy during the holidays.

Week of Dec. 26, 1949 When Woodrow Stoddard of Halfway placed his order for a turkey with his friend Samuel Fox, he told Fox he wanted the turkey dressed. When delivered Christmas Eve, the turkey, very much alive, was attired in the height of fashion with a dress and a big colored bow around its neck. Since the usual poultry abattoirs were closed, it was early Christmas morning before Stoddard found someone to kill and dress the bird. Washington County's night clubs and taverns expect a record business for the arrival of 1950, because many parts of Maryland will have a midnight curfew on liquor sales Saturday.

The Maryland State Highway Administration will suspend all nonemergency roadwork for the next two holiday weekends, officials said Thursday. The SHA will suspend roadwork from today at 9 a.m. until Tuesday at 9 a.m., SHA spokesman David Buck said in a news release. The same will be true for the New Year's weekend. "We'll suspend roadwork again next Friday at the same time, and it will start again that next Tuesday," Buck said. He said contractors might be out working on Tuesday, Dec. 27, through Thursday, Dec. 29, but the roads will be open any other time between today and Tuesday, Jan. 3. Buck said there is a possibility all roads will remain open throughout next week.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com TRI-STATE - Mother Nature must have been feeling sentimental. For the first time in nine years, she graced the Tri-State area with a white Christmas. According to area weather observers, residents woke up Christmas morning to more than 4 inches of snow from a storm that began Tuesday afternoon, let off during the night then picked up steam again Christmas morning. According to Hagerstown weather observer Greg Keefer's Web site, 1.4 inches fell Christmas Eve and 3.9 inches more fell Christmas Day. Keefer said the only other time significant snow fell on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was in 1962, when 5 inches fell.

Smooth harmonies from four barbershop choruses filled the sanctuary at Emmanuel United Methodist Church on Sunday as the church continued its tradition of providing a free Christmas concert. The groups performed for more than an hour at the church at 802 Summit Ave., and near the end of the 3 p.m. show, the audience of about 100 people was invited to join in singing favorite holiday tunes. Bill Divelbiss, member of the Mason-Dixon Chorus, one of the groups that performed, said the concert has been held for about six years.

Another Christmas has come and gone. I don't know if it's a natural progression of aging or just my own sad commentary, but Christmas just isn't what it used to be. Do other people feel this way? How I wish I could recapture the childhood excitement and anticipation of Christmas, counting the days until I could experience the joy of running downstairs on Christmas morning to see what Santa Claus brought. Just taking in the vision of the Christmas tree decorated with colorful lights and delicate glass ornaments, with mounds of gaily wrapped presents underneath, was an indescribable thrill.

tarar@herald-mail.com Luminaires lined the paths at Boonsboro's Shafer Park Friday night and Christmas lights wrapped around trees and the frames of pavilions. Live holiday music played in the background as crowds of parents and their children - bundled in snowsuits, puffy coats, scarfs and gloves - took in the sights of the town's Olde Tyme Christmas. "I think this is great that they do this for the kids," said Kathy Nagl of Boonsboro. "This is terrific. They do a lot of stuff around here for the families that live in the area.