Christmas Tree

Editor's note: Lisa Prejean is on vacation. This column originally was published in 2008. The weekend after Thanksgiving I take my artificial Christmas tree out of the basement and cart it to school. There's a certain sentimental quality that this tree possesses. It has moved with me from classroom to classroom over the years. Not that the tree is anything spectacular. Far from it. The branches are bent, the stem stands a little crooked and it's about half the size of a normal Christmas tree.

Tricia Maciejewski of Chambersburg, Pa., purchased this tree for her mother Monday at the inaugural Festival of Trees at the Capitol Theatre. The auction of 26 trees, 12 wreaths and 12 other items decorated by local businesses and organizations raised $4,500 for the Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation.

Nothing ushers in the holiday season like the fragrance of a real, fresh-cut Christmas tree. Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they will break down and become part of the soil again. They are renewable. For every tree harvested, two or three seedlings are planted. Those of us living in Washington County and the surrounding area are lucky to have many Christmas tree farms near us. These farms stabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts.

Austin Sines, 4, stopped and thought for a minute before announcing why he selected a particular Christmas tree at Mount Hope Farms Saturday during the unofficial first weekend of the Christmas tree shopping season. "It's good," the Hagerstown lad said. "It has pretty things on it. " Sines was sitting on the shoulders of his grandfather, Jeff Sines, who said Austin liked the looks of the branches of the chosen 4-foot tree, which the boy hoped would be put in his bedroom. It took Austin about 10 minutes to select his tree.

It's time to buy a Christmas tree. But what kind should you buy? Artificial, fresh cut or live? And what variety? This depends on the length of time you wish to keep the tree inside. If you're looking at keeping a tree inside more than three weeks, you should consider an artificial tree. If your tree will be up less than three weeks, a fresh-cut tree is certainly an option. If you keep a tree up for 10 days or less, you might consider a living tree, according to Mary Ann Ryan, Adams County (Pa.)

By RICHARD F. BELISLE Staff Writer INWOOD, W.Va. - A 32-foot Christmas tree, trimmed by more than 40 volunteers this weekend and lit in a community-wide ceremony on Monday, was set afire by vandals during the night Tuesday. The fire burned a three-foot wide swath up the tree from its base to the top destroying wiring, lights and decorations along its way, said Ray A. Ring of Bunker Hill, an organizer of the effort to put up a Christmas tree in Inwood for the second year in a row. "It was a beautiful tree.

Bridal Expo scheduled for this weekend in Pa. CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - J&B Bridals and Tuxedos is hosting a bridal expo on Sunday at Wilson College's Laird Hall featuring more than 30 wedding-related businesses. Bridal Show 2013 will feature a New York runway show by award-winning bridal designer Madeline Gardner. Gardner is designer of Mori Lee Bridal Fashions and will be showing her spring 2013 bridal fashions. Gardner has won several industry awards for her creations, according to a news release.

The City of Hagerstown will be offering the collection of Christmas trees for residents starting Wednesday, according to a city news release. The city's Department of Public Works will only collect Christmas trees only, and all ornaments, tinsel, lights or other decorations must be removed. No other debris placed by the curb will be collected at that time. Residents may place their tree at the curb in front of their residence as early as 4 p.m. before and no later than 7 a.m. on their scheduled collection date (see below)

The city of Hagerstown will offer the collection of Christmas trees for residents starting Jan. 2, according to a city news release. The city's Department of Public Works will collect Christmas trees only. All ornaments, tinsel, lights or other decorations must be removed. No other debris placed by the curb will be collected at that time. Residents may place their tree at the curb in front of their residence as early as 4 p.m. before and no later than 7 a.m. on their scheduled collection date.

On Nov. 17, the Waynesboro Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1 State Hill Road, held its 30th annual Festival of Praise, where the congregation brings a food offering to the front of the church.  In advance, the front of the church is decorated with large boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables and a Christmas tree decorated with paper angels, each angel containing the name of a child and what they would like for Christmas. “It's an amazing thing,” said longtime organizer Paulette Alexander of Shady Grove, Pa. “To see all the church members - adults and children alike - carrying their bags of groceries to the platform.”   As the church members bring their food gifts, and offerings, and thank-you notes, they also take a name or two from the tree to provide clothing and toy gifts for each child.  This year, the church provided for about 20 families and 44 children.

Ornaments are more than decorations on a Christmas tree. With each hook, they hold a memory. They could be a store-bought ornament that was given to mark a milestone in your life. Or maybe it was a handmade item made by your babies who are now grown-up and have babies of their own. Maybe it was a gift from your grandmother who loved you unconditionally, but sadly passed away years ago. We asked our readers to share with us their stories and a photo about their favorite ornaments and we had a wonderful response.

“I'm calling just to say how much I enjoy Tim Rowland's column, and especially today's, Dec. 6, when he's talking about sweat pants and he says 'when Spandex is just too formal.' The guy is a crackup. Please let him know how much we enjoy him.” - Huyetts “I'm calling about the Christmas tree at the lake at City Park. It's a beautiful, beautifully shaped tree, and poorly decorated. I've noticed the tree in the square in Hagerstown, I've noticed the beautiful tree in front of our hospital, and often wondered, I wonder why the city of Hagerstown doesn't put more time in decorating that tree.

Name: Spider Age: 1-year-old Color: Black and white Breed: domesticated shorthair ID: A17304001 Sweet, handsome and loving, Spider has been waiting patiently for his turn for a home. Spending the holidays cuddled under a Christmas tree would be fantastic. Spider and many other animals are available for adoption at The Humane Society of Washington County, 13011 Maugansville Road, north of Hagerstown. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

An offer from a Catholic priest to add a manger scene in Joseph Hancock Park as an expression of “Christmas culture” was debated by the Hancock Town Council on Wednesday night, which then unanimously approved the display. The council approved the placing of a crèche of other symbols in the park with some qualifications. First would be that such displays be sponsored by organizations within Hancock; second, that the organization have an insurance rider; and third, that the town place a disclaimer stating that it was put up by a private organization and the town neither condoned nor condemned the display.

1. Good tidings of great joy Children and youth will present the story of the Nativity as traditional and contemporary Christmas music plays in the background. Live animals are included. Show is at 6 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15,  and Sunday, Dec. 16, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 10813 Donelson Drive, Williamsport. Call 301-223-8887. 2. Friday night and viper jazz Woody Pines will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va.

For Alekos 2 Go owner Steve Kontos, the Grinch came early. Kontos showed up at work Friday morning to notice some of the lights stolen from his Christmas tree outside and an American flag stolen from the property. “I'm inside prepping, running back and forth, and I noticed out front there was a stack of lightbulbs from the Christmas tree laying on the ground,” he said. “I thought that was weird because they were on last night when we left.” Kontos also realized that the heat was not working when he went inside.