Christmas Tree

Electronics ban in W.Va. landfills starts Saturday CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A new ban on the disposal of electronic equipment in West Virginia landfills starts next weekend. Beginning Saturday, televisions, computers and electronic devices with video screens 4 inches and larger cannot be put in landfills. The Legislature approved the ban earlier this year. The state Solid Waste Management Board has been working since 2002 to divert electronic scrap from landfills through various collection efforts.

As Leon and Josephine Geibel drive past Hagerstown's City Park on their way to church at St. Mary's Catholic Church, they take an extra long look at the Christmas tree floating on the platform in the middle of the lake. For 12 years, that almost 25-foot pine tree graced the front yard of their home in the South Pointe neighborhood. Now the couple can easily use the sidewalk to their front door without walking around the extensive lower branches of the tree. They also have a lot more daylight coming into their front rooms.

She might have only decorated one Christmas tree in her lifetime, but Lynne Newman enjoys helping others celebrate with or without a tree each Christmas. Newman, who calls herself a “professional volunteer” and has coordinated the Franklin County Salvation Army Christmas dinner for the past 19 years, is part of a small but giving Jewish community in the Chambersburg area. Newman, who doesn’t decorate for any holidays as part of her Jewish faith, said the one Christmas tree that she decorated was an obligation of a former job where she was “the low man on the totem pole.

Christmas tree pickup in the Borough of Waynesboro will be done Jan. 3 to 7 on residents' normal trash-collection days. Waste Management and borough officials said all decorations and tree stands must be removed, and trees should be placed at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on pickup days. The collector will be recycling the trees into usable byproducts, according to a borough news release.

Washington County and the City of Hagerstown have provided the following information about Christmas tree disposal. Washington County residents will be able to recycle Christmas trees at no charge at county solid-waste facilities. Christmas trees, with all lights, ornaments, nails, etc., removed, will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily from Dec. 27 to Jan. 31, excluding holidays. A two-tree limit will be observed. Trees are being accepted at the following sites: • Forty West Landfill, 1 mile west of Huyett’s Crossroads off U.S. 40 on Earth Care Road • Greensburg Convenience Center, 13125 Bikle Road • Hancock Convenience Center, 6502 Hess Road • Kaetzel Convenience Center, 2926 Kaetzel Road • Dargan Convenience Center, 2201 Dargan School Road The program, authorized by the Washington County Commissioners, is a service of the Division of Environmental Management.

If you could only ask Santa Claus one question, what would you want to know? We offered a few kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County a tempting proposition: If you ask Santa Claus a question, we'll get his response before Christmas. But you only get one question. The Herald-Mail caught up with Mr. Claus at Longmeadow Shopping Center in Hagerstown, where he fielded questions via video. Kayla Scott, 6 Q: What's your favorite thing to do?

The Top Five German Christmas traditions Who put up the first Christmas tree? Where did St. Nicholas come from? And who is Christkindel? During tours of Hager House, visitors will hear about medieval German holiday traditions that came to the New World, including the Christmas tree and the Yule log. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through Dec. 30. Jonathan Hager House and Museum, City Park, Hagerstown. $3; $2, senior citizens; $1, children ages 6 to 12; free for children 5 and younger.

The hustle and bustle of the season doesn’t only happen at the mall. The library is busy this time of year, too. With holiday crafts, a visit from Santa, and families getting library materials to settle down for a “long winter’s nap” the library is very busy this time of year. Here are some books to help everyone enjoy the season — from classics you might have forgotten to some new characters that are sure to become holiday favorites.   “O Holy Night: Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem” pictures by Faith Ringgold (ages 3 and younger)

With 21 decorated Christmas trees in her home this year, Marjorie Colbert finally might have reached her limit. Trees on the first floor have playful and serious themes — Dr. Seuss’ Grinch, the Chicago Bears, giraffes. One has G.I. Joe action figures. Another includes a starfish, a seahorse and other water creatures as part of a light interpretation of “Fishers of Men,” a reference to Jesus Christ talking to followers. In the finished basement, more trees are extravagantly designed.

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go ...” OK, OK, so it’s really been looking a lot like Christmas since before Halloween, but I’m not talking about the stores and the malls. What I’m talking about requires some Christmas concentration, some opening of your eyes beyond the interstate. Here’s the cool thing about Christmas, in addition to celebrating its true meaning: Christmas tends to bring out the best in people and if you look around, you can see the signs.