Christmas

One year, when I was in college, I was laying on the floor at my parents' house talking on the phone with a friend over Christmas break. Phones still had cords then, so I couldn't stray too far from the base. I was snacking, probably on pepperoni, cheese and saltines, admiring the tree in its white-lit simplicity. My mom had continued to use fat, colored bulbs for years after she'd tired of them because her five children preferred them. Finally, as we grew older, she made the shift to the small twinkly ones she liked.

Boy Scout Troop 62 in Chewsville helped to spread Christmas cheer to the residents of The Villages at Robinwood Assisted Living home on Dec. 13.  Scouts shared with the residents by singing Christmas carols, playing instrumental music, performing a skit and reading Christmas stories. The Scouts provided and served homemade baked goods and made Christmas ornaments for each of the residents. Troop 62 put smiles on the faces of the residents and wished them all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania Keystone Chapter 56 will hold its annual "Christmas in July" ride on Sunday, July 24. Proceeds from the 12:30 to 4 p.m. event will benefit Royal Family Kids. The parade will go from M&S Harley-Davidson to the American Legion post in St. Thomas, Pa. For additional information, call Calvin Wolfe at 717-372-2092.

Nine-year-old Melissa said Saturday, Dec. 17, was the best day of her life. "Well, I got my wish of having a beanbag chair and the only other thing I wanted - books, books, books!" she said. Melissa's brother, Bobby, 7, sat on the lap of Santa Claus Saturday for the first time in his life, then opened a gift of a shiny black bicycle with red and silver trim. Two teachers from Melissa and Bobby's school took them to The Herald-Mail Co.s' "Letters to Santa" party Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Discovery Station in downtown Hagerstown.

Auditions for "Antietam Anthologies: Christmas 1862" will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Washington Rural Heritage Museum at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, south of Hagerstown. "Antietam Anthologies" will be part of the Rural Heritage Village by Candlelight, Friday, Dec. 2.  Roles are needed for Antietam Anthologies characters and dozens of extras, some with speaking parts. No prior experience is required and persons of all ages who are interested in rural heritage, local culture, and Civil War history should audition to participate.   Contact antietamanthologies@verizon.net for more information.  If you plan to audition for a featured role, prepare at least 60 seconds of memorized text to recite.

The Tri-State Civitan Club presented its Christmas variety show recently at the Potomac Center on Marshall Street in Hagerstown. The club brings the event to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Students from Marshall Street School, Job Development Center and Star Community were among the crowd. The event is always a favorite show with standing room only. Kevin The Klown always brings amazement from the audience when he balances a ladder in his mouth. Aaron Elbin from Marshall Street School staff was turned into a puppet by magician John Dodge and got many laughs.

Morris Frock Post 42, the American Legion, will close Friday at 5 p.m. and will be closed all day Saturday. It will reopen Sunday, Dec. 26, at noon. The post will offer a special dinner menu for New Year's Eve from 5 to 8:45 p.m. Specials will include Crab Imperial, prime rib au jus, marinated chicken breast and shrimp scampi. All dinners will be served with a salad, vegetable, rolls, butter, coffee, tea and dessert. The band Barr-Nunn will perform. Call 301-733-7676 for reservations.

Alan Arnold of Shippensburg, Pa., took a few moments to check out the men’s shoe selection at the Shoe Department inside the Chambersburg Mall on Sunday afternoon. After a trip to Kohl’s earlier in the day, Arnold came to the mall with his wife, Lori, and 17-year-old daughter, Bryce, who was hoping to buy a pair of shoes. “She got some money for Christmas,” Arnold said of his daughter. “It burns a hole (in her pocket).” The Arnolds were like many people who decided to check out the stores Sunday for day-after-Christmas price slashes and holiday clearance sales.

WILLIAMSPORT - With a winter storm in the forecast, Christmas was in the air Monday at Williamsport Town Hall. After Councilman Jeff Cline introduced a video montage of the town's 2006 yuletide festivities, public-works employee Robert Talhelm announced employees' plans to sponsor a classic car, truck and motorcycle show to benefit future Christmas celebrations. Talhelm said the May 12 show would raise money for more Christmas lights and display pieces at Byron Memorial Park.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. -- A salt- and pepper-colored horse pulled a white carriage through the streets of Shepherdstown on Saturday as hundreds of people gathered downtown to help usher in the Christmas season. Meredith Wait, president of the Shepherdstown Business Association, said Christmas in Shepherdstown began about 20 years ago as a way for merchants to give back to the community. "I believe that's still the spirit of it," she said. Although some of the merchants enjoy a financial upturn during the event, many use the occasion to help nonprofit organizations, Wait said.