Christmas

After a long Saturday of sports practices, Christmas-related errands and homework assignments, you'd think my 13-year-old would be exhausted. Hardly. After supper she was in the living room doing strength-training exercises. I sat at the kitchen table, head resting in one hand, red pen poised in the other, grading yet another stack of papers. I didn't realize how tired I was until my son walked by and said, "Mom, I think playing two sports at one time is harder on you than it is on her. " Leave it up to him to capture the moment and capture it well.

The Top Five Tie-dyed tribute band On the Bus will present Grateful Dead music. 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. $10. Call 304-876-3704 or go to www.operahouselive.com . Civil War Christmas Learn what Christmas was like during the time of the Civil War. Speakers, handouts, songs, decorations and treats. Have your photo taken with Civil War Santa Claus Jim Tent. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Pry House Field Hospital Museum, 18906 Shepherdstown Pike, Sharpsburg.

Washington Square United Methodist Church, at 538 Washington Ave. in Hagerstown, will present a Christmas cantata titled “A Song in the Air” by Dennis and Nan Allen Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Washington Square sanctuary. Singers from Washington Square, St. Matthew's and Grace UMC choirs will  participate with direction by Rita Haines. There will also be a traditional nativity pageant with live animals. Refreshments will be served after the program in the pew hall and children can also visit the nativity animals.

“You know, I got to thinking about these grandparents, which I am one, and my biggest thrill is when I get a chance to hug my grandchild, to set them on my lap or say a kind thing to them. So if you want to make your day, give your grandchild a hug, OK? And look at that happy face.” - Hagerstown “About your sports page, why is it that the University of Maryland College Park men's soccer team has not had a word on the fact that they just won the ACC championship? And on top of that, they won the quarterfinals this past weekend.

Michelle McDonald, who has attended Easter Seals Adult Day Services of Hagerstown for three years, attended the program's Christmas meal Wednesday with people she said were like her family. “You're with people that you love and care about here,” said McDonald, 46, of Hagerstown. “I'm very happy and grateful. Easter Seals has been very helpful to me in being with people and making friends.” Easter Seals local adult daycare program, which serves adults with disabilities, provided a Christmas lunch for its participants along with The Good Shepherd Ministries on Wednesday at the church on Longmeadow Road.

The detour through the Bavarian Inn was closed and traffic was resumed Wednesday from Shepherd Grade Road to the stop sign on W.Va. 480 (North Duke Street) for the first time since last spring when construction began on an underpass linking Shepherd University's East and West campuses. Students will begin using the underpass when they return to classes after the Christmas break in January, Dan Yanna, the university's director of facilities management, said Wednesday. Workers are finishing the concrete walkway and steps leading out of the tunnel onto the west campus.

As you pass the beautiful Christmas tree at Hagerstown City Park, smile and enjoy. The Colorado Blue Spruce came from Williamsport, donated by Harold Burgesser. Thank you, Harold. Your generous gift is enhancing the Christmas spirit for everyone.   Cookie sale to benefit child care center Kinder Haven Child Care Center will hold its fourth annual cookie sale and holiday open house Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 35 W. Potomac St. The cookie sale will offer a variety of homemade cookie selections.

Rodney Martin, retired planetarium educator, will present “The Christmas Star” at Discovery Station on Saturday at 2 p.m. as part of its Saturday Plus program. There is no charge for the Saturday Plus presentation. There is an admission charge for the full museum tour of two floors of hands-on exhibits. The Treasure Gift Shoppe is open Tuesday through Saturday from  10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with gifts from 50 cents to $50. Annual family memberships and gift certificates are available.

For 14 years, the Tree of Love has been a holiday tradition at Fulton County Medical Center. On Sunday, the hospital auxiliary held its annual ceremony inside the main entrance to the facility. Every white angel hanging from the tree contained a name written in green or red. Each of the angels, which cost $5, are in memory or honor of a loved one or special person. FCMC Auxiliary President Sally Cover said 274 angels were purchased by donors. “It's a healing thing for people, and it's just part of the season to remember those who passed away,” she said.

On Sunday at 5 p.m., Haven Lutheran Church invites those who have lost loved ones to its Blue Christmas service. Blue Christmas services speak to the hurts and emptiness of losses sensed even more keenly at a holiday. Blue Christmas services offer a meaningful time of comfort and inspiration, compassion and prayer. If you are grieving a loss of any kind, you are invited to find a time of peace at the service. If you know someone who is struggling with sadness during the holidays, invite him or her to the worship.