Trees

An overflowing crowd gathered inside the entrance of Meritus Medical Center Sunday for a tradition known as the Tree of Lights, which recognizes the spiritual nature of the holiday season while highlighting an annual fundraiser for the hospital. The crowd was pretty remarkable since it was held at the same time the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers were playing, said Joseph P. Ross, president and chief executive officer of Meritus Health. “That's testimony to the strength of this tradition,” Ross said, joking to a crowd of about 200 people.

A tree in front of Waynesboro (Pa.) Hospital was illuminated  Sunday through Lights of Hope, a 22-year program in which individuals can sponsor a light in memory of or in celebration of loved ones. Lights of Hope is sponsored by the Waynesboro Hospital Auxiliary.

Whack. A toddler struck a Christmas tree with a bat. A crowd cheered him on as it spun in circles. The tree was stuffed with candy, a piñata to amuse the 50 or so children who celebrated the Christmas season Saturday at Fort Ritchie Community Center's Tree Lighting and Fun with Santa. At the opposite end of the gymnasium were older children with slightly more refined motor skills hammering away at a snowman piñata. A young girl executed the final blow as an excited throng made a mad dash for its contents.

The Sharpsburg community will ring in the holidays with a community tree lighting on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. in front of Town Hall.  Music will be provided by the Rohrersville Band, the Silbert family, local organizations and community carolers around the tree.    Homemade cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Santa Claus is expected to visit. Visitors are also invited to bring a nonbreakable/outdoor ornament to place on the community tree. Limited edition Sharpsburg Christmas ornaments of white Christmas balls with the town seal and date imprinted on them will also be available for $10.  For more information, call Town Clerk Kimberly Fulk at 301-432-4428.

A new tradition began Friday night when the Christmas tree lighting ceremony was held for the first time in the new town square on King Street. The 20-foot Norway Spruce twinkled with multi-colored lights and was topped with a gold star.  Randy Lewis, director of Main Street Martinsburg, the organization's sponsor, said the Home for the Holidays Downtown event kicks off the holiday celebrations in town. The event “is totally for the community,” Main Street Martinsburg president Nancy Ferner said.

Remember Charlie Brown's Christmas tree? The pitiful-looking little twig that becomes a beautiful Christmas tree with a little Christmas love and spirit? Every year since 2009, the Springfield Farm Barn in Williamsport becomes the embodiment of that favorite story as "Charlie Brown's Christmas-Reindeers in the Rafters" is staged. This year's Charlie Brown Christmas - Reindeer in the Rafters runs 3 to 8 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 1 and 8, Sundays, Dec. 2 and 9; and noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4. A full schedule and a virtual tour of last year's event are available on the Williamsport website (see box)

The Borough of Mercersburg and Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting the inaugural Mercersburg tree lighting and Santa visit Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the square. Santa will be arriving by fire truck and meeting with children in the former Juliet's building, while the winner of the coloring contest will light the tree with Mercersburg Mayor Jim Zeger. Other highlights and activities include: Carols will be sung by the James Buchanan Middle School chorus.

Fresh Christmas trees from Fulton County, Pa., and Garrett County, Md., are available for purchase at Concordia Lutheran Church. Fraser fir trees cost $45 and Douglas firs cost $35 (available Dec. 5). Live wreaths and centerpieces also will be available. The trees will be available Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. The church is at 17906 Garden Lane in Hagerstown.   WHS 60th reunion Classmates of Williamsport High School Class of 1952 are invited to the 60th reunion Sunday at Western Sizzlin' steakhouse in Halfway.

While malls and shopping centers were jammed with Black Friday shoppers, the Greensburg Farm Market on Virginia Avenue was doing a brisk business in Christmas trees, wreathes and garland. “It's a nice day, we usually get our tree right after Thanksgiving and my son was here to help me, so I took advantage of the situation,” said Shelley Sachariah of Hagerstown. “And they always have a good selection of the trees I like, Frazier firs,” she said. Buying a Christmas tree at Greensburg Farm Market is a tradition for Bill Martin of Hagerstown, who was accompanied by his wife and son. The trees are always fresh at the market and last six weeks to two months, he said.

A crowd of about 75 people braved cold and blustery weather conditions Saturday night for this small western Washington County town's annual Christmas tree lighting. Tyler and Maryann Johnson of Warfordsburg, Pa., brought their 4-year-old daughter, Alexis, to Joseph Hancock Jr. Primitive Park. “This is our first time,” Johnson's mother said as they waited in a small line to meet Santa Claus, who arrived on a firetruck just before a large fir tree was lighted in the park. Alexis said she wanted a red Ninja Turtle when asked what she wanted for Christmas.