MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BLESSINGS TO ALL: A tree with ornaments and a star or angel at the top, Santa Claus bearing gifts, food that is tasty and carols to sing, it’s Christmastime! Make Christmas special year after year and enjoy the experience. A meaningful time of memories that will linger forever is ours. Everyone is a child at Christmastime.
GOODFELLOWS ARE GRATEFUL: To those who contributed to their cause, “No Child Without A Christmas,” the Goodfellows are thankful for your help. The Razzberry newspaper offered for donations the first Friday and Saturday in December is always a hit. Standing on street corners, intersections and business doorways, the Goodfellows accept contributions for the work they do for needy families in our area. Holding huge jugs, the volunteer Goodfellows gratefully accepted monetary donations and gave out the 80th Razzberry paper. The paper is full of dedications and witty sayings that are a keepsake for all who read it. Individuals, families, businesses, clubs, organizations, churches and schools pay a fee for a space in the publication with the editor and her staff adding the wording. Our Town is grateful, too, to the Goodfellows and their devotion to others for over 80 years.
80TH RAZZBERRY STAFF APPRECIATION: Editor Cathie Dupray is thankful for Cheryl Koehs, Pat Goldenbogen, Margo Ziemer, Terry Vandermeer, Patty and Charlie Robinet, Monica Hayman, Flo Hayman, the salespeople and her husband John Dupray, Our Town’s mayor. Our Town appreciates the staff, the hours and hours required to obtain ads and to edit and lay out the pages for the publisher. Excellent work, as always, from Our Town.
CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES ANNOUNCED: At Grace United Methodist Church, 49655 Jefferson Ave. in Chesterfield Township, members will be joining together in the parking lot to sing “Silent Night,” on Christmas Eve. Call 586-725-1054 for the time. Lighthouse Bible Church, 52260 Washington St., 586-725-9951, will host a candlelight service at 11 p.m. Christmas Eve in the church. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 51161 Maria St., 586-725-6801, is hosting services online at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve and 10:15 a.m. Christmas Day. Visit the church’s Facebook page, St John’s Lutheran New Baltimore MI, or YouTube channel, historic St John New Baltimore. Christ Lutheran Church, 50750 Walpole St., 586-725-1431, will host a candlelight service at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve. St. Mary Queen of Creation Church, 586-725-2441, will hold mass at 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Christmas Eve and at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Christmas Day. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 31100 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township, 586-949-9440, will host a Christmas Eve service at 10 p.m. and a Christmas Day service at 10 a.m.
JINGLE BELL RUN DEC. 21 TO 27: Different this year, the event will be on the honor system with participants planning their own 5K route. Registration is accepted until Dec. 20 at nbrecreation.org. The New Baltimore Parks and Recreation Department is “running” the annual race. Times will be recorded via email, sent through Athlinks. All will receive an ornament for registering at $10 a person. Top times will be given awards. If desired, sweatshirts may be ordered for everyone. The cost is $15 or $20 for a sweatshirt and registration. Pickup will be at the recreation center, 35248 Cricklewood Blvd. in Our Town, or mailed at an extra $5 charge. The center may be reached at 586-725-0291.
ABLE TO HELP THE PANTRY? With food or volunteer help, the St. Mary Queen of Creation Church food pantry is in need of us. Located at 50931 Maria St. and open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays, the pantry is seeking volunteers and food donations as follows: turkeys, hams, Stovetop dressing, canned gravy, canned cranberries, box cake mix, flavored rice dish, raisins, crackers, oatmeal, egg noodles, juice, ramen noodles, Hamburger Helper, Manwich, pancake mix, syrup, tomato paste and diced tomatoes. In other words, unexpired goods, boxed food items, poultry and even diapers are welcome. An added volunteer time is from noon to 2 p.m. to unload trucks the same days the pantry is open. Call 586-725-6304.
LIONS BOTTLE AND CAN COLLECTION CONTINUES: From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, take clean empty bottles and cans to Curves, 35453 23 Mile Road. The collection when redeemed earns the New Baltimore Lions Club funds to help others, especially the Leader for the Blind program and sending children without sight to summer camps. Many thanks for your willingness in this cause. The motto is: We Serve.
LOOKING AHEAD TO FEB. 19 TO 21: The New Baltimore Lions Club will host its annual Winterfest on the streets of Our Town in 2021. In a huge tent, there will be live entertainment, kids day activities, food, a chili cook-off, cornhole tournament, beer stein iron hold competition and more. Outdoors, the ever popular Polar Bear Plunge, causing brave souls to enter the icy and cold Anchor Bay after soliciting pledges, and an ice sculpting display are scheduled. Go to newbaltimorelions.com.
NB RECREATION OFFERING CLASSES: Call 586-725-0291 or go to nbrecreation.org to learn about activities at the center, 35248 Cricklewood Blvd. in Our Town, this winter. Ballroom dancing for ages 16 and older, Judo for ages 6 and older, children’s art for ages 9 to 12 and piano, level 1 for ages 6 to 11.
BARBARA RICHARDS WAND FUND ONGOING: Administered by the Anchor Bay Community Foundation, grants are available for programs that involve children ages 2 to 18 years. Call 586-281-3275 or email [email protected]. For situations such as a medical condition, illness or for a family with an illness that has created emotional or financial distress or family challenges, contact the ABCF as they are there to help. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of ABCF and presented to the board of directors. It is not the policy of the ABCF to investigate programs or medical supplies and costs associated with the grant requests. Hope and happiness is their goal.
OUR TOWN SENDS APPRECIATION TO ABCF: The Anchor Bay Community Foundation chairman is Richard Thompson. Vice chairman is Theodore Whittlesey. Secretary is Denise Mello. Treasurer is Kevin W. Woehler. The community relations contact is Lynne Hoover Musilli. Officers are Barbara Richards, Steven B. Whittlesey, Leonard Woodside, Lois J. Pierson, Elizabeth Madson, Eric R. Pierson, Kenneth M. Gonko, Mark Miller and Kristie Lohmann. The organization has been in existence since 1995, raising funds that provide scholarships and grants for the Anchor Bay area. Contributions to the foundation are put into an endowment fund and then invested. Because the Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit charitable organization, donations may be deductible for tax purposes. There are six grant or program funds and 24 scholarships for which donations may be directed. The mailing address is Anchor Bay Community Foundation, P.O. Box 88, New Baltimore, MI 48047-0088. For further information, call 586-281-3275, email [email protected] or visit abcf.us. The organization’s Twitter handle is abcfoundationMI.
REMINDER: NBHS Museum Closed Until Spring. President Barbara Roddy has determined that the New Baltimore Historical Society will reopen the Grand Pacific House Museum, 51065 Washington St., sometime in the spring, the date to be determined later. Volunteer board members are David Roddy, Vince Nestico, Jane Lenaway, Michael Shields, Suzanne Vitale, Monica Strucinski, Bette Carrothers and past President Richard Gonyeau.
OTIS FELDER NEWS: A former longtime resident of Our Town, Otis Felder was recently honored by the Land O’Lakes Recreational Complex in Florida, dedicating a park bench in honor of his 20 years of service as a U.S. Marine. Now 84 years old, he and his wife, Janet, raised three sons, Brian, Dallas and Jason in the Anchor Bay area. His Marine Corps tenure included two tours of Vietnam and assignments in Thailand, Japan and Indonesia. Congratulations are sent to the Felders from Our Town.
FROM LIVING DELIGHTFULLY (A GREETING CARD): Affirm joy. Cultivate kindness. Eat vegetables. Use your charm once a day. Look for miracles. Love a lot. Be you and have a Merry Christmas!
To report news about your service organization, call Bette Carrothers at 586-725-8051 or email her at [email protected].
