Christmas Wishes

There was this:

And this:

And these are my friends!

Christmas Trees From LV Municipalities

Above is a slideshow of the municipal Christmas trees in 18 different Lehigh Valley communities. Where did I miss? Which ones are your favorites? My two favorites are Nazareth and Tatamy. To see where each tree is from, click on the green rectangle in the lower left corner.

Updated 8:55 am: "The 'green rectangle' you refer to is actually white, until it is clicked. Then it turns green. Took me a little time looking for a green rectangle before finally figuring out you were referring to the white comment box."

Two More Christmas Trees!

I now have 18 different municipal Christmas trees, along with one gigantic peace candle, to bring you on Christmas Eve. That's when I'll upload a slide show and ask you to select your favorite. So far, my two top pics are Nazareth and Tatamy.

One of Santa's elves sent this to me from Tatamy. This is not the largest tree, but is among my favorites.

This beautiful display is off of Route 145, near Whitehall High School.

Northampton County and Williams Township Christmas Trees

The following are the latest Christmas trees in my holy quest to get pictures of the Christmas tree for each municipal government in the Lehigh Valley. If you can send me (BOHare5948@aol.com)  a photograph of your borough or Township Christmas tree, I will run it here.When it gets closer to Christmas, I'll ask you to decide who has the best one. The latest are from Williams Township and Northampton County:

Williams Township's Christmas tree sits just outside the meeting room.

Northampton County's Christmas tree sits on top of the County seal, just inside the rotunda.

Which LV Municipality Nas Nicest Christmas Tree?

Bethlehem Tp

Bethlehem

At Monday night's meeting of Bethlehem Township's Board of Commissioners, I marveled at the size and fragrant aroma of the Township's large tree. I had just left Bethlehem, where their large Christmas tree dwarfs the rest of Payrow Plaza.

That got me thinking. Which Lehigh Valley municipality has the nicest Christmas tree? I intend to snap a few pictures between now and Christmas, and let you decide. Haven't quite decided on a prize, but I'm leaning towards a one year free subscription to this blog.

If you are in a municipal office and see their Christmas tree, please send me the picture. My email is BOHare5948@aol.com.

Below is Bethlehem's tree at Payrow Plaza.

Brother, Can You Spare a Tree?

Bethlehem is looking for a few good Christmas trees. The Citizens’ Christmas City Committee, which sounds like something out of the French Revolution, is looking fo tall trees for the Christmas holiday season, nicely shaped, about 40-50 feet tall, accessible to the roadway, and within ten miles of center city.

There must be a residency requirement. .

Donation of these trees will be recognized at the annual Christmas City Tree Lighting Ceremony, which will take place on Friday, November 28, 2014, at 4:30PM on Payrow Plaza.

Anyone wishing to donate a tree should call Citizen Greg Cryder or Citizen Chris Lenhart at 610-865-7108.

Happy El Dia de Reyes

Christians call it Epiphany. But in Puerto Rico, Mexico and many other Latin American countries, January 6 is knows as 'El Dia de Reyes', or Three Kings Day. It commemorates the day that three wise men brought gifts for Baby Jesus. For many Latin American kids, Monday is the day they get their gifts. So if you saw a bunch of people rushing around at Target and Wal Mart in icy weather, you know why.

Kids who have Latino and non-Latino parents must make out like bandits.

This is also considered the last day of Christmas.

Colonial Cops Give Local Kids A Merry Christmas

Kids, cops and ... a cow?

Thanks to the Colonial Regional Police, nine needy local families will have a Merry Christmas this year. For the eighth year in a row, police provided local children with an experience they'll remember the rest of their lives.

This is the way to go shopping!

The cold December Saturday morning started as officers, accompanied by Santa helper, picked the children up at their homes in a police cruiser. From there, it was off to breakfast at Chic-Fil-A. Then the fun really started. Children piled into nine cruisers for the procession to Wal-Mart, as emergency lights flashed and sirens wailed away. People in the parking lot stopped in their tracks, jaws dropped, wondering what was happening. But they started smiling as cruiser doors opened and kids emerged, on their way to do some serious shopping.

Dylan, age 9, picks out a police car. 

Armed with lists, and checking them twice, officers and children worked together to get presents for these families. Each child got to pick one out for himself, too. After that, Wal-Mart workers wrapped the gifts, and it was off to lunch at Red Robin.

This “Shop with Cops” program was possible thanks to the generosity of local citizens, the police officers themselves, Giant Food Store, Wal mart, Chic-Fil-A and Red Robin.

SGT John with daughter Claire, age 12, and Natasha, age 6

The boys finished their shopping first. Natasha, age 6, standing in line, complained, "I hate boys. My brother beats me up."

"But you picked out a present for your brother," answered Claire, age 12.

SGT John, who doubles as Claire's father, said he loves this event and participates every year. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said, even though he was scheduled to go on duty in a few short. hours.

It's an experience the police remember, too.

Patricia, age 8, said girls finished behind boys because "we took our time."

Dylan decides he'd rather have a race car. 

- Jeremiah, age 8, with Officer TJ and an unidentified man who kept saying, "Ho, Ho, Ho."

Dylan decides he'd rather have a rifle and pistol

You can see more pics on my Facebook page.

Merry Frickin' Christmas

I'm a miserable bastard. So Christmas means nothing to me. It's actually a pain in the ass.

But I love Facebook, especially at this time of year. It's nice to see all those pictures of people enjoying their holiday celebrations. Most are caught up with delicious food, gifts, kids, pets and spending time with their family. I learned two things.

First, Jews really do go to Chinese restaurants. A few of my Jewish Facebook friends posted pictures of them eating out. Two were kissing under an egg roll. The Chinese must be one of the lost tribes.

Second, instead of eating Chinese, Vietnamese go to frickin' Miami. That's where my grandson is right now, in shorts. I think he's going to a Jewish Deli while he's down there, followed by tix to Miami Heat.

Bastard!

Me? I'm broke, like every Christmas. But I did see Wreck-It Ralph, where I learned that being a bad guy can be good. I'm unsure whether that applies to bottom-feeding bloggers.

A Call to Peace, From Nazareth to Bethlehem

Dimitri Schwartz, at the vanguard, leads the 10-mile pilgrimage

When Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem two thousand years ago, as claimed in the Gospel of Luke, they covered approximately eighty miles. On December 8, in memory of that journey, approximately 150 people made the shorter, 10-mile, trip between Nazareth and Bethlehem here in the Lehigh Valley. Called the Christmas Peace Pilgrimage, it's the 53rd time this group has made the trip, walking with simple star and peace signs. It's an annual reminder of the true meaning of Christmas - peace on earth.

This year's trek, which started at the Moravian Church in the Nazareth Circle at noon, slowly made its way along Route 191 and into Bethlehem, stopping at three churches along the way. It ended, as darkness fell, with Christmas carols at the Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. Although most participants were from the Lehigh Valley, they included people from the coal regions, Maryland and Ohio.

Some have been making this an annual expedition since the '70s. As Grant Stevenson explains, "Somebody's gotta' be for peace." A sign at First Baptist Church, a rest stop along the way, refers everyone to Christ's message: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Lanna Melchiorre, Hillary Frigm and John Bergdoll join pilgrimage from Nazareth race track

Nick Butterfield, Tom Stimmet and Grant Stevenson join hike about 2 miles into trip

Russell Fry, age 8, walked the entire 10 miles. 

After three miles, group rests at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lower Nazareth Township

It's a family affair for Bethlehem resident Rick Dow. His wife manned the sag wagon. His daughter forgot the camera.

After 6 miles, Colleen Gahman and Rhonda Mitchell are still smiling

Cindy Yost waves as she makes her way to First Baptist Chruch

Rita Skechus comes from the Scranton area to walk 10 miles for peace

In Bethlehem, pilgrims stop at First Church of the Nazarene for vigil candles

Sgt John Karr, one of Bethlehem's finest, provided traffic control

This is what it was all about - a call to peace

You can see more pictures here.

Wolf Christmas

Daniel Pinkwater's delightful Wolf Christmas, which originally aired on NPR last year, was broadcast again tonight. It's a great short story for all of us, and Pinkwater's narration makes it even better. You can here it here. If you'd prefer to just read it, or better yet, read it to your family, you'll see the narration there, too.

They Killed Rudolph!

... in Richmond. His God-damn nose did him in.

Free vension for everyone!

A Christmas Lights Display Missed by Bill White

We in the blogosphere can write about pretty Christmas lights, too. Above is a display that The Morning Call's Bill White somehow missed.
(Confession: I stole this from an email sent by Donald F).

Put a Nickel in the Drum

Perhaps one of the best charities, especially at Christmas, is The Salvation Army. From youth camps to elderly services, this group of dedicated volunteers helped 35 million people in 2006. According to Major Roger Duperee, over 2,600 Lehigh Valley families have asked the Army for help this Christmas. That's 18% more than last year. So far, it has only half the toys and gifts it needs for needy children this Christmas.

How can we help?

There's always the "put a nickel in the drum" approach. The Red Kettle Christmas campaign provides food, toys and clothing to over 6 million people during the Christmas season. As of December 7, the Salvation Army was at about 40% of its needed target of $350,000 here in the Lehigh Valley.

You can also donate toys to the Lehigh Valley Toys for Tots. Over four pages of local drop off locations all over the area are listed here. For teens between 13 and 16, there is a great need for gift cards.

You can also donate directly to the Salavation Army at the following locations:

Allentown: 144 North 8th Street, Phone (610) 432-0129.

Bethlehem: 521 Pembroke Rd, Phone (610) 867-4681.

Salvation Army Toy Castle: Westgate Mall Phone (610) 653-6395

Easton: 1110 Northampton St, Phone (610) 258-9531.

Pen Argyl: 301 W Main St, Phone (610) 863-6677.

Update: Both QCD and Michael Molovinsky have stories about this, too.

Happy Festivus!

Seinfeld character George Costanza used to avoid digging into his pocket at Christmas by claiming he was making donations in his coworkers' names to a fake charity called The Human Fund - Money for People.

To me, it's almost always the most stressful time of the year, as I scrounge to find money for gifts here and there and waste hour after hour trying (unsuccessfully) to wrap them.

This year, it's a lot easier for me because I'm broke. I don't know about you, but I'll be making lots of donations to The Human Fund.

The Salvation Army is Looking for a Few Good Men (and Women)

The New Salvation Army Toy Castle for Those in Need will be open at Westgate Mall, starting on Monday, December 17 through December 21. Thanks to this toy castle, families receive food and clothing. Disadvantaged children find toys under their Christmas trees.

It will be open all week between 7 AM and 8:30 PM. If you'd like to volunteer a few hours at that time, just click on this link.