Local skater

A new holiday tradition called "Ice Christmas" will take place at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, New York, Sunday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m. This is a spectacular live ice show featuring our Jamestown figure skaters club, the Junior Guilders Ice Skaters, and Infinity Music. Together the groups combine their efforts to bring this holiday event to life. Local skater, Julia Bauer from Sugar Grove will be performing in the event. Log on to www.icechristmas.com for more information or to order tickets online. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 489-3012.

Fantasia tour

The Eisenhower High School Fantasia Choir, which is a select group of student singers, will travel on their Annual Christmas tour. The group will sing for students and senior centers throughout the area. Scheduled appearances on this year's tour are for the Russell Elementary School, the Warren State Hospital, the Watson Memorial Home, the First Lutheran Church Senior Fellowship, and the Sugar Grove Elementary School. We appreciate the group going out each year to help spread some holiday cheer.

The Christmas Guest

The Chandlers Valley United Methodist Church will be hosting a special production of "The Christmas Guest", on Sunday, December 13th at 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted for admission. All are welcome to stay for light refreshments and fellowship, after the program.

Girl Scouts sign up

It's not too late to join Girl Scouts for the year. Troops are still forming in the area. We welcome our new Daisy leader, Sonya Anthony, with our Kindergarten Girl Scout team. If you are interested in joining this new group, please contact the Warren Girl Scout office at 723-4990. Meetings will be held at the Lander United Methodist Church which will be a central location for any interested kindergartners in the Sugar Grove, Lander or Russell area. We are also in need of more volunteers for scout leaders in the Russell and Sugar Grove area. Please consider helping out as we are so fortunate to have so many Girl scouts in the area.

Community Blood Bank

The Chandlers Valley Area Community Center will hold a Community Blood Bank-blood drive on Monday, Dec. 21, from 1 p.m. 6 p.m. We would like to remind folks that when you donate blood to the Community Blood Bank, the blood stays in our local area. What better gift to give during this Holiday Season than to help save a life by donating needed blood. For more information, please contact: 489-3880.

Sugar Grove Christmas

No doubt you see all the decorations going up for tonight's Sugar Grove Christmas. The Community of Sugar Grove has been planning this all town Christmas event for months. Tonight, December 11, 2009 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Main street and downtown Sugar Grove is the place to be. During this same time, the Sugar Grove Elementary School is scheduled to hold their Annual Christmas Concert. Students in grades K, 1, 3, and 5 will be performing their holiday selections. Each grade is assigned a different beginning time for the concert and they will be performing outside in front of the elementary school. Kindergarten will perform at 5:30 p.m. Grade 1 will perform at 5:45 p.m. Grade 3 will perform at 6 p.m. Grade 5 will perform at 6:30 p.m. A SGES Choir will perform at 6:15 p.m. The students will then be able to join in the other community festivities with their families.

Plan to join us for many exciting stops throughout the town. Downtown you will find the American Legion will hold a Santa Shop. The AMVETS will have hot chocolate and candy canes with Santa at the PNC Bank. The Sugar Grove Borough Council has all the Christmas lights up. Boy Scouts and Girl Scout groups have windows and displays throughout the main street of town. Watch for the Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department to have their holiday decorated truck out to help Santa arrive and George Hedlund will provide a hay ride around town. From Kwik Fill and the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street down to the United Methodist Church, Main Street will be filled with holiday snacks, goodies and warm drinks. On the triangle the United Methodist church will have luminaries and a warming place along with cookies and beverages in the educational building. The Sugar Grove Free Library will host Mrs. Claus story time and there will be random Christmas Present books given out. Main street windows will be adorned with paintings, holiday lights, and animated figures. Don Erickson Massage Therapy will be providing free chair massages for those with holiday stress. The Sugar Grove Post Office will be open from 5 p.m. 7 p.m. with information on holiday packages, shipping questions, and in case you still need to purchase those holiday stamps for your Christmas cards. Stop by and hear the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church choir caroling from the Bucket balcony from 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

The registration for the holiday light contest ended and judges traveled to view the holiday homes this past week. Following are the homes which received recognition for outstanding decorating efforts. Connie Meleen at 51 Rounds Hill Road, John Rupczyk on Patchen Hollow Road, The Braley's home at 15 West Mill Street, The Pudder's home on Jamestown Street, Kim and Rhonda Schnars at 107 Jamestown Street, Gail Griffin's home at 2086 Rounds Hill Road and Louise Morgan and the First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Grove on Main street in Sugar Grove. Why not put the family in the car and drive out to see the beautiful holiday lights during the Christmas Season.

Library to reduce hours

Due to the reduction in funds from the State of Pennsylvania in the amount of $3,783.00 and the Warren County Commissioners in the amount of $6,000 the Sugar Grove Free Library, after having considered every other option, has no choice but to reduce the hours that the library is open. The decision was determined by using documented library usage statistics to eliminate Friday and Saturday open hours starting December 1, 2009.

Hours starting the first week in December will be follows:

Monday 2- 8, Tuesday 11 4, Wednesday 2 8, and Thursday 11 4

Please note that the library is still open evening hours for students and after-work patrons.

The library apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause to its patrons.

Outpost donation

to local Library

The Sugar Grove Free Library would like to thank the Outpost organization and its store volunteers for a monetary donation of $500. Due to the recent budget cuts this donation will be used to augment the Library's 2010 collection development budget.

The library appreciates your thoughtfulness and community support. The Outpost store of used clothing, furniture, and household items and is operated solely to raise funds to donate throughout the Sugar Grove Community. It is a ministry of the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church.

EMHS

Christmas Concert

The Eisenhower High School Christmas concert is Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. The annual holiday concert is always a highlight of the Christmas Season. The many choirs of EMHS under the direction of Denise Pearson have once again been practicing to bring the community a fantastic concert to celebrate the holidays. Choirs that will be performing for the concert will be the Seventh Grade Choir, the Middle Level Choir, Dreamers, Senior Choir and Fantasia. We invite you to come out and support this holiday event. Tickets will not be sold for the event but donations will be accepted at the door for anyone wishing to donate to the choral program.

Food Pantry Open

The Sugar Grove Community Food Pantry is open. The pantry is located in the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church basement and it will be staffed each Wednesday evening from 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. People are on hand to distribute food to anyone in need. You can call 489-3105 or 489-3763 to set up a time to come and pick up food or stop in during the open Wednesday night hours.

Red Kettle Campaign

Stop by the Town & Country Food Center any Friday or Saturday during December and you will hear bells ringing and see the Red Kettle Campaign. Volunteers from all the area churches are out to ring the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas Campaign. All the proceeds that our community raises, stays in the Warren County area to assist those in need.