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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 raised stay in the Warren County area to assist those in need. You will hear the weekend bells ringing at the Red Kettle through Saturday, Dec. 19 and then again Monday through Wednesday, Dec.21-23.

The Salvation Army, the Sugar Grove Ministerium, and all those who benefit from these organizations appreciate all your help.

Special visitor

comes to Sugar Grove

Students of the Imaginative Preschool in Sugar Grove were busy this week creating Christmas gifts for parents and making decorations for a special holiday program.

The students will share a program of music, stories, and poems with their families on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

The Imaginative Preschool will take its Christmas break and then return to classes at the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church starting Jan. 5.

Christmas Eve

Celebrations

There are many Christmas Eve celebrations that take place in the community of Sugar Grove. All are open to the community and any visitors to Sugar Grove.

At the First Presbyterian Church, a Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held on Dec. 24 at 9 p.m. The church is located on Main Street.

At the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church a praise and celebration candlelight service in the gym will be held at 9 p.m. Come early at 8:30 p.m. to enjoy a time of fellowship and refreshments. The church is located on Jamestown Street .

The United Methodist churches of Sugar Grove and Lottsville will have a combined candlelight service with reflective readings and carols at 9 p.m. The service will be held this year at the Sugar Grove United Methodist Church on the corner Race Street and Jamestown Street.

At the Sugar Grove Mission Covenant Church, a Christmas Eve Service will be held at 11 p.m. and ring in the celebration of Christmas Day at midnight. The Mission Covenant Church is located on Matthews Run Road.

Santa Comes for Lunch

Students at the Sugar Grove Elementary School were surprised with a visit from the most popular person this time of year, Santa Claus. He came to Sugar Grove Elementary School for breakfast on Thursday, Dec. 17. He stayed and ate with the students and brought each one a holiday treat. Santa, a.k.a. Food Service Director Justin Tech, is making the rounds to many of the elementary schools in the county this week to enjoy breakfast or lunch with the students.

Christmas Break

Warren County School students' Christmas/New Year break will being on Thursday, Dec. 24 and continue through Jan. 3, 2010. School will be back in session on Jan. 4.

Local Skater

A new holiday tradition called "Ice Christmas" will take place at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, N.Y., on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. This is a live ice show featuring the Jamestown figure skaters club, the Junior Guilders Ice Skaters, and Infinity Music.

Local skater Julia Bauer from Sugar Grove will be performing. Log on to www.icechristmas.com for more information or to order tickets online. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 489-3012.

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 the new Daisy leader, Sonya Anthony, with our kindergarten Girl Scout team. If you are interested in joining this new group, 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 to 6 p.m. Blood donated to the Community Blood Bank stays in the area.

For more information, contact 489-3880.

A Sugar Grove

Christmas

The weather did not dampen the Christmas spirit throughout Sugar Grove on Friday, Dec. 11. A Sugar Grove Christmas event went on despite the season's heaviest snow yet.

Main Street was the place to be with decorated windows and living scenes of elves and Christmas cheer. Though the SGES concert was cancelled due to the weather, many students were out with their families. Christmas holiday helpers were outfitted from Catering Plus and roamed the streets to greet all the visitors.

Santa brought with him live toys, clowns, Uncle Sam, and Elf helpers. The Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department provided hot chili, cocoa, and cookies for all the visitors. The AMVETS had hot chocolate and candy canes with Santa at the PNC Bank.

The Presbyterian Church, the United Methodist Church and the Kwik Fill all had more goodies at both ends of Main Street to warm those out braving the storm to see the beautiful decorations, and the special Christmas village at the church. Sugar Grove Borough Council had Main Street all decorated and Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Junior AMVETS groups had windows and displays.

The Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department took its holiday-decorated truck out for a ride through town. Don Erickson Massage Therapy provided chair massages for those who stopped in and the Sugar Grove Post Office gave out information on holiday packages and shipping questions. The streets were filled with holiday carols and songs as 40 singers from the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church gathered on the balcony at the Bucket Cafe to sing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The Mission Covenant Church collected for the Salvation Army in front of the decorated Town and Country Store. The Outpost and Linda York's flowers also had goodies for those who stopped in to see their windows.

Many families were downtown on sleds stopping to get warm at Wilcox Brothers where there was an outdoor fire and indoor treats from Darcy's Hair Boutique and Catering Plus. We met up with a family that just moved back to the area from Florida having a great time.

The Sugar Grove American Legion Post 758 had Mrs. Santa reading to children while making toys in Santa's workshop display. The Dave Allison Art Exhibit was enjoyed by all. Surprises were in store for all who traveled into Hebner's Towne Styling to view the decorations.

The following homes which received recognition for outstanding decorating efforts during the Sugar Grove Christmas: Connie Meleen, 51 Rounds Hill Rd.; John Rupczyk, Patchen Hollow Road; the Braleys, 15 W. Mill St.; the Pudders, Jamestown Street; Kim and Rhonda Schnars, 107 Jamestown St.; Gail Griffin, 2086 Rounds Hill Rd.; and Louise Morgan and the First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Grove, Main Street.

Thanks to Judy Fry, the AMVETS, and all those from the local businesses, churches and organizations who met since August to help plan and bring this special Sugar Grove event together. Also, thank you to all those community volunteers.

Food Pantry

The Sugar Grove Community Food Pantry is located in the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church basement. Call 489-3105 or 489-3763 to set up a time to come and pick up needed food. The food pantry will be open on Wednesday nights in February for those who would like to drop in.

Special Service

This Sunday, Dec. 20 the community is invited to attend the Mission Covenant Sunday School Christmas program at 6:30 p.m.