the HERALD Seniors Wednesday December A Church Christmas concerts a part of growing up By FLORENCE WILKINSON Herald Special Christmas is coming So this is news You have known that from the stores who put up Christmas decorations while they took down the en ones you have probably stood in the weather and watched the Santa Claus parade and you may have received your first Christmas cards friends the miles However now that December has arrived Christmas is also be looked forward to in the Those congregations which light Advent candles have lit the first one Christians have sung Come 0 Come Emmanuel and sanctuaries are decorated in preparation for the coming of Christ Perhaps like me many of the seniors will be remembering the Christmas concerts of old those which demanded practising into the dark hours of the evenings Where I grew up the Christmas concert was pan of the Church life I do not remember any school concert It was when I moved West that I started remembering the concerts which were school centred not church centred In my church there was a central platform with the pulpit and the choir and on each side of this chancel platform there were pews facing from the side to cen tre Everv Christmas the men would get out huge planks to put over the pews on one side so that the platform would continue from one side of the chancel platform as far as the wall This extra space was sectioned off with the forest green Sundav School cur diiders so that we had dressing room and a back stage for the entrances and exits And what entrances and exits were The girls in white with tinsel around their hair and earning a stir as the performed their mir dies the older classes the put on their Christmas or the choir which sang as background lo the building of the scene around Joseph and the baby in a manger with real straw which had to be swept up later There was a lot of variety in those concerts and a lot of talent which later has performed on mam stages but it was all done so that we could as a congrega tion celebrate the birth of Jesus Son of God Sauour In those days my home did not have electricity so our tree did see any But there were many kinds of decorations and 1 Herald honored By J Historical The Halton Herald first published in the spring or early summer of Isaac Hunter a former partner and the printer for The Canadian Champion opened the paper to compete with his former employer The paper served the North Halton market of Milton Acton Georgetown and Surrounding areas Although the paper soon became a principally local paper it retained the name until 1876 when the more apt Georgetown Herald graced the masthead This name served the paper for almost a century With the in traduction of regional govern in 1974 the Herald again renewed its quest for a larger market by expanding into Acton Consequently the name was ogam changed to reflect the area serviced The paper adopted the name of the new political cor poration The Halton Hills Herald The paper has served Georgetown an area continuous Although it did not print an during the Christmas season at ore time it has always published when it was expected to Even after a disastrous fire in 1918 the paper came out as usual thanks to the printing presses of The Acton Free Prets Many people have owned and run the Herald and since the pur chase of the paper by the Thorn son chain many people have managed the operation The Esquesing Historical Society will honor The Herald on the occassion of its 125th year of publication at its December meeting at Knox Presbyterian Church The public is invited to join us and hear about the papers stormy beginning and its more recent past from guests which include Garfield Gilson and Dave Hastings The meeting begins at 7 pm If you wish to join our Christmas cookie exchange br two dozen baked goodies to trade Refreshments will be following the meeting The Society requests your help in reducing garbage by bringing your own coffee mug DOWNTOWN GEORGETOWN CHRISTMAS HOURS Fn 30am Saturday am 600pm ChnstniasEve9 00 a m 6 p m FREE PARKING AT METERS December Final Week of Christmas Shopping Spree DECEMBER 7 PHOTO WITH SANTA A Project of The Open Door Georgetown Time 9 30 a m 1 30 p m Place Union Gas Main St S Cost 00 per picture All proceeds to Open Door Plus see Santa wandering Downtown every Thurs Fn Sat even at the worst of times my father would whittle a top for each of us it there could be nothing else and mother would scrimp and save so that she could make a Christmas cake decorated with a cardboard San ta coming down the chimnev limes have changed and seniors look back at the old das with nostalgia but I am sure look forward to the kind of celebrating which is for ill of us toda Hen ire borne ways in wtych seniors might want celebrate A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS at the Region Museum Saturday Dec and Sunday Dec m LIGHTING HOSPITAL CHRISTMAS REE Dec 12 outside the lobby of the hospital Carolling and goodies afterward Dec 12 at the Seniors Centre Milton a FORMAL DANCE 30 00 p 00 per person Dec 17 at the Seniors Centre Milton TLA AND CAROL SING from p m SENIORS TOUR OF LIGHTS sponsored by the Kinsmen Club of Georgetown December 18 from 3011 m Buses will pick up seniors at various points A tour of the Christmas lights will begin around p m After wards there will be a reception at St Andrews United Church with refreshments door prizes enter and a visit from Santa Eastern Star donation Members of the Peace Rose Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star back row left to right Dorothy Pyatt Christine Wild PDDGAA Joan Lovegrove May McDonald PM and front Jeannette Thompson IPAA presented a cheque for 1068 to Whiting Thursday who accepted it on behalf of the Heart and Stroke The Eastern Star organization chooses a charity each year to raise money for and chose the Heart and Stroke Foundation this year The money was raised through craft tables raffles and donations Herald Photo ATTENTION ACTON RESIDENTS To better serve our community is pleased to announce for your convenience that GLEN LEA DRUGS and ACTON PHARMACY will accept copy for Classifieds Sports Stories and Scores Community Service Bulletins Announcements Etc JUST DROP THEM IN THE CONVENIENT BOX AT GLEN LEA DRUGS ACTON PHARMACY 294 Queen St Acton MondayThursday 99 Friday Saturday 9 6 2 Main St Acton Mori Tues Wed 96 ThursdayFriday 99 Saturday 96 For Information On How To Place Your Classifieds In The Herald Call 8772201 or 8778822 Joan or Barb will be pleased to help you DEADLINES Copy is necessary Monday by 3 p for Wednesdays Herald Thursday by 0 a for Sunday Herald