Tri-City Angel Tree reminder

Thank you to all the readers who have been helping with the angel tree by pulling tags and fulfilling wishes. We have had many of the gifts dropped off already. It is great to see everyone jumping in to give a child hope this season. Remember, the deadline is Friday, December 16. If you picked a tag off the tree, please remember to drop off the gift you purchased by this date.

We will be wrapping gifts and delivering them to the families next week. Our goal is to have all gifts delivered by Wednesday, December 21. We want the families to have them by Christmas.

How are you doing on our Christmas Season Challenge? Have you taken the time to do something nice for someone else? If not, there is still time. It does not take lots of money and is really quite simple. Just take a moment to do something nice for someone else. Maybe you could check on a neighbor that cannot get out when the weather is bad, thank a police officer or fire fighter for their service, or say a kind word to a parent who seems to be struggling with the stress of the holidays. Whatever the case may be, take the challenge and spread some kindness as you go. You will be surprised at the change you will start to see!

Feel free to write in to the Tri-City Record Angel at PO Box 7, Watervliet, MI 49098 or e-mail at record@tricityrecord.com with any ideas, suggestions, talents you would like to share, etc. Make sure to put it to the attention of Tri-City Angel. We look forward to hearing from you.

HARTFORD LIONS HAD A FULL HOUSE… at the annual Christmas in Hartford Celebra-tion. Following the lighted pa-rade, over 100 kids of all ages lined up to see Santa and sam-ple chili from the Cook-Off competition. Miss Hartford Ally Sinclair and her court were in the house to greet guests, serve chili and help herd the anxious youngsters waiting to see St. Nick. Joann Goodrich of Hart-ford was the top chili chef for 2016, with Lindsay Morsaw in 2nd place followed by the entry from the Arrowhead Bar & Grille in 3rd. (TCR photo by Jon Bisnett)

Watervliet’s Best Lighted House contest, Dec. 4-17

This contest is sponsored by the City of Watervliet for those who love going all-out to decorate their house for the Christmas season. It is in coordination with the Home Town Christmas Celebration on December 4.

Residents in both the city and township of Watervliet may enter to win! Simply post a photo of your display on the “Watervliet’s Best Lighted House” event page on Facebook, then send your street address via Facebook messenger to Katie Ann Muth (so they can confirm authenticity – do NOT post your address publicly with your photo.)

Entries can be made anytime between Dec. 4 and 17 but not prior to Dec. 4.

Once your house is entered in the contest, then share the event and photo with all your Facebook friends and ask them to go the event page and vote for your house! Photos with the most “likes” and “shares” total will win one of three prizes; 1st place – $100 cash, 2nd place – $50 Board of Trade gift card, and 3rd place – $20 Mill Creek Charlies gift card.

At midnight on Dec. 17 “likes” and “shares” will be counted on the event page only.

RSVP on the event page as “going” for more information and to view other contestants’ entries. Do not forget to “invite” your friends to this event as well!

SANTA HAS HIS HANDS FULL… with this good looking group that was first in line. Pictured are (from the left): Yazmin Solis, Vincente Ayala, Mia Aquillon, Gloria Solis and Dulce Solis, all of Hartford. Lions Club organizers wisely moved the annual event from Ely Park to the warmth of His Place Outreach Center in 2014 following many consecutive years of freezing temperatures. (TCR photo by Jon Bisnett)

Lakeland Hospital Watervliet Auxiliary Holiday Bake Sale,

December  19

On Monday, December 19 the Lakeland Hospital Watervliet Auxiliary will have the annual Holiday Bake Sale.  Just in time for Christmas, purchase homemade cookies, baked goods, and candy in the hospital’s Interim Room from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

All proceeds from all of their fundraisers are used for the hospital in Watervliet such as the pavilion across from the Emergency Department, the new entrance and equipment for the various departments.

HARTFORD FEDERATED CHURCH… reminds us of the reason for the season with their lighted Nativity amid the annual Hartford Lighted Christmas Parade. City, County and Hartford Fire Department trucks were brightly lit along with support from several units from the Keeler Fire Department. (TCR photo by Jon Bisnett)

Coloma UMC hosting Blue Christmas with Andy Baker, Dec. 18

At 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, Coloma United Methodist Church offers a special worship service designed especially for all those who are struggling and hurting this Christmas season. This year, we are blessed to have local singer/songwriter Andy Baker come and share his songs of struggle, faith, and hope. Andy and his wife Marianne are veterinarians and own the Gobles Veterinary Clinic. Andy is well known and well respected as a songwriter and performer in southeast Michigan. For more information on his music, check out his website at www.northwindsound.com.

Come as you are, offering only yourself as a gift to God’s grace and healing.

Vincent J. Jewelers chip in to help

families in need

Jim, Gloria and Angie Frazier of Vincent J. Jewelers in downtown Coloma have found a creative way to help families in need this Christmas. Beginning December 1, Vincent J. Jewelers is selling pearl and crystal bracelets for $10, and donating the entire amount, not just the proceeds, to Watervliet Free Methodist Church food pantry. “My family and I are very grateful to this community, which has allowed us to stay in business so long,” says Jim Frazier. “This is just a small way for us to be able to help local families during this holiday season. Every $1 donated to the pantry buys about $4 in food. It feels good to be able to help make a difference.”

Vincent J. Jewelers is located at 228 N. Paw Paw Street in Coloma. You may contact the store at 269-468-4400.

VFW Post 6803 annual Needy Family program

Watervliet VFW Post 6803 is accepting donations to their annual Needy Family program. Anyone wishing to make a donation of canned goods, non-perishable food items or a monetary gift please call Corky Openneer at 463-7544 or John Brown at 463-4528 to arrange for pick-up or delivery.

HOPE Resources’ Project Christmas Care

HOPE Resources is a newly formed non-profit community resource center that will consolidate the efforts of three different food banks in the area. This center will provide a more efficient and effective distribution of services to the hundreds of families in need in the Coloma, Watervliet, Riverside, Hagar Shore, and Covert areas.

This year, HOPE Resources is launching Project Christmas Care to area families in need. They have targeted 200 families to receive this caring support, with HOPE for a brighter Christmas & holiday season. They are collecting food items along with gift cards and monetary donations (make checks payable to: North Berrien Food Pantry, memo: HOPE Resources) to assure families receive plenty to keep their bellies full and warm.

Item storage, packaging and distribution will be done December 19 – 21. For more information, contact Chair Salena Jonjevic at 269-363-9585 or hoperesourcesberrien@gmail.com; or call Interim Director Carole Sternaman at 269-468-6062 or 269-338-5292 or by email to carolesternamna@yahoo.com.

North Berrien Historical Museum has free Christmas break activity

On Wednesday, December 28 from 1-3 p.m., the North Berrien Historical Museum will be hosting a free Winter Time Travelers kid’s program featuring storytelling and a craft. Local professional storyteller Kathy Yonker will be sharing a few of her favorite stories.

Following the stories will be a wintertime craft. Stop in and join us for some Christmas break fun! No RSVP required. Families are welcome to attend. For more information, contact the museum at (269) 468-3330 or by email at kristen@northberrienhistory.org.