TRI-CITY AREA CHRISTMAS

TRI-CITY AREA CHRISTMAS... Kindergartners at Watervliet South School (top left) were “All Aboard” for this year’s theme for Mrs. Pratt’s classroom as the room was transformed into a scene from the movie The Polar Express. The children were ready to send off the Christmas break with their bells in hand.

On Tuesday morning, Dec. 19, Santa and his helpers from the North Berrien Historical Museum visited Mrs. Hauch’s first grade classroom (top right) at South Elementary in Watervliet. The students were given the opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and hand-deliver their personal letter to Santa. Students also asked Santa and Mrs. Claus some very interesting questions. “How are the reindeer doing, how many elves are at the North Pole, and how old are you, Santa?” were just a few of the examples of what was on the minds of the curious first graders. Peter Cook, program director at the museum, presented each student with a gingerbread kit which was made by Santa’s elves at the museum.

Coloma Elementary Kindergarteners show decorating talents at their holiday parties on Friday morning, Dec. 22. Each student in Mrs. Chambers’ class was busy decorating a plate of Christmas cookie shapes with frosting, sprinkles, and other toppings to make their treat special. Breckin has help from his dad (bottom left) decorating cookies. Breckin likes unwrapping presents and hopes to get “Stumble Guys” this year. Everly (bottom inset), frosting a cookie, thinks presents are the best part of Christmas.

Tri-City Record Angel Tree delivers again! (bottom center) Some nine families were blessed with a little extra this holiday season all because of you and the Tri-City Record Angel Tree. Presents were distributed on December 19 through Christmas Eve to deserving families in our area.

Linda Northrup, of Coloma, and Koda, a Bark Angels Therapy Dog team and their friend Mike (bottom right) visited Corewell Health hospital in Watervliet on Christmas Day. They brought joy and smiles to the patients and staff, along with some Christmas cookies and treats.

Koda is a 3-year-old yellow lab who was raised by a puppy raiser for Canine Companions, a service dog organization. He didn’t have all of the qualities to be a service dog and was “released” from the program. Linda adopted Koda and he is now a certified therapy dog.

Linda and Koda visit the hospital every month and also go to Harbor House, an adult day care center. To learn more about the Bark Angels Therapy Dog program go to www.thebarkangels.org.

(Contributed photo)

(TCR photos by Sheila Schultz)