6 SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON Farmer's ADVOCATE - Thursday, December 4, 2003
;,7!~ i
Summit Point
Dot Snyder
725-7769
We are into December and
Christmas is on everyone's
mind. Christmas trees are be-
ing decorated and shopping has
begun in a big way. The "spirit"
has started to move us, so, let
us not forget what Christmas
really means.
Christmas begins at our
door with a pretty wreath, bells
or some other trimming. Most
people prefer a wreath and
there are many kinds today,
trimmed with pinecones, fruit,
small figures, etc. Wreaths
were originally a pagan decora-
tion, but Christians use the
wreath to express love and
faith. The circular shape sym-
bolizes God's eternal love and
the greenery signifies Christ's
immortality.
Did You Know?
In 1613, Captain John
Smith recorded how early Vir-
ginia settlers enjoyed Christ-
mas dinner of oysters, fish,
wild fowl and good bread.
In 1776, George Washington
and his troops crossed the
Delaware.
In 1821, the first record of a
Christmas tree in America was
mentioned in the diary of Mat-
thew Zahn, of Lancaster, Pa.
Christmas trees oft:he 1820s
were decorated with ginger-
bread men, apples, raisins and
colored cloth rosettes.
The first Christmas tree
lighted by electricity was put in
the New York home of Edward
H. Johnson in 1882.
Celebrating Christmas
This country has not always
been able to celebrate Christ-
mas. Christmas since the sixth
century was celebrated in Eu-
rope. In this country, the Puri-
tans of the Plymouth Colony
were opposed to the celebration
and a law was passed in 1659
to fine anyone caught celebrat-
ing on December 25. The law
was repealed in 1681, but New
Englanders and Quakers con-
tinued to oppose making
Christmas Day a celebration.
The Hessian soldiers and other
Europeans brought to America
many traditions of gift giving
and holiday festivities.
Besides the tree lights,
mistletoe, gift giving, caroling
and other traditions were
brought to this country b~ im-
migrants.
German settlers in Pennsyl-
vania had Christmas trees in
1748. The green tree and red
berries are symbols of Christ.
The green stands for "everlast-
ing life and eternity" and l:ed
represents "His passion and
death".
The religious meaning of
Christmas is symbolized by the
Creche. St. Francis of Assisi is
said to have originated the
manger scene in 1223, with live
characters and animals. Since
then the Creche has been a
part of Christmas in many
homes.
Many people write Christ-
mas as "Xmas", which I dislike,
but it does have a meaning--the
X is the Greek equivalent of the
"ch" sound and is taken to rep-
resent the word Christ. The
word Christmas is derived
from the old English Mass of
Christ. It was first called
Christmas in 1038.
CEOS Meeting
The Summit Point CEOS
Club will hold its Christmas
party on Thursday evening,
December 11, at the home of
Elinor DeHaven. There will be
a covered dish dinner at 6:30
p.m., followed by a short busi-
ness session. Then, the evening
will be filled with games,
prizes, and an exchange of gifts.
News
Thursday, November 30,
Mrs. Alice Moore Gertz, of Co-
lumbia, S.C., spent the day vis-
iting with the Creamers at Lo-
cust Grove.
Visiting last week with Mimi
and Nick Snyder and family
were Mimi's sisters, Lisa
Zweifel, and daughter, Katie,
Houston, Tex., and Nora and
Mike Corra, of Parkersburg.
Also a guest for Thanksgiving
Military
Corner
ALLEN FORD, III
Navy Petty Officer 3rd
Class Allen Ford, III, son of
Vickie D. Ford of Shepherd-
stown, and Allen Ford, Jr., of
Churchton, Md., recently re-
turned from an eight-month
deployment while assigned to
the amphibious assault ship
USS Iwo Jima, homeported in
Norfolk, Ya.
Servicemembers aboard
Ford's ship participated in the
insertion of a U.S. Marines and
Sailors into Iraq as well as
Monrovia, Liberia to provide
support to *,Vest African forces
who successfully established a
safe area in order to conduct
humanitarian operations.
Ford's ship is an amphibi-
ous assault ship whose pri-
mary mission is to embark, de-
ploy and land elements of a
Marine landing force by heli-
copter, landing craft air cush-
ion or amphibious assault ve-
hicle.
Ford is a 1999 graduate of
Jefferson High School. He
joined the Navy in June 2000.
BRUCE D, SHANTON JR.
Navy Seaman Bruce I).
Shanton, Jr., son of Consuelo L.
and Bruce D. Shanton, of
Charles Town, recently re-
turned from an eight-month
deployment while assigned to
the amphibious assault ship
USS Iwo Jima, homeported in
Norfolk, Va.
Service members aboard
Shanton's ship participated in
the insertion of U.S. Marines
and Sailors into Iraq as well as
Monrovia, Liberia to provide
support to West African forces
who successfully established a
safe area in order to conduct
humanitarian operations.
Shanton is a 2001 graduate
of Jefferson High School. He
joined the Navy in September
2001.
Day was (:hristine Vernon, of
Westminster-Canterbury in
Winchester, Va.
Callie and Bill Hale had the
following guests for Thanksgiv-
ing dinner: Callie's sister Liz
McCormack, of Pittsburgh, Pa.,
and daughter, Leah, of New
York City; Raymond and Ceil
Frazier, Charles Town, and
their family, Margaret Kersey
and children, Erin and wife,
Tracey and children, and
Clifford and Denise Hale, Clark
and Allison, Raleigh, N.C.
Thanksgiving dinner guests
of Betsy and Clayton Stagner
were their children, Scott
Stagner, Martinsburg, Sue
Stagner and Robbie Osment,
Middleway, Stephanie Stagner
and Carlos Castro, Charles
Town, and Brenda and chil-
dren, Cory and Kala.
Wedding Anniversary
Noyember 16, Betsy and
Clayton Stagner celebrated
their 50th wedding anniver-
sary, when their daughter, Sue,
and son, Scott, hosted them and
Betsy's friend, Jean Corbin, at
a quiet dinner.
More News
Julie and RJch Blickenstaff,
Julia and Lisa, spent Thanks-
giving week in Florida.
Carmen Creamer and son,
Philip, spent Thanksgiving
week with Carmen's father,
David Weber, of Mainville,
Ohio.
Yours truly spent Thanks-
giving Day with my daughter
and family, Wallis Anne and
John Magaha, Jennifer
Magaha and Jimmy O'Looney,
of Centreville, Va., and Jeffery
Magaha, of Fairfax, Va.
Hilda and Elwood Cheshire
spent Thanksgiving Day at the
home of their daughter, Debbie
Seal. The dinner was hosted by
Beat the Winter Blues with a
Pampered Chef"
PARTY!
You book & IIl cook it~
,/'Kitchen Shows
J'Catalog Shows
J'Fundraisers
J'Themed Shows
NOWBOOKING
shows for Jan. & Feb.!
Call Cara Young at;
[304) 535-1344 & leave message
when you book
a show!
r, Independent Kitchen Consultant
Pampered
Chef*
Grand
Opening/
Monday, December 8th
Quilts "N Such
101 S. Mildred St.
Ranson, WV 25438
304-724.9018
FABRIC • BOOKS • PATTERNS
CLASSES FORMING
Stop by for a visit, and don't forget to sign up for
the Grand Opening DOOR PRIZES!
Hope to see you there! I Mon-Sat I0-5
"t Wed 12-6
"Helping you build your family heirlooms Closed Sunday
-one block at a time.
& Western Music Dec 7,
Stel)hanie and Larw Farley, of
Hagerstown, Md. Guests were
the Farley's son, .lake, John
and Phyllis Cheshire, of
Martinsburg, their daughter,
Julie, and son, Timothy, of
Gambrills, Md., Jennifer
Washington and children, Win-
chester, Va., and Patricia and
Karl DeHaven and daughter,
Amy, of Bunker Hill.
Memorial Service .
Friday, November 21, Leroy
Cheshire, Elwood Cheshire,
John Cheshire, Dutch Chesh-
ire, and Nora and Lee Allen
Drish attended a memorial ser-
vice for Allan Timbrook in Bal-
timore, Md. Burial was in Rom-
ney.
Recipes
Cake Mix Cookies
Combine 1 to 2 layer pack-
age cake mix, 3/4 cup vegetable
oil, 1 egg, and mix well. Add 1
cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Shape into small balls (two
inch(,s~. Place (m ungreased
cookie sheet. Bake at 350" tbr 6
to 8 minutes or until light
brown. ( 1/2 cup chopped pecans
and 1/4 cup brown sugar for
richer cookies). (Add sugar
with cake mix, oil and egg.)
(Butterscotch chips may be
used instead of chocolate.)
Orant
Mix together l lal{
ange jello and 1 113i
water and 1 small
frozen concentrate.
smooth. Add 1
darin orange
small can crushed
Pecan pieces are
Give the
of Good
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for
Luxurious
304-,
SHEPHERt
A. You may have some loss of hearing.
pitch (treble) sounds. High pitches are
hear consonant sounds, which in turn
distinguish one word from another. This
becomes especially noticeable when someone'S
to you, if they are talking to you from
or when there is background noise. This type
very common among seniors, and
have had exposure to noise in the past.
hudiobgy Headng Care
Urgent Care Center,
Somerset Plaza, Charles Town
Please e-mail or call with any questions
304-728-6763 • ah.lOS,
Stop by the Nurserl¢ to
see our selection 0t:
Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Roping
Holiday Flags & Mailbox Wraps
.<
, 304.725.0094
Holiday Hours: Man-Sat 9-8 Sun IO-4PM
Reese's Nursery & Landscaping
to be Business Partners
in F__~,~g.on with Page
Elementary School
J
The Center for Bone & Joint Surgery
provides a full range of spine services. From
treating a slipped disc, spinal fracture and
low back pain to more complex problems.
We provide diagnosis, comprehensive
treatment and rehabilitation services for
any type of spinal problem. Give us a call to
find out how we can help you get out there
and enjoy life more.
Center for
Bone & Joint Surggry
Wmchester
Medical Center
1840 Amherst" Street, Winchester, VA 22601
536-6840 or toll free 866-712-3793
www.valleyhealthlin k.com