3 minute read
Choo-Choo-Choo, Merry Christmas
Christmas Craft Bazaars
1923 Noble Rd., Kirkwood, PA
Wesley Church
1104 Kirkwood Pike, Quarryville, PA
Various crafts and goodies for sale!
Donations of non-perishable items for the Solanco Food Bank and mittens/gloves/ hats/scarves for the Mitten Tree will be collected
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2021 marks the third year that Willow Street resident Al Strausner and his grandson, Matthew Palmeri, will build a temporary model railroad layout at West Willow United Methodist Church (UMC), 118 West Willow Road, Willow Street. In December 2018, more than 180 people visited. The year after, the pair saw about 300 visitors.
The upcoming display will differ from years prior, but Strausner plans to incorporate several Plasticville buildings like he did before. Now 77, Strausner has been collecting Plasticville items since he was 7. “Instead of candy and gifts for special occasions, my aunt and uncle would give me a Plasticville,” he explained. Today, his entire basement is stocked with Plasticville, and about five years ago, his grandson became interested in collecting, too. “He has two sheets of plywood as platforms, and every inch is covered with Plasticville,” Strausner said.
An eighth-grader at Marticville Middle School, Matthew said he hopes to have a collection as large as his grandfather’s at some point. “Pappy takes me to train shows, and there’s a flea market up in Adamstown, and it’s a pretty big thing,” he stated. “There’s a guy up there and he’s very nice. I bought Plasticville from him last year and he has it for pretty cheap, so I get a lot from him.”
Matthew’s mother, Amy Palmeri, sometimes helps Matthew with his projects. “I tell her to get me this and grab that,” commented Matthew. “I think she’s picked up on what I mean.” Amy, Strausner’s daughter, also keeps track of how many people visit the train display at the church.
For this year’s train display, Strausner will coordinate the placement of houses, stores, churches, motels, municipal buildings, diners, and apartment buildings, whereas Matthew will manage the details, including the trees, telephone poles, people, cars, flagpoles, and mailboxes. Matthew noted that there will be choir risers set up along the outside edges of the train display for children to get a better view of the layout.
The holiday train display will be open at the church from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 11 and 18, and Sundays, Dec. 12, 19, and 26. There is no cost to attend, but visitors can bring in nonperishable food items, which will be donated to the Conestoga Community Food Bank and Solanco Neighborhood Ministries.
“I just get excited talking to people about Plasticville,” said Strausner.
For more information about the train display, contact Strausner at william.strausner @yahoo.com or 717-917-6922. To learn more about Plasticville, Strausner recommends visiting www.tandem -associates.com.THANK YOU
Al Strausner (left) and his grandson, Matthew Palmeri, have bonded over Plasticville products for the past five years.
for giving EXTRA!
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MOAA Will Host Holiday Luncheon
The Lancaster Chapter Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) will hold its annual Christmas luncheon on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Eden Resort, 222 Eden Road, Lancaster. A social hour will begin at 1 p.m., with dinner to follow.
The afternoon’s program will include installation of chapter officers and directors for 2022 and recognition of outgoing officers, directors, and program chairs. Attendees are reminded to bring an unwrapped gift to be passed on to a hospitalized man or woman veteran.
All current and past mili-
tary officers are invited. Reservations are required by Wednesday, Dec. 1. For reservations, contact Jim Cunningham at 717-581-5299 or jetpilot37@comcast.net. For more information, visit www.moaalancasterchapt.org.
Craft Fair
Friday Night December 3 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Saturday December 4 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at Bart Township Fire Company
11 Furnace Road • Quarryville
