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$6.5 MILLION in local economy
C
on the local economy over the past years by keeping close to $6.5 million in Havre supporting local businesses. In 2011 the lending institutions agreed to raise the interest-free loan amount available to holiday shoppers from $1,000 to $1,500. This change proved to be a positive decision, as the amount loaned during that holiday season increased more than $8,000. Interest-free Christmas Cash loans are available, with approved credit, at Independence Bank, Stockman Bank and Bear Paw
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2013 Havre Holiday Calendar Enjoy the Magical Glow of the Holidays
Christmas Cash keeps more than hristmas Cash “is money spent with local businesses which support our community each and every day.” The Christmas Cash program brings together the business community in a common goal to stimulate holiday shopping in Havre. The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Cash program started in 1990 and continues because of the partnerships between the Chamber, participating financial institutions and main street businesses. The program has had significant impact
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Credit Union. The Chamber Board of Directors and participating Chamber member businesses believe the program has a definite economic role in the community, and they take great pride in the positive impact the Christmas Cash has on local business. “The program has a significant impact on our local economy. It is money spent with local businesses that support our community each and every day,” said Chamber Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg. “The original goal of
the program was to stimulate local holiday shopping and support the local businesses that support our community all year long through donations and sponsorships. That goal remains the same.” “Thank you to the businesses that participate in the Chamber’s Christmas Cash program,” said Chandra Moomey, president of the Chamber Board of Directors. “A big thankyou needs to go out to the community for using and supporting the Chamber’s Christmas Cash program and to the participating financial institutions for continuing to be our partners in providing this program to the community.”
Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Volunteers serve mashed potatoes and gravy during last year's Community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Havre Daily News/File
Havre’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner brings together family, friends, neighbors and strangers to enjoy a traditional holiday meal. Started by and funded for decades through the generosity of an anonymous d o n o r, t h e T h a n k s g i v i n g D i n n e r wa s envisioned as an event that fosters the idea that community is family, and that sentiment is proved out every year by serving 600 to 700 meals to locals and visitors. Entirely volunteer-organized and operated — with the support of Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, whose staff cooks the turkey and bakes the buns and pies — this community dinner serves up turkey, buns, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, assorted vegetables and pumpkin pies at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Home-delivery meals are encouraged for those who can't get out easily, but they must be ordered during the week before Thanksgiving. Volunteers put together those meal and deliver between 8 and 9:30 a.m. Chairperson of the 2013 Community Thanksgiving Dinner Debi Rhines said that organizers, over the years, have s t r i c t l y a d h e r e d t o t h e a n o ny m o u s donor’s request that this be a free meal, and all donations are turned away. Should anyone manage to sneak in a payment for the meal, that money is promptly handed over to one of the local charities such as the Salvation Army or the Havre Food Bank to help these organizations at a time when they are approached by many people in need. To arrange a home delivery call the North Central Senior Center at 265-5464, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Nov. 20 to 26. For more information about the dinner or volunteering, call Rhines at 2656900.
November 28th ~ Thanksgiving Dinner, 11am-2pm, St. Jude Parish Center
Happy Thanksgiving!
~ Black Friday – Holiday Village Mall opens at 8pm November 29th & 30th ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon - 3pm November 30th ~ Community Tree Lighting @ Town Square; activities start @ 5:30pm • Santa Arrival • Music/Entertainment • Vendors November 30th ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Holiday Spirit Stroll through Havre Beneath the Streets – 3pm-5pm ~ Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees – 7pm – St. Jude Parish Center December 1st ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon-3pm December 5th ~ HHS Winter Choir Concert – 7:30pm – HHS December 7th ~ St. Jude’s Christmas Bazaar – 10:30am-2pm ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Cowboy Christmas – 5pm – MSU-Northern SUB December 7th-8th ~ Winterfest Craft Show – Holiday Village Mall Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 11am-4pm ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon – 3pm December 8th ~ Piano & Pipes Christmas Concert – 2pm – First Lutheran Church December 9th ~ 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert, 7pm - Middle School December 13th ~ Artist Reception with Kris Shaw – 6pm-8pm – Atrium Mall December 13th-14th ~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “Still Life with Iris” 8pm – MSU-Northern Theatre
December 14th ~ Lunch with Santa – Noon – Holiday Village Mall ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Action Art Raffle – 11am-1pm – Atrium Mall ~ Kids Day at the Atrium – 1pm-4pm ~ H. Earl Clack Museum “A Special Children’s Party with a Dino” 1pm-3pm ~ Jaycees Open House – 1pm-4pm – Basement of Eagles Club ~ Live Nativity Scene – 5pm-7pm – Van Orsdel United Methodist Church December 14th-15th ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon - 3pm ~ City Wide Bake Sale – Holiday Village Mall (10th – 10am-7pm; 11th – 11am-5pm) December 16th ~ HHS Winter Band Concert -7:30pm - HHS December 17th ~ 6th,7th & 8th Grade Choir Concert, 7pm - Middle School December 19th-23rd ~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “Still Life with Iris” 8pm – MSU-Northern Theatre December 21st ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall December 21st-22nd ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon-3pm December 22nd ~ Eagles Kids Christmas Party – 2pm December 25th ~ Community Christmas Dinner – Eagles Club – 11am – 2pm
Merry Christmas!
December 27th ~ HHS Alumni Holiday Hoops Basketball Games – 6:30pm – Middle School December 27th-28th ~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “Still Life with Iris” 8pm – MSU-Northern Theatre December 31st
New Year’s Eve
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Christmas events across the Hi-Line
Harlem’s Country Christmas Stroll The Harlem Country Christmas Stroll kicks off the yuletide season Dec. 11 this year. Downtown businesses will be holding their open-house events along with vendors selling food and crafts. People will be able
to enjoy a live nativity scene and a visit with Santa. Other activities for strollers taking in the festivities include a couple competitions, one for best Christmas costume and the other for the best gift box decoration.
Details of the celebration were not f i n a l i z e d by p r i n t d a t e, s o fo r m o re information, including on event times, the costume competition theme and setting up as a vendor, call Rod Becker at 353-2256.
A Hometown Christmas in Rudyard The Christmas stroll in Rudyard has been bringing community members and visitors together for more than 20 years, and this year's event will be Dec. 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. People are welcome to stroll through town to visit local businesses which serve treats, but if a walk around town sounds too
everyday, then revelers can hop on a wagon for a hay ride. Chili, hot dogs, cinnamon rolls and cocoa will be served at the youth center. Everyone is welcome to eat at no cost, but free-will donations are welcome — the money goes toward a town improvement
project. Lynn Hybner, one of the event organizers said that this year the money will go toward repairing the roof of the senior center in town. Everyone is welcome join in the festivities. For more information, contact Hybner at 355-4354.
Chouteau County Country Christmas While the name is a tongue-twister, the celebration itself is just simple, old-fashioned fun and a great way to spend the weekend. Around 15 years ago, the towns of Chouteau County pooled their efforts,
resources and holiday cheer to create a unique countywide Christmas celebration that has steadily drawn more people to the area to take part in the festivities. With Christmas activities across the county, including the towns of Big Sandy, Fort Benton, Geraldine, Loma, Shonkin and Virgelle, people can spend a day or more taking in the sights, sales and community spirit. People can sssstart the weekend with the Country Christmas Social in Geraldine in the afternoon and early evening Friday and then shake it up at the dance at the Country
Christmas Dance in Loma that night. Saturday and Sunday are filled with opportunities to go shopping at local businesses, arts and craft fairs, baked-goods and homemade chocolate sales, and vendor booths or to seek entertainment with music events, luncheons and dinners, a wagon ride and a parade of lights. All the events for the Chouteau County Country Christmas will be finalized by November. Check out the events calendar at VirgelleMontana.com or contact coorganizer Don Sorenson at 378-3110 or 800426-2926.
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Community Tree Lighting
will brighten Town Square Havre’s Community Tree Lighting will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Town Square on 1st Street in downtown Havre. This event marks the start of the city’s Christmas celebration. Santa lighting the living Christmas tree is the featured activity, but much more takes place to feed the community's holiday spirit. Revelers can feast on hot cocoa, cider and other treats provided by vendors, many of them local organizations raising money for their charities. Friends, family and neighbors can gather around a crackling
fire while local groups of carolers lead the holiday musical cheer and youngsters tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Gift certificate winners will be chosen and prizes given away to young and old. For more information about the event or to sign up to be a vendor, call Debbie Vandeberg at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce at 265-4383. Havre Daily News/File Santa pulls a lever to light the community Christmas tree in Town Square last November.
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Salvation Army looks for volunteers The Havre Salvation Army is offering people a chance to get out, meet new people, see old friends and raise money for a good cause. And they get to do this in friendly, albeit sometimes chilly, surroundings. They are looking for people to ring bells as part of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. “People who volunteer have a good time, they really do, ”said Trina Crawford, executive director of the Havre Salvation Army. Volunteers save the Salvation Army money, she said. If there aren’t enough volunteers, she said, people will be hired to ring the bells. “We usually hire people for Walmart, she said, because the kettles are outside. “It can get very cold,” she said. But volunteers staff the kettles at Kmart, Holiday Village Mall and Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods. Community organizations offer volunteers to help out, she said. This year, the Lions Club will ring every bell Saturday, Dec. 21, she said. The Rotary Club will be out Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gary & Leo’s. The Board of Realtors will ring bells at all locations Dec. 6, and HRDC staff have volunteered to take over for a day. And quintessential volunteer Bonnie Bennett has become a fixture at Gary & Leo’s, working hours and hours each year. “People always tell us when they volunteer they see people they haven’t seen for years and meet many new people,” Crawford said.
While Walmart duty tends to be a bit chilly, she said, the other kettles are just inside the building, so it may get a bit cool, but is usually quite bearable, she said. “We ask people to volunteer in two-hour blocks at least,” she said. “If you don’t want to be alone that long, bring along a friend — or have a husband-and-wife team.” The money raised through the kettles funds programs the Salvation Army runs the rest of the year, she said. When people come in looking for money to pay utility bills so they won’t get disconnected, they turn to this fund, she said. It also pays for shelter for people who have been evicted or for transients who have no money. “Those dimes, quarters and dollar bills dropped into the kettles go a long way,” she said. “Our goal is $26,000,” she said. Because of the calendar, she said, that may be more difficult than usual. With Thanksgiving coming late this year, there will be only 22 days of bell-ringing. Usually there are 24 to 26 days, she said. “So we’ll have to work harder this year,” she said. The Salvation Army will take part in other celebrations during the holiday season, she said. Everyone will be offered hot chocolate when the Salvation Army rolls out its canteen at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Saturday, Nov. 30, starting at 3 p.m. on Town Square. “Everybody can come get some free hot chocolate,” she said.
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Judy Neely rings a Salvation Army bell at Kmart last November.
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Giving Tree helps get gifts for Havre children The annual Giving Tree program helps numerous children in Havre have a much merrier Christmas than they would otherwise. The Giving Trees will be located at Holiday Village Mall, Kmart and Walmart. On the trees will hang little tags with the ages, sizes and gift ideas for youngsters from throughout the community, said Trina Crawford of the Salvation Army in Havre. People are asked to pick one of the tags off the tree and buy gifts for that youngster. People can buy the gifts and return them to Sears at the Mall, Kmart or the red sleigh just inside Walmart, she said. Gifts should not be wrapped, but the tags should be attached to the gifts, she said. Gifts need to be returned by Dec. 18, she said, Parents of young people receiving gifts will pick them up at the Salvation Army by Dec. 20, she said. They will then give the gifts to children according to the family’s tradition. Parents are asked to wrap the gifts, she said, so that they have something invested in the process. “Parents like having some part in the gifts,” she said The goal is to have a coat, some clothes and three toys for every young person, she
said. The coats come from the Koats for Kids program put on by the Havre Jaycees. People who think they are eligible for the program can still come to the Salvation Army office on 3rd Street, she said, between 9 a.m. and noon, Mondays and Tuesdays. They should bring a birth certificate or a Social Security card. More than 109 families have already been deemed qualified, she said, and the number should get higher. That number is up from previous years, she said. “Some of these kids would not be getting any Christmas gifts without the Giving Tree,” she said. Every year, she said, there are fears that there won’t be enough gifts for the children, but every year the Havre community steps forth to provide the donations, she said. “This is a very special community,” she said. Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Holly Strobel, right, picks out a gift last year at Kmart. The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line members, including Strobel, chose recipients from the Giving Tree — last year called the Angel Tree — and were allotted money to purchase gifts.
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Sixth Annual Festival of Trees
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Will raise money for Boys & Girls Club Though only in its sixth year, Havre Festival of Trees has quickly become a c o m m u n i t y favo r i t e h o l i d ay c e l e b ra tion. This year, 13 trees decorated with individual, and highly creative, themes by businesses and organizations will be up for auction as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line. The highest bidder on each tree in a silent auction wins the tree, its decorations and accompanying gifts. The trees, though, aren’t the only draw for the evening. Organizers are serving hors d’oeuvres and rousing the crowd with a variety of lively games and a live auction. All the proceeds for the evening will go toward the building campaign which will be a funding match for a grant to expand the Boys &
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Visitors look at one of the decorated Christmas trees during last year's Festival of Trees. Girls Club facility. T h e Fe s t i va l o f Tre e s w i l l h ave a change of venue this year and will be held at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave., Saturday, Nov. 30, starting at 7 p.m. Because of this location change, the free public viewing time will only be from 4:30 to 5 p.m. that afternoon at the Parish Center. Tickets for the event are $25 per person. For a ticket or further information, contact the club’s executive director, Krista Solomon during regular business hours at 265-6206, ext. 302.
Here are the Christmas trees being planned for auction at this year's Festival of Trees: • Northern Montana Health Care, "Vision" of the Season • Independence Bank, Cozy Cabin Christmas • Trish Limbaugh, Dollhouse • Optimist Club of Havre, We FISH you a merry Christmas • Van Orsdel United Methodist Church of Havre, "Hope" Chest Full of "Faith," "Family" and "Love" Gifts • Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line • Atrium Mall merchants • Triangle Communications & Hill County Electric • Angie's Wildflowers • Kmart • AmericInn of Havre • MSU-Northern Foundation
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Community Christmas dinner in Havre The Community Christmas Dinner in Havre is an annual holiday event that brings the community together for a traditional Christmas meal. Each year hundreds of people from all walks of life are fed, either at the dinner or with a meal delivered to their home. One recent year, travelers snowbound in town
were bused to the event by the local North Central Montana Transit system. Organized for the last decade by the Jerry and Penny Bergren family, this year Tom Farnam, manager of Havre’s Eagles Club, volunteered to spearhead the event with a group of co-organizers and an everready band of volunteers which flock to help
this event. A traditional Christmas meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, rolls, an assortment of vegetables and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eagles Club at 202 1st St. Anyone wanting a meal delivered can call
the North Central Senior Center during regular business hours between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23 at 406-265-5464. The meal is free, though donations are appreciated and go toward funding the next year's meal. For more information about the dinner or volunteering, call Farnham at 265-9551.
Holiday activities in Chinook
Chinook Community Thanksgiving Dinner Chinook has served up its Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner from noon to 2 p.m. at the Chinook Senior Center, 324 Pennsylvania Street, for more than 30 years. Volunteers cook and serve a traditional meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cole slaw, rolls, cranberry
relish, pies and a selection of dessert sala d s fo r a b o u t 2 0 0 p e o p l e e a c h ye a r. Everyone is welcome to attend to enjoy the meal and conversation along with music from the Kitchen Band. Meals can also be delivered to those who cannot get out of the house.
The meal is served at no cost to the diners, though free-will donations are welcome and help pay for the next year’s dinner, along with donations from businesses and community members. Any leftovers are donated to the Senior Center or to the Chinook Food Pantry.
Though organizers hope all diners will be able to come enjoy the dining experience with the camaraderie of friends family and neighbors, requests for delivery can be made from one week in advance, right up to serving time Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, by calling 357-2648.
Christmas celebration events in Chinook The Chinook Chamber of Commerce w i l l o n c e a g a i n b r i n g to ge t h e r t h re e s p e c i a l C h r i s t m a s eve n t s to g i ve t h e H i - L i n e a s p e c i a l t re a t fo r t h e h o l i days. Nov. 29 is the day to hit town for the Christmas Stroll, the Festival of Trees and the grand Parade of Lights. Starting at 1 p.m. local businesses will be holding Christmas open-houses with arts and crafts booths and food vendors adding their wares to the main street selections, and while out strolling, people can stroll on in to the Blaine County Library at 94 4th Street to take in the
Festival of Trees. The newest of the three events, the Festival of Trees offers a chance to win an inventive Christmas treat along with an opportunity to help some deserving local causes. Local businesses, organizations and individuals sign up to create their own themed Christmas tree, complete with decoration and presents, and donate the tree to the festival. From 1 to 7 p.m. the public can bid in a silent auction on a favorite tree displayed at the library. All proceeds from the winning bids go to the Chinook Food Bank, the Blaine 1
Inc. ambulance and the Chinook Garden Club. The crown jewel of the day is the Parade of Lights with participants glowing, twinkling and dancing to Christmas tunes down Indiana Street starting at 6 p.m. The popular parade was made even
bigger in 2012 when the Chamber started offering a prize for the best float. Tomi Simenson of the Chamber said she expects a prize will be offered again this year. For more information on any of these activities, contact Simenson at 357-3858.
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Hi-Line school Christmas concerts
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Ornaments capture Havre history
Big Sandy Elementary School Dec. 10, 7 p.m., high school auditorium
The Super Certificate Drawing will take place at the
Big Sandy High School Dec. 17, 7 p.m., high school auditorium
Community Tree Lighting, Saturday, November 30.
Box Elder Elementary School Dec. 17, 6 p.m., school gymnasium, theme: “Polar Express” Chester/Joplin-Inverness Schools Grades 5-12, band/choir, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., C/J-I auditorium Grades K-6, Dec. 20, 1 p.m., C/J-I auditorium Chinook Elementary School All grades, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., high school auditorium Chinook High School Dec. 17, 7 p.m., high school auditorium Gildford Colony School All grades, Dec. 19, 7 p.m., colony dining room
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file One of the 2013 Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission ornaments.
Harlem Elementary School All grades, Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m., high school little gymnasium
Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission The 2013 Christmas Ornaments featuring the St. Marks Episcopal Church are on sale at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce for $20. Each ornament is numbered and only 125 ornament were
Havre High School Choir, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., high school auditorium Band, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., high school auditorium Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Santa cheerily walks around stage as Lincoln-McKinley Primary School students perform "Christmas Around the World" last year in the gymnasium.
Havre Middle School Band, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., HMS auditorium Choir, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., HMS auditorium Hays-Lodge Pole Elementary School All grades, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., Hays school Hays-Lodge Pole High School Will be during regular school hours, no date by deadline Highland Park Early Primary School Kindergarten, Dec. 17, gymnasium. Neuwerth, Gibson and Courchene classrooms, 9 a.m. Anderson, Wells and Stortz classrooms, 10 a.m. Passon, Henry and Schuster classrooms, 1 p.m. 1st-grade classes, Dec. 18, Holiday Village Mall Sather and Bakke classrooms, 9 a.m. Baker and Welch classrooms, 10 a.m. St. Marks and Zook classrooms, 1 p.m. Kallenberger and Samson classrooms, 2 p.m. Lincoln-McKinley Primary School 3rd-grade classes, Nov. 26, 10:45 a.m. and 2 p.m., gymnasium. *This is a patriotic program; families are asked to attend only one performance due to space limitations. 2nd-grade classes, Dec. 17, 2 p.m., gymnasium North Star Elementary School Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., Gildford school North Star Jr./Sr. High Schools Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Rudyard school Rocky Boy Elementary School Dec. 19, 1 p.m., gymnasium St. Jude Catholic School All-school program, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m., in gymnasium Sunnyside Intermediate School 5th-grade, Hagen and Suek classrooms, Dec. 11, 9 a.m., gymnasium 5th-grade, Gauer and Gillen classrooms, Dec. 11, 10:15 a.m., gymnasium 5th-grade, Collins and Stickel classrooms, Dec. 12, 9 a.m., gymnasium
made for this limited edition. The proceeds from the ornament sales go into a fund aimed toward assisting preservation projects in the community. There are also a small number of the 2012 Hill County Courthouse ornaments left from last year.
Havre merchants are participating in the holiday drawings for gift certificates and prizes valued to $1,500.00. One winner will receive a night at the Best Western Great Northern Inn and gift certificates valued over $800.00. The second winner will receive a one month membership to Down Under Fitness Center and gift certificates valued over $500.00 and the third winner will receive gift certificates valued to $200.00. The Tree Lighting activities will start at Town Square at 5:30 p.m. • Holiday shoppers will be able to leave their completed registration forms during regular business hours at 4 locations: Holiday Village Mall, Atrium Mall, Havre Daily News and the Chamber office. Registration forms will be printed in the Havre Daily News each day of publication through to Wednesday, November 27. • Just fi ll out a registration form and drop it at one of the 4 locations noted. • No purchase necessary. • Registration slips will be collected at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, in order to get all slips collected and into the “BIG Christmas Bag” for the BIG DRAWING at the tree lighting. • Winners must be present to win! If the name drawn is not present, another name will be drawn until there is a winner.
2013 Super Certificate Giveaway Participants Barkus Home Center Baldwin Insurance Bear Paw Credit Union Bear Paw Meats Bearly Square Ben Franklin Crafts Big R Stores Big Equipment Company Bing ‘n Bob’s Cavaliers Char’s Family Dining Creative Leisure Diesel Doctor Down Under Fitness Center Duck Inn Edward Jones Ezzie’s Wholesale 5th Ave Grind fivehead’s Flynn Realty Gary & Leo’s IGA
Havre Daily News Havre Laundry & Dry Cleaning Herberger’s Havre Hi-Line Realty Havre Holiday Village Mall Helmbrecht Studio Henny Penny Cupcakes High Plains Gallery Holden’s Hot Wheels Holiday Independence Bank JM Donoven Designs Kmart MSU-Northern Bookstore Master Sports Murphy’s Pub Norman’s North Central Auto Parts (NAPA) North Star Dodge Northern Home Essentials
PJ’s Pizza Hut Radio Shack Red’s Auto Parts Schwan’s Home Service Sherwin Williams Stromberg’s Sinclair Subway The Athlete’s Foot The Key The Press Tilleman Motors Tire-Rama Best Western Great Northern Inn Uncle Joe’s Valley Furniture Wells Fargo Bank Western Drug Pharmacy Western Trailer Sales Wildflowers
Thank you to this year’s Super Certificate Participants!!!! In addition to the Super Certificate Drawings there will also be a drawing for a Child's basket filled with goodies donated by several local businesses. Registration tickets will be handed out at the tree lighting by community volunteers. Again, the winner must be present to win. Thank you to Holden’s Hot Wheels, Radio Shack, Independence Bank, BNSF, Punkin Doodles, Sweet Temptations, The Athlete’s Foot, Dollar Zone, Dairy Queen, Master Sports, Rod’s Drive-In, Havre Fire Department, Western Drug, Taco John’s and Herberger’s
Both of these programs brought to you by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce
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Church members bringing
the Nativity to life
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Santa Claus and company take a train ride Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file A crowd of people gather around Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves who visited Havre on a special Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train during Christmas season last year.
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Judy Jones struggles to put on her wings before last year's annual living nativity scene at the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church. The Living Nativity will take place this year Saturday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. As the rush of Christmas season threatens to overwhelm, one seasonal tradition in Havre offers a time for quiet, peaceful reflection. This island of harmony in the chaos of Christmas preparation is the live nativity scene, put on by members of Van Orsdel United Methodist Church as an annual event since 1998. With dramatic lighting glowing through the dark, church members take half-hour shifts standing as still as possible, filling the traditional roles of the nativity from Joseph and Mary to the three wise men and an angel, while live animals mill around in pens. Christmas music plays softly in the background. People gather along the fence and park along the street to take in the scene. Ray Toth, who has been a lead organizer each year and fills in wherever needed, doesn't expect to have an actual baby taking the part of Jesus, as happened one year. He does, however, expect the usual
array of animals will fill the pens, including sheep, an alpaca, a miniature horse and a miniature donkey which has been in the nativity scene each year since the beginning. Another treat is for the youth parishioners playing an angel — they are hoisted to a more heavenly position, above the crowd, in a hydro-lift bucket. Toth said that even with crowds of spectators, some of them petting the menagerie of animals, it's a solemn occasion. Most of those who participate in the nativity come back every year, he added, because they are moved by the experience, even in the years when the temperature is quite low. “It's real meaningful,” he said, adding that the church members look forward to creating the nativity and are proud to have had enough parishioners enthusiastic enough to fill each role every year. The live nativity scene will be Saturday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 410 5th Avenue.
Havre Beneath the Streets
Take a ‘Holiday Spirit Stroll’ Havre Beneath the Streets, which re-created historic city businesses, will have its own holiday celebration this year. The event, "Holiday Best," will be Saturday, Nov. 30, 3 to 5 p.m. People will be able to a stroll through the underground and feel the holiday spirit. People can enjoy a treat or two and visit all of the displays that have been decorated
by TOPS 0480. No tours are necessary. People can walk through at their own pace. Tickets can be purchased in the office at 120 3rd Ave. They are $5 for an adult and $3 for kids. Kids under 6 are free. The event will be held just prior to the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, across the street in Town Square.
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Church members bringing
the Nativity to life
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Santa Claus and company take a train ride Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file A crowd of people gather around Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves who visited Havre on a special Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train during Christmas season last year.
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Judy Jones struggles to put on her wings before last year's annual living nativity scene at the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church. The Living Nativity will take place this year Saturday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. As the rush of Christmas season threatens to overwhelm, one seasonal tradition in Havre offers a time for quiet, peaceful reflection. This island of harmony in the chaos of Christmas preparation is the live nativity scene, put on by members of Van Orsdel United Methodist Church as an annual event since 1998. With dramatic lighting glowing through the dark, church members take half-hour shifts standing as still as possible, filling the traditional roles of the nativity from Joseph and Mary to the three wise men and an angel, while live animals mill around in pens. Christmas music plays softly in the background. People gather along the fence and park along the street to take in the scene. Ray Toth, who has been a lead organizer each year and fills in wherever needed, doesn't expect to have an actual baby taking the part of Jesus, as happened one year. He does, however, expect the usual
array of animals will fill the pens, including sheep, an alpaca, a miniature horse and a miniature donkey which has been in the nativity scene each year since the beginning. Another treat is for the youth parishioners playing an angel — they are hoisted to a more heavenly position, above the crowd, in a hydro-lift bucket. Toth said that even with crowds of spectators, some of them petting the menagerie of animals, it's a solemn occasion. Most of those who participate in the nativity come back every year, he added, because they are moved by the experience, even in the years when the temperature is quite low. “It's real meaningful,” he said, adding that the church members look forward to creating the nativity and are proud to have had enough parishioners enthusiastic enough to fill each role every year. The live nativity scene will be Saturday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 410 5th Avenue.
Havre Beneath the Streets
Take a ‘Holiday Spirit Stroll’ Havre Beneath the Streets, which re-created historic city businesses, will have its own holiday celebration this year. The event, "Holiday Best," will be Saturday, Nov. 30, 3 to 5 p.m. People will be able to a stroll through the underground and feel the holiday spirit. People can enjoy a treat or two and visit all of the displays that have been decorated
by TOPS 0480. No tours are necessary. People can walk through at their own pace. Tickets can be purchased in the office at 120 3rd Ave. They are $5 for an adult and $3 for kids. Kids under 6 are free. The event will be held just prior to the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, across the street in Town Square.
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Hi-Line school Christmas concerts
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Ornaments capture Havre history
Big Sandy Elementary School Dec. 10, 7 p.m., high school auditorium
The Super Certificate Drawing will take place at the
Big Sandy High School Dec. 17, 7 p.m., high school auditorium
Community Tree Lighting, Saturday, November 30.
Box Elder Elementary School Dec. 17, 6 p.m., school gymnasium, theme: “Polar Express” Chester/Joplin-Inverness Schools Grades 5-12, band/choir, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., C/J-I auditorium Grades K-6, Dec. 20, 1 p.m., C/J-I auditorium Chinook Elementary School All grades, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., high school auditorium Chinook High School Dec. 17, 7 p.m., high school auditorium Gildford Colony School All grades, Dec. 19, 7 p.m., colony dining room
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file One of the 2013 Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission ornaments.
Harlem Elementary School All grades, Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m., high school little gymnasium
Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission The 2013 Christmas Ornaments featuring the St. Marks Episcopal Church are on sale at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce for $20. Each ornament is numbered and only 125 ornament were
Havre High School Choir, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., high school auditorium Band, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., high school auditorium Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Santa cheerily walks around stage as Lincoln-McKinley Primary School students perform "Christmas Around the World" last year in the gymnasium.
Havre Middle School Band, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., HMS auditorium Choir, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., HMS auditorium Hays-Lodge Pole Elementary School All grades, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., Hays school Hays-Lodge Pole High School Will be during regular school hours, no date by deadline Highland Park Early Primary School Kindergarten, Dec. 17, gymnasium. Neuwerth, Gibson and Courchene classrooms, 9 a.m. Anderson, Wells and Stortz classrooms, 10 a.m. Passon, Henry and Schuster classrooms, 1 p.m. 1st-grade classes, Dec. 18, Holiday Village Mall Sather and Bakke classrooms, 9 a.m. Baker and Welch classrooms, 10 a.m. St. Marks and Zook classrooms, 1 p.m. Kallenberger and Samson classrooms, 2 p.m. Lincoln-McKinley Primary School 3rd-grade classes, Nov. 26, 10:45 a.m. and 2 p.m., gymnasium. *This is a patriotic program; families are asked to attend only one performance due to space limitations. 2nd-grade classes, Dec. 17, 2 p.m., gymnasium North Star Elementary School Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., Gildford school North Star Jr./Sr. High Schools Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Rudyard school Rocky Boy Elementary School Dec. 19, 1 p.m., gymnasium St. Jude Catholic School All-school program, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m., in gymnasium Sunnyside Intermediate School 5th-grade, Hagen and Suek classrooms, Dec. 11, 9 a.m., gymnasium 5th-grade, Gauer and Gillen classrooms, Dec. 11, 10:15 a.m., gymnasium 5th-grade, Collins and Stickel classrooms, Dec. 12, 9 a.m., gymnasium
made for this limited edition. The proceeds from the ornament sales go into a fund aimed toward assisting preservation projects in the community. There are also a small number of the 2012 Hill County Courthouse ornaments left from last year.
Havre merchants are participating in the holiday drawings for gift certificates and prizes valued to $1,500.00. One winner will receive a night at the Best Western Great Northern Inn and gift certificates valued over $800.00. The second winner will receive a one month membership to Down Under Fitness Center and gift certificates valued over $500.00 and the third winner will receive gift certificates valued to $200.00. The Tree Lighting activities will start at Town Square at 5:30 p.m. • Holiday shoppers will be able to leave their completed registration forms during regular business hours at 4 locations: Holiday Village Mall, Atrium Mall, Havre Daily News and the Chamber office. Registration forms will be printed in the Havre Daily News each day of publication through to Wednesday, November 27. • Just fi ll out a registration form and drop it at one of the 4 locations noted. • No purchase necessary. • Registration slips will be collected at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, in order to get all slips collected and into the “BIG Christmas Bag” for the BIG DRAWING at the tree lighting. • Winners must be present to win! If the name drawn is not present, another name will be drawn until there is a winner.
2013 Super Certificate Giveaway Participants Barkus Home Center Baldwin Insurance Bear Paw Credit Union Bear Paw Meats Bearly Square Ben Franklin Crafts Big R Stores Big Equipment Company Bing ‘n Bob’s Cavaliers Char’s Family Dining Creative Leisure Diesel Doctor Down Under Fitness Center Duck Inn Edward Jones Ezzie’s Wholesale 5th Ave Grind fivehead’s Flynn Realty Gary & Leo’s IGA
Havre Daily News Havre Laundry & Dry Cleaning Herberger’s Havre Hi-Line Realty Havre Holiday Village Mall Helmbrecht Studio Henny Penny Cupcakes High Plains Gallery Holden’s Hot Wheels Holiday Independence Bank JM Donoven Designs Kmart MSU-Northern Bookstore Master Sports Murphy’s Pub Norman’s North Central Auto Parts (NAPA) North Star Dodge Northern Home Essentials
PJ’s Pizza Hut Radio Shack Red’s Auto Parts Schwan’s Home Service Sherwin Williams Stromberg’s Sinclair Subway The Athlete’s Foot The Key The Press Tilleman Motors Tire-Rama Best Western Great Northern Inn Uncle Joe’s Valley Furniture Wells Fargo Bank Western Drug Pharmacy Western Trailer Sales Wildflowers
Thank you to this year’s Super Certificate Participants!!!! In addition to the Super Certificate Drawings there will also be a drawing for a Child's basket filled with goodies donated by several local businesses. Registration tickets will be handed out at the tree lighting by community volunteers. Again, the winner must be present to win. Thank you to Holden’s Hot Wheels, Radio Shack, Independence Bank, BNSF, Punkin Doodles, Sweet Temptations, The Athlete’s Foot, Dollar Zone, Dairy Queen, Master Sports, Rod’s Drive-In, Havre Fire Department, Western Drug, Taco John’s and Herberger’s
Both of these programs brought to you by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce
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Sixth Annual Festival of Trees
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Will raise money for Boys & Girls Club Though only in its sixth year, Havre Festival of Trees has quickly become a c o m m u n i t y favo r i t e h o l i d ay c e l e b ra tion. This year, 13 trees decorated with individual, and highly creative, themes by businesses and organizations will be up for auction as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line. The highest bidder on each tree in a silent auction wins the tree, its decorations and accompanying gifts. The trees, though, aren’t the only draw for the evening. Organizers are serving hors d’oeuvres and rousing the crowd with a variety of lively games and a live auction. All the proceeds for the evening will go toward the building campaign which will be a funding match for a grant to expand the Boys &
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Visitors look at one of the decorated Christmas trees during last year's Festival of Trees. Girls Club facility. T h e Fe s t i va l o f Tre e s w i l l h ave a change of venue this year and will be held at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave., Saturday, Nov. 30, starting at 7 p.m. Because of this location change, the free public viewing time will only be from 4:30 to 5 p.m. that afternoon at the Parish Center. Tickets for the event are $25 per person. For a ticket or further information, contact the club’s executive director, Krista Solomon during regular business hours at 265-6206, ext. 302.
Here are the Christmas trees being planned for auction at this year's Festival of Trees: • Northern Montana Health Care, "Vision" of the Season • Independence Bank, Cozy Cabin Christmas • Trish Limbaugh, Dollhouse • Optimist Club of Havre, We FISH you a merry Christmas • Van Orsdel United Methodist Church of Havre, "Hope" Chest Full of "Faith," "Family" and "Love" Gifts • Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line • Atrium Mall merchants • Triangle Communications & Hill County Electric • Angie's Wildflowers • Kmart • AmericInn of Havre • MSU-Northern Foundation
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Community Christmas dinner in Havre The Community Christmas Dinner in Havre is an annual holiday event that brings the community together for a traditional Christmas meal. Each year hundreds of people from all walks of life are fed, either at the dinner or with a meal delivered to their home. One recent year, travelers snowbound in town
were bused to the event by the local North Central Montana Transit system. Organized for the last decade by the Jerry and Penny Bergren family, this year Tom Farnam, manager of Havre’s Eagles Club, volunteered to spearhead the event with a group of co-organizers and an everready band of volunteers which flock to help
this event. A traditional Christmas meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, rolls, an assortment of vegetables and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eagles Club at 202 1st St. Anyone wanting a meal delivered can call
the North Central Senior Center during regular business hours between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23 at 406-265-5464. The meal is free, though donations are appreciated and go toward funding the next year's meal. For more information about the dinner or volunteering, call Farnham at 265-9551.
Holiday activities in Chinook
Chinook Community Thanksgiving Dinner Chinook has served up its Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner from noon to 2 p.m. at the Chinook Senior Center, 324 Pennsylvania Street, for more than 30 years. Volunteers cook and serve a traditional meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cole slaw, rolls, cranberry
relish, pies and a selection of dessert sala d s fo r a b o u t 2 0 0 p e o p l e e a c h ye a r. Everyone is welcome to attend to enjoy the meal and conversation along with music from the Kitchen Band. Meals can also be delivered to those who cannot get out of the house.
The meal is served at no cost to the diners, though free-will donations are welcome and help pay for the next year’s dinner, along with donations from businesses and community members. Any leftovers are donated to the Senior Center or to the Chinook Food Pantry.
Though organizers hope all diners will be able to come enjoy the dining experience with the camaraderie of friends family and neighbors, requests for delivery can be made from one week in advance, right up to serving time Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, by calling 357-2648.
Christmas celebration events in Chinook The Chinook Chamber of Commerce w i l l o n c e a g a i n b r i n g to ge t h e r t h re e s p e c i a l C h r i s t m a s eve n t s to g i ve t h e H i - L i n e a s p e c i a l t re a t fo r t h e h o l i days. Nov. 29 is the day to hit town for the Christmas Stroll, the Festival of Trees and the grand Parade of Lights. Starting at 1 p.m. local businesses will be holding Christmas open-houses with arts and crafts booths and food vendors adding their wares to the main street selections, and while out strolling, people can stroll on in to the Blaine County Library at 94 4th Street to take in the
Festival of Trees. The newest of the three events, the Festival of Trees offers a chance to win an inventive Christmas treat along with an opportunity to help some deserving local causes. Local businesses, organizations and individuals sign up to create their own themed Christmas tree, complete with decoration and presents, and donate the tree to the festival. From 1 to 7 p.m. the public can bid in a silent auction on a favorite tree displayed at the library. All proceeds from the winning bids go to the Chinook Food Bank, the Blaine 1
Inc. ambulance and the Chinook Garden Club. The crown jewel of the day is the Parade of Lights with participants glowing, twinkling and dancing to Christmas tunes down Indiana Street starting at 6 p.m. The popular parade was made even
bigger in 2012 when the Chamber started offering a prize for the best float. Tomi Simenson of the Chamber said she expects a prize will be offered again this year. For more information on any of these activities, contact Simenson at 357-3858.
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Giving Tree helps get gifts for Havre children The annual Giving Tree program helps numerous children in Havre have a much merrier Christmas than they would otherwise. The Giving Trees will be located at Holiday Village Mall, Kmart and Walmart. On the trees will hang little tags with the ages, sizes and gift ideas for youngsters from throughout the community, said Trina Crawford of the Salvation Army in Havre. People are asked to pick one of the tags off the tree and buy gifts for that youngster. People can buy the gifts and return them to Sears at the Mall, Kmart or the red sleigh just inside Walmart, she said. Gifts should not be wrapped, but the tags should be attached to the gifts, she said. Gifts need to be returned by Dec. 18, she said, Parents of young people receiving gifts will pick them up at the Salvation Army by Dec. 20, she said. They will then give the gifts to children according to the family’s tradition. Parents are asked to wrap the gifts, she said, so that they have something invested in the process. “Parents like having some part in the gifts,” she said The goal is to have a coat, some clothes and three toys for every young person, she
said. The coats come from the Koats for Kids program put on by the Havre Jaycees. People who think they are eligible for the program can still come to the Salvation Army office on 3rd Street, she said, between 9 a.m. and noon, Mondays and Tuesdays. They should bring a birth certificate or a Social Security card. More than 109 families have already been deemed qualified, she said, and the number should get higher. That number is up from previous years, she said. “Some of these kids would not be getting any Christmas gifts without the Giving Tree,” she said. Every year, she said, there are fears that there won’t be enough gifts for the children, but every year the Havre community steps forth to provide the donations, she said. “This is a very special community,” she said. Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Holly Strobel, right, picks out a gift last year at Kmart. The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line members, including Strobel, chose recipients from the Giving Tree — last year called the Angel Tree — and were allotted money to purchase gifts.
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Ring the bell
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Salvation Army looks for volunteers The Havre Salvation Army is offering people a chance to get out, meet new people, see old friends and raise money for a good cause. And they get to do this in friendly, albeit sometimes chilly, surroundings. They are looking for people to ring bells as part of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. “People who volunteer have a good time, they really do, ”said Trina Crawford, executive director of the Havre Salvation Army. Volunteers save the Salvation Army money, she said. If there aren’t enough volunteers, she said, people will be hired to ring the bells. “We usually hire people for Walmart, she said, because the kettles are outside. “It can get very cold,” she said. But volunteers staff the kettles at Kmart, Holiday Village Mall and Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods. Community organizations offer volunteers to help out, she said. This year, the Lions Club will ring every bell Saturday, Dec. 21, she said. The Rotary Club will be out Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gary & Leo’s. The Board of Realtors will ring bells at all locations Dec. 6, and HRDC staff have volunteered to take over for a day. And quintessential volunteer Bonnie Bennett has become a fixture at Gary & Leo’s, working hours and hours each year. “People always tell us when they volunteer they see people they haven’t seen for years and meet many new people,” Crawford said.
While Walmart duty tends to be a bit chilly, she said, the other kettles are just inside the building, so it may get a bit cool, but is usually quite bearable, she said. “We ask people to volunteer in two-hour blocks at least,” she said. “If you don’t want to be alone that long, bring along a friend — or have a husband-and-wife team.” The money raised through the kettles funds programs the Salvation Army runs the rest of the year, she said. When people come in looking for money to pay utility bills so they won’t get disconnected, they turn to this fund, she said. It also pays for shelter for people who have been evicted or for transients who have no money. “Those dimes, quarters and dollar bills dropped into the kettles go a long way,” she said. “Our goal is $26,000,” she said. Because of the calendar, she said, that may be more difficult than usual. With Thanksgiving coming late this year, there will be only 22 days of bell-ringing. Usually there are 24 to 26 days, she said. “So we’ll have to work harder this year,” she said. The Salvation Army will take part in other celebrations during the holiday season, she said. Everyone will be offered hot chocolate when the Salvation Army rolls out its canteen at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Saturday, Nov. 30, starting at 3 p.m. on Town Square. “Everybody can come get some free hot chocolate,” she said.
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown, file Judy Neely rings a Salvation Army bell at Kmart last November.
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Christmas events across the Hi-Line
Harlem’s Country Christmas Stroll The Harlem Country Christmas Stroll kicks off the yuletide season Dec. 11 this year. Downtown businesses will be holding their open-house events along with vendors selling food and crafts. People will be able
to enjoy a live nativity scene and a visit with Santa. Other activities for strollers taking in the festivities include a couple competitions, one for best Christmas costume and the other for the best gift box decoration.
Details of the celebration were not f i n a l i z e d by p r i n t d a t e, s o fo r m o re information, including on event times, the costume competition theme and setting up as a vendor, call Rod Becker at 353-2256.
A Hometown Christmas in Rudyard The Christmas stroll in Rudyard has been bringing community members and visitors together for more than 20 years, and this year's event will be Dec. 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. People are welcome to stroll through town to visit local businesses which serve treats, but if a walk around town sounds too
everyday, then revelers can hop on a wagon for a hay ride. Chili, hot dogs, cinnamon rolls and cocoa will be served at the youth center. Everyone is welcome to eat at no cost, but free-will donations are welcome — the money goes toward a town improvement
project. Lynn Hybner, one of the event organizers said that this year the money will go toward repairing the roof of the senior center in town. Everyone is welcome join in the festivities. For more information, contact Hybner at 355-4354.
Chouteau County Country Christmas While the name is a tongue-twister, the celebration itself is just simple, old-fashioned fun and a great way to spend the weekend. Around 15 years ago, the towns of Chouteau County pooled their efforts,
resources and holiday cheer to create a unique countywide Christmas celebration that has steadily drawn more people to the area to take part in the festivities. With Christmas activities across the county, including the towns of Big Sandy, Fort Benton, Geraldine, Loma, Shonkin and Virgelle, people can spend a day or more taking in the sights, sales and community spirit. People can sssstart the weekend with the Country Christmas Social in Geraldine in the afternoon and early evening Friday and then shake it up at the dance at the Country
Christmas Dance in Loma that night. Saturday and Sunday are filled with opportunities to go shopping at local businesses, arts and craft fairs, baked-goods and homemade chocolate sales, and vendor booths or to seek entertainment with music events, luncheons and dinners, a wagon ride and a parade of lights. All the events for the Chouteau County Country Christmas will be finalized by November. Check out the events calendar at VirgelleMontana.com or contact coorganizer Don Sorenson at 378-3110 or 800426-2926.
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Community Tree Lighting
will brighten Town Square Havre’s Community Tree Lighting will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Town Square on 1st Street in downtown Havre. This event marks the start of the city’s Christmas celebration. Santa lighting the living Christmas tree is the featured activity, but much more takes place to feed the community's holiday spirit. Revelers can feast on hot cocoa, cider and other treats provided by vendors, many of them local organizations raising money for their charities. Friends, family and neighbors can gather around a crackling
fire while local groups of carolers lead the holiday musical cheer and youngsters tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Gift certificate winners will be chosen and prizes given away to young and old. For more information about the event or to sign up to be a vendor, call Debbie Vandeberg at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce at 265-4383. Havre Daily News/File Santa pulls a lever to light the community Christmas tree in Town Square last November.
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$6.5 MILLION in local economy
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on the local economy over the past years by keeping close to $6.5 million in Havre supporting local businesses. In 2011 the lending institutions agreed to raise the interest-free loan amount available to holiday shoppers from $1,000 to $1,500. This change proved to be a positive decision, as the amount loaned during that holiday season increased more than $8,000. Interest-free Christmas Cash loans are available, with approved credit, at Independence Bank, Stockman Bank and Bear Paw
November 2013
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2013 Havre Holiday Calendar Enjoy the Magical Glow of the Holidays
Christmas Cash keeps more than hristmas Cash “is money spent with local businesses which support our community each and every day.” The Christmas Cash program brings together the business community in a common goal to stimulate holiday shopping in Havre. The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Cash program started in 1990 and continues because of the partnerships between the Chamber, participating financial institutions and main street businesses. The program has had significant impact
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Credit Union. The Chamber Board of Directors and participating Chamber member businesses believe the program has a definite economic role in the community, and they take great pride in the positive impact the Christmas Cash has on local business. “The program has a significant impact on our local economy. It is money spent with local businesses that support our community each and every day,” said Chamber Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg. “The original goal of
the program was to stimulate local holiday shopping and support the local businesses that support our community all year long through donations and sponsorships. That goal remains the same.” “Thank you to the businesses that participate in the Chamber’s Christmas Cash program,” said Chandra Moomey, president of the Chamber Board of Directors. “A big thankyou needs to go out to the community for using and supporting the Chamber’s Christmas Cash program and to the participating financial institutions for continuing to be our partners in providing this program to the community.”
Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Volunteers serve mashed potatoes and gravy during last year's Community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Havre Daily News/File
Havre’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner brings together family, friends, neighbors and strangers to enjoy a traditional holiday meal. Started by and funded for decades through the generosity of an anonymous d o n o r, t h e T h a n k s g i v i n g D i n n e r wa s envisioned as an event that fosters the idea that community is family, and that sentiment is proved out every year by serving 600 to 700 meals to locals and visitors. Entirely volunteer-organized and operated — with the support of Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, whose staff cooks the turkey and bakes the buns and pies — this community dinner serves up turkey, buns, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, assorted vegetables and pumpkin pies at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Home-delivery meals are encouraged for those who can't get out easily, but they must be ordered during the week before Thanksgiving. Volunteers put together those meal and deliver between 8 and 9:30 a.m. Chairperson of the 2013 Community Thanksgiving Dinner Debi Rhines said that organizers, over the years, have s t r i c t l y a d h e r e d t o t h e a n o ny m o u s donor’s request that this be a free meal, and all donations are turned away. Should anyone manage to sneak in a payment for the meal, that money is promptly handed over to one of the local charities such as the Salvation Army or the Havre Food Bank to help these organizations at a time when they are approached by many people in need. To arrange a home delivery call the North Central Senior Center at 265-5464, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Nov. 20 to 26. For more information about the dinner or volunteering, call Rhines at 2656900.
November 28th ~ Thanksgiving Dinner, 11am-2pm, St. Jude Parish Center
Happy Thanksgiving!
~ Black Friday – Holiday Village Mall opens at 8pm November 29th & 30th ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon - 3pm November 30th ~ Community Tree Lighting @ Town Square; activities start @ 5:30pm • Santa Arrival • Music/Entertainment • Vendors November 30th ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Holiday Spirit Stroll through Havre Beneath the Streets – 3pm-5pm ~ Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees – 7pm – St. Jude Parish Center December 1st ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon-3pm December 5th ~ HHS Winter Choir Concert – 7:30pm – HHS December 7th ~ St. Jude’s Christmas Bazaar – 10:30am-2pm ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Cowboy Christmas – 5pm – MSU-Northern SUB December 7th-8th ~ Winterfest Craft Show – Holiday Village Mall Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 11am-4pm ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon – 3pm December 8th ~ Piano & Pipes Christmas Concert – 2pm – First Lutheran Church December 9th ~ 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert, 7pm - Middle School December 13th ~ Artist Reception with Kris Shaw – 6pm-8pm – Atrium Mall December 13th-14th ~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “Still Life with Iris” 8pm – MSU-Northern Theatre
December 14th ~ Lunch with Santa – Noon – Holiday Village Mall ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Action Art Raffle – 11am-1pm – Atrium Mall ~ Kids Day at the Atrium – 1pm-4pm ~ H. Earl Clack Museum “A Special Children’s Party with a Dino” 1pm-3pm ~ Jaycees Open House – 1pm-4pm – Basement of Eagles Club ~ Live Nativity Scene – 5pm-7pm – Van Orsdel United Methodist Church December 14th-15th ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon - 3pm ~ City Wide Bake Sale – Holiday Village Mall (10th – 10am-7pm; 11th – 11am-5pm) December 16th ~ HHS Winter Band Concert -7:30pm - HHS December 17th ~ 6th,7th & 8th Grade Choir Concert, 7pm - Middle School December 19th-23rd ~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “Still Life with Iris” 8pm – MSU-Northern Theatre December 21st ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall December 21st-22nd ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – Noon-3pm December 22nd ~ Eagles Kids Christmas Party – 2pm December 25th ~ Community Christmas Dinner – Eagles Club – 11am – 2pm
Merry Christmas!
December 27th ~ HHS Alumni Holiday Hoops Basketball Games – 6:30pm – Middle School December 27th-28th ~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “Still Life with Iris” 8pm – MSU-Northern Theatre December 31st
New Year’s Eve
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