Grand Opening in Nazareth, Page 10
The Home News Your Local News
DECEMBER 3-9, 2015
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Bath celebrates Christmas season with singing and lighting ceremony by BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
A two-part program celebrated the Christmas season on Sunday in the Borough of Bath. Both were very well attended. The first was a program by the Bath Area Community Chorus, when 28 vocalists presented their “Christmas Music Festival” in the fellowship hall of Christ U.C.C. Church under the direction of Sharon Schrantz. It featured a number of popular Christmas songs, with Susan Krause playing the piano for the most part, and Ms. Schrantz in others. Brittany Gelb was featured with the violin, Jeff Varju with the guitar, and chimes came from Emmanuel’s Lutheran Church, played by Sally Leabold and Susan Walker. The 28 singers included: James Angst, Don Dilliard, Peggy Dilliard, Kevin Ehrig, Catherine Hahn, Evelyn Hartzell, Sterling Heckman, Joseph Henriksen, Dennis Keithan, Anna Kish, Carl Kraemer, Laurie Kraemer,
Susan Krause, Sandy Larena, Sally Leabold, Karen Milkovits, Jay Mills, Cyndy Radcliffe, Lisa Schrantz, Dale Schrey, Dawn Van Blargan, Jeff Varju, Ray Walker, Susan Walker, Mary Weirbach, and Jeanine Werner. Donations from the festival benefited the Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen for needy families, where 110 meals are served free of charge every month. After that program, members of the chorus went over to Monocacy Creek Park, where they sang for the Christmas tree lighting program. More than 250 people gathered at the park for the annual program. Mayor Fiorella Reginelli Mirabito welcomed the crowd on a very weather favorable night. The opening prayer was given by The Rev. Michael Eckroth, pastor of Christ U.C.C. Church. Miss Savanna Jordan then sang the “Star Spangled Banner.” This was followed by remarks from State Representative Marcia Hahn, Continued on page 7
Outdoors Page 4
One of many children sat on Santa’s lap to tell him what they want for Christmas. –Home News photos
Focused on Folks 60+ Page 8
Bath Area Community Chorus at the lighting program.
Loaves & Fishes needs Your Help Feeding the Hungry in Bath and Nazareth since 2011
submitted by TINA SMITH As many of you know, Nazareth and Bath are blessed to help feed members of our community who are hungry. Loaves & Fishes is a community soup kitchen that offers delicious and nutritious meals every Saturday. It has been a joy to provide this service for the citizens of these wonderful
places for the past five years. As with every benevolent organization, the excitement is demonstrated by volunteer participation and monetary gifts. Over the last couple of years we have seen a drop in both participation and giving. This indicates to us that the initial excitement has worn off. Services are still needed for
many single-parent families, single- or fixed-income families and the eldest members of our communities. Loaves & Fishes is not yet a tax-exempt organization and we are working diligently to apply for 501©3 status and to form a volunteer board of directors. This is one area where you can
support this collective ministryby providing eager volunteers to serve as board members. Please contact either Jeff Gehris at 610759-3163 or Jim Snyder at 484894-9476 if you are excited about serving in this way. While needs remain, funds have been minimized. Would Continued on page 3
Leier taking positives from call-up Page 15
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