www.towntimes.com
Volume 23, Number 37
Friday, December 13, 2019
Durham Giving Tree program embodies the holiday spirit By Everett Bishop Town Times
This winter, Durham has 23 families who have qualified for the program. While the tags on the Giving Tree don’t list names, they do list information such as items the family is asking for, ages of those involved and gender.
While everyone likes to get a present during the holidays, the season is also about the joy of giving. For more than two decades a Durham program has been helping with both parts of that experience, the giving and receiving. Durham Social Services, in partnership with the Recreation Department, is hosting this year’s Giving Tree. The Christmas tree sits inside the recreation office and is adorned with tags listing the names of local families in need of a little help this holiday season.
The Durham Giving Tree sits in the recreation office in Town Hall. Photo by Everett Bishop, Town Times
“We’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. At least 25 years,” said recreation director Sherry Hill.
“The Giving Tree is a place to show the holiday spirit,” said social services coordinator Morgan Perry, who is overseeing the Giving Tree program for the first time. So far, she’s been struck by the “generosity of people choosSee Giving, A11
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Piper and Scotland Forbush.
Sisters medal at World Tap Dancing Championships Durham sisters Piper and Scotland Forbush returned from Riesa, Germany recently after competing in the World Tap Dancing Championships. Piper, 15, a sophomore at Coginchaug High School, and Scotland, 11, a sixth grader at Memorial Middle School, competed for five days over Thanksgiving break against some 2,000 dancers from more than 19 countries.
The 2019 Community Round Up pulled in more than $4,600 and over 15,000 food items to help the less-fortunate in the area. Read about the effort inside. Photo by Bronwyn Commins
The competition – which could be described as the Olympics of tap dancing – was held in elimination rounds, culminating in the finals with the top six routines.
Scotland competed in the children's division with a small group and trio, which finished fifth. Also, she won a bronze medal in the junior division with her formation group. Piper competed in the adult division with a duo, and won a bronze medal in the junior division for her small group, and a bronze medal in the adult category with her formation group. Piper and Scotland train at The Dancer's Studio in Northford, and since January have rehearsed most weekends in New York. -- Submitted