Christmas Tree

The Rowdy Golden Girls Homemakers Club was charged this year with creating a Christmas tree ornament to represent Clark County on the state Christmas tree in Frankfort, and the club happily stepped up to the challenge. More than 80 Kentucky counties are represented through ornaments at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. All ornaments are handcrafted and are currently on display as part of the Kentucky Treasures Holiday Celebration. Pam Price, a member of the Rowdy Golden Girls Club, painted an apple gourd with significant Clark County landmarks like the courthouse, and, of course, no representation of Clark County would be complete without Ale-8-One.

When I asked two of my elderly friends what their first Christmas memory was, I could tell it was a question they had never thought about before. I posed this question to Verne Orndorff, who is closer to 100 years of age than 90. He told me that every year his father would go out on Christmas Eve and cut down a Christmas tree. He said he usually went alone to get the tree. It had to be a fir tree. He would climb to the top of a very tall fir tree, cut down the tree, then bring it back to the house.

My 30-year-old hand-me-down Christmas tree has resumed its rightful place in my living room for another holiday season. When I drug it out of the closet, I had a weird feeling that it was only yesterday that I was putting it in the closet. Probably because it was only April. Nothing says "Happy Easter" like a Christmas tree that's been around longer than I have. Maybe I should invest in some new decorations ? ornaments fit for any occasion, since, apparently, the tree is going to be around for all occasions.

You probably aren't going to believe me when I tell you this, but it really is true - there is no longer a Christmas tree on display in my living room. Christmas has been over for almost five months, but at my house on Lexington Avenue, the season only officially ended last weekend when a frenzy of spring cleaning convinced me that it was time to stop being lazy and put away the tree. So you want to know the crazy part? I kind of miss it. I mean, after five months, you can really get attached to something and, somehow, I managed to find myself attached to my 30-year-old, undecorated artificial Christmas tree.

I've had my fair share of holiday memories, whether it be Thanksgiving or Christmas. Growing up, Thanksgiving was a special time, one where my dad spent much of the day getting the turkey and other goodies ready. It was also a day that we watched the NFL Thanksgiving Day offerings - much to the chagrin of my mother. But with four boys, what could a mother do? While the football games were fun, the best memories were simply sitting around the table sharing with one another. And the next day, we pulled out the Christmas tree - there were years it was a real tree, and there were years that it was fake, and there was this one year that it was white, and I still haven't figured that one out - and decorated it. I still remember one year my mom fell in love with the “bubble lights,” so my dad got her a set to put on the tree.

The theme of a memorial service held at Jessamine Christian Church last Thursday night by Hospice of the Bluegrass Jessamine County was "A Gift of Hope. " The purpose of the service, which was open to the public, was to give people a chance to gather together in memory of loved ones. The sanctuary was bathed in a soft light from the Christmas tree as the small crowd shared tears and memories of loved ones. After the service, the visitors enjoyed a reception with refreshments.

Charlotte Getman brightens Danville with her "Light for the World. " The painter opened her colorful exhibit, subtitled "Personal Expressions in Oils," at the Community Arts Center June 9. It will be on display until the end of the month. Getman, who is from Lancaster, lives in Lexington with her two sons, ages 12 and 14. She studied interior design with an emphasis in fine art at Eastern Kentucky University. Though she's painted since she was a child, she's never exhibited her work or offered it for sale until now. "I'm really excited by the opportunity, especially during the time Danville is put on the map with the brass band festival," she said.

Danville police are looking into a recent rash of calls from the area surrounding the 800-block of East Main Street to see if the incidents might be related. The most recent incident was a burglary on Wednesday. Assistant Police Chief Tony Gray said a house on the 800-block had its back windows broken out and Christmas presents taken from under a Christmas tree. A 42-inch plasma-screen television also was removed from the residence, but found at the rear of the property. Gray said police are still waiting for a complete list of missing items from the homeowners.

HARRODSBURG - A local couple escaped their burning house early Monday after a Christmas tree fell on a kerosene heater and caught fire, a fire official said. Joey Baker woke up about 1 a.m. Monday to find the blaze that caused heavy to severe damage to his house at 316 Barr St., said Bobby Joe Blacketer, captain of the Harrodsburg Fire Department. Baker and his wife were home, and their two children were with grandparents. The children apparently had been sleeping on the couch while their father was remodeling their bedroom, but decided to stay with their grandparents the night of the fire.

A dozen years of pumpkin massacre parties and it's scary how skilled Jeanne Daniel-Hester is with a handful of knives and a squash. This would have been the 13th year that Hester and her family have hosted a pumpkin-carving party, but other commitments canceled the event. Hester, however, shared her expertise at dusk one recent evening, so that everyone can do up a crafty jack-o-lantern. I promised to bring the pumpkins. When I got to the grocery, there were only two left, each with a flat back.