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School board remains same

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CentervilleISDBy Tony Farkas
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CENTERVILLE — Since an upcoming election drew no challenges, the Centerville ISD Board of Trustees has cancelled its election.

Also at the meeting on Thursday, the trustees re-appointed its members to their various positions, as Superintendent Mark Brown said the lineup ran well and needed no reorganization.

James Due will remain as board president, Randall Fry will be vice president and Kim Blalock will continue as board secretary.

In a separate matter, the board approved a budget adjustment in connection with the weather damage to the gymnasium.

Brown said the insurance company has issued a payment of $348,000 for roof damages, which will be enough for repairs to be started.

He also said that the insurance adjuster and an appraiser will be meeting after Christmas, and the school should receive additional funds, probably in February 2023, toward the claim.

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Christmas holiday rich with tradition

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ChristmasTradition Stock

Julias TidbitsDec. 16 was a wonderful day last week. It was the Martin Senior Citizen Center’s Christmas party and my daughter’s birthday. It is hard to believe that this beautiful daughter, cheerleader, basketball player, softball player in college, Homecoming Queen, mother of twins, and career woman has lived almost half a century. Why does life fly so fast?

In two weeks 2022 will be just a fleeting memory, but we still long to know about things from the past. For instance, knowing about Christmas traditions in America is a must. Here is a little bit of Christmas traditions we love and know about, and still practice today, from Christmas trees to greeting cards.

Here are a few Christmas facts from Poor Richard’s Almanac 2022:

•The first American Christmas tree can be credited to a Hessian soldier by the name of Henrick Roddmore, who was captured at the Battle of Bennington in 1776. He then went to work on the farm of Samuel Denslow in Windsor Locks in Connecticut, where for the next 14 years he put up and decorated Christmas trees in the Denslow family home.

•The first retail Christmas tree lot was established in 1851 by a Pennsylvanian named Mark Carr, who hauled two ox sleds loaded with Christmas trees from the Catskill Mountains to the sidewalks of New York City.

•The first president to set up a Christmas tree in the White House was Franklin Pierce, and the first president to establish the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn was Calvin Coolidge. In 1882, the first tree lights were sold in New York City.

•The first American to print and sell Christmas cards was Louis Prang of Roxbury, Mass., who began publishing cards in 1875.

•Eisenhower is given credit for sending the first official Christmas card from the White House. An art print also became the standard Christmas gift for the president’s staff, a practice continued to this day.

•“Here Comes Santa Claus” is credited to the first department store Santa, named James Edgar, who during Christmas seasons beginning in 1890, would wander about his store (the Boston Store) in Brockton, Mass., dressed as Santa Claus, talking to the children of Customers.

Ever wonder how the custom of giving Christmas gifts originated?

The ancient Romans gave each other gifts on the calends (first day of January), and the practice spread throughout the Roman Empire. Eventually, Christians moved the custom to Dec. 25, although many Christians still give gifts on Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the manifestation of Jesus’ divine nature to the Magi.

My favorite tradition at Christmas is kissing under the mistletoe. I love the story how the tradition came about and why people kiss under the mistletoe.

In an old Norse legend, Frigga, the goddess of love, had a son named Balder who was the god of innocence and light. To protect him, Frigga demanded that all creatures — even inanimate objects —swear an oath not to harm him, but she forgot to include mistletoe.

Loki, god of evil and destruction, learned of this and made an arrow from a sprig of mistletoe. Loki then tricked Hoth, Balder’s blind brother, into shooting the mistletoe arrow and guided it to kill Balder. The death of Balder meant the death of sunlight, explaining the long winter nights in the north.

Frigga’s tears fell onto the mistletoe and turned into white berries. She decreed that it should never cause harm again but should promote love and peace instead. From then on, anyone standing under mistletoe would get a kiss. Even mortal enemies meeting under mistletoe by accident had to put their weapons aside and exchange a kiss of peace declaring a truce for the day.

These are some of our Christmas traditions, but I have some other facts to impart regarding other American Christmas facts or trivia that I have been privy to over the years.

•The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.

•Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.

•The first Christmas cards were invented in 1843.

•Rudolph was created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930s for a holiday promotion. The rest is history.

•If you received all the gifts in the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas,” you would receive 364 presents.

•“A Christmas Carol,” published in 1843, was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.

•The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday officially was Alabama in 1836. In 1907, Oklahoma became the last state to declare Christmas a legal holiday.

•Christmas became a national holiday in America on June 26, 1870.

•Clearing up a common misconception, in Greek, X means Christ. That is where the word” XMas” comes from. Not because someone took the “Christ out of Christmas.

•In Mexico, wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve is said to bring love in the upcoming year.

•Friday, Dec. 16, was a wonderful day also for the less-fortunate citizens of Trinity. When I came to town at 7:30 that morning, I saw people receiving Christmas baskets at the Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church Family Life Center Building. This was the endeavors of several local churches in our community, and we are so grateful for their love and thoughtfulness to our citizens. We also are thankful to all the people who donated food and toys for this event.

Saturday, Dec. 17, was another wonderful day for the children and parents of Trinity who were able to get toys for their children to put under their Christmas trees.

The Elf Station serviced more than 300 children with toys for Christmas and gave away more than 900 cookies that were donated for this event. Kudos to the women of Mickey’s House. You are the best.

Most of the state and county offices will be closed on Friday and some on Monday, and I have only one more tidbit issue left for this year.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

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Choir instills spirit of the season

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Thursday, Dec. 15, River Pointe of Trinity Healthcare and Rehabilitation presents Meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, River Pointe of Trinity Healthcare and Rehabilitation presents Meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus from 4:30-6 p.m.

Julias TidbitsIf you were not where I was Sunday night at 6 p.m., you missed a blessing. I spent the most heavenly two hours listening to a Christmas Cantata by one of the best choirs in Trinity.

I invited myself to the Trinity Tabernacle Pentecostal Church choir program that is held every Christmas, because for the past five years this choir has sung at the Trinity Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Christmas at the Crossroads Show and I do not get to sit and listen to them without interruption.

The Trinity Tabernacle Pentecostal Church Choir encompasses the whole church. The children sing, the grandchildren sing, the elderly sing, the wives sing, the husbands sing, and even the pastor signs. Their joy is infectious. I wanted to sing so bad, but I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. I did hum a lot, clap my hands and tap my feet. They were awesome.

There are only 13 more days until Christmas Day, and if you want to announce your church’s cantata, celebrations, special services, dinners or activities, please contact me at (936) 537-8171. I will go online and try to advertise events before they happen so you can attend.

•Last week I asked for announcements, and I did not receive any. So, I am sorry to say if you are not on Facebook, you missed the cantata held at the First United Methodist Church and the program held at Dorcus Wills Memorial Baptist Churches on Sunday. I am sure they were equally as good as the one I enjoyed.

The following are short notices of events to happen this week. The advertising is short, but here goes for your enlightenment to attend these events if you can. Several events are happening on the same day and time so it will be difficult for you to have to choose which one to attend.

First this week on Thursday, Dec. 15, the River Pointe of Trinity Healthcare and Rehabilitation presents Meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus from 4:30-6 p.m. This is a family event and there is a hot chocolate bar, cookies to be decorated, letters to be written to Santa Claus, a bike raffle, and a special appearance from The Grinch.

Pictures will be taken at this time by a professional photographer and mailed directly to you. They are located at 806 S. Robb St., so please come, visit the residents, and help them have a wonderful time. For more information, contact Kadi Dean at (936) 594-7521.

Second, on Friday, Dec. 16, 2002, at noon, the Martin Senior Citizen Center is hosting their annual Christmas Party at 400 Walker St. and the public is invited to attend. The cost for the luncheon is $10 per person. In addition to lunch, they will have door prizes, a visit from Santa Claus, games, and music. Please call (936) 594-2625 to reserve a table if you are inviting more than two guests.

The third event is a Homemade Bake Sale presented by Lanora Ainsworth on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 16 and 17, at 205 W. Elizabeth St. in Trinity. Look no further for your Christmas goodies as the best cook and homemaker in Trinity County is offering her pies, cakes, candies, and bread at a holiday price you can’t afford to miss. Time for this occasion is 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days. Mrs. Phillips will be there looking for divinity candy and so will I.

Fourthly, the VFW Auxiliary, located at 401 Caroline St., is having a pulled pork barbecue fundraiser Friday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. until the luncheon is sold out. The cost of the sandwiches is $10 per person which includes a drink, dessert, and chips. For more information, please call Mike Johnson at the VFW Post 6899 ((936) 594-9467).

And finally, on Saturday, Dec. 17, the Elf Station opens on West Main Street. They are serving more than 372 children and their requests for Christmas toys and mom and dad gifts. Appointments are necessary and have been scheduled for all day Saturday until it’s over at 6 p.m. A great time will be enjoyed by all, as the families indulge on cookies galore.

The Circle of Brothers Motorcycle Group were overly generous again this year, and with the support of other citizens of this community, this will be a banner year for our children. The Elf Station boxes were placed around town and every box’s participation was filled. We are blessed. Trinity is the best place to be anytime of the year for our elderly and our children.

•If this week does not have enough activities for you, just wait until next week, we have more. Keep reading.

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, Trinity Methodist Church is hosting a Celebration for Women at 131 N. Elm St. with a dramatization by Virginia Haynes entitled “Mary, the Mother” starting at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Light refreshments will be served.

The VFW Auxiliary will host a bake sale as their December fundraiser on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22, and 23, in front of the Lucky Star Cleaners facility at 110 Brantley St. in Trinity from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. Come support your local veterans and their endeavors.

There will be many different candlelight services on Christmas Eve and regular services on Christmas Day, but mostly at different times. For instance, Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church’s Candlelight service and Communion will be held Saturday, Dec. 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary at 201 N. Robb St. in Trinity. For more information, please call Linda at the Church office at (936) 594-3822. So, text me if you want to announce your holiday agenda for your church.

Don’t forget it is early release day is Friday, Dec. 16, for TISD students.

Happy Holidays everyone.

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Council handles vehicle issues

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Trinity City SignTCNS staff

TRINITY — The Trinity City Council bought some and fixed some of its aging equipment and fleet at its Thursday meeting.

The council OK’d the purchase of two Chevy Tahoes for the Police Department, and a sewer machine, lawn mowers, a tractor, a backhoe and two trailers for the Public Works Department.

City Council Member Scott Womack said the purchase carries a $300,000 price tag which will be paid over five years.

Additionally, the council approved the purchase of a dump trailer for heavy solid waste hauling at a cost of $12,500, which Womack said will bring the city into compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in regard to hauling trash.

Also trash-related, the council approved $33,000 in repairs on two vehicles used in daily trash pickup, which will give the city two front line and one backup trash hauler.

However, the council tabled measure to hire Trinity Muffler to perform regular maintenance on city vehicles in order to get bids from all shops in town.

In a separate matter, the council discussed options on adding Back Porch Bar to city utilities.

Womack said all options were discussed, but the matter was tabled until discussions with TCEQ can be had.

Womack said the bar’s pre-treatment system is not sufficient; in addition, the bar is 1½ miles outside of city limits.

In other business, the council:

•contracted with County Elections Administrator Priscilla Rasbeary for a May 2023 city election;

•named two private streets Foley Street and Netta Street;

•set the date of July 1, 2023, for the city’s Fourth of July celebration, and approved spending $10,300 for fireworks; and

•approved the annual audit performed by Dianne Sollock, which was presented with an unmodified opinion.

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Community celebrates

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Santa (Mark Cole) heard Christmas wishes from talkers and non-talkers alike.  Photo by Tony FarkasSanta (Mark Cole) heard Christmas wishes from talkers and non-talkers alike. Photo by Tony Farkas

TCNS staff

GROVETON — The annual Christmas celebration put on by the Groveton Community Association was a smooth success, despite a small hiccup with a wanted felon.

Sheriff Woody Wallace along with deputies have arrested 65-year-old Mr. Ethan Grinch, aka Grinch the green, pot-bellied, furry, pear-shaped, snub-nosed creature with a cat like face.

Old man Grinch was escorted to the old Trinity County Jail where he will be fed Green Eggs and Ham until his day in court. Hopefully the trial will be held this Monday. Also, the Grinch’s dog Max has not been seen since the Grinch’s arrest.

The Sheriff has expressed concerns about the near 100-year-old jail being able to hold the Grinch securely until his trial. Stating that the fact that Max is at large, and the Grinch is known for having cat like reflexes with the ability to mimic Houdini are of a major security concern.

Still, the city square was filled with music, vendors and happy faces.

Later on, the town was regaled with a lighted Christmas parade, one of the largest the town has seen.

Susie Hammond of the GCA said they are excited the parade is growing, and offered thanks to the many people who helped, including fellow organizer Jolynn Wars.

She also thanked Jason Due and Citizens State Bank for the use of a building for storage, Wallace and his crew , Neal and Vallerie Knoerzer for all of the many donations, including colored lights and arches.

Hammond said so many people volunteered that the event was a success.

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