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November 2014
PREVIEW TO CHRISTMAS
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
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November 2014
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Communities offer welcome meal for Thanksgiving
PREVIEW TO CHRISTMAS
November 2014
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
2014 Havre Holiday Calendar Enjoy the Magic of the Holidays
North-central Montana communities of Havre and Chinook have long-held traditions of community-mindedness, and this spirit of togetherness and support is no more evident than it is at Thanksgiving, when volunteers, donors and neighbors come together in each town to hold their community dinners. These dinners are free and open to the public. Whether diners come alone or with family and friends, whether they are locals or visitors, everyone is invited to a full turkey dinner with trimmings and companionship.
November 25
~ Community Thanksgiving Service, First Lutheran Church – 7pm
November 27
~ Thanksgiving Dinner, St. Jude Parish Center – 11am-2pm
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28
Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner Havre’s community dinner is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave. Sponsored in full by an anonymous donor, this decades-old event serves more than 600 meals, both at the Parish Center a n d t h ro u g h h o m e d e l i ve r i e s, e a c h Thanksgiving. Last year they served around 800 meals. With professional chef Peter Bruni at the helm in the parish kitchen, along with kitchen staff at Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, diners are treated to succulent turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, fresh vegetables, corn and rolls, fresh from the oven, followed by a slice of pumpkin pie. Many locals come to the meal, bringing family, meeting friends or making new friends across the table. But people come from far and wide, as well — many are in town with family or friends, some are visitors, more than one occasion saw stranded travelers taking part. Some people come just for the experience. Last year at least one couple from Lethbridge, Alberta, came just to experience this community tradition. What makes this community dinner a success, said head organizer Debi Rhines, is the volunteers who make it all happen. Many people — individuals, family members and friends — take part in bringing t h e eve n t to l i f e by s p e n d i n g t i m e Wednesday afternoon or evening setting up, Thursday morning assembling and delivering meals and later Thursday serving the meal and/or cleaning up. The volunteering is as much a social event as it is a work session, Rhines said, and many people come back yearly to be a
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~ Black Friday – Holiday Village Mall opens at 7am
November 28-30
~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon-3pm
November 29
~ Community Tree Lighting @ Town Square; activities start @ 5:30pm • Santa Arrival • Music/Entertainment • Vendors ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Holiday Spirit Stroll through Havre Beneath the Streets – 3-5pm ~ 1 mile Santa Run – Town Square area – 4pm check in; 4:30pm run begins ~ Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees – 7pm – St. Jude Parish Center
December 4 Havre Daily News/file photo St. Jude Parish Center is full of diners last Thanksgiving during the Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The dinner is a Havre tradition and is paid for in full by an anonymous donor. The dinner usually serves more than 600 people, including home-delivered meals to shut-ins. part of the community dinner. For more information about volunteering, call Rhines at 265-6900 or 265-2737. To order a meal delivered Thanksgiving morning, call North Central Senior Center during business hours Monday, Nov. 24, through Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 265-5464.
Chinook Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Served from noon to 2 p.m. at the
C h i n o o k S e n i o r C i t i z e n s C e n t e r, 3 2 4 Pennsylvania, Chinook’s community dinner is a 35-year tradition featuring an abundance of homemade foods. Diners feast on a full Thanksgiving meal of turkey, homemade mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, yams and fresh vegetables, with an assortment of home-baked pies to top off the meal. Made possible by the work of volunteers and support from major donors, along with those who make a donation for their meal, as many as about 200 community members and visitors are served annually, including deliveries made to those who aren’t able to
get out in public. Along with the meal, most years musical entertainment is provided by the Chinook Senior Center band or others who take advantage of the resident piano. Everybody is welcome, regardless of their ability to make a donation, and it helps to bring an appetite. Anyone interested in volunteering can call organizers Jeanne and Ron Dalton at 357-2799. Anyone needing a Thanksgiving meal delivered can call the senior center at 3 5 7 - 2 6 4 8 M o n d ay, N ov. 2 4 , t h r o u g h Wednesday, Nov. 26, during business hours.
~ HHS Winter Choir Concert – 7:30pm – HHS
December 5-6
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm – MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 6
~ St. Jude’s Christmas Bazaar – 10:30am-2pm ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Cowboy Christmas – 5pm – MSU-Northern SUB
December 6-7
~ Winterfest Craft Show – Holiday Village Mall Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon–3pm
December 7
~ Piano & Pipes Christmas Concert – 2pm – First Lutheran Church
December 8
~ 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert – 7pm – Middle School
December 9
~ Community Choir Concert – 7:30pm – HHS
December 11
~ 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Choir Concert – 7pm – Middle School
December 11-13
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm – MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 12
~ Artist Reception – 6-8pm – Atrium Mall
December 13
~ Lunch with Santa – noon – Holiday Village Mall ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Action Art Raffle – 11am-1pm – Atrium Mall ~ Christmas at the H. Earl Clack Museum – 1-3pm ~ Jaycees Open House – 1-4pm – Basement of Eagles Club ~ Live Nativity Scene – 5-7pm – Van Orsdel United Methodist Church
December 13-14
~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon-3pm ~ City Wide Bake Sale – Holiday Village Mall (Dec. 13 – 10am-7pm; Dec. 14 – 11am-5pm)
December 15
~ HHS Winter Band Concert – 7:30pm – HHS
December 18-20
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm - MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 20
~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall
December 20-24
~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon-3pm
December 21
~ Eagles Kids Christmas Party – 2pm
December 22-23
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm – MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 25
~ Community Christmas Dinner – Eagles Club – 11am-2pm
Merry Christmas!
December 26
~ HHS Alumni Holiday Hoops Basketball Games 6:30pm – Middle School
December 31
New Years Eve!
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November 2014
PREVIEW TO CHRISTMAS
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Money raised will go to help with expansion and improvement of the facility
The musical’s opening days are Dec. 5 and 6, with shows every weekend after that: Dec. 11-13, Dec. 18-20 and the Monday and Tuesday before Christmas, on Dec. 22-23. cast was quite excited to perform it. The musical director of the show is Sharon Dolph and the choreography is being done by Mary Kaercher and Haley Lippy, who are also performing in the show. Darren Overlie and Martin Holt will be sharing a role together and Patrick Ulano and Mindy Smith-Langel are also starring in the musical. The musical’s opening days are Dec. 5 and 6 with performances every weekend after that — Dec. 11 to 13, Dec. 18 to 20 and the Monday and Tuesday before Christmas, on Dec. 22 and 23. The playwright of both musicals is Betsy Kelso and the music and lyrics were written by David Nehls.
November 2014
Havre’s Christmas tree Havre’s Festival of Trees lighting ceremony
“Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” hits Havre Pam Veis, the artistic director of the “Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical,” said that this show is a sequel to the one Montana Actors’ Theatre performed last year. She said they began working on the play mid-October. “We’ve been meeting and focusing on the musical aspects and the choreography,” Veis said Nov. 3. She said these are the most difficult parts to learn of a musical. The setting of the story is at a trailer park called Armadillo Acres in northern Florida. Veis said it has a little of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” themes wrapped into it, but in more modern sense. “I would describe it as trashy and fun,” Veis said. She added that the show contains offensive language and is not for children. “It’s only for adults who would enjoy that type of show,” Veis said. The show’s website says this of the show: “Holiday time at N o r t h F l o r i d a ’s Armadillo Acres means everyone’s filled with warmth and beer. But when a freak bout of amnesia strikes the trailer park Scrooge, neighborly love is put to the test. With Betty, Lin and Pickles on hand to amp up the fracas and festivity, this all-new, all-trailer-park musical is just as much of a cat-fightin’, sunworshippin’, chair-throwin’ good time as the original — but with tinsel and Keg Nog.” She said that she had a couple of reservations about putting on the show, mainly because sequels are difficult to pull off, especially if the original was well-received. She said she decided to do the show because the
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An old tradition welcomes a new event After the feasting of Thanksgiving and the rush of Black Friday shopping, Saturday, Nov. 29, rings in the Christmas season with a community display in Town Square which attracts the largest crowd of the weekend. In a longstanding tradition, Havre will usher in the Christmas season with the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Square at the center of town. Havre High School choir members will lead the crowd in singing Christmas carols, while vendors will offer foods and drinks to help keep people warm as they huddle together in camaraderie, talking or enjoying the fire. Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to make a stop and help turn on
the lights adorning the living Christmas tree. But before the lights come on, a new event will be running — quite literally. The first Santa Run/Walk will begin and end at Town Square with participants, dressed as Santa, running or walking a onemile course. Kids can get in on the action, whether they run or not, dressed as an elf. Signup begins at 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes of the adult and youth participants, as well as for fastest times in the men’s and women’s divisions. And the chance for more prizes is available to everyone at the tree-lighting event, with drawings for this year’s Super Certificate winners and two “kids baskets” filled with goodies.
Havre Daily News/file photo Santa rides a BNSF train along with Mrs. Claus and elves in 2013.
Havre Daily News/file photo Above: Santa turns on the Christmas tree lights during the 2013 tree lighting ceremony at the Town Square. Right: A row of trees at the 2013 Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line's Festival of Trees at the St. Jude Parish Center.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, following the downtown tree-lighting ceremony, the 7th Annual Festival of Trees will take place at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave. in Havre. Organized by the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, the Festival of Trees raises money for the club’s activities, and this year money will go to help with expansion and improvement of the facility to allow the club to increase membership and to expand services. Most importantly, the club is adding a full-service kitchen. Individuals, groups and businesses fully decorate and then donate Christmas trees created with imaginative themes or unique twists, like a popular movie theme or a
“tree” made from a fully stocked wine rack. During the evening event, which includes hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and games, the trees are sold to the highest bidder in a live auction. Items also sold in live and silent auctions will include two pieces of furniture, a hand-made quilt, a pheasant hunt complete with hunting dogs and a guide, baked goods and a lot more. Tickets to the Festival of Trees are $25 each and can be bought by calling 265-6206 during regular business hours. Though 250 tickets are sold each year, they sell out well before the event, so people are encouraged to call right away.
Here are the Christmas trees being planned for auction at this year's Festival of Trees: • Kmart, A Sizzlin’ Christmas • Atrium Merchants, Fairy Christmas • Bear Paw Veterinary Service & Mary Ann McCann, HOMEmade for the HOLIDAYS • Optimist Club of Havre, Sportin' Around the Christmas Tree • Montana Actors’ Theatre • AmericInn Lodge and Suites of Havre • Angie’s Wildflowers, It felt like Christmas • Triangle Communications and Hill County Electric, Colors of Rural Montana • Havre Hi-Line Board of Realtors, Wine in the Holidays • Paul & Susan Hanson, Country Cowboy Christmas • Northern Home Essentials and Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors,
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Donate to, volunteer with Salvation Army in Bonnie Bennett's name John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com In many ways, this winter's Salvation Army bell ringing will be the same as it has been for years and years. People will be ringing bells next to red kettles at Walmart, Kmart, Holiday Village Mall and Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods. Goodhearted people will make donations to help the needy. But there will be a gaping hole in the cadre of volunteers who ring the bells. Bonnie Bennett, a community volunteer, had rung the bell at the north door to Gary & Leo's for the last 33 years. Bonnie died Sept. 19. "We'll be without Miss Bonnie this year," said Trina Crawford, executive director of the Havre Salvation Army. "It won't be the same." So, as the Salvation Army asks for volunteers to step forward to help out, there will be a special attention to Gary & Leo's. "We're asking people to volunteer in honor of Bonnie," she said. "And we're asking people to donate at Gary & Leo's in Bonnie's memory. A lot of people went out of their way to donate at Gary & Leo's because Bonnie was there, Crawford said. Last year, more than $22,000 was raised during the kettle campaign, Crawford said.
"Trina's goal this year is $25,000." Because there is a late Thanksgiving, she said, this year will be a short Christmas season. They have to raise more money per day than usual. "Salvation Army calls itself the shield for the poor," she said. The Salvation Army provides the shield that protects people from the dangers of poverty, she added. And people who help out the Salvation Army are also shields, she said. Volunteers who ring the bells will be given little stick-ons they can put on their coats that say "I am a shield," much like the stickers people are given that say "I voted," Crawford said. People can sign up as individuals or as community organizations, she said.
We're asking people to volunteer in honor of Bonnie," she said. "And we're asking people to donate at Gary & Leo's in Bonnie's memory. Trina Crawford Salvation Army
Some groups could sign up for the entire day, she said. The Salvation Army is especially looking for people to volunteer in Bonnie Bennett's memory, she said. People willing to ring the bell at Walmart would especially be appreciated, she said. The money raised through the kettle campaign is used to provide help to people throughout the year — especially food to the hungry and shelter to the homeless families, she said. The economy may be getting better, she said, but there is more need than ever. "This is the worst I've seen it since I've been in this job," she said. Want to volunteer to help ring the bells? Call the Havre Salvation Army at 265-6411. Courtesy Photo Bonnie Bennett rings a bell for the Salvation Army at the north door of Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods, where she has been ringing that bell for the last 33 years. Bonnie died Sept. 19.
Havre Daily News/file Susie Bessette puts a donation into the Salvation Army box at Kmart in December 2013.
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November 2014
PREVIEW TO CHRISTMAS
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Christmas Cash celebrates its 25th year What a run it has been — keeping just shy of $7 million in our Havre economy during the holiday season The Christmas Cash program brings together the business community in a common goal to stimulate holiday shopping in Havre. The program has had a significant impact on the local economy over the past years by keeping millions of dollars in Havre, supporting local businesses. The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's
Christmas Cash program started in 1990 when a group of business leaders decided to embark on the project after securing a partnership with every local lending institution and many Chamber member businesses getting on board to support the program. The original goal then — and continues today — 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 intact today. The success of the program is three-fold: “an ongoing partnership with our local lending institutions; the landscape has changed dramatically over the past 25 years with solid
support from the participating Chamber member businesses and the ongoing loyalty from the community folks that use the program each holiday season,” said Debbie Vandeberg, executive director. $168,050.00 in Christmas Cash circulated through 47 participating Chamber member businesses last holiday season. Using the conservative turn of 2.5, more than $420,000 impacted the local economy during the holiday shopping season last year. The Board of Directors and participating Chamber member businesses believe the programs play a definite economic roll in our community and take great pride in the positive impact the
$168,050 in Christmas Cash circulated through 47 participating Chamber member businesses last holiday season.
Holiday Spirit Stroll
Havre Beneath the Streets
Nov. 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Havre Beneath the Streets, the historical display that tells the story of Havre after the fire of the early 1900s, will be lit up for the holidays. The Holiday Stroll will be held 3 to 5 p.m. People are invited to come in and see the displays lit up for Christmas. This is the second year Havre Beneath the Streets has offered the event to the public.
Christmas Cash program has on local business. Interest-free Christmas Cash loans are available, with approved credit, at Independence Bank, Stockman Bank and Bear Paw Credit Union. Christmas Cash loans became available Nov. 3 and will be available through Friday, Dec. 19. “A big thank-you 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,” said Shawn Holden, first vice president of the Chamber Board of Directors.
The Christmas displays have been prepared by TOPS MT Chapter 0408. No official tours will be running, so people are invited to walk through at their own pace. There will be treats for the children. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for people 6 to 18 and no charge for youngsters under 6. Tickets are available at Havre Beneath the Streets, 120 3rd Ave.
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
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Beyond the turkey meal Christmas events across the Hi-Line host events throughout the season Holiday Village Mall and Atrium Mall For those people with shopping on the mind, the local malls will be hosting activities throughout the season, along with sales and some expanded hours for Black Friday. Holiday Village Mall will have commercial vendor and craft sales, events at the H. Earl Clack Museum and plenty of opportunity to get a picture with Santa. Some of the mall stores will be open 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, and others open early
Black Friday. The Atrium Mall is planning craft fairs and artist events, including an Action Art event with Artitudes member artists creating art live in a three-hour period, with artwork being awarded to raffle winners, and the monthly Artitudes Gallery artist recept i o n , f e a t u r i n g C o rey C o u t u r i e r i n December, with live music, refreshments and the opportunity to talk to the artist.
Thanksgiving weekend offers a variety of activities, shopping in Chinook Chinook With a festive mood in the air and friends and family home to visit, the town of Chinook takes this opportunity to turn Black Friday, Nov. 28, into a community-oriented celebration, filling the day with a Christmas stroll, their Festival of Trees and the 29th annual Parade of Lights.
Christmas Stroll Main street in Chinook is blocked off from 1 to 7 p.m. allowing people to roam through the heart of town, stopping by vendor booths, checking out the holiday fare at local stores and stopping for some cheer with neighbors and visitors. Each year, music spills onto the streets from the handful of establishments offering live music. Even the local museums get into the spirit. The Blaine County Wildlife Museum will be open 1 to 6 p.m., with regular charges for entry, and Blaine County Museum, with its local and Native exhibits, will be open 1 to 6 p.m. free of charge.
Festival of Trees While touring the streets, people are invited to stop in the lobby of First Bank of Montana, 337 Indiana, to view the Christmas
trees fully decorated and donated by community members and businesses to the Festival of Trees fundraiser. Bidding on the trees closes at 5:45 p.m. All money raised this year will be split equally between two local organizations: Community Chest, which supports local causes like youth baseball, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and My Neighbor in Need, which helps provide funds or facilitate donations of goods or services to those in temporary need of assistance, such as to fix a vehicle needed to get to a job interview or new job. In its first year, this fundraiser made about $10,000.
Parade of Lights The day of celebration is set to be topped off with the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Individuals, groups and businesses will vie to most-impress onlookers, and judges, with their floats aglow with Christmas lights that mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The parade runs north from Meadowlark School on main street, circles the block before U.S. Highway 2 and returns south on main street again to give spectators twice the opportunity for fun.
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Ornaments capture Havre history
Chouteau County Country Christmas set for early December The Chouteau County Country Christmas will be held from Friday, Dec. 5, to Sunday, Dec. 7. D o n S o re n s e n , ow n e r o f V i rge l l e Mercantile in Loma, said businesses in each town have something going on during that weekend. Sorensen said that the schedule of events is still in the process of being put together — he did however give summaries. “There’s a craft sale in Big Sandy at the fire hall, and also (one can) have breakfast with Santa at one of the cafes there, and they have a ‘Pray to Lights’ usually Saturday night.” Sorensen said that his store will have an event as well. “At Virgelle we have a real country Christmas at a real country store — and that’s antiques and collectibles for sale for
Saturday and Sunday.” Sorensen also said that a country dance will take place in Loma Friday night at the hall. “In Fort Benton, they have events all weekend. Saturday they have a craft sale at the Bridgeport Station — that runs all day Saturday,” he added. Virgelle also said that the Shonkin Women’s Club will have a craft sale in Shonkin. “What the whole idea of this is is to invite people to Chouteau County to see what the local businesses have to offer,” he said. “This is like a progressive meal — you can go from place to place to place. The full schedule of events will be posted online at http://www.virgellemontana.com/ CCCCSchedule.html.
Harlem will host a downtown Christmas with country theme An old-fashioned downtown Christmas with a Western theme will be the highlight of Christmas activities in Harlem once again this year. The event will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Organizers are encouraging people to dress up in Christmas and/or Western costumes. Merchants will provide gifts that will be handed out in drawings. People can still get tickets for the raffle on the night of the celebration, and drawings will be held a couple of days later, said Rod Becker, president of the Harlem Civic Association. Up to $700 in gift certificates donated by Harlem merchants will be handed out. There will be a coloring contest involv-
i n g s t u d e n t s a t H a r l e m E l e m e n ta r y School, with winners being announced the night of the celebration. A horse-draw carriage will be providing rides to people through town, he said. The Senior Citizens Club will hold a dinner — it's usually stew of chili, he said. A used book sale at the public library will give people the chance to buy books at a low price. And the tree-lighting ceremony will be held at City Hall at 5:30 p.m., with the high school band and choir performing Christmas carols for the crowd, he said. "We try to make it an old-fashioned Christmas," he said. "People can just gather on the streets and stop in to see the businesses," he said.
Havre Daily News/Stacy Mantle One of the 2014 Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission ornaments. Tori Thomas Havre Daily News T h e H av re / H i l l C o u n t y H i s to r i c Preservation Commission’s historical building Christmas ornament is on sale now. This year’s ornament is dedicated to M o n ta n a S ta t e U n i ve rs i t y - N o r t h e r n ’s Donaldson Hall. Toni Hagener, a Havre historian, said Donaldson Hall was the third building that was built at Northern. The building was constructed in 1936 and was named in honor of a deceased English instructor Jeannette Donaldson in 1949. Hagener also said Donaldson Hall was originally designed as a girls dormitory building.
“It was the first actual new building on the campus,” she said. Lynda Taplin, the secretary of the Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission said that Donaldson Hall was chosen due to its historical value. Taplin said the ornaments are $20, and proceeds go to the preservation commission as well as any “historical things that need to have happened.” “(For example) we’ll use it as grant m o n ey fo r d i f f e r e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s, ” Taplin said. “We helped Fort Assinniboine one year with a sign.” Taplin said the ornaments are available for purchase at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce.
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November 2014
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Havre & the Hi-Line schools Christmas concerts Big Sandy High School and Elementary School Dec. 18, 6 p.m., High School Auditorium
Highland Park Early Primary School Zook and Bakke classes, Dec. 16, 9 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Kallenberger and St. Marks classes, Dec. 16, 10 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Duquette and Welch classes, Dec. 17, 9 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Samson and Sather classes, Dec. 17, 10 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Wells, Stortz and McLain classes, Dec. 17, 1 p.m., Highland Park gymnasium Neuwerth, Gibson, and Henry classes. Dec. 18, 9 a.m., Highland Park gymnasium Passon, Courchene and Hansen classes, Dec. 18, 10 a.m., Highland Park gymnasium
Chester/Joplin-Inverness Schools Grades K-6, Dec. 18, 2 p.m., C/J-I Auditorium Grades 7-12, Jan. 8, 7 p.m., C/J-I Auditorium Chinook Elementary School Grades 1-5, Dec. 18, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium Grades 6-12, Dec. 16, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium
Lincoln-McKinley Primary School 2nd grade, Dec 17, 2 p.m., gymnasium
Harlem Elementary School Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m.
North Star School High school, Dec. 9, 7 p.m, Rudyard Elementary, Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m., Gildford
Harlem High School Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
Rocky Boy Elementary K-2, Dec. 18, 10 a.m. 5-6, Dec. 18, 1:30 p.m.
Havre High School Choir, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., High School Auditorium Band, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., High School Auditorium
St. Jude Thaddeus School Dec. 17, 6 p.m.
Havre Middle School Band, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., Middle School Auditorium Choir, Dec. 11, 7 p.m, Middle School Auditorium
Sunnyside Intermediate School Gauer and Gillen classes, Dec. 10, 9 a.m. Gardner and Zentmire classes, Dec. 10, 10:15 a.m. Haggen and Suek classes, Dec. 11, 9 a.m.
Hays-Lodge Pole Elementary School Dec. 17, 6 p.m.
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Havre’s Community Christmas Dinner Havre Eagles Club members, with support from volunteers and donors, will once again be hosting the Community Christmas Dinner at 202 1st St. From from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. volunteers will be serving up a traditional Christmas meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, rolls and an assortment of fresh vegetables, as well as a slice of pumpkin
pie for dessert. Started decades ago in Havre, this event provides a free meal to everyone, whether locals or visitors, who want to enjoy a warm holiday meal and community spirit. The meal is free, though donations are appreciated and go toward funding the next year’s meal. For more information, call Tom Farnham at 265-9551.
Have a very Dino Christmas H. Earl Clack Museum is hosting its third annual Dinosaur Christmas Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., with dinosaur-themed activities for elementary-age children. To honor the museum’s prize display of a dinosaur nest complete with eggs, kids will be making their own dinosaur eggs. They can also frost dinosaur cookies and make dinosaur decorations for the museum’s Christmas tree. Along with these activities, Cory Pierson will be making balloon animals. All the action will be taking place in the main walkway in front of the museum at the Holiday Village Mall. There is no cost to attend and participate, and, though all
kids are welcome to attend, activities are geared toward kids in elementary school. Organizer Judi Dritshulas said that last year’s event drew considerably larger crowds than it did the first year. Though organizers were surprised by the number of participants, she added, this year they are better prepared for those numbers. “You know, kids love dinosaurs, so it’s not a hard sell," Dritshulas said about kids coming to join in the activities. "It's just a lot of fun," she added.
Eagles Club Christmas party set for December 21st Bear Paw Lumber Bear Paw Meats Bearly Square Quilting Ben Franklin Crafts Bergren Transmission Big Sky Images Bing ‘n Bob’s Bob’s Greenhouse Brandon’s Drapery & Floor Covering Cavaliers for Men & Women Cellular Plus Char’s Family Dining Cottonwood Cinema 4 Dollar Zone Domino’s Pizza Down Under Fitness Center Duck Inn
Elite Tan & Styling Salon (Tanning & Styling Supplies only) Emporium Ezzie’s Wholesale 5th Ave Grind Finest Boot Repair Fleet Wholesale Gary & Leo’s IGA Havre Hardware & Home Havre Optometric Clinic Helmbrecht Studio Henny Penny Cupcakes Herberger’s Hi-Line Lanes High Plains Gallery Holden’s Hot Wheels Holiday JM Donoven Designs
Kmart Master Sports Maurices McNair Furniture Murphy’s Pub Norman’s Ranch Wear North 40 Outfitters North Star Dodge Northern Home Essentials Northern Montana Health Care Northern Montana Vision Center Office Equipment Pizza Hut PJ’s Prairie Farms Golf Course ProBuild
R-New Trading Post Radio Shack Saddle Butte Custom Smoking Schwan’s Home Service Sears Serv-Ur-Self Furniture Stromberg’s Sinclair Subway Taco John’s The Athlete’s Foot The Key The Press Tilleman Motors Tip-It Bar Tire-Rama Uncle Joe’s Valley Furniture Western Trailer Sales
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
The Havre Eagles Club will hold its annual Christmas party for young people Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. "It's open to all kids in the community," said Eagles Club manager Tom Farnham. There will be food, goodies, fun and games, he said.
"Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make a
visit," he added.
The annual Christmas party has been
going on "forever," he said, adding that "it is part of the Eagles Club's service to the community."
The Super Certificate Drawing will take place at the
Community Tree Lighting, Saturday, November 29. Havre merchants are participating in the holiday drawings for gift certificates and prizes valued to $1,850.00. One winner will receive a one time use of the meeting room at the Great Northern Best Western and gift certificates valued over $925.00. The second winner will receive a one month membership to Down Under Fitness Center and gift certificates valued over $600.00 and the third winner will receive gift certificates valued to
$325.00.
The Tree Lighting activities will start at Town Square at 5:30 p.m. • Holiday shoppers will be able to leave their completed registers forms (during regular business hours) at 5 locations (Holiday Village Mall, Atrium Mall, Gary & Leo’s IGA, the Havre Daily News and the Chamber office.) Registration forms will be printed in the Havre Daily News (each day of publication) through Wednesday, November 26th. • Just fill out a registration form and drop it at one of the 5 locations noted. • No purchase necessary. • Registration slips will be collected at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, 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.
2014 Super Certificate Giveaway Participants Aaron’s, Bear Paw Credit Union (VISA Gift Card), Bear Paw Meats, Bearly Square, Ben Franklin Crafts, Bergren Transmission, Best Western Great Northern Inn, Bing ‘n Bob’s, Cavaliers, Char’s Family Dining, Down Under Fitness Center, Duck Inn, Emporium Food & Fuel, Ezzie’s Wholesale, 5th Ave Grind, fivehead’s, Gary & Leo’s IGA, Havre Daily News, Havre Hardware & Home, Havre Holiday Village Mall, Havre Laundry & Dry Cleaning, Herberger’s, Helmbrecht Studio, Henny Penny Cupcakes, High Plains Gallery, Holden’s Hot Wheels, Holiday, JM Donoven Designs, Kmart, MSU-Northern Bookstore, Master Sports, Maurice’s, Murphy’s Pub, Nalivka’s Pizza Kitchen, Norman’s, Northern Home Essentials, Overcast Restoration, PJ’s, Pacific Steel & Recycling, Pizza Hut, Radio Shack, Red’s Auto Parts, Schwan’s Home Service, Stromberg’s Sinclair, Subway, The Athlete’s Foot, The Key, The Press, Tilleman Motors, Tire-Rama, Uncle Joe’s, Western Trailer Sales, Wildflowers and Zoo Health Club,. The following businesses donated Chamber Gift Certificates: Big Equipment Company, Clausen & Sons, Credit Bureau of Havre, Culligan, Erickson Insurance, Flynn Realty, Havre Hi-Line Realty, Holland & Bonine, Holt Plumbing, Independence Bank, Koefod Agency, Lorang Law, MSU-Northern Foundation, Magic Carpet Travel, Property West, Serve-Ur-Self Furniture, US Bank, Valley Furniture, Wells Fargo Bank and Western Drug Pharmacy.
Thank you to this year’s Super Certificate Participants!!!! In addition to the Super Certificate Drawings there will also be a drawing for a two child's baskets filled with goodies donated by several local businesses. Registration tickets will be handed out at the tree lighting by the Chamber Ambassadors. Again, the winner must be present to win. Thank you to AmericInn, BNSF, Independence Bank, Holden’t Hot Wheels, Radio Shack, Dollar Zone Police Department, Master Sports, Rod’s Drive In Cottonwood Cinema 4, North 40 Outfitters The Havre Fire Department, Maurice’s Western Drug, United Way, Havre Chamber of Commerce and Ben Franklin
Both of these programs brought to you by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Piano & Pipes concert set for Dec. 7 The Piano and Pipes concert will take place Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, at 303 6th Ave. Sue Ost, the music coordinator at First Lutheran Church, said that this event is a way to get the whole community together to enjoy the music of the season and for one to hear musicians that they maybe would not normally have the opportunity to hear. “There will be a variety of local musicians and also the community choir — the MSUNorthern community choir — will
be performing,” she said. Ost also said that admission to this event is a donation to the Havre Food Bank of any amount. “We accept donations of nonperishable food items or cash donations for the food bank,” Ost said. Ost also said that following the concert will be a cookie exchange. People will have the opportunity to buy a container and fill it up with cookies. The proceeds from this sale will also go to the Havre Food Bank.
Havre Daily News/file photo The Van Orsdel Church Choir sings "Give me Jesus" during Pianos and Pipes: Christmas 2013 at the First Lutheran Church.
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Live nativity to illustrate the birth of Christ Van Orsdel United Methodist Church’s live nativity scene will be gracing the town of Havre again this year. Ray Toth, the main organizer of the event, said the nativity will be Dec. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m., unless it happens to be too cold for the actors. “We’ve only had to cancel like one or two years,” Toth said. “It’s got to be pretty cold for us not to do it.” He said that there have been a lot of people who have really gotten involved over the years. “It’s very fun,” Toth said. “It’s a lot of work also, but it’s very worthwhile.” The nativity represents the night that Jesus Christ was born and will be full of live actors and animals. Llamas will stand in for the camels, and there will also be sheep, a miniature donkey and a miniature horse. Toth said there might also be an alpaca, as the person who supplies the animals sometimes brings them, too. Volunteers will protray Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, wise men, shepherds and angels, reminding people about the “reason for the season,” Toth said. “It’s a very solemn and serious thing,” he said. “You just stand there in silence, and your thoughts just run back to the time.” He said the nativity is very popular every year, and the members of the church, who also make up the actors, are pleased to have put it on for over 15 years. The nativity will be in the parking lot of the church facing 5th Avenue.
The annual living nativity scene at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church along 5th Avenue.
Havre Daily News/file photo
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Piano & Pipes concert set for Dec. 7 The Piano and Pipes concert will take place Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, at 303 6th Ave. Sue Ost, the music coordinator at First Lutheran Church, said that this event is a way to get the whole community together to enjoy the music of the season and for one to hear musicians that they maybe would not normally have the opportunity to hear. “There will be a variety of local musicians and also the community choir — the MSUNorthern community choir — will
be performing,” she said. Ost also said that admission to this event is a donation to the Havre Food Bank of any amount. “We accept donations of nonperishable food items or cash donations for the food bank,” Ost said. Ost also said that following the concert will be a cookie exchange. People will have the opportunity to buy a container and fill it up with cookies. The proceeds from this sale will also go to the Havre Food Bank.
Havre Daily News/file photo The Van Orsdel Church Choir sings "Give me Jesus" during Pianos and Pipes: Christmas 2013 at the First Lutheran Church.
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Live nativity to illustrate the birth of Christ Van Orsdel United Methodist Church’s live nativity scene will be gracing the town of Havre again this year. Ray Toth, the main organizer of the event, said the nativity will be Dec. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m., unless it happens to be too cold for the actors. “We’ve only had to cancel like one or two years,” Toth said. “It’s got to be pretty cold for us not to do it.” He said that there have been a lot of people who have really gotten involved over the years. “It’s very fun,” Toth said. “It’s a lot of work also, but it’s very worthwhile.” The nativity represents the night that Jesus Christ was born and will be full of live actors and animals. Llamas will stand in for the camels, and there will also be sheep, a miniature donkey and a miniature horse. Toth said there might also be an alpaca, as the person who supplies the animals sometimes brings them, too. Volunteers will protray Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, wise men, shepherds and angels, reminding people about the “reason for the season,” Toth said. “It’s a very solemn and serious thing,” he said. “You just stand there in silence, and your thoughts just run back to the time.” He said the nativity is very popular every year, and the members of the church, who also make up the actors, are pleased to have put it on for over 15 years. The nativity will be in the parking lot of the church facing 5th Avenue.
The annual living nativity scene at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church along 5th Avenue.
Havre Daily News/file photo
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Havre & the Hi-Line schools Christmas concerts Big Sandy High School and Elementary School Dec. 18, 6 p.m., High School Auditorium
Highland Park Early Primary School Zook and Bakke classes, Dec. 16, 9 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Kallenberger and St. Marks classes, Dec. 16, 10 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Duquette and Welch classes, Dec. 17, 9 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Samson and Sather classes, Dec. 17, 10 a.m., Holiday Village Mall Wells, Stortz and McLain classes, Dec. 17, 1 p.m., Highland Park gymnasium Neuwerth, Gibson, and Henry classes. Dec. 18, 9 a.m., Highland Park gymnasium Passon, Courchene and Hansen classes, Dec. 18, 10 a.m., Highland Park gymnasium
Chester/Joplin-Inverness Schools Grades K-6, Dec. 18, 2 p.m., C/J-I Auditorium Grades 7-12, Jan. 8, 7 p.m., C/J-I Auditorium Chinook Elementary School Grades 1-5, Dec. 18, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium Grades 6-12, Dec. 16, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium
Lincoln-McKinley Primary School 2nd grade, Dec 17, 2 p.m., gymnasium
Harlem Elementary School Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m.
North Star School High school, Dec. 9, 7 p.m, Rudyard Elementary, Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m., Gildford
Harlem High School Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
Rocky Boy Elementary K-2, Dec. 18, 10 a.m. 5-6, Dec. 18, 1:30 p.m.
Havre High School Choir, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., High School Auditorium Band, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., High School Auditorium
St. Jude Thaddeus School Dec. 17, 6 p.m.
Havre Middle School Band, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., Middle School Auditorium Choir, Dec. 11, 7 p.m, Middle School Auditorium
Sunnyside Intermediate School Gauer and Gillen classes, Dec. 10, 9 a.m. Gardner and Zentmire classes, Dec. 10, 10:15 a.m. Haggen and Suek classes, Dec. 11, 9 a.m.
Hays-Lodge Pole Elementary School Dec. 17, 6 p.m.
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Havre’s Community Christmas Dinner Havre Eagles Club members, with support from volunteers and donors, will once again be hosting the Community Christmas Dinner at 202 1st St. From from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. volunteers will be serving up a traditional Christmas meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, rolls and an assortment of fresh vegetables, as well as a slice of pumpkin
pie for dessert. Started decades ago in Havre, this event provides a free meal to everyone, whether locals or visitors, who want to enjoy a warm holiday meal and community spirit. The meal is free, though donations are appreciated and go toward funding the next year’s meal. For more information, call Tom Farnham at 265-9551.
Have a very Dino Christmas H. Earl Clack Museum is hosting its third annual Dinosaur Christmas Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., with dinosaur-themed activities for elementary-age children. To honor the museum’s prize display of a dinosaur nest complete with eggs, kids will be making their own dinosaur eggs. They can also frost dinosaur cookies and make dinosaur decorations for the museum’s Christmas tree. Along with these activities, Cory Pierson will be making balloon animals. All the action will be taking place in the main walkway in front of the museum at the Holiday Village Mall. There is no cost to attend and participate, and, though all
kids are welcome to attend, activities are geared toward kids in elementary school. Organizer Judi Dritshulas said that last year’s event drew considerably larger crowds than it did the first year. Though organizers were surprised by the number of participants, she added, this year they are better prepared for those numbers. “You know, kids love dinosaurs, so it’s not a hard sell," Dritshulas said about kids coming to join in the activities. "It's just a lot of fun," she added.
Eagles Club Christmas party set for December 21st Bear Paw Lumber Bear Paw Meats Bearly Square Quilting Ben Franklin Crafts Bergren Transmission Big Sky Images Bing ‘n Bob’s Bob’s Greenhouse Brandon’s Drapery & Floor Covering Cavaliers for Men & Women Cellular Plus Char’s Family Dining Cottonwood Cinema 4 Dollar Zone Domino’s Pizza Down Under Fitness Center Duck Inn
Elite Tan & Styling Salon (Tanning & Styling Supplies only) Emporium Ezzie’s Wholesale 5th Ave Grind Finest Boot Repair Fleet Wholesale Gary & Leo’s IGA Havre Hardware & Home Havre Optometric Clinic Helmbrecht Studio Henny Penny Cupcakes Herberger’s Hi-Line Lanes High Plains Gallery Holden’s Hot Wheels Holiday JM Donoven Designs
Kmart Master Sports Maurices McNair Furniture Murphy’s Pub Norman’s Ranch Wear North 40 Outfitters North Star Dodge Northern Home Essentials Northern Montana Health Care Northern Montana Vision Center Office Equipment Pizza Hut PJ’s Prairie Farms Golf Course ProBuild
R-New Trading Post Radio Shack Saddle Butte Custom Smoking Schwan’s Home Service Sears Serv-Ur-Self Furniture Stromberg’s Sinclair Subway Taco John’s The Athlete’s Foot The Key The Press Tilleman Motors Tip-It Bar Tire-Rama Uncle Joe’s Valley Furniture Western Trailer Sales
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
The Havre Eagles Club will hold its annual Christmas party for young people Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. "It's open to all kids in the community," said Eagles Club manager Tom Farnham. There will be food, goodies, fun and games, he said.
"Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make a
visit," he added.
The annual Christmas party has been
going on "forever," he said, adding that "it is part of the Eagles Club's service to the community."
The Super Certificate Drawing will take place at the
Community Tree Lighting, Saturday, November 29. Havre merchants are participating in the holiday drawings for gift certificates and prizes valued to $1,850.00. One winner will receive a one time use of the meeting room at the Great Northern Best Western and gift certificates valued over $925.00. The second winner will receive a one month membership to Down Under Fitness Center and gift certificates valued over $600.00 and the third winner will receive gift certificates valued to
$325.00.
The Tree Lighting activities will start at Town Square at 5:30 p.m. • Holiday shoppers will be able to leave their completed registers forms (during regular business hours) at 5 locations (Holiday Village Mall, Atrium Mall, Gary & Leo’s IGA, the Havre Daily News and the Chamber office.) Registration forms will be printed in the Havre Daily News (each day of publication) through Wednesday, November 26th. • Just fill out a registration form and drop it at one of the 5 locations noted. • No purchase necessary. • Registration slips will be collected at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, 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.
2014 Super Certificate Giveaway Participants Aaron’s, Bear Paw Credit Union (VISA Gift Card), Bear Paw Meats, Bearly Square, Ben Franklin Crafts, Bergren Transmission, Best Western Great Northern Inn, Bing ‘n Bob’s, Cavaliers, Char’s Family Dining, Down Under Fitness Center, Duck Inn, Emporium Food & Fuel, Ezzie’s Wholesale, 5th Ave Grind, fivehead’s, Gary & Leo’s IGA, Havre Daily News, Havre Hardware & Home, Havre Holiday Village Mall, Havre Laundry & Dry Cleaning, Herberger’s, Helmbrecht Studio, Henny Penny Cupcakes, High Plains Gallery, Holden’s Hot Wheels, Holiday, JM Donoven Designs, Kmart, MSU-Northern Bookstore, Master Sports, Maurice’s, Murphy’s Pub, Nalivka’s Pizza Kitchen, Norman’s, Northern Home Essentials, Overcast Restoration, PJ’s, Pacific Steel & Recycling, Pizza Hut, Radio Shack, Red’s Auto Parts, Schwan’s Home Service, Stromberg’s Sinclair, Subway, The Athlete’s Foot, The Key, The Press, Tilleman Motors, Tire-Rama, Uncle Joe’s, Western Trailer Sales, Wildflowers and Zoo Health Club,. The following businesses donated Chamber Gift Certificates: Big Equipment Company, Clausen & Sons, Credit Bureau of Havre, Culligan, Erickson Insurance, Flynn Realty, Havre Hi-Line Realty, Holland & Bonine, Holt Plumbing, Independence Bank, Koefod Agency, Lorang Law, MSU-Northern Foundation, Magic Carpet Travel, Property West, Serve-Ur-Self Furniture, US Bank, Valley Furniture, Wells Fargo Bank and Western Drug Pharmacy.
Thank you to this year’s Super Certificate Participants!!!! In addition to the Super Certificate Drawings there will also be a drawing for a two child's baskets filled with goodies donated by several local businesses. Registration tickets will be handed out at the tree lighting by the Chamber Ambassadors. Again, the winner must be present to win. Thank you to AmericInn, BNSF, Independence Bank, Holden’t Hot Wheels, Radio Shack, Dollar Zone Police Department, Master Sports, Rod’s Drive In Cottonwood Cinema 4, North 40 Outfitters The Havre Fire Department, Maurice’s Western Drug, United Way, Havre Chamber of Commerce and Ben Franklin
Both of these programs brought to you by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
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Beyond the turkey meal Christmas events across the Hi-Line host events throughout the season Holiday Village Mall and Atrium Mall For those people with shopping on the mind, the local malls will be hosting activities throughout the season, along with sales and some expanded hours for Black Friday. Holiday Village Mall will have commercial vendor and craft sales, events at the H. Earl Clack Museum and plenty of opportunity to get a picture with Santa. Some of the mall stores will be open 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, and others open early
Black Friday. The Atrium Mall is planning craft fairs and artist events, including an Action Art event with Artitudes member artists creating art live in a three-hour period, with artwork being awarded to raffle winners, and the monthly Artitudes Gallery artist recept i o n , f e a t u r i n g C o rey C o u t u r i e r i n December, with live music, refreshments and the opportunity to talk to the artist.
Thanksgiving weekend offers a variety of activities, shopping in Chinook Chinook With a festive mood in the air and friends and family home to visit, the town of Chinook takes this opportunity to turn Black Friday, Nov. 28, into a community-oriented celebration, filling the day with a Christmas stroll, their Festival of Trees and the 29th annual Parade of Lights.
Christmas Stroll Main street in Chinook is blocked off from 1 to 7 p.m. allowing people to roam through the heart of town, stopping by vendor booths, checking out the holiday fare at local stores and stopping for some cheer with neighbors and visitors. Each year, music spills onto the streets from the handful of establishments offering live music. Even the local museums get into the spirit. The Blaine County Wildlife Museum will be open 1 to 6 p.m., with regular charges for entry, and Blaine County Museum, with its local and Native exhibits, will be open 1 to 6 p.m. free of charge.
Festival of Trees While touring the streets, people are invited to stop in the lobby of First Bank of Montana, 337 Indiana, to view the Christmas
trees fully decorated and donated by community members and businesses to the Festival of Trees fundraiser. Bidding on the trees closes at 5:45 p.m. All money raised this year will be split equally between two local organizations: Community Chest, which supports local causes like youth baseball, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and My Neighbor in Need, which helps provide funds or facilitate donations of goods or services to those in temporary need of assistance, such as to fix a vehicle needed to get to a job interview or new job. In its first year, this fundraiser made about $10,000.
Parade of Lights The day of celebration is set to be topped off with the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Individuals, groups and businesses will vie to most-impress onlookers, and judges, with their floats aglow with Christmas lights that mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The parade runs north from Meadowlark School on main street, circles the block before U.S. Highway 2 and returns south on main street again to give spectators twice the opportunity for fun.
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Ornaments capture Havre history
Chouteau County Country Christmas set for early December The Chouteau County Country Christmas will be held from Friday, Dec. 5, to Sunday, Dec. 7. D o n S o re n s e n , ow n e r o f V i rge l l e Mercantile in Loma, said businesses in each town have something going on during that weekend. Sorensen said that the schedule of events is still in the process of being put together — he did however give summaries. “There’s a craft sale in Big Sandy at the fire hall, and also (one can) have breakfast with Santa at one of the cafes there, and they have a ‘Pray to Lights’ usually Saturday night.” Sorensen said that his store will have an event as well. “At Virgelle we have a real country Christmas at a real country store — and that’s antiques and collectibles for sale for
Saturday and Sunday.” Sorensen also said that a country dance will take place in Loma Friday night at the hall. “In Fort Benton, they have events all weekend. Saturday they have a craft sale at the Bridgeport Station — that runs all day Saturday,” he added. Virgelle also said that the Shonkin Women’s Club will have a craft sale in Shonkin. “What the whole idea of this is is to invite people to Chouteau County to see what the local businesses have to offer,” he said. “This is like a progressive meal — you can go from place to place to place. The full schedule of events will be posted online at http://www.virgellemontana.com/ CCCCSchedule.html.
Harlem will host a downtown Christmas with country theme An old-fashioned downtown Christmas with a Western theme will be the highlight of Christmas activities in Harlem once again this year. The event will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Organizers are encouraging people to dress up in Christmas and/or Western costumes. Merchants will provide gifts that will be handed out in drawings. People can still get tickets for the raffle on the night of the celebration, and drawings will be held a couple of days later, said Rod Becker, president of the Harlem Civic Association. Up to $700 in gift certificates donated by Harlem merchants will be handed out. There will be a coloring contest involv-
i n g s t u d e n t s a t H a r l e m E l e m e n ta r y School, with winners being announced the night of the celebration. A horse-draw carriage will be providing rides to people through town, he said. The Senior Citizens Club will hold a dinner — it's usually stew of chili, he said. A used book sale at the public library will give people the chance to buy books at a low price. And the tree-lighting ceremony will be held at City Hall at 5:30 p.m., with the high school band and choir performing Christmas carols for the crowd, he said. "We try to make it an old-fashioned Christmas," he said. "People can just gather on the streets and stop in to see the businesses," he said.
Havre Daily News/Stacy Mantle One of the 2014 Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission ornaments. Tori Thomas Havre Daily News T h e H av re / H i l l C o u n t y H i s to r i c Preservation Commission’s historical building Christmas ornament is on sale now. This year’s ornament is dedicated to M o n ta n a S ta t e U n i ve rs i t y - N o r t h e r n ’s Donaldson Hall. Toni Hagener, a Havre historian, said Donaldson Hall was the third building that was built at Northern. The building was constructed in 1936 and was named in honor of a deceased English instructor Jeannette Donaldson in 1949. Hagener also said Donaldson Hall was originally designed as a girls dormitory building.
“It was the first actual new building on the campus,” she said. Lynda Taplin, the secretary of the Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission said that Donaldson Hall was chosen due to its historical value. Taplin said the ornaments are $20, and proceeds go to the preservation commission as well as any “historical things that need to have happened.” “(For example) we’ll use it as grant m o n ey fo r d i f f e r e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s, ” Taplin said. “We helped Fort Assinniboine one year with a sign.” Taplin said the ornaments are available for purchase at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce.
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Christmas Cash celebrates its 25th year What a run it has been — keeping just shy of $7 million in our Havre economy during the holiday season The Christmas Cash program brings together the business community in a common goal to stimulate holiday shopping in Havre. The program has had a significant impact on the local economy over the past years by keeping millions of dollars in Havre, supporting local businesses. The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's
Christmas Cash program started in 1990 when a group of business leaders decided to embark on the project after securing a partnership with every local lending institution and many Chamber member businesses getting on board to support the program. The original goal then — and continues today — 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 intact today. The success of the program is three-fold: “an ongoing partnership with our local lending institutions; the landscape has changed dramatically over the past 25 years with solid
support from the participating Chamber member businesses and the ongoing loyalty from the community folks that use the program each holiday season,” said Debbie Vandeberg, executive director. $168,050.00 in Christmas Cash circulated through 47 participating Chamber member businesses last holiday season. Using the conservative turn of 2.5, more than $420,000 impacted the local economy during the holiday shopping season last year. The Board of Directors and participating Chamber member businesses believe the programs play a definite economic roll in our community and take great pride in the positive impact the
$168,050 in Christmas Cash circulated through 47 participating Chamber member businesses last holiday season.
Holiday Spirit Stroll
Havre Beneath the Streets
Nov. 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Havre Beneath the Streets, the historical display that tells the story of Havre after the fire of the early 1900s, will be lit up for the holidays. The Holiday Stroll will be held 3 to 5 p.m. People are invited to come in and see the displays lit up for Christmas. This is the second year Havre Beneath the Streets has offered the event to the public.
Christmas Cash program has on local business. Interest-free Christmas Cash loans are available, with approved credit, at Independence Bank, Stockman Bank and Bear Paw Credit Union. Christmas Cash loans became available Nov. 3 and will be available through Friday, Dec. 19. “A big thank-you 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,” said Shawn Holden, first vice president of the Chamber Board of Directors.
The Christmas displays have been prepared by TOPS MT Chapter 0408. No official tours will be running, so people are invited to walk through at their own pace. There will be treats for the children. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for people 6 to 18 and no charge for youngsters under 6. Tickets are available at Havre Beneath the Streets, 120 3rd Ave.
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Donate to, volunteer with Salvation Army in Bonnie Bennett's name John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com In many ways, this winter's Salvation Army bell ringing will be the same as it has been for years and years. People will be ringing bells next to red kettles at Walmart, Kmart, Holiday Village Mall and Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods. Goodhearted people will make donations to help the needy. But there will be a gaping hole in the cadre of volunteers who ring the bells. Bonnie Bennett, a community volunteer, had rung the bell at the north door to Gary & Leo's for the last 33 years. Bonnie died Sept. 19. "We'll be without Miss Bonnie this year," said Trina Crawford, executive director of the Havre Salvation Army. "It won't be the same." So, as the Salvation Army asks for volunteers to step forward to help out, there will be a special attention to Gary & Leo's. "We're asking people to volunteer in honor of Bonnie," she said. "And we're asking people to donate at Gary & Leo's in Bonnie's memory. A lot of people went out of their way to donate at Gary & Leo's because Bonnie was there, Crawford said. Last year, more than $22,000 was raised during the kettle campaign, Crawford said.
"Trina's goal this year is $25,000." Because there is a late Thanksgiving, she said, this year will be a short Christmas season. They have to raise more money per day than usual. "Salvation Army calls itself the shield for the poor," she said. The Salvation Army provides the shield that protects people from the dangers of poverty, she added. And people who help out the Salvation Army are also shields, she said. Volunteers who ring the bells will be given little stick-ons they can put on their coats that say "I am a shield," much like the stickers people are given that say "I voted," Crawford said. People can sign up as individuals or as community organizations, she said.
We're asking people to volunteer in honor of Bonnie," she said. "And we're asking people to donate at Gary & Leo's in Bonnie's memory. Trina Crawford Salvation Army
Some groups could sign up for the entire day, she said. The Salvation Army is especially looking for people to volunteer in Bonnie Bennett's memory, she said. People willing to ring the bell at Walmart would especially be appreciated, she said. The money raised through the kettle campaign is used to provide help to people throughout the year — especially food to the hungry and shelter to the homeless families, she said. The economy may be getting better, she said, but there is more need than ever. "This is the worst I've seen it since I've been in this job," she said. Want to volunteer to help ring the bells? Call the Havre Salvation Army at 265-6411. Courtesy Photo Bonnie Bennett rings a bell for the Salvation Army at the north door of Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods, where she has been ringing that bell for the last 33 years. Bonnie died Sept. 19.
Havre Daily News/file Susie Bessette puts a donation into the Salvation Army box at Kmart in December 2013.
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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Money raised will go to help with expansion and improvement of the facility
The musical’s opening days are Dec. 5 and 6, with shows every weekend after that: Dec. 11-13, Dec. 18-20 and the Monday and Tuesday before Christmas, on Dec. 22-23. cast was quite excited to perform it. The musical director of the show is Sharon Dolph and the choreography is being done by Mary Kaercher and Haley Lippy, who are also performing in the show. Darren Overlie and Martin Holt will be sharing a role together and Patrick Ulano and Mindy Smith-Langel are also starring in the musical. The musical’s opening days are Dec. 5 and 6 with performances every weekend after that — Dec. 11 to 13, Dec. 18 to 20 and the Monday and Tuesday before Christmas, on Dec. 22 and 23. The playwright of both musicals is Betsy Kelso and the music and lyrics were written by David Nehls.
November 2014
Havre’s Christmas tree Havre’s Festival of Trees lighting ceremony
“Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” hits Havre Pam Veis, the artistic director of the “Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical,” said that this show is a sequel to the one Montana Actors’ Theatre performed last year. She said they began working on the play mid-October. “We’ve been meeting and focusing on the musical aspects and the choreography,” Veis said Nov. 3. She said these are the most difficult parts to learn of a musical. The setting of the story is at a trailer park called Armadillo Acres in northern Florida. Veis said it has a little of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” themes wrapped into it, but in more modern sense. “I would describe it as trashy and fun,” Veis said. She added that the show contains offensive language and is not for children. “It’s only for adults who would enjoy that type of show,” Veis said. The show’s website says this of the show: “Holiday time at N o r t h F l o r i d a ’s Armadillo Acres means everyone’s filled with warmth and beer. But when a freak bout of amnesia strikes the trailer park Scrooge, neighborly love is put to the test. With Betty, Lin and Pickles on hand to amp up the fracas and festivity, this all-new, all-trailer-park musical is just as much of a cat-fightin’, sunworshippin’, chair-throwin’ good time as the original — but with tinsel and Keg Nog.” She said that she had a couple of reservations about putting on the show, mainly because sequels are difficult to pull off, especially if the original was well-received. She said she decided to do the show because the
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An old tradition welcomes a new event After the feasting of Thanksgiving and the rush of Black Friday shopping, Saturday, Nov. 29, rings in the Christmas season with a community display in Town Square which attracts the largest crowd of the weekend. In a longstanding tradition, Havre will usher in the Christmas season with the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Square at the center of town. Havre High School choir members will lead the crowd in singing Christmas carols, while vendors will offer foods and drinks to help keep people warm as they huddle together in camaraderie, talking or enjoying the fire. Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to make a stop and help turn on
the lights adorning the living Christmas tree. But before the lights come on, a new event will be running — quite literally. The first Santa Run/Walk will begin and end at Town Square with participants, dressed as Santa, running or walking a onemile course. Kids can get in on the action, whether they run or not, dressed as an elf. Signup begins at 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes of the adult and youth participants, as well as for fastest times in the men’s and women’s divisions. And the chance for more prizes is available to everyone at the tree-lighting event, with drawings for this year’s Super Certificate winners and two “kids baskets” filled with goodies.
Havre Daily News/file photo Santa rides a BNSF train along with Mrs. Claus and elves in 2013.
Havre Daily News/file photo Above: Santa turns on the Christmas tree lights during the 2013 tree lighting ceremony at the Town Square. Right: A row of trees at the 2013 Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line's Festival of Trees at the St. Jude Parish Center.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, following the downtown tree-lighting ceremony, the 7th Annual Festival of Trees will take place at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave. in Havre. Organized by the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, the Festival of Trees raises money for the club’s activities, and this year money will go to help with expansion and improvement of the facility to allow the club to increase membership and to expand services. Most importantly, the club is adding a full-service kitchen. Individuals, groups and businesses fully decorate and then donate Christmas trees created with imaginative themes or unique twists, like a popular movie theme or a
“tree” made from a fully stocked wine rack. During the evening event, which includes hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and games, the trees are sold to the highest bidder in a live auction. Items also sold in live and silent auctions will include two pieces of furniture, a hand-made quilt, a pheasant hunt complete with hunting dogs and a guide, baked goods and a lot more. Tickets to the Festival of Trees are $25 each and can be bought by calling 265-6206 during regular business hours. Though 250 tickets are sold each year, they sell out well before the event, so people are encouraged to call right away.
Here are the Christmas trees being planned for auction at this year's Festival of Trees: • Kmart, A Sizzlin’ Christmas • Atrium Merchants, Fairy Christmas • Bear Paw Veterinary Service & Mary Ann McCann, HOMEmade for the HOLIDAYS • Optimist Club of Havre, Sportin' Around the Christmas Tree • Montana Actors’ Theatre • AmericInn Lodge and Suites of Havre • Angie’s Wildflowers, It felt like Christmas • Triangle Communications and Hill County Electric, Colors of Rural Montana • Havre Hi-Line Board of Realtors, Wine in the Holidays • Paul & Susan Hanson, Country Cowboy Christmas • Northern Home Essentials and Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors,
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2014
PREVIEW TO CHRISTMAS
November 2014
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
Communities offer welcome meal for Thanksgiving
PREVIEW TO CHRISTMAS
November 2014
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper
2014 Havre Holiday Calendar Enjoy the Magic of the Holidays
North-central Montana communities of Havre and Chinook have long-held traditions of community-mindedness, and this spirit of togetherness and support is no more evident than it is at Thanksgiving, when volunteers, donors and neighbors come together in each town to hold their community dinners. These dinners are free and open to the public. Whether diners come alone or with family and friends, whether they are locals or visitors, everyone is invited to a full turkey dinner with trimmings and companionship.
November 25
~ Community Thanksgiving Service, First Lutheran Church – 7pm
November 27
~ Thanksgiving Dinner, St. Jude Parish Center – 11am-2pm
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28
Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner Havre’s community dinner is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Jude Parish Center, 440 7th Ave. Sponsored in full by an anonymous donor, this decades-old event serves more than 600 meals, both at the Parish Center a n d t h ro u g h h o m e d e l i ve r i e s, e a c h Thanksgiving. Last year they served around 800 meals. With professional chef Peter Bruni at the helm in the parish kitchen, along with kitchen staff at Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, diners are treated to succulent turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, fresh vegetables, corn and rolls, fresh from the oven, followed by a slice of pumpkin pie. Many locals come to the meal, bringing family, meeting friends or making new friends across the table. But people come from far and wide, as well — many are in town with family or friends, some are visitors, more than one occasion saw stranded travelers taking part. Some people come just for the experience. Last year at least one couple from Lethbridge, Alberta, came just to experience this community tradition. What makes this community dinner a success, said head organizer Debi Rhines, is the volunteers who make it all happen. Many people — individuals, family members and friends — take part in bringing t h e eve n t to l i f e by s p e n d i n g t i m e Wednesday afternoon or evening setting up, Thursday morning assembling and delivering meals and later Thursday serving the meal and/or cleaning up. The volunteering is as much a social event as it is a work session, Rhines said, and many people come back yearly to be a
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~ Black Friday – Holiday Village Mall opens at 7am
November 28-30
~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon-3pm
November 29
~ Community Tree Lighting @ Town Square; activities start @ 5:30pm • Santa Arrival • Music/Entertainment • Vendors ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Holiday Spirit Stroll through Havre Beneath the Streets – 3-5pm ~ 1 mile Santa Run – Town Square area – 4pm check in; 4:30pm run begins ~ Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees – 7pm – St. Jude Parish Center
December 4 Havre Daily News/file photo St. Jude Parish Center is full of diners last Thanksgiving during the Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The dinner is a Havre tradition and is paid for in full by an anonymous donor. The dinner usually serves more than 600 people, including home-delivered meals to shut-ins. part of the community dinner. For more information about volunteering, call Rhines at 265-6900 or 265-2737. To order a meal delivered Thanksgiving morning, call North Central Senior Center during business hours Monday, Nov. 24, through Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 265-5464.
Chinook Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Served from noon to 2 p.m. at the
C h i n o o k S e n i o r C i t i z e n s C e n t e r, 3 2 4 Pennsylvania, Chinook’s community dinner is a 35-year tradition featuring an abundance of homemade foods. Diners feast on a full Thanksgiving meal of turkey, homemade mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, yams and fresh vegetables, with an assortment of home-baked pies to top off the meal. Made possible by the work of volunteers and support from major donors, along with those who make a donation for their meal, as many as about 200 community members and visitors are served annually, including deliveries made to those who aren’t able to
get out in public. Along with the meal, most years musical entertainment is provided by the Chinook Senior Center band or others who take advantage of the resident piano. Everybody is welcome, regardless of their ability to make a donation, and it helps to bring an appetite. Anyone interested in volunteering can call organizers Jeanne and Ron Dalton at 357-2799. Anyone needing a Thanksgiving meal delivered can call the senior center at 3 5 7 - 2 6 4 8 M o n d ay, N ov. 2 4 , t h r o u g h Wednesday, Nov. 26, during business hours.
~ HHS Winter Choir Concert – 7:30pm – HHS
December 5-6
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm – MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 6
~ St. Jude’s Christmas Bazaar – 10:30am-2pm ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Cowboy Christmas – 5pm – MSU-Northern SUB
December 6-7
~ Winterfest Craft Show – Holiday Village Mall Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm ~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon–3pm
December 7
~ Piano & Pipes Christmas Concert – 2pm – First Lutheran Church
December 8
~ 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert – 7pm – Middle School
December 9
~ Community Choir Concert – 7:30pm – HHS
December 11
~ 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Choir Concert – 7pm – Middle School
December 11-13
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm – MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 12
~ Artist Reception – 6-8pm – Atrium Mall
December 13
~ Lunch with Santa – noon – Holiday Village Mall ~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall ~ Action Art Raffle – 11am-1pm – Atrium Mall ~ Christmas at the H. Earl Clack Museum – 1-3pm ~ Jaycees Open House – 1-4pm – Basement of Eagles Club ~ Live Nativity Scene – 5-7pm – Van Orsdel United Methodist Church
December 13-14
~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon-3pm ~ City Wide Bake Sale – Holiday Village Mall (Dec. 13 – 10am-7pm; Dec. 14 – 11am-5pm)
December 15
~ HHS Winter Band Concert – 7:30pm – HHS
December 18-20
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm - MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 20
~ Artisan & Craft Sale – 10am-4pm – Atrium Mall
December 20-24
~ Pictures with Santa – Holiday Village Mall – noon-3pm
December 21
~ Eagles Kids Christmas Party – 2pm
December 22-23
~ Montana Actors’ Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” – 8pm – MSU-Northern Little Theatre
December 25
~ Community Christmas Dinner – Eagles Club – 11am-2pm
Merry Christmas!
December 26
~ HHS Alumni Holiday Hoops Basketball Games 6:30pm – Middle School
December 31
New Years Eve!
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November 2014
PREVIEW TO CHRISTMAS
Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper