Elgin News - 12B 2022

Letter Submissions

Elgin Schools Partner with Elgin Toy Round Up

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Letters to the Editor

The Elgin News

P.O. Box 152 Elgin, SC 29045

The Elgin News builds community and brings people together by informing everyone about local businesses, services, schools organizations, government, activities, events and other information useful for becoming involved. It helps those who live and work in Elgin to get to know each other as people and to become friends.

The Elgin News accepts no responsibility for the contents of the advertisements or articles. Advertisements and articles are accepted with the full responsibility of the advertiser for worth and accuracy. Readers who wish to comment or have concerns regarding advertisements contained herein are urged to phone the Elgin News at (803) 513-5108 or (803) 466-4604. The Elgin News will discontinue accepting advertising from firms of alleged dubious reputation.

Rates are net - discount agreements must be reflected on the publication order. Invoices due on receipt. Tearsheets and proofs available upon request. Advertising setup, changes and publication verification are provided at no charge. 15% agency comm. is 30-days firm. Photography charges negotiable. By-line articles are the property of the contributor and may not be reproduced without permission.

Fred Davidson, Sales Manager (803) 466-4604 (803) 513-5108

The Elgin News, PO Box 152, Elgin, SC 29045 · (803) 513-5108

Cate Goff, Editor · Fred Davidson, Sales Manager · Email: elginnews@gmail.com

Stover Middle School, Blaney Elementary, and Doby's Mill Elementary collected thousands of canned goods and truck loads of toys as part of Tigers Take Time To Care, in association with the Elgin Toy Round Up.

What Are Your Favorite Christmas Memories?

By: Liz Simon, Staff Writer

I have tried not to mingle Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions and decorating, but sometimes with all the holiday happenings that is the only time families celebrate together for the holidays. I am by no stretch a TV or celebrity hostess like Martha Stewart. I served twenty-three guests for Thanksgiving dinner on paper plates with cloth napkins, my silverware, and glasses. (I could not bring myself to use the red solo cups.) Our house is decorated with a little bit of Christmas and a lot of Harvest Home. It is only 10 days before Christmas Eve! I need to finish my to do list!

Do any of you have birthdays in December or January? I have had several close friends and family who celebrated birthdays one or two days before Christmas. They told me it was difficult because their parents always told them that they would celebrate their birthdays with extra special gifts at Christmas.

My son Bo reminded me of his favorite Christmas. Do you have one? It was the year I was expecting their sister Rhetta before Christmas. I purchased items from their Sears Wish List so if I was in the hospital, and Santa could not find Bo and Belle, there would be gifts for them to open. Those presents were stored in the upstairs attic.

A week before Christmas instead of cleaning their rooms, Bo and Belle decided to go exploring in the attic. They discovered their extra gifts, and of course, that year Santa fulfilled every request on their list. Rhetta did not arrive until Jan. 3.

During the holidays there are scheduled events such as the Nutcracker Ballet, band concerts, parties, drop in’s, parades, class and church music programs, open house at dance classes, and piano recitals. Calendars fill quickly with must-be-at-events.

Do you look forward to being home watching the Christmas specials on TV (I even enjoy the Christmas commercials.), attending candlelight services, live nativities, or being with family and friends to celebrate the true

meaning of Christmas.

Tomorrow night, Dec. 15 at 6:30, New Life Christian Outreach will host in their Jubilee Theater - a community Christmas concert. My daughter Belle was asked to sing along with her father. Other talented singers are Caleb and Carlie Henderson, Clayton Summerton, George Reeder, Joe Cole, The Masters 3, Sheila McCoy, Ty Hampton and the New Life Praise and Worship team. The church is located at 411 Highway 601 S in Lugoff. Doors open at 6 pm.

Do you enjoy cooking special meals, baking sweets, decorating for Santa, receiving and writing Christmas cards, wrapping and giving gifts, shopping in the hustle and bustle, riding to see decorated homes and yards? This is an exciting time!

After my husband and I retired, we made memories by traveling with friends and visiting New York City three different times at Christmas with Burke’s Christian tours. On one trip, we spent five days. The hotel we always stayed in was only a block away from the Central Park carriage rides. Some of the highlights from our visit to the largest city in the US were that we saw the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, visited Macy's Department Store for their 100-year celebration and rode the wooden escalator five floors up to Santa’s workshop. I bought a replica of the original jack-in-the-box for my youngest grand Hampton.

We looked at all the store front windows decorated for the season, marveled at the beautiful crystal Christmas lights and ornaments, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the street vendors selling scarves, jewelry, and name brand pocketbooks. Another thrill of my NYC trip was having the opportunity to visit Broadway and to see the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes perform their Christmas special. It truly was spectacular.

My phone captured all the photos, and looking at scrapbooks that I made, the memories flash back once again. It was a magical time, and in those days, I felt completely safe in the Big Apple.

What made me even more happy was the memory of watching the movie “White Christmas” on the way home from NYC and falling asleep only to wake up to my husband shaking me and saying, “It is snowing! Merry Christmas!”

Blaney Elementary Collects Almost 10,000 Food Items

Left: BES first grader Tate Maner helps load a bag of food to be delivered to Elgin Town Hall.

Right: BES third grader Zander Hanna "pies" Blaney Assistant Principal Harriet Boykin-Garity

CLC Students, Faculty 'Spread Kindness'

To parallel their "Spreading Kindness" Holiday Reading Challenge, CLC students, faculty, and staff completed a service project for the elderly resi dents at Pinedale Residential Center and The Colonial at Old Camden in

They made floral arrangements for a Holiday Flower Cart, as well as Christmas cards, for each resident. Ten CLC students and several communi ty members made the special deliveries on Thursday, December 8. We would

like to thank Mrs. Sarah Myers and Hermitage Baptist Church ladies, as well as Nancy Neal and First Baptist Church of Camden ladies, for assisting us with the floral arrangements.

Special thanks for First Baptist Church choir members Lisa Sunderland, Susie Gerald, Pam Spivey, and Nancy Neal for helping us with Christmas caroling for the residents! Thank you, Nancy Kalutz and FB Church, for

Recently, the LEHS Literacy Express shared holiday books with West Wateree area schools.

Christmas Program at Ebenezer Methodist Upcoming KCSD Holiday Schedule

Ebenezer United Methodist Church invites you to their Christmas program on December 20th at 6:30 pm, at 1019 Ebenezer Road, Lugoff. Call 803.438.2454 with questions.

KC students will be released early from school on December 15 and 16. Elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., middle schools at 11:45 a.m. and high schools at noon. Woolard Technology Center students will be dismissed at 11 a.m. School breakfasts and lunches will be served to students.

Students in 3-year-old preschool special needs programs won't attend school on December 15 or 16. KCSD schools and offices will be closed for Winter Break December 19 – January 2. January 3 is a Records Day for staff, and students will return to class on January 4. The complete 2022-2023 is available on the district's website.

Pictured above from left: Mason Williams, Mr. Congeniality; Jay Bowling, First Runner-Up; Luke Campbell, Mr. LE 2022-2023; Griffin Keeffe, Second Runner-Up; Elijiah Lawson, Mr. Hunk

The WTC Kershaw County FFA Chapter participated in the State FFA Vet Science Career Development Event on December 10, 2022, at Piedmont Technical College. Team members include Abby VanDyck, Kylie Tucker, Madeline Gunter, Brian Conover, and Griffin Thomas. Their FFA Advisor is Audrey Cathcart.

Out of 80 students competing in this competition, Abby VanDyck placed 1st High Individual and Kylie Tucker placed 2nd High Individual. Out of the 20 teams from all across the state, WTC Kershaw County placed 1st winning the state title.

The winning team will compete at the 96th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana next October. The Vet Science CDE participants demonstrate their knowledge in all areas of veterinary science from breed and parasite identification to general knowledge and clinical and practicums.

South Carolina FFA is a youth organization of 9,985 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture with 118 local chapters across the state. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.

Pictured above, left to right: Griffin Thomas, Abby VanDyck, Brian Conover, Kylie Tucker, Madeline Gunter

Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office Parade Season in Kershaw County

This is the time of the year for Christmas Parades. So far, we have enjoyed great weather and crowds at the Elgin Catfish Stomp Christmas Parade, the Kershaw County Christmas Parade, and the Lights of Lugoff Parade. The Boykin Christmas Parade is scheduled for this Sunday (12/18). I enjoy being in these parades. They give me the opportunity to see the best citizens in the world. Photos

Schools Honor Teachers of the Year

courtesy Julie Jackson Prickett and Tammy Jordan Jeffers.

Pictured, clockwise from top left: Camden Parade - Camden Chief Joe Floyd, Camden Mayor Alfred Mae

Congratulations to Blaney Elementary 2023 Teacher of the Year, Mr. Jon Hunt!

LEHS named Ms. Casey Stevens, math teacher, math department leader