There are many beautifully decorated homes in our community this holiday season, but one that is not to be missed while touring around is Christmas Place at 1840 Garden Place in Valleycliffe. Santa and Mrs. Claus are looking forward to seeing many children visit on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Dec. 22, 23 and 24) from 7 to 9 p.m. as they will be handing out candy canes to the youngsters. The display includes a church, a nativity scene, Ferris wheel, windmill, Santa climbing in and out of the chimney and much more.

•••

The Family Winter Celebration at the Squamish Public Library on Saturday (Dec. 22) from 10 to 11 a.m. will include Christmas stories, a fun puppet show, a sing-along and crafts to keep everyone busy and happy. There are refreshments for everyone at this free event and no registration is required. Meanwhile, Vancouver author Janet Love Morrison will be at the library this evening (Thursday, Dec. 20) at 6:30 p.m. to launch her new book Friends.

•••

Squamish resident Christine Williston is the new instructor for the Strengthening Families Program run by Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS), which has a new program running for 10 weeks on Wednesdays starting Jan. 9 at Squamish Elementary School. The workshops are geared toward the parents of children aged six to 10 and their children, offering parents the chance to strengthen parenting skills, enhance parent-child attachments, improve behaviours and improve family communication. It’s free, and dinner and child care for younger siblings is provided. Space is limited. For information, phone Christine at (604) 892-5796, ext. 345 or email Christine.williston@sscs.ca

•••

Brennan Park Recreation Centre will be open Wednesday (Dec. 26) and Jan. 1 for public swimming from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and the same dates for public skating from 1 to 3 p.m.

•••

The Senior Centre will be closed Monday (Dec. 24) and will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 2. On that date, a holiday-themed Grandparents’ Day is planned starting at 9:30 a.m. Carpet bowling is planned for Friday (Jan. 4) starting at 1:30 p.m. Sit and stand and cardio fit exercise classes will begin the first week of January and registrations are now being taken.

•••

Very shortly we will be hanging up new calendars, and what do we do with the old ones? Hilltop House (HTH) might be interested if they have bright photos or calendars of Squamish in the olden days. The calendars are used for crafts and puzzles and you can drop off any you wish to donate to HTH. A special thank you is extended to OK Tire who donated new tires for the HTH bus.

•••

The Rotary 200 Club winners for December are: Jack Fowler ($100), Walt and Charlotte Lucy ($120), Don Winsley ($130) and Keith Gaudry-Gardner ($150).

•••

The Squamish Valley Quilters have their first meeting of the New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 2, for a social sew day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Sandman Hotel. The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. There is always room for new members and for more information, please call (604) 898-1431.

•••

Christmas is fast approaching but the local Scout group still has a good selection of trees of all sizes and they are available at On the Farm Garden Centre on Mamquam Road.

•••

The last Winter Market for this year will be held at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in the CN Roundhouse and Conference Centre on Sunday (Dec. 23).

•••

Donations of warm blankets and winter clothing in good condition are still being accepted at any realtors office in Squamish. If you wish more information, please visit www.rebgv.org/blanket-drive.

•••

The Over the Hill Hikers will meet next on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 9 a.m. for a Cheshire Kitten/Cat Lake hike. For more information, call Heather at (604) 892-9003.

•••

The Tantalus Walking Club will meet on Thursday (Dec. 27) at 10 a.m. at the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub for a Nexen Beach walk. On Thursday, Jan. 3, the group will meet at Canadian Tire at 10 a.m. for a walk through the community gardens to the Golf Course. For more information, call Joyce at (604) 898-5594.

•••

The Hearts in Motion Walking Club will meet at the Adventure Centre on Friday (Dec. 21) at 10 a.m. for a trail walk. On Friday, Dec. 28, the group will meet at the O’Siyam Pavilion on Cleveland Avenue at 10 a.m. for an estuary walk. For more information, call Darleen at (604) 892-2092 or myself at (604) 815-0152.

***

This is the last column for the year for me and I would like to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas. We know it won’t be “merry” for everyone, so please remember those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, those who are sick or lonely and the homeless. A special thank you to the friendly and patient Squamish Chief staff for hanging in with me all these years!