Many Christmas church services and programs, just as everything else this year, may look and feel a little different this year. No matter how your church chooses to celebrate Christmas services we all know that this Christmas means just a little bit more.

Part 2 of a column about my visit to retired Fayette County Judge Ed Janecka’s place in Dubina. Before our wander through Janecka’s vegetable garden, we stopped to view the main reason for my visit: the Judge’s majestic thicket of bamboo.

Flatonia First Responders, the City of Flatonia, and many generous donors have come together again this year to serve the community through the Blue Santa Program. This year saw a significant increase in the number of applications submitted to the program. Applications were submitted for a total of 122 children from 51 families. Thanks to the kindness of all who participated, the Flatonia Blue Santa Program will have the resources necessary to help bring holiday joy to these children. This was just one of the many donations received, in this case a $2,500 donation from the Penn Virginia Oil and Gas Company. Picture are (from left) Penn Virginia Completion Manager Jaime Ramirez, General Manager Camilo Arias, Senior Vice President Operations Ben Mathis, CEO Darrin Henke, Flatonia Fire & Rescue Chief John Burleson, Flatonia Police Department Lt. Adriana Pritchard, Flatonia Police Chief Lee Dick, and Flatonia City Manager Sarah Novo. Photo By Melanie Berger, Courtesy of The Flatonia Argus

The Junior High students at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School decorated 40 yard signs for the residents of Schulenburg Regency Nursing Home to spread Christmas cheer. The signs will be placed outside resident’s windows and around the property by nursing home staff since our students are unable to visit this year due to Covid restrictions. The school hopes the students’ artwork brings joy to the nursing home residents and staff this holiday season.

Daricek Insurance held a Thanksgiving coloring contest and 1st place was Marley Vasek winning a $50 gift card. Students from kindergarten, first, and second grades at the following schools participated: La Grange ISD, Sacred Heart Catholic School in La Grange, Giddings ISD, and Immanuel Lutheran in Giddings.

Christmas is always a beautiful time at Hostyn Hill Greenhouse, and this year was no exception as these images captured by Elaine Thomas earlier this month show. Photos by Elaine Thomas.

Are you a teen with a great idea about how you could give back to your community and help others around you? Could you use some money to make your dream a reality? Austin’s RangerACE program just might have the solution to getting your project off the ground. An outreach program of the Covalent Foundation, RangerACE has opened its spring teen community empowerment contest to all Central Texas youth ages 12-17.

First Place Business 2020 Traveling Trophy goes to The Wine Bar & Restaurant at The Grand Fayette Hotel with “The Chef Tree.” Congratulations Glenda Sue Merritt and Kathy Valtasaros. Second Place 2020 is The Rose Rohde Family with “Home for the Holidays.” Congratulations to Rose Rohde, Kim Kovar, Shannan Rohde Gerik, and Jimmy Rohde.

The Rotary Club of La Grange and along with La Grange High School Interact Club donated toys, clothes and monetary donations of almost $2,000 (to buy more items) to help make Christmas a little brighter for 10 children in the area. They were also able to put together eight caregiver gift packets. Pictured here are board members David Ramjohn-International Service, Allison MacKenzie-President, Kacey Hall-Secretary, Larry Jackson-Lt. Governor South, Stacey Norris-Treasurer, Regina Keilers-President Elect, Phil Oestreich-Programs, and Bryan Minzenmeyer-Sergeant-at-Arms.

Holy Smokers Men’s Club from the St. James Episcopal Church presented a $1,000 Christmas season donation to the Meals on Wheels Program. Shown with the donation check is Debbie Walpole from Meals on Wheels and Trey Cheatham and George Frondorf from St. James Episcopal. The Holy Smokers are making a total of $5,000 in donations during the Christmas season to Fayette County non-profits.