Hometown Holidays 2025

Traditions of Christmas hold true for generations

BY TOM LAUB Lifestyles editor tlaub@lewistownsentinel.com

The Christmas Season stirs many emoti- ons. The spirits of the past come to life, blen- ding with today from the first notes of carols to the earliest glance at ChristmasMemorieslights. of Christmas add to family gatherings, recollecting times and laughter and loved ones no longer with us. It is almost a ritual to recount the Christmas Day with several feet of snow or the year the dog ate Santa’s midnight snack. Gnawed and shredded bows on all the gifts on Christmas morning?

Must have been the reindeer, not the family cat.

Traditions hold true, year to year, generati- on to generation, from sand tart baking to placement of the first decoration. There are flashbacks to earlier times. Counting the school days left until Christmas, shopping at crowded department stores, the Christmas parade and the streets packed with shoppers. In current times, the days are back-timed from Dec. 25 to account for all that needs to be done. Christmas cards, shopping, wrap- ping, prepping the tree (a real tree) with a fresh cut, decorating, family

arrangements and sche- dules all involve detailed planning executed with pinpoint precision. At least that is how it is perceived. In reali- ty, there are gaps and distractions and moments to capture that buffer the mild seasonal anxiety. The scent of pine drifting through the house makes it all worthwhile. The pets agree. They become unofficial guardians, en- joying a sniff and a nap underneath. The best part is, another story has been added to the lore. Another chapter has been added to the program for next year and beyond.

Eventually, it all comes together. Family

arrives for Christmas dinner. Gifts are exchanged. Memories and moments are shared and enjoyed. As winter darkness moves in, the room takes on a special glow. There is a feeling of warmth emanating from the illuminated Nativity scene, the Christmas tree adorned with an angel on top, the Moravian star and the candles placed on windowsills to remember missed loved ones.

The plans, preparati- ons, activities and emotions are melded into one thought. The most important thought. The true meaning of the day. The birth of Christ.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

BY RHONDA S. KELLEY Executive Director, Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce

Last Christmas, my husband decided to surprise me with a col- lection of small vintage cardboard cottages and churches that I had admired in a local thrift shop. The moment I saw them, I was transported straight back to my six-year-old self, standing in front of our glittering silver tinsel Christmas tree, heavily laden with Shiny Brite ornaments.

Back then, these little cardboard houses could be found at the local five-and-dime store, locally G.C. Murphy Co.,

or McCrory’s. Each was dusted with “snow,” trimmed in sparkly glitter, and flanked by tiny bottle-brush trees that looked as though

they had weathered de- cades of dust and love. My mother had a set of her own, though by the time I came along, a few of the windows had mysteriously disappea- red. (I may or may not have discovered how satisfying it was to poke my finger through the fragile paper “stainedglass.”)Apparently, my hus- band noticed the nostalgic gleam in my eye that day at the thrift store because, without saying a word, he went back later and bought the whole set. When he handed me the large shopping bag, I felt like I’d just received a magical ticket to travel back to 1966. Inside

was a collection of little cottages and one large, glitter-covered church that was the crowning glory of the set. I was over the moon, and quite honestly, so was he, because surprising me is no easy feat.

Later that night, after all the wrapping paper had been cleared and the leftovers packed away, we were enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet. That’s when we saw him. A small blur skittered quietly across the living room floor. It was a mouse! We just stared at each other in disbelief, our “silent night” had tur- ned into a live-action

See Mouse / Page 8

Mouse

Continued from Page 6

version of “Run, Run Rudolph.”

We had never had a mouse in this house, and I can assure you; I was not interested in starting a new tradition. So, after a bit of chaos, some shrieking (mine), and a strategic plan of capture, we caught the little guy. We were left scratching our heads, however, wondering how on earth did he get in?

A few days later, as I began unpacking my new-old Christmas village, the mystery was solved. When I lifted the large cardboard church from the bag, I found the telltale signs of a former tenant. Let’s just say our furry friend had been living quite comfortably inside, pro- bably holding midnight services and praying for his next snack. Appa- rently, he was a very religious mouse who began his Christmas worship early in his sanctuary, quite literal- ly, in the church.

Now, this year when I set up my glittering lit- tle village, I am sure my set will receive a very thorough inspection for it is no longer just a reminder of Christmas past, it’s also a reminder that sometimes, even when you think “not a creature is stirring,” there might actually be one, and he might be sitting in the front pew. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Photos by RHONDA S. KELLEY

Peanut Brittle

1 pat of Butter

1 cup white karo syrup

1 cup white sugar

2 ½ cups raw peanuts

1 dash of salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Grease/butter cookie sheet and set aside. Combine butter, karo syrup, sugar peanuts and salt in an iron skillet. Cook until peanuts start to brown. Remove skillet from heat. Add baking soda (mixture will bubble and increase in size). Spread mixture on cookie sheet and cool until hard. Break brittle into pieces.

Recipe is from “Wagner Family”/Aunt Gloria Stuck

Submitted by Sarah Aumiller, published in the 2004 County Observer “Grandma’s Cookbook”

Bright

Classic recipes from past Sentinel and County Observer cookbooks

German Christmas Nougat Balls

4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons strong brewed coffee

1 cup ground hazelnuts (or almonds)

Melt chocolate in top of the double boiler or, I prefer the micro- wave, heat low and slow.

In a separate bowl, use a wire whisk to mix co- coa and confectioner’s sugar. Mix in the coffee and vanilla, stir in nuts. Mixture should be very thick; you can add a little coffee to smooth it if necessary.

Allow to cool enough to handle; shape into ap- proximately ¾ inch diameter balls, dip in melted chocolate and chill until firm.

Cook’s note: In the original German recipe, 1 ta- blespoon of the coffee is replaced by 1 tablespoon

of rum.

Makes about 35 balls.

Submitted by Tina Fultz, Lewistown and published in The Sentinel’s “Sweet Holiday Gifts” cookbook on Nov. 16, 2011

Gingerbread

(From Grandma Sarah Clark)

½ cup s

hortening

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup dark molasses

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cloves

¼ teaspoon allspice

½ teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon soda in one cup hot water

3 cups flour

• Locally produced in Juniata County • No Preservative • 100% Natural Hardwood • Easy Lighting, Starts Faster, Burns Hotter

• Available in 3 Convenient Sizes

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and beat well. Pour in molasses and mix thoroughly. Sift spices with flour and add alternately with the hot water and soda to shortening mixture. Bake at 350 degrees in a greased square pan about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve hot with whipped cream or lemon sauce.

Submitted by Nancy Massa, Milrory, publis- hed in the 2004 County Observer “Grandma’s Cookbook”

Gram Deamer’s Date and Raisin

Filled

Cookies

Batter

½ cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, well beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ¾ cups sifted flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Cream shortening, add sugar, gradually creaming until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Add to creamed mixture, forming a dough. Chill in refrigerator. Roll out and cut rounds of dough. Put a teaspoon of filling on the round and place another round on top. Bake on greased baking sheet at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Filling

1 tablespoon flour

½ cup sugar

½ cup water

1 cup chopped dates

½ cup raisins

Mix and let come to a boil. Add a little more water it too thick.

Submitted by Gwen Wilson, Yeagertown and published in The Sentinel’s “Sweet Holiday Gifts” cookbook on Nov. 16, 2011

of Better Hearing

For those with hearing loss, hearing aids are an important tool to hear and communicate more effectively. Holiday parties, social gatherings, and family-get togethers can be frustrating and uncomfortable if you struggle to catch the conversation due to hearing loss.

Christmas memories

Willow Lane Greenhouse

• Helleborus

• Amaryllis Bulbs

• Large Variety of House Plants

• Norfolk Pines Poinsettias

• Christmas Cactus

• Cyclamen

• Succulents

• Gift Certi cates

• Citrus Fruit

• Apples All Winter

• Battery & Coleman Fuel Lights

• Lanterns • Camping Stoves

• Kerosene Heater Repairs

2620 Locust Run Road, Mifflintown

Mon. - Fri. 8-7 • Sat. 8-5

Festival of Ice continues in Downtown Lewistown

“Christmas Candyland” promises a sweet holiday celebration

LEWISTOWN

—

The Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau invites everyone to kick off the Holiday season at the 28th annual Festival of Ice, continuing in Downtown Lewistown on Friday, Dec. 5. This year’s theme, “Christ- mas Candyland,” has transformed the downtown streets into a sugary wonderland filled with whimsical ice sculptures, colorful de- corations and a themed scavenger hunt for all

ages.The event features dozens of hand-carved ice sculptures, including both small and large fe- ature pieces inspired by the Candyland theme.

In addition to the dazzling ice displays, the festival includes plenty of live entertain- ment, food vendors and family fun. Due to ongoing renovations at the Historic Courthouse, the popular live music traditionallyperformances held in the

courtroom have been moved to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on South Main Street. The JP Jazz Band and The Unusual Suspects will take the stage Friday evening.

New attractions this year include live rein- deer and music inside the historic Embassy Theatre.

“Each year, the Fes- tival of Ice brings our community together to celebrate the joy and spirit of the Holiday

season,” said Jenny Lan- dis, executive director of the JRVVB. “We’re especially excited about this year’s CandylandChristmas theme and all the sweet surprises we have planned. It’s a wonderful way to expe- rience the magic of the Holidays right here in downtown Lewistown.”

For general Festival of Ice information, call (717) 248-6713 or email info@jrvvisitors. com.

Local Christmas memories

FRIDAY: 7pm-10pm (Year Round)

SATURDAY: 2-4:30pm (Nov-April)

SATURDAY: 7-10:30pm (Year Round)

SUNDAY: 2-4:30pm (Nov-April)

Local Christmas memories

Photos courtesy Miffin County Historical Society

Above: Joe the Motorist newspaper ad from the Newspaper Archives of the Miffin County Historical Society, 2019, by Forest K. Fisher.

Above left: The Bon-Ton opening in Lewistown, December 1969.

Left: Christmas parade in Lewistown, Nov. 21, 1960.

Classic recipes from past Sentinel and County Observer cookbooks

Christmas Cherry Pie

1 can (14.5-oz.), pitted tart cherries

1 cup sugar

¼ cup all purpose flour

1 can, (8-oz.), crushed pineapple, undrained

1 package (3oz.) cherry gelatin

10-13 drops red food coloring (optional)

3 medium firm bananas, sliced

½ cup chopped pecans

1 pastry shell (9-inches), baked

Whipped topping

Drain cherries, reserving 2 tablespoons juice (discard remaining juice)

In a large saucepan, combine sugar and flour. Stir in the pineapple, cherries, and reserved juice. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove

from heat.

Add gelatin powder; stir until dissolved. Stir in food coloring if desired.

Cool until partially set.

Stir in bananas and pecans. Pour into pie shell.

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped topping.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Submitted by former Sentinel employee

Anne Reed as published in the 2005 “Holiday Cheer” cookbook in The Sentinel.

Christmas memories

DIY crafts and gifts for the Christmas season

BY LIV SUYDAM Sentinel reporter osuydam@lewistownsentinel.com

LEWISTOWN — The Christmas season is upon us, and you know what that means… it’s time to start game- planning decorations, gift ideas, meals, family sleeping arrangements and so on.

While this may be the most wonderful time of the year, it can often become the most overwhelming time of the year.Coming to the rescue is Desiree Lee Rhea, of Mifflintown, a full-time psychology student, wife, mother and a Gigi with a heart for art.

“I’ve always been drawn to art and crafts from an early age,” explained Rhea. “Du- ring my high school years, my teacher, Krissi Strump, really inspired me to be more creative and open minded about myWithart.”that fire lit inside her, Rhea went on to crafting for her home

and others by making gifts over the years, but when COVID19 hit, she “dove deeper” into art and crafts to pass the time and ease personal stress during this pan- demic.

Rhea shared that her favorite hobbies are painting, drawing and refurbishing certain items as she strives to learn new techniques and gain more ideas.

“I love how freely I can express myself through art; it’s very mind relaxing and a stress reliever to me,” Rhea shared. “Since my grandchildren were born I have wanted to instill in them self expression with art as well.”

Although this time of year can be stressful and busy, it is important to remember to take a step back and enjoy the mo- ment. Through Rhea, we can each see the comfort art can offer.

If you are struggling this time of year with brainstorming gifts or if you just need a way to relieve stress and enjoy

this wintery season, Rhea has come up with a few ideas that may come in hand to help you “explore your)own creativity.”

5 DIY Christmas decorations for adults

1. Cabinet wreaths

You will need a floral garden metal wreath, you can find two in a pack from the Dollar Tree for $1.25, a pack of black zip ties from Dollar Tree for $1.25, greenery can be purcha- sed from Walmart for $.99 a stem of three / four pieces, and a roll of ribbon (two) from dollar tree.

Place the wreath down and start cutting the stems off of each branch of greenery. Take those single pieces zip tie them to the ring to make it as full as you want. Cut the ribbon and hot glue it on the wreath to be able to hang it. Take tape and attach it to the ribbon to the inside of your ca- binet and then you have made a new Christmas

piece for your kitchen.

2. Christmas star lights

If you have old books, use those if not thrift stores and dollar trees sell them for fairly che- ap. You will also need a string of light, scissors and a glue stick.

Rip several pages out and draw a star about two inches, big enough to have two for each space after you have made enough glue the two stars in opposite directions on the lights let it dry and hang.

3. Pizza pan snowman

You will need a pizza pan, off white, black, orange, and dark red paint and ribbon, mod podge, paint brushes,s- cissors, command velcro strips and a hot glue gun.First paint the pan with the off white (two coats), let it dry–begin on the snowman’s details. After everything is dry, mod podge it and then let it dry before proceeding with cutting

See Crafts / Page 19

Crafts

Continued from Page 18

your ribbon; hot glue it to the pan,attach the Command Velcro strip to that back and it’s ready to display.

4. Giant popcorn and cranberries garland

You need two cans of expanding foam, old red ornaments, a jute roll, straws, glue gun and a garbage bag. Place the garbage bag down, make two inch round circles with the garbage bag and lay a straw in on it. Take your hot glue gun and get your ornaments ready. Remove the han- ger off the ornaments, flip the ornament and

make a hole with a gun. After doing that, go back and check and see if your expanding foam is now dry. If so, flip it over and add more to the circle while we get your work jute to the length you want it for yourNowgarland. it’s time to assemble. Take the expanding foam form, cut the straws off at both ends, put the jute straw, start coordinating the ornaments and the expanding foam that resembles popcorn. Continue to do this until you reach your desired look.

5. Key ring ornaments

You need a bag of key rings you can purchase from Walmart for $3, scissors, wooden beads,

and very thin Macrame Cord.

Cut several three inch knotting it once on the key ring, make them tight, continue the process the whole way around until you have a little space left; take the jute, tie it into a knot, put a bead on, and knot it again make sure you loop it so you can hang it.

5 DIY ideas for children

1.

Chain link garland

Purchase decorative/ holiday inspired card stock, scissors, glue stick.

Take the 8 x 10 card stock and cut vertically–you should be able to get four pieces out of the 8 x 10; make a cir-

cle, take your glue stick on the end and connect it with the next piece and loop it through the last ring. Continue to do this until you have your desired length of Garland.

2. Cheese cloth Christmas tea towels

You will need a pack of cheese cloth, paint- brushes, green, red and brown paint , a paper plate, and q-tips. For your cheese cloth use the long length (like a regular tea towel).

Please paint on the paper plate lay the child’s hand into great pain with the handprint at the top to begin the tree again, two more handprints and again

See Crafts / Page 20

Crafts

Continued from Page 19

three more times now let it dry. Take your q-tip and put some red paint on the plate. The child takes the Q-tip and puts red dots on as ornaments. Take a paintbrush and paint the stump, the star, and any other little detail. Also add the child’s name and date.

3. Finger print potholes

Purchase potholder, three different colors of paint of your choice, a black sharpie,and paper plates.Take your potholder, dip the child’s finger into one color at a time, press take them on to the potholder. I try when done to take a sharpie to connect each fingerprint to make it look like a string of lights.

4. Melted cup Christmas ornaments

You will need a pack of 12 ounce clear cups from Dollar Tree, several different sharpie colors, hole puncher

and ribbon. Set your oven to the broil setting. Decorate the cups with the shar- pies. When done deco- rating, place them on a cookie sheet with foil and pop them in the oven for no longer than 30 seconds. Immediately take out of the oven and press the cup down with a porcelain with a flat bottom to press out the wrinkles or curves in the cup. It shouldn’t take long when cooled down; take your whole puncher and make a hole, insert your rib- bon, make a knot and make it big enough to hang on your tree.

5. Pipe Cleaner Lol- lipop Ornament You will need pipe cleaners, Bose, yarn, scissors, and glue. Take your choice of pipe cleaner and twist them together at one end twist the plate clean round each other all the way to give this awesome stripe effect. Take one end of your pipe cleaner and begin to roll it around into a spark, ensure that you pull enough to hold a position once you get it to the end, wrap loosely around the previous ring. Next, add a small length of pipe cleaner to back up the lollipop to make the stick any decorations by adding a bow to the bottom. If you would like to hang your lollipops, simply add to the decoration on the back. There you have a pipe cleaner lol- lipop ornament.

5 DIY thrifting gift tips and ideas

1. When purchasing a gift card this year and your out thrift things to make the gift more personal. Pick up a

trinket plate, tin or glass container to make it fun and useful.

2. While thrifting, you can always find cutting boards, utensils, and cookbooks. This is a way to give a coworker, boss or teacher a nice gift.

3. If someone on your Christmas list enjoys plants, don’t dismiss glassware or tins for replanting.

4. When giving a cand- le, put your personal touch to it. While thrifting you can find glassware, any trinket plate (look for the cand- le holders for tea lights); purchase that and some matches and put the matches inside the candle holder. Another fun, easy, cheap way to give a personal gift.

5. If someone on your Christmas list is a reader, this is a fun way to give a book. While thrifting, you can find many old and new books, something that they may like.

Miffin County Historical Society Lions Club volunteers collect for the needy during the Christmas season in the 1960s. This collection station was set up near the Danks & Company Store at Five Points in Lewistown. Collected funds went to the Salvation Army’s Christmas food basket program.