Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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| Photo with Santa.... Following last Saturday’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade, Santa was more than happy to pose for pictures with little tykes in front of their favorite “Pack” motorcycle. Here, three kiddos are havinf their photo taken atop Vance Cottrell’s Victory motorcycle. |
- Last Saturday’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade was truly a highlight of the Christmas season in town. It set the tone for the holidays!
Sponsored by the Van Horn Convention and Visitors Bureau, this year’s event attracted a number of float entries which were judged by an impartial panel of judges to see who would be this year’s winners.
The winners each received prize money which was donated by the Van Horn Chamber of Commerce.
The winners and prize money they received, this year, were: 1st Place - The Pack-West Texas, $200; 2nd Place - Women’s Service League, $150; 3rd Place - Lions Club, $100; and 4th Place - Awanas Youth Club, 1st Baptist Church, $50.
This year’s judges included Tom Desai, owner of the Hampton Inn (under construction); Andre Sekanovich, contractor for the Hampton Inn construction project; and Mario Villanueva. They had a tough job in determining the winners this year and the community extends it’s thanks.
Convention Center staffers, Brenda Hinojos and Patricia Golden, expressed their appreciation to all the groups that entered floats this year. They also expressed their appreciation to the sheriff’s department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Transportation and the city utilities department for everything they did to make this year’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade a success.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
The Christmas parade on Saturday evening was really good this year. I think the quality of floats has gotten better with each year. Do you realize that the Lighted Christmas Parade has been done annually for 14 years now? I had no idea it had been that many years, but the years are flying by so I lose count.
I have one suggestion for you who just sit in your cars and watch it go by. Next year try parking and then get out and come down town around the parking lot and museum. I think you’ll agree that the atmosphere is fun and festive and you get to meet and greet friends (and smell those good smells coming from the food vendors. When the weather is as great as it was Saturday night, that’s certainly the way to enjoy the event! And the museum serves complimentary hot chocolate and cookies to boot!
Thanks to Main Street and all who participated, making it an enjoyable holiday event.
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Next week we will be doing our Christmas issue of the Advocate. If you would like a greeting ad in this special issue, please give us a call by Tuesday. Since we are doing all the layout on the computer, and sending it to the printer online, it will be a challenge this year.
Then the next week, the week of Christmas, we will not be publishing an issue, but will publish on the 3rd of January. Where on earth did this year go?
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I was visiting with Kathy from the Christian Community Shelter recently and she mentioned how the cold weather over the Thanksgiving weekend had almost wiped out their blanket supply. They are also constantly in need of coats and jackets, especially for men. Food supplies are always dwindling as well.
So how about reaching down in your heart and coming up with some of that Christmas giving spirit. Even if it’s good, clean used blankets or coats, they would be put to good use. A food box from your own pantry would be welcome, and of course donations of money are always very helpful. The winter months are always the time when the shelter is used the most, so could you find it in your heart to help out? You’ll be blest and so will they!
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I received a call from Delbert Hollis (VHHS Class of ’58) this week and he said that his classmates are wanting to plan a reunion during the high school Homecoming next fall. Many of them attend the Jubilee reunions every five years but some weren’t able to attend the last one, or just don’t want to wait until the next one in 2010. This also will be their 50th Reunion Year and that makes it special. They are also hoping that others graduating the years just before and just after them will consider attending. Afterall, at VHHS we have the advantage of being friends with the whole high school, not just a certain class.
If you are from a class around 1958, or know of someone who is, let them know of the plans. To find out more, contact Delbert Hollis at 337-463-8993.
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One of my favorite Christian writers is Max Lucado. Each morning this month, Larry and I are reading from a book called “The Glory of Christmas” for our daily devotion time. Here is one that we read this morning and each time I read something that I really like, I find myself wanting to share it with you, our readers.
Untethered by time, God sees us all. From the backwoods of Virginia to the business district of London; from the Vikings to the astronauts, from the cave-dwellers to the kings, he sees us. Vagabonds and ragamuffins all, he saw us before we were born.
And he loves what he sees. Flooded by emotion. Overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, “You are my child. I love you dearly. I’m aware that someday you’ll turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I’ve already provided a way back.”
And to prove it, he did something extraordinary.
Stepping from the throne, he removed his robe of light and wrapped himself in skin: pigmented, human skin. The light of the universe entered a dark, wet womb. He whom angels worship nestled himself in the placenta of a peasant, was birthed into the cold night, and then slept on cow’s hay.
Mary didn’t know whether to give him milk or give him praise, but she gave him both since he was, as near as she could figure, hungry and holy.
Joseph didn’t know whether to call him Junior or Father. But in the end called him Jesus, since that’s what the angel had said and since he didn’t have the faintest idea what to name a God he could cradle in his arms.
....Don’t you think....their heads tilted and their minds wondered, “What in the world are you doing. God?” Or, better phrased, “God, what are you doing in the world?”
“Can anything make me stop loving you?” God asks. “Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts. Behold the maker of sight and sound as he sneezes, coughs, and blows his nose. You wonder if I understand how you feel? Look into the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth; that’s God walking to school. Ponder the toddler at Mary’s table; that’s God spilling his milk.
“You wonder how long my love will last? Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. That’s me you see up there, your maker, your God, nail-stabbed and bleeding.
“That’s your sin I’m feeling. That’s your death I’m dying. That’s your resurrection I’m, living. That’s how much I love you.”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
December 13th - The Van Horn Eagle boys and girls varsity basketball teams play in the Iraan Basketball Tournament today. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
December 14th - The Van Horn Eagle boys and girls varsity basketball teams continue competition in the Iraan Basketball Tournament today.
December 15th - The Van Horn Eagle boys and girls varsity basketball teams continue competition in the Iraan Basketball Tournament today.
December 16th - Attend the church of your choice.
December 17th - Trustees of Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District are slated to meet tonight at 6 p.m. at the District Administration Building.
December 18th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are scheduled to meet today at noon at Chuy’s. The Van Horn Eagle boys JV an dvarsity plays host to the Sierra Blanca Vaqueros tonight beginning at 5 p.m. The Van Horn City Council is scheduled to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
December19th - Nothing scheduled at press time.