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Embracing

INSIDE LOOK

Christmas Spirit
Craft shows
Family fun
Parades

40 YEARS OF FUN AND CRAFTS

AT THE CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW

Aiken Civic Ballets

Nutcracker

December 20 & 21
Performing
locally since
1970.

BRINGING SMILES TO CHILDREN

THROUGH TOYS FOR TOTS EVENT

History of

Hopelands
10 acres of more
than 100,00 lights

SEE SOME UPCOMING CHRISTMAS

EVENTS AROUND AIKEN COUNTY

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Introduction
BY Linden Hammett

Downtown Aiken becomes bright with holiday spirit during Night of 1,000 Lights.

Holiday celebrations and gatherings

abound, featuring music and performances,
From the white buds of the pear trees in
toy drives and craft shows. Children perspring to the brilliant reds and oranges of
form in choirs and dance troupes, lifting
falling leaves, every season is beautiful in
their voices together. Residents meet for caAiken. But it is at the beginning of winter,
sual get-togethers and large, formal holiday
when the days are short and skies are a clear, parties. Businesses and charities work in
chilly blue, that the true beauty of the city is tandem to raise funds and gifts for the less
revealed. Aikens holiday season showcases fortunate. The areas sense of community is
not only lovely Christmas decorations, but
enhanced with each meeting and event, as
also the generous hearts and jolly spirits of
we all enjoy the festivities together.
the local community.

Midland Valley
by Anne Fulcher
Generations of children wait, excitedly,
every year for the Christmas parades in
the Midland Valley area of Aiken County.
This area has held the Midland Valley and
Graniteville parades for well over thirty
years each and has become a loving tradition
with many families. Hundreds of children
and adults participate by riding on a float or
marching with their local church, school or
civic organization. . One of the continued

traditions is the tossing of candy to the masses of children in attendance. The sparkle
in the eyes of the little ones as they gaze up
at the shower of sweets brings joy to every
parents heart. The sugar rush along with
the anticipation of the arrival of Santa makes
it such a special time of year for all of those
involved.
The Graniteville parade is sponsored by
the Graniteville Vaucluse Warrenville(GVW)
Fire Fighters and stretches one and a half
miles with over 100 entries and thousands of

viewers. Graniteville makes a day of special

events by ending the evening with the Love
Our Town Tree tree lighting ceremony. The
tree lighting is held at 7:00pm on Main Street
at the large Graniteville entrance sign. For
more information regarding the Graniteville
Christmas special events, contact Tina Bevington at 803-349-6143.
The Midland Valley Area Chamber of
Commerce has been the sponsor of the Midland Valley parade for the past 18 years. This
parade is approximately 3 miles in length,

with over 90 entrants and more than 6000

people lining the sidewalks to get a peak of
the Jolley Old Fella himself. The Grand
Marshall of this parade is always the Midland Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
Citizen of the Year. This years Grand Marshall is Rep. Roland Smith. Please feel free
to contact Robert Workman, parade chairman, at 803-593-4907. This year the town
of Burnettown will hold an Open House for
the new Burnettown Municipal Building on
parade day from 9:00am until 5:00pm.

Midland Valley Parade Schedule

GVW Ladies Auxiliary FD Christmas Parade...........December 6, 2014, 3:00pm
Graniteville Love Our Tree Tree Lighting ..............December 6, 2014, 7:00pm
(Contact Tina Bevington at 803-349-6143)
Burnettown Municipal Building Open House.................... December 13, 2014, 9:00am-5:00pm
(Contact the Municipal Building at 803-593-2676)
Midland Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.............December 13, 2014, 3:00 pm
Christmas in the Valley Parade
(Contact Robert Workman at 803-593-4907)

326 Rutland Drive, Aiken, SC 29801

(803) 648-2311 | aikenstandard.com
President & Publisher
Ellen C. Priest

Executive Editor
Melissa Hanna

Advertising Director
Dee Taylor

Design & Layout

Shana Donahue, Lauren Haley,
& Mary Watson

Staff photo by Melanie Herbold

The Southern Thunder Cloggers dance in the Midland Valley parade Saturday.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Lights on South Dixie

By Jennifer Green
The Lights on South Dixie starts out on
sunny, 88 degrees October afternoons,
where Robin Whittle is working in a field
installing Christmas lights. While Christmas may seem so far away for some of
us, Robin can tell you the number of days
until opening night for The Lights on South
Dixie, a Wagener attraction ready for its
second season of operation. Robin and
her family are the owners of The Lights on
South Dixie, an event that began as a family activity that has grown into what many
residents hope will become an annual
tradition.
The lighted hayrides take visitors through
acres of brilliant light displays, highlighted
by a one-of-a-kind Nativity scene. The
focus of the Lights on South Dixie is keeping Christ in Christmas and many of the
unique light displays are Christian based.
The 28-passenger hayride trailer is pulled
by a John Deere tractor and is accessible to
everyone. A fire pit for toasting marshmallows, making smores and hot chocolate,
along with classic Christmas movies will
provide extra entertainment for all visitors.

Robins 2 youngest children, Hailey and

Bailey, 10, say that greeting customers and
making new friends is their favorite part of
hosting visitors. Robin enjoys being able
to celebrate Jesuss Birthday and keeping
the Christ in Christmas.
The Lights on South Dixie is located at
637 South Dixie Road in Wagener, SC.,a
short drive from Aiken, Orangeburg, Barnwell, Pelion and Lexington. Hours of operation are Wednesday and Friday-Sunday,
6 until 10pm. This family friendly activity
officially opens on Friday, November 28
and runs through Christmas Eve. Admission is $6 for 13-up, and $3 for kids 3-12.
Children 2 and under are free.
For more information, check out their
Facebook page at on.fb.me/1GTyB8m, or
call 803-564-7091.

This are some of the displays at the first Lights on South Dixie.

Submitted Photo

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Hopelands
BY Linden Hammett
For many years in the late nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries, Aiken was a
Winter Colony, serving as a playground for
wealthy northerners.
One lasting legacy of that era was bequeathed to the City of Aiken by Hope
Iselin. The beautiful 10-acre tract is now
known as Hopelands Gardens and is home
to one of the city's most beloved Christmas
traditions.
Christmas at Hopelands, the city's largest
Christmas attraction, is held at night and
features more than 100,000 lights sparkling
along the pathways of the gardens.
Participants can wander the more than 1.5
miles of illuminated pathways and enjoy a

multitude of bright holiday displays.

Hot chocolate and apple cider warm visitors
as they meander through the festive garden
walkways. Each year more than 15,000 people enjoy the glowing holiday celebration.
The lights are placed each year by volunteers who are dedicated to bringing the
magical holiday wonder to Aiken. In all,
the workers will screw in more than 40,000
bulbs and string more than 100,000 lights.
This year visitors will be required to take a
shuttle to the gardens. The shuttle will depart
from Citizens Park, 1060 Banks Mill Road.
Christmas at Hopelands will be held Dec. 1215, 18-23, 26 and 27 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Shuttle rides and admission are free, but
donations are accepted to help continue this
wonderful holiday tradition.

Submitted photo by Mark Hudson

Submitted photo by Mark Hudson

Aiken standard file photo

Aiken standard file photo

Trey Ryan and his grandmother, Cathy

Griffis, are bundled up and prepared for
the chilly weather on the opening night of
2013s Christmas at Hopelands.

Swift Devoti, David Devoti and Kyle Devoti took a break to listen to a musical
performance on the opening night of the
2013 Christmas at Hopelands.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Christmas at the Lake

BY Linden Hammett

Aiken standard file photo

Aiken standard file photo

John Blair decided to dress up as Santa for Ryan Westberry, center, conducts the Aiken High School marching band at a previous
Christmas at the Lake. The band is now led by Greg Priest.
a previous Christmas at the Lake event.

Aiken Regional Medical Centers hosts Christmas at the Lake each year in mid-December,
bringing Aikenites together for an evening filled
with beautiful lights, music, carols and fun.
Revelers can enjoy hot apple cider, hot chocolate, cookies and other light refreshments in a
special gathering next to the lake on the hospital
campus.
The evening is hosted by WJBF News Channel
6 Anchorman Brad Means. This year, the Aiken
High School marching band will perform, as
well as local childrens choirs. The cheerful selection of holiday music and a special visit from
Santa Claus draw a large crowd each year.
The annual holiday celebration is in its 23rd
year, and has grown exponentially. The gathering is also a collection for the hospitals support
of the Aiken Salvation Army Toy drive. Last
year more than 300 toys were donated by hospital staff and local residents who attended the
Christmas at the Lake event.
This year, Christmas at the Lake will be held
on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. Donations of
new, unwrapped toys will be accepted, and all
toys will be given to local Aiken children in
need.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Upcoming events
Each year the small communities located
within Aiken County celebrate the holidays
in their own specific style. From tractors and
parades to tree lighting ceremonies and musical performances, the towns and cities here
love to continue long-held holiday traditions.
Join your friends and neighbors in celebrating the joys of the season with any number of
special gatherings and celebrations.
The Aiken Community Playhouse will
perform Its A Wonderful Life at the URS
Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St. S.W., Nov. 28 and 29, and Dec. 5, 6, 12,
13 at 8 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.aikenplayhouse.us.
The University of South Carolina Aiken
will hold its Holiday Fest on Tuesday, Dec.
2, at 5 p.m. in the Student Activities Center.
Aikens annual Christmas tree lighting
will be held Friday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m. at
the center of Laurens Street and Richland
Avenue.
Wagener will hold its annual Hometown
Holiday Celebration, including the annual Christmas Parade, the first weekend in
December. Friday, Dec. 5, evening events
will feature performances from the WSHS
JROTC, Busbee Corbett Elementary Middle
School Chorus, the WSHS Band and the
group Crossover. After the musical entertain- Riders aboard festive horses were among the participants in the Aiken Jaycees Christmas Parade last year.
ment, there will be a tree-lighting ceremony
tist Church, 625 Georgia Ave., North Augusand fireworks display.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, beginning at 8 a.m., a ta. Tour tickets can be purchased in advance
Community Yard and Craft Sale will be held for $20 through 3 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Jim Bush
beside the Petal Shop. Visitors are encourFlowers and Gifts, Communigraphics and
aged to stay for the annual Wagener ChristParks Pharmacy in North Augusta, and at
mas Parade, beginning at 11 a.m., as well as
Designed for Change in Martinez, Georgia.
the Car and Tractor Show taking place from
Brunch tickets, which must be purchased in
noon to 2 p.m. Carriage rides will also be
advance, are $10 and may be purchased at the
available, as well as access to the Wagener
same four locations until 3 p.m. Dec. 1.
Museum.
Christmas for the Birds will be held at
The Christmas Craft Show will be held
the Living History Park in North Augusta on
Friday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. AdSaturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at
mission is free, and attendees will learn how
the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700
the colonists celebrated Christmas. There
Whiskey Road. For more information, call
will be a visit from Father Christmas, who
803-642-7631.
will be available for pictures with children.
Beta Sigma Phi will hold its 2014 North
Augusta Christmas Tour of Homes on
Friday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and
Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The
tour will feature homes in The Village, the
River Club, Hammonds Ferry and Hammond Hills. Refreshments will be offered at
the Arts and Heritage Center. A brunch and
fashion show will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at
9:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall of First Bap-

Bound to Sing will perform its fall concert

at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, 125 Pendleton St. S.W., on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m.

Aiken Standard file photo

Aiken Standard file photo

Jamie Eckmyre rings up customer Jackie Lefebvre at Re-Fresh last year during the
Night of 1,000 Lights.
The Aiken Civic Ballet will hold its Nutcracker Tea on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. in
the Aiken County Historical Museum, 433
Atomic City Christmas Parade on Saturping Center past Risher Ave.
Newberry St. S.W. This is a free event.
day, Dec. 6, at noon. This years theme is
Winter Wonderland. The parade route will
The GVW Volunteer Fire Department
The City of New Ellenton will host the
follow Main St. from Ellenton Village Shop- Christmas Parade will be held Saturday,

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. Participants should report to

the school by 2:30 p.m. The parade will begin
in the parking lot of Leavelle McCampbell
Middle School and proceed through Graniteville on Highway 101. Trophies will be
awarded for the beset religious and commercial floats, and the best non-musical group.
The Edgefield Christmas Parade will be
held on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m. on Courthouse Square. The celebration will include the
parade, a visit from Santa and seasonal music.
Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, 400 Kershaw St., will hold its Christmas tree lighting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Storytime with Mrs. Claus will be held
Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m. in rooms 6 and 7 of
the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700
Whiskey Road. Children 8 and younger are
invited to hear a story read by Mrs. Claus and
enjoy cookies and juice. This is a free event.
For more information, call 803-642-7631.

Aiken Standard file photo

This puppy gets in the holiday spirit at last

years Christmas parade in Aiken.

Aiken County Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Serenity Charity Club will host a
Christmas dance for mature adults Friday,
Dec. 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Aiken
County Recreation Center, 917 Jefferson DaThe Aiken Choral Society will host A Mad- vis Highway, Graniteville. For more informarigal Dinner: A Renaissance Yuletide Feast tion, call Tandra Cooks at 803-663-6142.
on Sunday, Dec. 9, and Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 6
p.m. at the Aiken County Historical Society,
PFLAG Aiken will hold its holiday social
433 Newberry St. Tickets are $70.
from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church, 115 Gregg
The Night of 1,000 Lights will be celebrat- Ave.
ed in downtown Aiken on Thursday, Dec. 11,
from 6 to 9 p.m. The downtown streets will
Breakfast with Santa will be held Saturbe lined with luminaries and sponsoring busi- day, Dec. 13, at 8:30 a.m. in rooms 6 and 7 of
nesses will stay open late. Visitors will enjoy the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700
shopping, eating, and spending time with
Whiskey Road. The cost is $3, and the event
Santa and his elf.
is open to children 12 and younger accompanied by an adults. Pre-registration is required.
Joshua Messick will present Hammered
The registration deadline is Sunday, Dec. 7.
Dulcimer Christmas at 7 p.m. Wednesday, For more information or to register, call 803Dec. 10, at the URS Center for the Perform- 642-7631.
ing Arts, 126 Newberry St. S.W. Tickets are
$18 in advance and $20 at the door for adults,
The Goodwill Hire Grounds Cafe, 1379
$12 for students and $5 for children 5 and
Washington Road, Augusta, will hold a ginyounger. For more information or to purchase gerbread house workshop Saturday, Dec.
tickets, call 803-648-1438 or visit www.aiken- 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. This is a free event.
playhouse.us.
For more information or RSVP, call Nancy
Browning at 706-650-5760 or email nbrownChristmas at the Lake will be held at 6
ing@goodwillworks.org.
p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the lake on the
campus of Aiken Regional Medical Centers,
The North Augusta Lions Christmas Pa302 University Parkway. Celebrate the holirade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, from
day season with songs performed by local
2 to 5 p.m. on Georgia Ave.
childrens choirs and the Aiken High School
marching band, and enjoy hot apple cider, hot The Aiken Jaycees will hold its 2014
chocolate and cookies. Even Santa Claus will Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 14, at 2
make an appearance. Bring a new, unwrapped p.m. in downtown Aiken. The theme for this
toy for the Salvation Armys Christmas Toy
year is A Star-Spangled Christmas. The cost
Drive.
to register is $25, and the deadline to register
is Monday, Dec. 1. For more information or to
Christmas in Hopelands will be held Dec. register, visit www.aikenjaycees.com.
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23,
and Dec. 26 and 27 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. This
The Aiken Choral Society will hold a Madwalk-thru exhibit features more than 1.5 miles rigal Concert at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at
of lighted holiday displays and pathways. Re- Cornerstone Baptist Church, 100 Cornerstone
freshments will be offered each evening. This Drive. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for stuis event is free but donations are appreciated. dents and military, and free for children ages
For more information, call 803-642-7631.
12 and younger.

Aiken Standard file photo

Pictured are Andrew Siders as the jester, Catherine Jackson and Lilianne Ross at the
Aiken Choral Societys Madrigal Dinner last year.
The Aiken Performing Arts Group presents
The Continuo Collective of the South on
Thursday, Dec. 18. This performance will
be held at the URS Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St., at 7:30 p.m., and
is black-tie optional. Heavy hors doeuvres,
Christmas sweets and wine will be served
before the performance. Tickets are $40. For
more information or to purchase tickets, visit
www.apagonline.org.

day, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 406
Park Ave. S.E. Admission is free. For more
information, call 888-AIKEN-SC.

The Aiken Civic Ballet will perform The

Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 7 to
8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 21, from 2 to 3 p.m.
at the USC Aiken Etherredge Center, 471
University Parkway. Tickets are $20 for adults
and $15 for seniors, students and children. For
more information or to purchase tickets, visit
Christmas at the Depot will be held Satur- www.aikencivicballet.com.

10

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Christmas Craft Show

BY Linden Hammett
Gathering for fun and crafts
at the City of Aiken's Annual
Christmas Craft Show has been
a holiday tradition here for more
than 40 years. Friends and families can visit the booths of more
than 100 vendors chosen by the
show jury each year. Crafters
from all over the South offer a
wide variety of handmade items.
Held the first weekend in December at the H. Odell Weeks
Activities Center, the Christmas
Craft Show is the perfect place
to start checking off items on
your Christmas list. Choose from
a multitude of holiday items,
including wreaths, ornaments,
floral arrangements, Christmas
clothing, ceramic dishes and
figurines and wooden yard decorations. Crafters also make Santa
figurines in every shape, size and
material imaginable!
If you're interested in other gift
items, the selection also includes
baked goods, confections, soaps,

lotions, quilts, jewelry and wooden furniture.

Visitors will be tempted by the
wonderful smells emanating from
the food trucks and vendor carts
located outside the Weeks Center.
Tastebuds will delight with fresh
funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, kettle corn and
popcorn, as well as hot chocolate
and apple cider. This year's festivities will include holiday tunes
performed by Roger and Barb
Rollins.
The family-friendly atmosphere
of the show usually attracts around
5,000 people who take advantage
of the free parking and free admission. Santa Claus will be accepting
gift requests from children of all
ages on Saturday. There will also
be a professional photographer
offering pictures with the jolly old
soul.
This year's Christmas Craft
Aiken Standard file photo
Show will be held at the H. Odell
Weeks Activities Center in Aiken Aiken residents and visitors visited local food vendors and more than 100 artisans, while enjoying the weather during a previous Christmas Craft Show at H. Odell Weeks Center. This years Christmas Craft Show will take
on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday,
place Dec. 5 to 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

11

Aiken Gives
BY Linden Hammett
Staff photo by Maayan Schechter

Mrs. Claus and Santa, otherwise known as

Spooky and Debbie Spradley, led the Dixie
Thunder Run ABATE of South Carolina into
Helping Hands Saturday as they donated
toys to children for Christmas during their
annual Toy Run.

Anyone can celebrate the holidays with lovely

music, dance and beautiful decorations. It takes
a special combination of compassion and a
desire to serve to bring the people of a community together to give to the most needy among
them. The people of Aiken County work tirelessly during the holidays to provide the less
fortunate with gifts, supplies, and toys to give
everyone joy during the holiday season.
The South Aiken Presbyterian Church will

sponsor its 28th annual Secret Santa of Aiken

County program this year. Reaching out to help
children of low-income families, the Secret
Santa program provides parents with up to
three toys for children ages one to 12. Needy
families fill out applications in early November,
and local volunteers sign on to sponsor a family.
The program often helps hundreds of children receive the gifts they most desire.
Applications to sponsor a family can be found
at the churchs website, southaiken.org.
Each December, shoppers recognize the

STAFF PHOTO BY DEDE BILES

Sam Johnson, left, and Gary Tucker carry

bags of toys that are about to be distributed through South Aiken Presbyterian
Churchs Secret Santa of Aiken County
program.

STAFF PHOTO BY AMY BANTON

Operation Christmas Child volunteer Jennifer Williams with her daughter, Julia and
a box of supplies that they will send to a
child in need somewhere across the globe.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Town and Country Club continues its yearly tradition of bell ringing at WalMart for
the Salvation Army. Pictured from left: Kay
Hummert and Sue Gibson.

familiar ringing of bells to signal the kickoff of

the Salvation Armys Red Kettle program. The
charitys annual holiday fundraiser depends
on hundreds of volunteers to man the bright
red kettles located outside of popular area businesses. The money raised each year goes to
fund the local homeless shelter, soup kitchen,
social services office, boys and girls club and
Christmas programs. The money provides the
most needy in our area with hope during times
of desperation. Donations are accepted at any
red kettle throughout the holidays.
Many local businesses and individuals also
participate in toy collections for local charities.
The Dixie Thunder of Aiken County ABATE
of South Carolina holds a Motorcycle Toy Run
each year to benefit Helping Hands, a local
charity that runs an emergency shelter and
residential group home. The toy run provides
gifts to needy children, and raises much needed
money for the charitys various advocacy programs.
From filling an Operation Christmas Child
Box for a local church, to dropping coins in
a red kettle, there are myriad ways that the
people of Aiken come together each Christmas
to ensure that the people in need receive gifts
of love and assistance in the true spirit of the
holidays.

12

Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Nutcracker
BY Linden Hammett
Each year, the Aiken Civic Ballet presents
the community with one of the seasons most
beloved holiday performances the Nutcracker. Featuring the familiar strains of Tchaikovskys brilliant music, the local Nutcracker
was first performed by the Aiken Civic Ballet
under the direction of Carl Crosby in 1970.
In the years since, the ballet company performed the Nutcracker sporadically, working
in conjunction with other dance companies.
Over the past six years, however, the production has become a yearly tradition.
Aiken dancers perform under the tutelage
of Diane Toole Miller, artistic director of the
Civic Ballet and former professional ballerina.
This years performance will feature more
than 100 dancers of all ages. It takes a multitude of performers and volunteers to engineer
a production of this size, but everyone pulls
together brilliantly for the annual performance.
Rehearsals for the dancers began in September, and the production team
has planned everything
from costumes to props,
backdrops and special effects.
We try to change
things up from year
to year, said Miller.
We change costumes
and dancers, and revise
some of the choreography. She said that
this year she has added
a pas de deux pairing
for the classic Arabian
dance. The Arabian is
traditionally a female solo,
but I thought it would be
neat to showcase the talent of
our male company member,
Samuel.
The Nutcracker is extremely popular, and both

Aiken Standard file photo

Alyssa Raynor, 6, and Katie Raynor, 4, take

a moment to enjoy their tea and cookies
during the fifth Annual Nutcracker Tea.
shows last year were sold out. We encourage
everyone to buy tickets in advance to ensure
you get a seat, said Miller. This year the
troupe will also perform select divertissements
from the second act for Aiken County public
school children on Friday, Dec. 19.
Its a wonderful way to expose children to
the world of dance, Miller said. Many of the
children coming in for a field trip will have
never seen ballet performed live. Its a great
experience for them, and a way to encourage
the growth of arts in our community.
This year, the Nutcracker will be performed
on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday,
Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Etherredge Center at
the University of South Carolina Aiken.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students
and seniors and are available at the Etherredge
Center Box Office, 803-641-3305.
In addition to the performance in late DeAiken Standard file photo
cember, visitors at the Nutcracker Tea, held on
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Aiken County Aiken Civic Ballet Board Member Dot Poe, left, and Nutcracker Tea Host Sissie Brodie
work on decorations for the last years event. Also pictured, from left, are Anna, SamuHistorical Museum, can enjoy meeting cast
el and Isaac McNamee who are decorating the tree.
members in costume.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

13

Wagener
BY Valerie Sliker
Join Wagener for its annual Hometown Holiday Celebration and Christmas Parade, Dec.
5 and 6. There will be special events on Friday evening and Saturday morning, including
the Christmas Parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday
morning. Notify Town Hall in advance if you
will be placing an entry in the parade.
On Friday evening from 5 to 7:30 p.m.,
you can catch special performances at the
Pavilion. Performances include the WSHS
JROTC, Busbee Corbett Elementary Middle
School Chorus, the WSHSBand, seen here

from another years celebration, and the group

Crossover will perform. Fireworks will be
displayed following the performances.
Before the performaces, you can enjoy a
horse-drawn carriage ride around town, the
pick-up place is at the Gazebo across from
Town Hall.Also, crafts will be displayed and
for sale in the park starting at 5:30 p.m. Local
businesses will have an open house for a greet
and meet.
Around 7:30 p.m. there will be a Tree Lighting ceremony followed by a Fireworks Extravaganza.
Horse and Carriage rides will be available

from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday evening. You

can ride around town and view the decorations and lights, as well as use the carriage to
visit local businesses. You can board at the
Gazebo.
Tthe Wagener Museum will be open for
visits.The Museum is always open for Open
House, and this is a great night to visit the
Museum if youve never done so. The Museum is located behind Town Hall.
The Annual Christmas Parade will begin
at 11 a.m. onSaturday, Dec. 6. If youd like to
enter a float in the parade, you must register in
advance.
You can register online by clicking the
Hometown Holiday Event register button
at the top of this page or you can register in
person at Town Hall. You can call the Town
Hall at 803-564-3412. Groups participating
in the parade need to be at the Busbee/Corbett
School by 10 a.m. to line up.
Prior to the parade, there will be a Community Yard and Craft Sale beside the Petal
Shop, starting at 8 a.m. Booths will be set up
around the area with information on FOTAS,
CPR Information and CWP. A Car and Tractor Show will take place from noon to 2 p.m.
on Saturday.

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Sunday, November 23, 2014

Toys for Tots

BY Linden Hammett
Every child deserves a toy at Christmastime. The United States Marine Corps
works hard to make sure that is the case
for as many children as possible.
Its Toys for Tots program collects new,
unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year.
The toys are then distributed as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in
the community in which the campaign is
conducted.
The program, which the Secretary of
Defense approved as an official activity

of the Marines in 1995, is for all children,

including military kids.
The Toys for Tots objectives are as simple as they are honorable:
Help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy
of Christmas.
Play an active role in the development
of children.
Unite all members of local communities in a common cause.
Contribute to better communities in
the future.

Activities

The principal Toys for Tots activity is

the annual collection and distribution of
toys, which is generally coordinated by
the local reserve unit.
In communities without a reserve unit,
the campaign can be conducted by a detachment or an authorized group of veteran Marines.
And Toys for Tots is not strictly focused
on Christmastime. Campaign coordinators also conduct annual events including
golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other voluntary events designed
to garner support and donations for the
program.

Achievements and How to Help

Submitted photo

McKayla Morris of North Augusta, 2013

Miss Southeast Preteen USA National, delivers toys to The Jewelers Loupe in Aiken
for the Toys for Tots program.

To date, the organization has distributed nearly 500 million toys to more than
200 million less fortunate children. It has
also been named the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of the Year by various high-profile federations and media
organizations.
You can help this program by donating a toy at one of your local toy-drop
locations or by hosting an event at your
home.
Visit www.aikenmcl939.org/toys to
locate local drop-off and volunteer locations in Aiken County.

Submitted Photo

Savannah River Remediation construction employees assist Santa Abe Dial as

they load donated toys as part of SRRs
U.S. Marine Corp Reserve Toys for Tots
campaign. Two large trucks containing
over 3,800 donated toys and bicycles
were collected.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

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Sunday, November 23, 2014