CHRISTMAS BRIEFS

Tree lighting

November is National Hospice/Palliative Care month, a time when professionals and volunteers work to raise awareness of this invaluable system of care.

Those who provide hospice (Dawn Hospice volunteers) and palliative care (home health professionals) in our community offer pain and symptom control, dignity, and spiritual and emotional care for dying people and their loved ones when a cure is not possible.

Every year, more than 1.2 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country and approximately 400,000 trained volunteers provide 18 million hours of service annually. These people are the face of compassionate care at the end of life.

"When families think of the care their loved one received in hospice, they think of the concern on the face of a nurse as she made their loved one more comfortable, or the smile on the face of the volunteer listening to an old family story or joke," said Martha Beymer, a Dawn Hospice volunteer.

Dawn Hospice celebrates its annual Light Up a Life fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, at the Highland Art Center, Weaverville. The public is invited to this brief ceremony in memory and honor of community members who have been touched by hospice.

Vespers

A musical program, "A Celebration of the Birth of Jesus," will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Seventhday Adventist Church in Hayfork.

Performing will be The Bell Choir and the Chorale; soloists, Pastor Randy Brehms, Nancy Meintzer, Ray Leadbetter; instrumentals, Dr. Mercill, Shannon Barnett, Dr. Kizziar, Josiah Brandauer; and concert pianist Lynette Bedford. Included in the program is "The Nativity" by the children.

This is the 27th year the church has sponsored the Christmas Vespers. The program is coordinated by Eunice Galleher.

Festival of Light arts & craft faire

The Festival of Light Arts & Fine Crafts Faire will be held at the Lewiston Community Center, 130 Texas Ave., from 9 a m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

There will be live music all day, a hot lunch special, bake sale, silent auction and 14 of the area's finest local artists. This is a benefit for the Women of the Moose local charities.

Fire Belles 30th Christmas Bazaar

The Fire Belles' 30th Annual Christmas Bazaar will be held from 9 a m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Weaverville.

There will be homemade crafts, the famous Fire Belles' "Bag" Raffle, chili, refreshments and the Douglas City Fire Belles' Bake Sale of homemade cakes, pies, cookies and fudge. See's Candy will also be available from the Junction City Fire Jills.

More than 25 local vendors and several vendors from out of the area will be there with a large variety of craft items to choose from There will be many small and oneof a-kind items for under $10 for that perfect stocking-stuffer gift.

All proceeds of this event go toward the Douglas City Fire Department.