Christmas News from Around the Country

There were several bits of Christmas news when I browsed the Internet this weekend. 

We will start our journey this week in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Elaine Bowman has set up a permanent Christmas tree in her living room made from a column from the old Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Reading that she found in an antique store. Read Elaine's story here.

Our next stop is in Madison County, Virginia, where the county school board has just approved to change the name of  "Winter Break" in the draft 2024-2025 school calendar to "Christmas Break." You can read about the controversial decision here. 

We then stop in New York, New York, where Cinemablend has reported Hallmark is in production for a sequel to the 2022 holiday movie, Three Wise Men and a Baby. Titled, Three Wiser Men and a Boy, this movie takes place five years after the events of the first movie. You can read more here. 

Finally, we will travel to Alaska for some tragic news out of Anchorage. Jason Tolstrup, who has lit the decorated spruce along Glenn Highway since 2005, died in a dirt bike accident last week. You can read more about Tolstrup's dedication to keeping the landmark glowing here. 

Mario Lopez Filming Christmas Movie in Long Grove, IL for Great American Media

Mario Lopez is shooting a Great American Media Christmas movie in Long Grove, IL. Currently, titled My Grown Up Christmas Wish, Lopez plays the role of the mayor of Long Grove, which is the actual name of the town.

 

According to the interview between the real mayor of Long Grove and WGN News, this is the fourth Christmas movie to be shot in historic downtown Long Grove. You can check out their website at www.longgrove.org

Christmas in April in Prince George’s Country, Maryland

 

Photo credit: Christmas in April website

While searching for a topic to write about for Christmas in April, I came across a website for a non-denominational volunteer organization that repairs the homes of senior citizens who are low-income and/or physically challenged. The name of this organization is Christmas in April.

Their website states: "Since 1989, we have repaired more than 2,886 Homes with the help of 95,900 volunteers. We have done over $51.2 million dollars worth of free home repair."   

Isn't that amazing? That's what I call embracing the Christmas spirit and thinking of others. Their next Christmas in April Day is scheduled for April 27, 2024. You'll find a variety of ways to volunteer or you can donate to their cause.