William Penn Life, 1981 (16. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1981-01-01 / 1. szám
Branch 226 McKeesport, Pa. Our Children-Family Christmas Party was held on Sunday, December 14, in the Social Hall of St. Stephen’s Church on Beacon Street in McKeesport. The party was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., but shortly after 2:00 p.m., our guests began to arrive. They commented enthusiastically on the Christmas decor of the Hall as on Saturday, the Officers and committee members spent the entire afternoon in decorating and setting up the tables to accommodate 100 or more persons. It was indeed a lovely sight to behold—a large, brightly decorated Christmas tree, tables with red coverings, centerpieces of pine branches, cones, and candles—all this to put everyone in a Holiday spirit. In due time, and when quite a few guests arrived, the children settled down to the business of playing games and winning prizes. Our very efficient Branch Manager, Barbara Banes Botkin, had set up a series of competitive games in which children of all ages participated. It was delightful to hear the children laughing and competing, then getting their prizes for accomplishments. The youngsters took time out to quench their thirst with orange drinks, when back again to the games and prizes. The games came to an end, with all children clutching their plastic Christmas bags filled with prizes. Of course, there were no losers! Helen Stipkovits, accompanied by Barbara Botkin at the piano, directed the children and adults in the singing of Christmas carols. When “Jingle Bells” was being sung, good old St. Nick appeared with a ho-ho-ho—the children were overwhelmed with his appearance. Each child received a gift from Santa of a brightly decorated ceramic mug filled with Christmas candy, and a roll of shiny new pennies. A delicious buffet luncheon was set up and all were invited to eat and drink to their heart’s content, and all present, really did so. This, our first Family Oriented Christmas affair, was a huge success due to the wonderful participation of many adult Branch members who, in the past, were spectators. Many of our women—Sophia Shusner, Margaret Linderman, Helen Banes, Margaret Panko—willingly baked delicious cookies and cakes and made potato salad; some came to help in the kitchen in attractively placing the food on trays in order to serve our guests—Irene Grebur, Bette Hoffman, Ann Siebert, Annamae Rietski, Carrie Budnick. It seems we all worked together with a good, warm feeling of belonging and enjoying all we did. A spirit of togetherness seemed to prevail, and this alone contributed greatly to the success of the party. Ethel Sabo and Sophia Shusner also quite efficiently handled the registration of all persons, adult and children, attending. Many fine door prizes for adults and children alike were donated by our various Officers and members. For instance, John and Ethel Sabo, Edward Rietski, Elizabeth Buck, Violet Lenart, Helen Domencic, Alexander Goydan, all donated a prize so that those present received a gift from the Branch. Our clean-up crew were ably assisted by Russell Hoffman, Gay Banes, Alexander Goydan, and Lester Botkin and Frank Domencic, along with Ed Rietski and John Sabo made fine bartenders. It is with a deep feeling of gratitude that credit for the success of our party 17
