Christmas

Young shopper Randi points to the shelf as Roy officer Bryce Weir waits to help Saturday at the Riverdale Walmart. Kids across the Top of Utah got the chance to shop for Christmas, thanks to a Walmart grant and area donations. (STEVE SMITH/Special to the Standard-Examiner)

Bonneville High student body officers, police help kids shop for Christmas

RIVERDALE — Fifty-five police cars raced down Riverdale Road in the snow early Saturday morning, all with sirens blaring and lights flashing. They converged on the Riverdale Walmart, making onlookers wonder what crime or emergency had occurred.

“We like to stack them up and make a lot of noise,” said Weber County Sheriff’s Cpl. Josh Guard. “I always forget my ear plugs.”

The law enforcement officers from Riverdale, Pleasant View, Roy and the Weber County Sheriff’s Office emerged from their cars with their pint-sized passengers, while Bonneville High School students, Walmart associates and Santa himself waited inside to greet them.

Youngsters run to meet and get a hug from Santa on Saturday in Ogden. Although Santa was supposed to arrive by helicopter because his reindeer are resting up for the big day, kids weren’t disappointed — the jolly ol’ elf was mobbed by youngsters. (STEVE SMITH/Special to the Standard-Examiner)

Kids check off their Christmas wish list with Ogden shopping trip with officers

OGDEN — Lilly wanted a Monster High doll, Dominic wanted “A VAN!” and a radio-controlled car, and Abriella wanted clothes, shoes, something pink and, oh yeah, Monster High dolls.

Santa, of course, delivered.

His elves were Ogden police officers who certainly did their best Saturday morning at ShopKo, although a few struggled.

Shop with a Hero

Free Christmas program, party Sunday at Clearfield church

CLEARFIELD — A Unity Christmas program is set for 6 p.m. Sunday at Clearfield Community Church, 200 S. 500 East.

“You will experience the Christmas story through the eyes of the friendly Beasts,” states a church news release.

Lakeside Community Church in Sunset plans kids’ program

SUNSET — The community is invited to a Kids’ Christmas Program titled “Sing Praises!” at 10 a.m. Sunday at Lakeside Community Church, 305 W. 1300 North, Sunset.

Members of the community line up for dinner during Marshall White Center’s Gift of Love dinner in 2006. Church groups and individuals are being asked to help make the 2012 event even more beneficial by donating warm clothing and small gift items to be distributed to the needy. Organizers say nothing will be wasted, as any extra items will be passed along to local shelters. (Standard-Examiner file photo)

A call to give: Christmas dinner organizers ask for donations

OGDEN — Area church groups and individuals are invited to assist in an upcoming effort to bring some Christmas joy to those who are less fortunate.

The event is the annual Christmas dinner at the Marshall White Community and Recreation Center, 222 28th St., planned for 11 a.m. Dec. 22. Organizers say for two decades the center has served Christmas dinner, but now they want to offer something more.

Actors perform in a live Nativity scene in West Haven in 2011. (Standard-Examiner file photo)

Christian leaders discuss how to keep Christ the center of the holiday

Keeping in mind the gifts that Jesus Christ gave to the world is the key to keeping the right perspective at Christmastime.

These were the sentiments of some area Christian church leaders who were asked how to help those who are frustrated with the commercialism and other stresses of the season.

“We have to remember that it’s His birthday, not ours,” said the Rev. Vanessa Cato of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Ogden. “It’s about keeping the focus on Jesus.”

Christmas dinner donations sought

OGDEN — Project Success Coalition, the Marshall White Community Center and Ogden Weber Community Action Partnership are seeking donations for the annual Gift of Love Community Christmas Dinner.

Creations West, a Clearfield-based architectural firm, took top honors at the Northern Wasatch Home Builder’s Association Gingerbread Parade of Homes, receiving a bid of $450 for its barnyard, complete with spotted cow and green tractor. Creations West was voted the best gingerbread home by more than 180 NWHBA members who attended the event. (Courtesy photo)

Gingerbread Parade of Homes auction raises $1,275 for N. Utah charitable needs

OGDEN — That’s a lot of bread — gingerbread, that is.

The Northern Wasatch Home Builder’s Association Gingerbread Parade of Homes raised $1,275 for the association’s charitable arm. The auction event took place Thursday during the NWHBA’s annual Christmas party.

Event organizer Jennifer Vesper, of Morgan, looks up from the elaborate gingerbread village of Whoville, built by Krista Johansen. Vesper organized the competition, held in the historic downtown Morgan on Commerce Street. Johansen’s creation won the judged portion of the competition. Krystal Bybee’s 3-foot-tall Rapunzel tower won the people’s choice and mayor’s choice award. (KRISTEN HEBESTREET/Standard-Examiner correspondent)

Edible Whoville wins Morgan gingerbread house competition

MORGAN — Time is the secret to building prize-winning gingerbread houses, Jennifer Vesper says.

The high-level gingerbread competitor organized the gingerbread house competition held Saturday at the Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration on Commercial Street in the historic section of downtown Morgan.

About 700 people attended the event, which featured Santa and Mrs. Claus riding downtown on top of a Morgan County fire truck, followed by the lighting of a Christmas tree.

Santa starts Christmas season

HOOPER — Heavy rain didn’t keep Hooper residents from coming out to see Santa arrive last week to greet hundreds of kids and kick off the Christmas season.

Community United Methodist Church will host “One Starry Night,” an interactive event where participants will follow Mary and Joseph's journey to the manger. (Standard-Examiner file photo)

All welcome to join in ‘One Starry Night’ event

OGDEN — Families and individuals are invited to experience the Christmas story in “One Starry Night,” following Mary and Joseph’s journey to the manger.

Seren Gale (left) and her mother Reb Fleming make their way around a ritual known as a labyrinth at the United Church of Christ in Ogden in 2002. (Standard-Examiner file photo)

Public invited to walk labyrinth for Advent

OGDEN — “Walk the labyrinth to enrich your Advent experience,” states a news release from Trinity Presbyterian Church.

“Take some time out from the holiday pressures and reconnect and recommit to a stronger faith relationship!” it reads.

Patricia Cieslak, a volunteer from campusbookrentals.com, looks for toys for a Christmas wish list in bins at Toys for Tots in Ogden on Thursday. The empty bin in front is the program’s biggest lack: toys for infants. (CHARLES TRENTELMAN/Standard-Examiner)

Needs for Christmas still unmet, say local charities

OGDEN — The Toys for Tots and Angel Tree warehouse in Business Depot Ogden is a sea of toys for, well, tots — but that doesn’t mean there are enough.

Shortages of gloves, toys and even pants are looming. And those are just two of several programs working to fill needs of the poor at Christmas.

West Bountiful Police Chief Todd Hixson participates during Shop With a Cop at Walmart in Centerville on Saturday, December, 1. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)

Shop With a Cop a gift for both children, Davis law enforcement

CENTERVILLE — Sitting down to visit with a police officer can cause nervousness for elementary-aged children.

Many of the 70 or so kids who entered the Bountiful Applebees on Saturday morning were a little shy and not sure how to act with the 80 officers on hand, all in full uniform.

They were all there for the Shop With a Cop program sponsored by the Davis County Fraternal Order of Police.

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