Belleville Civic Club

Merry Christmas From Jeri Young T' Twas a month before Christmas, And all through the town,... People wore masks, That covered their frown. The frown had begun Way back in the Spring, When a global pandemic Changed everything. They called it corona, But unlike the beer, It didn’t bring good times, It didn’t bring cheer. Airplanes were grounded, Travel was banned. Borders were closed Across air, sea and land. As the world entered lockdown To flatten the curve, The economy halted, And folks lost their nerve. From March to July We rode the first wave, People stayed home, They tried to behave. When summer emerged The lockdown was lifted. But away from caution, Many folks drifted. Now it’s November And cases are spiking, Wave two has arrived, Much to our disliking. It’s true that this year Has had sadness a plenty, We’ll never forget The year 2020. And just ‘round the corner - The holiday season, But why be merry? Is there even one reason? To decorate the house And put up the tree, Who will see it, No one but me. But outside my window The snow gently falls, And I think to myself, Let’s deck the halls! So, I gather the ribbon, The garland and bows, As I play those old carols, My happiness grows. Christmas is not cancelled And neither is hope. If we lean on each other, I know we can cope. See more

A Message from Pattie If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things, If we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, When will we have the time to make the long, slow journey... across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each one of us, there is a desert to travel, a star to discover, and a being within ourselves to bring to life. Author - Unknown May your Christmas be filled with all the gifts and treasures that last. Hugs to you all. Pattie See more

Thoughts from Elaine Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in spite of it all. This has been the hardest year, but a new and better year is coming. In the meantime, please stay safe and keep your loved ones safe. For me, that means taking precautions and staying away from other people. Some years ago, I decided to not decorate for the holidays anymore. As I was getting the decorations out, I had a thought. Decorating is like going out in a boat: every mile out is a mile you have... to come back. Decorate and undecorate; we don't have children or grandchildren, so who is it for? I put the decorations away and decided to do things for the holidays that are lasting and meaningful instead. Usually it has been writing up family stories which I share with my siblings, cousins and all their children. This year, though, I was given a family album by Mike's mother's cousin Doris, who at 97 years old is quite with it. We communicate by way of Facebook Messenger. It has been a time of learning new skills. I am identifying, labeling, and organizing the photos, scanning into my computer, then uploading to Drop Box or Google Photos so everyone can see them. When Mike's brother learned about Doris' album, he gave me a baggie of their father's WWII photos and two other old albums. After I get done with Mike's family I will start in on my own carton of photos and letters. That project should take me so far into next year it will be safe to leave the house, God willing. My message to you is please be safe and well. If you find yourself alone and with time, I hope you find a way to make it meaningful and full of love. And please label all your old pictures. Love, Elaine Family pictures glued to black construction paper with mucilage. Pictures identified, sorted, and scanned. Mike’s great grandmother, mother, and grandmother, about 1928. See more

In Memory Diddy Cleck & David Sigler There are two individuals that passed away recently that I would like to recognize. The first is a long-time Civic Club member, Diddy Cleck. Perhaps you are one of our members who never had the... opportunity to meet Diddy. First, let me say that Diddy was not her real name because she didn’t like her given name and never used it. So neither will I. She was a very warm, giving, and caring person. You immediately liked her. And she was funny. It seems like she was a Civic Club member forever. Even after she moved to one of the cottages she continued to pay her dues. Sometimes she would call me and ask if she had paid her dues and I would check on it for her. She had the most adorable cottage. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. She had white shutters put inside her windows so she could open and close them. It was perfectly decorated. When she moved over to the terrace I asked what she did with the shutters. She replied, Well I brought them with me! Diddy was known for always having a Rose Breakfast table. She and another club member, Ruth Spicher, always had a table together and they were lovely. And they were winners sometimes. Diddy, you were special and you will be missed. The second person I want to recognize is David Sigler who passed away on November 22nd at Valley View. Dave was one of our antique dealers and was one of the longest running dealers to attend. He had to give up the show several years ago because of Parkinson’s Disease. Sometime before he retired he said to me, Barb, do you think we can make it to fifty? And I said, Boy, I don’t know Dave. Well, our 50th show was to have been this year. I’m sad because Dave is no longer with us and I’m still here but didn’t get to do it because of Covid. Dave also retired from teaching in the Mifflin County School District. And to my closing thought people enter our lives as strangers and become good friends and leave us with wonderful memories. So it is with Dave. In his obituary it is stated, His favorite local show was that of the Belleville Civic Club. I am blessed to have known both Diddy and Dave. Fondly remembered by Barb Frankhouser See more