With lights shining and shopping underway, we can circle the important days of December when we meet with friends to shop or eat, go to private and organizational parties and run down our own personal naughty or nice list. It is hectic with the yuletide coming but we do have warm memories of those yams and pies from Thanksgiving still stirring in our memories. Here are some activities to keep in mind during the next few weeks:

At the library there will be that open house on December 4 that is sponsored by the Friends of Library. Those cookies are so good and one is just not enough. It is a good time to thank the staff at the library for the wonderful year and the help they graciously offer.

Also on that date, there will be Christmas caroling sponsored by the United Methodist Church. Listen for the familiar music and the joy of young voices.

Then on December 12 at the library there will be a special recognition for volunteer work. Often we forget the hours behind the scenes. This gives the Director and the Library Board of Trustees an opportunity to call attention to volunteer dedication. This recognition is done in the name of Phyllis Cole Dubbs, long time supporter of the library. Her family appreciates the opportunity to sponsor this event.

Students at the Tri-Village school are back after a holiday break. They will be looking forward to the next break when school releases at l:15 on Friday, Dec. 21st. Classrooms are open on Monday Jan. 7.

The music department will delight parents and community with the junior-senior high holiday concert program at 7 p.m. Dec. 10th in the high school gym, according to Todd Gentis, principal.

He also announced the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 2012. This will be held Saturday, Dec. l, as the Patriots host National Trail athletes. The JV girls begin action at 3 p.m. followed by the JV boys at 4:30 p.m. Then the varsity girls play at 6 p.m. followed by the varsity boys.

The principal was pleased to announce that Kim Puckett, junior and senior teacher of math, has been chosen to receive one of the 2012 NTSA Modeling and Simulation Awards for her work in STEM and M and S Education. She is one of just six award winners this year and is also a finalist for the 2012 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Modeling and Simulation. She will be presented her award in December in Florida. Congratulations.

Shirley Dubbs is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves Daily Advocate readers weekly with her New Madison column. She can be reached at psdubbs@embarqmail.com. Viewpoints expressed in these opinion pieces are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.