Two multi-day blizzards in two weeks made for a white Christmas that, for many, meant an adjustment in holiday plans. Winter Storm Diaz dropped about 20 inches of snow on Gregory between December 13 and 16, accompanied by blizzard conditions and dangerously cold temperatures.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2) The staff of Silver Threads Assisted Living recently had the opportunity to put this hospitality into practice when Sgt. Allen Sanchez found himself stranded in front of their facility.

Through the Building Up Bonesteel- Fairfax housing project, a dilapidated house was torn down to make way for a new home. The Bonesteel Development Corporation has offered to reimburse homeowners $2,500 for qualifying tear-downs in order to clear away old, run-down structures to make way for new. Three more structures were torn down in February. The group continues to look into ways to improve the two communities and offer affordable housing to those who want to live and work there. A fourth demolition was completed in March. As of that date, five properties had been sold, one was under contract, five dilapidated homes had been demolished, and four listings remained available for sale.

Monday, December 12: It is raining and sleeting off and on. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Tuesday and Wednesday.

In 2004, the German post office gave away 20 million scented stickers for free to make Christmas cards smell like a fir Christmas tree, cinnamon, gingerbread, or a honey-wax candle. A surge in Christmas cards came in the 1940s, courtesy of World War II.

Are you still looking for some last-minute Christmas ideas? Last week’s blizzard might have cut short your shopping days or perhaps, inflation has made household money tight. Christmas, however, doesn’t have to mean stretching your budget or wasting money on gifts that will be broken or discarded before the end of the year.