Cromwell-Wright News

With Christmas just a few days away as I write this, it is a good time to stop and think of others and how they are doing during the holidays. I usually don’t get around to sending a lot of Christmas cards, but do try to keep in touch with friends all during the year via e-mail or regular mail. I am still one of those old-fashioned people who write letters and love to receive them, too.

Ray Lally says Dec. 21 is his favorite day of the year. Why, you may ask? Well, after Dec. 21 our minutes of daylight start getting longer and longer and we are on our way back to the longest day of the year. I guess we really do love daylight and these long, cold and dark days of winter do get to us at times, but knowing that the days are getting longer really helps.

Back in 2016, I spent half of January and all of February in Hawaii, which really made the winter go faster. Here are some key phrases that you may hear in Hawaii during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday season.

Mele Kalikimaka - Merry Christmas. The words “Mele Kalikimaka” are a phonetic translation. The Hawaiian phrase for “Happy New Year” became “Hau’oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new)”(how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho). Also, “Mahalo nui loa” means “Thank you very much.”

The children of Bethlehem and Bethany put on their Christmas programs Dec. 16 during the worship services. The kids always do such a great job and we are so thankful for them. Back in 2008, a teddy bear played the part of Baby Jesus at Bethlehem Lutheran church and a 3-year-old kept taking the bear out of the manger and hugging it. I guess that’s our message. Take the Savior out of the manger and embrace Him, too!

Our sympathy to the family of former Cromwell-Wright resident, Lois Lake Frederick, 85, who died in Eugene, Ore. Dec. 13, 2018. There are no services planned at this time.

The Cromwell Area Luminary Committee will have the Luminary Program on Jan. 13, 2019 at the Villa Vista in Cromwell. Every year since 2004 this committee has put on this event to commemorate those loved ones who have died in the past year or years. Everyone is welcome to attend and purchase a luminary in memory of a friend or family member. Bags can be purchased at the door for $1 each or call me at 218-357-2385 to order them.

Here are the names, ages and dates of death of the folks in and from our area who passed away in 2018. If I have missed any, or you have more information on some of them, please let me know. Judy Niesen, 74, 1-4-18; Kimberly Kalli, 55, 1-8-18; John Rachel, 54, 1-13-18; Judy Koivisto, 72, 2-6-18; Dennis Dorman; Waino Heikkila, 96, 2-8-18; Mary Ronich, 2-2-18; Karl Schatz, 82, 2-3-18; Curt Kisler, 72, 2-6-18; Kathy Jokimaki, 58, 2-19-18; Thomas Gille, 68, 2-19-18; Marjorie Cain, 82, 2-28-28; Deborah Johnson, 67, 3-10-18; Helen Korpela, 99, 3-14-18; Rev. Alden Keiski, 81, 3-13-18; Leo Smith, 86, 3-26-18; Marie Ward, 75, 4-17-18; Charles Laine, 62, 4-13-18; Gaylen Brevik, 4-10-18; Gordon Steffer, 88, 4-23-18; Wally Schulke, 82, 4-23-18; Linnea Korpela Autio, 97, 4-30-18; Ruth Schultz, 91, 5-3-18; Maxine Maijala, 71, 5-6-18; Paul Crotteau, 75, 5-13-18; Monica Ann Dahl, 77, 5-21-18; Rodney A. Tillman, 77, 5-30-18; Marlene Almquist, 6-5-18; Marjorie Valla, 91, 6-7-18; Tom Cich, 79, 6-17-18; Craig Simonson; Bill Duffney July 2018; Melvin Jarvi, 87, 7-17-18; John Walli; Joe Jerikovsky, 91, 7-25-18; Roger Nyberg; Carroll Stayton, 87, 8-7-18; Cooper Jens Erickson, 17, 8-9-18; Earnest Olbeckson, 79, 8-13-18; Gary Fischer, 79, 8-15-18; Art Maki, 92, 8-24-18; Betty Mae Raich, 77, 8-24-18; Doug Sewell, 91, 9-21-18; Jacob Von De Linde, 96, 9-21-18; Shirley M. Dolly Lund, 71, 9-26-18; Art Newgren, 91, 9-27-18; Marna Nordquist, 85, 10-2-18; Ailie Costello, 102, 10-6-18; Elizabeth Liz Fox, 61, 10-14-18; Pat Peterson, 83, 10-19-18; Karen Karppinen Nikko, 75, 10-27-18; Barbara McTaggart; Ivona Risacker, 87,11-4-18; Harold Haapoja, 74, 11-4-18; Marlene Huhta Ruotsalainen, 85, 11-15-18; Rudy Lundstrom, 11-18-18; and Lois Lake Fredrickson, 85, 12-13-18.

Here are some upcoming

events/activities:

•Dec. 23 – Bethany Church Cantata Candlelight service at 6 p.m.

•Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight service at Bethlehem at 4 p.m.

•Dec. 25 – Christmas Day service at Bethany at 10 a.m.

•After early release Friday, Dec. 21, the kids are out for winter break until school resumes Jan. 2. Also, in a school calendar change, there will be no school for students Jan. 28, because of a mandatory training for teachers and staff.

•There will be Open Gym 5:30-7 p.m. on Sundays. Call or text Brett Cahoon at 218-590-0474 or Lee Shelton at 218-428-5024 with questions.

Here are the answers to last week’s Candy Quiz. Hope you had fun with these:

Galaxy? – Milky Way

Red Planet? - Mars bar

Not laughing out loud? – Snickers

Can’t hold onto anything? –

Butterfinger

A famous author? Oh Henry!

A famous New York Street? – 5th Avenue

Twin letters? – m&m’s

Round flotation devices? – Life Savers

Dry Cow? – Milk Duds

What Bees make? – Bit-O-Honey

Nut Happiness? – Almond Joy

As the year comes to an end, here’s a little quote that I got a kick out of: “What’s the worst thing about getting old? Getting old!”

And remember the best thing about turning 60 is you’re not 70, or turning 70 is you’re not 80, or turning 80 is you’re not 90! Anyway, it seems that the older I get, the younger old people look. Maybe you’ve noticed the same thing.

So, with the passing of another year, I want to wish you all Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, or a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!