Around the Neighborhood - Seward - 22 December 2025

We are in the heart of December.  With this heart, the Marchand Manor of Sharon Springs is asking for your help. They have residents there asking to have gifts to open Christmas morning.  Many of them may not have family or funds to get their needs. I am sharing their list to reach out for help. It is located at 121 Main Street Sharon Springs. 

Ok folks, we asked residents about needs/wants for Christmas and boy do we have a list! 

Times are hard for everyone and we understand that,  but if you feel the holiday spirit to help us make our residents Christmas the best ever, feel free to donate new/gently used items for their Christmas enjoyment 

Size 8 ladies winter boots

Size 10 ladies slippers

2x ladies pants

Mens 3x winter coat

Mens large bathrobe

Mens large tshirts

Mens sneakers Size 9

Yankees baseball hat

Mets baseball hat

Writing paper

Pens

Colored pencis

Coloring books

Crayons

Body sprays

Cologne

Make up kits

Small stuffed animals

2026 calendars

Hard candies

Chocolates 

Stewart's cards

Pistachios

Nail polish

Ladies and Mens socks

Puzzles

Slim Jim's 

Scarfs

Scratch off tickets

I know its a big list but if you feel inclined reach out to the facility or myself, Kathy Woodbeck or even just share this post to spread the word 😀

Wishing you all the best of holidays ❤️

A business with a large heart is NBT bank! Each holiday the Cobleskill branch hides water bottles with a special note. Hand that in at the bank and get a prize! Larson was lucky enough to find a water bottle hid in town, on a snowy Wednesday morning. He handed it in and received a ham. The smile on his face was priceless! Thank you all for caring in our small town!

In my home we have two December birthdays! My husband's birthday  is Monday December 22! Happy birthday Babe! I hope we make your birthday as amazing as you. This man takes care of us all year long. We hope you know how much we love you!

The year is winding down, I would like to share some upcoming dates with you. I am a homeschooling mom, I have been for five years now. I take my kids out to weekly/monthly activities. We joined an amazing group at Clark's Sports center in Cooperstown.  We meet every Tuesday for $5 a child/week. You pay per semester.  My children love this. We do follow the Cooperstown  school schedule, so we follow closing and breaks. Also Interskate 88, in Oneonta,  has homeschooling skate. This is held on the second Thursday of each month,  1:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. $5 to skate and extra to rent skates. If you are local to Schoharie County Kimberly Buck runs an amazing group! Thank you Kimberly for all the hard work you do!

If you have kids interested in the CRCS High school play, please see Mrs. Crewell. Try outs are happening right now. If you have kids interested in stage crew, Mrs. Lent asks that you show up on January 5, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. The play is in need of male roles and others who wish to act. Stage crew is in need of builders and movers. Homeschooling children join as this is a club.

Don't forget: THE VERY FIRST TREE LIGHTING IN SEWARD WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 23, 2025 AT 7:00 p.m. It is located in the pavilion in our town park. We would love to have a great turnout.  We will even have a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Clause! There may also be another surprise! We will have hot chocolate and cookies for those in attendance.  

We have a local celebrity among us! Keith Baciuska- Cobleskill NY, Age 13

He has been riding bulls for 11 months.

Currently tied for First Place JR Bull Riding- New York State High School Rodeo

2025 Beat the Beast Tour JR Bulls Finalist, Finishing 3rd at the finals and 5th for the season.

Plays Modified Football and Modified Wrestling for Cobleskill Richmondville Middle School

Loves Hunting, Horseback Riding and Practicing Bull Riding!

Fav Song: The Gambler -Kenny Rodgers

Sponsors: Mom and Dad, Loomacres Wildlife Management,  Iron Skillet Seasonings, Kelsey Brook Farms, and Blake Baciuska!  I was able to perform his first ever interview on December 15, 2025. We chatted over messenger with dad, Cody, present. Keith is also a local dedicated athlete for CRCS.  Keith stays in shape all year by being part of the schools wrestling team, and football team. Keith goes to the practice pens during the winter months, three times a week. Keith attributed his riding passion to his friend Avery Brooks. Brooks has been riding since age 6. Keith was in 10 events this summer for the Beat the Beast Tour. He plans to continue riding. I wish him all the luck! If you wish to be a sponsor for this local rider please reach out to Cody Baciuska. 

Did you hear? NYFB celebrated a house win on December  15, 2025. The House passed The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This was passed by the Senate last month. This will allow schools to carry the choice of 2%, 1%, skim, flavored and plain. This has overturned  the 2012 ruling that only allowed fat free milk. Big thank you to Duane Spaulding, and Ann for getting this to the finish line. They went to numerous events,  schools, and fairs. They educated the public and the legislature.  They served their community and we thank them! Your local Farm Bureau was very involved in this as well! They are always looking for new members to join! Please call 518436-8495 to join your local Farm Bureau,  tell them Angela Clapper sent you♡

Next week is Christmas and I will not get another chance to tell you all, MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY HOME TO YOU! Christmas is different in every home and every season of life. I am thankful for Christmases I have shared with my family and friends.  Enjoy the moment,  take photos, eat too many cookies, play with the wrapping paper, drive to look at the lights. Do all the things that will help you enjoy this season of life. I know my children look forward to Christmas Eve night, this tradition started in my life in 1997, but then in my own home in 2020. I always went to my Aunt Joyce's house on Christmas Eve. I looked forward to this night all year! Old Country music Christmas songs, her baked ziti, french onion dip, turkey subs, and my family. Under her tree were wrapped presents fro. The dollar store you could win. We played Bingo and laughed so hard we cried. We have since lost my Grandma Nellie,  my Aunt Joyce, and my cousin  Kimmy. So I keep this tradition alive in my home. We play Bingo and win wrapped prizes. I have 10 of them, I buy random things to make them smile. I try to remember the one I really wanted, but I always  forget.  We make our menu( usually based on items they have loved growing up), and enjoy the game, food and laughter. God Bless you and enjoy the end of 2025♡