CHESTERVILLE — Those who attended the annual Christmas party at the David Archer Town Hall Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3, had fun regardless of their age or the low attendance.

North Chesterville Extension Homemakers host the annual Christmas party for children. Homemaker Linda Gramlich said the party is for any children in the area, not just those from Chesterville.

At one table three year old Atticus Malone of Wilton was decorating a gingerbread man cookie with colored frostings and sprinkles. Five year old Nicholas Steigelman of Chesterville sat beside him working on a similar cookie creation.

An offer to decorate a second cookie drew emphatic responses that only boy cookies would be acceptable. The boys wanted nothing to do with the girl gingerbread cookies.

“Wait 15 years,” one homemaker quipped.

“Last time we lived in Florida,” Nicholas stated when the Livermore Falls Advertiser asked where he lived. “We lived in Mercer,” mom Kara Steigelman said. “I wished it was in Florida.”

At another table nine year old Tyler Freeman of Chesterville colored a Christmas scene. A variety of crayons, markers and other writing implements were provided along with pages featuring Santa Claus, a Teddy bear or two types of “Merry Christmas” scenes.

Atticus and Nicholas both asked for red markers for their pages. When homemaker Jeanne Norton questioned why kids liked that color so much, Atticus said it was the color of Santa’s suit and his bag of toys. The two both agreed Santa’s boots should be black.

Homemaker Glenda Barker read a letter from Santa, which said he was sorry he couldn’t be there, but that he had a very bad cold. “I am drinking my hot tea and being very good,” the letter stated. “My elves are very busy getting the toys all made. … I send all my hugs and kisses. Love you all. Thank you, Santa Claus.”

Selectperson John Archer and his wife Ruth stopped by. Ruth chose to decorate a gingerbread cookie before eating it, however John just ate a cookie. He was told he was on the naughty list for not taking part in the activities the homemakers had planned.

The Christmas party is usually held on the second Sunday in December, Gramlich said.

“There is so much going on,” she noted. “We usually have 40 to 50 children. Last year I think it was 42, know it was more than 40. This year we prepared bags for 58 children.”

In addition to the goodie bags, each child received a candy cane and hot chocolate was available. The children also signed a card to Santa Clause that was to be mailed on Monday.

The party didn’t get on the calendar so the homemakers had to work with when the hall was available, Gramlich stated. The second Sunday is already marked for next year, she said.

The weather may also have contributed as the first big storm of the season was expected Sunday into Monday. Several inches of snow were predicted. By 2:15 p.m. large fluffy flakes were falling and about 15 minutes later several spots on roads between Chesterville and Wilton were white.

“We have to stay here until 4,” Gramlich said  earlier. “We will drive slowly going home.”

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