STUDENTS from Georgetown Central School had fun making wreaths in the school gymnasium last week.

STUDENTS from Georgetown Central School had fun making wreaths in the school gymnasium last week.

GEORGETOWN

Second-grader Elliot Harkins is an old hand at making Christmas wreaths.

Elliot was at it again on last week, making wreaths with nearly 50 other students from Georgetown Central School. The fifth annual Arrangement and Wreath event is sponsored by the Georgetown Fire Department.

Tristan Beveridge and Kiernan Mann, also secondgraders, worked alongside Elliot to fashion the evergreen boughs onto wires then attach decorations.

Elliot goes for it when he makes his wreaths.

“I’m trying to make as much boughs as I can to make it thick and to make it look nice,” he said. “I like that you can create your own.”

Elliot makes his wreaths in the true spirit of giving.

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“Every year,” he said, “I send my wreath to my grammy. I send it to her in the mail. She likes it so she doesn’t have to buy one. We usually leave her a note on it.”

Jon Hentz, the fire department’s safety officer, and Chief Larry Mann coordinate the activity. Hentz, Mann, parents and teachers joined the students for the fun in the school gymnasium.

“I just show up and walk around,” Mann said. “Jon leads the team.”

Adults stood in back of a long table that held the decorations along one of the gym walls. There were “splashes” (three or four short branches combined), ribbons, pine cones, wreath rings, berries and “reindeer moss.”

As Hentz explained it, the 30 or so parents who show up are much needed.

“Some of the children are pre-K and kindergarten,” he said, “and they need help. The children go to the tables and get their supplies. More than half of them prefer to work on the floor.”

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Hentz got the greenery from the old Higmo’s Christmas tree farm in Brunswick. He picks up the pine cones here and there.

His wife, Rosemary, and daughter, Heidi Tamburo, stood behind the boughs. Tamburo, with help from Penny Berube, fashions the round wires ahead of time.

“And I cook,” her mother chimed in.

“I like to do it for the kids,” Tamburo said. “Wreaths are expensive to buy. This way, everyone gets one, for free. Now I keep my eyes out for the kids, to see who needs help.”

Second-grade teacher Susie Morissette sat on the floor helping her students.

Blake McMahan was able to get the branches onto the wire on his first try. “I did it, Mrs. Morissette,” the enthused youngster said. “I like decorating it. I’ll put it on my door.”

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Morissette was doing the wreath-making for the first year, as well.

“I do a few arts and crafts,” she said, “but last year was the first year I actually made a wreath. This brings the community and families together.”

Michael Winn showed his acumen at wreath-making. Winn quickly fashioned two of them, with the help of his daughter Olivia, 7, and son Hunter, 4.

“This is the third or fourth year for me,” Winn said. “I’ve kind of got it down.”


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