Each year Santa schedules a stop in Danbury to talk to the young children one final time before his big night. This last Saturday was his day to do so. This year was a bit different from previous years, though. Instead of filling the rec center with Christmas cheer, Dana Hall was the venue for the party. The change, due to construction at the rec center, was well received.
    There was one more change from previous years. This year Santa brought his wife, Mrs. Claus to also meet the children. The duo brought bags of candy for each child with them and also gave each child a gift.
    Along with visiting the Clauses, kids of all ages were invited to write letters to Santa, color pictures, make Santa bellies from jello cups, and cover snowmen with fluffy snow. All were also offered cookies. Many smiles were seen in the two-hour period.
    To the right, Mrs. Claus enjoys some cuddle time with the youngest guest on Saturday, 6-week old Kamryn Goslar, daughter of Kayla and Sean Goslar of Mapleton.
    Many more photos from the event can be seen on the back page of this issue. Also in this issue are Christmas submissions from many of the classes from Danbury Catholic and the MVAO elementary schools. Enjoy!

    Johnston, Iowa - This December, LifeServe Blood Center invites the community to share the true spirit of the holiday season by giving the gift of life through blood donation. While families are celebrating together, many hospital patients are spending the holidays in treatment and rely on volunteer donors to provide the blood products they need.
    As a thank-you, all donors who give between December 17–31 will receive a voucher for LifeServe's trademark holiday long-sleeve shirt while supplies last.
    The Danbury Community drive will be held on New Year's Eve from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Danbury Fire Station.
    Help make the holidays brighter for hospital patients in your community. Schedule your lifesaving appointment at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800.287.4903.

    Next week we will publish the concert photos from the schools. The following week will be our year in review issue. What should our top story be?
    If you have thoughts on the top story, call us at 712-893-2001 or email us at review@danbury-ia.com.

    Jim Twitchell and Twitchell Electric will celebrate another Christmas Eve at Schrank's Bar & Grill and invites other "orphans" to join him for Twitch's 30th Annual Orphan Party.
    Attendees are asked to bring a munchie. They are also encouraged to wear an ugly sweater.

    This month is always a whirlwind, trying to catch all the programs and special events at all the schools, helping make Santa's visit great for him, wrapping presents with other ambulance personnel, responding to ambulance calls, and then, of course, our personal lives to try to squeeze in. I will be very happy to be able to climb into bed tonight and hopefully stay there until the sun rises Tuesday.
    We wish our dedicated readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We have enjoyed being part of your lives this year and, for some, getting to know your families and your own lives a little more.
    May the true spirit of Christmas joy fill your spirit as it will fill mine when the final page is at the printer and the final gift is wrapped at the fire station. Hopefully your own chaos will also slow down so that you will be able to just relax, enjoy family, or be with friends, too.

    Each Christmas season the students in the elementary schools and high school fill their schools with the sounds of Christmas. This year was not an exception.
    The final Christmas programs for the Christmas season were held on Monday, December 15th at MVAOCOU High School. The evening kicked off with the elementary students performing Winter Jam. The high school students ended the sound of Christmas with their program.
    To the left, some of the preschoolers performed "Mittens and Gloves" during the elementary program.
    Pictures from all four Christmas programs (DC Elementary, MVAO Elementary Schools, and MVAOCOU High School) will be in next week's Review.