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The ADVANCE, December 8, 2021/Page 2A
What is the True Meaning of Christmas?
The phrase “the true meaning old miser named Scrooge who learns
of Christmas” appeared in the mid- the true meaning of Christmas when
1800s when the nation began to shift three ghostly visitors show him his
toward Santa Claus and away from dark future if he doesn’t stop loving
the birth of Christ, and toward re- money rather than people. Scrooge
ceiving gifts instead of giving to oth- changes and gives his money and his
ers in need. This shift was displayed time to others.
in poems such as “A Visit from St. The animated TV specials A
Nicholas” (1822) by Clement Moore Charlie Brown Christmas (on TV ev-
which popularized secular ery Christmas since 1965),
Christmas symbols such and How the Grinch Stole
as Santa Claus, Christ- Christmas! (1966), were
mas trees, and gifts; and very influential in dis-
Christmas shopping ^ playing “the true
assumed great eco- MERRY CHRISTMAS meaning of Christ-
nomic importance » mas” as a time of
intheU.S. concern for others.
In 1889, noting the Charlie Brown be-
shift, The American Mag- comes discouraged by
azine declared “to give up all the commercialism
one’s very self - to think only around him. The Grinch steals
of others - how to bring the greatest all the Christmas gifts from the cheer-
happiness to others - that is the true ful Whos only to learn that they are
meaning of Christmas.” The phrase thankful to simply have each other,
identifies the moral lesson in numer- The characters realize that Christmas
ous Christmas stories and films today, has a deeper meaning.
We love to see the spirit of Christmas Christmas stories, not surprising-
bring out the best in people. ly, are often about transformation -
Charles Dickens’ short story A after all, what could be more transfor-
Christmas Carol (1843) features an mative than the Incarnation of Jesus?
ask *
Ms. Magnolia a
Letters have been edited for length and clarity.
Dear Ms. Magnolia,
Christmas is the most wonderful
time of the year. It is a perfect time
for children to learn the real meaning
of giving. There are many opportuni
ties for children to perform good deeds
and help in different ways during the
Christmas period. Here are some ideas
for children to help pets and senior
citizens at Christmas and throughout
the year.
If a child loves animals, animal
shelters use volunteers to walk dogs
and play with cats. These pets need lots
of human interaction to make them
more sociable and adoptable. Animal
shelters always need help washing
food and water dishes and cleaning up
cages to make the shelter comfortable
for the animals. Children can help
donate pet food and supplies that are
very much needed.
Children can help shelters locate
foster homes for the pets of deployed
military service members who have to
surrender their pets to a shelter when
they have no one else to take care of
them. Children can become involved
in a local pet therapy program that
takes pets to visit local nursing homes
and child care centers.
There are also ways to help the
many senior citizens that do not have
families or can’t be with them for the
holidays. Children can help to clean
up or decorate an elderly neighbor’s
house. With adult help children bake
cookies or cook or make sandwiches
for an elderly neighbor or relative.
They can go for a walk with a se
nior citizen and tell them funny sto
ries about friends and school. Elderly
people often have wisdom of their own
to share. Older children can record
the stories and opinions of their senior
friends with a digital camcorder and
give them as a gift.
If you have a question for Ms. Magnolia, please mail it to P.O. Box 669, Vidalia, GA
30475, or e-mail to tnsniagnoliaadvance@yahoo.com.
Jermon
continued from page 1A
one to say congratulations.
You have served this city
well for over 20 years with
dignity, character, honor,
and commitment. On be
half of the City Council, we
want to say we look forward
to watching the Depart
ment flourish under your
leadership.”
He added, “We are
committed to standing with
you and behind you to sup
port you in every possible
way we can.”
Jermon expressed his
gratitude to the Coun
cil. “First and foremost, I
would like to say thank you
to the Council. I also want
to thank everyone who was
behind me. The people who
make me look good are the
guys I serve across the hall
(in the Vidalia Municipal
Complex which houses the
Police Department).”
He continued his com
ments with the promise to
remain enthusiastic and
diligent in his work as Vida
lia Police Chief. “I am going
to continue to be passionate
in what I do. What you see
here is what you all hired,
and that won’t change a bit.
I’ll come early, and I’ll stay
late.”
Jermon began his law
enforcement career in the
United States Army as a
Military Police Officer be
fore becoming a correction
al officer with the Georgia
State Prison system. He
became a police officer for
Armstrong State University
in 1999, and finally came
home to work in the Vidalia
Police Department in 2000.
“Besides my hard work,
passion for the job, and love
for the community, I have
had a lot of guidance from
veteran officers,” he said.
“I must give credit to two
individuals in particular:
former Chief Frank Waits,
who believed in me and put
me in a position to succeed,
as well as former Commis
sioner Brian Scott, who also
believed in my ability and
pushed me to become even
better.”
Jermon has spent the
majority of his career in
law enforcement within the
City of Vidalia. He said it is
an honor to serve and pro
tect a community that he
loves, and that he looks for
ward to doing so to the best
of his abilities throughout
the remainder of his career.
“To the citizens ofVidalia, I
can assure you that you are
getting a Chief who is going
to work hard for you each
and every day You will be
treated with the utmost re
spect, and more important
ly, with fairness, impartial
ity, and without prejudice.”
He encouraged citi
zens to help in his effort to
continue to make Vidalia a
wonderful city. “I am also
going to need the citizens’
help,” he shared. “When
you see something, say
something. This is a part
nership. Working with the
community’ is the Vidalia
Police Department’s motto,
and if we all work in har
mony, this community can
become the greatest in the
state of Georgia.”
Also during the called
meeting, Council members
unanimously approved the
purchase of a new fire truck
for the Vidalia Fire De
partment. The truck costs
$290,000, while the equip
ment for the truck will add
$64,018.71 to the price. In
compliance with the rec
ommendation of the Fire
Department and City Man
ager Nick Overstreet, the
Council approved the allo
cation of $357,000 to cover
the current cost of the fire
truck and any other expens
es that may arise. This fund
ing will be covered through
Special Local Option Sales
Tax (SPLOST).
Lto R: Angel Rigby, Captain Randy Clark, Kathy Mullinax, Karen Milligan, Joyce Foskey,
Millie Perry, Kimberly Lanier, and Captain James Jermon,
Vidalia Police Department Holds
Women’s Firearm Safety Course
Participants receive proper shooting instructions on the
range with live fire.
In November 2021 the
Vidalia Police Department
held the Women’s Firearm
Safety Course at the Vidalia
Police Department. Capt.
Randy Clark, Capt. Roger
Calloway, Sgt. Micheal
Howell, and Cpl. Christo
pher Morgan were coaching
on the range. The classroom
section was taught by Cpl.
Christopher Morgan and
Capt. Randy Clark. Partici
pants were Nicole Mincey,
Karen Mullinax, Linda
Joyce Foskey, Kimberly
Lanier, Angel Rigby, Deidre
Scott, Kathy Milligan, and
Millie Perry.
The Women's Firearm
Safety Course is a free, in-
depth course available to
women in the City ofVida
lia and surrounding areas
and offered to educate and
train women in the legal and
safety considerations of car
rying and using a firearm.
The course consists of three
days, for approximately 4
hours each day The first day
of instruction is classroom
instructional time, provid
ing women with instruction
on nomenclature, retention,
operation and legal require
ments. The second and third
days of instruction take
place on the range with five
fire. The range days cover
shooting drills designed to
make women comfortable
with their individual firearm
and provide instruction in
proper shooting techniques.
This class is limited
to a maximum of 15 par
ticipants, allowing for more
one on one coaching. The
course is offered twice a
year based on interest and
availability. It requires the
participant to be age 21 or
older, complete an applica
tion, and provide a valid
Georgia Carry Permit, their
own firearm and 100 rounds
of ammunition. If you are in
terested in applying for this
course or the Citizens Police
Academy (one class a year),
please contact the Vidalia
Police Department or go
to https://wwwvidaliaga.
gov/police/page/taking-it-
streets. Links to application
forms are at the bottom of
the page. Once completed,
please return the application
to the police department
front desk Monday-Friday
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ing Our Patients
All the Joys
of the Season
Hope it’s merry, bright and just right!
Merry Christmas
3193 East First Street 'Vidalia, GA 30474
912-537-8588 • fax 912-537-3488
Locally Owned & Operated
Accordia accepts most insurance as well as CareCredit, except Medicaid.
As the New Year approaches
Lanie Welch, FNP is happy
to announce she is back in
our office seeing patients!
& FAMILY PRACTICE
Now Accepting New Patients