 Photo and article by Donna Iverson Wondering what the most popular Christmas tree in Michigan is? According to several sources, it’s the Fraser fir. Curious to find one, I went in search of a Fraser Fir at my local tree farm in Whitehall. Personally, I am partial to balsam fir but was willing to give Fraser fir a look see. Fraser fir trees were plentiful at the tree farm with acres of them growing in the back fields. In the lot, the cost of a Fraser fir, cut and tied for easier transport was $50. Cheaper than the going price of $80 to $100 a pop around the state, according to AI. (Yup AI) Comparing balsam fir and Fraser fir, it turns out that the balsam fir has softer needles and a sweeter smell. On the plus side, Fraser fir is slower to drop its needles, has stronger limbs for ornaments and is the favorite tree at the White House during the holidays. A native of the Appalachian mountains, it prefers acid moist soil with cool summers and cold winters. It grows 30 to 50 feet in between 7 to 10 years. In the wild, it can be found growing near hemlock, birch and maple trees. It is named after a Scottish botanist John Fraser (1750-1811). It is also endangered, threatened by the balsam wooly adelgid insect. Personally, balsam fir remains my favorite …can’t resist the sweeter smell and the softer feel.
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Santa, Free Gift Wrapping, Budgeting Class, and More
The Fremont Area District Library is planning to host many fun and educational events in December for the whole family. These events are, as always, free. Drop-In Gift Wrapping: Get all of your Christmas wrapping done—FREE! We’ll provide the gift wrap, gift bags, etc. Bring your presents to the tables near the Main Street entrance during the library’s open hours and wrap your gifts! From December 2nd-December 21st. Christmas Open House: For all ages. It’s everything Christmas! We’ll have Christmas books, movies, cookbooks, crafts, cookies, and cocoa in the Community Room on Thursday, December 12th from 4:00-6:30 p.m. Get first dibs on all of our new Christmas materials! Dean Ford Presents the Power of Budgeting: Start the new year right by taking control of your finances. This is the first in an educational seminar series. We will explore the power of budgeting, examine wants and needs, and talk personal spending and savings goals. Many think budgeting equals constraints. But a budget can help put you in control. It is the foundation on which a financial strategy is built. Are you ready to give budgeting a try? This will take place in the Community Room on Wednesday, December 18th from 1:30-2:30 p.m. No registration required, and coffee will be served. Children’s Events Toddler Storytime, for babies and toddlers up to age 3, will be held on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. through December 4th, and Family Storytime for children up to age 5 will be held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. through December 5th. Christmas Crafts will be available on Saturday, December 7th from 10:00-12:00. We’ll have some fun Christmas decorations out for you to enjoy making at this drop-in event. Christmas Storytime will be held on Thursday, December 19th at 10:00 a.m. with some favorite Christmas stories. We’ll be showing a Children’s Christmas Movie on Thursday, December 19th at 4:00 p.m. Snacks will be served, and all are welcome. Domino Club: REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Register by seeing the Children’s Desk or call 231-928-0249. Join this new club for tweens to have fun with domino set up and toppling. Eat pizza and snacks while we watch some YouTube domino videos, and then work on your own skills! For ages 8-13. Meets in the Community Room on Thursday, December 5th from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Santa Claus Meet & Greet will take place on Friday, December 20th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. This special event is for all children, and for adults who are young at heart! Kids are advised to bring their list, their best behavior, and their good cheer. Parents are advised to bring their cameras. We’ll have treats to pass out! Tinkering Tuesdays continues this month. You bring the imagination, and we'll provide everything you need! Simple building and art concepts for kids to construct on their own or in a group. Finished creations will be put on display for a week. REGISTRATION REQUIRED - For ages 6-9 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sign up your child two weeks before each activity, until filled, by calling 231-924-3480 or seeing the front desk. See dates below. Limit of 15 children each week. Parents are required to stay in the building during this time. -Dec. 3rd: Modeling clay -Dec. 17th: Raised salt art (Breaks for the holidays) Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead also continues this month. This includes the same concepts as Tinkering Tuesdays, but for ages 10-12. REGISTRATION REQUIRED - 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sign up your child two weeks before each activity, until filled, by calling 231-924-3480 or seeing the front desk. See dates below. Limit of 15 children each week. Parents are required to stay in the building during this time. -Dec. 10th: Raised salt art (Breaks for the holidays) Even More Events! Fit for Life Exercise is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 p.m. No class on December 23rd or 25th. This is a low-impact exercise class perfect for all adults and levels of fitness. We’ll show the movie Elf (PG; 1 hr 36 min) during Christmas Break for our Movie Monday on December 23rd at 2:00 p.m. Snacks will be provided. The Books & Bites Book Group will meet on Wednesday, December 11th at 10:00 a.m. with coffee and breakfast food to discuss The Night Swim by Megan Goldin. The Tween Book Club will NOT be meeting in December to take a Christmas break. Books for these groups are available at the library’s front desk ahead of the meeting if you’d like to check out a copy and join the groups. For more information about any of these events, please contact the library at 231-924-3480 or visit www.fremontlibrary.net. |
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