It’s December and the Christmas holiday is upon us. I hope you will all find time for some peace and quiet with family during this hectic season. And start getting used to writing 2018!

Santa Claus will visit the Vera Cruz firehouse, 4093 Main Road West, Dec. 16, for photos and visits with children. Doors open 10:30 a.m. and the guest of honor arrives about 10:45 a.m. Photos will be taken, for a cost, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Santa makes some other appearances in and around Upper and Lower Milford this month. Watch your newspapers for announcements of other sightings.

For a more spiritual experience, many of us most look forward to all the special Christmas services held in our places of worship. Check your church bulletin or the listings elsewhere in this paper for a complete schedule of Christmas services.

The Vera Cruz Community Association meets 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the fire company. All are welcome. For information, contact Betsy Eltz at 610-965-8627.

The Western District Fire Company on Route 100 will serve an all-you-can-eat breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 7, 2018. For information on the breakfasts, call the fire company at 610-966-3541 or Carol Shade at 610-966-3902.

The Upper Milford Fire Company’s ladies auxiliary meets 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month. New members are always welcome.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Citizens Fire Company of Vera Cruz usually meets 7:30 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month at the Vera Cruz Fire Department Social Hall. We have been unable to confirm whether they’ll meet in December, since the last Tuesday is the day after Christmas, but for information, call Emily at 610-972-6573 or email VeraCruzLadiesAux@VCFD28.com.

Vera Cruz senior citizens meet 1 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Vera Cruz Fire Company. All are welcome.

The Upper Milford Historical Society doesn’t meet in December due to the holidays. The next meeting is Jan. 25, 2018.

Lower Milford Township supervisors usually meet 7:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month. The first meeting, Dec. 7, has been canceled. The Dec. 21 meeting will be held. Among the discussion items will be adoption of the 2018 budget. The budget is available for review now at the township office, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

Other Lower Milford meetings are as follows; unless otherwise noted, they will begin 7:30 p.m.: the planning commission usually meets the first Monday of the month; recreation and open space board, Dec. 13; historical commission meets the second Tuesday of the month, as needed. Check with the township office to find out if they will meet this month.

Upper Milford supervisors will meet 7 p.m. Dec. 7. The Dec. 21 meeting may be canceled and the year-end meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28. The reorganization meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2, 2018.

The planning commission meeting scheduled Dec. 27 has been canceled.

Neither the Upper Milford Recreation Commission nor the Joint Advisory Council will meet in December.

If you have doubts about any of the meetings usually held monthly, check with the township office.

If you have news or information for this column, which runs the first Wednesday of every month, please call me at 610-838-8923 or email me at bruce.swan@rcn.com.