Gabe Stark
The Trenton Telegraph

The Southside Farm Club gathered on December 17, 2025, for their monthly meeting at the home of Marie Dolan, who hosted a delicious meal featuring chicken casserole, hot rolls, vegetables, salads, and a tempting array of desserts.

Following the meal, President Jeanie Gibson called the meeting to order. The minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved, and members responded to roll call by sharing memories of their favorite older Christmas toys. Among the cherished items mentioned were a Howdy Doody puppet, a pedal car, a miniature dishwasher, antique roller skates, unique dolls, a toy accordion, a toy typewriter, and an antique tin spinner.

Club business included reports from Treasurer Ellen Dolan and Card and Flower Fund Chair Jacky Mack. Marie Dolan shared a thank you note from Bright Futures for a prior donation, and Jackie Altenderfer distributed the newly printed 2026 program books.

The program for the evening, “Interesting Facts about Christmas,” was presented by Marie Dolan. Highlights included the fact that Christmas became a U.S. federal holiday in 1870, the first artificial Christmas tree was crafted from goose feathers, “Jingle Bells” was originally a Thanksgiving song, eggnog’s origins trace back to 13th-century monks, and early Christmas trees were adorned with fruit, popcorn, and candles.

The club’s mystery gift, a chocolate peppermint brownie mix and holiday spatula, went to Janice Belvel, while Jacky Mack won the hostess gift: an “Elf on the Shelf” cake topped with peppermint whip icing and a festive spatula. Members also contributed to the Bright Futures Food Pals program before adjourning the meeting. The group will reconvene in January, with Jackie Altenderfer serving as hostess at a location to be announced.