Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! Milad Majid! Feliz Navidad! Merry Keshmish! Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah! Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar! Glædelig Jul! Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad! Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto! Chuc Mung Giang Sinh! Merry Christmas.

All of us at Our Town Tustin (yes, that is all seven of us if you count the livestock) would like to wish our Christian friends, a very Merry Christmas, our Jewish friends, a very Happy and belated Hanukkah, and our friends of other faiths and belief traditions a very Happy Holiday. And, to everyone, we wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

What started out as a year of promise and prosperity has become, over the months, a struggle to overcome the adversity caused by a tiny bug no one can see. After more than eight months of isolation, shortages and loss of jobs and income, we seem to be at the bottom. Yet, it is amazing to see how resilient our America is. With the advent of Christmas has also, with the coming vaccine,  come another advent of a brighter year ahead.

Through it all, we have seen some amazing acts of kindness and care. Our own Tyron Jackson and his OWW organization of volunteers have made sure many of our homeless and otherwise forgotten members of our local society have felt some normalcy and sense of decency in their lives. The social media app, Next Door, is replete with stories of individuals and groups who, many for the first time, are reaching out to others in need with kindness and care packages. Our church food drives have not stopped despite the come-and-go ban on attending services. Indeed, many have stepped up their efforts because they know that this is a trying time for many who have never experienced this kind of need before.

Though we still grieve for families torn apart by senseless violence, our nation, state and town remain united in promise and faith. And, please pray for our US Military members who remain abroad in far away lands. They spend this holiday season away from their loved ones so that you and I may spend it with ours.

Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! Milad Majid! Feliz Navidad! Merry Keshmish! Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah! Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar! Glædelig Jul! Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad! Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto! Chuc Mung Giang Sinh! Merry Christmas.

The Hanukkah candles have burned down, the Christmas tree remains empty but aglow.

All of us at Our Town Tustin (yes, that is all three of us) would like to wish our Christian friends, a very Merry Christmas, our Jewish friends, a very Happy Hanukkah (regardless of the way you spell it), and our friends of other faiths and belief traditions a very Happy Holiday. And, to everyone, we wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Though we still grieve for families torn apart by senseless violence, our nation, state and town remain united in promise and faith. And, as we always ask at this time of year, please pray for our US Military members who remain abroad in far away lands. They spend this holiday season apart from their loved ones so that you and I may spend it safely with ours.

Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! Milad Majid! Feliz Navidad! Merry Keshmish! Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah! Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar! Glædelig Jul! Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad! Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto! Chuc Mung Giang Sinh! Merry Christmas.

All of us at Our Town Tustin (yes, that is all three of us) would like to wish our Christian friends, a very Merry Christmas, our Jewish friends, a very Happy Hanukkah (regardless of the way you spell it), and our friends of other faiths and belief traditions a very Happy Holiday. And, to everyone, we wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Though we still grieve for families torn apart by senseless violence, our nation, state and town remain united in promise and faith. And, please pray for our US Military members who remain abroad in far away lands. They spend this holiday season away from their loved ones so that you and I may spend it with ours.