Santa’s made his list and is checking it twice, but little girls and boys who want to make sure the jolly guy in red has the right Christmas gift should start sending in their letters now.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, brightly colored envelopes with handwritten messages make their way into the area’s local postal offices.
Most have messages like “I’ve been good. I want a doll,” or “I want an X-Box,” but what people may not realize is that each letter addressed to Santa that arrives at local post offices gets a reply back.
Mike Kaolmetz, Andalusia’s postmaster, said as long as local children get their letter to the North Pole into the post office by Dec. 21, they’ll get a response back from Santa himself.
Stamps, he said, are encouraged.
“We’ve gotten an average of six letters a week so far, but I’m sure it will increase,” he said. “We even have a specially-designed mailbox just for the letters, guaranteed to get them to the North Pole and back in no time.”
Other important mailing deadlines for Christmas delivery are:
• Dec. 15 for domestic mail;
• Dec. 17 for military mail;
• Dec. 20 for first class mail:
• Dec. 21 for priority mail; and,
• Dec. 22 for express mail.
The Andalusia City Council expects to amend its zoning ordinance later this month to allow for the construction of apartments adjacent to LBW Community College.
The LBW Foundation Board is building the apartments in partnership with a developer. There will be 24, four-bedroom units, providing housing for 96 students. If the council approves the change later this month, construction will begin in January.
The property on which the apartments will be built is adjacent to the college campus and will be accessed from campus. It currently is zoned for business and single family duplex apartments. The Planning Commission has had a public hearing on the issue and has recommended it be rezoned R-3 for multi-family dwellings.
The council also considered an ordinance to transfer ownership of the River Falls Street industrial property to the Andalusia Industrial Development Board.
The council approved a resolution assigning the cost of abatements at 500 Auburn Ave., $185; and at 626 Rankin St., $85. Property owners who fail to clean up or repair abated property are responsible for costs incurred when the city steps in and resolves the issue.
City of Andalusia employees were busy working on putting up the Christmas tree on the Court Square Tuesday and Wednesday.
The tree is 45-feet tall with a raised platform. Workers are expected to continue work on the tree today. The city will hold its Uptown Christmas celebration and tree lighting ceremony on Thurs., Nov. 29. Caroling will begin at 6 p.m., and the tree lighting ceremony will be held at 7 p.m.
Residents are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets.
- Andalusia Star News
Community Christmas organizers say they are missing gifts for 50 angels who were “adopted” and are shopping for 60 children who weren’t adopted by members of the community.
Those who have gifts they have not yet dropped off may do so this Fri., Dec. 7, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Kiwanis Center. Packages also may be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce office, located on River Falls Street.
Community Christmas president Larry Avery said the organization spends about $60 per child for whom the group shops, wo it will need a minimum of $1,800 to take care of the remaining angels.
Donations are tax-deductible and should be mailed to Andalusia Community Christmas Inc., P.O. Box 1525, Andalusia, AL 36420.