The 29th annual Ladies Christmas Celebration was held last week on Wednesday, Dec. 4, the first year the event was held at the Rock Creek Fairgrounds Pavilion. The celebration began in 1984 when Lee-ette Millar and Brenda Schmaltz organized the first luncheon in the Kettle River Chapel. They later moved it to the Midway Community Hall, but the number of women attending had outgrown the building. There were reminders at every table setting that a 30th anniversary cookbook is to be developed over the coming year to help them celebrate in 2014. Those wishing to contribute to the book are asked to contact Leda Fair at 250-449- 2639 or via email at teddybearranch@ gmail.com Each year a local woman is invited to speak. This year Rock Creek resident Lisa Siewert was asked to share. Siewert, along with six local youth, is currently planning a trip to learn from and serve at Hope for Home Ministries—a home for children with special needs in San Antonio Aguas Calientese, Guatamala—during the spring school break. The Ladies Christmas Celebration collects donations and takes a collection for the Lion’s Christmas Hamper Program as well. Women representing churches from throughout the West Boundary carry out planning and organization. They meet and divide up responsibility for preparation of the lunch—all donated except for the meat, which is purchased jointly by all congregations. The event is then advertised in the community. The Ladies Christmas Celebration, known to many local women as the true beginning of the Christmas season in the Boundary, takes place each year on the first Wednesday of December.