The holiday season is a time for families to get together to make new memories and sometimes to reflect on old memories. Some families even reunite with estranged loved ones, making the holiday even more special. Sherry Beaver from Moville is hoping to help families reunite with documents belonging to loved ones from around the turn of the 20th century.
    Sherry found three framed certificates commemorating the First Holy Communions of Rosa Bauer (April 9, 1899), Joomnes Laurengtuim Bauer (June 19, 1904), and Margaretha Bauer (June 21, 1908) at her dad's old farmhouse, the home in which she grew up, at Moville. I good shape, she indicated that the certificates came from one of the Danbury churches from those time frames.
    "My dad (Verlyn Schmidt) passed away, so I was cleaning the attic out," Sherry wrote in a message. "I found them tucked in between the open rafters in the roof line ceiling that ran in the attic. My dad bought the homestead in 1953 when he got home from the Army. He bought it from an elderly lady. They had to be put in the attic before my dad bought the homestead. I have looked through the abstract hoping to find someone connected to the picture certificates. The Bauer name was not in the abstract."
    The certificates indicate that they were from St. Mary's Catholic Church, the German church in Danbury. The certificates' headings were written in German, starting with the words "Andenken ar die erste HL Communion" which translates in English to "Mementos of the First Holy Communion," according to Google. Also, Rosa's certificate is signed by Fr. Weinbold, and the certificates for Joomnes and Margaretha were signed by Fr. Schaefer. Both priests were at St. Mary's during the dates of the respective documents.
    To the right, Sherry holds one of the framed certificates. Photo furnished by Sherry. Thank you!
    If you are able to help Sherry find owners for these documents, give us a call at 712-893-2001 or email us at review@danbury-ia.com and we will pass it on to her.

    The Danbury Catholic School's Christmas Program, "From Heaven Above" will be held this Thursday. The dress rehearsal will be at 9:30 a.m. this year. The evening program will be at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend either program.

    Wondering about the closure of the bridge going into Mapleton. Well, there is good news.
    The DOT has changed their plan for the bridgework. Instead of closing the bridge and doing a detour, they are now using temporary stoplights and turning the bridge into a one-lane passage. Chances are that this has already occurred. The information on 511ia.org states that there are a height and width limits in effect. Both limits are 15' 0". The plan is to be done with the work on December 19, 2025, at about 6:00 p.m.

    Danbury Ambulance Service will be spending time extra time at the fire station, not wrapping wounds, but wrapping gifts. Their first of four sessions will be held on Sunday. They will then return on Thursday, December 18th, Saturday, December 20th, and Monday, December 22nd. Times can be found in an ad in this week's Review. .
    How does the gift wrapping service work? Patrons bring their gifts for the ambulance members to wrap. Each gift needs to be marked so that DAS members can properly tag them. There will be post-in notes available if need be. The time needed to wrap the presents depends on how many are left and how many have been dropped off before you. It is also dependent on the number of wrappers at the time. Someone will contact you when your gifts are done.
    Do you enjoy wrapping presents and want to help? DAS members will be more than happy to accept help during the sessions. Just show up, and they will get you to work. With squad members needing to work or unavailable due to personal plans, extra hands are much appreciated.

    Last week was the first week of Advent, a time to eagerly await and prepare for Jesus' birth. Christians prepare for Christmas in many ways. Advent wreaths and Nativities are set up. Christmas trees are decorated. Lights brighten the white landscape. Presents are wrapped to give to loved ones.
    Danbury Catholic School helped others with Christmas decorating a couple of ways last week.
    Last Wednesday, the school filled half of the gym with poinsettias, wreaths, garland, and holiday pots which had been purchased by others to decorate their homes. Nearly two dozen poinsettias were also purchased and donated to St. Mary's Church for its decorating. The fundraiser, the third of its kind for the school, has been deemed a success once again.
    On Friday, the school took advantage of a very nice day (for December) to walk to First Security Bank for their annual tree decorating. Each year, the bank invites the school to decorate a Christmas tree for the patrons to enjoy. Ornaments reminding all of Jesus's upcoming birthday don the tree.
    "Inviting the students from the Danbury Catholic School to our bank to decorate the Christmas tree is something we look forward to each and every year," commented FSB Vice President Cole Boger. "The Christmas ornaments the kids make in school add a personal, joyful touch to our holiday displays. This annual tradition not only brightens our space but also provides positive connections with the families we serve."
    Below and to the left, Deidre Drees arranges poinsettias to prepare for the customers to choose later in the day.
    Below, Hannah Rotnicke places her hand-created ornament on the tree at First Security Bank.