Seasons Greeting To All –

Who’d a thunk it? We’re at the last issue of 2026. I’ve been busy but now I have to ‘hang up’ the camera more to deal  with life issues, the Queen’s and Mine. I’m guessing/projecting that the first newsletter for 2026 will appear as a February issue highlighting some later January events. My New Years Resolution will be to pay even less attention to AccuGuess TV weather reports.

On December 2nd The Barrington Band came to Wiley to present their free concert. They came with little instruments and bigger versions. I also magically turned the Christmas tree at the back of the band into Holiday Light Blobs, just because I could. It’s not surprising that Christmas and Holiday music selections were featured.

The crowded church sanctuary showed a good turnout. Band leader Jim took charge and every song played was perfect. Big horns are good for photos.

A more standard look of the Christmas tree shared space with the brass section. I couldn’t pass up an audience member wearing his Harley-Davidson jacket.

Greg and Becky were solo singers but also appeared in duet mode.

This is a shout-out to Wiley Plant Services Director Paul Shaw and his crew of men who built the Birth of Jesus Nativity manger. I first saw production operations going on in the garage of not yet occupied number 3 Snapdragon Lane. Then it moved out to Pastor Sam’s corner to be used as a live Nativity scene on Dec 6th during the Marlton Holiday Light Parade.

What we have here are two different versions of lighting the scene; first with contractor floods and second with my magic camera flash. Nate and Jonathan, David and Matthew (baby Jesus) all became part of the live Nativity scene. Grand Mom Lynn (angel) completed the group.

Mary and Baby Jesus made just the right photo possible. Matthew slept all warm and safe the whole time.

Two kids who showed up at the nativity scene, where hot chocolate was a draw, are Maddox 2 and McKenna 4. The goat ate my kid’s last name paper,I think. There was a live sheep here but neither critter was friendly to the other, so getting them both in one photo (like these boys) didn’t happen.

Wiley’s first snow finally hit after a week of AccuGuess blasting out ‘end of life as we know it’ weather segments five or six times each news broadcast. This is how things looked up Snapdragon Lane from my porch. It must be noted that my snow photos were made without me ever leaving the comfort and dryness of 19 Snapdragon . . . a trick I leaned way back during my newspaper photo guy days.

First of three is a glance across to Balsam featuring our Christmas tree inside. Second is through my window. Finally a person who could not be inside was Brenda delivering the Morning Yawn to be on the porch.

Below is a good example of why I no longer own a snow shovel, snow blower, ice chipper, big gloves or knit cap for outdoor needs. Everyone benefits from the new Wiley community text message system, too.

An early morning (I’m guessing) guest’s cold blue snow scene.

Changing light offered this guest’s photo scene.

My official snow measurement was one flag high on the flat mail box. And then it was mostly over.

A second version of the Wiley Nativity scene popped up on Main Street in front of the church. It turned out to be a nice photo in the snow, too.

Here’s a closer look at the manger scene. BTW, the building is designed and made to be disassembled for storage.

The Falk’s attended the Honeysuckle Ct Christmas lunch in the Terrace Room. We also do outdoor lunch on the court in warm weather. Lead cook Jonathan (nobody knows or is willing to give up his last name on this day) outlines the menu. Helen made the candelabra. Others put together a holiday gift bag. Of course there was salad and gold flatware. Followed by good entrees and desserts.

Here’s a version of some of the gift bag items prepared by Sally, Janis and Barbara. After attending this event we Falk’s had to get set for the Snapdragon luncheon a few days later. Maybe next year we should wrangle an invite to the Balsam event. We’re right on the corner : > )

I’m pretty sure Barbara made these Terrace Room table place names, which ended up on our tree.

There was even more Winter fun along Main Street that night. Like a mixed media scene at the corner of Evesham Ave. And a heater warmed tent outside at Main Street Auto.

Main Street Auto went all out with giant Santa & Snowman blow ups on their roof.

At 50 Main Street a big red sleigh caught the attention of Evesham Mayor Jaclyn Veasy with family/friends.

There is a rule in street photography that states anytime a cold weather crowd scene passes by the camera must be raised to record the scene.

Rides on a little train set up in an off street parking lot were popular. Folks were seated curbside for a parade of some sort. I had two choices: Wait for the parade or go home where it was warm.

The driving into Wiley neon view at the entrance.

The driving out of Wiley neon view off Balsam.

Couldn’t resist another guest weather photo. This one from Eileen, a photographer friend living in New York City.

Janice & Bill are to be new residents on Snapdragon, now probably after Christmas. Holiday lunch in the Terrace Room for Snapdragon folks started with lead cook Jonathan (nobody knows or is willing to give up his last name on this day) outlining the food choices.

Good turnout. Each event offered different food choices. The smiley face container is for my Seasoned Citizen pills.

At the conclusion staff member Alivia offered a holiday song.

The lighted tree up on Main Street is outside of the emergency building. It was first lit up during the Main Street Holiday Parade of lights event. That tree scene led me to try to capture 11 trees inside the Wiley Big House. There may have been more.

And one colorful stuffed animal and characters table in a lobby area.

My friend Betty died in her Wiley Lilac Ct home on December 12th. She was 92. We had a special connection. I had this photo from one of Laura Kulcyk’s coffee hour breakfast activities.

Finally, life goes on. Here are Levi from California (he just learned to roll over) and Penny from Virginia (she just confronted herself in a new way).

Cheers.

Jon Falk –