NO PAPER: You might notice your newspaper box looks a little bare on Friday.

We’re taking today, Christmas day, off in order to celebrate with our loved ones, so there will be no newspaper the next day.

We’ll be back in the office on Friday, so you will get your Saturday edition.

Merry Christmas, Folks!

CHRISTMAS POEM: One reader, W. Lee Peterson of Port Allegany, sent us a poem she wrote in honor of today’s holiday.

“What Christmas Means to Me”

Christmas is not just decorations and lights

Not just presents, nor elves dancing in green tights.

Christmas is a day cherished by both young and old

A special day, as a gift waiting to unfold.

It’s a time to honor the savior of your choice,

To love and respect, to praise and rejoice.

Also, it’s a holiday time that’s meant to be

A time of sharing for you and me.

The best gifts aren’t bought at a neighborhood store

But found in fellowship with your family and friends you adore.

A truly blessed Christmas comes from within your heart

Enjoyment of the celebration is where you need to start.

Keep family close and good friends near

For they make the sounds of Christmas, I love to hear.

Frances Wolfe Haight from Kane shared the story of her favorite Christmas.

“My best Christmas ever was in 1965. My youngest son was born on the 27th of December, and my longtime pen pal from Britain came over to visit me,” Frances said.

She’d never met her pen pal, and the woman came to see Frances at the hospital. “We wrote to each other for 58 years, and she passed away.”

She met her British pen pal again when her Christmas-time baby was about 8 years old.

They visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and didn’t realize until the way back they needed passports. Frances had quite a scare, as she was separated from her pen pal and husband when they were taken to a different building during the ordeal. Her pen pal had to go to Pittsburgh to get everything straightened out.

Frances told us this week she has received merry Christmas wishes from all 10 of her current pen pals.

We’ll share more memories from Frances after Christmas.