Wonder about the Westerville Star?

In ancient times the five pointed star, with one point straight up, represented all that is Good and Holy.  In the early days of this country, our forefathers used stars as a decoration to symbolize the strength of family and a deep respect and abiding love for God.  the founders of our Great Nation adopted the star to symbolize the very first states on the very first flag.

The upper right and left points represent "Mother" and "Father", the lower two points represent "Children", and the top center always points toward the Heavens in reverence to the Lord our Creator.   The original Christmas Star shone to announce the birth of Jesus over 2000 years ago; it's light and beacon of welcome to all who would come. As a traditional tree-topper the star serves as a reminder of that light, the source of true Christmas joy.

In the depths of the Great Depression the Westerville Businessman's Association led by Percy Yantis wanted to find a way to bring business to uptown and to make the holidays brighter during those difficult times.  Yantis went to City Manager Ross Windom with the idea of having a large star hanging over the main intersection in the shopping district during the holidays.   Windom approved of the idea and tinsmith George Alexander was commissioned to create the decoration.

George Alexander, descended from one of the early mayors of Westerville, worked on the star with his two sons Russell and Nolan in his tin shop which was located where Green Cleaners is located today off of College Ave.  George was talented not only in his work with tin but also was noted because he was the director of the Westerville Band.  

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Its Holiday festivity time in Uptown - more calendar events

This year, the Uptown Merchants Community has a variety of activities to get everyone in the Holiday Spirit. Our Annual Holiday Celebration in Uptown Westerville will begin Friday with the city Christmas Tree Lighting and activities through out the weekend.

A fun miniature Christmas Village is in the window of the Uptown Design Hair Salon, at 12 E. College Ave.

Toys for Tots drop off place in Uptown is Embroidery Deluxe, 614-890-4020, 39 W. Main St.

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Nov 30 - At 7pm, the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Westerville Parks and Recreation Department will host the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Municipal Building Courtyard at 29 S. State St. westerville.org or community center hotline (614) 901-6500).

Each year a generous Westerville area resident donates a large spruce to serve as the community holiday tree, taking center stage at Westerville's annual tree lighting ceremony in the courtyard in front of the Municipal Building (21 S. State Street).

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Nov. 30 and Saturday Dec 1 -Ye Olde English Christmas Feaste at Church of the Messiah

Church of the Messiah United Methodist in Uptown Westerville has had a long-standing tradition of our youth offering "Ye Olde English Feaste" every other year. This year the Feaste will be held on Nov. 30 & Dec 1, 2012. Each evening begins with our guests being transported to an old English castle where you are surrounded by candlelight, banners and a feast for your eyes, ears and hearts. Our dedicated parents prepare over 200 meals each evening, serving the royal guests of the King and Queen. Our Royal Youth Choir and the King's and Queen's Ringers will enchant you with music a plenty, as our Middle School servants are anxious to greet and serve you.

Entrance to the castle begins at 6:00 pm each evening, with the Royal Procession beginning at 6:30 pm.

Tickets may be purchased from 9 am - 12:15 pm on Sundays Nov. 11, 18 and 25 on the middle floor of Church of the Messiah near the elevator, 51 N. State St. Tickets may also be purchased Nov. 12 - 16 and Nov. 19 & 20 in the church office from 9 am - 1 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for Senior Citizens and $12 for children age 12 and under.

The evening will include much merriment and wassail.

Please call Julie 891-0434 with questions about tickets.

Picture an Old-Fashioned Holiday, Saturday, December 1, 1-4PM
Bring your family to Hanby House for a memorable holiday photo in the antebellum parlor. Sitting fee includes four poses. Period outerwear offered as an option. Sitting fee of $25 entitles guests to choose from the photos to have one emailed to the address of their choice. Purchaser has all rights to the photo to print as they please. Reservations suggested at 614-891-6289 or hanbyhouse@yahoo.com

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Dec 1 -Home For the Holidays, Historic Uptown Westerville. This annual winter sale showcases all the unique merchandise this shopping district has to offer. Enjoy holiday music, a visit from Santa, and much more. www.shopuptownwesterville.org -
Enjoy the charm of Uptown Westerville during Home For the Holidays this Saturday, December 1st from Noon until 8pm. The event will be a fun mix of Christmases past and present. Watch for strolling carolers, a Hanby House volunteer with old-fashioned candy for the kids and glowing luminaries.
Kids can decorate cookies at "A Gal Named Cinda Lou", write letters to Santa at "Outside Envy" and listen to live music at Chocolaterie Stam and Java Central. You can also enjoy a Christmas miniature village set up at Uptown Hair Design Salon.
Your kids can get their pictures taken with Santa at Hanby House from 10-2 pm. The entire family can pose in the Hanby House parlor in front of the Christmas tree from 1-5 pm. For $25 the photos will be e-mailed to you to use for your Christmas cards.
Stop in to sample some Mulled Spice tea and Mulled Cider using Blue Turtle Mulling Spices. You can make Hot Mulled Wine with the mulling spices also. Business listings can be found on the Uptown Business List Page

Dec 1 - Otterbein University - Concert Choir 8:00 pm @ Westerville Community United Church of Christ

Dec 1 - Proof by David Auburn Directed by Sonda Staley, www.curtainplayers.org, 8:00pm

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Shared from Leap of Faith - this is wonderful from the

Westerville Church of the Nazarene, Dec 2, 2012

Dec 2 - Christmas Parade - Sertoma - 1:30 p.m., north on State Rt. 3 from Heatherdown Drive to County Line Road - 614-794-0401

Dec 2 - Otterbein University - Westerville Symphony Holiday Concert 7:00 pm @ Riley Auditorium, Battelle Fine Arts Center

Dec 2 - Proof by David Auburn Directed by Sonda Staley, www.curtainplayers.org, 2:00pm

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Dec 3 -8 - Stop by Santa's workshop for the 28th-annual Snowflake Castle. Everal Barn and Homestead at Heritage Park, 60 N. Cleveland Ave. This year, the Castle has moved to the Everal Barn and Homestead to make room for more holiday fun. You can work with an elf to paint your very own wooden toy and stroll through the Homestead to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Plus, don't forget to check out the trains, face painting and gift shop. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

No reservations are required except for evening hours and for groups of five or more. To make a reservation, please call the Westerville Senior Center at (614) 901-6560., Monday, December 3 - Wednesday, December 5 - 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m. Thursday, December 6 - Friday, December 7 - 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m., 5-8 p.m. Saturday, December 8- 4-8 p.m. *$5 per child, which includes a toy and a photo with Santa & Mrs. Claus

Dec 4, 8 and 9- Hanby Holiday Open House, Tuesday, December 4, 7-9PM; Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9, 1:30-4:30
Visit Hanby House to see the Christmas trimmings and hear continuous music entertainment in the parlor. Tour the historic home of the Hanby family and enjoy refreshments. Watch the new video produced in 2012 starring local talent. See http://www.hanbyhouse.org/ for details.

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Dec 5 - Otterbein Student Wind Chamber Ensembles to Perform
The Otterbein University Department of Music will present a recital by student ensembles, including the Flute Ensemble, Horn Ensemble, Woodwind Quintet and Towers Brass Quintet, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, in Riley Auditorium at the Battelle Fine Arts Center, 170 W. Park St. A variety of selections will be performed, including transcriptions and works originally composed for the genre. The concert is free and open to the public.

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Dec 6 - Otterbein University - Theatre - The Dance Concert Pulse 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm @ 30 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081

Dec 6 - Otterbein Faculty Woodwind Quintet to Perform
The Otterbein University Faculty Woodwind Quintet will perform at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, at Grace Lutheran Church, 100 E. Schrock Rd. The quintet is comprised of Kimberlee Goodman on flute, Melissa Stevens on oboe, Hild Peersen on clarinet, Karen Atria on bassoon and Kimberly McCann on horn. This is the first all-female faculty woodwind quintet in Otterbein history. They will be performing works by Darius Milhaud, Luciano Berio, Amy Marcy Beach and Charles Lefebvre. The concert is free and open to the public.

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Dec 7 -Otterbein University - Theatre - The Dance Concert Pulse 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm @ 30 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081

Dec 7 -Otterbein University - Wind Ensemble Concert 8:00 pm @ Riley Auditorium, Battelle Fine Arts Center

Dec 7 -Proof by David Auburn Directed by Sonda Staley, www.curtainplayers.org, 8:00pm

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Dec 8-15 - Celebrate Hanukka - Starts on Sundown -8th, and ends at sunset 15th,2012

Dec 8 - W.A.R.M. – Rotary Holiday Food Drive, The Rotary Clubs of Westerville, Otterbein Rotaract Club members and alumni, the High School Interact Clubs, Boy Scouts & WARM volunteers will be collecting canned food donations for those in need again this holiday season. The service groups will be collecting in areas of the city as well as accepting donations of non-perishable food and cash at three drop-off locations: W.A.R.M. central office at 175 East Broadway and at both Westerville area Kroger stores on E. Schrock Road and Maxton Road locations. The drop-off locations will be open from 9:00am to 12:00noon. For more information visit: www.westervillerotary.com

Dec 8 - Otterbein University - Theatre - The Dance Concert Pulse 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm @ 30 S. Grove St.,

Dec 8 - Otterbein Student Ensemble The Anticipations to Perform
The Otterbein University Department of Music will present a concert featuring The Anticipations, a pop/rock student ensemble, and the Otterbein University Jazz Ensemble at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Westerville Old Bag of Nails Restaurant and Pub, located at 24 N. State St. The performance is free and open to the public.

Dec 8 - The Otterbein University Department of Music will present a choral concert by student ensembles featuring Camerata, Otterbein Vocal Ensemble, Women’s Chorale and Otterbein Singers at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Grace Lutheran Church, 100 E. Schrock Rd. The program will feature a variety of holiday and standard choral music, including works by Morten Lauridsen, Thomas Morley, John Rutter and Eric Whitacre. The performance is free and open to the public.

Dec 8 - Otterbein University - CPB - Comedian 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm @ 100 W. Home St., Westerville, OH 43081

Dec 8 - Proof by David Auburn Directed by Sonda Staley, www.curtainplayers.org, 8:00pm

Dec 8 - Holiday Open House, 1:30-4:30 Visit Hanby House to see the Christmas trimmings and hear continuous music entertainment in the parlor. Tour the historic home of the Hanby family and enjoy refreshments. Watch the new video produced in 2012 starring local talent. See http://www.hanbyhouse.org/ for details.

Dec 8 - Generations Performing Arts Center- The Westerville Christmas Spectacular is Saturday December 8th at 11:30 (Children's Concert), 2:30 and 7:00 pm at Westerville Central High School. Tickets range from $10 - $20 and Children under 3 can sit on a lap for free. It is a really uplifting show and is great to get the family in the spirit of the season. It has a lot of the Christmas Favorites and includes "Up On The Housetop" by Benjamin Hanby. The show was centered on his song to carry on a Westerville Theme. Dwight Lenox, local singer and entertainer also performs in the show along with over 175 singers and dancers. It is a great show!!! You can order tickets by calling 794-3298.

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Dec 9 -Otterbein University - Theatre - The Dance Concert Pulse 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm @ 30 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081

Dec 9 -Proof by David Auburn Directed by Sonda Staley, www.curtainplayers.org, 2:00pm

Dec 9 -Holiday Open House, 1:30-4:30 - Visit Hanby House to see the Christmas trimmings and hear continuous music entertainment in the parlor. Tour the historic home of the Hanby family and enjoy refreshments. Watch the new video produced in 2012 starring local talent. See http://www.hanbyhouse.org/ for details.

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Dec 14 - Habitat “Progressive Christmas Concert”
The member churches of the Westerville Habitat Partnership are sponsoring a candlelight progressive concert to be held Friday, December 14 from 6:30 – 8:45 p.m. Costumed guides will lead participants on a tour of three historic churches in the Uptown District – First Presbyterian, Church of the Master, and Church of the Messiah, where they can enjoy the seasonal decorations and Christmas music provided by the member churches. Tickets are $5/person and can be obtained by calling 740-965-4999 or 614-891-4057 or by contacting partnership churches - those listed above as well as Grace Lutheran and Central College Presbyterian.
This event is planned as a walking tour, but transportation between churches can be provided upon request. All money from ticket sales will go toward Habitat building projects.

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Dec 16 - The Westerville Concert Band will perform our annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 16 at 3:00 PM. It will be held at the Westerville Central H.S. auditorium, located at 7118 Mt. Royal, 43082 (Mt. Royal is off N. State St/Rt. 3, just north of Maxtown).

Under the direction of Music Director Richard Suddendorf and Assistant Director Victoria Straub, the band will perform a fun and diverse holiday program perfect for the whole family. A punch and baked goods reception with Santa Claus will follow the concert! www.westervillebands.org.

Dec 25 - Christmas

Dec 26 -Kwanzaa is a week long African American celebration observed from December 26 to January 1 each year.

Dec 31 -Celebrate New Year's Eve preschool style with crafts, entertainment and a countdown at noon to celebrate the New Year. This year's festivities will include entertainment from the Columbus Zoo. Monday, December 31, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave. Preschool-age children, $3 per child at the door