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Area children continue 14-year tree trimming tradition
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Times photo: Brian Gray Haley Jinkerson, 5, Monroe, gets some help from Alex Kloepping, 13, Monroe, as they make an ornament Saturday at the Monroe Public Library. Children were able to make ornaments to hang on the librarys Christmas tree and also could make one to take home.
MONROE - The Monroe Public Library looked a lot like Christmas Saturday as children came to make ornaments for the Christmas tree and volunteers in elf hats provided assistance.

The library has held its annual tree trimming event for the past 14 years, and every year a host of children come to take part.

Children were greeted with Christmas music and volunteers who said they have as much fun as the children.

"The little kids are so happy to make ornaments," said Cheryl Reichling, a teen volunteer from Monroe. "They really get excited."

Hannah Henry, 12, Monroe, wasn't sure what to expect in her first year helping with the tree trimming, but she looked forward to it, she said.

"I like working with little kids," Henry said.

The children had several tree ornaments to choose from as they arrived on the second floor of the library.

They could make ornaments out of lollipops or doggie bones or by gluing glitter onto heart-shaped paper and paper snowmen.

"They look really cute when their making their ornaments," Reichling said.

The children carefully watched as the volunteers explained what they needed to do, then with furrowed brows they carefully worked on their projects.

Ben Page, 15, Monroe, helped children make a likeness of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer out of a doggie bone and some yarn.

He took his time to guide them through the process and smiled along with them when they finished.

The children were seemed proud of their ornaments and held them up for parents or grandparents to view.

They had to make one ornament for the library's Christmas tree and then could make another to take home, Page said.