ELLINWOOD — The public is invited to the Ellinwood Community Library to enjoy a wonderful series of holiday related exhibits, celebrating the season through Christmas tree fun, art displays and Christmas collectibles.

The Hope Tree is an opportunity for people to share the Christmas spirit with those friends and neighbors who might need a little extra help this holiday season. Community members can use the Hope Trees ornaments to guide their purchase of gifts for children in need in our community. Patrons can then return those items to the library to be distributed through the local ministerial alliance. The Hope Tree is provided through the Future Business Leaders of America student organization

On the art wall, the library has provided a collection of art prints of paintings representing the traditional Christmas story. On the opposite wall, a set of Norman Rockwell Christmas illustrations is displayed, with information provided about each print.

In the display cases, the staff has exhibited a combination of Christmas figurines and antique Christmas postcards, from local private collections.

Finally, the library sponsored a Table Top Christmas Tree exhibit. Community groups, school classes and student organizations have decorated Christmas trees, which are displayed around the library. The holiday trees show a great variety of decorating themes, including music, science, farming, homemade crafts, as well as traditional designs.

Groups represented include high school classes of sociology, Shane Duncan, teacher; anatomy and physiology, Kelsie Harmon, teacher; vocational agriculture and FFA, Kent Blakeslee, teacher; and weightlifting and strength training, Dusty Beam, teacher. High school organizations which provided trees are FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), Lorie Betts, sponsor; and Tri-M Music Honor Society, Don Regehr and Meredith Duling, sponsors.

Grade School classes represented include 6th Grade, Seresa Arndt, Teacher; Fourth Grade, Angela Petersen, teacher; and third grade, Sheri Holmes, teacher. Community groups that participated include Girl Scout Troop 217, 3rd Grade, Amy Hammeke, Leader; Girl Scout Troup 216, 7th Grade, Melissa Dickson, Leader; and the St. John’s Child Development Center, Jodi Long, director.