The long tests that sometimes did take a full two hours as you filled out a Blue Book with everything you knew and remembered from the course.

The long first three weeks of December after which you emerged from your apartment like a creature that had spent some time underground, blinking in the bright sunlight.

I remember feeling so brain dead, that it took me a good week, maybe two to decompress. I think that’s the real reason that colleges have at least a month off for Winter Break. You just aren’t mentally ready to return sooner.

And suddenly it was Christmas and the rest of the world had gone on around you and were ready for it. And you were not. I would start my holiday planning by selling back my textbooks, hoping I could get a good chunk of change to cover my list.

Some years I shopped in the bookstore. Everyone wants a UNR souvenir, right? Other years I would venture out to the mall, where since it was so late in the season, I often found some real bargains. I’m sure my family remembers when I found something for everyone at The Nature Company. The entire store was 60% off!

I also felt an enormous sense of relief and accomplishment. One step closer to graduation. I hope my boys feel the same way after Thursday.

As a teacher, I have a different approach to finals. I love to assign a project that brings together the subject matter and presentation skills. I think finals are a time to show off.

This year some of my classes are working on book trailers and I am so excited to see what they have come up with. I have a creative bunch this year and I know I will be amazed.

If you spend any time with a student this week, take time to ask how their finals went and give them a little encouragement. For many of them, Christmas doesn’t start until after their last class this week.

Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to shelleybennett24@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”

It was a Griswold Family Dinner in Administrative Services

Lassen College ASB Holds Holiday Office Decorating Contest

photos submitted

To celebrate the Christmas spirit, Lassen Community College’s Associated Student Body hosted a Christmas office decorating contest with four different departments at the school competing for top spot.

Administrative Services kicked off the day with a fun filled Griswold Family cookie party, Base Camp was decorated as the Polar Express, the Business Office became a magical Candyland and the Library had traditional Christmas decorations.

Lines have been drawn, game on for next year’s competition!

This is the 19th annual performance of what has become a Susanville holiday tradition, featuring some of our hometown’s best musicians playing your seasonal favorites – Sleigh Ride, movements of the Nutcracker, White Christmas – enough musical cheer to warm the grinchiest of hearts.

Conductor and Artistic Director Ben Wade encourages families to attend the festive concert, promising a performance filled with a little something for people of all ages.

“You might know some of the music we play at our other concerts, but you will know, and hum, or sing along, to all of the holiday favorites.”

“Who doesn’t wait for the horse whinny at the end of Sleigh Ride? Who doesn’t want to sing shoulder to shoulder with your friends or family at the end of the concert carol sing-a -long.”

Performances will be held at the Susanville Methodist Church on South Lassen Street and tickets are $30 each. You can buy them at Margie’s Book Nook or Axia Home Loans. For more information call the Symphony Hotline at 530.310.8111.

Wade says, “Don’t be a scrooge, splurge on yourself and your loved ones this holiday season!”

Would you like to win a pair of tickets? Of course you would!

You can enter once per day, per email address, from now until midnight December 15th, to win a pair of tickets to the performance. We will announce the name of our ticket winners on December 16th. We have three pair of tickets to give away to this weekend’s shows.

For contest details and entry click here and head on over to SusanvilleStuff.

Officer reports totaled 111, with a variety of reasons for the report being filed.

There were a total of 101 front desk / counter calls.

There were twenty-two misdemeanor, and twelve felony arrests in November.

The annual Christmas party in uptown Susanville, 1946

Annual Christmas Party in Susanville on Friday

December 13, 1958

On Friday, December 19 the Sacramento Bee, the Sierra Theater in Susanville, Susanville’s fire department and the Fruit Growers Supply Company are again sponsoring their annual children’s free Christmas party at the Sierra Theater under the management of W. C. Shonk.

The first show will start at 10 a.m. followed by two other programs at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Santa Claus will be on hand for the first two shows to talk to the children and distribute oranges and candy.

The shows are 1 hour and 40 minutes long and are made up of selected shorts and comedy type films furnished by the Sacramento Bee.

Parents wishing to bring preage children are welcome and are encouraged to bring them to the 10 a.m. show or the 1 p.m. when Santa Claus can greet them. If they cannot attend the earlier shows there will be plenty of room at the 3 p.m. show.

Anyone knowing an any crippled children who would like to attend the shows, but have no transportation, please phone Lee Anderson, captain of the Susanville fire department.