Copperas Cove Public Library holds annual Christmas party

By DAVID J. HARDIN
Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Public Library held its fourth annual Christmas party on Thursday for all families in the community. 
“We are making ornaments, and later we will have a sing-a-long of Christmas carols. We also have cookies and wassail, which is made from hot apple cider. We also have Santa Claus and members of the Five Hills royalty to add sparkle https://www.coveleaderpress.com/simpleads/redirect/4015 to everything that we do. We are going to have a great time,” said library director Kevin Marsh as he prepared wassail for the evening.
Several dozen library patrons gathered at the library’s meeting room to find cookies, brownies, and other treats along with the wassail prepared by Marsh. 
Tables had been set up for arts and crafts projects, to make poinsettias out of paper, reindeer, and candy canes from beads. Members of the Copperas Cove Five Hills royalty were there to assist with the crafts and also help lead singing of Christmas carols. 
For the first hour children could sit on Santa’s lap, get a picture with him and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. 
Chuck Moore is a member of the library advisory board and attended the event, as did several of the other board members. 
“This library is very important to this community,” Moore said. 
At the halfway point of the party, Marsh and Moore awarded certificates and $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards to the top two money-saving patrons of the library for the year for youth, adult residents and adult non-residents, with the gift cards donated by First Command Financial Planning. 
The Youth category winner was Isabella Villavicencio, who saved $2,566.88 over the course of 2017 by checking out materials from the library. The adult Copperas Cove resident who saved the most for the year saved a total of $14,066.67, but did not wish their name disclosed. The adult non-resident winner was Louis Hanen, who saved $6,408.72. 
Theo Metts was at the party with his mother, Nicole, and he says that the best parts of the night was singing Christmas carols, and telling Santa what he wanted. 
“I want a nerf gun, and some Mine Craft figurines,” said Theo, who is in third grade.
Patty Aguilar came out with her mom, Melissa. Patty said she loved talking to Santa and telling him that she wants some Barbies for Christmas.
“I want peace and quiet for Christmas,” said Melissa. “This is a great event for the kids.” 
Next up for the library during Christmas vacation is the inaugural Winter Fest Academy for children and students ages 1-18 to be held on December 26-29.