SYCAMORE — When people think of Christmas gifts, oftentimes the first age group on their minds is the youngest in the community. Youth, eager to share their Christmas wishes, are the ones who most often are drawn by visits of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

A check for $4,230 is presented to Mohawk Elementary School Principal Tami Wallace (front, second from left) on Wednesday evening following Christmas purse bingo sponsored by Westbrook Assisted Living and Memory Care at the Sycamore Community Center.

Mother and daughter Scheryl Rader (left) and Amanda Smith, of Old Fort, look through the approximately 56 purses and bags donated for Christmas purse bingo Wednesday at the Sycamore Community Center.

One of Upper Sandusky’s longest-standing businesses has plans to expand on the condition city officials agree to vacate an alley. Kurt Kimmel of Kimmel Corporation visited the city service committee Monday evening to share the company’s expansion plans with officials and request the vacancy of an alley.

NEVADA — The spirit of Christmas returned to the village of Nevada with a holiday parade Sunday evening, the first in more than a decade. Volunteer organizers said the village has not hosted a parade since the early 2000s and they hope to make it an annual event again.

Many people came to Carey, Ohio to enjoy the various activities going on during the 14th annual Christmas in Carey event.

Union Elementary School students cheer as their principal, Janine McMillan (right), is arrested for snowman tipping Friday morning as part of the Open Door Resource Center Be Nice fundraiser.

Jordan Schilling (left), 5, and Jocelyn Kuentz, 1, fingerpaint during the Elks Hands on Art event Friday night in conjunction with the Wyandot Arts Council. Dancers from Simple Gift Dance Studio performed for parents and youth who visited to get hands-on lessons from local artists.

On Thursday morning, Upper Sandusky and Carey high schools students toured local businesses that focus on manufacturing-type jobs that may interest students upon graduation.

A wreath auction to benefit community events supported by the Upper Sandusky Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening raised $6,400. It was the first event in the 2016 Home for the Holidays celebration.