Organizations Celebrate the Season at Mall

Local groups, photographers and government organizations celebrated the season at the Saturday. 

Aside from the normal holiday sales and festive banners and lights at the mall, the Holiday Faire hosted Toys for Tots donation collection stations, gift raffles and information centers on various upcoming events.

The Woburn Historical Society sold DVDs of historic events covering Woburn's storied past, including accounts of the Woburn and departments. Innitou Photo sold holiday and nature pictures, while the sold keychains, shirts, teddy bears and other Woburn-related booster products. 

Speaking with several members of the , the council is one society that has dozens of upcoming events to offer Woburn's elderly during the holidays. 

"We have walking groups, singing groups, dancing groups, ceramic classes, arthritis doctors and balance doctors, a mix of things that keep us active and help us live all by ourselves while being supported by our own community," said Doris Staton, a council member.

The Council on Aging was also selling items at the Holiday Faire. 

"Anything we can do to make a little bit of money to give back to the center to keep offering our events and keeping people active is what we do," said Council member Don Olsen.

Some of the more extensive events the Council is offering are a Dominican-themed afternoon celebrating the Dominican Republic's history including live music and regional eats, and on-going Internet and computer classes to help some less tech-savvy seniors learn the ropes of the digital age.

There was one special, jolly guest in attendance at the mall yesterday. Old Saint Nick himself was at, and will continue to be at (while he's not in his workshop), the until Christmas Eve. More over, a special pet night with Santa Claus has been arranged for Dec. 12 from 8 to 10 p.m. That night, Santa is welcoming you to come and take pictures with him and your beloved cats and dogs. A portion of the proceeds gathered by this event will be donated to Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem.