Imagine spending this holiday season without your loved ones near you and not a single gift with your name on it. Sadly, this is the reality of some children, disabled adults, and elders of Guam. Each year, The Sugar Plum Tree aims to help 800 to 1,000 of these individuals. If you have a loved one who is starting to need help during their daily tasks, then consider contacting Chelsea Senior Living – senior assisted living Clifton, NJ to see ho w they can assist your loved one.

President and Executive Director of The Sugar Plum Tree Organization, Bobbie Leon Guerrero, recalled some stories demonstrating the impact of this cause. 

“During a club meeting, a young woman shared her story,” Leon Guerrero said.

According to Leon Guerrero, she was as a recipient of the Sugar Plum Tree as a child, was placed into DYA and was from an abusive home. The young girl was contemplating taking her life but the next day, she received a gift from the Sugar plum tree. She was touched and overwhelmed that someone cared enough to give her a gift and it ultimately prevented her from taking her own life. 

“That just really makes me feel like what we do makes a difference,” Leon Guerrero said. 

The Sugar Plum Tree is a non-profit organization that helps individuals who have disabilities and families who are struggling financially, according to Sherileen Torres, Sugar Plum Tree board member and Guam Behavioral Health representative. These individuals face different hardships. 

“Either their family members disowned them or they can’t go back with their families,” Torres said.

The Sugar Plum Tree strives to make Christmas Day meaningful for those who won’t receive a gift on Christmas Day. 

Sugar Plum Tree works with 13 Government of Guam Agencies to identify their clients. These individuals are alone, don’t have support, or are at or below the poverty level, and wouldn’t receive gifts without their help. According to Torres, some agencies include Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, Child Protective Services, Nursing Unit, Erica’s House and Westcare. 

The Sugar Plum Tree has been around for 34 years. Not much has changed in the way the program operates and its mission has remained the same. According to Torres, they are now doing more fundraisers to help offset the costs needed to purchase materials and the gifts that the community isn’t able to buy.

The community can choose a card on the Sugar Plum tree, which is located at the governor’s office, Guam Girl Scouts, and Bank of Hawaii Hagatna and Harmon locations. 

Each card has an individual’s first name, their age, gender, and their Christmas wish. The individual can buy the item on the card and drop it off to the same location. $50 is the maximum to spend on gifts. The maximum amount of money to spend on the Christmas gift is $50. Program coordinators encourage volunteers to drop off their gifts within two weeks of choosing a card from the tree. The final deadlines to submit the gifts to each location are Nov. 30 at the Governor’s office, Dec. 5 at Guam Girl Scouts, Dec. 6 at Bank of Hawaii Harmon Branch and Dec. 7 at Bank of Hawaii Hagatna Branch.

“I’ve volunteered every year for five years. The program makes it very easy to participate,” Norma Chargualaf, a volunteer, said, “It was a good feeling to know you’re making someone happy to receive gifts. I always took three names because I have three children.” 

“The Big Wrap” will occur on Dec. 16 at the Bank of Hawaii Lobby from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The community is welcome to help in wrapping all the gifts. 

“It’s like a party because there are light refreshments available,” Torres said.  

For more information on Sugar Plum Tree fundraiser events, or other information please contact President and Executive Director Bobbie Leon Guerrero at 688-3395. 

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Guam Windward Memorial held its first-annual celebrate L.I.F.E. event on it’s grounds in Talofofo on Oct. 27, 2018, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Over a hundred people gathered at this event, that featured food trucks, face painting, games for kids, and the Pixar movie, Coco. The animation film shares the Mexican beliefs for the afterlife of loved ones.

This L.I.F.E. event stands for love, inspirations, family and everlasting memories. Many families relaxed on their chairs and picnic blankets watching the movie on a large LED screen with a golden sunset lowering into the mountain as a backdrop.

“We feel that there is more to cemeteries than just having your deceased loved ones, but it could be a place where you can remember beautiful memories about the person,” said Windward Memorial Sales Manager, Judith Cruz.

Guam Windward Memorial partnered with Mañelu, formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guam, and Autism Community Together, to host this event. “I’ve never heard of an event like this at a memorial park and I’ve heard that this park is really serene,” Jared Roberto an attendee said.

Despite the storm that had just passed and the gloomy weather, the sky was clear and the breeze was cool on this day. A long line of people waited for their food at the hotdogs and frappes food truck, while kids ran around the hill of green grass. Roberto’s favorite part of the event was seeing the area. He thinks that when people bury their loved ones, they’d be happy that they’re buried with nice scenery. The park was still peaceful and quiet. Since it was a family event, there was no alcohol present.

Lastly, Guam Windward Memorial will be hosting a Christmas Caroling Event on December 16, 2018.  For more information on this event and future upcoming events hosted by Guam Windward Memorial, you can contact their office at 989-8090.

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According to Beachy, the book is about a story of Lila Teafather, a young witch. It is Lila’s turn to follow a tradition, which happens just before a witch or wizard starts third grade. 

“It’s full of magic, struggle and victory,” Beachy said. 

Beachy self-published this book, and did all the writing, illustrating, formatting for it.  She also created the cover art found in the book. Getting to this point was not a breeze, however. 

“I started trying to write YA novels when I was in sixth grade and did complete one manuscript,” Beachy said. “There have been other novels that have been worked and reworked, but they aways seemed to fall short when I had to expand the book.”

Regardless of the setbacks, writing has been Beachy’s passion. “I have wanted to be a fiction writer since I was in second grade.” Beachy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship and a minor in writing. 

She feels her education at UOG encouraged her in her writing pursuits. “I learned a lot and got to try different forms of fiction, which was great. I really loved screenwriting and playwriting,” Beachy said. “There was honest feedback which has helped me push and grow as writer and I know if I hadn’t taken those classes my skills wouldn’t be what they are today.”

Only her niece, mom and extended family have read her stories before she published this book. Now that her book is published, she is proud it is shared with the public and looks forward to continue writing. Interested readers can find A Familiar Search on Amazon Kindle for $2.99 or Amazon Unlimited. 

Beachy is working on publishing a paperback version to possibly be available in early October. Updates can be found on her Facebook page, @emmieb.books, which is updated at least once a week.

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The Korean Association of Guam will be sponsoring the event, which is open to the general public.

Those attending can expect to experience Korea’s culture through food and music.

The event features a hands-on preparation of kimchi to the first 200 attendees.

The event will also feature performances by Korean traditional performers and K-pop music dancers will be performing live on stage.

According to Thomas Son, director of culture for the Korean Association of Guam, a handful of Korean migrants started the organization in 1975.

Every year, the Korean community celebrates “Chuseok,” which literally translates to “Autumn Eve.”

“This is a major harvest festival and holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar on the full moon,” Son said.

More updates can be found on The Korean Association of Guam Facebook and Instagram page or email: thomasson79@naver.com.

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