Dave Lilley pauses on his evening rounds to get a closeup portrait with a member of a traveling troupe of shepherds and kings making their way toward a bright star in the sky close to the Church of the Messiah in Uptown. My Final Photo for December 13, 2024.

The stage manager for Generation Performing Arts Center dress rehearsal checks the phone she uses as a scheduling and timing device as dancers get into position for the next sequence of the Christmas show at Westerville Central High School. My Final Photo for December 12, 2024.

A Merry Christmas top hat decoration hangs at First Responders Park where tribute and Christmas greetings are paid to the city’s first responders who gave their lives performing their duties. My Final Photo for December 11, 2024.

Rainwater drips from Christmas lights hanging from the Old Bag of Nails awning in Uptown Westerville. My Final Photo for December 10, 2024.

Four-year-old Ira studies the movement of “N” scale trains making the rounds in a display at the Westerville Public Library, where the Columbus Area “N” Scalers set up its annual display. My Final Photo for December 9, 2024.

A Christmas tree is tied onto the top of a family van after it was chosen from several hundred available at Glengary Shopping Center, where Dollar Tree is one of the anchor stores, not the price of the tree. My Final Photo for December 8, 2024.

The Westerville Symphony has a dress rehearsal at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for its Sunday evening performance of Handel’s Messiah in the church’s sanctuary. My Final Photo for December 7, 2024.

Santa stands in his diesel-powered bucket truck sleigh after overseeing the holiday tree lighting in front of city hall Friday night. My Final Photo for December 6, 2024.

A city parks worker pulls strings of LED lights around one of the limbs about halfway up the tree installed on the lawn at city hall for Friday night’s “Parade of Lights” and tree lighting ceremonies. My Final Photo for December 5, 2024.

Westerville Youth Services Librarian Matt G. explains a new video game interface to four of the youngsters who gathered for Power Up Video Game Night at the library, where four players at a time quickly adapted to the four-player game before switching places with other players waiting for their turn. My Final Photo for December 4, 2024.

City of Westerville staff wearing their Christmas fashions pose for a photo before the last city council meeting for the year when standard business attire is shed for the once-a-year more festive designs. My Final Photo for December 3, 2024.

Icicles envelop the hanging vines at Jimmy Vs as below-freezing temperatures turn the spray from the water wall in the patio into a frozen masterpiece of winter’s sudden turn. My Final Photo for December 2, 2024.

The cast of Uptown Scrooge celebrates at the end of one of the chapters of a slightly modified Christmas Carol performance at Java Central on the first day of weekend performances through Christmas week. My Final Photo for December 1, 2024.

Kenny Stiegele begins his afternoon at Triple Play Card Shop, watching the Buckeyes begin a losing effort against Michigan at Ohio Stadium. My Final Photo for November 30, 2024.

A trio of shoppers carrying bags from Uptown merchants crosses State Street during late afternoon traffic on Black Friday. My Final Photo for November 29, 2024.