Let’s Talk About: Christmas Trees

One of the most recognizable symbols of the holiday season is the Christmas tree. They can be seen in homes, public spaces and many prominent locations everywhere during December.

Did you know that most Christmas trees that we buy from those corner lots are raised on tree farms? Christmas trees are an agricultural product with roughly a million acres dedicated to tree farming. The top tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.

Did you know that approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. every year?

Did you realize it can take as long as 15 years to grow a typical tree?

Did you know that the Germans are credited with bringing the first Christmas trees into the home and decorating them in the spirit of Christmas. The first recorded reference dates back to the 16th century.

Did you guess that the most common Christmas tree species are balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. (Why some capitalized and some not??)

Why not be different this year and have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree? You could find a little scraggy pine most anywhere and “rescue” it from oblivion. It’s one of my favorites!

Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society No December Meeting

Dec16 by Charles Hansen

Italian Interest Group (IIG) NO DECEMBER MEETING

Tanti auguri di buone feste!
(Best wishes for happy holidays!)

Save the Date

DATE:
TIME:
January 17, 2026
1:30 PM (PT)

COUNTDOWN TO THE MEETING:

Italian Interest Group (IIG) of theEastside Genealogical Society P.O. Box 374
Bellevue, WA 98009-0374

Longview Family Search Center

Dec16 by Charles Hansen

Hello – this is Michael and Barbara Berry – we are Directors of the Family Search Center located in Longview within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are actively looking for volunteers to come and help individuals interested in doing Family History work. Although we are located within the church ALL PEOPLE interested in Family History are welcome. In fact we could use additional volunteers from varying backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. We feel diversity is really important as we try to reach out to all peoples.

We simply want to share this valuable resource and have an opportunity to help people who may be struggling in finding resources, reference documents and navigating various softwares. We find that many people would like to do Family History work, but don’t know where to start. Family Search accounts are FREE and consultants offer a wide array of skills associated with gathering and verifying accurate information. Our current volunteers are wonderful, welcoming and friendly. We staff the center on Sundays from 1:30 pm to 3pm, Tuesdays from 10 am to 1pm and 6:30 pm to 9pm. Even just one shift a month would provide considerable help, given we like to have at least 3 volunteers to every shift, both for adequate coverage and safety. Our center offers 9 computers, a printer and scanner and a wealth of seasoned ideas for gathering information across various sites.

We would LOVE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS and hope you might want to join our team.

Give us a call – Mike 406-596-2008 and we would gladly meet you at the center and discover how you could become a part of our team.

Our best,

Michael and Barbara Berry

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society United Empire Loyalists

Dec16 by Charles Hansen

Do you have colonial New England roots and Canadian cousins, or vice versa? In 2026 our nation celebrates its 250^th birthday. SVGS begins our 2026 Winter Speakers Series by recognizing that not all Colonists supported the Patriot cause. Some Colonists were Loyalists who supported the King, and many families had relatives on opposing sides. Join SVGS Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1pm at the Burlington Public Library for “United Empire Loyalists” the Colonists loyal to the Kingwith Brian McConnell. Brian is a Canadian Author, Genealogist and Historian. Come learn about the Colonists that opposed the American Revolution and resettled north of the border in Canada. Can’t make it to the Burlington Library, request a zoom link by emailing info@skagitvalleygenealogy.org.

Eastside Genealogical Society January 2026 Getting Started with AI in Family History

Dec16 by Charles Hansen

Use this link to join the meeting.

Let’s Talk About: Don’t Overlook Collateral Research!

Dec16 by Donna Phillips

To me, this candle-lighted village epitomizes the concept of collateral research. Everybody in the village knows everybody and most of them are related.

Pamela Bell Dallas gave a super presentation to EWGS in October, 2025. She defined Collateral Research as a common term in genealogy, meaning investigating relatives who are not direct line ancestors….. like aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings …… to hopefully find information about a direct ancestor.

“Why do this?” she asked. “To help us over come so-called brick walls by finding the answers and information you’ve been seeking “forever.”

Dallas explained that people can be tied together by blood, circumstances, law, emotions, common beliefs and common experiences. Two little girls of the same age formed a bond that lasted a lifetime even though they were cousins with different parents and surnames. “The strongest family ties are between women,” Dallas quipped.

Rather than turn this bit into a 20″ long column, I’ll refer you to Grandma Google. Ask her “how to do collateral research” and you’ll have enough hits to occupy a full day of your time.

I want to share my story: While researching James, the youngest son born in the early 1800s, I concentrated on him like most all beginners do. WELL. The oldest child, a daughter, born 20 years before James, never married but cared for siblings and parents all her life. She joined DAR and was very proud of her ancestry. Her obituary reflected this passion for it was inches long listing all her ancestors! Which of course, were James’ ancestors too. DUH on me and please learn from my silliness.

Looking for a Last-Minute Gift?

Dec15 by Roxanne Lowe

If your ancestor lived in the Washington Territory before it became the nation’s 42nd state on November 11, 1889, you may be eligible for a Washington Pioneer certificate. Or if your ancestors arrived a little later — before December 31, 1900 — you can get a First Citizen certificate. What a great gift for yourself and your family members!

We began the Washington State Centennial Pioneer Certificate Program in 1984 in anticipation of the state’s centennial admission to the union in 1889. The initial certificates were issued to applicants who could prove their ancestors were in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889. Those descendants’ names, almost 18,000, were printed in a two-volume set of books entitled “Washington Pioneers” in 1992. A third volume, published in 1993, included Pioneers and First Citizens (those in the state on or before December 31, 1900). The three original volumes are out of print, but an index is available here. WSGS members have access to family lineages in the Members’ Only section of the website.

Pioneer and First Citizen Certificates are still being issued, although they are published only on the WSGS website at this time. If you can prove your ancestor was in Washington prior to November 11, 1889, you may be eligible to purchase a Pioneer Certificate. If your ancestor was in Washington on or before December 31, 1900, you may be eligible for a First Citizen Certificate. More information, including resources to prove residency, is available in the Pioneer and First Citizen Program brochure. An application and instructions are available here.

Let’s Talk About: Go Zags

Dec12 by Donna Phillips

How many ardent Zags fans known where the name Gonzaga originated? I did not, nor did my rapt-BB-fan-son-in-law.

“Gonzaga was named for Aloysius Gonzaga who was born in the castle of Castiglione on March 9, 1568. As a youth, and often with his father, he traveled widely in Italy and Spain. In 1581 he formed the resolution of becoming a Jesuit, renouncing his noble family’s wealth in favor of his brother (to their father’s dismay). Before the end of his novitiate, he passed a brilliant public act in philosophy…… when he was in Spain he distinguished himself in philosophy.

“In 1591, while in Italy, a famine and pestilence broke out. Though in delicate health, he devoted himself to the care of the sick and while serving others he himself fell ill in early March.

“Aloysius Gonzaga died on June 21, 1591.”

It was Father Joseph Cataldo who, in 1887, was the founder of the school in Spokane, named the school after his fellow Italian saint. St. Aloysius Gonzaga is known as the patron saint of youth.

President and Secretary Candidate Statements

Dec10 by Roxanne Lowe

Kathleen “Kathy” Weddle Sizer of Granger has been nominated to serve a third two-year term as WSGS President. Additionally, Jill Scott of Yakima has been nominated as Secretary for a second term. The terms of office are 01 Jan 2026 through 31 Dec 2027.

Online voting for the slate will begin 15 Dec 2025 and run through 22 Dec 2025. All WSGS members will receive an email with a Google link to their anonymous ballot. Members are asked to vote for each position. Write-in nominations are allowed.

Kathy’s candidate statement

Serving you as President has been a pleasure for the last two terms (4 years). I had hoped someone would step up to take my place as it is not a difficult job. However, it looks like you may be stuck with me again for another term.

The Washington State Genealogical Society has been a driving force for many years and can be for many more. Our focus has gone from helping form societies and hosting seminars with noteworthy speakers to being a clearinghouse promoting our many great societies here in our state and helping them to advertise their seminars, workshops and meetings. WSGS has made it easy for me, as well as you, to find events and attend in person or virtually programs that will benefit genealogical research.

WSGS not only promotes local societies but has financially helped local societies through various grants and one-time gifts through the dues our loyal members have paid. Thank you, members! We, on the Board, have been pleased to offer these grants to societies for various needs. This is something that is a plus serving as President or in any other position.

WSGS is embarking on updating the Pioneer Files for Washington State, an ambitious project but a boon for those with early families to our state. Let’s keep Washington State Genealogical Society relevant!

Jill’s candidate statement

I am thrilled to be nominated again to the Washington Society Genealogy Society Board as Secretary. I eagerly anticipate contributing to the betterment of our membership. Here’s a little about me:

I was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho. After graduating from high school, I moved to Spokane and attended Kinman Business University. I found not only a job, but a husband in Portland while I worked for Pacific Power & Light as an executive secretary. We moved to Klamath Falls where my only child, Alison, was born. Then we moved to Sunnyside for Charlie’s job and retired to Tucson in 1994. In 2000, I moved to Escondido, California to take care of my aging dad. After his death in 2003, I decided to stay in Southern California and then moved to Yakima in 2017.

I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution – Narcissa Whitman Chapter in Yakima, where I am the immediate Past Honorary Chapter Regent; P.E.O. Chapter FR; Daughters of Utah Pioneers; Huguenot Society; Daughters of the Republic of Texas; U.S. Daughters of 1812; Flagon & Trenchers and a Utah Genealogy Society supporter of their Utah Founding Pioneer program.

Heritage Quest Research Library Holiday Bazaar

Dec9 by Charles Hansen