It can be difficult to focus on the true meaning of Christmas while being overwhelmed by the commercialism and the greeting of “Happy Holidays”, that too often represent Christmas today. The birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior must be our focus. The message of the Good News proclaimed by our Lord and his apostles should guide our thoughts and actions every day of the year.

May the Lord bless you with the gift of His perfect peace this Christmas and a sense of His presence in your heart every day of the New Year!

• Holy Mass at 6 p.m.

Christmas Schedule:

Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord – Saturday, December 24th

• Holy Mass in St. Johnsville – 4 p.m.
• Holy Mass in Little Falls – 8 p.m.

Nativity of our Lord (Christmas) – Sunday, December 25th

• Holy Mass in Little Falls – 11 a.m.

July 15th, Little Falls Bicentennial Celebration in Eastern Park, Little Falls from 7-9pm featuring Tony’s Polka Band.

Aug. 1st, Utica Monday Night, Chancellor Park at Bleecker & Kent, Utica starting at 6:30pm featuring Ed, Bill and the Boys Polka Band.

Sept. 24th, Holy Spirit’s Polka Fest 2011 at the E. Herkimer Fish and Game Club from 1-5pm featuring Tony’s Polka Band.

The city of Little Falls and the Little Falls Family YMCA will present the 2011 Summer Concert Series to begin on Friday, June 24, in Rotary Park.

Helen and Her Dixielanders Band will perform Dixieland, swing, blues and polka during the opening concert. Although the band is fairly new, forming only three years ago, it is something band leader Helen Maksymicz has always wanted to do. The band consists of a diverse group of local musicians, who love to have fun and share their talents.

The June 24 concert will begin at 7 p.m. and will conclude around 9 p.m. Refreshments and a Caribbean barbecue will be provided, as will a bounce house for children.

The concert will be part of the Great International Steamboat Festival that will feature over 20 steamboats and will be a Little Falls bicentennial event.

The second concert, to be performed by Tony’s Polka Band, will be held at Eastern Park on Friday, July 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tony’s Polka Band is a six-piece polka band based in Hagaman. Formed in 1997 by Tony Banewicz, the band has escalated from a family weekend pastime to an award winning ensemble. The group was named “Best Polka Band” by the American Accordionists’ Association in 2003 and four of the recordings released by the group have been named Grammy semi-finalists.

Ethnic food prepared by members of Holy Spirit National Catholic Church will be available during the July 15 concert, which will also serve as a Little Falls bicentennial event.

The third concert will be performed by The Easy Money Big Band, and will be held at Eastern Park on Friday, July 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. The Easy Money Big Band, based in Utica, is a 17-piece ensemble with two vocalists that uses original period arrangements of swing tunes from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. The band typically performs numbers made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Patti Page, The Andrews Sisters, Jo Stafford and Glenn Miller.

The evening will also include an old fashioned pig roast prepared by members of the First Assembly of God. The concert is a Little Falls bicentennial event.

The fourth concert, held in conjunction with the 24th annual Little Falls Canal Celebration and the bicentennial celebration, will be held at Rotary Park on Aug. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. Performing will be the Frank Stepanek Band. Stepanek is a three-time Grammy nominee, who played with reggae sensation Black Uhuru. The band plays a mix of reggae and reggae-style covers of classic rock and roll standards. The evening will also include a barbecue, canoe races and fireworks after dark.

The fifth and final summer concert held in conjunction with the Canal Celebration will be held on Friday, Aug. 12, at Eastern Park 7 to 9 p.m. Monkey & the Crow Bar band is a crowd favorite across the Northeast. The band plays a variety of songs and styles from Jerry Garcia’s “Sugaree,” Jimmy Buffet’s “Volcano” and Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally,” to the Beatles, the Allman Brothers, Neil Young and everything in between, along with original selections.

For a list of current programs, updates and events happening at the Little Falls Family YMCA, visit the YMCA website. The concert series is made possible in part by the city of Little Falls, the Little Falls Family YMCA and supporting businesses.