For the second year in a row, the city of Baumholder had to forego a visit to St. Nicholas in the twin town of Warcq in France. As in the previous year, Corona had once again put a spanner in the works for Mayor Günther Jung and the Warcq-Baumholder Partnership Committee. But our thoughts wander – especially in the run-up to Christmas – across borders into the small Ardennes town on the Meuse. How nice it was always to watch the numerous smaller and larger children in the festively decorated hall in Warcq, says committee chairman Jürgen Henze. Often happy eyes shone towards children who enjoyed the small gifts that St. Nicholas had brought from Baumholder. Unfortunately, we will miss this again this year. But our bonds of friendship will be preserved.

Children from the Westrich Baumholder primary school have recently taken care of this. Nicole Bier had given a suggestion in the committee, the headmistress Anke Georgiadis took it up and the students of all classes made lovingly crafted Christmas tree decorations with the help of their teachers. It has now been sent from the town of Baumholder to Warcq and is intended to help keep the memories of previous friendly encounters alive. Frank Meschenmoser, who has been playing St. Nicholas in France for many years, expresses his special thanks to the school children for their handicrafts and hopes to be able to travel to the Ardennes again next year with the mayor and committee. Of course, this hope is also shared by the members of the Partnership Committee and their French friends in Warcq.