HAVE A HOLLY, JOLLY CHRISTMAS (IN JULY)

Bettery hurry to the malls, there are only 154 shopping days till Christmas.

Till the real Christmas, that is.

If you’re the type to celebrate the inexplicable “Christmas in July,” you’ve only nine days left. Frankly, we’re baffled by the idea of celebrating a winter holiday while our sunglasses are fogged up from humidity, but we suppose we should take merriment in any month we can find it.

So we can’t fault Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church in Lexington for holding “Christmas in July” services this Sunday in which worshipers will sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and light an Advent wreath.

Retailers are not to be outdone. For example, the two Old America Stores in Columbia are among those celebrating the hap, happiest time of the year with half-price decorations, ornaments and other holiday items we so desperately need in July.

But we wonder, why stop at Christmas? Why not Halloween in April? Thanksgiving in January? Mother’s Day in November?

Saxe Gotha has the same idea. The week after its “Christmas in July,” it’s celebrating “Easter in July.” We’re holding out for Arbor Day.

AND THE WINNER IS. . .

Noted achievements

Dream teen

We were pleased to learn that Irmo High grad Tara Killian has been in Orlando, Fla., this week, representing South Carolina in the America’s Perfect Teen Pageant.

Killian, whose parents are Frank and Gayle Killian of Columbia, should be a shoo-in for the crown, as last year she won the national Miss 1994 Teen title. It’s a natural progression for Miss Teen to become Miss Perfect Teen.

But we worry. Killian, presumably, has a birthday each year, and one day will no longer be a teen. What will she do? Will there be a Miss Perfect Grownup contest? What would be the criteria? Would clothier Barbara Rackes win it each year?

Regardless, Miss Perfect Teen will be crowned on Sunday. We’ll let you know if she wins.

ET CETERA

People, events and more

Sunday in the South

Church announcements can be found elsewhere in this newspaper, but we couldn’t resist giving this one special note. At 7 p.m. Sunday, faculty and students of Anderson College will present dramatic readings and music at Blaney Baptist Church in Elgin. More importantly, tomato sandwiches and homemade ice cream will be served after the program. Can’t get much more southern than that!

WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN. Today at the State Museum you can learn about life as a Civil War soldier, at a re-enactment of a South Carolina Volunteer Infantry camp. The “soldiers” will be suffering in the sun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’d probably appreciate a tomato sandwich.

Talk about Town is written by Pat Butler and Jennifer Graham. Fax your ideas to 771-8430, or call 771-8507.