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By Jeff Shew, police chief for Locust

My most memorable childhood Christmas tradition was gathering with the large extended Shew family at my grandparents in Maco (Brunswick County) on Christmas Eve for homemade vegetable soup, Hickory Farms beef sticks and cheeseballs, card games, Christmas carols, backyard football games and a few fireworks.

Then we would return on Christmas day for a large country cooking lunch and pass around the presents from each relative.