After reviewing the accounts of the Town Health Center, the Council voted to donate $16,0000 to charity for the holidays, down from $34,000 in 2003. Lower profits and high repair bills for the health center are blamed for the reduction.

Council Margaret New will lead a committee to select charities to receive shares of the $16,000. Recipients will be chosen from a list of Middleburg-related non-profit organizations.

Pointedly absent from the Town Council's gift list this year will be the Middleburg Business Association's "Christmas in Middleburg" project, which, among other things, provides the town's "official" Christmas decorations. In the past the project depended entirely on charitable contributions. This year the Town Finance Committee will fund decorations from its marketing budget.