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Area businesses ready for Black Friday By MATT PETERSON newsroom@austindailyherald.com
The busiest shopping day of the year is quickly approaching, Black Friday. It is perhaps the one day of the year that is immune to the ill effects of the economy. Cory Squier, owner of Sears in Austin, said the economy didn’t really affect last year’s Black Friday at his store in the Oak Park Mall. “We had a pretty solid turnout this last year,” Squier said. “But we obviously anticipate doing better this year.” Squier noted that there is a trend with his store. Door-
buster, small, necessary items aren’t really what make a great sale. He said Sears has sold more washers, dryers and refrigerator-freezers. He expects more for this year because some of the deals on appliances are very good. “You can basically buy a washer and get the dryer for free,” he said. Although the overall economy has been bad since 2008, Shan Kehret, marketing coordinator of the Oak Park Mall, said the stores have seemed to be doing very well this year. And last year’s Black Friday throughout the mall still
brought a large crowd with long lines. Kehret has tried to coordiante different events for every weekend to draw people into the mall. So Black Friday is also this year’s holiday art and craft sale, put on by the art center. “I try to plan something for every weekend to bring people in the doors,” Kehret said. “So they remember to shop here, something different and unique so it’s not the same old, same old.” Submitted photo
FRIDAY, Page 3 ‘You can feel the buzz.’
Shoppers line up outside Target last year for Black Friday. The line eventually reached to the street when doors opened at 5 a.m.
Shortcuts for elegant holiday entertaining
Cathy Adams is helping the Salvation Army for her second year, while Michelle Ree gives some of her money to the kettle drive and receives some candy in return.
A ringing need Salvation Army continues kettle drive tradition Story and Photo by Matt Peterson The Salvation Army hopes its annual kettle drive will ring in about $40,000 through small, simple donations from holiday shoppers. Since 1891, the Salvation Army has been holding its kettle drives in most cities throughout the U.S. during the holiday season to help those who are experiencing hardships. Money raised by the red kettles, along with direct donations and mail-ins to the Salvation Army will provide many people with rent assistance, utilities, prescription drugs, affordable meals and the SA with the resources to keep operating and giving to the community. The Salvation Army hopes to raise $136,000 in Austin this year. Kim Hallman, volunteer special events coordinator and kitchen supervisor for Austin’s Salvation Army, is counting on her regular volunteers to help with the drive this year, but she needs the help of others to ring
the bells. As of Nov. 8, Hallman said she had about 35 volunteers registered to ring bells, but she could use about 100. She has regular volunteers who work at the Salvation’s store, confirmation classes who come to ring bells and others who help with the day-to-day operation such as the kitchen (Hallman and the SA holds a community meal every Monday through Thursday form 5 to 6 p.m., available to anyone who needs it). The Salvation Army kettles and bell ringers will be posted outside many major retailers in Austin: Wal-Mart (both doors), Jim’s Supervalu, Walgreens, HyVee (both doors), Sterling Main Street and Shopko. With the loss of K-Mart, Hallman hopes to make up the slack with kettles placed at the counters of some smaller retailers and at the Austin Bruins’ home games. Cathy Adams and Bob Stratton are just two Austinites helping the
Salvation Army. Adams is volunteering with the SA for her second year through her church and said, “I am just happy to help out.” Adams will be outside of WalMart every Monday through Friday, and said she won’t let the weather upset her. “I’m from Minnesota; I’m used to it,” Adams said. “It doesn’t bother me a bit.” Both Adams and Stratton will be volunteering for the entire duration of the drive, which ends at Christmas. To make things interesting, the Austin Bruins will also be ringing the bells at Wal-Mart. The players can be spotted wearing their jerseys every Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at both Wal-Mart entrances. For information about the kettle drive or to register to be a bell ringer contact Hallman at 507-4374566 ext. 103.
Chart Your Course
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. ~ Genesis 8:22 ~
(ARA) — It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and often the busiest time, too, as family get-togethers and holiday celebrations quickly fill the winter months. This holiday season, you can save time and avoid chaos in the kitchen by taking a few simple shortcuts. Whether you’re the go-to host for the holiday festivities year after year, or it’s your very first time to serve up the annual feast, take comfort knowing you have these six time-saving tricks up your sleeve. Spice up store-bought. Adding an unexpected, tasteful touch to store-bought foods and beverages is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to wow your friends and family. For example, just a dash of cinnamon-citrus Tastefully Simple Warm Up! Mulling Spice mixed with your favorite apple cider can turn an ordinary drink into a heartwarming holiday experience. Seize the day (before). Many hors d’oeuvres can be prepared in advance and simply heated — or reheated — in the oven or microwave on the day of your holiday party. Try combining precooked crab meat, cream cheese and a packet of cheese dip mix the day before your party, and all you’ll have to do on the big day is bake it for 5-7 minutes until it’s golden, bubbly, and so good your guests will never guess your secret. Give chopping the axe. This year, there’s no need to wipe away tears as you chop and mince onions and garlic for recipe ARA Photo after recipe. In- Holiday meals don’t have to be a stead, take help stressful task this year. from dehydrated seasoning blends, like Onion Onion from Tastefully Simple, which can be substituted for fresh ingredients in your favorite recipes or mixed with sour cream for a delicious dip in seconds. Make your ingredients multitask. When you’re stocking the pantry prior to your holiday party, choose a lineup of flavorful products that offer more versatility than other one-note wonders. For instance, a jar of cranberry-pomegranate preserves can easily do double-duty. First, use it as a tasty glaze for beef or pork, and then serve up the remaining spread with toasted English muffins on Christmas morning. Do homemade in a hurry. Nothing says “home” like the smell of bread baking in the oven ‚ but who has time for mixing, kneading, rising and so on? It’s easier than you might think to have your homemade bread and enjoy it, too, with Tastefully Simple’s signature Bountiful Beer Bread Mix. This versatile bread mix can be prepared with any carbonated beverage and takes just 30 seconds to mix together before popping it in the oven. Add life to leftovers. Rather than reheating the entire holiday spread for an encore presentation, try using up leftovers in creative yet quick recipes. For example, beef roast can be shredded and added to your favorite just-add-water soup mix, while mashed potatoes are perfect in warm, cheesy casseroles.