Thanksgiving Extra - 2011

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November 24, 2011 www.austindailyherald.com

Volume 119, No. 279 Copyright 2011 • Austin Newspapers Inc.

Salvation Army drive aims to raise $112K , P. 7 l Christmas in the City returns Friday , P. 5 l Albert Lea theater hosts holiday classic , P. 5

BLACK FRIDAY The line waiting to get into Target stretched deep into the parking lot as more people arrived to take advantage of Black Friday deals last November.

Why is Austin thankful?

From family and friends to freedom, Austin shares what it’s thankful for.

Eliza Anderson “Being able to spend time with family that you don’t get to see very often.”

Tony Tengwall “My family and friends and being able to be together over the holidays.”

Eric Cope

The holiday shopping season will kick off even sooner this year, as stores open their doors early.

Story by Amanda Lillie • Herald file photos

any local retailers are opting to open their doors early this Black Friday — some so early, they’ll be opening on Thanksgiving.

Walmart in Austin will be one of the first in town to kick off the shopping extravaganza with a portion of its Black Friday sales beginning at 10 p.m.

Thanksgiving.

“Our customers told us they’d rather stay up late than get up early, so we’re going to hold three special events to let them shop when they want,” said Walmart spokesperson Sarah Spencer.

Target, Shopko and Younkers will all open at midnight, and Walmart’s second round of sales, including electronics, will begin at midnight. Sterling Drug on Main will adhere to its regular business hours, opening at 8:30 a.m.

Local retail managers indicated they expect to have a good sales day, and they think shoppers are excited about the earlier

M

start to the Black Friday sales this year.

“We are so excited about it,” Target manager Diane Eagen said. “I think it will be really convenient for guests who aren’t early risers. We think they’re going to be excited about it.”

Eagen said she’s hoping customers won’t need to stand in line for such long periods of time since the store is opening earlier than last year. In 2010, some area residents were in line for Target’s 4 a.m. opening by 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Randy Forster, Younkers manager, said the store opened at 3 a.m. last year, but employees are looking forward to the earlier start this year.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Forster said.

“I think everybody’s going to stay up.”

Sterling Drug manager Jessica Jenkins said the store will offer a gift bag sale.

Customers can fill a large gift bag with gifts and toys and receive 50 percent off the contents of the bag.

“Family ... thankful my kids are healthy and my family is always there for me.”

Alex Harless “Having a job right now ... getting back into school.”

Cari Bruggeman “Thankful for my family and friends.

I’m just thankful that they’re always there for me.”

Julie Guckeen “I’m thankful for my husband and that my family is going to be able to get together, all of us.

Family is so much a part of my life.”

Calandra Kenison “I am thankful for student loans.”

See BLACK FRIDAY, Page 3 See THANKFUL, Page 6

All you need to know about Thanksgiving, turkey The National Turkey Federation (NTF) estimates that approximately 45 million turkeys are eaten at Thanksgiving, 22 million at Christmas and 19 million at Easter.

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, supposedly as a response to a campaign organized by magazine editor Sara Joseph Hale. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving Day forward one week, as it is presently celebrated.

Some experts think the first Thanksgiving dinner was served by the Pilgrims in 1621. Others credit the settlers of Virginia’s Jamestown with celebrating the first Thanksgiving as their version of England’s Harvest Home Festival.

Think turkey causes sleepiness after the Thanksgiving meal? Think again! Recent studies have shown that it is more likely the large, carbohydrate-rich meal rather than just the turkey. The meal releases tryptophans in the brain, causing drowsiness.

Look for more Thanksgiving facts on Page 4

The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds – that’s about 675 million pounds of turkey consumed in the U.S. on Thanksgiving.

Source: www.minnesotaturkey.com

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Thanksgiving Extra

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Employees unhappy about earlier Black Friday Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Count your blessings, then get to work.

That may be Thanksgiving for more retail workers this year, as stores desperate to pull in buyers on the first weekend of the holiday shopping season push their openings earlier and earlier. Unhappy workers who say it ruins their Thanksgiving celebrations are trying to persuade companies to back off, but retailers say they’re stuck: It’s what customers want.

Reporting to work at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day ruins what is supposed to be a day spent with family, said Anthony Hardwick, who works part-time at a Target store in Omaha corralling carts. His online petition against Target Corp.’s plan to open at midnight on Black Friday had drawn more than 100,000 signatures from retail workers and the public by Wednesday, about two weeks after he launched it.

“The folks that work at Target are going to be working all night overnight on one of the most hectic retail days of the holidays,” Hardwick said, “they need to be wellrested for that, so they have to miss out on Thanksgiving if they’re going to be working overnight.”

Merchants are competing for shoppers on a weekend that can be critical for their annual sales and profits, and a growing number fear opening at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., as they have in recent years, may be too late in this challenging economy. More than a decade ago, major retailers used to open their doors around 6 a.m. on Black Friday, but over the past five years they started to move that up to as early as 3 a.m.

A handful started limited testing of midnight openings several years

Target employee who started petition not scheduled to work Remember the Target employee who started a petition drive, asking Target to not open at midnight to kick off Black Friday?

Turns out, he wasn’t even scheduled to work that day, the company says.

“The team member you are referencing is not now, and has never been, scheduled to work on Thanksgiving or Black Friday at Target,” company spokeswoman Molly Snyder said Wednesday via email.

Anthony Hardwick, an employee at a Target store in Omaha, Neb., started a petition online at Charge.org, which has since been signed by 109,000 people. The petition asks Target to return to a 5 a.m. opening, rather than midnight, saying it’s not family-friendly.

“A full holiday with family is not just for the elite of this nation,” the petition reads. “All Americans should be able to break bread with loved ones and get a good night’s rest on Thanksgiving!”

But Target had a different take. The Target email said, “In early November, he (Hardwick) informed his Target managers that he was scheduled to work at his other job on Black Friday and indicated that he needed the day off from Target. We honored that request.”

The Target email continued, “Target does our best to work around the schedules of all of our team members, making every effort to accommodate their requests. Target will offer holiday pay to all hourly team members who work on Thanksgiving Day.” —Associated Press

ago. But midnight openings have proliferated this year, with Target Corp., Best Buy Co., Kohl’s Corp. and Bon-Ton Stores Inc. all announcing 12 a.m. openings for the first time.

Macy’s, which opened eight stores at midnight last year, is opening all of its 800-plus Macy’s stores nationwide at that time this year.

Retailers say they’re responding to consumer demand for an ever-earlier start to the holiday shopping season. A National Retail Federation survey last year shows that the number of shoppers who flocked to stores opening at midnight following the Thanksgiving feast tripled in 2010 from 2009.

“We have heard from our guests that they want to shop Target following their Thanksgiving celebrations rather than only having the option of getting up in the middle of the night,” said Molly Snyder, a spokeswoman for Minneapolis-based Target.

Snyder disputed that Hardwick was scheduled to work on Black Friday; Hardwick insisted that he was.

Walmart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, will be offering discounts on toys, home accessories and clothing starting at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The Ben-

tonville, Ark.-based discounter, whose supercenters already operate around the clock, opened most of its other stores by midnight on Thanksgiving evening last year. Duncan MacNaughton, chief merchandising officer at Wal-Mart’s U.S. division, said customers said they would rather stay up late to shop than get up early.

Toys R Us, which opened on Thanksgiving Day for the first time last year, plans to open an hour earlier at 9 p.m. Gap Inc. will open nearly 1,000 stores across its Banana Republic, Old Navy and namesake stores on Thanksgiving in the U.S. That’s about 10 percent more than a year ago, according to Gap spokeswoman Louise Callagy.

Bucking the trend, Sears Holding Corp., which opened its Sears stores on Thanksgiving for the first time last year, is going back to 4 a.m. Friday this year. Its Kmart stores, however, will be open on Thanksgiving Day as they have been since 1991, spokesman Tom Aiello said. J.C. Penney Co. is also another holdout, sticking with its regular 4 a.m. opening on Black Friday.

People in several fields — even retail — have traditionally had to work on Thanksgiving, said Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman for

the National Retail Federation. She noted that many drugstores and food stores remain open on the holiday. But it seems to be the midnight openings that shifted sentiment toward keeping Thanksgiving Day itself out of the fray — aided by the rise of social media, which have helped spread the word.

“I think a lot of people, with these movements like Occupy Wall Street, I think a lot of people are getting tired of wealthier people taking advantage of the middle class and poorer people,” said John Stankus, a stocker at the Target store in Cypress, Calif., who signed Hardwick’s petition.

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“It’s their greed and their wanting to take advantage of us — because they’re not missing their Thanksgiving dinner.”

Stankus, 22, said his extended family gets together only once a year, so he’ll miss the chance to see relatives who probably won’t arrive at his aunt’s home before he has to leave to get enough sleep before starting work around 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving night.

“I’ll just get the crumbs and the leftovers they leave behind, but I won’t get any turkey at all and won’t get time to spend with my family,” he said.

Stankus said he had considered not showing up and taking the consequences.

Hardwick said that’s typical of the kind of support he’s heard from colleagues, including some who are afraid to sign because they fear losing their jobs.

Other retail workers said they’re just glad to be employed.

Thanksgiving Extra

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011

3

Target looks good going to holidays Associated Press

Target has strong momentum heading into the holidays. Now, can it get its website working?

The nation’s second-largest retailer delivered strong numbers Wednesday with quarterly results that beat expectations, setting the table for a sparkling Christmas.

Profits rose 3.7 percent. Same-store sales climbed 4.3 percent.

“If that’s an indicator of the playbook they have for the holidays, they’ll have a strong season,” said Lauri Brunner, an analyst at Thrivent Financial in Minneapolis.

But questions linger about the Target.com website. On the earnings call, analysts asked about the website’s woes, dogged by numerous glitches and repeated crashes.

“We believe the platform is stable,” Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel told analysts. “We are in the process of building out that (website) team and adding more resources to that team....We have made a tremendous amount of fixes.”

This fall, Target took its website inhouse after years of having it operated by Amazon. But the relaunch went badly, especially in September, when mega-demand for the Missoni-forTarget designer clothing line crashed the site. A month later, Target.com’s president left the company.

Recent survey predicts more Black Friday shoppers

Jordan Songkham heads out of Target with a TV after taking part in the Black Friday rush last year.

Black Friday: ‘I’m totally excited’ From Page 1 Jenkins is hopeful about Black Friday sales because Sterling has offered sales recently that drew crowds n e a r l y “I’m totally the size excited. We of Black will have Friday t hro ngs, lots of she said. things for Ea g en didn’t dipeople to v u l g e shop.” specifics a b o u t -Randy Ta r g e t ’s Forster sales, but she said they expect technological gifts to be popular this year, along with toys like Legos and Rockin’ Elmo.

According to a Walmart news release, the store will be offering an Emerson 32” LCD TV for $188 and a 14 megapixel camera for $49, along with several other electronics sale items beginning at midnight.

Associated Press

If you’re shopping on Black Friday, you sure won’t be alone.

A new survey says malls and stores will be a

The check-out lanes will once again be busy this year as Black Friday shoppers will be showing up in mass to get day-after Thanksgiving deals.

Some of Younkers’ sales include a down alternative comforter for $19.97, which is about a $100 savings, and Emu Aus-

lot busier after Thanksgiving, as the economy slowly improves and retailers unveil new tricks.

The National Retail Federation found that onethird of all Americans —

tralian boots for $59.97, down from $99 originally, according to Forster.

“I’m totally excited,”

that’s 74 million people — will shop at stores and online on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That’s roughly 14 million more than last year. Another third of Americans are in the

Forster said. “We will have lots of things for people to shop.”

“maybe” camp.

That is a big change from the past three years, when recession fears were even higher. Based on the survey, the number of Americans who said they’ll

definitely shop on Black Friday weekend was only 23 percent in 2008, rising to 26 percent in 2009, and then 27 percent last year. Now it’s 33 percent.

CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY November 25 OPEN HOUSE Friday, 6:00-8:00pm Come see the Live Models In The Store Window!

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Thanksgiving Extra

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Thanksgiving — by the numbers n the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims, early settlers of Plymouth Colony, held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. Historians have also recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Virginia in 1619. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the event became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

Data courtesy of the U.S. Census Data Bureau

248 million

The number of turkeys expected to be raised in the United States in 2011. That’s up 2 percent from the number raised during 2010. The turkeys produced in 2010 together weighed 7.11 billion pounds and were valued at $ 4.37 billion.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

46.5 million

9

The preliminary estimate of turkeys Minnesota is expected to raise in 2011. The Gopher State was tops in turkey production, followed by North Carolina (30.0 million), Arkansas (30.0 million), Missouri (18.0 million), Virginia (17.5 million) and Indiana (16.0 million). These six states together account for about two-thirds of U.S. turkeys produced in 2011.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry or some spelling variation of the acidic red berry (e.g., Cranbury, N.J.), a popular side dish at Thanksgiving.

Cranberry township (Butler County), Pa., was the most populous of these places in 2010, with 28,098 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pa., was next (6,685).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census.

37

750 million pounds

The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2011. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 430 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (210 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 17 million to 54 million pounds.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Did you know: Minnesota is the nation’s leading turkey producer with 46.5 million expected this year. the nation’s wheat production.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

656,340 tons 2.4 billion pounds

The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2010. North Carolina (972 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The 2011 contracted production of snap (green) beans in major snap (green) bean-producing states. Of this total, Wisconsin led all states (258,320 tons). Many Americans consider green bean casserole a traditional Thanksgiving dish.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

$7.8 million

1.1 billion pounds

Total production of pumpkins in the major pumpkin-producing states in 2010. Illinois led the country by producing 427 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in California, New York and Ohio also provided lots of pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value of all pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $117 million.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

266.1 million pounds

If you prefer cherry pie, you will be pleased to learn that the nation’s forecasted tart cherry production for 2011 totals 266.1 million pounds, up 40 percent from the 2010 production. Of this 2011 total, the overwhelming majority (210.0 million pounds) will be produced in Michigan.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

2.01 billion bushels

The total volume of wheat — the essential ingredient of bread, rolls and pie crust — produced in the United States in 2011. Kansas, Montana and North Dakota accounted for about 33 percent of

Shopping online? 10 tips to avoid ID theft ARA Content

The holidays are approaching and it’s time to start shopping for those special gifts. Last year, consumers spent a holiday-season record $32.6 billion online, according to comScore. Unfortunately, with so much personal financial information out there, instances of identity theft are on the rise.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.

While some victims of identity theft resolve their problems quickly, others spend thousands of dollars and months repairing the damage done to their credit. Some identity theft victims may even lose out on job opportunities or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.

“Anyone who shops online is vulnerable to having their identity compromised,” says Jamie Haenggi, chief marketing and customer experience officer at Protection 1, the nation’s second-largest security company. The company recently partnered with LifeLock to include identity theft protection in its offerings. “The proper precautions, combined with identity theft protection, are the strongest safeguards to protecting your credit and preventing the financial hardships that can be caused when an identity is stolen.”

traditional main course. Turkey Creek, La., was the most populous in 2010, with 441 residents, followed by Turkey, Texas (421), Turkey Creek, Ariz. (294), and Turkey, N.C. (292). There are also 11 townships around the country with Turkey in their names, including three in Kansas.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2011 — 99.7 percent from Canada. When it comes to sweet potatoes, the Dominican Republic was the source of 60.1 percent ($3.2 million) of total imports ($5.3 million). The United States ran a $3.6 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had a surplus of $41.7 million in sweet potatoes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics.

13.3 pounds

The quantity of turkey consumed by the typical American in 2009, with no doubt a hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per capita sweet potato consumption was 5.3 pounds.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States

$1.38

Retail cost per pound of a frozen whole turkey in December 2010.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012

4

Number of places in the United States named after the holiday’s

Number of places and townships in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims.

Plymouth, Minn., is the most populous, with 70,576 residents in 2010; Plymouth, Mass., had 56,468. There is just one township in the United States named Pilgrim. Located in Dade County, Mo., its population was 132 in 2010. And then there is Mayflower, Ark., whose population was 2,234 in 2010, and Mayflower Village, Calif., whose population was 5,515 in 2010.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census.

Thanksgiving Extra

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011

5

A Christmas comeback Christmas in the City kicks off Austin holiday season in style Austin Daily Herald newsroom@austindailyherald.com

With a plethora of activities planned at the Austin Christmas in the City kickoff festival, only the grinch can resist the holiday spirit.

Christmas in the City kicks off from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 with the Holiday Parade with Santa.

Beginning outside the Elk’s Lodge (First Ave. NW and Main St.), children light the path as Austinites, Santa and a cast of holiday characters march to the Town Center stage to light the downtown Christmas displays. Austin Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors will distribute free glow sticks to children. Austin Bruins mascot “Bruiser” will also be on hand.

Holiday enthusiasts can also get free photos with Santa, fresh baked cookies and hot chocolate, live entertainment, horse-drawn sleigh rides, train rides and free face painting.

For more information, see the Christmas in the City special section in the Tuesday, Nov. 22 Austin Daily Herald print edition.

Quinn Knudson, 4, of Andover, tells Santa what he wants for Christmas Friday night during Christmas in the City. Herald file photo

CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY KICKOFF ACTIVITIES • Holiday Parade with Santa: Meet at 5:45 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge (First Ave. NW and Main St.) • Free Photos with Santa located in the Town Center Building and candy cane treats for kids.

• Fresh baked cookies while kids wait in line to see Santa provided by the elves from the Cedars of Austin.

• Live entertainment on stage, including the Austinaires, Taylor Bliese and emcee Paul Pruitt.

• Horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Santa Claus leads the parade down Main Street to eventually light the downtown decorations during Christmas in the City Friday night. Herald file photo

• Captain Kirby Train Rides.

• Musical entertainment in Town Center including the Ecumenical Bell Ensemble, The North Star Brass Quartet, The Cedar River Strings and the magic of Jim Jayes.

• Free hot chocolate and cheese samples served by Mower County Dairy Princesses in the Martial Arts building.

• Free face painting by Matchbox Theatre located in the Martial Arts building.

• Relay for Life will sell $5

Due to the Elks Club closing, plans for the Christmas in the City kickoff parade have changed slightly. The Chamber of Commerce is asking people to simply gather outside. Ambassadors will distribute glow sticks beginning at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25.

Albert Lea theater hosts holiday classic Austin Daily Herald newsroom@austindailyherald.com

Marley was dead to begin with.

Discover why Ebenezer Scrooge is haunted by that fact in Albert Lea Community Theatre’s rendition of The Dickens Christmas Carol Show running Dec. 1-10.

This lively and faithful adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic tale brings all the wellloved characters, scenes, dancing and singing to theatrical life.

The audience follows Scrooge on his journey with three Christmas spirits as he transforms from a cold, mean-spirited miser to a warm, generous man filled with holiday cheer. Carols interweave the action from Scrooge’s school days to the terrible warning predictions of his future. The tree-lit party climax reaches out

to involve the audience and cast as a joyful celebration of the true meaning of Christmas.

“The Dickens Christmas Carol Show,” adapted by Arthur Scholey, will be performed at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center (147 North Broadway, Albert Lea) on Dec.1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee starting at 2 p.m.

Co-directors of ACT’s production are Gordy Handeland of Austin and Glen Parsons of Albert Lea. Parsons also plays the lead role of Scrooge. The remaining cast features nearly 50 volunteer actors from Albert Lea and surrounding communities.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. They may be purchased at www.actonbroadway.com or at the box office at the Marion Ross Performing

Arts Center, which opens Monday the week of the show’s opening. Patrons can also call the box office at 507-377-4371. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 3:30-6 p.m., and 6-7:30 p.m. on performance nights. The box office is open 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

‘THE DICKENS CHRISTMAS CAROL SHOW’ When: 7:30 p.m, Dec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 and a 2 p.m.

Sunday matinee.

Where: Marion Ross Performing Arts Center (147 North Broadway, Albert Lea) Tickets: Box office is open 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Do you have church news, events or pictures for the Austin Daily Herald?

Send them for the weekly Religion page.

Send news to newsclerk@austindailyherald.com; call 434-2230; or mail or visit the Herald office at 310 Second St. NE, Austin, MN

luminaries along with treats for the kids and other activities in the Martial Arts building.

• Christmas at the Paramount Theatre will take place at 7:30 p.m. with Jane Taylor Academy of Dance “Christmas Show” with scenes from the Nutcracker Suite.

• Merry Elf, a magical, colorful personality will light up the downtown area from 6 to 8 p.m. handing out treats to children.

JON ENGELHARDT RPh Have a Happy & Safe Thanksgiving

As you gather to give thanks, remember these tips to prevent food-borne illnesses. If you plan to cook a turkey that has been frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours of thawing time for every five pounds of turkey. Wash your hands and kitchen surfaces frequently to avoid spreading bacteria that may be present on the bird. Cook the turkey until its internal temperature reaches 170 degrees in the thickest part of the breast and 180 degrees in the thigh. It’s safest to cook stuffing separately. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours.

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Thanksgiving Extra

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Making the most of your Community 2011 holiday celebrations gives thanks ARA Content

As 2011 begins to wind down, the hectic holiday season is only getting started. It is important to remember that the beginning of winter means more than just presents and Black Friday - it’s about kicking back and celebrating family, friends and good food.

This time tends to be packed with fun and holiday cheer, but the last thing you want is to be partied out too early. Pacing yourself and not getting overwhelmed by the endless gatherings (and dessert trays) is essential. Here are a few easy tips to help make sure that you’re enjoying this season to the fullest and truly celebrating a great year: •Make everything a memory: We all know that cleaning, cooking and decorating can be a chore, but by throwing on some music and making it a group or family activity, these can easily become some of your fondest holiday memories.

•Try not to overbook: One of the most stressful dangers of the holidays is committing to too many parties. Keep a calendar and be honest with yourself-there’s no need to make every celebration if you aren’t going to enjoy them.

•Keep it simple: Not a chef ? Don’t sweat it.

Pick a simple, signature dish for the season and

stick to it. Make a fruit salad or bake your favorite kind of cookies so you’re not stressing about what to bring before every party.

•Come prepared: We all say we’re going to watch ourselves when it comes to eating this time of year, but the madness of the season makes “over-celebrating” an all-too-common occurrence. If for some reason the cranberry mold and side dishes get the best of you, make sure you have Pepto-Bismol on hand to keep you covered (use as directed) and trucking through the holidays.

•Click to show you care: Sometimes, the best way to maintain composure during this time of year is to take a step back, appreciate all that you have and pay it forward. Did you know that helping others could be as simple as “liking” a photo on Facebook? Pepto-Bismol always has people’s backs if they overdo it at Thanksgiving, but this year, it wants to also cover those less fortunate.

With your help, the brand will help donate 2 million meals through Feeding America. By logging on to www.facebook.com/peptobismol and “liking” the picture of a turkey made by Eric Stonestreet, you will help provide eight meals to people in need this winter. Giving thanks has never been easier.

Continued from Page 1

Karen Hollerud “I’m thankful for my family and for everything that I have, and for my church too,and for all my friends.”

Susan Carlson “I’m thankful for my family. I spent so much time raising them I ought to be able to see them! That’s what life is about, family and friends. I’m also thankful to be an American, for the freedoms that we have.Thank you to the veterans.”

Evelyn Washington “I’m thankful to be in Austin! I’m thankful for my roommate, she has a great job at QPP, and I just got a job at Family Video. I’m thankful for my roommate’s kids, I’m just thankful. I love the holidays. I really enjoy it.”

Rita Kester “I am thankful for my family and their health.It makes me feel good.I have grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.To think of how my children raised their children,and their children are raising their children,it’s such a blessing to see that.”

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Thanksgiving Extra

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011

7

Salvation Army sets sights on $112,000 Last year, the drive raised $123,000, but fell short of its goal $136,000.

The Salvation Army The Salvation Army Kettle Drive is going mo- received $200 checks bile. from both the Shriner’s Salvation Army Lt. Oriental Band and the David Amick is looking to Austin Shriner Club at expand their reach by the kick off. adding a mobile kettle to “We greatly apprecibe used at events like ate all the work the Christmas in Shriners the City and do,” Amick the Austin Fessaid. tival of Lights, T h e a new light Shriners show planned will man all at the Jellythe kettles stone Park. on Dec. 2, “We have a including lot of different kettles at Overall Salvation things we’re H o r m e l Army holiday goal going to be tryFoods Corp. ing this year,” and Quality Amick said.

P o r k Goal from kettles The SalvaProcessor tion Army Inc. kicked off its L a s t kettle drive Last years’ the year, Nov. 11. The overall goal Shriners drive has been r a i s e d an Austin traa b o u t dition for more $3,250, and Last years’ than 75 years. sethey final total “It is kind of c u r e d important that matching people are aware that grant to bring to total to we’re starting and that about $6,500. The club is the season’s around the looking to secure the corner, and we really do grant again. need their help, whether “It really helps the it’s as a volunteer or Salvation Army,” said whether it’s through Shriner Norm Hecitheir financial aid,” movich.

Amick said.

Though hundreds of Along with the mobile volunteers have already unit, there will be nine signed up, Amick said kettles out around they’re really short so Austin: Walgreens, Jim’s far.

Market Place, Sterling “We’re making a plea Main Street, Shopko, for as many volunteers Austin Bruins home as we can get,” he said. games and two at both People interested in Hy-Vee and Walmart. volunteering can call The Salvation Army Kim Hallman at 437-4566. is targeting $112,000 for “We’re trying some its overall holiday drive, new things, and we’re exand it’s aiming to take in cited about getting about $42,000 of that started,” Amick said. from the kettles. The Amick hopes the momoney goes toward oper- bile stand will improve ating costs, the food the Salvation Army’s at public shelf, emergency shelter visibility events. and various programs.

By Jason Schoonover

jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com

Salvation Army kettle drive by the numbers

$112K $42K

Timothy Larson rings bells for the Salvation Army outside Walmart.

Bell ringing is in full swing around Austin as the Salvation Army looks to raise money for the needy.

Left: Norm Hecimovich of the Shriners hands a pair of checks over to Lt. Amick of the Austin Salvation Army during the Kettle Kick-off Friday morning.

$136K $123K

Eric Johnson/eric.johnson @austindailyherald.

INCLUDE YOUR EVENT To publicize an event, please call Matt Peterson at 434-2236 or e-mail your information to newsclerk@austindailyherald.com

8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011

Thanksgiving Extra

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Great gifts for the holiday season ARA Content

The holiday season is upon us.

With your goal to wrap up all your holiday shopping by June long since passed, the pressure to find that impossibly perfect gift for everyone on your list now has an overbearing timestamp as well.

But fear not, holiday shoppers.

The following list of gift ideas and stocking stuffers is sure to make this year’s holiday gift giving much less daunting and a lot more fun for both you and your loved ones.

For the snacker: Gourmet & guilt-free.

Snacking is synonymous with the holiday season, but with the abundance of tempting, fattening treats available, choosing snacks that fill you up, and not out, is not always easy. Satisfy your snack lover with the gift of guilt-free snacking this holiday season.

Slide a bag of Jack Link’s Jerky in your snacker’s stocking. Made with premium cuts of beef, pork, turkey or chicken, Jack Link’s

snacks taste great, and are naturally high in protein and low in fat, calories and carbs. With more than a dozen flavors available, there is something for everyone.

Here are a few of this year’s trendiest and tastiest stocking stuffers: • The “Classic”: Jack Link’s Original Beef Jerky • The “Flavorful”: Jack Link’s Cholula Hot Sauce Beef Jerky • The “Savory”: Jack Link’s Teriyaki Beef Jerky Jack Link’s Jerky is available in grocery stores, mass retailers, convenience and drug stores nationwide.

(Suggested retail price per 3.25ounce bag: $5.99)

For the angler: Hook up the fishing enthusiast this holiday season with the latest gear.

Make sure the angler on your wish list has the latest go-to lure from Rapala — the authority on fishing — with the Rippin’ Rap. This highly versatile bait features a tall, thin bodied, lipless design

that cranks, swims and rips its way into the thick, along rock cover, over structure and anywhere in between. The rounded body touts a textured scale, gill and detailed fin that are paired with extra large, deep-set 3D holographic eyes that call fish in for the bite. And, if your holiday recipient has been hinting at a new fillet knife, the new Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife will provide uncompromised, reliable fish filleting and carving performance. Featuring a relaxed grip with advanced airflow body design, this cordless electric fillet knife will provide uninterrupted power for a full 80 minutes.

(Suggest retail price for Rippin’ Rap: $6.99) (Suggested retail price for Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet: $89.99)

For the bookworm: An e-reader.

This year, pair your loved one’s favorite hobby with a little functionality in the form of an ereader. From your beach chair or

while in flight, an e-reader makes reading easier and convenient from any location. Today, there are more choices than ever before — from touch-compatible, e-ink interfaces to Wi-Fi and audio playback capabilities — e-readers can be personalized to meet every bookworm’s needs. You can even personalize the gift by choosing a case cover in a pattern or color your recipient will love. Add it to a stocking or wrap it as a gift, the smiles and excitement that will come with unwrapping this gift are sure to last all year long.

For the amateur chef: Cooking made easier Many amateur chefs are so afraid of undercooking meat that they often end up overcooking it.

Help your home chef take the guesswork and stress out of cooking by slipping a meat thermometer into his or her stocking this year. Meat thermometers range in price and come with a number of functionalities such as a digital interface, wireless probe or alarms to notify you when the desired

temperature has been reached.

Preparing the perfect roast in the oven or hamburger on the grill has never been easier with this gift idea.

For the hard-to-please teenager: Camcorder Teens can be difficult to buy for. Skip the stress of browsing clothing racks, or navigating the video game aisle, and give them a gift they are sure to love — a pocket camcorder. Capturing live memories is easier than ever with a pocket-sized, portable video camera. Available at a variety of price points, pocket camcorders come with a number of capabilities to choose from, including a waterproof frame, optical zoom, instant video playback — and it’s all in HD. Drop this gift in your teen’s stocking and they’ll be shooting, uploading and looking back at all of life’s most embarrassing, amusing or engaging moments for years to come.

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