Let It Glow
Annual parade returns to Brentwood
Grape
Expectations
Perfect wine pairings for Thanksgiving
Ice, Ice Baby Brentwood skating rink prepares to open
‘More than a treat from home’
Annual Holiday Troop Pack to
take place Dec. 10
Volunteers and donations — both monetary and goods— are being sought again for the 12th annual Holiday Troop Pack in Brentwood on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Organizers say monetary donations are just as important as contributing goods to fill the boxes.
Organized in conjunction with nonprofit organization Operation Creekside, the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, Napa Auto Parts Brentwood and The Brentwood Press, the event will be held at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. at 6 p.m. The community is once again collaborating for the annual fall event where the volunteers organize, pack, and send out a large number of care packages to U.S. troops stationed overseas and state side to receive in time for the holidays. According to Travis Martin, Commander Brentwood VFW Post 10789.
Recommended items for donations are goods that ship and travel well, including nuts (peanuts, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds), trail mix, bars (granola, fruit, energy), powdered drink mixes, instant coffee, fruit snacks, dried fruit, tuna packs, beef jerky, gum, hand-written ‘thank you’ notes, and small clothing items, such as socks, t-shirts, and gloves. Handy wipes, toothbrushes, and toothpaste are also
The local community is once again collaborating for the annual Holiday Troop Pack where volunteers organize, pack and send out a large number of care packages to U.S. troops stationed overseas to receive in time for the holidays.
recommended, along with crossword and Sudoku puzzles. What are not allowed, bags of chips, ramen noodles, Halloween candy, and liquids such as juice boxes or cups of pudding, along with items susceptible to freezing.
Additionally, funds are also needed to ship the boxes out in time for Christmas, organizers said, with each box costing about $24 to mail.
“A big challenge is funding the mail costs each year,” Martin said. “So the most flexible donation option is monetary. Once the anticipated postage is met, funds can be redirected to fill shortcomings in the package contents. Bulk donations of items for the boxes are always welcome, but the monetary donations allow for rounding out the packages, kind of like putting the cherry on top.”
Martin added that the Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW) participates throughout the year in fundraising and community outreach to support the annual holiday troop pack, representing a small piece of an orchestrated effort that begins as soon as the last box is sealed and delivered for the Troop Pack event.
“Having been deployed before these programs existed, this support was only enjoyed by those who had family or loved ones back home to ensure they got that feeling of being remembered,” Martin said. “Now through the generosity of this community effort, everyone in a unit gets that same feeling of support and appreciation from back home.”
Operation Creekside was founded 15 years ago by director and chaplain Ed McClelland with a goal of trying to bring some joy to the troops stationed overseas by sending out care packages throughout the year. McClelland teamed up with Rick and Linda Wilson of Napa Auto Parts Brentwood in December 2013 in what was thought to be a “one and done” occurrence, but the success of that first event led to the Holiday “Troop Pack” becoming an annual event, where it is estimated that 300-400 packs are sent to the troops every year. According to McClelland, more than 600 care packs could be shipped out this season.
“Every year it has continued to grow,” Linda Wilson said. “We are just expecting it to be bigger and better than the year before. If you have a family member or friend who would like to get a care package this holiday, we are always looking for more names and addresses to send packs to.” More details, including contact and donation information, are at Trooppack.org.
Martin added that these packages represent more than a “treat from home”, as they are a mental and physical reprieve from the daily grind of being in hightension environments.
SEAN TONGSON
Press file photo
Wines to make your holiday meals tasty
The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the annual challenge of selecting the perfect wine to complement our festive feasts. Turkey, a classic centerpiece of many holiday meals, can be a tricky pairing due to its complex flavors. But fear not, wine lovers! With a little guidance, you can find the perfect wine to elevate your dining experience.
Here’s a fun twist: On the third Thursday of November at precisely 12:01 a.m., Beaujolais Nouveau is released, marking a festive celebration of the recent harvest. This younger wine is bottled just weeks after the grapes are harvested and crushed. With its light body and fruity aromas — think red fruits with subtle earthy undertones — Beaujolais Nouveau is dry and straightforward, making it an excellent companion for turkey. Embracing this tradition can certainly add a cheerful touch to your holiday meal.
Consider adding Beaujolais to your list of red wine options. Hailing from the southernmost part of Burgundy, France, these wines are crafted from the Gamay grape. Generally light-bodied and fruit-forward, Beaujolais wines feature a refreshing acidity that pairs wonderfully with turkey. Look for Beaujolais Villages or
explore any of the Grand Crus, such as Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon, and Moulin-à- Vent.
When it comes to turkey, the possibilities for wine pairings are endless. A classic choice is Pinot Noir, known for its delicate balance of acidity and fruit. Its light to medium body and subtle tannins complement the savory flavors of the bird. Look for Pinot Noir from renowned regions like Carneros, Russian River Valley or Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara.
For white wine lovers, Chardonnay is always a reli -
Now
Gursky
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Shop
able choice. Oaked Chardonnay offers a rich, buttery texture, while unoaked Chardonnay provides a crisp, refreshing acidity. Both styles can complement the flavors of turkey. Another excellent option is a dry Riesling, with its bright acidity and fruity notes.
So, as you prepare to gather around the table this season, remember that the right wine can transform your dining experience. Cheers to memorable meals and joyful celebrations. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Photo courtesy of Frank Maiuri
Uncorked: History by
tHe Glass
Frank MaiUri
Carey Bros. Christmas!
a was the night before Christmas and all through the house nobody could move ‘cause the space just ran out.
The bedrooms were crammed full of furniture and kids.
The kitchen was filled with pots, pans and lids.
The phone was picked up and a voice did share hopes that the Carey Bros. soon would be there.
With smiles on their faces, the brothers arrived with ideas, inspiration, and plans they devised.
All night they hammered and they build a frame... and when they were done the house wasn’t the same!
The bedrooms were spacious, the kitchen was clean.
The family was delighted with this Christmas scene.
So if you want your house to be looking so fine, then get a free estimate, layout and design ...at no obligation, and if you call today
The Careys will really adore you, they say.
Brentwood on Ice to open downtown Nov. 22
Brentwood on Ice will open at 739 2nd St. downtown for its eighth annual season this month starting on Nov. 22. It will be open through Jan. 5.
The attraction is sponsored by Got a Party Rentals, which is owned by Tom Gregory and his wife, Tracy. According to Gregory, Brentwood on Ice is one of the biggest events in Brentwood, bringing in about 30,000 people last year.
“We’re the only ice rink that I know of in East County,” Gregory said. “We do bring people to town who don’t come to Brentwood otherwise. People come from the surrounding seven counties.”
The skating rink will feature a snack bar that will serve food and beverages, including slices of pumpkin pie, apple pie, and cookies from local business Tasha’s Cookies.
“Hot cocoas are very popular,” Gregory said.
The rink has been on Gregory’s bucket list for over 20 years, and for him, one of the most exciting things about it is bringing joy to the community.
“The reason we do it is because we enjoy seeing people have a good time,” he said. “It has been a dream come true.”
Gregory also says one of the concepts is to bring economic development to downtown Brentwood, as well as making downtown stand out amongst other cities.
“It is a good spot,” Gregory said. “It
brings traffic to the downtown businesses. We do it to make Brentwood shine. I really enjoy being downtown.”
The ice rink also provides private sessions. Gregory mentioned that some of his favorite days are when kids come for a visit with their classes.
“We’re a small hometown feel, and a lot of our customers appreciate that,” Gregory said. “I think we’re a bit of a gem.”
Guests who would like to book a private session should call 925-516-7664. The rink will be closed during private sessions. A list of these times can be found on their website at brentwoodonice.com.
General admission tickets can be purchased onsite or on the Brentwood on Ice website. Details on pricing and other information, including hours of operation can also be found there.
Brentwood on Ice hours
Monday-Thursday, Noon-9:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Thanksgiving, Noon-9:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve, Noon-9:30 p.m.
Christmas Day, 2 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
New Year’s Eve, Noon-TBD
*Open at 10 a.m. during school holiday breaks
NICOLE BECCHINA
GREGORY
Delta Community Presbyterian Church to hold Victorian Holiday Market on Dec. 7
Victorian Holiday Market is being held at Delta Community Presbyterian
Church and the adjoining All God’s Children Christian School, Saturday Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Market at 1900 Willow Lake Road, Discovery Bay will feature hand crafted items, vendor sales, caroling, Santa Claus, savory baked goods and hot beverages –cocoa, hot cider, and coffee. For extra fun, come dressed in Victorianthemed clothes, accord ing to a press release.
The Market seeks vendors and crafters (big, small and in-between) to participate in the Market. Tables to display sale items will be provided. Some of the items we would like are jewelry, knit or crochet items (animals, hats, scarves, baby clothes for example), sewn items ( place mats, table runners, quiltes, aprons, stuffed animals), wood working, candles, and pottery. However, organizers will welcome other items as well. Please provide the following information:
♦ Name
♦ Contact Information
♦ Items you want to sell
♦ Any other helpful information
♦ Email it to mary.anderson43@gmail.com.
The proceeds will benefit our All God’s Children Christian School, which has been in Discovery Bay for 23 years. We recently replaced three portables with two new permanent buildings, which also expanded the school’s capacity. Students have moved into the new buildings as of Aug. 23, 2024. All God’s Children school was first envisioned by members of Delta Community Presbyterian Church in Discovery Bay in 2001. After much planning the school opened Jan. 6, 2003 with six children, a teacher and two volunteers assistants, and two classes – a preschool and one pre-kindergarten, according to the press release.
Today, the school has K-5th grade, preschool, pre-kindegarten, and full day care. Student enrollment has grown to 156 students. Each class has a full-time teacher and assistant. Class size is on average is up to 24 students per class. Students graduate equipped to successfully meet or exceed educational standards in middle and high school with a firm foundation in Christian values.
Why you should shop local for the holidays and beyond
Various components come together to make the holiday season a festive time of year. There is a lot to get done in a short amount of time during the holiday season, and part of that includes shopping for all of the family members and friends on your shopping list. Shopping can be a complicated process that involves identifying which stores will be the best places to shop. Local
retailers make the perfect place to shop for holiday items.
According to the American Express Business Economic Impact Study, more than two-thirds of every dollar spent with a local business stays in the community. Indeed, shopping local benefits consumer and community alike. The following are some of the many perks to shopping locally throughout the holiday season.
♦ Personalized attention: Small businesses are known for their personalized customer service, and owners and staff are often lauded for taking the time to interact and learn about their customers, a dynamic
that is impossible at larger retailers.
♦ Meet and interact with people: Shopping in-person at local stores, you’ll see faces from your community and become better known in the local area.
♦ Shorter lines: Local stores are bound to have smaller crowds, and thus, shorter lines. That translates to less stress and hassle when it comes to getting in and out with holiday gifts.
♦ Smaller carbon footprint: Pollution, traffic congestion, habitat loss, and resource depletion may not occur on the same levels when shopping locally compared to patronizing big-box stores. That’s because local retailers tend to create or source their
products locally, whereas many big- box stores get their goods from overseas.
♦ Easier parking: This goes hand-in-hand with smaller crowds, as shopping locally does not typically require driving up and down endless aisles at malls or standalone retail stores in an effort to find a parking spot. Local retailers in town may have on-street parking or closed lots that are convenient to shoppers.
♦ Small batch shopping experience: Consumers can buy items in small businesses that are not carbon copies of those found across the country at major retail chains. To comment, visit www.thepress.net
How to master shopping early for the holidays
Savvy shoppers have long touted the importance of starting early when looking for holiday gifts.
Seasoned procrastinators may never embrace early shopping, but others who want a less hectic holiday shopping season can consider these tips.
♦ Begin with a plan. Holiday shopping excursions, whether they take place in town or online, can take longer
than expected when shoppers have no idea what they’re looking for. Prior to your first holiday shopping trip, jot down gift ideas for each person on your list. Then scour stores or websites for those items. Starting early affords shoppers time to bargain hunt and ensures supply shortages or other issues won’t get in the way of a happy loved one come the holiday season.
♦ Recognize the notion of “early” has changed. Early holiday shopping used to be synonymous with the retail holiday Black Friday, which occurs the day after
Enjoy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in the United States. However, many holiday shoppers now begin buying gifts long before they’ve purchased a Thanksgiving turkey. In its 2022 Consumer Pulse Survey, McKinsey & Company found that 56 percent of consumers started their holiday shopping in October. A host of variables may have influenced that shift, but supply chain problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic have lingered, which undoubtedly compelled consumers to get an especially early start on holiday shopping. Shoppers who want to ensure everything arrives on time for the holiday season must recognize that “early” shopping now involves beginning around Halloween, if not earlier.
♦ Take the (local) road less traveled. Shopping local merchants in person is a strategy savvy shoppers have long since embraced, but it’s one that’s especially beneficial in an era marked by supply chain problems and infla-
tion. Local merchants don’t have the overhead or sizable staffs of big-box or chain stores, which enables them to keep costs low. And since local merchants produce many of their own products, it’s likely there’s something in store that shoppers will love and less likely that they will have problems filling orders. A late fall afternoon in a local shopping district can yield an array of treasures and help holiday shoppers find the right gift for many persons on their list.
♦ When in doubt, go gift card. If the right gift is proving elusive even when shopping early, shoppers should not hesitate to go the gift card route. Shoppers need not feel as though a gift card is a nonstarter, as a 2022 survey from the National Retail Federation found that 54 percent of survey respondents indicated gift cards were the most desirable gift of the holiday season.
– Courtesy of Metro Creative
Sheffield & le OrthOdOnticS iS cOllecting tOYS and canned fOOd fOr the leSS fOrtunate in Our cOmmunit Y. Bring YOur dOnatiOnS tO the antiOch Or BrentwOOd Office nO later than dec 16. dr rOB will match dOnatiOnS. YOu can ’ t maSk KINDNESS.
will include a Santa Claus meet-and-
free hot chocolate and cookies, arts and crafts, and a variety of local performers. The exact list of performers is not yet finalized, according to city office assistant Caylie Simmons.
The Christmas tree, the centerpiece of the ceremony, is scheduled to be lit at about 6:45 p.m.
“We’re hoping for a huge turnout,” Simmons said. “I hear it’s a huge hit, the kids love it, and Santa Claus will be there.”
Entrants wanted for this year’s holiday “Let It Glow” parade
Annual event is Nov. 30 in Brentwood
The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring the “Let It Glow” theme to it’s annual parade on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.. The Chamber is encouraging people, businesses, and nonprofits to come and participate in the holiday parade.
Last year, the parade sold out its entries and will probably do so again, organizers said. So they encourage wouldbe participants to sign up now at www. brentwoodchamber.com.
Chamber director and parade chairwoman Erika Bolds provided some insight on this year’s parade. Bolds said she is most excited about and most grateful for the experienced support throughout the planning process. “I’m anticipating the creativity of our parade participants and
seeing the reactions of the community as they appreciate each float. I’m excited to be able to deliver an electrifying event for the community that they look forward to every year.”
As for what inspired the ‘Let it Glow’ theme, she said “Parades are meant to be visually appealing, and what’s more appealing than illuminating up the streets with lights and glow sticks?. As a child, lighted parades were my favorite. I felt the excitement build as they made their way
in front of me. I would love to invoke the same feeling within the community.”
“Our holiday parade is always a magical time for our community and this year’s ‘Let it Glow’ theme is no exception,” said Chamber president Karri Reiser. “We are excited to see our local businesses and organizations light up downtown with creativity and the holiday spirit. It’s the perfect way to kick off your holiday season.”
Bolds offered advice to residents who are attending the parade.
“If you plan to attend the Holiday Parade, be sure to arrive early to secure a good spot along the route, as popular viewing areas fill up quickly,” she said. The three announcing stages are at Chestnut and First streets, First and Oak streets and Second and Oak streets.
“Also, bring a blanket or chair for added comfort while watching the lighted parade. Also this year, we will have some designated handicapped parking on Oak Street between Midway Alley and First Street.”
The Chamber encourages participants to decorate their floats with lots of lights, to show off your community spirit.
The Chamber is also excited to announce this year’s parade Grand Marshal – Sue Stuart, celebrating her many years as choir director at Liberty High School, and Brentwood Community Chorus.
Those interesting in participating can sign up at the Chamber website at https:// brentwoodchamber.chambermaster.com/ eventregistration/register/15596
The fees to sign up are as follows. Parade entry fees: $60 chamber member and nonprofits; $110 nonmembers. Equestrian entry fees: $60 for a single rider, $135 for a group (2-6), $185 for a group (7 or more), (nonchamber members add $2 per rider).5 to equestrian fees)
Spectators are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys or canned goods for the Brentwood Community Chest. Donation barrels will be available along the parade route.
To bring more cheer and lights to the parade, the Chamber will have glow sticks to sell to spectators to participate in the ‘Glow’ theme. Santa Clause will be at the end of the parade, so everyone can follow him to the tree lighting.
Then join the city’s Parks & Rec department, Mayor Joel Bryant and Santa Clause immediately following the holiday parade for the annual Christmas tree lighting and singing that will take place in Brentwood City Park.
ANDREW RULLODA