Fresh Magazine - Xmas 2015

http://issuu.com/fresh-mag-ja

December, 2015-January, 2016

20 Pages

A Worldtron Total Christmas: Some lucky customers of the Worldtron Total Service Station complex, located at 23 1/2 Half-Way Tree Road near Cross Roads in the Corporate Area, found themselves on the receiving end of personalized service from the quintessential Christmas icon, Santa Claus, during the “Worldtron Total Christmas� celebration. Lots of free Christmas goodies were won.

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It’s that time of year again…..time to do something special for your loved ones and friends…...time for some random acts of kindness that will not only make someone’s day, but put you in touch with your better self. It’s Christmas! Let us help you save time and money with these great, inexpensive gift ideas you can buy or make for friends and loved ones. It will cut down on the time you spend just browsing or window-shopping as you wait for inspiration. We’ve done all that for you. Enjoy!

Be sure to gift-wrap or otherwise decorate your gifts!

Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas

Set the Christmas mood with scented candles in every room

If it’s the only gift you purchase for your household this Christmas, make it “Poinsettias Red, Blood Red, in warm December”

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Stocking Stuffers For Teens: Money...DVDs… Games…

Curios…Food…

Personal -Care Items….

Clothes..Gadgets …Cell Phone…..

Credit….are just some of the many things teens want. So go ahead, give them “the gifts that (Claude McKay) matter.”

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SAVVY Shopping Celebrating the Reason for the SEASON

Some 22 years ago, the late Monsignor Richard Albert related the story of ‘Miss Lena,’ a poor senior citizen living in substandard conditions in Kingston’s inner city, from whom he learnt a signal lesson about the ‘Real Meaning of Christmas’.

According to Father Albert, that Christmas as he took his leave of Miss Lena after his visit, he said

she assured him that she would be praying for him and “all the poor.” Then she gave him a small, crumpled piece of old newspaper and when he opened it, saw that it contained six $2 bills and a note which said: “Please buy a gift for someone.”

Even after reminding myself of this story every year at this time of year for the past 22 years, I

. . . Is YOUR still marvel at its magazine of Fresh simple, yet proIdeas! found message.

Find what you Both Father Alneed to: bert and Miss Lena are now deceased, Get great value for but I will never foryour money get that he said: Create new income “Her gesture restreams minded me that Improve your life Christmas is all about giving. It does Achieve your goals not matter what or Succeed in your how much we give endeavors. but The Great Email your Message of Christcomments, mas is that what is questions, ideas and suggestions important in life, is to: that we give to each other.” <marketfresh.magazine @gmail.com> Best wishes to you and yours for a Safe and Happy Christmas.

Editor: - Carmen Richards

Email feedback to: The Editor: <marketfresh.magazine@gmail.com>

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A Christmas Tribute to Monsignor Richard Albert and ‘Miss Lena’ In an article published some 22 years ago in the Daily Gleaner on December 21, 1993, the recently deceased Monsignor (Father) Richard Albert related a story which remains, for me, one of the best examples of the real meaning of Christmas.

He recalled visiting a senior citizen, ’Miss Lena’ who was very old and confined to the yard in which she lived in one of Kingston’s poorest and most crime-infested communities.

That year, as Father Albert prepared to take his leave of Miss Lena after his Christmas visit, he said she assured him that she would be praying for him and “all the poor.”

Then she gave him a small, crumpled piece of old newspaper and when he opened it, saw that it contained six $2 bills and a note which Fresh Magazine

said: “Please buy a gift for someone.”

Even after reminding myself of this story every year at this time of year for the past 22 years, I still marvel at its simple, yet profound message. And I still choke up about the six $2 bills; Miss Lena’s promise; and her charge to Father Albert.

In the telling, Father Albert reiterated

that Miss Lena’s gesture “reminded me that Christmas is all about giving.

“It does not matter what or how much we give but The Great Message of Christmas is that what is important in life, is that we give to each other.

“It is important that we give in love and in a desire to share with the less fortunate," the late Monsignor Albert said.

Phenomenon It is a welldocumented, global phenomenon and one of the great human ironies that Christmas is both the happiest and saddest time of the year.

The incidence of depression and suicide increases during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Part of the explanation given, is that the season heightens any preexisting sense of loneliness at a time when familytogetherness is being emphasized.

To avoid loneliness and depression at this time of year, it is advised that you should make a conscious effort to connect with others.

Because people who are sad and lonely often feel better if they spend some time helping others.

The St. Patrick’s Foundation, founded by Monsignor Richard Albert, caters to people of all ages who are in need. The aim of the Foundation is to impart life skills, opportunities and care to residents from low income communities. Here at the St. Monica’s Home for the Elderly in White Marl, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, young volunteer, Jamoy Young, feeds Ms Louise Clarke.

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St. Monica’s is one of four Centres under the auspices of the St. Patrick’s Foundation, founded by Father Albert.

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Jamaican Christmas Traditions House, Home, Food & Entertainment One of the surest signs that a Jamaican householder has embraced the Christmas Spirit, is the sight of their beautifully decorated house.

Whether its merely a “white-wash” of the exterior walls and borders, or a whole, new, paint job, or major repair/refurbishing, Jamaicans from every economic strata demonstrate their joy in the Christmas Season by taking care to make their home as welcoming as possible to the guests with whom they hope to share their Yuletide joys.

And hand-in-hand with them are the mortgage and other lenders who make a special effort to reach these proactive home-owners, with homeimprovement loan offers.

As the largest provider of housing solutions in both the private and public markets in Jamaica, the National Housing Trust (NHT) is often the first mortgagor to which householders, who are already within the ambit of the NHT as a Contributor, turn for low-cost home loans.

Your First Home Contributors to the National Housing Trust (NHT) are comprised of: Employed Persons (whether employed by an organization or selfFresh Magazine

employed); employers; and Individuals who are not liable to pay contributions under the Act but have applied for and have been granted the authorization to make voluntary contributions.

The NHT also has a mandate to generate funding for the housing construction sector and to promote improved building systems and greater efficiency within the industry.

Demand In its most recent housing demand survey, the NHT found that 31% of the adult population or approximately 437,570 adults had plans to meet their housing needs within five years.

Of this number, some 100,246 (7% of the adult population), represented “effective demand”, that is, the number of persons in the housing demand market who were able to afford these plans.

The NHT is a statutory organization with the mandate to increase and enhance the housing stock in Jamaica.

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Jamaican Christmas Traditions

Christmas is the perfect time to indulge your creative side with your decorating ideas, especially for the living and dining rooms where the socializing and entertaining will be focused during the holiday. Shades of red, gold, green and white will create drama and delight the senses. .

Home Decorating 101 ——————-Use your meal to decorate your dining room table this Christmas. Showcase that beautiful ham as your centerpiece. Choose decorative plates and bowls for the side dishes, as well as for the plates you and your guests will be using. Arrange silver, blue, red or green candles on the dining room table. Add ribbon to the base of the candles to make them more festive. Make sure the candles are not tall enough to impede conversation.

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Use Christmas tree ornaments to decorate your dining room table. Make a Christmas tree from multicolored balls to be used as a centerpiece. Use individual ornaments as place cards for your guests. You can use figurines to decorate your Christmas dining room table. Rudolph, Santa, angels, etc., can all be used around the table. Make sure they do not get in the way of your guests eating, especially if you serve Christmas dinner from the table.

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Jamaican Chris High energy costs notwithstanding, many Jamaicans refuse to resist the opportunity to celebrate all things Christmas by lavishly decorating both the interior and exterior of their homes.

Elegant, understated interior dĂŠcor characterize many homes in Jamaica, across the economic strata.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christmas comes but once a yearâ&#x20AC;? is t decorating extravaganzas some proud Fresh Magazine

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tmas Traditions

Perimeter walls, sidewalks, curbs and outdoor plants all come in for their share of decorative dress at the homes of Christmas-loving Jamaicans.

the mantra used to justify the elaborate d home-owners indulge in at Christmas.

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Jamaican Christmas Cuisine

Jamaican Christmas Breakfast Options

Typical Jamaican breakfast dishes on Christmas morning include the classic:

Or: getting an early start on the Christmas ham, breakfast on Christmas morning for some folks could not be anything but eggs-and-ham; or eggs and bacon and/or sausage; with hash -browns; slices of avocado and tomato; fried plantain; and accompanied by toast and or the usual staples fried dumplings (Johnny cakes); and/or bammies.

ackee-and-saltfish with or without steamed calaloo, with slices of avocado, tomato and fried plantain; and accompanied by staples such as boiled green bananas, fried dumplings (Johnny cakes); bammies; slices of roasted breadfruit; or roastedthen-fried slices of breadfruit.

Wake up to Eggnog on Christmas morning Many Jamaican households begin Christmas morning with home-made eggnog. Making it from scratch, with the children pitching in, makes a great family-project. Alternatively, you could purchase elements of it from the store and customize the finished product with your own family brand.

The typical eggnog drink is a blend of eggs, milk or cream, sugar and, usually, rum or wine. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also had eggnog made with stout and rum instead of wine. (Skip the alcohol for the kiddy version, of course.)There are tons of eggnog recipes online that you can adapt to create your own, unique family brand.

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Jamaican Christmas Cuisine

Jamaican Christmas Dinner Traditions The typical Jamaican Christmas dinner, includes at least three main entrees, led by the ubiquitous honey-baked, smoked, ham; roast chicken; and currygoat. Turkey and/or duck may find its way onto more affluent dinner tables also. Rice-andpeas take on a special twist at Christmas, when gungo (pigeon) peas are used instead of the usual red kidney beans. A wide range of side-dishes complete the Christmas feast.

SIDE DISHES: A wide variety of salads, casseroles and other side dishes complement the traditional Jamaican Christmas dinner, including: potato salad; macaroni and cheese; carrotand raisin-salad; green bean casserole; tossed salad; candied yams/sweet potatoes.

SORREL: The Quintessential Jamaican : Scrape and wash ginger.

Christmas Drink INGREDIENTS 1 pound sorrel Grate and add to the sorrel.

2-4 oz. ginger 2 quarts water sugar wine (optional) 8-12 pimento grains METHOD: Wash sorrel thoroughly. Place in a stainless steel container.

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Add pimento grains. Boil water and pour over sorrel. Allow to stand 4-6 hours. Strain. Sweeten to taste and add rum to taste. Add optional wine. Serve with ice cubes.

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YOUR

$

MONEY

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:

Christmas Loans As a consumer, you need to be cautious in your response to the many offers of same-day loans, pay-day loans and quick loans that proliferate at this time of the year.

If they seem highly attractive, remind yourself that it is not all that glitters is gold. Many of these “deals” are often unrealistic and are being offered by predatory loan companies, which are not regulated.

Many practice over-lending to customers and sometimes impose excessive fees and onerous contract terms which once signed to, the consumer has to honour because it is a private contract.

The most common is the requirement to pay a non-refundable processing fee. The loan application is frequently denied, as it is often used by unscrupulous lenders as a means of accumulating funds.

In instances where the loan is approved, consumers are faced with high loan repayments that are burdensome and some are not able to repay. As such, consumers find themselves in a bind when they are unable to make loan payments, and some may even go to other lenders — formal and informal — to get a new loan to repay the old one, thereby accumulating more debt.

If you need a loan for Christmas, borrow from reputable organizations like banks and credit unions.

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Health &

Wellness Fruits and vegetables are an integral part of the Christmas celebrations as they provide a perfect accompaniment to the many savory dishes that characterize Christmas feasts. This is a perfect time to offer your dinner guests, family and friends the fruit and vegetable options youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to try all year.

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WIHCON continues tradition of: Building Communities, Building a Nation

with ‘The Meadows’

The Meadows is nestled in the cool hills of Irwin, located just above the city of Montego Bay. The community is approximately 15 minutes from Fairview Shopping Centre and close to other commercial hubs such as West Gate Shopping Centre & Fairfield Shopping Centre.

With easy access to the city centre of Montego Bay and the world famous Doctor’s Cave beach, The Meadows offers an experience of being in a lush country setting while being in a convenient location.

The community features a mix of moderndesigned detached and semi-detached homes. The Tuscany detached house is 658 sq. ft. with two bedrooms and one bathroom. The living, dining and kitchen are configured with an open plan providing an airy feel to this lovely home.

The Medici semi-detached house is 547 sq. ft. and also has two bedrooms and one bathroom with an open living, dining and kitchen floor plan. This home has been specifically designed to accommodate easy expansion with land space at the rear of the house.

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We have recently introduced two new products in this development. The Verona - 882 sq. ft. 2 bedroom 2 bathroom unit and The Milan - 1049 sq. ft. 3 bedroom 2 bathroom unit both with open floor plans. The living, dining and Kitchen have functional floor plans and are designed to accommodate expansion at the rear of the units.

The Meadows will also offer first class amenities such as a clubhouse, kiddie’s playground, football field and multipurpose courts. In addition there is a police post located inside the community that is a catalyst for community activities, including counseling, Justice of the Peace (JP) services, police youth club, social events and after school programmes that the police have either established or have plans to do so in the near future.

Built by West Indies Home Contractors (WIHCON), a company that has built over 40,000 houses in Jamaica since 1959, The Meadows is a great opportunity for persons seeking to buy their first home, a vacation home or just an investment in real estate. Visit our sales office on site, call 622-6815, 622-6808 or visit our website at www.wihcon.com Our Model Units are open 7 days per week.

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The Institute of Jamaica Christmas Card Promotion The annual Christmas card sale offer by the Institute of Jamaica is now underway and Jamaicans at home and abroad, as well as visitors to the island, are being invited to order Christmas Cards from its 2015 Christmas Card Catalogue. As usual, proceeds from the sale go toward funding the work of the IOJ. The IOJ is guided by the mandate: “For the Encouragement of Literature, Science and Art in Jamaica.”

Its mission is to enhance the awareness of Jamaica’s cultural and scientific heritage and ethos: to develop policies and manage programmes to acquire, collect, research, preserve, protect, document, analyze, display and disseminate our literature, science, history, material culture and the creative arts and in so doing, to celebrate our heritage.

It is the primary institution dedicated to the Preservation of Jamaica’s Natural and Cultural Heritage.

Contact the Business Development Office at 922-0620-6.

Email:bdo@instituteofjamaica.org.jm Fresh Magazine

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