Holiday Home 11-17-22

Festival of Trees Returns to 1818 Century Inn Dec. 3

More than 20 businesses and individuals have already committed to decorating Christ mas trees for the Middlefield Historical Soci ety’s Festival of Trees, creating two fun-filled weekends for area holiday celebrators.

MHS Secretary Diana Cathan said one goal of the event, traditionally held every other year, is to fill the 1818 Century Inn at 14979 South State Avenue in the village with beautiful holiday trees this year — and anyone can enter.

“It’s as simple as bringing an artificial tree and decorating it as you wish,” she said in a press release. “We have had amazingly beautiful and creative trees in the past and are looking forward to more fresh, new ideas this year. Visitors will vote on the coveted People’s Choice honor.”

Cathan is an enthusiastic supporter of the event, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, she said over the phone.

She and other MHS members do their part to fill the old inn with holiday cheer and enter into the spirit of the season.

“Last time, I decorated six trees,” she said.

The Inn, MHS headquarters, is the oldest building in the village and is transformed into a local attraction. The festival also gives busi nesses an opportunity to display their prod ucts and services in front of holiday crowds when it is open to the public from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11.

“The Inn looks very different in normal life than when it is filled with trees,” Cathan said, adding she has been on the MHS board of directors for 20 years and the festival has been celebrated longer than that.

Residents can also ensure underpriv ileged children will have gifts Christmas morning by bringing new toys to the Inn during festival hours on Dec. 3 and 4.

“We do not charge an admission fee, but do appreciate donations,” she said. “To offset expenses, we will be selling lovely poinset tias, holiday floral arrangements and tickets for a raffle full of surprises.”

Anyone who wants to be part of the Fes tival of Trees but can’t decorate a tree is wel come to donate items for the Chinese auc tion, Cathan said.

Visitors are invited to stop by The De pot during the festival for a free peppermint “little toot” ice cream cone during the same hours. The Depot, housed at the historical society, will also be decorated beautifully.

“Visiting the Festival of Trees has al ready become a treasured holiday tradition for many families in the community and surrounding area, with over 600 visitors in 2018,” Cathan said.

Scheduled set-up days are Nov. 28, 29 and 30, with tear-down Dec. 12, 13 and 14. Contact Cynthia at 440-632-1148 to schedule your dates and times. Different times and dates can be arranged, if necessary.

Staged Too is a Unique Collection of Furniture

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What started out as a home staging busi ness, after six years, came to a screeching halt with COVID-19.

Staged Too, prior to the pandemic, was occupying numerous storage units and it was hard to find anything inside or see what the inventory was without having to pull it out into the hallway.

After six years and a long search for a home to store those treasures where they could be seen, the business found space at 217 Cherry Ave. in Chardon.

“We had the windows lettered and made fancy with scrollwork, and started organizing the items, decorating, putting together vi gnettes and decided to give this a try. May be some folks in the area could benefit from lower prices and unique items or decorating advice,” according to the business.

Staged Too offers lamps, rugs, side tables, artwork, clocks, home décor, bedding, gifts and more. The prices are discounted by at least 50% to 75% of the original purchase price.

“We offer ‘refresh’ services, as well,” the company said, adding if a person is tired of the way a certain room looks, Staged Too can offer a new area rug, some decorative lamps and pillows, perhaps a side table and chair, and a focal point piece of artwork with prices ranging from $500 to $1,500.

While the business has limited store hours, customers can make an appointment to come in and look around or talk about what they are looking for.

“We have staged many homes for sale, re freshed several living rooms, decorated two childrens’ rooms and provided items to com plete a new look in many homes,” according to the business. “’Staged’ is what we can do to put it all together for you, ‘Too’ is that and much more. Words like aesthetic, flow, color coordination and best utilization of space ap ply, but we simply like to make homes and people happy.”

Staged Too will have autumn décor up through Thanksgiving and will switch to Christmas shortly after.

Tips to Prepare to Host Guests

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They’re back! Family, friends and acquain tances are once again taking up residence on cots and fold-out sofas across the country as loved ones gather to celebrate the holiday season. That’s welcome news nearly three years after a pandemic first restricted such gatherings. But hosts must ask themselves: Am I ready to host house guests?

Travel is a big component of the holiday sea son. According to a 2021 survey by The Vaca tioner, a travel tip and vacation guide, nearly 63 percent of Americans age 18 or older planned to travel for at least one holiday in 2021, with most traveling in December. That marked a 37 percent increase in travel from a year prior. Holiday travel for 2022 may be even higher as families adapt to life during the pandemic.

As individuals get ready to host holiday guests, here are some strategies to maximize space and make guests feel comfortable.

• Discuss plans in advance. Every travel er is different. Some people thrive on mak ing lists and following itineraries. Others fly by the seat of their pants. It’s reasonable to ask potential house guests how they envi sion their visit, including if they plan to stay long and if it will include sleeping over. This way you can make accommodations accord ingly, particularly if guests request to borrow

a vehicle or want to see the sights.

• Create some extra privacy. While some homes are equipped to handle guests com fortably, smaller homes may not be equipped with such luxuries. Folding screens can be used to create a barrier and add some privacy in open spaces where guests will be staying.

• Stash away travel samples. Travel-sized soaps, shampoos and lotions can make guests feel more welcome. Stock up at the grocery store or pharmacy and leave them in the room where guests will be staying.

• Stock up on new linens. Treat guests to fresh fluffy towels and new bed linens, especially if it’s been awhile since you have restocked these items.

• Ask about food preferences. Your guests may not want to munch on kale chips and tofu hot dogs apart from the holiday meal. Don’t push your food restrictions on others. Ask guests what they typically eat and then fill the pantry and refrigerator with some of the items they mention. When guests need snacks, they’ll have familiar foods on hand.

• Be mindful of bedtimes. Consider guests’ preferences about bedtimes. While you may be a night owl, some guests may hit the hay much earlier, particularly older rel atives or those with young children. If need be, make an effort to be quiet when kids or early birds are staying over.

Fire Safety Protocols to Keep In Mind when Decorating

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Decorating the interior and exterior of a home is a beloved holiday season tradition in millions of households. Such decor makes it easy to dive into the festive nature of the season.

Many people could not imagine a holiday season without decorating their homes, and it’s vital that celebrants do so safely. Fire safety is especially important during a time of year when string lights and potentially dried out trees feature so prominently. These fire safety tips can ensure this holiday season is safe.

• Buy the safest lights. It might be tempt ing to buy the most inexpensive lights, espe cially given all the extra costs already associ ated with the holiday season. However, safety should be the utmost priority when buying new lights. Testing laboratories such as CSA, Intertek and UL certify products to ensure they’re safe for use. Products that aren’t cer tified should be avoided.

• Use lights and cords where they’re in tended to be used. The packaging on lights will indicate if the product is intended to be used indoors or outdoors. It’s vital that indi viduals decorating their homes with lights pay attention to these labels. Never decorate the exterior of a home with interior lights, and vice versa. Extension cords made for in doors also should not be used outdoors and vice versa.

• Be especially careful with candles. Candles should only be burned when adults are in the room and should always be extin guished before leaving the room or going to bed. When burning candles, place them on heat-resistant surfaces that are beyond the reach of curious kids and pets. Never place candles within arm’s length of Christmas trees or houseplants, including poinsettias.

• Ask an electrician to inspect your exte rior outlets and circuits. Ground fault circuit interruptor (GFCI) outlets are designed to prevent electric shocks and reduce the risk of electrical fires. Most areas now require

which are recognizable because they feature two buttons between the outlets. But older homes may not be equipped with GFCIs, particularly with exterior outlets. GFCI in stallation is not an especially expensive job, so homeowners should ask an electrician to inspect their interior and exterior outlets and replace non-GFCIs with GFCIs.

• Do not pinch light cords. Stringing lights can be a hassle, but cords should never be pinched in doors or windows or beneath interior and exterior furniture. Doing so in creases the risk of damage to the cord, which in turn increases the likelihood of fire.

• Avoid overloading circuits. Overloaded circuits pose a significant fire hazard. When plugging in lights, choose outlets that aren’t already occupied by devices and other elec tronics. If need be, unplug appliances like televisions and devices while lights are on and plugged in.

When decorating this holiday season, cel ebrants are urged to do everything they can to reduce the risk of fire in their homes.

believe in positive, effective and safe methods that are fun for

Merry Middlefield – and The Grinch – Return Dec. 10

Staff RepoRt

Merry Middlefield will return to Middle field for the sixth year with area businesses collecting new, unwrapped toys and gift cards to be donated to local non-profit charities.

This is a group effort of Middlefield Chamber of Commerce member businesses, sponsors, volunteers and others who donate their gifts and time.

On Saturday, Dec. 10, catch the Grinch in action between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., when he appears at various participating businesses during the day to steal gifts that have been donated by the community.

Kiwanis Club of East Geauga will hold a breakfast in the Cardinal High School multi-purpose room. The Grinch and his dog Max will stop by from 9-11 a.m. and will be signing books (one per family) while they last. Kiwanis is asking visitors to donate a toy to receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a great prize.

A craft show from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. will round out the morning at the high school, lo cated at 15928 E. High St., in Middlefield Village.

The fun continues at 6 p.m. inside Great Lakes Out door Supply, 14855 N. State St., Middlefield. The Grinch, Max and Cindy Lou Who will deliver an award-win ning dramatic performance where the Grinch will have a change of heart.

After the performance, visit Santa for a free photo with Grinch, Max and Cindy Lou

given to local non-profit organizations for

Look for the green standing Grinch and

Recycle and Reduce Holiday Waste

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The holiday season is a special time of year. Individuals often spend a little more on gifts, indulge a little more on rich foods and treats and make a concerted effort to enjoy more time with their loved ones during the holidays.

The tendency to overdo things during the holiday season can create a lot of waste. In fact, Americans produce 25 percent more garbage from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, according to Waste Advantage magazine, a publication of the waste and re cycling industry. That uptick equates to one million tons of extra trash per week through out the holidays.

Extra food, plastic and paper waste is gen erated this time of year, but people can be mindful of the potential to go overboard and take some steps to be more waste-conscious as they entertain.

• Reuse a small portion of wrapping pa per or look for other wrapping items. Sunday comics, newsprint, colorful magazine pages, and even pieces of fabric can be used to wrap gifts in lieu of purchasing new wrapping pa per. Otherwise, collect used wrapping paper and reuse it next year, doing the same with boxes and bows. According to researchers at Stanford University, if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused ma terials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

• Skip disposable party items. It’s certainly easy to use disposable plates, napkins and cups when hosting holiday parties, but that is very wasteful. Opt for durable, reusable products that can be packed away and used each year during holiday events.

• Buy durable and reusable items as gifts. Avoid fad gifts and focus on items that will have staying power. Homemade gifts, such as foods, knitted scarves, artwork, and more, are generally eco-friendly.

• Set up marked trash and recycling re ceptacles. Remind party guests to recycle the appropriate materials by clearly marking a pail designed for collecting recyclables, such as cans, plastic beverage bottles and glass wine bottles. Most hard plastics can be recycled.

• Remove your name from catalog lists. Call companies and ask to be taken off pro motional mailing lists to reduce paper waste.

• Send a photo. Mail holiday card recipi ents photos of the kids or the entire family in lieu of cards. They’re apt to save the photos and display them, helping to keep even more paper trash out of landfills.

• Research new recipes for leftovers. With an abundance of food remaining after entertaining, turn leftovers into new meals by exploring recipes from friends or by doing a little research online.

Waste can get out of control during the hol idays, but there are ways to tame the excess.

Gifts to Get Kids Off the Couch

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Devices can be hard to ignore. Seemingly always within arm’s length, devices such as tablets and smartphones are as popular as ever. In a survey designed to gauge smart phone ownership, the Pew Research Center found that 85 percent of Americans owned a smartphone in 2021. That reflects a signifi cant increase since 2011, when 35 percent of Americans owned a smartphone.

Adults may recognize the potential pit falls of spending too much time on their de vices, but those pitfalls are not nearly as ap parent to children. For instance, a 2021 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychi atry found that excessive smartphone use is associated with various health problems in adolescents and young adults. Such issues include psychiatric, cognitive, emotional, medical, and brain changes. A separate 2021 study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that children have a 62 percent greater risk of developing a binge-eating disorder for each additional hour they spend on social media.

Parents know that gettings kid to put down their devices is no small task. However, the holiday season can be the perfect time to find fun gifts for kids that have nothing to do with screens and encourage kids to be more physically active.

• Lessons: Whether it’s surfing, boating or music lessons, various courses do not re quire devices or even allow them to be used

during sessions. Parents and loved ones of children can look for lessons that inspire youngsters to pursue a new passion that pro motes physical activity and encourages kids to get up and go.

• Trampoline: Aunts and uncles should definitely clear this one with mom and dad before purchasing it. However, no kid, includ ing tweens and newly minted teenagers, can resist a good trampoline. Modern trampo lines are safer than yesterday’s models, es pecially when shoppers choose ones with en closures that prevent kids from falling off the trampoline and onto the hard ground below.

• Sports equipment: Organized sports instill lessons about sportsmanship, hard work, overcoming adversity, and the value of working as a team, all the while promoting physical activity. Young children who haven’t yet participated in organized sports may be compelled to do so if a new baseball mitt or basketball hoop is waiting under the tree this holiday season.

• Kites: Kites can be perfect for kids who don’t take to sports or those who sim ply need a break from competition. Kites can help young children develop their gross mo tor skills and instill in them a love of the great outdoors that lasts a lifetime.

Getting kids to put down their devices is no small task. But parents and loved ones can do their best by giving gifts that encourage kids to get off the couch and be more phys ically active.

Chanukah is a relatively modern holiday in regard to the Hebrew calendar. Unlike Yom Kippur or Passover, which are steeped in rich traditions, there are few Chanukah customs.

Chanukah celebrants still participate in various customs each year, some of which are customized according to family preferences. While some traditions, such as the lighting of the Chanukah menorah, are familiar, others may not be as widely known — especially to those outside of the faith. Here’s a look at a select few.

• Saying the Shehecheyanu blessing: Tra ditionally, there are two blessings that some people say each night while lighting the can dles. The first is recited while holding the lit shamash, and the second is said while light ing the candles. Another blessing, known as the “Shehecheyanu,” is said the first night. According to 18Doors, a resource on the Jew ish faith, it’s the same blessing traditionally said on the first night of all Jewish holidays and other special occasions.

• Display or use of the shofar: A shofar is a type of instrument made from a ram’s horn. It is a symbol of the ram that Abraham offered as a sacrifice in place of his son Isaac, exemplifying heroic faith of the fathers of the Jewish people. The shofar also serves as a re minder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and calls people to strive for Isra el’s renewal and fellowship with God.

• Singing “Ma’oz Tzur”: Chanukah songs may not be as numerous or as widely sung as Christmas carols during the holiday season, but there are a select few that are part of the festivities. “Oh Chanukah Oh Chanukah” and

“The Dreidl Song” are some of the most wide ly known songs, but some people also follow the custom of singing “Ma’oz Tzur (Rock of Ages)” around the menorah. The words were composed in the 13th century, and the song summarizes historical challenges faced by the Jewish people that were overcome with God’s help.

• Use of oil in Chanukah feasts: It’s well known that latkes, or fried potato pancakes, are served around Chanukah. The reason is due to the oil used to fry them, which tradi tionally is olive oil. Fried foods call to mind a specific Chanukah miracle. After the Greeks destroyed the sanctuary and defiled what was thought to be all of the oil, one jug sealed with the imprint of the High Priest was found. That one jug managed to keep the Temple’s menorah lit for eight days, despite it being insufficient to handle this task. This was considered a miracle and celebrated in subsequent years.

Chanukah is a relatively modern holiday with few traditions. However, the customs as sociated with this holiday are held dear.

4 Gifts for the Busy Professional On Your Holiday List

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The life of a successful professional can be hectic. Demands at work force many pro fessionals to work long hours, and those days could be even longer for remote workers. In fact, a 2020 study of 2,800 workers by the staffing firm Robert Half found that 70 per cent of workers who transitioned to remote work due to the pandemic now work on the weekends. The survey also found that 45 per cent of workers indicate they now routinely work more hours during the week than they did prior to the pandemic.

With so much on their plates, busy pro fessionals may not have time to shop for prod ucts that can make their lives a little easier. That makes the holiday season a perfect time for people to consider what to get the hard working professional on their shopping list. These four gifts can each make it easier for busy professionals to handle long days at the office.

1. Portable phone charger

Modern professionals rely on their smart phones to check and send work emails, keep track of their busy schedules and answer calls from colleagues, among other things. But those phones are only useful when their batteries are charged. Portable phone char gers are lightweight and easy to use, making them ideal for on-the-go professionals who need to keep their phones charged all day long. Professionals who spend lots of time in their vehicles may love a solar-powered portable charger, which ensures their phone batteries stay charged even when they forget USB cables at home.

2. Wireless headphones

Though some models can cost of hun dreds of dollars, a reliable set of wireless headphones can be found for as little as $50. These headphones can be especially useful for professionals who work from home, as many are designed to cancel out ambient noise, making it easier to participate in Zoom

being rowdy right outside a home office door.

3. Cleaning service

Few chores are less appealing after a long day at the office than cleaning a house. Many cleaning services offer weekly or monthly packages, and professionals would undoubtedly appreciate someone taking this time-consuming task off their to-do list. Ask a relative or two to pitch in and help pay for the service if it’s beyond your budget.

4. Slow cooker

Slow cookers allow users to put every thing in a pot in the morning and then arrive at night to a ready-to-eat, homecooked meal. These can be especially valuable to profes sionals who work long hours and don’t have the time to prepare a meal from scratch at the end of a workday.

Whethers it’s portable tech, some help keeping their homes clean or a device de signed to simplify homecooking, various gift ideas can help make busy professionals’ lives a little less hectic.

14 Facts About the Winter Solstice

The winter solstice occurs each year during the month of December in the north ern hemisphere. In 2022, the winter solstice will take place on December 21 at 4:48 p.m. EST.

Solstices are significant events that occur twice per year. One occurs in the winter and one in the summer. The winter solstice also is known as the first day of winter and occurs when the Earth’s pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun. During the winter solstice, people will experience the shortest period of daylight and the longest period of nighttime of the year. Here are 14 fascinating facts about the winter solstice.

1. Depending on the hemisphere, the north or south pole will experience contin uous darkness or twilight around its winter solstice.

2. The winter solstice sometimes is re ferred to by the term midwinter.

3. Even though the solstice is marked by a whole day on the calendar, it actually is just the brief moment of time when the sun is ex actly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

4. The word “solstice” can be translated from Latin and means “sun stand still.”

5. The Tropic of Capricorn is located at 23.5 degrees south of the equator.

6. Tourists flock to Stonehenge to track the movement of the sun. The stones will

frame the sunset on the winter solstice and the sunrise on the summer solstice.

7. Ancient cultures viewed the winter sol stice as a time of death and rebirth.

8. Important events in history have tak en place on winter solstices. The Apollo 8 spacecraft launched on the solstice in 1968. Pilgrims also arrived at Plymouth on the win ter solstice in 1620.

9. Each planet in the Earth’s solar system has its own solstices and equinoxes.

10. The southern hemisphere experienc es the winter solstice in June each year.

11. A full moon on a solstice is even more rare than a blue moon. The last full moon to occur on the winter solstice was in 2010 and the next one won’t happen until 2094.

12. Earth is closer to the sun around the winter solstice in December. However, the northern hemisphere receives less sunlight and has cooler temperatures because it is tilt ed away from the sun during winter.

13. Even though the winter solstice fea tures the shortest amount of daylight of any day during the year, it does not have the ear liest sunset. That takes place roughly two weeks prior. In 2021 in New York, the winter solstice took place on December 21, but the earliest sunset occurred on December 7 at 4:28 p.m.

14. Meteorological winter begins on De cember 1 rather than December 21.

Consider Experiential Gifts for Seniors

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Holiday shoppers know that, seemingly every year, there’s one person on their shop ping list who’s hard to shop for. Seniors may fit that bill, as many have already accumulat ed a lifetime’s worth of goods and gadgets. That’s why experiential gifts can be such a good fit for seniors come the holiday season.

Experiential gifts are wildly popular. In its 2021 Winter Holiday Shopping Report, the market research firm Mintel revealed that nearly half of individuals surveyed for the re port felt that experiential gifts are superior to tangible items. Seniors who already have everything they need might be even more en thusiastic about experiential gifts, which may encourage them to get out of the house or pursue passions they’ve long had a passing interest in. This holiday season, shoppers can consider these experiences as they look for something new and unique for the seniors on their shopping lists.

• Biplane flight: Few experiences are as exhilarating as a flight in an open cock pit biplane. Biplane flights are unique to each company that offers them, but some planes can accommodate two passengers (in addition to the pilot), making this an ideal gift for senior couples who aren’t afraid of a bird’s eye view. The length of a flight de pends on shoppers’ budgets, but no matter how long seniors are in the air, they’re sure to return to the ground having enjoyed a tru ly unique experience.

• Hot air balloon ride: If riding shotgun with a pilot in a tiny plane is more adventure than your favorite senior may be seeking, a

way to take to the skies on a beautiful day. Rides tend to last around an hour, but compa nies typically offer various packages and may even let shoppers customize rides for their loved ones.

• Theatre tickets: The COVID-19 pan demic hasn’t been easy for anyone, but seniors were among the groups most vul nerable to serious infection if they caught

are eligible to be fully vaccinated and even receive two rounds of booster shots, a trip to the theatre can reignite their passion for live entertainment and make for a memora ble night out.

• Cycling tour: Modern seniors are among the most physically active demograph ics. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that, with

in months of the pandemic being declared, adults age 65 and older averaged 100 more minutes of physical activity than the next closest cohort. A cycling tour can make for a perfect gift to active seniors. Tours may be designed to visit local places of historical significance, idyllic natural settings or local eateries. Wherever the tours ultimately end up, they’re sure to put a smile on active se niors’ faces.

Experiences can make for the perfect hol iday gifts for seniors who have it all.

How to Pet Proof Your Home When Decking the Halls

The holiday season is a special time of year. Many factors combine to make the hol iday season so unique and festive, and that includes all the effort people put into deco rating their homes.

Much thought is giving to holiday lighting arrangements and which tree to buy, but it’s equally important to consider pets when deco rating. Many common household pets are natu rally curious, and that curiosity can make it diffi cult to decorate safely come the holiday season. But various pet-proofing strategies can ensure holiday decorations and displays aren’t compro mised by four-legged friends this season.

• Secure the Christmas tree. Much like other residents of the home, pets may be mes merized by a glowing Christmas tree. Pets may sniff around the tree or investigate it closely, which can increase the chances that it tips over.

Fastening the tree to a wall, much like one might do with a television that isn’t mounted, adds a further layer of protection from tip-overs.

• Block off the base of a live tree. Live trees need water to stay green and keep their needles throughout the season. That water could prove enticing to thirsty pets. Drinking water from a tree stand could increase the risk of the tree tipping over and the water could upset the stomach of pets if the tree was treated with pesticides prior to being brought home. When decorating with a live tree, make sure the base of the tree where the water will be is blocked off. A small fence around the tree could keep curious pets away. The room where the tree is located should be locked or inaccessible when pets are home alone.

• Inspect and conceal light wires. Wires can become frayed over time, and that could pique pets’ curiosity. Lighting wires should always be inspected prior to decorating and frayed or damaged wires should be thrown away, even if it means replacing lights. If

wires are still sturdy, conceal them along the base of the wall using a cable concealer, which prevents pets from chewing on them.

• Avoid lighting candles. Candles should not be lit in homes with pets. Even candles on shelves that are seemingly beyond pets’ reach can be hazardous, as pets, especially cats, have a way of accessing spaces they seemingly shouldn’t be able to reach. Use electric candles in lieu of traditional ones.

• Speak to a vet about seasonal plants and flowers before bringing them into the home. Pet owners can speak with their vet erinarians before bringing poinsettias, holly and other seasonal plants and flowers into their homes. Some pets could suffer allergic reactions if they eat certain seasonal plants, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and speak to a vet before including live plants and flowers in decorative displays.

Holiday Volunteers Needed

Geauga County Department on Aging needs volunteers Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24 and Christmas Day, Dec. 25 to deliver meals to area seniors who are alone for the holiday.

Volunteers will pick up holiday meals at the Chardon Senior Center, 470 Center St., Building 8 in Chardon, and deliver them to their assigned seniors’ homes.

To volunteer, or for more information, call the Geauga County Department on Aging at 440-279-2145.

PAM MOLNAR/KMG

As revenge for being made to wear a holiday hat, pictured left, Xander the Cat attempts to eat an artificial Christmas decoration later that day.

Craft an Entire Day Around Tree Shopping

Though retailers may begin playing holi day tunes shortly after Halloween, for many people, no date on the calendar marks the beginning of the holiday season better than the day they pick up their Christmas tree.

There are many different ways to acquire a Christmas tree. Some people prefer artificial Christmas trees that can be stored and taken out each year. Others make a yearly expedition to a tree lot or a Christmas tree farm to find the perfect fir or spruce. Historians believe a man named W.V. McGallard planted 25,000 Nor way spruce seedlings at his Mercer County, New Jersey farm in 1901, essentially establish ing the first commercial Christmas tree farm. By 1908, customers could visit the farm and choose trees for $1 each. McGallard helped create an entirely new industry that now ac counts for 350 million trees being grown and sold in the United States every year.

Selecting a Christmas tree may not take more than an hour or two, but there are ways for families and other tree shoppers to maxi mize their time spent looking for a tree.

• Bring refreshments. Couple Christmas tree shopping with picnicking if the weather is amenable. Pack some foldable chairs into the vehicle (sitting on the ground on a blan ket may be too cold) and bring along thermos es of coffee or hot cocoa. Snacks like granola bars, Christmas cookies or other filling treats can keep everyone satisfied and energized while they shop for a tree.

• Pair tree shopping with a trip to see lighting displays. Find the tree lot or tree

farm and then scope out potentially scenic spots to view holiday lighting displays near by. Neighborhood Facebook or other social media groups often tout homes that put up eye-catching displays. Ask around for ad dresses and plan your own tours.

• Plan a night out. Everyone may be tired and hungry after a long day of Christmas tree hunting. Plus, it’s typically a good idea to wait some time for boughs to open before decorat ing. Use this opportunity to dine out and return home ready to decorate. Make it a regular oc currence that Christmas tree shopping is fol lowed by a family meal at a favorite restaurant.

• Watch a classic film. Many different holiday movies are broadcast this time of year and each enhances the Christmas spirit. While putting up the tree, play a favorite film in the background. What better way to enjoy decorating your own tree than by watching Charlie Brown adorn his meager evergreen at the same time?

Make a day of selecting and putting up the Christmas tree each year. Doing so can enhance the holidays and make for an enter taining way to spend time together as a cou ple or family.