PAGE 2 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017
Christmas tree prices expected to rise amid shortages SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Americans will pay more for pre-cut Christmas trees this year as shortages deepen from the country's top two producers, Oregon and North Carolina. Joe Territo sells Oregon trees in San Jose, California. But he's becoming increasingly frustrated with rising costs, from the trees to labor. Territo says the only figure going down is profit. “It seems like every year, it’s harder and harder,” Territo said. He expects to sell 6-foot Noble firs for about $75 a piece this season, up from about $69 last year. The problem is one of supply. Christmas tree growers are
coming up short as their 2017 harvest enters its critical period, with trees being shipped coastto-coast and abroad. Around the time of the Great Recession, growers had an oversupply of trees after planting too many in the early 2000s. Subsequent low prices forced many farmers out of the Christmas tree business, leaving other growers to tend to the market. But now, with only so many trees to go around, remaining farmers can’t keep up with demand — and they might not catch up for years. It can take nine years before some trees are ready to be cut and sold. Oregon farms harvest the most trees in the United States,
exporting them to places like Asia and California. Trees from North Carolina are generally shipped to states east of the Mississippi River, such as Florida. Casey Grogan is a manager at Silver Bells Tree Farm, a few hundred acres outside Oregon's capital city, Salem. He reckons the farm has received 20 times its normal number of customer inquiries. “We just have enough to supply the customers we’ve been supplying, so we’re not able to help them,” Grogan said. But Grogan is optimistic for fellow Oregonians who should be able to find fresh fir trees. And there are many u-cut tree
farms. “The people that are really gonna suffer from this, I think, are going to be people in Southern California, Arizona, Texas, places like that,” he said. Tim O'Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association, denies a shortage, but acknowledges, “Supply is tight.” “Everyone who wants a tree will be able to get one,” O’Connor said. Christmas tree farmers aren’t so confident. “Right now, there’s a tree shortage. It’s been coming down the line for the last eight or 10 years, or so,” said Jason Hupp, who helps manage Hupp Farms near Silver Falls State Park in Oregon.
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Tips to make your holiday decorating very merry Wire services
Nearly 70 percent of Americans say their favorite part about the holidays is spending time with family and friends, according to the Pew Research Center. So, during the hectic holiday crunch, you may be looking for ways to simplify the many tasks on your to-do list. When it comes to decorating, consider these time-saving strategies for turning your home into a fuss-free winter wonderland. Get organized early If your seasonal décor is
stowed away in the garage or attic, dust it off and get it untangled before the day you plan to do your actual decorating. Locating these items and getting them prepped to be strung and hung may be a job in and of itself, so don’t get overwhelmed by trying to make it all happen in one day. Make it a group effort There are plenty of responsibilities you can dole out to different members of the family to make decorating more fun for everyone involved. While certain tasks may not be for everybody, such as those that require getting on a ladder, kid-friendly
DID YOU KNOW? As holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, retailers who use apps and mobile responsive websites to reach more customers may benefit by making a concerted effort to reach older shoppers. According to Nielsenʼs Mobile Measurement, 26 percent of the more than 100 million mobile shoppers are 55 and older, while an additional 40 percent are between the ages of 25 and 44. Those figures might surprise some retailers who are quick to associate mobile shopping with digital-native Millennials. Nielsenʼs FourthQuarter 2014 Mobile Multicultural Insights report even noted that Hispanics are more inclined to shop via mobile than non-Hispanic, white smartphone owners. Retailers may also be interested to know that more and more shoppers are turning to apps instead of websites to do their shopping. Between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the fourth quarter of 2014, Nielsen reports that 101.4 million smartphone users accessed a shopping app. By the fourth quarter of 2015, that figure had risen to 109.9 million users.
tasks include creating googlyeyed reindeer ornaments for the tree and stringing garlands to the banister. Use new tools New tools are available that can help simplify holiday decorating. For example, Treemote, a wireless, user-friendly Christmas-tree shaped remote, can control holiday lights up to 80 feet away — so you can skip crawling under or behind your tree to turn lights on and off in the morning and at night. While this tool is ideal around the holidays, it can also be used yearround on hard-to-reach lights and appliances, making it a
great stocking stuffer for your decorator-in-residence. To learn more, visit Treemote.com. Make it fun Make decorating fun by creating a festive atmosphere. Create a playlist of all your favorite holiday tracks to enjoy as you decorate. Pop a tray of cookies into the oven. When the decorating is over, reward yourself by curling up and watching a favorite holiday movie. There’s no reason why decorating needs to feel like a chore. Simple strategies can make decking the halls not only easy, but fun.
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PAGE 6 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017
Roundup of holiday events
Independent file photo
Dec. 14: Christmas concert, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Holy Redeemer School.
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
11 Tyler Home Tours, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The homes of Jon and Jen Schreurs, Mike and Kim Bloom, Josh and Briana Wieme and Don and Sue Buhl are on the tour. Tickets are $15 and will be sold at El Belle’s Decor and More, Hair Expressions and Thrifty White Pharmacy. The event is sponsored by the Tyler Area Community Club.
1 • Prairie Dance Alliance “Nutcracker” 7 p.m., Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts. • Business Open house, 4:30 p.m., Balaton; 5-7 p.m, Santa Claus and kids crafts at the Community Center; 5-7:30 p.m., bake sale and meat raffle by Trinity Sillerud Luther League; 5-7:30 p.m., corn chowder and beef burger meal free-will fundraiser for the East Bay park project; 6-6:30 p.m., Christmas sing-along; 6:30 p.m., business and Chamber drawings.
18-30 Christmas Tree Walk. The Lyon
County Museum will be decorated for the holidays during this time. Trees decorated by area businesses/non-profit organizations/service clubs. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree(s) by placing money in a box next to the tree. The top three trees will win Marshall Chamber dollars.
25
Small Town Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tyler.
30
“Good Cheer: An SMSU Choirs Holiday Concert,” 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Marshall.
2 • Cookie Walk, 9 a.m., St. Stephen
Lutheran Church. • Danish Christmas, 2:30-4 p.m., coffee and pastries, Stone Hall, Tyler; Julebutikker Christmas Shops, 3-5 p.m., Three Meat Danish Supper, 4-6 p.m., advance tickets preferred, $10 for adults, $5, 10 and younger; Dancing around the Christmas Tree, 6 p.m., Danebod Campus, one block south of Highway 14. • Opera House Christmas Show, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Lake Benton. • Santa Day, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Greenwood Nursery. • “TubaChristmas,” 2 p.m., SMSU student center upper level. • Prairie Dance Alliance “Nutcracker” 1
p.m. and 7 p.m., Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts. • Hometown Holidays, Canby, Lighting ceremony, parade, activities. • Business Open house, 4:30 p.m., Balaton; 5-7 p.m, Santa Claus and kids crafts at the Community Center; 5-7:30 p.m., bake sale and meat raffle by Trinity Sillerud Luther League; 5-7:30 p.m., corn chowder and beef burger meal free-will fundraiser for the East Bay park project; 6-6:30 p.m., Christmas sing-along; 6:30 p.m., business and Chamber drawings.
3 • Hometown Holidays, Canby, Lighting
ceremony, parade, activities. • Prairie Dance Alliance “Nutcracker” 1 p.m., Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts, Marshall High School. • Just for Kix Winter Show, “All That Sparkles,” 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., SMSU R/A Facility.
4 SMSU jazz ensemble with guest group
The Dakota Jazz Collective, “My Favorite Things,” 7:30 p.m., SMSU Fine Arts Theatre.
5 Southwest Minnesota Orchestra, “Holiday Cheer!” 7 p.m., Holy Redeemer Holiday events PAGE 7
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017 • PAGE 7
Hospice plans to light up holiday nights By Jim Muchlinski Special to the Independent
MARSHALL — Area residents will have 60,000 more reasons to celebrate the 2017 holiday season courtesy of Prairie Home Hospice. The agency plans to offer a Light Up the Night event every Thursday through Sunday starting Nov. 30. It will be located near the Southwest Minnesota State University event center. It will feature approximately 60,000 lights on trees that stand on the edge of the campus wildlife area. “We think people will really like it,”
said Prairie Home Hospice Executive Director Pat Mellenthin. “It’s an extra way to enjoy the holiday season.” The light display will be accompanied by a variety of holiday events. They include Santa visits, hay rides, and special attractions such as horse drawn carriage rides. The event will run every evening from Thursday to Sunday starting Nov. 30. Mellenthin said the Light Up the Night concept should be a good fit for Marshall. It has proven to be successful in nearby larger communities such as Mankato and Willmar. Their events have drawn visitors from distances as far as 200 miles. “We’re in the middle of several commu-
nities that have had success with it,” she said. “We have a good trade area that can draw people from many communities.” The event will continue throughout the holiday season. It will be capped off by New Years Eve events that include a fireworks display. Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Darin Rahm said Light Up the Night will be good for celebrating the holidays but that it also has strong economic potential for Marshall businesses. “It’s more than just having more holiday lights,” Rahm said. “Something this big has a great potential to help economically by bringing more people to town.”
Independent file photo
Nov. 25: Tracyʼs Parade of Lights, events; parade starts at 6 p.m.
Holiday events FROM PAGE 6 Church.
9 9-11 a.m., Council of Catholic Women's
fifth annual Christmas Cookie Walk, Carlin Hall, Holy Redeemer Church. Arts and crafts activities also will take place.
10 Santa Day, 1 p.m., Wood Lake Community Center, Wood Lake.
12 Lorie Line 2017 holiday tour concert,
7:30 p.m., Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts, 400 Tiger Drive, Marshall. For tickets, visit lorieline.com .
14 A Wynonna & The Big Noise Christmas, 7 p.m., Prairie’s Edge Casino, Granite Falls. Visit prairiesedgecasino.com for
more information.
24
• Children’s Christmas Eve Service, 5:30 p.m., Samuel Lutheran. • Christmas Eve service, 5 p.m., Grace Life.
25 Community Christmas Dinner, noon, Holy Redeemer.
PAGE 8 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017
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PAGE 10 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017
Tips for air travel
AP photo
How to find deals and when to book NEW YORK (AP) — Booking air travel is stressful. How far in advance should you book? Did you get the best fare? That anxiety is magnified this time of year as travelers finalize holiday plans and look ahead to winter getaways and spring break. In an interview with AP Travel’s “Get Outta Here” podcast , AirfareWatchdog.com founder George Hobica offered some advice for finding the best deals. Fare searches, price tracking “Sign up for airfare alerts,” Hobica said. “There are many website products that will give you an alert when the fare goes up or down,” including AirfareWatchdog, Google Flights, Expedia, Kayak and Priceline. Just remember not all airlines are tracked by every website. For example, Delta flights don’t show up on Hopper, JetBlue no longer sells tickets on Vayama and Southwest bans third-party websites from automatically scraping its data. Air-
fareWatchdog includes Southwest flights by manually collecting the information. AirfareWatchdog also specializes in spotting deals that may “only last for a few hours or maybe a day or two,” Hobica said. Sign up for alerts for specific routes and you’ll receive an email when prices hit reasonable levels or go on sale. Hoping to score a $1 or $20 “mistake fare” that airlines publish by accident? Hobica says they’re “rare these days” because airline computers are programmed to catch them.
you're going to travel over a holiday,” Hobica said. Prices are higher around the holidays because many travelers prefer the same schedule. They want to arrive in time for the meal on Thanksgiving Thursday or be back at work the first weekday after Christmas. If your schedule is flexible, you’ll get a better price by staying a day or two later or leaving a day early. “Traveling on the Saturday after Thanksgiving is going to be cheaper than the Sunday after Thanksgiving,” he said.
How far in advance should you book? “Last-minute fares are always more expensive,” Hobica said. Some studies suggest that nine to 12 weeks ahead is the best time frame for booking domestic tickets. How about holiday fares? Should you book Thanksgiving fares in April or May? “Definitely start looking as early as possible if you know
Magic date to book? “I don't think there is a magic formula or a magic time of the week to look for a good airfare,” said Hobica. “There is a myth out there that Tuesday is the best time to book airfares.” Airlines do announce sales on Tuesdays, he said, but also post sales on Fridays, sometimes unannounced, “hoping people will buy the last remaining seats on a flight.” Hobica also sometimes sees
“amazing airfare sales on Saturday and Sunday” when searches by consumers tend to fall off. Sometimes the lower demand can push automated pricing down. Does the very act of repeatedly searching for a flight nudge prices higher? Hobica says no. But you could see prices rise while you’re searching if all the cheap seats get booked by others. Usually airlines limit how many seats sell at the lowest fares. Booking tips Is it better to book through airline websites? Not necessarily. The same flight might be priced differently on different third-party sites. A search engine like BookingBuddy.com lets you compare the same flight on different websites. Sometimes an online travel agency like Expedia or Priceline will offer a lower fare than the airline because of a specially negotiated deal, Hobica said.
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017 • PAGE 11
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PAGE 12 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017
Festive Christmas treetrimming tips and techniques (METRO) — People have visited forests to select their Christmas trees for centuries. While tree sellers conveniently stationed in store parking lots and artificial trees displayed in various retailers have led fewer people to venture into the wilderness, the Christmas tree is still an important component of holiday celebrations. Long before the spread of Christianity, evergreen plants and trees held special meaning for people during the winter. Boughs and garlands were hung in homes and over doors and windows to repel evil spirits and illnesses. On the winter solstice, the greenery would represent that spring would once again arrive and banish winter’s dreariness. Germans who decorated trees inside of their homes are credited with starting Christian Christmas tree traditions during the 16th century. Early Americans were late to adopt Christmas trees because early Puritan settlers thought the tradition — as well as carols and other concepts — were Pagan influences. It took the popularity of England’s Queen Victoria and her German Prince Albert appearing around a decorated Christmas tree to eventually win over much of Europe, Canada and the United States. Trees are very popular today. According to StatisticsBrain, 10 million artificial trees are sold in the United States each year, while 34.5 million
MS photo
real tress are sold annually. Such trees require decorating, and the following secrets and tips can help celebrants do just
that. • Prune the tree first. Be sure to shape the tree as desired, since natural trees will have
branches sticking out. Wear gardening gloves to avoid being covered in sap. • Position trees away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, vents or radiators, which can cause the tree to dry out prematurely and become a fire risk. • For added safety, anchor a tree to a wall or ceiling, so it will not tumble over onto children or curious pets. • In homage of the first German Christmas trees, decorate with natural ingredients, such as berries and pinecones. Also, use apples, nuts and marzipan candies. • To free up more space for presents, place a narrow tree stand inside of a waterproof planting container. Place the tree inside. This will provide a more streamlined look that’s neater than a tree skirt. • The more lights the better, especially on dense trees. • For a whimsical approach, match the tree decor to home decor and the color of furniture. • Make handcrafted ornaments with the whole family. • Hang the most delicate pieces toward the top where they won’t be disturbed. • Step back and enjoy your handiwork, which will also give you a chance to find any blank spots that need filling in. Tree trimming is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the holiday season, and there are no rules other than safety guidelines when it comes to decorating.
Shoppers less likely to shop on traditional peak shopping days U.S. consumers are less inclined to shop on traditional peak holiday shopping days this year and more likely to search for and buy the best bargains online than in stores, ac-
cording to results of Accenture’s 11 th Annual Holiday Shopping Survey. The online survey found that slightly more than half (52 percent) of respondents said they
are less likely to shop on Black Friday this year, with nearly the same number (50 percent) less likely to shop on Thanksgiving and 42 percent less likely to shop on Cyber Monday.
Approximately two-thirds (64 percent) of those who said they don’t plan to shop on Black Friday cited the crowds of people competing for bargains as the reason.
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017 • PAGE 13
Celebrating the holidays as a blended family (METRO — Emotions run deep come the holiday season. Holiday planning can be hectic, especially for blended families. Today’s families are increasingly blended, meaning they’re a combination of families due to divorce or death. Even though the holidays are meant to be joyous, navigating traditions and accommodating the unique needs of all involved — including cultural traditions, visitation schedules, rituals, and religious beliefs — can be challenging. But blended families need not fret as they attempt to negotiate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or New Years. Logistics The first step to holiday planning is to keep in mind predetermined custody or visitation agreements. Although there can be hope for holiday flexibility and generosity, try to stick as close to existing arrangements as possible. Some families choose to divvy up particular holidays throughout the year in advance. Others may do it as plans get arranged. As long as the arrangement is fair to everyone, the choice is up to the families. The plans should be made known to all involved. Discuss expectations The Stepfamily Association of America says that communication during the holiday season is vital, especially for children so they know what to expect. Writing down specific itineraries can help alleviate the stress of not knowing where they will be at a given time. All members of the family should vocalize how they feel
MS photo
Blended families may have additional factors to consider as the holidays arrive.
about particular aspects of the holidays so that no one is disgruntled. Do not expect others to be mind readers. Perhaps one person is focusing a significant amount of energy on trimming the tree when that isn’t as important to others. Discussing expectations can make planning that much easier. Create new traditions The holidays without everyone under the same roof enjoying traditions that have been part of celebrations for years can contribute to feelings of anxiety for people accustomed to these annual traditions. Draw the focus away from how things used to be done and create new traditions that all can anticipate. Host a holiday movie night if this isn’t the year to have the kids for Christmas. An annual outing to see a concert or show might be a new tradition the entire blended family can enjoy. Don’t expect perfection Putting too much emphasis on trying to make the holidays
perfect can backfire. Blended families must recognize that holiday celebrations will change. It can take time to find a new celebratory rhythm, and comparisons always will be made. It’s acceptable to have mixed feelings about new traditions, but each member should go into the season with a positive attitude. Blended families may face additional challenges during the holidays. Working together, such families can restore joy to the season and create new traditions.
PAGE 14 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017
Baking shortcuts for time-pressed entertainers (METRO) — ‘Tis the season for baking cookies, cakes and other treats. However, during the holiday rush, it’s easy to get side-tracked or tired, and perhaps even a little bit overwhelmed by all the things to do in such a short period of time. Holiday baking doesn’t have to add to seasonal stress. With these tips and shortcuts, there will be plenty of sweet treats for the family. Stick with tested recipes Although holiday bakers may want to branch out a bit with their culinary creativity, recipes that have previously been prepared with great suc-
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cakes or painting onto cookies can add festive appeal to desserts. Candy melts even come in many different colors and can be combined to achieve the tint desired.
MS photo
cess can take some of the work out of holiday baking. Preparing recipes you recall preparing in the past is much easier than trying something new. If you’d like, add sparkle to old standards, such as decorating oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies with colored sprinkles. Cookies are fast-baking Did you know that cookies were originally made to test oven temperatures? Culinary historians say that cookies were first made to test if an oven was hot enough to bake other goods. Today, cookies can be whipped up in mere minutes. Make a batch of dough and then freeze or refrigerate it, thawing it when the time comes to bake. Also, think about baking one day and decorating the next if pressed for time. Embrace colored candy melts Icing can be tricky to master. Simply heating colored candy melts and pouring over
Keep ingredients in top form Don’t let poorly performing ingredients or a lack of supplies be your undoing. Butter can be softened quickly in the microwave when needed for recipes. Eggs can be brought to room temperature by allowing them to sit in a bowl of warm water. Ensure that brown sugar stays soft by putting a piece of sliced bread in the container. Don’t forget to stock up on other baking staples, such as vanilla and almond extracts, baking powder/soda, molasses, and confectioner’s sugar. Don’t bake from scratch Not all recipes need to be made from scratch. Boxed cake mixes can be embellished and turned into delicious desserts without much fuss. Substitute melted butter for oil, buttermilk for water, and add an extra egg for a rich cake. Mix in chocolate chips or nuts or experiment with garnishes for a festive look. Parchment paper is key Line cookie sheets or cake pans with parchment paper for easy dessert release and quick cleanup. Parchment paper and even foil can help lift cakes or cookie bars out of pans so they look neat and do not stick. Holiday baking can be made much easier by employing a few tricks of the trade.
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INDEPENDENT-MARSHALL, MINN • NOV. 7, 2017 • PAGE 15
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