Holiday Guide Special supplement to The Valley News & Clarinda Herald-Journal
Clarinda home turned into winter wonderland By KENT DINNEBIER Staff Writer
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Sarina Morhardt, far right, from Karlsruhe, Germany and Jon and Nancy Johnson of Sidney.
Celebrating
Christmas in America
By TESS GRUBER NELSON Staff Writer
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s Americans, we are used to such holiday traditions as trimming the tree, singing Christmas carols, hanging up lights, wrapping presents and waiting up for Santa. But for four local foreign exchange students – Yevgenia Kruopite, Ayame Yamaguchi, Yui Arase, and Sarina Morhardt, getting to participate in such festivities for the first time this year will be an eye-opening experience they will never forget. Yevgenia, or Yevy, 15, is staying with Howard and Marla Hart from Shenandoah, and their daughters, Megan and Anna. A native of Arkhangelsk, Russia, Yevy said she wanted to be a foreign exchange student in order to experience another culture. “I think it will be an unforgettable experience,” said Yevy. “I like Iowa and Shenandoah. Shenandoah is a small, calm town where all people know each other and everybody is involved in common activities. Everybody is always ready to help each other.” In Russia, Yevy explained Christmas is celebrated, but not as much as in the United States. “In the same time period we have New Year, which is celebrated as a huge and important holiday. Apartments are decorated; there is a New Year tree with lots of decorations,” said Yevy. “Although there is no special food, people usually prepare homemade dishes.” However, Yevy added in her family they do pay a little more attention to Christmas because of her father’s Catholic faith. “We serve 12 dishes, eat special Christmas cookies and make different Lithuanian food.” As for what she is looking forward to in celebrating the holidays in the U.S., Yevy said pretty much everything. “It (Christmas) is celebrated much brighter than in Russia. I am waiting for the Christmas preparations of everything. I’ve heard Christmas in the U.S. is a very important holiday. People decorate their houses, spend
time with families, sing Christmas music, and give presents to each other.” Sarina holds the same anticipation as Yevy when it comes to the upcoming holidays. From Karlsruhe, Germany, Sarina, 15, is staying with Jon and Nancy Johnson of Sidney. “Normally on Christmas the whole family comes together. Most people go to church, and dress better than they do normally. In every house there is a Christmas tree,” Sarina explained. But she’s quick to add Christmas is a much bigger deal in America. “It’s a bigger thing than in Germany. In my country for your birthday you get more presents than Yui Arase from Tamana, Japa for Christmas. I think here it’s the other way around,” she said. “We always go to church, come home and eat beef olives. Then we kids have to go to another room while the ‘Christ Child’ brings the presents.” Sarina said she’s looking forward to meeting the entire Johnson family most for the holidays and spending the holidays in Sidney. “It’s a bit strange that everybody knows everyone here, but I love it,” Sarina said. For Ayame, 17, and Yui, 17, they will be spending the holidays in Clarinda, where Ayame is staying with Marvin and Jean Nagley and Yui with Boe and Pat Bogdanski. A native of Tamana, Japan, Ayame said she became an AFS student in Yevgenia Kruopite of Arkhangelski, order to learn the American culture. Russia She said Clarinda is a nice town and that she’s looking forward to Christmas there. “We have a small Christmas tree in our home. Each year my parents give me a present and we always have a special Christmas cake with strawberries on top, but I have heard Christmas is a big celebration in America,” said Ayame. Christmas in Japan for Yui, also from Tamana, is very similar to that of Ayame. “We always have cake at Christmas time and my brother and I get presents. I go shopping with my parents and they buy me a present,” said Yui. “I’m looking forward to Christmas in Clarinda and want to see how it is Ayame Yamaguchi of Tamana, Japan celebrated in my host family.”
Gift ideas for the person who has everything
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oliday shoppers know the routine well. When venturing off to the nearby mall or even shopping online, shoppers often find a host of items they think would make the ideal gift for each person on their list. Oftentimes, it takes a healthy dose of discipline to stick to a budget and not go overboard. However, seasoned holiday shoppers are also aware of that one person on every holiday shopping list who seemingly has everything or simply insists they want nothing at all. Shoppers typically put off the gift hunt for such friends or family members till the very last minute, often buying whatever’s left on the shelf as a result. While many have grown accustomed to that one stickler on their shopping list, there are a handful of options for gift givers who need to find a way to put a smile on that hardto-shop-for friend or relative’s face. * Go the gift card route. Few gifts provide the versatility and functional-
ity of gift cards. For instance, a gift card to the local electronics store can be used by nearly anyone, even the person who already appears to have everything. Such stores often stock CDs, DVDs, MP3 players, and a host of other items that nearly everyone uses. And though you may be uncertain as to what the gadget lover in your family has or doesn’t have, a gift card to a nearby electronics store is sure to put a smile on his or her face. * Go straight to their stomach. When gifting during the holidays it helps to remember that one gift is always foolproof: food. And perhaps no food is more foolproof than chocolate. This holiday season, shoppers can go one step further and not only give chocolate that’s delicious, but environmentally friendly as well. Thanks to TazaTM Chocolate, holiday shoppers can now feel good knowing their friends and family will still receive the chocolate they love while simultaneously helping the planet. The only domestic producer
of 100 percent stone ground, organic chocolate, Massachusetts-based Taza uses only organic and sustainable ingredients to craft their chocolates. In addition to fostering direct relationships with growers to ensure quality ingredients as well as fair wages and work practices, Taza also gets their sugar from the Green Cane Project, a Brazilian manufacturer who process their spent cane fiber to power both their factory and the nearby town. What’s more, Taza’s extensive catalog ensures there’s something for every chocolate lover. From Taza Chocolate Covered Almonds to the popular Taza Chocolate Tasting Set that allows tasters to explore Taza’s broad range of flavors and textures, there’s truly something for every chocolate lover. * Give to a favorite charity. For the person who truly has everything, a charitable donation in their name is a gift that truly illustrates the spirit of see IDEAS, Page 2
or the last 25 years Alan Ascherl and his family have transformed their rural Clarinda home into a winter wonderland for all to enjoy. “The reason we did it was for other people’s enjoyment,” Ascherl said. “The biggest reward all these years was having somebody stop you on the street and say they loved seeing the display.” Since he was a child growing up in California, Ascherl helped his father decorate their home for Christmas. In 1983 Ascherl married his wife, Becky, and three years later they moved into their current home at 3091 210th Street. That first year the couple placed lights on the home and a Blue Spruce in the front yard as well as placing a display of a Santa Claus and his reindeer in the yard that was illuminated by a spot light. “The first year we put 100 lights on the Blue Spruce. As the tree has grown the number of lights has increased to more than 2,000 lights,” Ascherl said. “Each year we also tried to add a yard ornament or decoration.” Eventually the display grew to include 20 handmade wooden displays, many of which included multiple pieces such as a Nativity scene featuring between 10 and 20 figures. There are also such displays as a series of ice skaters, four Christmas carolers and nine white deer spread throughout the yard and adjoining pasture. The wooden characters that highlight the display were crafted from patterns Ascherl would order. Once the pattern was cut out, Ascherl said the family, including their children Aleigh and Austin, would help string the lights and paint the figures. “I liked the handmade pieces because it was something we did as a family,” Ascherl said. “You could get a little more creative with the figures by using the patterns and we looked for unique displays you would not find every year.” One of the handmade pieces Ascherl is most proud of is a sign that reads “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season.” Each letter in the sign stands approximately 12 inches tall and there are 620 lights to illuminate the sign. “The sign means the most to me. It’s the reason we have Christmas and that says it all in one display,” Ascherl said. Although the vast majority of the pieces in the display are handmade, Ascherl said there are also a few store bought items like illuminated plastic candy canes, a Mickey and Minnie Mouse display and one inflatable decoration. “Four or five years ago the blowup items became pretty popular. You still see a lot of those in people’s yards,” Ascherl said. Ascherl said he has seen a remarkable increase in the style of lights and types of outdoor Christmas decorations that are now available for sale.
“What is available for lights and decorations seems to grow every year. There are so many possibilities now that you can purchase some really nice decorations,” Ascherl said. “A lot of people are also going to LED lights because they burn brighter and use less energy.” Since Ascherl has been decorating his home for the past 25 years, he said there have naturally been some challenges along the way. The first of those challenges came two or three years after Ascherl started decorating. He experienced logistical problems with keeping the displays lit because of the large distances they had to run extension cords to power the attraction. “We had Rick Witthoft put in underground wiring so we could have shorter extension cords,” Ascherl said. “We probably use five miles of extension cords and place the displays on timers so we do not have to manually turn each piece on and off.” In addition, Ascherl said for the last 16 years he has relied on a daytime electrician to repair any displays that were not illuminated the night before. That electrician is his father, who now lives in Clarinda. The next challenge was keeping the display pieces, extension cords and lights organized. “When it started getting larger it was hard to remember where things were the year before so I drew a schematic that included numbering all the trees and I labeled all the cords,” Ascherl said. However, the most unique challenges came when one of their horses decided to inspect the lights on the pasture fence. “Becky had a horse and one year when I was up on the barn putting ups lights I heard a pop. Then I heard it again. The horse was going down the line chewing on the lights on the pasture fence,” Ascherl said. Despite those challenges, there have also been several bright moments like when Clarinda and New Market used to hold Candlelight Lanes on the same night. “People would go to New Market and then take the gravel back to Clarinda. Our kids would hand out candy canes to the people passing by,” Ascherl said. Ascherl said that his ultimate goal was to create a display of The 12 Days of Christmas featuring mechanical pieces such as the seven swans-a-swimming and 12 drummers drumming. “I also wanted to have a miniature train and be able to give rides through the display,” Ascherl said. However, since their children are no longer at home, Ascherl said the family will be significantly scaling back the decorating this year. Ascherl said he only plans to place lights on the house and bushes and display the Nativity scene and “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season” sign. “More and more people are getting larger displays and I think it will be fun to see what the other people do this year,” Ascherl said.
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The Valley News & Clarinda Herald-Journal • November, 2010
Holiday Guide
Holiday Happenings
Enjoy the Holiday Fun & Cheer in your community! - Shenandoah Events Friday, November 26 Winter Wonderland in Northboro will open tonight and run through Jan. 1. Hours will be from dusk until 11 p.m. nightly. Santa will be in town from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This is a free event to all. Red Oak’s Victorian Christmas beginning at 11 a.m. with Festival of Trees at the Montgomery County History Center, food vendors, horse drawn carriages, visits with Santa, holiday entertainment and the lighted Christmas parade at 6 p.m., all around Fountain Square Park. American Red Cross Soup Supper from 5 to 9 p.m. at Antique John’s Pavilion in Clarinda. Soup, chili and sloppy joe’s for a freewill donation. Saturday, November 27 Night the Lights Come On in Shenandoah. Greater Shenandoah Historical Society will also host Hanging of the Greens following the lights
being turned on in the Delmonico Room, where Friday, December 10 there will be entertainment The Gathering Place and a visit from Santa. presents “Sanders Family Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. at Ladies Apparel Holiday the First Christian Church Open House from 9 a.m. to in Tabor. Tickets are $15 8 p.m. per person and advanced reservations are recomTuesday, November 30 mended. Call 374-2320, Winter Lights Festival 629-6145, or 246-1675 for from 5 to 7 p.m. at the tickets. Shenandoah Medical Center. This event is open Saturday, December 11 to the public. Santa’s workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Bricker Saturday, December 4 Botanical Center. Breakfast with Mrs. Claus at 9 to 11 a.m. in the Essex Community Club’s Waubonsie Room. Call for annual Santa's Workshop reservations. Space is lim- from 9:30-11:30 a.m. ited to first 80 children. Call Come see Santa, Write a 246-3455. letter to Santa, cookie decorating, Ispy, Book Fair, Santa’s workshop from 2 and much more. to 4 p.m. at the Bricker Botanical Center. 22nd annual Tannenbaum Tea from 11 Wednesday, December 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Farragut Elementary Shenandoah Elks Lodge. Music Concert at 2 p.m. $25 per person and includes food, drink and a Thursday, December 9 donation benefiting chil Sidney Elementary dren. Winter Concert at 7 p.m. The Gathering Place PAEA presents, “O’Neill presents “Sanders Family Brothers Christmas Show” Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. at at 7:30 p.m. at the Wilson the First Christian Church Performing Arts Center. in Tabor. Tickets are $15
per person and advanced reservations are recommended. Call 374-2320, 629-6145, or 246-1675 for tickets.
Sunday, December 12 The Gathering Place presents “Sanders Family Christmas” at 2:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Tabor. Tickets are $15 per person and advanced reservations are recommended. Call 374-2320, 629-6145, or 246-1675 for tickets. Monday, December 13 Sidney 6-12 Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 16 Essex Elementary Christmas Concert at 7 p.m.
Saturday, December 18 Santa’s workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Bricker Botanical Center.
Monday, December 20 Farragut Junior High and High School Christmas Concert at 7 p.m.
Essex Junior/Senior High Christmas Concert at 7 p.m.
- Clarinda Events School Commons
lect recipe cards while shopping at Wednesday, Dec. Tuesday, Dec. 7 p a r t i c i p a t i n g 15 Clarinda fifth grade Clarinda businesses Second Grade concert at 6:15 p.m. Winter Program at at the Clarinda Monday, Dec. 13 Garfield Elementary Middle School K i n d e r g a r t e n School in Clarinda at Commons Winter Program at 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 Family Game Day Clarinda sixth grade Garfield Elementary at the Lied Public concert at 7:30 p.m. School in Clarinda at Thursday, Dec. 16 Library in Clarinda at the Clarinda 12 p.m. Third Grade Winter Middle School Winter Concert at Program at Garfield Monday, Dec. 6 Commons Clarinda High Elementary School Clarinda seventh School Auditorium in Clarinda at 12 grade concert at Thursday, Dec. 9 7:30 p.m. p.m. 6:15 p.m. at the Clarinda Regional Clarinda Middle Health Center Tuesday, Dec. 14 Friday, Dec. 17 School Commons Auxiliary $5 Jewelry First Grade Winter Fourth Grade Clarinda eighth Fair Taste of Clarinda Program at Garfield Winter Program at grade concert at from 5-8 p.m. Elementary School Garfield Elementary 7:30 p.m. at the Sample favorite holi- in Clarinda at 12 School in Clarinda at Clarinda Middle day recipes and col- p.m. 12 p.m. Friday, Nov 26 18th Annual Clarinda Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. at the Clarinda downtown square
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November, 2010 • The Valley News & Clarinda Herald-Journal
Holiday Guide Jingle Bells Dashing through the snow On a one-horse open sleigh Over the fields we go Laughing all the way; Bells on bob-tail ring making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way! O what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh A day or two ago I thought I'd take a ride And soon Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side; The horse was lean and lank; Misfortune seemed his lot; He got into a drifted bank And we got upsot Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh
A day or two ago the story I must tell I went out on the snow And on my back I fell; A gent was riding by In a one-horse open sleigh He laughed as there I sprawling lie But quickly drove away Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh Now the ground is white Go it while you're young Take the girls tonight And sing this sleighing song; Just get a bob-tailed bay two-forty as his speed Hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! you'll take the lead Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.
Celebrating on a smaller budget By KEVIN SLATER Editor
The holidays mean spending time with family, enjoying good food, and often times spending too much money. But that doesn’t have to be the case. This Christmas many families will be looking for ways to celebrate the holidays on a smaller budget without diminishing the enjoyment of their children. This can be a tricky proposition. However, if you do some research and use imaginative thinking, you will be sure to pull it off. Here are some simple but effective ideas for planning low cost holiday activities that your entire family can enjoy. Arts and Crafts This is something kids probably do already at school whenever a major holiday draws near. Why not have them do it at home as well? Pick some great Christmas decoration and cooking projects that you can do together. Then you can have your
kids make great homemade decorations that cost much less than buying them at the store. Make sure to set a budget for materials and make the experience a fun one. You will end up making fond memories and great holiday mementos. Read together You can read holiday books and poems to your children. Reading to your kids is something that every parent should do. The best part is that it is free. All you have to do is read their favorite books that you have bought in the past or just go and check out a book from your local library. In either case you will end up giving your kids the opportunity to use their imagination. A great idea is to read a classic like the, “A Christmas Carol,” or “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Have a Christmas Breakfast It can be expensive trying to have another big holiday meal when you had one just
a month ago in November. So avoid the cost and have a sit down breakfast for Christmas day. This is a great idea because you will likely have on hand the ingredients to make pancakes, waffles, eggs, and bacon. That just leaves some small inexpensive purchases of ingredients that will add holiday flair to your breakfast. Your family enjoys a great meal and creates a great Christmas moment without breaking the family budget. Have a movie marathon Watch all of your family’s favorite holiday films. Try to watch any movies that you already own or check some out from the public library. For more recent titles you can rent them from cheap rental service such as Netflix or Redbox. Make it an event by purchasing some snacks such as popcorn, trail mix, chips, and soft drinks. This will make it like you are actually at the movies with the added benefits of the comfortable surroundings of
your home. It is a great opportunity to enjoy yourself and have great time with your family. Visit a park Most people think of going to the park only during nice weather, but they can be just as much fun during the winter. If you have snow on Christmas day, take advantage of the weather and go have snow fights and sledding races. Shenandoah has 18 city parks to enjoy, while Clarinda offers five. If the local pond has frozen over and is considered safe to go on you can go skating on your own natural skating rink. To maximize everyone’s comfort you will have to make sure everyone is prepared to play outside. Have everyone wear warm clothing, gloves, and a hat to trap body heat. Prepare some thermoses full of hot cocoa, cider and other warm holiday drinks. This will allow everyone to play as long as they want and make great holiday memories.
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IDEAS Continued from Page 1
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The RDB Natal. Good options for wallet-friendly "green" gift-giving exist, if you're willing to dig a little.
Giving ‘Green” this Christmas shouldn’t put you in the red Green and red, those holly-jolly colors of Christmas Except this holiday season, it's all about the green, isn't it? Giving "green" (as in Earth-friendly) remains the rage, while the chilly economy has made that other green (as in cash) so scarce that many of us are shopping scared, with an eye on not starting off next year in the red. The hardest thing about giving "green" on a budget is finding a present that goes beyond merely clever and crafty -- something that's also well-made, and useful. And cool, too -because everyone wants a cool gift! Good options do exist, if you're willing to dig. Consider North Carolina company the Real Deal Brazil, which carries a shabby-chic line of "green" bags named for Brazilian towns: "Natal," a compact purse; "Taiba" and "Olinda," totes; "Iguape," a messenger bag; "Manaus," a shoulder bag; "Belem," a backpack; and "Recife," a duffle. All have suggested retail prices under $100, starting with the "Natal," at $39.99. These bags actually hail from a small Brazilian town along the equator, where they're cut and stitched from tough recycled canvas tarps that formerly covered the beds of cross-country cargo trucks.
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Most cargo in Brazil is transported by truck. By some estimates, there's enough protective tarp barreling along Brazilian roads to wrap around the moon, and then some. The huge country's changing terrain and climate batter the fabric with hammering rains, scalding heat, harsh salt winds and all manner of road debris. Truckers there go through a whole lot of tarp, a huge waste stream in part now diverted to handcraft these distinctive bags. The reclaimed fabric is thoroughly cleaned before being cut and sewn. Tarp scraps, too, are recycled, sewn as patches onto other RDB items. The environmental abuses suffered by these tarps ensure that no two RDB bags can ever be alike, varying in color, fraying, patches, stitching and stains -- some bags even have snippets of Portuguese stamped on them in thick black ink. The Real Deal Brazil dubs its products "fashion tougher than real life," a claim echoed by Reader's Digest, which has praised the recycled tarp as "virtually indestructible," and Entertainment Weekly, calling it "as eco-friendly as it is rugged." It may seem odd for a recycled product line to be spotlighted in a leading celebrity-news magazine. The Real Deal Brazil snagged Hollywood's attention after costuming staff for the 2009 Columbia Pictures horror-comedy Zombieland chose the Real Deal Brazil's Outback-style hat when seeking toughlooking, Earth-friendly headwear for environmentally conscious star Woody Harrelson to wear throughout the blockbuster movie. "The minute you see that hat on (my character), you buy him," Harrelson said in a Sept. 29 interview in The Orlando Sentinel. "He's real. And he's got a real cool hat." Many specialty retailers carry the Real Deal Brazil line (including the RDB hat, with its suggested retail price of $39.99), as do a variety of online stores, including realdealbrazil.com. So maybe fallen spruce needles won't be the only green beneath your tree this year after all ...
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The Valley News & Clarinda Herald-Journal • November, 2010
Holiday Guide
1st Annual Eskimo Golf Tour ney Benefitting:
Southwest Iowa Habitat for Humanity When: January 29, 2011 Where: Shenandoah American Legion Country Club Golf Course Shenandoah, Iowa (www.shenandoahiowa.net)
HOW
TO
REGISTER:
Call: 712-246-3097 Ask for Barb, if not available leave a voice message and she will call you back. There will be a limited number of teams.
Registration Fee: $30 per person (includes “snow ball” and an evening meal)
Deadline January 10, 2011 It is all about fun, no conventional rules of golf apply!
Thank you! SWIA Habitat for Humanity!
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November, 2010 • The Valley News & Clarinda Herald-Journal
Holiday Guide
A holiday party menu should include some traditional family favorites to please the guests.
Tips for hosting holiday parties Whether you're preparing for a casual family gathering, a fancy fourcourse dinner party or a high-spirited hoe down for 100, planning a party - particularly during the holiday season --i s a big job. Here are 10 triedand-true tips for planning memorable holiday gatherings that will let you minimize the stress and maximize the fun. „Plan early and plan often. There's nothing more frustrating than finding out that your intended party guests have other plans. December weekends tend to get booked up early, so it's a good idea to send or e-mail invitations as early as possible. Another possibility is to schedule your gathering for a time when people tend to be less busy, such as during the week
between Christmas and New Year's, the last night of Hanukkah or even New Year's Day. „Design a realistic menu. If you plan on enjoying your own party, it pays to have a menu that includes a number of items that can be made ahead of time and then heated or plated just before your guests arrive. While it's always fun to try out new recipes when entertaining, it's best to experiment with only a few items on your menu -- and to leave enough time for substitutes if you're disappointed with the results. „Embrace tradition. During the holiday season, many people warm to the idea of time-honored traditions, so don't be afraid to serve up your favorite Christmas Pudding or Aunt Lydia's legendary potato latkes.
„Serve up festive beverages. Make sure that there is a merry mix of beverages for those guests who don't drink or those who have had enough. A non-alcoholic punch or a pot of hot-spiced cider is always popular and can be served with rum on the side for guests who want a little something extra. „Set the scene. While some hosts like to go all out in the decorating department, others prefer a more low-key approach. Either way, make an effort to create a pleasing ambiance that appeals to the senses. Put out an assortment of candles. Put up a pot of simmering water flavored with cinnamon, cloves and allspice to fill your house with a heartwarming aroma. Put in your favorite holiday tunes. Bask in the glow of your guests' delight. „Keep kids happy.
When planning a gathering for guests of all ages, it's helpful to have activities on hand for the younger crowd. Set aside a space for kids and set out a variety of toys and games that will keep them occupied and engaged. „Get help. When hosting a large party with guests who may not know each other, it's important to be on hand to make introductions and keep the conversation flowing. If you're planning on joining the party once your guests arrive, consider hiring one or more helpers to serve and clean up. „End on a positive note. Your responsibilities as a host don't end when your guests say good night. Make sure it's a good night for all by arranging for designated drivers who can see that your friends in need get home safely.
Wishing everyone Happy Holidays. Stop in and check out our unique gift ideas.
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Though society often finds few things to universally agree on, be it politics or the latest blockbuster film, one thing nearly everyone does agree on is the holiday spending forecast for 2009. Financial prognosticators, Wall Street veterans and even average Joes are predicting less spending this holiday season, as the country continues to deal with an economy that has been sagging for over a year. But just because shoppers will admittedly be spending less this season doesn't mean they should approach the season without a plan. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which serves as the United States' consumer protection agency, compares a poorly planned holiday shopping session to going to the grocery store when hungry. Shoppers will only end up spending more than they wanted, and will likely end up with lots of stuff they don't even need or want. That said, the the following tips can serve consumers this holiday season, when many might be spending less but not necessarily spending smarter. Â&#x201E;Follow Santa's lead. Santa always makes a list and then, to be safe, checks it twice. Holiday shoppers should follow the jolly man's lead and make their own holiday shopping list. Making a list allows shoppers to more closely examine who is on the lists. A long-lost and distant cousin who shoppers only see once per year, for instance, can probably be trimmed from the list this year. Another benefit to a list is the reduced risk of making an impulse buy. Knowing what to buy for Dad, for example, decreases the chances of buying something on a whim for the old man. A list can also be a time-saving tool, as shoppers are far less likely to agonize over what to buy while strolling the mall and window shopping. Â&#x201E;Homework helps. What's on "sale" at one retailer might be the every-
day price at another. Some sale advertisements also draw shoppers into the store, only to be out of stock when shoppers arrive. If a week-old adverstisement says "while quantities last," then it might not be worth the trip to the store, as the item is likely sold out. Calling the store in advance could help, but shoppers should only go to the store with one item in mind to avoid overspending on items they never intended to purchase. Another detail to look for is whether or not all sales are final. Oftentimes, this isn't the case around the holidays, but some retailers only give store credit as opposed to refunds for items purchased. Full refunds typically benefit shoppers more than store credit, so shoppers should look for retailers who offer refunds on returned items. Â&#x201E;Consider additional costs. Whether shopping instore or online, there are always additional costs associated with holiday shopping. In-store shopping can include fuel, tolls and parking costs, while online shopping often comes with shipping charges. When planning a day of holiday shopping, consider if driving an hour one-way to an electronics retailer is really worth saving $25. The same should be applied to online shopping. While an online retailer might provide a much lower price, the shipping costs might mitigate those savings. Â&#x201E;Price-matching pays off. Lots of retailers offer price-matching options to holiday shoppers. This can save a long drive to an outof-town retailer who's offering the same item as the retailer a mile away for a lesser price. Before making that long drive, call the local retailer and inquire about price-matching. Because retailers will be looking to generate as much business as possible this holiday season, more are likely to adopt price-matching policies, which benefit both the business owner and the consumer.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;making my list... checking it twice...â&#x20AC;?
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The Valley News & Clarinda Herald-Journal • November, 2010
Holiday Guide
Pets as Presents: Take a good look before you leap As the holiday season draws closer and kids of all ages begin working up their wish lists, parents are commonly greeted with requests for a family pet -everything from lizards and rats to dogs and cats. There's no doubt that pets can be fantastic holiday gifts for children. In fact, research shows that having animals in the house reinforces children's self-esteem, promotes social skills and helps them to develop responsibility, nurturance and competence. While animals can have a positive impact on the entire family, the decision to introduce a pet -- even a single goldfish -- to the household requires careful thought and thoughtful planning. In fact, many animal shelters and pet stores do not allow pets -- particularly cats and dogs -- to be adopted or purchased during the holiday season because so many of them end up being returned when the novelty wears off and the ongoing responsibilities become obvious. If you're considering purchasing or adopting a pet for your children this holiday season, start by asking yourself two basic, but essential questions: Are
the children ready to have an animal in the household? And are the adult members of the household able and willing to provide for the animal's needs? According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), children under age 10 may love the idea of having a pet, but are too young to be given responsibility for their care and feeding. Younger children tend to do better with smaller pets, such as guinea pigs, gerbils and goldfish -- animals that don't bite and require relatively little attention. Older children -- preteens and teens -- are not only very interested in animals, but are ready to handle the responsibility of seeing that their needs are met. However, parental oversight is still required to ensure that older children are following through on their responsibilities and that pets have adequate food and water, and that their cages or litter boxes are clean. It's important to remember that even when a pet "belongs" to a child, parents are the ones who buy the pet food, pay the veterinary bills and are ultimately responsible for the pet's well-being.
Your Holiday
Classic Cranberry Sauce
If your child has his or her heart set on a pet this holiday season, but you're not sure the timing is right, the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States suggest a two-stage process. First, purchase some of the supplies the pet will need (feeding bowls, toys, a pet
bed, etc.) to give your child as gifts. Then, when everyone is ready and there is a plan in place for the animal's care, the family can choose their new pet together. For more information about children and pets, visit the ASPCA Web site at www.aspca.org.
Gift Connection!
Cranberry sauce is one of the familiar condiments you will find gracing the Thanksgiving table. This tart treat is enjoyed more on this one day than during the entire year. Cranberries are one of only three commercially grown fruits native to North America. Major production areas are located in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Quebec. Cranberries are a unique fruit and require very specific conditions in order to produce, according to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association. The fruit grows on low-lying vines in bogs layered with sand, gravel, peat, and clay. Cranberries are a wetland fruit, and water plays an integral role in the growth and cultivation of cranberries. Water is often flooded over cranberry plants to protect them from frost and damage during the winter season. Harvesting of cranberries takes place in the autumn during a period from midSeptember to early November. Harvesting can be done either as a dry harvest or a wet harvest. During dry harvest, a walkbehind machine rakes the ground to collect the cranberries. In a wet harvest, the
bog is flooded and a machine churns the water to facilitate the release of cranberries from the plants. Then the cranberries float to the top of the water. The berries are rounded up and collected. It is estimated that nearly 85 percent of the crop is wet harvested. Cranberries turn into many different food and beverage products. However, Thanksgiving cranberry sauce is one of the most popular. This year skip the canned cranberry jelly and go for fresh sauce. It's very easy to make. Classic Cranberry Sauce 1 1 4 ries
cup water cup sugar cups fresh cranber-
Wash off the cranberries and look for any that may be past their prime and discard. Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Stir to dissolve the sugar completely. Add the cranberries and allow the water to return to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to cook until the cranberries burst. Stir until the mixture resembles a thick sauce with chunks of fruit. Allow to cool, then place in the refrigerator. The sauce will thicken as it cools further.
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