As the drought continues, one of the most meaningful gifts we can share this season is reducing our water use at home.
It seems as if there aren’t enough days left in the rest of the year to enjoy all the holiday fun scheduled throughout Southern Cali fornia, especially events in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Here’s a few dates to schedule on your holiday entertainment calendar.
Ventura Snow ‘n Glow Holiday Festival
Nov. 27-Dec. 26
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and select nights Ventura Fairgrounds, 10 West Harbor Blvd., Ventura 93001
Info www.Snownglo.com
More than one million holiday twinkling lights are on display to see and explore. Fresh-made snow is available daily. Snow tube down a snow slide and make family memories while sipping hot chocolate and roasting s’mores fireside. Unlimited carousel rides. Fireworks on select evenings. Visit with San ta and friends and enjoy live entertainment.
Tickets are $40 for unlimited snow tubing and the glow experience; $18 for the glow experience only. Fees apply.
Rent a Private Igloo Rent your own private igloo for your group to enjoy.
Info Email jenny@cbfproductions.com; reserve your igloo online at cbfproductions.ticketspice. com/ventura-snow-n-glow-2022#tix
‘Light Up the Season’ Nov. 30, Dec. 2-3
Info www.henrymayogiving.com
Virtual Tour Tickets $25.
The annual Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foun dation Holiday Home Tour is set to ring in the hol idays, celebrating its 42nd year.
The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Center for Women and Newborns. The virtual home tour will include homes in Westridge, Sand Canyon and Peachland Estates.
Nov. 30 VIP Preview Event
VIP Event and Gala Tickets $250 each.
A special in-person VIP preview event will fea ture the 7,800 square-foot Baker Families Oak Meadow Estate on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Dec 2 Gala Gala Only Tickets $150 each. Dec. 3 Free Holiday Boutique
The festivities will continue on Saturday, Dec. 3, with the Holiday Home Tour’s Bou tique, which is free to attend. The boutique will feature a wide array of holiday deco rations and gifts from SCV vendors.
The Holiday Boutique will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospi tal Education Center, 23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia, 91355.
Barnyard Lights Tour Dec. 3, 4-8 p.m.
William S. Hart Regional Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall 91321
Info friendsofhartpark.com; (661) 259-1750
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting the Barnyard Lights Tour.
Enjoy a photo with Santa, barnyard tours, feed ing animals, Friends of Hart Park gift shop and giveaways.
Castaic Winter Magic Lighted Boat Parade Dec. 3
Castaic Lake Paradise Cove Lower Lagoon, 32132 Castaic Lake Drive, Castaic 91384 Info to join the parade (661) 257-4050
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Friends of Castaic Lake will host an afternoon holiday party and lighted boat parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, start ing at 2 p.m. Lake entry fees apply.
This family-friendly event feature food, raf fles, visits with Santa, face painting, snow play and more. Gates open at 2 p.m. with the lighted boat parade at 5 p.m.
Bring an unwrapped $10 toy and receive 10 raffle tickets. Bring a canned food item and receive one raffle ticket.
Placerita Canyon Nature Center Craft Fair Dec. 3-4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall 91321 Info www.placerita.org; (661) 259-7721
The Placerita Canyon Nature Center will host its annual Holiday Craft Fair fundraiser on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-4. The nature center is located one-and-half miles east of Highway 14.
Create and decorate your own holiday wreaths,
centerpieces and ornaments from a large selection of fresh cut greenery, pine cones and other beauti ful natural treasures.
In addition, the gift shop will be open with many holiday items for sale.
A children’s craft center will also be available. Note Peanut butter is used in the construction of some craft items.
‘The Grinch’s Holiday’ Dec. 10
The Cube Santa Clarita, 27745 Smyth Drive, Va lencia 91355
Ticket Info TheCubeSantaClarita.com/ HolidayShow
Join Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch in Whoville as the second annual Holiday Skate Show returns to The Cube — Ice and Entertainment Center. There are two separate times to attend, noon and 5 p.m.
The all-local cast includes more than a dozen fea tured skaters, a supporting cast of over 60 skaters and a special guest skater.
The 90-minute performance will take place on the NHL Rink at The Cube. With the temperature kept at 54 degrees, attendees are encouraged to bring jackets, hats, mittens and blankets.
Two seating areas will be available for each show, giving attendees the chance to immerse themselves in the action.
When I was a child, Thanksgiving was a huge production. It was always held at my grandparents’ home and included a vast array of extended family, including second and third cousins.
Beyond the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, there was the atmosphere and family fun.
The colors of fall are the perfect palette for Thanksgiving décor. Use tons of soft orange, warm yellow, cranberry red and earthy brown to decorate your home.
I usually craft my own centerpiece to grace my Thanksgiving table. Because this display is made mostly from fresh food, you will need to put it together as close to dinnertime as possible.
First, I take a 9-inch oval glass dish (you can choose any kind of clear container) and lay down a bed of crispy kale leaves. I like to use kale be cause the leaves have such “character.” Next, I nestle small orange and white pumpkins ran domly throughout the display. Then, I add sea sonal vegetables, such as apples, radishes and eggplants.
I like to include interesting looking items like whole, unshelled walnuts and Brazil nuts, as well as fresh cranberries.
Sometimes I will use little “mounds” of rolledup paper towels under the bed of kale to create “levels” and more visual interest in my display. Use bundles of fresh herbs, such as rosemary
and sage, to fill in any gaps. Surround with more pumpkins and small yellow and orange votive candles. Voila! Instant centerpiece.
Other decorating ideas include the use of col orful and unique gourds in different size baskets and the use of candles in fall colors and scents — pumpkin spice, pumpkin pie and cranberry.
Items to handcraft your own wreaths, table runners, basket displays and other fall décor items can be found throughout the Santa Clarita Valley at various craft and fabric stores.
In addition, it is holiday boutique season. Many of the holiday boutiques in the Santa Clar ita area offer handcrafted items for your seasonal decorating needs.
Thanksgiving is family fun time. Instead of let
ting the kids sit around and stare at a screen, why not suggest a few of these family fun activities.
Take a hike at Vasquez Rocks. The autumn lighting is beautiful on the rocks this time of year. Take some time between Thanksgiving prepara tions or Black Friday madness and enjoy some time with nature. Vasquez Rocks is located at 10700 Escondido Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, 91350.
While you slave away preparing your annual Thanksgiving meal, why not get the kids together and have them each pick out 10 items from your pantry or the store to donate to the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry. This all reinforces the “rea son for the season” and reminds everyone of the abundance we all have.
Food donations can be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. There also is a drop box located at the rear of the pantry in the alley between 4th and 5th streets. The pan try is located at 24133 Railroad Ave., Newhall, (661) 255-5001.
Go to your nearest park and play touch foot ball, soccer, tag, hide-and-seek or Frisbee catch. Just get outside with the kids and do something that involves running around and taking in some fresh air.
Create a family Thanksgiving journal. Buy a sturdy, thick notebook and have everyone write down what they are thankful for this year. Keep the notebook where you can find it and do the same thing next year, and the year after. It creates a book of thanks that will become a family heir loom.
Have the kids interview their grandparents and extended family members to learn more about theirs — and yours — family history. Find out how your grandparents celebrated Thanksgiving, and what they did for fun before all the mobile electronics we have. Learn more about the family tree.
Have the kids help decorate the Thanksgiv ing table. They can make names cards and colorful placemats. Whatever you chose to do, do it as a family and make some mem ories for next year.
In 2021, the global market value of second-hand and resale ap parel was estimated to be worth $96 billion. By 2026 this is es timated to rise to $218 billion. The shift from fast fashion to a more sus tainable means of purchasing clothes and accessories has become evident from this increasing trend.
With this in mind, luxury watch experts at Chrono24 have analyzed purchase history data from the last 90 days on eBay to reveal the top ten most popular second-hand designer brands. Each brand mentioned in this study is part of the 50 most valuable luxury & premium brands in 2021, according to the Brand Directory.
The list of 50 brands was individ ually imputed into an eBay search while applying the relevant filters; sold items, second-hand or used items, and they had to be sold in the US. This data was then filtered into vintage items sold to rank the top ten vintage designer brands sold on eBay.
Gucci sits in the top spot as the most popular second-hand design er brand to be purchased online, with 23,939 used items having been sold in the US over the past 90 days. Once the search had been filtered into vintage items (items older than 20 years); Gucci once again ranked in the top spot. In fact, the most expen sive second-hand Gucci item sold on eBay was also a vintage item, a $3,000
vintage embroidered Gucci bag.
2.
Ray-Ban is the second most pop ular designer brand to buy sec ond-hand in the US, with 19,699 items sold in the last 90 days. The most expensive item was a pair of limited-edition white gold Ultra Way farer sunglasses sold at $2,250, whilst the cheapest item was sold for $3.25.
3.
Louis Vuitton takes third place with 18,071 used items sold over the past 90 days on eBay. The most expen sive item sold was a $6,435 mono gramed blue and green Taurillon Illusion Keepall Bandouliere 50 bag. The cheapest Louis Vuitton item sold second-hand was a $17.25 monogram canvas leather wallet.
4. Burberry
Burberry is the fourth most pop ular designer brand to buy sec ond-hand on eBay, with 11,981 items sold over the past 90 days in the US. The most expensive item sold was a $2,489 Thalia sequin dress, whilst the cheapest item was a Burberry kids trench coat for $1.04.
5. Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. comes in fifth place with 11,748 used items sold in the US. The most expensive piece of jewelry listed on the platform was a $5,995 Tiffany bracelet in 18-car at yellow gold and encrusted with 45 red rubies. In contrast, the cheapest item sold was a sterling silver heart pendant with no chain; this sold for $24.50.
Rolex is the only watch brand to make it into the top ten rank ings. Rolex is the sixth most popular designer brand to be bought sec ond-hand online with 11,417 sales on eBay. The most expensive item sold in the last 90 days was a Rolex Artisian de Geneva Daytona Cosmo graph which was listed for $69,950, the watch sold for an unknown price in the form of a ‘best offer’.
Rolex came in second place for the most popular vintage item to be sold on eBay, with 1,179 pieces sold over the past 90 days. The most expensive vintage Rolex to sell on the site was a $45,000 1675 GMT Master Gilt Gloss Pointed Crown Guard with the orig inal box, papers, and tags. The watch was sold in very good condition, es pecially given its age; it was originally purchased in 1962 and kept safe by a retired military pilot.
7.
Prada comes in seventh place as most popular second-hand design er brand with 8,363 items sold over the past 90 days. The most expensive item listed was a small Saffiano Cuir Leather double bag priced at $2,295. The cheapest item sold was a pair of tan leather mules which sold for $19.99.
8. Chanel
Chanel takes eighth place with 7,420 second-hand pieces sold. The most expensive item sold was a $15,000 classic Chanel double flap bag finished with quilted black cav iar and silver hardware. The cheap est item sold was a nylon and leath er Chanel shoulder bag that sold for
$76.00.
9.
In ninth place is Salvatore Ferrag amo whose shoes and accessories have sold 7,288 times on eBay over the last 90 days. The most expensive item sold was a studio satchel knotted woven leather bag for $1,171, whereas the cheapest item was a pair of black suede pumps that sold for just $0.99.
10.
Armani takes tenth place with 7,175 sold items on eBay in the past 90 days. The most expensive sec ond-hand piece to be sold was a 2011 shearling coat for $799.00. The cheapest item sold was a black vest top coming in at $7.20.
It is interesting to see the price variations between the highest and lowest price items sold, this demon strates just how much more accessible designer brands can be when buy ing second-hand. Those who wish to enter into the luxurious world of designer brands might consider shop ping second-hand as a cheaper and more sustainable choice. It is refresh ing to see so many used items essen tially being recycled to a new home
As for watch brands in the study, Rolex, Omega and Longines all made it into the top ten most popular vin tage designer brands. While you can get a great deal on eBay when it comes to purchasing second-hand when it comes to purchasing a watch as an investment, the experts at Chro no24 are your best bet as they are on top of the latest trends, and they have a high percentage of listings that are inclusive of the original box and pa perwork.
By Polly Percival Signal Contributing Writer
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are very enticing days for shopping before the holiday season begins, allowing for dis counted prices on favorite products. However, with this encouragement comes an opportunity for scammers to take advantage of people’s willingness to spend money. With this in mind, it’s important to remain vigilant and aware of any potential scams that may come your way.
Scams relating to banking and payment are com mon, this is where scammers pose as either your bank or a company you’ve recently purchased from claiming that your payment has not been received, has not gone through or that your details need up dating. They may ask you to follow a link or send personal details over to them to “solve” this issue. The best way to avoid losing money to this form of fraud is to contact the company or your bank directly to request more information on the issue. These scams will often come with a sense of ur gency, stating that if you don’t send the details over straight away you will miss out on the deal and sav ings - this is another sign that these claims are fake. Also, if you have willingly given information over to a scammer, banks are less likely to reimburse this fraudulent activity, so being aware of these scams is extremely important.
This could be anything from an email, text mes sage or online advertisement — if it doesn’t seem legitimate, don’t click it.
There are a few ways you can check the legiti macy of a text or email — clicking on the contact information of the sender can provide insight; if the email address or phone number of the sender doesn’t match up with the company, they’re associ ating themselves with, it’s likely fake.
Around Black Friday a lot of “money-saving” browser extensions start appearing — be cautious
with these, some are legitimate but some have been developed by scammers for phishing data. In short, avoid installing any new browser extensions re lating to finances around this time of year — the most legitimate Black Friday savings will be found through the company websites directly. If you do opt to install extensions, be sure to do your re search — putting the name through sites like Trust Pilot can help identify any suspicions.
Scammers might send you a message claiming to be a company you’ve bought from, telling you that your payment has not gone through and that you need to update your payment information. They might back this up with a sense of urgency, claiming that you will miss out on the deal. If you are faced with a message like this, it’s best to contact the company directly to ensure that you aren’t sending your details to an external source.
It’s easy to get lost in the deals of Black Friday, but it’s important to check where you’re ordering from. A lot of scammers will create fake websites claiming to sell prod ucts for an “amazing” price, when in fact they are using the
opportunity to retrieve your data and bank details. Before purchasing anything from a site you don’t recognize, search the name on TrustPilot to ensure they’re a legitimate seller, but ultimately, it’s best to avoid unfamiliar sites, especially around this time of year.
This scam is used by hackers to get through a two-factor authentication put in place to protect your data — they may pose as your bank or a com pany you’ve recently purchased from, claiming that you need to confirm a verification code in order to finalize a purchase. These scammers will often al ready have your password and username, but with the verification, will be able to access more of your data.
It is also important to be cautious about the websites you’re ordering from, the deals may look great until you realize they’re actually a way for scammers to access your personal information and bank details. Double-check the website URL be fore ordering anything to make sure it’s the official company site and if you don’t recognize the name of the company, I would recommend avoiding it completely, a lot of fake websites appear around this time of year, with Christmas sales approaching too — it’s best to miss out on a couple of deals than to be scammed out of a lot of money through bank fraud.
Pie is a must, but just like wedding cake, it doesn’t have to be the only dessert on the table. Pack as many treats as possible into your Thanksgiving spread with these rec ipes for mini Thanksgiving treats. This way every one gets a little taste of everything. Or, if you go overboard on the savory stuff, you can still have dessert without feeling too full!
Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
1 1/3 c. (2 sticks and 5 1/3 tbsp.) butter, softened
5 1/3 c. powdered sugar
2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
4 tbsp. heavy cream
Pinch kosher salt
Pretzels, for decorating Candy corn, for decorating M&Ms, for decorating Candy eyes, for decorating
1. Preheat oven to 350º and line two 12-cup muffin tins with black cupcake liners. Prepare cupcake batter according to package directions.
2. Scoop cupcake batter into liners and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 22 minutes. Let cool completely.
3. In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment), beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder and beat until combined, then add vanilla, heavy cream, and salt and beat until combined. (If you desire a thinner consistency, add 1 more tablespoon cream.)
4. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a ½” round tip with frosting. Frost cupcakes, making 1 larger frost ing dollop for the body and 1 smaller one on top for the face.
5. Place 2 pretzels on the backside of the cupcake for the tail then arrange 4 candy corn pieces in front of them to finish the tail. Place another candy corn on the smaller dollop for the beak and 3 brown M&Ms on each side for the wings.
6. Finish the turkey cupcake by placing 2 candy eyes above the beak.
Yields: 35
For Center
2 oz. full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 tbsp. powdered sugar
1/3 c. pumpkin puree
1-3/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 oz. white chocolate, coarsely chopped
For Topping
10 oz. semi-sweet or white chocolate, coarsely chopped Extra graham cracker crumbs (optional) cinnamon (optional) sugar (optional)
1. In a large bowl using a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attach ment, beat cream cheese and sugar together until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add pumpkin and beat on high until combined. Add graham cracker crumbs, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and melted chocolate, and beat on medium speed until everything is combined, about 2 minutes. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Chilling is mandatory.
2. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
3. Begin rolling chilled mixture into balls (about 1 teaspoon per ball) and place balls on baking sheets. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
4. Begin melting chocolate when balls are just about finished chilling, using a double boiler or the microwave. If using the microwave: place chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl and melt in 30-second increments, stirring after each increment until completely melted and smooth. Let warm chocolate sit for 5 minutes to slightly cool before dipping.
5. Remove balls from refrigerator and dip them in chocolate. Place balls back onto baking sheet after you dip each one, then top dipped truffles with a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs, cin namon, or sugar (if desired). Allow chocolate to completely set in refrigerator.
For the Crust
Cooking spray
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened 1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. packed brown sugar 2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
For the Filling
6 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Juice of 1/2 lemon 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
For the Topping 1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. packed brown sugar 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted Caramel, for serving
Preheat oven to 350° and line a 9”-x-13” pan with parchment then grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt and mix until just combined.
Press into prepared pan about 1/2” up sides. Bake until lightly golden, 20 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together. Spread apples over crust.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pecans, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter until coarse clumps form.
Sprinkle crumb topping over apples and bake until top is golden and apples are soft, about 1 hour.
Let cool at least 15 minutes then slice into squares and drizzle with caramel before serving. For more recipes like these, visit Delish.com.
It doesn’t get more legendary than the music of Prince. When the iconic performer passed in 2016, the world mourned the loss of the multi-instrumentalist savant who was well ahead of his time musically.
Whether you were a fan of Prince’s irrevocable style, or only discovered his catalog after his pass ing, Prince Again is a show for all to enjoy — and the perfect event to celebrate New Year’s Eve!
Prince’s hits smashed the Billboard Charts and created memories for generations — after all,
Prince penned arguably some of the best songs in music history; with tracks such as Little Red Cor vette, 1999, Kiss, Cream, Diamonds & Pearls, I Wanna Be Your Lover and the iconic Purple Rain. With no doubt that Prince Again will pay hom age in a party fashion, audiences are guaranteed to be on their feet from start to finish. Fans will revisit and keep those purple memories alive along with creating new ones in deference to the Prince. Don your Raspberry Beret, recreate the magic of Prince live on your stage or at your special event and make
a beeline for this fantastic live show which punches out all of the icon’s top numbers, dance moves and stagecraft with perfection.
You can see Prince Again live at The Canyon San ta Clarita on New Year’s Eve December 31st. Tickets are available online through AXS, over the phone at (888) 645-5006, and in person at the Canyon Santa Clarita box office. For more information, visit www. wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com.
By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer
‘A Christmas Story Christmas’ (out of four)
Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max present a film directed by Clay Kaytis and written by Nick Schenk. Rated PG On HBO Max.
If Hollywood delivered a de cades-later sequel titled “It’s Still a Wonderful Life” that picked up the story of Zuzu Bailey as a middle-aged florist un dergoing her own existential crisis, or “Another Miracle on 34th Street,” with Susan Walker all grown up and having forgotten she once believed in Kris Kringle, you wouldn’t expect either to be great, right? You might even question the wisdom of anyone even attempting such a follow-up.
That’s how I felt when I heard about “A Christmas Story Christmas,” the long-discussed and finally realized sequel to the 1983 cultural touch stone. Was it wise to drop in on the life of the adult Ralphie Parker after all these years? Isn’t there something magical about Ralphie and the Old Man and Flick and Schwartz and all the rest forever frozen in nostalgia?
Remember or not, we actually did get a sequel to “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the forgettable and regrettable 1990 Family Channel movie “Clar ence,” with Robert Carradine (!) as the angel Clarence Odbody, and there WAS a sequel of sorts to “A Christ mas Story” in “A Christmas Story 2” (2012), a straight-to-DVD release set six years after the events of “A Christmas Story,” with a young fellow named Braeden Lemasters as a teen age Ralphie and Daniel Stern as the Old Man. Still, it’s as if “A Christmas Story 2” never existed for 99.9% of the population.
Now comes a legitimate sequel: “A Christmas Story Christmas,” direct ed by Clay Kaytis and based on the characters and writings of Jean Shep herd. You won’t be surprised to hear it’s not the equal of the original, but it succeeds as a sweet, family-friendly follow-up, with the welcome return of Peter Billingsley as Ralph and a number of other actors back in their iconic roles. It’s a bit like attending a 40-year reunion and telling old sto
ries while trying to re-create a few of those crazy adventures from days gone by.
The exact year of “A Christmas Story” was never specified (it’s either 1940 or 1941), but the kitchen cal endar informs us the sequel is set in December of 1973, with Billingsley’s Ralphie Parker serving as our nar rator, telling us we’re at “our humble abode on the South Side of [Chica go], just like I remember in all of its yellow, orange and avocado-green glory.” Ralphie is married to the love ly and kind Sandy (Erinn Hayes), and they have two adorable children, Mark (River Drosche) and Julie (Juli anna Layne), who are very excited for Christmas, which will really kick into gear when Ralphie’s parents arrive in Chicago in a couple of days. In the meantime, Ralphie is desperately try ing to sell his first novel, a 2,000-page sci-fi opus titled “Neptune’s Oblivi on,” which has been rejected by more than a dozen publishers. (Hmmm, if only Ralphie would consider writing about experiences closer to home ...)
Then comes the call from Ralphie’s mother. The Old Man is gone.
Ralphie, Sandy and the kids make the drive to Ralphie’s hometown of Hohman, Indiana, where they’ll spend the holidays with Ralphie’s mom (Julie Hagerty) in “our old house on Cleveland Street [that] looked like it had been frozen in time.”
Indeed it does. But given the Old
Man has died, doesn’t that mean Christmas will be put on hold for a memorial service? The script handles that issue by having Ralphie’s mom say, “All that can wait. Your father was so excited about Christmas. If he saw us moping around, he’d throw a fit.” This gives the family license to em bark on a series of adventures involv ing snowball fights; battles with some local bullies; the quest for the perfect toys; a couple of slapstick injuries; and of course, a visit to Higbee’s De partment Store, with its amazing win dow displays, a Santa Claus who still sits way up high and a helper elf who dumps kids down a precarious slide.
Director Kaytis indulges in a few fun stylistic flourishes, e.g., a snow ball fight is filmed like a shootout in a Spaghetti Western, but for the most part, “A Christmas Story Christmas” is rendered in a low-key, straightfor ward style, as Ralphie struggles with the loss of his father, his flailing writ ing career and a number of setbacks to his plans for a perfect Christmas.
In the process, he reconnects with pivotal figures from his past, includ ing Flick (Scott Schwartz), who has inherited Flick’s Tavern from his old man; Schwartz (R.D. Robb), who fa mously triple-dog-dared Flick to stick his tongue on that frozen pole and these days is running up a huge tab at Flick’s Tavern and living with his mom, and the notorious Scott “Scut” Farkus (Zack Ward), and we’ll leave it to you to discover what happened to ol’ Farkus.
“A Christmas Story Christmas” fea tures the occasional quick clip from the first film, and the closing credits remind us of just how many scenes in the sequel mirror events from the original. If watching “A Christmas Story” is a part of your annual holi day ritual, you might want to make time to catch the sequel. It’ll make for a warm double helping of Christmas nostalgia.
Copyright 2022 Chicago Sun-Times
Books transport people to different times, provide a sense of escapism and in troduce readers to different schools of thought. Individuals may read for plea sure and/or to expand their intellectual horizons.
It’s important to note that reading also may help improve mental and physical health. With so much to gain from reading, now is a great time to em brace those book clubs, resolve to read more and explore how picking up a good book may be just what the doctor ordered.
Immersing yourself in a story requires focus and concentration. According to researchers at the Uni versity of Sussex, it took just six minutes of reading for study participants to experience slower heart rates and reduced muscle tension.
Stress is one of the biggest threats to overall health, as the stress hormone cortisol can lead to inflammation in the body that may impede the im mune system, according to Piedmont Health. Find ing ways to reduce stress, including through activ ities like reading, is a win for anyone who wants to improve his or her health.
According to the 2016 study, “A chapter a day:
Association of book reading with longevity,” by Bavishi A, Slade M.D., reading exerts its influence on longevity by strengthening the mind. Reading positively impacts the way the brain creates syn apses, optimizing neurological function. It also ex pands vocabulary, and helps with memory.
A 2014 study published in Neuroreport deter mined reading involves a complex system of signal ing and networking in the brain. As one’s ability to read matures, these networks become stronger and more sophisticated. MRI scans found that brain connectivity increased throughout studied reading
periods and for days afterward.
Through literary fiction, readers are exposed to the situations, feelings and beliefs of others. This can help a person develop a greater ability to empa thize with others, according to Healthiline.
Reading is an effective way to wind down and re lax before going to bed. It can be a positive night time ritual, provided one reads a paper book or uti lizes an e-reader that is not backlit, as bright lights from digital devices may hinder sleep quality. In fact, doctors at the Mayo Clinic often suggest read ing as part of a regular sleep routine.
Individuals diagnosed with depression may feel isolated and estranged from other people. Books may reduce those feelings by helping a person tem porarily escape his or her world into another. Also, books can serve as a common ground through which conversations over shared interests can be gin with others.
Reading has many positive health benefits, which is why resolving to read more can be beneficial. (MC)
With Thanksgiving approaching, we are prompted to consid er what we are grate ful for. I’m grateful that we’ve finally escaped the blister ing summer heat and are easing into cooler months, shorter days, and earlier nights. Our daughter is responding well to chemo treatments. We’re tremendously grate ful for that. We have strong family love and support for which we are truly grateful. When things are going well, it seems easier to feel gratitude. When we’re facing misfortune, it’s harder to generate apprecia tion for the blessings of each day.
When adversi ty strikes, however, that is when feeling gratitude can be most beneficial. A num ber of studies indicate that a grateful spirit can promote a feel ing of empowerment and reduce feelings of helplessness during challenging times. Ex pressing gratitude can diminish stress and strengthen emotional resilience.
Ironically, not only does grati tude help manage periods of loss and hardship. Distressing times of loss and hardship create a heightened sense of gratitude. According to psy chologist Mary Pipher, “Tragedy of ten catapults people toward gratitude whereas constant good fortune can actually make it hard to feel grateful. Privileged people may habituate to a comfortable, easy life.”
Interestingly, gratitude seems to increase with age. We might think that older adults would feel less grati tude and have difficulty savoring life, but perhaps because they have more life experience and more familiarity with sadness and loss, their capacity for feeling and expressing gratitude seems to expand.
One 2017 study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology re ported that the experience of grat itude was greatest in older adults, compared to other age groups. Older adults understand adversity in a way that adolescents and younger adults cannot. Researchers speculate that older people may be more aware that life is short, and that can lead to feel ings of gratitude. Older people may simply have more time to contem plate and cultivate gratitude.
A growing body of research is fo cused on how expressing gratitude can help people age with a sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Grat itude is a powerful tool for helping older adults face the challenges of aging including deal ing with loss, facing illness, or the need to depend on others for help.
Choosing to re spond with gratitude can create a sense of control, positivity and even increased self-es teem. Physiologically, studies show that grat itude can help lower blood pressure and improve immunity.
When people take time to reflect back on their lives, the joy ous and sorrowful times, they appreciate what they’ve come through, and they often feel gratitude. That, in turn, helps clarify how they want to live their lives going forward.
Robert Emmons, psychology pro fessor at UC Davis, says, “Gratitude has one of the strongest links to men tal health and satisfaction with life of any personality trait — more than even optimism, hope or compassion.”
Gratitude can make people healthier, happier and more satisfied with life.
When we feel gratitude and share it with others, it enhances our appreci ation. This Thanksgiving let us revel in the joy of gathering in gratitude for what is valuable and meaningful in our lives.
Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, a 30-year SCV res ident and two-time breast cancer sur vivor.
Home gardeners and com mercial agricultural en terprises are increasingly integrating more natural and sustainable practices into plant production. Although chemical pes ticides and fertilizers can improve crop yields, chemicals can deteri orate soil efficiency and may af fect the ecosystem in negative ways. In lieu of turning to a laundry list of products to help the soil, farm ers and home gardeners may bene fit from relying more heavily on the humble earthworm.
Earthworms are Beneficial According to CABI — an inter national, inter-governmental, notfor-profit organization that provides information and applies scientific ex pertise to solve problems in agricul ture and the environment — earth worms are useful for the management of biodiversity. Earthworms are any gardener’s friend.
These shy, light-sensitive crea tures burrow through the soil, pulling leaves and other plant matter deep within. When the earthworms con sume this detritus, the decomposed plants as well as the worms’ drop pings provide nutrients to the soil. Together with microbes, earthworms convert biodegradable materials and organic waste into nutrient-rich products. They also may help reduce instances of soil-borne diseases.
The benefits to worms do not end there. Earthworms also aerate the soil, enabling water to be absorbed, which helps develop strong plant roots.
Earthworm burrows serve as chan nels where roots can elongate into
deeper soil layers, enabling plants to grow more securely and deeply. This, in turn, can help reduce soil erosion. While research is ongoing, there are some reports that the unique talents of earthworms can help convert land that is largely barren into fertile soil.
It may be in gardeners’ and farm ers’ best interests to raise earthworms. According to the science information site Sciencing, earthworms are her maphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive or gans. Despite this, most worms need a partner to reproduce — although certain types will reproduce alone if partners are scarce. Worms can be purchased or found for breeding.
A worm box, which can be made or bought from gardening shops, is a box made from untreated wood. The earthworms will need a temperature of at least 25 F, and dark, moist soil.
Place moistened paper scraps into one half of the worm box. Place the worms on top and give them oppor tunities to hide.
Place small amounts of organic matter, such as kitchen scraps, cof fee grounds and leaves, on the paper layer every day. Leave the other side of the worm box empty, as this will be where the worm dropping com post will eventually collect. After two or three months, there will be quite a number of hatched worms to release into the garden along with the com post. Leave some worms behind to continue to reproduce.
Earthworms amend the soil in nat ural ways that can reduce the need to use chemical products and protect biodiversity. (MC)
1. The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621
Although there are several accounts as to where the first Thanksgiving celebration took place, the most well-known version describes the inaugural Thanksgiving as a three-day pilgrim celebration that took place in 1621 at the Plymouth Colony (now Plymouth, Massachusetts). Most tradi tional historians recognize this as the first American Thanksgiving feast.
Over 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the last Thursday in November as a day to give thanks. It wasn’t until 1941 that con gress made Thanksgiving an official na tional holiday.
2. Every Thanksgiving, the president pardons a turkey
Every year since 1947, a ceremony known as “The Na tional Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation” has been conducted at The White House a few days before Thanksgiving. During the ceremony, the cur rent President of the United States is pre sented with a live turkey. The command er-in-chief does not eat the turkey; instead, he “pardons” the bird and spares it from be ing slaughtered. After being pardoned, the turkey gets to live out its days on a farm.
3. Macy’s has put on a parade every Thanksgiving since 1924
The tradition of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 in New York City. The parade was original ly known as Macy’s Christmas Parade and was created to help spur the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Pa rade was put together by Macy’s employees and featured animals from the Central Park zoo. These days, giant floating balloons are the parade’s primary feature. In the modern era, it is estimated that about 3 million peo ple attend the parade in person each year and that 44 million more watch it on TV.
4. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year
Thanksgiving day is the busiest travel day of the year. The American Automo bile Association (AAA) has estimated that over 42 million Americans travel 50 miles or more by car over the holiday weekend. Another 4 million people fly to visit their loved ones for the holiday.
5. Thanksgiving dinner hasn’t changed much over the years
The food eaten at the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 was not too different from our modern standard. The pilgrims’ meal con sisted of turkey, venison, waterfowl, lobster, fish, clams, pumpkin, squash, berries, and fruit. Aside from the seafood, most of these foods are still staples of our present-day Thanksgiving dinners.
6. Americans eat a lot of turkey
While there is no official reason why turkey is the quintessential main dish used in Thanksgiving dinners, it was likely the most plentiful type of meat in Plymouth Colony in 1621. We’ve carried on the tradi tion of eating Turkey for Thanksgiving din ner ever since. According to the National Turkey Federation, over 95% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Around 280 million turkeys are sold during the weeks leading up to the holiday.
7.
Cranberries are one of only three fruits considered to be native to North Ameri ca. Native Americans were the first to reap the many benefits of cranberries. In addi tion to eating them, Indigenous Americans used the red juice from cranberries as a dye for clothing, rugs, and blankets. They also included cranberries in medicine to treat arrow wounds and other ailments. Native Americans believed in the medicinal use of cranberries long before scientists dis
covered their health benefits. Nowadays, cranberries are an essential side dish in our Thanksgiving feasts.
8. There is an official thanksgiving postage stamp
In 2001, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in honor of the Thanksgiving holi day. The stamp was designed by artist Mar garet Cusack to resemble tradi tional folk-art needlework. The intention behind the stamp’s creation was to commemorate the tradition of being thankful for the abundance of goods we enjoy in America.
9. The wishbone tradition is much older than Thanksgiving Turkeys’ wishbones are commonly used in a good-luck tradition on Thanksgiving. Usually, the practice consists of two people tugging on either end of the brittle bone while silently mak ing a wish until it breaks. It is said that whoever wins the larger piece will have their wish granted.
This tradition dates back to the Etrus can civilization circa 322 B.C. The Romans brought the tradition with them when they conquered England, and the English colo nists then proceeded to carry the tradition to America.
10. Watching football is a central part of most Thanksgiving celebrations
In the United States, football is a major part of many families’ Thanksgiving cele brations. This tradition dates back to the first-ever football game between Yale and Princeton, which was held on Thanksgiv ing Day in 1876. Since then, watching foot ball has become synonymous with Thanks giving. It’s interesting to think that one football game played in 1876 would have such a lasting impact on a seemingly unre lated holiday.
— Courtesy of Holidappy.com
Many people are com pelled to volunteer out of a desire to help others. Volunteer work is so important that the Inde pendent Sector, an organization that gathers statistics about charitable activities, puts an estimated nation al value on each volunteer hour ev ery year. As of 2018, the monetary value for volunteer work would be equivalent to a pay rate of $25.43 an hour.
Though helping others is the pri mary motivator for many volunteers, the men, women and children who give up their free time in support of a good cause gain much from their experiences. In fact, new volunteers may be surprised at all the rewards they can reap from helping others.
The Mayo Clinic Health System says researchers have attempted to measure the benefits that volun teers receive from their volunteer efforts. It has been dubbed a “help er’s high.” Various health benefits have been noted, but the perks go beyond that.
Giving to charity can be a rewarding endeav or that makes a difference in the lives of people in need. Many people donate throughout their lives, and some people may want to impart a more last ing legacy by continuing to support a charity even after they have passed away.
Incorporating a charity into an estate plan is a great way to continue giving after you pass away. Individuals may not know how to make charities beneficiaries in their wills. A financial planner, at torney or accountant can answer the more complex questions individuals have about naming charities as beneficiaries in a will. In the meantime, this gen eral guide can serve as a solid foundation for indi viduals who want to give back in their wills.
Most people think of beneficiaries as loved ones, but a beneficiary can be any person or entity one chooses to leave money to, including nonprofit or
ganizations. It’s relatively the same process to name a charity as a beneficiary as it is an individual. Ac cording to the resource Trust & Will, first identify the charity that will be supported, including getting its Employer Identification Number or Taxpayer Identification Number. Next, determine which type of gift to make, which may be a predetermined financial contribution, a gift of property, or other
• Make new friends: Volunteerism is a great way to make new friends and strengthen existing relation ships. Having common ground, like a volunteer activity, is a great way to build a friendship with like-minded individuals.
• Increase social skills: Volunteering enables you to meet new people from all backgrounds. You also may be placed into different situ ations and have to act on the fly. This can help you develop social relationship skills.
• Help build community: The Cor poration for National & Commu nity Service says that volunteers help strengthen their communities through volunteer service. Con nections are made with the peo ple you are helping and with other volunteers.
• Improve self-esteem: When teens or young adults volunteer, they get positive responses to their efforts, which can improve their self-es teem. Self-esteem can keep people away from drugs or alcohol or po
assets like stocks. For large donations like real es tate or cars, it may be best to contact the charity in advance to ensure they are able to accept such gifts. Finally, be sure to include your wishes in an estate plan. A qualified attorney can help clients draft a will that spells out their wishes in detail.
Keep in mind that charities also can be named as beneficiaries on life insurance policies or individ ual retirement accounts. They also can be listed on bank accounts. Again, people are urged to discuss all options with estate planners to ensure their plans fully reflect their wishes.
When naming a charity as a beneficiary, it can be wise to inform family members and other bene ficiaries so no one is caught off guard upon your death. This way the charitable gift is not held up by delays in executing the will. download the pack age. (MC)
It’s never fun to be sick, but the flu is more se rious than the common cold. Unfortunately, studies show there are significant health-re lated inequities in flu vaccination rates and flu-related complications, particularly in the Afri can American community.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans experience disproportionately higher rates of chronic health conditions. With only approximately 40% of Afri can Americans getting vaccinated, these chronic health conditions place them at a higher risk of se vere flu complications. The most effective strategy for reducing the effect of the flu within the African American community is to get vaccinated.
“It is so important for us as African Ameri cans to get an annual influenza vaccine because of increased health risk factors,” said Dr. Okonk wo-Holmes. “Getting vaccinated can reduce flu-re lated illnesses, doctor’s visits and missed school and workdays. Influenza vaccination in high-care about against the flu with these simple tips: Get your flu shot It’s your best defense. The vacci nation can’t give you the flu — but it can help pro tect you against this year’s most common strains and prevent spreading the flu to others. Don’t get the flu — get the flu shot! Boost immunity with healthy habits Simple
things that support overall health can also help you fight the flu. Wash your hands often, and keep hand sanitizer handy. Make sure to get enough sleep, eat lots of fruits and veggies, and drink plen ty of water.
Keep your germs to yourself If you do get the flu, do yourself and your co-workers a favor and stay home. You need rest, fluids, and time to recover — and going to work sick can make symptoms worse and spread the illness around your workplace. For more information about the flu, visit the Kai ser Permanente website at kp.org/flu.
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tentially compulsive behaviors.
• Helps stave off dementia: There is some evi dence that people who volunteer may be at a lower risk for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This is particularly helpful for senior volunteers.
• Overcome loneliness: The Campaign to End Loneliness indicates that close to 45 percent
of people in the United States and the United Kingdom. admit to feeling lonely. Volunteer ing is a simple way to reverse such feelings.
• Reduce stress levels: By devoting time spent in service to others, people can get a sense of meaning and appreciation that helps them to slow down. That can help them feel less stress and all the negative consequences that come with stress.
Volunteers often walk away from their expe riences benefitting as much as the organizations that they chose to help. (MC)
henrymayo.com/care
Cary Quashen was addicted to alcohol and drugs. When Cary uses drugs and alcohol, he loses control of himself and be comes addicted. He knew that he needed to change his ways and stop using to be happy and to be successful in this world. Cary’s sobriety date is December 25 1980. Cary’s life went from bad to great. Cary Quashen founded Action Family Counsel ing in 1997.
From that day forward, Cary has put together 40 years of continuous sobriety. Cary began his work in the drug & alcohol treatment business when he was in his twenties, and is going stronger than ever today. Cary found his passion of helping people like him.
If you are reading this now, you have come to the right place. We can help.
For anybody that understands the horror of drug addiction or the seeming darkness of mental health challenges, we encourage you to seek help. You do not have to do it alone. We, at Action Family Counseling, AKA the Action drug rehab centers, have decades of experience helping people from all walks of life who suffer from addiction or co-occurring mental health challenges. Please continue reading and make the phone call. Our Admissions Team is available to help people get into treatment fast 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.
We have been providing client centered, individualized, and compassionate care and treatment for adults, adolescents, and families in Santa Clarita, Ventura, Simi Valley, and Bakersfield for over 20 years. Contracted with nearly every major insurance company and able to utilize your HMO or PPO plan, there is a solution for nearly every person or family in need of help for addiction or dual-diagnosis challenges.
We recognize that seeking help for addiction to drugs and alcohol is difficult for many reasons. We understand that many of us feel embarrassed, guilty, shameful, and scared. We want anybody who is seeking treatment for addiction and mental health to understand that these feelings are not only normal, but inextricably woven into what it means to be human. From our perspective, the only regret would be to not seek help.
The Action drug rehab center’s treatment team is made up of a multi-disciplinary and highly trained group of profession als consisting of psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, chemical dependency counselors, mental health and professional coun selors, case managers, social workers, technicians, and administrators. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive, client driven, highly individualized, effective, tested, research-based, and compassionate group of addiction treatment programs with an emphasis on the foundational skills that will assist clients on every level.
Jail, abuse, foster care, robbery, gangs and a debilitating inju ry. Just one of these might be enough to break a person’s spirit. For Anita Alvarez and her family, this was just normal life.
During the three years Anita’s daughter spent in jail as a result of gang activities, Anita’s five grandchil dren came to live with her and her husband, Oscar. Space was limited in their small, two-bedroom mobile home, but bunk beds made it pos sible for them to share one of the bed rooms.
With only Oscar’s income to sup port the family, they often needed additional resources to feed the chil dren. Pastor Netza of Iglesia Casa de Dios Palmdale, a Children’s Hunger Fund partner, learned of their situa tion and began making regular deliv eries of Food Paks to Anita’s home. These Food Paks included staples like pasta, peanut butter and kid-friend
few times a year, the relationship he’s formed with the family remains strong. The children are full of smiles when Pastor Netza drops by to visit. Despite their situation, Anita’s family has hope.
When you donate to Children’s Hunger Fund, every 25 cents can provide a meal for children like Ani ta’s. Not only does that family re ceive help, but they also receive hope through an ongoing relationship with a local church. Find out more at www.childrenshungerfund.org.
he words used to describe our culture are anxious, depressed, suicidal, angry, polarizing, and hopeless. People are looking for hope, Real Hope. In California, the statistics on depression, homelessness, drug use, violent crime, and poverty are all ris ing. The picture painted for us about our future is often very bleak. So, what do we do? How can we all play a part in helping those who need it
This Christmas season, we chal lenge you to bring hope to others. Take a minute and think about an area in our community where hope seems to have disappeared. How can you play a role in restoring it? Every year as a church, we do just that. We look beyond ourselves and partner with organizations doing amazing work in our communities to bring hope to sectors of our population that are often overlooked. This year is no different as we focus specifically on freeing children from sex traffick ing, helping foster children transition
into adulthood, eliminating medi cal debt for families who can’t meet daily needs, and bringing hope to those incarcerated. We believe the local church is a great way to bring help and hope to the communities in which they operate. So we also want to help more churches get started in California. The reason? We love our state, its people, and the oppor tunity to give Real Hope. To partner with us or learn more about our Real Hope initiative and the organizations we partner with, visit rlc.is/real hope.
beyond our walls to bring REAL HOPE to the state of California.
Your gift helps the following organizations doing amazing work in our communities:
Helping child victims of sex tra cking 24 hours a day – 7 days a week.
Providing resources to bring hope to those currently incarcerated.
Easing the burden of medical debt for those in our community.
Supporting Santa Clarita’s foster youth through the transition to adulthood.
Helping churches get started in communities who need them.
To partner with us to provide hope this Christmas visit rlc.is/realhope or scan the QR code.
Soroptimist comes from the Latin word Siri meaning sis ter and optima meaning best, “Best for women, women be ing their best.”
Soroptimist volunteers have helped improve the lives of young girls and women locally, nationally, and inter nationally. We provide women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve eco nomic empowerment.
We want to thank our communi
ty, sponsors and volunteers that have generously donated whether it be their valued time, in kind help or fi nancial assistance in helping so many women and young girls.
When you help a woman, you help her family, the community, the na tion and ultimately the world. Again, thank you Santa Clarita for your support, we truly appreciate it. Find more information and how to get in volved by visiting our website www. sigscv.org.
Action Family Counseling www.actiondrugrehab.com (800) 367-8336
An organization that specializes in treating those suffering from addiction to all drugs, including alcohol.
Zonta Club of Santa Clarita www.scvzonta.org (661) 252-9351
A leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital www.henrymayo.com (661) 200-2000
A 357-bed, not-for-profit community hospital and trauma center.
Kaiser Permanente www.kaiserpermanente.org (833) 574-2273
Provides high-quality, affordable health care services to help improve the health of their members and the communities they serve.
Children’s Hunger Fund childrenshungerfund.org/ (800) 708-7589
Our mission is to deliver hope to suffering children by equipping local churches for gospel-centered mercy ministry.
Soroptimist International www.sigscv.org contact@sigscv.org
A global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
Aristotle once said the es sence of life is “to serve others and do good.”
It’s well documented that volunteerism offers many bene fits to those who are recipients of the charitable work as well as the volun teers.
According to The Corporation for National & Community Service, one in four Americans volunteers. Volun teers come from all walks of life and various age groups. Nearly one-quar ter of all volunteers are people under the age of 24.
Parents and guardians who want to introduce their children to volunteer ism may not know when is the right age to do so. Many experts agree that there isn’t a definitive age for children to get involved in volunteering. In fact, no child is too young to volun teer. Joseph F. Hagan Jr., M.D., a clin ical professor of pediatrics at Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, says helping out during the toddler and preschool years helps shape a child’s sense of morality.
Rather than wondering if a child is too young to volunteer, adults should focus on finding the right activity to match the child’s age. For example, a three- or four-year-old child can fill bags or boxes with donated food or help gather blankets and towels to do nate to an animal rescue. However, a toddler or preschooler may not have the stamina to complete a 5K walk.
Volunteerism doesn’t even have to be in the traditional sense of working with an established charity. A young ster can pick flowers from a field and
deliver them to an elderly neighbor. Or a preschooler can invite a child playing alone to come play togeth er. A toddler who loves sorting items
can help sort recycling items at home and watch a parent deliver them to the recycling center.
Another way to engage kids in vol unteer work is to match their inter ests with the tasks. Many kids can’t get enough of animals, so they may want to help out an animal organi zation or be involved with a con servation group. A child can collect change to “adopt” an endangered species.
Kids also can visit a children’s hos pital and deliver gifts to youngsters battling illnesses. In such situations, kids may be more engaged if they can help kids their own ages.
Children are never too young to volunteer. Finding the right fit can inspire a lifetime of giving back that benefits youngsters throughout their lives. (MC)
Whether you’re a DIYer wanting to trans form your home or a professional design er, each decision you make about the quality of finishes impacts the over all look of a room. From thoughtful ly selected color palettes to carefully curated textures, each finish decision you make can bring a room from ordinary to extraordinary — so it’s worth the effort to be intentional about these design choices.
The good news is, there are modern design collections available today that are specially created to work together for maximum visual impact, mak ing it easier to find options that make sense both separately and together to turn the rooms of your home into ele gant, sophisticated spaces.
Certain design aesthetics go very well together, and that’s certainly the case with mid-century modern and Scandinavian design. You may have heard that less is more, and that’s certainly the case with these design aesthetics, which both favor clean, simple lines, preferring curves over straight edges, along with a tendency toward visual minimalism.
One difference between the two? While Scandinavian design usually incorporates more natural materials like wood, mid-century modern em braces the use of metals and glass.
Combining these complementa ry aesthetics together and bringing them into the contemporary era, Kohler Lighting’s Tone Collection draws inspiration from designers such as Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen — who used natural elegance and sculped simplicity — together with bold visual statements and use of glass and metals for a fresh take on mid-century modern style. Within the collection, you can find a variety of stylish and refined lighting options including chandeliers, pen dants and ceiling mount designs to illuminate and enhance any room in your home.
Blending minimalism, warmth and thoughtful functionality, these lighting fixtures are versatile enough to improve the visual appeal of any space in your home. Even better,
these contemporary pieces were cre ated to complement the Kohler Tone faucet collection for a cohesive overall home design.
To add depth to a space as well as more visual interest and sophis tication, today’s designers draw on techniques such as combining mixed-metal finishes to provide pleasing contrasts and a sense of var ied textures.
For example, the Tone One-Light Sconce is a beautiful example of the collection’s interplay of materials and finish: Their softly curved backplate supports a sleek T-arm topped by a flared finial and suspends a stylized tulip clear glass shade, its exaggerated size contrasted by an overall mini malist design. This sconce is available in Polished Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Brushed Moderne Brass, Matte Black, Matte Black and Polished Chrome, or Matte Black and Brushed Moderne Brass.
You can also choose the versatile, solution-driven design of a Tone Two-Light Sconce, with unique cre ativity that adds to its overall elegance and charm. A single rounded back plate raises slightly from the wall, extending a sleek T-style metal arm support upon which two individual metal and stylized tulip glass shades are suspended, each topped with a flared finial, completing the design. This sconce is available in Polished Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Brushed Moderne Brass, Matte Black, Matte Black and Polished Chrome, or Matte Black and Brushed Moderne Brass.
Another benefit of choosing from this collection is that each light fix ture is quality tested to ensure that it will remain beautiful for years to come. The fixtures also offer easy in stallation, with color-matched finish es and diffusers for soft, ambient light that will suit almost any lifestyle and room design.
Before you begin your next home design project, explore the excit ing new possibilities for lighting at Kohler.com. (BPT)
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer
Place cards are an indispens able addition to a Thanks giving meal. They’re a little like croutons on a favorite soup, because they add style and piz zazz.
They can even be whimsical! This year, let the kids’ inspirations for art ful place cards enhance your Thanks giving table decor. Long after you’ve ladled the gravy over the mashed potatoes for seconds and then thirds, your kids will remember the special contribution they made to the festivi ties. Here are two ideas:
Homemade place cards can be as easy as cutting strips of nice paper or cardstock into 1-1/2-by-1-inch strips and writing out each person’s name with a special pen.
Decorate by drawing a simple por trait of the person to the side of the name, or add Thanksgiving-themed stickers. Set them on each plate over a folded napkin, or insert them in stan dard place-card stands. (Tip: Larger index cards give young children more space to write and draw.)
Make each puzzle place card out of cardboard, construction paper or craft foam sheets. Draw and cut out
the shape of an object with a Thanks giving theme, such as a pilgrim hat, an ear of corn or a pumpkin pie. Paint or color the shape with markers if you wish. Make a different Thanksgiv ing design or symbol for each place setting.
Cut out a portion of the shape, which will be a puzzle piece. The cut out could be obvious, such as a feath er on a turkey, or more complicated, like a random wavy shape typical of a traditional puzzle.
Set the Thanksgiving table with a place card at each setting, minus the cutout. When guests arrive, put chil dren in charge of giving a missing place-card piece to each guest. When they meet grandfather at the door, they’ll be bursting with excitement. Will he find his place at the table? Kids love to know a special secret that grown-ups have to figure out!
At mealtime, it’s a fun and memo rable moment for all when each per son finds the place card that com pletes the puzzle to discover who they will sit beside. Don’t be surprised if your kids ask to play the place-card puzzle game with new creations for December holiday gatherings.
©2019 Donna Erickson
Distributed by King Features Synd.
Donald Trump needs to go!
I have been a huge supporter of Trump. I voted for him twice and I thought he did great things for this country with his policies. I overlooked his character flaws, his inflated ego, and his narcissism because his policies were so aligned with mine. He was a rare politician who made promises, then he actually kept them. I also overlooked some very dubious cabinet and inner-circle choices.
I admit that overlooking his many flaws has become exhaust ing but he has finally crossed the line with me because of his attacks on other Republicans. His endless attacks on Mitch McConnell are nothing but stupid. I’m no fan of McConnell, but he’s not the enemy, Democrats are the enemy!
He recently turned his guns on Ron DeSantis, a politician who I and every Republican I’ve talked to, like! DeSantis just won his race by 20 points, but that apparently was a victory that Trump thought detracted from his own glory.
Don’t you dare block the sun from shining on him.
DeSantis has never said an ill word about Trump and he’s done an excellent job in Florida, as evidenced by his crushing victo ry of Charlie Crist. So for Trump, that means he has to bring him down a few pegs. Today he called Mitch McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, “Coco Chow.”
What the hell is that about?
As I said above, I’ve overlooked his stupid comments. I over looked it when he made a racist comment about a judge of Mex ican descent who was born in America. I overlooked it when he made his “s-hole” comment about some other countries. Even if it’s true, a president doesn’t say that! I overlooked his comment about Mexico sending us rapists. Even calling COVID the “Kung Flu,” which at the time I thought was kind of cute, now just seems to be stupid and racist.
I can no longer separate my appreciation of his policies from the man.
Donald Trump is toxic to 60% of the country, in my opinion. That is a huge percentage of the people who I think wouldn’t vote for him for any reason. I now admit that I’m one of them and I’m not alone in my opinion among other Republicans I know and have talked to.
If Trump gets the nomination he not only will be defeated, but also he will drag the down-ballot candidates with him to defeat. But for Trump, he would rather burn the party to the ground than to admit his time has passed.
What must be done, and done soon, are some brave Repub lican leaders standing up and saying “enough is enough.” I’m under no illusion this will happen as politicians are generally not what I would call brave or bold.
But if this doesn’t happen soon, he will destroy the Republican Party.
Brian Richards Stevenson RanchFor the past month I’ve been going around asking people a simple question: Do you think there is more good or evil in the world? I’ve asked my fel low pastors, some business people, family, neighbors and even the baristas at my favorite coffee shop. So now I’m asking you, my readers. What do you think?
I was quite surprised at the answers I received. To a person, those who answered quickly were adamant that there was much more evil than good in this world. Not surprisingly, most in my world of biblical studies and theology answered according to their understanding of the doctrine of pervasive depravity. Think John Calvin and Martin Luther and before them, Au gustine. The doctrine of pervasive depravi ty springs from the understanding that the presence of original sin means that every one comes into this world broken and in need of divine grace to set things right.
But, being a bit of a contrarian myself, I was quick to point out that, theologically, what we know as “common grace” means that God the Creator continues to send the rain on the just and the unjust alike … although we all pray he’d send more our way! Add to that the idea that God, through the avenues of law and con science, is actually restraining a significant portion of the evil that humanity is capa ble of. In theological circles this means things aren’t nearly as bad as they could be. But, despite my incisive theological argumentation, few if any changed their view. Evil continued to get their vote. But, there were many who responded to my question with pause. These folks were much more contemplative, and mulled the issue over in their minds. Of these, no one came out with a belief that good outnumbered evil. However, almost all of the contemplative delegation responded with this statement: It all depends on your perspective.
events, I almost certainly would end joining the cynics who delight in the faults, failures and felonies of those in the public spotlight. If the disasters that bleed and lead in the national media shape my opinion, there’s no doubt my answer would be “evil!”
But if I choose to look first at the elements of my own life, at the “goings on” in my own sphere of influence, my perspective is quite differ ent. As I sit here pushing the keys on my computer in a rush to meet my publishing deadline, I’m smiling. And why not? For ty-five years ago I married the best person I’ve ever met, and together we’ve built a home decorated with love, raised three wonderful, successful adult children, and even better, three beautiful grandchildren. I can honestly say that the best part of my day is coming home!
I also have many great friends, an amazing group of dedicated and gifted co-workers, and a church family that actu ally lives out what we believe Christianity ought to be.
Despite the chaos of this broken world, I have a meaningful, purposeful and satisfying life filled with relationships that matter, opportunities that are exciting, and a professional position that allows me entrance in lives of people at both the best and worst times of their lives. And best of all, I get to come alongside them to love and listen, and bring the wisdom of God himself to bear on their lives as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of life.
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And it is with that understanding of the issue that I am in full agreement. For example, if I allowed myself to view this world through the lens of our cultural drift as demonstrated in newsworthy current
So, yes, it does depend on your perspec tive, and what’s more, you can actually choose where you will focus your vision. My suggestion is to cast your eyes at those nearest to your heart, who make life good for you, and who can benefit from your experience, your wisdom and most of all your love. And maybe you’ll find that there’s more good around than evil, and that is certainly what we all can be most thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speak ing” appears Sundays.
