Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Friday, December 3 , 2010
Give the gift of time Empty-nesters on holiday Gifts on a budget Gifts for the hobbyist Family traditions An old-fashioned Christmas
Traditions: Empty nesting and the holidays By Nancy Dubord Feature Writer
H
oliday traditions are typically something families pass down from one generation to the next. But when children are no longer nearby or are otherwise unavailable, what can couples do to fill the holiday season with anticipation and fun? For two Lewiston couples who first met many years ago at an event their daughters attended
and whose friendship developed as their girls grew up together pursuing similar interests, it was a natural progression to establish and share new traditions in the wake of becoming empty-nesters. Each year, a few weeks before Christmas, the two local couples, Dan and Nancy Boilard and Joe and Donna Whelan, first go out to breakfast and then make the journey to local tree farms to search for the ideal Christmas trees for their homes. Coffee, conversation, and cutting down a tree make for an enjoyable excursion both couples treasure. Then, one or two Saturdays right before Christmas, the couples reconnect for the next part of the season’s festivities: they climb into Joe’s “big truck with an extended cab� and hit the road to enjoy the holiday decorations in the Lewiston-Auburn area.
Afterwards, the couples enjoy a late dinner together.
Included in the tour is a visit to each others’ houses to view the fruit of their previous labors: their Christmas trees now embellished with holiday wear. Afterwards, they stop at a restaurant and treat themselves to a hot beverage and something sweet. Nancy chuckled, “Are you noticing a theme here? Food!� To reinforce that theme, Nancy revealed that spending time and sharing food with Joe and Donna is something that seems to happen each season, such as when they get together on St. Patrick’s Day to savor Joe’s corn beef and cabbage or when they all dress in costume at Halloween. “Each year we have a theme, like Zombies or headless horsemen� and give out treats to neighborhood ghosts and goblins who gleefully visit Joe’s “haunted garage,� said Nancy.
Echoing Nancy’s sentiments, Dan added, “I think the next best thing to family is to have friends that you care about to share a holiday like Christmas.� With further reflection on their friendship, he said, “You get to share the highs and the lows of bringing up your children and get support from each other.� J o e’s comment s f ur ther accentuate the warm regard th es e f r i e n ds have f o r o n e another and his pleasure at being with them in their celebration of the Christmas season: “Besides the fact it’s about family first, it’s about friends,� stated Joe, who expressed his delight in the stories they swap in the time they are together. When asked about the details surrounding the beginnings of their holiday rituals, Donna, Joe’s wife, maintained that although she doesn’t remember exactly how things star ted between them in terms of launching some holiday traditions as friends, she does remember one Christmas eve many years ago when their
Submitted photo
The Boilard’s Christmas tree.
children were gone elsewhere (they celebrate with family on Christmas Day) and it was her and Joe and she thought, “We have nobody. It’s Christmas Eve. So what do we do together?� Donna’s viewpoint on their shared holiday experiences: “I don’t know many people who do that (have holiday traditions as friends). I think it is a fantastic thing. You can count
Empty nest
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Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Money saving advice for holiday shopping By Dan Marois Feature Writer
W
i th th e h o li day season around the corner and the economic forecast still uncertain, many shoppers will be pinching pennies during the 2010 shopping season. But with a bit of planning and a few financial tips, shoppers can survive the season by spending wisely and avoiding debt. When it comes to shopping for kids, Kayt DeMerchant, publisher of Macaroni Kid, a free, weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting items specifically for kids from Turner to Farmington, has found a time- and money-saving idea. “I have my kids each keep a folder with catalog pages and drawings of items that are on their wish list. They usually end up with a sizable list so we sit down together and
Empty nest from page 2
on them. Laugh with them. It’s like they’re my extended family. We can share stories and say, ‘Remember the time we did this? Or that?’” Although this year’s Christmas present to themselves was a trip to Disney World taken this past October (they traveled and stayed in a condo together), usually they go to Bar Harbor the last weekend
have them pick the top three or four items that they want to write about in their letters to Santa,” said DeMerchant, whose children are 9, 7, and 5, and this year her family includes an 18-year-old foreign exchange student. “This is really helpful to be sure the kids get their top wishes and that we are not spending money on extra items that looked cool in a commercial, but that they don’t truly want,” said DeMerchant. DeMerchant admitted that she does most of her shopping via the Internet. It saves on gas, avoids frustration with crowds, and is convenient for placing an order. One secret weapon that DeMerchant uses with online shopping is to place items in the website’s shopping cart, but she doesn’t immediately go to the checkout. “If you wait a few days, many sites will send you an e-mail
before stores, restaurants, and hotels close at the end of the tourist season. Since the stores are closing and having sales, they do a little Christmas shopping and hunt for bargains. “There are some real good deals,” Donna said, in reference to the discounts offered during this time in Bar Harbor. “I only have one grandchild and Nancy has five, so we’re always doing some Christmas shopping,” she laughed. “We look for good deals and something
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Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
stating that you have unpurchased items in your shopping cart and they will offer you a discount to complete your purchase.”
“ Promotions and sales star t earlier every year,” he said. “Not only do you get what you want, but it might be less expensive.”
Corey Bouyea, of Lewiston, who formerly worked at The Gap and is currently manager of the L.L.Bean Flagship store in Freeport, has very specific advice for shoppers. “Plan out how much you are going to spend for each person and stick to the plan. Make a list and try to decide your gift items ahead of time,” said Bouyea.
It may come as no surprise that Lynn Hamper, senior client specialist at Northeast Bank in Poland, advised paying in cash and using credit cards wisely during the holidays.
“I also suggest looking for retailers that offer ‘gifts under a certain dollar amount’ strategies. They generally merchandise these items in one location at the store and you know what (price range) you’re getting into before arriving to shop.”
Hamper advised that if you do use a credit card, make it work for you with a payback or rewards system.
B o u y e a ’s r e t a i l e x p e r i e n c e leads him to suggest shopping early to get the best results.
“Pay cash. If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. If you feel you need to charge, do so only if you can pay off at month’s end,” said Hamper.
“Someone I know uses their credit card for everything – groceries, gas, etc. They pay it off each month in full, therefore, not paying a cent of interest and they rack up the points. They then redeem their points for gift cards and use these as their holiday gifts,” said Hamper.
“What a smart idea.” And a last cost-saving idea may well be the return of layaway plans at major retailers. While such programs were phased out in recent decades, according to www. todaysbudget.com, many retailers are bringing back the programs as a way to promote buying during tight economic times. Quite simply, layaway is putting money down on items at the store that are then saved in the storeroom allowing customers to make payments over time. Once the item is paid in full, the buyer simply takes the item home having spread out the payments for the item. While Kmar t has always had layaway, this season has seen the likes of Sears and Wal-Mart offer the service once again. There’s even an online layaway service at www.elayaway.com that offers the service to major retailers like the Apple Store, Best Buy and Bass Pro Shops.
that’s different. [Other times] we go to the mall in Portland and we fill up my big car.” In the background, Joe quipped, “We’re just a bunch of old people looking for something to do.” Although colorful and carefully wrapped presents make the season bright, for these four friends, spending time together makes the holiday right.
Submitted photo
Dan and Nancy Boilard, Donna and Joe Whelan.
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HOLIDAY
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Memories: What makes an old-fashioned Christmas? By Nancy Dubord Feature Writer
“You want to create an atmosphere to make everybody feel warm and fuzzy,” said Jan Barrett, a holiday decorating veteran and owner of the Ware Street Inn, in answer to the title question. In pursuit of that ambition, great care is given to each detail for guests to feel the warmth and magic of the holiday season at this Lewiston bed-and-breakfast.
Submitted photos
Jan Barrett’s grandson, Jason Snow, crawls near the Christmas tree.
Stockings by the fireplace
Wreaths, scents, ornaments Beginning with the columns entwined in evergreen, holiday red ribbon at the outside entryway, and the “great big huge wreath spotlighted on the chimney” accompanied with “wreaths on every window,” folks can easily perceive the holiday spirit at work here. After crossing the threshold, perhaps visitors will note the tantalizing aroma of cinnamon sticks and clove simmering in a nearby crockpot as they gaze at the spiral staircase adorned with greens and poinsettia. Other festive evidence of the season surface as well. “The huge Christmas tree is super decorated with all kinds
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The Christmas village scene includes “a B&B, a brew pub, a bakery, little nuns in a snowball fight, and a priest riding by on a bicycle,” said Barrett. There’s the usual “couple skating on a pond that’s actually a mirror.”
of stuff,” said Barrett. “It isn’t decorated with the balls all red, or with one theme like people do a lot today, but a hodgepodge, the way people used to decorate. I don’t have all handmade decorations,” she explained, but her tree ornaments are the results of decades of acquisitions.
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For added ambience, Barrett said, “We turn on the fireplace and next thing you know that makes everyone gravitate to the living room. People will get their reading glasses and a book and cozy up in chairs and couches. Even the students from Bates College will take a book and get on the rug and read. They’ll (guests) even put their hands up to it to warm them up,” she chuckled as she clarified that the stove is more aesthetic than functional.
Memories page 7 ‰
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386 Minot Ave. Auburn • 782-7532 Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Holiday traditions: Locals share their favorites By Donna Rousseau Feature Writer
Some of my favorite memories and traditions from growing up, and even today, revolve around the holiday season. I remember my mother putting the holiday turkey in the oven on the evening before the holiday and hearing her get up throughout the night to baste it. I remember hanging stockings and opening one gift on Christmas Eve and that gift ALWAYS was pajamas. With a family of my own, I have carried over traditions from those early years, trying to make the holidays as special for my children as they were for me.
Betty Turgeon, Lewiston, ME:
they point out to me what has become a tradition, those things that they want repeated or hung on to year to year. For instance, my daughter, Jen, 26, who is now married with a child of her own, insists no gifts be placed under the tree until Christmas Eve. The first things to be opened are the stockings and everyone has to be together. Our Christmas mornings , even b e fore our grandson, Cole, was born, were never days for sleeping in. My son Stephen’s traditions revolve around the food, of course. We must have the turkey dinner with all the same sides or it’s not tradition. No new recipes are to be tried. And, for the past 15 years, my dad, Richard Wawrzynek, who lives in North Tonamanda, New York, has made wooden toys, puzzles, and now, with the help of an upgraded scroll saw, intricately-designed ornaments and crosses for the family. He’s gotten very creative and I have enough ornaments to fill an entire tree. Now that Jen has a family, she has her own collection and Cole will have one, too.”
“Now that my children are older,
Suzanne Greenwood, Greene, ME: Suzanne Greenwood of Greene, Maine, continues traditions that started when she was a child. “I make all my own bows for all the presents. No stick-on bows. I organize and wrap all the gifts and when it’s time, I take each one and decorate them with real ribbon. When my grandchildren were young, they would sleep downstairs from the living room in wait for Santa. When they were asleep, I’d take a Polaroid picture of them sleeping and put it by Santa’s cookies and milk. When they woke up Christmas morning, they were so excited that Santa took their picture. We never wrap the gifts from Santa, only the ones from each other. Everyone has their own chair and their gifts from Santa are placed on their chairs for Christmas morning.”
Kathy Davis, Peabody, MA, visitor to Maine during the holidays: Kathy Davis of Peabody, MA recalls visiting her cousins’ home
in Maine during the Christmas holidays. “Christmas in Maine with my cousins and our families is one of my happiest memories ever. I remember the excitement of the morning, all six of us kids waking up and rushing to the living room to see what Santa brought. We could only open our stockings and then we had to eat breakfast and wait for our parents to get their coffee. Our parents would laugh because we couldn’t get that cereal into us quick enough. And, every year my aunt and uncle would have a huge tree and some years it was a ‘Charlie Brown’ kind of tree that my uncle cut down in the woods, always with the silver garland icicles tossed on the branches. Their dog, Sabrina, would run around the tree and the icicles would stick to her and she would track it everywhere!”
Sue Montminy, Bowdoin, ME: “Every year my family, all my brothers, sisters, their spouses, their children, my mother, aunts, and uncles, gather at my mother’s for Christmas Eve. Everyone brings a dish and the
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Jean Adamen, Turner, ME: “Growing up in my house, the tradition was my father and I getting up early before any of my other brothers and sisters. I was the youngest of the kids and I remember some years I couldn’t get down the stairs because there were so many presents. My dad would always let me open a gift before everyone got up. Then he would tell me to go wake everyone up. Of course he had slept all night while my mom was still wrapping. She had probably just gone to bed.”
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Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
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HOLIDAY
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Local theaters offer holiday plays
By Paul Harrington
The local theaters have some holiday productions ranging from the funny to the traditional. CLT’s A Christmas Carol is sure to warm the heart and entertain with an all-star cast. This musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Christmas classic will provide many fresh and exciting surprises for anyone fortunate enough to see it. Popular CLT actress Katie St. Pierre, who recently played “Eve” in Children of Eden, makes her directorial debut with the 2010 show, and she has lined up a talented cast of 70 who are sure to entertain people of all ages. Choreographer Vincent Ratsavong will repeat his 2007 role as “The Ghost of Christmas Past.” Mitchell Clyde Thomas will lead as the cast as “Scrooge” and 10-year-old Maddy Leslie will delight the audience as “Tiny Tim.” This spectacular musical extravaganza retains its emotional power and pure joy, thanks to the marvelously-told story, and the Menken/Ahrens score filled with beautiful melodies and emotional lyrics. Accomplished pianist, Rebecca Caron, is the show’s musical director and will lead the 18-piece volunteer orchestra. The show runs December 1-5 at the Great Falls Performing Arts Center in Auburn. Visit www.laclt.com for specific schedule. Have a laugh at “A Very Ida Christmas.” It’s Christmas in Mahoosuc Mills, Maine, and Ida LeClair’s holiday spirit is so E
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AFFOR
How well do you know the facts behind the story of the nativity?
T
here’s more fiction surrounding the Nativity tale than fact, and you might be surprised that many of the truths you hold near and dear to your Noel-loving heart are fairly questionable.
Michael Clyde Thomas as Scrooge
Character Ida LeClair bright it could light up a Xmas tree. Come on over to Ida’s for the best Christmas ever. Pick up a few tips on the do’s and don’ts of holiday decorating, and get the latest update on Ida’s Christmas craft projects with her pals, the Women who Run with the Moose. Ida’s no Scrooge, so banish your humbugs and prepare to laugh. At the Public Theatre, 31 Maple St., Lewiston, December 3, 4, and 5. Visit thepublictheatre.org for specific schedule.
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1) Fact or fiction: Everything we know about the Nativity and the Magi comes from four Gospels. Fiction, my friend. The Nativity account appears in only two of the Gospels, Matthew and Luke, and their accounts differ dramatically. The gospel of Matthew only devotes 12 verses to the Nativity, with the focus of the story on the interaction between the wise men and King Herod’s search for the baby. The gospel of Luke deals mainly with the appearance of Jesus and his proclamation as God by angelic hosts. 2) Fact or fiction: We know that three wise men from the East came to the manger. Again, fiction. Only the gospel of Matthew even mentions the wise men, but the number of wise men was never given. It’s been suggested that the number of wise men was assumed to be three because of the number of gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) presented; three is also a symbolic manifestation of the Holy Trinity of Christian faith. The magi’s names – Melchior, Gaspar (sometimes Caspar) and Balthasar/Balthazar – seem to have been fictional creations as well. However, Marco Polo claimed to have seen the three tombs of the magi on his journeys, and a golden sarcophagus/shrine in Cologne, Germany, is said to hold the bones of the three magi to this very day.
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3) Fact or fiction: We know the wise men were kings from Asia, Arabia, and Africa. Well, maybe; this one is kind of up for grabs. No gospel verses account for the magi’s royal status, although some Psalms (71:10, for example) indicate that they were kings from Tharsis, Saba and Arabia. Many historians, however, maintain that the Magi would have been followers of Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion that studied the stars. Expert opinion theorizes that the wise men were astronomer priests who journeyed from an area in present-day Iran. 4) Fact or fiction: The Star of Bethlehem is a myth, a convention cooked up by storytellers over the years. Actually, this one could be a fact. As we just learned, the magi could have been priests who studied the stars. And according to Wikipedia, experts have theorized that the Christmas Star could be one of many things: “A nova, a planet, a comet, an occultation (when one larger heavenly body passes in front of an apparently smaller one), and a conjunction (gathering of planets) have all been suggested.” 5) Fact or fiction: Jesus was born in a manger, an ancient barn, with peaceful animals at his side. This one seems like fiction. The artistic license of Western art probably contrived the bucolic manger scene, but biblical scholars contend that Jesus was probably born in a cave carved into a hillside, and fitting animals in with three other people would have been a rather tight fit. Paul Harrington is a writer and author of Epiphany: The Untold Epic Journey of the Magi, a historical fiction novel that tells the tale of the Magi’s amazing adventures on their quest to Bethlehem. FMI, visit www.epiphany-site.com.
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
Memories from page 4
Duplicate Cake
The fireplace mantle is draped with natural looking greens (to eliminate fire hazards, they’re artificial) to which she adds pine cones, hand-carved bird ornaments and other whimsical items to produce a nature-scene effect. Maybe for some the “stockings are hung by the chimney with care,” but guests will find them complete with a candy cane hanging on their room doors. Additionally, each room has its own fully decorated, miniature Christmas tree.
Taste of baked goods As if this cornucopia of holiday sights and smells is not enough, Barrett indulges her patrons’ taste buds with an array of baked goods including a very old recipe for an eggless chocolate cake called ‘Duplicate Cake’ because, she emphasized, “It’s so good you want to make it over and over and over again.” Barrett’s friend and neighbor, Andrea Quaid, enjoys going over to the Inn because, “It’s so beautiful. At Christmas, it’s absolutely gorgeous.” Quaid has her own ingredients to make a wonderful old-fashioned Christmas for her family, too. Although quick to admit her cultural background is not French, spending time living in France has resulted in her incorporating some of their traditions. “A couple of days before Christmas I make a Buche de Noel.” Quaid added, “On Christmas Eve we stay up late. Some years we go to Midnight Mass, depending on what the family wants to do, then come home, have a meal, something
light, then we open presents.” Quaid described this event as a “Reveillion,” something many locals with French Canadian heritage have experienced.
This recipe is from Jan Barrett’s former motherin-law. She was a very frugal woman who still cooked on a wood stove back in the 1960s, not just because she lived during the Great Depression, but because she had five kids and her husband was the sole bread winner. It is a very moist chocolate cake. Missing in this recipe are eggs and milk – perhaps they were scarce at the time the recipe was developed. 2 C. sugar 3 C. flour 1 tsp. salt 1/2 C. bakers cocoa 2 tsp. baking soda 2 Tbsp. vinegar 1 tsp. vanilla 2/3 C. salad oil (vegetable oil) 2 C. water
Fortunately, for those whose time constraints or culinary expertise don’t allow for making a Buche de Noel (aka Christmas Log – the English translation for this baked delicacy), Quaid stated that two local bakeries, Grant’s and the Italian Bakery, usually carry this item during the holidays.
Midnight service and family dinner A Ware Street Inn staff member, Sheila Sylvester, or “SheShe” as she is more commonly known, has her own rendition of what constitutes an old-fashioned Christmas from many years ago when she was a child: attending a midnight Christmas Eve service, having both sets of grandparents over for Christmas dinner, and best of all, she said with great fondness, “My sister, Ellen, and I used to get up on Christmas day and before we would open the presents we would sing, ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jesus.”
Mix all ingredients together by hand til smooth (batter will be thin). Bake in 9 x 13 greased pan for 35-40 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Top with peanut butter (or any other kind) frosting or none at all (some folks have been known to eat it hot right out of the oven with butter) and watch it disappear.
– Courtesy of Ware Street Inn
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HOLIDAY
7
Thinking outside the box: Thoughtful and creative gift ideas By Deb Conway Feature Writer / Photographer
F
inding the perfect gift is easy when we think outside of the box or, for that matter, the basket. Prior to shopping this holiday season, prepare yourself with a little information. What activities do your friends or family members enjoy? Given this economy, what do they need?
Island Sea Glass
Sunnyside Gardens
Finer Pointes
Ragamuffins
For the athlete. The little athlete in your life will enjoy unpacking a gym bag full of hockey essentials. Gee & Bee Sporting Goods in Auburn has affordable “Learn to Skate” hockey packages containing Bauer skates, gloves, pads,
pants, a helmet, and a stick. Organize it all in a Bauer youth
For the home. For a son or daughter who has recently moved into their own place, visit True Value Hardware in Mechanic Falls for some basic tools to help them decorate and maintain their new home. From a step stool to a tool bag, screw drivers, work gloves, measuring tape, level and a hammer, you can prepare them for independence and avoid the inevitable lending (never to return) of your own tools. Pack it in the tool bag, stack it on the step stool, tie it up with a big bow and put it under the tree. For the cook. The budding chef on your list might enjoy cooking supplies from Freeport Knife & Kitchenware in Freeport. Necessities such as a high-heat silicone spatula, basting brush and nylon whisk, stainless steel serving utensils, grater, tongs, an ovenproof thermometer, and a pepper mill can all be placed in a functional 2-quart batter bowl and wrapped in a festive dish towel. Many items at Freeport Knife & Kitchenware were made right here in the USA. For the sportsman. Your favorite sportsman would appreciate a backpack filled with hunting essentials from the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery. Their hunting experts can help you choose from an assortment of cover scents, game callers, buck knives, compasses, and flashlights. Don’t forget to pick up a blaze orange hat and utility gloves to keep them warm. Pack it all in a blaze orange hunter’s backpack and when hunting season rolls around he (or she) will be ready to fill your freezer with delicious venison.
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8
HOLIDAY
GIFT CERTIFICATES
The Perfect Holiday Gift
Gift Certificates are available in any denomination through the Civic Center Box Office. Certificates may be redeemed for any Civic Center event including Pirates’ Hockey, concerts, Smucker’s Stars on Ice, Disney on Ice and Harlem Globetrotters.
Thoughtful
page 9 ‰
50BUCKS
...is all it takes to bring cheer to someone special. Give a Community Little Theatre Season Subscription. $50 for all 4 shows!
st
71
www.theciviccenter.com Call 775-3458 for more information MC, VISA, AMERICAN EXPRESS and DISCOVER CARD welcome
Coming up next...
To Kill a Mockingbird
Blood Brothers Wait Until Dark Jekyll & Hyde
Call Now 783.0958 or visit www.LACLT.com Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Thoughtful
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hockey bag or stack it in a “Hockey Tower,� and they will be ready to “take the ice.� For your beautiful dancer, visit the new Finer Pointes Dance Shop located in the Great Falls School Performing Arts building in Auburn. At Finer Pointes, you will find colorful tutus, ponytail holders, and flowery bun wreaths, as well as paper dolls and coloring books that will enchant your tiny ballerina.
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Kittery Trading Post
Finer Pointes has ballet slippers, jazz, tap and character shoes, hiphop sneakers, tights, leotards, leg warmers, dance bags, and more for dancers of any age, style, and gender. Finer Pointes can help you assemble a delightful assortment of dancewear and gif t items. Wrapped in a tutu or spilling out of a dance bag, it will brighten the holidays for your little dancing star. J e we l r y l ove r? G e nt l e m e n , nothing enhances a woman’s inner beauty like stunning jewelry. For pieces that will make the ladies in your life glow, you need look no further than the Island Sea Glass Company. The artisans at Island Sea Glass use glass and pottery that has been sculpted by the elements of earth and sea on the shores of our own Maine islands and, combining these with vintage beads and oneof-a-kind accent pieces, sterling silver and 14k gold, create dramatic and unique necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other specialty items. Just as no two pieces of sea glass are exactly alike, the Island Sea Glass Company creates wearable art that is as stylish and unique as the woman who wears it. Although its “home� is in Hebron and on the islands of Casco Bay, Island Sea Glass Company can be enjoyed by visiting w w w. islandseaglass.com/. Island Sea Glass can help you select jewelry that will make her shine. R a gamu f f ins , a f ashi o na b l e consignment shop in Auburn, has a wonderful and affordable selection of clothing and accessories for women, children, and men. The enthusiastic clerks at Ragamuffins can help you “dress her up� from head
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to toe in clothing and accessories. Select a stylish purse, matching sweater, and tasteful pieces of vintage or contemporary jewelry, put it all in the purse, tie it up with a matching scarf and watch her smile as she admires your perfect blend of style and practicality.
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Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
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HOLIDAY
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Photos taken at the Woman’s Literary Union, Auburn. Left to right: The flying staircase; the front entry; the dining room; the front parlor; portrait of Ella Foss near the piano; and a festive table in the sunroom.
Visit the Woman’s Literary Union at 17 Elm Street in Auburn on Saturday, December 11 for its annual Holiday Tea Open House from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free admission. Donations benefit the WLU Scholarship Fund.
Give the gift of time 10 HOLIDAY
Woman’s Literary Union: Holiday open house and tea By Denise Scammon Special Sections Editor / Photographer
I
f you have ever played on a school playground in the LewistonAuburn area, you can thank the members of the Woman’s Literary Union. If you have ever participated in a communitywide clean-up, you can thank the members of the WLU. The group, founded in 1892 and incorporated under Maine law in 1902, was instrumental in community projects that are still benefitting Lewiston-Auburn residents today. In 1908, WLU members organized playgrounds and raised money for playground equipment. These playgrounds at local schools in both Lewiston and Auburn, were the predecessors of recreation departments. The group raised funds for the Red Cross, tuberculosis care, and provided visiting services to veterans at Togus VA
Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Medical Center during World Wars I and II. The city of Auburn has used the WLU facility as a training retreat. The group continues to offer its services today. Schools can bring students to learn about local history when they visit the WLU which calls the Foss mansion at 17 Elm Street in Auburn its home base. The Foss mansion was bequeathed to WLU along with a $25,000 endowment by member Ella Foss, wife of Horatio Foss. Long-time WLU member, Tonie Ramsey, said, “The tide of opportunity has taken us in many different directions and we have moved with the tide.” But, what remains the same is that the Woman’s Literary Union continues to open its doors to the community and to provide community services. The public is invited on Saturday, December 11 to the WLU Holiday Tea Open House from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Music and refreshments will be part of the event. Free admission, but donations from the Tea will benefit the WLU Scholarship Fund. For more information about WLU membership or events, visit http://womansliteraryunion.org.
Give the gift of time Here are some of the many local organizations working to help others. These organizations need cash, food, or your volunteer time. American Cancer Society, Northern New England Region – Topsham; 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300; Topsham, Maine 040861240. Phone: 207-373-3700. www.cancer.org American Red Cross, United Valley Chapter; 1180 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME 04240. Phone: 207-795-4004. www.southernmaine.redcross. org/United_Valley_Service_Area.php Hope Haven Gospel, 209 Lincoln St., Lewiston, ME 04240. Phone: 207-783-6086. www.hopehavengospelmission.org Stanton Bird Club, stewards of Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary, www.stantonbirdclub.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Androscoggin County, 24 Falcon Drive; Auburn, ME 04210. Phone: 207-782-5437. www. childhealthcenter.org Catholic Charities Maine, 270 Minot Ave. # B, Auburn, ME 04210. Phone: 207-784-0157. www.ccmaine.org Advocates for Children, 57 Birch St. # 204, Lewiston, ME 04240-7415. Phone: 207-7833990. www.advocatesforchildren.net Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St., Auburn, ME 04210. Phone: 207-333-6640. www.auburnpubliclibrary.org Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME 04240-7234. Phone: 207-5133004. www.lplonline.org SHARECenter, P.O. Box 800, Auburn, ME 04212-0800. Phone: 207-795-0972. www. auburnschl.edu/sharecenter
Gift of time page 16 ‰
HOLIDAY 11
Mickey Mouse makes every Christmas special for this family By Dan Marois Feature Writer / Photographer
M
y most treasured Christmas tradition began almost 56 years ago when I was a child growing up in Berlin, New Hampshire.
For my sister, Laureen Marois Poulin, who still lives in Berlin today, this tradition began almost 63 years ago. And for my eldest sister, Gloria Marois Ward, of Salem, Massachusetts, this tradition began a full seven decades ago in December 1940.
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Fri. & Sat. 9-9, Sun. 10-6 *While supplies last
The tradition centers on a Christmas bulb that was always the first ornament to be placed on the family Christmas tree. After my father secured the tree in the base and after all the lights were strewn on the tree and well-tested to see if all of them were aglow, it was time to place the first ornament on the tree. Was the ornament a special silver or gold bulb? Hardly. Was it a hand-blown glass figure of Santa Claus or one of his reindeer? Not a chance. Was it, perhaps, a special handmade ornament that had been handed down for generations in the family? Not quite. The ornament was a shiny, blue bulb with a cartoon character painted on the front of it. The character was none other than Mickey Mouse who remains one of the most identifiable cartoon icons of all time. As if performing a sacred ritual, the Mickey Mouse ornament The Marois family Mickey Mouse ornament is 70 years old. had to be the first on every single Christmas tree each year. “When your father and I were first married, we bought the bulb so we would have it on Gloria’s first Christmas tree,� explained my mother, Verna Clinch Marois, who passed away in July at 89 years of age. “When we put up the tree, we decided then that it would be the first ornament on the tree every year.� “I can remember the ornament because it was so special that it was the first one on the tree,� said my sister, Gloria. “It was something I looked forward to each year.� While the oldest child in the family was given the task of placing the ornament on the tree, it wasn’t long before Gloria’s younger siblings took on the task. My sister, Laureen, was born in 1947 and I followed in 1954. I can clearly remember placing the ornament front and center in the tree when I was five years old. For me, December 2009 marked the 50th year that Mickey Mouse has Marois family Christmas, 1957, left to right, Gloria Marois adorned my Christmas tree. Ward,Philippe Marois, Daniel Marois, Verna Clinch Marois,
and Laureen. Along the way, the ornament was passed from the Marois family Christmas tree in New Hampshire to the Marois family Christmas tree in Poland Spring, Maine where my wife, Denise Boucher Marois, and I have lived for 25 years.
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Dan and Denise Marois celebrate daughter Katie’s first Christmas, 1983, the 43rd year that Mickey Mouse adorned a Marois Christmas tree.
On December 3, 1983, we were blessed with a daughter, Katherine Noelle Marois. Even at a very
Mickey Mouse page 13 ‰
Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Mickey Mouse from page 12
young age, Katie learned that the Mickey ornament had special meaning to our family and that she would carry on a very special tradition. “Mickey Mouse is part of every
Thoughtful from page 9
Christmas,” said Katie, as she recently looked through photographs of Christmases gone by. “It is simply one of those traditions that will keep on forever.”
The white background behind Mickey is more gray than white. The tiny cartoon figure on the bulb has a scratch or two on it and the metal plug on the top of the ornament has rusted completely.
In recent years, the tradition has changed slightly since the Mickey Mouse ornament is showing signs of aging. The one-time vibrant blue has faded to a dull finish.
The gardener in your life will enjoy a “Trug” filled with essential gardening tools. Sunnyside Gardens in Turner can help you select durable and useful items such as a hand rake,
Mickey Mouse now rests in a glass ice cream dish placed in a kitchen cabinet throughout the year so as not to be tossed and turned
trowel, weeder, and gardening gloves. Place the items in the trug and tie it up with a festive bow and your “gardener” will go to sleep Christmas night with visions of fresh cut flowers, home grown vegetables and sunny days in the garden dancing in her (or his) head. Craft-Mania in Auburn offers gift ideas for the budding artist and the baker on your list. For the artist, fill a basket or a paint box with inspiration in the form of brushes, sketch books, pencils, watercolors an d a b o o k ab o u t dr aw in g techniques to let the creative energy flow.
Craft-Mania
For the baker, fill a basket or a mixing bowl with tools of the trade including a rolling pin, fondant cutters and smoothers, a color tray and icing color set, brushes, and flower cutters. Chances are good that you might even be the recipient of some of the amazing delicacies that he or she creates. The clerks at Craf t-Mania will be happy to help you assemble creatively inspirational gifts. Remember, the best gifts come from the heart and let the recipient know that you care about them and that their talents and goals have not gone unnoticed.
among the other packed away Christmas decorations. Rest assured that when the Christmas tree stands tall once
again during the Christmas season, the Mickey Mouse ornament is perched on a table – front and center – as a special part of the Marois family holiday.
Enjoy the Holiday Season! Remember... be safe!
For all the things you value.
2 Auburn Business Park, Auburn
www.patrons.com
PORTLAND
Hadlock Field - 271 Park Avenue
“Give a Gift of Summer this Winter!” Individual Game Tickets for the 2011 Season are Now on Sale .... To order tickets simply call the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or .... Order and PRINT your own tickets @ www.seadogs.com
5 & 10 Game Ticket Packages Make Great Gifts! Sea Dogs Tickets and Souvenirs Make Great Holiday Gifts! Ticket Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9 am to 5 pm Saturday 10 am to 2 pm
Souvenir Shop Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 am to 5 pm Saturday 10 am to 2 pm
Order Tickets and Souvenirs 24/7 at True Value Hardware Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Craft-Mania
www.seadogs.com
HOLIDAY 13
Wallet-friendly gift ideas for those without tons of cash doesn’t cost much at all. Total cost: $6-$20.
E
Get crafty.
ven if you have tons of holiday spirit, you may not always have tons of cash. Here are a few wallet-friendly tips for giving thoughtful gifts on a budget:
Use photos. For friends and loved ones, framed photos or photo-filled gif ts are always sweet. They remind everyone of good times had and good times to come. It only costs $5 to $10 to enlarge a photo to 5x7 or 8x10 at stores like Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, or CVS, and you can get a frame for $1 to $10, depending on style. You can get artistic with your photos and print them in black and white or sepia tones, or repeat the same photo four times in different colors (think Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyns). If you get a frame with multiple photo openings, you can turn it into a nostalgic collage by layering ticket stubs and mementos, and writing quotes or inside jokes on the mat. It’s a fun, personal gift that
If you’re a creative type, utilize your talents when giving gifts. Got a knack for writing? Craft funny poems for friends and family to let them know you love them. Or use scrap materials from your craft bin to make handmade creations like personalized magnets. You can buy adhesive magnets for around $3 and can cut them in custom sizes. Cut up old magazines, use scraps of fabric and photos or mementos, and make mini collages on sturdy paper or cardboard. Then cut the magnet to fit the collage, peel the backing, and stick it to the collage. Simple as that, you’ve got a one-of-kind whimsical and personalized gift. Total cost: $0-$5. If you can draw, do a portrait or make a short comic book starring the recipient. You can get creative and they’ll have something original that will always make them think of you. Total cost: $0.
Share some wisdom. If you’ve got a friend going through a hard time, gearing up for a big life change, or just looking for a little inspiration, give the gift of wise words. Buy an inexpensive, but nicelooking, notebook and fill in half
Make a simple, one-of-kind whimsical and personalized gift using magnets and magazines.
14 HOLIDAY
of the pages with inspiring, funny, and motivating quotations. Leave the second half blank with a note encouraging them to fill in the rest with their own favorite quotations. Total cost: $1-5.
Think cozy. Give your friends and family something they can use during the cold winter days. Buy inexpensive, but cute, coffee mugs that reflect the recipients’ personality and wrap with a few packets of hot cocoa. They’ll be able to enjoy the cocoa on a snowy day and they’ll think of you whenever they use the mug. Total cost: $3-10. Cut down on gift recipients – the fun way. If you can’t afford to buy gifts for everyone you want to, convince close-knit groups to do a Secret Santa or a Yankee Swap. That way each participant receives a gift, and each participant only has to buy one gift. It’s the fun of gifting at a fraction of the cost. Set a price limit for gifts (i.e., no one spends more than $15) so everyone spends the same amount. Total cost: varies based on participants.
– split everyone into small groups and give everyone the same list of tasks. Make it easier to share memories later by mak ing it a photo scavenger hunt: for instance, each group must get photos of team
members wearing Santa hats, wearing a red nose like Rudolph’s, making a snow angel, ringing a Salvation Army bell, etc. It makes for a fun day and the photos provide something to laugh about later over hot cocoa. Total cost: $0.
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Plan an event. If you and all of your friends and/ or family are strapped for cash, why not plan a holiday event that you can all participate in rather than swapping gifts? A holiday scavenger hunt is a blast for all ages
Buy inexpensive, but cute, coffee mugs that reflect the recipient’s personality and wrap with a few packets of hot cocoa.
Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Gifts for on-the-go business pros from subscriptions to iPods
P
ack your suitcases, business travelers. According to a report from the National Business Travelers Association, global business travel is on the rise once again. After a recession-related dip in business travel spending in 2009, forecasters predict a 6.2 percent increase by the end of 2010 and an even brighter forecast for 2011, when researchers suspect business travel spending will surpass the 2008 peak of $926 billion. For those with business travelers on their holiday gift list, finding the right travel-related gift can make even the longest of layovers a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of business travel. Level8, manufacturer of featurerich sleeves, slimcases and backpacks designed exclusively for Apple products, offers the following gift ideas to gifters looking to make their loved one’s travels less troublesome. * Gift a subscription to a movie service. As any veteran business traveler knows, layovers and delays are inevitable. But the days of being bored at the gate are no longer the norm, especially for business travelers, who often take their laptops along on the road. To help travelers quell the boredom during another long layover, purchase a gift subscription to an online movie service such as NetFlix or Blockbuster. In most cases, movies can be downloaded right to a subscriber’s computer, making them readily available in the case of an unforeseen delay or a scheduled layover, and help travelers catch up with their favorite television shows or movies they simply couldn’t find the time to see in the theater. * Help friends and family protect their valuables. Luggage often gets battered and bruised when traveling, and business travelers typically go through luggage more quickly than most. But luggage doesn’t have to take such a beating, no matter how hectic a business traveler’s schedule may be.
Available e xclusively at Apple stores nationwide, Level8 products come with ex tra reinforced corners and the Precise Protection System(TM), a three-dimensional shock absorbent material engineered of EVA compressed foam that provides superior protection in a compact and sleek configuration. Business travelers won’t have to worry about their laptops and other mobile devices regardless of how many cross country trips they take in the coming years.
belt as quickly as possible. For business travelers who go through dozens of checkpoints each month, anything that makes that often tedious process go more smoothly will no doubtbe greatly appreciated. * Give the gift of sanctuary. Perhaps nothing is more valuable to business travelers than something that enables them to forget they’re once again bound for parts unknown. When shopping for the business traveler on your list, consider that traveler likely spends most of his or her time on an airplane, where peace and quiet are often at a premium.
* Go with a gift card. Gift cards remain an ideal fallback option for gift-givers who are puzzled about what to get that one stickler on their holiday list every year. However, as impersonal as gift cards may seem to some, business travelers often welcome gift cards with open arms, especially if the cards are from nationwide chains like Apple.
That said, a gift like an iPod or a new set of soundproof headphones for your favorite traveler’s portable DVD player can give them some sanctuary from the sounds that often emanate through the cabin 36,000 feet up. For veteran travelers well schooled in creating their own sanctuary up above the clouds, consider the Level8 15” Double Compartment Slimcase, which boasts ample room for cords and additional accessories travelers may need to help them make the most of their next flight.
With more than 200 stores nationwide, Apple makes an ideal and easily accessible store at which to buy a gift card. Business travelers can use their gift cards at any store nationwide, helping them easily replace a lost accessory, or even shop for items that can make their travels easier. For example, Level8 backpacks and slimcases, available exclusively at Apple stores, boast a checkpoint friendly design that makes it easy to get them on and off the conveyor
For more information or to find the nearest Apple retail store near you, visit www.Level8cases.com. (MS)
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Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
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HOLIDAY 15
Give a green gift: Something special for the young golfer
Gift Cards Available
Looking for a gift for the junior golfer in your life? The Junior Golf Card, $20, gives golfers 17 and under 50% off at several local area golf courses. The card is valid for an entire golf season and makes it more affordable for kids to go golfing. In most cases, the Junior Golf Card can pay for itself after just one use, making golf more affordable. The only restrictions that apply are that youths 12 years and under must be accompanied by an adult or member, but ages 13 and older can golf without an adult as long as they are respectful of the courses. Currently, participating courses include Fox Ridge, Martindale, Turner Highlands, The Meadows, Prospect Hill, Cobbossee, Maple Lane, Pine Acres (near Roy’s), and Roy’s Golf Center. You can purchase at www.juniorgolfcards.com or at Play it Again Sports, Center St., Auburn. Junior Golf Card even has a Facebook page. For more information, call 207-713-3879.
Gift of time
THE PRIESTESS AND THE POPE PS Publishing Is Pleased to Announce The Publication of A New Novel By Local Author PAUL DIONNE
Maine Public Broadcasting Network, Volunteer Office, 63 Texas Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401. Local mailing address: 1450 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME 04240. www.
Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, 55 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, ME 04240. Phone: 207783-2311. www.gahumane.org Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, Store and Donation
Play...ROCKS Hobby Horse
$
The Good Shepherd Food-Bank is in need of volunteers on a daily basis at its Auburn Distribution Center to help sort and inspect thousands of pounds of food to be distributed to those at risk of hunger in Maine. More than 175,000 Mainers don’t know where they’re going to get their next meal. To put that into perspective, the combined population of Lewiston and Auburn is 65,000 people. Good Shepherd Food-Bank is at the center of a statewide network of over 600 hunger-relief organizations, distributing over 12 million pounds of food in 2009. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, the Food-Bank is able to salvage millions of pounds of food that would otherwise go to waste. Give the gift of your time and talent as a volunteer and maximize your impact on the fight against hunger. For specific volunteer times and requirements, visit www.gsfb. org. The Good Shepherd Food-Bank is located at 3121 Hotel Road Auburn, Maine. Call 782-3554 to learn more about how you can help.
mpbn.net
from page 11
Now Available
Good Shepherd FoodBank needs volunteers
Ideal addition to any child’s bedroom or playroom Cradles
Rocking Chair
14
95 Order now for X-mas, delivery and prices start at $45.00 Buy something that will last for generations.
Also... The Priestess and the Pope weaves a powerful narrative with telling historical details, revealing for readers the crucial leadership role women played in the formation of the early church, which has long been hidden from the public eye.
To Order a Copy Online, Go To: www.authorpauldionne.com www.createspace.com/3451091 www.amazon.com
Publisher: PS Publishing/CreateSpace
16 HOLIDAY
3 in 1
high chair, rocking horse and desk
Children’s Table and Chair Set
These tables and chairs are just the right size for comfortable seating.
35 Beech Street Lewiston • 782-7511 www.MorinsFineFurniture.com See us on Facebook at RJ Morin!
Center, 279 Center Street, Auburn, ME 04210. Phone: 783-1702. www. goodwillnne.org Literacy VolunteersAndroscoggin, 15 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn, ME 04210. Phone: 207-333-4785. www. literacyvolunteersandro.org Lutheran Social Services of New England, 155 Center St. # 3, Auburn, ME 04210-5228. Phone: 783-3446. www.lssne.org Safe Voices (formerly AWAP), Administrative Office, P.O. Box 713, Auburn, ME 04210. Phone: 207795-6744. Franklin: 207-778-6107. Oxford-Norway: 207-743-5806. Rumford: 207-369-0750. www. safevoices.org Salvation Army, 67 Park St., Lewiston, ME 04240. Phone: 207783-0801. www.salvationarmy.org Toys for Tots. www. toysfortotsmaine.org United Way of Androscoggin County, 66 Ash St., Lewiston, ME 04243-0888. Phone: 207-795-4000. www.unitedwayandro.org
Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Buche de Noel aka Christmas Log or Yule Log Cake By Tresa Erickson
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You’re going to mix it up this year and serve some ethnic dishes at your Christmas dinner. You’ve got much of the menu planned, except for dessert. Of course, you’ll serve all of the traditional favorites, but you’d also like to serve something a little different. Why not try Buche de Noel? Served in France and many other Frenchspeaking countries at Christmas, Buche de Noel is a yellow sponge cake filled, rolled, and frosted with butter cream to look like a Yule log. Interested in making your own Buche de Noel? Here’s a recipe.
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Buche de Noel Candied Cranberries 1 C. sugar 2 Tbsp. water 1/2 C. cranberries
Butter Cream 6 large egg yolks 1/3 C. packed dark brown sugar 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1-1/2 C. half-and-half 8 oz. chopped white chocolate 1-1/2 tsp. grated orange peel 1 C. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 Tbsp. orange liqueur
Cake 1-1/2 C. toasted sliced almonds 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 6 large eggs, separated 10 Tbsp. packed dark brown sugar 1 tsp. grated orange peel 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar 1/8 tsp. salt Powdered sugar Pine twigs To make cranberries, cook 1/2 c. sugar and water over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Transfer to top of double boiler. Add cranberries. Cover and cook over simmering water for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and let stand at room temperature overnight. Drain cranberries and roll in 1/2 c. sugar.
Let dry at least 30 minutes. To make butter cream, whisk egg yolks, sugar and flour until well blended. Bring half-and-half to simmer in a saucepan and slowly whisk into egg mixture. Return egg mixture to saucepan and cook to boiling, whisking constantly. Transfer to a bowl, add chocolate and orange peel, and stir until smooth. Press plastic wrap onto surface of pastry cream to prevent skin from forming. Set aside to cool completely. To make cake, preheat oven to 300º F. Butter an 11x17-inch jelly roll pan and line with parchment. But ter and f lour parchment. Coarsely grind toasted almonds with flour in processor. Using an electric mixer, beat yolks with 5 Tbsp. brown sugar until slowly dissolving ribbons form when beaters are lifted. Stir in orange peel and vanilla. Using clean dry beaters, beat whites with cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 5 Tbsp. brown sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into yolk mixture. Gently fold in almond mixture. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake cake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center
Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
comes out clean. Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake, slide on parchment onto rack and let cool. Loosen cake from parchment and sift powdered sugar on it. Invert onto cookie sheet, sprinkle with powdered sugar and invert onto another parchment sheet. Using an electric mixer, finish butter cream. Beat butter until light and fluffy. Beat in orange liqueur. Beat in pastry cream 1/4 c. at a time. Spread half of butter cream on cake, leaving 1/2-inch border. Roll up cake like a jellyroll and arrange seam side down on parchment. Set aside 1/2 c. butter cream and spread remaining butter cream on cake. Cut 2 inches off each end of cake at the diagonal. Transfer cake to platter. Attach ends to top of cake to form branches. Spread reserved 1/2 c. butter cream on cake ends and seams. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to firm butter cream. When ready to serve cake, arrange pine twigs on top and on platter. Garnish with candied cranberries Making Buche de Noel does require time and ef for t, but it will be time and effort well spent when you see the look on your guests’ faces. They will be delighted you went to all the trouble to make such a sinfully rich dessert.
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HOLIDAY 17
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How to pick the right doll this holiday season
F
or a little girl, there is no more magical gif t to receive during the holidays then a beautiful new doll. Despite all the high tech toys, classic doll play has stood the test of time, giving children today the same wonder ful imaginative play experiences as they did centuries ago. Dolls are important to children at each stage of development, providing comfort, security, and “an available friend.� The size of the doll should be proportionate to a child’s size and strength. When she cradles the doll in her forearm, she should be able to hold the doll’s bottom in her hand, and its head should nestle in the crook of her elbow – exactly the way a baby would be held by an adult. The weight of the doll should also be proportionate to that of the child, which makes the doll easy to manage. Here are some other tips specific to your child’s level of development:
Age 0 +: As a baby begins to investigate her new world of shapes and
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textures and develops essential skills, she needs a snuggly security companion. Select a plush and washable doll that is lightweight
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and between 10 and 12 inches tall; perfectly sized for tiny hands to hold and hug.
Age 18 months+:
As baby transitions to the toddler years, she begins to care for and nurture her doll, imitating her parents. Select a doll that will make an ideal playmate. Look for a doll that is about 12 inches tall and is soft, lightweight, and easy to dress and undress.
Age 3 years +:
Little girls at this age begin to act out many real-life situations with their dolls. They may become big sister, mother or babysitter. Baby dolls encourage creativity and inspire pretend play memories young girls will cherish forever. For the added fun of hair play, choose a doll with well-rooted hair that can be combed.
Age 5 years +:
Girls begin to project themselves into their world and start to develop and value friendships. In turn, they are looking for playmates. Select dolls that have a variety of wardrobe, hair design and accessory choices.
With so many made for every age and every stage, finding the perfect doll has never been easier! (MS)
Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
Hot holiday toys for 2010 Every child wants the popular toys for Christmas. Each year parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles head to the stores in search of those sold-out items and must-have gifts. So what gifts are bound to be snatched from toy store shelves this season? Here are a few that kids are bound to be requesting.
* Moon Dough: Moon Sand is a popular molding product that doesn’t dry out. The trouble is, it tends to be messy. Moon Dough is a less sticky version that’s easier on clean-up.
* Dance Star Mickey: In Elmo-like fashion, this doll dances, talks and moves. Kids who are enamored with all things Disney certainly will be requesting their favorite mouse.
* Extreme Micro RC Helicopter: This infrared helicopter is the smallest on the market and can dart and fly around inside or outdoors.
* Rock Band: The Beatles: Those who love previous incarnations of Rock B and and play ing along to favorite songs will enjoy The Beatles version. It’s bound to be “Beatlemania” all over again!
* Tickle Me Elmo:
* Star Wars Force Jedi Trainer:
That loveable Elmo is back in an ‘extreme’ version. He laughs, tells jokes and rolls to the ground in fits of laughter. Elmo can even get back up to a standing position.
T h i s t o y u s e s b r a i n w av e technology and measures how kids concentrate. Players follow the directions to make their way toward Jedi master.
* “Twilight” Action Figures:
including digital book readers and coloring sets geared toward
helping kids learn writing and reading skills.
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* Furby: Furby is back, probably as a result of the popularity of last year’s Zhu Zhu pets. This incarnation of Furby can react with true emotions thanks to new technology.
Also banking on the popularity of Zhu Zhu pets is Hasbro’s version of electronic pets. These creatures can interact with one another and scurry around playsets, which are sold separately.
Other toys and gaming systems are bound to be favorites again this year. Expect kids to be collecting and trading more Silly Bandz in many different shape themes. Nintendo Wii needs no introduction. With scores of game offerings, this gaming system is still tops on holiday gift lists. Expect to see different high-tech educational items for children,
Remember...
Based on the popular “Twilight” saga, these action figures are bound to be the next collectibles for kids who love “Bella,” “Jacob” and “Edward.” Girls and boys can continue to play out the popular tale of vampires and werewolves at home.
* Furry Frenzies:
As usual, certain gifts are bound to be kid favorites this year.
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Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010
HOLIDAY 19
Look for more letters in the rest of our Holiday Series and in the Season’s Greetings on these dates: Fridays. December 3, 10, 17 and 24.
We’ll pick a winner every week!
This week’s winner is Reese! She will take her family to the movies! Sun Journal will send her 4 passes to the Flagship Cinema!
20 HOLIDAY
Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 3, 2010