Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Do you have items you no longer need? A number of holiday collections are underway and items can be easily donated at one location. Find out more!
Are you buying a new winter jacket? Do you have holiday lights that no longer work? Did your kids get duplicate toys this year? Did Santa bring you a new cell phone? If you have items you’d like to toss but aren’t sure what to do with them, a number of collections are taking place in Montgomery County and items can be dropped off right at the Salvation Army at 18705 North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg, MD. You can also drop off items at Goodwill of Greater Washington at 619 South Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg or 4816 Boiling Brook Parkway in Rockville. Have any unwrapped, unused toys? They can be donated to Toys for Tots in 2013. If you have coats you no longer need, donations are being collected through many local churches. Cell …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
How many of these Christmas gift mistakes did you make this year?
Christmas is my favorite holiday of all the holidays. I love the lights and the family time and the cookies. I love getting cards with photos of happy families and I love decorating Christmas trees by reliving the history behind each ornament. If I'm being honest here, I have to admit that I love the presents too. It used to be that I loved getting presents—and don't get me wrong, I still enjoy unwrapping thoughtful gifts—but now that I'm a parent, most of my excitement about presents involves sitting back and watching my kids' joy on Christmas morning. I've worked hard to teach my kids about gratitude and looking at gifts as an expression of love from the giver. I've also worked to help my kids understand how to give gifts themselves by …
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Your guide to movies premiering between now and New Year’s Day.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
- Ben Gross
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
With many offices closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day and the kids out of school, going to the movies tends to be one of the more popular holiday-season events, and Hollywood is unleashing some serious star power to end 2012 and welcome 2013. Patch has put together this handy guide to all of the great year-end movie releases: Friday, December 21, 2012 Movie: The Impossible Stars: Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor What it’s about: The main stars play a couple vacationing in Thailand with their three sons who get caught in the 2004 tsunami. Rating: PG-13 -- Movie: Jack Reacher Stars: Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall What it’s about: Cruise plays the role of Jack Reacher (the hero of many Lee Child books) as a former military investigator …
Your guide to stores open late on Christmas Eve.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
- Ben Gross
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
Did you forget to buy a bauble for Aunt Barbara? Leave Cousin Larry off the gift list? Neglect to be nice to your neighbor? Never fear, Patch is here with your guide to which stores are open nearby to grab that last-minute gift. Malls Westfield Montgomery - Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Westfield Wheaton - Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Mall at Prince George’s - Christmas Eve: 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Mall in Columbia - Christmas Eve: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Lakeforest Mall - Christmas Eve: 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Best Buy Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Kohl’s Most stores are open on Christmas Eve: 6:…
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Five quick tips for keeping toys safe for kids.
As the countdown to Christmas Day continues and parents rush out to get their children gifts this season, safety tops the list for one expert. Local Voice’s blogger Anna Schmitt from the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises parents to keep in mind their kids' eye safety. Schmitt says toys such as airsoft guns, bb guns and paintball guns can be particularly hazardous. Read more: Keep Eye Safety in Mind When Choosing Gifts this Holiday Season. Join Patch’s Local Voices! We want to provide a platform for your message. Email Tamika Smith, the Community Manager for Montgomery County, at Tamika@Patch.com to sign up.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? Check out some of the fun things going on around town.
Each week, Patch puts together a list of local activities and events going on in your area this weekend. Check back weekly and tell us in the comments if you know of any additional activities coming up. To submit an event in the Patch events calendar, click on “Events” at the top of the page and then click on the green "Add an event" button on the right side of the page. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra Sweeney Todd at The Highwood Theatre Waverly Street Gallery Holiday Exhibition of 24 Gallery Artists Cresthaven Craft Fair Holly Trolleyfest Nutcracker Olney Ballet Theater A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas Miracle on 34th Street Festival of Lights Garden of …
While the two holidays fall in close proximity to each other and are celebrated in popular culture together, Hanukkah does not hold the religious significance for Jews that Christmas holds for Christians.
Each year, Hanukkah falls in close proximity or during Christmas according to the Hebrew calendar. Because of that, the two are celebrated side by side under the “Happy Holidays” moniker. But in terms of religious significance, Hanukkah doesn’t rank as high for Jews as Christmas ranks for Christians. “It’s hard to not make a big deal of out Hanukkah living in America, and I’m not sure it’s a bad thing,” said Rabbi Rhoda Silverman of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown. “That’s not a problem for me as long as we don’t forget about everything else that makes us Jewish.” Jonathan Schwartz, senior aide to Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond and a member of Temple Emanuel, sees Hanukkah as having two roles in the lives of American Jews…
Thursday, December 13, 2012
"Why is the military reporting on Santa?" you ask. Well, it started with a bad phone number that had kids calling an important colonel who was trying to defend the United States and Canada.
Now just why does a military group with a serious name like North American Aerospace Defense Command track Santa and take notes on just where he is and what he is up to? This doesn't make sense. Any kid can tell you, the man who says, "ho, ho, ho" is no danger to anyone. He may eat one too many a cookie, especially if they're chocolate chip, but that's no crime. So why is the military watching him? Good question. Well, it all started with a wrong number. But we'll get to that. For more than 50 years NORAD and a group that came before it, CONAD, have tracked Santa on Christmas Eve. Here is NORAD's scoop on why (with a little commentary from the peanut gallery ... that would be me.) The adventure began in 1955 after Sears put the wrong …
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Sculpt, paint and design your own gift in Montgomery County.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
- Ben Gross
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Saturday, December 8, 2012
While holiday spending is expected to remain level or even increase slightly compared to 2011, many people are looking for ways to reduce the impact on their wallet or the environment by buying gifts at thrift or secondhand stores. Handcrafted gifts are another alternative to traditional holiday gifting (and not just for kids anymore)! Businesses where you can paint your own pottery, fuse a glass sculpture, design a piece of beaded jewelry or even stuff a plush toy animal are located all over Maryland, including Montgomery County. Learn how to make your own beaded jewelry: Rockville – Accents Beads, 12112 Nebel Street, Rockville, MD 20852 Silver Spring – The Bead Warehouse, 2740 Garfield Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Takoma Park – S & …
Friday, November 30, 2012
About 40 percent of Christmas tree fires involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction between 2000 and 2004, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.
With Thanksgiving behind us, many families are turning their attention toward buying a Christmas tree. The National Christmas Tree Association wants customers to keep a few safety tips in mind when they purchase their tree. Consumers also need to know how to care for it once it's in their home.
Jean Winegardner
9:51 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
VERY clever. The problem is when Santa brings one of their friends an iPhone. Then you'll have to tell them that Santa must love those other kids more. :) more ›