Thursday, January 3, 2013
North Branch Park is one of the drop-off sites.
The Somerset County Park Commission is accepting natural Christmas trees for recycling through the end of the month at North Branch Park on Milltown Road in Bridgewater, among other locations. The recycling will be available through Jan. 31. Somerset County residents can bring all natural trees for recycling to Parking Lot F of Colonial Park on Mettlers Road in Franklin Township, or to the northern end of the parking lot near the lighted ball field at North Branch Park. Trees will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. According to a release from the county, each family is limited to only one tree, and it must be free of all ornaments, wires, netting and tinsel. Only natural trees will be taken, and wreaths and garlands will…
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
We've got ideas for great places to celebrate the start of a new year.
Sometimes there's just not enough days in the week, but every Wednesday we'll give you an idea of something to do to relax, spend time with family and just take some time for yourself. And with the New Year approaching, we want to give you a list of places that are still open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day if you’re looking to get out of the house — or to uncork the champagne and really start 2013 with a pop!
Monday, December 24, 2012
How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.
We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38 How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person. Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …
How to make a meaty meal to satisfy holiday guests.
Prime rib is a very expensive "company's coming" cut of meat, and typically it only goes on sale around the holidays. Prime Rib is on sale at Shop Rite for $4.99, for $5.99 at Pathmark and for $6.99 at Stop & Shop. I like to buy Sheffield & Sons “Angus” standing rib roast which has large, traditional prime rib bones and a good grade of meat (USDA Angus Choice Beef). It is typically three to four pounds. (With tall college guys in my family, we usually think a pound per person, including a bone with each slice.) Select a roast that is "marbled" with bits of fat "speckled" in the center of the roast (ask their meat manager to help you select if you have a question). This "marble" will give the roast the best flavor and ultimately the …
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Children visit with St. Nick, shoppers hit Bridgewater Commons for final holiday presents.
The line of cars to enter the Bridgewater Commons went nearly a half-mile from the mall and down Route 202/206 on Sunday. But remarkably, once in the parking lot, it was not so difficult to get a good parking spot. Inside the mall, there were no long lines, no real hastle, and most of the shoppers in the mall were walking around with a bag or less. "The shopping was great," said Van Manioudakis, of Somerset. "We thought pulling into the mall it was going to be a nightmare, but is hasn't really been that bad." The line of children and families to visit Santa was a little more than a half an hour most of the afternoon.
40.58889
-74.619636
Bridgewater Commons
400 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ
/articles/santa-photos-last-minute-gifts-as-christmas-nears
65394
/locations/8445989
Follow these tips, courtesy of Dan Landau—photographer and Fairleigh Dickinson University PR assistant—and take your holiday photos to the next level.
A weak storm front expected to bring up to two inches of snow starting Monday night.
Cross your fingers. As of Sunday, weather projections indicate a storm front entering the region that could give us—gasp—a white Christmas. According to the National Weather Service, there is a 20 percent chance of snow on Tuesday, with a temperature ultimately reaching 38 degrees. Stephen Pellettiere, with Ion Weather based at the Morristown Municipal Airport, said current projections appear to have the small storm begin producing at about 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, tapering off at the latest 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. "A little storm is passing to our south," he said. "There's a tenth of an inch of moisture, which translates to about an inch of snow." Some areas, including southern Morris County, could see as much as two inches of the white …
The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that now offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.
They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and left cookies and milk for his arrival. Now the only thing left for children to do is track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can now follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page, which has more than …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
A look at the hot toys for tots this holiday season.
Every holiday season, the mailbox fills with the latest toy catalogs. Children peruse the pages as they scribble their lists, daydreaming about what they will find under the tree come Christmas morning. Parents pull out their pocketbooks, spending hard-earned cash as they anticipate the joy on those little faces. What will be the runaway favorites this year is always a guess, but here are some of the latest trends, mixed with tried-and-true perennial favorites. jChews Smartphone teether by Jellystone No tears for parents or babies. Babies love nothing more than to gum Mom and Dad’s cell phone, but now they’ll be too intrigued with their own smartphone to chew on. The Jellystone smartphone teether comes in seven funky colors and is BPA …
As you look over the list of gifts you need this holiday season, an unsettling feeling starts. How will I pay for all these gifts? How about homemade gifts?
Gift-giving is meant to be a time for sharing how much you appreciate others, but rising prices and tight budgets take the feel-good vibes right out of gift-giving traditions. This year, take the money stress out of the holidays by turning to homemade gifts. Homemade gifts are a great way to show you appreciate someone while also adding a personal touch. Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be special. Get the family involved in the fun and you will be creating memories while making unique gifts for those who mean the most in your life. Patch explores the homemade holidays in hopes that you will find something to inspire you to enjoy the season more. Healthy options: Pack energy in a jar with healthy snacks like energy bars, dark chocolate…
Scott Helming
1:21 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Actually, there is no firm evidence there were three wise men. We know if three gifts, hence the thought of three persons...An ongoing mystery! more ›