contents This month’s features 6
10
12
15
Holiday traditions Notable Western North Carolinians share the stories they heard at holiday time.
10
Lending a hand The holidays offer many opportunities for families to volunteer.
Four-legged finds Don’t forget the pet on your shopping list this Christmas.
Holiday events A roundup of Christmas and Hanukkah events around WNC.
20
Teaching about diabetes A new book puts Type 1 diabetes in terms a child can better understand.
22
Eating the rainbow The Rainbow in My Tummy program enlists a new chef to educate kids about nutrition.
In every issue
On the cover
Growing Together............30
Sebastian Clark, by Kaelee Denise Photography, www.kaeleedenise.com.
Divorced Families ............34 Kids’ Voices .....................36 Nature Center Notes ........37 Librarian’s Picks...............40 Story Times .....................40 Home-school Happenings .38 FEAST..............................41 Kids Page ........................48 Calendar .........................49
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Holidays with family Katie Wadington, editor Raise your hand if you can’t quite believe we’re in December already. Seriously, where did fall go? But I’m excited that Thanksgiving came earlier than usual because that does give more time to my favorite time of the year. My expectations are always huge at Christmastime — hopes for family outings to holiday events, taking in parades, seeing gingerbread houses, watching movies over cocoa. Then maybe we make it to one parade, maybe the Grove Park Inn (but not likely both). So this year, I’m tempering expectations in hopes we’ll do better. One thing I would like to do this holiday season is volunteer with my kids somewhere. Our story on Page 10 looks at families who take time to give back to the community, through the Salvation Army, MANNA and more. Traditions are a significant part of the holidays, and many family traditions revolve around Christmas and holiday stories. We asked many famous faces in Asheville what their favorite holiday stories are. Read their responses starting on Page 6. We got a dog this summer, so I was interested to read about pet gifts in the story we have on Page 12. What I once thought was a ridiculous notion (gifts for a pet? really?) now doesn’t seem so odd. Beyond holidays, in this issue we also take a look at the Rainbow in My Tummy program and its new chef, on Page 22. Also, a Mission Health employee has written a book to help kids (and parents) better understand diabetes. You’ll find a story about the author and book on Page 20. I hope you and yours have the happiest of holidays. I’ll see you in the new year!
P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802 www.wncparent.com PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Randy Hammer WNC PARENT EDITOR Katie Wadington — 232-5829 kwadington@citizen-times.com
FEATURES EDITOR Bruce Steele bsteele@citizen-times.com
ADVERTISING/CIRCULATION Brittany Martin — 232-5898, bymartin@gannett.com CALENDAR CONTENT Due by Dec 10. E-mail calendar@wncparent.com ADVERTISING DEADLINE Advertising deadline for the January issue is Dec. 14.
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