Christmas Wishes 2015

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Christmas Wishes

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December 16, 2015

Hardware perfect spot for filling wish lists

By Matt Getts mgetts@kpcmedia.com

ALBION — The closer it gets to Christmas, the more busy some retail shops become as lastminute shoppers search for just the right gift for friend or family.

When a shopper only has a last-minute, he or she doesn’t want to waste it on a long drive.

That’s certainly proved true at Doc’s Do-It-Best Hardware, 122 N. Orange St., Albion. Momentum built by a strong Black Friday has carried through to December, store owner Don Merriman said.

“It just seems to work that way,” Merriman said.

“It’s so much easier to shop locally.”

It certainly doesn’t hurt that Doc’s has a large selection on hand, everything from small household appliances to Christmas decorations to power tools and repair kits for pressure cookers used in canning.

“We’re approaching 20,000 items in here,” Merriman said.

Doc’s Do-It-Best Hard-

ware is a Platinum dealer of Case knives. There are 300 different Case knives to choose from at the Albion store.

“It’s a good, quality knife,” Merriman said of the Case brand.

The knives are made in America by a family-owned company.

“This is the cheapest time of year to buy one,” he said. There is a special coupon offer available that gives $10 off a purchase of a price valued at $50 or more.

If no one on your wish list needs the cutlery, there are other last-minute ideas at Doc’s. Included in that list are crock pots, coffee makers, toasters and blenders. All are popular gifts, Merriman said. So is a Stanley thermos.

Other gifts that may just be a tad more off the beaten path include engraved dog tags and medical bracelets.

And despite the winter chill, there’s always something to enhance dad’s or grandpa’s grilling experi-

MATT GETTS

Don Merriman, owner of Doc’s Do-It-Best Hardware in Albion, stands next to the Case knife display.

ence. Yes, Merriman said, grilling gifts in the winter.

“People grill year round,” he said.

Grill mits, grill brushes or thermometers also make excellent stocking stuffers.

Thanks to a special promotion, Merriman had a solid Black Friday.

“It was very good for us,” he said, “mostly due to the Case knife sale.

I beat last year’s Black Friday by a little bit.”

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December 16, 2015

Christmas Wishes

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Youth for Christ Campus Life: Building faith and relationships Ministry coaches, mentors high school kids

By Vivian Sade

How to get involved

vsade@kpcmedia.com

CHURUBUSCO — Brad Millikan wants to make a difference in the lives of area teenagers by building faith and forming relationships.

Millikan is the new Campus Life director of the Churubusco Youth for Christ organization.

He has arranged with the town to to hold the YFC Campus Life weekly meetings at the Boy Scout Building in the town’s park and has already grown the group to approximately 25 teens.

The meetings were previously held at a private home in Churubusco.

He wants to eventually expand the program into middle school-age kids.

Millikan and his supervisor, Adam Stetzel, chief ministry officer of Whitley, Kosciusko and Wabash counties, focus on

WHAT: Churubusco Youth for Christ Campus Life WHO: Students in grades 9-12 WHEN: Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m.

WHERE: Boy Scout Bldg. in the Churubusco Park INFO: For more information, email Brad Millikan, youth director, at bradm@fwayfc.org or call 433-7703 or check out the Churubusco Campus Life Facebook page.

providing camaraderie, a good time and a positive environment for area teens.

“Our desire, through the YFC ministry, is to build relationships in four areas: physical, mental, social and spiritual,” Stetzel said.

“Teens have a lot of transitions going on in their lives, some more than others, and we are there to help them through those times.”

YFC has partnered with Smith-Green Community Schools.

Enriching the young peoples’ lives and being

Wishing All A

Merry Christmas

as asset to the school is a “huge focus” of the organization, Stetzel said.

Millikan graduated in 2008 from Churubusco High School and from IPFW in 2013, earning a degree in organizational leadership and supervision. He volunteered with the YFC organization for two years,

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Brad Millikan, youth director for the Churubusco Youth for Christ Campus Life group, is shown at an athletic event with YFC members.

See YOUTH page 4

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Christmas Wishes

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December 16, 2015

YOUTH From page 3

working out of the Fort Wayne headquarters on Ludwig Road for the YFC of Northern Indiana.

Millikan is excited to be back in his hometown.

“We hope, by partnering with the school, to help students overcome the many challenges in their life and come out on the other side unscathed,” Millikan said.

A good deal of fun, in addition to relevant conversations, goes on at the meetings, he said.

“We play some games — ice breakers — and sometimes show videos, followed by discussions and a wrap-up,” Millikan said.

“They have a lot of pressures; we hope to show them how to manage and deal with those issues,” Millikan said.

“Building relationships is top priority; programming is second,” Stetzel added.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Local teens join in a game at a Youth for Christ Campus Life meeting at the Boy Scout Building in Churubusco Park.

The group holds athletic competitions with other schools such as a fall dodge ball tournament, an annual November rally at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Refresh — a young ladies day of encouragement and fellowship held in March in Columbia City and a

Merry Christmas!

Blue Jeans and Barbecue Auction in May at the Whitley County 4-H grounds.

YFC is a non-profit organization and must raise 100 percent of the needed funding through donations, sponsorships and events.

Currently Millikan is working part-time — 27

hours a week — for YFC and must raise $30,000 in corporate and community sponsorships in order to work full-time and expand the ministry into the middle school.

Millikan is also searching for three or four couples or individuals to serve on the adult support team. The team

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be in trouble or need support.

Community support is important to the overall success of the ministry.

“If people believe in this program, I would love to talk to them and tell them how they can get involved,” Millikan said.

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meets about six times a year and helps move the mission of YFC forward in Churubusco.

Millikan meets with a YFC core group of 10 teens one day a week before school to discuss strategies for programming and how to reach other teenagers who may

A WISH

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Thanks to our customers for your patronage, we wish many Blessings to each of you this Christmas!

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Members of YFC Campus Life group mug for the camera in the hallways of Churubusco Jr-Sr High School.

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December 16, 2015

Christmas Wishes

5

Huntertown students keep Holiday project local

By Ryan Schwab rschwab@kpcmedia.com

HUNTERTOWN — The first-year Student Ambassadors Club at Huntertown Elementary School may be an alternative to a traditional student council, but that isn’t stopping them from continuing a longstanding Holiday tradition.

Each year, the student council would lead a holiday project to collect food and household items for Huntertown area families in need as well as toys for local youths at the Youth Services Center (YSC), located on the southwest corner of the S.R. 3 and Carroll Road, just south of Huntertown. The project continued on in 2015, led by the 13-member Student Ambassadors Club.

“I like to give. I know it is going to help someone that doesn’t have as much stuff as I have,” fifth-grader and Student Ambassador Luke Drury said.

The project has been divided up into two projects. The kindergarten through third-grade classes are collecting food and household items that are donated to the Huntertown United Methodist Church Food Bank. Those items are then disbursed over nine local families in need.

Donations were taken from Nov. 16 through Dec. 9.

The fourth- and fifthgrade classes collected

RYAN SCHWAB

The Student Ambassadors club at Huntertown Elementary School has spearheaded the 2015 Huntertown Holiday Project, collecting food for nine local families as well toys and essential items for the children at the Youth Services Center. Front row, from left, are Luke Drury, Lauren Fields and London Cupp.

Back row, from left, are Charlie Gerig, Stephanie Laney, Brielle Thielke, Dylan Lentz, Lauren O’Neil, Sammy Peters, Malaya Blakely, Audrey Messman, Jerrin Deeds and Carson Deeds.

toys, game, outdoor winter clothes like hats and gloves and grooming supplies to be donated to the kids at the YSC, a 24-hour emergency shelter care facility for runaway, abused, neglected and dependent children from ages 6-18.

Donations were taken from Nov. 16 through Dec. 4.

“I feel proud to do it,”

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things just like we do.”

Huntertown Elementary School guidance counselor Andrea Hudson is one of three faculty members to lead the Student Ambassadors club, made up entirely of fifth-grade students and emphasizes student leadership in and out of school.

Hudson said she would like to see the club double in size and include the

Wishing Everyone A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

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Meyer said. “Sometimes as a culture, we get wrapped up in consumerism, and it’s just nice to remind the kids that it’s a good thing to give. We aren’t giving elaborate gifts. It’s sensible items that people need. It’s good for our kids to realize that regardless of the gift, it’s a good thing to give this time of year.”

In addition to Drury and Cupp, other members of the Student Ambassadors Club are Jerrin Deeds, Lauren Fields, Dylan Lentz, Audrey Messman, Malaya Blakely, Carson Deeds, Stephanie Laney, Brielle Thielke, Charlie Gerig, Lauren O’Neil and Sammy Peters.

“I like to help people,” Drury said. “We are getting food for people who maybe can’t afford it. It’s not always their fault that they are poor or don’t have food.”

Added Cupp, “We are helping our community.

We are planning on doing more and more for our community and our whole town. Who else is going to do it?”

What better gift for the school than to have it’s student body continue a long-standing Holiday tradition.

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fifth-grader and Student Ambassador London Cupp said. “There are people who just don’t have the money to buy their kids toys. They will play with hair brushes and dolls. It will make a big difference if we give them like a puzzle or a doll or something. That will make a difference. These are kids just like us. They deserve

fourth-grade. Third-grade teacher Lynne Taylor and first-grade teacher Tony Resac also lead the Student Ambassadors Club.

“The kids gain a lot by knowing that what we donate is going to people in the community. It helps them see that whatever they give is important. Their small contribution can become a big contribution,” Hudson said. “You always gain more by giving than you do by receiving. You may receive something, but by donating, that is building your character. That is much more important than receiving something that is tangible.”

Each Student Ambassador was asked to go classroom-to-classroom and explain the project to fellow students and encourage donations.

There is no contest within the school to see which classroom or grade level raises the most items.

Huntertown Elementary School Principal Joe Meyer wants to keep the emphasis of the project strictly on giving.

“We are all blessed with certain things around the holiday time, but it’s a good thing to give to others who don’t have those extras,”

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December 16, 2015

’Busco boasting four antique/primitive gift shops Each shop offers something unique CHURUBUSCO — When it comes to unique retail shops, Churubusco went from zero to four in a matter of months. Within walking distance of each other, shoppers can easily visit one shop after another.

All four — Gary’s on Main, Jill’s Vintage & Thrift, Sandy’s Hidden Treasures & Gifts and Terrapin Antiques — deal in antiques, primitives, vintage, retro and more.

Primitives are usually items in muted colors that show distressed wear and convey memories of days gone by. Antiques are generally at least 100 years old, vintage at least 20 years or older and retro is anything that is out-of-date for the current time.

Gary’s on Main Gary Petelle, owner of Gary’s on Main, has amused many with a sign that says “Open by Chance.”

Petelle works full time as the territory sales manager for NAPA Distribution Center in Fort Wayne and for now, the store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment.

Earlier this year, Petelle and his wife, Jeanette, bought the building at at 203 N. Main St. — formerly

Bonar Insurance — and Petelle has been busy renovating the downstairs antique shop — a large single-room with shiny, wood floors and colorful rugs — as well as the upstairs, which includes one apartment. a work room area and storage.

He plans to make the store his “retirement job.”

Petelle has bought and sold antiques through antique malls for 30 years and began by buying and selling American pottery — early 1900s to mid-1950s. His tastes have expanded over the years and his shop carries primitives, antiques and mid-century modern (1950s and 1960s) furniture. He also carries Fenton and Lotton art glassware, rugs, signs and plenty of art.

Eventually, Petelle plans to add an art gallery, offer custom framing and matting and include items from local high school artists.

A grand opening with a local artist is planned early next year, he said.

Petelle will be open the next two Saturdays, and will be closed on Dec. 19.

Contact Petelle at 615-2766, email him at circledr90@aol.com or visit the Gary’s on Main Facebook page.

Jill’s Vintage & Thrift Jill Beach is the owner of Jill’s Vintage & Thrift Shop at 116 W. Washington St. (formerly Hair Solutions salon).

The small, eclectic shop offers old, new,

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used and re-purposed furniture, including vintage, retro and is also a thrift shop.

Beach discovered she had a knack for repainting and refurbishing old furniture about 10 years ago.

She briefly opened and operated a shop called Rejuvenated at the corner of Main and Mill streets, but had to close it due to a family illness.

Open three days a week — Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Beach also spends an average of two days a week searching and buying items for the shop and another day working on refinishing furniture.

Beach and her husband, Kevin, have five children and eight grandchildren and Beach also babysits for four of the grandchildren on a regular basis.

Beach prices merchandise to sell. “Our prices are very reasonable,” she said. “I won’t get rich doing this, but as long as I can work on pieces, meet people and have fun, I’m OK with that.”

Beach hopes to extend store hours in the spring.

She offers a police, fire and military discount.

Reach her at 710-0999 or on Facebook.

Sandy’s Hidden Treasures & Gifts Sandy Maggert, owner of Sandy’s Hidden Treasures & Gifts at 209 S. Main St., has talent when it comes to artistic displays and florals.

See GIFT SHOPS page 7

VIVIAN SADE

Owner Jill Beach is shown behind the counter at her store, Jill’s Vintage & Thrift Shop at 116 W. Washington St.

VIVIAN SADE

Gary and Jeanette Petelle wait on a customer at their antique shop, Gary’s on Main.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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Have a gifted season!

As we wrap up another year, we’d like to extend our gratitude and best wishes to all of you who have made doing business such a joy for us. Merry Christmas and many thanks for the gift of your generous support!

In the spirit of the holiday season, we wish you tidings of peace, harmony and joy. For all the joy we’ve had serving you this year, you have our sincere gratitude.

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December 16, 2015

Christmas Wishes

7

GIFT SHOPS From page 6

Her four-room store, located behind Papa’s Place restaurant, boasts displays so eye-catching that people often bring their children in and take family photos, using Maggart’s displays as the backdrop. Before opening her own shop, Maggert worked 13 years for Gassafy Wholesale Florist in Fort Wayne.

For the Christmas season, Maggert has created a winter wonderland in the front room of the shop, complete with glistening snow, white trees, icicles, polar bear and penguins.

Wanting to offer a store where people could buy gifts and unique items without driving to another city, Maggert opened the store last year. She started with florals, jewelry and gifts, but soon discovered that she could not keep older items in stock and devoted one of the shop’s four rooms to primitives.

The shop also offers custom hand-painted items such as signs and old wooden ironing boards.

Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reach Maggert at 750-7823 or visit the Sandy’s Hidden Treasures and Gifts Facebook page.

Terrapin Antiques Terrapin Antiques, located in the former Bargain House building, is the newest of the four stores, opening for the first day on Nov. 28 during Small Business Saturday.

“Opening day was very, very good,” owner Vickie Skinner said. “I am so grateful for the community’s support then and now.”

Skinner is well

VIVIAN SADE

Sandy Maggert, owner of Sandy’s Hidden Treasures & Gifts, is shown in the “winter wonderland” room of her shop at 209 S. Main St.

known in the area for her antique expertise, having been a dealer and collector for more than 30 years.

She used to have a shop in the house she shares with husband, Arlan, at the corner of Magers and Mulberry streets, but gave that up due to conflicts.

At the new store at 120 N. Main St. shoppers will find antique dishes and furniture, primi-

tives, glassware, Early American and textiles.

Eventually, Skinner would like to offer yarn fibers and have knitting, crocheting and stitching classes. Skinner stitches reproduction samplers and her daughters are crocheters and knitters.

Skinner and her husband, Arlan, have five children, 11 grandchildren and another on the way. “I have a wonderful husband who has made

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VIVIAN SADE

Store owner Vickie Skinner, left, and her daughter Abby, man the counter during the grand opening of Terrapin Antiques on Nov. 28.

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Christmas Wishes

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December 16, 2015

Christmas Wishes

C & A Tool and Engineering, Inc. It's been a privilege and a pleasure serving you, and we wish you the very merriest holiday ever!

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JOSH WALLS KAREN WALLS DON WALTERS MICK WALTERS JEFF WAPPELHORST NATE WAPPES STAN WARD NATHAN WARNER KENT WEEKS ED WEISENBURGER SHARELL WHAN STEVE WHITLOCK RON WHITTAKER KIMBERLY WILCOXSON MELODY WILLIAMS STEVE WILLIAMS STEVE WILLIAMSON DOUG WILLIS CALEB WILSON ERIC WILSON JOHNATHON WILSON JASON WINEBRINNER BRICE WINGET DAVE WIRGES BRUCE WITZENMAN KATRINA WOBLER MATT WOLF RICK WOOD BILL WOODRING PAUL WORMAN RONNIE WRIGHT JASON WYMER ROSE YANKOSKY DANNY ZEIGLER LAURA ZIEDER

9

10

Christmas Wishes

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December 16, 2015

Tips to prep your home for holiday guests

By STATEPOINT MEDIA Nearly 99 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday season, according to AAA. So how do you ensure it’s the most wonderful time of the year for guests and hosts, alike?

Don’t wait until the last minute to tidy up.

Instead, prepare your home with these helpful tips.

Mudroom Makeover It’s the first place guests see when they step inside the house.

But it’s also where coats are strewn about, shoes are kicked off and winter gear is hung out to dry. Declutter with a row of hooks to hang items, and a bench to sit down and pull on boots.

Donate coats you’re no longer wearing; and temporarily store seldom-used garments in a vacuum sealed bag to make additional space for visitors’ belongings.

Or, simply buy an inexpensive coat rack that can be placed near the front door so visitors have a place to hang outerwear.

Gorgeous Guest Bathroom The powder room and guest bath are perhaps the most heavily trafficked areas of the home during the holiday season. Before visitors arrive, make sure your space is both functional and stylish.

An easy way to make a statement is by updating the bathroom faucet. Choosing one with a variety of configurations, like Moen’s Wynford faucet, will allow a new piece to blend seamlessly with existing décor.

It features a high-arc design for easy hand washing, and is kind to the environment, conserving water with a reduced flow rate. Using less water is also good for your wallet, and who

We at Forker Excavating, Inc. would like to say thank you to all our valued customers and friends and wish them and everyone a blessed Merry Christmas and joyous New Year. Also, let’s all not forget our troops overseas and God bless them this holiday season.

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Small touches can go a long way toward making guests feel welcome.

wouldn’t want to save a little this time of year?

To give overnight guests a truly spa-like experience, install a rainshower showerhead for exceptional water coverage. Did your guests forget shampoo?

No room for conditioner in their carry-on?

Simply fill a glass container with essentials, such as travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner or lotion for

visitors to grab and use.

Hotel Hospitality Thoroughly clean your guest room, especially in areas you might not pay attention to regularly.

Dust baseboards, drapes and window blinds, and don’t forget the headboard and footboard.

Freshen up carpeting and rugs by sprinkling baking soda over the area. Wait 15 minutes and then vacuum. You can also make stale

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smells disappear with potpourri; make your own by placing holiday scents, such as cinnamon sticks or nutmeg in a bowl. Or, eliminate this step by hiring a professional cleaning crew — think of it as an early holiday gift to yourself.

Ensure guests get VIP treatment with crisp linens, cozy blankets and plush mattress toppers. Make it easy

for them to acclimate to the unfamiliar space by adding a night light.

It’s an easy way to keep visitors from falling in the middle of night, and provides extra comfort for young ones who may not travel often.

Having a plan will help make your holidays stress-free. Focus on these areas ahead of time, so can enjoy the season as much as your guests.

Merry Christmas!

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December 16, 2015

Christmas Wishes

11

Gap in holiday charity filled in Huntertown

By Garth Snow gsnow@kpcmedia.com

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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Carol Hiatt, from left, Marcia Holmes, Sherry Myers and Liz Decker greet clients at the 2014 Christmas in Huntertown, at Third Place on Cedar Canyon Road.

Recipient families are chosen and referred by other agencies.

they’re working. Maybe

by November they’re not working. And this ministry has grown and grown and grown.”

Questions should be directed to 633-8744 or by email to missions@huntertownumc.org. Anyone wishing to volunteer may email cmvolunteer@hunt-

ertownumc.org.

“We’ve been totally blessed with all the donations that come in on a daily basis,” Holmes said.

“And if there’s something that we don’t have, then the next day or two it’s in the donation bin. It’s just awesome. It’s just the way God works.”

Merry Christmas!

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packed, labeled and hauled to a warehouse.

According to volunteer organizer Marcia Holmes, people bring clothing donations for the next year as early as January.

“It’s just overwhelming,” Holmes said. “They’ll come back and say ‘Can I please give you a hug?’

Some will tell you their stories when you’re walking with them. And some are quiet, but they’re very grateful. You can tell in their demeanor that it means a lot to them.”

Myers said the ministry fills a gap in Christmas charity.

“A lot of people do this really great stuff for Christmas, and you have to sign up by September or October,” she said.

“A lot of people don’t know that they’re not going to be able to afford Christmas in October;

S

THE CLASSIFIEDS DELIVER!

GARTH SNOW

Though Christmas in Huntertown’s main goal is to distribute winter clothing, contributors make a wide variety of other gifts available.

ON

HUNTERTOWN — The sprawling Christmas in Huntertown winter clothing giveaway started with a single email, according to volunteer Sherry Myers.

That was six Novembers ago. A Huntertown United Methodist Church ministry already was supplying donated winter clothing through caseworkers.

“A couple of us just said, ‘Why don’t we send an email to caseworkers we work with and have them refer people?’ ” Myers recalled. “We just sort of opened the doors and said to refer them and bring some verification. We had 1,200 people we served, in four days. We had no planning. It was faith, and we opened the doors, and here they came.”

Now operating from the larger space at the church’s Third Place venue on Cedar Canyon Road, Christmas in Huntertown served about 300 families — referred by agencies, schools and churches — in 2015. The annual event was held Dec. 9-11.

The visitors found tables piled high with clothing and other household needs. Like the approximately 170 volunteers, those clients will come from Huntertown, Fort Wayne and surrounding counties.

“We just want to give a little hope in this season, and just be Jesus to some of these people,” Myers said, adding that sometimes the outreach is the receiving family’s entire Christmas. “I think we are blessed just as much as those that we’re blessing.

And Santa’s helpers are so excited to be able to help.”

Donations are welcome year-round. The ministry welcomes new or gently used clothing for children or adults, hats, mittens, scarves, toys and games and wrapping paper and related Christmas items. Other suggested items include microwave popcorn, theater candy in boxes, and individual hot chocolate packs.

The clothing is sorted,

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12

Christmas Wishes

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December 16, 2015

Price of ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ gifts rise slightly

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Winter wonderland Smokey and Rosie, owned by Bob and Karen Shlater, check out the first snowfall of the year at Salamonie Reservoir in rural Huntington County. Shlaters live near the reservoir and have been riding the trails with their horses since 1985. They also assist in naturalist activities at Salamonie. Shlater is a Churubusco native.

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PITTSBURGH — Reflecting a steep decline in energy costs, lower inflation and slow-but-steady economic growth, the 2015 Christmas Price Index experienced its lowest growth rate in six years at 0.6 percent in the whimsical economic analysis by PNC Wealth Management.

According to the 32nd annual report which measures the cost of the gifts in the holiday classic, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the price tag for purchasing all the gifts is $34,130.99 in 2015, a mere $198 more than last year’s cost and in line with the government’s Consumer Price Index, which has increased 0.2 percent over the past 12 months.

“While the economy continues to chug along on a sustainable path, low commodity prices are keeping consumer costs down,” said Jim Dunigan, chief investment officer, PNC Asset Management Group. “With only a few items in our index increasing in cost this year, True Loves should be thrilled that they can have their goose and better afford the gas to roast it, too.”

The cost of each item was revealed this morning on an interactive website (pncchristmaspriceindex. com) that teaches

consumers about the index through a real-life gingerbread branch experience.

Nine of the 12 items in the index maintained their cost this year. The cost of the Partridge in a Pear Tree rose 3.5 percent, primarily due to the partridge’s growing popularity as a gourmet food and in backyard farming. Turtle doves are up 11.5 percent due to increased grain prices, and Lords-a-Leaping prices rose three percent due to an increase in salaries.

As part of its annual tradition, PNC Wealth Management also tabulates the “True Cost of Christmas,” which is the total cost of items gifted by a true love who repeats all of the song’s verses.

The ultra-generous true love will have to fork over $155,407 to pay for all 364 gifts, nearly $900 more than last year.

To mirror the government’s core CPI, which excludes energy and food prices, PNC removes the swans – typically the most volatile item in the index – from its total index. With the swans excluded, the core PNC CPI rose just 1.0 percent, similar to the 1.9 percent increase in the government’s core CPI. Other Highlights Include: • Five gold rings: The most surprising result in this year’s PNC CPI was

the cost of five gold rings, which stayed the same as the past two years, despite the drop in gold commodity prices again this year.

From PNC CPI history, the gold rings appear not as volatile as the underlying commodity.

• Bargains in entertainment: If one is looking for entertainment to fill the true love’s stocking, there may be bargains this year. Prices for nine ladies dancing ($7,553), 11 pipers piping ($2,635) and 12 drummers drumming ($2,855) are exactly on par with the past two years. The 10 lords a-leaping, however, cost three percent more than in 2014.

• Pear tree: Economists report that housing prices have been on an upward trend for the past two years, with the pear tree, as the home to the partridge, increasing 1.2 percent.

• Maids a-milking: The prices for the Eight maids a-milking, the only unskilled workers in the index, held steady for the sixth straight year reflecting the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t risen since 2009, after seeing increases for three straight years.

The PNC CPI’s sources include retailers, hatcheries, the Philadelphia-based PHILADANCO and the Pennsylvania Ballet Company.

Snow is blanketing the ground, Snow is blanketing Spreading good cheerthe allground, around.

Spreading good cheeranother all around.

Because every flake’s sign Because every flake’s another sign That Christmas can’t be far behind.

That Christmas can’t be far behind.

We appreciate your patronage and We appreciate your patronage and goodwill. goodwill.

Happy Holidays!

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December 16, 2015

Christmas Wishes

13

How to avoid the holiday shopping rush Metro Creative Connection Holiday shopping can be both fun and hectic.

While it’s fun to scour stores looking for can’tmiss gifts for your loved ones, shopping amongst the crowds also can prove hectic.

While online shopping has made department stores somewhat less crowded come the holiday season, the National Retail Federation notes that online shopping during the 2014 holiday season accounted for just one-sixth of all holiday shopping. The opportunity to see and feel potential gifts in person compels many people to do the majority of their holiday shopping in-store, and there are ways for such shoppers to avoid the holiday shopping rush as they begin their quests for the perfect gifts. • Shop during off-peak hours. Weekends and

weeknight evenings tend to be the busiest times to go holiday shopping.

Professionals who have weekends off may put off their shopping during the week, choosing to do so on Saturday and Sunday afternoons when they have extra time to browse and comparison shop.

Shopping off-peak hours, such as during weekday mornings or even early mornings on weekends, is a great way to avoid crowds. Parents of young children might want to take a morning or even a full day off of work to get their holiday shopping done so they can avoid shopping with their kids in tow. You can probably move around more quickly if you choose to shop while the kids are in school, and this also affords you time to ďŹ nd gifts for the kids. • Make a list. Knowing what you want to buy

online can decrease the amount of time you spend wandering around malls and stores. The longer you linger without an idea of what to buy, the greater the chance you will be joined by fellow shoppers. If possible, call stores before you leave the house to conďŹ rm if they have certain items in stock, or buy items online from retailers who offer an in-store pickup option. Checkout lines for in-store pickup items are often separated from more traditional checkout lines, further reducing your risk of waiting in long lines. • Shop local businesses.

Small local businesses may not boast the inventory of larger retailers you’re liable to encounter at the mall, but local small businesses tend to deal with thinner crowds than national stores during the holiday season. Items in such businesses may

be more unique than items sold at nationwide retailers, and when you shop at smaller businesses, you likely won’t be forced to hunt for parking spots or wait on long checkout lines. • Start shopping early.

Crowds only grow bigger and more impatient between Black Friday and the ďŹ nal days before Christmas, so shoppers who can ďŹ nd the time to shop before the height of the shopping season might ďŹ nd parking lots and checkout lines more to their liking. In addition, shopping early affords shoppers more time to ďŹ nd the best deals.

The holiday shopping rush hits full swing in the weeks before Christmas Day, but there are many ways shoppers can get their shopping done and avoid the crowds at the same time.

Happy Holidays From the staff at

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Peace On Earth Wishing our friends and neighbors a most harmonious and joyful season!

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Merry Christmas!

Wishing all our patients and their families a season thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s merry and bright. We consider it a privilege to serve you and thank you for entrusting us with your dental care.

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Christmas Wishes

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December 16, 2015

Christmas tree varieties and care An evergreen tree decked out in lights and ornaments is one of the universal symbols of the holiday season. The Christmas tree tradition is believed to have originated in Germany in the 15th or 16th centuries, when trees were decorated with edibles, such as nuts and fruits. They were later decorated with candles and eventually lights.

Through the centuries, people have trekked to forests, Christmas tree farms and commercial lots to pick the perfect trees for their holiday displays. The National Christmas Tree Association says more than 33 million real trees are purchased each year, making the tree business a billion-dollar industry.

While there are scores of evergreen varieties, certain tree types are more popular than others and thus more available for purchase. The following are some of the more popular trees come Christmastime. â&#x20AC;˘ Eastern Redcedar: Branches of the tree are compact and form a pyramid-shaped crown.

The trees should be a

Blessings of the Season Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to join you and your family in a prayer for peace and harmony. For your goodwill, we are humbly grateful.

Happy Holidays from the staff at Brevinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

dark, shiny green color.

The eastern redcedar is not a true cedar tree, but a member of the juniper family. This tree can make a great cut tree with a homespun look and a pungent fragrance. â&#x20AC;˘ Leyland Cypress: This cypress is one of the more popular Christmas trees in the southeastern United States. The tree will be very dark green to almost gray in color.

It has little aroma.

Some people choose the Leyland because it does not produce sap, which is great for those with sap allergies. â&#x20AC;˘ Colorado Blue Spruce: An attractive blue-green foliage and a good symmetrical form is what attracts many people to the blue spruce. The Colorado Blue Spruce has an excellent natural shape and requires little pruning to look like the perfect Christmas tree.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not very fragrant, but the tree needles may give off an unpleasant odor when crushed. â&#x20AC;˘ Scotch Pine: A classic conical shape and very good needle retention help make the Scotch pine a popular tree to cut for the holidays. Scotch pines also are quite prevalent thanks to the treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adaptability to a wide range of climates. â&#x20AC;˘ Eastern White

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Pine: A delicate green color and long needles are found on this tree.

Another popular pine, the rich fragrance of the white pine may make it preferable to those who like their homes to smell of evergreen. â&#x20AC;˘ Douglas Fir: The Douglas ďŹ r is one of the foremost Christmas tree species in the United States. It has soft needles that are dark green in color. Those needles radiate in all directions

from the branches to give the tree a full look. The needles, when crushed, have a sweet fragrance.

Douglas ďŹ rs tend to live long when cut. â&#x20AC;˘ Fraser Fir: Another popular ďŹ r for Christmas is the Fraser ďŹ r. The needles are bicolored, with dark green on top and silver on the bottom.

More fragrant than its cousin, the Douglas, the Fraser also boasts a slender proďŹ le, which makes it suitable for

smaller rooms.

Christmas tree maintenance Nothing can guarantee the health and appearance of a tree after it is brought into a home. But choosing a recently cut tree that has good needle retention can help. Here are other tips for a longlasting tree. â&#x20AC;˘ Use a sharp saw to cut an inch off of the trunk base to remove

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December 16, 2015

Christmas Wishes

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The benefits to buying local this holiday season Metro Creative Connection Holiday shopping dominates many people’s free time between the day after Thanksgiving and the final days before Christmas.

While many people may shop ‘til they drop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, those days still account for a relatively small amount of the hundreds of billions of dollars that are spent each holiday season.

Shoppers now have a bevy of options at their disposal as they embark on holiday shopping season.

Traditional in-store retailers are still around, and online shopping continues to grow in popularity with each holiday season. But many holiday shoppers are looking to buy local this holiday season, and such a decision can pay a host of dividends for both shoppers and the communities they call home.

• Buying local benefits your local economy. Studies

from Civic Economics, an economics and strategics planning firm, found that independent, locally-owned retailers return a far greater percentage of their revenue into their local economies than national chain stores. One such study examined the disparity between revenue recirculation among independent, locally-owned businesses in Raleigh, North Carolina, versus four major national chains in the city. The former recirculated 51.1 percent of revenue into the local economy, while the latter recirculated less than 14 percent. Similar results were discovered in many cities, indicating that buying local not only benefits local business owners, but also the communities those owners and their customers call home.

• Buying local creates jobs in your community.

One of the biggest ways local business owners

in Raleigh recirculated their revenue in the local economy was job creation.

While national chains also create jobs, such jobs only benefit your community if the chains are located within your community. If your local mall is a considerable drive away, chances are the chains within that mall are not employing many of your fellow community members.

Local businesses in your community are more likely to employ residents of your town.

• Shopping local may provide access to more unique gifts. In addition to the economic benefits of buying local, shoppers may find merchandise made by local craftsmen is more unique than mass-produced items found on the shelves of national retailers. Recipients may cherish more unique items that they cannot find on their own, and that appreciation may

even spur them to visit more local retailers after the holiday season has come and gone, benefiting their own communities in so doing.

• Local business may provide a more personal touch. Buying from national chains has its advantages, but customer service is not always one

of them. Should your loved ones encounter problems with their gift that requires assistance, they might be forced to wait on the phone for extended periods of time as they and thousands of others wait for customer service representatives to answer their calls. Local businesses do not deal with nearly the volume

of customers as national retailers and, therefore, are capable of addressing concerns more quickly and personally than large chains.

Buying local not only benefits small business owners, but it also pays dividends for their customers and the communities they call home.

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December 16, 2015

Things to know when planning your holiday menu

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Magnificent white on white Smokey, half Percheron and half quarter horse, strikes an regal pose on a horse trail at Salamonie Park in Huntington County after the first snow of the season.

The horse is owned by Bob Shlater who lives near Salomonie and does volunteer work at the park, including giving demonstrations and trail clearing.

Shlater is a Churubusco native.Smokey, half Percheron and half quarter horse, strikes an regal pose on a horse trail at Salamonie Park in Huntington County after the first snow of the season. The horse is owned by Bob Shlater who lives near Salomonie and does volunteer work at the park, including giving demonstrations and trail clearing. Shlater is a Churubusco native.

By STATEPOINT MEDIA When holiday hosting, don’t forget that while the right wines complement dishes, the wrong wines can ruin your best efforts.

“The key is being mindful of your food’s sugar and acidity,” says Michael Trujillo, President and Director of Winemaking of Sequoia Grove Winery.

With a combined 80 years of experience in Napa Valley winemaking, Sequoia Grove has learned what it takes to make a great food and wine pairing.

Sweet or savory foods call for radically different wine pairings.

Having the right Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon on hand should satisfy most holiday dining situations.

Trujillo is sharing some secrets for enjoying wine during the holidays: • Sugar and Cabernet Sauvignon, when mixed together on your tongue, create an explosion of acid, astringency and bitterness. White wines

like Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Chardonnay will maintain their flavors when paired with sweeter dishes because of their naturally smoother profile.

• Acidity and salt in food softens Cabernet Sauvignon’s robust texture. The flavors of a well-balanced wine, such as Sequoia Grove’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, can be fully appreciated when paired with a savory dish.

For the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon pairing, try this recipe for Grilled Leg of Lamb over Zucchini Ribbons with Mustard Sauce, from the food and wine experts at Sequoia Grove.

Ingredients: • 2 pound boneless leg of lamb, butterflied • 2 teaspoons chopped rosemary • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine

• 3 tablespoons olive oil • 3 large zucchini • 1 tablespoon butter • Pinch crushed red pepper • 1/4 cup white wine • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions: • Preheat a gas grill to high heat.

• Arrange lamb on a flat surface.

• Combine rosemary, pepper, salt, and half the garlic in a small bowl.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Spread over the non-fatty side of the lamb.

• Cut the tops and bottoms off the zucchini.

Use a vegetable peeler to cut the zucchini into thin ribbon-like strips. Stop and reserve the cores for another use.

• Put the lamb on the grill, fatty-side up, cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook for seven minutes. Turn, reduce heat to low and cook for

five minutes for medium rare or until the temperature of the thickest part reaches 130 degrees.

Transfer to a cutting board and let rest five to 10 minutes.

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and butter in a large skillet. Add remaining chopped garlic, crushed red pepper and the zucchini ribbons. Cook for about three minutes, then transfer to a bowl.

• Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add the wine. Bring to a boil. Whisk in the mustard and remove from the heat. Add parsley and zucchini and toss to coat.

• Cut lamb against the grain into thin slices.

Arrange over zucchini.

Sprinkle with salt and serve.

More information on Sequoia Grove can be found at sequoiagrove. com.

With the right wine and food pairings, you can give guests a reason to cheer this holiday season.