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a happy always.
Huntington Shorecliffs Activities Committee Presents
Saturday, December 13 at the main clubhouse
Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Bring your camera for pictures with Santa from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
NO COST WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
Enjoy sandwiches* from Board & Brew including salads, chips, dessert, and drinks. Uncrustables for good little girls & boys.
*One sandwich per person; no take-outs
CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEARS HALLOWEEN DECORATING CONTEST WINNER
NICHOLAS LEEKLEY AND SHELBY STEPHENSON SPACE 73
We would like to thank the residents of Huntington Shorecliffs, as well as Park Management, for your support of our events over the years. The Activities Committee has enjoyed cooking breakfasts, grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, throwing luau’s, dishing out ice cream, hosting Santa, and more.
But as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end” and as such, the Activities Committee is closing up shop. Our last official duty will be Lunch with Santa on December 13.
Everyone that has come to one of our events has become a friend, and while this might be “the end,” we know that we’ll continue to see our friends around the park on their way to the beach, walking their dogs, or passing by on a bike ride.
This was not an easy decision for us as we really loved serving the community. So, this isn’t “goodbye,” it’s “see you later.”
Carol, Chris, Cynthia, Jeanette, Jeannette, Cobie, Dov, Mark, Mike. Tom, & Tony
President
Stacy Kogut-Martinez
Photography Instructor (24 Years / Retired) Business Owner, Licensed Security Guard
Vice President
Sharon Crabill
Regional Director, Pete’s Coffee So. Cal & National Markets
Secretary
Christy Impelman Manager, Lamps Plus (30 Years/ Retired)
Treasurer
Dov Schoenherz SERV Coordinator
Sergeant at Arms
Jen Brandenburg
Real Estate Investor, Business Owner, Licensed Cosmetologist
• Park Manager: Alesia Kurisu Alesia.hs@starmangement.com
• Regional Manager: Tracy Leek Tracy@starmanagement.com
• VP Star Management: Jeff Leek Jeff@starmanagement.com
• HSCA Board: HSCAhb@gmail.com
• SERV Emergency Shed Rehabilitation Completed
Member at Large
Craig Impelman Basketball Coach UCLA (Retired) Business Executive
• SERV (Shorecliffs Emergency Response Volunteers) completed full rehabilitation.
• Termite-damaged wood replaced and shed repainted.
• Emergency golf cart repaired with new battery; now fully operational.
• Fire Lane and Stop Line Repainting
• Repainted all fire lanes and intersection stop lines.
• Improved visibility and refreshed community appearance.
• New Patio Furniture at Both Pools
• Park ownership and management replaced pool patio furniture.
• Added comfort and style to community gathering areas.
• Identification of Official Personnel
• Park employees now wear bright yellow vests for easy recognition during meter readings and maintenance.
The HSCA and Park Management met on October 27, 2025; a Resident Open Meeting was held on November 5, 2025. Key outcomes from these meetings were:
• Safety Signage: Fire lanes repainted; speed-limit and additional signage improvements under discussion.
• Partnership Commitment: HSCA and management agreed to maintain open communication to align resident concerns and park priorities.
• Additional volunteers welcome, particularly quadrant leaders.
• Resident Terry Wheeler offered to teach a CPR class.
• Participation is flexible—volunteers are called only in true emergencies.
• Pedestrian Pathways: Barriers discussed to deter e-bikes and golf carts; ADA compliance considered.
• AEDs for Pools: Suggested but deferred due to liability and training requirements.
• Speed Limit Signage: Additional 15 mph signs at entrances and pavement markings under consideration.
• Grotto Landscaping: Residents raised concerns about irrigation and over-watering; management reviewing solutions.
• Park Resurfacing: Community-wide repaving and repainting discussed after gas project cancellation.
• Cameras
• AI-based security cameras record footage (7-30 days depending on location).
• Footage reviewed only as needed; residents encouraged to report issues via email or photo.
• Park Manager Attendance
• Park Manager can attend two HSCA Board meetings per year as an observer to improve communications.
• Craft Shows and Casino Night
• Management declined approval for future events with outside guests due to liability.
• Resident-only social events remain welcome.
• FOB System: Residents requested updates; management is reviewing.
• Thank you to all who participated in Community Meetings this year.
• Every suggestion and question helps improve Huntington Shorecliffs together.
• Looking ahead to 2026: Our shared goal remains to keep the community safe, friendly, and beautiful for everyone.
As 2025 comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of our Board Members for their dedication, energy, and teamwork in keeping our community the wonderful place that we call home. Your tireless efforts ensure that our neighborhood remains safe, well-maintained, and welcoming for every resident.
Looking ahead to 2026, my wish is that we continue to work hand-in-hand with management and our neighbors in a positive and collaborative way. Together, we can keep our community thriving, up-todate, and moving forward with pride.
Thank you for being part of this journey we couldn’t do it without you!
December 7 / Join Waymakers in shedding a light on Orange County’s children at the annual Light a Light of Love snowflake lighting at Pier Plaza. This annual celebration benefits the Huntington Beach Youth Shelter, an emergency crisis and intervention program for abused, homeless, and struggling children ages 11 to 17. Watch as snowflakes, donated by the local community, are lit at 6:00 p.m. Information on all the events can be found at www.waymakersoc.org/events/light-a-light-of-love.
December 14 / Experience the Internation Celebration of Christmas Live Nativity Play where all nations come together for a celebration of the Christmas Season. This FREE event is held at the Old World Biergarten Festival Hall (7561 Center Avenue). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event begins at 6 p.m. Parking is FREE.
December 19–23 / Join the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic for their 63rd Cruise of Light at Huntington Harbour. Share in the beauty of thousands of lights and animated displays on decorated homes, docks, decks, and boats while taking a 50-minute narrated boat tour through the waterways of Huntington Harbour. Cruise times are 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. each evening. Tickets, as well as parking and event details, can be found at www.cruiseoflights.org.
December 31 / Old World Biergarten will be hosting the Rock Lobster Ball New Year’s Eve Party (7561 Center Avenue) featuring a tribute to The B-52’s, Blondie, and Devo. Ring in the new year at this 21+ event (IDs will be checked—no exceptions). Doors open at 7 p.m. and admission includes a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are available online ($30) or at the door ($50) or you can purchase an event table. Complete information can be viewed at www.events.oldworldhb.com.
Waking up on Christmas morning to a stack of presents is something that we all remember. I’m sure that most of us still take the time to wrap each gift meticulously which includes bags with mounds of tissue paper.
The history of wrapping Christmas presents dates to ancient cultures. Japanese introduced furoshiki (reusable wrapping cloth) in the 1600s, while in Korea, the bojagi became another variation of reusable gift fabric. It wasn’t until the Victorian era when decorative paper and ribbons were used.
Gift wrap came on to the holiday scene with the growing popularity of Christmas cards and in the mid-1800s, printed patterns started to appear on tissue paper. Modern wrapping was not invented by brothers Rollie and Joyce Hall—but they did play a big part in the transformation of the wrapping ritual we all know. They ran a stationery store in 1917 and sold tissue paper; due to the demand during the season, they ran out of stock and made a bold move to sell some French envelope lining paper, which they also sold out of quickly. They continued to sell their printed wrapping products and in just two years, their company (Hallmark) became a leader in providing gift wrap across the country.
As beautiful as gift wrap could be, its fragility can cause it to tear. Given this, people started to think out of the box and as a move in sustainability, crafters started to repurpose paper shopping bags as a replacement for gift wrap, which proved much sturdier.
And let’s not forget…The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other (Burton Hillis).
Every January, new laws go into effect. For example, in 2026, AB-806 which allows mobile home park residents to install air cooling systems* goes into effect, as does AB-628 which requires refrigerator and stoves in rentals (let’s be honest—if I was a renter, I probably wouldn’t own a stove or refrigerator—but I guess it’s California!). These are just a few slated for 2026 but tucked away in dusty legal codes across this great state are rules that fell straight out of a comedy sketch. Some are current laws, and others are on the books, but rarely enforced—but they were all real laws once passed by voting. Let’s start with Huntington Beach:
❖ Prohibition outlawed the sales and consumption of alcohol in the 1920s and 30s—and Surf City followed suit. A person caught with alcohol could get up to three months in jail or a fine up to $300. However, there was an exception—if a person had a prescription to use alcohol “for bona fide medical purposes,” it was allowed. The prescription had to be verified and had to indicate how much alcohol was to be consumed to cure the patient’s ailments.
❖ In December 1921, the City adopted an ordinance that regulated how residents could dance with each other at dance halls. Men and women had to have their hands in specific places and could not “dance with his or her cheek, or with his or her head touching the cheek or head of his or her dancing partner.” Another no-no included “any passion dance, lewd or suggestive dance, indecent dance, sensual dance, or any dance involving the jerking or shaking of the body.”
❖ A law was adopted in 1916 that regulated the sale of bread. It was illegal to make or sell bread that was not “the standard weight of all loaves of bread.” This did not include bread-like items as crackers, pretzels, buns, or biscuits. “Fancy bread” was also exempt from the regulation. Any person who violated the city’s bread laws could be fined $100 or imprisoned in the city jail for up to 100 days.
*While AB-806 goes into effect on January 1, Huntington Shorecliffs still has regulations that must be met. Please confer with Park Management before installing any cooling systems.
❖ At one time, it was legal to pack heat on the streets of Surf City, but Council members changed the law in April 1911, outlawing concealed weapons. The city marshal was able to give out concealed weapon permits if he found it necessary for a person to carry a gun for protection.
❖ During WWII, several laws were adopted to protect the city— establishing a civilian army, outlawing open fires at night, and banning fireworks. The 1942 fireworks ordinance stated that “the use of fireworks might seriously hamper and interfere with the defense of the United States and might expose the oil fields within the City and expose the City to a serious fire.”
❖ Believe it or not, the City did not have a public nudity ban until 2007, when the City got complaints about naturist Michael Ferreira, who lived two blocks from Main Street. Neighbors said they had seen him in his front yard sans clothing and walking around naked with his doors and windows open. The complains sparked a heated debate over whether Ferreira should be allowed to go nude in his home where neighbors could view. Ultimately, nudity was banned and Ferreira moved from his Walnut Street home.
❖ Glue sniffers are not tolerated in Surf City. In 1962, an ordinance was passed that stated sniffing glue or any other adhesive for the purposes of getting high was illegal. This remains on the city’s books.
❖ Tapping into someone’s subconscious and forcing them to act strangely for the sole purpose of entertainment is not allowed according to a City law passed in 1976. Hypnotism for entertainment is outlawed, but licensed psychologists can practice it for medical reasons.
❖ While city lawmakers made sure dance partners were keeping the appropriate distance apart, in 1971 City officials felt the need to spell out that waitresses need to be clothed while serving customers. The City prohibits servers from waiting on tables without pants, or a top, or both. While it’s understandable why an ordinance like this has to be specific, it’s still entertaining to read the details about how breasts and butts must be concealed while food is served.
Now that we’ve looked at Huntington Beach’s unique laws on the books, what about the rest of California? As you can imagine, there are quite a few. Here a some that might make you scratch your head and say, “Really?” While some are still on the books, I’ll bet enforcement is far and few between .
❖ If you’re playing mini-golf in Long Beach and you miss a hole-in-one, keep your frustrations to yourself the municipal code bans swearing on mini-golf courses. This law exists to preserve the family-friendly vibe of the course and I’m sure parents probably don’t want their kids learning a new vocabulary over a windmill putt.
❖ You’ll want to think twice about chasing down an ice cream truck in Riverside on a hot day because ice cream trucks are required to carry trash cans. If you think about it, it does make sense especially for the sticky kids leaving half-melted cones behind.
❖ If you are driving through Arcadia, you might notice peacocks strutting casually across the street—and if you encounter one, you are legally required to stop for them. The birds have lived there more than a century and city law protects them. It’s not uncommon to see traffic stalled because a family of peafowl have decided to take their sweet time crossing the streets.
❖ In 1963, Carmel-by-the-Sea passed a law (that still is in effect) that it is illegal to wear high heels taller than two inches. The law was designed to protect the city from lawsuits over falls on uneven cobblestone sidewalks.
❖ Keep your bowling ball indoors if you live in Chico because the city has an ordinance that prohibits bowling on the sidewalks. The rule was meant to protect storefront windows and pedestrians. And Chico also bans making or detonating nuclear weapons. If caught, you can be fined $500, and locals joke that it’s the cheapest nuclear penalty in the world.
❖ Ferrets are classified as restricted wildlife and owning one in the state without a special permit is illegal. The concern is that they could become invasive if released. Advocates have long lobbied for legalization, but the ban remains.
❖ San Francisco has a clear message for tossing breadcrumbs—DON’T. Feeding pigeons is banned under the public health code (I sure wish HB had this same rule for feeding the crows and squirrels). The city considers pigeons a nuisance and feeding them encourages overpopulation. While enforcement varies, the law is real, and you could be subject to a fine if caught.
❖ Fresno has a law which prohibits contestants from eating a frog if it dies during a frog jumping contest.
Los Angeles has quite a few rules that you might want to avoid:
❖ LA is the skateboarding mecca of SoCal, but if you live on Hermano Drive in Tarzana, you better think about shredding with the best somewhere else. After a string of accidents, neighbors successfully lobbied for a skateboarding ban specific to their cul-de-sac. The ordinance only applies to that street.
❖ It’s against the law to hunt moths under street lamps. The ordinance is in place to stop late-night disturbances.
❖ It’s illegal to drive more than 2,000 sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at a time. At one time, it was common for livestock to pass through the town. With LA’s traffic, it’s hard to imagine thousands of sheep clogging up the freeways.
❖ Don’t try to be neighborly in LA and wash your neighbor’s car. It’s illegal to do it without their permission. While it sounds silly, it does make sense and prevents disputes over accidental scratches or unwanted favors.
❖ LA once had an ordinance banning women from driving while wearing housecoats. The law was repealed long ago which is good, because women (and men) can now drive around freely in their pajama pants and slippers.
December 13 / The annual Surfing Santa & Stand-Up Paddle Board Contest will once again be held at Salt Creek Beach (33333 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point). This event benefits Surfers Healing, the original surf camp for children with autism. You won’t want to miss this one-day event where contestants dress like Santa (or other holidayinspired characters) and battle it out on the waves. More info can be found at www.surfingsantacontest.org.
December 17–21 / Enjoy spectacularly decorated boats as they light up Newport Bay during the 117th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. In addition to the millions of lights on the water, the parade will also feature colorful holiday drone shows. There are many vantage points around the bay to view the parade (or make a reservation at one of the many restaurants). You can also bring the family to Marina Park (1600 W. Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach), the largest public viewing location on the parade route. This nightly event runs from 6:15–8:15 p.m. from the Balboa Bay Club and from 6:45–8:00 p.m. at Peninsula Park. Fireworks will also be featured on the first night (December 17) at 6:15 p.m. from Newport Pier. More information can be found at www.christmasboatparade.com.
January 1
January 10 & 24
February 1
February 7 & 8
February 13–22
February 21
March 1
March 6–8
March 7–April 4
March 7 & 8
March 8–14
March 11
March 27 & 28
March 27–29
May 2 & 3
July 16–19
August 14–16
April 17–19
May 22–25
July 24
October 3 & 4
Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach
Monster Energy SMX World Championship at Angel Stadium
Surf City USA Marathon in Huntington Beach
US Surfing Prime Series at Hunting Beach
Newport Winter Festival in Newport Beach
TẾT Parade in Westminster
Kinder Fasching Karneval in Huntington Beach
Festival of Whales in Dana Point
Easter Eggstravaganza at Irvine Park Railroad
Kite Party in Huntington Beach
Orange County Restaurant Week
Irish Fest in Huntington Beach
Savannah Banana’s at Angel Stadium
WonderCon in Anaheim
OC Marathon in Costa Mesa
West Coast Card Show in Anaheim
Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim
Grand Prix of Long Beach
Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach
Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach
Puzzles and Word Games you can
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Across 1.Similar
5.Chap
8.Celebes ox 9.Opening time, maybe
10.___ cheese
11.Cutlass, e.g.
12.From one side only
14.“C’___ la vie!”
15.Narcotic
18.Kind of store
19.Enormous birds of myth
21.“Idylls of the King” character
22.“Beetle Bailey” dog
23.“Wanna ___?”
24.Hail Mary, e.g.
Down
1.Ed.’s request 2.Sabotage
3.Cajole
4.Impeded
5.Gold-plated
6.Restrained stage performances
7.“Absolutely!”
9.A chemistry
Nobelist: 1946
13.Death on the Nile cause, perhaps
16.Leave out
17.Bit
18.Center of a ball?
20.“Help!”
The headline is a clue to the answer in the diagonal.
How to solve sudoku puzzles
No math is required to solve a sudoku. You only need logic and patience.
Simply make sure that each 3x3 square region has only one instance of the numbers 1-9. Similarly, each number can only
appear once in a column or row in the larger grid. The difficulty on this puzzle is easy.
1.Clark Gregg stars as the leader of a government team of heroes on what TV series? a-"The Champions," b-"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," c-"Misfits of Science," d-"Heroes."
2. Who starred as family head Clark Griswold in the 1983 film comedy "National Lampoon's Vacation"? a-Dick Van Patten, b-Chevy Chase, c-Bill Murray, d-Harold Ramis.
3.Marcia Clark was a lead prosecuting attorney in whose murder trial? a-Oscar Pistorius, b-O.J. Simpson, c-Phil Spector, d-Lyle and Erik Menendez.
4.Dick Clark was the longtime host of which TV game show? a-"Concentration," b-"What's My Line?," c-"The $10,000 Pyramid," d-"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
5. Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, are authors in what literary genre? a-Romance, b-Science fiction, c-Young adult, d-Mystery.
6.Which U.S. President had Clark as a middle name? a-Herbert Hoover, b-Calvin Coolidge, c-Abraham Lincoln, d-James Garfield.
7.Claudine Clark was the singer and composer of what top ten hit from 1962? a-"I Can't Stop Loving You," b-"Party Lights," c-"Let Me In," d-"Break It To Me Gently."
8. George Clark, Dutch Clark, and Monte Clark were all head coaches for which NFL team? a-Detroit Lions, b-New England Patriots, c-St. Louis Cardinals, d-New Orleans Saints.
9.The Lewis and Clark Expedition was commissioned by which US President, shortly after the Louisiana Purchase? a-John Adams, b-Thomas Jefferson, cJames Monroe, d-James Madison.
10.According to a 1967 Petula Clark hit song, where shouldn't you sleep? a-Under the apple tree, c-In the hallway, c-On the stairs, d-In the subway.
Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given, when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.
Joan Windmill Brown, American author and editor
My idea of Christmas, whether oldfashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?
Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian
Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
Washington Irving, American short-story writer and essayist.
Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need to be taken seriously, and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive.
Robert Lynd, American sociologist.
This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.
Taylor Caldwell, English novelist
Answer to 'Clark Bar'
1-b, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
2-b, Chevy Chase
3-b, O.J. Simpson
4-c, "The $10,000 Pyramid"
5-d, Mystery
6-a, Herbert Hoover
7-b, "Party Lights"
8-a, Detroit Lions
9-b, Thomas Jefferson
10-d, In the subway
Four-year-old Johnny was eating a hot dog when he dropped it on the floor. He quickly picked it up and was about to take another bite when his mom said, "No, Johnny, you can't eat that now it has germs."
Johnny pondered the thought a moment and replied, "Jesus, germs, and Santa Claus - that's all I ever hear about and I haven't seen one of 'em yet!"
A man writing at the post office desk was approached by an older fellow with a post card in his hand. The old man said, "Sir, I'm sorry to bother you but could you address this post card for me? My arthritis is acting up and I can't even hold a pen."
"Certainly, sir," said the younger man. He wrote out the address and also agreed to write a short message and sign the card for the man. Finally, the younger man asked, "Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"
The old fellow glanced at the card a moment and said, "Yes, at the end could you just add, 'PS: Please excuse the sloppy hand-writing.'"
A lady goes into the butcher shop and as she is walking around the store, she spies a beef tongue in the butcher's counter. The lady asks, "What in the world is that?"
"Beef tongue," replies the butcher.
The lady gives a little involuntary shudder, "No way would I put anything in my mouth that came out of an animal's mouth!"
The butcher nods sympathetically while peeking into the woman's shopping cart, "I see you're buying a dozen eggs!"
Grandpa said ...
*I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
*The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
*The bonds of matrimony are a good investment if the interest is kept up.
*Trouble starts when a man is so busy earnin' his salt he forgets his sugar.
GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT M0NTH
NATIONAL IMPAIRED DRIVING PREVENTION MONTH.
Holidays and Special Days
1, Cyber Monday. The Monday after Thanksgiving, marked by shopping promotions.
1, World AIDS Day.
3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
3, Package Protection Day. Reminds us of the importance of securing packages from porch thefts.
6, St. Nicholas Day. Christian observance commemorating Saint Nicholas, known for his generosity.
7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Honors American lives lost in the 1941 attack that drew the US into World War II.
8, Bodhi Day. Buddhist observance celebrating the day Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
9, Christmas Card Day. Day to send or create greeting cards.
10, International Animal Rights Day. Protects animals from harm, cruelty, and neglect.
12, Our Lady of Guadalupe Day. Commemorates the 1531 appearance of the Virgin Mary.
12, Gingerbread House Day.
12, National Poinsettia Day.
13, National Cocoa Day. Cozy up with rich, creamy hot cocoa topped with marshmallows.
14-22, Hanukkah. Jewish Festival of Lights celebrating the Maccabees' victory and temple rededication in 165 BC.
16, Las Posadas. Nine-day Christian observance reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for shelter.
17, Wright Brothers Day. Honors aviation pioneers who defied gravity and inspired flight.
19, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.
21, December Solstice. Marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
21, National Coquito Day. Festive Puerto Rican elixir of coconut, rum, and spices.
22, Mathematics Day. Explores patterns, puzzles, and the world through numbers.
24, Christmas Eve. Christian day before Christmas with family gatherings and traditions.
24, National Eggnog Day.
25, Christmas Day.
25, National Pumpkin Pie Day.
26, National Candy Cane Day.
27, National Fruitcake Day.
31, New Year's Eve. Last day of the year with parties and countdowns.
Events
1-4, Old Town Christmas in the Desert at Old Town, La Quinta, CA.
4-7, ChristmasVille at Old Town, Rock Hill, SC. Victorian-themed festival with parades, crafts, and live performances through December 7.
4-5, Winterfest at Henderson, NV. Holiday festival with live entertainment, family activities through December.
5-7, Saint Olaf Christmas Festival at Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN. Held since 1912; 600 musicians and 500 singers.
13, Santa Lucia Festival at various Scandinavian communities, MN and WI.
1-24, Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival at Leavenworth, WA. Bavarianstyle village. Several weekends.
31, Times Square New Year’s Eve at New York, NY. Iconic ball drop with live performances and global broadcast.
Financial literacy is an essential life skill, one that teens should start learning well before they leave the nest. These tools offer the benefits and convenience of conventional checking accounts and payment apps, but with extra features that teach young people how to handle money with parental supervision.
*Greenlight. This highly rated educational banking app gives parents full transparency into how their kids spend their money, plus capabilities to restrict certain spending categories and turn cards on and off. Greenlight also features chore and allowance tools, savings goals, and other educational activities. Teens can also use the app for direct payroll deposit.
*Acorns Early. Previously known as GoHenry, Acorns Early is designed for kids aged six to 18 and includes allowance and chore tools, a debit card with parental controls, and educational games to teach kids financial literacy. Acorns Early also lets kids accept cash gifts from family members.
*Step. This free app offers a secured credit card to help teens build credit, in addition to savings goals and rewards that accrue. While parents can use Step to monitor spending or block specific merchants, the app doesn't include chore or allowance tools.
* Current. Current's free teen account includes allowance and chore tools and parental controls with spending limits, along with a network of free ATMs. But there are no in-app educational tools and savings tools are limited compared to other personal finance apps for teens.
The struggle is real with kids and food, but especially at holidays when most of the food may well be different than what they are used to seeing.
You don't want tears at grandma's house. You don't want children announcing that they hate what is being served. To save the day, teach kids to compliment and thank the cook: Thank you Grandma, it looks good. Amazing how that one statement makes the picky eater look like a super star gourmet. Even if they don't eat much, they already said it was good. Everyone is happy. The child looks like a genius.
Teach them never to criticize the food. If they hate it, they need to keep that thought to themselves.
How you cope with the picky eater depends mainly on what works for you, but here are some ideas.
Consider presenting children with a challenge food. That's one bite of something they hate or never tasted before.
Just one small bite, like three peas. If they eat the challenge food and they are finished with dinner. It is especially helpful if kids are competitive with each other. Then the challenge food is a contest. You can increase the amount of the challenge food once they have tried it 10 times or so. Don't make a separate dinner for picky eaters. Put the family dinner on their plate, with small servings. Experts advise not forcing a child to eat everything on the plate, but you can enforce some level of cooperation. They must eat a few bites of what you put on their plate, even if it means you sit with them and coach them through the bites. Mouth, chew, swallow, take a drink.
If your picky eater won't eat enough to fill them up, then you might make their favorite (microwaved chicken nuggets!) after dinner. But the key is they have to eat some of the family dinner.
*Five days before: Plan the menu and the place settings, table decorations and center pieces.
Plan the system and decide whether guests will fill their dishes before going to the tables or whether you will have serving bowls on the tables, which is more work.
Ask someone to say the meal prayer.
*Three days before: Check your ingredients against the menu to make sure you have everything.
*One day before: Make some foods in advance so you can just heat them. Peel potatoes and put them in cold water in the fridge. They will stay fresh if you want to make mashed potatoes. Make your pies and desserts.
If you don't have a portable oven, bor-
row one for the day so you can bake or heat different foods at the same time.
*The night before: Set the table. Have salt and pepper shakers in place and fill the butter dishes.
Get someone to help with setting up another table if you need one, and bringing in the chairs.
*Christmas day: Be ready to serve guests a beverage when they arrive. When someone asks how they can help, have them cut cakes and pies into servings. People won't cut an uncut pie to serve themselves.
* At dinner: Ask guests to hold hands for the prayer, if it is your tradition.
*After dinner: If the women have cooked, the men can clear the table after dinner.
•Custom
Serving South Orange County To advertise in this magazine, please call 1-800-828-8242 or email info@mobilehomeparkmagizines.com mike@mobilehomeboard.com www.mobilehomeparkmagazines.com 1240-C Mtn. View/Alviso Rd. • Sunnyvale,
94089 (408) 744-1011 or (800) 828-8242
•Relevel • Foundations •Piers and Patios •Skirting & Roof Coating
408-744-1011 • 1-800-828-8242 • FAX 408-744-0870
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