Home for the holidays by Newton County Newspapers Special Sections

December 2014

e m o Hf o r t h e s y a d i Hol Home for the Holidays

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A Special Supplement to the Newton County Enterprise, Brook Reporter and Morocco Courier • December 2014

A Visit from St. Nicholas ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: “Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!” As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Home for the Holidays

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Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with bacon and pine nuts

Brussels sprouts are not everyone’s favorites because overcooking can give mixed results and a slightly bitter taste. However, this tasty and easy recipe is sure to please all your guests. The secret is in the blanching, which helps to preserve the beautiful bright green color of the sprouts. Ingredients (For 8 side servings) • • • • • •

2 pounds Brussels sprouts (at room temperature) 6 slices bacon 1/2 cup pine nuts (crushed walnuts also work well) 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 clove garlic, finely chopped Salt and pepper

Preparation 1. Trim Brussels sprouts and slice them very thinly. Using a mandolin gives uniform thickness. 2. In a large pot, bring salted water to a full boil. Add Brussels sprouts and carefully monitor the cooking, which should only take 2-3 minutes. The goal is for sprouts to be cooked but still crisp and bright green. 3. Immediately transfer sprouts to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and spread sprouts on a cloth to remove excess water. These steps can be done before your guests arrive. 4. In large frying pan, cook bacon slowly until crisp. Remove and crumble. 5. In same pan, sauté onion in bacon fat over medium-low heat for a few minutes until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and walnuts and cook for 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn garlic. Add sprouts and crumbled bacon to frying pan. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix well to heat evenly and serve immediately.

December 2014 D

Did you know?

Many Christmas traditions are older than you may think Many Christmas traditions are older than some celebrants might think. The tradition of lighting up a Christmas tree, for example, dates back to the days before Christmas lights. Before electricpowered twinkle lights were invented and even before electricity was discovered, people used actual candles to adorn the Christmas tree. As one can imagine, having an open flame next to a dried-out tree was risky, so it was customary to keep a bucket of water next to the tree in the case of fire. As if fire wasn’t enough, the tinsel used to decorate trees was made from strips of silver and even lead -- something that is now known to be a

health hazard to adults and children alike. Although we’ve come a long way since candles and lead, even now trees that are overly dry and decorated with lights that have frayed wires can just as easily lead to fires. Plus, plastic tinsel can be a choking hazard for children and pets. One Christmas staple that has lost its status as a safety hazard is the poinsettia plant. It has long been thought that poinsettias are poisonous to people and animals. While there is some toxicity to the plant, it would require the ingestion of hundreds of leaves to get a toxic dose of a plant’s poison.

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Christmas champagne punch Here’s a punch that everyone will enjoy. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t use your very best wines for this – affordable sparkling wines are fine for this recipe. Ingredients (For 20 people) • • • • • •

One 12 oz can orange juice concentrate, thawed but still chilled (a blood orange concentrate gives a nice colored punch, although it can be difficult to find) Two 12 oz cans pink lemonade concentrate, thawed but still chilled One 2 liter bottle ginger ale, thoroughly chilled Two bottles sparkling wine, chilled Two limes, cut into wedges Small jar maraschino cherries

In the spirit of the holiday season, we’d like to share our best wishes for a very merry Christmas. May you and yours enjoy a festive season of peace, joy and goodwill.

Preparation 1. In large punch bowl, combine cans of orange juice and lemonade concentrate, ginger ale, and liquid from maraschino cherries. Stir well. Add sparkling wine and stop stirring. 2. Add a few lime wedges and ice cubes as needed. 3. Use lime wedges and cherries skewered on toothpicks to decorate glasses (optional).

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Wilson Fertilizer Inc. Here’s hoping your holiday is blessed with the perfect combination of peace, harmony and joy.

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Home for the Holidays

December 2014

Keeping the magic of Santa alive He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. - “A Visit From St. Nicholas” Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without Santa Claus. Santa will forever be ingrained in the holiday season, serving as an endearing symbol of the season regardless of your religious affiliation. Parents typically go to great lengths to ensure their children enjoy the holiday season. By keeping the magic of Santa alive, parents can add a special touch to the holiday season for their youngsters. Children may become more skeptical of Santa around the time they turn 10, but there are plenty of ways to encourage this spirit to live on year after year. • Read an uplifting story. The holidays are ripe with stories that tug at the heartstrings. Parents can take their children to the library and rent a Christmas tale or take home a book of holiday stories, reading a different one before bed each night. Encourage children to write their own positive stories of what the holidays mean to them and read them aloud to family and friends. The book “101 Ways to Keep the Spirit of Santa Alive: For “Kids” From 1 to 92” by John Hagerman is a great way to get everyone in the house enthusiastic about Santa. • Keep the magic flowing. Children who

believe in Santa for an extra year or two often come from families that keep the magic of Santa alive. In addition to the standard traditions of leaving cookies and milk out for the jolly old man, come up with new ways to evoke the essence of Santa. Spray peppermint air freshener around the tree and other places Santa is sure to visit. Use a large boot to make a footprint in a plush rug. Find a way to trigger noise on the roof to give kids the impression that Mr. Claus himself has arrived. Extra measures to keep Santa alive can help everyone enjoy the holiday that much more. • Take advantage of opportunities to spend time with Santa.# Parents and children alike have many opportunities to spend time with Santa during the holiday season, including photo opportunities at the mall and personalized videos sent directly to youngsters’ email accounts. Elf dolls and breakfast with Santa at a nearby restaurant are other opportunities to spread the magic. Make the most of these opportunities over the course of the holiday season. * Spread some Christmas cheer. Santa’s job is to bring presents to the world’s children. Channel the notion that giving is better than receiving and spend time giving back to others as a family. Schedule a day when you can distribute gifts at a senior center or arrange to bring gifts to a foster child. Bake cookies and deliver cellophane-wrapped dishes to all of your neighbors. These activities put the emphasis on giving. Keeping the tradition of Santa Claus alive can help adults and children alike enjoy a more festive holiday season.

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Holiday dangers for pets You always thought that once the children were all grown up you could finally give free rein to your imagination and go crazy with the decorations. But, unfortunately, you forgot to take your pet into account. That’s right; even with pets, it’s important to follow some safety rules in order for Christmas to be a success. Firstly, your Christmas tree poses several risks. If it is natural, ensure that your cat doesn’t drink the water, and keep it well away from fallen needles. Also ensure that the tree is stable and won’t fall over if your cat suddenly decides to jump into it. After all, you don’t want the tree falling over and injuring your beloved pet. Tree ornaments also pose a threat to the health of your pets; they can suffocate a pet or damage its intestines if they are swallowed. So avoid using tinsel icicles and make sure any dangerous ornaments, such as artificial snow and small decorations, are inaccessible. In addition, keep dogs and cats away from strings of lights, as they could electrocute themselves by chewing on them. Finally,

Lots of guests can be stressful, so let your pets have access to a quiet place where they can hide during the festivities.

opt for plastic ball ornaments rather than glass ones, which are easily breakable. Position poinsettia plants out of the reach of animals, as they are toxic. Also, be careful where you set up candles, and never leave them burning unattended. Sweets, leftovers, alcoholic drinks, ribbons, and small toys can all be dangerous if ingested by your pet. Sure, you can still decorate your home and entertain guests, but be sure to take a few precautions.

Make it a time of comfort and joy for seniors too Over the Christmas holidays, we often let ourselves be overwhelmed by long lists of errands to run, meals to cook, and evenings to organize. The preparations and festivities fly by, and in the end, we often end up participating in about half of the activities we’d hoped to enjoy. That is why visiting a beloved senior should be at Nearly a quarter of all the top of the list, so that nothing prevents over age 65 live alone. us from spending time with him or her. As we age, family members disperse and develop new interests. For seniors, friends become fewer and farther between, while loneliness and isolation grow over the years. This is difficult to cope with at any

LEB

R AT I N

time of year, but it is particularly so during the festive season. Whether they are our parents or grandparents, it’s important to visit seniors or invite them to take part in our celebrations so they are not alone over the holidays. If you don’t have any elderly relatives, you could volunteer a few hours of your time and visit some seniors who otherwise wouldn’t receive any visitors. A couple of hours could make a huge difference to them and give them a lot of joy and comfort. Americans We get so caught up in our busy lives that we often neglect the ones who cared for us and spoiled us throughout most of our lives. Now it’s our turn to make some time to pamper them. It is the most precious gift that we can offer them.

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Season’s Greetings BLANEY & WALTON ATTORNEYS AT LAW

124 EAST STATE STREET • P.O. BOX 500 MOROCCO, INDIANA 47963 TEL: (219) 285-2008 FAX: (219) 285-6899 DANIEL C. BLANEY dblaney@blaneyandwalton.com

Home for the Holidays

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December 2014 D

Christmas tunes spread holiday spirit

Some stores start stocking Christmas decorations and wrapping paper as early as the end of October, and some families begin decking their halls in holiday finery in late November. But for many people, the holiday season has not truly begun until the music synonymous with this festive time of year has hit the airwaves. Few things can make a person feel as festive as the holiday songs they know and love. Many families have a favorite musical artist whose music they consider synonymous with their holiday celebrations. While families have their own unique holiday traditions, over time certain holiday songs have emerged as favorites. These are the tunes you’re likely to hear played over and over on the radio. Billboard, which tracks the music industry’s most popular songs, compiled its own list of the most popular Christmas songs. The list measures the volume of people who have been exposed to the song on the radio, and is based on ranking rather than exact figures of listeners, and the following are the 10 most popular songs based on those parameters. 10. “Happy Xmas (War is Over),” by John Lennon: This song debuted in 1971 and was written by Lennon and his wife,

Yoko Ono. Performed with the Harlem Community Choir, the song was originally a protest song about the Vietnam Warm before it eventually became a Christmas standard. 9. “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24),” by TransSiberian Orchestra: According to Nielsen, this instrumental mash-up of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Carol of the Bells” is one of the bestselling Christmas digital singles in SoundScan history. A combination of full, classical orchestra and rock, “Christmas Eve” is a memorable and powerful piece of music. 8. “White Christmas,” by Bing Crosby: Crosby crooned this tune in 1942 in the movie of the same name, and Irving Berlin’s song soon became one of the most popular holiday tunes of all time. It has been covered innumerable times and has become a holiday season standard. 7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Andy Williams: This popular

Baked Christmas french toast with cranberries and caramel sauce

Here is a decadent dessert that children and adults will love. Feel free to use leftover sliced bread, baguette, or any other white bread that’s available. If you don’t like cranberries or if you don’t have any on hand, simply omit them. Ingredients (Serves 8) • • • • • • • • • • •

10 cups bread (torn into pieces or cut into cubes, with the crust on) 8 eggs 1 cup 35% cream (2 x 1/2 cup) 2 cups milk 2 cups brown sugar (1 cup + 2 x 1/2 cup) 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 tbsp vanilla (2 x 1 tbsp) 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries 1/2 cup butter 1 tsp cinnamon Green and red sugar crystals for garnish (optional)

Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350oF. 2. Grease a 9 x 13” baking dish. Spread bread pieces evenly in dish. 3. In large bowl, lightly whisk eggs, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, 1/2 cup cream, 1 tbsp vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour mixture over bread, making sure to coat evenly. 4. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of brown sugar over mixture, and then distribute cranberries as evenly as possible. Bake for 50 minutes. 5. Towards the end of the cooking time, combine 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup cream, the butter, and 1 tbsp vanilla in a medium pot. Heat slowly over medium-low heat until it reaches simmering point. Cook 4 to 6 minutes or until sauce has thickened nicely. 6. To serve, trickle caramel sauce in a crisscross pattern over surface of French toast and then add a sprinkling of sugar crystals (or sprinkle into cookie cutters laid on surface to make seasonal designs). Tip: steps 2 and 3 can be prepared the day before or earlier in the day. Then simply cover the dish and refrigerate until you’re ready to continue the recipe.

Christmas song was written by Edward Pola and George Wyle in 1963. The song celebrates the traditions and feelings of the Christmas season. 6. “Feliz Navidad,” by Jose Feliciano: This Spanish-English pop song is recognized by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as one of the 25 most-played and recorded Christmas songs around the world. Puerto-Rican born Feliciano has said that the song has always been a bridge to the cultures that are so dear to him. 5. “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” by Burl Ives: This song was written by Johnny Marks, an American songwriter. Ironically, Marks was Jewish, but he specialized in Christmas songs and wrote many of the holiday standards people love, including this upbeat tune and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” 4. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” by Nat King Cole: Believe it or not, this song was actually written in the summer when

composers Bob Wells and Mel Torme were trying to cool off with winter imagery. Snow-covered images and phrases eventually turned into lyrics for this popular song that was most memorably recorded by Nat King Cole. 3. “Jingle Bell Rock,” by Bobby Helms: This song has been performed by many, but Helms’ version of the is perhaps the best known. The song highlights the crossover style known as “rockabilly” and merges the classic “Jingle Bells” with rock n’ roll references of the 1950s. 2. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee: Brenda Lee was a charttopping female vocalist of the 1960s who owes much of her success to this beloved holiday classic. Despite the mature sound of her voice, Lee recorded this version when she was only 13 years old. 1. “All I Want for Christmas is You,” by Mariah Carey: This up-tempo love song has become a Christmas classic and one of Carey’s most popular hits. She cowrote and coproduced the song with Walter Afansieff. It is one of the few, modern, original Christmas songs to stand the test of time and become an official Christmas standard.

The many ways to recycle Christmas greeting cards The Greeting Card Association says Americans purchase some 6.5 billion greeting cards every year. Of those, around 1.6 billion are Christmas cards. Exchanging cards is a great way for people to show their loved ones that they’re thinking about them, and such cards make for festive ornaments to display around homes. But when the holiday season ends, recycling those cards into other items can make good use of the paper resources and turn what’s normally a single-use item into an enduring trinket. • Turn this year’s cards into next year’s gift tags. Cut out circles, rectangles or any shape you desire. Otherwise, visit the scrapbooking aisle of your favorite craft store and purchase a paper punch to make easy work of cutting those shapes. • Transform a greeting card into a mini puzzle for a youngster. • Glue silly characters from Christmas cards

onto a sheet of magnet. Then use these magnets for decorations next year. • Frame favorite cards so their messages can endure year after year. • Turn a beautiful card into a keepsake. Use a decoupage medium to attach a card to a ceramic or wood backing. Coat with a polyurethane top coat to protect it. • Use greeting cards to make wine charms for holiday entertaining. Guests can keep track of their glasses with ease. • Use cut-outs of cards to improve the appearance of plain gift wrap or bags. • Insert cut rounds of greeting cards into the inside of can lids to create crafty ornaments. • Make a paper Christmas tree from cutouts on greeting cards. • Encourage kids to make a photo collage from the cards they like. Mount their efforts on poster board and save for next year. • Donate used cards. St. Jude’s Ranch recycles greeting cards by reselling them to help fund programs.

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Closing at noon on December 24 CLOSED on Christmas Day Closing at 2:00 p.m. December 31 CLOSED on New Year’s Day

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Bus: 765-884-1106

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Happy Holidays!

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Home for the Holidays

December 2014

Page 5

Test your knowledge of popular Christmas movies

Movie Quotes Quiz 1. “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.” 2. “Uh, since the United States Government declares this man to be Santa Claus, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed.” 3. “If TV has taught me anything, it’s that miracles always happen to poor kids at Christmas. It happened to Tiny Tim, it happened to Charlie Brown, it happened to The Smurfs, and it’s gonna happen to us!” 4. “I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200 shot range model air rifle.” 5. “Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen.” 6. “Iris, in the movies, we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason, you’re behaving like the best friend.” 7. “Who gave you permission to tell

Charlie there was no Santa Claus? I think if we’re going to destroy our son’s delusions, I should be a part of it.” 8. “I want to wash my hands, my face, my hair with snow.” 9. “We’re not just doing this for us. We’re doing it for the kids. For every kid who ever sat on Santa’s lap. For every little girl who left cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas night. For every little boy who opens a package Christmas morning and finds clothes instead of toys. It breaks my heart.” 10. “We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big Eastern syndicate you know.” 11. “I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear your company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?” 12. “Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” 13. “Light the lamp, not the rat, light the lamp, not the rat! Put me out, put me out, put me out!” 14. “Tell me something, Billy. How come a cute little guy like this can turn into a thousand ugly monsters?” 15. “Wanna see some magic? OK, let’s watch you disappear!” 16. “That’s not ‘my’ Christmas! ‘My’ Christmas is filled with laughter, and joy... and this: my Sandy Claws outfit. I want you to make it.” 17. “That’s neither pig nor pork, it’s beef.” 18. “I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.”

1. “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” 2. “Miracle on 34th Street” 3. “The Simpson’s Christmas” 4. “A Christmas Story” 5. “Home Alone” 6. “The Holiday” 7. “The Santa Clause” 8. “White Christmas” 9. “Jingle All the Way”

10. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” 11. “A Christmas Carol” 12. “The Polar Express” 13. “The Muppets Christmas Carol” 14. “Gremlins” 15. “Bad Santa” 16. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” 17. “Babes in Toyland” 18. “Elf”

ANSWER: ONE AND SIX

What would the holidays be without snowflakes falling outside, a mug of hot cocoa in hand and a favorite Christmas movie on television? Television is full of feel-good movies come the holiday season. Choose from among classic flicks you have watched year after year or new movies vying for spots as soon-to-be favorites. Watching Christmas movies is a holiday tradition for many families. So much so that lines from popular movies are easily remembered and recognized. Those who can recite movies verbatim might enjoy testing their mettle with the following Christmas quiz loaded with memorable quotes from some holiday classics.

Strategies for last-minute shoppers Holiday shoppers tend to fall into three distinct camps. There are those people who have completed all of their shopping and wrapping even before November ends. Others shop in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Finally, many people wait until the last minute, and such shoppers are the ones seen rushing from store to store on December 24. Waiting until the last possible second to purchase a gift may not prove much of a problem when shopping for birthday gifts. But come the holiday season, such procrastination may find shoppers perusing limited inventories and dealing with other frantic proscrastinators. But even those shoppers who still plan to put off their holiday shopping can make the most of such stalling this holiday season. • Consider eGift cards. Many retailers offer digital gift cards that can be emailed in a matter of minutes. Purchase the card from the online retailer and email the redemption code to the gift recipient. Time the email to

arrive on Christmas morning or include all of the necessary information in a holiday card. • Ship to store. Some shoppers like the convenience of ship-to-store services. This enables a person to purchase a gift online but avoid shipping charges by having the item made available at a store location. Instock items are typically ready the day of purchase, and this helps you avoid crowds and impulse buys, as online purchases are typically available at special pick-up locations in the store that allow online shoppers to skip long lines at the registers. • Avoid gimmick gifts. Skip the “as seen on TV” aisle at the store or trendy infomercial gifts. Such gifts may suggest to their recipients that you waited until the last minute to buy the gifts and then really didn’t have any good ideas. • Expect extra charges and factor such charges into your budget. Procrastinating may work for your schedule, but expect to pay more if you shop online and require

shipping. You will probably need to expedite shipping if you expect to have gifts delivered on time. Verify the delivery date before making any purchases. Paying more for shipping may outweigh the hassle of driving to store after store searching for gifts. Online retailers like Amazon may even offer selective delivery on Christmas Eve. • Check store hours. Some stores offer extended shopping hours to meet the needs of last-minute shoppers. You may be able to visit early morning or late at night to skip the crowds. Certain department stores time sales with these extended hours, such as “early bird” or “night owl” specials, so you may even be rewarded for procrastinating. • Shop smaller retailers. One way to avoid the hassles that often come with holiday shopping is to patronize smaller, independent shops. Chances are the crowds will be smaller at these shops and you may have access to a more unique selection of gifts than you would find at the nearby mall.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I am Your voice in the Statehouse

DOUGLAS GUTWEIN

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 16 Ph: 765-427-8579 Email: douglasgutwein@yahoo.com P.O. Box 341 • Francesville, IN 47946

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Blessed New Year Gary Hancock

MainSourceBank.com 220 S. Newton, Goodland, IN

219-297-3101

Agent

316 W. Main Street Brook, IN 47922-0176

Bus: (219) 275-2151 • Cell: (219) 863-4650 Fax: (866) 545-5153 • Toll-Free: (800) 317-4769 Gary.Hancock@infarmbureau.com

Home for the Holidays

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Angels We Have Heard on High

O Christmas Tree

December 2014 D

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Silent Night

Hair Haven By Becca Hair • Nails • Tanning & Spray Tan • Massage 115 N. Third St., Kentland, IN

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

STATE STREET AUTO

216 E. State Street, Morocco, IN

219-285-2554

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Goodland,Indiana

219-297-4511

9541 N. 300 W. Lake Village, IN

(219) 992-9131

KINDELL INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC 101 N. 6th St., Kentland, Indiana 47951

E-Mail: info@kindellinsurance.com BUSINESS PHONE 219-474-6088

FAX: 219-474-6089

Home for the Holidays

December 2014

Page 7

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Joy to the World

Up on the House Top

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Season’s Greetings

Happy Holidays! FOOD KING

302 E. Dunlap St., Kentland, IN

219-474-5055

Fowler State Bank

HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fowler • Kentland • Williamsport

Holiday Party Trays, Specialty Cuts of Meat, Fruit Baskets

800-439-3951

www.fowlerstatebank.com

Newton County REMC

Your Touchstone® Energy Cooperative

4151 E. US Hwy 24 • P.O. Box 400 • Goodland, IN 47948

Treasure Shop Too 403 N. 7th St., Kentland, IN 47951

219.297.3118 Monday thru Friday 7am to 4pm CST

219-234-1095 & 219-863-5023

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

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STORE

Downtown Kentland

219-474-5741

Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5; Saturday 9-1

Page 8

Home for the Holidays

Most popular Christmas songs Decorations and shopping are integral parts of the holiday season, but very often it is the music being played over the airwaves that sets the tone for the festivities to come. Christmas music has been enjoyed for decades and certain compositions are widely loved and played year after year. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, who compiles lists of the most popular songs, lists “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “Winter Wonderland,” both of which were written in 1934, as the oldest and most popular tunes. The newest popular song is “Wonderful Christmastime,” composed in 1979. Though personal preference often determines a holiday playlist, the following tunes are of the more popular Christmas songs: * “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” - Mel Torme, Robert Wells * “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” - Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie * “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin * “Winter Wonderland” - Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith * “White Christmas” - Irving Berlin * “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne * “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” - Johnny Marks * “Jingle Bell Rock” - Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe * “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” - Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram

* “Little Drummer Boy” - Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone * “Sleigh Ride” - Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish * “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Edward Pola, George Wyle * “Silver Bells” - Jay Livingston, Ray Evans * “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Johnny Marks * “Feliz Navidad” - Jose Feliciano * “Blue Christmas” - Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson * “Frosty the Snowman” - Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins * “A Holly Jolly Christmas” - Johnny Marks * “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” Tommie Connor * “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” - Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman * “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” - Meredith Willson * “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” - Bob Allen, Al Stillman * “Carol of the Bells” - Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich * “Santa Baby” - Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer * “Wonderful Christmastime” - Paul McCartney “White Christmas” is the most covered Christmas song of all time. There are more than 500 versions in several different languages.

December 2014 D

Holiday films to lift your spirits

Many families have their own unique holiday traditions, but some traditions transcend familial lines to become an integral part of many people’s holiday celebrations. One of the more popular traditions during this festive time of year is to watch a favorite holiday film with family and friends. With that in mind, the following are some of the most beloved holiday movies ever to make it onto the big screen. • “It’s a Wonderful Life”: Perhaps no holiday film is more beloved than this 1946 Frank Capra-directed classic. Screen legend Jimmy Stewart plays a desperate businessman contemplating suicide during the holiday season. But a guardian angel helps him realize all the good fortune in his life by showing him what life might have been like if he had never existed. • “White Christmas”: This 1954 song-anddance film stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as a pair of longtime friends and ex-military men who fall in love with a sister act team that includes famous singer (and aunt to George Clooney) Rosemary Clooney. Crosby and Kaye

join forces to save the failing Vermont inn of their beloved former commander. • “Miracle on 34th Street”: Natalie Wood stars in this 1947 classic that follows the trial of Kris Kringle, who claims to be Santa Claus and must prove otherwise to avoid being institutionalized. Nominated for Best Picture at the 1948 Academy Awards, “Miracle on 34th Street” won three of the prestigious statuettes, including a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® for Edmund Gwenn, who played the jolly old man in the red suit. • “Bad Santa”: Though not quite as heartwarming as many holiday films, this 2003 black comedy stars Billy Bob Thornton as miserable, alcoholic con man “Willie,” who poses as a mall Santa Claus so he can rob a department store safe on Christmas Eve. But in spite of its rather raunchy take on the holiday season, the film is ultimately a story of redemption as Willie befriends a bullied youngster and begins to turn his life around. • “A Christmas Carol”: Those looking for a more traditional take on holiday films need look no further than this 1951 adaptation of the Charles Dickens novella, which tells the tale of bitter miser Ebenezer Scrooge as he is haunted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.

Dear readers and advertisers,

Happy HOLIDAYS!

It is with great pleasure that we bring you quality news from our vibrant community every week. We also feel it is a privilege to be the media most chosen by local business owners to showcase their products and businesses. We are proud to be a newspaper that focuses on promoting the local economy. Our whole team thanks you for allowing us to be an integral part of your daily life during the past year. We wish you a fantastic 2015.

From all of us at

NEWTON COUNTY ENTERPRISE BROOK REPORTER MOROCCO COURIER