Holiday Gift Guide 2021

Why Shopping Local Matters

Gift ideas for the winter travelers this holiday season

Why you should support small businesses this holiday season

Great Homemade Food Gifts

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Great Gifts for Avid Snowbirds

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Saturday, November 20, 2021 A Special Section of

Create festive treats that are ideal for gifting during the holiday season

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Saturday, November 20, 2021

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Great Gifts for Avid Snowbirds

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very winter, millions of people — largely seniors and retirees — pack their bags, load up their RVs or book their flights with warm destinations in mind. Soon after they start sharing photos of themselves sipping tropical drinks on sandy shores while the rest of their family members are likely shivering in icy drifts back home.

This seasonal migration has become the norm for a distinct demographic who prefer to ride out the winter in locales that are free from snow, ice and frigid temperatures.

The term “snowbird” was first used in the 1920s to describe seasonal workers who moved south for the winter months, and in 1979 it was used in reference to tourists who headed south each winter. According to Vacations Made Easy, around 10 percent of the snowbirds who head to the southern United States each winter are Canadian. Florida is one of the most popular destinations for snowbirds.

A significant percentage of snowbirds eventually will make their southern residences permanent. In the meantime, shoppers who want to give a fitting gift for the snowbirds who are still traveling each year can consider the following ideas this holiday season.

Golf Course Guide: Retirees often spend time out on the golf course.

Offer a guide to various courses in southern states, and they can plan their trips by making road trips as they visit each course.

GPS Device: While many snowbirds have cars already equipped with built-in navigation, those

driving older vehicles may benefit from a GPS device they can mount to the dashboard, which will provide directions if they have to divert from their normal routes or when they want to go off the beaten path on their way to sunny skies.

Decorative Stationery: Make it easy for snowbirds to communicate with friends and family back home in a traditional way. Decorative note cards, post cards or other stationery can be a nice gift, and these notes can serve as mementos for recipients, particularly grandchildren.

Customized T-shirts: Have T-shirts monogrammed or customized with messages that play to snowbirds’ love of travel and/or sense of humor.

Beach Essentials: Put together a gift that makes spending time on the beach more enjoyable. A beach caddy stocked with sunscreen, towels, an umbrella, and flip flops will give beachgoers a head start on gathering seaside essentials.

Food and Wine Carrier: Keeping items cool is critical in hot climates.

A well-insulated food and beverage carrier can make picnics or snacks by the shore comfortable and safe.

Lounges: Whether you offer a zero-gravity lounge to set up on the lenai or a floating beach lounge for relaxing in the waves, a gift that brings relaxation to the next level will be appreciated.

Snowbirds travel many miles to reach warm destinations and ride out winter in comfort. Gifts geared around this annual tradition are guaranteed to make snowbirds smile.

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Perfect for the adventurer in your life!

Saturday, November 20, 2021

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Eat (and Drink) Local Why Shopping Local Matters

f you’re not planning a big soirée, make sure you factor them in to your holiday shopping plans by stopping in for a bite while you’re out filling up the sleigh or even gifting gift cards from your favorite local spots.

Here are some hints for eating locally that you may not have thought of from USA Today.

Bake With Local Grains Holiday baking is a family favorite.

This year, look for locally grown grains and flavors to add to your rotation of recipes. Visiting a farmers market is a great way to learn what’s grown nearby, from grits to locally processed flours.

Visit the Local Butcher or Fishmonger Big holiday meals call for quality proteins. Locally based ranchers and fisherfolk offer fresh, often organic, meats and seafoods that are well worth every penny. The experts at the butcher’s and fish shops can even tell you how to stretch your dollar by suggesting lower-priced cuts and fish that taste the same (or even better) than their expensive cousins. While you’re there, ask for any specials they may have and suggestions for recipes.

You will probably learn a thing or two and come out with a new favorite holiday dish.

Go to the Baker While you’re at the farmers market

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There are lots of good reasons to shop local this holiday season.

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he most compelling, perhaps, is to put your money where your home is. Help grow your community by shopping local and give the hard-working small business owners in your town the opportunity to flourish after the pandemic.

or out visiting the butcher, check out deals at local bakeries, too. Pick up some breads to go on your holiday table, or look for showstopping confections with a local flavor that can’t be beat. These make great host or hostess gifts, too, and are always welcome at the office party.

Stock the Bar with Local Beer and Liquor Craft brewing is experiencing a surge in popularity, as is smallbatch liquor. Most every town or city nowadays can boast of at least one local brewery, and these are great places to find holiday gifts and libations. Look for small batch or special releases you can only get by dropping by. While you’re there, ask the staff for their favorite cocktail recipe using their wares.

Your Money Stays Local

Shopping local is another way to love your neighbor this holiday season.

The American Independent Business Alliance says that each dollar you spend locally triples in value to the local economy. Locally owned businesses generally buy supplies from other locally owned businesses. Their staffs eat out in the community and usually live where they work, pumping more money into the local economy.

Local business also invests in the community and, most importantly, nonprofit organizations. The National Technical Reports Library has produced data that shows local nonprofits receive 350% more money from its local small business neighbors than from out-of-town and larger corporate retailers. Among those nonprofits are community shelters, fundraisers and other community partners.

Environmentally Friendly

When you shop locally made goods in local shops, you are shrinking your carbon footprint because your purchase doesn’t have to be transported very far for sale. Locally owned businesses may also be expending fewer resources than their larger, national or multinational competitors.

Business Built on Service

Because local businesses are staffed by your friends and neighbors, it’s likely that they may offer better customer service than larger counterparts. Also, small businesses generally have to work harder to get you in the door and benefit more from you referring others, meaning it pays for them to treat their customers right.

Small businesses offer goods and services tailored to their communities, rather than trying to shoehorn one area into a larger, national plan. This means the products they offer are more likely to work for you and your family. If you do have an issue with your purchase, local businesses may be more likely to make it right for you than national competitors, who have to rely on broad policies to fit a range of scenarios.

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Ways to Support Small Businesses this Holiday Season

Saturday, November 20, 2021

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mall businesses long have been the heart and soul of local communities. There is something to be said about being on a first-name basis with a local restaurateur or another small business owner, as such familiarity often translates into exemplary service.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99.9 percent of companies in the country, due in large part to the broad definition of small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees). However, the vast majority of businesses in the United States have a staff that’s smaller than 20 workers, according to the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.

These firms employ nearly 60 million workers, says the SBA. Despite the prevalence of small businesses, fewer than 80 percent of entrepreneurial small business ventures make it beyond their first year, and only around half make it beyond five years.

Consumers who want to help their favorite small businesses survive can use the holiday season and beyond to set the course for success. Consumers can make a concerted effort to fuel this important cog in their local economic engines.

Shop Local. The concept is simple but effective. Opting to shop in local stores over larger conglomerates and franchises can help small businesses take root. Before making holiday shopping lists, visit local stores and base gift ideas on items they have in

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stock. Chances are those gifts will be one-of-a-kind.

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Purchase Gift Cards/Certificates.

All businesses have slow periods, and post-holidays is often a time when sales stagnate. Gift cards may bring new customers into local businesses who might otherwise not have patronized them, potentially creating new repeat customers.

Cater Holiday Meals and Gatherings. The holiday season is chock-full of entertainment opportunities. Individuals can rely on nearby restaurants and other food and beverage businesses to cater holiday parties. Some businesses also may be willing to discount or donate food for nonprofit group activities, such as church holiday bazaars, school holiday concerts or fundraising fairs.

• Mention small businesses on social media. The holiday season breeds excitement.

Therefore, when shoppers are in local stores, they can snap pictures of products and overflowing shopping bags and post them online while praising local businesses.

Think About Subscription Gifts.

Enrollment in a health club or a massage therapy service are gifts that keep on giving for the recipient, but also help ensure consistent incoming cash for the business providing the service.

When shopping this holiday season, consumers can look to the small, local businesses in their communities that help make towns and cities unique.

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Best Gifts for Pets and Their Humans

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Don’t forget our feathered and four-legged friends this holiday season — and their companions.

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f you want to impress a pet-loving person, turn up with a great gift for their animals. A great way to start is by making a trip to the local pet store and ask for some advice. Or you can start with these ideas.

Gifts for Pups Treats. Lots of treats. Some local bakeries may make special pup cakes and cookies just for doggies, and a selection of those will make any pup happy. While you’re at the pet store, look for other things like pet outfits, collars, harnesses and leashes. If your friend’s dog is particularly fuzzy, pick up some grooming supplies like brushes, combs and shedding spray.

Food and water dishes are another excellent idea, and you can find a variety of bowls in different materials and styles to suit every decor.

Gifts for Cats With the kitties, start with toys.

Anything that sparks a cat’s instinct to hunt is a great toy.

Keep an eye out for small balls and crinkly toys, feathers and wands they can chase, scratchers and, for the advanced cat owner, interactive cat toys. Laser pointers are another popular option. Cat furniture is a great gift, like scratching poles or loungers, but make sure their person has plenty of room for it.

Gifts for Birds Another pet that loves a toy is a bird. Look for toys that are appropriate to the type of bird your friend has; you may want to look for toys that help keep their birds’ beaks and claws properly maintained. Other ideas are dried fruits and seeds appropriate for your favorite bird’s diet, nesting boxes, perches and cage accessories.

Fins, Fur and More

You’re going to see some common refrains for these uncommon pets.

Treats and toys are great ideas no matter what pet you’re buying for.

Just make sure with the experts at the

pet store that the ones you’ve picked out are appropriate for the pet you’re buying for. Many pet stores also offer things like outfits, even for our scaly

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friends, and grooming tools for all kinds of pets. Ask the experts in the store to help you put together a showstopping gift.

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10 Gift Ideas for People Who Love to Cook

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Sheet Pans: They may not seem like the most sexy or high-tech tools of the kitchen, but sheet pans are among the most versatile. They can be used for cookies, sheet pan cakes, oven-frying cutlets or fries, or even serving as the perfect bases for candy brittles.

Air Fryer Tool Set: By now many people have hopped on the air fryer bandwagon, but they may not have all of the accessories to take air frying to the next level. From spatulas to tongs to silicone brushes, an air fryer tool set can make meals even more delicious.

Dutch Oven: You’d be hard-pressed to find a more hard-working tool in the kitchen than a Dutch oven. These heavy, often enameled cast iron vessels come in various quart sizes. They can be used to cook stews, breads, cakes, and much more.

Kitchen Compost Bin: Home cooks who want to cut down on waste will appreciate a countertop compost bin to gather food scraps.

Serving Board: The rise in cheese and charcuterie boards means cooks will need something attractive to serve their spreads. Wooden and stone boards are attractive when serving sliced cheeses, crackers, chutneys, and other appetizer.

Electric Wine Opener: Wine is the perfect complement to many dishes,

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ifts from the heart are among the most coveted and appreciated come the holiday season. Hobbyists from all walks of life can turn their passions into handmade gifts, but few gifts may be as welcomed as those that can be eaten.

and what easier way to open bottles than with an electric wine opener?

Many are compatible with almost any bottleneck and can open several bottles on a single charge.

Spiralizer: The trend for pasta alternatives continues, and having a spiralizer that can turn vegetables like zucchini into spiraled “noodles” will be handy in most kitchens.

Apron and Accessories: Home cooks need to protect their clothing in the kitchen. A fashionable apron and matching oven mitts can make a statement and keep clothes clean.

Meat Delivery: The number of directto-home meat shipping providers continues to grow. Have quality cuts of meat delivered right to a home cook’s house so that he or she can cut back on trips to the store.

New Blender: Today’s blenders can crush ice, process foods, puree, and chop foods. These versatile appliances make a welcome addition to any kitchen.

Stock up on food-related gifts now for those people on your holiday shopping list who love to cook.

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Saturday, November 20, 2021

Great Homemade Food Gifts

any people know someone who loves spending lots of time in the kitchen. Certain home cooks may enjoy whipping up favorite recipes, while others might get excited about experimenting with new flavors and ingredients.

A love of cooking paves the way for many different gifting opportunities.

Food-related gifts also come in a wide variety of price points, making it easy for shoppers to spend as little or as much as they want. Check out these 10 gift ideas for the foodie on your holiday shopping list.

Cooking and baking ramps up during the holiday season. People can turn extra time in the kitchen into opportunities to create festive treats that are ideal for gifting. But which items are the best of the best? Even though tastes are singular, these items will appeal to most foodies and others on your gift list.

Jams and Preserves: Fruit jams and preserves are versatile foods. They are as at home on toast and biscuits as they are as fillings in cookies and tarts.

Jams and preserves can be made with relatively few ingredients and work well with seasonal fruits.

Cinnamon Rolls: Warm, sticky and full of aromatic spice, cinnamon rolls are the perfect comfort foods.

These rolls do not typically have a long shelf life, so be sure to present them promptly before they get stale.

Pancakes (or Cookies) in a Jar: If you have a fantastic recipe that you can’t resist sharing, try turning it into a gift. Measure and package the ingredients into mason jars, tie with ribbons and include directions for preparation and cooking.

Mini Bundt Cakes: Fruit cakes may be a holiday standard, but bundt cakes

make for great and traditional offerings as well. Miniature bundts filled with chocolate chips, dried fruits or even those soaked in a favorite boozy-butter glaze can be moist and delicious.

Chocolate Barks or Fudges: Seasonal flavors can come to life in chocolate treats. White chocolate filled with peppermint pieces or dark chocolate and cherry chunks are tasty pairings. Break apart portions of the bark or cut the fudge with cookie cutters and gift inside cello bags tied with ribbons or in cardboard candy boxes.

Cocktail Syrups: Create spicy or sweet syrups that are tailor-made for enhancing cocktails. Anyone on your gift list can then become a master mixologist.

Shortbread Cookie Ornaments: Circular shortbread cookies can be decorated with royal icing to look like Christmas ornaments. They can be eaten or even placed on trees to complete holiday decor.

Festive Cookie Pops: Cookie pops can be made by mixing homemade or prepurchased crumbled cake with frosting or softened cream cheese and formed into balls. Insert a lollipop stick and dip the balls into melted chocolate or candy melts. Sprinkles, nonpareils or luster dust can be used to enhance the covered pops.

Food gifts are perfect for the holiday season. Handmade treats from the heart show loved ones how just much you care.

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5 Great Gifts for Tweens and Teens this Holiday Season

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hildren often marvel at the world around them. They’re delighted to receive just about any toy, and play with items that others may not see as fun — including everything from mixing bowls to cardboard boxes. Slowly that cherubic toddler turns into a schoolaged wonder, and later into a young adult trying to find his or her place in the world. With each passing year, the task of finding gifts for tweens and teenagers becomes that much more challenging.

While most parents and other relatives may never seem “cool” in the eyes of their teens, they can gift the tweens and teens they love with presents that will earn them a few extra brownie points. The following are five gift ideas that are tailor-made for tweens and teens.

LED Strip Lights Both girls and boys may enjoy customizing their rooms as they see fit. Teens can utilize LED strip lights to create a unique ambiance that reflects their style. These often selfsticking ribbons of lights adhere right to walls. They come in a variety of lengths so they can be used to frame the perimeter of the room, if desired.

Complete with multicolored options and a remote control, teens can set their room colors as their mood dictates.

Gift Cards

Teens try to keep up with the latest styles. A gift card or clothing gift from one of their favorite retailers can help them build their ensembles that much quicker. Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Forever 21, Zumiez, American Eagle, and Tilly’s are just some of the stores popular among today’s tweens and teens.

Wireless earbuds or headphones Wireless headphones are used on a daily basis by tweens and teens. They rely on them for listening to music, watching movies on their devices and even during remote learning sessions.

There are many brands to choose from, and Beats by Dre and Apple AirPods are among the most popular.

Sneakers and Shoes Sneakers have long been popular gifts for teenagers, but they tend to be costly, especially for trending styles and brands. Vans Slip-On™ Core Classics, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High Top Sneakers, Reebok Club C 85 Vintage, Nike Air Force One, and Adidas Sobakov are popular among today’s tweens and teens. In addition, thanks to the resurgence of 1990s style, Dr. Martens boots are once again in demand.

Video Game Consoles Each gamer has his or her preferred platform for gaming. From the Nintendo Switch to the Xbox Series X to the Sony PlayStation 5, these systems are in high demand.

Due to that demand, these products may be harder to find the closer you get to Christmas Day. Grab them while you can and soak in the smile on your favorite tween’s or teen’s face.

Teens and tweens are notoriously challenging to shop for. However, with some knowledge, loved ones can find gifts tweens and teens are more likely to use and enjoy.

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The Benefits of In-person Holiday Shopping

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he 2020 holiday season was unlike any other. The COVID19 pandemic was still affecting daily life across the globe over the final months of 2020, prompting many families and individuals to alter holiday traditions they’d embraced for decades. That included how people shop. Many people avoided in-person holiday shopping in 2020. However, the successful rollout of various COVID19 vaccines has made in-person shopping safe again. That’s good news for local businesses and great news for shoppers, who may have forgotten just how much they can benefit from shopping in person.

In-person Shopping is Convenient.

Much is made of the convenience of online shopping. And it’s undeniable that the ability to shop at all hours of the day and night is convenient. However, in-person shopping, especially when shopping for others, is much more convenient than shoppers may realize.

When shopping in person, shoppers can get a feel for an item, size it up and even inspect its quality prior to purchasing it. That can save shoppers from that disappointing feeling of receiving an item in the mail only to realize it’s poorly made or oddly sized and therefore unlikely to fit its eventual recipient.

In-person Shopping Isn’t All About Shipping. Shipping speed is a significant factor for online shoppers, and that may affect just which gift they give come the holiday season.

According to a Dotcom report titled “How Fast Delivery and Quality Packaging Drives Customer Loyalty,” 87 percent of shoppers surveyed indicated shipping was a key factor when deciding whether to shop with an e-commerce brand again. That’s an important consideration, as shoppers may be more inclined to buy an item from a retailer simply because of their shipping speed capabilities and not because of the quality of the item and

whether or not it’s what they want to give to their loved one. Shopping in person removes shipping from the equation, ensuring gift givers will give a gift they truly want to give and not just the one that will arrive on time.

In-person Shopping Allows for More Accessible Browsing. Within minutes of entering a store and walking around, shoppers may see a handful of gifts that will ultimately be great for various people on their lists, even if they had no idea what to get prior to entering. That ability to browse is more difficult when shopping online, especially when buying from online retailers with massive inventories of a range of products. Such sites often require visitors to pick a category to streamline their searches. That’s not always easy or enjoyable for shoppers who cherish the opportunity to uncover hidden gems or more unique gifts that aren’t available all over the internet.

In-person Shopping Gets Shoppers Out of the House. Since the onset of the pandemic, people have spent more time than ever within the confines of their homes. The 2021 holiday shopping season provides a great opportunity to get out of the house and disconnect from devices.

Shoppers can even do so alongside friends and family members they weren’t able to see last holiday season.

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Every room is decorated by local clubs, historical societies, g g g this y and individuals highlighting year’s theme.

Daily Tours:

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Tours begin at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. $6 per person.

We will be closed Dec. 24th and Dec. 25th

Candlelight Tours:

Dec. 3rd, 10th, 17th, 23rd and 30th. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $8 per person. Reservations are required.

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For more information, email: sleinbach smithvillemansion.org or call 609-261-3780.

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Support Local Arts Community

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oliday shoppers can give the local arts community a shot in the arm by browsing their wares this holiday season.

Keep an eye out for local arts and crafts shows, or, if you’re part of an organization that can, consider hosting one yourself for the holidays.

Exposure Many talented artists that are just getting started creating can’t afford their own storefronts. They may partner with local businesses to showcase their art or they may join craft fairs around the region.

Shop local and give these artists the exposure and funding they need to grow their businesses. Make sure to share posts of your gift (after you give it, of course) on social media to give them an additional boost.

Get Locally Festive

Add some local flair to your holiday decor by shopping local artisans’ holiday collections. You can often find ornaments that are great ways to

commemorate a special time or place.

Think decorated sea shells from a beach town or ornaments with other local references. These make great gifts, too, even if the recipient doesn’t live in your town. It’s a great way to personalize a gift and make sure family and friends think of you when they’re decorating their own tree.

Shopping Local Outside Your Town Chances are, a short day trip away is another adorable town full of quirky gifts that will fit anyone on your list. Hop in the car and make a day of shopping, with stops at the local coffee shops and eateries for refreshment. You just might discover your new favorite store, right in your own back yard.

Another way to shop local is to browse online stores like Etsy and filter the results by geographic location. That way, you can find artisans in your town that may not go to craft fairs or have enough money for their own storefront yet. It may save you on shipping, too.

Saturday, November 20, 2021

In South Jersey, They Hunt a Special Kind of ‘Deer’

Photo Provided

Author Tony DiGerolamo at a signing.

LAUREL SPRINGS—South Jersey au t h o r a n d c o m e d y w r it e r, To ny DiGerolamo, has announced the latest book in his novella series, “The Pineys: Book 7: The Paradox Piney.”

“The Pineys” is a pure South Jersey story centering around the Galloway family and their fight against not just one Jersey Devil, but multiple denizens of Hell unleashed into the Pine Barrens by Mother Leeds in the 1700s.

This installment features two Pine Barrens legends: that of a U-Boat crew sneaking into South Jersey and Napoleon’s brother encounter with the Jersey Devil!

“This is one of my favorite Jersey Devil legends,” DiGerolamo said. “Joseph

Bonaparte supposedly shot a cannonball through the chest of the Jersey Devil.”

DiGerolamo, a lifelong South Jersey resident, has been writing about the Jersey Devil and South Jersey for over 20 years.

He also does the Piney Podcast, a YouTube show devoted to all things Piney.

“Reading each book is like an episode of a one-hour TV show,” DiGerolamo explained.

“As the series unfolds, you learn more and more about the world of the Pineys.”

The Pineys: Books 1 thru 7 are available now on Amazon as eBooks for $2.99 each, trade paperbacks for $7.99 or is free to Kindle Unlimited Users.

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Best Gifts for Kids When we celebrate the holidays, in many ways, we’re celebrating children.

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t’s the time of year when toys and other gifts for children go on sale, and it can get overwhelming to buy for the kids in your life.

Fortunately, we’ve got these outsidethe-box ideas to help you win the gift-giving crown.

favorite sporting event or a trip to let them get hands-on with one of their interests. Talk to their parents about things the child’s really wanted to do that you can deliver and then make a day of it with just you two together.

Cash

Talk to their parents and see what they’re getting for their children this year, then see if it’s possible if you can buy the accessories. For instance, if the child is getting a guitar under the tree, offer to purchase a guitar strap, extra strings and picks. If they’re getting a phone, pony up for a case and charger. You get the point.

Not only will these get you gold star from the kid, but their parents will appreciate the help, too.

Yeah, it feels impersonal, but if you’ve got a teenager or an older child, cold, card cash is what they’ll want the most. For bonus points, give it as a savings bond or in the form of a savings account that’s already stocked for them. Alternatives are gift cards to their favorite restaurant or store, especially if they have a hobby you’re unfamiliar with. You can also stock their favorite app store for them to spend on the latest games or music.

Experiences Set yourself apart from the usual gifting crowd by giving the kids in your life experiences instead of material things. Take them for a day at the beach or an outing to the museum.

The point is to get them outside of their comfort zone or to tick off a goal on their list. Maybe it’s a trip to their

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