1212 RMP Holiday Guide

Holiday Gift & Activity guide 2012

The giving season page 4

Holiday hazards page 8

Found-object decorations page 12

Holiday Calendar page 14

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Time, talents and treasure

Give what you can this holiday season (and always) Kim Sharpe

T

ime, talents and treasure. These are three commodities everyone possesses in varying degrees.

From the smallest child to the most seasoned adult, every individual has gifts to share. Some people have space in their days to spend comforting or befriending others. Some have skills to serve those in need. Some, whether out of abundance or not, give money to charitable causes.

According to a report by the Colorado Nonprofit Association, “…the majority of people in Colorado give [money] generously to assist the vital work done by nonprofit organizations. This is especially true in rural areas…where residents [give] twice as much as the average American.” The report also says that Coloradans with the lowest income give a much higher percent of their income to charity than those who earn significantly more.

When it comes to time, 33 percent of residents volunteer an average of more than 40 hours per year with organizations, placing them above average among their peers in other states and Washington, DC. The Corporation for National and Community Service reports that “service also takes place informally when people work with neighbors to address or fix a community issue. In 2010, 8.7 percent of Colorado residents volunteered informally, totaling approximately 341,627 individuals.”

While charitable giving occurs year-round, the holiday season inspires philanthropic kindness at a higher rate than at other times. When asked why they give, most people say, “It’s the right thing to do.” Many cite a family tradition of helping others as the reason they give. Sometimes suffering and loss caused by natural disasters or humancaused tragedies prompt a generous outpouring of support.

“We live in a caring community. We saw that with people wanting to help this summer during the fires and theatre shooting,” says Tracy Hays, 2-1-1 program director of the United Way of Larimer County. “But there is a new list

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of needs that hit with the first snowfall.

Across the state, shelters are already full, people are hungry, utilities have been shut off and there are just not enough rental properties to meet the demand.

I ask that we don’t lose sight of this summer’s collective caring spirit, and that we come together to find solutions and make change.”

Holiday giving options The following programs provide assistance to individuals and families during the holidays. Call the phone numbers provided to learn of donation needs or others ways you may be able to help.

To explore more opportunities to donate your time, talents and treasure this holiday season throughout northern Colorado, call United Way’s resource and referral center by dialing 2-1-1. The center has trained specialists who assist the public with connections to services and volunteer opportunities 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Fort Collins Adopt A Family, Timberline Church Network, 970-482-4387 ext. 515 Angels Among Us Christmas Assistance Program, Salvation Army Fort Collins, 970-207-4472 Bell Ringer Program, Salvation Army (Volunteers are needed to ring bells at Fort Collins store fronts and collect donations of money in red kettles. Supervised youth under 18 welcome.), 970-207-4472 Santa Cops, Fort Collins Police Services, 970-498-5553 Toys for Kids, Northside Aztlan Community Center, 970-2216655 Winterfest Celebration on December 13, The Family Center/La Familia (Volunteer to help set up the space, clean up after the event, serve food and

staff arts and crafts tables for children.), 970-221-1615 Greeley Bell Ringer Program, Salvation Army (Volunteers are needed during to ring bells at Greeley store fronts and collect donations of money in red kettles.) They hope to reach their goal of $250,000 this year, 970-346-1661 Loveland Adopt a Family Christmas Program, House of Neighborly Service, 970-6674939 ext. 13 Santa Cops, Loveland Police Department, 970-498-5553 Estes Park Bright Christmas, Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park, 970-586-2035 Blue Santas of Estes Park, Estes Park Police Department, 970-577-3822 More…

Gift of A Green Christmas, Larimer County (Provides Christmas trees and accessories to individuals and families with a low income in Larimer County.), 970-407-7066 Gift Wrappers, Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, 970-223-1709 ext. 101 Holiday Meals, Volunteers of America (Families can help set up the meals and visit with diners.), 970-472-9630 Secret Santas for the Elderly, Larimer County, 970-613-1411

for the

HOLIDAYS Saddle up for the coming season...

• Gift Certificates • Custom Clothes • Stocking Stuffers

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Keep the fun in the holidays

Buy age-appropriate toys and follow safety guidelines Courtesy of the Larimer County Safe Kids Coalition

“R

ight now parents and caregivers are in the middle of the country’s busiest toybuying season, and the improved safety standards allow them to shop with more confidence than ever,” says Janet Werst, Safe Kids Larimer County coordinator. “However, new hazards pop up with new technology—shoppers should still make sure they are buying age-appropriate toys and following important toy safety guidelines. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) continues to monitor the marketplace to ensure that toys comply with these standards.”

Before shopping for toys, consider the child’s age, interest and skill level.

A fun, but inappropriate toy for a particular child can be dangerous.

Safe Kids Larimer County offers top tips for making sure children’s toys are safe during this holiday season; contact the Safe Kids local office at 970-495-7504 to request your free toy-safety brochure. For a pocket guide to safe and age appropriate toys, toy safety fact sheet and much more, visit the Safe Kids Worldwide website at www.safekids.org and search ‘toy safety.’

And if any ‘wheeled’ gift—such as a bicycle, skateboard, scooter or in-line skates—is on Santa’s list, be sure to include appropriate safety gear such as a proper fitting helmet, elbow/knee pads, and wrist guards.

To stay informed about harmful products in the marketplace, parents can go to www.recalls.gov and sign up for email alerts on recalled children’s products. “It’s too difficult to get your information piecemeal from TV or the newspaper,” adds Werst, “so if you get the emails sent to you each time a recall happens, you’ll know right away which products to avoid.”

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Burned: Coin-sized button batteries pose hazard Electronic gadget purchases pose a new safety concern: button batteries. The coinsized batteries children can swallow come from many devices, most often mini remote controls. Other places you may find them are: singing greeting cards, watches, bathroom scales, and flameless candles.

• It takes as little as two hours to cause severe burns once a coin-sized lithium battery has been swallowed.

• Once burning begins, damage can continue even after the battery is removed.

• Kids can still breathe with the coin lithium battery in their throats. It may not be obvious at first that something is wrong.

• Repairing the damage is painful and can require multiple surgeries.

• In 2010 alone, more than 3,400 swallowing cases were reported in the U.S. Nineteen children sustained life-threatening or debilitating injuries and others died.

Keeping your kids safe Electronic devices are part of daily life. It only takes a second for your toddler to get hold of one and put it in his mouth. Here are a few easy tips for you to follow to protect your kids from button battery-related injuries: • Search your home, and any place your child goes, for gadgets that may contain coin lithium batteries.

• Secure coin lithium battery-controlled devices out of sight and reach of children and keep loose batteries locked away.

• Share this life-saving information with caregivers, friends, family members and sitters.

In Case of Emergency Keeping these batteries out of reach and secured in devices is key, but if a child swallows a battery, parents and caregivers should follow these steps: • Go to the emergency room immediately. Tell doctors and nurses that your child may have swallowed a battery. If possible, provide the medical team with the identification number found on the battery’s package.

• Do not let the child eat or drink until a chest x-ray can determine if a battery is present.

• Do not induce vomiting.

• Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 202-625-3333 for additional treatment information.

• For additional information, visit www.TheBatteryControlled.com.

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Decked out for the holidays

Decorate your house inexpensively with found objects L i n d a L . Os m u n d s o n

G

et your creative juices flowing this holiday season as you set up a festive mood in your home. You don’t have to spend a fortune. Deck your halls inexpensively with found objects from around your house, yard or someone else’s yard. Get permission first, of course. A few of the following ideas require purchases, but if you look for sales, the items can be bought for little money. Try these ideas to spread holiday cheer throughout your home.

Deck the table Pinecones are plentiful. Gather all you want. Glue them in a circle. Spray them with varnish. Place them in the center of the table with a fat candle, plant or a bowl of Christmas balls in the middle.

Trim your evergreens and use them on the chandelier, circle the chain or light holders, or lay them on the table.

Add a few berries and leaves, either fake or real. Spray old burned-out light bulbs gold or a color of your choice and tuck them in the greenery. Add old colored Christmas balls. If you have clear balls, dribble 98-cent acrylic paint from the craft store inside. A friend wanted black.

I swished in gold to make lined designs.

After it dried, I dropped in black paint and swirled the ball to cover every inside surface then drained out the remainder.

Dried flowers can be spray-painted white, gold or any color of your choice.

Add them to wreathes, garland and table greenery.

Deck the chairs I found burgundy drapery panels in a sale bin at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I cut them into 16” x 48” strips, hemmed the edges, hung them over the backs of chairs, tied them with raffia and added a little greenery, pinecones and/ or berries. I did the same with gold panels for another room. White, green or red work well too.

If you already have some unused draperies, bedspreads, or fabric sitting around, remake them into chair panels.

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Deck the bedrooms Tie your decorative bed pillows with wide ribbon. Make a generous bow.

Loop Christmas garland, tie with bows and pin over valances. Hang a Christmas stocking on the doorknob.

Bundle several candles, tie with raffia or ribbon and set on shelves. Make a panel collage from old Christmas cards. Glue the edges with ribbon.

Hang it on a door or wall.

Deck the bathroom Embroidery a Holiday design on old towels. Cut them into hand-towel size, hem and fan several by the sink or place them in a basket. Hang them over the regular towel.

Hang a Christmas stocking on the door. Make them f rom draperies, felt, unused fabric or even old jeans. Use your imagination to decorate them.

Wrap a small string of lights around a Styrofoam cone. Next, add foil or green garland with the lights peaking through. Hold in place with opened paper clips anchored into the base. Place it on the counter near a receptacle. Plug it in.

Deck a tree Last year we had a cowboy tree downstairs. I didn’t want to spend much money. I bought lariat, cut it into strips, circled it with the ends extended beyond the circle, wrapped the ends together with leather strips and hung them as ornaments. Add berries or greenery. A string of red Southwest style peppers once unwound and tied into groups of three became ornaments. Pinecones tipped with white paint lay on branches. An old cowboy hat served as a tree topper. I added my hand-painted rustic balls, stars and old angel ornaments. I wrapped the tree in grapevine, added a plaid blanket for a tree skirt, wrapped empty boxes in

brown paper and tied them with raffia.

Deck the kitchen String cookie cutters together with torn fabric bows and place them on shelves or hang them from valances.

Drape garland over the windows.

Add lights. I place my collection of village houses over the cabinets along with greenery.

Use your imagination to create a holiday look that suits you and your family.

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Holiday ONGOING Through December 24 Santa Claus in Downtown Fort Collins!

Kids can come visit Santa in his log cabin workshop any time Wednesdays through Sundays. Old Town Square, FC. Noon-6pm. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Through December 30 Almost, Maine Open your heart to things unseen in these humorous yet compelling stories of life and love in a small Maine town. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., FC. www.basbleu.org.

Through December 31 Plaid Tidings Laugh and celebrate with the Plaid boys as they continue their supernatural saga, returning from the afterlife.

Midtown Arts Center, 3750 South Mason St., FC. 970-225-2555. www.

MidtownArtsCenter.com Through January 13 Mame Follow Mame as she leads her young nephew through life in New York during the jazz era, traveling and growing into a young man. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown, CO. 970-744-3747 or www. coloradocandlelight.com.

December 1-31 Horse Drawn Carriage Rides Old Town Square, FC. 970-484-6500 or www.DowntownFortCollins.com.

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December 2-8 Shooting Star Snowed in at an airport. Someone sees you. Someone from your past. Someone who has your secret, because they once had your heart. A touching, tender and bittersweet Valentine to middle age. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., FC. www.basbleu.org.

December 6-9 The Nutcracker Performed by the Canyon Concert Ballet. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com or www.ccballet.org.

December 7-8 Fine and Funky Art Show Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

December 13-15 Festival of Lights A Christmas production featuring an adult choir, a children’s choir, actors, and an orchestra. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

December 21-23 A Musical Christmas Carol Presented by la-de-da. An adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic tale A Christmas Carol with Scrooge and the Spirits that haunt him. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm.

970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Saturday, December 1 Nutcracker with a Twist: Clara and the Gift of Dance Presented by Mountain Dance at Mountain Kids. Join us for a family holiday tradition of the Nutcracker where a new and special twist is added to the story line each year. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 2pm & 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.lctix.com.

Sunday, December 2 Nutcracker with a Twist: Clara and the Gift of Dance Presented by Mountain Dance at Mountain Kids. Join us for a family holiday tradition of the Nutcracker where a new and special twist is added to the story line each year. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 2pm. 970221-6730 or www.lctix.com.

Monday, December 3 USAF Holiday Concert Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 2pm & 7pm. 970-356-5000 or www.ucstars.com.

Thursday, December 6 Opera Lecture: The Gift of the Magi This lecture is about this well known O. Henry story. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Cheryl Wheeler A solo guitarist and vocalist in the folk genre, Wheeler will be joined by special guests Moors and McCumber.

The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.

LCTIX.com.

Friday, December 7 Visual Artist of the Year Reception Larimer County Department of Natural Resources will be celebrating the work of nature photographer David Clack.

Please join us. The Illustrated Light Gallery, #1 Old Town Square, Suite 103, FC. 6-9pm. 970-493-4673 or www. larimer.org/naturalresources.

CarolFest Caroling begins at the Opera Galleria and ends at Oak Street Plaza. Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

First Friday Gallery Walk Experience Fort Collins arts. Old Town, FC. 6-9pm. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Saturday, December 8 Winter Wonderland: An Andrew Sisters Holiday Concert with Reveille 3 Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Hearthside Holiday The Greeley Chorale will present.

Enjoy the holiday cheer this evening.

First Methopdist Church, 917 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. 970-673-8916. www.

GreeleyChorale.org.

Monday, December 10 Wishes and Dreams Holiday Concert The Blend Chorus, a women’s a cappella chorus presents a mix of traditional and modern holiday favorites sung in barbershop style. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., 7pm. FC. www.basbleu.org.

Tuesday, December 11 Christmas with The Celts A combination of Irish born and Nashville based Irish-American musicians, The Celts perform a blend of traditional Scottish/Irish tunes as well as hits by contemporary Celtic artists.

The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.

LCTIX.com.

Wednesday, December 12 Holiday Talent Show You will be entertained with Christmas music favorites, comedy, good cheer and holiday snacks. Chilson Senior Center, 700 E 4th St., LV. 1:30-3pm. 970-4958560 or www.pvhs.org.

Friday, December 14 Clara and the Nutcracker Presented by Contemporary Dance Academy. Kick off the holiday season with the most famous ballet adventure in the world! The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Gift of the Magi A beautiful, lyric setting of O. Henry’s moving story of self-sacrifice. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.

LCTIX.com.

Craig Morgan & Phil Vassar: Acoustic Christmas Tour Celebrate a down-home country Christmas. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. 970-3509451 or www.greeleygov.com/festivals.

A Candlelight Christmas Presented by Larimer Chorale. Join us for our traditional candlelight “surroundsound” presentation of holiday pageantry and wonder. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX. com.

Sunday, December 16 A Candlelight Christmas Presented by Larimer Chorale. Join us for our traditional candlelight “surroundsound” presentation of holiday pageantry and wonder. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 3pm.

970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Monday, December 17 Holiday Stocking Enjoy a 90-minute collage of holiday music performed by Rocky Mountain High School musicians. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm.

970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Tuesday, December 25 Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 15 Jeff Wahl: Acoustic Guitarist His repertoire encompasses jazz, new age, folk, and classical. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Clara and the Nutcracker Presented by Contemporary Dance Academy. Kick off the holiday season with the most famous ballet adventure in the world! The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 2pm & 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Gift of the Magi A beautiful, lyric setting of O. Henry’s moving story of selfsacrifice. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 2pm. 970-2216730 or www.LCTIX.com.

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Happy Holidays!

Story time with Santa Thursday and Friday at 11:30 a.m.

November 23rd — December 21st

(970) 224-2866 111 n. College avenue www.clothespony.com 18

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