Coastal Carolina Family & Parenting, Dec. 2017-Jan. 2018

FAMILY& PARENTING Coastal Carolina

December - January 2018

CHRISTMAS FLOTILLA

A 30-year old tradition

Letters to Santa

Writing tips for the little ones

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

How to succeed

ONSLOW CHRISTMAS CHEER Bringing hope for the holidays

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHRISTMAS FLOTILLA

ONSLOW CHRISTMAS CHEER

LETTERS TO SANTA

Writing tips for your lil’ ones

10

Bringing smiles to children

WARM VIBES

11

Encouraging local talent

8

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4

Best picks for toys that stimulate learning

ON THE COVER

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS CHRISTMAS TREES Pick out, cut down your tree at a local farm

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Managing Editor

Contributing Writers

Sales Manager

Ena Sellers

Sarah Hauck

Bobby Stone

Contributing Photographer

Michelle Hannah

Senior Account Executive

Ken Harrell

Tye Rudy

Meghan Parker

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EDUCATIONAL GIFTS

COVER PHOTO BY COUTURE EXPRESSIONS PHOTOGRAPHY

“Family & Parenting” is published 6 times a year. Circulation: 10,000. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services.

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Bringing hope for the holidays through

Onslow Christmas Cheer

BY ENA SELLERS

Bringing a smile to a child’s face is priceless; bringing a smile to the faces of more than 2,000 poverty-stricken children last year was an outstanding accomplishment thanks to Onslow Christmas Cheer.

“Our goal is to help needy children and their families, seniors and those in need,” said Glenn Hargett, Onslow Christmas Cheer volunteer director.

OCC is an Onslow Community Outreach Program that started in the ‘70s to help low income families so they can experience the giving spirit of Christmas.

“This started as a program operated by ministers with their congregations. Now, it is volunteer operated and is definitely community supported,” said Hargett. “Many organizations have Christmas Cheer as a key part of their annual activities. We have businesses that donate to specific needs, such as the wonderful support from the employees of Jones-Onslow EMC who donate funds to purchase bicycles for the youth.”

According to Hargett, during the first Gulf War, Christmas Cheer partnered with Toys for Tots and ever since service members and

members of the community work together to ensure every child gets a gift on Christmas Day. Toys donated to Toys for Tots go to Christmas Cheer to be distributed in Onslow County.

“Christmas Cheer ensures military families’ needs are met and Toys for Tots provides assistance to Onslow Christmas Cheer,” said Hargett.

As with most charitable organizations, volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to support the program play a key role in making things happen. According to Hargett, without the hundreds

of volunteers, the program could not exist.

“From the directors to the (people who) help pack boxes and assist families selecting items, all are volunteers; some have been with the program for more than 30 years,” said Hargett. “Others are families who have made it their holiday routine to assist.”

Underprivileged families in Onslow County can apply for the program. There is no age limit for applicants. Gifts are provided for children under 12 years old, if resources are available this can be extended to teenagers up to 17

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years old. Food boxes are provided for the family. Senior citizens and handicapped adults may also qualify for the food boxes.

“Annually, about 5,000 persons are served and more than 250 volunteers help,” said Hargett. “We have some families who volunteer every year.

According to Hargett, service members often volunteer to help with Christmas Cheer and enjoy getting involved in the community so much that they keep coming back to help with other Onslow outreach programs.

“Frequently, military volunteers form lasting bonds with community members during Christmas Cheer and several have come back to volunteer for

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other programs,” said Hargett.

One of Hargett’s favorite memories is of a family that volunteered for years while their kids were in high school and even though those kids are now college students, they still make the time to come back and continue to help.

“Their children returned to help while in college,” said Hargett.

“They were reunited with a family that had fallen on hard times again and returned to Cheer for help. The volunteers renewed their connection with the family and ended up sharing some personal time during the holiday.”

Another way people can help OCC is by sponsoring a family.

According to Hargett, sponsoring a family allows volunteers to learn

more about the specific needs of a family; it involves more time with them as you get to learn about their case and it also requires more interaction.

“Sponsoring is the most rewarding part of our programs,” said Hargett. “Many sponsors have families they have sponsored for years, others have a tradition of delivering the items on Christmas Eve.” While donations of new, unwrapped toys and food items are extremely appreciated, cash donations are always welcomed as it allows OCC the flexibility to purchase specific items that are not frequently donated, said Hargett.

According to Hargett, toys for children between ages 9 and 11 are the ones in most need, followed by items for teens between ages 13 and 18.

For more information about the Christmas Cheer Program, visit www.onslowco.org.

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Santa letter-writing secrets At the tip of the North Pole resides a jolly man who collects letters from children asking him to deliver all of their hearts’ desires. Although Santa Claus does a thorough job of making sure children’s treats are delivered on the same night, sometimes he needs assistance with reading and responding to the thousands of letters sent to him each year. That is why he often relies on an extensive list of helpers to handle much of his holiday correspondence.

The practice of writing to St. Nick

dates back more than 150 years. The first Christmas time Santa letters were actually sent by Santa, rather than the other way around. Such letters encouraged children to be good boys and girls.

To account for the staggering number of letters sent, various post offices and postal programs were established to help Santa with the task of tackling children’s wish lists.

In 2016, the USPS instituted a new letter-writing option that enables parents or guardians to include a

personalized response to children who address letters to Santa. The package can be postmarked to: North Pole Postmark Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Drive, Anchorage, AK 99530-9998.

Many other letters to Santa end up routing to various post offices where thousands of volunteer “elves” can adopt letters and make children’s wishes come true. The Letters to Santa program enables children in need to get items that can help keep them safe and happy.

TIPS FOR CHILDREN • Identify who is writing the letter and share some details about your life.

• Make sure you’ve been nice and well-behaved.

Politely ask for the toys you’d like. Understand that Santa is busy, so keep the list brief.

• Thank Santa in advance for his kindness. Hopefully, he’ll have time to reply.

• Write and mail the letter as early as possible, as things tend to get busy as Christmas nears.

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Cheer floats down river at this year’s

Christmas Flotilla SARAH HAUCK

oats decked out in red and green twinkling lights will parade down the New River Dec. 2 thanks to the Jacksonville Breakfast Rotary with their popular Christmas Flotilla which has been a main attraction for the past 30 years.

According to Chris Felden, flotilla chairman, the flotilla is the bookend to the city’s Winterfest that will also be taking place Dec. 2 in downtown Jacksonville.

“It is a great night for people to come hang out and enjoy the Winterfest and then come down to the river and watch the flotilla,” said Felden.

The flotilla will feature between 15 and 20 boats this year, according to Felden, who said entries continue to come in daily.

The event will also feature a DJ and the singing of holiday carols to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. “There will be a lot of other fun things for people to enjoy and eat while they wait for us to make our way down the river,” said Felden.

The boats will begin their journey toward the USO North Carolina-Jacksonville Center around 6:30 p.m.

According to Felden, the flotilla can be watched from just about

anywhere along the Riverwalk Park in Jacksonville, but viewing it from the bridge is a favorite spot.

According to Felden, this year the only shift from the norm will be the cash prizes being awarded to the top three best decorated boats.

“We have a lot of boat captains that really enjoy doing it,” said Felden. “This is a staple part of Winterfest. We haven’t really changed the flotilla.

We think we have come up with a formula most people enjoy.”

Being part of the flotilla only costs the amount of time spent to decorate the boats in anything Christmas, and the Rotary shows the appreciation to the volunteers with a fish fry each year

following the parade.

“Rotary is all about service to the community.

This is just a fun thing to do,” said Felden. “We really look forward to doing this every year. It gives our club name recognition. We would never dream of not doing it. We just have a good time.”

For more information, call 919-699-7911.

Courtesy photo by Chris Felden

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l a n o i t a c u d e n Fu n e r d l i h c r o f gifts hen shopping for holiday gifts for children, shoppers can easily be overwhelmed by the many toys, electronics, apparel and other items available. Those who may not be up-to-date on the latest trends may even find shopping for kids a bit like solving a difficult puzzle.

While some shoppers may want to get kids the flashiest toy, others may prefer gifts that are both fun and mentally stimulating. Developmental toys and educational games for kids make for popular gifts. Toy and game manufacturers continue to develop products that integrate logic, reasoning, language stimulation and motor skill development. Shoppers looking for fun, educational toys and games for the kids on their shopping lists have a host of

items to choose from.

BUILDING BLOCKS Blocks that enable children to design and construct are popular among youngsters of various ages.

Blocks come in many different forms, from early education wooden blocks that fill nursery floors to the more intricate, interlocking building sets that are coveted by older children.

STEM TOYS Some of the latest trends in children’s toys veer away from regular video games and apps and cater to the rising interest in STEM. STEM is an acronym for science, technology and math. Early introduction to STEM-related skills can pay dividends later in life, considering students who have an emphasis on STEM knowledge are highly coveted among employers. STEM toys may include robot-building kits, toys that help young learners test

the boundaries of physics, apps that help kids learn computer programing, and even scientific experiment kits that illustrate cause and effect.

SENSORY TOYS Young children can benefit from toys that stimulate the senses. Items to consider include water toys, sands (including the newer kinetic varieties), playdoughs, musical instruments, and bubbles. Even food-related toys, such as those that encourage baking or cooking, will appeal to various senses and can help kids learn valuable skills.

IMAGINATIVE PLAY TOYS: Imaginative play is an effective way to stimulate creative thinking and may help children become better learners. The Creativity Institute, specializing in toys for creative play, says playing is important to children and the way they practice growing up.

According to an article by Dr. Scott Kaufman that appeared in Psychology Today, systematic research has increasingly demonstrated a series of clear benefits of children’s engagement in pretend games from the ages two through ages seven.

Dress-up toys, puppets, dolls, action figures, and toys that mimic real-life activities are all examples of products that promote imaginative play.

Educational toys can be included on holiday gifting lists. Not only will they encourage children to play and have fun, but they’ll serve as building blocks to a lifetime of learning as well.

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Warm vibes as the temperature drops KEN HARRELL

he weather may be getting colder, but the community remains warm and welcoming with the help of local nonprofit organizations like the Support, Opportunity, Unity and Leadership Society.

S.O.U.L. Society aims to bring light to talented African-American youth in Onslow County and beyond.

The organization hosts a variety of events meant to showcase local artistic minds. Their events draw out poets, singers, painters, musicians and the crowds that appreciate these art forms. Two of their recurring events are the HeART Gallery which is hosted on the third Saturday of every month at the Council for the Arts facility in downtown Jacksonville and the Soul Sessions event that is hosted every third Sunday of each month at the 2nd Base Lounge

in Wilmington.

The group also host community cookouts, family basketball competitions, and an annual football camp for kids.

“Our mission is to provide platforms and programs that will provide resources and guidance that will unite communities and help the youth fulfill the potential of their gifts,” said Bradford Simmons, founder and operator of S.O.U.L. Society.

As their popularity has grown they’ve began reaching out to neighboring cities to collaborate on events and continue to bring people closer.

“S.O.U.L. Society is a nonprofit for youth mentoring and community empowerment, with a focus in arts and economics,” said Simmons.

The organization has been operating for over two years and has continued to attract an even larger crowd with every event.

S.O.U.L. is a reminder of what creative minds can do when gathered under one roof with one simple goal: to share and appreciate art forms of every kind.

For more information on this organization and its upcoming events, visit www.soulsocietync. org

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New Year’s resolutions he dawn of a new year is a time when many people take inventory of the previous 12 months and begin thinking about ways they can improve their lives in the coming year. Such looking ahead can provide inspiration and motivation.

Resolving to make changes at the beginning of a new year is a tradition for many people.

Even when people veer off course from their resolutions, many pick themselves up, dust themselves off and try again year after year.

The custom of making resolutions is celebrated in many areas of the world. But how did the custom begin?

History.com states that the origins of New Year’s resolutions can be traced to the ancient Babylonians, who purportedly made promises to the gods to earn good favor for the coming year. These resolutions were personal promises of growth and redemption and were made in conjunction with the start of a new year which, at the time, began in mid-March and not January.

Common resolutions revolved around getting out of debt or returning borrowed items. The Babylonians tried to fulfill these resolutions so that the pagan gods would bestow favor on them, including a rich harvest for the coming year.

The Romans were the first to change the calendar to have the new year begin on January 1. January was named for the Roman god Janus, who had dual faces. Romans

believed that Janus could not only look back into the previous year, but also look forward to the next one. So Romans made promises to Janus to do good deeds in the months to come and learn from past mistakes.

Early Christians also embraced resolutions as chances to repent and redeem themselves through positive actions.

Although there are still some religious ties to resolutions, New Year’s resolutions are still largely practiced today. And unlike making promises to God or pagan gods, resolutions are now most often personal promises focusing on self-improvement.

The largest percentage of resolutions made today, according to Statistics Brain, involve self-improvement or education-related goals.

Sharing one’s

resolutions with a third party can help people stay motivated as they pursue their goals.

Resolutions have been made for thousands of years, and millions of people still make them today.

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Christmas trees you can pick out, cut down

BY MICHELLE HANNAH

As soon as Halloween is out, Christmas is in.

That is how the decorations have been flooding into store shelves lately. To the average person that seems too soon considering tomorrow is the first day of December and we have already sighted Santa pajamas, reindeer statues and even some snow globes. Yes it is fast, but maybe retailers have taken into the fact the one decoration that has been in the works all year long, the staple of all decorations and the foundation of holiday décor —the Christmas tree.

At Justice Farms in Jacksonville North Carolina, Christmas trees have been growing for years in preparation to be the center of attention in many households.

This Christmas tree farm has 10 acres of land and more than 20 family members who contribute making sure those households receive the best tree.

“My favorite thing is when I get to see the families get all excited about their new tree,” said Barbara Justice, one of the owners.

According to Vickie Schneppenheim, one of the farm’s customers, she enjoys being welcomed by a family who is truly proud of their product; she also likes supporting family-owned businessess.

Schneppenheim has been living in the area for nearly a decade and each year visits Justice Farms around the holidays to select the perfect tree for her family.

“My family moved back here in 2007 and that’s when we found the tree farm. I never had real trees growing up so getting a real tree was a treat for me,” said Schneppenheim. “I like the fact that my family can support a local family; even though we could potentially get a free tree from base, I’d rather support the local economy. The Justice Tree Farm folks do a fantastic job of making you feel like part of their family throughout the whole “tree-picking” process. It has become a tradition each Christmas.”

The farm’s tree selection includes the most popular tree in Eastern North Carolina — the Leland Cypress, which can be found along with White Pine and Carolina Sapphire. The farm provides a fun experience to the Christmas tree hunt because families can not only pick out their tree but cut it down as well.

After selecting and cutting down the tree, visitors can make a stop at Santa’s Shop which features holiday decorations and ornaments.

For information, visit www. justicefarms.weebly.com.

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