Holiday Gift Guide 2014

SA N TA CRU Z

SHOP LOCAL dine local Experience Local!

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide

CO NT E NTS S.C. COUNTY SYMPHONY The Gift of Music HOLIDAY CALENDAR THE NUTCRACKER Special Guest Artists THINK LOCAL FIRST Truly Special Gifting!

LIGHTED BOAT PARADE Kicks off the Season HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS For the Entire Family THE GIFT OF GIVING Local Charities HOLIDAY RECIPE Vanilla & Peppermint Cookies HOLIDAY RECIPE Hot & Spicy Mulled Cider

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MONTH

Think outside the (big) Box.

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Instead of shopping at the big chain stores this holiday season, keep your money in locallyowned businesses and watch your community prosper.

Pledge to spend locally during

Shop Local

MONTH Happy Holidays from Our Family to Yours! ~ Times Publishing Group

for details visit our website!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

this December!

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide

B R I G H T E N Y O U R H O L I DAY S W I T H T H E

JANUARY CONCERTS

“The Muse” Saturday, January 24, 8 p.m. Santa Cruz Civic Sunday, January 25, 2 p.m. Mello Center, Watsonville BARBER – Adagio for strings STRAVINSKY – Apollon Musagète TCHAIKOVSKY – Serenade for Strings In January, the Symphony will feature the prowess of its dynamic and celebrated string section with a series of deeply emotive works. The concert opens with Samuel Barber’s heart-wrenchingly beautiful Adagio for Strings. It is a work that evokes deep emotions and has been a staple in American culture since its debut by Toscanini, and has been featured in dozens of movies and television shows in moments of intense drama. It will be followed

by Stravinsky’s ingeniously inventive celebration of Greek Mythology, Apollon Musagète. The concert concludes Tchaikovsky’s lush, romantic work, Serenade for Strings. Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with the Symphony!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

MARCH CONCERTS

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“Pacific Perspectives” Saturday, March 21, 8 p.m. Santa Cruz Civic Sunday, March 22, 2 p.m. Mello Center, Watsonville STEWART – Sinfonia HARRISON – Pacificka Rondo BEETHOVEN – Violin Concerto in D major Next, the Symphony continues its tradition of inviting the winner of the Klein International String Competition to perform a concerto. Violinist Youjin Lee will join the orchestra to perform Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. At this concert, the Symphony will also present the works of two

Bay-Area composers. Lou Harrison’s Pacifika Rondo looks west across the Pacific to Asian culture and south to Latin culture as he weaves those influences into a truly Californian work.

The other featured composer is none other than the Santa Cruz County Symphony’s own maestro, Daniel Stewart. Stewart’s composition, Sinfonia, is wild and reflective composition also inspired by local culture that is sure to delight and inspire.

MAY CONCERTS

“Sacred & Profane” Saturday, May 9, 8 p.m.

Santa Cruz Civic Sunday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Mello Center, Watsonville LULLY – Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs VICTORIA – O magnum mysterium ORFF – Carmina Burana The Season concludes with Carl Orff ’s intensely powerful choral masterpiece, Carmina Burana. One of the most popular choral works ever composed, Carmina Burana is awe-inspiring and an unforgettable musical experience.

If you have never heard Carmina Burana live, you simply have to. If you have, you need no convincing to experience it again. Leading into this commanding work, the Symphony will perform Lully’s elegant Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs and Victoria’s a capella delight, O Magnum Mysterium.

The concert features the talents of the

The holiday season brings familiar faces, food and traditions that we love and cherish. For many people music is also an integral part of our holiday experience. But sharing music with those we love does not have to end after the decorations come down- the Santa Cruz Symphony offers a special musical gift package for the holidays. The package includes 3 phenomenal concerts spread between January and May and features music by Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Beethoven, iconic local composer Lou Harrison, and concludes with Carl Orff’s epic masterpiece Carmina Burana with the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and vocal soloists from the Metropolitan Opera. The Symphony’s new maestro, Daniel Stewart, is on fire, and critics and audiences alike have been raving about the Symphony’s performance under his baton. You need not travel to San Francisco to experience high quality symphonic music, the Santa Cruz Symphony offers top-notch performances right here in Santa Cruz and Watsonville.

Cabrillo Symphonic Choir and top-notch vocal soloists from New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

Gift Subscriptions:

Call the Symphony office at 831.462.0553 ext. 10 to purchase.

Single Tickets:

$25 - $70 On-Sale online at SantaCruzTickets.com Civic Box Office phone: 831.420.5260

Civic Auditorium

307 Church Street, Santa Cruz Box office opens 90 minutes before concerts Hours: Tu-F 11- 6 PM and Sat 10 AM – 1:30 PM All single tickets subject to taxes and service charges.

Mello Center

250 E. Beach Street, Watsonville Box office is open 90 minutes before concert only. Advance sales through Civic Box Office. All single tickets subject to taxes and service charges.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Pre-concert talks by Dr. Don Adkins at 7 pm in the Civic Auditorium prior to the Saturday evening concerts and by Dr. Anatole Leikin at 1 pm in the Watsonville Mello Center prior to the Sunday matinee.

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ONGOING

Events

NOVEMBER 22 DECEMBER 25

Capitola Village FREE 3-Hours Holiday Parking The holidays will be happy for Capitola Village shoppers. The parking meters will be bagged, offering FREE 3-Hour parking November 22 - December 25. Come on down and take a stroll, do some shopping, have a bite to eat and enjoy the oldfashioned holiday charm of Capitola Village. Free parking– what a nice gift! Happy Holidays!

available for photos all day and everyday until Christmas Eve.

NOVEMBER 28 - 30

December 6, 7, 13, 14 Holiday Tree Walk Passengers riding the steam train will delight in the tree-lined walk of festive holiday trees displayed atop Bear Mountain. Guests may sip hot

NOVEMBER 28 & 29

DECEMBER 5-7

December 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train Starting from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk ride a beautifully lit holiday train through the streets of Santa Cruz as you sip hot-spiced cider, sing carols and meet Santa Claus. Train does not travel to Roaring Camp,

Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair Noon - 8 p.m. on Friday, December 5; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, December 6, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 7 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave Watsonville.

Crafts, gifts, antiques and collectables, food court, toy trains, visit

Felton. Ticket includes choice of one activity at Neptune’s Kingdom.

Reservations requested. For tickets contact Roaring Camp at 831-335-4484 or www.roaringcamp.com

Santa and free carousel rides. Great family fun! Call for more info 831612-9118.

NOVEMBER 8 DECEMBER 24

Santa Claus is at the Capitola Mall!

Santa’s arrival: November 8, Noon – 3 p.m., Santa’s Mall Hours: Monday-Saturday: Noon – 8 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. December 12 - 23: Monday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Visit Santa at the Capitola Mall this Holiday season! Frosty and Rudolph will join Santa Claus, who will be

cider and view beautifully adorned trees decorated by area businesses and organizations as they raise funds for their respective organizations.

For tickets contact Roaring Camp at 831-335-4484 www.roaringcamp.com

DECEMBER 5 - 7 & 12 - 14

Christmas Crafts Boutique & Concerts Fri - Sat. 1:30 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday 11

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide

2014 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center Event includes boutique, buffet, and fabulous concert. Boutique features all handcrafted items by more than 30 local crafters.

Fee for buffet/concert, tickets required. Call for times, 831-335-4466 www.mounthermon.org

DATED

Events

NOVEMBER 29

Surfin’ Santa Comes to Capitola Noon at the Capitola Beach Ho… Ho… Ho… Santa Claus is coming to town. Surfin’ Santa that is! Santa & his Reindeer will canoe into Capitola Main Beach. Be sure to bring your camera to capture Santa’s wave-riding arrival.

Once Santa has toweled off, he’ll settle in his beach chair to hear holiday wishes and have a nice visit with all the children. Call the CapitolaSoquel Chamber of Commerce for more information at 831-475-6522.

DECEMBER 6

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Scotts Valley Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Lights Festival 2 – 7 p.m., Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Rd. Scotts Valley. Join us for the Scotts Valley Tree Lighting Ceremony!

Music and fun starts at 2 p.m., as we welcome Santa, and enjoy food and games. FREE, call 831-438-1010 or visit www.scottsvalleychamber.com.

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DECEMBER 6

Lighted Boat Parade 5:30 p.m., rain or shine at Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz.

Features 50 decorated boats parading throughout Santa Cruz Harbor.

This festive family oriented event is a great kick off to the holiday season!

Call 831-475-6161 or visit www.santacruzharbor.org for more info.

DECEMBER 6

Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade 10 a.m. - Noon at Pacific Ave., downtown Santa Cruz.

Join in the fun as floats, marching bands, horses, classic cars, Santa & downtown’s Grand Marshal go down Pacific Ave. Don’t forget to bring your canned food for the many bins Second Harvest will have along the parade route. Donate and help fulfill a great need in the community while celebrating the holiday season with the many spectacular parade participants. For more information visit www.downtownsantacruz.com

DECEMBER 6

Watsonville Holiday Factory Sale 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at various shops and factories in Watsonville.

This annual event features local businesses offering great Christmas gifts at deep discounts. Finish your holiday shopping early, save money and support local businesses. There are great deals on the many products grown right here in Watsonville!

This year we are partnering with local restaurants for a special menu designed to “fuel” shoppers. For more information visit www.watsonvillefactorysale.com

DECEMBER 6 – 7

20th Annual Art in the Cellars, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Bargetto Winery, 3535 North Main St., Soquel Get an early start on your Holiday shopping at Bargetto Winery’s annual Art in the Cellars. Browse local artists in our historic winery cellar and enjoy award winning Bargetto wines and hot spiced Chaucer’s Mead. Wine tasting with purchase of festival glass. Food available for purchase. Special wine sales and great ideas to help with your holiday list are available all weekend. For more information call (800) 422-7438 or visit www.bargetto.com

DECEMBER 7

Jingle Shells Art & Crafts Festival Noon - 5 p.m. at Seymour Marine Discovery Center. The festival features ocean-themed gifts and books while proceeds directly support marine science education. Meet artists and authors, shop for unique holiday gifts, enjoy live music, free gift wrapping, children’s activities, and explore Seymour Center exhibits, aquarium, and touch tanks.

For more information, visit www.seymourcenter.ucsc.edu

DECEMBER 6

Aptos Village Holiday Tree Lighting 2 p.m. - Dark, Aptos Village Tree Join us for our Annual Holiday Craft Fair & Tree Lighting at the Aptos Village Tree! There will be local vendors, hot chocolate, Christmas Carols, and a special visit from Santa! Bring the whole family down and help us decorate the tree.

FREE event.

DECEMBER 13

Snow Night- Downtown Santa Cruz 4 – 7 p.m., Downtown Santa Cruz.

Kids 12 and under are invited to frolic in the snowy Pacific Ave and Cooper Street. Free tickets for timed sessions will be available beginning at 3 p.m. on the day of the event.

Visit the web for more info: www. downtownsantacruz.com.

DECEMBER 31

A New Year’s Eve Party 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. at Cocoanut Grove ballroom, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with party favors, a balloon drop, festive decorations and countdown at midnight.

Enjoy a delicious buffet. Live music

by The Alison Sharino Band and a live DJ. Doors open at 8 p.m.

21 & over. Tickets are available online by visiting www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006 and 831-423-2053.

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide

prince, and together they embark on a thrilling adventure, first encountering the dreadful rat king, and journeying through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. A holiday celebration to share with the whole family, experience the dancing toys, mischievous mice, waltzing flowers and sparkling snowflakes all dancing to Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous score performed by The Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre Orchestra. Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre has produced many top notch dancers now performing in professional companies.

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s Annual “Nutcracker”

Alumni returning to Santa Cruz as guest stars in this year’s production include Melody Mennite Walsh, principal dancer with the Houston Ballet, Lauryn Winterhalder and her partner Richard Smith, of the Sacramento Ballet, and Gabriel Williams, formerly of the Sacramento Ballet and Trey McIntyre Project, and a soloist and principal with New York Theatre Ballet, Madison Ballet and many other companies.

Special Nutcracker events for the 2014 season will include an exclusive pre-show event, “Nutcracker Sweet Treats.” Join the company as Nutcracker magic comes alive prior to the afternoon matinees. “Sweet Treats” ticket holders will receive a backstage tour, meet, greet and get photo opportunities with their favorite Nutcracker characters, a scrumptious Pacific Cookie Company cookie, and their very own Nutcracker inspired ornament.

Production to Showcase Special Guest Artists December 19 - 21, Santa cruz civic auDitorium

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents its annual holiday production of The Nutcracker, December 19 through 21, at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

The production, now celebrating its 12th year, has quickly become a beloved Santa Cruz tradition with over 70 dancers, a live 51-piece orchestra conducted by Pamela Martin and special guest stars.

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This holiday classic, based on a story by E. T. A. Hoffmann, tells the tale of young Clara who receives the gift of a nutcracker from her mysterious uncle, and is swept into a world filled with magic and sweets.

The nutcracker comes to life as a

part of your holidays!

Performed by countless ballet companies since the 1940s, The Nutcracker continues to this day to be a holiday tradition for the entire family. The Nutcracker is the perfect way to introduce children, and people of all ages, to the power and beauty of classical dance. Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score and Robert Kelley’s theatrical staging combine to create a magical experience that is sure to be the sweetest

What: Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker When: Friday, Dec 19 - 8:00 PM (starring Lauryn Winterhalder) Saturday, Dec 20 - 1 PM & 4:30 PM (starring Melody Mennite Walsh) Sunday, Dec 21 - 1 PM & 4:30 PM (starring Melody Mennite Walsh) Where: SC Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Downtown Santa Cruz Tickets: $10 - $55 831-420-5260 or www.santacruztickets.com “Nutcracker Sweet Treats” Available prior to 1:00 PM performances only.

Additional charge with any ticket purchase.

Please arrive at the Civic by 11:30 AM. Tickets Make Great gifts!

About The Guest Performers MELODY MENNITE WALSH began ballet training in Santa Cruz at The Studio School of Classical Ballet and danced with Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.

She studied on full scholarship at Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and with Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. In 2001, Melody joined Houston Ballet as an apprentice. She was promoted to Soloist in 2005 and to Principal Dancer in 2008. In 2007, Melody was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine as one of their annual 25-to-Watch.

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Her repertoire includes Manon in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, the Sylph in Bournonville’s La Sylphide, Tatiana and Olga in John Cranko’s Onegin, Odette/Odile in Stanton Welch’s Swan Lake, Swanhilda and Dawn in Coppelia, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Cio-Cio San and Kate in Madame Butterfly, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Cinderella in Stanton Welch’s Cinderella. Some of her contemporary featured roles include the white pas de deux in Jirí Kylián’s Forgotten Land and Petite Mort; Stanton Welch’s Velocity, Indigo, Wildlife, and Brigade; Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances, and many more.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

LAURYN WINTERHALDER is from Santa Cruz and began dancing under the guidance of Denise Reid in tap and jazz. She enjoyed competing for many years as well as participating in the I Love Dance Sweetheart program. She continued her training focusing on classical ballet at The Studio School of Classical Ballet with Diane Cypher and Robert Kelley and as a dancer with Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.

Local audiences will remember Lauryn in leading roles, most notably as the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Emily in Our Town, Peasant Pas de Deux and Zulma in Giselle and in many roles created for her by Robert Kelley. She graduated to traineeships with Pacific Northwest Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet.

Lauryn has danced with Sacramento Ballet since 2010 and has been featured in many works, including George Balanchine’s Tarantella and The Four Temperaments, Ron Cunningham’s The Great Gatsby, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella and The Nutcracker, Edwaard Liang’s Wunderland, Viktor Kabaniaev’s A Series of Unrelated Events and Darrell Grand Moultrie’s Jazzin’. Lauryn has also been choreographic muse to Jared Nelson, Kiyon Gaines, Yannis Adonious, Melissa Barak, and Nicole Haskins.

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RICHARD SMITH was born in Sydney, Australia and trained at La Vive Classique and the Australian Ballet School. He has danced with Urban Ballet Theatre, Australian Ballet, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and has been a dancer with Sacramento Ballet since 2008. He has danced leading roles in The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes Pas de Deux and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, as well as featured roles in Ron Cunningham’s Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Dracula, Carmina Burana and The Great Gatsby, as well as Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Theme and Variations, Allegro Brilliante and Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels.

GABRIEL WILLIAMS grew up in Santa Cruz where he trained at The Studio School of Classical Ballet, and at No Limits Dance and Performing Arts. He was an apprentice at the Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles for two years under some of the best teachers and choreographers in the jazz/commercial scene. After deciding to focus on ballet, he attended summer programs at Houston Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet. He was a member of Milwaukee Ballet II for two years, then went on to dance soloist and principal roles with Oakland Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, Madison Ballet, Black Rock City Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and Trey McIntyre Project. Gabriel has performed works

by George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Sir Frederick Ashton, Anthony Tudor, Dwight Rhoden, Twyla Tharp, Trey McIntyre, Donald McKayle, Eugene Loring, Stephen Mills, Ron Cunningham, Ronn Guidi, and Carlos Carvajal. He currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida.

Maestro Pamela Martin comes to Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre with many years of experience working with orchestras and dance companies. For four years she was the staff conductor for Ballet San Jose (formerly Cleveland Ballet) where she conducted Swan Lake, Coppelia, and The Nutcracker. She has also conducted several versions of The Nutcracker for Oakland Ballet with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, and been a guest conductor for Ballet West in Salt Lake City conducting George Balanchine’s Diamonds with the Utah Chamber Orchestra.

About Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre

Founded in 1982, the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre is a nonprofit organization preprofessional company dedicated to inspiring the community and creating opportunities for young artists through the advancement of the art of ballet. Co-Artistic Directors Robert Kelley and Diane Cypher have many years of experience as professional dancers, instructors, choreographers and directors.

In addition by teaching work ethics, organization, self-confidence and social skills, they help build leaders in our dancers.

Dancers are chosen by open audition annually in August.

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide

T H I N K

L O C A L

F I R S T

C O U N T Y

O F

S A N T A

C R U Z

By Michael Olson, Board Member

But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy something, which does not represent your life and talent. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Once again the turning of the seasons finds us tasked with holiday shopping, and so we ask of ourselves the same question we always ask of ourselves this time of year: “How can I make my gift giving truly special?”

Your friends and neighbors at Think Local First, County of Santa Cruz have an answer for you:

“Shop for gifts at locally-owned businesses.”

To encourage you, TLF has expanded its annual Shop Local Week, which was the first week of December, into Shop Local Month, which is now the entire month of December. By having an entire month to shop the locally-owned, independent businesses of Santa Cruz County, your gift shopping, and gift giving, will indeed become truly special.

“But wait! What makes gift shopping at locallyowned businesses truly special?”

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Great question! Here are a few reasons why gift shopping at locally-owned businesses this holiday season will make your gift giving truly special:

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First, and foremost, your locally-owned business community is really you. It is your friends and neighbors– the owners and employees of those businesses– who place their time and talent at risk to keep your local economy thriving.

They are the glue that holds us all together by working with local service organizations to help those in need, by sitting on government committees to decide how to manage our resources, and by supporting the athletic activities of our young. This community cannot be purchased at big box store. Therefore, when you give gifts purchased from locally-owned businesses, you are really giving the gift of community, and that truly is a very special gift!

Second, more of the money you spend at locally owned businesses stays within the community, so you can spend it again, and again and again.

To demonstrate the efficacy of this principle, Think Local First conducted a month-long “Great Money Race” in which five $100 checks from five local financial institutions were handed out via a drawing to five members of the locally-owned business community. Each Great Money Race check-holder was tasked with spending their $100 check at another locally-owned business, which then was asked to spend their $100 check at another locally-owned business, and so on through the month. At the end of this 30-day Great Money Race, the five $100 checks had generated $8,711.48 in local business.

If you pause, for just a moment, to consider how much local business the five $100 Great Money Race checks would have generated had they been spent at a big box store, you will realize just how special are gifts purchased from locallyowned businesses.

superfluous calories, and by subsidizing the true cost of production. Thus the cheap food promised is really the expensive food delivered.

As host of over 990 editions of the Food Chain Radio program, which is syndicated to a national audience out of KSCO Santa Cruz and archived at www.metrofarm.com, I have come to the conclusion there are three fundamental truths I willingly defend regarding “what’s eating what,” and with tongue in cheek and literary license in hand, call them “Laws of the Food Chain.”

I believe the same is true with the cheap foreign-made goods for sale at the Big Box store’s “On Sale Buy Now.” Those cheap goods were made possible at the expense of our being able to make them for ourselves, and thus we now borrow trillions from our children to buy them, and that, fellow shoppers, is very expensive indeed!

My Third Law of the Food Chain: Cheap food isn’t! We are often told how fortunate we are to live in a land where food is so cheap. I stand in opposition to this assertion. Food is made cheap by substituting vital nutrients with

DECEMBER IS SHOP LOCAL MONTH IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. Make your gifting truly special by shopping first at the shop’s that carry the Think Local First logo. You will be truly special!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Third, locally-owned businesses, by virtue of the individuals who own and operate them, promote a community that is by nature colorful, diverse, and unique. Though we who have lived long in Santa Cruz County find it easy to accept the colorful character of our community as being the norm, it is really only our norm. To see what those outside of our community see as the norm, visit one of the many small cities throughout the land in which a big box store has supplanted all the family-owned businesses. In those cities the norm is too often boarded up storefronts, a giant parking lot, and the cold, harsh fluorescent lighting of “On Sale, Buy Now!” When you walk down a street in Santa Cruz County, you walk in a very special place, one made so largely by the number of our independent businesses. Therefore when you give a gift from your locally-owned business community, you help maintain a community that attracts visitors from throughout the world, and that is very special.

That’s all very nice. But I can buy gifts for less money at the big box store!”

Maybe. Maybe not!

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ParadE Photos by Beau Sanders

Lighted Boat

K I CK S

O F F

H O L I DAY

S E A S O N

The 29th annual Lighted Boat Parade will help shepherd in the holiday season on December 6 with a festive pageant of colorfully lit boats reflecting brightly off the Santa Cruz Harbor waters.

Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, the Lighted Boat Parade thrills young and old alike every year on the first Saturday of December.

This year marks the 29th time a flotilla of Santa Cruz boats has lit the local holiday skies. The parade dates back to 1986 when local sailor Bob Levin, who worked in the high tech lighting industry, convinced four other members of the Santa Cruz Yacht Club to deck their vessels out with lights and holiday decorations to honor the season.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

“We had seen lighted boat parades in other coastal communities, and we couldn’t understand why we didn’t have one here, “ Levin said of the early days.

“We thought a great route would be to come down out of the harbor, and back to the club for cocktails and a party.”

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That first parade was set to go “rain or shine,” which was good, since a small storm threatened to rain on that first parade. Luckily, it passed through and left before the procession commenced. As the brightly lit flotilla made its way from the harbor to the wharf and back, it caught the attention of locals and a Santa Cruz tradition was born.

By 1988 local sponsors had stepped forward, and prizes were being awarded for originality, lighting effect and overall appeal. And, a year later the parade had grown to 30 boats, with hundreds of

By Tom Manheim

locals lining both sides of the harbor to see and enjoy the nautical festivities.

It was in 1991 that the Lighted Boat Parade made an encore appearance. The event had become so popular, that in addition to the annual holiday event, local boaters were asked to make a command performance at the City of Santa Cruz’s bicentennial celebration. By this time the number of boats had grown, and the sight of more than 50 boats making their way to the wharf and back thrilled everyone celebrating Santa Cruz’s 200th birthday.

Topping off the year, more than 4,000 returned in December to watch the holiday parade from harbor docks, the Crows Nest and Aldo’s, as well as the Murray Street Bridge.

“The parade has always been about giving something back to the community,” says Ron Merrall another yacht club member who took over parade coordination duties in 1992. “We wanted to kick off the holiday season in a unique way for the people and especially the children who live in the area.“ Getting the boats ready for their nighttime voyage is no small feat. Skippers and crew spend the entire day decorating their boats with lights, setting up sound systems for holiday music, and creating scenes of yuletide cheer. Over the years, some boats have even been known to bring live musicians aboard to entertain the viewers ashore.

Over the years, the parade has become more organized that it was in the early days. In 1992, local radio station KSCO began broadcasting the parade, describing the colorful and festive

By 1995, the parade “route” was reconfigured to stay within the confines of the harbor, a nod both to safety and to the large number of holiday celebrants who take advantage of the harbor breakwater as a prime viewing location.

The judging has become more organized, as well.

Local officials from the City and the Port District are invited to judge the parade along with the Yacht Club Commodore and other local dignitaries. Before the parade begins, judges are escorted on a Harbor Patrol Boat across the harbor from the Yacht Club hoist to the dock at the Crows Nest Restaurant, where they view the parade from a dining room overlooking the harbor.

And the entire harbor is now awash in holiday lighting throughout the season. In addition to the parade participants, dozens of boats throughout the harbor both in the water and in dry storage are dressed up in holiday lighting. Even homes surrounding the harbor are getting into the spirit, making the entire harbor area a yuletide sight to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

This year the Lighted Boat Parade will light the night skies on December 6. The free event starts at 5:30 p.m. and will last more than an hour as boats make several circuits around the Santa Cruz Harbor. This year’s theme is Festival of Lights. Along with the lighted boat parade there will be food and music to add to the festivities.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

entries live from the Aldo’s dock, a tradition that continues today.

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IDEAs APTOS FARMERS MARKET AT CABRILLO COLLEGE

www.montereybayfarmers.org

6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 ph: (831)728-5060

Holiday Fair Get into the holiday spirit and join us for the 9th annual Home & Hearth Holiday Fair at the Aptos Farmers Market that begins Saturday, November 29, from 8 am until 12 pm and continues each Saturday through December 20th. Guest artisan vendors include Copper Moon Apothecary, Bee Bark & Moss, Earth-In Canteen, Jen Wren Designs, and Trellis & Vine. The farmers market is full of locally made products that make unique holiday gifts. Come visit on Saturday and Sunday for our fabulous brunch menu!

VILLAGE MOUSE www.thevillagemouse.com

Hand-crafted Gifts

201 Capitola Ave. Capitola, CA 95010 ph: (831)476-7566

Stop by and visit our spacious retail store to discover your next great collectible find! We’ve been open for over 30 years and have grown from a small business with mostly hand-crafted gift items in stock, to a full collectible shop. We carry all of your favorite items, from home decor and sports swag to Disney accessories and Vera Bradley designs.

ZELDA’S

zeldasatthebeach.com

Dining

203 Esplanade Capitola, CA 95010 ph: (831) 475-4910

Zelda’s on the Beach is located in the quaint Capitola Village. We offer indoor as well as outdoor seating on the only beach front deck in Capitola.

Zelda’s is open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Come visit on Saturday and Sunday for our fabulous brunch menu!

CAVA

www.cavacapitola.com

Wine Bar

115 San Jose Ave Capitola, CA 95010 ph: (831) 476-2282

Cava Wine Bar, the original wine bar in Capitola, opened its doors 8 years ago. With a large selection of both domestic and foreign wines, Cava has always been a place where everyone can find something they will enjoy. Cava prides itself on having amazing customer service along with a fun and inviting atmosphere. Come visit for a glass of wine or two and enjoy a small plate of goodies. Gift cards are available for the holidays!

Discover the

Redwood Village in Aptos

CORRALITOS FEED Feed & Pet Supplies

2895 B Freedom Blvd.

Watsonville, CA 95076 ph: 831-722-7884

At Corralitos Feed we specialize in pet and livestock nutrition. Our store offers a wide variety of natural pet foods. We also carry everything you need to keep your pet healthy and happy. Visit the store to check out our great selection of boots and western wear as well.

IDEAs SUPERSILVER

www.supersilversantacruz.com

Jewelry

Capitola Village (831)462-9696 Downtown Santa Cruz (831)460-9696 Capitola Mall (831)477-1932

Super Silver Santa Cruz is all about silver! Super Silver offers a wide variety of dazzling Cubic Zirconia.

CAFE CRUZ www.cafecruz.com

Dining

2621 41st Ave. Soquel, CA 95073 ph: (831) 476-3801

Since 1995, Café Cruz has been serving our signature New American Cuisine. We use the freshest local produce (organic when possible), freshly caught sustainable fish, Free Range Air Chilled Rotisserie Chicken, All-Natural, often grass fed, Harris Ranch Beef, complemented by our other top of the line locally sourced ingredients. The interior décor was designed to offer an open, festive, and casual atmosphere, with a copper-backed open kitchen, a full bar with a cozy fireplace and heated outdoor patio dining.

DELUXE Fresh Produce

783 Rio Del Mar Blvd #25 Aptos, CA 95003 ph: (831) 688-7442

Deluxe Foods of Aptos is a service oriented, family owned grocery store dedicated to providing you and your family with the very best products: Organic grass fed beef, fine wines and world class beers, a full service bakery, gourmet deli, amazing cheese, fresh, house made sushi, gluten free meals and the tastiest fresh produce available! Visit our in-store Peet’s Coffee Kiosk, open Monday through Friday 6:00am to 5:00pm, weekends from 7:00am to 5:00pm.

THOMAS KINKADE www.kinkadecapitola.com

Exclusive Collectibles

121 San Jose Avenue Capitola, CA ph: (831)476-0970

Enjoy a cup of your favorite hot beverage in a beautiful Thomas Kinkade coffee mug. Each mug is artfully wrapped with one of his most popular images. Whether for you or as a gift, these mugs will make a great impression! In pairs or in sets, our frameless gallery wraps are perfect for any space. The 14 x 14 canvas wraps are crafted with our premium canvas reproduction techniques and hand wrapped around a deep 1-inch hardwood stretcher bar. Hung as an ensemble or by itself, this frame-less presentation gives you a versatile way to display art in your home.

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Shop & Dine Capitola Village Join us in Capitola Village

Saturday, December 6 12-5 p.m.

Annual Tree Lighting, Caroling and Open House

FREE 3 HOUR PARKING FROM THANKSGIVING ‘TIL CHRISTMAS

GIVE TO LOCAL CHARITIES ABOVE THE LINE HOMES FOR KIDS

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

9081 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 831-662-9081, abovetheline.org

1500 41st Avenue, Suite 250, Capitola, 95010 831-464-8691, santacruzmentor.org

Suzanne Stone | Executive Director Above the Line is a non-profit collective dedicated to providing housing, education, placement, and other vital services to at-risk children and youth. Through Foster Family Agency and Homes for Kids, they offer regular orientations for those interested in learning how to become a foster parent. Their team of social workers provides 24/7 support to foster families and children.

Marie Cubillas | Executive Director Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County’s mission statement is to “assist children and youth to achieve their highest potential by providing quality mentoring relationships.” For over 27 years they have served youth by creating mentoring relationships between children and carefully screened adult volunteers who provide guidance, friendship, and appropriate role modeling.

APTOS ADOPT-A-FAMILY 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 831-688-7549 (TPG, Inc. Office) cathe@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards & Cathe Race | Chair Persons The Adopt-A-Family program of Aptos sponsors families every year to make their holiday season an enjoyable one. You can help by sending a donation or offering to sponsor a family! This is your way to give back to the community. Charity begins at home.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SANTA CRUZ CHAPTER 1777-A Capitola Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-464-9982, alz.org Dale Thielges | Site Director The Santa Cruz Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers county-wide services for families

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA CRUZ 543 Center Street, Santa Cruz, 95060 831-423-3138, www.boysandgirlsclub.info volunteer@boysandgirlsclub.info coping with Alzheimer’s disease.

These include: Helpline, 1-800272-3900, six support groups, an informational library, a newsletter, a wanderer’s identification program, and a speakers bureau.

AMERICAN RED CROSS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CHAPTER 2960 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-462-2881, sccredcross.org Ginaia Kelly | CEO The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its congressional charter. The International Red Cross Movement provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Get your disaster preparedness kits and register for CPR and First Aid classes at www. sccredcross.org.

Bob Langseth | Executive Director The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz is dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, social, and character development of girls and boys ages 7 to 18. It is the only youth service organization in the greater Santa Cruz area that provides daily drop-in-programs five days a week.

The Club offers programs that build self-esteem and develop values and skills during the critical periods of growth.

CENTRAL COAST CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING 318 Cayuga Street, Suite 208, Salinas, CA 93901 831-757-2968 cccil@cccil.org Elsa Quezada | Executive Director CCCIL’s Mission Statement: “Many people with disabilities are excluded from full participation in

society. CCCIL is an advocacy and information center organized by and for people with disabilities, serving Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. CCCIL’s purpose is to make our communities more accessible and to empower people with disabilities with information and skills to live fulfilling lives in our communities.” CCCIL’s services include housing assistance, personal assistance services, peer support, independent living skills training, and systems advocacy.

CHILDREN’S HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE COALITION 342 Pajaro Street, Suite B, Salinas, CA 93901 831-422-3002, www.chpcc.org Devon Dabbs | Executive Director Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition is a local non-profit organization providing seriously ill children in our area with medical care coordination, emotional support, financial assistance and safe transportation to and from medical treatment at UCSF and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto. All services are provided free of charge to families in need.

COMMUNITY BRIDGES 236 Santa Cruz Ave., Aptos, CA 95003 831-688-8840, www.communitybridges.org tylers@cbridges.org Ray Cancino | CEO Community Bridges programs include Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, Lift Line, WIC, Live Oak Family Resource Center, La Manzana Community Resources, Watsonville Law Center, Child and Adult Care Food Program and our Child Development Division’s three child care centers.

DOMINICAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 831-462-7712, www.supportdominican.org beverly.grova@dignityhealth.org Beverly Grova | Vice President of Philanthropy For top quality medical care, more people in Santa Cruz County turn to Dominican Hospital than any other hospital. As a non-profit, Dominican relies on contributions from over 1,200 donors each year to acquire new technology, develop community services, help patients, and construct facilities that enable them to provide quality care. Help ensure the finest medical care and life-saving services will be available to you and your family when you need them most.

FAMILIES IN TRANSITION OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 210 High St. Room 107, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 458-7124, fitsantacruz.org melisa@fitsantacruz.org Melisa Vierra: Executive Director Families in Transition aims to provide housing strategies for the homeless and at risk. All services and programs support financial independence, healthy childhood development, and an increased sense of well being. Donations can include funds and gift certificates for clothes, furnishing, or food. Show support by shopping at one of hundreds of participating stores by visiting www. onecause.com.

FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY

OF THE CENTRAL COAST

info@jacobsheart.org

104 Walnut Avenue, Suite 208, Santa Cruz, 95060 831-423-9444, FSA-CC.org

Lori Butterworth | Executive Director Since 1998, Jacob’s Heart has demonstrated their unwavering dedication to improving quality of life for children with cancer by providing support to more than 500 families throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and South Santa Clara counties.

David Bianchi | Executive Director Family Service Agency of the Central Coast is a private non-profit agency offering a variety of clinical, crisis, educational, outreach, and supportive services designed to maintain and strengthen family and community life. Their programs include: Counseling Services, Senior Outreach, Suicide Prevention, I-You Venture and Renaissance.

HOSPICE OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-430-3000, www.hospicesantacruz.org info@hospicesantacruz.org Michael Milward | Chief Executive Director Hospice of Santa Cruz County provides expert medical care and emotional and spiritual support to patients and families in our community so the final months of life can be spent at home - in comfort and with dignity. Hospice of Santa Cruz County creates a network of support and offers assurance and education regarding end-of-life planning.

PAJARO VALLEY SHELTER SERVICES 115 Brennan Street, Watsonville, 95076 831-728-5649, www.pvshelter.org contact@pvshelter.org Kimberly Ferm | Executive Director Pajaro Valley Shelter Services aims to help homeless women, children, and families obtain stable housing, consisting of an emergency shelter and sixteen units of transitional housing where families stay up to two years.

RISING INTERNATIONAL 300 Potrero St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-429-7473, www.risinginternational.org info@risinginternational.org

CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES

Carmel Jud | President/ CEO Rising International seeks to help women who are living in poverty in newly developed and developing nations, primarily those in refugee camps, who have HIV/AIDS, are homeless or are displaced immigrants or former slaves, and live in war-torn regions of the world. They provide women with information and supplies for opening their own craft-based businesses to provide them with permanent income. Open to the public every Saturday in December.

2007 Freedom Boulevard, Freedom, CA 95019 831-724-9100, www.jacobsheart.org

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF SANTA CRUZ & SAN BENITO

JACOB’S HEART CHILDREN’S

800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville, 95076 831-722-7110 Hotline 831.662-0991, www.thefoodbank.org kathy@thefoodbank.org Willy Elliott-McCrea | CEO The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County provides food and necessities to people in need throughout our community, serving 60,000 families, seniors, and children each month. Second Harvest provides food to 180 programs and agencies operating pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, childcare, rehabilitation programs and more. Call 662-0991 from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday - Friday, if you or someone you know needs food. Please visit thefoodbank.org. Every $1 donated provides five meals.

VALLEY CHURCHES UNITED MISSIONS 9400 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 831-336-5651, vcum.org linda@vcum.org David Mills | Unpaid Director Valley Churches United Missions is hosting its 29th Annual Valley Christmas Project providing food, toys, and gift certificates to families, seniors, disabled, and homeless. Donations of cash, food, gift certificates, new toys, senior gifts, Christmas trees, poinsettia plants, new blankets and more are accepted. Send cash donations to Valley Churches United Missions, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.

Keeping Your Pets H A P P Y & S A F E F O R T H E H O L I DAY S

You can celebrate Christmas with your pets in a fun and safe way. Here are a few tips to make the holiday season a happy one for your family and your pets

1. When your to-do list is a mile long,

it’s easy to sometimes forget things. Add your normal pet-feeding and cagecleaning routines to your daily to-do lists. This might also be the perfect time to assign such duties to a responsible child

2. Take Christmas photos of your pets to include in your cards.

Dress up pets in holiday gear, or put a Santa hat on them. Friends and family will enjoy seeing your animals in their holiday cards

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

3. Keep your pets safe.

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Keep any poisonous Christmas plants like the poinsettia out of reach. Small Christmas tree decorations can cause choking if eaten; electric cords can be dangerous if chewed (Remember National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?) and chocolate items are dangerous for dogs and most other pets so make sure these are out of reach. By thinking ahead, you are able to avoid your cat chewing a scented (and possibly poisonous) decoration or your dog destroying the stuffed Santa Claus that smells suspiciously like peppermint.

4. Buy your pet a Christmas present.

From specialty dog biscuits with holiday icing to Christmas collars, new toys for birds, catnip for cats, chew toys for dogs and treats for them all make great stocking stuffer ideas.

5. The last thing that you may want to do

after trudging around the mall shopping for hours is to take the dog for a walk. Here are some ways you can give your dog some exercise without much

exertion on your part such as playing fetch down the hallway or some tug of war while you sit on the couch. Remember that dogs tend to become destructive with all that pent up energy if they don’t get their usual exercise.

6. Make Christmas treats for your pet. There are numerous homemade treats you can cook for dogs and cats. If you can’t find premixed items, be sure to use pet-safe ingredients such as yogurt, peanut butter and carob but never use chocolate.

For most of us December is the craziest month of the year. Your pets may get confused with all the changes to the normal routine and you may get overwhelmed and distracted so don’t forget to have fun and make your pet part of this holiday season!

Pets Help Make the Holidays Exciting

By Noel Smith

O

ur family pets obviously are part of our holidays. Even thought they can’t help with the cooking, cleaning, buying or wrapping of gifts, many of our fondest (or most painful) memories have to do with our furry friends.

One year my wife Marsha and I spent hours with our grandchildren baking Christmas tree cookies using colored Life Savers in the center as colored windows. We then carefully decorated them with green sprinkles that literally glittered in the light. Truly works of art!

Then we carefully wrapped each cookie, tying it with Christmas ribbon while

When we arrived at our son’s home on Christmas morning where the festivities were to take place, we carefully placed each cookie on their Christmas tree to be distributed to everyone as we shared our presents later in the day.

After a Christmas morning snack, everyone went for a walk in the crisp morning air… except for my son’s dog, Molly.

When we returned about an hour later, the elaborately decorated Christmas tree was in shambles and the carefully wrapped cookies had disappeared – except for one at the very top – leaving behind bits of wrapping and ribbon as a reminder of what once had been… and a Christmas story to be told. Molly was mysteriously not her usual ebullient self the rest of the day and just laid listlessly in one spot.

Pets do indeed help make the holidays exciting… and memorable.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

imagining that when our family and friends took them home, they would still be intact to use as decorations on their own trees before they would then be eaten by candlelight sometime during the holiday season.

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A CUT ABOVE THE REST how to make the perfect holiday cookie

vanilla & peppermint cookies Ingredients

r 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream r 3 1/4 teaspoons Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon

bowl, whisk confectioners’ sugar and flour until blended; set aside.

Working with one piece of dough at a time, place on a clean, dusted surface. Roll dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes and transfer with a thin offset metal spatula to prepared cookie sheets. For even baking, do not overcrowd cookies. Gather remaining dough, cover with plastic and chill. Continue with second chilled dough.

For best results, bake one sheet pan at a time until done, which should take about 10 minutes; remove and place cookies on wire racks to cool.

Decorate and store in an airtight container.

r 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Peppermint Extract r 2 eggs r 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar (for dusting work surface) r 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for dusting work surface)

Peppermint Glaze & Peppermint Piping Icing

r 3 cups all-purpose flour r 2 teaspoons baking powder r 3/4 teaspoon salt r 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened r 1 cup superfine sugar (purchase at store or process granulated sugar for about 20 seconds in a food processor)

Pure Vanilla Extract

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Directions

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Position oven rack in the center of oven and preheat to 350 F. Line two large, heavy light-colored baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt until blended; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, add butter, sugar, cream, vanilla and peppermint extracts; beat with a handheld mixer on medium speed until fluffy, which should take about two minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce speed to medium-low; add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the dry ingredients one half at a time.

Divide dough into two even pieces, then press each piece into a disk shape. Wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. Dough should be cool and firm but easy to work with. In a small

r 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar r 1 tablespoon meringue powder r 2 tablespoons water r 1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Peppermint Extract (may substitute with Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract or Variety gel food colors)

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together sugar and meringue powder. Add water and peppermint extract, stir until smooth. Glaze cookies in desired colors and set aside to dry before piping. For the piping icing, remake the glaze recipe and add additional confectioners’ sugar, one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Divide icing into small bowls; add desired gel colors. Select pastry tips, prepare pastry bags and creatively pipe icing onto glazed cookies.

8 Reasons for Buying Handmade Products 1.

Handmade products are unique. Handmade items are crafted by artisans ensuring that each item of clothing, leatherware, or jewelry you buy will have its own unique characteristics.

5.

Handmade goods can be high quality. If the quality of an item is worth more to you than the price, then you know what “value” really means. When quality matters, try handmade!

2.

Handmade items have personality. Life is about expressing yourself and in order to do, the things you own and wear need to have as much personality as you do.

6.

Handmade items can be considered a piece of art, a reflection of the crafter’s skill. You are paying for quality, experience, talent, and craftsmanship.

3.

Handmade items are special. When you get a handmade gift don’t you feel a little bit more loved? And when you give a handmade gift, imagine the pleasure they feel of wearing something unique.

7.

Buying handmade means you are supporting traditional crafts men using processes passed down through generations making high quality pieces of art.

8.

Buying handmade supports local and small businesses. Paying local craftspeople for their goods is a great way to support your community and to support local business.

Handmade items often last longer. When handmade items are made from high quality materials and handcrafted by trained artists, you know they will be worn or used for years.

Keep these things in mind the next time you see a scarf, a bracelet, some great handmade soap, leather goods, jewelry or other item.

Buying handmade also means that you will be giving truly unique gifts to everyone on your list. Shop handmade this holiday season!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

4.

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Hot & Spicy Mulled Cider Created by Chef Jonathon Sawyer | Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes | Servings: 18

Spice Up the Holiday Season

New Twists on comforting classics

r 1 gallon fresh apple cider r 1 stick cinnamon r 2 star anise r 4 cloves r 3 allspice berries r 1â „2 cup sliced almonds, toasted r 2 tablespoons honey r 1 1/2 cups bourbon r 3/4 cup applejack r 1 cup honey liqueur r 5 dashes apple bitters r 2 tablespoons Tabasco Original Red Sauce, or more to taste r Orange twist, for garnish r Apple, sliced, for garnish In stainless steel pot, combine cider with cinnamon, anise, cloves, allspice berries, almonds and honey. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat; add bourbon, applejack, liqueur, bitters and Tabasco Sauce.

Store in refrigerator until ready to be enjoyed. Once ready, gently warm cider cocktail.

Garnish with orange twist, sliced raw apple, almonds and dash of Tabasco Sauce. For more delicious recipes for your holiday menu, visit www.tabasco.com.

Whether you’re preparing for a big gathering or hosting a small dinner with loved ones, make any get-together a special occasion with a twist on delicious, seasonal classics. Impress your guests with a Hot & Cpicy Milled Ccider!

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide