Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Keep the Midlands Beautiful is offering the community a chance to recycle their Christmas trees.
Now that Christmas is over, what do you do with the live tree? Keep the Midlands Beautiful is hosting a Christmas tree grinding event and there are several locations where you can drop off this year's tree for recycling. Before dropping off your tree, follow these steps: Trees can be dropped off at the following locations starting today through Jan. 10, 2013. Mulch will be available for pickup on Saturday, Jan. 12. Christmas Tree Drop-off Locations Christmas Tree Mulch Free mulch made from the recycled trees will be available to the public at the following two locations starting Jan. 12, 2013, from 9 a.m. until the mulch runs out: All griding is provided by Asplundh. For the artificial trees and lights, too, Keep the Midlands Beautiful …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Movie theaters are open.
Post any other closings in the comments: All Richland County and Columbia offices are closed on Christmas Day. Movie theaters are open. The Columbia Museum of Art, Riverbanks Zoo and the South Carolina State Museum are closed. Starbucks are open but hours differ depending on the location.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tis the season for holiday crime. Here are a few tips from the sheriff's office to keep
It seems that every year there's a horror story of someone getting all their presents stolen from under the tree. This year the Richland County Sheriff's Office has distributed a list of tips to stay safe. Their tips follow: To reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary Take a minute to answer this checklist to see how prepared you are. Be Prepared Educate yourself on crime prevention tactics. Think about different situations you may encounter while you are out. Have a plan for your reactions. Always be alert, observant, and aware of the people around you. Be aware of locations and situations that could possibly make you vulnerable to crime, such as alleys and dark parking lots.
Friday, November 16, 2012
The annual Christmas festival continues at Riverbanks Zoo.
Got a cool name you've been thinking about? A new penguin at Riverbanks Zoo might just be the animal to get it. The annual festival of lights at the zoo is gearing up to bring a little spirit to all walks of life this year. Lights before Christmas will officially kick off on Saturday at Riverbanks Zoo. More than 1 million lights and hundreds of animated figures will decorate the park, according to a zoo press release. New this year is a 15-foot snow globe and the chance to name a penguin. At the Jingle Bell Bonfire you can roast marshmallows and get hot cocoa. The event will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 17 to Dec. 30 but closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Advance tickets are available online and are $8 for …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
If you are running out of crazy tricks for your child's elf, then we've found a few websites that could help you and your elf be more creative.
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Thursday, November 15, 2012
Are you one of those crazy parents who has brought the Elf on the Shelf into your Christmas celebration? If you haven't heard of this tradition, it has its own website. And, elves are now available in both English and Spanish. Last year, the company reported $10 million in sales and landed No. 1,322 on Inc. 5000's 2011 list. So here's the short version... Santa can't be everywhere trying to determine who is on the naughty list and who is on the nice list. So these scout elves, brought home by willing parents and named by children, report back each night to the North Pole about the day's events and the behavior of the child or children in the household. And when the elf returns, it's usually not in the same spot where the family last saw …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Tis the season for presents, shopping and sadly crime.
A recent string of armed robberies has officials concerned about heightened crime during the holiday season. In 2011, there were 81 total commercial robberies compared to 91 just in the first 10 months of 2012, a press release stated. The increase in commercial robberies is not targeted to any specific type of business as robbers have hit restaurants, convenience stores, retail stores, pharmacies and home improvement stores. In order for businesses to remain vigilant in fighting the holiday increase in crime, officials are asking for customers and business owners to do the following:
Sunday, November 4, 2012
This list will be updated as more businesses and non-profits establish drop-off locations.
As the stores welcome Christmas shopping, local charities are also gearing up for their big season. In this ongoing list, find out where you can donate to those who have fallen on harder times this season. Toys for Tots What to donate: New, unwrapped toys. Nothing with realistic-looking guns or food. Where you can donate: Comfort Suites Hotel, 1540 Daulton Drive Harvest Hope What you can donate: canned meat and fish, peanut butter (in plastic jars), canned vegetables and fruits, cereal, personal care items (soap, shampoo, etc.), any nutritionally dense foods . Where you can donate: Comfort Suites Hotel, 1540 Daulton Drive Harvest Hope Office, 2220 Shop Road This list will be updated throughout the holiday season. If we miss your group …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
New study finds two-thirds of respondents expect to spend same amount as 2011.
The percentage of consumers who plan to sustain or increase their holiday spending in 2012 when compared to 2011 is growing, according to a recent survey by the NPD Group. The survey saw increases in respondents who plan to spend “About The Same” or “More” and a decrease in those who plan to spend “Less”: Survey Response 2012 2011 “Plan to Spend More” 10% 9% “Plan to Spend about the Same” 67% 64% “Plan to Spend Less” 23% 27% An article in the Baltimore Sun quoted NPD’s chief industry analyst Marshal Cohen as seeing “a light at the end of the tunnel with more consumers telling us they plan to 'spend about the same' and less planning to 'spend less.'" While the survey results paint a somewhat rosy picture for retailers such as Target, Sears…
Halloween just passed and some stores are already putting up Christmas decorations. Is it too soon to deck the halls or are you ready for the 2012 Holiday Season to begin?
It's an annual question for merchants and shoppers: How soon is too soon to deck the malls and shopping centers for the Christmas holiday season? Some stores have already begun the process. Christmas music, decorations and layaway ads can already been seen in the shopping aisle at local stores. Halloween decorations still dominate, but signs of Christmas are already creeping in. So what do you think? When is too early for the Christmas shopping season to begin? Do the decorations and Christmas ads entice you to buy early or make you grit your teeth and wish for more time before the holiday rush begins?
How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.
We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38 How much it would cost to buy your "true love" the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person. Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China…
Judy Brown
8:47 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Home invasions and home burglaries are increasing rapidly. These thugs know that there is less of a chance getting caught burglarizing a home then robbing businesses. So stay safe, be vigilant, install deadbolts and keep alarm activated. If you don't have an alarm system try www.homesecurityalarms.net for the most affordable monitored alarm system in the nation. more ›