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Holiday Guide 2012

Monday, January 14, 2013

Still Need Your Christmas Tree Picked Up in Waltham?

Find out how you can have your Christmas tree picked up.

Are you still waiting to have your Christmas tree picked up in Waltham? The City of Waltham will be picking up trees through the end of this week, the week of Jan. 14, according to Consolidated Public Works Director Michael Chiasson. IF YOU STILL NEED YOUR TREE PICKED UP, PLEASE CALL 781-314-3800 TO SCHEDULE A PICKUP. 

Monday, December 31, 2012

Beware of Scams During Year-End Charitable Giving

Taxpayers have until midnight Dec. 31 to donate to their favorite non-profits. However, make sure you know who actually gets your money.

Non-profit organizations hold a very unique status in society. Unlike corporations, non-profits can avoid payment of federal income tax–and in most cases state tax — if they organize and operate to promote certain causes, which include "charitable, religious, educational," among others. Now, with only days left in the 2012 tax year, many non-profits will make last minute requests for donations because donors also receive a tax benefit — they can deduct the value of the money or property made to the organization. However, donors unfamiliar with the work of an organization should first conduct a little research to ensure that their money goes to the right place and for the IRS approved use. All non-profits must keep strict records of how …

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution

Five tips to help you keep your resolution.

Are you making a resolution this year? Do you want to lose weight, gain a new skill or organize your house? Whatever your resolution is, here are some tips to help you stick to it throughout the year. 1. Make it attainable. Be sure that your resolution is attainable. Sticking to your monthly budget is attainable—making a million dollars may not be. 2. Tell everyone. If you tell everyone about your resolution, you are more likely to keep it. If you want to quit smoking, you can even go as far as telling your friends that you'll give them $50 if they catch you lighting up. 3. Be specific. If you want to get fit in the new year, set a specific goal. For example, instead of saying you want to get fit, say you want to lose 10 pounds and tone …

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Ryan Grannan-Doll

9:42 am on Monday, December 31, 2012

You can email me at ryan.grannan-doll@patch.com.   more ›

Friday, December 28, 2012

Vote Now in Our Deck the House Contest

Who has the best holiday lights in America? Help us decide by casting your vote in our contest.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Earn Your Stripes: Pass Our Candy Cane Quiz

Dec. 26 is National Candy Cane Day.

It's National Candy Cane Day, which seems fitting given that you likely have a surplus lying around at this point in the holiday season. We visited the National Confectioners Association website to gather the questions and answers for a quiz dedicated to the striped peppermint candy synonymous with the season. The quiz is available as a PDF so it's easy to print off and share with friends or family gathered at your house for the holidays. Or just test your knowledge below. Candy Cane Quiz 1. Legend places the origin of the candy cane in the: A. 1900s B. 1800s C. 1700s D. 1600s 2. According to legend, candy canes began as a means of: A. Rewarding shepherds for successfully guarding a flock. B. Bartering for the Christmas ham. C. Keeping …

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

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" all 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 …

What's Happening

What's Open/Closed in Waltham on Christmas

Stay safe and have a great Christmas meal!

MBTA Schedule  Subway: Regular Sunday schedule for all lines. Commuter Rail: the following lines will run on a regular Sunday schedule: Acton/Fitchburg, Framingham/Worcester, Franklin, Haverhill, Lowell, Middleboro/Lakeville, Newburyport/Rockport, Providence/Stoughton. The remaining lines will not operate. Buses: the following routes will not operate, Routes 70A, 553, 554, 556. Other routes will operate, for more info see tha MBTA website. THE RIDE: Operating on regular Sunday. schedule. 

Monday, December 24, 2012

Where's Santa? Track Him Live from Waltham

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that now offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.

They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and left cookies and milk for his arrival. Now the only thing left for children to do is track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can now follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page, which has more than …

Friday, December 21, 2012

Coming Christmas Eve Morning: Track Santa Live from Waltham

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that now offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.

They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and left cookies and milk for his arrival. Now the only thing left for children to do is track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can now follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. NORAD's mission is to detect any incoming threats to the USA & Canada. But that gives them the capability to track Kris Kringle's sleigh. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Mr. Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense …

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Send Us Your Children's Letters to Santa

We're looking to make a gallery featuring area kids' letters to the guy in the big red suit.

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