Monday, December 26, 2011
Did you get an iPhone for Christmas? Buy yourself an Android tablet? We want to know
Sales of mobile gadgets are booming, and chances are a lot of them were given as gifts this holiday season. We'd like to know which, if any, you received. And if you're just starting to use your new gadget, you might want to download one of our Patch apps. They're just the thing to keep you informed and in touch about what's going on in your community. Patch for iPhone Patch for iPhone keeps customers connected to the latest news, weather, local business listings and current events happening in their neighborhood. Patch’s app will keep them engaged and mobile by delivering 24/7 local community coverage. Patch’s useful features include: Plus, they can save anything from favorite stories to business listings direct to the iPhone for easy …
Sunday, December 25, 2011
The Red Cross will distribute the toys to kids affected by disasters for the holidays.
TravelCenters of America continued their holiday tradition for the 13th year in a row, donating hundreds of new toys to the Red Cross of Greater Cleveland. On Thursday, the toys were loaded into Red Cross disaster vehicles, which will be dispatched to disasters or house fires. Thanks to the donations, children affected by a natural disaster or house fire, will also get a toy for the holidays, along with snacks, clothing, personal hygeine kits and more. “At the scene of a disaster, especially in a situation like a fire where a family often loses all of their belongings, a toy can bring great comfort to a child,” said Michelene Holland, associate director of Emergency Services for the American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland in a statement. “…
41.457885
-81.89364
TravelCenters of America
24601 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake, OH
/articles/westlake-travelcenter-employees-donate-hundreds-of-toys
1075139
/locations/6482160
Show us how you're decorating for the holidays for a chance to bring home one of many awesome prizes.
Editor's Note: This contest is closed, but please feel free to share your holiday photos anyway! Is your house bursting with holiday cheer? Your spirit could win $100,000 for the Westlake city school district this year. Patch is launching a nationwide contest to find the best-dressed home, and the winner’s school district will receive $100,000, no strings attached. Here’s how the contest works: From Dec. 8 through Dec. 26, you can enter your home by uploading a photo to the contest entry form on the site. Throughout that time, you and your neighbors will also be able to vote for your favorite home. Local winners will then compete with entries from all over the country to become one of the 24 finalists. Each finalist will receive $500 …
Here's a by-the-numbers look at the holidays.
We know Christmas is a big time for retailers, but how big? And just where did all those toys under the nation's trees this morning come from? Here is a by-the-numbers look at Christmas, courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau. Rush to the Stores $27.2 billion: Retail sales by the nation’s department stores (including leased departments) in December 2010. This represented a 44 percent jump from the previous month. Other U.S. retailers with sizable jumps in sales between November and December 2010 were clothing stores (33 percent); radio, TV and other electronics stores (44 percent); sporting goods stores (58 percent); bookstores (92 percent); and jewelry stores (113 percent). 14 percent: The percentage of total 2010 sales for department stores…
Saturday, December 24, 2011
There are some amazing displays all over town. Which streets are a can't miss?
Westlake's homes are beautifully decorated for the holidays, so we took a video tour of some of the biggest and best lights displays. Where have you seen great lights displays? Share your favorite streets or homes in the comments for everyone to find. And don't forget to enter the Deck the House contest! The grand prize is a $100,000 donation to Westlake city schools, and five runners-up will get their December electric bill paid by Patch. The contest is over Dec. 26, so enter now! Special thanks to Rick Grane for his help with this video.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Find out when churches in town are holding their holiday services.
Westlake Patch is all about punctuality and would like you to get to the church on time this holiday season. Just scroll down the list, find your denomination and make note of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day schedules for Westlake's many places of worship. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church of the Redeemer United Church of Christ Cross Pointe Community Methodist Church Dover Congregational United Church of Christ Episcopal Church of the Advent Grace Baptist Church Hungarian Seventh Day Adventist Church Parkside Church of the Nazarene Prince of Peace Lutheran Church St. Bernadette Catholic Church St. Ladislas Church St. Paul Lutheran Church 9 a.m. traditional service (sanctuary…
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Eighth-graders recreated a colonial-era holiday party in full character.
Lee Burneson Middle School eighth-graders partied like it was 1783 before heading out for the winter break, putting on a Revolutionary War era Christmas Eve party. Students in Sally Fetko's social studies class recreated the historical Christmas Eve party at Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria where Gen. George Washington stopped on his way home to Mt. Vernon. The Treaty of Paris had been signed, and the Revolutionary War was over, and Washington was heading home, but not before stopping to celebrate the season with his old friends and neighbors. The party was the culmination of the students' study of the Revolutionary War. Students not only dressed in full costume, but wrote and portrayed characters, learned colonial dances and created their …
Monday, December 19, 2011
Do you think you should be able to take your own pictures when the kids visit Santa at the mall?
Jolly Old St. Nick has been a big draw at the malls for years, where parents would snap photos of their children sitting on the Big Man's lap. But recently, malls have started to ban parents from taking their own photos, or asking them to shoot from a certain distance. Others will allow parents to take photos only if they also buy a professional photo package. Some Santas say it's stealing when you take your own photos, reports United Press International, but parents argue that it ruins the spirit of the season. What do you think?
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Check out the mailing deadlines below to ensure that your gift is not left out in the cold this holiday season.
With Christmas only days away, time is running out to ship all those cards and gifts. Luckily, the Westlake Post Office is still accepting packages, but folks are encouraged to act quickly if they want their gifts to arrive in time for Christmas. Here are the key deadline dates: And for those who plan to travel over the holidays, don’t forget to put a hold on your mail. To do so, simply submit a request on the U.S. Postal Service website. Melissa Hebert contributed to this article.
41.448851
-81.923508
United States Post Office
27300 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake, OH
/articles/need-to-ship-a-gift-time-is-running-out
1076327
/locations/6482222
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Patchers have shared lots of recipes from snacks to main dishes. Which would you most like to try?
Everyone has a favorite holiday treat whether it's Grandma's famous Christmas cookies, a traditional Hanukkah Sufganiot or a delicious creation you invented yourself. Patch editors and readers have shared some of their personal favorite recipes over the last week. Which one has a chance of making an appearance at your holiday party? Russian Tea Biscuits Submitted by Avon Patch Editor Melissa Hebert Russian tea cakes are the annual must-bake for me. They're a traditional cookie in my family. This recipe It makes about 4 dozen cookies. Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup sifted confectioner's sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 2 1/4 cup sifted flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts Directions: 1. Mix butter, sugar and vanilla …
Kasha Legeza
2:21 pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2011
My gadget gift isn't listed here, but ... my son bought me a GPS unit -- so I'll stop borrowing his to go on story assignments for Patch! more ›