AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS!

         DECEMBER 25, 2024

   AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS!

      Hello my friends and welcome

to December 25th. Christmas, The

day we observe the birth of Jesus.

Now to be honest Biblical scholars

say it is very unlikely Jesus was born

in December. As a matter of fact, a

few have calculated his birth on

9/11   in the year 3BC. Around the

4th century December 25 became the

popular date to observe Christmas 

and that, ironically, stemmed from a

Pegan custom associated with the

winter solstice. The date has seen

some wonderful events. In 1914,

during World War I, British and

German troops actually called a

Christmas truce and played soccer

together! In took until 1831 that the first

few states officially recognized

Christmas as a legal holiday.  And in

1818, in a small Austrian village, a

famous Christmas tune was born."

Stiille Nacht." You know it as

"Silent Night!" Merry Christmas to

all and may all your NEWS be good!

MY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

    DECEMBER 24, 2024

MY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

    I've shared this story many times

but it's always worth retelling. My

video BLOG includes a re-creation

of this true story that happened 36

years ago this very day. I had a bad

habit of doing my Christmas shopping

on Christmas Eve. There was a time 

when that added to the Christmas spirit

for me. But that year, 1988, my wife

had asked for a somewhat unusual gift.

It was a lawn decoration that looked

like a lamb. I already had plans to pick

up a present for one of my daughters

at a shop in Montrose which is about

an hour and a half from our home. I

decided I'd better look for that lamb

first. I visited a number of Lawn &

Garden shops. A couple of the owners

were familiar with the decoration but

didn't have any in stock. The hour was

getting late with that drive ahead of me

so I decided I'd make up a gift certificate

for my wife and find the lamb after

Christmas. It was dark and getting late

when I finally set out for Montrose.

I was driving along Route 92 near the

Susquehanna River. I was, I believe,

in the area of Harding when I passed a

house off to my right that had one of

those lamb decorations in the front

yard. They had to know where they

bought it! My dilemma was trying to

decide if I should stop and bother the

homeowner on this dark Christmas Eve

to ask where they bought the lamb. Since

this was a special gift my wife wanted I

decided to take a chance. I got out of my

car and walked up to the house then

knocked on the front door. A woman

answered. The woman who MADE THE

LAMBS!!!! Her name was Madeline Woods.

She once owned an area flower shop. Madeline

had two of the newly made lamb ornaments

in her house. One was a gift for a friend. The

other was available! Coincidence? Somehow

I doubt that. Madeline passed away many

years ago but she left my wife and I with

a wonderful craft that we regard as a

Christmas Miracle! Merry Christmas to

you all and may all your NEWS be good!     

 

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR TREE?

 

  MONDAY, DECEMBER 23RD., 2024
  HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR TREE!

  It's December 23rd my friends and time to
check your tree! It's fun to have a look at all
the branches and find things you may never
have seen before!
   Oh! I don't mean your Christmas tree. I'm
talking about your Family tree! You see this
is "Roots Day!"
    It's the perfect time to celebrate your
heritage. Many of you are likely home or
headed home to be with family for the
holidays.
     I can trace my Mom's side of the family
back to the Revolutionary war. And the
Singlet family has been holding reunions
for over 100 years!
     While I don't know much of the actual
history my Dad's grandparents and great
grandparents all hail from the same town
in Italy!
       Genealogy is a big deal these days.
If you really get into it you can find out
a lot of things about your relatives. Of
course that could be a mixed blessing!
         My wife learned she has some ties
to a New York family that ran a "Family."
Now, every now and then, she makes me
an offer I can't refuse!
         So, while you're decorating or just
enjoying your Tannenbaum, give some
thought to those whose roots make your
family tree so sturdy!
          Hope you find some stars on those
branches and that all your NEWS is good! 

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS!!!

     SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2024

  IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS!

    It's December 21st! It's Yule Day! I

don't know if you've heard of it before

or not. But you've certainly heard of the

12 days of Chrfistmas. Yule Day is the

start of that 12 day period. It's always on

the Winter Solstice. In years past farmers

would gather in their crops for the holiday

meals. And folks would begin trimming

their Christmas trees. It's the day you

begin gathetring presents for those 12 days

of Christmas. The first one could be the

hardest. A Partridge in a Pear Tree! Wait

a minute. I know where there's a Pear tree!

In fact it's right across the street frpom my

house. I've got myself a Pear tree. Now...

all I have to do is wait for a Partridge to

show up. I wonder what a Pafrtridge looks

like? This may be tougher than I thought!

Hope your 12 gifts are all ready and wrapped

and that all your NEWS is good!  

WRAP IT UP KID!

      FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024

                    WRAP IT UP KID!!

    Don't get worried. This isn't a wrap

song or verse. It's an observation, and

suggestion for retailers out there. You

sell us these swell presents then send

us home with them in a bag! That leaves

guys, like me, to wrap them for Christmas.

I'm not a very good wrapper! I end up with

bits and pieces of wrapping paper and tape

on me. Lots all over the floor too! Why

don't you pre-wrap the presents? Let us see

a sample of the product then send us home

with an already wrapped present. It would

help guys like me a lot. Of course bad as my

wrapping is I'm certain my wife will 

appreciate the bright can of SPAM I've  

just wrapped up in red paper and.....oh....

wait! I want it to be a big surpise. Don;t

say anything! Hope you're all wrapped

up and that all your NEWS is good!  

BELSNICKEL

      TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2024

                      BELSNICKEL

      It's Christmas time so you know who's

coming to town right? No. Not Santa. I'm

talking about Belsnickel! A Christmas

tradition in parts of Pennsylvania! He's a creature

dressed in furs carrying a long switch from

a tree. He raps on the windows of children's

rooms knowing who is naughty and who 

is nice. The naughty kids get a wack on the

rear end and the nice kids ger a treat.

Belsnickel is a German born tradition who

is still talked about in some of the Pennsylvania

Dutch community. He became nationally

know when actor Rainn Willson, playing

Dwight Schrute, dressed as Belsnickel

for an episode of "Thee Office." So you'd

better watch out and you'd better not cry,

because Belsnickel is coming to town!

Hope you and nice and not naughty

and that all your NEWS is good!  

OUR SUMMER CHRISTMAS IN CLEVELAND!

  

       MONDAY, DECEMBER 16TH., 2024
OUR SUMMER CHRISTMAS IN CLEVELAND!

      You've probably heard of Christmas in
July. But one of our favorite Christmas
memories was made in June!
    If was June of 2009 and my wife and
I took a road trip that lead us to
Cleveland, Ohio!
    We passed by the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame en route to our destination....the
"Christmas Story House."
     It's the home that was used in the movie
"A Christmas Story." A feature all about a
little boy whose only Christmas wish was to
get a Red Ryder BB gun. At one time or
another all little boys want a BB gun!
    If you haven't seen it yet...welcome back
to the United States from your monastery
in the mountains of Tibet or where ever
you've been isolated.
     The movie has become a Christmas
classic and we actually base all of our
Christmas cards on the story.
     It was such a treat to visit the house used
in several scenes! We got to see THE Leg
Lamp! I got to hide under the kitchen sink
just like Ralphie's brother Randy did in the
movie! We even we got to see the actual Red
Rider BB gun that co-stared in the feature.
     And though it was the middle of June
memories of the film made us feel just like
it was Christmas!
     When it comes right down to it a big
part of Christmas is the memories of
previous holidays....usually from the days
when we were kids! Remember those days
when you were a kid, couldn't get to sleep
Christmas Eve, then woke your folks up
about 6am to check and see what Santa left
under the tree!
      I wonder if its too late to sneak an ad
for a Red Ryder BB gun into my wife's
mahjone manual that she checks
every day. Yea......I know exactly what
she'd say! You're saying the same thing!
      Hope your list to Santa has already
been mailed and that all your NEWS is
good!

SALUTING A TASTY TREAT!

 

   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15TH., 2024
     SALUTING A TASTY TREAT!         

    For those of you who didn't already
know this is National Cupcake Day!
     I'm good with that!
     My grandson has mixed emotions.
He's made it clear he prefers full
sized Birthday cakes at his friend's
parties. If faced with those individual
decorated cupcakes he'll usually, but
reluctantly, lick off the icing.
      Cupcakes have been around for
a long time and they've changed
over the years.
       Winston Churchill is the first
person to suggest that cupcakes should
be frosted. Previously the treats were
made from dried fruit, spices, or gilded
lard, Of course Churchill also blamed
cupcakes for his jowls!
       Always anxious to support
Pennsylvania products I have been
buying Tastykake cupcakes as often
as I could.
       For a long time they were tough
to find outside of eastern Pennsylvania.
When my brother-in-law lived in
California he always bought up a
big supply on return visits.
        Distribution is much wider these
days so folks all over might be joining
me in the celebration today!
        If the grandson stops by I'll give
him one with a heavy coat of icing!
Whether you buy them or bake them
enjoy a cupcake for yourself today!
         Hope all your NEWS is good!






       

CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE.

 

       SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14TH., 2024
 CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE.

       It's more than just a line from a popular
Christmas song friends. December 14th is now
"Roast Chestnuts Day!" It's the perfect time to
do the roasting!
       Holiday Insights.com created this new and
very special day in 2015. The date  was selected
to coincide with the beginning of the "Twelve
Days of Christmas".
       We don't roast them, at least not in the
traditional way, We've found it a lot easier
just to put a couple slices in the shells then
toss them in the microwave! Melt a little
butter on the side and you've got a delicious
treat!
       Admittedly the best we ever had were
roasted the old fashion way. They were
purchased from a vendor near the Chapel
Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland. I suppose
the venue added a bit to that enjoyment as
we sat on the span, a pedestrian covered
bridge that dates back to at least 1367!
       A couple months ago we found two
stands selling roasted chestnuts and quickly
bought some. But that was in Munich,
Germany! Maybe you'll find some closer.
 to home! Hope you get  some and that
all your NEWS is good!

HOMETOWN MEMORIES!

 

  FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13TH., 2024
        HOMETOWN MEMORIES!

   I'm intrigued with "Used To Be's." Places
and buildings out of my past that are gone now
or changed in their use from their vision in my
memory.
    Thomas Wolfe wrote "You Can't Go Home
Again" but that's not really true. Memories
and phots can take you there anytime you'd
like to go.
     A Facebook friend took me back to my
old neighborhood through a couple of
pictures she turned up from her family's
collection.
      Just a block away from the home in which
I was born stood a small Shoemaker's shop. I
was sent there often.
      Back "in the day" you had shoes repaired
rather than replaced. And you did it until they
couldn't be repaired anymore!
      I can still remember the wonderful aroma
of leather in that shop and the "German accent"
of the man whose craftsmanship preserved
much of the DeCosmo footwear in those days.
      But I was just a kid and never really knew
very much about the Craftsman himself!
      That's where my Facebook friend comes
in! One of my previous blogs referred to
places in my old neighborhood. After reading
it Sharon Kadler Montone  asked if I remembered
her Grandfather's shoe repair shop!
        And so it is, after all these years, I learn
that Charles Schiel was born in Vienna, Austria
in 1894. He learned his trade there and was
eventually brought to America through an
effort of the church I attended in my home
town of Hazleton.
         Charles and his wife Myra were
friends with my Mom and Dad. They lived
just a few blocks away.
         Mr. Schiel worked in his little shop
for 55 years finally retiring at age 80. He
passed away in 1985 at age 91.
          The shop is gone now. There's an
empty lot in its place. I don't pass that way
very often these days but when I do I look
at that spot and remember the machines and
the smell of the leather as if it were yesterday.
           How ironic my wife and I were
in Austria earlier this year and now I'm
learning about its native son who kept me
in my Buster Brows for so many years!
            There are ways to "go home again."
Hope you do occasionally and that all your
NEWS is good.

DING A LING DAY!

   THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

            DING A LING DAY!

        It's December 12th. "Ding A Ling Day!

The same year that Chuck Barry released

the song "My Ding A Ling," Franky Hyle

established My Ding A Ling Day. It was

1972. Franky started a club asking members

to donate one dollar to join. Some 871 people

signed up. Now thousands of people are on

board. The whole idea is to think about people

you haven't talked with in a long time, Then,

on December 12th, call them up to say Hi and

ket them know you;ve been thinking about

them. It's a ding a ling that will make you

both happy! Hope you get a call or two as

well and that all your NEWS is good!  

THIS IS NO TOOTH FAIRY TALE!

     WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024

      THIS IS NO TOOTH FAIRY TALE! 

    Dr. Horace Wells probably pulled a lot\

of teeth during his years as a Dentist in

Connecticut. But it was his own tooth that

made history. And he had a friend pull it!

Dr. Wells had notixed that a number of

medical patients seemed to have less pain

when exposed to Nitrous Oxide. It was a

gas discovered by Joseph Priestly, that same

scidentist who isolated oxygen (and who

settled, by the way, near Sunbury, Pa.)!

Dr. Wells wondered if the gas might ease

the pain of tooth extractions. So, while

inhaling Nitrous Oxide, he had his friend 

John Riggs pull one of his teeth. He was

right! Dr. Wells felt no pain! That opened

the way for Nitrous Oxide to be used as

an anesthesia. A major development and

no LAUGHING matter! Hope you're well, 

have no need for an extraction, and that all

your NEWS is good!  

IT'S DEWEY'S DAY!

      TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024

                  IT'S DEWEY'S DAY   

      Put on your party hats everybody! There's
plenty of reasons to celebrate today!
    December 10th is Nobel Prize Day, Jane
Addams Day and Human Rights Day!
     Your challenge is to list them in the proper
order! You see it's also Dewey Decimal System
Day!
      For those who don't already know, this
Dewey is not one of Donald Duck's nephews.
      This is the birthday of Melvil Dewey, the
man who created the Dewey Decimal System
to classify the method by which books are
filed in our libraries.
      A library assigns a Dewey Decimal number
 that locates a particular volume in a position
 relative to other books in the library. This makes
 it easy to find any particular book and return it to
a its proper place on the library shelves. That is
IF you returned those books your borrowed!
     I've always wondered if his inability to find
some book led to his elaborate system?
      Mr. Dewey probably wouldn't happy with my
approach to filing. It's "David's Decimal System!"
      My books are placed on shelves based mainly
on size. That is, how big is the book and where
can I squeeze it in! Unusually large volumes are
placed on top of others.
     When I'm searching for something in particular
I usually try to remember a cover or color. That helps
in my search. Sometimes!
      Of course I've got a limited collection so I don't
suppose my system would work as well in your
typical library.
      Dewey would be 151 if he were still alive. I
wonder if he'd be able to find a book on Amazon?
      Hope you know where your "classics" are and
that all your NEWS is good!

WHICH WAY WOULD YOU GO?

 

  SUNDAY. DECEMBER 8TH., 2024
  WHICH WAY WOULD YOU GO?

    If you've ever been told you're
living in the past, or are ahead of
your time, this day may be for
you.
     This is "Pretend You're A
Time Traveler Day!" It was created
in 2007 by the Koala Wallop online
community.
     A lot of people fantasize about
the possibility and it's nothing new.
Charles Dickens envisioned it. In
his story  “A Christmas Carol”
Ebenezer Scrooge, is  transported
back and forth through time to witness
various events, leading to his eventual
change of heart towards Christmas.
     I'm not sure I want to envision the
future. I could look ahead and find I'm
not there! That could be a bit
unsettling! It would probably be better
to go back and relive some of my
better days. Or buy some stocks like
Amazon or Macintosh!
     Of course this is just "Pretend
You're A Time Traveler Day." I, as
I've reported before, have actually
done some Time Traveling. Several
times just after the New Year's ball
fell at Times Square I've called
family members in California
allowing me to speak to people in
the previous year!
     Since I haven't reset my Miata car
clock since we switched to Standard
Time, I'm an hour into the future
every time I go for a ride!
     So enjoy the day. Perhaps you
can pretend it's already Christmas...and
take the day off!
      Hope you get away with it and
that all you NEWS is good!
     

    

THE LAND OF COTTON!

 

       FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, 2024
             THE LAND OF COTTON!     

   Sure. Everybody knows December 7th is

Pearl Harbor Day.
   But did you also know the date has been
set aside to celebrate one of your kids
favorite treats? It's true!
    Welcome to National Cotton Candy Day!
    Cotton Candy was originally called fairy
 floss. It is made from Floss (or Flossine) sugar.
    I have to admit I seldom buy Cotton Candy.
It's not that I dislike the stuff, although it's not
my favorite treat. I usually see it carried into
the stands at ballgames and the circus where
vendors push it to the kids at prices that would
cover a full dinner at some establishments!
     But to hear the folks who support this
concoction, adding it to your diet is not only
a taste treat....it's downright "healthy!"
     First, they point out that Floss is not actually
a sugar and is therefore safe for diabetics!
    The Cotton Candy machine was patented in
1899 by William Morrison and John C. Wharton.
They brought it to the St. Louis World's Fair in
1904, where is was quite popular.
     But even though the date is called a "National"
observance" there is no record of any
Congressional legislation honoring Cotton Candy
in any way. Wonder how they missed taking a
vote on that one?
     There's also no explanation as to why a
traditional summer time treat would or should be
recognized in December. But.....it is!
     So if you can find any Cotton Candy today, and
can afford it, you may want to enjoy some just to
join in the celebration!
     Hope you'll clean those sticky fingers and that
all of your NEWS is good!

A MAJOR MINER DAY!

      FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2024

       A MAJOR MINER DAY!

     This is a day that should get a
lot of attention around these parts.
Yet I doubt most people even    
know about it.
      December 6th., is National
Miner's Day. And, by the way, it
is official! A resolution designating
the day was passed by the U.S.
Senate in 2009.
      Other than occasional visits to
the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour
my only experience with mining
came as a reporter a few years
back. It was in Schuylkill County
where a team of brothers operated
a coal mine some 500 feet below
the surface.
      My photographer and I were
invited inside so, after putting a
set of coveralls over my business
suit, I joined my cameraman and
one of the brothers on a ride straight
down into the mine standing on a
ladder inside a giant coal bucket!
     There was a long tunnel at the
bottom with a set of tracks and a
small engine used to haul a sting of
coal cars. We road in one of the
cars and had to duck every few feet
so our head didn't smack a timber
or one of the light bulbs that provided
the only glow inside that long cave.
     Water dripped everywhere and
I couldn't help but notice the way we
came in seemed to be the only way
out. That's when I stated to wonder
if I really needed to be there.
      That thought hit me again when
the miner said he was about to set
off a charge! That's dynamite to us
lay people!
      I made it back out with a good
story and a much deeper appreciation
to those men who spent the better
part of their lives laboring in tunnels
like that to provide for their families
and our communities.
      Up till then I figured a "Beaker
Boy" was the kid that flipped the
switch to get the lights back on!
       I'd like to see today's minors learn
more about the miners we're suppose
to be honoring!
       Hope we all remember them and
that all your NEWS is good!

    

       
  

A LONG FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024

  A LONG FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   Today I am recalling a long forgotten

"holiday" associated with Christmas. It was

known as Andisop and it ran from December

5th till Christmas Day. In the mid 19th century

on the Isle of Man, a group of fiddlers would

go door to door during the early morning

hours, playing a song called "Andisop", knocking

on doors, telling the hour, and reporting the

"state of the weather." They asked for a

gratuity in return. I suppose if they didn't

play well or knocked too early one would be

happy to give a gratuity just to get these

holiday musicians on their way. Of course

today we have an alarm clock to wake us

up at  the hour we chose and we can check

the weather on TV. But, lets admit it, a lot

of those TV Weather people "fiddle around"

a lot before they ever get to the forecast!

Hope you alarm is set, your weather great,

and that all your NEWS is good!  

 

THE CHRISTMAS LIST!

     WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024

         THE CHRISTMAS LIST!

       Before you start jotting down a

numerical list of all the things "he" 

wants for Christmas or the things

you're considering buying, allow me

to explain that December 4th is  "Santa's

List Day," It's the day when Santa and

his elves begin their final review of

his "Naughty Or Nice list." Ironically

I mention it just after I've completed 

a lengthy afternoon drive taking my

wife to various spots she had or wanted

to visit. Which, by the way, comes after

last evening when I prepared her supper

and put all the tray tables away nicely.

Not that those efforts should put me on

his "Nice list." Although he may want

to consider them. (Might as well let

him know, just in case!) Hope you're

nice, well, and that all your NEWS is

good! 

DECK YOUR HALLS!

   TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024

          DECK YOUR HALLS!

   Santa's already showing up in towns

throughout our area and most communities

have all sorts of decorative Christmas light

strung up for people to enjoy. And most

people have already started to do the

work to deck their own halls inside and

outside their homes. My wife has been

doing that by herself for the last few

days and it's beginning to look a lot

like Christmas at our house! The center

piece for most folks is the Christmas

Tree. Many still head out to the woods

at this time of the year to select and cut

their own tree. Ours is artificial. But

it is "our tree." It's decorations reflect

years of family love. Ornaments, hand

made, by the children and  now the

grandchildren make this tree unique

to our family! This tree has character!

It doesn't matter whether you've got

a live tree or an artificial one. The

thing that really matters is that's

it's your tree with all the love and

memories that come with it. Hope

you're getting yours ready and that

you've got some "volunteer" like

my wife to do most of thr work!

Hope you do and that all your

NEWS is good!

  

SHOP OR SIP?

      MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024

                  SHOP OR SIP?

    No, I haven't spelled it wrong. Read on.

Today is one of our nation's modern

"unofficial holidays." It is "Cyder Monday."

It's a day when you are encouraged to do

all your shopping on line. Small business

owners tried to lure shoppers into their

local store on Saturday. But they haven't

surrendered to those on line merchants

just yet. In fact they've countered Cyber

Monday with Cider Monday! Cider Monday

is the brainchild of bookstore owner

Willard Williams. He led a campaign to

get small business owners to offer cider

and donuts to customers who come into

their stores on Cyber Monday. It's your

choice of course. But cider and donuts

always appealed to me! Have a great

day. Hope all your NEWS is good!