Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

If youve never thought much about coziness, now might be the time to start.

As the long, dark winter approaches and the pandemic puts a damper on holiday gatherings, well all be spending a lot of time in our own homes. So why not make them as cozy, warm and inviting as possible?

Were not talking about major renovations, just little things that can make a difference. Since its the holiday season, bringing in a fresh-cut Christmas tree or making a holiday wreath can be part of it. But we can also steal some ideas from our Danish friends who know something about long, dark winters and their coziness philosophy called hygge. Blankets, pillows and rugs can help too.

Here are a few ideas and resources to help you unleash your inner coziness this year.

SMELLS LIKE HOME

This time of year, the most inviting thing about home for a lot of people is the smell of a fresh Christmas tree. We all have more time on our hands, so why not get the freshest possible tree full of fresh scent by cutting one down yourself at a Maine tree farm? The website of the Maine Christmas Tree Association lists more than 45 choose-and-cut farms all over Maine, with addresses and information on each. You can plug in your zip code and find farms within a 30-mile radius. The South Portland zip code yields listings for farms in Kennebunkport, Raymond, Scarborough, Dayton, Wells, Lewiston, North Yarmouth, Kennebunk, Windham, Cape Elizabeth, Durham and Standish.

Its a good idea to check on what each farm offers, their hours and any COVID-19 restrictions. Tree cutting is an outdoor activity and farms are big enough so that you dont have to get too close to anyone. Once you have the tree in your home, thinking about the fact that it was farm-raised right here in Maine will surely make you feel a little more cozy. To find a tree farm near you, go to mainechristmastree.com.

CAN YOU SAY HYGGE?

First of all, its pronounced hue-guh, and to the Danish it basically means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people according to the VisitDenmark website. Winter and Christmas are high seasons for hygge in Denmark, because that country, like Maine, is known for long, dark winters. The term actually comes from an old Norwegian word. It first appeared in Danish writings at the end of the 18th century and the philosophy has been embraced by Danes ever since. Hygge has become something of lifestyle phenomenon, so its easy to find hygge tips on blogs and websites.

Lighting candles all over your home can be part of living the hygge life, to bring warmth and light. Taking time to enjoy warm drinks like mulled wine or hot cider fit in with hygge as well. Some hygge blogs and sites say you can create a cozy atmosphere at home with a basket of slippers, so as you enter the house you put something warm and cozy on your feet. Similarly, you could keep a basket of blankets on hand so everyone in the house can grab one when they need to be wrapped in warmth. Also layering blankets or sheepskin on furniture makes pieces more inviting and comfortable. For more hygge-inspired ideas, go to hyggelife.com or hyggehouse.com.

To find locally made versions of these cozy items, head to the Shaker Virtual Christmas Fair at maineshakers.com/shop,where there are handmade candles, quilts and more on sale for pre-order and contactless pickup at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester through Saturday. Items can also be shipped worldwide.

CIRCLE OF LOVE

Wreaths, any time of year, look inviting and cozy. But at the holidays even more so. You might also get a warm feeling from making your own wreath this year, maybe going out and collecting evergreen branches yourself. Or you can buy branches along with wire and other wreath-making equipment at local garden stores and nurseries. If youve never made a wreath before, the University of Maine Cooperative extension has step-by-step instructions online for making them with balsam fir. The instructions tell you how many tips or ends of branches you need for various sizes, and how to bundle them together before assembling the bundles on to the wire structure of the wreath. The instructions include 11 specific illustrations of the various steps, plus a video on how to sustainably harvest balsam fir tips. See the instructions at extension.umaine.edu/publications.

FOUND COZINESS

You dont actually have to make anything to bring seasonal warmth into your house, you can just go out and find it. Tom Atwell, author of the Maine Gardener column in the Maine Sunday Telegram, suggests scouring your yard or nearby woods and keeping and open mind about what might work as decor. Bring in a bunch of pine cones and put them in boxes or baskets around the house, or on the mantle or coffee table. Look for colorful plants, like branches of winterberry. They add gorgeous, warm, red color to any place you want to put them, whether in a vase or on a windowsill. Birch branches, with their wintery whiteness, would be a nice accent in a dark room. And of course evergreen branches can be placed just about anywhere. For more ideas on how to scour your yard for decorations, read Atwells Nov. 1 column at pressherald.com.

TIPS FROM THE PROS

Interior designers make their living getting rooms to feel and a look a certain way, including cozy and welcoming. Vanessa Helmick of Fiore Home in Portlandsuggests that in a darker room you can place a decorative, oversized mirror near a window to provide more natural light. She also says a beautiful piece of art a print maybe can help. Bringing in flowers or driftwood you find outside can also create a sanctuary effect, she says.

One of Americas best-known home experts spends at least part of the year in Maine, at her house in Seal Harbor. Martha Stewart offers a lot of ideas on her website about how to create a holiday feeling in your house from interior designers and others. Changing up your throw pillows for cozier, warm ones made of wool, for instance, is one idea. Another is to use soft, ambient lighting, maybe from a string of lights or candles, instead of harsh, high-watt bulbs. For more holiday season decorating ideas, go to MarthaStewart.com.

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How to deck the halls for a long winter at home - Press Herald

Shaquil Manigault|Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD With more than2,300 jobs at stake, community leaders, residents and elected officials are coming together to do everything they can to save the Byron Generating Station.

Exelon announced in late August that it plans to close the Byron nuclear power plant in September 2021 and the Dresden Generating Station in Morris two months later. In response, a group that includedlocal business ownersand Byron School District officials formed the Byron Station Response Committee to galvanize the public and lobby lawmakers to keep the plant open.

Since organizing in September, the committee has grown to more than40 members.

For now, the committee is focused on laying the ground needed to get residents involved in future lobbying efforts. Whatthose will be remains to be seen as the committee monitorslegislators' plans to address clean energy in Illinois, something Gov. JB Pritzker had made atop priority before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

More: Exelon to shut down Byron and Dresden nuclear plants

More: NIU report: Byron nuclear plant closure would lead to 2,300 jobs lost

The Byron School Districts budget relies on$19.1 million a year in property revenue generated by the plant. That accounts for more than 70% of the school districts budget. School Board President Christine Lynde says that if the plant were to close in September the district would receive the full amount owed in taxes through the 2022-2023 school year. The tax revenue would likely decline in succeeding years as the decommissioning process proceeds.

The absolute is that we have a couple of years where we will receive taxes. After that, its up in the air," Lynde said. "Will we get something? Yes, will get something. Do we know what that is? Nope, and there is no way to tell."

WithIllinois lawmakers not scheduled to meetagain until next year, Lynde says the committee doesnt have specific plans for advocacy but is encouraging people to register online atsaveilnuclearpower.com so that the groupcan communicate about lobbying efforts when the time comes.

Exelon has pushed state lawmakers to a role in establishing energy prices that would allow nuclear plants to compete with natural gas and coal plants. Pritzker says that transitioning to clean renewable energy is a priority, but that utility companies will not write the legislation to get the state there. He said any new laws must protect consumers.

Lynde hopes legislators take up the issue when they reconvene.

We want whatever it's going to take to keep this open, Lynde said. If you look at the big picture of things, the market favors every generation source except nuclear and so I get why theyare saying that there is a flawed market.

Exelon declined to talk about any discussionswith the state so far but said that legislation would need to be passed by spring 2021 in order to avoid closure.

Declining energy prices and flawed market policies that favor fossil generation have resulted in Byron and Dresden Stations becoming unprofitable and being slated for early retirement in the fall of 2021. The legislative solution needed would properly recognize the environmental value of the carbon-free product produced at Byron Station which also accounts for enormous economic value to the state of Illinois, Byron Station Communications ManagerPaul Dempsey in an e-mail.

For now, the committee is doing what it can to keep people informed about the plants importance to the community and the state.

An economic impact study commissioned by the committee and prepared by Brian Harger, a senior research specialist at Northern Illinois University, shows that closing the plant would indirectly and directly put thousands out of work and could also strip $97.5 million in annual employee compensation from the local economy.

The committee also launched a YouTube campaign, asking residents to make videos explaining what the plant means to them and how its closure would affect them. These videos will later be shared with lawmakers.

We wanted to offer an information hub where people could come and grab accurate information. A place where they could learn about nuclear power and the impact it will have on our community and our state as a whole, Lynde said.

State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, says hes been meeting with colleagues in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to make lawmakers aware of the energy challenges that Illinois faces.

Demmer says there arent any concrete solutions yet, but he said that any bill that wouldkeep the Byron plant open would be part of a comprehensive energy plan.

While theprocess will take months, Demmer feels talks are heading in the right direction.

We havent found people that have said no they should just close and go away. Weve got a lot more receptiveness," Demmer said. "Now weve got to find exactly the right way to save the plant and thats not going to be easy, but I am encouraged by the number of people who are willing to have those conversations and who are trying to find a way to keep the plant open."

Lynde acknowledges the difficult position that the community is in but believes that ultimately they will be successful in keeping the plant open.

We want people to understand that it's a serious thing but we believe that we are going to be successful, she said.

Shaquil Manigault: smanigault@rrstar.com; @rrstarShaquil

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All hands are on deck to save the Byron nuclear plant - Rockford Register Star

If you missed out on one of the speaker deals during the Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales, we've got music to your ears: Amazon is running a one-day sale on Anker Soundcore speakersRemove non-product linkfor the living room, bedroom, or backyard with many at all-time-low prices.

First up, we have the Soundcore Infiniti Pro Soundbar for $149Remove non-product linkinstead of $199. a new all-time low. We haven't reviewed this soundbar, but it's well-liked on Amazon with four out of 5 stars from over 300 ratings. The Infiniti Pro is a 2.1-channel soundbar, it supports Dolby Atmos, as well as 4K pass-through, and when you're not watching TV it has Bluetooth 5 for wireless music streaming. (If you need something a little more heavy-duty be sure to check out our round-up of the best soundbars for 2020.)

Next up is theSoundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth speaker with 360-degree sound for $55.19Remove non-product link down from $70, another all-time low. We reviewed this speaker in May giving it four out of five stars. We really liked it for its improved audio (20-watt output up from 12-watt on the prior version), as well as a pair of LED rings at the top and the bottom (as opposed to a single light on the original Flair). It's IPX7 rated making it an ideal speaker for pool and lakeside listening along with a long-lasting 5,200mAh battery.

Finally, for those times you need something a little more modest, the Soundcore Mini is $16.07, down from its usual $21 sale price and the lowest we've seen. This tiny speaker has a 15-hour playtime, a 66-foot Bluetooth range, enhanced bass, and a built-in noise-canceling microphone. And be sure to check out the rest of the sale as well.

Ian is an independent writer based in Israel who has never met a tech subject he didn't like. He primarily covers Windows, PC and gaming hardware, video and music streaming services, social networks, and browsers. When he's not covering the news he's working on how-to tips for PC users, or tuning his eGPU setup.

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Deck the halls with Amazon's rocking one-day Anker speaker sale - TechHive

FARMINGTON United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is celebrating the holidays this year by adding a little cash and competition for the best decorated house or business in Deck the Halls. For a nominal entrance fee, participants could win extra spending money for the holidays and year-long bragging rights. And if they are already decorating for the Chamber of Commerces Holiday Home Challenge (also cash prize and different categories) entrants could win both. The Franklin County Chambers Holiday Home Challenge judging will be on Saturday, Dec. 12. Check out their Facebook page for additional details.

United Ways Deck the Halls will give the Franklin County, Livermore and Livermore Falls communities a way to get into the holiday spirit but avoid large gatherings and stay distanced. It will provide United Way with an opportunity to replace a COVID-19 canceled fundraiser and still raise money to continue the positive impacts in the community. Programs/organizations like SeniorsPlus Meals on Wheels, Safe Voices, Literacy Volunteers and others rely on United Way funding.

Visit uwtva.org to register the address (it can be a residence or business; businesses will be judged in a separate category). Th entrance fee is $20, and decorating must be finished by Friday, Dec. 18. Volunteer judges will drive around and vote from Dec. 19-21, and winners will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Categories include Best Lights, Best Decorations, Best Business and Best Overall, while prizes include $100 for winners in each category and $50 for runner-up, along with bragging rights.

Anyone interested in being a volunteer judge should contact United Way at 207-778-5048. For additional information about United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, visit uwtva.org, call the above number or like the organization on Facebook.

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United Way inviting residents, businesses to 'Deck the Halls' - The Bethel Citizen

SALEM City council ended 2020 by approving a flurry of legislation Tuesday night, including next years budget, amid wishes of good luck to a departing member and Merry Christmas to all.

Hopefully 2021 will be a little kinder, better for all of us, Councilman Andrew Null said.

Council hasnt met in person since March due to COVID-19, but has continued conducting the citys business via Zoom video conferencing, meeting the challenges of the pandemic for the finances and operations of the city.

Council members voted on a whopping 14 ordinances and resolutions to finish up, opting not to meet again until 7 p.m. Jan. 5, barring any emergencies. The meeting that would have been held Dec. 15 has been canceled.

Many of the moves dealt with financial matters, approving the 2021 budget, numerous appropriations and transfers, reductions in appropriations, changing the income tax split so that more money goes to the general fund and granting 2.5 percent wage increases to non-bargaining city employees to match what was approved for union workers.

This was the last council meeting for Columbiana County commissioner-elect Roy Paparodis, who will join the Board of Commissioners in January after being elected to fill the seat being vacated by longtime Commissioner Jim Hoppel, who didnt run for another term.

Its been great working with all of you. I look forward to helping on the county level, Paparodis said.

The Republican Party will have the task of naming his replacement on council.

According to city Auditor Betty Brothers, the general fund budget for next year includes estimated expenses of $5,687,682 and estimated income of $4,595,351 for a difference of $1,092,331. The estimated deficit will be covered by the cash carryover, which she said is now projected at $1.6 million when 2020 ends.

Were going in with a really good carryover, a strong carryover, Brothers said during an earlier interview.

With a month left in the year, the income tax receipts are down $315,394 from last years total, with the affects of COVID-19 on businesses and residents due to closures and layoffs blamed for the shortage. Through 11 months, the income tax receipts total $5,730,257. Next year is when the damage from COVID-19 will be felt when it comes to the citys finances, she indicated.

In order to help increase the income in the general fund, council approved changing the tax split to 94/6, which means after money is taken out for income tax collections/operations, 94 percent of the income tax receipts will go to the general fund and 6 percent will go to debt retirement. The tax split had been 82.5/17.5, with part of the 17.5 going to capital improvements after covering the debt payments.

Besides all the financial matters, council also gave permission to city Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello to advertise for requests for qualifications and contract for engineering for the 2021 paving project. The paving will be paid for through the additional .25 percent additional income tax approved by voters again last year.

Council also approved moving the vacant property registration ordinance from under the housing and zoning code 1187 to the building code under chapter 1335.

In other action, council approved the vacation of an unnamed alley off of Dodge Drive behind Dunkin Donuts, authorized advertising for bids for a used 2014 Ford Taurus and a used 2015 Ford Taurus, authorized selling radios/chargers and a turnout gear washer from the fire department on govdeals.com and approved using $68,410 of CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act funds for wages and benefits for the fire department. The additional CARES Act funding came from money returned by other communities which had not used their full allotment.

Council also approved resolutions commending retired housing inspector Roy Brown and retired Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst for their dedicated service to the city. Brown served from Sept. 12, 2001 to March 4, 2010 and again from May 13, 2013 to Oct. 29 this year for a total of 16 years. Kenst served nearly nine years from Jan. 9, 2012 to Nov. 30 this year.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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Salem council clears the deck with passage of 14 measures - Morning Journal News

Although 2020 is a year that most would probably like to forget, many people have never been more excited for the Christmas season than this year. While Christmas celebrations will look different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some families will create new traditions and others will adapt old ones in order to celebrate safely. Here are a few Christmas podcasts to help you get into the spirit of the season.

Deck the Hallmark

The ultimate Christmas special podcast, three guys sit around and attempt to watch and review Hallmark channel movies. Hosts Brandon Gray, Dan Thompson and Daniel "Panda" Pandolph will watch 40 all-new holiday movies that will air on Hallmark, and will also chat with special Hallmark guests. Recent episodes include "Five Star Christmas," "Christmas By Starlight" and "Christmas Waltz."

Find it: https://www.deckthehallmark.com/

Merry Little Podcast

Produced by MyMerryChristmas.com, the Merry Little Podcast features about 10 minutes of all the things people love about Christmas. From the latest Christmas music to the history of the Christmas culture, listeners can explore the meanings behind the Christmas holiday. Episodes also touch on movies, scripture and controversies related to Christmas. Recent episodes include "The Magic of Turkeys and Santa," "New Christmas Music 2020" and "Let it Be Christmas."

Find it: https://merrypodcast.com/

Christmas Clatter

Host Todd Killian discusses everything that makes Christmas special. Killian gets into the seasons movies, music, food, traditions, family and the quiet moments of reflection. Each episode also features interviews with some of the biggest names in the Christmas field. Recent episodes include "My Stove Is A Bit Rubbish," "Christmas Present" and "Holly Jolly."

Find it: https://christmasclatterpodcast.libsyn.com/

Tis the Podcast

Anthony Caruso, Julia Colburn and Thom Crowe are obsessed with Christmas and are determined to keep the spirit alive the whole year. The three hosts debate and discuss everything from Christmas movies to the existence of Santa Claus. They share reviews, insights and witty banter. Recent episodes include "Without The Star, The North Pole, The Village, Christmas Itself Is Doomed," "We Should Be Thankful For Being Together" and "If You Believe, Its All Possible."

Find it: https://www.tisthepodcast.com/

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Podcasts to Listen To: Deck the Hallmark and the best Christmas podcasts - Pittsburg Morning Sun

They say theres no place like home for the holidays.

Cathi Olson and her team at Ooh La La and Creative Touch Gallery would concur.

Beginning in November, the paired Dubuque home decor and art and framing shops began the task of prepping tri-state homes for the holidays. Additionally, Ooh La La began its transformation into a winter wonderland in October for its annual Christmas open house.

This year, because of COVID, customers were only allowed in small numbers and could only spend an hour at a time in the shop, Olson said. Usually, we host the open house for one evening, and everyone comes at once, but we spread it over several days this year. Customers loved it, and it was very safe. People just enjoy coming in and seeing the lights.

Olson, who manages Ooh La La and has worked for the shop since it opened 27 years ago as an

offshoot of Creative Touch Gallery, said that while the stores are open year-round, its the holiday season that steps up the pace.

Its a tradition for the shops and for the Dubuque community, Olson said.

Creative Touch Gallery opened its doors in 1978. In 1993, Ooh La La followed.

My parents felt the need for a home decor store, Olson said. The gallery was already open, so they felt thought it could go along with that.

Since then, the shop has gone from helping customers pick out paint colors to selling art, furniture, lamps, clocks and more.

It a full-service shop for every season, Olson said. And it has been a great partnership with the gallery.

During the holiday season, the focus shifts from vases and florals to wreaths, garlands and other festive decor, with the locations eight staffers each with lenghty tenures playing a unique role.

Every year that we decorate, if anyone needs something, we call on each other, said Dan Soat, who has worked for the businesses for 21 years and specializes in making wreaths, garlands and tree toppers, in addition to designing and building frames for the gallery. We all really work well together.

That sentiment was echoed by Jane Kaesbauer, who has focused her efforts on Ooh La La for 24 years as a decorator, display designer and assisting with sales, shipping and in other areas.

Her husband, Mike Kaesbauer, owns the locations.

We actually started as a kitchen store, then over the years, we evolved, Jane Kaesbauer said. Weve been able to work with customers virtually, where we exchange pictures, and they can pick up what we create for them. We also ship. People can stop in the store. Its a place that customers can go to get everything, all at once.

That comes in handy for the holidays, when called to visit homes. Staffers have erected such merriment as 12-foot Christmas trees, multiple Christmas trees and lavish archway garlands, in addition to bringing in a touch of the season to homes even outside of the Dubuque area.

We decorate a variety of homes, based on the persons wants, and many of our clients are like family that we have worked with over the years, said Carole Borel, who started at the gallery before decorating homes and designing florals. She has worked for the businesses for 28 years. Everyone here also is known for having very different tastes, and no one is afraid to share their opinion.

Olson said that she and staff have noticed a marked increase in customers decking the halls a little earlier this year and with a lot more decorations.

I think that people are needing joy right now, Olson said. The tradition of Christmas decorating started a long time ago, when people would go out, cut down a tree and create handmade ornaments. There is something about decorating that makes us think of our loved ones. And this year, with so many spending so much more time at home, we have needed it more than ever.

For those looking to spruce up their holiday surroundings this year, pops of black, white and red colors are all the rage.

Ooh La La also boasts a lot of inspiration to get the creative juices flowing. Additionally, the shop will take in existing decorations, such as wreaths and garlands, and give them new life.

Sometimes its as simple as looking at what you already have and thinking of how you can change it up to make it a little different this year, or seeing where else you can put something thats different from other years, Soat said.

People walk around their homes and are so happy and excited, Olson added of working with customers. And it makes all of us happy to be able to do that for them.

Living on Main

Another Dubuque-based home decor store, Living on Main, also is decked out for the holidays.

Kris Gorton, who has owned the Main Street shop for the past seven years, brings her professional touch to the table for her Christmas-inspired creations, working as a display designer for Marshall Fields in Minneapolis before moving on to residential work.

Her husbands job relocated the couple and their two daughters to Dubuque.

Its the coolest job, Gorton said. I went from creating these huge displays to bringing joy into peoples homes. Its such a pleasure.

For the holiday season, she suggested keeping your design taste in mind when decorating.

Its always good for people to have a sense of who they are and what their style is, Gorton said. Flip through a magazine. Even notice your clothing choices and how they reflect who you are. All of that will influence how you decorate.

Gorton said Living on Main caters toward a cleaner and more modern aesthetic, with a less is more approach something she believes can be implemented in even the most ornate of homes.

Cutting down clutter and making intentional design choices offers a simpler way to live, she said. This can be applied equally to holiday decor. If you have a collection of nutcrackers, for example, think of grouping them together, rather than putting them everywhere for a bolder look. Maybe you fill a container or bowl with ornaments in one color for one room and a different color for another room for a visual pattern thats consistent. Its the same approach as basic merchandising principles you see in stores. It really can make your home look good.

At Living on Main which includes everything from furniture to art, lamps and a variety of home decor Christmas is in full swing with throw pillows, table top trees, garlands, candy cane platters and more for those looking to switch or or enhance their holiday home decor.

Traditional colors, like red and green, are popular this year, Gorton said. Something else we have in the store every year are inexpensive ornaments that can be added to napkin rings with a ribbon. You can write the recipients name on the back and gift them. They way, they can build an ornament collection thats from you. Its really sweet.

Gorton said she, too, believes people are doing more with their holiday decorating this year.

I think its absolutely necessary in order to help us feel somewhat normal, she said. People are working from home, and their kids are at home. Now more than ever is the time to enjoy decorating for the holidays and creating those traditions.

Megan Gloss writes for the Telegraph Herald.

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Deck the halls: 2 Dubuque home decor locations with women at the helm share their holiday decorating tips - telegraphherald.com

A sampling of the bright holiday cards Era senior living residents received from WSU business students. Photo courtesy of Crystal Campbell

By Sue McMurray, Carson College of Business

Isolated in their rooms and unable to have face-to-face visitors, senior living residents are by far one of the most severely impacted populations by the coronavirus pandemic.

Complicating matters are rising costs of senior care and increased vacancies that have financially hobbled senior living establishments so they are unable to provide as many personal touches to their care programs as they normally would, especially during the holiday season.

Thanks to the compassion of several WSU Carson College of Business students, more than 60 senior living residents in several communities managed by Era Living are receiving a series of personalized cards and a bookmark to lift their spirits and let them know someone is thinking about them during the holidays.

The vision for the holiday card campaign belongs to Crystal Campbell, an accounting student at WSU Vancouver. Campbell said her idea occurred while attending the WSU Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living seminar series Leaders LIVE! featuring senior living industry professional Marla Becker.

Becker, the executive director of Aljoya Mercer Island, oversees the operations of Era Living that consists of eight communities of seniors. Jenni Sandstrom, assistant professor of hospitality at WSU Vancouver, invited two of her classes to attend to give students an inside perspective on how operations have changed during COVID-19.

When I heard Marla say increased expenses had made it prohibitive to do anything special for residents during the holidays beyond small gifts, I thought of my grandmother, who recently passed away, said Campbell. She absolutely loved getting cards and always hung them up as part of her holiday decorations.

Campbell envisioned a holiday card campaign as an inexpensive way to enrich the lives of Era Living residents and reached out to other students to participate. She ended up with 34 volunteers, including seven students and two faculty from WSU Vancouver, she said. With Beckers help, she developed a questionnaire for the residents in eight Era living communities to gauge interest and collect information to personalize the cards.

Each resident will be receiving a hand-made bookmark and 16 cards during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Humanity is the most important characteristics that anyone can possess, said Viktoriya Shapaval, an accounting senior. A little communication in the form of cards from the outside world would make the retirement community feel loved and know that we think of them. By making these cards with my kids, I hope to teach them this value by setting an example of doing right.

I love being able to just make someone smile, said Emily Antos, a senior majoring in hospitality business management and psychology. Creating value in someones life is important to their well-being, in the sense that you have made an impact in their lives, but it also helps you feel a sense of purpose.

The students sentiments are in line with several learning goals Sandstrom expects her classes to achieve, such as the ability to work in teams, understand measures of service quality, and develop self-awareness leading to a better understanding of human interactions and the impact of an individuals behavior on others.

What started as a good will activity is actually reflective of the type of leadership, creativity, and interpersonal skills we want students to develop in preparation for their business careers, said Sandstrom. Partnering with Marla to help alleviate seniors sense of isolation also provided students with a clear example of a healthy balance betweenpersonal and corporate ethos.

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Business students deck the halls for senior living residents with holiday card campaign - WSU News

By Diane White McNaughton

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmasfrom back in the day.

While technology has dazzled us with lawn-sized synchronized light displays, pre-lit artificial Fraser fir trees with LED lights, and apps that allow you to control your twinkling light displays from your office, many season-loving central Pennsylvanians are opting for a more traditional holiday vibe, with fresh evergreens, vintage ornaments, and gold and silver accents.

Musical snowglobes, country Santas, natural pinecones and berries, cascading ribbons, nutcrackers, and tinsel are also making a return appearance. Aluminum trees, color wheels, Shiny Brite ornaments, Bubble Lites, and retro snowmen are also de-Grinching our days. Ceramic lighted tabletop trees, kissing balls, old-time jingle bells, handmade painted Santas, and retro stockings are also re-emerging to re-create a winter wonderland and take us on a walk down Memory Lane.

Yes, these ARE your grandmothers ornaments.

But these ornaments are more than just bright baubles.

Psychotherapist and author Amy Molin, featured on GoodMorningAmerica.com, says that Christmas decorations can take families back to a simpler time and help people understand their own identity. We reconnect to our childhood when we put up decorations, and may help us feel more connected to a lost loved one, she says. Studies also show that those who decorate early are also says to be happier people. In this day of uncertainty, illness and isolation, it sure cant hurt.

Vintage ornaments dont have to be only those handed down through the generations from your great-grandmother. Replica ornaments from our Wonder Years can be found both online and in person, including at Pottery Barn, Etsy, Amazon, Christmas Tree Shoppes, Lowes, Stauffers of Kissel Hill, Blooms by Vickery, The Garden Path, Paper Moon Flowers, and more.

The Shiny Brite company produced the most popular ornaments in the nation throughout the 1940s and 50s. First produced in Germany in the early 1900s and imported to the U.S. until the late 1930s, businessman F. W. Woolworth and German immigrant Max Eckhardt then collaborated with U.S.-based Corning Factory to perfect the traditional ornament-making methods and make them available stateside, according to Better Homes and Gardens.

Though tinsel itself dates to the 1600s, tinsel surged in popularity in the 1960s, just before the lead-based decoration was revamped for safety reasons.

In 2001, Christopher Radko, producer of fine, hand-painted ornaments, began reproducing Shiny Brite ornaments and packaging them in vintage styled boxes.

Todays vintage Santa figurines come in all shapes and sizes. However, blow mold Santas, made popular with the new-fangled plastic technology of the 60s, and fun-size Santa mugs, popularized by Holt Howard company, are deemed to be highly collectible.

The Civic Club of Harrisburg on 612 North Front Street is getting into the vintage holiday spirit by decorating their historic home together Dec. 1.

According to Mary Beth Lehtimaki, Club president, white, green and silver dominate their color scheme in the riverfront Mansion known as Overlook, built in 1903.

Many hands make light work, and also guarantee a fun time for socializing, she says.

In past years, the club hung a fresh wreath with red poinsettias on the front door. Green and red plants are also placed under every archway outside. Inside, the fireplace mantels are dressed up in holiday glam.

One mantel features all silver, with white lights, small trees and reindeer. A stained glass ornament hangs in a window.

The Christmas tree in the main lobby is adorned in reds and golds.

Another mantel holds Santa figurines and reindeer, in a bed of cottony snow.

Dauphin Countys Fort Hunter Mansion in Susquehanna Township also dresses up its home, erected in 1814, with evergreen and ever-timeless ornaments.

In the Fort Hunter Mansion, we focus on traditional, fresh decoration, with a nod to the kind of decorating that might have been done by the last residents of the Mansion, Park Manager Julia Hair says.

Christmas decorating wasnt the all-consuming exercise in the late 1800s/early 1900s that it is today. The Mansion decorations are basically the same every year in that they are natural materials and are traditional, but within that framework, each decorator has some freedom to use different materials or add a different twist, she adds.

In addition to the Mansion, Fort Hunter sponsors a popular Festival of Trees display, which will be held in the Centennial Barn this year. Several different tree decorating styles are showcased. And for creative interpretations of the holiday spirit, the Fort Couture (Christmas Tree Dress) exhibit in the Stone Stable, adds bling, innovation and inspiration, Hair says.

Fresh greens are donated by members of the Civic Committee of the Garden Club of Harrisburg, who do the actual decorating in the Mansion, she says. The committee trims the branches in their own backyards to provide materials for the decorations, bringing different evergreens for variety and interest. Hair says.

In the Mansion, candles in the windowsills and on mantels sparkle, as do the hand-blown glass ornaments on the tree. On the decorated trees and dress forms, there is much sparkle to behold ornaments, bedazzled ribbons, tree lights, Hair says.

There are vintage ornaments on the tree, she says. Only a few are original to the residents of Fort Hunter Mansion; they are very fragile these days. Many of the ornaments are reproduction vintage, which we sell in the Fort Hunter Museum Shop, which are also available online this year.

Only one tree is in the Mansion, and this year we are contemplating a tabletop tree which is more accurate to the Victorian period than the larger trees that we are accustomed to, Hair says.

Like Overlook, Fort Hunter Mansion is decorated by Dec. 1. Fort Hunter is open for guided tours Tuesday Sunday through Dec. 23. Tours are by pre-paid reservation only and are offered at a COVID-19 discount price of $5 per person.

Tour times and capacity are limited to ensure visitor and staff safety. Face masks, social distancing and hand sanitizing are required of everyone.

I have learned that old buildings have a beauty and grace that very often do not need a lot of adornment to be enchanting, Hair says. Candlelight and evergreens are simple and are enough.

Simple elegance can sometimes take your breath away, Hair says.

Experiencing a lovely building like Fort Hunter has a kind of magical quality to it with the candlelight, beautiful trimmings, the feeling of connecting to the past. It seems to capture people of all ages. I think younger children may have trouble understanding Christmas in a time before blinking lights and electronic gadgets!

Some families visit every year as a part of their holiday tradition. That tells me that being in this place is something they want to repeat. Visitors are often intrigued with the different kinds of dried flowers that are used in the decorations and leave the tour full of enthusiasm to do something like that for themselves. Sending folks off with inspiration might be one of the take-aways.

While some of the decorations are more modern, most are time-honored.

Decorations seem to reveal the personality of the residents, Hair says. In Fort Hunters case, the simple natural elements reflect what looks to us like a simpler time. And this year especially, we all need to be surrounded by the nostalgia that holidays often bring, whatever that nostalgia is for each one of us.

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Deck the Halls with Greens, Gold and Old - Harrisburgmagazine

Backers of a planned $100 million STEAM building on the University of St. Thomas St. Paul campus hope to get the green light this month to demolish one of the schools oldest buildings to make way for the project.

The proposed demolition of Loras Hall, a 126-year-old Cass Gilbert-designed brick building nestled between Cretin Avenue and the River Road, is up for review at the St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commissions Dec. 14 meeting. The commission needs to sign off on a demolition permit because Loras Hall is part of a historic district.

Mark Vangsgard, vice president for business affairs and CFO for the University of St. Thomas, said the commission could approve or deny a permit or ask for more information. If the project moves forward, it would go before the HPC again at some point for design approval, he said.

Pending approvals, the University of St. Thomas plans to break ground in spring 2022 on the 120,000-square STEAM building, which would be a hub for studies in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The building would open in fall 2024.

Earlier this fall, members of the Heritage Preservation Commission pushed back on the universitys demolition plans, and urged the school to consider other project locations that would allow Loras Hall to remain standing.

In a seven-page public comment, St. Paul resident Marc Manderscheid said the building should be preserved because of its connection to Cass Gilbert, its contribution to the historic district, and its Renaissance Revival architectural style.

North Dormitory [Loras Hall] is a community treasure, to be cherished, which is why you should deny the requested demolition permit, Manderscheid wrote.

In a September 2020 letter to Heritage Preservation Commissioner George Gause, Vangsgard said the universitys site selection process involved exhaustive research and study over the past three years.

The university strongly believes the highest-value site for the STEAM project is along the south side of Summit Avenue between OShaughnessy Science Hall and the St. Paul Seminary. This would require Loras Hall to be removed, Vangsgard wrote.

St. Thomas, which acquired Loras Hall in 1982 from St. Paul Seminary, previously used the building as a dormitory. More recently, the building has housed faculty offices, music practice rooms, a credit union and storage space.

St. Thomas is working with BWBR Architects and McGough Construction on the building plans. The project would include a utility plant to provide energy-efficient heating and cooling for multiple buildings, according to the university.

The university estimates it would cost about $10 million to rehab or repurpose Loras Hall and even then, the buildings construction and configuration would limit how it could be used, according to HPC documents.

Vangsgard said in an interview that theres a great need for STEAM building space as more students pursue science and engineering degrees. At present, about 22% of the schools undergraduates are in that category, up from 5% in 1995, he said.

Thats putting a strain on building capacity. Based on a 2018 study, the university says it needs more than 190,000 gross square feet of STEAM space. Vangsgard wrote that the university would have to reduce the building size to 100,000 square feet if Loras needs to be retained.

Vangsgard added that St. Thomas has an urban campus with very limited sites available for building. In this case, the new building would need to be connected to existing engineering and science facilities.

That narrows down, if you will, where it can go, he said.

RELATED:Sustainable: St. Thomas microgrid tests vision for future

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St. Thomas seeks demolition OK - Finance and Commerce