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H is for Holidays, celebrations and joy Smiles and wonder, a shiny new toy It all comes together with tidings of cheer Peering forward to January and the start of next year Hummel Figurines Those figurines, plates, or bells that are displaced on your fireplace or in your holiday curio cabinet every holiday season have a long history tied to them, in addition to the one they took on passing through family members hands. In 1876, Franz Goebel started a porcelain firm near the town of Oeslauby, Germany. By the time the 1930s rolled around, Goebel thought that in a world of political turmoil, customers would respond to a product that depicted the gentle innocence of childhood. Soon after the thought, he was introduced to Maria Innocentia Hummel, a Franciscan Sister, who used her training from the Munich Academy to sketch jovial children on postcards that were sent across the world. An infamous business partnership was born. Sister Hummel personally approved the sculpting and painting of each of the porcelain pieces that were first introduced in 1935.To determine if that figurine, plate, or bell is a genuine Hummel piece, there are definitive marks of identification that should be evident like the mark Sister M. I. Hummel, incised on every piece.
Holiday Pet Sitting Instead of schlepping your cat or dog to the kennel this holiday, why not give them the gift of enjoying the quite house to themselves? With a pet sitter of course. Sitters for your Critters, a Queens-based pet sitter company, eliminates the trauma of being left in an unfamiliar place for your pet. While you chow down on potato pancakes or the Christmas goose far from home, a licensed sitter will walk your loved one, administer medications or simply maintain the litter box. Just think, relatives won’t be hassled and you’ll have the peace and mind knowing that a professional is caring for your pet and house. Cathie Manousos, a licensed veterinary technician with more than eight years in the pet sitting industry, started the company in 2003. She even guarantees that your Bayside, Kew Gardens, Whitestone, Flushing or Forest Hills home will have that lived in look by taking in the mail, newspaper or garbage cans and rotating the lights. To have the sitters love your pets when you have to leave them, call (718) 523- 6037.
Ho, Ho, Ho Santa’s calling card. When you hear the sleigh bells ringing, the ensuing sound will likely be from the jolly fat man in red. The modern day depiction of Santa Claus has him bellowing the phrase loudly in joy each time Christmas is near. Leave some adequate landing space on the rooftop so the “ho, ho, ho’s” aren’t followed by a “Whoa!” Homeless Hero In November 1987, the winter chill brought with it a sense of urgency for those living on the streets. Avery Mendez, who lived on a street corner in downtown Flushing, was featured on a Tribune front page in mid November 1987, in a story on the lingering hopelessness faced by the City’s homeless population. One week later, the night after Thanksgiving, Avery Mendez was dead, a victim of the first frost of the season. The Tribune takes time each November since to remember Avery Mendez, his life and his struggle to survive. Handel’s Messiah The Oratorio Society of Queens will sing choruses from Handel’s Messiah along with traditional holiday music at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in the Performing Arts Center at Queensborough Community College.
The prestigious community choral organization boasts 90 members and is under the artistic direction of Maestro David Close. Professional soloists Julie Miller, John Easterlin and Vaughn Fritts will be featured, along with the Orchestral Arts Ensemble of Queens. Queensborough Community College is located on 56th Avenue one block east of Springfield Boulevard in Bayside. Parking is free. Ticket prices at the box office are $20, $18 for seniors and students with ID; children 12 and under accompanied by an adult are free. For additional information, call the Oratorio Society of Queens at (718) 460-0726. Holiday Lights From 90th Street in Richmond Hill, to the tree-lined streets of Queens Village and Tudors in Jackson Heights, Queens is alive with thousands of sparkling lights, animated scenes and majestic live, lighted and decorated Christmas trees. Take a ride this holiday season throughout the neighborhoods in Queens, to experience for yourself, the traditions in holiday decorating that make the borough sparkle. Want to know where the best is? Check out Mike Giglio’s place, at 100-21 90th Ave. in Richmond Hill. With more than 90,000 lights and new additions every year, he wins hands down for the single biggest house display. Watch out Empire State Building – you’ve got competition. Healthy Gifts Consider purchasing a membership to a local health club or other activity, or a Gift Certificate from a sneaker or sports supply shop. So many people will take New Year’s Day as a step toward bettering themselves – a healthy gift can give them that extra push. This could be the perfect surprise for runners and sports enthusiasts on your list – including seniors. You might also consider purchasing a gift certificate from a pharmacy patronized by a senior friend or family member. It’s a thoughtful gift, designed to help seniors meet the skyrocketing costs of prescription medications. Hall of Science Got a little time off on the Holidays? Don’t waste it just sitting around – try learning something. The New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., has plenty of interesting, hands-on exhibits that can capture the minds of both children and adults. In Marvelous Molecules, you can stroll under a 35-foot glucose molecule or create your own molecules with your bare hands. Or if you explore something even smaller, you can visit The Realm of Atoms, which gives a simple explanation of quantum theory and how atoms behave. Ever wonder how CDs and audio tapes work? At Sound Sensations, you can learn about how these devices work while making beautiful music of your own. Participants are able to compose their own songs in a recording studio and have their friends and family sing along. December will also be your last chance to enjoy the Science Playground, a 30,000-square foot exhibition that functions like an outdoor laboratory. Soon the weather will be cold, and kids will have to wait to the spring to use the assortment of slides, windmills and other educational yet climbable equipment. It beats reading a book. Holiday Displays For the past two decades, the M&S Italian Food Store on Francis Lewis Boulevard has recognized a number of holidays throughout the year by decorating their location, both inside and out, with displays that catch the attention of many who pass by. The family business is currently in its third generation of owners with Joe Prestia in charge, acting as the displays’ architect, while manager Jose Neri sets everything up and builds some of the festive artwork bought by the store’s cashier, Susan Beiner. Neri said that although the store is decorated the most for Christmas, every holiday has a theme. Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and July 4th are other occasions that M&S celebrates with fanfare. Every year during the Christmas holiday, a huge blowup Santa Claus and reindeer mark the island on Francis Lewis Boulevard and a large-scale turkey blows steadily with the wind in front of the store around Thanksgiving. “People really seem to like it,” said Prestia. “One woman told us that when she drives by, all her kids get excited just to see the decorations.” |
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