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Holiday Guide

Sunday, December 23, 2012

How to Have a Waste-Free Holiday in Sharon

While your thinking of others this holiday season, make sure you're also keeping the planet in mind.

Before you buy another roll of gift wrap and leave those holiday lights on all night, the city's Department of Environmental Affairs is asking you to have a waste-free holiday this year.  According to the Newton Environmental Affairs website, the holiday season is the most wasteful time of the year. You can prevent this, though, with home made gifts, energy-conscious Christmas lights and alternative ways to wrap presents. Below is the full Waste-Free Holiday Guide from the Department of Environmental Affiars: Give gifts that not only last a long time, but help reduce packaging waste. The gift within a gift – instead of wrapping paper, use tea towels to wrap cups or silverware, a pair of gloves for rings or bracelets, a bath towel for oils …

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

MBTA Announces Holiday Schedule

All subway, bus and commuter rail lines will be free after 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

The MBTA has announced its holiday season schedule. Some highlights include: 

Thursday, November 22, 2012

'10 Fat Turkeys' And More Thanksgiving Reads

Celebrate next week's holiday by reading some of these Thanksgiving-themed books.

Although it's not as famous as Halloween or Christmas, the Thanksgiving holiday does have it's fair share of literature dedicated to it. Whether you're young and still reading picture books, or an adult, we have a little something for everyone in our Patch Reads book list. So grab your turkey and enjoy some books as side dishes! Younger readers: 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving—In a switch on the classic Clement Moore poem, some boys and girls have an eventful Thanksgiving eve. If You Lived In Colonial Times—This book outlines what the lives were like for the Pilgrims and Colonists from 1565 to 1776. The First Thanksgiving—Geared toward beginner readers, this book tells the story of the first Thanksgiving with lots of illustrations.  …

Monday, November 19, 2012

Patch Picks: 5 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dishes

Food ideas for people whose Turkey Day involves no turkeys.

On Thursday, many will be doing the Thanksgiving scramble: Running to the inlaws' house, hitting the store for some last minute cranberry sauce, or checking on the bird in the oven every five minutes.   What some consider the best meal of the year, fit for kings and gluttons, is centered around meat. Not all of us, for varying reasons, choose to eat meat, though. What is one supposed to prepare for those who don't eat turkey on Turkey Day? The answer is easy, and the options are many. Whether you're cooking for a vegetarian guest, or are a vegetarian yourself, Patch helps you out this week with five tasty recipes for a vegan/vegetarian Thanksgiving. 1. Tofurky: Funny sounding name, seriously tasty substitute. What you need: 1 Tofurky Roast…

Thursday, November 15, 2012

TELL US: Should Mass. Blue Laws Be Eliminated?

Blue laws prohibit retailers from opening before midnight on Black Friday.

Black Friday is starting earlier than ever, as some national retailers have announced they will open the night of Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 22. However, here in Massachusetts, state blue laws prohibit stores from opening until midnight, according to a report by the Boston Globe.  Current blue laws prohibit retailers in the state from opening on Thanksgiving, thus preventing them from getting an early start on Black Friday sales, according to the Globe article. Some exceptions are restaurants, health care facilities and gas stations.  The laws, instituted in the 17th century, are intended to make sure holidays are properly observed, according to the Boston Globe.  Are Massachusetts' blue laws outdated? Should they be eliminated? Tell us …

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GiRRL_Earth

2:27 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

What's with Avon's straw man arguments? Talk about taking this topic off course. :-|   more ›

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