Christmas
Best Buy reports soft sales for holiday
MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy Co. says that weaker than expected traffic until the week before Christmas and low demand in Canada and Europe put a crimp in its December sales.
Date: 01/07/2012 | Business
Don't let dry Christmas trees become fire hazard
Any moment now, your Christmas tree could become a torch.Many trees were cut in the fall, and they've been drying out ever since, Mukilteo Assistant Fire Chief Brian McMahan said.
Date: 01/03/2012 | Local News
Harp player’s concert at Everett church on Wednesday ‘a last hurrah for Christmas’
EVERETT -- Bronn Journey isn't finished celebrating Christmas.
Date: 12/31/2011 | Local News
Stores get double holiday boost from sales
NEW YORK -- The holiday shopping season turned out to be two seasons split by a big lull.
Date: 12/29/2011 | Business
Armed with brooms, monks clash at Bethlehem birthplace of Jesus
BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- The annual cleaning of one of Christianity's holiest churches deteriorated into a brawl between rival clergy Wednesday, as dozens of monks feuding over sacred space at the Church of the Nativity battled each other with brooms until police intervened.
Date: 12/28/2011 | Nation & World
3 puppies saved from Mill Creek-area blaze; overheated tree to blame
MILL CREEK -- Three puppies were rescued from their Mill Creek-area home Sunday night after a Christmas tree fire.The fire was reported about 7:45 p.m. the 13800 block of Silver Firs Drive, said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1.
Date: 12/27/2011 | Local News
Here are some tips for post-holiday shopping
Stores have plied shoppers with discounts during the holiday shopping season, but bargain hunters can get deeper markdowns immediately after Christmas as retailers make room for new merchandise.
Date: 12/27/2011 | Business
Ring in the new year on the telly
So you can't make it to that big noisy, sweaty New Year's Eve celebration? No problem, you can party down on Saturday night from the comfort of your couch as TV rings in 2012. (Just remember to vacuum up the confetti in the morning.)
Date: 12/27/2011 | Life
Goats want to eat your tree
Where to recycle your Christmas tree, including a goat farm
Date: 12/27/2011 | Life
New painting corrects President Washington's crossing of Delaware
NEW YORK — One of America's most famous images, a painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River, got much of the story wrong: The American commander wouldn't have stood triumphantly on a rowboat in daylight, but on a ferry bracing himself against a fierce snowstorm on Christmas...
Date: 12/26/2011 | Nation & World
Online shopping surges on Christmas, IBM says
NEW YORK -- A growing number of shoppers apparently need only the briefest of breaks before diving back in, especially if they can log in to shop.
Date: 12/26/2011 | Business
All quiet on Christmas shift
No surprises on holiday for Everett police officer
Date: 12/26/2011 | Local News
NORAD Santa trackers have record holiday
DENVER -- Santa piled up more than presents this year -- trackers at NORAD say he also broke records during his global mission Christmas Eve.
Date: 12/25/2011 | Nation & World
Most believed in Santa as kids, poll says
WASHINGTON -- Why do kids believe a chubby guy in a flying sleigh can deliver joy across America? Because their parents do. A whopping 84 percent of grown-ups were once children who trusted in Santa's magic, and lots cling to it still.
Date: 12/25/2011 | Nation & World
Finding the joys that make Christmas special
It wasn't the greatest year, and it wasn't the best Christmas.It was 1978.
Date: 12/25/2011 | Local News
Christmas gifts for Cocoon House teen shelter pour in
EVERETT -- Surprises will be revealed around the tree this morning at Cocoon House. We published letters Monday, written by young people who live at the homeless shelter because they have nowhere else to go.
Date: 12/25/2011 | Local News
Thousands enjoy merry Christmas in Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Tens of thousands of tourists and Christian pilgrims packed the West Bank town of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations Saturday, bringing warm holiday cheer to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on a raw, breezy and rainy night.
Date: 12/25/2011 | Nation & World
Pope laments Christmas consumerism, glitter
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI decried the increasing commercialization of Christmas as he celebrated Christmas Eve Mass on Saturday night, urging the faithful to look beyond the holiday's "superficial glitter" to discover its true meaning.
Date: 12/25/2011 | Nation & World
When Christmas is over
Careful storage protects decorations, makes next year easier
Date: 12/25/2011 | Business
NORAD Santa trackers having record holiday
DENVER -- Santa's piling up more than presents this year. The big man's trackers at NORAD say Santa Claus is also breaking records this Christmas Eve.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Nation & World
Firefighters scramble to replace toys lost in San Francisco fire that left 40 homeless
SAN FRANCISCO -- Firefighters scrambled Friday to replace toys lost when the city's biggest blaze in more than seven years left more than 40 people homeless at the height of the holiday season.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Nation & World
Last-minute buyers top off strong shopping season
It's that time for caroling, eggnog, holiday cheer -- and for some, a frantic dash to the mall.Last-minute shoppers hit stores on Christmas Eve in a surge that retailers hope will top off a strong holiday shopping season.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Nation & World
Thousands enjoy merry Christmas in Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, West Ban — Tens of thousands of tourists and Christian pilgrims packed the West Bank town of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations Saturday, bringing warm holiday cheer to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on a raw, breezy and rainy night.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Nation & World
Last-minute buyers top off strong shopping season
It's that time for caroling, eggnog, holiday cheer — and for some, a frantic dash to the mall.Last-minute shoppers hit stores on Christmas Eve in a surge that is expected to top off an unexpectedly strong holiday shopping season.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Business
Dollar stores aim for shoppers on tight budgets
LOS ANGELES -- After four years without a job and two years living in a Motel 6 in Inglewood, Calif., Jay Payne is Christmas shopping for the first time in a long while.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Business
Winter storms snarl holiday traffic and flights
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Heavy snow from a winter storm blanketed parts of the West on Friday, stranding motorists throughout New Mexico and delaying holiday travelers trying to fly in and out of Albuquerque and Denver.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Nation & World
Ugly Christmas sweaters are all the rage for parties
MILWAUKEE -- Oh, the sweater designs are frightful, but the parties are so delightful. So if you've got one to wear, let it show, let it show, let it show.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Nation & World
You better watch out: Police patroling for drunken drivers
Those readying for holiday parties, festive meals and family visits may neglect a key part of their plans: a safe ride home.This past weekend, Washington State Patrol troopers arrested 33 impaired drivers in Snohomish County alone, trooper Keith Leary said.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Local News
Volunteers discover true meaning of Christmas
Churches across Snohomish County this holiday are delivering meals, building houses, collecting children's books and helping struggling families.And the volunteers are often finding their work just as gratifying as it is to those they serve.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Local News
Front Porch: Top returned gifts and favorite holiday treats
Top 10 returned giftsAccording to listverse.com, here are Top 10 returned gifts after Christmas:10. Duplicate toys9. Housewares8. Movies7. Video games6. Music5. Shoes4. Inappropriate gifts from the spouse3. Clothing
Date: 12/24/2011 | Local News
Community responds after $2,000 stolen from Snohomish Senior Center
SNOHOMISH -- It looked like any Christmas card the Snohomish Senior Center receives during the season. It was in a red envelope and heavier than the rest. The woman who delivered it did not sign the registration sheet, which most everyone does when they enter the building at 506 Fourth St.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Local News
Marysville man decorates for holiday with cut-outs of family
MARYSVILLE -- Earlier this year, Ken and Colleen Jones had a burglary at their home on Sisco Heights Road.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Local News
'Layaway angels' in Everett
Anonymous donors pay off accounts of Kmart shoppers
Date: 12/24/2011 | Local News
Christmas shows rule the airway on Sunday
Conventional wisdom among television programmers is that nobody is watching on major holidays such as Christmas, and if they are watching, they're probably sick of the holiday hype by the time the day rolls around.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Life
Core of Christmas charm
Market in Nurnberg, Germany, is as authentic as it gets
Date: 12/24/2011 | Life
Holiday giving strengthens our bonds
Economics does not contribute much to our Christmas spirit. But the spirit of giving does a lot for economics.
Date: 12/23/2011 | Business
Soft and fuzzy graffiti
'Yarn bomber' leaves a holiday mark on Everett art
Date: 12/23/2011 | Local News
Audio tours offer voices of past and present
Northwest Heritage Resources offers two new audio tours, one for the northern half of the Cascade Loop Highway and one for Whidbey Island.
Date: 12/23/2011 | Local News
Group plans protest on PC holiday greetings
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A group in Anchorage is planning to converge on city hall Thursday to protest what members see as a war on Christmas.In the noon rally, protesters plan to speak out in defense of saying Merry Christmas instead of the politically correct Happy Holidays.
Date: 12/22/2011 | Northwest
Front Porch: Christmas trivia
Christmas triviaDon't look at the end of this column, where you will find the answers to this Christmas trivia, provided by www.christmastrivia.net.It's rated difficult, so good luck.1. Which department store created "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"
Date: 12/22/2011 | Local News
Simple yet spectacular
Family decorations come together to create elegant Christmas
Date: 12/22/2011 | Home and Garden
Holiday shoppers give retail sales another boost
NEW YORK -- Shoppers came out again to seriously shop last week, after taking breather from a record spending spree over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to one measure
Date: 12/21/2011 | Business
Catching up with the Scottish clan and remembering past goodbyes
As I get ready to leave The Herald on Dec. 30, I wonder if I will cry on my way out the door.I know the departure of one former reporter, Christina Harper, was my soggiest moment at The Herald. I am saving my pennies to someday visit her in Scotland.
Date: 12/21/2011 | Local News
Front Porch: Help the Giving Gift Tree in Arlington
Help the Giving TreeThe Giving Gift Tree at Arlington United Church, at Fourth Street and McLeod Avenue, is covered with gift tags for suggested items for the benefit of Kid's Kloset in Arlington.Gift items should be brought to the church before Sunday.
Date: 12/21/2011 | Local News
Marysville widow thrilled to have husband’s stolen ashes returned
MARYSVILLE -- Danna Isaac can't imagine a better Christmas present: the return of her husband's stolen ashes.A week ago, a thief broke into the Marysville widow's trailer and bagged her television, a pair of new shoes, three Christmas cards and rolls of 50-cent pieces.
Date: 12/21/2011 | Local News
Front Porch: Help the Giving Gift Tree in Arlington
Help the Giving TreeThe Giving Gift Tree at Arlington United Church, at Fourth Street and McLeod Avenue, is covered with gift tags for suggested items for the benefit of Kid's Kloset in Arlington.Gift items should be brought to the church before Sunday.
Date: 12/20/2011 | Local News
Lake Stevens cancer patient needs another round of help
Help is needed again for Barbara Hawkins of Lake Stevens.I wrote about Hawkins and her daughter, Sarah Lien, on Aug. 16, 2010, in a column titled "Mother, daughter battling cancer."Their friend and supporter, Sherri Pribble-Jones, said the current news isn't good.
Date: 12/20/2011 | Local News
Cookies put piping skills to test
Snickerdoodle spritz 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2/3 cup powdered sugar 2 egg yolks 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Date: 12/19/2011 | Life
Christmas music playlist features new spins on some old favorites
Humbug, I say, to those who don't like Christmas music. But no, I don't want to hear "Do You Hear What I Hear?" again, either.
Date: 12/19/2011 | Life
Pope heads into Christmas season tired, weak
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI seems worn out.
Date: 12/18/2011 | Nation & World
Great outdoors gifts
Here are some ideas to help get you under the mistletoe
Date: 12/18/2011 | Sports
To some, the best gift is a little help
As you are thinking about what to get the people on your holiday shopping list, consider giving something special to those caring for an elderly relative or friend.
Date: 12/18/2011 | Business
Salvation Army volunteers set bell-ringing record
SAN FRANCISCO — After ringing his hand bell to solicit donations for 51 hours without food or sleep, Salvation Army volunteer Marcelino Soriano had reached his limit Saturday.
Date: 12/17/2011 | Nation & World
Firm boosts holiday shopping forecast
ShopperTrak, a Chicago-based research firm, is announcing it's upgrading its holiday sales forecast, a day after the nation's largest retail group boosted its outlook.
Date: 12/17/2011 | Business
Need a Christmas tree? Fir, spruce, cedar for rent
EVERETT -- It's no longer just artificial or cut Christmas trees.People who want a holiday tree can now also rent a live one.Once Christmas is finished, the tree is returned and then planted in the spring next to a stream.Just don't forget to take the tinsel off.
Date: 12/17/2011 | Local News
‘Blue Christmas' services recognize not all is merry and bright
Comfort and joy. Those are feelings often associated with this time of year. Yet many face the holidays feeling less than joyous.Some churches have started to officially address that reality: Sadness is not uncommon at Christmastime.
Date: 12/17/2011 | Local News
A colorful lesson in giving
Everett fifth-graders make ornaments for kids at hospital
Date: 12/16/2011 | Local News
Whidbey Playhouse stages a lyrical Christmas story in Wales
"A Child's Christmas in Wales": One of the most lyrical and lovely journeys through the memory of Christmas past brings Dylan Thomas as our guide.
Date: 12/16/2011 | Entertainment
Navy band plans free holiday concert tonight in Everett
This Christmas concert combines a little bit of country and a little bit of rock and roll.About 30 members of the Navy Band Northwest gather tonight at Everett Performing Arts Center to present their holiday concert.
Date: 12/16/2011 | Entertainment
Legendary Tony Bennett swings by Seattle
Tony Bennett, the smooth singer, now 85, is as cool and entertaining as ever.The last of a generation whose peers included Frank Sinatra, Bennett has been performing since returning home after serving in World War II.
Date: 12/16/2011 | Entertainment
Village Theatre Pied Piper stages classic children's story
"If You Give a Moose a Muffin": A young boy is quite surprised when a giant moose arrives in his kitchen after smelling freshly cooked muffins wafting in the air.
Date: 12/16/2011 | Entertainment
'Cool Yule' with men's chorus
Song-and-dance extravaganza comes to Everett
Date: 12/15/2011 | Entertainment
Everett rolls out Wintertide on Friday
EVERETT -- Even if budgets are tight, families can still get into the Christmas spirit at a free holiday celebration downtown tomorrow.
Date: 12/15/2011 | Local News
Happy holidays at the zoo
See the animals enjoy presents during Winter Celebration
Date: 12/14/2011 | Life
Christmas books and tunes
What's new in holiday entertainment this year
Date: 12/14/2011 | A Reading Life
Dietary manager knows her grub and customers at Stanwood's Josephine home
Helen Vindasius might mysteriously disappear, Jimmy Hoffa style, if she served pot pies again."You won't find my body," she said with a grin.It's no reflection on the cooks, but her clients are fed up with pot pie.
Date: 12/14/2011 | Local News
Workers, customers in Snohomish County sound off on postal woes
Bridget Tait was mailing 70 Christmas cards. Cindy Wahlstrom paid for postage at a self-serve machine. Customers in line juggled boxes filled with gifts. And outside, drivers angled for parking.
Date: 12/14/2011 | Local News
Skating for charity
Abuse victims have champions in Jet City Rollergirls
Date: 12/12/2011 | Local News
U.S. online holiday sales up 15 percent to $24.6 billion
NEW YORK — U.S. online sales in the holiday season to date are up 15 percent to $24.6 billion, according to comScore.
Date: 12/11/2011 | Business
8 gifts for techies
What to give the technology lover who has everything
Date: 12/11/2011 | Business
This year, buy something useful for Christmas
MONROE -- One year, Lori Johnson gave her mother bees for Christmas. But her mother never saw any hives or honeybees. They were provided to a family in South America.
Date: 12/10/2011 | Local News
Christmas tree quest
Follow along on a traditional search through the woods
Date: 12/09/2011 | Local News
Arlington VFW parties with National Guard
Members of the Arlington VFW entertained two National Guard companies last weekend. VFW Post 1561 Commander Willy Hughes said the event was great."Friday, we had about 110 people," Hughes said. "About 70 were there Sunday."
Date: 12/09/2011 | Local News
Familiar faces gather again to share holiday tunes in Everett
This year's "Christmas Spectacular" combines a surging story of determination with the thumping beat of hip-hop.And that's not all.There's lots of lovely singing and special dance numbers.
Date: 12/09/2011 | Entertainment
Check out decked-out venues
Snohomish County is lit up with holiday happenings
Date: 12/09/2011 | Entertainment
Everett will put up its traditional downtown Christmas tree after all
EVERETT -- For a while, it seemed like a favorite Everett tradition -- a Christmas tree downtown -- wouldn't happen this year.That's not the case.
Date: 12/08/2011 | Local News
Come into their parlors
Tour features historic Snohomish homes decorated for holidays
Date: 12/08/2011 | Home and Garden
Stay the night in a cozy cottage while enjoying Warm Beach lights
Kindness made the Lights of Christmas all the more amazing Saturday night.
Date: 12/07/2011 | Local News
Books rank at the top of favorite gifts to give, receive
Each year I write a column for the holiday season devoted to great gift ideas. In this economy, I want to share some great things for under $30.
Date: 12/06/2011 | Life
Santa, elves make museum visits
Imagine Children's Museum will look a lot like Christmas in the next few weeks between gingerbread building, ornament making and visits from Santa. Here are a few of the fun events just for kids:
Date: 12/06/2011 | Life
Here comes Santa Paws, all for a good cause
EVERETT -- Dogs, cats and even rats.Santa's ready to have his photo taken with the furry members of your family -- and you, too.
Date: 12/05/2011 | Local News
Tips to avoid Christmas tree fires
If it's touched by a spark, a Christmas tree can go up in flames within seconds.
Date: 12/05/2011 | Local News
Where wishes come true
Christmas House opens its doors to families facing hard times
Date: 12/03/2011 | Local News
Arlington church choirs combine for Christmas concerts
ARLINGTON -- Two church choirs are coming together to present free Christmas concerts.
Date: 12/03/2011 | Local News
Bah, humbug! Fort Worth schools ban Santa and gifts
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Some parents say the Fort Worth school district is playing Grinch this holiday season."In their effort to be PC, they've achieved the absurd," parent Brandon Brewer wrote in an email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Date: 12/03/2011 | Nation & World
Concert an annual Christmas gift for Everett seniors
Mary Ann Karber's favorite Christmas song is "Silent Night."
Date: 12/02/2011 | Local News
New NORAD app helps to track Santa
Want to keep track of Santa this Christmas Eve? There's an app for that.NORAD is the military organization responsible for the aerospace defense of the U.S. and Canada. The North American Aerospace Defense Command tracks Santa on Christmas Eve.
Date: 12/02/2011 | Business
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