If you ask around you’ll find that most people have a favorite season. Spring and fall may be a favorite pair together, but “summer people” and “winter people” tend to be passionately loyal to one extreme or the other.  Whether winter sends you deep into your cave or the crisp, crackling air stirs your senses, check this list for something to do that will deepen your appreciation for even the chilliest day.

A Bed… A Breakfast… and Then Some

Ever think of going to a nearby bed and breakfast just for something different?  Maybe you are travelling to the region or planning overnight accommodations for special guests. Whichever story is yours, each of these unique, historic locations provide plenty to write home about.

Hamanassett Bed & Breakfast & Carriage House

Chester County, Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania

Nestled in Brandywine Valley, just fifteen minutes from Longwood Gardens and a myriad of other regional attractions, this well-appointed estate has been renowned far and wide for its English garden charm and elegance for over 150 years. Breakfast is not just a meal, it’s an indulgence.

The icing on the cake is the option to attend a cooking class taught by noted Chef Ann-Michelle Albertson. On behalf of the Brandywine Cooking School, the classes are held in the professional kitchen at the inn. Celebrity chefs teach a variety of cuisines. Whatever level your culinary skills are at, they’ll be sharpened by this delicious package geared for anyone who likes to have fun in the kitchen. Here are several options coming up soon:

January 20-21:  Make It a Celebration

Celebrate with culinary enthusiasm for parties for any occasion, including a menu suitable for the “unofficial” national holiday: Super Bowl Sunday! 

February 24-25: Dining at the White House
Invitation lost in the mail?  If you can’t get into the White House, bring it to you!  Create and enjoy favorite foods of our country’s presidents and indulge in the gourmet traditions and elegance of a White House State Dinner menu. 

For more information, visit www.hamanassett.com, or call (610) 459-3000. For reservations: (877) 836-8212. Email: stay@hamanassett.com.

SHERILYN — Here is the link for photos http://jumpingrocks.com/hamanassett pword:  ashley

The Queen Victoria
Cape May, New Jersey
Psychic channeling and ghost investigations may happen during those other months, but winter is “on season” at this elegant haven for true wine lovers. On February 24th The Queen Victoria is hosting a “Wine Blending Challenge”. Participating guests will arrive at the Cape May Winery to compete at crafting the perfect blend of red wine. Trays of fine cheeses will complement wine tasting and the winning blend will be bottled with the “Queen Victoria Cellars” label. Everyone goes home with the blend in bottles featuring personalized labels and mix details. The event is only open to guests of the lodging and will only occur once this year, so make your bookings soon.

For more information on ticket prices and reservations, visit www.queenvictoria.com/inn.html, or call (609) 884-8702. Email: stay@queenvictoria.com.
There’s Always Room at These Inns

The Lambertville Station

Lambertville, New Jersey
Located on the banks of the Delaware River in historic Lambertville, NJ, just steps from New Hope in beautiful Bucks County PA, the hotel is a relaxing retreat. Enjoy first-class accommodations at a destination known for special events in antiquing, art galleries, and shopping all year long.

Lambertville’s best restaurant, The Lambertville Station, has been a landmark for over 25 years. Located in a restored 19th century train station, our American cuisine restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, and Sunday Brunch. Casual dining is available indoors and seasonally on the canal side deck. The wine bar is an exceptionally cozy. For more information, visit www.lambertvillestation.com or call (609) 397-4400.

The Glasbern
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
The Glasbern is a quintessential historic Pennsylvania country inn and restaurant tucked away on a peaceful and secluded 130-acre, 19th-Century farm just west of Allentown in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. If your passion is reading by an open fire or working late into the night, this luxury Pennsylvania inn welcomes you.

In addition to a fine reputation throughout the region, The Glasbern also raises, grows, and prepares most of their food on site. Glasbern’s restaurant is more than farm-to-table — you’re dining at the farm’s table. Each morning the chef prepares a hot complimentary full country breakfast under the historic Main Barn’s cathedral ceiling.

Visit www.glasbern.com, or call for reservations (610) 285-4723.

Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing

201 S. Columbus Boulevard — Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 928-1234
Its location is unique: it is the only hotel located directly on the Delaware River Waterfront at Penn’s Landing. And it’s got a glass-enclosed indoor pool with water views, plus a great outdoor deck looking right over the waterfront.

The Inn at Bowmanshill

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Linger over breakfast and warm your body and soul by the open hearth log fire. Or, order breakfast in bed by your own gas fireplace. Experience perpetual summer in the orchid conservatory, or relax together in the two-person heated tub at this romantic Bucks County Inn…

For more information visit www.theinnatbowmanshill.com or call for reservations (215) 862-8090.

Douse the Fire, Lace Up the Boots

If you just enjoyed yourself daydreaming at the hearth, or not, keep reading for adrenaline boosts and intellectual warm ups.

ART

Philadelphia Museum of Art

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 763-8100

Like Philadelphia’s own Parthenon, the Philadelphia Museum of Art sits majestically on a rise at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The vast collections of this temple of art make it the third-largest art museum in the country, and an absolute must-see on the city’s cultural circuit.

ICE ACTION

Blue Cross River Rink

Market Street and Columbus Boulevard — Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-RINK.

Enjoy a rejuvenating outdoor adventure at the Blue Cross RiverRink, an Olympic-sized ice rink at Penn’s Landing. Take in the breathtaking wintertime view overlooking the Delaware River and Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Skytop Lodge
Route 390 Skytop — PA 18357
Phone: (570) 595-7401/Toll free: (800) 345-7759Strap on a pair of blades and polish your ice skating skills at this outdoor, weather-protected rink. Fun for the entire family!  All winter sports are conditions permitting.

Center Ice Oaks
87 Brower Ave
Oaks, PA 19456
Center Ice is a modern twin surface ice arena. Both of their ice surfaces are NHL dimensions. They offer instructional level lessons in skating and in hockey, and instructors are available for private lessons. The facility has a Pro Shop, Fitness Center and a restaurant within the building. Center Ice Oaks offer youth and adult hockey teams for all ages and levels of ability.

Ringing Rocks Roller Rink
1500 Ringing Rocks Park
Pottstown, PA 19464

Jamz Roller Skating Center
7017 Roosevelt Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19149

VENTURE OUT

Great Wolf Lodge

1 Great Wolf Drive — Scotrun, PA 18355
Phone: (570) 688-9899/Toll free: (800) 768-9653
Opened in October 2005, this is the Pocono’s newest family resort. Featuring the Northeast’s largest, year-round indoor water park in a casual Northwood themed setting offers 401 spacious family suites, casual restaurants, a shopping emporium, arcade and MagiQuest – an interactive scavenger hunt type game. Many rate packages include tickets or admission to Pocono area attractions.

Woodloch Resort
731 Welcome Lake Road — Hawley, PA 18428
Phone: (570) 685-8000/Toll free: (800) 966-3562Enjoy the peaceful solitude of Woodloch Resort nestled in the northeast Pocono Mountains Lake Region. Nature trails that connect to an open field are ideal for family cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. State game lands located nearby offer a greater challenging terrain.

Split Rock Resort & Golf Club
1 Lake Drive Lake Harmony — PA 18624
Phone: (570) 722-9111/Toll free: (800) 255-7625
A full service, four season resort featuring a variety of accommodations, three restaurants, a 27-hole PGA golf course, first run movie theater, bowling alley, miniature golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, indoor water park as well as numerous other indoor/outdoor amenities. 

Camelback Mountain Resort
1 Camelback Road — Tannersville, PA 18372
Phone: (570) 629-1661/Toll free: (800) 233-8100
Camelback Mountain Resort has 18 chutes and two magic carpet lifts at CBK Snow tubing!  This is a great way to do some family bonding or a fun night out with friends. So, come for a fun night of laughs and don’t forget to stop by the fire pit and relax! Flexible three-hour weekend/holiday sessions begin every hour! 

ONE –STOP HEAD RUSH

Arnold’s Go Karts
2200 West Drive, 422 Business Center — Oaks, PA 19456
Arnold’s has over 144,000 square feet of action-packed indoor activities and adventure for kids of all ages! Go-karts, rides, arcade games, laser tag, bounce, bowling, mini golf, delicious food, and great prizes… you name it, they’ve got it!

Ultrazone
4201 Neshaminy Blvd, #130 — Bensalem, PA 19020
Ultrazone is a family entertainment center. In addition to offering an extensive video game arcade, Ultrazone houses a world renowned laser tag facility. The Ultrazone Laser Tag Arena, one of the largest on the East Coast, is a multi-level complex filled with numerous, strategically placed obstacles to provide a unique entertainment experience. Players may participate in a number of exciting game formats.

Grand Slam
11 E. Lancaster Avenue
Malvern, PA 19355
Grand Slam U.S.A. is over 30,000 square feet of sports activities, rides, games, and attractions providing excitement for the entire family.

“X” MARKS THE SPOT

Fletcher’s Corner

212 Route 47 South — Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

(609) 465-4949

The premiere archery pro shop in South Jersey. They’ve been serving archers and hunters for over 15 years. Customers are outfitted with hunting and archery gear as well as having a place to shoot with a 14 lane, well lit, indoor archery range. Fletcher’s Corner also hosts birthday parties, Boy Scout & Girl Scout groups and other organizations. Archery instruction is also available.

Laser Quest
1035 Bern Rd
Building 25
Wyomissing, PA 19610

BOWL OR RIDE

North Bowl

909 N. 2nd Street — Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-BOWL

With more than 21,000 square feet, 17 bowling lanes, two full bars, an upstairs lounge complete with Italian sofas, pool tables and an arcade, North Bowl is really much more than just a place to bowl.

Fernwood Winter Fun Center – Horseback Riding
Route 209 & River Road Bushkill — PA 18324
Phone: (570) 588-9500/Toll free: (888) 337-6966
Take a horseback ride, go snow tubing, swim indoors, or simply take a hike around the resort and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, all against the backdrop of a winter wonderland in the Pocono Mountains.

VERTICAL ACTION

Doylestown Rock Gym
3853 Old Easton Rd — Doylestown, PA 18901
The Doylestown Rock Gym is the premiere indoor rock climbing gym and adventure facility in the north Philadelphia area. Offering over 12,000 square feet of indoor rock climbing surface, including overhangs, boulders, arêtes, chimneys, caves, and lead walls, the facility is suitable for rocks climbers of all ages and abilities.

Vertical Extreme
462 Acorn Lane — Downingtown, PA 19335
Vertical Extreme offers local indoor rock climbing for all ages and abilities – from beginner to professional, ages 3-100!!!

New Jersey Hot Air Ballooning  

Clinton NJ 908-208-1869
One-hour balloon flights start at $225 per passenger. Flight fare includes elegant champagne and Hors D’oeuvres toast after landing. Conveniently located off RT 78 in Clinton NJ, just 60 minutes west of NYC. They fly year round, 7 days a week. 100% safety record.

AERIAL ACTION

Key Air Helicopters
48 Sky Manor Road – Hanger B1, B2 and B3 — Pittstown NJ 08867
(908) 996-7007.

Enjoy a Scenic Helicopter Flight “Over the Garden State For Two” with this New Jersey Helicopter Tour. You and your guest, along with your pilot, will hop in a Robinson R44 helicopter and take off from Pittstown, NJ. The choice is yours whether you would like to go on a wonderful 30 minute tour or extend your flight and enjoy an hour long scenic tour of Northern New Jersey. No matter which tour you choose, memories of this adventure are sure to last a lifetime.

And Now For Something Completely Different

Why not stroll for treasures at this delightful trove?

Phila Flea Market
The Former Fed-Ex Service Center
820 Spring Garden Street (9th & Spring Garden)

“The Spring Garden Indoor Flea Market” is every Saturday now thru March. There are more than 60 vendors featuring antiques, collectibles, vintage furniture, jewelry, glassware, pottery, one-of-a-kind items and just plain fun Junque! Vendors accept all major credit cards! (215) 625-FLEA (3532). Visit www.PhilaFleaMarkets.org for more information. Free Parking / Free Admission / ATM / Food Court / Handicap Accessible / Heated Facility.

Vessels come in every shape and size.  There’s virtually no limit to the kinds of things a vessel can hold. Now apply these same conditions to human beings. Replace the grain or wine or sailors with thoughts and feelings, then apply the spark of animation and voila! Set sail for a lifetime.

During that lifetime, each of us must tend to the three basic pillars of our sentient existence: our bodies, our minds, and our souls. (For the last of these, even if you fear that yours may be lost, stolen, or sold, please play along.)

There’s plenty of professional advice throughout this issue that speak to the health of muscles and sinew, but the energy and creativity our bodies produce  is just as important. Remember The Matrix? We’re a bunch of walking batteries. And the effects of this voltage manifest themselves in many ways.

BODY
The Laying on of Hands
By Carol Graham

                Growing up in Ireland in a culture steeped in Celtic tradition influenced the path I have chosen to follow.  When I was injured in a car accident as a child, my mother took me to see her Aunt Lizzie. My great aunt was known to lay her hands on the body to heal pain.  No one ever spoke of this and I remember the feeling of warmth on my back when my aunt laid her hands on me.  It was comforting and it helped to alleviate my pain.

Today I am a certified massage therapist, Reiki master practitioner and integrated energy therapist.  Massage promotes relaxation and provides positive changes to our physical and energetic state.  Reiki is an ancient hands-on energy technique that heals physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Tanmaya Honervogt introduces Reiki as “the transfer of universal life energy for healing” (The Reiki Tutor). The practitioner is the channel for the energy and receives the benefits of this healing force as the client is worked on.  Hospice and cancer centers offer Reiki as a part of their treatment plan.  When I first received a Reiki treatment, I was aware of the familiar feeling of warmth emanating from the Reiki master’s hands and this confirmed my belief; this was the right path for me.

Integrated energy therapy seeks to promote balance in the body’s energy field by energizing and integrating healing energy.  Stevan J. Thayer states,   “As practitioners we work to support the body’s natural ability to establish and maintain proper balance” (The IET Training Guide). Clients are the healers; we are the facilitators.

Pain, fear, or loss wake us, bringing things into focus, and by then, harmony is harder to see.  Joni Mitchell sings, “You don’t always know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone…” each moment is a gift we are permitted to see and share.  It is important to invite mindfulness and healing into our lives.  My journey through the loss of two of my sons has been an awakening to the true richness of the spiritual realm. 

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong at the broken places.”
A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway

                You were born with a healing system.  Your body can heal itself. Search for ways to create space within to allow healing and wholeness to manifest.  Be open to the experience: receive energy therapy and feel the results. 

Carol Graham can be reached at scarolgraham@yahoo.com.

MIND
An Oasis from Just-in-Time Living
By Drew Giorgi

My grandfather envisioned a future for me of four-day workweeks, lots of leisure time, and possibly the ownership of a family helicopter replacing one of several family cars. How disappointed he would be to see that the leaps in technology made by his generation have led to a world where everyone is on call 24/7/365.

The idea of the “just-in-time” business model reached critical success and global recognition when Dell’s innovative supply chain—adapted from the Toyota model—allowed it to soar past Compaq to become the number one computer maker in the world. At its apogee, Dell offered 500,000 different combinations of computer equipment and could land products cheaper than any competitor anywhere on the globe. This added an incredible level of complexity and stress on the organization; a lot of work was done to make it possible to deliver products consumers never requested.

We have done this with our families. While the argument over whether or not children have enough unstructured time in which to grow and learn on their own and at their own pace, the drive in organized activities seems to be based on values derived from what corporations and markets hold dear: efficiency and maximizing value. This is productivity: the product is the child, the parents are the managers, and the consumers are colleges and employers.

Many people live a “just-in-time” lifestyle. Plenty of us probably find there are times of the day, despite our best intentions, that work or school or that special project requires us to be operating in such a manner. Children feel this acutely. Dashing from class to class and to various other activities, they find themselves trying to fit into a completely different situation and set of demands every hour or so. Add the modern cell phone and the social network into the mix and they are also trying to balance all of their personal matters at a moment’s notice while meeting the expectations of coaches, teachers, classroom peers and co-workers.

            For many living this kind of “just-in-time” lifestyle there may be a desire to find a “just-in-time” solution as we begin the year. Family members and friends from older generations have much to offer in the way of an antidote, especially to our children.

            Grandparents, for example, provide an oasis that is free of the usual distractions. They may even have to craft other distractions for their grandchildren. But grandparents are the people in the lives of children who see things the most contrary to everyone else in their world. They also have the longest memory and are usually implicitly trusted. At my own school we have history projects arranged so that students can benefit from an elder viewpoint.

            Grandparents are usually the keepers of the family history and tradition. Diane Burns wrote about a great example of this in the November/December issue of this publication. It was about her cream cheese spritz pressed cookies with grape jelly in the centers, which her granddaughter now makes. Grandparents need not limit their relationships to old tales that humanize parents and pass on tradition and recipes. With a little planning, a grandparent can offer a valuable balance of activities and wisdom that can help center a child, especially a teenager navigating the challenges of high school, work and college applications. For the sake of mental health, teens need to block out time to power down from all of the external pressures, both perceived and unperceived, in order to rebalance themselves. Guidance from an experienced hand can be vital.

            The key is in the planning, the kind only grandparents and grandchildren know best. Whenever I visited my grandfather he always had a project ready, whether it was a game we were to play, a fishing trip we were to go on, or birdhouse we were to build. Something of a natural-born teacher, he consistently created scenarios filled with discovery and teachable moments. He sometimes spread big projects out over multiple visits, teaching me that some jobs required you to take your time, especially when working with power tools or electronics. A key lesson I learned is that taking a break is sometimes essential to doing a good job. But he always had a plan. Without a plan expect to find the child—especially the teenager—lost in the nearest electronic device at hand.

            Of course, not even Dell follows its “just-in-time” model any longer; however, Apple, the company that surpassed the entire tech industry, never practiced a “just-in-time” approach to anything. Rather, their leader opted to offer just four computers when they resurrected themselves in the 1990’s, and they overtook Dell less than a decade later in terms of market capitalization, and went on to surpass even Exxon all in good time. The kids may think of their grandparents and other elders as the crazy ones, the ones who, although they may own a cell phone, are truly wireless. Even though they use a computer and might even keep up with their children and grandchildren on Facebook, they grew up in an analog world that required real face time. Their long-term relationships most likely started before Silicon Valley learned how to make gold out of silicon. Offering an oasis of quality time, they might just cause our kids and us to think different.

Drew Giorgi is a teacher of English at New Hope-Solebury High School. He is a graduate of LaSalle University and holds master’s degrees from The College of New Jersey and St. Joseph’s University in English and Educational Technology.

SOUL 
Forgiving Faust

As the story goes, when you’re standing
at the crossroads, time won’t wait I know,
Don’t you go and sell your soul,
No, no, no, don’t you sell your soul.

These are original lyrics by Bethanne Reid, the dynamite lead of RGM. RGM stands for Really Great Music, and the simplicity of the name speaks volumes for the talent. I saw RGM perform recently at the Zen Den in Doylestown and it brought everything together from the previous interview I’d had with Bethanne. No, she didn’t sell her soul in exchange for musical endowment, but that is a legend we all know. Would you trade your soul to gain inspiring talent, to know love, or to gain wisdom?

Fortunately, making a pact with the Devil is not the only way to nourish our spirits and nurture our creative selves.  Taking care of the soul on the path to awareness can be hard work, and sometimes the only thing in one’s way is oneself. This is a quote from Bethanne, in fact. A New Jersey native, she spent many years in New York City as a performer, looking for her big break. She was in plenty of the right places, and had the talent to boot, but the timing was something that she’d have to wait through. Living now in Bucks County with her son, it was through a series of uncanny events that led to her meeting the other 18 accomplished members of her band.  One by one, each person crossed her path and she was transported to center stage. Now she’s got the fullness of her art and the limelight she always wanted, but none of that was hers until she’d been through a living Hell of heartache, setbacks and loss.

You can see RGM perform, and introduce yourself to Bethanne after the show. Visit their website to see their next event and read more about their story. It’s sure to inspire you to pursue your own path of creative satisfaction, no matter the obstacles: http://rgmproject.com.

In the meantime, consider these tips on nourishing your soul train the next time you are standing at your crossroads.

Ten Ways to Grow Your Spirit

1. Embrace Your Talents

2. Tie Up Loose Ends

3. Be Responsible in Your Relationships; Don’t Turn to the “Blame-Game”.

4. Love Sometimes Means Saying Goodbye

5. Let Go of Useless Attachments

6. Confront Your Inner Demons

7. Accept Change – Go with the Flow

8. Accept Delays

9. Love and Honor Yourself

10. Deal with Death and Illness in Positive Ways

Sharyl Volpe is the Editor-in-Chief of Local Living Magazine. “Ten Ways to Grow Your Spirit” were provided by Phylameana lila Desy, certified in Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki and the Science of Intuition from the Holos Institutes of Health. For more detail, visit http://spiralvisions.com/index2.html.

Anyone who has ever known Tug McGraw knows he lived his life with passion, humor and vitality. The former Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher, and father of country singer, Tim McGraw, had a puckish, Irish zest for life, even when faced with a malignant brain tumor, which, tragically, took his life seven years ago this month.

Not one to retreat from a challenge, he used what he knew was an eventual death sentence to create a mechanism to help others battling brain tumors, helping to improve their quality of life—a major challenge for people suffering from brain-related diseases and injuries. There in his living room, along with his caregiver and long-time friend, Jennifer Brusstar, the Tug McGraw Foundation was born.

A Home Run for the “Tugger”

Frank Edwin “Tug” McGraw, Jr. is best known as the effervescent, Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher who struck out Kansas City Royals’ Willie Wilson in the 1980 World Series, earning the Phillies their first World Series. His legendary rallying cry, “Ya Gotta Believe,” which he used as a motivational tool to keep the New York Mets’ spirits high when he played for them from 1965 to 1974, became synonymous with his “can-do” attitude. For those of us lucky enough to know him off-the-field, he had an uncanny ability to relate to people from all walks of life. His unwavering generosity of spirit served him well as he transitioned from Major League Baseball to a second career as a broadcaster, author, motivational speaker, and philanthropist. While he was not a perfect man, he was “real,” and those who knew him well could count on him for his friendship, candor and loyalty.

Born in Martinez, California on August 30, 1944, McGraw began his Major League Baseball career with the New York Mets in 1965, and after only one season, reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island where he was trained as a rifleman. After a stint in the Minor Leagues, he came back to the Mets in 1969, and in 1975, began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies.

You could say Tug lived the life of Riley! Wherever he went, people would rally around him, reminiscing about his legendary World Series pitch, his inspirational “Ya Gotta Believe” profiles that aired on 6ABC, his relationship with Tim, or praising him for his philanthropic work—in particular—his charity golf events. Not one to be afraid of taking fashion risks, Tug could be too often seen wearing his bright red and green plaid golf pants, sadly, too many times off of the green!

But, for Tug, happiness quickly turned into fear when he began to act in a disoriented fashion during the Phillies Spring Training in Florida in March, 2003. Knowing something was seriously wrong, he called 911 and was immediately taken to Moffett Cancer Center, and eventually to Duke Medical Center, where the tumor was surgically removed. While he was undergoing treatment at Duke—which extended his life span from three weeks to a remarkable ten months—his quality of life was clearly an issue. The experimental medication caused severe side effects, often leaving him tired and dehydrated. It was then that he and Jennifer Brusstar, who is now president and CEO of the Tug McGraw Foundation, along with his son, Tim, decided to put Tug’s wishes of helping others suffering from the disease into action.

Tug’s Legacy

As the driving force behind the creation of the Tug McGraw Foundation, Jennifer, whose husband, Warren, was Tug’s teammate when they both played for the Phillies, structured the non-profit organization to focus on the quality of life of children and adults with brain tumors. Recently, Jennifer has expanded their programs to include Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and Traumatic Brain Injury. By partnering with other organizations, the Foundation hopes to accelerate new treatments and cures in the physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual lives of patients suffering from brain-related diseases. Additionally, they have created a program to help combat veterans, a “brain food” garden, a national endurance sports training program, and a collegiate athlete pre-medical program at Duke University. The organization also provides grants to other medical research institutions both here in the U.S. and abroad.

Thanks to Tim’s outreach efforts, especially his performances and participation in many of the Foundation’s fundraising activities, they have been able to raise much needed dollars to continue Tug’s mission, as well as generate on-going public and media interest.

At Tug’s private “celebration of life” funeral service, Tim decided his physical presence would be a distraction, but wanted to make sure his feelings about his late father were expressed. Jennifer was given the heart-wrenching task of reading a eulogy written by Tim, whom she has known since Tug reunited with him when he was 17-years-old.

As she tearfully read Tim’s tribute to his father, we all cried along with her. His words, like the lyrics of many of his country songs, expressed life’s joy and sadness.

Tug would have been embarrassed by all of the attention. But he died knowing that his life was not in vain. It was not his “screwball” or World Series win that will be remembered. His energy and passion lives on through his fellow brain tumor warriors. He believed!

Dava Guerin is the People Editor for Local Living Magazine and CEO of Guerin Public Relations, Inc.

Escaping to the beach is the perfect antidote to an overdose of civilization. As water babies ourselves – our bodies are about 60% H2O – a vacation by the sea somehow sets the world right. Whether admiring the surf from a comfy chaise to chasing your own waves or sailing along the surface, these seaside retreats deliver the goods.

Hawaii

The mountains meet the sea at Maui’s Kaanapali Beach, a stunning stretch of sand framed by the lush West Maui Mountains.  Fortunately, this million-dollar view isn’t just for the rich and famous. Find great value at the Kaanapali Ocean Inn, a property that shares a prime oceanfront location and all the amenities of its neighboring full service Royal Lahaina Resort.  Expect rustic charm and the Ocean Inn exceeds expectations with a prime location steps from the beach and a short walk to Whaler’s Village for shopping and dining..

Situated in the heart of Waikiki Beach, the Royal Hawaiian is the epitome of beachfront romance.  Built in 1927 as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” this Art Deco beauty led the way to a new era of luxurious resort travel to Hawaii. After its splashy redo in 2008, the RH is better than ever, tempting guests with niceties like oversized fresh water pools, private cabanas and massage by the beach.  Or amp things up a notch with adrenalin pumping water sports, from outrigger canoeing and surf lessons to swimming with dolphins.

Mexico, West and East

Adrift on two seas of blue, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the sea of Cortez to the east, Los Cabos is as close as you can get to the surf without getting wet.  Located on the tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula, Los Cabos is a 20 mile long swath of beach front real estate that includes the Old Mexican charm of San Jose del Cabo at one end, and the party town Cabo San Lucas, on the other. Reserve a view at Marquis Los Cabos,  where all 237 suites offer water views and beachfront casitas steal the show. Each with its own plunge pool, the casitas offer a level of spacious luxury that has attracted celebs like Bruce Willis, Bono and Pink.  For excitement, take an ATV adventure trek or hike in the nearby Sierra La Laguna canyons.  Or bliss out at the resort’s 15,000 sq. ft. spa, where elements like cactus oil and agave bring natural beauty into focus.

Ideal for an adult all-inclusive getaway, the five-star Royal Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya is more than ready for its close up.  Newly renovated, the Royal boasts extras like Mexico’s first advance online check-in and a new Royal Service option for suite guests hankering for VIP treatment.  Free wifi, 24 hour room service, in-room double jacuzzis and an Olympic-sized lap pool ups the ante at this cushy all inclusive where the emphasis is on pampering, romance and seaside graces along a spacious sandy beach.  

Caribbean

Columbus was the first world traveler to fall in love with Jamaica, calling it the

“. . . fairest land ever eyes beheld . . .  the mountains touch the sky.”   Blessed with a diverse topography, including the lush Blue Mountains studded with coffee plantains, Jamaica’s beach resorts are second to none.  Families can relax at Beaches Sandy Bay, situated on a quiet stretch of famous Seven Mile Beach in Negril, with tons of planned activities for the kids and plenty of down time for mom and dad. Best of all, each of the 128 guestrooms is just steps from the crystalline Caribbean Sea, a view pretty enough to give even a famous explorer pause.

St. Lucia…aaaahhh

Celebrities like Mick Jagger and Natalie Portman hide away on the more remote southern side of St. Lucia, with its plethora of intimate, upscale resorts and cottages. One of the best is Jalousie Plantation, a repurposed sugar plantation built seamlessly into a hillside rainforest overlooking St. Lucia’s trademark peaks- the Gros and Petit Pitons. Luxury villas and suites deliver every amenity, including personal plunge pools, along with views of either Sugar Beach or the emerald green pitons. A new $2 million Rainforest Spa is one of the best on the island, a heavenly retreat incorporating organic products, locally sourced essential oils and soothing waters from the nearby sulfur springs.

Better in Belize

Belize is wild and rugged, a wedge of subtropical paradise against the backdrop of the Caribbean Sea spread. You can have two unique experiences here, a rainforest jungle jaunt as well as a first class beach stay at one of the offshore islands or along the mainland coast.  One top spot is Almond Beach Resort & Spa, south of Belize City.  Located near national parks, Mayan ruins, and world famous diving and fishing, the resort delivers luxurious beachfront casitas along with access to the natural beauty for which Belize is famous.

Travel Editor Beth D’Addono celebrates local living wherever she goes on her blog, unchainedtravel.com.

Vince Papale’s invincible moment didn’t come when he put on the kelly green uniform of the Philadelphia Eagles. His moment came much earlier, when he told his father he had received a track scholarship to St. Joe’s University.

Times were tough in the Papale household. His mother was sick. His father’s job wasn’t stable. But at school, the young Papale excelled in track under coach George Corner. Colleges began clamoring for his attention.

“I said ‘Dad, we’re going to college. It’s all paid for.’ He started crying and hugged me,” Papale said. “It was at that moment that I realized, he was always there for me. And I understood it. My light went off.”

Papale, who beat all odds to win a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles, tells his story in his new book, “Be Invincible!” He co-wrote the book with his wife of 18 years, Janet Cantwell-Papale, a former U.S. World Team gymnast who had her own invincible moment when she was injured at the height of her career. She went on to become a top gymnastics coach.

The book, written with author Tim Vandehey, urges readers to reach their full potential and gives them steps to do so. It also highlights “Invincible Moments” from dozens of people, from Marine Corps veteran Capt. Bryce McDonald to athletes like Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

“Right now people are in great need of hope and inspiration, and in need perhaps of a formula to refresh themselves,” said Papale, who lives in Cherry Hill, N.J., with Janet and their children, Gabriella and Vincent Jr. “There’s so much frustration out there, and despair. This was the perfect time for us to come up with this book.”

Papale knows quite a bit about reaching his full potential. He was a 30-year-old school teacher when he landed a spot on the Eagles roster in 1976. The team was struggling, and new coach Dick Vermeil held open tryouts to anyone with experience handling a football. Papale played for three seasons and even served as special teams captain.

The 2006 movie “Invincible,” starring Mark Wahlberg in the title role, revived Papale’s name and gave him an international platform for his message of pursuing your dream. Papale, a colon cancer survivor, also advocates for routine health screenings.

Papale is using his success to help others. A portion of proceeds from “Be Invincible!” will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps wounded veterans. He’s also lending his name to the Philadelphia Soul’s Philly Football Rocks “Fun-Raising” Initiative, which benefits youth football and other nonprofit organizations.

“Be Invincible!” has spurred Papale and his wife to launch Invincible Kids, a program to give positive role models to children.

“Some pros don’t mind being a role model,” he said. “I relish it. I’ll take it on and do whatever I can to serve that role.”

Crissa DeBree is a writer based in Quakertown, Pa.

Whether you are too old to remember or too young to know that famous advertising tag line from Calgon™, the message is clear. Between waiting in long lines, coaching soccer games and chaperoning field trips, after a quarterly meeting or during Thanksgiving dinner, sometimes you just need to escape.

With that in mind, we bring you two of the best retreats around. Whether you have a whole week or a long weekend to revive yourself in decadence or just half an hour, our finds are worth fitting into your busy holiday schedule.  We delved deep into what makes each place special to help you decide where to find your Zen.

Sea View
Galloway, New Jersey

Situated in a charming seaside town of Galloway, historic Seaview is the only golf and spa resort on the New Jersey Shore. World class accommodations and top-notch service will delight your senses and relax your mind. Located on 670 beautiful acres along the pristine shores of Reed’s Bay, Seaview Resort offers a wide variety of activities for all to enjoy, any time of year. Easily accessible from several major metropolitan areas, this Atlantic City resort provides the perfect retreat to unwind and recharge during your Jersey Shore vacation.

If golf is your passion, this Atlantic City hotel is unrivaled. Choose from two well-known, professionally designed courses, the Bay Course or the Pines Course. The Donald Ross-designed Bay Course runs along Reed’s Bay and has a distinctly Scottish feel. The Pines Course, designed by Howard Toomey and William Flynn, is more of a traditional American layout set among the Jersey pines.

If you prefer less activity and more relaxation during your New Jersey vacation, Seaview invites you to the ultimate experience at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. This on-site spa offers a complete menu of first class salon and spa services for both men and women. The perfect way to pamper yourself.

In addition to golf and the spa, this New Jersey shore resort has indoor and outdoor pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a new satellite art gallery from the renowned Noyes Museum of Art. Plus, it is located just eight miles from the shopping, entertainment and dining of Atlantic City.

For more information or to book your stay, visit www.dolce-seaview-hotel.com or call (609) 652-1800.

   The Lodge at Woodloch
Pocono Mountains, Rawley, Pennsylvania

By any standard truly a luxurious destination, The Lodge at Woodloch is nestled in the Pocono Mountains, a convenient drive from Philadelphia or New York City. Experience the rich tradition of excellence and warm hospitality that’s been fostered in this pristine location for over 50 years.  

Designed for guests 16 years of age and up, whether you are new to Woodloch or a longtime “family member” you will find a sanctuary in this home away from home. A full menu of massages and skin treatments await your tense, tired body. Bring a companion and enjoy treatments for two. A spa concierge will work with you to design a customized program. Throughout your stay, join in a wide variety of body work sessions such as Reiki or Shiatsu.

The selection of classes and activities is varied enough to suit every sense of adventure. Choose from a long list of outdoor activities such as biking and kayaking, or sign up for Geocaching, a high-tech hunt for hidden “treasure” with help from an Outdoor Adventure Guide. Also available are Cooking Demos, Wine Tasting and classes in drawing and watercolor painting. From Ballroom Dancing to Aqua Training, the Lodge at Woodloch has it all.

No matter what you choose to do first, the rejuvenation you will feel in the end will linger long after you’ve left.

The establishment is especially proud of how it gives back to its environment and its neighbors, as a member of the Green Hotel Association. Continuously working towards increasing energy efficiency and reducing waste production, The Lodge at Woodloch cherishes its partnerships with local businesses to care for natural resources and the people of the region.

For more information or to make your reservations, visit www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com or call
(1-866) 953-8500.

  If you don’t have a whole week or a long weekend to revive yourself, maybe just an hour, these picks will help rejuvenate you for the busy holiday season. Worth the time!

Toppers Spa / Salon Rittenhouse Square

117 S. 19^th Street

Philadelphia, Pa 19103

215 496-9966

www.toppersspa.com

The Grand Escape

An experience that you won’t want to end is the ultimate combination of our hot stone treatments combined into one decadent session. The Grand Escape features a Classic Hot Stone Massage, Hot Stone Facial and a Hot Stone Manicure and Pedicure. Complete and utter indulgence, this experience includes an Aromatherapy Neck Warmer for tired and achy muscles.

Serenity Day Spa & Wellness Center

64 Swamp Road

Doylestown, PA 18901

215 230-3487

www.serenity-dayspa.com

Shirodhara & Ayurvedic Massage

We begin this treatment with a Dosha or body typing consultation while you relax with an Ojas foot soak and massage. We then move you to the massage table where a scalp massage prepares you for treatment. Next, indulge in Serenity’s own version of Shirodhara, using warm dosha specific aromatic waters instead of heavy oils. The stream of water flows gently across the forehead into the hairline to bring you into a deep state of relaxation similar to meditation. We follow this with a full body marma massage to balance all energy point and muscles.

Avante Salon & Spa

Bradford Plaza
668 Downingtown Pike
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 610-429-1800

www.avantesalon.com

Healing Winter Escape

Sooth your feet in a bath of essential oils and warm stones, followed by a revitalizing leg and foot massage to stimulate, cleanse and balance the body. Finish with a relaxing aromatherapy massage to the back, neck, and head to improve circulation, tone muscles and nourish the skin. Hot towels and warm stones may be added.

 Zanya Spa / Salon

The Laceworks Building
287 South Main Street, Suite 7
Lambertville, New Jersey 08530
609 773 0770

www.zanyaspasalon.com

Customized Aromessence Body Wrap Ritual

Recover radiant and soft, silky skin with this wonderful sensory-stimulating body treatment. Begin with an invigorating body exfoliation experience designed to rejuvenate and energize your skin.  Then, enjoy the benefits of our rich body mask that will envelope you in nourishing plant extracts and emollients.  Finally, revel in the results-oriented Decleor back massage including aroma pressure and lymphatic drainage designed to activate and improve suppleness.  

Metropolis Salon Spa

301 North Harrison Street
Princeton Shopping Center
Princeton, New Jersey 08540

609-683-8388

www.metropolisspasalon.com

Himalayan Mountain – Shirodhara

A combination of Tibetan massages techniques that lead you into a very peaceful
and profoundly deep state of relaxed awareness. Energy points help release
mental tension, gentle massage and warmth on the belly and feet settle the
emotions and the steady flow of warm oil anointing the head recharges your body.
The treatment helps bring clarity to your mind while offering a quite space to
experience your true self. Oils applied to the forehead stimulates natural
serotonin, dopamine and melatonin release.

What do a NYC icon, a skateboarder, and a playwright all have in common? Believe it or not, they’ve got the same thing in common we all do: caring about tomorrow.  No matter where each of us is from, all of us are thinking about where we are going, and this has entered the global consciousness. What better time than the holidays to reflect on ways to navigate every day challenges with a watchful eye on the future?

Preserving what is good, inventing creative ways to live well but more simply, remembering the meaning of “family” —these are the themes in conversations taking place around the world. Here are three vignettes that will raise your spirits and kindle inspiration. Enjoy.

 FARM

The Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative

You have probably heard about Community Supported Agriculture, or the CSA movement, and you may belong to a farm co-op that provides you with a share of a CSA harvest. Belonging to such an operation requires a little more coordination than walking into the nearest supermarket, but there are creative people out there making it easier for small farms to compete for your business.

Casey Spacht, General Manager at the Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op (and skateboarder), is one of these people. He was on the phone when I arrived at the new warehouse. A small, focused staff was engaged by glowing screens and quiet conversation. Once joining me, Casey explained that the call was with Aaron, a farmer in the co-op. Aaron grows a sought-after lettuce, Heirloom Romaine, and they were coordinating delivery to a 5-star restaurant in Center City. The green leaves have natural red spots arranged Jackson Pollock-style, making a unique presentation on any plate.

Outside the office is the two-story high packing warehouse. It was lined by enormous cardboard boxes filled to the brim with vine-ripened (for real) tomatoes, flawless pumpkins, and dense heads of cabbage weighing five pounds or more. Volunteers would soon fill this room carefully sorting and preparing orders with produce picked within the last 24 hours to be shipped that day or next. “We receive this produce from 75 farms in the region. They are supporting their families, of five and more in some cases, and we are adding more all of the time.” I was given a cabbage to cradle, every leaf in sight perfect and crisp.

LFFC has 2,500 members, not including wholesale and restaurants up and down the east coast. Starting with nine farmers and a barn four years ago, LFFC has grown to include all of its member farms, and a business model that makes their produce available across the region. A $700 down payment before May gets you 25 weeks of certified organic, fresh produce, May through October. So, for $28 a week, you’ve got 7 to 12 varieties of pristine, nutrient-dense vegetables.

The nuts and bolts of a co-op is simple. Everyone has skin in the game. As a consumer, you pay up front. This provides cash flow for the farmers to plant, water, nurture, and grow your bounty. Mother Nature decides the outcome, and if all goes well, everyone benefits. If there’s a loss, it’s everyone’s loss. This is the definition of community. LFFC provides all of the operational support, a big plus for farmers that don’t want to take time away from farming.

“There is no one like us in the world. Our farmers grow things that you can’t find in the supermarkets. And the difference between us and conventional farming is that we work with nature, not against it. We don’t use chemicals to fight the bugs and weeds because we maintain good soil, which is vital to staying organic.” And each of the farms in the co-op cooperates. Imagine! For example, one buys straw from another farm in the co-op to cover their crops; each farm weeds by hand and yes, each farm will squish bugs by hand. Stronger chemicals breed stronger bugs and stronger weeds, needing stronger sprays for the next year. Do the math.

Search for farm co-operatives in your own area and take part in making local success global. For more information on the Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op please visit http://www.lancasterfarmfresh.com. For natural remedies for what ails you, check this out too:  http://lancasterfarmacy.blogspot.com/.

 TABLE

Yafa

When you are at a farmer’s market where Yafa is, you will know her when you see her. If it’s not the black lens cat-eye sunglasses, the five-inch platform boots, or a primo vintage coat that gives her away, it will be the umbrella. Yafa will be sitting under a remnant from her epic past as the proprietor and inspiration behind NYC’s legendary Yaffa Café.

She now lives on a 60-acre farm in Perkasie, Pa., where she makes gluten-free sesame treats in her certified organic kitchen. (Besides various farmers’ markets, Whole Foods is a major client.) She bought the property in 1993 and before leaving her Tribecca loft behind as a rental, spent years taking taxis with her son between the city and their country respite.

On what brought her to the States: “Growing up in the deserts of Israel, every living thing is cherished,” she said. “I would find this bug or that, a flower here and there, and keep them. That’s why I had a collection of dried flowers to send to my new American pen pal when the project was introduced at my school.” And it was those pressed flowers that eventually led to her first visit to New York City and into the arms of her welcoming family abroad. Later, at 22 years of age, she arrived for good. She made her home in Tribecca, and staked her claim to the artistic heritage of the neighborhood: within 24 months she opened her first café. The second café on St. Mark’s Place was opened not long after and both places became havens for artists, celebrities, students, and every other walk of life.  Chandeliers and leopard print furniture topped the eclectic menagerie.

Customers were drawn by good food at stunningly affordable prices, served in an atmosphere of relaxed but elegant bohemian celebration.  Every day was a holiday. “I didn’t think. I just did.” Raised by an entrepreneurial father who started from scratch not once, but twice, Yafa learned from example. Her mother never learned to read, but would tell Yafa: “Your father reads the lines. I read between them.” And it was from this combination of strength and wits inherited from her parents that she made her way into the hearts of every patron that crossed her path.  Yafa’s space was home away from home, and it is that spirit that she has brought with her here.

Her farmhouse is adorned inside with the same cut-crystal lighting, artwork is in every nook and cranny, and mosaic tile projects wind their way around the walls like a meandering dragon. On the rolling hills of her property, a myriad of barns and other rustic structures stand waiting, full of potential. Yafa plans to remodel and use them to host special events. Be on the lookout for Yafa’s next big thing, always on the verge of continuous reinvention, and always setting the scene for a communal celebration.

 HOLIDAY

I Spent the Summer in the Poconos with My Daughter
By Holli Harms

You tell me if it was worth it.

We kayak each day to the pool.  Across a quiet lake, no motorboats, just a few other kayaks, canoes, paddle-wheels.  Mostly fisher men and women, nestled deep in their boats, leaning back, pole at the ready as they watch the red and white bob sit atop the shiny black water.  We move at a steady pace, Beatrice behind me singing her favorite song from a Winnie the Pooh movie, “I wanna stay like this, forever. I wanna be like this, forever.”

On our way home from the pool we glide our kayak through the water lilies so Bea can put her hand in them and say, “Oh Mama, so soft.”  At our dock we sit and watch three mallards eat from the algae on the shore, so close we can reach out and touch them, but we don’t.  “We don’t want to scare them,” Bea whispers.  And we sit on the back porch of the house as a flock of wild turkeys make their way along the edge of the creek.  They are awkward and clumsy and I say in a whisper, “I have no idea what Benjamin Franklin was thinking.”   “Ssshh,” my daughter says.

We have watched the turkeys and deer and fox and ferrets pass by our back door.  We have gently carried small frogs across the front lawn out of the way of the lawnmower.  We have watched white and black fuzzy caterpillars munch on leaves and every morning we say good morning to Tom, our neighbor, as he takes his morning constitution.  And every evening we hurry to the front door to listen as the mysterious boy with the lanky walk, French chapeau and ukulele passes by and sings his songs; his songs whose worried beautiful lyrics are new to us, but whose tune is yet so familiar and haunting.  

I read each day about Russian history, devouring words and stories, names and places, as I research my way to my new play.  I listen to Russian ballets on old vinyl records left from the previous owners of our house as Bea spins and twirls her own ballets to the music using her dog Tucker as her dance partner.  

And I listen each day to the Russians that surround us here in the most unlikely of places – the Poconos.  The Russians who all watch my three year old swim under the water across the length of the pool and say to me, “She is fantastic.  God bless.”  Their accents so thick I hear in my head, “Quick, Boris, Natasha, must get moose and squirrel.”  

“She is a good swimmer.”  “Yes.”  “She is your daughter?”  “Yes.”  “Your child?”   “Yes.”  “Yours?”  “Yes.”  “She is your little girl?”  “YES!”  “She does not look like you.”  “No she doesn’t.”  Over and over this is repeated.  A little girl, 6 years old, a granddaughter of one of the Russians asks, “She’s your daughter?”  “Yes.”  “She doesn’t look like you.”  “No she doesn’t.”  “How come?”  “She didn’t come from my tummy. I went to a place called China and got her. I adopted her and she adopted me.”  “Oh, okay.”  And the 6 year old swims away.  

 At night, I tell Beatrice the story of Bea Wen the Dragon Whisperer and her five dragons.  How she knows each of their songs, for each dragon has his own song, a song of dragon words and dragon sounds. How the dragons taught her their dragon kiss: nose to nose and cheek to cheek.  And then we do the kiss. How her best dragon is Camus, but they are all her friends and she says their names over and over, her mantra as she goes to sleep, “Camus, Beckett, Brecht, Pirandello and Madam George.”  I tell her how she flies on the back of Camus, on a saddle made special for her and how during the day the dragons all turn into dragonflies so as not to scare anyone.  “They are the dragonflies that fly next to the kayak,” I say.  “They’re keeping an eye on their beloved girl Bea Wen.”  “Do you fly with me Mama,” she will ask.”  “Oh yes, I fly on the back of Brecht’s mother, Mama Courage.  She is a Mama like me and so she and I like to be together.”  “And we fly up in the air, right mama?”  “Up, up, up into the clouds and the stars.”  And we laugh.  Oh, we laugh.  When Pirandello laughs it sounds like thunder. “He IS the thunder,” she says.  “Yes,” I say, “he is.”  When a storm named Irene makes its way to our backdoor and the thunder booms Bea gasps, “It’s Pirandello Mama.  He’s screaming, “I am Pirandello.”  And she runs to the front door and swings it open and screams to the sky, “We know it is you Pirandello.”  

In bed, she whispers. “Mom, the dragons are my friends.”  “Yes,” I say.  ”And yours, Mom?”  “Oh yes,” I say, “and mine.”  And then she sings, “I wanna stay like this forever. I wanna be like this forever.” 

Forever and ever. Good night sweet girl.

 Holli Harms is a playwright living in New York City currently commissioned by the Sloan Foundation to write a play about the Soyuz 1 space mission. Holli is also working on a children’s play based on her story about Bea and the dragons.

 November

National American Indian Heritage Month

1 – All Saints’ Day (Christian, Roman Catholic)

1 – Dia de los Muertos “Day of the Dead” (Mexico, Latin America)

2 – All Souls’ Day (Roman Catholic)

12 – Birthday of Baha’u'llah (Baha’i)

24 – Thanksgiving Day

26-Dec 24 – Al Hijra – Muslim New Year

 December

5 – Ashura (Islamic, Muslim)

6 – St. Nicholas Day (International)

8 – Bodhi Day – Buddha’s Enlightenment (Buddhist)

12 – Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico)

13 – Santa Lucia Day (Sweden)

16-25 – Las Posadas (Mexico)

21-28 – Hanukkah* (Jewish)

25 – Christmas (Christian, Roman Catholic, International)

26 – Boxing Day (Canada, United Kingdom)

26 – Kwanzaa (African-American – Dec. 26, 2009 – Jan 1, 2010)

23 – Chinese New Year (January 23, 2012)

By Dava Guerin

The Former Philadelphia Eagles Free Safety, now Denver Bronco’s American Football Safety, shares lessons learned from his coaches, teammates, and family, and his continued faith in a higher power.

  When Brian Dawkins was a little boy, he spent weekends visiting his grandparents near his Jacksonville, Florida, home. He recalls helping his Grandmother bake brownies and cakes, and spending hours just listening to her talk. She was treated with respect, even by the toughest kids in the neighborhood. “Spirit was oozing off of her when she spoke,” Dawkins remembers fondly. That caring and loving nature clearly has had a positive impact on her grandson. So much so, that while he is considered to be one of the toughest NFL players on the field, in his personal life, his spirituality and positive thinking are what guide him at work and in life.

 Born on October 13, 1973, in Jacksonville, Florida, Brian Patrick Dawkins, Sr., has been a Philadelphia Eagles Free Safety since he was drafted by the Eagles in 1996. On February, 28, 2009, he was given a five-year, $17 million contract by the Denver Bronco’s as the team’s American Football Safety. He became the 2009 NFL Starter of the AFC Pro-Bowl Team as a Strong Safety, and unfortunately, was sidelined in 2010 because of an injury. Known as the heart and soul of Philadelphia sports, his departure left Eagles fans saddened, and his teammates without their “go-to-guy” for athletic mentorship and soulful inspiration!

  If the typical NFL career averages two-to-three years, Dawkins has beat the odds, setting record after record in his 11-year Philadelphia Eagles stint. He became the only player in history to have an interception, quarterback sack, fumble recovery, and a touchdown reception in one game. In the 2003 divisional playoff against the Green Bay Packers, he intercepted Brett Favre in overtime, and returned the ball 35 yards, placing the Eagles in position to kick the game-winning field goal, winning the NFC Championship game. His stellar record comes from his natural athletic ability, unwavering work ethic, and a workout routine that includes some unorthodox components including visualization, prayer and positive thinking. 

“Even as a kid I knew I had athletic ability,” Dawkins said. “I wasn’t the biggest kid, but I was really fast, and my coaches saw something in me. Even back then I hated to lose, and my coaches would get on me because they saw how angry I got if I missed a tackle. My high school basketball coach, Mr. Humphrey, taught me to focus my frustration and anger in the right direction, and that has stayed with me my whole life.”

 Dawkins credits his parents for providing a stable home environment, with both of them taking an active role in caring for him and his other siblings. “I was blessed to have my mother, father and my grandparents there helping to point me in the right direction in life,” Dawkins continued. “They encouraged me in so many ways.”

 Not that he needed that much encouragement getting involved with sports. In high school he initially played basketball, but eventually decided to see how he would do on the football field. Much to his surprise, he was very aggressive and really loved the game. “I noticed that when we were doing one-on-one tackling drills, the other guys were jostling their positions so they didn’t have to go against me. That gave me a lot of confidence,” Dawkins said. My coach would always tell me to go for the interception and make the crowd go wild. I loved those ‘oohs and aahs’ and there’s no better feeling than making my teammates, coaches and the fans proud!”

 The Eagles drafted Dawkins in 1996, where he was the second round choice, and the 61^st pick overall. At six feet, and weighing 210 pounds, what he might have lacked in pure girth, he made up for with drive, fearlessness and an iron will both on and off the field. “I wear my emotions on the field in every play I make, and I really get jacked up before each game. My teammates think I’m crazy sometimes, with all my dancing and things, but I do like to have a good time,” Dawkins said enthusiastically. “You know, I’m a real fan of the game just like our fans, and I love it when they cheer and have a good time, just like me.”

 DAWKINS’ FAN APPRECIATION: FOCUSING ON THE POSITIVE

 Philly fans wear their emotions on their sleeves too. And Dawkins can never get enough of them!

“You know what? I love playing in Philly. What I love about Philly fans is their passion, and when I hear them cheer in the stands, I really want to make them proud of me, and my teammates and the entire Eagles organization,” he said. One of the reasons Dawkins works as hard as he does is to make the Philly fans proud. He trains hard during the season as well as in the off season, working out four times a week for a minimum of three hours. As part of his desire to win, he spends endless hours reviewing tapes and plays, and then visualizes himself making hits and running lines. “I block out the distractions and clear my mind, imagining every outcome in a positive light. Troy Vincent did the same thing, and so did my idol, Reggie White. Reggie used to also envision himself making big plays, making sacks and taking control on the field,” Dawkins continued. “Believe it or not, a lot of times positive thinking gives me confidence, and makes me believe that there is nothing on the field that I can’t do, and nobody can ever run past or over me and there’s nobody I can’t cover. That’s the power of being a positive person.”

 Nestled in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania you’ll find the city of Bethlehem.  In the spring of 1741, 500 acres of land was sold to Henry Antes, a trustee for a congregation of Moravians. The city was settled in that year by a small group of the Moravians on land once owned by William Penn.  On Christmas Eve of that year the townspeople were visited by their patron Count Nicholas Ludwig Zinzendorf of Saxony, Germany.  On that day he officially christened the city Bethlehem.

 They were a hard-working people and within six years the city was exporting to the colonies the many different wares from their trades and industries. The products exported were from the pottery makers, the tanner y, the locksmiths and shoe makers.  During the Industrial Revolution, Bethlehem Steel was founded and became the second largest steel producer in the country.

 In 1937 the Chamber of Commerce of Bethlehem, recognizing the Christmas Eve-naming of the city, voted to claim it as Christmas City U.S. A. for the entire country.  In order to promote this idea, 2,500 letters were sent to Chambers of Commerce all over the country stating the initiative the city was proposing.  A request was also made to send cards and letters to the city to be postmarked from Christmas City U.S.A.  Within 2 weeks 195,000 pieces of mail were so postmarked.

 Bringing Christmas to Bethlehem is not an easy task.  Merchants work extremely hard to make their shops festive and welcoming.  Historical Moravian buildings are decorated as they were in 1741.  A brightly lit star erected on top of South Mountain hangs over the city and can be seen for miles around.

 In the old-world tradition, Bethlehem has a Christkindlmarkt, a Christmas village.  This is a free open-air arts and crafts market.  Large heated tents house vendors featuring their wares of food, decorations and crafts.  It is there you’ll find a multitude of the famous Nutcrackers.  The market is considered to be one of the top such markets in the world.  The market opens on November 11 and runs until December 31.

 There are several ways you and your family can enjoy Christmas City.  Costumed guides can take you on a lantern walking tour or perhaps you’d prefer a carriage ride around the city’s decorated streets.  If museums are your thing, then perhaps you’ll want to visit the Moravian Museum or some of the other historical sites.

 At some time during your visit to the city I’m sure you’ll want to try one of the city’s great restaurants. Bethlehem has over 80 restaurants in the downtown area featuring different styles and tastes that will please anyone’s palate.  A few of these include The Hotel Bethlehem, Donegal Square Tea Room and Edge Restaurant, voted “Best Fine Dining” in 2010 and 2011.

 So this year why not take a Christmas vacation in your own backyard.  For more information visit
www. Christmascity.org.

 While there’s definitely a time and place for self-indulgence, more and more travelers are choosing a holiday with heart, a get-away that makes a difference. Dubbed voluntourism, there are a multitude of non-profits and tour operators that specialize in volunteer get-aways, with themes ranging from animal conservation to helping children at risk.

 Here are three places where you can add a volunteer experience into your trip. Want more information? Visit http://www.voluntourism.org and make a difference.

 Washington, D.C.

In between traversing the National Mall and taking in the capital’s many cultural sites, take a day, or two, to get really busy. How can you help?

• Martha’s Table (http://www.marthastable.org/ ) provides tutoring, recreational programs, meals and family support services to at-risk children, families and individuals. Anyone nine years old and up can help prepare food; 14 year olds and up can work with kids in day care, and 15 year olds can pitch in at a mobile soup kitchen.  Sixteen years old and up? You can tutor kids and sort clothes at Martha’s Outfitters.
• DC Central Kitchen (http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/) uses job training, meal distribution, and supporting local food systems to combat homelessness and poverty.  Volunteers can do everything from picking local produce to helping with meal prep for the 4,000+ fed daily.

 Maine

With its rugged coastline, pristine Acadia National Park, and endless opportunities for adventure (don’t forget the lobster), Maine sends a siren call to all lovers of the great outdoors. How about the idea of combining your love of Mother Nature with the chance to give back?

 One way is to head to the 281 miles of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Maine. Spanning from Katahdin Mountain in Baxter State Park, across the Kennebec River and through the Mahoosuc and Grafton notches into New Hampshire, the Trail is always in need of maintenance. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC – http://www.outdoors.org) organizes a series of volunteer vacations, lasting from just a few days to three weeks. Scheduled between March and October, the time is used to build and maintain existing and new trail systems, clear brush from the trail, and build bridges or rock staircases. A typical week includes 6 to 8 hour days, with AMC providing the tents, food, cooking equipment, and other group gear.  The cost? A $300 donation to help cover expenses.  The benefits to you, your family, and friends and the trail system? Priceless.

 New Orleans

Six years after Katrina, there is still work to be done in the “City that Care Forgot”.

Before his first visit to N.O.L.A., Mitch Herman’s idea of volunteering used to be writing a check.  “I thought that was enough for me. Cross charity off my list and move on. But it doesn’t work that way anymore.” The Connecticut resident volunteered for Rebuilding Together, a non-profit working to preserve affordable homeownership in the Gentilly neighborhood devastated by the flood.  “Rebuilding Together has already rebuilt more than 800 homes, partnering with corporations like Sears and McDonald’s, as well as individual leisure travelers.”  Recipient homeowners are often elderly, veterans, medically or developmentally disabled, or victims of fraud from unscrupulous contractors. “What we’re doing is about rebuilding community, rebuilding New Orleans,” said Daniela Rivero, director of the New Orleans operation. “It’s bigger than individual houses.” 

 Three More Ways to Give Back Locally

Greater Philadelphia Cares – This umbrella organization is a conduit with dozens of local non-profits, letting you make just one contact to find a volunteer opportunity tailored to your schedule and passions. A monthly calendar offers a wide range of ways to give back.  (215) 564-4544, or www.gpcares.com/.

Career Wardrobe – Volunteer to sort inventory, assist clients, and provide clerical or committee support for this non-profit that collects career clothes for women re-entering the workforce. (215) 568-6693, or www.careerwardrobe.org.

The Abramson Center for Jewish Life – In Horsham, this non-profit needs volunteers to work with seniors in many ways, from speaking Yiddish with them to helping out in the library and making friendly visits. (215) 371-1816 or e-mail info@abramsoncenter.org.  (215) 371-1820, or http://www.abramsoncenter.org/.

Travel Editor Beth D’Addono celebrates local living wherever she goes on her blog, unchainedtravel.com.