After Christmas Shopping Begins

More bargains are advertised, and add returns/exchanges to the mix.

Updated 8:38 a.m., Dec. 26, 2011 Black Friday and Cyber Monday are history. Who cares? Call it Clearance Monday. Now that Santa has come and gone, and that people are into Christmas leftovers, retailers can get back to making money. All the goodies that didn't get sold during the regular shopping season now will be featured at discounted prices. (Check the screenshot of the Walmart local ad that now appears online.) See something in a store or online at a lower price than what you paid earlier? A website called priceprotectr.com can help, and it works at several top retailers. So can an iPhone app called Savvy. And here's a website touting the best after-Christmas sales. Also, many people will line up to return or exchange the gifts that …

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Christmas Songs: My Top 10

From religious to humorous, there are some classics. What are yours?

Christmas music has been with us for weeks and will soon be gone. So time for discussion. The Jury Of One, aka Suwanee Patch editor Steve Burns, has decided to list his 10 favorite Christmas songs. They don't have to be religious, just something that connotes the season -- weather, family, the spirit of humanity, etc. So here's is the list, with a couple of videos attached. You guessed it -- we want to know yours, too. Tell us in the comments. 10. "Mele Kalikimaka," Bing Crosby. A traditional voice gives a Hawaiian spin to Christmas. (Search YouTube if you're unfamiliar.) 9. "Blue Christmas," Elvis Presley. Any top 10 musical list needs to include one by the King, and this is one of his best known songs in general. 8. "Santa Claus Is …

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Steve Burns

7:37 am on Monday, December 26, 2011

A Bieber mention -- no surprise. :)   more ›

NORAD Will Track Santa on Christmas Eve

The military uses the latest in technology to keep an eye on the jolly old elf's path around the world.

For 364 days out of the year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spends its time tracking airplanes, missiles, space ships—anything flying near the United States and Canada.  But on Christmas Eve, a team of volunteers spends the night tracking a very special pilot: Santa Claus.  "We are the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications and the people to do it," NORAD said on its website. "NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house."  Santa usually starts at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west, NORAD noticed, meaning he moves from the South Pacific to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa and …

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Steve Burns

10:20 am on Saturday, December 24, 2011

Click the main link, and you get a map ...   more ›

Parents Talk

Christmas Break Boredom Busters

How not to lose your mind when the kids are home from school.

In theory it sounds wonderful. Two uninterrupted weeks where the kids are home from school and you can spend oodles of time together singing Christmas carols while baking cookies and sipping on eggnog. By day three, the picture has changed to the kids running around the house, baking supplies caked to every inch of the kitchen, and Christmas carols drowned out by sibling squabbles. There is hope! With just a little planning and patience, Christmas break can more closely resemble the picture-perfect scenario. Here are some great ideas on how to entertain the  kids over the holidays. Whatever you choose to do over this holiday season, enjoy your loved ones and the time that you get to spend with them.

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Lawrenceville Church Feeds 6,000 for the Holidays

12Stone Church's free food giveaway causes a major traffic jam.

Long before the gates opened at 1p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville Saturday, the surrounding streets and I-85 northbound were jammed with waiting cars. For the second year, 12Stone Church gave away free Christmas meals. The church partnered with the HoneyBaked Ham Corporation, Signature Foods, the Gwinnett Braves and Sunbelt Rentals to provide a “meal and more” to families affected by unemployment. Each family received a HoneyBaked Ham or turkey, a week’s worth of groceries, four tickets to a Gwinnett Braves home game in the 2012 season and a “Christmas is Love” CD, a project from 12Stone musicians. The idea for the giveaway began last year with a challenge from senior Pastor Kevin Myers for members to express their faith through …

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Mike Korom

11:57 am on Wednesday, December 21, 2011

God is good, all the time! Even in traffic. Thanks to all that gave their resources!   more ›

Parents Talk

Click On Some Online Christmas Fun

The Internet offers lots of holiday extras.

Christmas is a wonderful time to be with family and to honor time-tested traditions. With the Internet being a part of many families' everyday life, there are some fun things you can add to your annual traditions or just do for fun. Here are some favorites. NORAD Santa allows you to track Santa on his journey. It shows a countdown to Santa's Christmas flight and then follows the jolly man around the world. Santa can even be tracked in 3D with Google Earth. It is a great way to build anticipation in your little ones. Christmas Dialer is a fun way to get personalized phone calls from Santa. Just enter your number and choose what Santa says and the call will be on its way. It is a free call, but your child will not be able to interact with …

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O Christmas Tree, Where Art Thou in Suwanee?

Here is a look at some places to shop for Christmas trees.

Many of you still have not set up your Christmas tree, which is the center of all decorating. So here are some places to shop for a tree in Suwanee. And in some cases, home delivery is available Suwanee Tree Farm is a family owned and operated wholesale grower located in Suwanee. Established in 1980, it consistently strives to provide quality trees to garden centers and landscapers throughout the East Coast. To check prices and availability, please visit the products page, or feel free to stop by and visit in person. Visit Suwanee Tree Farm at 3554 Smithtown Road or visit the website for more information. http://www.suwaneetreefarm.com/index.html Big John's Trees is a full-service Christmas tree service with a large assortment of holiday …

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Holidays in Suwanee

Suwanee Students Sing in Christmas

Students' songs are part of the annual Old Town event.

It wasn't just about Santa Claus and lighting the caboose Friday in Old Town Suwanee. Students from Level Creek, Suwanee, Roberts and Riverside elementary schools also serenaded chilly onlookers with Christmas songs. The attached video has samples of the performances, presented in the order listed above. Also, Sounds of Suwanee from Suwanee Academy Of The Arts is presented after Level Creek's performance. Enjoy, and tell us what you think in the comments.

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Steve Burns

1:48 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011

It's a fun one.   more ›

Parents Talk

A Different Type of Christmas Angel

As Christmas season starts, how do you teach your children about the spirit of giving?

The end of this week marks the official beginning of the Christmas shopping frenzy that starts with Black Friday. Many people in Suwanee and elsewhere will hit the stores as early as Thursday night. Some will take advantage of every online sale available in hopes for that perfect gift at a stellar price. Others will not take part in Black Friday, or even Christmas shopping at all. For some of these, shopping for food is enough of a struggle without adding costly gifts. As we plan our budgets for gifts, some are scraping together pennies for lunch. Many organizations gear up for this reality with Angel trees, donations of food, and by serving meals on Christmas day. With so many ways to give, it is hard to find a a reason not to help …

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