Charlie Brown goes out every Christmas to find the perfect tree, and usually ends up coming home with a scrawny little stick that nobody else loved.  He decorates it up and we all say, "Awwwww! Isn't that sweet."  

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, a religious Christmas, a secular Christmas, Kwanzaa, or a combination of all of them, this time of year is special, and it brings out the desire in us to decorate, celebrate and gather.   This week, we're giving you tips on how to buy a good Christmas tree, where to get good Hanukkah and Kwanza items, and reminding you of the most important part of any holiday decorating project (you'll have to read to find out.)

And if tragedy strikes and you get pine sap on your new wool coat, or candle wax on your festive finery, we're here to handle it, so relax.  Enjoy the build-up to the holidays, and let us take care of the details.

Jim Nixon
The Cleaners

Before the Thanksgiving turkey is finished providing left-overs, your family's thoughts will no doubt turn to holiday decorating.  Are you one who decorates the day after Thanksgiving?  The night before the holiday?  Couldn't get the decorations untangled at all last year? Check our links below for sources of fresh decorations that will put you into the holiday mood.

Holiday Calendar, 2003

• Hanukkah -- December 20 - 27
• Christmas -- December 25
• Kwanzaa -- Dec. 26 - Jan. 1

An Early Gift to YOU!

The Mall.  The Grocery Store.  The Specialty Store.  The hairdressers.  You're going to be spinning like a dervish for the next 6 weeks and you know it.  Let us help you look great doing it -- let us clean two regular items and we'll do a third item at no charge.  That's something to ring the holiday bells for! (Include the first page of this e-mail with your order. Offer expires December 6, 2003.  Cannot be combined with other offers.)

The Forest for the Trees

Here you go again, pulling into the brightly-lit Christmas Tree lot on a frosty evening, the family eager to pick out THE tree for this year.  They'll all head off in different directions, and fall in love with different trees.  Compromise will be your only saving grace today -- that, and a working knowledge of how to select a good tree.

What you're looking for:

• Measure your ceiling height before you go!  Then subtract 1 foot for tree stand and top decoration
• Look for a fresh tree (if you cut it yourself, all the better.)  You want a green tree, with not many brown needles on it.  Needles should bend when you run your hand down a branch, and not snap off.
• Tree should have 6-8 inches of trunk at the bottom, so it will stand properly in a tree stand, and the trunk should be straight all the way up.
• Look at the overall shape of the tree, but realize that as the tree warms up in your home, the branches will drop downward, and it may look much better than you think.
• Buying a "living" Christmas tree that you plan to plant in the back yard afterward may sound good, and ecologically friendly, but think through whether you can make the commitment to keep the tree well-watered and growing until spring, or if you're willing to be out digging a hole for it in January.

After you get home:

• Cut an inch off the base of the trunk to assist in taking up water. Place in tree stand, keep it well watered, and away from heat sources (furnace vents, fire places, etc.)  Check the water level daily and replenish as necessary.

Links:

• Care and Feeding of Christmas Trees
• Selection and Care of Christmas Trees
• Christmas Tree types/characteristics
• Decorations online store -- from themed ornaments to ribbons, fiber optics to nutcrackers and much more.

At Time to Reflect, a Time to Rejoice

Hanukkah brings with it a special sense of thoughtfulness as participants focus on dedicating themselves anew to living as they are commanded to in the scriptures.  It is also a time of great fun and merriment, with gelt (gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins) distributed to smiling children, latkes (potato pancakes) enjoyed by all, and spirited games of dreidel (spinning toy).

In the Jewis Calendar, this is the year 5764.  Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, (at sundown on the 19th of December this year, and continues through the 27th.)  Everyone enjoys the progressive lighting of the Menorah on successive nights of the holiday, and children wait eagerly for their evening gifts.

There are many places on the internet that supply both information about Hanukkah and items to make your holiday festive and fun.  Try some of these links:

• Judaica Online site -- gifts, decorations, holiday cards, much more.
• All Judaica products and information -- lots of colorful and interesting things for the holiday.
• Information on this and other Jewish holidays
• Where to buy what you need for holidays
• More decorations and gifts -- Dreidels, music CDs, flags, gifts.

A Celebration of Harvest and Values

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as an African-American cultural holiday.  It runs from December 26 - January 1, and each of the seven days are focused on one of the Seven Principles ("Nguzo Saba").  The name Kwanzaa is part of the Swahili phrase for "first fruits."

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are:

• Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity.
  Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.
• Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination.
  To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.
• Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility. 
  To build and maintain your community together. To work together to help one another within your community.
• Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics.
  To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.
• Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose.
  To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).
• Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity.
  Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.
• Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith.
  Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and the righteousness of the African American struggle.

Links:

• Kwanzaa cards, carved Kwanzaa cups, etc.
• Kwanzaa kit and More items.
• Candle holders, straw mats, and other Kwanzaa objects (see center photo at top of this section.)
• Kwanzaa-themed table items and decorations.

FREE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS!

Regardless of what holiday you celebrate in December, there are fabulous free items available to you -- no hidden shipping charges, either!

• A cheerful smile for everyone you meet.
• A warm hug for those you love.
• A good attitude during this stressful time.
• An open heart to help those in need in any way you can.

These decorations never break, get tangled up, stop functioning at the critical moment, or require batteries.  They will, however, be treasured and passed down in family memories for years to come.  Enjoy!

Meet A Need - Warm A Child 
Nu-Way Cleaners is pleased to be a collection agency for the donation of coats and clothing to benefit the children of Weld County.

COATS, JEANS, HATS, GLOVES AND SWEATERS are needed for school children ages 5 to 18. The collection drive runs through DECEMBER 23.

FOR MORE INFORMATION or to make a cash contribution Call 506-1968, or 396-4353, or 381-9085