Community Happenings

As colorful lights adorn yards and holiday wish lists are shared with loved ones, the winter season brings with it much more than wonder, joy and cheer. The travel days, shopping excursions, holiday parties and happy reunions can create moments of exhaustion and stress for those who consider themselves to be the most festive. • Children are susceptible to feeling the changes associated with the holiday season, especially when it comes to their daily routines. Although maintaining consistent routines can be challenging at any point of the year, once schools observe holiday breaks, it makes it much more difficult, even if the changes are well-intentioned. • According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children do best when routines are regular, predictable and consistent. Dr. Seema Csukas, vice president and market chief medical officer for Georgia at CareSource in Atlanta, shares how families can manage their children’s routines to foster a peaceful and

On Christmas Eve, millions of American children will hang up their stockings and go to sleep dreaming of a right jolly old elf who flies around the world in a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer. Santa Claus is an American creation, but he has roots back thousands of years, taking elements from pagan celebrations, ancient folklore and the life of a benevolent saint.

To experience a more peaceful side of winter, many turn to cross-country skiing. While Nordic trails are often offered at traditional ski resorts, some of the best cross-country skiing is found at dedicated resorts. h To help narrow down the best, we began by asking a panel of experts to nominate their favorite cross-country resorts, and then our readers voted to help us crown a winner. Here are the 10 best cross-country ski resorts in North America, according to our readers.

Branson, nestled in the scenic Missouri Ozarks, pulls out all the stops when it comes to Christmas. From the first week in November, the entire town lights up with decorations virtually everywhere you look, including more than 1,500 decorated trees and drive-through lighting displays. The biggest show in town is Silver Dollar City, a re-created 1880s Ozarks town featuring millions of lights, live holiday entertainment, seasonal foods, thrill rides and craftsmen demonstrating their skills. • Many of Branson’s 100 live shows, performed at 40 theaters, offer special productions just for the holidays. Other family favorites include a skating rink that rivals the one at New York City’s Rockefeller Center, the annual Adoration Parade celebrating the birth of Christ, a ride on Branson Scenic Railway’s Polar Express and shopping (including the best fruitcake you’ll ever taste, made by students at the College of the Ozarks). • Add Branson’s small-town friendliness, lodging options in all price ranges and the fact that Branson is within a day’s drive of one-third the U.S. population, and it’s easy to see why November through December is one of Branson’s most popular seasons.

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve – whatever is to be celebrated at the Northern Hemisphere’s darkest time of the year, it is done with plenty of lights and good cheer at these 10 hotels.

We’re nearing the most wonderful time of the year, and more television networks and streaming services than ever want in on the cheer. The ghost of Christmas past could tell you about a time when Hallmark was the primary (reindeer) game in town for romantic holiday TV movies.

The turkey’s been torn apart, the green bean casserole consumed and the pie polished off. What’s there to do next but plop down on the couch with family, or found family, and stream some holiday classics? Instead of scrolling through never-ending streaming options this year, try a selection from this list of tried-and-true Thanksgiving – and Thanksgiving-adjacent – flicks.

Call it what you want – appetizer, hors d’oeuvres or finger food – you can never have too many tricks up your sleeve when it comes to party fare. And you don’t need to prep all week (or even all day) to assemble a gorgeous array of hand-held treats. Take the recipes below, for example. The ingredient lists are short, the preparations simple and the presentations stunning. h From tender pieces of pork shimmering in a sweet and savory glaze, to juicy steak bites shellacked with honey, soy and zingy garlic, and buttery-crisp phyllo shells filled with creamy hummus and roasted peppers, all of these snacks offer an explosion of flavor in every bite and can be made in minutes. h I’ve also provided tips for how to make them ahead of time, if that’s more your style. h Feeding a crowd? Simply double or triple the recipe to suit your needs.

My oh my, sweet potato pie! Oldfashioned Southern sweet potato pie tastes like a cool crisp fall day; warm, pungent spices and Thanksgiving all wrapped up in one delicious and decadent bite. Made with sweetened condensed milk, this classic southern dessert is a make-ahead wonder and can be prepared up to 48 hours ahead.

This recipe for chicken ranch dip, made with canned chicken, cream cheese, dry ranch dressing, scallions, and parsley, is so easy to make you will feel like a rock star in the kitchen. It’s also an excellent appetizer or snack to whip up for your family or guests.