Hess May Sell Their Gas Stations, But Signature Toy Trucks Will Remain

Aficiandos of Hess toy trucks can rest assured that Christmas sales of their toy trucks will continue at the corporation's convenience stores.

Recent headlines announcing Hess Corporation's exit from the energy marketing and refining end of its global business will not affect what is perhaps its second-most-coveted consumer item after the petrol: the Hess Toy Truck. "The toy trucks which have been a tradition for 48 years will continue," a Hess spokesperson said, adding that "this November, the company will continue to sell the trucks at their stores." Since 1964, Hess Corporation has sold its classic toy trucks; offering a variety of collectible miniature trucks to consumers at the start of the holiday season each year in November. Despite the corporation's impending closure of its 1,350 retail gas stations, consumers will still be able to find the eclectic toys at Hess …

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Christmas Traditions for Those Who Don't Celebrate the Holiday

Many local families mark the day

The Roths of West Orange will spend Tuesday with "flicks and 'sticks," says Debra Roth. Three generations of her family, including her children and one set of grandparents, will gather at her home for a movie marathon, the "flicks," and their favorite Chinese food. "That's the sticks, as in chopsticks" she explains. While her family doesn't celebrate Christmas as a holy day, they have marked the day with movies and their favorite food for decades. The Roths are hardly alone; when Patch asked others how they will spend Tuesday, Nancy Janow of South Orange described a day of movie-going and food from two different Chinese restaurants. "Les Mis" is at the top of the agenda.  Many other local families go into the city for movies and a meal. …

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Top Kid Toy Picks for 2012 Holiday Season: Gift Guide

A look at the hot toys for tots this holiday season.

Every holiday season, the mailbox fills with the latest toy catalogs. Children peruse the pages as they scribble their lists, daydreaming about what they will find under the tree come Christmas morning. Parents pull out their pocketbooks, spending hard-earned cash as they anticipate the joy on those little faces. What will be the runaway favorites this year is always a guess, but here are some of the latest trends, mixed with tried-and-true perennial favorites.  jChews Smartphone teether by Jellystone No tears for parents or babies. Babies love nothing more than to gum Mom and Dad’s cell phone, but now they’ll be too intrigued with their own smartphone to chew on. The Jellystone smartphone teether comes in seven funky colors and is BPA …

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Advent and Christmas Worship and Classes at Willow Grove Church

Willow Grove Presbyterian Church offers worship and adult classes during the month of December.

  In the season of Advent when Christians prepare their hearts and homes for Christmas, Willow Grove Presbyterian Church invites the community to worship and to adult classes during the month of December. Sunday morning worship services at 10:00 am include Christmas carols, a time for children, lighting the Advent wreath, classes for all ages and special music.  Rev. Cynthia Cochran-Carney will be preaching a series of sermons based on the book “God is in the Manger:  Reflections on Advent and Christmas” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Childcare is provided for young children.  After worship there is a time for refreshments.   On Sunday, Dec. 16, the children and youth of the church will present a modern Christmas pageant at 10:00 am.  The story …

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Santa Returns to Berkeley Heights on Saturday

Kris Kringle will arrive by horse.

Berkeley Heights is receiving a very special visitor this weekend: Santa Claus. Ol' St. Nick arrives by horse and wagon at Town Hall at 10 a.m. with his elves.  After greeting our mayor, he will be inside to meet with kids of all ages until 1 p.m.  Families are encouraged to bring cameras to capture special holiday memories. Children can ride on the horse and wagon and enjoy hot cocoa or reindeer juice while they wait. At 5 p.m. Santa arrives with the help of the Berkeley Heights Fire Department- join us in Memorial Park for some caroling and more hot cocoa while we wait.  Right after the Tree Lighting, a special ground fireworks show will be presented by Garden State Fireworks. Familes are encourage to bring unwrapped toys to donate to …

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Local Flavor

Company's Coming? Here's an Hors D'oeuvre for That

Parmesan puffs for now and to freeze for later

As we bid farewell to Thanksgiving, we welcome with open arms the "silly season." You know, a few weeks of mad shopping, parties and revelry followed by Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's Eve.  It's the party season at full tilt and it's fun as long as you're organized.   Taking that first step to managing all the silliness is having an hors d'oeuvre in the freezer that's ready to go. We're not talking pigs-in-a-blanket from Costco. Don't waste your freezer space unless it's catering-quality homemade yet easy, unfussy and tasty. Parmesan puffs are just the ticket. It's amazing what a few well chosen ingredients can do: Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, a small onion and thin sandwich bread. These four flavors create an addicting little bite. …

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Pets Pose with Santa Claus for Paws for the Holidays

Local pets and volunteers raise money for Canine Companions for Independence.

Dogs, cats, and sometimes a goat or two, flock to Murray Hill Veterinary Associates every holiday season to pose with Santa Claus for "Paws for the Holidays." Here, pets can be photographed with Santa for $25 per sitting, sporting elf hats and reindeer antlers. Animals are photographed by a professional photographer, Jennifer Pottheiser, who has photographed sports stars such as Kobe Bryant and Roger Federer. But unlike most models, these pets preen and pose to help their fellow animals. All proceeds from "Paws for Pets" are donated to Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a national non-profit organization that provides service dogs for individuals with disabilities. Typically, it costs $40,000 to breed, raise, train, and maintain one…

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