December 2011 Entries
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THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. — Elvis was in the house recently at University Village, the continuing care retirement community in Thousand Oaks, Calif. "Elvis," aka Raymond Michael Hebel, entertained the residents with a medley of holiday hits, including "Blue Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," "Merry Christmas Baby," "Santa Claus is Back in Town" and "White Christmas."
The "Blue Christmas" show at University Village also included audience participation. Shown: Resident Bill Caven gets in on the act with a virtuoso air guitar performance.
University Village Thousand Oaks, located at 3415 Campus Dr., is a continuing care retirement community for people 60 years of age and...
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-By Maud Pincus-
Chanukah is surely a Jewish holiday meant for the senses. While I cannot bring to consciousness just one memorable experience, I can happily mingle a series of unforgettable childhood sensations of this winter holiday meaningful to me. First, a trio wrapped into one: sound, smell and taste...frying latkes (potato pancakes) in oil released a scrumptious aroma and sizzling sound of fried onions and grated potatoes all over the house...the taste was delicious. My mother made wonderful latkes although she wanted to hang the house outside on the clothes line to get rid of the smell. Those were pre-blender...
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-By Barbara A. Warkentien-
On Saturday, December 10, 2011, University Village will hold its Second Annual Advent Supper in Catalina Hall with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. We will again honor Advent as the beginning of the new church year, by lighting the four Advent candles to remind us that spiritually we are moving from darkness to light. True light is signified by the illumination of the Christ the King candle, which beams brightly above the others as a beacon of the hope and peace brought by the Christ Child's birth on Christmas Day.
Traditions of observing the Advent season vary throughout...
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Around 1900 Grandfather Osterman farmed in Orange County. A set of bells on the harness of the horses or mules alerted a driver to find a spot where two wagons could safely pass on a narrow road. When my grandfather became an orange grower in Tustin, he took a set of the bells with him and a Christmas tradition was born. On Christmas Eve, as the family gathered, the bells would ring softly, getting louder until they stopped at the front door. Presents were placed around the Christmas tree. The bells were rung with decreasing volume, as the youngest child...