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NORAD Tracks Santa's Journey Tonight

Follow Santa and see when he will hit St. Charles County

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is charged with keeping the United States and Canada safe from dangers originating from the sky or space. Tonight, however, the Colorado-based government agency adds one more important task to its daily list of duties. The agency will again provide its Official Santa Tracker that marks St. Nick's every move as he makes his way throughout both hemispheres. Local families will be able to see Santa's progress and be prepared for his arrival in Wentzville.  Included on the site is a countdown and activity page and a flight tracking system. Kids and adults can enjoy this very entertaining site that will have sugar plums dancing through everyone's head before retiring.

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12 Days of Christmas in Downtown Wentzville

Four China Teacups at Old Town Kettles & Cups Gift Shop

On the fourth day of Christmas, Downtown Wentzville has for me: four china teacups—at Old Town Kettles & Cups.

You often hear the admonition to "buy local." At Old Town Kettles & Cups, they take "local" very seriously. Owner Denise Menckowski does her best to stock her shop's shelves with beautifully crafted items from local artists and crafters. First, Menchowski pointed out that the tea cozies and wallets are handmade by a woman from St. Peters. Then she showed Patch the elegant wood-turned bowls, vases and wine stoppers that are the creation of a Wentzville man, and large prints framed with barn wood that are the work of a Lake Saint Louis photographer. Handmade jewelry is also created locally, and the goat milk soaps come from Foristell. Menckowski bemoaned the fact that the main product line of her shop—tea kettles and tea cups—cannot be …

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Wreaths Across America and 18 Other Things to Do This Weekend

As we head into the weekend, Patch rounds up a list of events going on in St. Charles County.

Patch rounds up a list of events going on in St. Charles County.

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Top 10 Tips to Handle Stress During the Holiday Season

The management of Care and Counseling shares tips to avoid holiday stress. The O'Fallon office located at 835 West Terra Lane inside Lighthouse Pentecostal Church.

The management team of Care and Counseling offers these tips to help avoid stress related to the holidays. Care and Counseling is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to providing a safe, secure and affordable way for individuals and families to seek psychological help in times of need. The O'Fallon office is located at 835 West Terra Lane inside Lighthouse Pentecostal Church. To quote Chevy Chase’s line from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation “It’s the holidays and we’re all miserable.” There is truth to this in that there are expectations put on us by others and by ourselves at this time of year. Feelings are closer to the surface. The following suggestions may help: 1) Pay attention to your feelings. Holidays…

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Wentzville Downtown Business Series to Begin Tomorrow

You can find everything you need for Christmas in downtown Wentzville!

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . ." Patch couldn't find that famed partridge in a pear tree in downtown Wentzville, but we did find a lot of great stuff for the holidays—and not just stocking stuffers. We found some services that you'll find invaluable during the holiday season and into the new year. So come on in off the Parkway and explore Wentzville's downtown business district. You'll find things there that you can't find anywhere else, and you'll also find a lot of local business owners and small business owners who are helping to keep Wentzville's historic Village Center vital and growing. The Downtown Business Association was formed by a group of these business owners, and they're working to bring people …

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Holiday House Tours Feature Historic Homes

There are five house tours across the region this weekend.

Holiday home tours offer a glimpse at some historic and beautifully decorated homes in the St. Louis area. Check out these four upcoming holiday home tours.  Saturday, Dec. 8 Sunday, Dec. 9

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Breakfast with Santa at Progress Park and 19 Other Things to Do This Weekend

As we head into the weekend, Patch rounds up a list of events going on in St. Charles County.

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Savoring the Sweet History of Sugarplums

Tchaikosky's Sugarplum Fairy made them popular but few have ever eaten let alone know what a sugarplum is.

"While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. . ." Sugarplum, also written as sugar plum, conjures up a variety of images that may or may not dance in one’s head as Clement Moore wrote in Twas Night Before Christmas.  For many, a sugarplum brings to mind a ballerina or a fairy, the Sugarplum Fairy to be precise, from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite. For others, sugarplums are candy made from chopped dried fruits and nuts, which by the way does not include plums. It’s a candy known as dragee or comfit that’s generally rolled in sugar or panned, a technique that creates a hard shell like an M&M. Without any plums in the recipe one might ask—why call it a sugarplum?  Historians believe in the 1600s sugarplums were named to reflect …

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