North Penn Area Christmas Lights Map is Now Up!

This might be, in my opinion, the single coolest thing I've seen on The Reporter's website all year...The Area Holiday Lights Map is up!

Read descriptions of the holiday light displays, view them on the interactive Google map, and even get a little crazy and create your our own driving route. Sure, maybe some of the fun of driving around looking at the lights is not knowing what you'll find around the next corner. But for for others of us, its all about packing in the most wattage in the shortest amount of time - before the kids get restless and start whining. Whatever your strategy, its worth a look to be sure you aren't missing something you'd really enjoy that could be just right around the corner!

The map, of course, covers Lansdale, North Wales, Hatfield, Harleysville, Towamencin, Kulpsville, Colmar, Montgomeryville, etc. but it also includes some fancy displays a little farther away in towns such as Skippack, Lower Gwynedd, and even Ambler.

New Local Gift Idea - Gift Cards that Help Our Library!

The Lansdale Public Library has a great program running that not only helps local businesses, but helps the Library to raise funds, too!

Purchase gift cards for local businesses through the Community Marketplace and the library will get 7% of the purchase price. When you register, simply enter CMP01006 as the Company Name under Company Details and the library will receive credit.

Gift cards are available for: Green Street Luxuries (something for mom!), Kick 'n Wear Soccer Store (something for the kids!), William Penn Inn (something for everyone!), and more!

The Little People's Shoppe Wants Your Baby Gear

Need a little extra cash this month? Who doesn't! Well, if you have gently used baby gear collecting dust, read on. 

The Little People's Shoppe just issued this list of items they are seeking. Check the list, check your closets and garage, give them a call, and breathe a little easier when that January statement arrives in the mail. 

Here is what the LPS has to say:

LPS LOOKING FOR BABY GEAR!!!!!
(ALL GEAR MUST BE CLEAN, HAVE ALL PARTS, WORKING BATTERIES, & MANUFACTURED IN THE LAST 4 YEARS)
TRAVEL SYSTEMS
STROLLERS
CAR SEATS (Manufacture Date of 2008 or newer)
HIGH CHAIRS
JUMPEROOS, EXERSAUCERS, WALKERS
SWINGS, BOTH REGULAR AND CRADLE
PACK N PLAYS
BASSINETS/CRADLES
GATES

PLEASE CALL 215-412-3339 AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO GET YOU IN ASAP!!!

Youth Soccer Fundraiser at Cheeburger Cheeburger TONIGHT!

Don't feel like cooking tonight? Me neither!

Luckily, the TYA (Towamencin Youth Association) U-9 Girls Travel Soccer Team is holding a fundraiser TONIGHT at Cheeburger Cheeburger in Chalfont. The girls are raising funds for their first indoor season and tournament. How exciting!

Cheeburger Cheeburger will donate a portion of tonight's sales to the team. Please print out this flyer to bring with you.

Animal-Powered Parade - TODAY

OK, its a bit last-minute and not exactly right in town, but...I know there are some fly-by-the-seat-of-your-diaper toddlers and road-warrior parents out there who are going to love this one...


I've just received word* that there is an all-animal-powered parade happening today at 1:00pm in Red Hill / East Greenville. Here's the scoop:


Starts in Redhill, PA 
Ends in East Greenville at St. Marks

The only ALL ANIMAL POWERED PARADE!

FREE EVENT FREE PARKING on side streets all over.

Starts promptly at 1:00 so come early to get parking and a good spot to watch the parade from.

Beautiful horses, mules, ponies 

Service dogs and Rescue Labs

SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS

Santa Land at St. Marks where you can sit on Santa's lap and share your Christmas wish!

FUN FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES

DRESS WARM AND DON'T MISS THIS FAMILY EVENT!
Hot cocoa, tea, coffee and baked goodies at reasonable prices....
restrooms and warm crafting rooms at St. Marks.


Further details regarding the exact parade route and directions can be found here.


*Thank you to Laura from the Lansdale-area Freecycle group for this info. If you aren't familiar with Freecycle, take a moment right now to change that. As parents of young kids, this will be right up your alley.!

Live Coverage of Tonight's Festivities!

For those who prefer to keep the kids in from the cold tonight, but who don't want to miss all the action, The Reporter will be running a live feed from Railroad Plaza covering Santa's visit and the annual tree lighting.


The coverage begins at approximately 6 pm. Click here for the live webcast.

Holiday Gift Ideas to Help Our Community

Still looking for the perfect gift for someone - or perhaps EVERYONE - on your list? The North Penn Under Ten Local Holiday Shopping Guide is here to help! Dozens of ideas are here for every person on your list (especially those kids under ten!) and, best of all, all of these stores are locally-owned!

So, this year, spread the joy beyond the recipients on your shopping list. Spread joy to all those friends and neighbors who own the great local shops around town that depend on us. (We don't want more great local businesses to go the way of Garden Golf or Glamalicious). :-(

Read more!...

Bookfair to Benefit North Wales Area Library

Barnes & Noble is holding a Bookfair to benefit the North Wales Area Library on Saturday, December 4, 2010, at the North Wales Store (1271 Knapp Road, North Wales, PA). A portion of sales to customers presenting a voucher at checkout will be donated to the Library.  Vouchers are available at the Library (see their hours of operation here).

Also...this year the benefit has been extended to ONLINE sales from December 4 to December 9!  Do your shopping through BN.com/bookfairs/ during that week and enter Bookfair ID 10320828 when you check out.  A portion of the price of your purchases will go to the Library!

Let's remember the Library this holiday season as we remember others, so it can continue to be there for our community.

Final First Friday & Christmas Celebrations Galore in Lansdale This Weekend!

I've just received the official scoop on all of this weekend's First Friday and Christmas events in Lansdale, straight from the Lansdale Borough:

Tree Lighting Friday, December 3 at 6:00 pm

The annual festivities will be held in conjunction with First Friday in Lansdale and take place in Railroad Plaza.  Holiday music will be performed by the North Penn High School Chorus along with refreshments provided by Hatfield Quality Meats and Rosenberger’s Dairies.  Old Saint Nick will arrive at 6:30 pm to lead the Christmas tree lighting countdown.  This year, after the tree lighting, head over to the Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts to visit with Santa and take in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”.  First Friday activities will continue in the plaza with Renee Wilson performing.

In addition to the annual holiday activities , Lansdale will attempt to break the Guinness Book Work Record  for the largest candle lit parade.  Over 1,000 people are needed to participate in the 8:00 pm First Friday Candle Lit Parade and put Lansdale in the record books!  Visit www.npcnlive.com for additional
 information and to register for the parade.

Also, throughout the downtown you will find music by some of your favorite First Friday performers along with Ziegler's hot cider, warm chocolate chip cookies, roasted walnuts, ice sculptures and store front windows decorated by Chantilly Florist and Byre’s Choice.

TubaChristmas Concert Sunday, December 5 at 2:00 pm

A Sunday afternoon in Railroad Plaza is filled with the sounds of seasonal music from sixty or more of the most talented tuba and sousaphone players in the area.  This outdoor concert is a must attend event for young and old alike.

For more information on any of these programs please visit www.lansdale.org or call 215-361-8352

Happy Holidays to all!

Happy Hanukkah, North Penn!

It looks like the weather has eased up just in time for tonight's Menorah Lighting at Railroad Plaza in Lansdale! There's something wonderful about watching the lights come up on a crisp December evening. But, if you prefer to avoid the cold, there is also a Hanukkah celebration happening at Montgomery Mall tonight at the same time that includes crafts and activities. Decisions, decisions!

Further details are on the North Penn Under Ten calendar.

Happy Holidays to all!!