Protect Your Packages this Holiday Season

Shopping online? Here are some tips to help prevent someone making off with a package before you even know its delivered.

It's an unfortunate reality, but during the holiday season thieves are looking for opportunities to steal. In Burlington, the police logs in the past week had two calls of people coming home to packages missing. In both instances the delivery companies stated in their tracking services that the parcels had been delivered, but they were nowhere in sight. The following tips come courtesy of the Somerville Police Department:

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Share Your Elf on the Shelf Hiding Spots: What Has That Elf Been Up To?

Our Patch Elf on the Shelf has gotten ahold of our computer and now wants to know what his buddy elves are up to. Share your photos here!

Hi friends!  I'm the Patch Elf on the Shelf. Call me Patchy. I've heard about more of my friends hanging around the area lately, and I wondered what they were up to. Could their families post pictures here on Patch to show me? I'd love to catch up with them. We all go back to Santa on Christmas Eve, but in the meantime, we'll be watching you! Cheers, Patchy the Elf

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How Do You Balance Greed and Gifts?

Consumerism surrounds the holiday season: is greed inevitable, and how do you avoid it?

For those children who celebrate, Christmas' biggest connotation can be a pile of gifts under the tree. With this in mind, a panel of staff contributors at The Chicago Tribune tackled the question of whether it's inevitable to see greed in their kids around Christmastime. The parents weighed in on suggestions to remind kids of Christmas spirit. Among their suggestions? Help your kids round up some old toys to donate to charity before giving them new toys. Sign them up to participate in a community service project. The Tribune's advice got us thinking at Patch about how we were taught or are teaching our kids to be less greedy around the holidays. Some of our suggestions? Find a giving tree and let your child pick a name or two off of it, …

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Open on Christmas or New Year's? Tell Us!

We're compiling a list of stores and restaurants open during the holidays.

Weston business owners: Is your store or restaurants open during the holidays? We're making a list and checking it twice. If you'd like to be included, leave your business' store hours in the comments below for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. You can also email your store or restaurant's hours on those days to Weston@Patch.com. Please provide your store's hours no later than Monday, Dec. 17, so we can give everyone advance notice of your store's hours during the holidays.

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10 Ways To De-Stress During the Holidays

Feeling overwhelmed this season? Check out the list below for ways to stay healthy and have fun.

  It’s that time of year again: the holiday season. There are gifts to buy, parties to attend, family to visit... and it all happens around your existing crazy schedule. This can be a time for joy and celebration but it can also be a time when people experience sadness, anxiety, stress and exhaustion. Here are 10 ways to stay healthy this holiday season: 1. With the exception of one night a week, stick to the same sleep schedule. Don’t try to make up for lost sleep by sleeping late. Instead, try to nap once or twice during the day for 15 minutes. Drink lots of water or other vitamin-infused drinks. Use cold compresses on your eyes to decrease swelling and increase brightness. 2. Set a limit for gift giving and stick to it. Use cash as much…

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Tell Us: Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

You might be surprised at the results of a poll on the subject.

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? When it comes to season’s greetings, a new poll shows the majority of Americans prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays.” According to a survey from Rasmussen Reports, 68 percent of people polled prefer the traditional “Merry Christmas” while just 23 percent like "Happy Holidays," which can cover a variety of occasions. When it comes to holiday signs, a whopping 70 percent of shoppers polled said they prefer to be greeted with “Merry Christmas” in stores rather than the more neutral Happy Holidays, according to a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. It doesn't end there. There have been "Christmas Trees" banned or replaced with "Holiday Trees," nativity scenes scrapped to avoid offending some…

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Show Off Your Holiday Decor; Win $100,000 for Weston Schools

It's time to Deck Your House and show us your best. You could win $100,000 for Weston schools and up to $500 for your December electric bill.

Hanukkah 2012 in Weston

Celebrate the Festival of Lights in Weston with fun events and delicious recipes.

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 8, and ends a week later on Sunday, Dec. 16. According to Chabad.org, Hanukkah starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev and lasts for eight days. For those of us who aren't attuned to the Jewish calendar, that translates to sundown on Saturday, Dec. 8.  There are a number of Hanukkah events taking place near Weston. Here's our list: Congregation Or Atid Temple Shir Tikva will hold a Hanukkah Celebration on Friday, Dec. 14 at 6:15 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring their own menorah to the candle lighting ceremony and take part in a "music-filled Simchat Shabbat service." Following the service a "bountiful holiday oneg featuring potato latkes, hors d’oeuvres, hearty winter …

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