| Families need help this season
With Thanksgiving celebrated today, Christmas is just a little more than a month away.And to help needy Butte families this holiday season, the Mining City Christmas program is taking donations of gifts, food, money or time. Volunteers are also needed to help process applications and stuff gift bags and food boxes for the giveaway.People interested in "adopting" a deserving family are also needed and will be taken until Dec. 7. In the adoption, Mining City Christmas provides names, addresses and needs of the family to those wishing to help. Any business, groups or individuals are welcome to participate.Families � who are screened for income and eligibility � who could use help include:The parents of a 14-year-old boy would like him to receive Xbox 360 games. He also wears large shirts, size 33 waist pants, and 10� shoes.The parents of three youngsters need assistance.
TOP STORIES ::
You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll pray for a sequel. Best. Simpsons. Game. Ever. OK, that isn't really saying that much (Springfield's first family hasn't really had much luck in video-game adaptations). Still, EA's "The Simpsons Game" manages to nail the humor, tone and pacing of the hit animated television series. Of course, it helps that the writers of the series actually wrote the game and all of the voice actors reprise their roles. The game allows you to play as all of the Simpsons except Grampa. Little Maggie even gets in on the act in a few levels. All of the Simpsons have their own unique abilities. Homer can burp (temporarily stunning an enemy), turn into a large ball of fat to role over objects and enemies (a la Konami's "Katamari Damacy") as well as a few other moves.
Ideas on how to shop for family-friendly video games
With the success of Nintendo's Wii as a family console, Sony and Microsoft are offering packages this holiday season aimed at making their own platforms more family-friendly. Microsoft is offering a new Xbox 360 Arcade Console that includes five games, a wireless controller, a high-definition multimedia interface connection to enable high-def output and 256 Mb of memory to store games and entertainment content. The five games in the bundle include Pac-Man Championship Edition, Uno, Luxor 2, Boom Boom Rocket and Feeding Frenzy. Sony is repackaging it's older, but still popular, Playstation 2 console with the SingStar bundle as a low-cost alternative for families. The bundle features a white PS2 console, the SingStar game, a controller and two microphones. SingStar is a karaoke game similar to American Idol.
Holiday shoppers storm local stores seeking deals on nation's busiest retail day
Bundled up in coats and giggling, Mary Ann Schewe and her sister Louise Harris tried their best Friday mornng to squeeze a luggage set and two buggies full of holiday presents into the back of her Mercury Grand Marquis. "I can't buy anything else," Harris said, standing in the Target parking lot. "My son was supposed to meet us in his truck." Like thousands of other shoppers across Middle Georgia, the sisters left their homes in Jones County before dawn to take advantage of Black Friday sales. Schewe said they started at Wal-Mart at 4 a.m. and had marked items off their lists at Goody's and Old Navy in hopes that the line outside Target would get shorter as the morning wore on. She said the line of shoppers waiting to get into Target stretched all the way to Dick's Sporting Goods on the other end of Eisenhower Crossing when they first arrived.
Christmas season is full of hot toys … and recalls
Years ago, I remember tromping from store to store during the Christmas season looking for a large Buzz Lightyear toy for my son. I was desperate to find the item, knowing it was at the top of my son's list. Luckily, someone returned a Buzz to a local toy store just as I called. The store held the toy for me and the story had a happy ending. Or so I thought. As many parents will attest, the toy of the moment can quickly lose its luster. Buzz was buried at the bottom of a toy box in no time. A few years later, he was garage sale fodder. I'm not sure if my son ever even played with the darned thing. Buzz wasn't the only toy I chased through the years. I have vague memories of Pokemon card quests, Power Ranger missions and WWF matches. And all of the items have wound up sold, boxed in the garage or headed to the Salvation Army.
PRESS RELEASE: Nintendo Kicks Off The Holidays With Two New Nintendo DS Bundles
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 20, 2007 – Starting Nov. 23, Nintendo gives the holiday season a fresh blast of color with the launch of two special-edition Nintendo DS™ bundles. Each pairs a custom-color Nintendo DS system with one of the platform's hottest titles. The new Gold edition comes with The Legend of Zelda®: Phantom Hourglass, while the Metallic Rose Nintendo DS comes with the "Best Friends" version of Nintendogs™. "Nintendo DS remains the portable system of choice for gamers," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Our new bundles will be collector's items for current gamers while offering an attractive way for people new to video games to play with style." With its dual screens, touch-screen, amazing franchises and innovative games, Nintendo DS has been a cornerstone of Nintendo's efforts to expand the world of video games to new audiences and to get as many people playing as possible.
Lights, music, parades set in south E.V.
�Tis the season to celebrate, and cities and towns in the south East Valley will be doing just that. Here is a list of holiday festivities in Gilbert, Queen Creek and Florence: � Gilbert is celebrating the holidays with Winter Wonderland at the Freestone Park Amphitheater, 1015 E. Juniper Ave. The free event, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13, will feature a holiday tree lighting, an appearance by Santa and performances by the Dickens� Carolers. For information, call Gilbert Community Services at (480) 503-6200. � Queen Creek is kicking off the holiday season by lighting up Town Hall and the 40-foot holiday tree out front with more than 20,000 lights. The event will feature local group performances, a snow play area and visits with Santa. Several new activities will be added this year, including a fine art market.
Holiday calendar—neighborhood holiday celebrations
Christmas Trees: The South Baltimore Little League sells Christmas trees at its fields, 454 E. Fort Avenue. Trees will be available until sold out. Delivery is available. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Saturday from noon-9 p.m., and on Sunday noon-6 p.m. All proceeds benefit SBLL. Info: Darlene 410-294-3486. The Optimist Club of Dundalk will hold its annual Christmas tree sale Nov. 30-Dec. 22 at its clubhouse, 4528 North Point Boulevard. Hours are Mondays through Fridays, noon-9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fresh wreaths and other seasonal items will also be sold. Proceeds support the Optimists' community youth programs. Info: 410-388-0320. Mitten Tree: The Department of Public Works hosts its annual mitten tree in the lobby of the Abel Wolman Building, 200 Holliday Street, beginning Thursday, Nov.
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