USPS Deadlines for Mailing Holiday Packages

The U.S. Postal Service offers tips and suggestions so holiday packages arrive in time for the holidays.

  Are you one of the many holiday revelers with families and friends spread all across the country and the world? If so, even before you dive into that gift list, it's important to know how early must you buy, wrap and post holiday gifts so they get to their destination in time for the holidays. Here are some suggestions and mailing deadline dates from the U.S. Postal Service to ensure your gifts are delivered on time and in one piece: Packing tips from the USPS: Calculated for December 25, 2012. Domestic Mail Class/Product Dates First-Class Mail® Service Dec. 20 Priority Mail® Service Dec. 21 Express Mail® Service Dec. 22 Parcel Post® Service Dec. 14 Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship Dec. 19 Destination Delivery …

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Hanukkah 2012 in Jamaica Plain

Celebrate the Festival of Lights in JP 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.  Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue is advertising a Hanukkah party Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the story of the Maccabean Revolt against Syrian rulers in present day Israel 2,300 years ago. The Maccabees wanted to rededicate Jerusalem's main temple but had only enough oil to kindle the Eternal Light for one day. The oil lasted for eight days, according to the story, …

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Terrific Hanukkah Recipes to Try

Make these brisket, latke, and sufganiyot recipes for Hanukkah. Or, get them to-go from local spots in Jamaica Plain.

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 8 and ends on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 16. Observing the Festival of Lights goes hand-in-hand with making special Hanukkah foods. Before you light the menorah, make sure you have all the ingredients for some great brisket, latke, and sufganiyot. Although there are many recipes, below are a few to try during the eight nights. Hate cooking? Potato Latkes Ingredients Instructions Once they are ready to eat, try them with some apple sauce mixed with sugar & cinnamon, sour cream or just a sprinkling of salt. Brisket Ingredients Instructions   Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) from chabad.org Ingredients Instructions TELL US: What are your favorite things to eat during Hanukkah? Do you …

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Parenting in Boston

A 'Cake Boss' Wish Comes True for Mother and Daughter

Local mom surprises daughter with trip to meet reality TV stars.

My daughter, Emily, and I share many loves.  We both adore sweets, reality TV shows, baking, spin classes, and socializing.  We also share an unfortunate trait of sometimes not knowing exactly what we want.  Restaurant menus occasionally stump us—too many choices—and when people ask us what we’d like for gifts? Forget about it. So when the calendar page flipped to November a few weeks ago and I asked both kids what they would like for their holiday gifts, I knew my son would have a response but my daughter might be more challenging to get an answer from. We usually give our kids one “big” gift and a few little things spread out over the eight nights of Hanukkah. As expected, Zach immediately declared what he wanted.  (I’d already known he’…

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Parenting in Boston

Merry Christmas to All?

Sometimes I just want to shout, "Not everyone celebrates Christmas, you know!"

Growing up I loved and looked forward to the eight nights each December when my family celebrated Hanukkah.  We'd light our menorah, fry up latkes, sing songs, play driedle and exchange small gifts.   Sometimes on those same wintry evenings, I'd peek out my bedroom window late at night (or what seemed late at the time) and look out at all the blinking happy lights in the neighborhood. I loved how they looked. Although I grew up in an area with many Jewish families, we lived in a part of town where few others celebrated Hanukkah.  By the age of seven or so, I began to feel a little sad about our unadorned house.  I also worried that everyone would know we were Jewish, which somehow felt wrong or bad in this particular neighborhood, where we…

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Chris Child

2:51 pm on Monday, December 19, 2011

Thanks for your perspective, although Gov. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island did not "rename" the State House Tree. His predecessor, Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri, had also used the term holiday tree (and noone seemed to care), so I think this "issue" (or non-issue) has more to do with Gov. Chafee's politics than anything else. As a nontheist, I don't really care what people say to me over the …   more ›