About James City County, VA

When you decorate this holiday season, consider going au naturel - without lights! You can make or buy wreaths and garlands of natural materials that can be composted or will naturally decompose. Natural greenery can be found at local farm stands throughout your town.

Yes, an artificial tree can be used for years, but it will eventually end up in a landfill somewhere. A cut, live tree from a tree farm is better because tree farmers are continually replacing harvested trees. And, because live trees can be recycled after Christmas. Williamsburg-James City County Recycling allows residents to drop off live trees until February 29, 2009. The trees are then mulched or composted by the Virginia Peninsula Public Service Authority.

But, if you must have Christmas lights, consider exchanging your incandescent tree bulbs for LED (Light Emitting Diode) ones. They cost a little more, but LED lights use more than 98 percent LESS energy and can last up to 10 years and stay cooler.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 25 percent more trash than usual is generated between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Buy gifts without a lot of packaging or that require minimal wrapping. RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE! Use your own reusable shopping bags for your purchases when you shop. Place gift boxes and wrapping paper tubes in recycling containers for weekly pickup.

You will find that it's the little things that mean so much and make a big difference!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®
WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE
757-753-7472
Long and Foster, REALTORS®
6610-J Mooretown Road
Williamsburg, VA 23188
YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com

Today, December 1, is World AID's Day. A day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together and bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.

December, the last month of the year, is a month of many fun occasions. The more obvious is Christmas (25th) and New Year's Eve (31st). As you shop this month, whether on the Internet or in the stores, be aware of thieves. This month is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. As we round out the year and ponder on the New Year to come, you can begin your business plans. It's not too early to start thinking about what camp to send the children to. December is National Write a Business Plan Month and Choose a Summer Camp Month! December is also Bingo's Birthday month for those of you who love B-I-N-G-O the way I do!

There are a number of Weekly Observances this month that I will celebrate. First, Tolerance Week (1-7), I shall strive to have lots of tolerance during the shopping season! National Handwashing Awareness Week (7-10) - I have two boys, need I say more about handwashing?! It's About Time week (25-31), time to make those resolutions. There is also Chanukah/Hanukkah (22-29) and Kwanza (26 -1/1).

Here are more special days in December:

2 Special Education Day

Holidays can be hectic. There's shopping, cooking, traveling and of course the every day details of life. During this time of the year, people's minds are not focused on donating blood. That can mean area blood supplies can reach critical levels. Winter months, just like the summer months, especially around the holidays, are tough times for blood collection.

According to the Red Cross website, blood types O-positive and B-negative are at critical levels. Blood types including A and B-positive and O and A-negative is the most needed and most requested by hospitals because it is the universal blood type.

According to the American Red Cross, only 5% of people who could give blood actually do. Blood can be donated every 56 days, and is used in a variety of health and trauma situations.

To give blood:

• You must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with a parent's consent).

• Minimum weight of 110lbs.

• You must have not donated whole blood in 8 weeks (56 days) or double red cells in 16 weeks (112 days).

• You must be healthy, well enough for normal activities.

During the holiday season, the need for blood actually goes up because of the increased number of people on the roads, which can lead to more traffic-related incidents and accidents.

THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE IS THE GIFT OF LIFE...DONATE BLOOD!