5 Things Dropped at Midnight that Aren't Balls

Tonight's the night, what will you watch drop?

The countdown has begun, it's almost 2012! And while a million people are expected to cram into Times Square to watch the ball drop, here are a few other options for you to ponder. 5. A Crayon- The Crayola Factory in Easton will host its annual kid-friendly event. which includes a 10-foot-long Crayola Crayon at 8pm. Early enough for kids to get in on the excitement and for you to head out to see Allentown drop... 4. A Bell- This year, Allentown is celebrating its 250th anniversary with a bell drop, designed by the DaVinci Center. The event, which Allentown hopes will become annual, also nods to A-town's claim to fame...when the Liberty Bell was hidden from the British during the Revolutionary War. But if that's too historical, why don't …

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What Gadget did you get for Christmas?

Take our poll: Did Santa bring gadgets this year, or was it low-tech?

OK, assuming you were not naughty but nice this year, you probably got some kind of electonic doodad for Hanukkah or Christmas. Let us know what you got because we'd like to know if these gadgets are making us more connected, or less so. And in a shameless plug to keep us more connected, make sure you uplaod the free Patch App for your new phone. We want to hear from you.

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Layaway Angels Continue to Spread Generosity

More anonymous donors have been paying off layaway orders for strangers since Patch first reported on the trend.

Across the country, anonymous benefactors have been dropping into local Kmarts and paying off layaway balances for families with children. It’s difficult to tell where this trend of generosity started – you can see reports from Patch sites across the country above – but it’s clear that where “layaway angels” tread, tears of joy follow. Since we first reported about layaway angels, 14 more people appeared at the Kmart in Palmer Township and paid off 20 contracts, according to store manager Rich Riddell. One angel, he said, read the article on Patch and went to the store  because she thought it was a wonderful idea. "One customer thought it was a hoax ... until she came in," Riddell said. "She broke down into tears when we brought out her …

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It's not too Late: Hit the South Mall for Your Santa Photo

Don't miss the chance to photograph your kids on Old Saint Nick's lap.

This year, Santa will be at the South Mall right through Christmas Eve. He will be taking pictures with children from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today (Dec. 23) and tomorrow (Dec. 24) before he heads out to make his Christmas Eve deliveries. The South Mall is located at 3300 Lehigh Street in Salisbury Township and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m.

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Emmaus Christmas Card for 2011 Features Shelter House

Artist and Emmaus resident Bob Boehmer painted the 7th in a series of cards for the borough.

Chickadees sit on a branch overlooking the snow-covered Shelter House.  Evergreens and leafless trees are speckled with splashes of white. Wreaths and garland adorn the front of the home. And a few snowflakes trickle down the scene. Bob Boehmer has done it again. He volunteered to paint the 7th in a continuing series of Emmaus Christmas cards and has wowed the community with his talents once more. This year's card features the Shelter House as it looks in the winter, along with the history of the home on the card’s back. Six years ago the Emmaus Arts Commission decided to try something new as a way of raising funds, but the commission wasn’t sure if the community would have any interest in such a project, said Boehmer, head of the arts …

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C is For Christmas and Cookie

Cavaluzzo's Owner Makes his Cut-out Cookies Pizza-thin

Gary Cavaluzzo likes to eat cut-out cookies.

By the year 1500, the tradition of the Christmas cookie had spread throughout Europe, and Christmas cookies were made in great amounts in nearly every home. The Dutch immigrants brought the earliest Christmas cookies to America. But what are the favorite cookies in Emmaus Patch? Gary Cavaluzzo, owner of Cavaluzzo’s Pizza, says his favorite Christmas cookie is the cut-out. He sometimes rolls them very thin—thinner than anyone else does, he adds. Then, the cookies are cut out with different shapes of cookie cutters and decorated. Recipes: Rolled Out Butter Cookies (Christmas) By Norma Flexer from “Suppertime with Thomas and Alice Stahl’s Family” 1 ¾ c. flour                            ¾ c. 2 Tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. baking powder            1 egg …

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