The holiday season is here and if you’re among the millions who plan to entertain, you’ll be happy to know the latest trend in the industry is to make things easier on the host. No, that doesn’t mean a lot of people are going to start hiring party planners to handle all the details for them. They’re just being smarter about the decisions they make.
With families looking to spend as much quality time with each other as possible this holiday season, expect to see more kitchen and dining innovations that allow for entertaining as stress-free as possible -- but without giving up taste and style.
“While families still embrace traditions such as turkey or ham for dinner with all of the trimmings, they’re not interested in spending all of their time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning,†says Amy True of True Helpers Special Events. “They’re creating new traditions by spending more quality time together.â€
Here are some of the key trends of the season True is anticipating, along with Montgomery Ward and Wards.com’s top picks for easy, stress-free entertaining style:
* Feed them all at once -- and keep it hot!
The key to any successful party is having a wide variety of great tasting foods available for your guests, but that doesn’t mean you have to slave over a stove to make it happen. This time of year, restaurants and even grocery stores offer prepared holiday meals you can just take out of the box and serve.
Or you can roast, bake, steam, poach or slow cook meat on your own in one easy step by preparing it in the Nesco Professional Stainless Steel 18-quart Roaster. This designer series stainless steel roaster is a versatile electric cooking appliance with adjustable temperature control that is ideal for large gatherings. It features a removable, non-stick cookwell that holds a turkey up to 22 pounds ($99.99). Its optional 3-section buffet server kit keeps three food items hot on the serving table ($34.99).
* Keep the coffee coming
A lot of entertainers find themselves constantly apologizing to their guests for the fact that the coffee pot is empty. Somehow, there just isn’t enough when you need it!
Problem solved if you have a DeLonghi Coffee Urn. Unlike most coffee makers that brew a mere 12 cups, this durable, mirror-finish stainless steel urn can brew from 20 to 50 cups at a time. It features a Freshness Indicator that is activated by the “keep warm†function and tells you how long the coffee has been standing and automatically switches to the warming cycle and keeps your coffee at the perfect temperature.
"On" and "Ready" lights tell you when your coffee is ready to serve. There’s also a level indicator that tells you how much water is in the unit, so you won't run out of coffee unexpectedly. A dripless spigot assures that there will be no messy leaks and drips. The device is UL rated for commercial or household use. ($199.99)
* Wow your guests with dessert!
And when it comes time for dessert, it’s true what they say. Presentation really is part of the charm. It is easy to create beautiful, professional-looking desserts with the help of the Original Nordicware Bundt Cake Pans Platinum Collection. There are three designs available and each comes with a gourmet cake mix that allows you to prepare a gourmet treat at a fraction of the cost of a bakery-made dessert.
The Cathedral Pan design features stately arches and columns, forming a sophisticated confection. It comes with a gourmet Sticky Pudding Toffee Cake Mix. The Bavaria Pan is accompanied by the Cinnamon Streusel mix, and the Tree Pan with Train Border comes with a Caramel Apple Spice cake mix.
The heavy cast aluminum bakeware provides extra-fine details and superior baking performance. The heat reflective exteriors allow for uniform browning. Unique designs make every cake a masterpiece. ($39.99)
Montgomery Ward and Wards.com has these and 50,000 more great gift and home accent ideas for the holiday season. Log on to www.Wards.com to view the store’s extensive catalog.
Courtesy of ARA content
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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