It doesn’t seem possible that we’ve reached the end of another year. Yet here we are, in the last month of 2024.
As always, you’ll find our holiday gift to you, our readers, in this month’s issue. Prime has compiled a listing of local and regional holiday events to help you make the most of the season and as in past years, there’s a selection that will be free to attend, so everyone can make the most of the holidays regardless of their budget.
The free events - there are 27 this year! - are listed in red and marked with an asterisk.
If you’re feeling a bit of holiday overload, this month’s Prime calendar has six non-holiday events that will be happening in December, too.
Handling holiday stress is as ubiquitous as decking the halls, but since the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in Massachusetts, many have turned to the calming effects of cannabis to handle not just holiday but everyday stress. This month’s health column examines some of the ways cannabis can help mitigate the stress and anxiety of the season, and how it might even be useful for combating some of the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.
Prime was also privileged to speak with the commanders of the Salvation Army’s Holyoke Community Center about the nonprofit’s
annual Toy for Joy drive. If you’ve ever been curious about how the toy drive got its start, if those $1 and $2 donations really help, or if there’ are more ways to help than a monetary donation, check out the answers from Lieutenants Montserrant and Cesar Esquivel in this month’s Three Big Questions column on page 14. As I heard one of the board members for the Holyoke Salvation Army say at a recent meeting, donations can be time, treasure or talent. Everyone has some of that to share.
And, check out this month’s Six Things for some creative ideas for celebrating - and gift-giving - from a calendar that supports a dog charity to a nearby Christmas Movie Trail (Hallmark fans, take note!) to a local take on a classic holiday play to suggestions for 99 experience-based gifts for everyone on your list. Get inspired, or treat yourself!
Thank you Terry, we will miss you
As we close out 2024, Prime would like to offer a huge thank you to our longtime Sales Consultant Terry O’Donnell for his years of support for the publication. After more than 32 years with Prime, Terry has decided it’s time to hang up his salesman’s hat and spend more time with his wife, Len, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Terry has been my sales consultant and sounding board since I started with the Prime products 28 years ago - there were two editions back then, one in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut. He’s helped me to understand Prime’s readers, our advertisers and together we’ve navigated the changes in the publication’s style, focus and readership over the years.
More than most, I will miss his insights, advice and friendship. Terry, all of us at Prime will miss you and wish you all the best.
Wishing you all happy holidays!
As we close out another year of Prime, I want to thank each and every one of you, our readers, for picking up our publication every month. You are the reason we all work to bring you the best information we can to help you make the most of your life, whatever stage you’re living right now. I hope you make the most of the season, whatever that looks like for you and your family.
If you’re spending the season alone, please know that Prime is thinking of you, and wishes you the best holiday you can have.
As always, thanks for reading,
Debbie Gardner
dgardner@thereminder.com
