Tag Archives: holidays

Did You Know?

Holiday Travel Made Easy: Is Your Tech Ready? 

By StatePoint

As families prepare for the holiday season, they also prepare to make big family trips, so make sure not to leave home without the proper tech reinforcements this year!

These tips will ensure you can savor the sweet moments and avoid potential hiccups!

Drive smarter. Hitting the road? Apps like Waze, a community-based traffic and navigation guide, offer immediate information and alternate routes that save time when everyone is heading out of town. Other apps, like GasBuddy, compare pricing for nearby gas stations so you can fuel up economically, making the drive convenient and worry-free.

Beat boredom en route. Even in the air, there are ways to keep the family entertained. Inflight internet services, like Gogo, allow for texting and surfing the web, so kids can keep up with their Candy Crush game and mom and dad can hop online to research travel activities. And if you are a T-Mobile customer, you get a free hour of Wi-Fi on every domestic flight! Take connectivity to the next level by plugging into a portable charger to ensure all your devices are fully charged for the duration of your flight and after you land.

Find your travel Zen. Ever been on a long train ride with an unhappy baby or snoring fellow rider? Drown out unwelcome disruptions by turning up the volume, and streaming unlimited music from services like Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora with Music Freedom from T-Mobile.

Pro tip: Noise-cancelling headphones help too! Seek out a comfortable pair designed to fit the unique contour of your ears – they are ideal for lengthy trips.

Make the most of travel downtime. Dealing with a delay or adjusting to a different time zone? Use the unplanned time to catch up on your favorite shows. You can stream services like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube on your phone with T-Mobile’s Binge On and not only will you get through the series cliffhanger, none of your streaming will count against your high-speed data! Happy holidays indeed!

Stay connected even when abroad. Google’s 2016 travel trends show that 85 percent of leisure travelers decide on activities to do from their mobile phone after they’ve arrived at their travel destination. You can avoid roaming charges while you wander out of the country with services like Simple Global from T-Mobile. It provides unlimited data and texting in more than 140 countries around the globe.

For the 50 percent of Americans who regularly travel to Mexico or Canada, a travel offering that spans an entire continent, like Mobile Without Borders, will be welcome news. It ensures you can text and post photos of guacamole and poutine all day with no (data) consequences.

Be the all-star family photographer. Essential for capturing photos throughout the holidays, selfie sticks are this year’s unexpected travel necessity. Various types– compact, waterproof and Bluetooth enabled are available at a range of prices. Whether you are headed on a morning hike or prepping the holiday feast, you’ll capture memories the family will love for years to come.

 

 

Seasonal Safety Tips

Staff Reports

 

Chino Valley – The Chino Valley Fire District wants to highlight the importance of keeping fire safety a top priority during this holiday season. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments respond to an estimated annual average of 230 home structure fires that begin with Christmas trees. These fires cause an average of six civilian deaths, 22 civilian injuries, and $18.3 million in direct property damage per year.

The Chino Valley Fire District offers the following safety tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe:

 

Christmas Trees:

  • If you are buying an artificial tree, purchase one that is labeled “Fire Resistant.” While this type of tree can catch fire, it is manufactured to resist burning and extinguish quickly.
  • If you purchase a live tree, choose one that has green needles that do not fall off when touched. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1-2” from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand and keep it full.
  • Place your tree at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or any other heat source.
  • Make sure the tree is not blocking any exits and that it is watered daily.
  • When decorating your tree, never use live candles. Use “UL” approved holiday lights and fire-safe ornaments.

 

Lights:

  • Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Check your lights, as some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
  • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
  • Do not overload electrical outlets or run extension cords across doorways or near heaters.

 

Candles:

  • Do not leave burning candles unattended. Make sure they are in a secure place where children and/or pets cannot knock them over.
  • Make sure all candles are extinguished before you leave your home, office or go to bed.

 

After Christmas:

  • Dispose of your tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home.
  • Bring in outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards.

 

The Chino Valley Fire District wants to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. For additional information on holiday safety, please visit their website at www.chinovalleyfire.org.

Did You Know?

By K.P. Sander

 

Did You Know   Hanukkah – or the Festival of Lights – is an eight day Jewish celebration that is signified by the successive kindling of eight lights.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 165 B.C., after its desecration.  According to Bible references, Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, erected an altar to the Greek god, Zeus, on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, offering up swine upon it.  This act intensified the Jewish resistance, which led to revolt.  Once they reclaimed Jerusalem, the Temple was cleansed and rededicated.

Hanukkah is observed beginning on the 25th day of Kislev – an autumn month on the Hebrew calendar – which occurs annually any time from late November to late December.

Many traditions surround Hanukkah.  The most widely recognized is the lighting of a menorah, typically consisting of a candelabrum with eight individual branches, and a Shamash – or extra light above or below the branches used for practical lighting.  According to Wikipedia, using the actual Hanukkah lights for purposes other than publicizing and meditating on the Festival is forbidden.

Other Hanukkah traditions include playing a top game called Dreidel, and eating oil-based or fried foods (such as donuts and latkes) as a symbol of the ancient miracle which centered around oil, with one flame lasting eight days.

This year, Hanukkah will begin at sunset on Dec. 16, and continue to nightfall on Dec. 24.

 

 

Chino: Holiday Safety Tips

Staff Reports

 

Chino – ‘Tis the season of joy, cheer…and theft. Shoppers nationwide are most vulnerable to theft during the holidays. While out, shoppers are urged to stay alert, and check their safety list twice.

The City of Chino offers the following tips to make your holidays more enjoyable:

 

  • Plan shopping trips to allow extra time, and avoid dark hours.
  • Use the buddy system and include a shopping partner.
  • Walk confidently with your head up, make eye contact with people and have your keys ready.
  • Be alert and aware (look for suspicious persons or individuals who appear to be loitering).
  • Know your surroundings at all times (location, exits, security staff).
  • Always lock your car doors and remember where you park.
  • Never hide spare keys in or on your car.  If you need spare keys, keep them in your wallet or purse.
  • Do not carry more cash/valuables than is absolutely necessary.
  • Be discreet with cash and valuables. Do not count money in your car or public areas.
  • Carry your purse with the opening flap next to your body and with the strap hung over your shoulder.
  • Place valuables out of sight (i.e. bags, purses, cell phones, tablets, etc.) in the trunk prior to parking, or take them with you.
  • Re-park your vehicle if you drop bags off in the trunk.
  • Tell children where they are (location)
  • Identify a safe place and instruct youngsters to contact a store employee or security guard should he/she become separated.
  • Talk to children about stranger-danger and staying away from candy or bribes while shopping.
  • Do NOT have your child’s name visibly displayed on clothing or bags.
  • Check your basic vehicle maintenance (gas, lights, tire pressure).
  • Drive defensively and courteously.
  • Do not drive across parking stalls; use marked driving lanes and obey all traffic signs.
  • Remember, parking lots will be more crowded and checkout lanes will be busier, so be patient and have a safe shopping experience.
  • For cyber-shopping, use familiar websites and apps from reputable retail companies.
  • Look for the Lock on website URLs to ensure it is a safe site for credit transactions.
  • Do not provide information like social security numbers and birthdays.
  • Ensure your PC has anti-virus software; most will have an identity theft prevention component.
  • Use strong passwords.

 

Corona: Hero’s Welcome for Local War Veteran

Leave a reply

KTLA 5 REPORTS

W_soldier

Army Sgt. John Sisco

A U.S. Army Veteran who lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan returned home to Southern California Tuesday morning to a hero’s welcome.

Thousands of people came out in the rain and lined the streets in Corona to show their support and welcome home Sgt. Jordan Sisco.

“I’m no hero,” said Sisco. “I’m very appreciative, but the real heroes are the ones who didn’t get to experience anything like this.”

The 22-year-old U.S. Army Veteran lost both of his legs in July after an I-E-D exploded during a patrol in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.  Since the accident, Sisco has been recovering in a Texas military hospital.

Sisco came back to Southern California to spend Christmas with his mother and family in Corona.

The Santiago High School graduate said he now wants to be a teacher.