Pet Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

Share these tips with your family and friends to keep man’s bestfriend safe.

This holiday season is almost over, and as you toss plants and holiday decorations away make sure to keep the family pet in mind. Five Quick Tips: Read more: 20 Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe this Holiday Season Join Patch’s Local Voices! We want to provide a platform for your message. Email Tamika Smith, the Community Manager for Montgomery County, at Tamika@Patch.com to sign up.

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Speak Out: What's Your Favorite Christmas Song?

Christmas carols can bring holiday cheer to the season (and evoke other emotions, as well). Here are a few favorites.

  What's your favorite holiday song or carol? Tell us in the comments or upload the YouTube video to this post so others can enjoy!

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Eye Safety Tops the List This Holiday Season

Five quick tips for keeping toys safe for kids.

  As the countdown to Christmas Day continues and parents rush out to get their children gifts this season, safety tops the list for one expert. Local Voice’s blogger Anna Schmitt from the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises parents to keep in mind their kids' eye safety. Schmitt says toys such as airsoft guns, bb guns and paintball guns can be particularly hazardous. Read more: Keep Eye Safety in Mind When Choosing Gifts this Holiday Season. Join Patch’s Local Voices! We want to provide a platform for your message. Email Tamika Smith, the Community Manager for Montgomery County, at Tamika@Patch.com to sign up.

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Butler’s Orchard to Host Final Bonfire of the Year

Bonfire begins after 5 p.m. Friday, assistant farm manager Tyler Butler said.

It might not be too late to get a tree, but time’s running out if your tree shopping must include a warm bonfire. Butler’s Orchard in Germantown is hosting its final bonfire of the year on Friday. There will be plenty of marshmallows to go around, according to Tyler Butler, assistant farm manager. Butler said while it wasn't the first time the orchard has had bonfires, it was the first time they've offered up marshmallows. He said he hopes it becomes a new tradition and attracts people to the orchard on a Friday night.  “We get so busy on weekends,” Butler said. “But some people say it’s the only time they can get out to the farm.” On Friday, the orchard will be open until 9:30 p.m. The bonfire begins after 5. More details are available on…

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Patch Rewind: Christmas Past in Germantown

Occasionally, Patch will highlight stories from the past—like this column from on what Christmas in Germantown was like 60 years ago. This story was originally published Dec. 18, 2011.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town—on a Motorcycle

With help from Montgomery County police, Santa will ride from Germantown to the Children’s Inn in Bethesda to deliver gifts to sick kids.

As part of a charitable effort by Montgomery County police, a motorcycle-riding St. Nick—flanked by 20 of Montgomery County’s finest—will carry donated gifts to Children’s Inn in Bethesda on Wednesday. Santa’s “sleigh” ride begins in Germantown at 10 a.m. at the District 5 station in Germantown then makes two stops — Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce on Clopper Road and Sheehy Ford on Frederick Road. Santa plans to lunch at Vince & Dominics Pizzeria in Bethesda. The motorcade is expected to reach Children’s Inn by 5:30 p.m., just in time for a party. Part of the National Institutes of Health, Children’s Inn is a nonprofit facility that offers lodging for children receiving treatment at NIH and their families. Police are still …

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Donate Toys to Needy Kids in Germantown

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Stations and volunteer departments across the county will serve as drop off sites for new, unwrapped toys.

As part of a countywide initiative, fire stations in Germantown and throughout the Upcountry region will be collecting toys for low-income families. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Stations and volunteer departments across the county will serve as drop off sites for new, unwrapped toys. The donated toys may be used for local volunteer fire departments' community holiday programs, as well as the regional 2012 Toys for Tots Campaign in conjunction with the U.S. Marines. Toys may be dropped off until Tuesday, Dec. 18. Where to donate toys: Germantown Volunteer Fire Department Station No. 29 | 20001 Crystal Rock Drive Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service Kingsview/Clarksburg Stations Damascus Volunteer Fire Department Station No. 13, …

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Christmas Chopping: Germantown Farm Lets You Cut Your Own Tree

Searching for the perfect tree? Butler's Orchard lets customers pick—and chop down—their favorite.

Amanda Perez | Capital News Sevice

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Santa Mail: Montgomery County Children Can Write to St. Nick

Thanks to a special U.S. Postal Service program, "Santa" will reply to children who mail him their Christmas wish lists this holiday season.

  Every year, millions of children sit down to make a wish list for Santa, hoping he will make all of their Christmas dreams come true. But what if Santa actually wrote back? The United States Postal Service is now accepting "Letters From Santa," a program that allows any person to play Santa by sending a letter signed by Saint Nick to any child. According to a postal service news release, "The 'Letters From Santa' program helps parents fulfill the dreams of their own children." Instructions to send a letter from Santa: Letters to Santa can be dropped off at any Montgomery County post office location. TELL US: Will you participate?

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