By Melinda Myers
The holiday tree is the center of many family celebrations. Ornaments collected over the years decorate the boughs while brightly wrapped gifts are carefully placed underneath.
But the hunt for the perfect tree can be an important part of the tradition. Many try to find the right size and shape for the space allotted, a fragrance the whole family prefers and good needle retention for long lasting beauty.  Load the family into the car or walk to the corner Christmas tree lot and let the hunt begin.
Size and shape are important. Your tree needs to fit but finding a fresh tree to last through the holidays is equally important. Here are a few tips to help you find the right tree and keep it looking its best throughout the holidays.
Buy local. You’ll support local Christmas tree growers and reduce the risk of spreading unwanted pests into your landscape when purchasing locally grown trees. Your local University Extension Service and Department of Natural Resources will provide updates on any threats.
Select the right variety. Family tradition may dictate your tree choice. Many prefer the fragrance of balsam fir and the needle retention of other firs like Fraser, white, Grand and Noble. Though not a true fir, Douglas fir needles have a wonderful aroma when crushed.  White pines lack the fragrance that many prefer. Its pliable branches only support lightweight ornaments, but the soft needles have less bite than the popular Scots or Scotch pine. This evergreen has stiff branches that support heavier ornaments and its needles hold even when dry.
Check for freshness.  A fresh tree will last throughout the holidays. Run your hand along the stem. The needles should be pliable, yet firmly attached to the branch.  Avoid trees with lots of moss, lichens, vines, broken branches and other signs of poor care.
The right fit. Look closely at the overall shape and size of the tree.  Stand the tree upright to make sure it will fit in the allotted space. Check the trunk. It should be straight and the base small enough to fit in your tree stand.
Make a fresh cut. Remove at least an inch from the base of the trunk before setting it in the stand.  Straight or diagonal cuts work equally well.  A diagonal or V-shaped cut may make it difficult to properly support the tree in the stand.
Proper watering is key.  Fill the stand with water and check it often.  Fresh trees can absorb as much as 2 quarts of water in the first 24 hours.  Keeping your tree stand filled with water is the best way to keep your tree looking its best throughout the season.
Once your tree is in place you can add lights and decorations. Then be sure to take time throughout the busy holiday season to sit down, relax with your favorite winter beverage and enjoy the beauty of your Christmas tree.
Melinda Myers has written numerous books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.


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Melinda Myers LLC, P.O. Box 798, Mukwonago,, WI 53149 United States

QUINCY, Calif. – All Plumas National Forest offices will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28. Offices will resume normal business hours, weather permitting, on Friday, Nov. 29.
 
Due to forecast weather impacts, visitors, particularly those interested in Christmas tree cutting permits and tree cutting adventures, should consider calling ahead to ensure offices are open. Depending on snowfall amounts, many forest roads may not be accessible this week. For major routes/state highway conditions contact the CA Department of Transportation at 1-800-427-7623 or check http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov . You will also find area highway webcams on the CALTRANS website.
 
In the event of an emergency, telephone landlines are the most reliable means of calling 911. The increased number of cell phone calls during holidays often strain rural telecommunication systems, sometimes creating problems making a call. There are also many areas within the forest that do not have cell phone reception. Be situationally aware and have a back-up plan for emergencies, particularly if you are traveling off a major highway.
 
For information about the Plumas National Forest visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas and www.Facebook.com/usfsplumas.                       

www.tfhd.com


 (Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) –  Tahoe Forest Health System is pleased to announce that several of their multispecialty clinics have moved to a new location.
The following clinics and providers have relocated to the 2nd floor of the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center on 10121 Pine Ave, Truckee, CA:

• Tahoe Forest Gastroenterology & General Surgery – Jennifer Racca, MD, Gerald Schaffer, MD, Allison O’Brien, PA-C, Ellen Cooper, MD, and Justin Hunt, MD
• Tahoe Forest Urology and Neurology – Mark Wainstein, MD, and Cherisse Mwero, MD
• Tahoe Forest Women’s Center – Shawni Coll, MD, Cara Streit, MD, Peter Taylor, MD, Steven Thompson, MD, and Janet Brooks, NP

The entrance to the clinics on the 2nd floor is located beside the main entrance of the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center. To schedule an appointment with any of the above providers, please call (530) 582-6205.
 
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By Dr. Glenn Mollette
 
The holidays can be glad, sad or bad. Take your pick and choose a direction. 
 
 I choose glad. Who wants to be sad and who needs bad? I don't want either one and neither do you. There is enough in life that confronts us every day that has the propensity to get us down.
 
Don't go crazy eating this holiday. I hear every year from people who say, "I'm going to eat whatever I want during the holidays and I'll change in January." These are the people who gain five to ten pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. There are reports that some people only gain a pound during the holidays. You and I know better. I know personally that I have gained ten pounds during the holidays. My scale might be off a pound or two, but it does not lie. The sad staggering number tells me what I don't what to see and there have been times it has been bad and sad! Who needs to start January 2020 ten pounds heavier?!! You don't need it! Who does? 
 
People literally go crazy eating during the holidays eating "pounds" of candy, cookies and eating the dining room table. You don't have to eat the kitchen just because you can. Make a determination now how you are going to conduct your eating this holiday. You can have a good plate of food and even splurge on a dessert without busting your waistline. You don't need three plates of food and four desserts. You'll be glad if you approach the holidays with some discretion or you will be sad and feel bad in January if you eat your head off. Now, don't be mad at me because you have total freedom on what you put in your mouth. 
 
Participate in Christmas. It's more fun if you participate in life. Visit some elderly people who can't get out much. Visit the nursing home. People are lonely in those places. Last Christmas Eve my wife and I went to the local nursing home and visited the residents. Not one room in that nursing home on Christmas Eve had any family or visitors. It was a very sad, lonely place. If you want to feel good, do good. Take some of your food and give it away before Christmas. Don't take people leftovers. Maybe there is a family or two that you might help in some tangible way? Think about it and God will lead you with some good charitable ideas. 
 
This year remember who and what the seasons are about. Focus on Joy, Peace and good will toward all. Say good words to people. Be Kind. Wish the best for others. Help others if and when you can. Don't say bad things about people and give people second chances. 
 
Make your holiday strategy today for a season of gladness.

Click here for -> Books By Glenn Mollette , Read his latest book Uncommon Sense
Music by Glenn Mollette through iTunes and all music dealers
  
Contact him at GMollette@aol.com.   Learn more at www.glennmollette.com   Like his facebook page at www.facebook.com/glennmollette

Expected Impacts to Holiday Travel

REDDING – The National Weather Service is forecasting winter weather systems this week that are expected to impact motorists during holiday travel for Thanksgiving. Following windy conditions with possible fire weather conditions today, rain in the valley and snow in the mountains and foothills are anticipated Tuesday through Friday, with another weather system anticipated on Saturday and Sunday.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2) wishes everyone a very happy holiday and reminds travelers to be prepared for rainy conditions in the valley and winter weather conditions in higher elevations if traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday. Be sure to follow the weather forecast and utilize these tips for safe holiday travel:

·        Make sure to have a full tank of gas and to carry chains if travelling into higher elevations. It is also a good idea to bring water, snacks, a cell phone and charger, blankets, an ice scraper or shovel, and a spare key for your vehicle if possible.
·        Make sure your vehicle’s maintenance is up to date prior to travel. Also, make sure your tires have adequate tread and replace your windshield wipers if needed.
·        Plan extra time for travel. The Thanksgiving Holiday is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and inclement weather travel will add time to your trip. Drive slowly and carefully in rainy and snowy conditions.
·        Check conditions prior to travel and during breaks while traveling. Weather conditions can change rapidly, and highways that may have been open when you left may be closed or develop the need for chain controls as you are on the road. QuickMap provides up-to-date highway information and is also available by free app for your smartphone. Motorists can also utilize highway information via One-Stop-Shop, which offers road conditions in the western portion of the country.
·        Look for highway information on changeable message and Highway Advisory Radio signs while traveling.
·        Certain rest areas in District 2 are closed during the winter season and others may experience closure due to inclement weather. Rest area information can also be found on QuickMap.

Caltrans District 2 Maintenance crews will be staffed and ready, as always, for these upcoming storm systems. Please drive slowly around our crews and give them plenty of room as they work. Never pass a snow plow unless directed by the operator to do so. Vehicle and truck screening are also anticipated at Fawndale Road, north of Redding, for northbound Interstate 5 travelers.

Motorists can call the Caltrans District 2 Public Information office during business hours for highway information at (530) 225-3426. Highway information can also be found on our Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as through our local hotline at (530) 225-3452 and the Caltrans Highway Information Network at 1-800-427-7623.

Recent District 2 Winter Preps Press Release

C.H.P. Tire Traction Devices Information

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As millions of motorists head out for the Thanksgiving holiday, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is prepared for one of the busiest travel weekends in America.  Unfortunately, in the past, Thanksgiving has also been one of the deadlier holidays on our roadways.
 
To help motorists arrive at their destinations safely, the CHP will implement a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) and deploy all available officers through the holiday weekend.  The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 1. 
 
During the MEP, CHP officers will educate motorists and enforce traffic safety laws throughout the state to ensure everyone has a safe holiday.  Officers will be actively looking for unsafe driving practices, including impaired or distracted driving, unsafe speed, and vehicle occupants who fail to buckle up.
 
“Holiday travel can be stressful.  By putting some simple safety measures in place, motorists can help keep themselves and others safe on the road this weekend,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley.  “Most important, before you head out, ensure everyone inside the vehicle has their seat belt on, and if there are children along for the ride, check that they are secure in the back seat in the appropriate child safety seat.”
 
Not wearing a seat belt can be a fatal decision in a collision.  According to the CHP’s MEP data, 59 people were killed in collisions in California during the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  Among the 42 vehicle occupants killed in collisions within CHP jurisdiction, 43 percent of those, or 18 people, were not wearing a seat belt.  Research continues to show that wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest things people can do to stay safe when traveling in a vehicle. 
 
Another way to help keep the roadways safe during the holidays is to designate a sober driver.  During last Thanksgiving’s 102-hour MEP, CHP officers made 931 arrests for driving under the influence.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.