Toys

Some people think the best way to save money is to use a coupon and buy something at a discount. But sometimes the most frugal option is to not spend money at all and just repurpose something you already have. The second of the three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) is one of my favorites! What's your favorite way to reuse common household items?  Common items repurposed for a new use: Dental floss: I was reminded last week that dental floss is a great help when cutting cake.

Once again, the citizens and businesses of Danville and Boyle County stepped up and assisted the Danville Fire Department and Perryville Fire Department in donations for our Christmas Toy Program. This year we started out with $10,746 and received $14,023 in monetary donations as well as several hundreds of new toys. With the community's help, we were able to assist 459 children. This is more “children in need” than we have ever had participate since the inception of the program in 1983.  I also want to point out that the Perryville Fire Department worked hand-in-hand with the Danville program and received great support in the western half of the county.

Jailer Fitzgerald, always looking to the comfort of his prisoners, set a bountiful dinner for them on Christmas Day. The menu was extensive, including chicken, and it is safe to say the jailbirds enjoyed it. After looking for a long time for a desirable location, the officers of the Christian Church have closed a deal with the Danville Amusement Co. for the skating rink property on Main Street. The amount paid was $8,500. They also purchased from Mrs. I.G. Adler, the stable and lot on the rear of the property for $500.

PERRYVILLE - Businesspeople here are gathering and purchasing toys for the second year during a holiday event, “It's A Wonderful Life on Merchants Row,” presented by Perryville Market. Vendors will be set up from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in several Merchants Row businesses as well as the Chaplin Hills Mall. Pupils from Perryville Elementary School will be able to see Santa and receive gifts from noon to 5 p.m. in Baril Park, which will be illuminated at 6 p.m. Each child at Perryville Elementary will receive a gift.

Danville's Studio Dance once again will be collecting for its annual “Studio Dance Toys for Toys Christmas Party.” It will be begin at 4 p.m. Dec. 11 at Pizza Hut of Danville. Attendees can bring one unwrapped toy as admission. The Danville fire department will be there about 5 p.m. to collect the gifts to give to children in the community who are less fortunate. “The fire department said what we gave finished off everybody's needs,” said Amanda Douglas, owner of Studio Dance.  A “free dance day” for all kids who aren't already students at Studio Dance, ages 3 to 18, in Boyle and surrounding counties will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 11 at the studio, next to Country Hearth Inn on U.S. 150. “This is my holiday gift back to the community,” Douglas said of the dance day.  Those who attend the free dance day can attend the Toys for Tots fundraiser afterward.

Danville Fire Department has relied on some large acts of kindness and fortuitous partnerships to fully fund its Christmas toy drive program, but so far this year the big gift hasn't come through. Fire Chief Woody Ball said the program, which provides toys to more than 400 children up to 12 years old, is $16,000 short of its $28,000 goal less than a week from the beginning of sign-ups. “We are assuming we are going to have [400] or more again,” Ball said. “We have been getting calls since the beginning of October and haven't stopped.” As the economy has slumped,  the department has seen a steady increase of families signing up their children but has struggled to get donations.

Whether fighting fires or getting a cat down from a tree, firefighters have the reputation of being helpful. That helpfulness doesn't stop during the Christmas season as members of the Nicholasville Fire Department will pitch in to make this holiday season a little brighter for many in Jessamine County with their annual Christmas Toy Drive. Firefighters will be out in front of Walmart beginning Oct. 29 collecting new, unwrapped toys and taking monetary donations. Collection times will be Fridays from 5-8 p.m., Saturdays from 8-4 p.m. and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. Last year, the toy drive enabled the fire department to help more than 700 people, Nicholasville Fire Lt. Craig Cox said.

Remember how I used to write about all the stupid, idiotic things I used to do? Well, I haven't written about these things much lately, but not because I don't do stupid things anymore. Just this morning I did something so crazy it would've made a good “I Love Lucy” episode. For those of you who know me well, you know that when I first get up in the morning, I flat do not know where I am or who I am. That is precisely why I have an iron-clad routine that I must follow, or I am shot for the day. The first thing I do after - well, you know what we all do first thing - but then, after that, I zero in on the refrigerator where I retrieve the jar of acid-free coffee, a bagel, butter and coffee creamer.

“Star Search” finalist Mike Malone (www.malonecomedy.com) will headline a comedy show Thursday at Mallard’s Restaurant. The show starts at 8 p.m.; doors open at 6:45 p.m. With his rubber face, energy, sarcasm andwildly imaginative views on life, Malone works from New York to L.A., having now performed in 30-plus states. He’s been featured on both “The Bob and Tom Radio and TV Shows” in addition to appearances on WGN TV, The National Lampoon’s Operation Comedy Tour, NBC TV’s “Night Shift with Kevin Ferguson,” and XM/ Sirius Satellite radio.