Content

• Annual tree lighting and resident holiday celebration
• Managing holiday stress
• Holiday decorating safety tips
• Need money for college?
• Preventing frozen pipes
• Reminder to Marine and Coast Guard Residents
• Green Corner
• Want to know what is happening in your community?

Tis’ the Season

Corvias and Aberdeen Proving Ground will host a tree lighting ceremony and holiday celebration on Wednesday, December 2nd at the Bayside Community Center. The tree lighting will take place at 5:00 p.m. and festivities will continue through 7:30 p.m. All residents are invited to attend! Santa Claus will be available for pictures, and remember to bring a camera. The celebration also includes Santa’s workshop, human snow globe photos, free food, crafts and other activities.

Don't let stress get in the way of your holiday cheer

For many, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. However, the holidays can also be a stressful time of year. The pressure of juggling gift buying, holiday parties, preparing the perfect meal, traveling or entertaining houseguests can be difficult to manage. Don't let the demands of the season hinder your holiday cheer. Here are some tips to help prevent holiday stress:

• Plan ahead - Make a plan and schedule days for cooking, baking, shopping, preparing your home, and other events or activities. You can use helpful apps on your Smartphone for creating to-do lists, shopping lists, or locating that much-sought-after gift.
• Budget - Set a budget and stick to it. Decide in advance how much you can afford to spend. Remember to budget not only for gifts, but also for the additional food you will buy for your holiday meal and baking. This will help reduce financial stress after the holidays.
• Take care of yourself - Take time to do something relaxing. Take a long hot bath, get a massage, or listen to your favorite music. Make sure to get enough sleep, exercise and eat healthy.
• Give back - The holiday season is the perfect time to give back to the community. Contact local agencies and organizations for volunteer opportunities.
• Get support - If the holiday season is a difficult time for you and/or you have feelings of loneliness or sadness, reach out for help. Army Community Service (ACS) and the Chaplains offer services, counseling, and support not only during the holiday season but the whole year.

Remember to focus on what is most important this holiday season and that everything does not need to be perfect. Managing stress will help you enjoy the upcoming holidays and remember the real meaning of the season!

Keep holiday lights safe

Putting up holiday lights is a tradition that many families enjoy. Whether the lights are inside or out, they help make the season beautiful. Unfortunately, holiday lights can also pose a fire safety hazard. If you and your family are planning on decorating with holiday lights this year, take the following precautions:

• Follow manufacturer guidelines about where lights can be used; not all lights are designed for indoor and outdoor use.
• Check each strand of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed wires or loose connections.
• Discard sets of lights that are damaged.
• Use insulated holders to hang lights. Do not use tacks, nails or screws.
• Avoid hanging lights near any potential fire hazards.
• Turn off the lights whenever you leave the house and when you go to bed.

Need money for college?

Are you the spouse or child of an active-duty service member with plans to go to college? Go to corviasfoundation.org to learn more about available $50,000 Scholarships and $5,000 Educational Grants from Corvias Foundation. Applications are available online.

Preventing frozen pipes

Winter weather and freezing temperatures are on their way.   This means the possibility of frozen pipes.  Click here for tips on preventing the headache of frozen pipes in your home.

Reminder to Marine and Coast Guard Residents

BAH will change on 1 January 2016.  Please have allotment adjusted to the correct amount by 15 January 2016 to ensure the correct amount is received and prevent any payment issues.

Green Corner

Turn off holiday decorations when no one is home and at night before you go to bed.  Timers are a great way to ensure the lights are only on at certain times.

Want to know what is happening in your community?

Your community calendar can help you stay up-to-date on trash, recycling, lawn care, resident events and community activities.

You can even sync your community calendar with a personal Google calendar by clicking on the +Google button on the bottom right-hand corner of the calendar.

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Upcoming events and important dates

• December 2– Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration; Bayside Community Center 5-8pm
• December 3 – Edgewood Tree Lighting
• December 22 – First Day of Winter
• December 24 – Community office will be open from 9am-1pm
• December 25 – Christmas; community office closed
• December 31 – Community office will be open from 8am-3pm