Dancing Lights Fulfill Man's Mission to Spread Joy — and Grant Wishes

Have you seen 'Our Dancing Lights?' This year, you can show your love for the show by supporting The Rainbow Connection of Rochester.

A front yard holiday lights display that includes 43,772 lights is impressive in itself. But when those lights are choreographed to music? Well, that's worth planning your date night around. Brent Waldrep, who lives just over the border of Rochester Hills on Paramount Lane in Auburn Hills, guesses that between 100 and 200 cars full of spectators have viewed his holiday lights display so far this season. As Christmas nears, that number will be closer to 400-500 cars a night, he estimates. It's become a local destination to see the display he calls "Our Dancing Lights." "Saturday night we had a couple limosines come by," Waldrep said. "I have a friend who included it in her date night. "Just like people go to downtown Rochester to look at …

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A Patch of History

Dear Santa: Newspaper Letters Tell of Days-Gone-By Wishes

From Colorforms to a Shaun Cassidy record, kids have asked St. Nick for lots through the years.

From the days of Stoney Creek Christmases in the 1860s to the Big, Bright Lights of the digital age, Santa Claus has held a special place in the hearts and minds of local believers young and old. His appearance has changed little over the past 150 years – a look deemed “modern” when compared to a time when Santa was more commonly known as Father Christmas or St. Nicholas. For decades, newspapers like the Rochester Clarion and Rochester Era embraced and immortalized Santa Claus as a jolly, plump old man with a snowy white beard and dressed head to toe in a suit of red with white trim, a red cap, and a buckled belt and boots as black as soot. They printed illustrations from artists like Thomas Nast, who creatively captured the spirit of …

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Cooking for Special Diets: Holiday Fun for Everyone

Classes, parties and more are available for those with special diets.

Editor's note: Alissa Malerman's Saturday column showcased some simple recipes to keep you going through the busy season. Part 2 of her column offers events that either cater to special diets or would be fun for everyone! Shopping isn't the only thing keeping special dieters busy this holiday season. There also are plenty of events to participate in around Oakland County. Celiac Specialties in Rochester Hills is holding a cookie class at 7 p.m. Dec. 1. Learn how to make roll-out sugar cookies, gingerbread people and pizzelles without gluten! The $10 cost includes tasting and recipes. Call 586-598-8180 or email debby@celiacspecialties.com today because seating is limited to 30! Come celebrate the holiday season with your family in an autism…

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Cooking for Special Diets: Simple Solutions for the Busy Holiday Season

Here are some quick recipes to save you time before vacation starts, the kids are home and stores are packed with last-minute shoppers.

Editor's note: Check back Monday on Patch and read about some special diet-friendly holiday events coming up around Oakland County. It's a busy, busy time of year. Whatever your faith or customs, this is an event-packed season and the race is on to get things done before vacation starts, the kids are home and stores are packed with last-minute shoppers. I say I'm going to work ahead every year and have my cards addressed and ready to go, my house decorated and holiday gifts made or wrapped by Thanksgiving. It has yet to happen. So, in these busy times, it's nice to have a few recipes that will help me save time. For special dieters, these are the standbys we cling to, especially since stopping for a little pick-me-up isn't always an option…

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Lights, Santa, Flash Mob: Christmas Comes to Rochester Hills

The Village tree-lighting ceremony includes a few surprises.

Where there's a crowd these days, there's likely to be a flash mob. And when it's Christmas time? Well, the flash mob dancers wear Santa hats. A flash mob, performed by dancers from the Rochester Hills-based Adagio Dance Company, was among the highlights of the tree-lighting ceremony at the Village of Rochester Hills on Friday night. It was the 10th year of the lighting ceremony at the outdoor shopping center; this one included 500,000 lights. The night also included entertainment by Radio Disney, an appearance by radio personality Jay Towers and an official welcome for Santa, who will greet children on weekends until Christmas in the gazebo at the Village. For more holiday events, see our guide to the holidays in Rochester and Rochester …

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Patterson: Rochester Knows How to Celebrate the Holidays

Oakland County executive praises the city for creating events that bring people together.

Rochester "epitomizes" a community that knows how to celebrate the holidays, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson told a crowd gathered Wednesday at the Royal Park Hotel. Patterson spoke at the unveiling of the giant gingerbread house in the hotel's lobby; it's a gingerbread house that's bigger than his condo, he joked. But in all seriousness, Patterson had nothing but praise for Rochester: he mentioned the Big, Bright Light Show and other family events in the city as being able to bring the town together, and he said he enjoyed visiting Rochester. "I've cut down more trees making plaques for Rochester than anywhere else," Patterson said. Of course, as is common when in the presence of certain local dignitaries, Patterson was quick…

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Ben Giovanelli, CPA

9:30 am on Thursday, November 17, 2011

Next time I see you I'll share some history. :-)   more ›