This is the season try to focus on peace, goodwill toward men, and loving your neighbor. Even if you don’t catch this spirit of love and joy from the religious meaning of the season, a hundred Hallmark movies will remind you of what is possible. As I and the other members of the Younger Group wish you a heartfelt Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah, we are aware of how many in Louisville need a helping hand.

We know of the Toys for Tots and coat drives; we have seen the red Salvation Army buckets and maybe participated in the Angel Tree effort to help needy families. Sometimes it really hits home that the  “needy”  are right among us, often unrecognized. In a society where many are a paycheck or two away from being in desperate shape.

All this hit home the other day when I read a story in the Louisville Courier Journal about some kids at Crosby Middle School who learned this lesson first hand. After seeing a 60 Minutes story “Hard Times Generation,” about homeless children in America in science teacher Jason Quinn’s class, Breya Jones and her other 8^th grade classmates learned that there were 28 students at Crosby considered homeless by the District.

She was stunned “I’ve seen people downtown and I know about shelters. I didn’t think about how kids could be in that situation. I didn’t think about how it could be kids I see in the hallway.”

As student Shemar Maxwell added “I really felt kind of bad that this goes on. I think all kids should be equal and have the same lifestyle. It shouldn’t be so easy for some and so hard for others.”

The class started collecting clothes, hygiene items, and food  and then served as the organizers when the drive went school-wide. Two teachers, Quinn, and Elizabeth Gleeson, and the school’s Youth Service Center coordinator, Paula Wolf, worked with the students.

Throughout the process, the homeless students were not identified. Donated items piled up in Ms. Gleason’s classrooms, and students sorted them during homerooms periods.  They made posters and talked about the problem . Mostly importantly, they became aware of a widespread problem that will continue long after their drive; with their budding social conscience nurtured , they may grow up to more sensitive to the needs of others. As Shemar said,  “It’s not enough to stop now.”

Within Jefferson County Public Schools, there are between 8,000 and 10,000 students who are considered homeless. Donations beyond what Crosby’s 28 need will be donated to others in the District, but all these kids have ongoing needs.

This experience at Crosby Middle Schools echoes the word of Dare to Care, Louisville’s hungry center. As  they note in their report Hunger in Kentucky: 

Hunger in Kentucky is meant to tell the story of the 684,000 people living in poverty in the Commonwealth. They are not all living on the streets – they are waiting on us in restaurants, driving our child’s bus to school, living on fixed incomes in retirement. They are our neighbors, family, and friends and they need our help. The mission of the Kentucky Association of Food Banks (KAFB) is to maximize the effectiveness of Feeding America food banks serving Kentucky by providing food to feed hungry people.

Those of us able to do something about this continuing problem should take a step to do it. As we make New Year’s resolution, perhaps one should be to incorporate regularly reaching out to others in our plans.  That is what we try to do at the Younger Group and what I am trying ingrain in mn daughter, Memphis, who celebrates her first Christmas this year.

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. We appreciate your business in 2011 and hope to serve you again in 2012

Mollie Younger of Younger Group Real Estate  can help you buy or sell your Louisville home. We know Louisville.

With 12 days to Christmas, you might be for one of the pre-cut trees that sprout in parking lots all over town. It is not too late, though, to maximize your holiday experience by visiting a local Christmas tree farm to select and cut your tree yourself.  A short trip within Jefferson, Bullitt, or Oldjam Counities or behond  will yield a nice tree and a carload of memories for your family. Some farms allow you to choose your own tree that they will cut. Some farms even offer tree with root balls so you can plant them in your yard after the holidays.

Though it take at least seven years for a tree to grow from a pinecone to a six foot height popular for  ready for harvest, Christmas tree farms cultivate holiday trees expressly for decorative use.  This noble destiny does not spare many trees from deer, storms, drought, and bad weather, but the survivors grace homes throughout Louisville.  Trees that are damaged are often used for wreathes and greenery.

The Kentucky climate is conductive to many species of Christmas trees. Area farms might specialize in several varieties, so it is a good idea to plan ahead a for a trip to one that offers what you want. Popular varieties include:

Norway Spruce: This dark green tree has a dark green crown with a triangular shape, needles ½ – 1 inch long, drooping branchlets. It has poor needle retention unless you water the tree frequently.

Douglas Fir: drooping branchlets. This tree as has a dark green crown with a triangular shape and  branches that are spreading to drooping with sharply pointed pointed bud.

Eastern White Pine:  Popular also for furniture, the needles of an Eastern while pine are bluish-green to silver green in color and are regularly arranged in bundles of five. Needles are 2 1/2-=5 inches long and offer good retention. The tree has little aroma and is good for people who have allergies.

Scots Pine: Grown mostly for Christmas trees, the Scots pine is known for its dark green foliage but the color can range from bright green to bluish. Its stiff branches are appropriate for decorating with both light and heavy ornaments. It has excellent needle retention characteristics and holds up well throughout harvest, shipping and display.

Blue Spruce: With its narrow, pyramidal shape and cone-shaped crown, the blue spruce has needles) are 1-1 1/2 inches long on lower branches shorter on upper branches.  True to their name, they are generally dull bluish-gray to silvery blue with a very sharp point on the ends of the branches.

Here are a few nearby locations for trees, but make sure to call first to make sure they are sold out.

Jefferson County:

• Wethington Nursery –offer living rooted trees in White Pine, Norway Spruce and Douglas Fir varieties.
• Tower View Farm & Nursery – offer Kentucky grown tree, plus basket, Amish furniture and crafts, and gourmet coffee.

Oldham County:

• Alpine Ridge Christmas Tree Farm – U-Choose and Cut your own: Scotch Pine, White Pine, Douglas Fir and Blue Spruce
• Pine Ridge Farm – Scotch and white pines and hot chocolate too!
• Sleepy Hollow Tree Farm – Douglas Fir, Eastern White Pine, Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine

Bullitt County:

• Werkmeister’s U Cut – Douglas Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine, White Spruce

Having a Kentucky –grown tree in your home can add be fun to acquire and to the beauty of your holiday festivities as well.  Enjoy and happy holidays.

Mollie Younger of Younger Group Real Estate can help you buy or sell your Louisville home. We know Louisville.

Last weekend, you may have enjoyed Light Up Louisville in downtown Louisville. This weekend, on Saturday, December 3^rd, it is time to capture the same magic in The Highlands.  Bardstown Road Aglow will take place between 5-10 pm, with the tree lighting to take place after Santa arrives in stretch limo for the lighting ceremony that starts at 5:45 pm. The beautiful tree, this year a 30 foot Norway spruce tree, will be set up in Wendy’s parking lot.

This event sets in motion several other things in Louisville.  The event marks the last day of the Four Roses’ second annual Holiday Bourbon Battle.  Restaurants and bars along Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue have been serving original holiday inspired drinks since November 19, in hope that guests will vote for their favorite.  At Bardstown Road Aglow, you can stop in one of the participating establishment, enjoy your, you can drink, and then text your vote to “22333,” email the name of the restaurant/bar to bourbonbattle@gmail.com, or visiting Facebook.com/FourRosesBourbon and clicking “Like” on the picture of their favorite Bourbon Battle cocktail. The winner, to be announced during the week of December 5, will receive $500 an engraved Four Roses decanter and a plaque for his/her restaurant.

If you are a beer lover, you may enjoy tasting some of the 150 beers from around the world. With only a $5 admission fee, you can try several at only $1 for a 2 oz. sample right at the Mid-City Mall. The admission fees for the third Annual Highlands Beer Festival go to local charities so you are helping others as you enjoy yourself.

During the evening, you can enjoy caroling and other musical selections from the Marching Louisville Pipe Band and other area musicians as you stroll around the area to look at the decorations or patronize merchants. Celebrity judges will also be walking around to select the best decorated businesses. Two trolleys will operated from Douglass Loop to Lexington Rd., plus the Aglow Shuttle starting at Winston’s Restaurant at Sullivan University to chauffeur you around the area.

Once Santa arrives, you can have pictures taken to remember the event at Bearno’s Restaurant at 1318 Bardstown Rd. for only $5.  Proceeds benefit  Gilda’ s club of Louisville.

The Bardstown Road Aglow celebration dates back to 1985, when merchants welcomed shoppers with candles in their windows. The tradition stuck, so every year the Bardstown Road  Aglow festivities have helped residents and visitors enjoy the holiday season. Come on down!  Happy holidays.

Mollie Younger of Younger Group Real Estate can help you buy or sell your Louisville home. We know Louisville.