Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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12 UCW DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2022 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM COVER e holiday season is a special time of year. Individuals often spend a little more on gifts, indulge a little more on rich foods and treats and make a concerted effort to enjoy more time with their loved ones during the holidays. However, the tendency to overdo things during the holiday season can create a lot of waste. In fact, Americans produce 25% more garbage from anksgiving through the end of the year, accord- ing to Waste Advantage magazine, a publication of the waste and recy- cling industry. at uptick equates to one million tons of extra trash per week throughout the holidays. Extra food, plastic and paper waste is generated this time of year, but people can be mindful of the potential to go overboard and take some steps to be more waste-con- scious as they entertain. •Reuse a small portion of wrap- ping paper or look for other wrap- ping items. Sunday comics, news- print, colorful magazine pages, and even pieces of fabric can be used to wrap gifts in lieu of purchasing new wrapping paper. Otherwise, collect used wrapping paper and reuse it next year, doing the same with boxes and bows. According to researchers at Stan- ford University, if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 foot- ball fields. •Skip disposable party items. It's certainly easy to use disposable plates, napkins and cups when host- ing holiday parties, but that is very wasteful. Opt for durable, reusable products that can be packed away and used each year during holiday events. •Buy durable and reusable items as gifts. Avoid fad gifts and focus on items that will have staying power. Homemade gifts, such as foods, knitted scarves, artwork, and more, are generally eco-friendly. •Set up marked trash and recy- cling receptacles. Remind party guests to recycle the appropriate materials by clearly marking a pail designed for collecting recyclables, such as cans, plastic beverage bottles and glass wine bottles. Most hard plastics can be recycled. •Remove your name from catalog lists. Call companies and ask to be taken off promotional mailing lists to reduce paper waste. •Send a photo. Mail holiday card recipients photos of the kids or the entire family in lieu of cards. ey're apt to save the photos and display them, helping to keep even more paper trash out of landfills. •Research new recipes for left- overs. With an abundance of food remaining after entertaining, turn leftovers into new meals by explor- ing recipes from friends or by doing a little research online. Waste can get out of control dur- ing the holidays, but there are ways to tame the excess. Various traditions take center stage during the holiday season. One of those traditions may be sitting down and enjoying any of a number of timeless Christmas mov- ies or even newer holiday films that are quickly becoming favorites. Film fans have their own ideas about the best films to watch during the holidays, but the following mov- ies are some that kids and adults can enjoy together. "e Polar Express" (2004): A young boy enjoys a magical adven- ture to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express train. He learns about the true spirit of the holidays and the value of bravery and friendship along the way. "e Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992): Charles Dickens' classic story about a bitter miser might be a little frightening for young children to enjoy in its more theatrical offer- ings. However, when the Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale, the story becomes much more family-friendly. "A Boy Called Christmas" (2021): Based on the book by Matt Haig, this movie is a reimagined take on Father Christmas. It focuses on Nikolas as he goes on an adven- ture to find a magical town called Elfhelm. "Jack Frost" (1998): When a father dies in a car accident, he comes back to life as a snowman in his son's front yard. Jack learns to keep his promises and make things right with his son — things he wasn't capable of doing as a human. "Christmas with the Kranks" (2004): e Kranks decide to forgo their annual Christmas party and plan a vacation since their daugh- ter will be out of town. But when said daughter decides to come home after all, chaos sets in as the couple tries to figure out how to put together an extravaganza at the last minute. "Beauty and the Beast: e Enchanted Christmas" (1997): e Beast does not favor the holiday season, so Belle must change his mind on the matter in this animated Disney offering. "Elf " (2003): As a youngster, Buddy was magically transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa's elves. As an adult, he's determined to find his real dad in New York City and uncover a way to fit in. "Santa Hunters" (2014): A young boy teams up with his sibling and cousins to try to capture new foot- age of Santa in action and prove that the man in red truly exists. "e Nutcracker and the Four Realms" (2018): is is a newer take on the classic Nutcracker tale. is adventure sees Clara defending the Land of Sweets from the evil Mother Ginger. Holiday films enhance the celebratory nature of the season. Certain movies are tailor-made for families to watch together during this special time of year. Recycle and reduce waste for the holidays a STAFF REPORT Perfect movies for families this holiday season a STAFF REPORT People can be mindful of the potential to go overboard and take steps to be more waste-conscious as they entertain. e holiday season can be a good opportunity to watch timeless Christmas movies together as a family.