Santa Rita Times: Volume 5

Santa Rita Times

Monday December 12, 2022

About this publication

Students in Journalism Club collaborate, design, and create the Santa Rita newspaper. We hope you enjoy Volume 5.

Food Allergies 101

Article Written by Kinlee Thomas & Farrah Browning

The Results Are In!

One of the most common traditions around the world during the holiday season is gathering around a big table with your family or friends for a special meal. Common foods that might be eaten include trukey or a ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and of course, dessert! But what about those people who can't eat those foods? How does the traditional family holiday meal affect them?

During the holidays, it can be hard on people who have a variety of food allergies. They cannot enjoy foods that contain certain ingredients. According to Foodallergy.com, some common food allergies are, cows milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and fish. Some of these allergies will happen mainly with children but they might grow out of it when they are older, unless it’s a disease.

Results Gathered by Isela Lopez

The Allergy-Free Family Cookbook by Fiona Heggie

Many people celebrate different holidays with their families. Regardless of what holiday your family celebrates, you are sure to have some special traditions. We want to know what holidays are celebrated in your family, and what are some of your favorite holiday traditions.

Results Continued on Page 2.

Vegetarian Stuffing from Budget Byte$

According to food allergy-symptoms-NHS, some symptoms when you eat a food that you are allergic to can be a raised itchy red rash (could be red and itchy but not a rash), hives, face and mouth swelling, tingling or itching in mouth, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, feeling sick and nauseous, fever or puking. Some allergies can be so severe that the person could die if they eat the food they are allergic to.

In order to keep everyone safe, here are some great substitutes and suggestions when it comes to holiday meal time this year. We know many people who can't have certain foods and, if you are one of those people, we ultimately want to make sure you are safe and enjoy the holiday traditions without fear this year.

Gluten Free Bread Recipe from Gluten-Free Palate

Gluten Free/Dairy Free Brownies from Food Faith Fitness

Local News & Opinions

Results Continued...

Results Gathered by Isela Lopez

According to our data, 345 surveyed students celebrate Christmas in their household during the holiday season, 8 students celebrate Hanukkah, and 1 student celebrates Kwanzaa! Most students celebrate the holiday season with a family meal and have a special holiday recipe or food that they enjoy together. Majority of students on the Santa Rita campus also celebrate the holidays with music!

Community Events

Take a closer look at some events happening this holiday season near you!

Christmas at Fort Concho & More

Concho Christmas Lights Parade

Words by Rebecca Webber

Have you ever wondered how many Christmas activities there are in the San Angelo area during the Christmas season? Well here are some options that you might enjoy!

First up on the list, on December 2nd-4th from 1-5pm, there will be Christmas at Old Fort Concho. You can come and experience the Winter Rendezvous, campsites with hundreds of reenactors and period traders who bring the 1800s to life. During daylight hours the many troops on the Parade Ground will drill, ride, and shoot off the canons in the middle of the parade grounds.

$3 to attend for children between the ages of 7 to 17, $5 for military and seniors, and $7 for adults.

Pancakes with Santa

Ballet San Angelo Presents The Nutcracker

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Images provided by San Angelo Live

On December 2nd at 7:30pm-10:30pm, the Angelo Civic Theater will be performing White Christmas!

Adult - $20, Seniors/Students/Military - $18.

Also, on December 3rd at 4:00pm, there will be Concho Christmas Lights Parade downtown. There will be Santa & several of our Marine Corps Toys For Tots Volunteers at the parade and they will be lighting up the streets and best of all, it is FREE!

On December 10th from 10:00am-4:00pm, the Railway Museum will be hosting the Santa’s Santa Fe Christmas. There will be free photo opportunities with Santa and the Grinch, as well as food and craft vendors.

Adults – $12, Youths – $6 (ages 6-17), Children (5 and under) – Free, Members – Free.

Pancakes with Santa will be taking place on Saturday, December 17th from 8:00am-12:00pm at Lake View High School, 900 E. 43rd Street. Come have breakfast with Santa and the Grinch, receive door prizes and more!

$5 a plate; proceeds going to LV Athletic Booster Club

Follow the Story of a young bird, named Max and his family, as they begin their journey south for the winter. The Lightwire Theater presents A Very Electric Christmas. December 22nd at 7:00 at the Murphey Performance Hall: 72 West College

Tickets can be purchaced at www.sanangelopac.org

Finally, this long-standing San Angelo tradition is a holiday must-see. Ballet San Angelo's The Nutcracker will be having performances at the Murphey Performance Hall on December 16th & 17th at 7:00pm, and December 17th & 18th at 2:00pm.

"Choreographed by Artistic Director, Erin Lane, is a fresh and fun take on the classic Tchaikovsky Ballet. This performance features live music, courtesy of our Nutcracker Orchestra. With exceptional dancers, beautiful hand-painted backdrops, ornate costumes, and a swelling accompaniment, The Nutcracker will deliver a ballet experience your family will never forget!"

Tickets and more information can be found at www.balletsanangelo.org

Culture & Art

Journalist Kamryn Daniels share some information on the similarities and differences between 3 different holiday celebrations.

Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa: What is the Difference?

Written by Kamryn Daniels

Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are all holidays celebrated during the same time of year. All three have many traditions in common and they all have there differences as well. Here are some facts about these three holidays that you may or may not already know.

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that means dedication in Hebrew. It also is known by some people as "The Festival of Lights." During Hanukkah, there are 8 days celebrating the recovery of the Temple in Jerusalem. Each day, a candle on the menorah* is lit and blessings, songs and gifts are exchanged.

Kwanzaa, which means first fruits in Swahili*, is an African American holiday that is celebrated by sharing a feast and lighting candles to honor ancestors with hope for a bright future. Kwanzaa, like Hanukkah, is celebrated over many days. 7 days to be exact. During those days, they sing songs, dance, tell stories, give gifts and enjoy a meal together.

Christmas is traditionally a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas means mass on Christ's day. Families celebrate by putting up and decorating a christmas tree, hang stockings on the fireplace and hanging colored lights. Christmas is celebrated every year on December 25th. Many families gather to attend a special service or mass, eat a meal together and open presents.

While all three of these holidays have their differences, they also have many things that are the same. Gift giving is a large part of each of these holiday celebrations. There also is a shared meal or gathering that happens to celebrate with family and friends. Most importantly, each holiday is celebrated with those we love.

*A menorah is candle holder traditionally used during Hanukkah that holds 9 candles, one candle for each day of Hanukkah and one candle in the center to help light all the other candles.
*Swahili is the native language of the Swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique.

Picture taken from iStock by Getty Images

Image provided by suntrust.com

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Image provided by face2faceafrica.com

Local Weather

Isabelle Perez shares some information on the history of snow on Christmas morning in San Angelo, TX

I'm Dreaming Of A... White Christmas?

Written by: Isabelle Perez

A lot of kids like playing in snow. Making snowmen, snowball fights and creating snow angels are all reasons to love a bunch of snow during your yearly holiday break. But what are the chances that there will be a white Christmas this year in San Angelo,Texas? Will children be excited or disappointed when they wake up on Christmas morning?

According to www.weather.gov, it must snow at least 1 inch on Christmas Day, or an inch of snow must still be on the ground in order for it to be considered a “white Christmas.” How many white Christmases has San Angelo had? What are the chances it will happen again?

To figure this out, let's take a trip down memory lane and see how many white Christmases there has been in our great city. Weather.gov says that in 1926 it snowed 2 inches on Christmas Day. Then in 1939 it snowed 1.5 inches of snow. It snowed one last time in 1974 when it snowed a record 0.1 inches. Since this day, there has not been a single white Christmas in San Angelo, TX. Can you believe it only snowed 3 times on Christmas Day in the past 100 years?

After learning this information, do you still think it will snow this year? According to history, there is a very low chance. But, maybe there will be a Christmas miracle after all.

Image provided by farmersalmanac.com

Santa Letter written by second grader Emma Garza

Would you like to wake up on Christmas morning to a blanket of white snow or a day of sunshine and 70 degrees?

Food & Holiday Cooking

History of Hot Chocolate

Written by Ben Barton

Have you ever wondered about where hot chocolate came from? What about the process of how it is made? If these questions have ever crossed your mind, then continue to read on to find out more!

It all started in Mexico in 500 BC. In the beginning, the Mayans used chili peppers, cornmeal and cocoa powder to make their version of what we know as hot cocoa. They also drank it cold instead of hot. It was much different than the hot chocolate we drink today.

Hot chocolate then made its way to Europe in the early 1500s brought by Hernan Cortez. He brought over the recipe and the cocoa beans to the people of Europe. There, they continued to drink it cold and bitter. The Spanish people began to make the drink hot, sweet and without the chili peppers.

Hot chocolate hit London in the 1700’s. Chocolate houses (similar to coffee shops today) became very popular, even though chocolate was very expensive. In late 1700’s, Hans Sloane brought recipe from Jamaica to England. Sloane added milk to cocoa to create what is known as chocolate.

Up until the 19th century, hot chocolate was used for many different reasons. It was a remedy for liver and stomach disease, as well a special after dinner drink. Hot chocolate became is so popular in the United States that it is now available in coffee vending machines. Today, we enjoy sipping hot chocolate and savoring every last drop.

Natasha's Kitchen: Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

Natasha Kravchuk creater of natashaskitchen.com

Imagine provided by www.hotelchocolat.com

Do you like to cozy up during the cold winter months and sip on some sweet hot chocolate? If you can relate, here are some ingredients for a tasty winter treat. We think it is one of Texas’ favorites.

Ingredients
¼ Cup of Cocoa powder – be sure it’s unsweetened
¼ Cup of Sugar – add granulated sugar to your desired sweetness
½ Cup of Chocolate – melt in semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips, chunks, or shavings for a rich chocolate flavor
4 Cups of Milk – we use whole milk for a creamier consistency and it incorporates chocolate better than skim milk.
½ teaspoon of Vanilla extract

How to make it:
1. In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder.
2. Add milk, chocolate chunks, and vanilla.
3. Place over medium temperature until steaming, whisk constantly to avoid burning the chocolate.
4. Cool to desired serving temperature and serve with your favorite toppings.

*For a richer and creamier cup of hot cocoa, replace 1 of the cups of milk with 1 cup of heavy cream or half and half.

Local Business

"Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have."
-Jim Rohn

Donation Sensation

Meals for the Elderly

Written by Estelle Skinner

During the holiday season, there are many people that go without. This is the time of year that you can choose to help others. For example, many organizations take donations that are given to those in need. Here are ways that you can donate to those less fortunate.

Here are 8 places you can donate to this holiday season:

1. Local Women and Children’s Shelters
2. Soup Kitchens
3. Youth Emergency Shelters
4. Domestic Violence Shelters
5. Transitional Living Programs
6. Emergency Response Programs
7. Places of Worship
8. Dress for Success

There are many things you can donate such as clothing, food, money, and everyday living essentials such as toothpaste, shampoo, and toilet paper. Some places only accept certain items, so it is important to check before you go to donate.

CAN NOT Donate:
Soap with no proper packaging.
Sticky or hard foods
Damaged items
Medical items
Building materials
Extremely large or bulky items
Dangerous items such as gun, fire works, or ammunition.

CAN Donate:
Shoes and Bags
Athletic Wear
Sleepwear and Socks
Outerwear
Tops and Pants
Toys and Games
Toiletry items
Diapers

Interview by Emma Heilman

Did you know that in 2020, 5.2 million seniors age 60+ faced hunger? My team of reporters and I decided that we wanted to do something help this group of people. In order for us to know how to help, we interviewed Kristin Heilman, a local volunteer, to gather some more information about Meals for the Elderly, a local food delivery service.

Why do you volunteer for meals for the elderly? "To help people that are less fortunate"

What does doing meals for the elderly mean to you? "It means helping our elderly population and paying it forward."

What is meals for the elderly? "A food delivery service for elderly in our community."

According to their website, Meals For The Elderly is a private, non-profit charitable organization devoted to serving the homebound elderly of San Angelo, Texas and surrounding areas with one hot, nutritious, home-delivered meal each weekday, while also ensuring their individual well-being through personal contact.

Their website also shares that good nutrition helps improve the health and well-being of the elderly and improves their quality of life. Meals for the Elderly's goal is to help the elderly live independently, in their own homes, for as long as possible. Recipients are over sixty-five years of age who are homebound, are physically or mentally unable to prepare nutritious meals for themselves, and have no one to help them on a regular basis.

If you would like more information, to donation or sign up to be a volunteer for Meals for the Elderly, simply visit www.mealsfortheelderly.org.

Santa Rita Times Puzzles

Organized & Designed by Avry Samaniego & Lilliana Gaitan

Directions: Use the words from the word bank to fill in the blank and complete each song lyric.

1. Hark! The herald __________ sing.

2. All of the other reindeer, used to __________ and __________ him names.

3. Last Christmas I gave you my __________ but the very next day you gave it away.

4. Dashing through the snow, on a __________ __________ __________ sleigh.

Word Bank:
pear
one
open
Christmas
angel
laugh
horse
call
heart
New Year

5. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy __________ __________ .

6. One the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me: a partridge in a __________ tree.

7. I’m dreaming of a white __________ .

ANSWERS: 1. angel; 2. laugh, call; 3. heart; 4. one, horse, open; 5. New Year; 6. pear; 7. Christmas