Johnston Gift Shop 'Wraps' Third Year Decorating Twin River Casino

Wishes Under Wrap owner Laurie Langford recently spoke about this year's work getting Twin River ready for the holidays.

  This year marks the last of a three-year contract for Wishes Under Wrap, a gift shop located on Greenville Avenue, to decorate Twin River Casino in Lincoln. Wishes Under Wrap owner Laurie Langford recently spoke about her experience getting the contract, how this year's displays build on what she's done in the past, and how decking the halls at Twin River mark the beginning of a busy — and exciting — holiday season for her business. Check out the accompanying video for an interview with Langford and a look at some of the Twin River decorations.

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Check Out the New Photos in Our Community Gallery

Shelley Harrison Feinstein recently added shots from the Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School holiday sale.

5 Things for Thursday: More Sun, Tasty Treats, Bright Lights & More

Start your day the right way with a check of Johnston events, news, and celebrity birthdays.

  Johnston Weather: Tasty Treats: Marian J. Mohr Library in Johnston hosts Edible Art, a chance for students in grades 6 to 12 to make something yummy for the holidays. Starts at 2:30 pm. Bright Lights: Is your abode awash in colors? Are your mechanical reindeer grazing on your roof? Show off your holiday decorations in the Patch Deck the House Contest — you could win $100,000 for Johnston schools and $500 to defray the electric bill. Post It: It may not be a sticky note, but an entry on the JohnstonPatch calendar is as good as one — click here to add your event to the calendar [Patch profile or Facebook account required]. Celebrity Birthdays:

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5 Things To Know Today

Five Things for Wednesday: Sunny, Hobbit, Lights, Giving & More

Get your mid-week pick-me-up with a check of weather, news, and celebrity birthdays.

  Johnston Weather: Hobbit: Celebrate the book The Hobbit — before Peter Jackson got his hands on it and turned it into a three-film epic — tonight at 6 pm at Mohr Library in Johnston [The first installment opens tomorrow night — check Moviefone.com for times and tickets.] Lights: For some people, there's just no limit to how they'll light up their homes for the holidays — still, National Grid offers a few energy savings tips to hold down the electric bill. And if you're thinking more of the revenue side of the equation, you could win $500 toward your electric bill in the Patch "Deck the House" contest. Giving: A special tip of the Santa hat to the folks over at FM Global in Johnston, who this week announced that they've contributed more …

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Share Your Holiday Pet Photos

Upload your photo here to share your cute getups with your Braintree neighbors.

Sure, Halloween offers a limitless variety of costume ideas for your dog or cat (or teacup pig [?!] — but nothing that offers the cuteness of your pet with a Christmas tree, a Santa hat and a string of multi-colored lights. Or even with the Big Guy himself. Did you make your pet sit, uncomfortable and annoyed, for a few minutes while you took photos for a greeting card or just for fun? Share your photos here with the rest of Johnston and comment below on your favorites.

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JohnstonPatch Asks... You Answer

Do You Say 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy Holidays'?

You might be surprised at the results of a poll on the subject.

  Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? When it comes to season’s greetings, a new poll shows the majority of Americans prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays.” According to a survey from Rasmussen Reports, 68 percent of people polled prefer the traditional “Merry Christmas” while just 23 percent like "Happy Holidays," which can cover a variety of occasions. When it comes to holiday signs, a whopping 70 percent of shoppers polled said they prefer to be greeted with “Merry Christmas” in stores rather than the more neutral Happy Holidays, according to a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. It doesn't end there. There have been "Christmas Trees" banned or replaced with "Holiday Trees," nativity scenes scrapped to avoid offending …

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Robert E

6:58 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The problem I have with the Christians is not the religion but the fact that they want everyone to be Christian. They for the most part don't seem to understand that not everybody is a Christian. The thing I have found is many Christians have very little knowledge of their own bible they only know what their priest/minister tells them but few read the whole thing for themselves. I just get tired …   more ›

Win $100,000 for Johnston Schools in Our 'Deck the House' Contest

If you've got a great-looking house decked out for the holidays, show it off — and you could win big money for Johnston schools!