On Dec. 2 and 3, in conjunction with the Lassen County Times Sleigh Days promotion, The Health Nut will be celebrating its 16th anniversary. Kristin and Keith Volberg opened the original Health Nut in Historic Uptown Susanville in December 1995. Two years later they moved to their current location at 2204 Main St. in midtown Susanville. The Health Nut staff invites everyone to stop by for the festivities on Friday Dec. 2. They will be offering gluten-free foods for tasting as well as other healthy hors d'oeurves and hot apple cider. Be sure to enter the free drawing for a $100 gift certificate and other prizes. Free samples of many products will also be available while supplies last.

A NEW SHOPPING TRADITION CONTINUES

With the holidays just around the corner coupled with the state of our sagging economy, this special shop-at-home challenge, first made two years ago, bears renewing for one very good reason: it’s been taken to heart by a lot of folks and it has helped. Merchants repeatedly have told us last year and the year before it was very common for shoppers to tell them they were participating in the “challenge” to help bolster our local economy.

So here it is again:

If our newspaper readers each spent just $100 shopping at home this holiday season, it would pump more than $2 million into the Lassen County economy — and that’s based on a conservative average of just two readers per newspaper delivered each week.

It could be gifts from your favorite stores; maybe gift certificates from local restaurants, beauty salons, massage therapists, auto detailers or other service providers. How about having your vehicle serviced before making that holiday drive to be with out-of-area friends or relatives? If you did have it serviced with this campaign in mind, that too counts towards our goal.

You get the idea, just look around town thinking creatively outside the box. You’re sure to find something for someone special — even if that someone special is you!

LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN

There is a lot of holiday fun happening in Susanville this week. It's the kickoff of Santa's Sleigh Days with a special edition in today's paper. Be sure and browse through the special section to see what great things are happening at the local participating businesses. On Friday, you will find free hors d'oeuvres at those local businesses. Be sure and visit them all to win your share of a $500 shopping spree. It's a great way to start the Christmas holiday season, and our local businesses will certainly appreciate your shopping locally.

Beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, the Magical Country Christmas celebration begins in Uptown Susanville. Once again the Susanville Police Department will have Main Street blocked off to through traffic allowing for music and dance performances in the middle of the street. The Lassen County Arts Council hosts its annual Chocolate Festival beginning at 5 p.m., and the Elks Lodge offers its Taco Feed, also beginning at 5 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., Santa's Grand Entrance Parade, tree lighting and fireworks will begin. All day that day you can bring your toy donations to the Toys for Tots drive held at the Elks Lodge from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The stores in the Uptown area will be open late for your holiday shopping convenience.

DONATIONS TO THE SENIOR BASKETS

The Lassen Modoc Food Bank is asking for canned and non-perishable food items for its Senior Christmas Baskets.These baskets will be distributed throughout many parts of the county.Containers are located at Golden One Credit Union, Plumas Bank, Bank of America and Lassen Federal Credit Union.They hope to make this a little better and brighter Christmas for many of our county’s senior residents.

CHRISTMAS IN THE MOUNTAINS

Enjoy the fun under the moonlit skies as Westwood celebrates its 3rd annual Christmas in the Mountains, from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 2. The event will be held at the Westwood Community Center, Birch and 3rd streets. The festivities include booths of treats and crafts from local businesses and organizations, plus they will be lighting the town tree. There will be a light parade, good food, good fun and of course a visit from the jolly old guy himself, Santa. For more information or to have a booth or entry call the Westwood Chamber of Commerce at 256-2456.