Salon Owner's Inspiring Journey
Salon owner SarahBess Brown has been organizing this seasonal event for four years. Initially, the donations benefited Toys for Tots. However, after her cousin's battle with cancer and passing away, she decided to switch to a more local charity that her cousin was involved with - Brennan’s Blessings. This charity was created in honor of Brennan Daigle, who passed away in 2011 after battling rhabdomyosarcoma. It helps families of children with cancer. Brown and other volunteers load up the toys, donations, and bikes and bring them to the organization using a rental truck.Brown started the Grinchmas event to inspire happiness around the holidays, especially for those facing added stress. She said, "And now that we’re doing something for kids with cancer, it really helps families and kids that are already dealing with something that’s just unimaginable on a daily basis. It brings even more hope and just a glimmer of light into a situation that a lot of people can’t even fathom."
Growing Donation Success
Each year, the Grinchmas event has been able to bring in more toy donations. Last year, they had 12 overfilled, tall boxes full of toys. This year, the event will have a raffle for the first time. All proceeds from the raffle will go to Brennan’s Blessings. For $5 a ticket, entrants can enter the running for a 13th Gate Escape game (up to 8 players), a prize valued at $281.47. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time or during the event. The drawing will be held at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 7, and the winner does not have to be present to win.Those who bring in a new toy for donation can take a photo with the Grinch for free and leave with a photo in hand. The Grinch interacts with all the guests, along with a "Santa princess" who is also a local author. Other characters like some Who’s will also be present this year, making it a fun and enjoyable day for children and adults.
Ways to Contribute
For those who can't attend the event or wish to contribute in other ways, there are plenty of options. They can send toys to the salon via Amazon, contribute cash, or become a sponsor. Brown said the community always comes through for this event.Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Your Kids, Your Rules
It is completely reasonable for you to want your kids' faces off the web. The fact remains that creeps often scan public accounts in search of children to prey on. Moreover, it has become easier than ever for pedophiles to pose as kids and groom your child on platforms like Snapchat and Roblox. Posting your kids on Facebook or Instagram essentially gives Meta the green light to use those images to train its AI models. Unfortunately, the law is lagging behind in this regard. As parents, it is our responsibility to safeguard our children.Related: Stop Facebook from using your data to train AISocial media applications on an iPhone screen. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Keep Things Drama-Free
Avoid an awkward situation by informing people before a gathering. Most people have good intentions, but they may not be aware of the risks associated with sharing kids' photos online, especially if they are not parents themselves. This is about you and your kids, not about them. Use "I" and "we" statements and avoid telling others how to parent. Share your reasoning or simply send them a link to this story. Be clear and firm and leave no room for ambiguity when it comes to public posting. Have the conversation one-on-one, either via email or text, in a private setting rather than in a group message.SMARTPHONE TRICKS EVERY IPHONE AND ANDROID USER SHOULD KNOWI've prepared an example for you to copy: "Hey, I wanted to let you know in advance that we'd like to keep photos of the kids off the internet for privacy and safety reasons. (We came across some stories that really scared us!) If you could refrain from posting pics of them on social media, we would truly appreciate it!"Related: The secret to get better pics of you and your familyIf It's Already Posted...
Don't panic. Reach out to the person as soon as possible and ask them to remove the post by providing a link to the specific post. I recommend using text for this rather than leaving a comment on a public post, as it may feel like you are publicly calling them out. Use this message: "Hey, I completely forgot to mention this, but we are keeping pictures of the kids offline for now. Could you take this post down or repost it with their faces hidden? An emoji works great!"Related: Posting pics of kids on social media: Do’s and don’tsThe Safest Way to Share Pics with Friends
Not sharing photos of your kids publicly doesn't mean you can't share at all. My suggestion is to create an invite-only album for close family and friends.In Google Photos: You can do this on your phone or computer. Just open the Google Photos app or website.On a computer: Click Photos and select the photo you want to share. At the top, click the + icon > Shared album > New shared album. Add a title, then hit Share. You can choose to create a link, search for contacts or share on social media.On mobile: Tap the + icon > Album. Name your album and add the photos you want to share. Select Get Link to generate a private link, add specific email addresses or share through a messaging app or social media.Finally, make sure the Link Sharing toggle is off for maximum privacy, so only invited users can view the album.In Apple Photos: You can create and share on your iPhone, iPad or Mac using the Photos app.First, you need to enable Shared Albums.On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos, then turn on Shared Albums.On a Mac: Open the Photos app. From the menu bar at the top, choose Photos > Settings. (In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Photos > Preferences.) Select the iCloud tab, then Shared Albums.Now create and share your album.On Mac or iPhone/iPad running iOS 18: In Photos, scroll down to Shared Albums > Shared Albums > Create. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address or add iMessage phone number. Tap Done.On iOS 17 or earlier: Go to Albums > + (add button) > New Shared Album. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address or add iMessage phone number.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPGet tech-smarter at your own pace. Award-winning host Kim Komando is your go-to resource for navigating the tech world.Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.Unlock Big Savings at Crystal Mountain's Ski Season
When is Kids Ski Free Week at Crystal Mountain?
Kids Ski Free Week commences on Saturday, Dec. 7 and continues through Friday, Dec. 13 at Crystal Mountain. Additionally, another Kids Ski Free promotion is set to take place during the month of April. The resort made this exciting announcement on Nov. 18, stating that kids aged 12 and under will be able to obtain up to seven lift tickets at one of the 15 Alterra Mountain Company's North American mountain destinations during this special week. Kids can enjoy a free lift ticket for each day they visit Crystal Mountain within the specified periods: Dec. 7-13 and April 1-30. Tickets can be conveniently purchased on the resort's online ticket calendar. It is essential to plan ahead and secure your ideal skiing date before lift tickets sell out. It's important to note that Kids Ski Free Week at Crystal Mountain does not cover the cost of lessons and gear rentals.
The variety of skiing destinations within the Alterra Mountain Company is truly remarkable. From Arapahoe Basin in Colorado to Blue Mountain in Ontario, Crystal Mountain in Washington, June Mountain in California, Schweitzer in Idaho, Snow Valley in Southern California, Steamboat in Colorado, Sugarbush in Vermont, Winter Park Resort in Colorado, Big Bear Mountain Resort in Southern California, Deer Valley Resort in Utah, Mammoth Mountain in Southern California, Palisades Tahoe in California, Snowshoe in West Virginia, Solitude Mountain in Utah, Stratton Mountain in Vermont, Tremblant in Quebec, and even including Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in British Columbia and CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures in British Columbia, there is a skiing experience for every enthusiast.
Are there any Black Friday, Cyber Monday deals at Crystal Mountain?
Absolutely! Crystal Mountain is offering an incredible deal of $99 daily lift tickets for adults and $47 tickets for seniors and kids during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This offer is valid until Dec. 2, providing a great opportunity for families and skiing enthusiasts to enjoy the slopes at an affordable price.
Crystal Mountain continues to be a hub of winter sports excitement, with these special deals adding to the allure. Whether you're a local or a visitor, there's no better time to hit the slopes and make the most of the winter season. Stay tuned for more updates and news from Crystal Mountain as the ski season progresses.