SUMMIT--Patch reporter, David Scherzer, compiled a video of your resolutions for 2011.

Just as "It must be 5 o'clock somewhere" enables us to make a cocktail at any time of the day, "It must be New Year's Eve somewhere" gives parents of young children a chance to set the schedule for ringing in 2011.  Why wait for the ball to drop at midnight in Times Square when it most likely means everything else will drop? Years ago, we wondered, why not celebrate with any other city east of us at a more reasonable hour? Then we can send the kids to bed and have our own celebration.  We choose France because their midnight is our 6 p.m. How civil! We do all the same countdowns, horn blowing…

Finding the perfect champagne to ring in the New Year can be an unnecessary source of stress. Would you rather have dry or fruity? What are your guests preferences? Is there a champagne that will leave you feeling significantly lifted, rather than lifting a significant wad from your wallet? Fear not, oenophiles! Patch has you covered on all things sparkling and toasted.  Before you buy, a little history: champagne is created exclusively in the Champagne region in France. The beverage first earned acclaim and renown due to its association with the anointment of French kings. While true …

The countdown is on. Only a few days left if you're holding a New Year's Eve party this Friday. Patch spoke to area food and party experts around the area to put together some helpful tips to make your party the most memorable of 2010. Maria Tisdall of Cheese ... Please in Cranford said that cheese and crackers is a staple for any New Year's Eve party. She recommends using unique cheeses that may spark guests to talk about them. "It's always nice to have something at your party that inspires conversation," Tisdall said. She recommends Saint-Andre, goat cheese and brie. And don't forget about …

Are you still looking for something to do on New Year's Eve? Well, if you like Broadway music, you're in luck. TheWestfield Symphony Orchestra will be performing The Great American Songbook – a review of American musical theater classics featuring four nationally-renowned soloists. "The concert has become a musical event eagerly anticipated by much of central New Jersey and has gained incredible momentum over recent years," said David Wroe, the Symphony's artistic director. Soprano Michele Ragusa, who recently starred as Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein, Penny and Hope in Urinetown and Evelyn …

Members of the Summit Fire Department arrived at the Pediatric Center in Overlook Hospital with a welcome guest on Christmas Eve: Santa Claus! For more than 30 years, the fire department has spent Christmas Eve with Santa as they make their way through the hospital visiting all the boys and girls.  Children receive gifts and get some one-on-one time with Santa himself.

We asked residents of Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Springfield to share with us their wished for this Christmas. Take a listen to what they said!

The lights, the tree, the gifts, the cooking, the baking, the visiting or visitors–sometimes the holidays don't seem very merry at all. With the increased activity comes increased stress that can wreak havoc if you let it. This year, we're preparing in advance to fend off the holiday blues.  We turned to an expert: Dr. Dennis Sandrock, a Clark psychologist, has seen how quickly the holidays can frazzle even the most even-keel folks. First and foremost, says Sandrock, is to set realistic expectations. Here, he shared with us his best tips for reducing holiday stress: Create your own personal …

We asked residents of Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Springfield to share with us their favorite Christmas gifts. Take a listen to what they said!

Here we are, in the celebratory final week of December, and for most of us that means looking forward to some of life's greatest pleasures: spending time with family, giving and receiving presents, and perhaps enjoying the first picturesque snowfall of the year. But we all know the reality of the holiday season. Time with family means a 45-minute conversation with crazy Aunt Shelley; giving and receiving presents means dealing with stampeding crowds at the mall; and the first snowfall of the year means shoveling six inches off your driveway so you can make it to work by 7:30. The holiday …

Members of the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad brought some holiday cheer to Overlook Hospital Tuesday. Santa and an Elf helper passed out candy canes to patients and staff and even handed out a few presents. Check out who Santa wished a Merry Christmas to this year.

Maybe they're thinking green (or maybe they're just thinking about saving some green), but more than a third of New Jersey residents admit to "regifting" in the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll. "The popularity of regifting is driven by many things for different people," said Burçak Ertimur, a professor of marketing at FDU's Silberman College of Business. "For some, it's thrift in difficult economic times, or it's a way to get around annoyingly high expectations about gift-giving.  It's also awareness of, or guilt over, how much stuff goes into the landfill. But the main …

While trendy presents come and go, the joy of a new pet remains one of the most popular gifts each holiday season. Patch reached out to a few local pet experts to provide tips for those who plan on bringing a four-legged family member into their home this holiday. Prospective dog and cat owners are encouraged to educate themselves on the responsibilities of creating a safe and healthy environment for the animal. Besides the cold weather, there are various dangers that new pets are faced with this time of year, so it's important to pet-proof your home. The hectic side of the holidays can often…

Each season provides opportunities for anyone with a camera to take fantastic photos that become family heirlooms, hilarious reminders of wonderful gatherings and touching mementos of milestone moments. But celebrating the winter holidays provides a number of challenges — whether you're shooting inside in candlelight, by the fire, around the Christmas tree, or outside in bitter cold, wind, or snow. For years, I have taught the principles of winter photography at my International Photographic Workshops of Grand Fenway. Dozens of students paid thousands of Zeligs to learn these techniques (How …

White or colored? Wreaths or bows? Inflatable statue or snow globe? These are a few questions Summit residents consider when decorating for the holiday season. While traditional white lights and wreaths appear to be the popular combination around the city, some families get creative with inflatable figures, light sculptures and spotlights. To capture the spirit of the season, Summit Patch bundled up and hit the streets to catch sight of some holiday standouts. See your house in this gallery? Tell us in the comments section! Is your home dressed for the holidays? Add it to our photo gallery!

The holiday season is here and before running around scrambling to buy gifts, cards, trees, lights and decorations galore, take a moment to remember what the holidays really mean and how you can celebrate without harming our environment.   According to National Geographic, between Thanksgiving and New Years, Americans throw away an extra million tons of garbage each week. This additional trash includes holiday wrapping, packaging, cards, food, paper plates, napkins, party decorations, bottles, cans, and more. So, with that in mind, here are 10 helpful ideas, along with some interesting facts…

In "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," Aunt Bethany looked at the thousands of lights on the Griswald house and asked if it was on fire. The Westfield Fire Department is offering some tips for residents so they only get asked if their house is on fire and not seeing it go up in flames. First, if you're still using those big colored bulbs to light your Christmas tree, take them down right away. "A lot of people like those. But if the tree is dry and the lights are hot, they can catch fire," said Deputy Fire Chief Ken Dannevig. Dannevig said people should use the small white or colored …

For Charity: The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad is selling trees in their parking lot on Elm Street for the fifth straight year. However, the sale was previously organized by the Summit Area Jaycees and has been going on for more than 30 years. All the proceeds from tree sales go directly to benefit the first aid squad. Trees will be available until Christmas Eve. The sale is open weekdays from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and weekends 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. This year the sale will offer: Douglas Fir - 6 feet and up Balsam Fir - from 4 feet to 12 feet Balsam Fir - table top trees from 12 to 18 …

The holiday season has officially started! Santa paraded through town, ice scupltures were made and the tree was lit on the Village Green. Check out our photo gallery of this weekend's holiday kickoff downtown.

The Summit Police Department and Summit Fire Department's have teamed up to help collect toys for children for the holidays as part of the Marine Corps. Toys for Tots program. Collection bins for new, unwrapped toys are up from now until Dec. 15 at Bouras Properties, Summit Hardware, Starbucks, Somerset Hills Bank, the Summit Post Office, City Hall and the Summit Fire Headquarters. Overlook Hospital is also participating and will have a storefront display at 357 Springfield Ave. Firefighter Tim Duetsch said when Summit first began participating in the program seven years ago they has a …