Cornell Chronicle

“Christmas trees help keep land open for birds and wild-life and because it is managed land, they help keep invasive plants out. Not to mention, they support the local economy.

“The fresher the tree the better, which is a good reason to buy local.

“New York is eighth in the country for Christmas tree production with over 320 Christmas tree growers.

“Most New York state farms are choose-and-cut operations, some have pre-cut trees and you can ask the grower about how long they have been cut. Some also have tree lots in town so ask at your local lot where the trees are coming from."

Wysocki says:

“The calm before the storm is upon us as a large shield of altostratus clouds move ahead from the strong coastal storm. The storm is organizing well as the northern and southern branches of the Polar Jet merge over the Ohio River valley.

“The costal storm is gaining strength and the numerical weather models are coming into agreement as to the types and amounts of precipitation. There will be a mixture of rain, sleet, and snow from Boston to Albany to Wilkes-Barre to Roanoke today. Travel will be impacted this afternoon and evening with slippery roads and periods of heavy snowfall.”

"If the Polar Jet allows cold Canadian air to penetrate southward to Texas, then the storm track changes, to where storms originate over the Gulf region of Texas and then move up along the East Coast.  If this pattern ‘locks-in’, which it seems to be doing, then we (the Northeast) will have a higher frequency for coastal storms for the beginning of winter. 

“So far for the month of November we are 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit below average, and with the forecast for 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit below average for the period Saturday through Thursday, this cold trend will continue.”

Pillemer says:

Establish a moratorium on criticism. Research shows a single negative interaction overpowers many positive ones. So, make provocative comments out of bounds. Let the holiday be a break from trying to change one another. Instead, compartmentalize Thanksgiving as a “correction-free zone.”

Take politics off of the table. To avoid conflict, deflect political conversations or exit the situation if you find things becoming heated. Another idea is to use “compassionate curiosity,” asking for more information and trying to understand the underlying causes of a political belief you find offensive.

Get outside. Especially in bad weather, Thanksgiving gatherings can become literal hothouses, with large families squeezed into small spaces. To reduce stress, get everyone outside. Some families have a traditional touch football game (even more fun in snow). Organize walks or hikes; studies show that exposure to nature is a major stress-reducer.  

Bring back traditions. One way to emphasize family solidarity is to hearken back to old family traditions and activities. Bring out the old board games instead of electronic ones. Find recipes for dishes you loved as a child. Even better, bring the elders in your family into the picture by having the younger members ask them about their histories, values, and advice. A holiday like Thanksgiving is an ideal time to make the past alive in the present.

Extend an olive branch. Our studies show more than one-fifth of Americans are currently estranged from one or more relatives. Thanksgiving is an ideal time to reach out to an estranged relative, possibly with an invitation to the holiday gathering, but even an email or a Facebook friend request can start the reconciliation process.