OMG PD

OMG PD: Mrs. 'Grinch' Sentenced to Prison for Menacing on Christmas

This week's stories include a woman who is heading to prison after assaulting her husband for buying lousy Christmas presents, a missing cactus in Whitemarsh, and an assault with a lacrosse stick.

You're a Mean One, Mrs. Grinch: According to a report in the Lansdale Patch, a 51-year-old woman will spend up to 23 months in prison after she menaced her husband with a butcher knife on Christmas. The woman – whom the prosecutor referred to as "the Grinch on steroids" – was reportedly unhappy with the presents her husband had purchased. Specifically, she wanted jewels and a card, but she received an artsy tile and a Bonsai. Click here to read the full story. Boy Attacks Father with Lacrosse Stick: According to a report in the Pottstown Patch, a 16-year-old received a referral on charges of simple assault and harassment, stemming from an incident with his father. The report states that the son allegedly punched his father in the face, …

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It's Not too Early to Think About Next Christmas

Take advantage of after-Christmas sales to save big for next year.

On Dec. 26, many retailers slashed the price of their Christmas goods, as well as many of the products they overstocked but didn't sell during the Christmas shopping rush. Their loss is your gain: You can save 50 to 75 percent, and in some cases even more, on gift wrap and decor for next Christmas, and consumer goods you can use now and all year long. Retailers slash prices on other goods this time of year, to encourage shoppers who received gift cards to get out and buy. So if you're not totally shopped out, here's a how-to guide on getting great post-Christmas deals: What to Buy Gift wrap - Wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, gift tags, boxes, tape, ribbon, bows. Since it never goes bad, you can buy for next year and beyond. Also …

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Watch: Oldest Recording of Family at Christmas

Found in a British family's attic, recordings more than a century old carry the ghostly voices of a family celebrating Christmas.

A box of wax cylinders discovered in a London attic held a special heirloom for one British family — and also what may be the oldest surviving recording of a family at Christmas. The recordings were made on an old phonograph by the family’s patriarch, Cromwell Wall. They were passed down to Wall’s grandson, David Brown, who didn’t know what was recorded on them and didn’t have the equipment to play them. Watch the video to learn what happened.

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How to Make Fruitcake You'll Actually Eat

The batter is so good, it's hard not to eat it all before you put it in the oven.

Fruitcakes have become a punchline: the gift nobody wants to receive, the holiday treat that nobody wants to actually eat. But fruitcakes used to be as central to Christmas cuisine as cranberries or stuffing are to Thanksgiving. There is such a thing as delicious fruitcake, and this video will show you how to make it. Hint: get ready to raid your liquor cabinet.

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Last Day to Vote for National Finalists in Patch's 'Deck the House' Contest

The winner will net $100,000 for their local school district on Dec. 29

We had tons of national entries in this year’s Deck the House contest and in our quest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in the country, we’ve seen everything from a life-size Santa to holiday lights so bright they could blind the neighbors. We loved showcasing everyone’s holiday spirit, but Deck the House isn’t over yet. We’re still looking for the one home so spectacularly decorated that it could be the national grand prize winner of our contest. We have chosen 25 finalists from all our entries across the country. From Dec. 18 to today at noon, readers can vote for their favorite, and that favorite could win $100,000 for his or her local school district. All you have to do is visit this page to browse a gallery of the …

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White House Christmas Cards: 1945 to the Present

As 'highly sought after collectibles,' Dr. Lori takes a look at Christmas Cards from the President and family over the years.

President Ulysses S. Grant made Christmas Day (Dec. 25) a national holiday in 1870. From that point forward, a Christmas card from the White House was a special keepsake.   While these cards are highly sought after collectibles, these coveted Christmas cards are rare and do not come to the antiques and collectibles market without a high sales value. Here is a look at some of the facts surrounding the official holiday card from the President of the United States. President Truman took office after President Roosevelt’s death in April of 1945. As World War II came to an end and Christmas of 1945 was upon the nation, the mood was ripe for a great big holiday celebration. The Truman White House sent out official, yet conservative White House …

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Gallery: Christmas in Skippack

Photos from Skippack's Jack Frost Friday and Illuminaire Nights.

Skippack shoppers enjoyed Jack Frost Friday and Illuminaire Nights on Dec. 7, and Patch was on hand to snap some photos. Village visitors took in the lit-up village, and participated in a shopping challenge.

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Pennypacker Mills to Present Victorian Christmas Open House

The historical Schwenksville site will hold a holiday event on Dec. 8 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

  Pennypacker Mills will hold a Victorian Christmas Open House on Dec. 8 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the mansion on Haldeman Road in Schwenksville. The event will feature a tour of the home, decorated with Victorian flair. Tour guides will share details about what Christmas would have been like 100 years ago. Living historians will also be on hand to share a social history of the holidays. The Limerick Chapel’s “Ring the Praise” bell choir will perform on the mansion porch, and the Montgomery County Community College Chamber Choir will perform Christmas carols at 5 p.m. On the second floor of the mansion, visitors can learn more about holiday traditions meant for children in the 1900s, including a nativity scene, Christmas candy, and what …

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Gallery: Collegeville Christmas Tree Lighting

The Collegeville Economic Development Corporation Hosted an evening of holiday fun, including a visit from Santa and the lighting of the Collegeville Christmas tree.

Collegeville residents "got jolly" with the Collegeville Main Street program on Dec. 1, celebrating the holiday spirit with a number of events. Thanks to sponsorships from PNC Bank at Providence Town Center, Justin Bartomolucci's Edward Jones Financial Services, the Law Firm of Miller Turetsky Ruly & McLennan, The Valley Forge Running Company and Sol Angel, the holiday festivities expanded from last year.. The festivities kicked off at 3:30 p.m. with a Jingle Jog through the streets of Collegeville and the Perkiomen trail. A Holiday Bazaar was hold at the same time next to DaVinci's pub, offering residents unique gift options and food. Beginning at 4 p.m., The Community Music School and The Dance Depot provided entertainment, and event-…

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