This Week on Patch

Holiday Guide, Year's Top Stories Ahead This Week

A look at what to expect from Chatham Patch this week.

Each Monday we welcome you back to the work week with a look at what to expect in the Chathams. From content you'll find on Patch as the week goes on to community activities, here's what you need to know this week: 1) You need to know where Santa Claus is: And we can help you with that! We have a Santa tracker for you and your family. 2) You need to know what to do when Christmas is over: We'll have information on getting rid of your tree. 3) You need to know what to expect from the new year: We'll share information on recycling and trash collection for you. 4) You need to know about 2012: We'll recap the biggest stories of the last year, and ask for your thoughts on the movers and shakers of 2012.

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Where's Santa? Track Him Live

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that now offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.

They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and left cookies and milk for his arrival. Now the only thing left for children to do is track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can now follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page, which has more than …

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When Will Santa Be in Your Neighborhood?

NORAD tries to predict when you might expect St. Nick coming to your home.

For 364 days out of the year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spends its time tracking airplanes, missiles, space ships—anything flying near the United States and Canada. But on Christmas Eve, a team of volunteers spends the night tracking a very special pilot: Santa Claus. "We are the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications and the people to do it," NORAD said on its website. "NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house." Santa usually starts at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west, NORAD noticed, meaning he moves from the South Pacific to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe …

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Laura Madsen

10:31 am on Saturday, December 24, 2011

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Get Out

See Jets' Tannenbaum Light a Menorah

Family activities for the holidays.

One of the reasons why we all enjoy the holidays is because it's a traditional time of year, where the customs and events we have celebrated for years come back once more. Santa Claus traditionally makes Chatham his last stop before he packs up his sleigh, and he's back again this year. Check out all these local traditions, new and old: Mike Tannenbaum Lights the Menorah When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Reasoner Park, Fairmount Avenue and Firehouse Plaza Why go: Because how often does a Christmas tree light a menorah? Celebrate the Festival of Lights, returning to Chatham for the fourth year, with Rabbi Shalom Lubin, local officials and the Jets' general manager. Price: Free. Firefighters Host Santa Claus When/Where: 2 p.m. Saturday, …

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