As a rule, expect stores and offices to be closed on Christmas Day. But then again, rules are meant to be broken. From medical emergencies to coffee runs, these local businesses are prepared to meet your Christmas Day needs. Safeway9645 Belair Road You know the feeling. You're in the middle of cooking your grandmother's secret holiday recipe when you realize you forgot to buy the secret ingredient. Fortunately for you, Safeway will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. Patient First8830 Belair Road Perry Hall's Patient First doesn't close on holidays (sometime I'll tell you …

Kevin Klein of Perry Hall is the only cellist studying at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex. This worked to the 18-year-old's advantage when Pi Theta Eta, the school's music association, approached him about participating in a holiday album. In collaboration with more than a dozen other musicians, the finished compilation of classic carols, "Pi Theta Eta Does Christmas," was announced by CCBC officials this week. Klein, who began playing cello in the fourth grade, accompanies "What Child is This?" and "O Holy Night." Both are available for digital download or on an eight-track …

Remember when we used cameras with film? And remember that little window on the back of the camera telling you that there were only three photos left, and then you'd panic because it was your job to take the pre-Christmas dinner extended family portraits? Those days are over. We now have digital cameras and cell phones and you can take all the pictures you want. Embrace the new age of photographic gluttony by adding your best holiday photos to this story. We want to see pictures of everything—Christmas morning, wrapping paper tearing, lavish meals, glittering holiday ornaments, sugar cookies…

Christmas has gone to the dogs—or the cats, hamsters or goldfish, depending on your preference. One sure sign of the holiday season is that pet-owners have begun dressing up and posing their pets in front of Christmas trees, wearing Santa hats and chewing on holiday toys. It's all for the sake of a taking a few photos that will inevitably end up as Facebook posts or TwitPics.  So, why not post your holiday pet pictures here? We'd love to see them. Simply add them directly to this story by clicking the "Add" button under the photo gallery. Thanks, everybody! I can't wait to see your photos.

'Twas the night before Christmas Perry Hall was awakeReading Perry Hall Patch hoping news would soon breakThe website was launched in September with care,In hopes that great content soon would be there.Local news could be sketchy, before this websiteWe hardly could tell if the facts were all rightMamma loved the newspaper I thought TV was greatWe'd accepted the fact that we'd get our news late.When in the community, there arose such a buzzAbout the new Patch—I had to know what it was.I asked my close friend, who heard from her sitterWhose sister's boyfriend had read all about it on Twitter.So…

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is charged with keeping the United States and Canada safe from dangers originating from the sky or space. Tonight, however, the Colorado-based government agency adds one more important task to its daily list of duties. The agency will again provide its Official Santa Tracker that marks The Big Man's every move as he makes his way throughout both hemispheres. Included on the site is a countdown and activity page and a flight tracking system. Kids and adults can enjoy this very entertaining site that will have sugar plums dancing through …

Will Perry Hall look like a "picture print by Currier & Ives" on Christmas Day? According to online weather reports, snow will most likely come the day after Christmas and continue into Monday, Dec. 27. Here's what the National Weather Service, Weather.com, AccuWeather.com and Weather Underground predict for this weekend: Friday, Dec. 24 Saturday, Dec. 25 Sunday, Dec. 26 National Weather Service  Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Northwest wind between 14 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. …

Luckily, you don't have to travel far this holiday season to find decorated streets and homes all aglow. My family and I have driven the streets of Perry Hall many times over the past few weeks enjoying the local decorations. While we certainly tried, we haven't even covered half of Perry Hall. Our goal has been simple: Find homes that have gone all out, Griswold holiday spectacle-style. So, hop in your car just after dark and put on some holiday music. We even put our kids in their pajamas and had a bag of treats to share. Then start exploring your own neighborhood! Just drive around. You …

Since September, members of the Arnolia United Methodist Church Handbell Choir have gathered at their Parkville church to prepare for Christmastime performances. Under the direction of Music Director Joel Hinck, the choir learned to chime out several tintinnabular carols. Last week, the 15-person choir brought their bells to the meeting room of the Perry Hall Library for a community concert. "Carol of the Bells," because of its speed and variations was their most challenging and successful piece, said Hinck. "It's easy for me; I just stand in front," he said. "Everyone did a great job."  A…

A three-decades-old Perry Hall tradition illustrates the Christmas story in a vivid way—with a worship service held in a barn. As the sun sank into pale gold light across the frozen fields on Sunday, Dec. 19, while many local residents watched the fourth quarter of the Ravens game, about 50 worshipers gathered in a barn on Carl Klausmeier's Perry Hall farm. A quiet reverence filled the barn as worshipers settled onto blankets spread across straw bales in the deepening cold. "This is a longstanding tradition, and it's good to gather in a barn and celebrate what God has done for us," said …

Don't be surprised if you see Santa forgoing his reindeer-operated sleigh in favor of a present-packed train engine this year—at least in Maryland. The Christmas tradition of model locomotives set in the quaint backdrop of snow-capped villages is one that has captivated train fans of all generations. Thanks to the efforts of Maryland fire departments and specialty museums, you too, can hop aboard the tradition this holiday season while appreciating the cultural heritage of the yuletide ride. Enthusiasts of miniature train gardens explain the custom comes to Maryland courtesy of its German …

This week, the Woman's Club of Perry Hall provided free gift wrapping to customers at the Barnes and Noble bookstore on the Avenue at White Marsh.  Barnes and Noble has collaborated with the club in this service project for several years, said event coordinator Dawn Donovan. The store provides the space, wrapping paper, tape and scissors for gift wrapping customers' gifts. The club provides volunteers. Donovan said, "This is a free service with donations accepted for the various organizations that the club helps to support over the course of the year." Recent beneficiaries of the Woman's …

As Christmas approaches, the churches of Perry Hall and Kingsville prepare for special worship services. Whether you're a Sunday regular or new to the community and looking for a church, we've compiled a list of Christmas services and masses for your holiday planning. Camp Chapel United Methodist Church5000 East Joppa Rd., 410-256-5561 Dec. 24, 4:30 p.m., Children's Service Dec. 24, 8 p.m., 11 p.m., Candlelight Service Faith Fellowship Church4375 Ebenezer Rd., 410-256-3900 Dec. 24, 7:30 p.m., Celebrate Jesus, our LIGHT Candlelight Service Forge Road Bible Chapel5040 Forge Rd., 410-256-5820 …

While playing host to family, friends and visitors, we often realize that, albeit comfortable, our homes are more shabby than chic. Here are a few tips to help deck the halls and make the home merrier this holiday season. De-clutter: "Are you living in CHAOS? (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)," asks the FlyLady. Come home to a neat and tidy house. My favorite tips and advice for removing clutter come from Marla Cilley, aka the FlyLady, in her book, "Sink Reflections." She shares her system of conquering CHAOS—it all starts with a shiny sink! Is your house on the gift list? Whether it was …

On Saturday, Dec. 11, police officers from various Baltimore County precincts accompanied a group of underprivileged kids, including some from Perry Hall schools, in the 10th annual "Shop With a Cop" event. Participants selected gifts from the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 1 Frankel Way in Cockeysville. Following the shopping excursion, the kids and officers were provided a free lunch at the Outback Steakhouse in the Hunt Valley Towne Centre. Hosted by the Optimist Clubs of Cockeysville, Timonium, Hereford, Greater Jacksonville and Towson University, 104 children, chosen by Baltimore County Social …

Only a handful of places in Perry Hall regularly offer live music performances—one of them is the McDonald's on Belair Road.  On Friday, Dec. 10, the restaurant hosted a holiday show with the Oakettes, a Seven Oaks Senior Center singing group of about 15 singers and musicians. Starting at 10 a.m., they performed of mix of traditional Christmas carols like "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World," as well as contemporary classics like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The singers closed with "God Bless America" and an exit performance of Vera Lynn's …

UPDATE (1:45 p.m.) It was about 36 degrees this afternoon in Perry Hall and the flurries were falling fast—ideal conditions for bundling up, going out for a walk and catching snowflakes on your tongue, Charlie Brown-style. I've put together a few of my best snow photos. Add some of your own directly to this story!

'Tis the season for school concerts—when parents get to enjoy the fruits of their children's musical labors. On Wednesday, Dec. 8, the school's Symphonic Winds, Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra performed a selection of holiday and winter-themed pieces, ranging from a traditional arrangement of "Jingle Bells" to a playful number by Robert W. Smith, the "Abominable Snowman Chase."Three directors, Scott Engel, John Pusateri and Bryan Welker, conducted the teenage musicians. Each took some time during the program to inform parents about their students' achievements and challenges.Before …