Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 27, 2014

5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 27, 2014 

PROFILE AMERICA FACTS: 

THE 2014 HOLIDAY SEASON

626-355-5700245 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA 91024www.TheKensingtonSierraMadre.comRCFELicensePendingHow to make good useof holiday togethernesswhen you�re caring fora senior loved one 
Celebrating the holidays together with family is oneof the best rewards of the season. If you are caringfor an older relative, however, the holidays canbe worrisome. You might notice that your loved one seemslonely, feels isolated or is overwhelmed. Or maybe youidentify safety issues that signal your loved one needsmore assistance than you are able to provide. If so, then theholidays offer you and your family a special opportunity:
to share in the discussion and decision-making about carealternatives for someone you all love.
At The Kensington, we are getting close to officiallyopening our doors. In the meantime, especially during thisholiday season, we invite you to visit together with family.
Learn about our care options and, if you�re ready, let ushelp you lay the groundwork for wonderful change. Bringus your hopes, dreams, memories and traditions. Yourstogether with ours, along with our unwavering commitmentto continual excellence in senior service, make for joyousholidays and a bright future.
We welcome you to visit throughout the holiday seasonto meet our team, tour our communityand tell us how we can help you and a senior you love.
Call 626-355-5700 to schedule.
This festive season, or simply the holidays, is a 
time for gathering and celebrating with family 
and friends, gift giving, reflection and thanks. To 
commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census 
Bureau presents the following holiday-related facts 
and figures from its collection of statistics. 

Rush to the Stores 

$24.4 billion 

Estimated retail sales by the nation�s department 
stores (including leased departments) in December 
2013. This represents an estimated 40.9 percent 
jump from the previous month when retail sales 
were estimated at 17.3 billion. No other month-to-
month increase in department store sales last year 
was as large. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly 

Retail Trade Survey

13.9% 

The estimated percentage of total 2013 sales for 
department stores (including leased departments) 
in December. For jewelry stores, the estimated 
percentage was 19.1 percent.Source: U.S. Census 
Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Survey 

22.8% 

The estimated growth in inventories by our nation�s 
department stores (excluding leased departments) 
from Aug. 31 to Nov. 30, 2013.Source: U.S. Census 
Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Survey 

$44.5 billion 

Estimated value of retail sales by electronic 
shopping and mail-order houses in December 
2013 � the highest total for any month last year. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade 
Survey

30,185 

The number of electronic shopping and mail-
order houses in business in 2012. These businesses, 
which employed 365,508 workers in the pay 
period including March 12, are a popular source 
of holiday gifts. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 

County Business Patterns 

Christmas Trees and Decorations 

$1.0 billion 

The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree 
ornaments from China between January and 
September 2014. China was the leading country 
of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the 
leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees 
shipped to the United States ($137.5 million worth) 
during the same period. Source: U.S. Census 
Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics 

Where the Toys are ... Made 

563 

The number of locations that primarily produced 
dolls, toys, and games in 2012; they employed 7,481 
workers in the pay period including March 12. 
California led the nation with 95 establishments. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business 
Patterns 

Holiday Names

Place names associated with the holiday season 
consist of a dozen places named Holly including 
Mount Holly, N.C. (population 13,904) and Holly 
Springs, Miss. (7,558). There is Snowflake, Ariz. 
(5,576), Santa Claus, Ind. (2,501), North Pole, 
Alaska (2,214), Noel, Mo. (1,809) and � if you 
know about reindeer � Dasher, Ga. (944) and 
Rudolph village, Wis. (436). There is also Unity, 
N.H. (1640), and Peace, N.D. (28). 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates 

52.3% 

Estimated proportion of the nation�s potatoes 
produced in Idaho and Washington during the 
fall of 2013. Potatoes are a popular dish served 
during the holidays. Source: National Agriculture 
Statistics Service, 

$1.6 billion 

The estimated value of product shipments of 
candles in 2012 by U.S. manufacturers. Many 
of these candles are lit during Diwali (Oct. 23), 
Hanukkah (Dec. 16-24) and Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-
Jan. 1) celebrations.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 
2012 Economic Census, Industry Series 

Nearly 450 million to 470 million

Packages of mail the U.S. Postal Service expects to 
deliver between Nov. 17 and Christmas Day. This 
is a 12 percent increase from last year. Source: U.S. 
Postal Service

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS 2015 ANNUAL PASS 
PROGRAM BRINGS BACK AN OLD FAVORITE, 
INTRODUCES TAHOE REGIONAL PASS


SACRAMENTO, Calif.�California State Parks 
is launching the Annual Park Pass Program, 
bringing back the popular �Golden Poppy� and 
introducing a new Tahoe area regional pass. 

 The Annual Park Pass Program consists of four 
different passes with a variety of admissions to 
parks statewide, and price points designed to meet 
visitor�s individual needs. Specifically, the 2015 
annual passes include: 

� �California Explorer� Annual Pass ($195.00): 
Offers vehicle entrance to 134 state parks, including 
the Southern California beaches along the Orange, 
Los Angeles and San Diego Coasts. 

� �Golden Poppy� Annual Pass ($125.00): This 
popular pass is making a comeback, and includes 
vehicle entrance to 112 state parks. 

� �Tahoe Regional� Annual Pass ($75.00): This 
new regional pass was created this year specifically 
for one of the jewels of the state, the Lake Tahoe 
region. The pass includes admission to D.L. Bliss 
State Park, Ed Z�Berg Sugar Pine Point State 
Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Kings Beach State 
Recreation Area and Donner Memorial State Park. 

� �Historian Passport� ($50.00): Includes admission 
for up to four people to State Historic Parks that 
generally charge a per-person admission fee. Pass 
holders will be able to tour a California missions, 
see where the gold rush happened and experience 
Native American culture. 

� �Off Highway Vehicle� Day Use Annual Pass 
($50): unchanged from last year. 

Beginning Tuesday December 23, 2014, the Annual 
Passes are available in the following: 

� California State Parks Online Store 

� Park Pass Sales Office at 1416 9th Street, Room 
144 in Sacramento 

 On Monday January 5, 2014, passes will be 
available at state park units where fees are collected. 
All of these passes are valid for a floating 12-month 
period from the date of purchase. 

 The 2014 Annual Passes (Surf Explorer, 150th 
Commemorative, California Park Experience), are 
available for purchase until December 31, 2014 at 
walk-in locations, and will be honored for a full 
year after the date of purchase. Sales of the 2014 
passes will be discontinued on January 1, 2015.