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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, December 7, 2024


HOLIDAY TIPPING GUIDE: WHO TO 
SHOW APPRECIATION THIS SEASON

As the holidays approach, it’s the perfect time to recognize 
the people who make our lives a little easier throughout 
the year. Tipping during the holiday season is more than 
a gesture of generosity—it’s a way to show gratitude for 
those whose work often goes unnoticed. But who should 
you tip, and how much is appropriate? Here’s a quick 
guide to help you navigate holiday tipping etiquette.

1. Household Helpers

If you have a housekeeper, nanny, gardener, or dog 
walker, a good rule of thumb is to give the equivalent 
of one week’s pay as a holiday bonus. Babysitters or 
occasional helpers might appreciate an extra evening’s 
rate or a small gift card.

2. Building Staff
Doormen, security personnel, and building maintenance staff often play a big role in your daily life. For 
doormen, $20 to $100 depending on their level of service is common, while maintenance staff can receive 
$20 to $50. If your building has a large staff, pooling contributions with neighbors can ensure everyone is 
acknowledged.

3. Postal Workers and Delivery Drivers

Your mail carrier works hard year-round, but keep in mind that federal regulations prohibit them from 
accepting cash or gifts over $20. A thoughtful, non-monetary gift, such as a box of cookies or a coffee shop 
gift card, is always appreciated. For frequent delivery drivers, a small cash tip or gift of around $20 can go a 
long way.

4. Service Providers

Hairstylists, barbers, and nail technicians are often tipped during the year, but the holidays are a good time to 
go above and beyond. Consider tipping the cost of one service or adding 10-20% more to your usual amount.

5. Teachers and Caregivers

Teachers often prefer practical or thoughtful gifts over cash, such as a handwritten card paired with a coffee 
shop or bookstore gift card. For daycare providers, a gift card or small cash bonus is a lovely way to show 
thanks.

6. Other Unsung Heroes

Don’t forget about trash collectors, newspaper delivery people, or your favorite barista. A $10 to $20 tip or a 
small gift can brighten their day.

7. Trash Collectors and Other Helpers

Even those who work behind the scenes, like trash collectors or newspaper delivery people, deserve 
recognition. A $10 to $20 tip or a small gift can make their day.

And finally…..Dills Says: Tip! Even the Christmas Tree Guy!

Think about it: he just saved your back (and probably your car roof), so a tip of $5 to $10, or even a quick coffee 
shop gift card, can make his day.

For more reliable Tips listen into my radio show on Saturdays at 7 PM on AM 870 KRLA, the station with Larry 
Elder and Dennis Prager

RT ROGERS BREWERY - SIERRA MADRE

RT Rogers Brewing will be hosting a Christmas jazz performance by Jim 
Wright and Jim Miller this month on two nights. Wednesday December 
18th and Saturday December 21st.

These two musicians were regular performers at Cafe 322 playing jazz with 
the Fuzzy Logic Boptet many years ago, and Mr. Wright plays twice monthly 
at RT Rogers Brewing on a regular basis, playing his tap-guitar, which allows 
him to play bass and guitar simultaneously. 

Mr. Miller will be on the drums.

These experienced musicians will play jazzy Christmas tunes, and some jazz 
standard favorites.

There is no cover, and the performances are from 6:30 to 9PM.

RT ROGERS IS AT 38 E. MONTECITO ST. SIERRA MADRE


ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown 

BOY'S LIFE BY ROBERT R. MCCAMMON 

In me are the memories of a boy's life, spent 
in that realm of enchantments. These are the 
things I want to tell you....Robert McCammon 
delivers "a tour de force of storytelling" (BookPage) 
in his award-winning masterpiece, a novel 
of Southern boyhood, growing up in the 1960s, 
that reaches far beyond that evocative landscape 
to touch listeners universally. 

Boy's Life is a richly imagined, spellbinding 
portrait of the magical worldview of the young 
- and of innocence lost. Zephyr, Alabama, is an 
idyllic hometown for 11-year-old Cory Mackenson 
- a place where monsters swim the river 
deep and friends are forever. Then, one cold 
spring morning, Cory and his father witness a car plunge into a lake - and a 
desperate rescue attempt brings his father face-to-face with a terrible, haunting 
vision of death. 

As Cory struggles to understand his father's pain, his eyes are slowly 
opened to the forces of good and evil that surround him. From an ancient 
mystic who can hear the dead and bewitch the living, to a violent clan of 
moonshiners, Cory must confront the secrets that hide in the shadows of 
his hometown - for his father's sanity and his own life hang in the balance..

A wonderful book for Christmas or anytime.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com