by Encore and Thousand Trails RV Resorts

Life in the RV can be full of adventure and new experiences. The spring season brings new opportunities for RV travelers to explore the natural world and create lasting memories. Of the many activities available to RV travelers during spring, whale-watching season is a great opportunity to learn and experience something new.

Beginning in mid-February, grey whales leave breeding and calving sites off the coast of Baja, California and travel north to summer feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering Seas. Traveling close to shore, grey whales can be spotted along the West Coast of the United States and Canada.

These giant mammals, which can reach 46 feet in length and weigh up to 36 tons, make one of the longest annual migrations in the world, traveling around 10,000 miles round trip. Inquisitive and friendly towards people, grey whales are known to spyhop, lobtail and breach the surface.

The West Coast of the United States has a long history of whale watching. High points along the coastline offer many opportunities for land-based observations. Traveling along the famous Pacific Coast Highway gives RVers a good chance to spot whales while experiencing the beautiful landscapes of one of the most scenic routes in the U.S. This legendary highway hugs most of the coastline from San Diego to northern Washington, providing a continuous avenue for RV travelers who want to stay close to the coast.

Charter companies also offer visitors a unique perspective of the whales from the air or water. With the ability to cover large areas in a limited time, air tours give visitors a good chance of seeing whales. Boat tours offer the chance for an up-close and personal experience. Grey whales are curious and friendly, sometimes approaching boats and poking their heads out of the water.

Novice whale-watching RVers can also take advantage of the weeklong program offered by Whale Watching Spoken Here®. This program provides trained volunteers at 26 proven whale-watching sites from northern California to southern Washington. Volunteers help visitors spot whales and provide educational information. This spring’s session will run March 24-31, 2012.

The annual migration of the grey whales provides an exciting and moving experience for veteran and novice whale watchers. With so many places to see these massive mammals, RVers will find whale watching an interesting and exciting spring activity and a perfect reason to take to the road.

While spotting whales can take practice, finding a great RV campground is easy. Encore and Thousand Trails RV Resorts offer premier RV resorts all along the West Coast. Each location offers unique amenities and activities, such as swimming pools, spas, fitness centers, lounges, sports courts, organized activities, Wi-Fi access and more.

To book a visit to any of these Encore and Thousand Trails RV resorts on the West Coast, call (866) 730-0637 or visit www.RVontheGO.com. Below is a sampling of RV resorts on the West Coast.

• Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort – 1205 Silver Spur Place., Oceano, CA 93445
• Santa Cruz Ranch RV Park – 917 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
• San Francisco RV Resort – 700 Palmetto Ave., Pacifica, CA 94044
• Rancho Oso RV Resort– 3750 Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
• Morgan Hill RV Resort– 12895 Uvas Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
• South Jetty RV Resort – 05010 S. Jetty Road, Florence, OR 97439
• Whaler’s Rest RV Resort– 50 S.E. 123rd St., South Beach, OR 97366
• Pacific City RV Resort – 30000 Sandlake Road, Cloverdale, OR 97112
• Seaside RV Resort – 1703 12th Ave., Seaside, OR 97138
• Long Beach RV Resort – 2215 Willow Road, Seaview, WA 98644
• Oceana RV Resort – 2733 State Route 109, Ocean City, WA 98569

by RVDA

FAIRFAX, Vir. -- The RV Learning Center scholarship program awards a $2,500 scholarship annually to deserving college sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students majoring in business, finance, economics, accounting, or other RV-related subjects. Dealers and other industry partners are able to offer this opportunity to their team specifically because of their employment in the RV industry. Visit www.rvlearningcenter.com for an application.

Scholarship applicants must:

• Have a 2.8 or better cumulative grade point average, and a 1050 minimum SAT score (1575 minimum on the 2400 point scale). A minimum ACT composite score of 22 is also acceptable.
• Be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior college undergraduate student.
• Complete a 500 word essay on their goals and objectives for attending college.
• Submit a copy of their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form which is available from guidance counselors or for download at no charge from the U.S. Department of Education at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• Demonstrate the ability and willingness to fund a portion of their educational expenses on their own.
• Attend an accredited four-year college or university as a condition of receiving the scholarship.
• All items must be submitted by June 4, 2012. Dealer principals, their family and dependents, are not eligible. A four-color poster describing the RV Learning Center scholarship program suitable for display in employee break or lunch areas is also available to download at www.rvlearningcenter.com.

The scholarship program is possible due to the generosity of the Newt and Joanne Kindlund Family. The Kindlunds are the founders of Holiday RV Superstores—the first publicly-traded RV dealership. The Kindlunds sold the company in 1999. Newt Kindlund remains an active participant in RV industry affairs and currently serves on the RV Learning Center Board of Directors. The Kindlund Family has fully funded the $270,000 Foundation scholarship endowment.

For more information on the RV Learning Center scholarship program, send an e-mail to info@rvda.org or visit www.rvlearningcenter.com. The RV Learning Center is a tax-exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions may be tax deductible as charitable donations.

by Rincon Country RV Resorts

TUCSON, Ariz., -- Tucson RV park owner George O'Leary is putting the finishing touches on $1 million worth of improvements at his two Rincon Country RV Resorts.

"You would not believe the number of people who have complimented us," said O'Leary, who recently resurfaced the roads and completed other cosmetic improvements to his two Rincon Country parks.

While the improvements have yet to translate into increased business for his two parks, O'Leary says it is imperative for RV park and resort operators in Tucson and across the Sunbelt to continually make improvements to their parks if they want to continue to attract today's snowbirds.

"I remember when we opened our first Rincon Country park in 1970," O'Leary said. "Our first renters were World War One retirees and Depression Era campers - a very frugal and easy to please group of people."

Today's snowbirds, however, are increasingly looking for high quality amenities and facilities, which means park operators have to continually upgrade their facilities if they want to retain or expand their marketshare.

"We are continuously improving the appearance and modernization of our resorts," O'Leary said. "Quite often when folks drive into our parks, they say to us, 'This looks like a new park.' They are surprised to learn that Rincon County East opened for business in 1979 and Rincon West in 1984."

In addition to making cosmetic improvements, O'Leary has also hired a new activities director for each resort and expanded his parks' offering of activities, including classes and professional live entertainment, including comedy shows, celebrity impersonators and musical entertainment. Classes include arts and crafts, woodcarving, pottery and ceramics as well as lapidary and silversmithing. The resorts also offer periodic seminars on health related topics as well as potlucks, wine tastings, dances and other social events.

For more information about Rincon Country RV Resorts, please visit the resorts' websites at www.rinconcountry.com. Both resorts are affiliated with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, the Denver-based trade association that representatives the outdoor hospitality industry that markets campgrounds, RV parks and resorts through its website at www.GoCampingAmerica.com.

by Cummins Onan

MINNEAPOLIS — Cummins Onan recently celebrated the production of its two millionth RV generator at its Fridley, Minnesota, plant. To help mark this historic milestone, the company is inviting RVers to submit their favorite RV trip photos. RVers who submit a photo will have a chance to win an Apple® iPad™ 2.

"We know from RV customers that our generators have made a big difference in their comfort and convenience on the road," said Shon Wright, director of RV and Commercial Markets. "And we are proud of producing two million reliable RV generators over the past 50 years. So it makes sense to invite our customers to join in the celebration by sharing their favorite RVing photos."

The contest will kick off at the Florida RV SuperShow on January 10 and run through March 31, 2012. The photos submitted will be put up on the contest website, and people will be able to vote for their favorite. The person submitting the photo that gets the most votes by the end of the contest will receive the iPad 2, complete with FaceTime, Smart Cover, 10-hour battery, 16 GB of memory and Wi-Fi.

To enter an RV trip photo and learn the details of the contest, go to www.rvphotocontest.com.

RVers Invited to Submit Their RV Trip Photos, Get Chance to Win an Apple® iPad™ 2

CANTON, Mass.--LoJack Corporation (NASDAQ: LOJN), the company that invented the stolen vehicle recovery market 25 years ago, announced its top 10 auto theft recoveries of 2011. From tracking down multiple carjackers and a kidnapper to recovering vehicles from inside garages and steel shipping containers, these stories demonstrate how LoJack continues to be the most effective system today for stolen vehicle recovery.

Here are LoJack's Best Recovery Stories from 2011:

10 Thief Defeats GPS Service, but LoJack Gets Escalade Back --Atlanta PD used the LoJack System to find and recover a 2011 Cadillac Escalade, which was stolen from a downtown parking lot. Thieves defeated the pre-installed GPS system, but LoJack got it back!

9 Carjacker Steals Vehicle from Dealership at Gunpoint; LoJack Makes Recovery -- An aggressive thief took a Lexus out for a test drive with an Atlanta dealership salesperson and--at gunpoint--carjacked the vehicle. Thankfully, the vehicle was equipped with LoJack, which helped police quickly find and recover it.

8 LoJack Helps Get Thief Who Wrote Bad Check for Craigslist Purchase – When the owner of a Honda Civic discovered that he received a bad check after selling his vehicle via Craigslist, he immediately contacted police who activated the LoJack System. The car was found the next day – a full 300 miles from Modesto, CA where it had been stolen – and the suspect was arrested.

7 Carjacker Wounds Driver; LoJack Gets Bad Guy Off the Street – An Army Sergeant and his wife were stopped at a convenience storee in Hoke County, NC, when a suspect tried to force the sergeant's wife from the passenger seat. The sergeant attempted to stop the thief, was shot in the arm and the suspect drove off with his Dodge Journey. Within minutes of system activation, LoJack helped police track down, box in and stop the vehicle. The suspect was arrested.

6 LoJack Foils Theft of 30 Keys, Titles and Vehicles from Dealership – In Southern California, thieves stole multiple vehicles, 30 sets of keys and titles to all other cars on a used car dealership lot...but LoJack helped get it all back. While the dealer didn't realize that one of the stolen vehicles was equipped with LoJack, he was delighted to find out that the system helped recover everything.

5 Honda with LoJack Leads to Stolen Vehicles in Shipping Containers – A thief stole a Honda Accord Crosstour from a dealership in FFrisco, TX and police tracked its LoJack signal to a shipping container that was being loaded onto a vessel in the Port of Houston. U.S. Customs found not only this vehicle, but six in total, all hidden inside various containers and ready to be shipped abroad.

4 Stolen Acura Integra Leads Police to 400th Chop Shop Bust in California – Only minutes after system activation, LoJack helped pollice track and eventually recover a stolen Acura Integra, which also led them to the discovery of multiple chop shops -- marking LoJack's 400th chop shop bust in California. As part of this bust, police arrested seven suspects, who were all part of a street racing theft ring.

3 LoJack Helps Police Arrest Alleged Murder Suspect – A stolen Honda Civic equipped with LoJack led Connecticut police to the apprehension of an alleged murder suspect from Massachusetts, who was wanted in connection with the disappearance of a 36-year-old resident. The vehicle was recovered, but sadly the resident was later found murdered.

2 Recovery of LoJack-Equipped Honda Busts International Theft Ring – Through tracking a Honda CVR equipped with LoJack to a sshipping container being driven to a shipyard in Chicago, police pursued an investigation that led to the bust of an expansive international theft ring. This crime ring spanned from Tennessee to Illinois to New York – and included multiple stolen vehicles – valued at more re than $200,000 -- all ready to set sail to Africa.Â

And, the number one recovery story of the year...

1 LoJack Helps Police Find Kidnapped Child and Apprehend Kidnapper – LoJack helped Illinois police track down a criminal who had kiidnapped a four-year-old child and drove off with her in the family van. When police found the van empty, they embarked on a manhunt and found the suspect on a busy street with the little girl. Thanks to LoJack –“ which the mother did not even realize was hidden in her van – the child was rescued unharmed, the vehicle was recovered and the suspect was charged with kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle.

About LoJack Corporation

LoJack Corporation, the company that invented the stolen vehicle recovery market more than 25 years ago, is the global leader in finding and recovering a wide range of mobile assets including cars, construction equipment and motorcycles—having recovered nearly $4 billion USD in stolen asssets worldwide. In today's rapidly changing world, LoJack's core competencies are more valuable and more relevant than ever as they are now being applied into new areas, such as the prevention, detection and recovery of stolen cargo and finding and rescuing people with cognitive conditions such as autism and Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.lojack.com.

by Tom Johnson Camping Center

MARION, N.C.-- Tom Johnson Camping Center announced they have donated the use of 12 RVs to Extreme Makeover:Home Edition and Bellamy Homes to be used by the designers and builders to increase their productivity. A mix of travel trailers, fifth wheels and a Class A motorhome are being utilized as office space allowing the designers and builders to be on-site around the clock during the build in Lincolnton, NC.

"Tom Johnson Camping Center has continuously worked to better the community and the help Extreme Makeover:Home Edition provides aligns with that goal," said Gary Stroud, Vice President, Tom Johnson Camping Center. "Whether it's large efforts like Extreme Makeover, the partnership recently announced with Shriners, or local sponsorships and volunteering, we want to help as much as we are able."

This is the third Extreme Makeover:Home Edition that Tom Johnson Camping Center has participated in during 2011. Previous builds this year included a project outside of Atlanta, GA and the Fayetteville, NC build that featured First Lady Michelle Obama utilizing a Tom Johnson Camping Center motorhome as an office.

"In addition to the numerous benefits RVs offer in camping, they can also be utilized to increase productivity for business owners and this is a great example of that benefit," said Stroud. "Business owners come to us for a solution that allows them to be more efficient at work, for better balance of work and family time and even for tax benefits for their business or personal taxes."

Tom Johnson Camping Center participates in a variety of philanthropic efforts from event sponsorships to charitable auctions. For ten years Tom Johnson Camping Center has hosted the Relay for Life, has supported the South Mountain Children's Home raising funds and serving on the Board of Directors and various employees have supported their local community in roles with volunteer firefighter organizations. In 2010 Tom Johnson Camping Center raised over $12,000 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

Founded in 1967, Tom Johnson Camping Center, conveniently located in Concord and Marion, North Carolina, is the inaugural recipient of the Dave Altman Number One RV Dealer Award. A Blue Ribbon award-winning dealership, Tom Johnson Camping Center is among the top-ten recreational vehicle dealerships nationwide. With expertise in sales, service, parts and rentals, Tom Johnson Camping Center offers a comprehensive selection of motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers and fold downs as well as camping and rally space.

For additional information on Tom Johnson Camping Center, visit TomJohnsonCamping.com or connect at facebook.com/tomjohnsoncamping.

by Spartan Chassis, Inc.

CHARLOTTE, Mich.-- Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR), will debut two new chassis concepts to the recreational vehicle market at the upcoming 49th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky., November 29 -- December 1.

The innovative design concepts, a 32' (Class A) and a 25' (Class C), provide the potential future chassis design direction of the marketplace and capture key design features such as flexibility and adaptability that have always been key attributes of Spartan's premier chassis foundations. The concept chassis are expected to appeal to manufacturers targeting current owners looking to downsize their RV and prospective buyers interested in purchasing entry-level units.

"Manufacturers are finding opportunities within the marketplace for growth through the introduction of smaller, light-weight, fuel-efficient recreational vehicles," said Dave Snitgen, Vice President of Recreational and Specialty Chassis at Spartan Chassis. "Spartan Chassis is embracing this change and is focused on creating new product options that dovetail with evolving market and customer needs."

Spartan Chassis utilizes proven technology and research to design, analyze and engineer each model in its product line to fit seamlessly with the body design of each manufacturers coach model. To date, the result has been creative and innovative designs ranging from mid-size Class A models to luxurious highline RVs. The concept chassis provide the quality and performance of Spartan's traditional premium platforms, while creating opportunities for interested manufacturers to develop new products with a unique edge that can drive demand for their businesses.

32' Concept Chassis

A 2010 study by Harris Interactive* indicates strong interest in smaller and more fuel efficient RVs. In an effort to target this growth within the Class A segment, Spartan Chassis developed the 32' concept, which is a light-weight, maneuverable mid-size, diesel-pusher chassis. The concept features improved fuel efficiency and a smaller carbon footprint, as well as the traditional benefits of a rear diesel engine chassis such as low engine noise, increased power options, and carrying capacity.

Additional features of the innovative concept chassis design include:

• Navistar MaxxForce 7 turbo-diesel engine
• Allison 1000MH electronic transmission
• Cummins Onan 6k generator
• 22,000 lb. gross vehicle weight rating
• High-strength, low-alloy steel construction: 50,000 psi minimum yield
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Polymer diesel fuel tank

25' Concept Chassis

With more than 40 million disabled adults living in the United States and a growing baby-boomer generation, there is a need in the marketplace for a purpose-built, low-floor platform design that offers ease of entry and egress with the option of including an ADA compliant ramp.

According to 2005 United States Census Bureau data** of people aged 15 and older:

• 27.4 million had difficulty with ambulatory activities of the lower body
• About 22.6 million people had difficulty walking a quarter of a mile;
• 12.7 million were not able to perform this activity
• About 21.8 million people had difficulty climbing a flight of stairs;
• 7.4 million of them were not able to do it at all
• Roughly 3.3 million people used a wheelchair or similar device and 10.2 million used a cane, crutches, or walker to assist with mobility

The 25' concept incorporates front and rear self-leveling air suspensions with four-corner kneeling. This kneeling feature, available at the touch of a single switch, reduces entry step height to a level never before seen on an RV. This concept chassis provides manufacturers with the opportunity to expand their business to include RVs for customers with mobility and health concerns.

Additional features of the 25' concept chassis include:

• Chevy G4500, gas and diesel chassis
• Air-ride suspension with sway bars (front and rear)
• Electronic control kneeling (front and rear)
• Available in multiple lengths (24', 26', and 28')
• High-strength, low-alloy steel construction: 50,000 psi minimum yield
• Powder-coated frame for extended life and corrosion resistance
• Premium air dryer system with spin-on eco-friendly filtration
• 3 year / 50,000 mile limited chassis warranty

John Sztykiel, President and CEO of Spartan Motors commented: "Spartan Chassis has always been focused on creating new product options that meet the evolving needs of our customers. We believe that innovation and greater design flexibility gives consumers new choices and we are proud to be demonstrating to the RV market the latest design and technology advancements that we have made."

The concept chassis will be on display at the Spartan Chassis exhibit, #2001, in the Kentucky Expo Center where the company will be obtaining feedback from show attendees on the concepts for future consideration and refinement.

The 49th Annual National RV Trade Show, November 29 - December 1, 2011, is the preeminent trade show for the RV dealer market, and brings together suppliers, dealers, and other industry representatives each year to showcase the latest RV technology and new models.

*Harris Interactive, RV Perceptions & Purchase Motivators: A Communications Planning Study, Go RVing, 2010.

** Brault, Matthew, Americans with Disabilities: 2005, Current Population Reports, P70-117, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC, 2008.

by RVIA

ELKHART, Ind.--Images of RVs inside and out were captured for the new GoRVing.com website launching in 2012 at a production shoot in the Elkhart, Ind., area Oct. 24-27.

New virtual tours were shot, enabling site visitors to take an up-close look at the floor plan and features of typical towable and motorized RVs. Photos of families and couples of diverse ages and ethnicity were also taken to showcase the amenities and multiple uses of RVs, including tailgating at sports events.

“This final production shoot for the new campaign provided the detailed online imagery to complement the emotional appeal of the new ‘AWAY’ ads,” said RVIA Vice President of Public Relations and Advertising James Ashurst. “RVs have evolved significantly in recent years, and it’s essential that the new Go RVing website showcase the array of choices now available to the consumer.” The new website will be launched concurrently with the ads early next year.

Actual consumer testimonials for GoRVing.com were also shot on location at Eby’s Pines RV Park and Campground in Bristol, with the new products in the background.

Forest River, Open Range, Jayco, Fleetwood, Airstream and Starcraft provided unbranded vehicles for the shoot in response to an RVIA member manufacturer lottery invitation.

Production of four print ads and three television commercials for the new "AWAY" campaign took place earlier this summer at scenic locations in the Texas Hill County, in Sisters, Ore., and in California at Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, Crescent City and Pismo Beach.

Go RVing’s new “AWAY” campaign is the first all-new campaign produced since 2005. The new ads, developed by the Richards Group in collaboration with an all-industry Creative Work Group of the Go RVing Coalition, returns to the emotion-driven, family focus of past campaigns, along with continued emphasis on the affordability and accessibility of the RV lifestyle for families spanning several generations.

The new television, print and Internet ads and website will be unveiled at RVIA’s Outlook 2012 opening breakfast at the National RV Trade Show on Nov. 29 and begin running in early 2012.

by RVIA

RVIA helped kick off the 59th Annual California RV Show with more than a dozen media interviews conducted via satellite with local network affiliates and national outlets from around the country. The satellite media tour featured RVIA spokesman and Go RVing blogger Brad Herzog, who recently completed his 12th RV media tour this summer.

RVIA produced the media tour to encourage consumers to visit RV shows this fall and winter, and to promote key RV industry messages about affordability, quality family time, and the array of options available to RV buyers.

In a dozen interviews, Herzog delivered these messages and put a friendly, accessible face on RVing for audiences around the country. Herzog appeared via satellite in an array of media markets, including Atlanta, Portland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Baltimore and Harrisburg, PA. National news distribution outlets NBC Newschannel and News Watch (which provides content to 200 Ion stations nationwide) also interviewed Herzog.

“There are smaller RVs for smaller families, and larger RVs for larger families,” Herzog told a Sacramento morning show. “The best way to sample all the options is to go to an RV show.”

Herzog said consumers could find a show near them by visiting GoRVing.com.

“The reason there are 8.9 million families that now own an RV is because it’s an affordable way to travel,” Herzog said. “There’s an RV for every budget and family, from a $6,000 folding camping trailer to a $600,000 luxury motorhome, and everything in between.”

by RVIA

A new survey of RV owners indicates that they have strong travel plans this fall/winter and expect to save significantly, despite the soft U.S. economy and fluctuating fuel prices.

According to the RVIA’s bi-annual Campfire Canvass, 34% of RV owners plan to travel more this fall and winter than last year, 43% plan to travel the same amount, and just 11% plan to travel less.

“My wife and I are planning a fall trip in our motorhome to Virginia and New Jersey to visit relatives,” says George Dougherty of Ankeny, Iowa and a former chief technology officer at Faith Baptist College. “Since 2006, when we bought our first RV, we’ve traveled over 22,000 miles."

“We’re having a great time seeing America and we enjoy the RV lifestyle. We just got back from a two-week trip that took us through six states, including South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas. During the winter months, we’ll head south to get away from the snow in Iowa.”

Like the Doughertys, many families are buying RVs to see America. According to the survey, 71% ranked “seeing America” as the most important reason for buying an RV in the last two years.

Along with seeing America, another primary reason why millions of owners will be traveling and enjoying the RV lifestyle this fall/winter is because they appreciate the value that RV travel delivers. Nearly 90% said that RVing is an affordable way to travel.

Almost 65% of the respondents said that they save at least 25% when traveling in their RV compared to other types of travel, while 27% save 35-50%. This reflects a new study by PKF, an international travel and tourism consulting company, which found that RVing is 23-to-59% less expensive than other types of vacations for a family of four.

In addition to saving on rising hotel costs and airfares, RV owners also avoid the expense of eating in restaurants. The study found that 49% of RV owners said that they eat at least two meals a day onboard their RVs, while 44% said three meals.

Despite these uncertain economic times, 45% of RV owners said that they’re considering another RV purchase within the next two years, with 79% of those respondents citing the availability of “great deals” in today’s RV market. More than 60% will attend RV retail shows this fall and winter.

Owners surveyed will use their RVs in a variety of ways during the fall/winter travel season.

• 69% of the respondents said that they plan to sightsee
• 64% visit state parks and 55% national parks
• 46% attend festivals and fairs
• 39% take part in foliage tours

The survey also reveals that owners are physically active on their RV trips. For example, 41% said that they enjoy hiking, 38% fishing, 23% biking and 12% canoeing and kayaking.

Results also show that holiday travel remains popular with RV owners. Among the respondents, 42% said they plan to travel in their RVs over the Thanksgiving weekend and 21% over the Christmas/Hanukkah season.