Wrap it with us!

Americans spend more than $7 billion on wrapping paper each year, according to Sundale Research. Also, according to a Stanford study, we throw away 25 percent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than in any other time of the year, equaling to about 25 million tons of garbage or about 1 million extra tons per week. The study also says that if every family used just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.

Don’t be part of the statistics—try to be less wasteful this season. If every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

We have the perfect solution to your holiday wrapping needs: newspaper. And we have so much of it that we’re happy to share it with all of you. Come on down to our family of hometown newspapers’ headquarters, The Tide of the Moriches, 20 Medford Avenue in Patchogue, for some free alternative wrapping paper.

Also, if you do, don’t forget to email our editor at nicoleallegrezza@gmail.com a photo of your newspaper-wrapped gift or tag us on Facebook! We will be sure to feature the newspaper-wrapped gifts in a future edition after the holidays.

Still, if wrapping paper is your go-to, be sure that it’s completely paper-based without the use of glitter, foil, or plastics. That way, you can at the very least recycle it.

Nominate someone today!

The Tide of the Moriches and Manorville will be recognizing the volunteer work of outstanding local residents and organizations. These are the folks who work diligently and passionately on community and charity work without fanfare. 

We’re asking our readers to nominate these unsung heroes for our annual Inspiration Awards. Those nominated could be from a local group, a neighbor, someone from your house of worship, or someone who just stands out with their consistent, worthy commitment to acts of kindness. 

Please send in your nomination with a brief outline of what the nominee has done and how they can be reached to: Tide of Moriches and Manorville, 20 Medford Ave., Patchogue, NY 11772. Email nominations should be sent to the editor at nicoleallegrezza@gmail.com. We will notify this year’s winners and our readers in the February edition.

Past winners include: Keith Caputo of Helping Makes U Happy, local nurses during the pandemic, and last year’s winners Miriam Gillies and Gerry Sapanaro of the Moriches Chamber.