Egg Nog, Comets, and Cash [Multiple Shameless Plugs; Not News]

Stressed over the holidays?  It might all be better with a little nog.

While you are mulling the pages of your Sunday Utica Observer-Dispatch, listening to Polonaise with Julian Noga (America's longest-running Polish language and music program) on the radio or via RadioPup or our live stream, and drinking your morning coffee or tea, consider winning a cool hard $500 in cash today, especially if you did not hit last night's numbers.

This afternoon at approximately 2:00pm WIBX First News with Keeler in the Morning is hosting an Egg Nog Drop before the Utica Comets drop the puck at 3:00pm.

Jill, Scott, and the Hayes Family at New York Sash and Gary Heenan and the Utica College's Men Hockey Pioneers got things rolling with the Teddy Bear Toss.  The events culminate today with the Egg Nog Drop with the Utica Comets.

What you need to know:

• BRING A TOY!
• Get to the front entrance of the Utica Memorial Auditorium just before 2:00pm today, Sunday, December 15, 2013.  Note that if you click the link in the previous sentence you will see that the website is still in development (proving that you should always read an article all the way through before getting distracted by all of the tempting opportunities to hyperlink).  So, if you are really looking for directions to the Aud you will need to Mapquest them or ask Siri because the Aud's website will be absolutely fantastic when it is operational, but it is not operational yet.
• BRING A TOY!  A toy will get you a chance to be picked for the Egg Nog Drop (only three people will have the chance to compete).  A toy will get you a $12 ticket to a Comets game (season ticket-holders will get a $12 voucher for a future game).  And most importantly, a toy will benefit our toy drive with the Utica Observer-Dispatch and Time Warner Cable to benefit Operation Sunshine.  If you need to know a little more, read Kris Worrell's opinion piece in the OD this morning.  Apparently she and I work the same hours so I am plugging her article.

• Of you intend to participate, dress accordingly.  First of all, it is extremely cold. Today's forecast (or the five-day forecast, which is always available on wibx950.com) calls for VERY COLD weather.  There is a lot of wind, there is a lot of snow, and yes, this it is December in Central New York.  BRING A TOY!  Hugging it will help keep you warm.  Bring a towel, rain jacket, or something to keep you from getting splashed with delicious but sometimes sticky Byrne Dairy egg nog.

• Bring a smile.  Everyone is stressed out during the holidays - yes, even those of you who have all of your shopping done and who have made (and mailed) every Christmas cookie.  Those lucky few are stressed because they have to deal with the rest of us who are not so well-prepared.  So, smiles help reduce the tension in the parking lot of Sangertown or Commercial Square.  Bring a toy.  Toys make people smile.  Senator Joe Griffo will be pouring egg nog from thirty-plus feet high and will need to be cheered on by smiling voters.

• This event, while fun, is part of an important effort.  At our live broadcast on Friday at Raspberries Cafe (on Commercial Drive in New Hartford and Gennesee Street in Utica) Carrie Bostick at the OD said that about 1,100 families applied for assistance through Operation Sunshine this year.  All of the fun and nonsense help keep everyone involved cheerful while helping to keep the holidays bright for those - about four thousand children in those one thousand plus families - who may not otherwise have a happy holiday.

That is why Tom Heiland at Utica Mack wears funny hats, why Tim Reed donated such an amazing auction item from the folks at the Boilermaker, and why the folks at NYSCOBA brought Santa in a pickup truck to drop off toys.

• And if you cannot bring a toy you can make a donation.  Al Pulaski at Time Warner Cable is able to purchase about $1.87 worth of toys for every dollar donated.  So, if you cannot bring a toy you can bring a dollar, or two, if you can.  We know that this is a difficult time for many.

The nog drops at 2:00pm.  The puck drops at 3:00pm.  We all hope to see you there.

So many people have been involved.  If I neglected to include you please e-mail us (news@wibx950.com) and I will make the correction.  Thanks to everyone who has helped!  Happy holidays to all!