Celebrate the Holiday Season in Brea

There are many holiday activities happening around town this time of year. We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season spending time with your loved ones. Here's a look at some of the fun things planned fin Brea.

Tree Lighting Celebration

Our annual Tree Lighting Celebration is on Thursday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brea Civic & Cultural Center. Live music and entertainment will put everyone in the holiday mood. Watch the holiday tree light up the evening. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Admission is free.

Letters to Santa

Attention all good Brea boys and girls! Write a letter to Santa and get a personalized reply. Drop off letters at a special mailbox at the west entrance of the Brea Community Center by December 12 or send your letter to Santa Claus, North Pole c/o Brea Community Center, 695 E. Madison Way, Brea, CA, 92821. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope so Santa can reply quickly. For more info call 714-990-7771.

Purchase a Brea Keepsake Ornament

If you need some holiday Brea spirit in your home, Brea keepsake ornaments will be available to purchase for $5. You can buy an ornament at the Brea Tree Lighting event on December 6, or at the Brea Civic & Cultural Center 3rd floor (while supplies last).

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

One in every four home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems. Inspect decorative light strings, and throw out any frayed or cracked wires or broken sockets. Don’t run more than three strings of lights end-to-end. Extension cords should be in good condition and UL-rated for indoor or outdoor use.

A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every four Christmas tree fires. Candles start two out of five home decoration structure fires. Maintain about a foot of space between the candle and anything that can burn. Never leave flames unattended. Before bed, walk through each room to make sure candles are out. For atmosphere without worry, consider flameless LED candles.

Cooking is the top cause of holiday fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. The most common culprit is food that's left unattended. Make sure to keep a kitchen fire extinguisher that's rated for all types of fires and check that smoke detectors are working.

Have your chimney inspected to see if it needs cleaning. When cleaning out the fireplace, put embers in a metal container and set them outside to cool for 24 hours before disposal. Screen the fireplace to prevent embers from popping out onto the floor or carpet. Never use flammable liquids to start a fire. Only burn seasoned wood and never burn wrapping paper in the fireplace.

Shop Brea, Support Your City

Shopping online has almost become a way of life for many. However, when you shop in person at local businesses, you do more than just support the economy. Your sales tax also directly sustains important local services like police, fire protection, parks, senior center, cultural arts, streets, and many other facilities and services. Each dollar spent locally returns one cent of sales tax to the City of Brea for operations you rely upon.

Be Vigilant: Lock It, Take It, Keep It

With the busy holiday season upon us, the community is encouraged to take steps to prevent burglary and theft from motor vehicles.

The message is simple:

Lock It: Lock your vehicle every time you leave it unattended.
Take It: Take your valuables out of your car when you leave it.
Keep It: Personal responsibility is the best prevention to safeguard personal property and to prevent becoming a victim.

DO NOT leave items of value in plain view in your car. Thieves are looking for laptops, purses, cellphones, wallets, sunglasses, credit cards, and anything else they can easily carry away.