SundayLiving

Anne Reeves

Sunday, November 29, 2015 PENNLIVE.COM/LIVING D1

areeves@pennlive.com

Put heat on
officials to
get budget
approved
Pennsylvanias failure
to enact a state budget has
hurtled past the point of ridiculousness. Were careening toward irresponsibility.
Danger even.
Gov. Tom Wolf and state
lawmakers have been
unable to agree on a new
spending plan for five long
months, missing the deadline put in place by their
predecessors almost nine
decades ago.
Going even one month
past June 30 is bad enough.
Going five? Abominable.
Our state elected officials
have a couple of major job
responsibilities: passing
laws, imposing taxes, serving constituents and deciding how state monies should
be spent. With a pot of more
than $30 billion, that last
duty is a doozy.
And while bills come and
go and most tax structures
dont change all that much
from year to year, the task
to approve a state budget is
a constant. If you take the
oath of office, you know if
you dont approve a fiscal
plan by June 30, the state
cant pay its bills.
No other business could
operate the way our government is running, and no
other employees would get
away with performing so
poorly.
Last week, some lawmakers announced they will not
attend the annual Pennsylvania Society schmoozefest
in New York next month if a
budget isnt passed by then.
Boo hoo.
They shouldnt be going
anywhere. And no state
representative or senator
should collect a paycheck
until they finish the job.
Besides being embarrassing, the budget impasse
is hurting the people who
need help the most: the
poor, school districts, sexual-assault victims, college
students, mentally ill people, foster children, libraries
and people with disabilities.
Without state funding,
nonprofit groups face
cutting services, layoffs,
closing officesor not paying
employees. Some have had
to borrow money to meet
expenses, including several
already-strapped school
districts. These groups cant
do their jobs if officials dont
do theirs.
Its shameful.
Somehow, Im sure all of
the budget players think
their obstinance is the only
way to get the best deal for
us, their constituents. But
their inability to reach consensus has only resulted in a
raw deal for everyone.
Former Gov. Ed Rendell
missed every single budget
deadline during his eight
years in office, including
one in 2003 that wasnt
signed until Dec. 23.
Some school districts
warned then that they

Get your

GAME ON
From wire repor ts

ideo games have come a long way since Pong, with graphics that are
better than ever and stories that give the action more depth than some
movies. With so many games for sale, deciding which one to grab for
your kids (or yourself) for Christmas can be tough. Here are the best
bets for video games this holiday season.

RATED E

Sunday
best
Video
games

Madden NFL 16

The latest version of the hit football series allows

you todraft a team of current and former NFL stars
and includes a new passing feature, weekly updates
based on whats really happening in the NFL and anew
fantasy football-inspired mode.
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4,Xbox OneandXbox 360
Cost: $59.99
Details: www.easports.com/Madden-NFL

Runbow
This new game brings a fun and interesting party platformin
which each player (from one to nine) is a different color, and its a
mad dash for the finish line. But this is no simple foot race. Obstacles include moving platforms and lava, which come and go.
Runbow is perfect for classic game players who have a good
handle on how to time jumps. Younger players might find the
game a bit frustrating in the beginning. The more players you have
locally or onlinethe more fun and frenetic itll be.
Platform:Wii U
Cost:$14.99
Details:www.13amgames.com

Super Mario Maker

The games level editor is built around the Wii Us touchscreen
controller, allowing you to quickly build yourown video game levels by dragging icons from the top edge of the screen. You unlock
new items, enemiesand environmental objects over the course
of nine days, forcing youto stick with basics
like koopasand coins in the early
daysbefore getting
toplay with more
complicated pieces.
You can find and
play other players
levels based on
popularity or newness,
or upload your own. Alternately, you can play

a selection of more than 60 Nintendo-made Mario

levels in 10 Mario Challenge.
Platform: Wii U
Cost:$59.99
Details:supermariomaker.nintendo.com

Yoshis Woolly World

If youre looking for a calmer, cuddlier platforming game, youll
love Yoshis Woolly World, which stars one of the Mushroom
Kingdoms most beloved characters.
Yoshistakes Kirbys Epic Yarn to a new level. Each character
and environment has a handmade touch thats pretty cool visually.
As Yoshi, you must reach the end of each level, gathering as many
collectibles on the way as possible, turning your enemies into yarn
balls by swallowing them.For beginners, finishing the level will be
enough. For more experienced players, collectibles are key. There
also areAmiibo extras that allow you to add a second Yoshi in the
form of Samus, Woolly Yoshi or even Mario, to name a few.
Platform: Wii U
Cost: $49.99

RATED E10+

Disney Infinity 3.0

This is the third installment of the always-fun Disney Infinity
line, and it brings in characters from Marvel, Disney and Star
Wars, including Yoda, Darth Vader and Han Solo. This game is
great for beginner gamers because its so easy to pick up and play.
Youpicka character from the Disney Infinity figures you own
(characters from the two previous games work in this one), and play
as him or her throughout the game.A Star Wars-themed starter
pack includes the video game, base, Ahsoka Tano
and Anakin Skywalker figures, Twilight of
the Republic play set piece and a
Web Code card.
Platforms:PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Wii
U, Xbox One and Xbox 360
Cost:Varies
Details:infinity.disney.com
Find more games on D8

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Christmas spirit abounds in Pennsylvania

Jim CHENEY

small park near City Hall, the

Christmas Village captures
the spirit of a German Christmas market. Try the mulled
wine and German sausage
while visiting.
11 a.m.-7 p.m.Sundays-Thursdays;
11 a.m.-8 p.m.Fridays- Saturdays
through Dec.27 at Love Park (JFK
Plaza),1500 Arch St.,Philadelphia.
www.philachristmas.com.

TRAVELS WITH JIM

wish list 2015

PennLive/The PatriotNews is helping you help area
nonprofits; not only for the
holidays, but throughout the
year. Items needed range from
the small and inexpensive a
bag of cat litter, paper towels,
canned goods to pricier
items such as computers.
Some wishes wont cost
more than your time. Please
read the list of wishes and
consider adding one (or more)
organizationsto your gift list
this year.

Pages D6-7

Its time
to turn our
attention to the
many Christmas events
that happen
throughout
Pennsylvania this time of year.
From authentic Christmas
markets to beautifully decorated downtowns, there are
more than enough things
going on in December to keep
everyone occupied.Here
are10 of the best.

Christmas Village
in Philadelphia
Because of Pennsylvanias
rich German heritage, there

Dickens of a Christmas
Christmas Village in Philadelphia
Jim Cheney, For PennLive

are a lot of Christkindlmarkts

traditional German Christmas marketsthroughout
the state. None has impressed

me more, however,than
theChristmas Villagein Philadelphias Love Park. With
more than 60 vendors in this

Few downtowns are more

charmingthan Wellsboro in
north-central Pennsylvania.
For one weekend each year,
this beautiful area transforms
into a Victorian-era village for
Dickens of a Christmas. Along
the streets of downtown,

Please see CHENEY on Page D3