Officer Joel Dhein offered holiday shopping safety tips recently on Milwaukee Fox affiliate Channel 6, WITI-TV. To do that, Joel visited a local shopping mall with a film crew and caught some mall customers making common errors.

JD Dhein tells us about his trip to the mall of a different type this week. JD’s Glendale Police Department takes part in the “Shop with a Cop” program. Learn more in today’s show!

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I thought a great way to share my Christmas wishes with you would to tell you a story from my heritage. As many of you know for 17 years, I was a German radio host in Milwaukee. Many of the traditions Americans hold dear about Christmas have been imported from Germany, and one of those is the Nutcracker. I used to read this tradition on my show each year…I have no clue where I initially discovered it anymore so my apologies to the original author–I’d gladly credit you if I knew who you are.

However, I’d like to share this beautiful tradition with you now and wish you all a wonderful Christmas…

Tim Kretschmann

producer, Police on the Scene with a Crime Prevention Lean

The Legend of the Nutcracker

Beneath the wooden exterior of the handsomely carved nutcracker lies a rich heritage that comes from the Erzgebirge region of Germany. Recognized worldwide as the home of the nutcracker, the Erzgebirge (translated as “ore Mountains”) first prospered as a mining center in the 13th century, yet the region also provided a rich supply of wood. And by the 1700s as metal resources were depleting, this abundance of wood gave villagers a new livelihood carving simple wooden objects.

The German nutcracker is the most celebrated of all the European wooden collectibles. Originally, each one was created by combining dozens of hand-crafted pieces with thousands of hours of labor. Today over 130 steps are required to complete each nutcracker.

From the very beginning the people left the imprint of their way of life on their products. This explains why most nutcrackers have a grim face, as the woodworkers were depicting the hard life of the mining community, their difficult working conditions, and meager rewards.

Ken Althoff, in The Legend of the Nutcracker and Traditions of the Erzgebige, recounts the German folktale of how the nutcracker seemingly became a useful gadget. The story goes that long ago a miserly farmer offered a reward to anyone who could find an easy way to crack the nuts from his walnut trees. A soldier suggested shooting the nut, a carpenter wanted to saw through the nut–both unacceptable solutions. Then along come a puppet carver with a beautiful puppet painted in bright colors with a large mouth and strong jaws– strong enough to crack the hard walnuts.

The farmer was grateful and rewarded the carver with his own special workshop. Though the story carries no historical truth, it’s correct to say that the nutcracker is at least a 250-year old tradition.

Bartholomew at the computer

J.D. Dhein notices Bartholomew, Santa’s second favorite elf, while shopping at the local mall. J.D. discusses shopping crime prevention and safety while Bartholomew listens, but doesn’t necessarily learns.

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Get ready for the holidays and save on trees, lights, ornaments, décor, and more. Amazon has all your holiday necessities, from Christmas movies and music to winter boots and cozy clothes.

Use our link to get all your Christmas necessities and help out the Police on the Scene with a Crime Prevention Lean in the process!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/?node=237796011&tag=pageantcast-20

Thank you in advance and have a happy Christmas season!

All music is provided by the Podsafe Music Network.

1. If Every Day Were Christmas by Podsafe for Peace
2. Just Stockings On by Munk
3. Batholomew goes to Vegas
4. Christmas Wish by gidgets ga ga
5. Christmas Feeling by the Ben Vaughn Singers – Satisfaction Records
6. A Soldier’s Christmas by Jay Goeppner
7. Bartholomew pulled over for speeding
8. The Greatest Xmas Song Ever Written by American Heartbreak
9. O Holy Night by Allison Crowe
10. White Christmas will be Blue by Beatrice Ericsson
11. Toilet Stockings
12. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Dokken  – Monster Ballads Xmas
13. Sleigh Ride by thehipcola
14. Bartholomew meets J.D.’s Taser
15. Give Me A Second Chance For Christmas by Candy Butchers
16. Do You Hear What I Hear by Jill Parr
17. Silent Night – German & English by Karmyn Tyler

Please support the artists by buying their music.

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Even with the Christmas shopping season behind us, we’re still in the store for returns and after-Christmas doorbusters. Find out how to navigate those malls safely with J.D. Dhein.

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We’re putting out this special Bonus episode as a Christmas gift to our listeners. This is the story of Christmas Elf that learns the true meaning of Taser.

This is one of the most popular episodes we’ve ever had of Police On The Scene with a Crime Prevention Lean. Enjoy!

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