Community

James Ward Elementary custodian William Joseph hides the school’s elf on the shelf in a new place every day, delighting the children each morning. Daily News photo

Yield: 8 balls (4 inches)

2 cups shredded or flaked sweetened coconut nonstick cooking spray

nonstick cooking spray

Yield: 12 cups

Nonstick cooking spray

12 cups popped popcorn

6 tablespoons butter or margarine

Servings: 8

8 cups unsalted, unbuttered, popped popcorn

2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Yield: 5 snowmen

1 package (1 pound) large marshmallows

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, plus additional for greasing hands

Saving is a vital component of financial planning. However, more than half of Americans are saving too little and do not have an accurate grasp of their spending habits.

remember the day Madeline said to me, “I like watching the squirrels scurry ing around in my backyard, looking for acorns or stopping to eat one. I wonder what they’re thinking …” she said with her perfect diction and uplifting voice, as if she were telling the story to a gaggle of fourth graders gathered around her feet. I