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- California City – created in 1958 with the aim of becoming California’s “next great city” (it didn’t)
- National City – from Royal Ranch (El Rancho del Rey), which was changed to National Ranch (El Rancho de la Nacion), which somehow became National City (and notranch)
- Studio City – from a studio that Mack Sennett built on ground that the developer donated
- Cathedral City – at the mouth of Cathedral Canyon, so named for a peak in said canyon that looks like … you guessed it … a cathedral. Sonny Bono is buried here.
- Temple City – after Walter P. Temple, first settler. Officially, the City of Temple City.
- Holy City – built by cult-leader William E. Riker, who advocated celibacy, temperance, communal living, and white supremacy (more here)
- King City * – named after founder Charles King; formerly Hog Town and City of King
- Highway City – named by the incredibly imaginative fig grower J. C. Forkner, of Golden State Highway Fig Gardens fame
- Plaster City – well, it is owned by the United States Gypsum Corporation
- Project City – named after the Shasta Dam construction project
- City of Industry – created in 1957 for the sole purpose of industrial development. Site of the mall parking lot from Back to the Future.
- Yuba City – possibly from uva, the Spanish word for "grape"
This cookie recipe combines two of Mrs. Claus' holiday favorites: gingerbread and eggnog! Mrs. Claus' Holiday Cookie Cups look great on a Christmas cookie platter, but they taste even better. After all, what could be better than a gingerbread cup filled with a fluffy eggnog cream? (Rumor has it that Santa and the elves really love these!)
- 2 (14-1/2-ounce) packages gingerbread cake and cookie mix
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup eggnog
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Prepare dough according to package directions for cookies. Roll dough into 20 balls, place in muffin cups, and lightly press dough down.
- Bake 10 minutes, remove from oven, and make a well in center of each cookie cup using a wooden spoon handle or small juice glass. Return to oven and bake 4 to 5 more minutes or until set. Press down lightly in center of each cookie cup. Let cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around edges to loosen slightly. Cool 10 more minutes then remove from tin and finish cooling on wire rack.
- In a medium bowl, beat heavy cream until stiff peaks form. In another medium bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add eggnog, nutmeg, and cinnamon and beat until mixed.
- Fold whipped cream into eggnog mixture until thoroughly combined. Pipe or spoon mixture into cookie cups. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve.
In the middle of the holiday shopping season, National Salesperson Day recognizes the personnel who make sure the products keep flying off the shelves. On the second Friday in December, the day honors the value and dedication of the professional salesperson and the hard work that they perform.
A good salesperson is knowledgeable about the product. They answer customers’ questions and provide additional information when necessary. A salesperson may work locally in a shop or travel several hundred miles a day to see customers and vendors. When a new product becomes available, sales personnel study up on the product to stay knowledgeable and informed.
Many customers have favorite salespeople, and they know the salesperson provides the best customer care. A salesperson’s responsibilities go beyond sales, too. For example, they may be required to track inventory and complete purchase orders. Some even handle delivery depending on the product they provide.
This time of the year, sales personnel are especially busy. Holiday shopping is in full swing. But other retail businesses are reviewing their inventories, looking forward to the new year. A salesperson is the frontline of any business. Often, they are the first person a customer sees. They’re definitely the first one they think of asking to speak to when they have a question. Businesses rely on their sales personnel to be ready for anything and provide them with the tools to make the sale as efficient as possible.
We can all participate in the holiday! While out shopping, recognize a salesperson who served you well. Give them a shout-out and their business, too! Many businesses will recognize their sales personnel in a variety of ways. They may recognize individual sales efforts or an entire team. It’s also a great time to honor those who’ve met sales goals and provide excellent customer service.
Maura Schreier-Fleming, president of Best@Selling, founded National Salesperson Day in March of 2000. In 2010, the observance moved to December. Schreier-Fleming is an author, consultant, and speaker for salesperson training.