Catch Up Fast: Last Week on Urbandale Patch

SATURDAY: Candy canes, hot cocoa and Santa. What's not to like? 

FRIDAY: Urbandale Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary beginning Dec. 11.  

THURSDAY: Patch.com launches a national contest for the best outdoor Christmas decorations. The grand prize is a $100,000 check to the winner's school district. So get stringing those lights, Urbandale!

WEDNESDAY: The Ankeny, Urbandale and Johnston food pantries are among those cutting the amount of food they give needy families each month. Demand has outpaced donations say pantry leaders. 

TUESDAY: Patch Poll: Is the $100,000 cash-only bond for U of I student Branden Plummer too high? The results: 478 people voted by Friday afternoonand 91 percent said the bond is too high.  Find that other Patch Polls here.

MONDAY: Parents Talk blog: When do you tell your child the truth about Santa Claus? Favorite comment: "I've never been ok with the deception involved, either, and I hate the idea of the "truth" coming as a crushing blow to a kid." - Emily C.

CAUCUS COVERAGE:  It was a Newt in the news week: Gingrich got the endorsement of the  Des Moines Conservative Club and Breakfast Club on Tuesday and Patch.com looked at whether he can win the caucus without a significant Iowa organization.  

And the debate about whether there should be a debate moderated by Donald Trump has been more interesting than the actual debate.  

Record numbers of college students participated in the 2008 caucuses. Will they do so again? Some factors suggest not.  

And Patch tracked down a little trivia on the three-decade tradition of the Des Moines Register debate, which turned out to be quite the event Saturday night.