CROSSVILLE —
This year, more than any other, I have had difficulty staying in the Christmas spirit. I love this season and look forward to it each year, but the recent school shooting in Connecticut have damped my enthusiasm as I reflect on how horrible the Christmas holidays are going to be for so many parents, friends and families of the victims killed in the senseless massacre in Newtown.
I shudder to think about the mental and emotional toll the survivors of that tragedy will have, not only this season, but for years to come as they attempt to rebuild lives in the wake of this disastrous event. This normally joyous time will, forever, be linked in the hearts and minds of so many parents, grandparents, family and friends with the deaths of the 20 young students and seven adults whose lives were cut short by an enraged young man.
It is also a particularly difficult time of year for other families who have lost loved ones over the recent months and will be without them for the first time this holiday season.
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Ready or not, here it comes: Christmas is Tuesday and this means this weekend is the last official shopping weekend before Christmas. Schools dismiss today at 10 a.m. for the winter break, and holiday travel will begin to pick up exponentially as the hours tick by.
If you are frazzled and stressed out trying to find a last minute gift for someone on your list, you may want to consider a gift card. I love gift cards. They are “one size fits all.” You can purchase a card at almost any retailer for any amount, allowing the recipient to shop at his or her leisure for that perfect gift. You can find gift cards for specialty coffees, clothing, outdoor items, spa experiences, gym memberships, wireless phones and devices, food, games and travel. Or for the person that simply has everything: a donation to their favorite charity in their name. There are numerous local charities that would love some extra financial help at the end of the year: Avalon Center, Bread of Life, Cumberland Good Samaritans, House of Hope, Plateau Crisis Pregnancy Center and the TAD Center, to name a few. They will joyfully accept financial donations or items for their not-for-profit organizations.
The Stone Memorial Dance Team will perform in the Liberty Bowl over the holidays. The team will travel to Memphis for the Iowa State and Tulsa game. Game time is 2:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
And speaking of traveling, holiday travel will officially begin this weekend on Tennessee interstates and roadways, and motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution when driving. Already this year, Tennessee has had more than 930 fatalities as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Please remember to watch for weather updates; wear safety belts; make sure children are properly secured in their seats, booster seats or car seats; observe the speed limits; watch out for reckless motorists; and don’t mix alcohol with driving. If you know you are going to be imbibing at a holiday event, please make sure you have an alcohol-free driver among the group.
This is my last column for 2012 so allow me to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a merry little Christmas and a happy 2013!
Lifestyles
AROUND THE TOWN: It’s hard to get in the Christmas spirit this year
- Lifestyles
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Lots of choices promised for Roan Mtn. hike
The Plateau Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association holds a leaderless hike every Wednesday morning. These are typically five to seven miles in length. For additional information, contact Bill Harris at 484-9152 or visit the Plateau Chapter Blog at http://ttaplateauchapter.blogspot.com.
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AROUND THE TOWN: Welcome summer with a few good books
The unofficial start to summer begins this weekend with the Memorial Day Holiday. Although summer does not officially begin until June, for most of us, this first warm weather holiday is the preview of about three months of boating, fishing, camping, vacationing, picnics, family reunions and cook outs.
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Schatz named May artist of the month at PCAC
Jessica Schatz, the artist of the month at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, has been an artist for as long as she can remember. She also remains busy as an interior designer, specializing in staging and new construction, and is also a pet portrait photographer. In addition, she donates her photography services, photographing homeless pets in order to help them find homes.
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Folksinger to perform May 31 in Pleasant Hill
The award-winning folk singer Tom Neilson will be bringing his message of “Music for Social Change” to Pleasant Hill, on Friday, May 31, at 7 p.m. in the Pleasant Hill Community Church, UCC. The Shalom Center for Continuing Education, a non-profit educational center is sponsoring this appearance of the nationally well-known artist.
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127 Seniors plan for annual picnic
On May 17, the members of the 127 South Senior Center had an enjoyable time socializing and playing bingo, dominos and billiards. Numbers were called by John Bohrman, with the prizes furnished by Dr. M. Stewart Galloway, M.D.
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Pleasant Hill Ramblings: Pleasant Hill Elementary honors volunteers
Mary Ann Kotus-Huff, principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School (PHS), recently welcomed volunteers to the annual Volunteer Tea. It was held in the gaily decorated new all-purpose room of the new annex. Volunteers were treated to sandwiches, fruit, cheese and crackers and cupcakes.
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Plateau Gardening: Transplanting tips
My landscape is perennial–based. There are vines, trees, shrubs as well as herbaceous (soft-stemmed) vegetation in assorted categories-ornamentals, herbs and food crops like rhubarb. Annuals in containers are used to add splashes of color. At this time of year, I usually have a few recently purchased plants waiting to be transplanted (see the accompanying photo).
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Fair Park offering help for senior dog owners
A dog is a senior's best friend. Family and friends are not around much, and everyone is so busy. After retirement the free time seems to be longer. Many seniors would be very lonely if it was not for their four-legged friends. Dogs are a big part of the family, so they need to learn to be obedient to make it easier on the relationship.
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The beginnings of Cumberland County Discovery Gardens
It was a great day in 2004 when Walt Hitch looked out his window and studied the three unused acres that accompanied his hundreds of acres of AgResearch lands.
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CCHS Class of 1963 congratulates Class of 2013
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