Fireworks were involved with over 10,000 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during 2022, according to a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children are especially at risk for injury. The report states that those 15 to 19 years of age had the highest estimated rate of injury followed by children ages 10 to 14. “Teach your child not to point or throw fireworks at people, animals, or buildings,” Chaney said. “Show children how to put fireworks in buckets of water and dispose of them properly so as not to start a fire.” The Mississippi State Fire Marshal recommends these additional safety tips: •        Observe local laws. o   Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks should first check with their fire protection officials to make sure that local laws are being followed. o   Some municipalities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits. •        Use common sense: always read and follow the directions on each firework. •        Never point or throw fireworks at another person. •        Buy from reliable fireworks sellers. Store them in a cool, dry place. •        Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks. •        Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready. •        Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees. •        Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance. •        Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks. •        Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. •        Never give fireworks to small children. •        Never carry fireworks in your pocket. •        Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.

By Guest Columnist Stephanie Duguid In Mississippi, a revolutionary initiative is taking shape aimed at transforming the way mental health is approached among youth and young adults. Open Up Mississippi program, a statewide leadership council composed of persons aged 14 to 26, is leading this charge to engage youth and young adults in breaking down barriers to mental wellness, utilizing their strengths and voices to combat the stigma surrounding mental health. The pioneering group is focused on three primary goals: eradicating the stigma and stereotypes that deter individuals from seeking mental health services, raising awareness about the prevalence of mental illness among young Mississippians and advocating for enhanced mental wellness services tailored to the needs of individuals aged 18 to 26. A critical aspect of its initiative is the introduction of a new, easy-to-remember three-digit dial and texting/chat code: 988. This number connects callers directly to the suicide prevention hotline and is a lifeline for those experiencing a mental health crisis, emotional distress, or substance abuse issues. Moreover, 988 offers support to people seeking help for loved ones facing similar challenges. The statistics underscoring the need for such an initiative are stark.  One in six U.S. youths aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder. Among young adults aged 18-25, the prevalence of mental health conditions soars to 30.6%. Alarmingly, half of all lifetime mental illnesses commence by age 13, with 75% manifesting by age 24.  Additionally, high school students showing significant symptoms of depression are over twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers. Open Up Mississippi is basing its communication activities service delivery on the unique ways youth communicate and seek solace.  For many, texting is a preferred mode of communication over talking.  Music, too, plays a vital role in their lives, serving as a medium for healing, mood regulation, and expressing feelings. The group’s program is also building a peer-to-peer support system, leveraging relationships to extend the reach among students and adults through community presentations and awareness campaigns to insure the message of mental wellness and the availability of support systems permeates throughout schools and social groups. Visit openupms.org or contact youth@namims.org to support or learn more about this transformative initiative can.  The website and email provides links to resources, guidance, and avenues for involvement in Open Up Mississippi’s crucial mission. Open Up Mississippi stands as a beacon of hope and action in the face of mental health challenges confronting youth and young adults.  By empowering the very individuals affected by these issues to lead the charge, Mississippi is setting a precedent for how communities can come together to foster understanding, support and lasting change in the realm of mental health. EDITOR'S NOTE:  Stephanie Duguid is owner of Do Good ProHealth (CPR Classes) and Do Good Leadership (motivational speaking, and leadership and success coaching).

Grandma lay in the hospital bed, a shadow of the vital, energetic woman she had been just a year ago. Her strong hands that were endlessly involved in her family’s life, providing, comforting, and disciplining, now lay listlessly on the bed cover, thin and fragile. Eyes that always had been sparkling with life and occasionally sparking with irritation when one of her grandchildren had been “acting the fool” now were clouded with pain and fatigue. Her famous silver cloud of hair that she always wore in a short halo around her head? Long gone in the garbage heap of life, along with her energy and zest for life. Grandma was very ill and she had no illusions of recovering. Cancer had walked into her life fifteen months ago. Rudely ignoring any common courtesy of announcing its arrival, it had quietly and insidiously sneaked in, hiding its presence until it had managed to gain a stronghold with tentacles snaking throughout her once indomitable body. The oncologist efforts with chemotherapy and surgery to rein in its reign of terror had proven to be as ineffective as a household water hose against a city-wide fire. Into her dimly lit room, a grieving daughter led her own tiny daughter. Mom and Dad had agreed last night that it was time for their little girl to say her goodbye to Meemie. As they tiptoed toward the bed where her grandmother lay, the little girl’s eyes widened in shock. The Meemie she had always known, the strong, fun-loving, outspoken woman who had helped shape the first seven years of her life was not lying in that bed. In her place was just a shadow, a feeble imitation of the lady who had helped to surround her with love and security. Tears filled the mother’s eyes as she watched her daughter quietly lean toward the bed. Tenderly gazing down into the beloved wrinkled face, the child reached out to lightly stroke the almost transparent skin. With her other hand, she picked up one of the lifeless hands and held it gently in her own. Then she placed a little foot on the lowered guard rail, boosted herself up on the bed, and laid her head down on the pillow next to Meemie. Mom inched closer to the bed, unwilling to disturb what was happening, but yet wanting to hear what would be said. In her soft little girl voice, the child began whispering in the ear of her grandmother. “Meemie, this is Hope. I love you so much. Momma told me I’ve come to say goodbye ‘cuz you’re going to Heaven. And we won’t be talking anymore for a long time. But she said that I will see you again. And you will be able to play with me like you used to. And then, you will have your Hope and God with you forever! Never give up on Hope and your God.

Co-Lin’s Natchez Campus is currently under the leadership of a familiar face -- retired Co-Lin President Dr. Ronnie Nettles, who is serving in an interim role as the Vice President there until a permanent Vice President can be hired. Dr. Nettles took over as Interim Vice President following the departure of Dr. Sandra Barnes, who is now at Alcorn State University. Although Dr. Nettles has no plans to stay on for the role long term, he is no stranger to the Natchez Campus and the Miss-Lou community, having served as Dean of the Natchez Campus from 1997-2004 before serving as Co-Lin president from 2008-2018. “It feels good to be back on campus at a place I have long called home, even if it is only temporarily,” Dr. Nettles says. “I am most looking forward to working alongside Dr. Middleton and the rest of the Co-Lin team as we look for ways to better serve our students and community.” Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton said Dr. Nettles was the right person for the job:  “Dr. Nettles is devoted to Co-Lin and serving our students, which is one reason he was the perfect person to fill in as interim Vice President until we are ready to fill the role permanently.  I fully trust that Dr. Nettles will lead the campus well given his extensive knowledge, experience, and love of Copiah-Lincoln.”

By Kara Kimbrough I've shared this in previous columns, but it may bear repeating. I don't believe in luck, but instead, put my faith in God's grace and blessings for the coming year. However, like any good Southerner, starting 2024 off without sampling at least one of these traditional New Year's dishes -  cabbage, black-eyed peas, pork and cornbread -  just doesn't feel right. First, enjoying these foods on the first day of a new year is a fun tradition to maintain. I love the starving Vicksburg natives whose lives were saved by finding black-eyed peas to eat when the Civil War raged in their city and Union troops destroyed all crops but the peas used to feed livestock. Thus began an important New Year's Day tradition. But most important, if cooked the right way, these dishes are really delicious and filling on what is usually a cold day. Other foods that show up around the first day of the New Year in other parts of the U.S. and world include: *  Lettuce and cabbage: The Chinese wrap their food in the leafy green vegetables during the Chinese New Year and for good reason. Lettuce in their native tongue means "rising fortune." In our part of the world, we simplify things. Eating boiled cabbage or cole slaw means we'll receive money in the coming year. * Pork - Germans and Eastern Europeans first began serving sauerkraut and some form of "lucky pork" on the first day of the new year. Like Southerners, they believe cabbage resembles money and increases in value when cooked. I've never seen sauerkraut on a New Year's table, but fried pork chops or bacon are usually a staple on Southern tables. * Cornbread - Back to the Civil War...if starving Southerners had any corn left in the fields, they ground it to make cornbread to eat with black-eyed peas. As a result of the life-sustaining meal when everything around them was bleak, eating cornbread on New Year's Day now signifies "gold," in the coming year. Besides looking forward to New Year's Day, when some form of pork, cabbage, peas and cornbread will make an appearance, I've always loved the excitement of New Year's Eve. Whether it's a party or gathering of friends around a bonfire or special event, there's a sense of closing down a year filled with numerous ups-and-downs and starting anew the following day that makes the evening special. Here are a few recipes to help send 2023 on a delicious note and begin 2024 with hopes for an even better year. Happy New Year! New Year's Eve Dip Charcutie Board Fun idea: Line a long board with favorite chips and crackers and place these several different flavors of dip in small bowls in the midst of the chips/crackers. Cut out slices of cheese with  number cookie cutters in "2024" and place on the board.) Easy Shrimp Dip 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons onion, grated 2 teaspoons parsley, chopped 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 drops hot sauce (adjust to taste) Mix cream cheese and mayonnaise. Add remaining ingredients and blend thoroughly. Allow mixture to chill for one hour before serving. Recipe doubles easily. New Year's Day Breakfast Cheesecake 2 8-ounce cans crescent roll dough 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese 1-1/2 cups sugar, divided 1 large egg, separated 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup pecans, chopped Spread one roll of crecent roll dough (sheet form) in a 13x9" Pyrex dish, pressing perforations together to seal. Combine cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, egg yolk and vanilla and spread on top of dough. Lay second can of dough (sheet form) on top of rolls. Beat egg white and brush on top. Mix remaining sugar and pecans together and sprinkle on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Overnight New Year's Day Brunch Apple French Toast 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter 2 tablespoons light Karo syrup 4 apples, peeled and sliced thin 3 eggs 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 9 slices day-old French bread (slice the day before and leave uncovered in the refrigerator) In a small pan over low heat, combine brown sugar, butter and Karo until thick. Pour into ungreased 13x9" pan, arranging apple slices on top. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Dip bread slices in egg mixture, and arrange on top of apple slices. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and uncover. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes until top is browned. Top with sauce: (optional) 1 cup applesauce 10-ounce jar apple jelly 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 taspoon cloves Combine ingredients in pan over low heat and cook, stirring, until jelly is dissolved. Serve French toast slices with sauce drizzled over top. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from MIssissippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Two theatrical performances in October and November raised the curtain on a new theater program, including classes, at Co-Lin. On October 27, 28 and 29, Dr. Bobby Helms, Director of Choral Activities at the college, staged three performance of  Steel Magnolias, a comedy-drama set in the early 1980's based on the life of writer Robert Harling’s sister about a group of women who bond in a small Southern town as customers of a hairdresser and deal with the death of one of their own, a Type 1 diabetic who risks everything to give birth to her own child. On November 10 and 12, he produced and directed The Hunchback of Notre Dame -- a musical play based on the 1831 novel by Victor Hugo about an impossible love affair focused on the bellringer at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and a 16-year old street dancer, with songs from the 1996 Walt Disney Animation Studios film adaptation. There will be three more shows during the spring semester and two junior shows featuring children and youth during the summer also produced and directed by Helms.  The venue is the Stanley Stewart Auditorium in the Ewing Fine Arts Building on the Wesson campus, with tickets priced at $10 per person. “This is the first time in recent memory that Co-Lin has had a theater program, and a season of plays has been staged in Wesson,” says Helms, who was involved in a Georgia community theater and college theater before joining Co-Lin in 2019 to head its Choral department.  “We started the program to both attract students to Co-Lin and offer new opportunities to current students.” Helms launched the new theater program with a summer camp at Co-Lin for children and youth this year.  Participants in the summer camps introduced the new program with performances of Sister Act (Junior), a 1992 musical crime comedy written by Paul Rudnick, and Legally Blonde (Junior), a 2001 American comedy scripted by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith about a sorority girl who attempts to win back her ex-boyfriend by getting a Juris Doctor degree at Harvard Law School, and in the process, overcomes stereotypes against blondes and triumphs as a successful lawyer. Classes started in the fall semester are part of the program, too, with the shows in which students can practice their learning along side members of the wider community with a theater background who want to audition for them as well.  Helms also teaches the classes, which include one theater major who will graduate and move to a four-year school, and students who take them to complement other studies.  During the current semester, he is teaching stagecraft (building props and sets), acting, movement and drama production.  Next semester, his courses will include stagecraft, theater appreciation and drama production. This month, auditions begin for the three spring semester shows: Tick Tick. . . . .Boom, a semi-biographical musical by Jonathan Larson about the writer’s experience creating a musical to enter the theater industry. Clue, a comedy written by Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, Sandy Rustin and Eric Price based on the classic board game, Clue, in which six guests are invited to a dinner party thrown by an anonymous host who gives them aliases -- Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, and Miss Scarlet, discover they are the victims of the same blackmailer, their host, are presented with a weapon and must choose to pay their extortionist double or kill the innocent butler. Little Shop of Horrors, a horror comedy rock musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman that follows a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is loosely based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Suddenly, Seymour." Helms pronounced the initial productions of Steel Magnolias and The Hunchback of Notre Dame successful ventures “received very well” by nearly full-house audiences.  The audiences at Steel Magnolia participated in the play as attendees at a “wedding reception” during the intermission, which was made part of the play.  Minus the audience, however, the play had only seven cast members, making it relatively easy for Helms to produce and direct to start the 2023 theater season at the college.  As the season progresses, Helms is creating bigger challenges for himself.  The Hunchback of Notre Dame, in contrast, had 35 cast members.  Spring semester productions, Helms adds, will feature live instruments in musicals instead of recording tracks to provide sound. For more information, contact Bobby G. Helms at bobby.helms@colin.edu.

By Guest Columnist Rev. Patti Hardacre Advent is the season before Christmas. During this season, we look forward to the coming of Emmanuel. The four weeks before Christ’s birth are important because we need to live in anticipation of the coming of Christ. Advent is about the amazing grace which comes in the Son of God. There are four words for us to ponder deeply during Advent and Christmas:  hope, peace, joy and love. Christ’s light of grace offers us hope.  Grace given by Christ leads us to a future where we can leave behind the shadows of sorrow and suffering and sin and forsakenness.  May Christ’s gracious light of hope shine upon us. Christ’s light of grace also brings us peace. This peace is given to the world which is so overcome with division, violence and conflict.  We must allow the light of Christ to bring peace to shine over the world of discord and grief. The light of Christ’s grace also allows us to have room for joy.  We are to be glad in Christ and find joy in his holy kingdom. When we find joy, we can let go of our lamentations, sorrow, and hurt.  We can open ourselves to songs and carols of good cheer. Pray for this joy to brighten our lives this season and throughout the year. The fourth word is love. Christ’s light of grace is grounded in love.  This love is given to us rather than receiving judgment for our sins. Jesus’ love for us overcomes all hatred and lovelessness. Show love to others and be covered in the shining light of Christ. These four simple words for Christmas may change our lives and the lives of others. Let us be prepared to share in hope, peace, joy and love with all of God’s children.  Michael Hoy’s simple prayer reminds us: “May we hold firmly to Christ’s amazing grace through faith, and may that grace light the way for our Advent and Christmas.” EDITOR’S NOTE:  Rev. Patti Hardacre is pastor at Wesson’s Decell Memorial United Methodist Church.

By Bob Garver A bit of autobiography here at the start: I grew up a stone’s throw from Hershey, Pennsylvania and my current full-time employment comes from Hershey’s Chocolate World in Times Square. Chocolate, its production, and its sales are all a major part of my identity. So I view media related to Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” through a different lens than most. For example, the first time I saw 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” at the age of six, I wondered why the whole world would lose its mind over a contest where the prize was a visit to a chocolate factory. I lived a mere ten minutes from a chocolate factory, and even at that young age, the tour had gotten boring for me. Eventually I learned that the factory of the movie was a gorgeous and twisted place, and then I was able to enjoy the ride (with the possible exception of the nightmarish actual “ride”), but it took about half the movie for my disbelief to be suspended. All of this is to say that I went into “Wonka” with a high standard for how the chocolate would be portrayed. I wasn’t looking for accuracy, heck, I was just coming off an unreasonably crowded Saturday-in-December shift and needed a break from real chocolate. But I did need the chocolate to look good, to come off well so that people would leave the theater wanting more of it. The chocolate of the 1971 film looked absolutely scrumdiddlyumptious (a word that surprisingly passes my computer’s spell-check), but in the 2005 Tim Burton version, it looked distorted and inedible. Given those two extremes, it’s not shocking that the chocolate in “Wonka” falls somewhere in the middle, but given that it’s surrounded by an underwhelming movie, I wasn’t exactly in a hurry to return to work and use my employee discount. The movie follows young Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) as he seeks to open his first chocolate shop. Standing in his way are the “Chocolate Cartel” of no-good rivals Slugworth (Paterson Jospeh); Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton); and Prodnose (Matt Lucas), an on-the-take police chief (Keegan-Michael Key), and his indentured servitude to a pair of laundromat owners (Tom Davis and Olivia Colman). But he has help from his fellow “scrubbers” (Jim Carter, Natasha Rothwell, Rakhee Thakhar, Rich Fulcher, and breakout Calah Lane) and the lasting wisdom of his late mother (Sally Hawkins). He’s initially antagonized by a thieving Oompa-Loompa (Hugh Grant) but we know that the two will eventually end up allies and that Wonka will bring in all of Oompa-Loompaland to work in his factory in an arrangement that future adaptations will no doubt overcompensate to make clear is not slavery. Wonka himself is both a spectacularly great and terrible businessman. He’s pitifully naïve and bad at managing a budget, yet effortlessly charming as a salesman and knows chocolate so well that he can manufacture it seemingly by magic. The only time he ever has to worry about finding an ingredient is a sequence where he has to break into a zoo to get giraffe’s milk. And not only does the chocolate taste great, but it gives people superpowers like newfound self-confidence and the ability to fly. So yes, the chocolate comes off well, the movie has done its job there. I can’t say “Wonka” does its job well in every department. I’m still not sold on Chalamet as a leading man, especially compared to the brilliant Gene Wilder as the 1971 Wonka. This movie is so darn sweet that it lacks the naughtiness that made that version appealing. Grant is the only one who seems to be in the right spirit, and his performance is hampered by terrible CGI. And every one of the movie’s musical numbers is overproduced dreck, even the classic “Pure Imagination” is devoid of life. That said, it’s impossible to get too mad at a movie like this, one that the family can all agree to see together during the holidays. Grade: C “Wonka” is rated PG for some violence, mild language and thematic elements. Its running time is 116 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

Two Mississippi School of the Arts dancers participated in a two-week Fini Dance intensive school at its annual summer festival at Villapiana Lido in Calabria, Italy, in the latest dimension of MSA’s partnership with Fini. The festival is a meeting of artists and young people, providing dance and scholarship opportunities and connections with others, and promoting growth in their art. As part of their summer program, Natalie Fleming and Charleigh McDuffie toured two ancient Italian villages, learned basic Italian, maneuvered European train systems, made life-long friends, received awards, and created professional connections in addition to attending a rigorous class schedule in classical ballet, modern repertoire, jazz, hip hop, and aerial taught by dance artists from Italy, America, and the National Kosovo Ballet Company. Their days began at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.. They were privileged to perform on two occasions -- a class demonstration and a formal gala in Altomonte, Italy. They danced variations from each genre they studied and performed with a cast of ten Italian and American dancers in Tammy Stanford’s new and revised work, Rare Earth. MSA Dance is recognized as a Fini Dance Partner School.  Since 2021, Antonio Fini has served as guest artist at MSA and yearly presents scholarship awards to MSA dancers.  MSA’s Tammy Stanford received a Fini Career Award in 2022, and this year was named Fini Dance Ambassador.  The school’s new technical director, Katie Ginn, attended the Fini Dance Festival during the summer, was invited to take part in the festival Choreographer’s Workshop and performed “Hands,” her dance work, at the Gala. Antonio Pio Fini is a former Italian principal dancer, choreographer, director, and producer who founded Fini Production LLC to create and produce, and showcase artists and companies. In 2011, he founded Alto Jonio Dance Awards in Villapiana Lido in Calabria, Italy, and in 2013, the Italian International Dance Awards in New York City, now merged with the Fini Dance Festival. In 2016, he started Fini Dance New York Showcase in Florence, Italy, during Danza In Fiera -- the biggest dance fair in Europe.  Fini was a principal dancer with Michael Mao Dance, one of the foremost modern and contemporary companies of multi-cultural performers in New York City.  Stylistically, he merged athleticism with art, bringing fluid energy to the simplest of intentions. Performing in New York City and throughout the US and Europe, Fini has been a special guest of Martha Graham Dance Company, Erick Hawkins Dance Company, the National Ballet of Kosovo, Staten Island Ballet, Boca Ballet Theater and Mare Nostrum Elements.  In 2010, Fini was recognized by Joseph Fontano as Emerging Choreographer at the Stefano Valentini Award III Edition.  He received the Altomonte Dance Award from Brunilda Lato and the Teatro Carcano Award from Aldo Masella.  As a choreographer, Fini created works for the National Ballet of Kosovo, Roi Escudero, the Players of the Square, Company in residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and “La danza dei camorristi” for the New York City Opera at Rose Theater at Lincoln Center. Visit http://finiproduction.com/antonio-fini/ for information about Antonio Pio Fini.

It’s arrived. The Holiday of holidays for many. The month-long season of excitement, fun and anticipation. But there is another perspective on the Christmas season, and it’s not one of joy and family. For many, it brings memories of long-past years, when they too had their special loved one with them. When together they readied their home - putting out all the decorations and cooking all the favorites of the family. Together they had braved the elements, and I’m not referring only to the cold weather. The inevitable Christmas rush in the stores was as much to be dreaded as the ice and snow just to get to the store. But it was all worth it. Nothing was going to keep them from having a Christmas to be remembered. But then. Life took a turn. Things changed and the following Christmas, and many, many Christmases after became… very different. No longer is it anticipated as the highlight of the year. In fact, what once was a fun sparkling celebration is now coated in shades of dull gray, as so many painfilled memories are tied to this particular season. “It’s time to pull yourself up by your bootstraps!” “Get out and go shopping and enjoy the lights and excitement.” “Quit wallowing in the past, and force yourself to look forward to the future that Jesus gave you when He came to be born at Christmas.” And so many more well-meaning phrases that are tossed in the pathway of the grieving. Phrases that usually hit a six-foot thick blank wall of nothingness. Friends and family members hurt badly when they see a loved one who is lost in their grief, unable to find their way out of that black maze where they are living. And they will earnestly attempt to motivate and rationalize, all in an effort to help bring life back to dull eyes, and a spring into the steps that are now dragging thru life. Trying to get that loved one to begin enjoying life again. If you have ever loved someone, then most probably you have experienced some of the above. Either as the one who has lost someone, or as the one who desperately is trying to help the hurting. The Bible in Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time and season for everything, and that includes a time of grieving. And each of us does this on our own timetable. So, if the grief is yours, grieve. But know there is a time when it will begin to lessen. And if you are the faithful friend who is desperate wanting to help, be patient, loving and prayerful. Be there. Grief is a part of life, and it very often colors and discolors the holidays that follow, sometimes for an extended while. But don’t give up. Don’t assume that this is the way that the hopeless emotion of grieving is the way life is going to be until the day you die.

An artist widely known throughout Wesson for his paintings of familiar landscapes, a long teaching career at Co-Lin and his dedicated participation in the life Decell Memorial United Methodist Church has died. Tom Ross settled with his family in Wesson near the Co-Lin campus when he came to the college in 1975 to teach drawing, painting, art history and appreciation and ceramics -- work he continued until his retirement in 2013. Asked for a Wesson News story a few years how he would change his life, he asserted enthusiastically: “Nothing!” A Jackson native, Ross graduated from Murrah High School (1968) and Mississippi College (1972), where he earned his degree in art after deciding not to pursue studies in chemistry or mathematics.  In 1974, he received his Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia (UG).  He turned down his first opportunity to teach art as a graduate assistant at UG for a better-paying job as a janitor at the school until Mississippi College invited him to return as a visiting art professor to substitute during the summer for a teacher, who was on leave.  The next stop was Co-Lin. During his teaching career and into his retirement, Ross also honed a reputation as an accomplished painter.  His favorite subjects were landscapes in which he incorporated family members and friends when he painted them.  His most recent paintings were watercolors, but he worked in oil, acrylic, water-miscible (mixable) oil and egg tempera.  When he wasn’t teaching or painting, the chances are you could find him fishing somewhere -- in the fresh waters of his backyard pond, Lake Lincoln and varied rivers in Mississippi, the Ozarks and Wyoming; or in saltwater at Orange Beach and off the Mississippi coast.  In his retirement, he maintained a studio at his beloved Decell Memorial United Methodist Church where he was lay leader and volunteered as yard man on its property.  He worked on his own private paintings and commissioned projects, and experimented with colors and shapes on computer in his studio two or three days a week. Over the years, Ross supported work of the Southern Poverty Law Center and United Methodist Committee on Relief, and organizations that assist orphaned animals. Ross and his wife, the former Gayle Megginson, whom he met at Mississippi College and married in 1971, lived on the Co-Lin campus for twenty-five years before moving to the Brookhaven area after the college sold their house.  They adopted a daughter, Arwen, and had three grandchildren.

By Kara Kimbrough Christmas is almost here, so technically, your shopping needs to be complete. However, if you’re like me, there are always a few last-minute gifts to buy. Here are a few suggestions for the food-lover, home chef and traveler (and some may fit into all three categories) on your list. If you can’t find them before the big day, simply print a photo of the item from the internet, wrap it in a festive package and include a card with the disclaimer that the gift is “on its way.” They’ll be so happy with any of these gifts that it won’t matter that it’s a little late. Merry Christmas! 1.     Cuisinart 14-Cup 50th Anniversary Food Processor – One of the most used items in my kitchen is my Cuisinart Food Processor. When I have lots of vegetables to chop (think summer canning season), I simply can’t survive without a little help from this trusty appliance. In simple terms, it’s indispensable when I need to slice, grate, shred, dice and pulverize almost anything. The 50th anniversary model is a modern version of the old-school version that debuted in 1973. 2.     The Always Pan – Believe it or not, there’s now a pan that can do the job of 10 (yes, 10) pieces of traditional cookware. The Always Pan is deep enough to roast a chicken and shallow enough to fry an egg – it braises, sears, steams, strains, sautés, fries, boils, bakes, serves and stores leftovers – in short, it basically does it all. It’s also oven safe, perfect for stovetop-to-oven recipes. It’s a little pricey, but when you consider that it replaces several other pans, the price is justifiable. 3.     Rollink Flex 360° Carry-On Spinner Suitcase – Just when you think you’ve seen ever modern invention in the world of travel accessories, a new one comes along that blows all the others out of the water. If you’ve ever pushed a carryon bag while sprinting through the Atlanta Airport (and who hasn’t if you’re flying anywhere?) you know the value of one that’s lightweight and doesn’t create any more problems that you’re likely already experiencing.  Rollink created a lightweight, yet durable carryon that’s not only superior to any carryon I’ve ever had, but is also built with expandable sides that accommodate last-minute additions, then folds flat accordion-style for easy storage. To order, visit the website: www.rollink.com. My latest favorite Rollink product is a hardshell Tour Mini Bag that can be worn as a crossbody purse for easy access to items. Slash and cut resistant straps offer added protection while traveling. 4.     Countertop Ice Maker – The need for one of these now-indispensable kitchen appliances originated with the purchase of a new refrigerator with a larger-than-normal ice container. The solution? Remove the unwieldy container and purchase a countertop ice maker. Once I began using it, I wondered how I’d lived without one. Being able to quickly fill a cup with perfectly-shaped small ice cubes (there’s an option for larger cubes) is wonderful.  I’ve begun seeing them in offices, kitchens and even classrooms. Inexpensive models can be found at most major retailers for less than $100. 5.     The charcuterie board craze has been around for awhile now, but doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. In my opinion, you can never have too many boards, ranging from small round ones to medium-size to a giant one for those impressive spreads. I’ve found several of mine at TJ Maxx and other discount stores. 6.     If you’re giving the gift of travel for Christmas or planning to treat yourself with a trip to New York City in 2024, there’s no better time to make a reservation than right now. Reservations can now be made for Hotel Week, set for Jan. 3 – Feb. 4. Hotel Week offers visitors the opportunity to save 24% at 150 hotels across the city. I’ll be attending a large travel writers show in January and have already booked the Hilton New York Times Square at a substantial savings. To make a reservation, visit: nyctourism.com/hotelweek. Speaking of last-minute life-savers, here are two of my favorite “saves” when a little something extra is needed for the Christmas dinner table. Mrs. Walters’ Fruit Salad (This is the recipe for the ambrosia served in the movie “The Help.” Actress Sissy Spacek, who played Mrs. Walters, the quirky mother of mean-spirited Hilly, ate fruit salad as she watched her soap opera during Hilly’s bridge party.) 1 small can mandarin oranges, drained 1 small jar maraschino cherries, drained 1 can pineapple chunks, drained 1 cup mini marshmallows 1 cup flaked coconut 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream (supplement sour cream with scoops of Cool Whip if you want a sweeter taste) Mix all ingredients together. (You can add other favorite ingredients like strawberries, grapes and chopped pecans if you'd like). Refrigerate and chill before serving Pull-Apart Crescent Roll Christmas Tree 2 cans (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) 2 packages (5.5 oz each) garlic & herbs Boursin® cheese 1 tablespoon butter, melted 3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese (more to taste) Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. Separate dough into 16 triangles. Use kitchen scissors or knife to cut each triangle in half lengthwise. Spoon about 2 teaspoons cheese on shortest side of each triangle. Roll up each, starting at shortest side of triangle and rolling to opposite point. Build trunk by vertically placing two crescents side by side. Please remaining crescents next to each other in a tree-shaped pattern, pointed sides up, continually working your way up to make a pointed top. Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until deep golden brown. Brush with melted butter; sprinkle with cheese. Recipe adapted from Pillsbury.com Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkrpco@yahoo.com.