As we immerse ourselves in the festive spirit of the season, it's important to acknowledge that the holidays can bring both joy and challenges. The whirlwind of shopping, parties, cooking, travel, and added financial strains can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety for some. While it's natural to experience occasional sadness, if these emotions begin to impact your relationships, work, or focus, it's crucial to address them promptly. Here are some strategies to navigate the holiday season with mental well-being in mind: Set Realistic Expectations: Acknowledge that perfection is not attainable. Set realistic expectations for yourself and the holiday experience. Plan and Prioritize: Create a manageable schedule. Prioritize essential tasks and events, allowing time for self-care. Connect with Loved Ones: Spend quality time with friends and family. Social connections can provide support and alleviate feelings of isolation. Practice Self-Care: Make self-care a priority. Take breaks when needed, engage in activities you enjoy, and ensure you get enough rest. Budget Wisely: Financial stress can contribute to holiday anxiety. Establish a budget and stick to it to minimize financial burdens. Set Boundaries: Learn to say no when necessary. Establishing clear boundaries helps manage stress and prevents burnout. Reflect and Express Gratitude: Take time to reflect on the positive aspects of your life. Expressing gratitude can shift focus away from stressors. Mindful Breathing and Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate mindfulness and relaxation exercises into your routine. Deep breathing and meditation can help manage stress. Mindful Eating and Drinking: Resist the urge to overindulge in food or alcohol as a means of coping with stress. Opt for nourishing and healthier foods and maintain regular exercise to promote overall well-being. Seek Professional Support: If you find yourself struggling, don't hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional. Many resources are available to support you. Remember, it's okay to prioritize your mental health and well-being during the holidays. By incorporating these tips into your routine, you can foster a positive and nurturing environment for yourself and those around you. If you find yourself grappling with persistent feelings of depression or anxiety, accompanied by physical symptoms such as irritability, hopelessness, or disruptions in sleep patterns, it's crucial to seek assistance. Should these emotions linger for several weeks, I encourage you to reach out to your healthcare provider or contact the Mississippi Department of Mental Health's Helpline at 1-877-210-8513. In addition to our helpline, Mississippi offers resources to address mental health concerns. If you or someone you know needs help, visit 988lifeline.org, or call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. This dedicated line provides immediate access to professionals trained to assist individuals in crisis. Remember, your mental health matters, especially during the holidays. Let us stand together, Mississippi, to support one another year-round and foster a community where mental well-being is a priority.

A 28-20 victory over Navarro Community College in the TIPS-CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl capped an historic season for the Co-Lin football Wolves. Navarro, ranked number 10 in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) play with a 6-4 overall record, won the game statistically, but Co-Lin prevailed with two passing touchdowns by Devon Tott -- 66 yards to Richard May in the second quarter and 36 yards to Jaylan Smith in the third quarter -- and running touchdowns of 12 yards in the third quarter and 4 yards in the fourth quarter by Tray Miner and Johnnie Daniels.  The Bulldogs racked up 240 passing and 175 rushing yards against Co-Lin’s 175 passing and 115 rushing yards, but penalties were the equalizer, with Navarro assessed 125 yards on 12 against only 20 yards on four for Co-Lin.  At halftime, Navarro took a 13-7 lead into the locker room after Co-Lin turned over the ball on an interception, followed by a 36 yard touchdown pass from Dana Jentsch to Jaxxon Warren.  The Bulldogs also scored on 33-yard and 42-yard field goals in the first half and a fourth quarter 24-yard passing touchdown from Jentsch to Braylan Fenney before Co-Lin ran out the clock to end the game. Both Navarro and Co-Lin missed opportunities to play for the NJCAA crown, losing their conference championship games before receiving invitations to play in the postseason game at Commerce, Texas.  Going into the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) championship game against East Mississippi in their second matchup with them, the Wolves were ranked fourth in NJCAA competition, but fell to sixth after their disappointing 27-20 loss in the final minutes of the fourth quarter at Scooba, Mississippi. Before the matchup with Navarro, Co-Lin had a 9-2 record -- their fourth under Head Coach Glenn Davis, and the bowl game victory gave the Wolves only the second 10-win season in their history. The Wolves finished the 2023 season averaging 350 yards per game (166.5 rushing and 183.5 passing) while scoring 29.1 points per game. The Wolves allowed 295.8 yards per game to their opponents (126.7 rushing and 169.1 passing) and opponents scored 18.5 points per game. The Wolves posted a shutout in their regular season finale against Hinds in a game that also saw the defense allow the Eagles just 125 yards of offense. The Wolves offense had over 400 yards four times this season in wins over #8 East Mississippi, Mississippi Delta, East Central, and #10 Northwest, with the highest total against Mississippi Delta at 473 yards.  Leading the Wolves into the bowl were: Sophomore quarterback: DeVon Tott, with 158-272 for 1768 yards, including 10 touchdowns and 190 rushing yards on 67 carries with 4 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Johnnie Daniels, with 1,491 all-purpose yards -- 1196 yards on 168 carries and 205 receiving yards on 22 receptions.  Daniels led the nation in touchdowns, was second in the nation in rushing yards and yards per game and fourth in yards per carry. Sophomore wide receivers Carlos Martin and Jaylen Smith both had 37 receptions. Freshman back Jahron Manning led the defense with 68 tackles (6.2 per game). Sophomore back Kaden Dukes and freshman linebacker Malachi Williams led the defense with three interceptions. Sophomore defensive lineman Billy Pullen leads the team in sacks with 12.5 and tackles for loss with 17.  Pullen led the nation in forced fumbles, was second in sacks, and fifth in tackles for loss. Sophomore kicker/punter Brandon Gilliam scored 82 points, kicking 16 field goals on 23 attempts, with 44 yards his longest; and 34 extra points on 35 tries.  He also averaged 33 yards on 42 punts, with his longest 60 yards.  Gilliam led the nation in points and field goal attempts. Before the bowl game, the Bulldogs averaged 381.6 yards per game (161.5 rushing and 220.1 passing), while scoring 30.8 points per game. They allowed 361.3 yards per game (142.2 rushing and 219.1 passing) and 27.4 points per game. Quarterback Dane Jentsch led the Bulldogs with 2.082 yards on 164 completions with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Jentsch was also the leading rusher for the Bulldogs with 620 yards on 128 carries with ten touchdowns.  Wide receiver D'Tyrain McCoy had the second most rushing yards on the team with 455 yards on 74 carries with five touchdowns.  Bryan Spotwood led the Bulldogs receiving corps with 44 receptions for 635 yards with three touchdowns while Braylon Finney had 467 yards on 36 receptions with five touchdowns. The Bulldogs defense had 68 tackles for loss with 28 sacks, while averaging 67.7 tackles per game. They forced eight fumbles this season and had seven fumble recoveries along with seven interceptions and five blocks. Sophomore linebacker Jordan Smith led the defense in tackles per game and total tackles, while sophomore linebacker Eddy Toussom led the team in sacks and tackles for loss.  Sophomore defensive back Jakelyn Morgan led the team in interceptions. The TIPS-CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl (known as the HOT Bowl for short), founded by Copperas Cove (Texas) High School football coach Jack Welch, has been played since 2001, at Copperas Cove (until 2017), Waco, Texas, ISD Stadium (2018) and now at Memorial Stadium at Commerce, Texas (beginning 2021 following a two-year hiatus during the COVID 19 pandemic. CHAMPS is the acronym for bowl sponsor Communities Helping Americans Mature, Progress and Succeed, which is a nonprofit group focusing on improving drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, mental health, and preventing teen suicide. TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System) started sponsoring the bowl game with CHAMPS in 2018. The bowl game matches Texas teams from Southwest Junior College Football Conference with community and junior colleges form other states.  Opponents have come from Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, and New Mexico, with the Texas teams winning most of the contests.  Trinity Valley Community College and Kilgore College have had the most appearances among the Texas teams, with five apiece. Trinity Valley has been the most successful participant by far, going 5-0 in its games. Among the non-Texas teams, Coffeyville Community College of Kansas has the most appearances, with three.  No non-Texas team has won the bowl more than once.

Eighteen members of Co-Lin’s football Wolves have been selected by the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) to its All-South Team. Five Wolves earned First Team honors -- running back Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs), defensive lineman Billy Pullen (Kaufman, Texas), wide receiver Jaylen Smith (Jacksonville, Florida), defensive back Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs), and offensive lineman Zane Hooper (Denham Springs, Louisiana).  It was the second time Smith made an all-conference team. Eight members of the team earned Second Team honors -- quarterback DeVon Tott (Mandeville, Louisiana), wide receiver Carlos Martin (Laurel), tight end Tyler Fortenberry (Brookhaven), kicker Brandon Gilliam (Vicksburg), returner Zyrian Jackson (Hazlehurst), linebacker Dedric Hicks (Laurel), and defensive lineman Kevontay Wells (Jackson) and Montra Edwards (Lexington). The Wolves also had six Honorable Mention honorees -- defensive backs Kaden Dukes (Petal), Jahron Manning (New Orleans, Louisiana), Christopher Burnett (Yazoo City) and linebacker Collin McGowan (Wesson). The 2023 season saw the Wolves finish as MACCC South Division Champions and make a run all the way to the MACCC Championship game, ultimately falling to the East Mississippi Lions, 27-20.

By Bob Garver When the writers’ and actors’ strikes of 2023 forced several movies off the fall schedule, it was a pair of musicians that came to the rescue with two of the most heavily-promoted concert movies of all time. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” got the box office through a rough patch back in October. Now comes “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” to get it through early December. The box office shouldn’t need Beyoncé to get it through early December, Thanksgiving weekend should have brought about some hits with staying power, but where the slate of traditional blockbusters failed, the concert documentary is here to thrive. Since comparisons to the Taylor film are inevitable, I’ll jump right into those. One of the first things I noticed was that this film is a mashup of several Beyoncé concerts, whereas Taylor’s film was limited to one. There are points in the film that cut between performances of the same song at different venues. The editing during these scenes is always smooth, and I’d be unable to tell that any cutting was even going on were it not for Beyoncé’s outfits inexplicably changing mid-song. They’re always great outfits, so the chance to see as many of them as possible is greatly appreciated. Then again, there’s something about all the cutting between concerts that seems like cheating. With Taylor, there was a “no second takes” atmosphere that made the whole production seem flawless and magical (though I have since learned that some flubs were edited out). With Beyoncé, I get the impression that there’s a safety net where if a take didn’t go well at one concert, the film could just cut to footage from another. That’s not to say the film leaves out imperfections entirely – one show is interrupted by a power outage – but I feel like the film only left this scene in as a calculated showcase for the crew overcoming adversity, and possibly so the audience wouldn’t think about other mistakes. The other big difference between Beyoncé’s film and Taylor’s is that while that one was almost entirely limited to what the audience saw at the concert, this one throws in behind-the-scenes footage. I have mixed feelings on this idea, both in concept and execution. In concept, yes, we’re getting to see exclusive footage, but I kept getting the feeling that it was at the expense of getting to see her perform more songs – including some of her biggest hits, which aren’t in this movie. In execution, I found the behind-the-scenes stuff to be hit or miss. Beyoncé wants the audience to know how hard she works, which is undeniably true to a nearly impossible degree, but the point is made so often that it feels beaten into the ground by movie’s end. Anecdote-wise, Beyoncé often makes time to affectionately put over role models like her mother and a family friend named Uncle Jonny that made many of her early outfits. Uncle Jonny passed away over 20 years ago and somehow he’s the breakout star of this film. I’ll be honest, I had a hard time enjoying “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” despite Beyoncé being an incredible artist with some of the most dominating charisma on the planet. Maybe it was because so many of the songs chosen for this movie were unknown to me. Maybe it was all the cutting away from the music for non-musical pontifications. Maybe it was just that after two concert movies in two months, I’m all concert-ed out. I can’t say I “go” for this one, but if you’re a member of the BeyHive, you’ll probably get more out of it than I did. Grade: C “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce” is not rated by the MPAA, but would be an R for language and sexually suggestive material. Its running time is 169 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By Bob Arnold A Christianity Today article some years ago observed that “music has always been a point of contention in the church.” Karl Vaters pointed out that the arguments in large part have been trivial, revolving around such issues as singing in harmony instead of in unison as with Gregorian chants, whether or not to use instruments and which ones are appropriate, but one issue, he says, is worth arguing over, or at least taking seriously: performance music vs. worship music -- music focused on musicians vs music focused on the divine, or specifically Jesus in Christianity. Over more than three decades, Brookhaven native and resident Blake Scafidel has lived this contention and personified it. Before 2020, folk knew him as primarily a church musician, who also had to support a family as a secular musician. In recent years, he has focused on building a reputation as a performing artist and secular composer Scafidel says his musical experiences have paralleled his life experiences -- “navigating through chaos, facing rejection, overcoming mistakes, and -- most importantly -- believing in myself.” Born in Brookhaven in 1968, Scafidel really started his career journey at the tender age of six when he told his parents he wanted to study piano, following in the footsteps of his mother, the musician in the family, who was an accomplished pianist and the musical accompanist at Central Baptist Church, the Brookhaven congregation in which he grew up. His childhood and youth revolved around his interest in music. “I was never into sports like other kids,” he recalls. “I played the piano in church, at school and in local talent shows.” After his parents separated, he left Southwest Mississippi briefly in the 1980s to live with his father in the Dallas, Texas, area, where he earned his Graduate Equivalency high school diploma. He returned to Mississippi in 1986 to study music at Co-Lin until 1988 and then at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, until 1991 before starting a 30-year career as a church musician. “My experience as a church musician encompassed a variety of traditions in diverse settings throughout the South,” Scafidel relates. “I served big and small Southern Baptist, Methodist and non-denominational Pentecostal churches in rural, suburban and urban communities in Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina. The challenge was providing music with which both the varied congregations and I were mutually comfortable.” Scafidel cites pianist Dino Kartsonakis, whom he describes as “the religious version of Liberace,” along with Olafur Arnalds, John Williams and Hans Zimmer as major influencers in development of his reflective, contemporary classic music style. Drawn to large-scale instrumental and orchestral music, he enjoyed producing the Christmas and Easter pageants at the churches he served. He also found satisfaction in developing distinctive music programs. He recalls a unique non-denominational congregation that wanted to build a contemporary music program, and needed to recruit musicians you could not find in churches to provide the required sound. “Now besides churches, there are two other places you can find musicians -- schools and bars,” Scafidel says. “We developed and implemented a plan to visit bars to get the musicians for the program.” Because the jobs are normally part time and the pay is usually low, the life of a church musician is often a financial struggle, and Scafidel worked outside the religious community while serving his varied churches to make ends meet. Over the years, he has composed music for grant monies, operated his own commercial video production company and performed with bands and other artists in varied gigs. In 2008, The Mississippi Arts Commission awarded him $5,000 to produce several orchestral compositions. Second Story Films, his production company, created promotional videos for the State of Mississippi and corporations and covered weddings. Gigs have taken him to varied venues, including Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club at Clarksdale, Mississippi. In 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic made the financial life of church musicians even tougher, Scafidel moved to the secular world full time. Outside the religious community, Scafidel says he has been a “late bloomer” in pop music influenced by Elton John and Bruce Hornstein. He maintains a studio and is creating an events center with a stage where he can perform for private audiences at his home in the Breckenridge section of Brookhaven off Highway 84 west going towards Natchez. He performs regularly at Magnolia Blues in Brookhaven and continues to expand his public appearances as a piano soloist in new venues. A public website (blakescafidel.com) and Facebook page (Blake Scafidel Music) tout his performances and sell his albums. A highlight of Scafidel’s secular musicianship is his Christmas show -- “The Cure for Christmas Chaos” with solo and orchestral arrangements of Christmas favorites and two original compositions. “I’ve watched people from our area travel for miles to Branson or Nashville to see professionally-produced shows,” he says. “There is no reason Mississippians should have to travel to see a spectacular, high-quality, professional show when our own state is known as the birthplace of America’s music. Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s the culture, or maybe it’s a magical combination of elements unknown, but we consistently produce and promote artists in all genres. ‘The Cure for Christmas Chaos’ showcases that talent for our own people to see and enjoy and brings the revenue associated with a professional show to our local businesses in a mutually-rewarding partnership. It has the staging, lighting, and artists that are expected for a professional production. All the arrangements are originals exploring both religious and secular themes, and all of the musicians are professionals -- some of the most talented in our state. My goal for “The Cure for Christmas Chaos Live” is to bring our communities together and share the beauty of Christmas music through a Branson-style show that is both entertaining and uplifting.” Scafidel and his wife Correne, whom he met at Co-Lin, have five children -- two still at home, a 19-year old son and 11-year old daughter; and three grown, two sons, 29 years old and 25 years old, and a 23-year old daughter. His wife teaches piano at Brookhaven Downtown Music Academy and is the music accompanist at Brookhaven’s East Haven Baptist Church. What are your hobbies? I played golf with my father at one time, but music is both my career and hobby today. Are you a reader? When I was a church musician, I read a lot of religious and spiritual books that inspired and nurtured me and changed my life. Today, my interest is in the lives and work of musicians like John Williams and Hans Zimmerman. You are a musician, of course. But do you have a special interest in any one type of music. I like instrumental and orchestral music, particularly movie score. How about movies or theater? I like epics. Star Wars movies are my favorites. I like the acting for Sean Connery and Morgan Freeman. What would you do with the winnings if you won the lottery? I would travel the world to experience different cultures and give it to humanitarian causes. How would you change the world? I wish it were so simple. Change is needed for sure. But doing it is the big question.

Mom and her teen-age daughter were grocery shopping together, preparing for the family dinner on Friday night. The family always enjoyed fresh fruits, so before paying out at the cash register, they stopped in the fruit and vegetable section of the store. Mom picked thru several possible candidates of cantaloupes, squeezing, eyeballing and then finally picking each one up to give it her final test – smelling. Her daughter stood by watching this whole ritual with her usual impatient rolling of the eyes and sighing. But Mom finally found ‘the one,’ the one which met all her criteria, and turned to place it in her basket. At that point, she met the eyes of her young daughter and spotted the unmistakable “Mom, why all this fuss over a stupid cantaloupe?” look in her eyes. Swallowing her own annoyance, Mom proceeded to patiently teach her young teenager that all the rigamarole she had gone through allowed her to find a cantaloupe that was truly cantaloupey – unblemished, perfectly ripe, and tasty. As she talked, she suddenly recognized this could be a fun opportunity to teach the girl how to evaluate boys and find the ones who would be good dating material, as dating often leads to marriage material later. How to identify and find promising ‘young cantaloupes.’ This is what Mom taught while holding two totally different-looking cantaloupes in her hands: Dating – the time for searching through the bin and recognizing a truly ripe cantaloupe. Rejecting the ones that you can readily identify as still-green candidates. And also the ones who have a blemish that will soon ruin the taste. Actually, a lot like the process of finding a possible future life partner. Life partner possibles – the cantaloupes that hold a lot of promising evidence of being what a mature cantaloupe should be when it is cut and eaten. A young man on his way to becoming a mature, loving and responsible adult. Promising evidence – A cantaloupe with a good scent and no visible blemishes. A young man who is respectful and exhibits honesty, kindness, and patience. And most importantly is a true follower of God. Blemishes – An easily spotted bruising on the surface of the fruit. “If I buy an obviously blemished one, it will likely have a mushy texture when it’s cut open, and a bad taste when we try to eat it. And I’ll have just spent my money for nothing and disappointed myself. I would have to just throw it away, so it’s not worth the risk.” Same disappointing issues can occur with a mate. The daughter probably acted bored with this lecture – but still, she heard it and probably absorbed much of it. Hopefully, applying it as she dated in the coming years until her probable marriage. This was a smart and caring mom, who took advantage of a moment to teach a valuable lesson that would influence her girl’s dating decisions and her entire future.

Hinds Community College has two fall graduation ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec 14 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. Nursing and allied health graduates along with academic, technical and career graduates whose last names begin with A-G will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony. The 2 p.m. ceremony is for graduates whose last names begin with H-Z. Nearly 600 graduates will receive a total of 887 credentials, with some students receiving more than one credential. In total, 126 students are graduating cum laude with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59; 72 are graduating magna cum laude with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.99 and 20 are graduating summa cum laude with a grade point average of 4.0. Kimberly Gaines of Pearl will offer the invocation and benediction at the 10 a.m. ceremony. She will earn a degree in nursing and wants to practice her passion for caregiving as an LPN in an assisted living facility after graduation. Speaking on behalf of graduates is Taviyon Young, a native of Natchez who now lives in Madison County. He studies political science and will earn his Associate Degree in General Studies. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, is a former Rankin Campus Student Government President and is a member of the Minority Male Leadership Initiative. He is transferring to Jackson State University, where he plans to study political science with a concentration in legal studies. Offering the invocation and benediction at the 2 p.m. ceremony is Eric Dotson of Kosciusko. He will receive an Associate Degree in General Studies. He plans to join the Army National Guard after graduation and then transfer to a four-year college. The speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony is Chelse McGrew of Hazlehurst, who will receive an Associate Degree in Kinesiology. She plans to transfer to the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg to get a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and become a physical therapist.

By Kara Kimbrough Borrowing a phrase from a former college student of mine who once said, “Wow, you lecture a LOT about stuff you’re passionate about!” I’m continuing my series (not lecture) on the joys of gifting others this Christmas with homemade candy, cookies and other treats. I even have a story from Christmas ’22 to back up my claim that home-baked gifts are the best – and it’s a good one. Last year, I gave a friend a bag full of homemade treats a few days before Christmas that include a tin of orange balls. This is an old-school Christmas treat best served chilled due to its butter content. Unbeknownst to me, she and her husband were about to embark on a day-long journey to their son’s home in Tennessee. Halfway there, she texted me to say they were parked on the side of the road devouring the contents of the bag. I was concerned a lunch of sugar and spice pecans, sugar cookies and lukewarm orange balls was less than filling; however, she assured me it was a lifesaver in their quest to reach their destination before dark. Now that I’ve convinced you (without lecturing) that gifting homemade Christmas treats might just turn into a lifesaver for those on your list, I’ll share a few more of my favorite old-fashioned Christmas treats. After previously publishing my favorites - the recipe for my grandmother’s buttermilk fudge and microwave pecan pralines - and hearing from readers about sugar-related disasters, I vowed never to share them in print again. However, if you’d like these two recipes, drop me an email and I’ll send it to you. In the meantime, get into the kitchen and starting compiling your own “Lifesaving Christmas Treat Bags!” Scottish Shortbread Cookies 1 pound cold unsalted butter, sliced 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1-1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt 4 cups all-purposed flour In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until soft. Add the sugars and salt, and continue to mix until the texture is fluffy. Scrape down the bowl once or twice along the way. Add the flour in two additions, mixing on low until just combined. Turn out onto the countertop, form a ball and press into a thick disc shape. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until completely chilled, minimum of a couple of hours. Heat oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the center. Roll the dough out 3/4-inch thick and use a cookie cutter or knife to create as many cookies as possible. Use a cookie stamp to imprint a design on top, if desired. Arrange an inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheet. Return the cookies to refrigerator, on the pan, for another 15-30 minutes to prevent spreading. Bake for 20 minutes, rotate pan, and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until cookies are golden. Old-Fashioned Orange Balls 11 ounce box Nilla Wafers Vanilla Wafer Cookies, crumbled 1 Stick of Butter, melted 6 ounces Orange Juice Concentrate (I used half a 12 ounce size) ½ cup Chopped Pecans 2 cups Confectioner's Sugar 3 cups Flaked Sweetened Coconut, more if needed Add the crumbled vanilla wafers, orange juice concentrate, pecans and melted butter to the large bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment; mix on a medium speed until combined. Add confectioner's powdered sugar, then continue to mix until combine. Dough will be sticky. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper then use a one inch scoop to form orange balls, placing them on the lined baking sheet. After all the balls are formed, gently roll them in the flaked coconut to coat and transfer the orange snowball back to the lined baking sheet; repeat until all are coated. Refrigerate the orange snowballs until ready to serve. Note: Orange balls do need to be refrigerated before and after serving. Christmas Turtles Nonstick cooking spray 1 cup pecan halves 24 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 teaspoon shortening Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray. Arrange 3 pecan halves in a "Y" shape on the prepared cookie sheet. Place 1 caramel candy in the center of the "Y". Repeat with remaining pecans and caramels. Bake in preheated oven just until caramel is melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat chocolate chips and shortening in a saucepan over low heat until chocolate is melted. Spoon chocolate over candies and refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch today warned Mississippians to be aware of unsolicited “missed delivery” notification scams as they increase this holiday season. “Sadly, the holiday season is a prime-time opportunity for scammers,” said General Fitch. “Knowing consumers are eagerly anticipating the arrival of packages before the holiday, bad actors send unsolicited texts and emails urging you to click on a link to locate a missed or delayed delivery. Beware: this is likely a scam and you should not click on these links or provide any personal or financial information. One bad click could lead to malware, fraud and identity theft. Familiarize yourself with these common tactics to avoid these scams.” Delivery scams start with a text message or an email about delivering a package to your address. These messages often include a "tracking link" that you are urged to click in order to update your delivery or payment preferences. You might also get a voicemail message with a call-back number, or a "missed delivery" tag on your door with a number to call. How to spot and avoid fraudulent notifications: Unexpected requests for money in return for delivery of a package, often with a sense of urgency. Requests for personal and/or financial information. Links to misspelled or slightly altered website addresses, such as "fedx.com" or "fed-ex.com" Spelling and grammatical errors or excessive use of capitalization and exclamation points. Certificate errors or lack of online security protocols for sensitive activities. If you receive suspicious emails or texts, do not click on the link. Go to the delivery carrier's website directly or use the retailer's tracking tools to verify the sender's identity and avoid these scams. The U.S. Postal Service has warned against any "unsolicited mobile text messages indicating that a USPS delivery is awaiting your action" and link to a non-Postal Service website. In addition, both FedEx and UPS have reminded customers that they do not seek payment or personal information through unsolicited texts and email. To report fraud, scams, or deceptive business practices, contact the Attorney General’s Office at consumer@ago.ms.gov or click here to complete an online complaint form. These tips are part of a series on consumer education General Fitch has shared through social media, including tips to avoid seasonal job scams and tips to recognize charitable giving scams.

Co-Lin’s annual Trillium Beauty Pageant saw 39 young women competing for the title of the college’s Most Beautiful and conferred the 2023 honor Mary Taylor Francis of Sontag. Runners up were first alternate Madelynn Barrentine of Crystal Springs, second alternate Caroline Griffith of Brandon, third alternate Marley Channell of Wesson and fourth alternate Kelly Grace Raiford of Wesson: Francis is the daughter of Jimmy and Holly Francis of Sontag. She is currently a Co-Lin sophomore majoring in chemical engineering, and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society, Mu Alpha Theta, the Alpha Omega Science Club and the Co-Lin cheerleading squad. Francis graduated with highest honors from Brookhaven High School. Barrentine is a Co-Lin sophomore majoring in Elementary Education. She is a member of the Trailblazers, Phi Theta Kappa, Treasurer for Sigma Kappa Delta and serves as captain of the Colettes dance team. She was selected as freshman homecoming maid and as a Campus Favorite. Barrentine graduated with honors from Copiah Academy. She is the daughter of Chris and Rebecca Barrentine of Crystal Springs. Griffith is the daughter of Michael and Camille Griffith of Brandon. She is a sophomore business major and is a member of the Lady Wolves Soccer Team. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and was NJCAA All-Academic last season. She graduated with high honors from Brandon High School. Channell is the daughter of Layne and Laranda Channell of Wesson. She is a freshman majoring in pre-nursing and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Mu Alpha Theta, the Baptist Student Union, and is a Trailblazer. She is a graduate of Wesson Attendance Center. Raiford is the daughter of Lance and Marsha Raiford of Wesson. She is a Co-Lin sophomore majoring in Cosmetology. She is a member of the Colettes dance team and the Baptist Student Union. Raiford is an honor graduate of Wesson Attendance Center. Other contestants selected among the top 10 were Kamryn Bridges of Wesson, Kortne Nelson of Brookhaven, Alyssa Touchstone of Roxie, Reagan Newman of Wesson, and Adyson Parks of New Hebron.

Aspen Institute has named Co-Lin among 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The institutions selected for the honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds. This is the fourth time that Co-Lin has been recognized as a Top 150 community college. “I feel especially proud to have Co-Lin ranked as one of the Top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton. “Our mission at Co-Lin is to offer the highest quality instruction in an environment that is centered around our students. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of both our employees and our students.” The Aspen Prize spotlights exemplary community colleges in order to drive attention to colleges achieving post-graduate success for all students, and is a central way Aspen researches highly effective student success strategies that are shared with the field. The 150 eligible colleges have been invited to submit student success data and narratives about strategies to achieve better and more equitable student outcomes as the next step in an intensive review process that culminates in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2025. The eligible colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. Located in urban, rural, and suburban areas across 30 states, these colleges serve as few as 169 students and as many as 49,619. “The Aspen Prize is rooted first and foremost in an assessment of whether colleges are walking the walk,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “As community colleges face enrollment variations, enroll students with pandemic-related learning loss, and graduate students into a rapidly changing labor market, it is easy to lose track of what matters most. The best community colleges are continuing to focus on advancing the core mission: making sure as many students as possible graduate with credentials that lead to fulfilling careers and reflect the development of diverse talent that communities, states, and our nation need.” While community colleges are an essential contributor to the nation’s success, student outcomes vary substantially among institutions. Aspen measures those variances using multiple data sources and honors colleges with outstanding achievement in six critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, equitable access to the college, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. “These 150 colleges have achieved high and improving levels of student success for all students, including those who are often failed by our institutions,” Wyner said. “We’re excited to learn over the coming months how they achieved that success so we can share the most impressive practices with others in the field.” In this first round, eligibility for the Aspen Prize is based on publicly available data. Colleges must show strong, improving, and equitable student outcomes in first-to-second year retention, credentials awarded, and completion and transfer rates. Nationwide, about 15 percent of community colleges have been invited to apply (150 of just under 1,000 public two-year colleges assessed for Prize eligibility). The next steps in the process include: April 2024: Announcement of 25 semifinalists, selected based on assessments of extensive data and strategy documents by the Prize selection panel, a group of 16 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce training; and interviews with institutional leadership teams. June 2024: Announcement of 10 finalists, selected by the Prize selection panel. Fall 2024: Site visits to each of the ten finalists, during which the Aspen Institute and partners will collect additional information, including employment and earnings data and insights about promising practices. January 2025: Prize award decisions made by a distinguished, independent Prize jury at a full-day meeting. Spring 2025: Announcement of the Aspen Prize winner and celebration of the 10 finalists in Washington, D.C. To see a full list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize/ The Aspen Prize is generously funded by Ascendium, the Joyce Foundation, JPMorgan, and the Kresge Foundation. The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential, to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

By Mika Hartman During this Christmas season, we all get overwhelmed with all the “things to do” to have the most “perfect” Christmas. “Perfect" is subjective, isn’t it? My perfect is likely both similar and different to yours. One of the biggest differences is that my little guy won’t be sharing his biggest desires for the holidays. Nonverbal is tricky; not wrong or bad, just tricky. Guessing what he needs or what might be wrong is an art. You start with the basics and you overthink everything all day long. It’s not that this is hard, you just desire to bring the needs of your child in the fastest way possible to them; sometimes that feels unachievable and sometimes its like a hole in one. However, even with the unachievable, you never stop trying. There will even be times that you’ll never know what was wrong and you’ll never have fixed it. Seeking peace over the known and unknown is a constant prayer of mine. This is why the perfect Christmas is a big desire for families like mine. We spend every day hoping we have it right. While we have some communication, it’s all what we program for Hudson to be available to him. All communication is good and I am prayerful that is just the start of more doors opening. Just think about needing a simple hug after a rough day, you ask. I bet you get it, too. I hug Hudson all the time because he can’t ask… and honestly, these hugs are just as much for me. Because I can’t buy every toy on the shelf, I really rely heavily on Hudson’s team of therapists. They guide me on toys they have at the centers that we don’t have at home. If you have met Hudson, you know his iPad is his true “blanket of comfort”. I want him to enjoy more than a screen and for him to have motivation outside of electronics. It’s a struggle. He loves his movies; so much so, that three iPads have taken baths with him. True story. So one great Christmas present idea is iPad insurance! Hudson smiles and laughs more than anyone I know. This is the best communication and completely universal. I know he is happy, I know he feels loved. Hudson makes every day feel like Christmas. Even before Hudson was born, I sang “Silent Night” as a normal part of my mommy-singing playlist. It was right in there with “Rock-a-bye Baby” and “You are my Sunshine”. It always felt right for me to sing this. As I reflected on the words, it’s always been important that my children have these lyrics known by heart. Silent Night, Holy Night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth This song has been sung a thousand times on my lips. And with my two older children, the sweetest memories of cuddles and rocking and kisses fill my head and my heart. But, when Hudson was born, the lyrics had a new take for me. I love all my children equally, but singing this song to Hudson in the NICU made the words even more needed. The whole song. Especially words “love’s pure light”, “Thy holy face”. When we remember whose children we are, we ALL are, we can sing with the Heavenly hosts, “Alleluia”. Hudson was my tender and mild infant that had to fight to live. God made him. God knew he would have an extra chromosome long before I did. God makes no mistakes. Mary did you know? Mary got to kiss the face of God. Wow. Beautiful. Perfect. And that is how I felt kissing Hudson.. my gift with radiant beams, from God. Hudson was born with medical challenges, with intellectual challenges and with both seen and unseen challenges… and he loves life. Our children who were born with disabilities aren’t affected by the challenges they face in a negative way. Why does the world seem so clueless to the beautiful within my child? Hudson was born with a great responsibility to be bigger and stronger than his disabilities. He is better and kinder in the life he was given than many who will never face most of what he faces. To be loud and bold isn’t an option, but rather a must. He has to be heard; nonverbal is not unable to communicate. You have to take time to see what he is saying. It’s a joyful sound, music to your ears, when you hear him. While I desperately pray for nights of conversations and lists a mile long of Christmas wishes, I am so very grateful for my silent nights. Hudson is here, he’s alive. He has dreams and hopes and I get the privilege of watching him work hard to get where he can communicate this to the world… however he can. With the dawn of redeeming grace, our EXTRA silent nights are perfect.