thanksgiving puzzles

Thinking about Thanksgiving always brings back childhood memories of family get-togethers - a day of eating too much, working on jigsaw puzzles, playing games and often playing outside in fresh snow.

In this day and age, it's hard to realize there was a time when there was no TV, no football games to watch, no cell phones to answer, and we actually talked to each other. How did we do it?

In the '30s, my mom and dad left the homestead in Iowa and moved first to Florida and then to the mountains of northern Wyoming, where I grew up. The only other relatives in Wyoming were Aunt Edith and Aunt Arlene, and they both married real cowboys who rode horses, carried shovels and guns in the saddle to kill rattlesnakes and rolled their own cigarettes.

Aunt Edith was the best cook in the area, so that is where we all gathered on Thanksgiving. We ate all day: fresh chicken, necks wrung only hours before; real potatoes and gravy; yeast rolls; corn and green beans; red Jell-O with bananas; and best of all, fresh baked pies with thick cream from the separator.

Sometimes we tried to listen to the radio through the static, but mostly we sat around the table, listened to the adult stories and played games. It was a day when everyone was relaxed and laid-back.

Thanksgiving also reminds me of how thankful I am for parents who loved me. Oh, they didn't say it often, but parents didn't talk much about feelings in those days. We just knew. They showed it. They lived it. They taught me more about life by their example than any words they could have uttered.

One of the best things they modeled was a knowledge that if we had all been born blind, we wouldn't know what color anyone was. While we were living in Florida for two years to see if the climate would cure my brother's asthma, my dad ran a tourist park on the banks of the Suwannee River. Everyone who worked with my folks was black.

My best friends, Sis and Sam, and I would play for hours building sandcastles on the shore and catching catfish with bamboo poles. We were all preschool age. They were black. I was white. Segregation was a way of life, but we didn't know that, and nobody told us.

We moved to Wyoming right after World War II started, and Heart Mountain, one of the internment camps for Japanese-Americans, was established 11 miles from our town. My parents were among several families in the community who thought that was a terrible move by our government. As a result, Dad and some other men obtained permission to go into the camp and take busloads of the "prisoners" to Yellowstone Park and other attractions. My mom, the town music teacher, also had Helen, a young woman from the camp, live with us during the week and work with her in the schools.

I was a 9- and 10-year-old, and my folks got the OK to send me to the camp with Helen several weekends where I learned about Japanese customs - and they accepted me. They were a different color and supposedly our enemies, but they were loyal Americans, and my folks understood that.

In a seminar I attended recently in the Twin Cities, we were reminded that we are all citizens of the entire world. Of the many statistics we heard concerning world demographics in the future, one that really stuck in my mind is that in only 40 years, America will be 50 percent Caucasian, and only 9 percent of the world population will be white.

So, during this season of giving thanks, I'm thankful my parents were ahead of their time. They were colorblind.

Senior columnist Shirley Halleen, a former teacher and state legislator, now is retired. E-mail her at shirlouh@aol.com.

Activities: Activities that will be held at the Lightle Center this week include: Nov. 20, crafts from 10-11 a.m., ballroom dance class from 1-3 p.m., Nov. 21, bingo from 10-11 a.m., Nov. 22-23, center will be closed. Dominoes, puzzles and games are played each day starting at 8 a.m. Lunch is served daily at 11:30 a.m. Come join in the fun.

Music: The Country Magic Band will be performing at the Country Magic Jamboree, Hwy. 367 N. in Judsonia, Nov. 20 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $3. All are invited to attend to enjoy the music. For more information call (501) 729-1212.

Thanksgiving service: The Bald Knob Area Wide Thanksgiving Service sponsored by the Ministerial Alliance will be conducted at the Velvet Ridge Church of God, Hwy. 167 N. Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. All churches in the area are invited to attend. For more information call 724-3820.

Storytime at the library: The following libraries will hold storytime Nov. 20, Beebe, 10 a.m., Searcy home school, 2 p.m. and Baldwin, 3:45 p.m.; Nov. 21, Searcy pre-school, 10 a.m.; Nov. 22-23, the library will be closed. The theme this week will be "Talking Turkey."

Pick-up changes: The city of Kensett will have the following changes to trash schedules: Thursday, Nov. 22 route will be picked up Nov. 20; Friday, Nov. 23 route will be picked up Nov. 21. All other schedules will remain the same.

Thanksgiving service: Trinity Baptist Church, 1601 East Moore in Searcy, will have a Thanksgiving service at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20. There will be no prayer meeting service on Nov. 21.



Meeting: The Rose Bud School District Board of Directors will meet Nov. 20 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Dinner: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2610 S. Main St., will serve their annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 20 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend for fellowship and a free meal. Transportation is available by calling ahead, 268-1613.

Pick-up changes: The city of Searcy will have the following changes to trash and recycle schedules: Nov. 19-20 and Nov. 23 trash routes will remain the same, Nov. 22 routes will be picked up Nov. 21; Nov. 19-21 and Nov. 23 recycle routes will remain the same, Nov. 22 routes will be picked up Nov. 21.

Prayer group: A prayer group for those with loved ones serving in the military or overseas will meet Nov. 21, and every Wednesday, from 7-8 p.m. in room 108 at Downtown Church of Christ. Everyone is welcome.

Meeting: The PALS Group of the First United Methodist Church, 304 N. Main St. will meet Nov. 21 in Yancey Hall. Come at 10:30 a.m. for fellowship. A thanksgiving lunch will be served at noon for $4 followed by a program from Shirley Baugh on the Searcy Gallery.

Yoga: Yoga for Cancer Survivors will be held Nov. 21 from 6-7 p.m. in the "Carder" Building. Classes are held every Monday and Wednesday. Cost is $20 for 10 weeks. Instructor will be Teresa McLeod. For more information call 278-8570.

Celebration: There will be a potluck, music and dancing at the Country Magic Jamboree, Hwy. 367 N. in Judsonia, Nov. 22 from 2-6 p.m. Bring a dish and come to enjoy the fellowship. For more information call (501) 729-1212.

No meeting: There will be no Searcy Kiwanis Club meeting Nov. 22.

Pick-up changes: The city of Judsonia will make the following change to the trash schedule: Thursday, Nov. 22 trash will be picked up on Nov. 27. All other schedules will remain the same.

Music: Jeannie & the Guys will be performing at the Country Magic Jamboree, Hwy. 367 N. in Judsonia, Nov. 23 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information call (501) 729-1212.

Band playing: Stark Naked will be playing at the Searcy VFW Nov. 24 at 9 p.m. Must be 21 or older.

Music: The Lil Red River Band will be performing at the Country Magic Jamboree, Hwy. 367 N. in Judsonia, Nov. 24 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $3. For more information call (501) 729-1212.

Magic show: The Searcy Magic Society and Center on the Square have partnered to bring area residents a Holiday Magic Show Nov. 24. Show times are 3 and 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (501) 368-0111.

Coin show: The Searcy Coin Club will hold a Coin Show Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dealer set-up will be held at 8 a.m. at the Carmichael Center Gym. The public is invited. This will be free admission. Items included: U.S. Gold, silver, copper coins, stamps and collectibles. There are 50 tables available for $30 each. Call Ken Harms at (501) 344-2465 for more information.

Yoga: Yoga for Cancer Survivors will be held Nov. 26 and Nov. 28 from 6-7 p.m. in the "Carder" Building. Classes are held every Monday and Wednesday. Cost is $20 for 10 weeks. Instructor will be Teresa McLeod. For more information call 278-8570.

Music: The Country Magic Band will be performing at the Country Magic Jamboree, Hwy. 367 N. in Judsonia, Nov. 27 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $3. For more information call (501) 729-1212.

Storytime at the library: The following libraries will hold storytime Nov. 27, Beebe, 10 a.m., Searcy home school, 2 p.m. and Baldwin, 3:45 p.m.; Nov. 28, Searcy pre-school, 10 a.m., Bradford, 2:30 p.m. and Bald Knob, 3:45 p.m.; Nov. 29, Searcy toddlers, 10 a.m., Pangburn, 2:30 p.m. and Rose Bud, 3:45 p.m. The theme this week will be "National Children's Book Week."

Meeting: NAMI, National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, will meet on Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. in the meeting room of Health Resources of AR, 3302 East Moore Street. All are invited. For more information call 268-7686. ADDISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday: New York State social studies exam make-ups through Tuesday; New York State Leadership Conference through Tuesday.

Tuesday: Half-day of school, staff development day; band cookie dough sale begins.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

ALL SAINTS ACADEMY
Monday: No school, teacher conference day; Stay & Play, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., students bring a lunch.

Tuesday: No school, teacher conference day; Stay & Play, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., students bring a lunch; tuition payment due.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving break; Stay & Play, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., students bring a lunch.

Friday: No Stay & Play.

CAMPBELL-SAVONA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving vacation.

Nov. 26: School board meeting, 7:30 p.m., LGI.

CHEMUNG VALLEY MONTESSORI
Monday: No school all week, Thanksgiving break.

CORNING-PAINTED POST SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday: No school all week, Thanksgiving recess.

Nov. 26: Northside Blodgett PTA, 7 p.m.

ELMIRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday: Davis SPFO, 6:30 p.m.; Davis Band & Orchestra Boosters, 7:30 p.m.; Pine City PFO, 6 p.m.; Broadway Elementary PFO, 6:30 p.m.; Parent-Child Resource Center at Booth celebrates National Family Literacy Month with featured artist Rosemary Wells.

Tuesday: Diven DSO, 6 p.m.; Beecher Academic Achievement Awards, Pre-K through grade 2, 9 a.m., cafeteria.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

Nov. 26: Parent-Child Resource Center at Booth Make & Take, Puzzles, Puzzles and More Puzzles, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; EFA Photography, Art calendar available, call (607) 735-3100; Parent-Child Resource Center at Booth celebrates National Family Literacy Month with featured artist Audrey Wood.

ELMIRA HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Tuesday: Middle school marking period ends.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

Friday: Middle and high school holiday parade.

Nov. 26: School board meeting, 7 p.m., Cohen media room; Booster Club, 7 p.m., Edison library.

HOLY FAMILY
Monday: Primary Thanksgiving prayer service, 1 p.m.; Pizza Hut night at Southport 4-9 p.m.; Junior High parent/teachers conference begin.

Tuesday: No school, parent/teacher conferences.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

Friday: Assembly for float riders in the downtown Christmas parade, 9 a.m.

Sunday: Breakfast Buffet, 8 a.m.-noon, Fr. McCabe Center, Our Lady of Lourdes gym, West Elmira.

Nov. 26: Candle sale ends, all returns due; Junior High winter uniforms begin.

HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday: Big Flats, Gardner Road, Intermediate picture make-ups; school board meeting, 7 p.m., Multimedia Center.

Tuesday: Center Street and Ridge Road picture make-ups.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

Saturday: Holiday Enchantment craft fair, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., high school.

ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

Nov. 26: Fine Arts Boosters, 7 p.m.

ST. MARY OUR MOTHER
Tuesday: Thanksgiving feast.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

Friday: Christmas parade.

SPENCER-VAN ETTEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Tuesday: Grade 9 and AV Club fundraisers end.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

WATKINS GLEN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday: School board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess.

Nov. 26: Elementary SDM, 3:45 p.m.; high school swim unit begins.

WAVERLY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday: Half-day for grades K-8, parent/teacher conferences, 11:30 a.m. dismissal.

Tuesday: Half-day for grades K-8, parent/teacher conferences, 11:30 a.m. dismissal.

Wednesday: No school through Sunday, Thanksgiving recess. AMHERST — Police are investigating the alleged theft of funds from the Jasper Valley Swim and Tennis Club. Amherst police Chief Peter Lyon said the investigation started about two weeks ago, but he declined to provide more information.



Conserving land

MILFORD — Voters will get the chance to turn 28 acres of open space that was seized for taxes into conservation land in March.

On Tuesday night, selectmen met with conservation commission Chairwoman Diane Fitzpatrick to discuss the 28 acre parcel, valued at $44,000, located next to the Dram Cup Hill conservation land, which is close to the Wilton boarder.

Selectmen decided they would present the issue of designating the land as conservation space as a warrant article.

Fitzpatrick also suggested selectmen declare another 28 acre parcel be designated as a "town forest" instead of just town owned land. This land is located near the Mayflower Town Forest.

Her proposal would ensure that any funds from timbering would go toward forest maintenance, not into the general fund.

Selectmen Jim Dannis argued that this would be unnecessarily restrictive. The board tabled the issue.



Top volunteers

CONCORD —Milford and one of its residents received honors during the 2007 Spirit of New Hampshire Awards Ceremony on Nov. 7.

The awards were presented by Volunteer New Hampshire at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.

The 2007 award winners from Milford include Milford High School, Milford Ambulance Service volunteers, and Milford High School student Rachel Arnold, who founded the Peace Jam club at the high school.

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Retiring idea

MILFORD — A few weeks ago, Selectmen Jim Dannis suggested the town pull out of the New Hampshire retirement system. On Tuesday, the town administrator said leaving would be all but impossible.

During Tuesday night's selectmen's meeting, Town Administrator Guy Scaife said he researched the issue of leaving the system. He found that the town would have to:

• Find a new retirement system.

• Hire an actuary to prove to a Superior Court judge that the new system is better than the state system.

• Pay all it owes into the system.

• Have a vote that shows 75 percent of municipal employees favor the new system.

In the meantime, a state legislative committee is preparing to release recommendations on how to fix the underfunded retirement system. That report is due on Dec. 1.



Wear orange

New Hampshire's deer hunting with firearms season opened on Nov. 14 and closes on Dec. 9.

Last year hunters took 11,766 deer in New Hampshire with bows and arrows, muzzle loaders and firearms, according to the state Fish and Game Department's website. That's an 11 percent increase over 2005, and the fourth highest harvest the state has ever seen.

There are more deer in the woods. The state said the number of deer that survived the winter of 2005-06 was well above the average as compared to annual records since the department began keeping track during the winter of 1964-65.



Wilton's best

WILTON – The selectman arelooking for nominations for a Citizen of the Year, someone who is especially deserving of the honor, an extraordinary person who has devoted much time and energy to the town. Nominations will be received at the town office until Nov. 30.

The award will be presented during the annual Holiday Stroll on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The stroll will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., with the arrival of Santa Claus about 6:30 followed by ceremonies in Lot 48.

20th annual Messiah Sing!

For the 20th year, as many as 80 people from 16 communities will be preparing to sing selections from Handel's Messiah on the first weekend of December. There are no auditions; all you need is a love of great music and a willingness to sing in a chorus. Auditions will be held for soloists after the second rehearsal. There are three rehearsals on the three Sundays leading up to the performances. Bring a G. Schirmer score, or buy one at rehearsal for $10.

The chorus is under the direction of Jennifer Erdody, the director of the Souhegan Valley Chorus.

Rehearsals continue on Sundays, Nov. 18 and 25, from 7–9 p.m. at the Mont Vernon Congregational Church, Main Street (Route 13), Mont Vernon.

There will be two performances, on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m., at the church.

No tickets are sold; A free-will offering is taken at the performances. For more information, call 673-3510.



Community Thanksgiving service

The Souhegan Valley Interfaith Council invites the community to a celebration of Thanksgiving on Tuesday, Nov. 20, from 7–8 p.m. in the Amato Center at the Boys and Girls Club, 56 Mont Vernon St. (Route 13), Milford.

The Epiphany liturgical dancers from Wilton's Second Congregational Church will dramatize God's bounty in movement and music. The congregation will sing traditional and contemporary songs of thanksgiving. Short readings from various faith traditions will be offered. There will be a basket for voluntary donations for local outreach to families in need.

Thanksgiving handouts with puzzles and pictures to color will be available to youngsters. There will be a "gratitude board" for those who choose to post writing or a drawing of something for which they are grateful.



Holiday Toy Store

The Holiday Toy Store needs your help. Donations of new, unwrapped toys for infants through teenagers, and new hats, waterproof mittens and gloves may be left in collection boxes at the Amherst Town Library, Kringle's Toy Box, Gold's Gym, Gymnastics Village, Brookline Library, Stop & Shop, Brooks Pharmacy, Ocean National Bank (near Shaw's on Route 101A) and Frederick's Pastries, starting Friday, Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving.

Monetary donations are also appreciated. Make out checks to Holiday Toy Store and mail them to PO Box 6, Amherst NH 03031, by Friday, Dec. 7.

The Holiday Toy Store, supported by nonprofit organizations, businesses, churches and individuals, gives parents in financial need from Milford, Brookline, Mont Vernon and Amherst an opportunity to choose holiday gifts for their children, free of charge.