Insider News December 1, 2011

Insider News in

Yolanda James, New Owner

New Location: 3001 Douglas Ave. 262-681-2345 insiderwisconsin@yahoo.com

s n o c s i ­ W

Volume 1 No. 20 DECEMBER 1-15, 2011

Tak ONEe FRE E

INW

City works to make it easier for minority businesses

Govenor Walker Signs “Maddie’s Bill” in Racine Govenor Scott Walker signed a bill at a press conference at the Sixteenth Street Community Oriented Policing House, 1900 16th St. on Wednesday, November 23, 2011. This bill makes all school employees mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect.

"Maddie's Bill" came as a result of a reported sexual assault last winter of a special needs child, who is enrolled at Olympia Brown Elementary. The reported attacks, which took place at the school, involved inappropriate touching which was allegedly seen by educational assistants but not reported.

Jennifer Pichelman, the mother of the abused, attended the press conference and thanked law makers for the bill. According to the Racine Journal Times, she said, "Putting this bill into law today will protect our Continued on page 3

phones available at:

TWINS

FOOD MART Racine, WI 1812 16th St. 262.632.6342

Photo by Yolanda James

In order to help small-business startups and development, the City of Racine and several other organizations have partnered to introduce the new Launch Box initiative.

“Launch Box is an effort to put information that entrepreneurs would need in one central location,” said Mayor John Dickert and others during a press conference at Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Ave. Right: George Stinson, president/CEO of GCA Company and Mayor Dickert sign pledges to work to improve the business climate for small and emerging businesses.

Page 2 The Insider News Wisconsin, December 1-15, 2011

gation gave him a heightened sensitivity to inequality in America.

"You really do have an antenna for race," he said. "I remembered a sign on the merry-go-round that said, 'Whites Only.' I was six years old, and so I'd never focused on what that meant. And, boom, it kicked me right there, 'Oh my God, that's what that sign means.' And I kept insisting we not go there. Even in [New Orleans'] Audubon Park then, they

Sex abuse

had closed the swimming pool because it had been ordered integrated. And we led a group of young kids and forced them to reopen the swimming pool."

"I think we have some common experiences with segregation," Rice told Isaacson, laughing. "I didn't learn to swim until I was 25," because of Birmingham's segregated pools.

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attended the press conference and thanked law makers for the bill. According to the Racine Journal Times, she said, "Putting this bill into law today will protect our precious children. It's a win for parents, children, and the state of Wisconsin.”

Pichelman’s daughter has a rare form of epilepsy and is unable to talk. Therefore, this legislation was especially important to her. Because of this incident, Pichelman started a crusade to protect not only her own daughter but also other children. She testified in Madison before lawmakers about her personal story. Therefore it is no surprise that she stated at the press conference, "As I stand before you today, I am her voice. This is for you Maddie,” reports the Racine Journal Times.

Racine County District Attorney Michael Nieskes said that the penalty for not reporting is six months in jail and/or $1,000 in fines, depending on the severity.

The law goes into effect the day after publication, which may not be more than 10 days from the signing.

Photos by Yolanda James

S.C. Johnson A Family Company brings Former Secretary of State to Racine Pastor Frank James and Myron Tucker were among about 200 individuals who were guests at a presentation made by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Secretary Rice, a political science professor at Stanford University, recently embarked upon a nation wide tour promoting her new book “No High Honor.”

The book is about her tenure as national security adviser and secretary of State in the George W. Bush administration .

Each guest was given a book after her lecture.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that America has come a long way in confronting racial inequality - but that America will never be "race blind," and that race and poverty in America is "still a terrible witch's brew."

Rice, appearing in Sunday's special Thanksgiving edition of "Face the Nation," reflected on how growing up in Birmingham, Ala., during segregation "shaped me fundamentally."

"My family had to persevere under those circumstances to educate all of us, and to insist that we might not be able to control our circumstances but we could control our response," Rice told CBS' Bob Schieffer.

Since those days, Rice argued, a lot of things have changed.

"We have a black president. We've had two black secretaries of state. We have black CEOs. Obviously, African Americans are pushing way into territories that, probably, my grandparents would never have thought possible," she said.

Still, she argued that even though

America has "gotten to a place [where] race is not the limiting factor that it once was," she said that "we're never going to erase race as a factor in American life."

"It is a birth defect with which this country was born out of slavery; we're never really going to be race blind," she said.

She pointed to the confluence of race and poverty as a particularly troubling constraint for overcoming inequality, and wondered if that problem isn't becoming even more exacerbated in recent years.

"I think it goes back to whether or not race and class - that is, race and poverty is not becoming even more of a constraint," she said. "Because with the failing public schools, I worry that the way that my grandparents got out of poverty, the way that my parents became educated, is just not going to be there for a whole bunch of kids. And I do think that race and poverty is still a terrible witch's brew."

Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson, also appearing on the show, recalled how growing up in New Orleans during segrePage 3 The Insider News Wisconsin, December 1-15, 2011

Robertson: Is mac 'n' cheese 'a black thing Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson has been set straight on Thanksgiving comfort food.

"The 700 Club" founder showed a clip of Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday.

Robertson's host, Kristi Watts, asked what dish the former secretary of state had to

have on Thanksgiving. Rice replied macaroni and cheese.

Watts reacted enthusiastically, adding "Sister, that is my dish..."

Appearing perplexed, Robertson asked Watts, who is black, of the women's shared enthusiasm for mac 'n' cheese, "Is

that a black thing?"

Watts replied "It is a black thing Pat. ...The world needs to get on board." The two laughed about it.

The exchange was posted on The Huffington Post and other blogs.

Robertson has a record of making

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. used Thanksgiving Day to draw attention to the plight of veterans living in poverty.

The smell of turkey was heavy in the air at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Thursday.

About 300 veterans gathered there to eat Thanksgiving dinner.

Rev. Jackson, the organization's president, says veterans face higher rates of unemployment and homelessness.

"They need a guaranteed job, given the risk they've taken and the injuries they've DATE: November 16, 2011 suffered," Rev. Jackson says.

"They need nutrition, transportation and a place to stay.

That's so basic for an American veteran."

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Page 4 The Insider News Wisconsin, December 1-15, 2011

provocative statements. He said Haiti was cursed one day after a devastating earthquake and that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's disease is justifiable.

RIC wants to help you save your home

Cain Reassessing His Campaign

With so many homeowners facing foreclosure in today’s economy, the Racine Interfaith Coalition wants to provide struggling families with information that could help them stay in their homes.

RIC will host a free Foreclosure Prevention and Assistance Event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at Christ Church United Methodist, 5109 Washington Ave. At the event, those who need help avoiding foreclosure or those in foreclosure now will be able to meet one-on-one with counselors and lenders.

Certified counselors will provide information, help you create a budget, explain the terms of your agreement and meet with you and your lender. Lenders will be able to determine and discuss your eligibility for foreclosure prevention options that may keep you in your home.

Walk-ins are welcome beginning at 10 a.m.

If you plan to attend, please bring copies of the following documents: a recent mortgage statement; one month proof of income (this can be a pay stub, income award letters, etc.); copies of monthly expenses/bills; a hardship letter explaining why you are delinquent or my become delinquent; three months of bank statements; and your 2009 and 2010 tax returns.

Originals of these documents will not be accepted.

For more information on the foreclosure prevention event, please call the RIC office at (262) 635-9532, or contact us via email at ricwi@tds.net

Embattled presidential candidate Herman Cain told staffers Tuesday that he's reassessing his campaign a day after an Atlanta businesswoman alleged a 13-year extramarital affair with the Republican.

Cain has fiercely denied the affair as well as several other accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior that have surfaced over the past month and he has repeatedly vowed to stay in the race. He told senior staff in a mid-morning conference call lasting roughly 10 minutes that all public events will go forward this week but he will review the campaign's strategy over the next several days.

One participant on the call, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the conversation, said that as part of that assessment, Cain's campaign is examining the impact of the newest allegations. This person described the tone as positive but also said there was some uncertainty coming from Cain.

"He said obviously it's taken an emotional toll on his family, but he's moving ahead with the campaign," said Steve Grubbs, Cain's Iowa campaign chairman. "He said that they will be reassessing the campaign."

Grubbs added: "He said this lady was a friend, someone he thought was a friend, that he was trying to help out financially and had been a friend for some period of time. But that nothing inappropriate occurred."

Visit our website: www.insiderwisconsin.com The Insider News Wisconsin is a community based newspaper published in Racine, Wisconsin. The newspaper covers a variety of events that highlight lifestyles in the African-American comunities in Southeastern Wisconsin. The Insider News Wisconsin is a free publication, printed on the 1st and 15th of each month and is distributed in over 100 locations. All inquiries about advertisement or news should be made five to seven days before the 1st and 15th of each month.

Yolanda James, President/CEO Aneillo Lindsey - Account Representative Jared Edwards - Account Representative C-Moe Vision Photography - Photographer

3001 Douglas, Avenue • Racine, Wisconsin (262).681.2345 Page 5 The Insider News Wisconsin, December 1-15, 2011

New Reality Series Featuring Gospel Duo Mary Mary Coming

Kellita Smith, Christian Keyes, Jackee Harry and Trini-i-tee 57 Star in the Series

“SHE’S STILL NOT OUR SISTER”

Mary Mary fans will soon get the chance to see how members of the successful gospel duo balance it all, thanks to a new reality series set to premiere on AMC Network's WE tv.

Tentatively titled "Mary Mary," the hour-long series will show how sisters Erica and Tina Campbell manage their careers and families.

The sisters' husbands also come along for the ride. Viewers will see how Erica and her husband Warryn prepare for the birth of their third child and how Tina and husband Teddy raise a blended family of four. On top of it all, the sisters also have to deal with the drama of their large extended family and their parents.

The new show is part of the network's strategy to launch a third night of programming dedicated to an urban audience. "`Mary Mary’ is a great fit for WE tv. The series speaks to our programming strategy of producing stories that feature every kind of family and all kinds of drama," Kim Martin, the network's president and general manager, said in a statement. "Erica and Tina are modern women balancing careers and family and doing it in the spotlight.

Their issues are the same as so many women today, and this show will capture the entertaining ups and downs of life that they face on a daily basis."

The show will debut March 29 with the first of eight episodes on WE tv.

Earlier this month, the network launched season two of the Tony Braxton reality show "Braxton Family Values." According to a WE tv news release, the show ranked number one among basic cable top telecasts for women 18-34. Additionally, the series ranked as the number one show among African-American viewers during primetime for all key women and adult groups.

GMC, America’s fastest rising channel for uplifting music and family entertainment, will present the premiere of its first original gospel zplay series “She’s Still Not Our Sister,” a four episode series, exclusively on GMC at 7 and 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 10 with episodes 1 and 2 and conclude with episodes 3 and 4 at the same times on Saturday, December 17.

“She’s Still Not Our Sister” features an ensemble cast including Kellita Smith (“The Bernie Mac Show”), Drew Sidora (“The Game”), Azur De (Somebody Help Me 2), Christian Keyes (Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail and Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Clifton Powell (Ray), Jazsmin Lewis (“Meet the Browns”), Jackee Harry (“Sister, Sister,” “Everybody Hates Chris”), Tony Grant and the award-winning Gospel group Trin-i-tee 57.

In this four-part sequel to GMC’s hit gospel play production “She's Not Our Sister,” the saga of the Walker sisters continues as they learn that the millions they received after their father's death cannot buy happiness. Instead, the four women discover they have inherited an entirely new set of challenges, including career setbacks, romantic disappointments, charming gold-diggers and self-destructive tendencies.

“As our first gospel play series, ‘She's Still Not Our Sister’ marks an exciting milestone for GMC,” said Leslie Chesloff, executive vice president of programming, GMC. “’She’s Not Our Sister,’ which premiered in June, was wildly popular with viewers. We are thrilled to present a four-part series that allows our audience to continue the journey with these compelling characters as they encounter new romances, unexpected challenges and startling revelations.”

After reconciling with their long-lost half-sister Allison (Jazsmin Lewis) following the death of their estranged father, Vivian (Kellita Smith), Cynthia (Drew Sidora) and Deniece Walker (Azur De) find their lives have become even more complicated. When Allison develops a serious gambling addiction, the sisters try to find a way to help her while each of them deal with their own challenges. Cynthia faces commitment issues as her wedding to long-time boyfriend D'Andre (Christian Keyes) approaches. Deniece encounters a major setback in her search for a career. Vivian confronts her loneliness as she looks for meaning beyond her 50-hour work week. Rev. Beckley (Clifton Powell) serves as the spiritual guide to the Walker sisters. Aunt Connie (Jackee Harry) is their well intentioned mother surrogate who keeps everyone on their toes.

As the close-knit sisters seek their own paths to happiness, they begin to wonder if those paths will lead them in the same direction or eventually split them apart.

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St. Paul Gardens Apartments 1120 Center Street ~ Racine Sponsored By:

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now accepting Applications for Occupancy St. Paul Gardens is HUD-Subsidized for eligible families 50 years of age, older or persons who might benefit from accessible features of units designed for the mobility impaired.

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St. Paul Office (262) 632-6086 Rosenthal Assoc., Inc. (414) 362-7240 Page 9 The Insider News Wisconsin, December 1-15, 2011

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CHURCH DIRECTORY ST. PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

1120 Grand Ave. Racine, Wis.

262-632-1467 www.stpmbc.org

Bishop Lawrence L.

KIRBY Senior Pastor

Christian Faith Fellowship Church Racine, Wisconsin Pastors Willie & Patricia Scott

Can a donut ever be healthy?

BY: Allena G. Berry Mike Haney, General Manager of Larsen’s Bakery, is here to answer “yes.”

Five years ago, the team at Larsen’s Bakery, located at 3311 Washington Ave in Racine, was approached with a challenge: produce a vegan donut. The practice of veganism eliminates all animal byproducts from consumption; that means the bakers at Larsen’s would have to craft a donut free of eggs, dairy products, and other components that come from an animal. This was no small task.

However, the baking team came out victorious, creating a delicious donut that just happens to be good for you. Or, at least, a better alternative than one might find in similar products around town.

The customers at Larsen’s seem to appreciate the change. “There is a tremendous audience out there that have children with allergies,” Haney notes, dispelling the stereotype the vegan food is only for good snobs, often called “foodies.” “This has been a real savior to them.

To be able to come in and [get baked goods] that still have the same taste and flavor of yester-year and [they] don’t

®

have to worry about an egg, nut, or milk allergy.”

In fact, these vegan donuts taste so good that all of the yeast-raised donuts at Larsen’s are vegan. “Not one of our customers has said anything about the switch,” Haney says with pride. “They don’t even know their eating a healthy donut.”

“The only way they wouldn’t be vegan,” Haney concedes, “Is if someone asked, ‘Hey, can I put some whipped cream on that?’ But even our Bavarian Cream is vegan.”

Larsen’s Bakery is working on expanding their vegan menu, which currently is stocked at local Whole Foods Markets.

Their vegan treats also have a sizeable online following through specialty retailers on the Internet.

This attentiveness to the changing customer market is something that has been a corner stone of the Larsen’s Bakery philosophy. After purchasing the bakery from Eirner Larsen in 1969, Ernie Hutchinson – and his descendants that have kept the bakery in the Hutchinson family – made sure to stay abreast of the needs of their West Racine community.

Sunday School 9:15 AM Sunday Worship Service 7:45 AM & 10:40 AM Wednesday Prayer & Bible Class 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM Dinner - 5:30 PM

Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church

Trinity United Missionary Baptist Church “A God Glorifying, Christ Centered, Spirit-Filled Church”

Rev. Keith Evans Pastor

Sunday School • 9:00 AM Sunday Worship Service • 10:45 AM Bible Study (Wed.) • 6:00 PM Word of Life (Youth Program) (Thur..) • 6:30 PM

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LARSEN BAKERY | 3311 W Washington ashington Ave | 262–633–4298 | www.larsenbakery www.larsenbakery.com .com Page 11 The Insider News Wisconsin, December 1-15, 2011

306-5th Street, Racine, WI 262.635.1994 email: tumbcc@ameritech.net Rev. Buddy Vinson Senior Pastor

Sunday School - 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Prayer Service - (Wed.) 5:00 PM Bible Class & Prayer (Wed.) - 6:00 PM

CHURCH DIRECTORY Vigil held to remember Jack The Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, right, leads a Racine Interfaith Coalition Prayer Vigil on Wednesday, November 23, in the 1400 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Above, a young lady lights a candle at the location where Adrian D. Jackson was fatally shot early last Sunday morning.

Jackson, 23, of Racine, a father of a 3-year-old daughter, was found fatally shot on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Jackson was found at 2:25 a.m. laying on the roadway suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Racine Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene but Jackson was pronounced dead.

Racine Uncovered, a local blog, reported that Aaron T. Stephens, an 18 year old from Mount Pleasant, was developed as a suspect in this homicide and was arrested the next day by authorities in Milwaukee. He was transported to the Racine Police Department and has been arrested for First Degree Intentional Homicide. Formal charges are anticipated from the Racine County District Attorney’s Office.

Larsen’s Bakery

ZOE OUTREACH Ministries Pastor Tommie Knuckles

2130 Racine Street Racine, WI 619-3027

Melvin Hargove Pastor Sunday School - 8:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship Service - 10:00 a.m.

Sunday NA Meeting 6:30 PM Community Dinner 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday: Midweek Worship 6:15 a.m.- 8:15 p.m.

Thursday NA Meeting 6:00 PM

christian Tabernacle Baptist church 1201 Center Street Racine, Wis. 53403 (262) 880-6521 Come Worship with us at: Sunday Worship Service 11:00 AM Bible Study Wednesday 6:00 Pm - 8:00 PM

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Haney can speak fondly to his memories of growing up in and around the Larsen’s Bakery. “My parent’s wedding cake was actually made here at Larsen’s,” Haney recalls.

In his role as General Manager, a position he has held for the past four years, Haney is sure to keep the customers at the forefront of decision-making in the bakery. This includes adding innovative menu options, including freshly made Cheesecake Pops, Kransekake (a traditional Danish wedding cake made with almond paste), as well as cakes-by-the-slice.

Haney believes that one shouldn’t “wait for someone’s birthday” to enjoy a slice of birthday cake, so the bakery offers cakes and pies by the slice. This gives customers the taste of a $30-plus cake for a fraction of the cost of $2.50. “It’s what the customer wants,” Haney cites as his rationale for offering cake slices.

Recently, the bakery has decided to open its doors on Sunday mornings from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm. These additional hours have made for less-than-traditional orders from the bakery. “We’ve actually had churches that have run out of communion bread on Sundays come in and get their bread from us,” Haney explains.

Regardless of your reason for needing to come into Larsen’s bakery on a Sunday, Haney suggests that you do: “If you need hard rolls for your hot ham & cheese after church, don’t hesitate to come in.” And, of course, everything sold on Sundays is still made fresh that morning. The “fresh-freaks” at Larsen’s wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Fresh bakery and fair prices,” Haney offers as a motto for the long-standing staple of West Racine.

Perhaps he should include “home of the healthy donut,” too.

Searching TogeTher MiSSionary BapTiST church Rev. Willie Riley, Senior Pastor 262.633.4421

Pastor Joseph L. & First Lady Thomas

New Brighter Day Baptist Church 1225 25th Ave., Kenosha, WI

262-552-8090

825 21st Street • Racine Sunday School Worship Service Mid Morning Worship Service Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study Wednesday Dinner p.m.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study Saturday Morning Prayer

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9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

12:00 noon 5:30-6:30 6:30 p.m.

8:00 a.m.

Joseph L. Thomas, Pastor Sunday School - 9:00 a.m.

- Sunday Worship Service - 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday Prayer Service - 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study - Tuesday 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Calling All Men 2011 Conference held at Abundant Life

All photos by C-MoeVision/Craig Morris

Internationally know singer and lecturer, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, was the keynote speaker at Abundant Life Christian Center’s 2011 Men’s Conference which was held November 18th through November 20th. The conference also featured an appearance by J. Hines and Redeemed.

The event covered topics such as The Unstoppable Men, Men…Why God, Men Overcoming Habits and Addictions, Men Who Know Money, Fathering For The Future Now, and Man’s Secret: The Mentor.

Pastor Elliott Cohen served as host of the conference.

Page 13 The Insider News Wisconsin, December 1-15, 2011

The Human Capital Development Corp., Inc.; First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Program held a graduation and contractor recognition event at Infusinos’s Banquet Hall on November 17th. The program is a training center in Racine/Kenosha and other Southeast Wisconsin Counties in developing individual careers in the construction,

road building, and building trades. Back left to right: Erika Peterson, Carl Thompson, Darnell Mason, Emmanuel Beachem, Ola Baiyew (Executive Director), Robert Peterson, & Melvin Kramer. Front left to right: Michelle Kohel, Eric Rogers, and Tykia Norris.

Overspending: A Tale of Christmas Past

It may be hard to find the silver liming in the economic downturn, but the recession has given me at least one important gift: It has cured me of my shameful habit of overspending at Christmas.

For years, I've vowed to cut back and spend less -- and in each of those years, I failed utterly. Despite my modest, carefully constructed list of presents, I would invariably fall prey to a last-minute shopping frenzy, fueled by the sudden fear that my children were going to find my gifts meager or lacking. Haunted by an image of their disappointed faces on Christmas morning, I would forget my firm resolutions and find myself randomly snatching up every train set, stuffed animal or fairy princess wand that caght my eye.

Christmas morning would arrive and I would watch in dismay as my two daugh-

ters grew exhausted and overwrought while plowing through this veritable mountain of gifts. First came the overweight stockings, bulging with small toys, chocolates and fancy hair clips – already more than enough. Then it was on to the enormous stack of brightly wrapped boxes that threatened to dwarf the Christmas tree, each one filled with a doll, game, book or scarf. The day would end with a trip to Grandma's, where they'd get a second round of presents from various aunts and uncles, pushing their already overabundant present haul into the realm of the completely obscene.

My husband, who would rather darn his old socks than go shopping, suffered through this yearly excess in disapproving silence. At least until the long, tense day was over and the two of us were alone,

hauling armfuls of discarded wrapping paper out to the recycling bin. He'd look sadly around our living room, which now resembled an upended FAO Schwartz, and say, "Um, honey, you do realize our over-consuming culture is destroying the earth?"

How Overspending Can Kill the Christmas Spirit I did realize it, and the knowledge never failed to squeeze the Christmas joy right out of me. Even worse, I knew that in my misguided attempt to provide my children with the kind of magical Christmas experience I remembered from my own childhood, I was teaching them all the wrong lessons: that more is, well, more, and that they should want -- and even expect – this kind of wanton excess.

But then another year would pass and, despite my good intentions, I would do it all over again. And like the hangover that follows too many cups of eggnog or a third helping of pecan pie, the recovery took much longer than the initial revelry.

My profligate spending was followed by months of struggle to pay off credit cards, along with months of the guilt over my loss of control.

Then came the economic freefall of 2008. Our family had already scaled back our expenses after my husband left a corporate job for an environmental nonprofit and, while I had just sold a book, the advance was modest and I wasn't expecting much, if anything, in the way of royalties. But we had equity in our house, our investments were doing well, and we felt pretty comfortable.

Then the stock market plummeted, the housing market tanked and, like so many Americans, our comfort turned into panic as we watched our savings evaporate into thin air. Two months into the crisis, with

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Christmas looming, I set out with my usual good intentions, my carefully planned list of presents, and... this time, I succeeded.

Christmas Magic Without the Buyer's Remorse Gone were the wild last-minute impulses, the feelings of nostalgia that made me confuse the creation of Christmas magic with the smothering of my children with things. With all that we had lost and all the uncertainty ahead, this was no time to rack up bills that I might or might not be able to pay off and it was this awareness -- call it fear -- that kept me firmly on the straight and narrow. If an item wasn't on my list, I didn't even consider it.

Best of all, when Christmas came and my kids opened their small pile of carefully chosen gifts, no one complained or looked disappointed. On the contrary, I think they were relieved. For the first time in years, the day had none of that feverish, slightly sick feeling that comes from over-consumption of anything, whether it's presents or eggnog.

We were all more relaxed and more able to enjoy our gifts -- and each other -and I could tell my husband was relieved.

2009 was a redo and this year will be the same. It turns out that the "magic of Christmas" does not rely on excess after all, which is a lesson to remember if the economy ever recovers.

Zoe Fitzgerald CarterZoe FitzGerald Carter is a former journalist who has written for numerous publications, including New York magazine, The New York Observer, and Premiere. She is the author of the memoir Imperfect Endings. Read her blog on Red Room.

Worship Service for December 25, 2011 and January 1, 2012 will be at 10:00am (Sunday School and 8:00am service is cancelled). No Watch Night Service. The food pantry will be closed on December 26, 2011.

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