CN: December 28, 2022

The

By Wendy Todd

Movie theaters across the country have struggled to survive since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, including several in St. Louis. Some have been hanging on by a thread and some, like the historic Moolah Theatre, have closed.

One movie house that has remained in the fight to stay open is the Hi-Pointe Theatre, which being the oldest, locally-owned, single-screen theater in the region, celebrated its 100th birthday this year. But things have been difficult for the venue over the past couple of years, and the family-owned business has decided to make a change.

But rest assured, the Hi-Pointe Theatre isn’t closing, it’s changing ownership. Georgia and George James are selling the iconic theater to the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis, the organization that hosts the annual St. Louis International Film Festival.

The family’s statement from the James’ daughter, Diana Grayson, is as follows:

“After 45 years of owning the beloved HiPointe Theatre, we have decided that it is time to end our run. We have been blessed to share this theatre with three generations of our family and have had the privilege of helping it reach the magical age of 100 years. We know that Cinema St. Louis is the perfect sequel to our story. They share the same passion and vision, and we are confident that they will be able to carry on our family’s legacy for the next 100 years. We thank you for your continued patronage, dedication and support through the years. We will miss you all.”

The Hi-Pointe will serve as the nonprofit’s new office of operations as well as continue to show films and host events. The change of ownership is beneficial for both parties.

The James family has the opportunity for the legacy of the theater to continue as op-

posed to shutting down, and CSL will have a home base for operations, festivals and other related programming.

“As each fest has grown, so too has the need for consistent venues,” said Bree Maniscalco, executive director of CSL. “Over time, especially coming out of the pandemic, this has become increasingly difficult. Cinema St. Louis was losing control of its own story and the sustainability of its festivals was becoming less certain. In preparing for the St. Louis International Film Festival in 2022, the organization reached out to the Hi-Pointe to see if it could serve as a fest venue and planted the seed of being considered should the family ever be interested in selling.”

Fans of the theater can rest assured its iconic attributes and culture will be maintained.

“One of Cinema St. Louis’ goals of this acquisition was to not only establish a permanent home for the organization but to preserve the iconic venue that has been established by the James family in their years of owning the theater,” Maniscalco said. “This is a generational opportunity and a responsibility that CSL does not take lightly.”

In addition to popular movie-house films, CSL will also screen festival favorites, a new repertory series that will include classics and cult classics as well as educational programming for local schools and limited first-run screenings from independent studios. There will also be events such as movie-trivia nights.

The transition, which begins in January, will include making Hi-Pointe and the Backlot available for private rentals and annual member movie nights. Films for the public and the annual co-presentation with AARP Missouri, “Soul Cinema,” begins in February. In March, the theaters will begin hosting weekly events.

The nonprofit is aware of how much the HiPointe has meant to patrons and plans on effectively stewarding the iconic landmark into the future without abandoning its essence.

“CSL is humbled to be carrying the venue into the next 100 years,” Maniscalco said. “The vision of Cinema St. Louis is to create cinematic experiences that enrich, educate, entertain and build community.”

COMMUNITY VOICES:

“It’s better to have and not need than to need and not have.”

This is a statement that we have heard for years but in a land of plenty, it is hard to understand its real implications because everything seems to be in abundance here. Even those who are “without” have several alternatives available to them for survival.

However, there may be a time coming when this statement will have realistic meanings, and many may suffer as a result of not heeding to its warning. Many professionals

Time to stock up

are saying that we should take caution and prepare ourselves for times when things may be in short supply or unavailable to us for various reasons; certain shipping crises, production crises, power crises and other kinds of economic problems that may cause certain things to not be readily available as we desire or need them.

Some even fear that we may be engaged in a home-based war that we have never experienced before. Others fear that certain manufacturers may experience labor or cost-efficiency measures that limit their productivity. Some even fear that certain products may be intentionally infected with undesirable ingredients.

As some older folks will say, “You had better get, while the getting is good.” Since any of these things could occur, it does seem wise now to “stock up” so that we are prepared for our families to exist and make it through any emergency or difficult time period.

We see some evidences that should cause us to begin to be concerned because some retail shelves are beginning to be very thin and barren looking now. A hint to the wise should be sufficient and we should start the process of preparing for emergency times even if they never come.

Maybe, at the very least, we should begin the planning process so that when we have extra monies, we can spend some of it on future security. I realize it is hard to see things just sitting there or spending money on things that are never used. Just from time to time, remember that “It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have!”

Of course, we should get non-

By Dr. Larry A. Brown

perishable food items like soups and other canned goods, spaghetti and other vegetables that don’t spoil easily, water and other liquids to drink and that are non-perishable, hard cookies and crackers, canned meats, toilet tissue, napkins or tissue paper towels, jellies, peanut butter and sardines. These are just some of the items you may wish to stock-pile, just in case.

Also, it can be very important for you to spread the word. Encourage your family members and neighbors to stock up also, so they won’t have to ask you if an emergency period does come.

These items can always be donated to those in need in the future, if there is apparently no longer a need to have them for yourself. Food pantries would love to have these items.

In short, by starting to acquire these items now, there is only good that can come of it, either for you and your family, or for a neighbor who may be in need. By beginning this process, we will become more aware of the need and the importance of helping those who don’t have the basics. If you would like to help us as we deal with these kind of needs daily, you may reach us at www.gracechapelministries.org or by email at gracechapeldevelopment@gmail.com. As the old Boy Scout motto says, “be prepared.”

Dr. Larry A. Brown is a retired Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Worknet, Inc., which has a national ten-year contract with the Social Security Administration to find jobs for people with disabilities who are interested and qualified to enter the traditional workforce. He is also co-founder and president of Grace Chapel Ministries, former president of National Cable Training Centers, and president of Woodstock Industrial Products Group.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

(From left) Former Hi-Pointe Theater owners George and Georgia James stand with executive director of Cinema St. Louis Bree Maniscalco and the James’ daughter Diana Grayson.

Submitted photo

The directors from five busy airports in the St. Louis region say the collaboration that takes place amongst their airports is unique in the aviation industry and a model for success – accounting for more than 36,500 jobs (between airport operations and tenants) and generating a collective annual economic impact that exceeds $10 billion and is growing.

The five airports contributing to those totals include St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Spirit of St. Louis Airport in eastern Missouri, and three southwestern Illinois airports – St. Louis Downtown Airport, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and St. Louis Regional Airport.

The airport directors participated in a special panel discussion hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway on Nov. 16. The panelists were Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge from St. Louis Lambert International Airport, John Bales from Spirt of St. Louis Airport, Bryan Johnson from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Sandra Shore from St. Louis Downtown Airport and Daniel Adams from St. Louis Regional Airport.

“This discussion helped raise awareness of the region’s robust aviation industry that is defined by these airports, their tenants and the aerospace products and parts manufacturing industry,” said moderator Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of its St. Louis Regional Freightway Enterprise. “The region’s aviation industry has evolved through good and bad times and is highlighted by targeted efforts that focus on operations, infrastructure investment, industry leadership and expertise, and a proven track record for career development and job opportunities.”

To provide greater context for the career opportunities in the aviation industry, Lamie highlighted that:

• The St. Louis MSA has 3.85 times the U.S. average number of aerospace jobs based on the size of the region.

• Based on the payroll and job creation from the three Illinois airports participating in the forum, the average compensation (including benefits) for an airport-related job, is $80,000 a year.

• The average wage for an aerospace

job in the region is right at $116,000 a year - proving the significance of continuing to grow that base and invest in airport infrastructure.

Panelists talked about the tremendous career opportunities in the industry and collaborative efforts to help build and support the aviation and aerospace jobs pipeline. Boeing is expanding at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and will create at least 150 to 200 more jobs. West Star Aviation currently has approximately 40 positions available and additional expansion plans in the works at St. Louis Regional Airport could drive that number higher. Gulfstream is expanding its operations at St. Louis Downtown Airport and will be adding 140 new jobs. Events such as St. Louis University’s Summer Academy and Girls in Aviation Day at St. Louis Downtown Airport and the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and Stem Expo continue to play a key role in attracting youth to the aviation industry.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is the region’s busiest airport that today accounts for 7,000 jobs in the region. A new economic impact study underway is anticipated to reveal the airport’s impact has grown from the $4.2 billion reported in 2013 to more than $6 billion.

Hamm-Niebruegge called attention to the fact that, aside from being the largest airport in Missouri, St. Louis Lambert International Airport ranks as the 32nd largest out of 450 commercial airports in the country. She added the airport is not just focused on passenger traffic, but on expanding all streams of revenue.

She said the amount of cargo moved has doubled from 125 million pounds in 2016 to 251 million pounds in 2021, with much of that increase driven by the growth of Southwest and the belly cargo that Southwest can carry because it has so many flights per day from St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Hamm-Niebruegge also discussed the recent creation of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) port of embarkation at her airport that allows live animal charters. While Chicago also has such operations, word is getting around that St. Louis Lambert International Airport is far more efficient and easier for the handlers. Lufthansa’s new direct flights from St. Louis to Frankfurt, Germany were also highlighted. Launched in June 2022, the new service marked the first direct flights from St. Louis to Europe in 20 years.

She said the biggest project on the horizon for St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the proposed consolidation of the existing two terminals, plans for which she hopes can come to fruition in the next 12 to 14 months. If everything moves forward, construction could start in 2026 on a single consolidated terminal that would carry the region well into the future.

Hamm-Niebruegge offered a glimpse into the working relationships between the five airport directors, which she said is more collaborative than competitive because of the unique niche each has in the industry. “When you put the greater group together and you think about the offerings we have, if you're a customer in this region, you have a choice of going just about anywhere.”

Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) in Chesterfield has more than 3,000 employees on site between airport operations and tenants and a total annual economic impact that exceeds $400 million. Bales said the airport has nearly 400 based aircraft, 100 based jets, a full-time customs support center, three FBOs, a variety of customers and maintenance operators, as well as many corporate flight departments and charter operators. Prior to COVID, Bales said the airport was averaging almost one international flight a day, something most people likely would not know.

He said much as the Arch is the gateway to the west, he sees aviation as a gateway to the world and considers Spirit of St. Louis Airport to be the business aviation center of the Midwest.

‘The charter operators did really, really well during COVID, and they continue to do well,” said Bales. “People that maybe had the means but had never tried it, tried it and liked it. It's been good for us. Take off and landings and fuel sales are the highest they’ve been in 10 to 15 years. The future looks bright for Spirit.”

Spirit of St. Louis Airport is just starting its latest master plan. Bales said it will be their roadmap for the future and will guide several very important projects representing an investment in the range of $50 million in the coming years.

The panel discussion with the five airport directors highlighted the St. Louis region’s overall position as a vibrant commercial and general aviation hub in the heartland of the nation. Video of the forum can be found at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=R_6poBIKeiY.

St. Louis Region’s busiest airports deliver more than $10 billion in annual economic impact

Submitted image

Third annual Bows for Birds Challenge

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is joining the Audubon Center at Riverlands in West Alton for its third annual Bows for Birds Challenge. The challenge runs now through Feb. 5, 2023, and the nature center will host one of several Bows for Birds stations throughout the St. Louis metro area.

Bows for Birds is a scavenger hunt-like challenge that includes 12 different stations placed in parks and natural areas in the St. Louis region. MDC, the Audubon Center at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and all the Bows for Birds partners are challenging visitors to find mystery wooden birds hidden at each location.

A complete information packet is available for free download at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4xA. It explains the challenge and includes a map for each participating Bows for Birds site. Participants can also download the submission form they will need to fill out and enter to win.

Visitors can follow the clues given at each station to find the mystery wooden bird hidden nearby. When they find it, participants are encouraged to take a selfie with the mystery bird and share it on Facebook or Instagram by tagging #bowsforbirds23. Be sure to set posts to “public” for them to be seen. Entrants must email a completed submission form to bows4birds@

Happy Thanksgiving New Year Still In This Together:

I find it interesting that there are so many different ways to approach the coming New Year.

New Year’s is one of the very few occurrences that happens world-wide in the same twenty-four-hour time frame. There are no doubts as to the hour or the night that the New Year begins, along with its accom-

panying excitement, trepidation, sadness, hope, confidence or any combination of the above.

The response to the end of a year has a lot to do with how the previous year has treated us, and the frame of mind we’re in about the need for resolutions, self-loathing and promises to commit to change everything we think needs to be changed. Literally overnight.

No wonder resolutions so rarely last.

My goal last New Year’s Eve was simply to combine the two holidays of Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Thanksgiving never gets the attention it deserves because we’re in such an infernal rush to move into Black Friday shopping and Christmas mode. I figured New Year’s Eve is as good a time as any to take stock of things. Minus the turkey and stuffing. Or not.

I think age has something to do with things, too.

When I was a teenager, New Year’s Eve was a chance to party with girlfriends, usually in my friend Lynda’s basement while her parents and their friends partied above us. We didn’t bother them and they didn’t bother us, and I remember making a vow one year that we would all get together in that very basement on New Year’s Eve 1999. Of course, it seemed so impossible that 1999 would ever come. It seemed so far away; it was an impossible number to even fathom.

And, of course, by 1999, that basement belonged to someone else and our lives were all so very different. We were in the promise to diet, exercise and change habits mode in 1999, worried about computers crashing and workplaces that would cease to exist when Y2K would rear its ugly head.

And yet, 2000 very predictably came and went, as New Years’ have a way of doing no matter how we might believe otherwise.

gmail.com by Feb. 5, 2023, to be eligible to win.

Eligible participants in the Bows for Birds challenge will be entered in a prize raffle that includes a variety of St. Louis-based outdoor experiences, Cardinals baseball tickets, parks swag, a bird-lover’s kit, bird feeders and more. The more entries, the more chances to win. Identify the species of mystery bird and participants will earn an additional entry for every correct one.

Also, those who visit seven or more sites will be eligible to enter the grand prize raffle for a Vortex optics basket, including a pair of Viper HD 10x42 binoculars valued at $680. Winners will be drawn Feb. 10, 2023.

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road in Kirkwood, near the intersection of I-44 and I-270.

By Vicki Bahr

Each year has its wins and losses, as years always have a way of doing. My next-in-line younger sister’s favorite motto is: “This too shall pass.” Perfect for New Year’s. Because whether we’re riding high or wallowing in the depths of some despair or other, it’s sure to change. And I will wonder, as I make it to some ball drop somewhere, why I worried so much, why I didn’t enjoy the year more, how impossible it is that another year has passed, and how true it was when my grandmother exclaimed about all the things she had seen in her lifetime.

For Gram, it was airplanes and televisions, downtown shopping malls, boxed stuffing and aluminum Christmas trees. And with her exclamations came gratitude, always. While our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles nursed hangovers and watched football on New Year’s Day, we were growing up and years were passing.

Now, I meet my Thanksgiving/New Year’s Day with the same gratitude and awe that my grandmother had, telling my kids and grandkids all about the years before microwaves and cell phones, computers and dishwashers.

This, too, shall pass, and I’m so very glad to be part of it all.

Happy 2023!!

Vicki Bahr is an inveterate word lover and story sharer, a published author in magazine, newspaper and blog forms. As a mom of four, grandma of nine, and wife of one for 50 years, she finds that inspiration and wonder are everywhere.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News

EVENTS

Feb. 18:

Black light bingo

Soroptimist of Greater St. Louis will host their Annual Black Light Bingo at JFK Center in Florissant. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.soroptimiststlouis. com.

RECURRING EVENTS

Weekdays: Food pantry volunteers needed

The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry is in need of ongoing adult volunteers to sort food, stock shelves and shop with clients. Two-to-four hour shifts are available, Monday-Friday 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. To learn more or to join this fun group, contact Chelsey Banaskavich at 314-513-1674 or cbanaskavich@jfcs-stl.org.

Mondays: Choral Arts Group meetings

Choral Arts Group practices every Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Connection Christian Church at 1332 Feise Rd. in O’Fallon. Auditions not required. Ages high school and older are invited to join. There will be spring and fall public concerts. For more information call Marty at 636-579-9227, or email concertartsa@gmail.com.

Mondays: City council meetings

City of Pine Lawn holds regular city council meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meet-

ings are open to the public.

Mondays: Workshop meetings

City of Pine Lawn holds regular workshop meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.

Mondays: A cappella singers

All men who like to sing are invited to come sing with us, The Men of Harmony. We practice every Monday night at 7 p.m. at 5500 Parker Raoad which is the first house on Uthe Lane. We sing four-part harmony a capella (without accompaniment). We sing some traditional songs, as well as show tunes and more contemporary music. We do perform for the public at various functions. Persons interested can come right on in or for more information call Al at 314-993-6134.

Mondays: Korean War Veterans Association meeting

If you had military service in Korea between Sept. 3, 1945 and the present you are cordially invited to a meeting of Chapter 4, North County Korean War Veterans Association. Meetings take place at the VFW Post 4105 at 410 St. Francois in Florissant on the second Monday of the month, starting at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-921-2132. For a limited period the Chapter will pay for one (1) year membership for new members.

Mondays-Thursdays: Volunteers needed

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County is in need of volunteers to stock shelves, sort food shipments and pack bags for Food Pantry Clients Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Two to four hour shifts are available. If you are interested, please contact Cheryl Piece at 314-446-4440 or cpiece@caastlc.org for additional information.

Tuesdays: Bingo

Florissant Elks Bingo takes place at 16400 New Halls Ferry every Tuesday. Doors open at 4 p.m., bingo starts at 6 p.m. No outside food or

drinks allowed per St. Louis County. Food and drinks available for purchase. Maximum 150 players. Must wear mask to enter. Social distancing followed.

Tuesdays: A cappella singers

The Gentlemen of Sound are looking for men who like to sing or want to learn. They practice Tuesdays at Lady of the Pillar school at 401 S.

Lindbergh from 7 – 9 p.m. They try to do public events monthly. Always looking for new members. Come by or call Kirk at 314-954-7920 .

Tuesdays: Chair Zumba Chair Zumba every Tuesday from 2:15 – 3 p.m. at The Bridge At Florissant at 1101 Garden Plaza Dr. (Parker @ Arlington). For more information call 314-831-0988.

Tuesdays: Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery Tuesday meetings take place at 6 p.m. with a Saturday Bible Study at 9 a.m. at LifePoint Church at 424 Graham Rd. in Florissant. For more information visit www.lifepointministries.church/celebrate-recovery or call (men) Steve D. at 636-634-6582 or (women) Denise W. at 530-417-6151.

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

In 2013, Warner Bros. (now known as Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.) released “Man of Steel,” a reboot of the “Superman” franchise featuring English actor Henry Cavill in the title role.

Unlike its predecessors, this film delved deeper into Clark’s years on Earth, especially how he saved lives and helped people with his powers. Since its release, “Man of Steel” built a solid fanbase and Cavill went on to become part of 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

The recent “Black Adam” movie also featured an end-credits cameo appearance of Cavill’s Superman talking to Dwayne Johnson’s character. Shortly after that reveal, however, James Gunn, co-Chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, announced that Cavill will no longer portray Superman for them.

Gunn really doesn’t understand Superman’s true worth to the studio, especially when played by Henry Cavill. In “Man of Steel,” director Zack Snyder explored Clark Kent’s infancy on the doomed planet Krypton. His father, Jor-El (Russell Crowe), and mother Lara (Ayelet Zurer) sent their baby Kal-El away in a rocket ship to save his life,

but General Zod (Michael Shannon) knew that the Codex, an ancient Kryptonian artifact used to determine an infant’s genetic potential, was also on-board Kal’s ship. Zod needed that artifact to shape his personal vision of Krypton’s future.

Director Snyder also examined Kent’s potential for selfless heroics in a series of flashbacks. One sequence showed Clark as a journeyman on a commercial fishing boat. When alerted of men trapped on a burning oil rig, he used his powers to free them and then held up a falling derrick so their helicopter could escape the flames. When bussing tables in a honky-tonk bar, Clark stopped a truck driver from harassing a waitress and, before he walked away, left the driver a costly surprise on the park-

– SUDOKU –

ing lot. As a teen, Clark was on a school bus that fell off a bridge, which prompted him to save his classmates.

In truth, “Man of Steel” was an epic hero’s journey about an alien who, for the longest time, didn’t know exactly who he was and what he could really do. After finding a Scout Ship sent to Earth from Krypton, Clark found a holographic version of Jor-El, who explained Clark’s origins and encouraged him to keep testing his powers. Zack Snyder had fun putting Henry Cavill through his paces, including a sequence where Clark crashed through a mountain in the Artic. Snyder also gave Superman an ethical and moral dilemma about how to handle General Zod’s arrival on Earth.

For now, Henry Cavill will no longer portray Superman in future films. Additionally, writer/director Patty Jenkins, who directed the 2017 blockbuster “Wonder Woman,” confirmed that she did not walk away from the third movie in the franchise as some have reported. DC Universe heads James Gunn and Peter Safran apparently want to tear things down and rebuild them, but they don’t see the true gems they already had to work

in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9.

‘Man of Steel’ star Henry Cavill will no longer play Superman

“Man of Steel’ photo courtesy Warner Bros. Discoverm Inc.

Moore on Life: Bliss-mas

Christmas is over. Boo hiss! All the good things the season brought, such as the parties and singing and gifting and eating are now a thing of the past and won’t come around for another long year. How I will miss that.

But of course, on the bright side the irritating things will be gone too, like the humble brag Christmas letters from relatives you’ve long forgotten. Then there’s those overdecorated houses like our annoying neighbors, the Pilkinsons.

They strung up enough lights and used enough wattage to single-handedly cause the rolling blackouts in our area. While they could have done something useful and powered every electric vehicle in the U.S., they chose instead to attract total strangers to my location who circled around my house all night long. It was like living in Alaska during the summer with 24 hours of illumination, only our illumination was blinking non-stop. I was on the verge of a stroke and had to get blackout curtains.

They have to be loaded to afford that kind of power bill. Yet, naturally, when the time came for the neighbor gift exchange, Mrs. Pilkinson gave us some keychains and pens. Now you’d think that might not have been so bad, except they still had her husband’s business logo on them. Can you say freebies?! That did not make my holly jolly one bit.

Then there was that other type of houses on the opposite side of us which had those blow-up things. You know the ones I’m talking about; those big hideous in-

With stay-at-home holidays a thing of the past for many families, they’re now busy preparing for full-blown celebrations. The return of traditional festivities can bring never-ending to-do lists and pressure to the host.

From mastering a mouthwatering menu and donning your home with decadent decor to ensuring guests enjoy the evening to the fullest, hosting duties bring plenty of responsibilities. This year, you can avoid those anxious feelings with some preparation ahead of the big day.

To help pull off a sensational seasonal soiree, consider these tips from the entertaining experts at Sun-Maid to make the holidays brighter and more manageable so you can navigate the stresses of hosting.

Invite others to share favorite traditions

Especially with stay-at-home holidays in recent years, some friends and family members may have developed their own special traditions from new recipes and foods to seasonal games and activities. Inviting your guests to bring or share something that represents their favorite part of the holidays can help everyone feel welcome.

Take time for yourself

Remember to make time for yourself so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor right alongside guests. The busyness of this time of year can add stress but reflecting on the true meaning of the season and reveling in your favorite parts of the holidays can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

flatables the size of Macy’s parade balloons. Of course, one or two would be acceptable, but these people went nuts. They must have got in on the buy-ten-get-ten free deal because every square inch of their yard was loaded up with those bouncy blobs.

Thankfully, just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse something magical happened. The Pilkinson’s blew a major fuse which called for a professional to come in and fix their entire electrical system. But darn, every electrician within two states away was booked until February.

Then a freak winter squall blasted our way and lifted the balloon people’s house up into the stratosphere. Last I heard they landed somewhere in Kansas.

Yes, Christmas miracles still do happen.

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

Add new ingredients to your menu

While pairing this year’s turkey or ham with the classics provides comfort and calls to mind holiday memories of the past, cooking with new ingredients and adding fresh recipes to the menu can put a fun spin on the season and maybe even create your own traditions to carry forward.

Hop on hot food trends

One of this year’s most popular trends in the kitchen is food boards, a fun and easy way to elevate flavor while incorporating favorites like cured meats, cold cuts, cheese slices and cubes, dips, nuts and more. Plus, you can keep your board balanced with nutritious items like vegetables and fruit, such as raisins, which provide sweet flavor without the added sugars.

A time for truce

Gathering for the holidays is about coming together with loved ones, family, friends and neighbors – and pulling it off means catering to everyone’s needs and wants. It’s a time for compromises and truces. To help add a little extra spark this year, try incorporating a theme to the party or coordinate fun activities and games that can be enjoyed by all. For example, holiday-themed charades, a seasonal “name that tune” game and gift exchanges all give guests ways to get in on the excitement.

To find more holiday entertaining inspiration and recipe ideas, visit SunMaid.com/PullOffTheHolidays.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images