Walking in a winter wonderland

The Mena Advertising and Promotion Commission will officially welcome the holiday season with the annual Mena Christmas Festival at 7 p.m., Dec. 1, in Janssen Park. The festival will immediately follow the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Parade of Lights, which begins at 6 p.m. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors, and spread holiday cheer at this cherished event. The sounds of joy, laughter, and music will fill the air, as we gather to celebrate Christmas, our community, and the holiday season.

Come sing along to your favorite Christmas songs with Lana Gail and her band. They will perform a Christmas Music Concert, beginning at 7

Thanksgiving dinner reminders

A reminder regarding a couple of the Thanksgiving dinners going on in the Mena area on Thanksgiving day: p.m. Then, at 7:30, the skies will be filled with the dazzling, sparkling lights of a stunning fireworks display. Carrying on one of Mena’s favorite traditions, the City of Mena’s Official Lighting Ceremony of Janssen Park immediately follows the firework display.

CMA to make a roaring presentation to Toys for Tots

By Ethan Nahté

The Christian Motorcyclists Association will be doing a ride for Toys for Tots. The CMA Homefront Warriors will meet at Walmart at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.

They will ride to Janssen Park for a toy delivery to Toys for Tots and encourage the public to come out and cheer them on. The public can also bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate.

If you can’t make that event, there are plenty of locations throughout Polk County to donate toys or participate with the Elks angel tree, including the box at The Pulse and KENA/KQOR radio stations. A complete list of donation locations can be found in the Nov. 15 issue of The Pulse or on the Polk County Toys for Tots Facebook page.

Speaking of donations, the Ouachita Mountains Trail & ATV Club donated $1,000 to Toys for Tots on Nov. 8.

Additionally, if you turned in an application to Toys for Tots, they will begin sending out postcards on Dec. 1. They will still be accepting applications up through Dec. 1.

The Toys for Tots event for the families a postcard has been sent to will occur on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Mena Elks Lodge. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the event.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be at The Q on Main the same day between 4-6 p.m. for photos.

- Veterans are invited to the Mena-Polk County Senior Center for a free Thanksgiving lunch being served from 11 a.m. through 2 p.m. Veteran are welcome to bring immediate family. The event is sponsored by VFW. The Senior Center is located at 401 Autumn Lane, just off of Racetrack Road on the opposite side of the railroad tracks from Walmart.

- Covenant of Life Family Church will be providing their annual “Don’t Eat Home Alone” meal at noon on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23. RSVP as soon as possible if you plan to attend by calling either 479-394-6763 or 870-8284113 so the church will know how much food to prepare. They also do this all for free, but there will be an offering basket available by request. Covenant of Life Family Church is located at 1101 Pine Ave., across from the Mena Silver Screen movie theater.

The CALL seeking stocking stuffers

The Call in Polk County and CASA are inviting you, your small group, or your church to donate or host a drive this holiday season to support our local foster families and foster kiddos!

If you, your office or your organization would like to give back during the holidays, here’s your chance. We are taking donations of holiday meal items.

We will also be accepting donations of stocking stuffer items Dec. 10. Please call our office at either 501-813-6480 or 479-234-3498 for more information or email AGreen@TheCallInArkansas.org/. Items needed for stocking stuffers include but are not limited to:

-candy

-small toys that will fit in stockings

-age appropriate for boys and girls ages 6 months-18 years

-small books

-socks

-hair/jewelry items

-small games, puzzles, or similar items

By Richie Lawry

After years of leg and knee pain, I finally decided to have knee replacement surgery. My left knee had been in bad shape for a long time. Three years ago, my X-rays showed that it was bone on bone. At that time, my orthopedic surgeon told me the answer was a complete knee replacement. I resisted the idea, and he said to me that when it hurt bad enough, I would get it replaced.

In early October, Dr. Hefley performed a total knee replacement on my left knee at the Arkansas Surgical Hospital. The morning after the surgery, the hospital’s physical therapist came into my room and told me it was time for therapy. After she helped me get out of bed, I fumbled with my hospital gown, trying to maintain at least a small amount of modesty.

As I walked down the hospital corridor with my walker, the physical therapist told me the goals for the session and then explained the importance of physical therapy after I went home. At the end of the corridor was an alcove with a couple of steps leading up to a small platform. She instructed me on the best way to step up onto the platform. I would need to master the skill before being released from the hospital.

After the step therapy, we walked back down the corridor towards my room. As we walked, the therapist explained the importance of physical therapy after knee replacement and told me what to expect. “During the first couple of weeks,” she said, “you will be working on things like bending your knee, stretching your knee straight, restoring normal walking, and doing exercises to help you move through the different stages of recovery.”

“As your therapy progresses,” she continued, “you will work on flexibility, range-of-motion, and muscle-strengthening exercises. The goal is not only to strengthen the knee but