Congratulations to: Lisa Carter Johnson City, TN as the winner in the September Hot Hunk Hunt!
Thanks to
for sending in your
Abingdon business owner Cassie Rowe is featured on our October cover. Read the feature story on page 10. (Photo Contributed)
Autumn is the season for different colorful decorations for the indoors and outdoors. The one thing that sets this season apart from a few years past is the political noise of the upcoming presidential election. Dare I say this? There is such a climate of division in our country, and yet, our Pledge of Allegiance is to ‘one flag under one nation.’ I think we have tossed out the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer in all we do. However, whether you choose to believe or choose not to believe does not make it any less real. But isn’t that freedom? The freedom to have choices. The freedom to have a voice and share it. I encourage all of you to vote. Sometimes, it may seem fruitless, but whether you vote or not, the election is going to take place. So, why not choose to vote?
VOICE Speaks FREE
Celebrating our 20th anniversary! We wouldn’t be here and there without all of you!
PUBLISHER
Another event that will take place is the holiday shopping season. I encourage all of you to support the region’s local businesses. Many of the local businesses do offer online shopping from their websites. JCP also offers online shopping with our online bookstore. We are offering gift items, including Christmas and holiday ornaments for writers and authors. Order now to be sure your books arrive in time for the gift-giving season.
Check out our book blog, Bookmarked, and listen to our podcast, Bookmarked. Both work together in bringing information, author interviews, and book publishing tips. Our podcast is celebrating a year with 52 weekly podcasts. We are thrilled to see the podcast continue to grow and expand.
From all of us to all of you—thank you—fans, supporters, readers, advertisers, authors, contributing writers, and more! We could not be here without all of you.
Happy Halloween!
In RemembRance: Miss you, Daddy!
(March 29, 1928 – October 21, 2010)
Thought of the month: “Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.” Author unknown
Verse of the Month: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
Janie C. Jessee, Editor-in-Chief
Purchase Janie C. Jessee’s
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc PO Box 701 Johnson City, TN 37605
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Janie C Jessee, 423.502.6246 publisher@jancarolpublishing.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Draco Bailey Communications Director & Publishing Assistant communications@jancarolpublishing.com
Voice Magazine for Women wants to provide a useful and complete reliable source of information for women and their families. We seek to celebrate women’s successes, and support their growth by defining and recognizing their needs and providing a concentration of resources for them. We want to be that “link” to all women.
Pam Blair Ken Heath April Hensley Jami Lee Serina Marshall Carol Owen Reynolds Cindy Sproles
44th Annual Turkey Trot
YWCA NETN and SWVA
Announces 2024 Women’s 5K
YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia will host their 44th Annual Women’s Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 23, 2024, beginning at 8 a.m.
Trotters have the option to run or walk a USTAF-certified route through historic Bristol, Tenn., starting near the iconic Bristol sign and ending at YWCA’s building. Men are welcome to run in support of this women-only race but will not be eligible for awards. There is no age restriction for race participants, and leashed pets and strollers are welcome.
This race represents YWCA’s promotion of women’s health and safety and is one of the longest-running women-only races in the region. YWCA of NETN and SWVA continues their celebration of 80 years of empowerment with a Rosie the Riveter “Together, We Can Do It” theme for this year’s race.
“This year, we are really excited to bring back the option to register teams—mother/daughter, sisters, besties, coworkers, etc!” said Katy Long, YWCA NETN and SWVA Sr. Project Manager. “This race is such a fun way to encourage and support yourself, the ones you love, and your community. Together, we are fostering health, hope, and healing. Together, we are making a difference!”
Race participants will enjoy free goody bags and breakfast, and awards will be given to the top finishers in each age division. Pre-registered trotters will also receive a race T-shirt and medal.
The cost is $30 through pre-registration and $35 on race day. The run/walk is managed by WeRunEvents.
Registration forms may be picked up at YWCA NETN and SWVA at 106 State St., Bristol, Tenn., or found online at https://werunevents.com/2024 - events/ People can register for the race on the day of the event but must be registered by November 17, 2024, to be guaranteed a T-shirt and medal.
Funds raised from the event benefit YWCA NETN and SWVA crucial community programming:
• STEM after-school enrichment for at-risk girls
• affordable, quality childcare
• teen pregnancy and parenting support
• Financial Literacy and workforce development
• family resiliency resources
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Mary Massarueh at mmassarueh@ywcatnva.org , 423-573-6107.
As part of their mission to empower women through health and wellness, YWCA hosts self-defense classes, volleyball leagues, and clinics and provides physical activity in their childcare centers and TechGYRLS program. They also provide holistic health and wellness opportunities through their Powerhouse Community Wellness + Resource Center in Southwest Virginia. For more information about these and other YWCA NETN and SWVA programs and how to get involved, visi t https://www.ywcatnva.org o r call 423-968-9444.
Outdoor Spaces this Fall Season
Making the most of outdoor spaces during the fall and winter can enable guests to spread out, which should make things more comfortable for them. With that goal in mind, the following are some tips for putting outdoor areas to good use when hosting loved ones this holiday season.
• Decorate first. An easy way to make outdoor entertaining spaces more welcoming is to coordinate the decor with the interior of the home. Greenery wrapped with lights around railings and fencing can create the perfect ambiance. Candles, wreaths and small, decorated Christmas trees can finish the effect.
• Consider a fire or heating element. Unless you live in a temperate climate, you’ll need some way to keep guests warm. Center the outdoor entertaining space around a fire pit, outdoor fireplace or an outdoor heater. Make sure to illuminate the outdoor area so that guests can find their way around with ease.
• Host an early gathering. The sun sets early in fall and winter, so it may not only get colder, but also darker at a time when guests typically arrive. Think about moving up the start time of your holiday event if you’ll be having an outdoor area, so guests can see one another and stay a little warmer.
• Use the grill. Keep foods warm by using the grill or an outdoor griddle; otherwise, set up the food buffet-style inside so guests can make their plates and gravitate where they feel comfortable.
• Provide blankets or fleeces. In addition to warming elements around your entertaining space, stock a large basket with cozy throws, blankets or fleece jackets that guests can use to warm up. Hats and scarves also may be appreciated.
• Invest in waterproof furniture. Upgrade your exterior seating with plush outdoor couches and lounges that are decked out in weather-resistant fabrics. Make them more comfortable with throw pillows that coordinate with a holiday entertaining theme.
• Set up two drink stations. Set up beverages both inside and outside the home so guests can easily refill their drinks wherever they are relaxing. Think about having some warm drinks outside, such as mulled cider or hot chocolate, so guests can be warmed from the inside as well.
• Use a wireless speaker. A Bluetooth-enabled wireless speaker placed outside allows guests to listen to holiday tunes while they are enjoying themselves.
Using well-equipped outdoor areas for entertaining can expand the possibilities and guest list for holiday gatherings.
Build Your Gift List for DIY Enthusiasts
With so many homeowners tackling projects around the home on their own, DIY-related products may be just what’s needed to hammer down the perfect gift. The following are some potential home improvement presents for DIY enthusiasts.
• Magnetic wristband: Keeping items close at hand takes on new meaning when one utilizes a magnetic wristband. The BinyaTools Magnetic Wristband is just one of the versions of this handy tool that’s ideal for wrangling screws, nails, washers, and any other ferrous items. It’s also a great option for crafters and jewelry makers.
• Painting essentials kit: Painting is an easy and effective way to transform a room. For those DIYers who have yet to compile all of their painting gear, local home improvement retailers often package kits that include a dropcloth, assorted roller sizes, brushes, a paint tray, and even painter’s tape to get started on projects.
• Rolling work bench: People serious about projects will need a place to store all the tools they have collected. A rolling work bench, such as the Gladiator nine-drawer work bench, has drawers to store tools and a wooden top on which smaller tasks can be tackled. Roll it where needed.
• Hearing protection: Drills, sanders and other power tools can be noisy. DIYers will want to protect their hearing, and a set of workshop earmuffs can be a thoughtful gift. Some, like the 3M WorkTunes headphones, even come with Bluetooth technology to offer both hearing protection and the ability to listen to tunes while working.
• Headlamp: DIYers need both hands to tackle jobs effectively, which can make holding a flashlight to illuminate the area challenging. Hands-free lighting is possible with an LED headlamp. The light is easily focused where the user is looking.
• Laser measuring tape: A smart measuring tape utilizes a laser to increase measuring size, calculate
distances and ensure that every home improvement project lines up.
• Sawhorse: DIYers working on large projects can benefit from an adjustable saw horse to support materials and ensure safer cuts. The ToughBuilt C700 is an option to consider since it has support pegs that fold out of the legs to allow for greater ease of use. The list of gifts for DIYers is endless. Tools and additional gear can help people nail holiday shopping this year.
Harvest Time
By April Hensley
TThe harvest means so much more than picking the last juicy tomatoes and peppers from the garden before it frosts. It’s also about getting everything useful collected and preserved and the garden cleaned up and ready. It’s the grand finale before a long winter rest. Our gardens know it’s time to finish their job, and they need our help to do it.
he season of harvest is upon us. Festivals, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hay rides, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating give us unlimited fun this month. October may be one of the most action-packed months in the whole year. Just as we see an increase in activity in the animal world, it seems humans fill the month with outdoor activities before we burrow down indoors for the long, frigid winter.
In the middle of all the fun, October brings chilly nights and the first frosts of fall. Gardeners feel the pull of the change of weather and the urge to finish nature’s harvest.
• The day before the first forecasted frost, go out and pick everything that is left in the garden, including green tomatoes, apples, peppers, nuts, and other produce. Also, sunflower heads. Cold, hardy veggies like spinach and kale can stay as long as you protect them with a blanket or straw against hard frosts and freezes.
• Produce can be stored over winter. Anything with blemishes should be used first. Don’t wash them with water, just let them dry and brush off loose dirt. Store in a cool, not cold, dry area. Also, produce can be home-canned, frozen, or dehydrated.
• Look for seeds on flowers that you loved this year. Save some for you and some to share with friends and family or for Christmas gifts. Leave the rest for the birds and animals who will be struggling to find food for their families during the bitter cold months after Christmas.
• After the plants have died, pull them up. Never put cucumber or tomato vines into the compost pile. The small amount of dirt they would create is not worth the risk of passing bugs or diseases to next year’s crops. Also, remove any weeds.
• Keep a garden journal of what produced well for you and what wasn’t so good this season.
• Load your compost pile with produce scraps, yard clippings, and leaves. By spring, you will have homemade fertilizer.
• Store your tools out of the weather. Add a gas stabilizer to your equipment.
Unicoi County Apple Festival Expands with New Events and Celebrates 47th Year
As autumn's vibrant hues paint the East Tennessee landscape, the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 47th Annual Unicoi County Apple Festival. Scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 4 and 5, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, the festival will once again transform downtown Erwin, Tennessee, into a hub of seasonal celebration.
The Unicoi County Apple Festival, drawing more than 120,000 annual attendees, has been consistently recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 events, earning accolades such as four Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association Pinnacle Awards and the Johnson City Press Readers’ Choice Best Local Event from 2018 to 2022. This year, the festival promises an enhanced experience with the introduction of two exciting new events: a Tennis Tournament and an Apple Decorating Contest.
“We are thrilled to host the 47th Annual Unicoi County Apple Festival right here in the heart of downtown Erwin and delighted to announce exciting new additions such as the return of the beloved tennis tournament and the introduction of the apple decorating contest,” said Amanda Delp, Executive Director of the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce. “This annual festival truly showcases our community’s spirit and provides a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate the fall season.”
Festival-goers can expect an expanded lineup of activities over the two-day event. More than 400 artisans from across the nation will showcase their crafts, providing a diverse selection of unique gifts, home décor, and handcrafted items. Attendees will also enjoy live music performances on the festival stage, featuring a variety of musical acts.
Food enthusiasts will be delighted by an array of options available at two festival food courts, including both classic festival fare and local specialties. Apple-themed treats such as candy apples, fried apple pies, apple dumplings, and apple cider will be prominently featured.
Families will appreciate the large children's area, located in the parking lot of Erwin Town Hall. This area will feature rides, inflatables, interactive games, and face painting, offering an interactive space for young festival-goers to explore and enjoy.
The festival will also host several competitive activities and contests. The UT Extension’s Apple Cooking Contest will take place on Friday, October 4. Runners from across the country will compete in the Apple Festival 4-mile footrace and 2-mile race, coordinated by the Unicoi County Family YMCA walk on Saturday, October 5.
In addition to these exciting activities, this year’s festival will include The Nursing Nook LLC, providing a dedicated space for parents to feed their babies, change diapers, or take a break. To further enhance the festival experience, sign language interpreters, provided by Northeast State Community College will be available at the stage area, making the event more inclusive and accessible for all attendees.
“Our goal is to make the Unicoi County Apple Festival a welcoming experience for everyone, which is why we are excited to introduce new features like The Nursing Nook and sign language interpreters this year,” added Delp. “These additions reflect our commitment to inclusivity and ensuring that every attendee can enjoy the festival to the fullest.”
The festival spans a 5-block area of downtown Erwin, including adjacent side streets. Attendees can easily access the event from Interstate 26, Exit 37, with several parking areas designated for festival use. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, festival organizers request that pets, bicycles, and skateboards not be brought onto the festival grounds.
In addition to the festival activities, visitors are encouraged to explore the local business community of Erwin and Unicoi County. The area offers a range of shops, boutiques, and services, as well as stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Mark your calendars for this year’s Unicoi County Apple Festival and join us for a weekend of family fun and community celebration. For more information, please contact the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce at (423)743-3000, visit our website at www.unicoicountyapplefestival.org, or stop by the Chamber office at 100 South Main Avenue, Erwin.
Cassie Rowe: A Woman of Many Gifts
By Allison Chudina Photographs Contributed
Business owner Cassie Rowe is a woman of many gifts.
Cassie’s gift shop, Abingdon Gifting Co., opened in 2018 and is currently located at 266 W Main St. in Abingdon, Va. But she notes that, at first, the store was a bit of a gamble.
“I took the leap of faith with $300 to my name, quit my ‘regular job,’ and got started in probably the smallest space in our town,” Cassie said. “The space was being used as a storage area, and we made it into a store.”
Cassie added that her store wouldn’t be as successful without the kindness of the building’s owners, the support of a few close friends with business experience, and her husband, Scott, and mother, Lisa. “I grew up watching my mother own her own businesses, and I knew that I wanted to do the same,” she said. “I always say, ‘I am, because she was,’ and now that she has passed away, I feel this so much more.”
Cassie said that another person who has been “super instrumental” in her growth and motivation is her mother-in-law, Wanda. “She is my spiritual leader, and she has an unwavering strength that I’ve never met in anyone before. On my good days, she celebrates, and on my bad days, she prays and motivates, and I definitely don’t know what I would do without her.”
Being a
‘multipreneur’ is not for the weak. It takes impeccable time management, a phenomenal team of staff, and patience.
Abingdon Gifting Co. is coming up on its 7-year anniversary, and Cassie said they are currently gearing up for the “biggest season of the year.”
– Cassie Rowe
“The custom aspect of our business is such a fun thing around the holidays, as anyone can come in and pick out exactly what they want, and we assemble the gift on the spot,” she said. “This means that no one is giving or getting the same gift that dozens of other people have gotten from the shelf at the big box store.”
This makes gifting “much more personal,” Cassie said. “We are really the one-stop gift shop.”
Cassie also owns several other businesses in Abingdon, including Shaked, a dessert shop that offers bakery items and couture milkshakes, and Half Pint, Cassie’s latest adventure. “Shaked was a joint venture, but we knew from the beginning that we wanted to create a sweet spot in town that anyone could enjoy,” she said. “The concept is a
mash-up between an ice cream shop and a bakery, and it has been in business since May 2023.”
Cassie said that, since then, she has met so many amazing people. She added that she loves whenever Shaked can work hand-in-hand with Abingdon Gifting Co. “There have been multiple opportunities for both ‘AGC’ and Shaked to work together to satisfy a customer’s needs, like adding fresh baked cookies into a custom gift basket and creating custom labels for some of the cookies that we send out to corporate clients,” she said.
Cassie noted that Shaked has made it onto multiple recognition lists for best ice cream, best customer service, and even best new business.
Half Pint, affectionately named for being the “smaller version of Shaked,” is a mobile dessert bar that Cassie said allows her business to participate in “events, meetings, and even fundraising events. There is such a growing, new trend of being mobile in the food industry, and it just made sense to join the party.”
Cassie said that Half Pint is a passion project for her and her husband. “I love the time spent out in the community
meeting new people, hearing so many people talk about their favorite flavors, and watching the interest in what we do grow,” she said. “Being a mobile dessert bar, I feel that we add a bit of diversity to the offerings at the events we attend. Being able to adapt to each event makes us unique to the typical shaved ice or lemonade vendor you find at a lot of events, giving the guests a fresh look at food trucks. When I hear, ‘Oh, look, it’s Half Pint,’ it really makes me feel good that our hard work is paying off.”
When it comes to owning multiple businesses at once, Cassie said it is “such a unique experience. Entrepreneurship is so rewarding yet so terrifying at the same time. Not only do you get to enjoy the successes, but also you have to endure the trials and the failures. If you are lucky, they all happen in the same day!”
Cassie said that there’s nothing more rewarding than knowing you have created your own path in the world. “To be successful is something not many people can say,” she said. “On the flip side, when you come across a failure or a setback, the only thing you can say is, ‘Man, look what I’ve done.’ Something I heard many years ago is that no one is coming to save you, so you better learn how to save yourself. That is such an accurate statement when it comes to being in business. You are the only person responsible for whether or not you eat tonight; you are the only person responsible for how successful you are.”
Cassie said that it takes time, patience, and determination. “I believe God gives you the tools to be successful in anything you are meant to do, but you have to know how to
put those tools to good use and make Him proud of what you create,” she said. “Being a ‘multipreneur’ is not for the weak. It takes impeccable time management, a phenomenal team of staff, and patience. I would not be where I am without the support of my staff, my husband, and my community.”
Cassie’s advice for aspiring business owners? Surround yourself with the right people. “When you find someone who is willing to advise you and steer you in the right direction and truly wants you to be successful and is willing to help — those are the kinds of people that you want in your life,” she said.
“The people who are not supportive — the people who have negative things to say and can’t see your vision or that don’t understand your drive or motivation — those people are so dangerous to your journey to success.”
Cassie said that it’s also important to learn to accept failure. “Failure is not the end of your road,” she said. “It is not the end of your business. It is not the end of your creativity or capabilities. Failure is purely the opportunity to take a step back and start again. Create your own opportunities, because when it comes to being your own boss, you don’t have any guidelines to follow, so use that to your advantage.”
When asked if Cassie had a favorite business, she said that Abingdon Gifting Co. is “definitely my baby,” noting that she loves people coming to her not knowing exactly what they need yet.
“By the time they leave, not only have we determined their need, but also we have filled it and exceeded their expectations,” she said. “The service aspect of what we do and that personal connection that I offer customers is what keeps them coming back, and I love the feeling of knowing my people by
Anthony Farnum, a Bristol Virginia Concilman, Cassie Rowe, and Beth Rhinehart, CEO and President of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce
name. My parents were of the older generation where it was common to walk into the corner drug store, and the clerk would know your name, your order, and ask you how your mother’s doing. It’s the relationships you build and nurture that keep people coming back.”
Cassie said that, during her time as a business owner, Abingdon Gifting Co. has been offered so many “wonderful opportunities,” such as working with big names like Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, Bristol Motor Speedway, and creating gifts that have landed in the hands of celebrities like Michael Jordan, Jelly Roll, Brooks & Dunn, and Eric Church.
“We also have won awards, like Best Gift Shop Bristol, 2022,” Cassie said. “It was an honor to take home first place in the Washington County Business Challenge in 2019. We even won a pop-up shop inside the Kingsport mall as part of the American Dream Project for the holiday season in 2022.”
Regarding upcoming events for the fall season involving Abingdon Gifting Co., Cassie said to follow along on their social media to track any holiday promotions. “It’s the perfect time to start planning for any kind of events you have coming up, or
even just to get your holiday shopping done ahead of time and be ready for all the fun that comes with family time,” she said.
So, where does Cassie hope to see Abingdon Gifting Co. in the coming years? “Many people would answer this question and say, ‘I want to be so much bigger in the next few years,’ but to be perfectly honest, I would love to just see my business continue to thrive the way it is now,” she said. “I would love to see it be sustainable and to survive the uncertainty of our economy. I think any business owner today would answer the question the same way. As business owners, we don’t go into business to struggle. We don’t go into business to make things harder on ourselves. We do this because it’s what we love, and it’s what we were called to do.”
And Cassie Rowe absolutely loves what she does. “I love that I have created something where I can let my creativity flow to meet the needs of my clients,” she said.
To learn more about Abingdon Gifting Co., call 276492-6987 or email cassie@abingdongiftingco.com. You can also find them on Facebook @Abingdon Gifting Co.
When the Set Steals the Show: Designing the Unraveling World of The Play That Goes Wrong
By Serina Marshall
In The Play That Goes Wrong , chaos is not only scripted—it’s built. For set designers, creating a set that functions as its own character while literally falling apart on stage is a thrilling challenge. Every piece of the scenery is meticulously crafted to fail in the most spectacular ways, requiring precise engineering and creativity. From collapsing walls to malfunctioning props, the set plays a starring role, bringing the slapstick humor to life and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. But what goes into designing a set meant to break down? For the team behind the scenes, it’s all about turning destruction into an art form.
The timing of malfunctions aligning with the script is very precise, and synchronizing the set pieces with the actor’s performance is a role unto itself.
“ The timing has everything to do with the strong calling ability of our stage manager, Megan Ward. Behind every barometer falling is a crew member with a headset. And behind them is Megan up in the booth, ready to orchestrate each moment precisely,” explained Assistant Stage Manager Brady Willis. “When the creative team refers to the set as another character, it’s the stage manager who animates it all, timing everything the same way an actor would deliver a perfectly timed joke for maximum comedic effect. This comes from hours of teching the show and trying things out, with input from our director. In this sense, the stage manager is also a performer without any lines.”
The rehearsal process to ensure the timing of its failures is extremely important and invaluable, according to Willis.
“Much credit must be given to our scene shop and props department for providing multiple prototypes of actual props/scenic pieces that allowed director Stephen Schellhardt and the performers to visualize certain gags and gain a feel for things once we moved into the theatre,” Willis said. “Additionally, the time we spent on the actual
set itself was invaluable. This was apparent to everyone in the room, and we made sure to budget enough time for tech week, including an additional rehearsal block reserved just for the crew members to get their hands on things and to feel comfortable operating everything by the time the actors entered the building.”
These pieces include a mobile window unit and the exact dimensions of the actual window so actors could dive through it in the rehearsal hall, a hollow clock frame that the actors could open and step inside, and multiple door frames.
“Although the audience will never see these pieces, the time that the skilled crafters put into these pieces benefitted the performers in ways that will be apparent to our patrons,” Willis explained. “Also deserving of a shout-out for their work are our wonderful props department (Megan Pressley, Helen Stratakes, Catherine Clark, and Alex Munn) and the Gilliam Stage Carpenter (Sam Wright). Obviously, things break. So when the set needs touch-ups or the collapsible chaise lounge’s legs hyperextend, these wonderful people come to the rescue to make sure things are repaired and usable before the next show.”
Quick thinking and problem-solving become a huge component of the success of a failing show. The set of The Play That Goes Wrong is a character unto itself, with specific cues, movements, and timing of performance. This, coupled with the hilarious timing of the actors, promises to make this show one of the best disasters you will ever see on stage.
The Play That Goes Wrong is on stage now through November 19. You can get your tickets at: bartertheatre.com/ big-shows/the-play-that-goes-wrong/.
HIt’s A Classic!
Short and sweet film reviews of old, classic movies perfect for a girls’ night in!
By Allison Chudina
appy fall! Now that we are entering into the month of October, it is officially the autumn season, and with the autumn season comes Halloween. Naturally, this month’s movie review has to be spooky. What is spookier than House on Haunted Hill (1959), starring horror icon Vincent Price? It’s a classic story that undoubtedly inspired many movies in the following years.
Voicemail Male
By Ken Heath
Travel Influencing
Today’s changing world sure can be confusing. In my day job, we help promote our town and the region. Because we’re in that part of the business, we get salespersons hitting us up to spend money for advertising. Cool. If it makes sense and we can get that ROI, I’m in! But one of the things I’ve started seeing pop up is what the new age of advertising is calling “influencers.” Random people who like to travel set up accounts on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to document their travels, and they’ve figured out there are businesses and places that will foot the bill for their fun. Most recently, I had a guy ask me for $700, two nights lodging, and all meals to post six times on his social media about his visit. Maybe I’m too old school, or maybe I’m just behind the times, but if I’m going on vacation, I never dreamed of getting the place I was going to pay the bill for me to come and stay and eat there.
Directed by William Castle, the film begins with rich oddball Frederick Loren (Price) making an intriguing proposal to five guests at a possibly haunted mansion: survive the night, which is promised to be filled with scares, and receive $10,000 each. The catch? Loren’s estranged wife, Annabelle, is among the guests, and she has concocted a scheme of her own. This is the perfect movie to watch with friends under a cozy blanket on a dark and stormy October night.
Wine Pairing:
Watch House on Haunted Hill with a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in your hand, a full-bodied, dry red wine that is sure to make you feel opulent and swanky like Frederick Loren himself.
JCP Book Pairing:
If you enjoy this movie, you will also enjoy reading Jan-Carol Publishing’s latest installment in These Haunted Hills . Our sixth book promises lots of spooky stories featuring old mansions, ghosts, and all manner of scares.
I figured I’d have to pay for it. And if I had a particularly good time or a particularly bad time, I might post a thing or two, some random pictures of me flopped in a lounge chair by a pool or a plate of fresh oysters, and that would all be on me. It’s part of the experience, just as much as my parents buying a Kodak and snapping a roll of film they’d drop off at that funny yellow building where they’d somehow turn the roll of film into grainy, outof-focus shots of my old man belly-flopping into the pool at the Holiday Inn.
Being an influencer just seems a bit offside to me, too, because it blurs the line between the authentic experience and advertorial, where we as a consumer never know if the review is real or paid for. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s me just being green with jealousy that somebody is a whole lot smarter than me and has figured out the ultimate way to enjoy the finer things of life— clicking and posting with enough smoke and mirrors to convince somebody else to pay the tab.
Next time we get out of town for a weekend jaunt, I just might give it a whirl. Upon check-in at the Motel 6, instead of flopping out a credit card, I’ll show the clerk my cell phone with my Facebook page open and tell him that, if he’ll toss in a couple of extra pillows, bring my continental breakfast to the room each morning, and rub my feet at night, I’ll stay with him instead of the next place. Think it’ll work?
Ken Heath is a Marion, VA hometown boy who expresses his passions in his writings and through music. After his ‘real job’, Ken is owner of the legendary Cliffside Roadhouse, doggie dad to Miss Reagan and their rescue Scottie the Wonder Dog with his wonderful wife. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at #kenheath.
Mother Differences
“Instant availability without continuous presence is probably the best role a mother can play.” — Lotte baILyn
Submitted by Carol Owen Reynolds
Somany of us think our mother is the best and that’s a good thing. I tell my children that they grew up good in spite of me. I was the type of mom who tried to be a good provider with a clean house, but I was tough on the kids when I could have been more loving. My son, John, says that I always told them the truth. He also said he wishes I had forced him to study. I think being steadfast about studying with a helpful presence in the background is a good idea.
My mom was from a family of twelve children. Only one died young (just a couple of months, I think). The rest of the children grew to be quite old, ate all the wrong foods according to today’s standards; and didn’t exercise. I think they got their exercise from hard work and dancing. My grandmother danced while my grandfather played the accordion.
Then, there are the mothers who are too tough on themselves and think they have to be “perfect” so they would rather forget the whole thing. Sometimes they get caught
Shhhh...
By Leslie Snyder
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. — Jeremiah 1:5 KJV
Interpretation: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. — Jeremiah 1:5
I’m convinced that children intuitively know God. They aren’t afraid to talk with Him, about Him, or tell you stories that include Him. There is a place in their heart that is open to all things spiritual. I have experienced this in our own family and in others. One very intimate example was given by an author who shared, “A four-year-old girl was overheard whispering into her baby brother’s ear, “Baby,” she whispers, “tell me what God sounds like. I am starting to forget.”¹
Seeking God requires listening, and listening is hard work. It takes energy, patience, time, effort, and most of all, silence. And, while most of us are okay with the energy, patience, time,
in a pregnancy and make the best of the situation. These are the mothers that I think usually end up being the greatest. I think they take a lot of pressure off their children because they don’t “hover.”
Some mothers go over the top and expect their children to be the center of everything. They dress their children in the most expensive clothes and take a picture of them every time they expel a little gas. I think this puts too much pressure on the children and they usually rebel in public or even in private when no one is looking. I could easily be this kind of grandmother, but that seems to be expected and others just nod their heads politely and hope I go away. I think there should be a search for “The Perfect Mother.” Can you imagine the fistfights, especially in families with a lot of children and grandchildren?
and effort piece, we shudder at the thought of being silent and quickly find ways of filling the widening void.
In silence, the hurts, pains, rejections, and failures we have pushed away come rushing back. In silence, the voices of those who have authority over us can seem to overpower us. In silence, worry and fear linger strangely near us. But consider the paradox offered by Mother Teresa, “God is the friend of silence.” Elijah learned this while hiding away in a cave. Expecting God to show Himself in loud and magnificent ways, Elijah was offered instead the still, small whisper of God. Psalm 46:10 reads, “Be still and know that I am God.” The truth is, things are born in quiet that cannot be heard in the din of our overly verbal days.²
Consider your day. Is it full of noise? Do radio, TV, Internet, smartphones, and other fillers clutter your mind with excess noise? Even good things can become clutter if they distract us from times of quiet.
Today, I challenge you to “unplug.” Leave the phone at home and take a walk. Resist the temptation to speak. Walk in silence and ask God to speak to you. Become aware of the small joys you may have forgotten, like the sound of children playing in the distance, the sound of a bird or squirrel chattering in a tree, or even listen to your own heartbeat.
Silence can be deafening. It can be threatening or even terrifying. But it can also be healing, purifying, life giving, and restorative. Source: www.homeword.com
Pet Peeves That Drive You Crazy
By Pam Blair
Nchanges because we were laughing so hard. Luckily, our hotel was close by, and after quickly parking, I raced to our room, grabbed my tweezers, and yanked that hair out by the roots. The sad thing is it keeps coming back! I’m always on high alert now, turning my chin this way and that, ready to rip it out before it can ever grow that long again.
3. Losing something in your handbag. I don’t care what you’re looking for—your cell phone, car keys, sunglasses, or a pen—it’s a known fact that it will dive straight into the darkest depths of your bag. Sometimes I must dump everything out to find what I’m looking for, and it’s always the last thing I see. Why is that?
ational Pet Peeve Week is the second week in October, a time to celebrate all the things you find especially annoying. Simple little nuisances like hearing someone crunching ice cubes or constantly clicking a pen may seem harmless, but often, they are the source of the greatest frustration. While irritating, pet peeves can be fun to laugh about with others. This year, I have several new pet peeves to share.
1. Gnats that disappear into thin air. There are tiny gnats that live in houseplants or feed on the pretty bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter. They also fly right in your face, seeking moisture while you’re eating or simply breathing. Here’s the worst thing about gnats: when you try to swat them, they disappear! You think you nailed it, but they simply vanish like an alien spaceship, rocketing out of sight. How do they do that? Where do they go? I want to learn how to do a Houdini trick like that!
2. Chin hairs. I was driving with my sister beside me, and at a stoplight, she interrupted our conversation to say, “Pam, you have an inch-long chin hair!” Well, I missed two light
Fun Facts about October
1 October has something of a misleading name. Licensed drivers undoubtedly know that the prefix “octo” means eight, which is why Stop signs are octagons. So why does October, the tenth month of the year, have a name that suggests it should be the eighth month of the year? That peculiarity can be traced to the early Roman calendar, which featured just 10 months, the eighth of which was October. The Romans eventually converted to a 12-month calendar, and October kept its name despite becoming the tenth month of that calendar.
2 Halloween is celebrated on October 31 and History.com notes this can be traced to ancient Celts. The Celts cele -
4. The itch you can’t scratch. You can’t reach it, no matter how hard you try. Like Gumby, you twist your arms this way and that at impossible angles and still can’t get it. Whether you start your way down your back or work your way up, you cannot reach it. Now I understand why bears have been observed rubbing their backs against a tree to scratch an itch.
5. Parking lots and door dings. You park your car in the back of beyond where nobody is parked and tell yourself that walking more steps is good for you. You come back out and find an enormous SUV or truck parked right beside you, with no possible way they could have opened their door. Why must people buddy up to my car like it is a magnet when there are open spaces much closer to the store?
We all have pet peeves that aggravate us repeatedly, no matter how hard we try to smile and nod and move on. Sometimes, the best way to deal with them is to share with others, as you are sure to get a sympathetic response. The best peeves are the ones that can still make you laugh.
{Pam Blair is a former medical librarian and communications manager who gets nervous when she doesn’t have something to read. She loves descriptive writing and has authored and edited a book and numerous other publications. Contact her at pblair919@aol.com.
brated the festival of Samhain on October 31, the night before their new year. They did this because they believed that night marked the return of the ghosts of the dead to earth. That emphasis on the ghoulish is present each Halloween as well.
3
Leaves begin to change color in many regions in early October, and the resulting colorful landscape is beautiful to behold. Though some may presume the shift in color in October is due to the month’s typical drop in temperature, it’s actually due to a decrease in sunlight. That lack of sunlight causes chlorophyll to break down, which in turn causes leaves to change color. Some leaves turn red, while others turn brown, orange, or yellow. The trees that turn red get more direct sunlight in October, while those that get less direct sunlight turn brown, orange, or yellow.
Holiday Shopping Tips you Can’t
Afford to Miss
The festive and fun nature of the holiday season can make it easy to forget the benefits of being frugal. Many people go overboard on holiday spending, making this time of year costly for consumers.
Shoppers who want to spend less and stick to a budget for holiday entertaining and gifting can keep these budgeting tips in mind.
• Set a value to gift recipients. It may sound harsh, but certain people on holiday shopping lists may be assigned a higher value than others. For example, you wouldn’t necessarily spend the same amount on a gift for a child’s teacher as you would for a grandmother. Putting a dollar figure next to each name on the shopping list helps you identify your expected spending and where you can cut back, if necessary.
• Establish your overall budget. Once you have an idea of your potential holiday expenditures, set a firm budget. Avoid the temptation of impulse buys, which can make it easy to go over budget.
• Begin shopping early. Start scouring ads and looking for deals prior to Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Keep a running list of gift ideas and when the price is right, purchase those items.
• Price check “perfect gifts.” If you’ve spotted the perfect gift for someone but it’s beyond budget, see if you can find a better price elsewhere, says Better Money Habits. There are apps that allow users to scan barcodes and check items across various retailers. Many stores also have pricematch policies that can save shoppers money.
• Look for deals all of the time. Many people get hung up on perceived deep discounts from Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers. However, industry experts say there often isn’t a huge difference in markdowns between these promotions and those during other sales. Some retailers even increase prices on goods only to mark them down for Black Friday to make it appear that there is
a discount. Only by knowing the average price for items can you know if a sale is legitimate
• Sign up for store rewards. If you don’t want your regular email inbox inundated with offers, set up a separate email account for in-store and online shopping. Then you can sign up for the rewards programs at checkout. Utilize the coupon codes and advertisements for sales to save money without having your primary email data shared with other marketers.
• Track spending carefully. If you don’t know how much you’re spending, then you cannot possibly stick to a budget. After each purchase, keep a running tally of all holiday spending to see how far you are from the finish line.
The holidays can be expensive, but with smart budgeting and dedication to savvy shopping, it’s possible to stay out of financial trouble.
NEW RELEASES OUT NOW!
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc. is a small independent publishing press with a motivated force of authors. Mountain Girl Press, Little Creek Books, Express Editions, DigiStyle, Broken Crow Ridge, Fiery Night, Skippy Creek, and RoseHeart Publishing are all imprints of Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
These Haunted Hills: A Collection of Short-Stories
Book 6
Written by Various Authors
These Haunted Hills
Welcome back to one of the most haunted regions in the country—Appalachia. With a nightmare behind every turn of the page, These Haunted Hills: Book 6 takes readers through 13 frightful stories that will keep you glancing over your shoulder and seeing spirits out of the corner of your eye.
Online readers: click here to order.
Carly: A Story of Redemption
Written by Karen G. Bruce
What would you do if your father murdered your mother? That’s exactly what Carly is contemplating in this compelling novel that explores the life of a dysfunctional family that eventually erupts into a fullblown tragedy. You will laugh and cry at the antics that Carly finds herself in, just trying to survive in her crazy world. Find out how she prevails and is saved by God’s redeeming grace.
Online readers: click here to order.
The Ghost Hawk
Written by Donald Greco
More than four centuries ago, around eastern Ohio, there was a tribe in the Mahoning River Valley called the Salt Springs, which was a part of the Erierhonon, a larger nation centered around the Great Lakes. These people were hunters, planters, and warriors. Almost none of them had ever seen a white man or a horse. Most of the able-bodied young men of the Salt Springs tribe were divided into hunters or warriors, with the hunters being far fewer in number.
Among the hunters was a leader by the name of Dark Moon. Another young man by the name of Red Eagle was the leader of the warriors. The two men were the same age and both yearned for the heart of Calling Dove, known to be the most beautiful young woman of the entire Erierhonon. It is a story of love, violence, and dishonor. Online readers: click here to order.
The Blue-Eyed Butterfly
Written by Sharon Suskin
Three women, Callie, Lillian, and Lydia faced an adversary that would change their lives forever. He resided in the only home that Callie had ever known, ensnaring her into his vicious web of dominance and cruelty. His insatiable thirst for exacting fear soon traps Lillian and Lydia in his household. In due course, his own demise takes him down the road of no return. Online readers: click here to pre-order.
Maggie the Cat Loves Pip’s Thanksgiving Surprise
Written by Julia Russo
Wonderful illustrations bring us back up to Grandpa’s mountain farmhouse for a Thanksgiving homecoming. Pip will soon have a Thanksgiving surprise, but what exactly will it be? Read along, and let’s find out together. We don’t have that long. Thanksgiving is coming very soon! Online readers: click here to pre-order.
The Forgotten
Written by Kristen Johnson
Deep within the Rudu Mountains in a longforgotten tomb guarded by Strygoi—phantom creatures that thrive on fear and flesh—a warrior lay within a dark sarcophagus until two dwarf brothers, fleeing from the tomb’s terrifying guards, arrived. The warrior they awakened would be more than they could ever imagine and take their exiled clan on a journey beyond any fantasy or nightmare any of them had ever dreamed. It would take all the reckless courage and ingenuity of the dwarves to survive the terrors heading their way as the Dark Lord Merilik appeared, intent on what he had started so long ago—the line of Asger’s total annihilation. Online readers: click here to pre-order.
Snooping Can Be Un-Merry
Written by Linda Hudson Hoagland
Lindsay, Emily, Ellen, and Ryan snoop into the reasons for the murder of Otis Greene, a neighbor. When the children disappear one at a time, Ellen asks her friend, Jed, to help her find them and bring the family together for Christmas. Follow Lindsay and Jed as they try to find the children, even after Lindsay gets shot in the pursuit. Online readers: click here to pre-order.
Carla: The Via Dolorosa
Written by Michael Gryboski
It was supposed to be a simple job. After a series of major setbacks, a longtime enemy of Carla’s was surrendering. return for bringing him to authorities, she would finally get to leave the Agency. However, someone Carla thought she killed over a year ago had other plans. Online readers: click here to pre-order.
KAREN G. BRUCE
Kristen Johnson
(Weather Permitting and Subject to Change)
AAG: Tuesday, October 8, the Appalachian Authors Guild will conduct a Board Meeting/Workshop at Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 852 French Moore Jr. Blvd, Abingdon, VA. A program: “Making a List and Checking it Twice” (a checklist for authors for their books) will be presented by Vicki Fletcher from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
Cynn Chadwick
Author of Things That Women Do
Tuesday, October 8, 10 a.m.
Daytime Tri-Cities TV Appearance on WJHL-TV
Michael Gryboski
Author of Carla Series
Saturday, October 5, Chocolate Town Book Fest,Hershey, PA
Saturday, October 12
Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival Fredericksburg, VA
John Hilton
Author of Cloth and Dagger
Saturday, October 5 Fall Festival, Open Book, Warrenton, VA
Saturday, October 26
Book Signing at Barnes & Noble, Alexandria, VA
Linda Hudson Hoagland
Author of The Lindsay Harris Murder Mystery Series, The Best Darn Secret; and anthologies Easter Lilies; Broken Petals; Wild Daisies; Scattered Flowers; Daffodil Dreams; and These Haunted Hills: A Collection of Short Stories Books 1–6
Friday, October 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Bookmarked is a platform designed to highlight and promote authors and books associated with Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc., and beyond. The blog and podcast feature interviews with authors, updates related to JCP events, and other bookish content you won’t find anywhere else.
Bookmarked Interview with Karen G. Bruce
BOOKMARKED: Congrats on your new book, Carly: A Story of Redemption! What can you tell readers about it?
KAREN BRUCE: Carly: A Story of Redemption is a continuation of my first novel, Josie: A Story of Forgiveness, but instead of focusing on Josie and her family, the storyline is about the daughter of Josie’s best friend, the friend who betrayed her with her own husband.
Book Signing at Food City, Clinchfield, Kingsport, TN
Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Book Signing at Food City, Bonham Road, Bristol, VA
Sunday, October 6, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Book Signing at Big Walker Lookout, Wytheville, VA
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Appalachian Authors Guild Board Meeting 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, Abingdon, VA
Friday, October 11, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Book Signing at Food City, Bluefield, VA
Saturday, October 12, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Book Signing at Newbern Fall Festival, Newbern, VA
Sunday, October 13, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Book Signing at Newbern Fall Festival, Newbern, VA
Friday, October 18, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Book Signing at Food City, Vansant, VA
Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Book Signing at Food City, Big Stone Gap, VA
Sunday, October 20, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Book Signing at Food City, Independence, VA
Friday, October 25, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Book Signing at Food City, Chilhowie, VA
Saturday, October 26, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Book Signing at Food City, St. Paul, VA
Sunday, October 27, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Carly’s childhood is troubled by family drama as far back as she can remember. In my first novel, we know that Carly and Tyler eventually end up together, but in this story, we learn about the rollercoaster ride it took to get to their own happy ending.
What was it like to return to characters from Josie: A Story of Forgiveness and give them their own story?
Returning to the characters of my first novel was a lot more difficult than I imagined. The timeline was another aspect that kept me on my toes, making sure everything coincided. I loved going deeper into the background of Carly’s parents and grandparents so that the reader would understand the dysfunctional aspect of Shelly’s personality.
I also enjoyed bringing Shelly, Jared, and John’s perspectives into the storyline. It was challenging for me (and fun) to write from a young girl’s perspective. Carly’s personality was definitely different from any other character I ever created!
Book Signing at Big Walker Lookout, Wytheville, VA
KAREN G. BRUCE
This Month’s Featured Books
Welcome back to one of the most haunted regions in the country— Appalachia. With a nightmare behind every turn of the page, These Haunted Hills: Book 6 takes readers through 13 frightful stories that will keep you glancing over your shoulder and seeing spirits out of the corner of your eye.
Various Authors Jeff Geiger Jr.
The author spins a tale of excitement. Jonah Bosworth was only nineteen years old when he discovered a room full of unbelievably dark secrets, a room most people didn’t make it out of alive. Four years later, Jonah tells the tale of the White Room, how he was forced to go in there, and how he managed to live to share the story.
Willie E. Dalton Daryll Simcox
How could Sadie have lived so long in this town without knowing it was harboring a very old secret? The dark side of the woods was a place she walked by nearly every single day and it seemed perfectly normal. But one day, she realized, nothing that walked in there, walked back out. She’s the only one who can save her town, her love, and herself. It has to end where it started, in the center of the forest.
Monica Riley Kohler
Noodle is searching for the perfect Halloween costume. Join her in her search as she gives you clues as to which costume she will try on next! Beautifully illustrated with bright colors and an entertaining story to capture a child’s attention. Wonderful teaching tool and great for a classroom with the use of colors and words. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for Bradley Bee!
The idea for a new television reality show along with the majestic area that surrounded the old fishing village seemed like a perfect scenario. That is until the crew and contestants came face to face with the so-called mythical creature that called the port home.
Order all of these book directly from JCP — for a discounted price and FREE shipping in October! Go to the “JCP Book Shop” at www.jancarolpublishing.com.
Books You May Have Missed!
Yesterday’s Books and Tomorrow’s Reading
Hunter D. Darden
Author Hunter Darden explains the grieving process through her main character, Olivia. The story becomes the true roller coaster ride to healing...and the challenges one confronts when feeling that black cloud of hopelessness that covers in its thick, heavy blanket. The story allows you to feel the pain, to become one with it, then takes you on the road to healing. Tapestry will live forever in the hearts of readers. It will comfort every person who deals with loss. It will allow the reader to grieve and still feel safe.
David M. McGee
Flyin’ Floyd Gilbert was a blue-collar hero from the golden age of dirt racing. Hailed as an “icon of dirt track racing” during his induction into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, Gilbert earned some 500 feature race victories and 16 track championships during a 30-year career, all while racing door-to-door against other legendary drivers on rugged ovals across Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and the deep south.
Order these books from our JCP website (Jancarolpublishing.com) for free shipping! Click on the cover to purchase or go to “JCP Book Store” at the top of our homepage!
What happens when a letter is rejected from the alphabet soup? Join little orange t as he journeys around Tennessee and finds his place leading a crowd of adoring fans as a great, big uppercase T in the world’s largest bowl of alphabet soup!
Delightful illustrations bring you inside Grandpa Charlie Green’s mountainside farmhouse. Join Maggie the cat, Pip the goat, Grandpa Charlie Green, Daddy, and of course, little Wilhelmina Olive Blessing, as she tells us this sweet wintertime story. What do they do to get little Maggie home? Join the fun. Read out loud yourself or read along with others! You will love the story of Maggie, the cat who comes home for Christmas.
to put down, the story captures your heart and touches your soul.”
BOOK FROM SHARON SUSKIN First-time author, retired nurse, mother, and grandmother from Appalachia
Julia Russo
DWhen Time is Running Out
By Cindy K. Sproles
uring our youth, when our families are young, grandparents are indispensable. Our world today is much different than when Baby Boomers were children. When Baby Boomers were young, most mothers were “stay-at-home” moms. Husbands left for work each morning and returned by suppertime while moms stayed home and managed the children and the house. There was great comfort for children coming home from school to be met at the door by their mom.
Those days are fifty years in the past, thanks to the economy and changing priorities. Many of today’s young families depend on grandparents as their answer to childcare. Stay-at-home moms are fewer simply because the economy forces a two-income family to make ends meet. It’s a different world than when Baby Boomers were children.
For the majority of grandparents, taking on the task of helping with their grandchildren’s care was more than a joy. This time of life afforded more time with their grandchildren and more opportunity to instill additional love and values. It was a “come-along-side the parents” effort to raise beautiful grandchildren.
How could there be a downside to a win-win situation for grandparents or their children? It happens as our parents age. Children grow up. Their lives change. It was enough that grandparents experienced empty nest syndrome when their children spread their wings. Aging seniors now begin to experience the changes of their golden years. Empty nest hits again. This time, it comes with a double reality.
Growing old is not something we have a say in. If blessed with longevity, our bodies are going to age. Seniors will feel the loss of those grandbabies becoming adults, just as they felt when their children left home. Couple that with the realization of aging, when their bodies refuse to allow them the ability, or sometimes the presence of mind, to continue to enjoy all they once enjoyed.
Life gets busy, and our aging parents seem to fade from “being needed” to “being needed to be cared for.” Self-worth dwindles, and depression can sneak into their lives. The picture from the aging parents’ recliner is just that—pictures, their memories, that hang on walls that seem to close tighter on them with each passing day.
The point here is not about babysitting grandparents. It’s about the passage of time and how we ignore the spinning arms on the clock. The truth is, time is running out even for the healthy aging parent. The end of their life will come around, and the question families must ask themselves before the clock stops is, have we made every moment count? Have we taken the time necessary to enrich the lives of our aging parents? Have we invested back into them all they have invested into us and our children? These are hard questions, but they will bring regret and sadness if left unanswered.
Make the time to include your seniors in your life. Don’t let time slip past for them and you. Golden years become golden moments, and they will make beautiful and joyful memories. Time is running out. Grab hold while you can still enjoy your aging parents.
Cindy K. Sproles is a novelist, speaker, and conference teacher. She is the cofounder of ChristianDevotions.us and the managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.
Community Healing
By Jami Lee
Ihave always considered myself a tribal personality. Of
course, I am an extrovert and gave birth to a tribe of my own, but there seems to be a certain kind of healing that takes place emotionally (and sometimes physically) within a community of people that love and support you. Looking back to our ancestors, I can see how so much knowledge was gleaned from tribes and specifically elders who have dedicated their lives to passing on ancient wisdom, medicinal herbs and roots, and so much more.
From a quantum perspective, quantum theory states that the act of observing a particle can influence its behavior or state. Meaning that upon just mere observation, atoms and neutrons can change.
When we look at energy, we have a whole new per spective of communal life. Have you ever experienced a toxic work environment? Walking into a job that is toxic can wreak havoc on our nervous system and spike cortisol levels. Each individual has a field of energy around them, and it emits up to 10 – sometimes 20 – feet outside their body. We can sense if this energy is good or bad. Like the person who “lights up a room” when they walk in, or the person you have a strong feeling is being fake. Science calls this the “biofield,” and we use the data even in modern medicine.
Finding friends, family, a medical team, and naturopathic doctors that aligned with what my heart desired for her was the cornerstone of her complete reversal.
Have you ever considered that what’s missing from your life is a tribe of people who have experienced or have knowledge of what you are going through? Maybe you have that within your church or family. If so, be grateful for that. The power of influence can be so impactful on our everyday life that perhaps one of the best things you can do for your mental, spiritual, or physical health is to find that community you belong in.
I believe when we come together, we will see double-digit decreases in depression, anxiety, and suicide rates annually by intentionally creating a space for community and friendships. Because everyone deserves a community that believes in them. If you don’t have a community of your own, consider this your invitation to join ours. Scan the code below to join and explore a family you didn’t know you needed.
Jami Lee, a Certified Nutritional Health Coach, is the founder and visionary behind Alternative Healthcare Solutions. Her mission is to educate and empower individuals dealing with chronic conditions. For inquiries, she can be reached at alternativehcinfo@gmail.com. If you would like more information on Alternative Solutions to join the community, visit our website at www.join-ahs.org/get-started.
Our bodies are made of atoms, neurons, and energy! Similarly, being around individuals provides access to their knowledge, strategies, and mindset. This exposure can alter your own perspective and decision-making, potentially leading to better outcomes or, unfortunately, worse.
When my daughter was diagnosed with polyarticular arthritis at the age of 10, I truly didn’t know who to turn to. There was a real lack of community, and I felt alone in my journey to help her into remission. Most individuals didn’t believe the way I did, that it was reversible, and only gave me empathetic looks while questioning my decisions to not put her on medications for the rest of her life. Of course, it was risky to go the natural route, but so was the medical route. The medication alone that they wanted her to begin was essentially chemotherapy, and the side effects included bleeding behind the eyes.
• 30 OR 90 DAY COACHING
• COMPLETE FOOD GUIDE
• HEAL THE BODY NATURALLY
• REDUCE INFLAMMATION
• REVERSE AUTOIMMUNE
3 Strategies that Can Lower Breast Cancer Risk
Despite the global prevalence of breast cancer, various organizations report high five-year survival rates, particularly among women whose cancers are detected in the earliest stages of the disease. A 2023 study published in the journal BMJ found that the risk for dying from breast cancer in the five years after an early-stage diagnosis fell to 5 percent in recent years, a notable improvement from the 14 percent risk of death that was reported in the 1990s.
Women can consider these three strategies that can lead to improved overall health and might help women lower their risk for breast cancer.
1. Reach and maintain a healthy weight. According to the ACS, increased body weight and weight gain as an adult are linked to a higher risk of developing breast cancer. That’s particularly so among post-menopausal women. A 2023 study published in the journal BMC Women’s Health found that the chances of developing breast cancer increase among post-menopausal women who are obese.
2. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise is one of the ways to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, so it
makes sense that being physically active can reduce breast cancer risk. The National Cancer Institute reports that a 2016 meta-analysis of 38 cohort studies found that the most physically active women had between a 12 and 21 percent lower risk for breast cancer than women who were the least physically active. The NCI also notes that additional studies have found that women who become more physically active after menopause also have a lower risk for breast cancer than those who do not.
3. Limit or eliminate alcohol consumption. The ACS urges women who drink to consume no more than one alcoholic drink per day, noting that consumption of even small amounts of alcohol have been linked to an increased risk for breast cancer. Officials with the MD Anderson Cancer Center note that the link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk is low. However, the MDACC notes that alcohol can contribute to unwanted weight gain, thus increasing cancer risk. In addition, alcohol can increase levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with breast cancer.
It may be impossible to completely prevent breast cancer. However, women can embrace strategies that improve their overall health in ways that lower their risk for breast cancer.
Life Care Center of Gray
Get your Pet Ready for Halloween
Pet owners often choose to include their companion animals in Halloween festivities. Data from a 2022 PetSmart national survey unveiled that more than 75 percent of pet parents planned to dress their pets up for Halloween and other fall occasions. In 2019, the National Retail Federation estimated Americans would spend $490 million on pet costumes in 2020, which was more than double the figure spent around a decade prior.
Rubies, the largest manufacturer of pet costumes in the U.S. and Europe, shared these statistics in 2022, many of which will stay consistent this year.
• Vermont, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Maine are the states most likely to dress up their pets.
• A pumpkin, hot dog, and bat are the three most popular pet costumes. Star Wars-themed costumes also are favorites year after year.
• There are plenty of costumes and pet clothing designed for pets, but not all of them are recommended by humane organizations or vets. Those who choose to include pets in Halloween festivities should keep these tips in mind when selecting costumes.
• Can the pet move properly? Check to see if the clothing item is sized appropriately so that it is not restrictive. Make sure the pet can walk properly, jump, groom, and relieve itself. Do not leave pets in costumes for too
long, as they may affect the animal’s ability to control body temperature.
• Is your pet stressed? Look for behaviors that may indicate the pet is stressed by wearing the costume. Pets feeling anxious may groom excessively or make more noise than usual. Dogs may pant a lot or yawn. If a pet is pawing or pulling at the costume, it might be making the animal uncomfortable.
• Can body language be relayed? Pets use body language to communicate with other animals. Costumes could interfere with that ability. If the pet will be wearing the costume indoors and not in proximity to other animals, it may be fine. Pets who will be walking outdoors and come into contact with other companion animals might act differently and other animals may act aggressively when faced with a pet in a costume.
• Is it safe? Choose costumes that do not impede the pet’s vision or its ability to walk. Select materials that are fire-retardant and nontoxic.
Pet costumes are quite popular on Halloween, and pet parents can have fun celebrating while also keeping pets’ comfort and safety in mind.
Get into the spooky spirit this Halloween
While trick-or-treating and attending parties are ways to enjoy the final day of October, there are plenty of other ways to make Halloween more fun.
• Read some scary stories. There’s something to be said about reading scary stories or poems on Halloween. Readers’ imaginations take over on Halloween as they envision scary characters and scenarios. Edgar Allen Poe, author of many notably macabre works, is a popular read come Halloween.
• Go pumpkin picking. Most people already make pumpkin picking an annual treat. Don’t overlook mishappen pumpkins that can be carved into spooky jacko’-lanterns. Also, enhance Halloween decor with pitted and warty gourds that lend that scary appeal.
• Create a haunted house. Instead of going elsewhere to get chills and thrills, transform your house or yard into a spooktacular vision and invite neighbors to explore.
• Make creepy crafts. Children can get a kick out of crafting Halloween decorations. Drape a piece of muslin over a beverage bottle and spray it with laundry starch. Let sit and the muslin will stiffen when it dries. Paint on black circles for eyes and hang your “ghost” from a string.
• Whip up Halloween treats. Candied apples, extra-rich brownies, and mini hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls to look like mummies are just some of the ways to create a scary Halloween feast.
• Have a costume theme. Everyone in the household can get in on the fun by planning costumes to fit a theme. For example, everyone can dress like the Addams family.
• Host a Halloween book club. Those who love to read can ensure the October gathering of a book club is one that features a discussion of a scary book. Those looking for a scare can explore horror authors like Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, Shirley Jackson, and Tananarive Due.
• Host an outdoor movie. Projectors can now be hooked up to smartphones and tablets, so it’s easier than ever to watch movies outside. Simply project a device onto a screen, white fence, or even a bedsheet. Since it gets dark somewhat early in October, the movie doesn’t have to start very late.
Pop Culture Costumes are Bound to Be Big This Year
One of the best ways to get in on the Halloween costume fun is to choose a look that borrows from popular culture. This year there is no shortage of inspiration for those who want to look like their favorite movie, television and game characters.
Comic
book hero “frenemies”
Marvel’s popular characters joined forces in “Deadpool & Wolverine” this year with the titular stars played by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, respectively. Whether you’re team red or team yellow, dressing up as one of these action characters is certainly going to be popular for Halloween 2024.
Whirlwind romance
Fans of the “Bridgerton” television series know that the third season follows the romance between Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton. This is a perfect couples’ costume, and one that will be lavish at any Halloween gathering.
Travis and Taylor
The last year-plus has been notable for both football fans and Swifties. Three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce and pop superstar Taylor Swift became the power couple of record, earning fans from both sides of the football/music aisle. Dressing up as this duo is sure to get rave reviews.
Country vibes
Beyoncé ushered in a new era of country music in 2024 with the release of her album “Cowboy Carter.” Emulating the pop-to-country princess is a great way to turn heads this Halloween.
The
“Juice
is loose”
It’s been 36 years since audiences enjoyed the hijinks of Beetlejuice, the star character of Tim Burton’s horror-comedy. With the release of “Beetlejuice,
Beetlejuice,” complete with most of the original actors reprising their roles, there’s no question that Beetlejuice, Lydia and Delia costumes will be trending this October.
Another pink lady
While “Barbie” was the chic lady in pink for 2023, thanks to the announcement of the new prequel series dubbed “Elle,” Elle Woods from the “Legally Blonde” franchise is sure to be trending this Halloween.
Wacky Wednesday
Now that another series installment is in the works, there will be plenty of people dressed up as Wednesday Addams this Halloween.
Looking to pop culture yields plenty of inspiration for Halloween costumes each year.
Candy Apples
6 servings
Cooking spray
2 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. water
1/2 c. light corn syrup
16 drops red food coloring
6 medium Granny Smith apples
1. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line with parchment and grease parchment with cooking spray.
2. Insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, pushing about halfway through. Set aside.
3. In a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, combine sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and food coloring and bring to a boil. Insert candy thermometer and continue to boil until temperature reaches between 300° and 310°, 15 to 20 minutes. Immediately remove from heat.
4. Wait until bubbles mostly subside (3o seconds to 1 minutes), then, working quickly and carefully— coating will be extremely hot—coat apples in candy mixture. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.
5. Let cool completely before serving. Source:www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/ a28544141/easy-candy-apples-recipe/
Color-Changing Margaritas
4 servings
2 c. sliced purple cabbage
4 c. boiling water
8 oz. tequila
4 oz. triple sec
3 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 c. lemonade
Dead Velvet Cake
1 cake
1 box Red Velvet cake, plus ingredients called for on box
2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
4 lime wedges, for garnish
1/4 c. kosher salt or coarse sea salt, for rim
1. Place cabbage in a large heatproof bowl. Pour boiling water over the cabbage and let sit until water turns deep blue, 5 minutes. Strain out cabbage and let water cool.
2. When the water is no longer hot, transfer to ice trays. Freeze until solid, 4 hours.
3. In a medium pitcher or measuring cup, combine tequila with triple sec, lime juice, and lemonade. Wet rims of glasses with a lime wedge and dip in salt.
4. Place purple ice cubes in glasses and divide the margarita between them. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
1. Make the rim: On a shallow plate, combine pumpkin pie spice and crushed graham crackers. Dip the edge of each glass in water, then into the mixture, coating the edge of each glass.
2. Make the drink: Pour vodka and Kahlua into glasses filled with ice. Top with creamer. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
1. Preheat oven to 350º and butter and flour two 9” cake pans. Prepare red velvet cake batter according to box directions. Divide between two cake pans and bake according to instructions.
2. Make cream cheese frosting: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, then add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until combined.
3. Make “blood:” in a small saucepan, and stir together water and cornstarch until fully combined. Turn on heat to medium and pour in corn syrup. Let simmer and stir frequently for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and red food coloring.
4. Place the bottom cake on a cake plate and trim the dome of the cake. Add “blood” to the top layer, just enough to dampen the cake. Cut the dome off the second cake and place it upside down on the bottom layer of the cake.
5. Frost the entire outside of the cake with cream cheese frosting, making sure to make an extra smooth layer on top. Pour “blood” on the top and allow some to drip down the sides. Serve.
The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9.
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