The Jackson/Hinds Library System connects Hinds County communities to a world of information and they want to help you find the information you need, whether in digital or print format. Their goal is to provide quality service through their 14 locations, including the Annie T. Jeffers Library in Bolton Mississippi. If you have a JHLS library card, you now have access to hoopla BingePass. Borrow seven days of unlimited access to 50 digital magazines or educational videos from The Great Courses. hoopla is a groundbreaking digital media service offered by your local public library that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, phone or TV. Titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. hoopla is like having your public library at your fingertips. Anytime. Anywhere. The hoopla digital service is offered through the Mississippi Library Commission. Libraries will be closed December 23-25 for Christmas and December 31-January 1 for New Year's Day. Indoor programs are back! Library staff can now offer programs in the meeting rooms again with social distancing and limited capacity. Masks required. There is also limited seating within the library for individual patrons. Meeting rooms are still not available for rent at this time. You can see all upcoming JHLS programs for Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Day at jhlibrary.org/programs. Virtual Story Time from the Annie T. Jeffers Library: James Anderson reads the book "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore in a way that allows children's imaginations to visualize the story. Watch the Library's recording of his reading, below. James Anderson, who was raised in Bolton and lives in Bolton today, is a cancer survivor, actor, vocalist, craftsman, writer, creative director for an advertising agency, member of the Board of Trustees for New Stage Theatre, arts director at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Bolton, and leads congregational singing at two area churches. He is also the craftsman and creator of Scarvin' Artist scarves, a perennial favorite, on sale now.

The Annie Thompson Jeffers Library resumed the Bolton Book Club in September! The club is always open to new members and invites you to join them for an amazing time. To participate, stop by the library to get a copy of this month's book*. Then, on Tuesday, January 11, at 10 a.m., the Bolton Book Club will meet at the library. Meetings are socially distanced for safety. CORRECTION CONCERNING THE FEBRUARY MEETING: The club's February meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 8 at 10:00 a.m. (not February 15, as previously stated). And the Club has selected a new book for the February meeting: The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier. * The book this month is An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. About the novel: Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together. “Haunting . . . Beautifully written.” —The New York Times Book Review “A tense and timely love story . . . Packed with brave questions about race and class.” —People Oprah's Book Club 2018 Selection Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction Winner of the 2019 Aspen Words Literary Prize About the author: Tayari Jones is the author of the novels Leaving Atlanta, The Untelling, Silver Sparrow, and An American Marriage. Her writing has appeared in Tin House, The Believer, The New York Times, and Callaloo. A member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, she has also been a recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, Lifetime Achievement Award in Fine Arts from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, United States Artist Fellowship, NEA Fellowship and Radcliffe Institute Bunting Fellowship. Silver Sparrow was named a #1 Indie Next Pick by booksellers in 2011, and the NEA added it to its Big Read Library of classics in 2016. Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. She is currently an Associate Professor in the MFA program at Rutgers-Newark University. For more information, call 601- 866-4247 or stop by the Annie T. Jeffers Library, 111 W. Madison Street, Bolton MS. website: www.JHLibrary.org Please wear a mask and observe social distancing for safety. Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is closed on Fridays and Sundays.

FedEx Corp. is supporting free admission to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History on Monday, January 17, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “We are grateful to FedEx for their continued support of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “At FedEx, we believe that when we connect people and possibilities, we can change the world,” said Rose Flenorl, manager of Global Citizenship at FedEx Services. "We are proud to support free public admission to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History, to help visitors connect with Dr. King’s legacy, and leave inspired to drive positive changes of their own.” The museums will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, January 17. Safety precautions at the museums include requiring all visitors to wear face masks and observe social distancing guidelines while inside the building. At 6 p.m. on Monday, January 17, join us for the annual MLK Night of Culture program in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums. This year’s theme is “Those Who Stayed,” inspired by the stories of the individuals who remained in Mississippi during the Great Migration, a population movement of African Americans who left their homes to seek better opportunities in the northern and western states in response to racial injustice in the rural South. The event is free and includes live poetry and performances by Jackson State University’s MADDRAMA theatre troupe, Hinds Community College’s MONTAGE Theatre of Dance, and other featured artists. Seating is limited. The event will also be streamed live on the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Facebook page. Dr. King’s involvement in Mississippi included attending the funeral of NAACP state field secretary Medgar Evers in 1963, visiting Greenwood in support of Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, and testifying in support of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) during the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Additional information about the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum can be found on their website: http://mcrm.mdah.ms.gov/

Staying healthy begins with what we eat and drink. Water is essential to our good health. The Bolton Library and Hinds County 4-H have teamed up to bring us the 2022 Water Wellness Challenge. The Challenge will take place from February 1 to February 28, 2022. Participants are challenged to drink water (no soda or sugary juices) every day during the month of February. You may add fruit or vegetables to your water if you like. Prizes will be awarded to each person who registers and completes the challenge. To register and receive your water challenge information, call or stop by the library: Annie Thompson Jeffers Library, 111 W. Madison Street, Bolton MS. 601-866-4247.

With a chance of snow and freezing temperatures in the forecast, you should take time to prepare your home. This list of winterization tips shared by Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will help keep you safe and warm all winter long. Every part of Mississippi is susceptible to winter weather conditions that include ice and snow storms. While they are not common occurrences like severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, we must still be prepared. WINTER WEATHER: KNOW THE TERMS Winter Storm Watch: A winter storm is possible in your area. Tune in to your NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for more information. Winter Storm Warning: A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area. Freezing Rain: Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees and power lines. Sleet: Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery. Frost/Freeze Warning: Below freezing temperatures are expected. DRESS FOR THE WEATHER: Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight and warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs. PREPARE YOUR HOME AND FAMILY: Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic. Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters, repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm. Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip slightly during cold weather to avoid freezing. Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions. Learn how to shut off water valves, in the case of a pipe bursting. Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees. For additional winter weather tips, visit: https://www.msema.org/preparedness-2/winter-weather/

News from the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture: If you’ve been to farmers.gov before, things may look a little different from the last time you were there. Changes have been made to improve how you find information so that you can find what you need more easily and efficiently. There’s a feedback button on every page of the site and based on feedback, they look for ways to make the site easier to use. Producers with farmers.gov accounts can now access farm records and maps online, the latest self-service feature added to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website. Your land information may be accessed via desktop computer, tablet or phone. Capabilities include: View, print and export detailed farm records such as cropland, base acres, yields, CRP acres, and land ownership details; View, print and export farm/tract maps that can be provided to lenders, chemical or fertilizer providers, and FSA for reporting acreage and crop insurance agents; and Export common land unit (field) boundaries as ESRI shapefiles. The ability to access these records on demand without a visit to the service center saves users time and money. The site now includes popular functionalities from FSAFarm+, the FSA portal for producers, while providing enhanced functionality and an improved user experience. A new enhancement expands the scope of accessibility to include farmers and ranchers who are members of an entity, as well as people with a power of attorney form (FSA-211) on file with FSA. Managing USDA Business Online: Using farmers.gov, producers, entities and those acting on their behalf can: View, upload, download, and e-sign conservation documents. Request financial assistance, including submitting a program application. View and submit conservation requests. View technical references and submit questions. Access information on current and past conservation practices, plans and contracts. Report practice completion and request practice certification. View farm loan and interest information (producers only). Future plans include adding the ability to import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture planting boundaries. To access your information, you will need a USDA eAuth account. After obtaining an eAuth account, producers should visit farmers.gov and sign into the site’s authenticated portal via the Sign In/Sign Up link at the top right of the website. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge are the recommended browsers to access the feature. In addition to the self-service features, the website also has ample information on USDA programs, including pandemic assistance, farm loans, disaster assistance, conservation programs and crop insurance. Recently, USDA updated the navigation and organization of the site as well as added some new webpages.

For some reason, “The 355” really wanted to be the first movie of the year – any year. It was originally scheduled to open in January 2021, but I guess the studio decided that since theaters in major markets weren’t open yet, it should be pushed back to January 2022. Things might have worked out better in 2021. Yes, it would have faced obvious hurdles with a limited number of theaters, but competition in that era was scarce. It wouldn’t have gotten steamrolled by “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Sing 2” like it did this past weekend when it opened to less than $5 million at the domestic box office. Then again, it might not have made a difference. Audiences know a bomb when they see one, no matter when it opens. The film brings together an impressive cast: Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, multiple time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain, SAG Award winner Diane Kruger, and Chinese superstar Bingbing Fan. A movie like this should want you to come for who these actresses are and stay for what they do. Unfortunately this movie is just content to get you to come for who the actresses are and that’s it, there’s nothing interesting about what they do. The actresses play spies (actually Cruz plays a psychologist who works for a spy agency but isn’t a spy herself, as her wet-blanket character constantly reminds us) that are all trying to keep an evil flash drive from falling into the wrong hands. The “wrong hands” means the bad guys, obviously, but it also means each other’s agencies, meaning that they’re at odds with one another. Eventually they learn to work together and rightfully decide that their own corrupt agencies shouldn’t have it either. Their mission takes them all over the world as they track the MacGuffin from one boring bald guy to another. We wait for it to wind up in the hands of a cast member worth crediting. It starts off with a corrupt DNI agent (Edgar Ramirez), but he’s got “killed off quickly” written all over him. We also know that arms dealer Clarke (Jason Flemyng) is in the mix, but he’s too boring (even for this movie) to truly be at the top. Could it possibly be Chastain’s partner (Sebastian Stan), who was presumably killed in the first act, but whose death we didn’t see so he’s surely still out there somewhere? The characters and story certainly aren’t enough to carry this movie, how’s the action? Choppy and underwhelming. The actresses usually wear wigs for their missions, which is just a thinly-veiled excuse to hide stunt doubles under those wigs. But the stunt doubles aren’t being directed particularly well, so there’s little point. The fight scenes offer nothing unique and there are so many shootouts that you’ll be bored with shooting by the end of this movie. A movie with this high of a body count from shooting really has no business going for a PG-13 rating, but it’s intentionally just bloodless enough to qualify. Although the film’s advertising has given away why the movie is called “The 355,” we don’t get the scene where it’s explained until the very end (which is another dead giveaway that the Stan character is still alive). This means that the group plans to continue working together, and thus a sequel is implied. I dare someone to give us a sequel after how bad this movie is and how badly it has performed. At least whoever is put in charge won’t have to worry about high expectations. Grade: D “The 355” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, brief strong language, and suggestive material. Its running time is 124 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

As the third term of the school year begins, the Hinds County School District is working to ensure the safety of students and the school community as they continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. The district has designed safety and health protocols to minimize exposure to and the spread of the virus to students and staff. The following video and letters to parents provide details.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s (MDEQ) Office of Geology recently released five geologic maps produced for the National Park Service related to areas along the Natchez Trace Parkway.  The 7.5 min. geologic quadrangles for areas of Ridgeland, Pocahontas, Clinton, Raymond, and Widows Creek in Claiborne County were released in December 2021. This work was done as part of an ongoing, three state cooperative project coordinated and funded by the National Park Service to explore and map for the first time the comprehensive geology of the Natchez Trace Parkway corridor. The maps include surface geologic interpretations, map descriptions, and supporting photographs and figures depicting areas of interest. They also provide information on the geology, geography, geomorphology, stratigraphy, natural and cultural history, paleontology, geoarcheology, along with significant geohazards including the Yazoo Clay outcrop belt and the distribution of loess. In addition, the maps are useful for activities such as economic development as well as environmental, municipal, and conservation planning. The maps are available to the public via a free download on MDEQ’s website: Click Here Mapping will continue to be conducted over the next few years resulting in a complete geologic interpretation for the entire Natchez Trace Parkway. For a downloadable PDF copy: Raymond Quadrangle PDF Download. Images for the Raymond Quadrangle, divided into three portions: Mapping information and images for the other four geologic quadrangles (Ridgeland, Pocahontas, Clinton and Widows Creek) may be obtained on the MDEQ Website: Click Here

EDITOR'S NOTE: CJ and Mika Hartman are personal friends of The Bolton News's publisher, Clay Mansell. We wanted to use our publication to share Mika's journey as she works to change laws, perceptions and anything else she chose to tackle to make our state a better, more inclusive one. Her son, Hudson, has Down Syndrome, and she will share his journey and hers as she works with lawmakers to make Mississippi a better place to live for everyone. Please visit our website to view her blog and important information on how we can all help make Mississippi better. As we tiptoe into 2022, I am hopeful and, yet, I am angry. It's 2022 and we are still so far behind in protecting the biggest treasure we have: All Human Life. Mississippi is proudly leading this country down a new path, one that is long overdue; but we still have so many laws that don't show Mississippians the real value of life. It's time to prove how we not only love the baby the moment he/she is conceived, but, also, how we value each individual throughout their entire life. One area that people use against pro-lifers is that we only care about the baby in the womb. While this isn't true, we still have far too many laws that hold people back from living their lives and many laws that discriminate against people. As a pro-life conservative woman, I see a need to make big changes to reflect what our state stands for. Did you know that a person, no matter their age, can be discriminated against for needing a life-SAVING organ transplant? I have heard denials of persons (all ages) born with Down syndrome being denied. Yes, simply for an extra chromosome, a doctor can deny them. Its discrimination here in the US in 2022. Barbaric. Outdated. Two tragic stories I would like to share about this is Daniel's and Zion's. And I have a celebration story of Charlotte Woodward, as well: Let's start with Daniel Kirwan from Texas. Sadly, Daniel passed away in 2015 after being denied a life-saving kidney transplant. Simply the diagnosis of Down syndrome kept his team from adding his name to the transplant list. His sister, Kathleen, and the entire family questioned why they didn't even look to see if he would qualify for this needed surgery and learned that his life wasn't deemed a life worth saving; a man that brought his family joy and laughter and love every second. After he suffered and then passed away, they knew they needed to bring change. Kathleen worked diligently to pass Daniel's Law (Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention) in Texas. You could (before this law passed) file a complaint and wait to see if your claim would be revisited; we all know in a life-saving emergency surgery, time isn't something that a person dying has much of. Also, the pain one suffers while waiting. How sad is it that a person would be left in limbo and told they aren't eligible all while suffering, but, "hey, please file this paperwork!"? The stress and horror the family feels, too. This isn't pro-life at all! Thankfully, his sister is seeing that her brother's fate isn't repeated, while she daily mourns the loss of her baby brother and the love they shared. Daniel Kirwan Day is celebrated in August. Baby Zion's story is fresh and the wounds are still weeping. Zion Sarmiento was less than 4 months old when he passed away in Florida. Like Texas, Florida passed (in June 2020) the Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Law. He shouldn't have been denied the heart transplant that he needed, but he was. Multiple heart surgeries were tried, but ultimately, a transplant was his only hope. I understand that the family was told, "Zion has Down syndrome, we CAN'T WASTE a heart like that" by his doctor. The family desperate to save him even tried another state (Georgia) and were denied there, too. Multiple hospitals turned them away. This precious baby and his family were told no, over and over, even with the law in place. Baby Zion's photos are forever in my heart. His smile was pure joy and his family deserved better. Shame on anyone who would take a vow to save lives and then choose who they save. Heartbreaking for us all. Now, to a story that proves why this law is needed in our state of Mississippi AND across our nation: Charlotte's story. Charlotte was told YES! Her team loves and values Charlotte, they saw/see her worth. Charlotte Woodward is one of the most remarkable humans I have met. She is the first to tell you that she wouldn't be alive if she hadn't received her heart transplant. Her surgery was performed in her 20's. Charlotte is now in her 30's and speaking up daily for all her friends to be given the same chance she was. Charlotte is a college graduate, works for NDSS, has been featured in Forbes and you'll find her fighting for this and all equal rights for people living with Down syndrome. She is a gift and her voice and power will create a change for thousands. She was given a chance; one she deserved and is making the most of. The Charlotte Woodward Bill has been introduced at the Federal Level in both the House and the Senate this session. My Hudson was born with a large hole in his heart. At 3.5 months old, he underwent open heart surgery. The surgery was successful for the hole repair, but he still has a leaky mitral valve. Hudson will need another surgery to replace his valve. I think of this one (the law and the discrimination) very personally. How should a mom, dad, or family feel when a huge piece of their heart is suffering and in need and they can't help? I'm crushed knowing this happens. How unfair. How much discrimination should be tolerated? The answer is NONE. I understand demand and availability, but to deny based on valuing a persons life is unAmerican, at best. The solution for Mississippi: Cole's Law. Cara and Cole Sims have introduced (two years in a row) the Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act in the House. Due to Covid and other pressing matters, it sadly has been overlooked. But, not this year. We, together, have increased the co-sponsors and even have it being introduced in the Senate, as well. House: Rep. Lee Yancey, Rep. Jansen Owen and Rep. Becky Currie. Senate: Sen. Jeremy England. We welcome anyone to add their names to this very bipartisan bill to save lives and protect those who have been far too long unprotected. Cara and Cole Sims live in Bay Springs. Cara is super active in the Down syndrome community and a true leader. Cara is on the Mississippi Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition and her heart is gold. She is doing this to see that children like Cole and Hudson never feel this discrimination. So that families have hope and peace in hard diagnosis. Also, so that new moms stop having to fear this journey. And COLE! He is awesome. Cole is 4, loves animals, loves Elmo and is such a beautiful boy. He has a life worthy of living and a heart worthy of loving... He is a wonderful gift. You can be a voice for this change. Please reach out to your representatives and ask them to act on Cole's Law. Think of someone you love and the mountains you'd move to protect them and save them; moms of children with Down syndrome often have the largest mountains to move and they do it no matter how hard. Help us. "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." -The Dalai Lama

EDITOR'S NOTE: CJ and Mika Hartman are personal friends of The Bolton News's publisher, Clay Mansell. We wanted to use our publication to share Mika's journey as she works to change laws, perceptions and anything else she chose to tackle to make our state a better, more inclusive one. Her son, Hudson, has Down Syndrome, and she will share his journey and hers as she works with lawmakers to make Mississippi a better place to live for everyone. Please visit our website to view her blog and important information on how we can all help make Mississippi better. As we all start to reflect on the year that is now past and to His birth and the (our) new beginning, I am reminded of how resilient we are; how hope is not gone. What the past two years have said about me is that I can bring needed change. My voice is power, and my strength is unstoppable. At 46, I have stepped into bigger shoes, and I CAN fill them. Three and a half years ago, I gave birth to our third child. Hudson was born with Down syndrome and a large hole in his heart. We didn’t know that he would be born with transient leukemia, but that gut-punching news came on his first day of life. Even before his birthday, I was fighting for his tiny life and his best chance. Our team wanted to deliver him at 30 weeks. I refused. Less steep mountains are easier to climb. My goal each day was to flatten the mountain the best I could. We made it to 37 weeks. Our will has power and is underestimated. Being an advocate for my baby was easy, like with my other two. I am mom, and I speak up. I ask questions. I need to be in the know. What I didn’t know is how many laws are against my son’s life and what it really meant to be his advocate; it’s more than the typical advocate that comes with a child's birth. The reality is that I wasn’t affected by all the laws that are poorly written until now. I didn’t know what was broken in our system until my son was born. Sadly, I never educated myself on this. But now I clearly see God and His purpose for my life... the pieces of my puzzle are fitting perfectly now. I can see the changes needed to make this world a place where people are seen for their abilities and not punished for a disability. I will be heard. You see, I grew up in a small town of Oklahoma. We didn’t have inclusion. Children that were “different” didn’t sit beside me in class or have lunch with us. I still don’t remember even seeing a child with special needs in my school. Either I was oblivious, or they were kept a way. Typing this makes me sad. As the tears stream down my cheeks, I feel guilty for not asking or doing better. I know people with disabilities do exist. As a matter of fact, one in four to five persons alive do have a disability of some kind today. So, we all should know more people, right? I think “small town” and “old school” ways of thinking are still a problem today. Fair and equal should apply, but it doesn’t. Unless we can accept a person and love them whoever and however they come into our lives, we can’t make real change. Hudson’s extra chromosome is permanent. He was born with it. It’s not a period, but more like a + sign. Let me explain. Hudson is Hudson. He’s beautiful and full of life and curiosity. His smile is contagious, and his laughter should be bottled up and shared. It took him longer to walk, but he does walk (well, now, he runs) everywhere. Remember that leukemia diagnosis? Hudson fought it off with no medication. You read that right - he beat cancer with zero help. And his heart was repaired at three and a half months old. Hudson doesn’t talk yet, but he will. Even though words aren’t used, we still know what he wants and what he needs by him showing us. “Hudson time” is what we are on, and his time is perfect. In the coming months, I will be sharing with you all the challenges my son faces and the laws that we have changed, are working on changing and the ones still to be changed. Don’t be a “Mika” -- learn and make a difference today, not only when it affects you. Pro-life in our state is more than pro-conception or pro-birth; it is pro-live for ALL human life. Life is a gift, and God makes no mistakes. He knew Hudson before he was in my womb; and Hudson, too, was created in His image. We have passed the Human Life Equality Act and Hudson’s Law (Down Syndrome Information) in our state. In the coming months, you’ll hear about Cole’s Law (Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Law) and trying to eliminate Subminimum Wage (a person with a disability can sadly be paid less than minimum wage -- and as low as TWENTY CENTS per hour). In the year ahead, I pray we can reverse the discrimination on marriage for our friends, improve support and inclusion, improve special needs education and better embrace all human life. Clearly, Hudson fi lls big shoes, too! This year, please take the time to show extra love to all His children, young and old. Teach your children to be kind and what inclusion really means. We celebrate everything. I often share Hudson’s inch-stones vs. his milestones. Forward moving progress is forward moving. It is all worth celebrating. There is more love on this journey than I ever could’ve imagined. Doors opening to help us make needed changes. Voices speaking up. People wanting to learn more and really help. I was asked for Hudson to be the teacher. I frowned at this at first... it is 2021, why does my three-year-old need to teach someone to be kinder and more accepting? Well, God calls us all, no matter our age. “Why not Hudson?” is a better question. There is no one better for this job. Looking back on everything we’ve been able to celebrate and looking forward to all the new reasons, too, I am filled with hope this year -- the kind of hope that wakes you up before your parents on Christmas morning... the real joy in filling hearts with hope, love and peace; that the world we live in CAN be better. Happy new year, with EXTRA love.

Happy new year from all of us at The Bolton News. We wanted to share with you these great suggestions received from our friends at AMR: Heart attacks, strokes and severe injuries can derail our dreams of living long, healthy, happy, prosperous lives. Realistic New Year’s resolutions can help us ward off those threats to our dreams. To reduce our risk of health and trauma emergencies, paramedics at American Medical Response recommend sticking with these resolutions: Protect yourself from heart attack, stroke and diabetic crisis by exercising regularly, cutting sugar, fat and salt intake and working to maintain recommended weight. Check with your physician before starting an exercise or weight-loss program.  Avoid COVID-19 and the flu by getting vaccinated for each and by following CDC guidelines.  Wear your seatbelt on every trip, no matter how short or long. Resolve never to move the vehicle until everyone in it is buckled up and every child is properly secured in a safety seat.  Drive safely by observing the speed limit, obeying other traffic laws and staying off the phone while behind the wheel. Make sure your brakes, windshield wipers, lights and other safety equipment stay in good condition. Never drink and drive.  Take a CPR course or re-certify and encourage your family and friends to do so.  Make sure your mailbox address or house number is easy to read from the road both day and night. (Even with GPS, rescuers need visual confirmation they have reached the scene where they are needed.)  Keep your family safe from major injury by locking poisonous substances, medications and guns in cabinets. Make your home more secure from falls (such as by installing night lights). Prevent and prepare for a house fire by (a) checking your smoke detectors once a month, (b) ensuring you have fire extinguishers handy and (c) developing and practicing a family fire escape plan. If your home doesn’t already have a carbon monoxide detector, install one.  Resolve that every family member will learn to swim well. Teach your children how to call 911 properly.  Work to keep a positive outlook, strengthen your relationships with others and do more to manage stress, because happier people have longer, heartier lives. AMR wishes everyone a wonderful, emergency-free New Year! About American Medical Response (AMR): American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR also provides fire services through Rural Metro Fire Department, www.ruralmetrofire.com. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram.