Special to The Bolton News The Annie Thompson Jeffers Library in Bolton brought neighbors together on December 2 for its annual holiday cookie swap, turning a quiet Tuesday afternoon into a warm celebration of community spirit. Guests arrived with plates of homemade cookies, each one representing a family tradition or a favorite seasonal recipe. The library’s meeting space quickly filled with the scent of sugar, spice and fresh-baked treats, creating an atmosphere that felt both festive and familiar. Participants took time to share the stories behind their creations, swapping more than just cookies as conversations moved from baking tips to holiday plans. Laughter carried through the room while children drifted from table to table, selecting cookies with the kind of careful delight that only the season can bring. Library staff ensured that everyone felt welcome, offering refreshments and creating a relaxed environment where visitors could linger and enjoy the company. The event highlighted the library’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community connections, using simple traditions to bring people together. By the end of the afternoon, trays were empty, recipe cards were exchanged and guests left with a sense of warmth that extended far beyond the cookies they carried home. The holiday cookie swap once again proved to be a cherished gathering that added a touch of sweetness to Bolton’s festive season. Click here for photo album .

Special to The Bolton News The Mississippi Outreach Foundation, Inc. is extending an open invitation to its 32nd Annual 90-Above Senior Citizens Basket Giveaway, a longstanding tradition dedicated to honoring some of the community’s most treasured residents. The event will be held Saturday, December 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Mt. Olive M.B. Church Family Life Center, located at 6449 W. Northside Drive in Bolton. For more than three decades, the foundation has gathered families, supporters and senior citizens to celebrate longevity, resilience and community spirit. The 90-Above initiative focuses specifically on individuals aged 90 and older, offering them carefully prepared baskets as a gesture of appreciation. Organizers describe the event as a time of fellowship and gratitude, designed to uplift elders who have shaped the community through decades of wisdom and perseverance. This annual gathering continues to grow in significance, serving as both a celebration and a reminder of the importance of honoring seniors in tangible and meaningful ways. The Mississippi Outreach Foundation remains committed to ensuring that those in their nineties and beyond feel recognized, supported and valued. Anyone seeking additional details may contact Mrs. Addie Green at addiegreen2652@gmail.com  or by phone at 601-262-8808 or 601-866-7870. Those who wish to support the 90-Above citizens may contribute through Cash App at $mfoinc or by mailing a check payable to Mississippi Outreach Foundation, Inc. to P.O. Box 449, Bolton, MS 39041.

Special to The Bolton News Bolton is preparing for a heartwarming celebration of the Christmas season on December 21, offering the community two meaningful opportunities to come together. The afternoon will begin at 3:30 PM at Bolton Baptist Church, where participants will gather before heading out for house-to-house Christmas caroling. This tradition has long been cherished in small towns, and organizers hope to revive the joy of sharing music, encouraging words, and holiday cheer directly with neighbors. Groups will visit homes throughout the community, spreading goodwill and reminding residents of the simple connections that make the season special. Families, children, and individuals of all ages are welcome to take part, whether they choose to sing along or simply walk with the group and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Those who prefer a more relaxed celebration will have an inviting alternative later in the day. Bolton Baptist Church will open its doors at 5:00 PM for a Christmas Cantata, featuring a program of seasonal music that reflects the message of hope and unity central to the holiday. The cantata will provide a peaceful setting for reflection and fellowship, and attendees can enjoy hot chocolate as they settle in for the performance. The church extends a warm invitation to everyone in the community, encouraging residents to participate in either or both events. Whether through joyful singing on neighborhood streets or shared moments inside the sanctuary, the day aims to bring Bolton together in gratitude, celebration, and the true spirit of Christmas.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit: IMDB Previously, in “Wicked” Aspiring witches, green-skinned outcast Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and pink-and-popular Glinda (Ariana Grande), started off as enemies at school, but then became friends. They decided to go their separate ways after discovering a plan by the nefarious Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) to blame and punish animals for problems in the Land of Oz. The Wizard and henchwoman Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) tried to have Elphaba captured and silenced because she learned that The Wizard had no real magical power. Fortunately, Elphaba did have magical powers and escaped the Emerald City on a broomstick, though The Wizard and Morrible quickly spread rumors throughout Oz that she was a Wicked Witch. When we rejoin “Wicked,” Elphaba is still on the run, helping out animals when she can and trying to think of a way to expose The Wizard as a fraud. Her disabled sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) is now governor of Munchkinland, with reluctant boyfriend Boq (Ethan Slater) as her favorite servant. Love interest Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey, recently named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive) is captain of The Wizard’s guards, tasked with hunting down Elphaba, but secretly determined to assist his old flame. As for Glinda, she’s been made a “Good Witch” by The Wizard and Morrible, a sort of magical superhero to balance out the Wickedness of Elphaba, at least in the public’s eyes. She isn’t exactly Wicked herself, but she has been seduced into complicity by the perks and popularity that come with the position. She even unwittingly gives Morrible the idea to do the most Wicked deed of all. If last year’s “Wicked” served as a sort of prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” then “Wicked: For Good” serves as a sort of parallel piece. It’s not an even split – there’s plenty of prequel-y stuff here too, but a never-fully-seen Dorothy shows up at about the halfway mark, and we see what was happening offscreen while that literary and cinematic classic unfolded. It all leads up to a devastating splash from a bucket of water that ties into the Munchkinland celebration from the beginning of the first movie. Frankly, all the “running parallel to ‘The Wizard of Oz’” stuff is a huge detriment to both the stage and screen versions of “Wicked.” Characters’ attitudes, motivations, and loyalties turn on a dime just to accommodate the way those characters behaved in the more familiar story. Then there’s the huge plot hole of characters interacting in these movies despite ostensibly meeting one another for the first time during Dorothy’s walk down the Yellow Brick Road (a certain brainless wonder should have received more recognition than he was ever given). The whole practice makes the story a mess, though the movie is only following the stage musical’s lead, while admirably tightening up a detail or two. Another area where the new film tries to fix a deficiency with the stage show is with its musical numbers. The stage version is so front-loaded with memorable songs that disappointingly little is saved for the second half. The film knows that audiences won’t stand for such a dull second installment, so it has added two new songs: Elphaba’s attempt to rally her animal friends with the familiar adage that “There’s No Place Like Home,” and Glinda taking a long hard look in the mirror (or rather, somewhat-reflective sphere) in “The Girl in the Bubble.” They’re admirable efforts, but neither is as memorable as the stage show’s “No Good Deed” or the titular “For Good,” themselves paling in comparison to the best songs from the first movie. “Wicked: For Good” is a relative step down from “Wicked,” but it justifies its existence better than fans feared it would when it was first announced that the adaptation would be split into two movies. And it’s still a grand, ambitious, passionately-performed spectacle. I can say that the underwhelming second half of the stage musical has been changed for the better, and because it’s been shown some much-needed love, it has been changed “For Good.” Grade: B- “Wicked: For Good” is rated PG for action/violence, some suggestive material and thematic material. Its running time is 137 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Grandma Gertie is more than ready for Thanksgiving Day to arrive. For the first time in seventeen years, she is going to have her entire family home for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone has painstakingly arranged their holiday schedules to be able be together at Grandma’s house. Excited-beyond-measure cannot even begin to describe her emotions. For the last two months she has planned for her big day. The lists of things to do and to buy have been endless. No expense spared. Nothing will be too good for this year’s grand family event. Because all her kids and their spouses, grandkids, and great-grands are going to come piling into her house for the biggest, best-est meal she has ever put together.  The big day has finally arrived and she has been up and going since five in the morning. So much to do, and so little time! Pre-dinner snacks to assemble, enormous turkey to bake, to be stuffed with her favorite homemade dressing, fresh vegetables to prepare, several salads, pies and cakes to bake, and all kinds of drinks to get chilled. After all, she has no idea what everyone favorite beverage is, so she has bought every kind she could find.  But non-alcoholic, of course. Anyone who knows Gertie is aware that she is a staunch advocate for everyone being sober. But nobody really knows why. All they know is that  “Ya don’t drink  anywhere  around Grandma! She will call you out in a heartbeat, if she gets even a whiff of alcohol on your breath. You will be hauled out by your ear if she catches you.”  The whole family firmly believes that Grandma really does have ESP and a nose that would do credit to a bloodhound. No, none of the family knows that as a teenager and a young adult, Gertie was a drinker. And not just a dabbler in the art. She was a falling-down-spend-my-last-penny-last-one-to-leave-the-party drinker. Until she finally realized life was passing her by, and she had the courage to get sober and stay there. Until today. Today Gertie has decided to celebrate.  “I’ll just have a tiny sip from that big bottle I bought for cooking today.   After all, it’s been seventeen years since we’ve all been together!” Uh-huh.  When the family began arriving, Grandma was in her cups, and then some.  They all noticed that Grandma was awfully cheerful and talkative. And weaving quite a bit as she brought all the food out of the kitchen. Exchanging meaningful glances, the family joined together at the dining table and waited for the oldest to ask the blessing. The huge feast was passed around the table.  Turkey stuffed with mashed potatoes that had a heavy dose of salt. Cranberry salad that tasted suspiciously of soy sauce. Fresh vegetables that were sauteed, and accidentally refrigerated. Ice cream left melting on the kitchen cabinet. Drinks mostly room temperature. No ice.  But the family had reason to be thankful anyway, cause at least Grandma Gertie was happy. So very singingly, sloppily, happy.  Make it a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

A stage photo of a large group of women and girls dressed in colorful traditional attire, posing together in front of a backdrop that reads “Jackson Rajat Jayanti Mahotsav.” This image shows cultural richness, youth involvement, and unity. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Jackson, Mississippi, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a three-day Rajat Jayanti Mahotsav filled with devotion, culture, and community spirit. The milestone marked a quarter century of spiritual guidance, cultural preservation, and charitable service for the Indian Hindu American community across the State of Mississippi. Over the last quarter century, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Jackson, MS has become a spiritual home for hundreds of families. As part of a network of more than 140 mandirs across North America, it has introduced the community to Indian art and culture, unity, compassion, and the values of selfless service. Day 1: Kirtan Aradhana – November 21 The celebration began on November 21 with a devotional Kirtan Aradhana in the presence of visiting swamis. Talented BAPS youths, children, and swamis presented a creative musical program featuring traditional classical compositions. Mississippi State Senator Sollie Norwood addressed the gathering greeting the celebration. Day 2: Women’s Kalash Yatra & Cultural Program – November 22 On November 22, more than 200 women participated in procession carrying kalash (ceremonial pots) atop their heads marking the start of the auspicious events, followed by an afternoon cultural program. The message of dedication was beautifully conveyed through dance, drama, and thematic performances by the participants. The mandir’s campus was alive with the vibrant colors of saris and traditional Indian American ou6its as hundreds of men and women from across Mississippi, and neighboring states gathered for a cultural program in the evening. With participants ranging in age from 2 to 50, the program with theme of Family Values was well accepted. Cultural Program was well attended by Shad White, Mississippi State Auditor, Harvey Johnson, Former Mayor of Jackson, Otha Brown, Police Chief of Canton - all acknowledging the mandir’s significant role in fostering community ties and cultural preservation. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Jackson, welcomed a diverse array of community leaders and officials, JP Bhudhraja- President of SitaRam Mandir, Manish Patel-President of Gujarati Samaj of Mississippi, Deepak Patel from Ahmedabad Mitra Mandal and many more, each representing the rich tapestry of support the mandir has woven over the past quarter century. Their collective presence underscored the mandir’s role as a cornerstone of cultural and spiritual life, not just for the local Hindu community, but for all those who cherish unity, devotion, and service. Throughout the day were graced by several proclamations, including from the Governor of Mississippi, Lt. Governor of Mississippi, state representatives, Mayor of Jackson. The stage featured beautifully adorned murtis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitan and Swami in white and gold, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the creator of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Jackson and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current inspirer. Exhibitions highlighted the many activities undertaken by devotees in honor of the Rajat Jayanti. Through dramas, narratives, and videos, the audience reflected on the Mandir’s history, the challenges overcome by early devotees in Mississippi, and the community service initiatives carried out over the years. BAPS North America Lead Swami, Yagnavallabh Swami spoke on the Mandir’s impact on devotees and the broader community, sharing the history of its growth in Jackson. BAPS Southwest America Lead Swami, Swetmuni Swami added personal experiences from his past visits, emphasizing the Mandir’s role in promoting values and unity. A special video presented stories from devotees on how the Mandir has supported and shaped their personal lives. Some of the youth and devotees who are part of BAPS Jackson like when Nia Brahmbhatt age 16 mentioned “To me Mandir means family” when asked to describe what mandir means. Avani Patel said “when I come to Mandir, I feel in different world and experience Peace”     Blood Drive and Food Drive on this occasion  Community Service: Food & Blood Drives To commemorate the 25th anniversary, BAPS Charities organized multiple service initiatives: Food Collection Drive: Collected 25 lbs of packed food cans/cereals and will be delivered to the Mississippi Food Bank. Blood Donation Drive: Conducted with the Mississippi Blood Services at the Mandir premises, with 17 devotees donating 17 pints of blood.   A nighttime shot of the BAPS mandir beautifully lit in vivid colors—greens, purples, yellows—while fireworks burst overhead. It gives a very festive, grand, and celebratory feel, perfect for highlighting the 25th anniversary milestone. Arti, Celebration & Fireworks A samuh arti was performed with all attendees. The evening concluded with a grand fireworks display. Attendees expressed deep inspiration and pride in supporting the hardworking, compassionate, and dedicated Mandir community. The celebration served as a hear-felt tribute to the legacy of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj .     A large indoor gathering with participants in bright traditional costumes walking down the center aisle. Youth doing performances on stage. The audience—families, devotees, and swamis—are watching and applauding. The hall looks full, showing strong community participation . Day 3: Mahapuja, Annakut & Spiritual Assembly – November 23 The final day was begun with a Mahapuja, a Vedic ceremony conducted by swamis, further deepening the spiritual experience for all in attendance. In the afternoon, a traditional Annakut offering was artistically arranged before Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj in the Mandir. Devotees offered prayers and darshan before attending the concluding spiritual assembly, where Swamiji delivered a discourse on peace, harmony, and the importance of passing cultural and spiritual values to the next generation. About BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (B.A.P.S) is a volunteer-driven spiritual organization committed to fostering individual growth through Hindu values of faith, service, and harmony. It enriches society with the devoted efforts of tens of thousands of volunteers from diverse professional and social backgrounds, contributing millions of volunteer hours annually. Under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS nurtures Hindu traditions through its over 120 mandirs in North America and over 5,000 centers worldwide. Through these communities, it champions holistic personal growth, promotes social progress, and encourages diversity by embracing all. For more details, visit www.baps.org . About Mahant Swami Maharaj His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble, and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insigh6ul spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct. His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.

Thelma Louise Thompson August 11, 1947 - November 22, 2025 78 years of age Ms. Thelma Louise Thompson was born on August 11, 1947 to the late Ms. Ida Mae Hill and the late Mr. Jessie James Thompson in Edwards, Hinds County, Mississippi.  She departed this life on Saturday, November 22, 2025.    Visitation & Service Information: Visitation Friday, November 28, 2025 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM Bolton Funeral Home 205 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton, MS Funeral Service Saturday, November 29, 2025 1:30 PM (Central Time) Rose Hill M. B. Church 9542 Hwy 22, Bolton, MS Interment Saturday, November 29, 2025 Rose Hill M. B. Church Cemetery 9542 Hwy 22, Bolton, MS 39041 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thelma Louise Thompson, please visit our flower store .

Ms. Ceolia Graves March 7, 1940 - November 19, 2025 85 Years of Age Ms. Ceolia Graves passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at home in Clinton, Mississippi. She was born on March 7, 1940 in Bolton, Mississippi to the late Cleveland "Buddy" Graves and the late Sarah Howard Graves. Services: Viewing: Friday, November 28, 2025/ 1:00 - 6:00 pm Bolton Funeral Home 205 Bolton Brownsville Rd, Bolton, MS Visitation With Family: Friday, November 28, 2025/ 5:00 - 6:00 PM Bolton Funeral Home, 205 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton, MS Funeral Service: Saturday, November 29, 2025/ 11:00 AM Brownsville Missionary Baptist Church 7565 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton, MS Interment: Saturday, November 29, 2025 Hill of Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery 1079 Annie Fortner Rd, Bolton, MS To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ceolia Graves, please visit our flower store .

by Tyler Teresa, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration     Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and has been officially cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) since 2011. It is an important part of the busiest shopping season for small businesses.  Last Small Business Saturday in 2024, the reported projected spending in the United States from those who shopped small on Small Business Saturday was around  $22 billion .  This is an excellent opportunity not only for entrepreneurs but for everyone to have a chance to support their local communities. “Since 2010, the total reported U.S. spending at small businesses during the annual Small Business Saturday is an estimated $223 billion,” said Tyler Teresa, SBA Southeast Regional Administrator.”  “This is our chance to support our neighbors, family members and friends who are hardworking entrepreneurs. When we support local entrepreneurs, we support our local economy. This is what a true community is all about. Please shop small, dine small, and thank a small business owner for their community impact this Small Business Saturday.” Americans understand that small businesses contribute to the relevancy of their communities, support local non-profits, employ more than half of our workforce and are a significant economic engine both locally and nationally. About 80% of small business owners say that the end of the year spending by customers is critical for their bottom line.  These are just some of the reasons why we encourage people who invest in their communities to actively participate in Small Business Saturday.     The Saturday after Thanksgiving and the entire holiday season is the perfect time to drop by unique retail shops and to dine at local eateries. If you prefer to shop online, you can purchase goods and services and meals from small businesses by utilizing their websites. Be sure to make a positive impact on your own communities by shopping and dining SMALL on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season and know that you have made a positive contribution to your own community. Join the highly successful team of SBA and American Express in kicking off the 2025 holiday season- it starts with small business. Ways to Participate in Small Business Saturday 2025: Shoppers:   Find  small businesses participating in Small Business Saturday  in your area Small business owners:   Get free Small Business Saturday marketing materials  - including sample posters, and social media resources Partner organizations:   Follow SBA on social media  for all the latest updates on #ShopSmall Support our nation’s more than 36 million independent businesses this Small Business Saturday and all holiday season long.

By: Kelley Williams, Chair Bigger Pie Forum   Backwater flooding happens when the Mississippi River is higher (about 43’ at Vicksburg) than the Yazoo River and blocks its discharge.  It takes less rain to raise and keep the Mississippi above 43’ than it used to. ( See More Flood for Less Rain .) So backwater flooding and batture flooding inside the levees are more frequent and longer — over three times longer since 2015.  Why? What happened to cause a step change in flooding in 2015? The trigger event was the record high 2011 flood.  But the primary cause is a power plant in the river 122 miles downstream from Vicksburg. It began operating in 1990 under a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with the Corps of Engineeers (Corps). It’s just upstream of the Old River Control Complex (ORCC) that was built in 1963 and modified in 1980.  The Corps operates ORCC to control the Mississippi’s flow to keep it from changing course (avulsing) down the Atchafalaya River. ( See Wistful Not Thinking .) The power plant is owned by a renewable energy company.  It’s purpose is to produce green (renewable) electricity, not to control the river. The Corps allocates most of ORCC’s flow to the power plant. This reduces its control of the river.  It also causes sediments to build up just downstream from ORCC that block part of the Mississippi’s channel and create a flow bottleneck.  That bottleneck slows the river’s discharge to the Gulf and causes higher and longer floods for the same downstream flow volume (i.e. the same rain). LSU’s Dr. Xu reported the mound of sediments (which I dubbed Mudberg) and the bottleneck in a paper published in 2017. The Corps knew about Mudberg but didn’t report it.  Dr. Xu said Mudberg and the bottleneck and the higher and longer floods they cause will cause the Mississippi to change course in a future big flood. The 2011 flood was the highest ever.  But not the longest.  Otherwise it might have caused the course change.  It did sweep more sediments downstream to Mudberg (as big floods do) and made it bigger and the bottleneck smaller and future floods longer and higher.  The first floods after 2011 occurred in a cluster 2015-21 and caused record backwater and batture flooding. The 2019 flood was the longest ever and one of the highest.  It likely made Mudberg bigger and the bottleneck smaller too.  So the next big flood will likely be even longer and higher. Every big flood now makes the next one longer and higher.  And so on — until the levees overtop. The Corps latest flow line study predicts the levees will overtop — hundreds of miles of mainline levees from above Greenville to New Orleans.  That will be a disaster for the Delta like the 1927 flood.  The Corps hasn’t told landowners about this and other coming disasters.  It quietly shelved the four volume flow line study published in 2019 that predicts them. We learned about the looming disasters and the Corps coverups of them from litigation discovery in a suit filed by Mississippi’s Secretary of State in early 2019.  The suit seeks just compensation under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution for damage to some half million acres of state and private property inside the levees caused by floods caused by the Corps. Over 500 property owners are plaintiffs.  I am one of them. The suit is hung up in court. It may take years to resolve.  The damages it seeks to recover are just a tiny fraction of the damage and destruction when levees overtop.  The clock is ticking on that catastrophic damage and destruction.  The risk increases every year.  Most people at risk are unaware of the damage and destruction that is coming.  Those who are aware may think the Corps will do something.  The Corps is doing something: it’s studying the looming disasters.  It’s great at studies.  And at not doing something. The Corps needs encouragement to do something.  I am writing about this to warn future flood victims and to encourage them to encourage the Corps to do something — and to ask their Senators and Congressperson to help. What can the Corps do to reduce the risk and mitigate the damage? Three things: 1) dredge Mudberg,  2) shut down/remove the power plant that cause the sediments that cause Mudberg and the bottleneck,  3) build a structure upstream of the ORCC to take the top off of floods and reduce their height and duration to take pressure off ORCC and levees. ( See earlier articles for details. ) It’s time for the Corps to stop the studies.  And stop the coverups.  And do something. Kelley Williams, Chair Bigger Pie Forum

At last check, there have been 60 fire deaths statewide in 2025. Cooking or the misuse of cooking equipment led to four of those deaths. “Many people have family and friends over for the holiday. Don’t let distractions put you and your guests in danger. Make your home safer by installing multiple smoke alarms. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short amount of time, turn off the stove,” said State Fire Marshal and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. Use these safety tips when preparing your Thanksgiving meal: Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop. Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves that could catch fire. If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk that pots will be knocked over. Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires, pan, and pot fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turning off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If you have a fire: Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 911 after you leave. Create an escape plan with multiple exits that all family members know and set a meeting place outside. If using a turkey fryer: Fryers should be used outdoors, a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials. Some turkey fryers are designed for indoor use. If you use one of these, follow the manufacturer's directions carefully. Never use a fryer in a garage or on a wooden deck. Make sure fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping. Never leave the fryer unattended. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture recommends you thaw a turkey 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. The Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends, when using a propane fryer, using a hose at least 6 feet long to distance the propane tank from the fryers flame.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB It was all the way back in 2013 that audiences were first introduced to the Four Horsemen of Magic – J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), and Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher). The quartet blurred the line between “magic tricks” and “heists,” in that they would make the money and valuables of rich evildoers disappear and then reappear in the hands of their audiences. The film spawned a 2016 sequel (called “Now You See Me 2,” which raised the question of why they didn’t use the obvious “Now You Don’t” subtitle for that movie) that did so poorly that I didn’t review or even see it. The franchise looked to be dead. But, as we know from the person-sawed-in-half trick, death is much less common in magic than its practitioners would have you believe. The new film promises a reunion of the Four Horsemen at a show in Brooklyn. They rip off a crooked crypto bro, but something’s off. The members use cheap special effects to “disappear” into the body of an audience member (Dominic Sessa), who does third-rate impressions of them while two friends in the crowd do the trickier stuff. Once the show is over, we learn that the Horsemen we saw were just holograms. Or at least the movie tells us they were holograms. My guess is that the movie used the real actors for the scenes that weren’t dominated by special effects. That’s a big problem with these movies – they can use shortcuts like editing and off-camera resources to deceive audiences. It robs the scenes of the splendor of stage magic, where the performers can’t rely on the luxury of movie magic. The show’s three magicians – Bosco (Sessa), June (Ariana Greenblatt), and Charlie (Justice Smith) have never even met the Four Horsemen… until Atlas shows up in their home. He’s mildly impressed by their chutzpah, but tells them that The Eye has a greater purpose for them. Remember The Eye? The magical organization pulling the strings on the heists? The one that turned out to be run by Mark Ruffalo’s Interpol agent in the first movie in a twist that stretched plausibility even for a series this goofy? Then again, the Horsemen themselves have already been impersonated in this movie, maybe someone is impersonating The Eye too. The rest of the movie is Horsemen both old and new on a globe-trotting adventure to take down dirty diamond dealer Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike). Based on the film’s advertising, it’s not much of a secret that the other three Horsemen will show up eventually, as well as enemy-turned ally Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman). They may even pull in another member. I don’t think they need the extra help against Vanderberg. She has an amateurish scheme to out-magic at least seven world-class magicians, one that involves the “leaving them to their slow demise without watching” trope that I can’t believe movies are still doing in 2025. I know I’m not supposed to spoil the endings of these movies, but all the suspenseful aspects of the film are little more than a countdown to her “probably” getting busted. I think it’s funny how I have so many complaints about “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” – the predictable story, the lame villain and lamer danger, and the reliance on special effects that any proper magician would surely denounce – and yet I recommend the film. The movie is saved for me based almost entirely on the charm of the cast, who have great banter and chemistry. Which is precisely why it’s a good idea to come out with a new movie now, nearly a decade after the last installment. Did this franchise “need” a third movie? No. But is it ever a bad time to give us a movie with this group of charismatic actors doing amusing magic? Also no. Grade: B- “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is rated PG-13 for some language, violence, and suggestive references. Its running time is 113 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .