By Lisa Miller In the heart of Bolton, the town's annual Christmas Parade took on a whimsical charm this year with the enchanting theme, "Christmas on Madison Street." The festivities unfolded with a delightful array of attractions, featuring Santa Claus on a firetruck, politicians spreading cheer, spirited cheerleaders, festive four wheelers, majestic horses, an abundance of candy, a thrilled crowd, and the timeless elegance of antique cars. The parade commenced with the resonant sirens of a firetruck, adorned with twinkling lights and a jubilant Santa Claus waving to the crowd from the top. The theme, "Christmas on Madison Street," set the stage for a journey through the nostalgic and festive spirit of the season, symbolizing the unity and joy that the holiday brings. Bolton's political leaders were an integral part of the celebration, embracing the theme wholeheartedly. Dressed in holiday-themed attire, they waved to the crowd, fostering a sense of community and togetherness as they showcased their festive spirit. The presence of politicians added a touch of civic pride to the parade, emphasizing the unity that the holiday season encourages. Spirited cheerleaders brought an infectious energy to the streets of Bolton, performing dazzling routines and high-flying stunts that had the crowd cheering in unison. Their vibrant presence added a dynamic and youthful element to the procession, capturing the hearts of onlookers and embodying the essence of joyful celebration. The unmistakable rumble of four wheelers added a contemporary and spirited vibe to the parade. Adorned with festive decorations, these vehicles brought a touch of modern flair to "Christmas on Madison Street," appealing to the diverse tastes of the community. Majestic horses and riders, decked out in holiday regalia, contributed to the equestrian elegance of the parade. Their graceful presence and the gentle jingle of sleigh bells further enhanced the enchanting atmosphere, transporting spectators into a magical winter wonderland. As the parade made its way through the town, large crowds gathered along Madison Street, eagerly anticipating the next enchanting float. Children and adults alike reveled in the excitement, their faces lighting up as candy rained down from parade participants. The sweet treats added an extra layer of joy to the festivities, creating an atmosphere of shared delight. Antique cars, meticulously decorated with festive flair, provided a nostalgic touch to the procession. These classic vehicles, rolling down Madison Street, showcased the timeless elegance of days gone by and added a layer of historical charm to the festive celebration. In the end, "Christmas on Madison Street" proved to be a magical affair, uniting the community in a shared experience of joy and merriment. The parade, with its diverse array of participants and the heartwarming theme, embodied the true spirit of Christmas in Bolton, leaving behind cherished memories for all who were fortunate enough to witness the enchanting spectacle. See photos here.

By Bob Garver When the writers’ and actors’ strikes of 2023 forced several movies off the fall schedule, it was a pair of musicians that came to the rescue with two of the most heavily-promoted concert movies of all time. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” got the box office through a rough patch back in October. Now comes “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” to get it through early December. The box office shouldn’t need Beyoncé to get it through early December, Thanksgiving weekend should have brought about some hits with staying power, but where the slate of traditional blockbusters failed, the concert documentary is here to thrive. Since comparisons to the Taylor film are inevitable, I’ll jump right into those. One of the first things I noticed was that this film is a mashup of several Beyoncé concerts, whereas Taylor’s film was limited to one. There are points in the film that cut between performances of the same song at different venues. The editing during these scenes is always smooth, and I’d be unable to tell that any cutting was even going on were it not for Beyoncé’s outfits inexplicably changing mid-song. They’re always great outfits, so the chance to see as many of them as possible is greatly appreciated. Then again, there’s something about all the cutting between concerts that seems like cheating. With Taylor, there was a “no second takes” atmosphere that made the whole production seem flawless and magical (though I have since learned that some flubs were edited out). With Beyoncé, I get the impression that there’s a safety net where if a take didn’t go well at one concert, the film could just cut to footage from another. That’s not to say the film leaves out imperfections entirely – one show is interrupted by a power outage – but I feel like the film only left this scene in as a calculated showcase for the crew overcoming adversity, and possibly so the audience wouldn’t think about other mistakes. The other big difference between Beyoncé’s film and Taylor’s is that while that one was almost entirely limited to what the audience saw at the concert, this one throws in behind-the-scenes footage. I have mixed feelings on this idea, both in concept and execution. In concept, yes, we’re getting to see exclusive footage, but I kept getting the feeling that it was at the expense of getting to see her perform more songs – including some of her biggest hits, which aren’t in this movie. In execution, I found the behind-the-scenes stuff to be hit or miss. Beyoncé wants the audience to know how hard she works, which is undeniably true to a nearly impossible degree, but the point is made so often that it feels beaten into the ground by movie’s end. Anecdote-wise, Beyoncé often makes time to affectionately put over role models like her mother and a family friend named Uncle Jonny that made many of her early outfits. Uncle Jonny passed away over 20 years ago and somehow he’s the breakout star of this film. I’ll be honest, I had a hard time enjoying “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” despite Beyoncé being an incredible artist with some of the most dominating charisma on the planet. Maybe it was because so many of the songs chosen for this movie were unknown to me. Maybe it was all the cutting away from the music for non-musical pontifications. Maybe it was just that after two concert movies in two months, I’m all concert-ed out. I can’t say I “go” for this one, but if you’re a member of the BeyHive, you’ll probably get more out of it than I did. Grade: C “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce” is not rated by the MPAA, but would be an R for language and sexually suggestive material. Its running time is 169 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Mom and her teen-age daughter were grocery shopping together, preparing for the family dinner on Friday night. The family always enjoyed fresh fruits, so before paying out at the cash register, they stopped in the fruit and vegetable section of the store. Mom picked thru several possible candidates of cantaloupes, squeezing, eyeballing and then finally picking each one up to give it her final test – smelling. Her daughter stood by watching this whole ritual with her usual impatient rolling of the eyes and sighing. But Mom finally found ‘the one,’ the one which met all her criteria, and turned to place it in her basket. At that point, she met the eyes of her young daughter and spotted the unmistakable “Mom, why all this fuss over a stupid cantaloupe?” look in her eyes. Swallowing her own annoyance, Mom proceeded to patiently teach her young teenager that all the rigamarole she had gone through allowed her to find a cantaloupe that was truly cantaloupey – unblemished, perfectly ripe, and tasty. As she talked, she suddenly recognized this could be a fun opportunity to teach the girl how to evaluate boys and find the ones who would be good dating material, as dating often leads to marriage material later. How to identify and find promising ‘young cantaloupes.’ This is what Mom taught while holding two totally different-looking cantaloupes in her hands: Dating – the time for searching through the bin and recognizing a truly ripe cantaloupe. Rejecting the ones that you can readily identify as still-green candidates. And also the ones who have a blemish that will soon ruin the taste. Actually, a lot like the process of finding a possible future life partner. Life partner possibles – the cantaloupes that hold a lot of promising evidence of being what a mature cantaloupe should be when it is cut and eaten. A young man on his way to becoming a mature, loving and responsible adult. Promising evidence – A cantaloupe with a good scent and no visible blemishes. A young man who is respectful and exhibits honesty, kindness, and patience. And most importantly is a true follower of God. Blemishes – An easily spotted bruising on the surface of the fruit. “If I buy an obviously blemished one, it will likely have a mushy texture when it’s cut open, and a bad taste when we try to eat it. And I’ll have just spent my money for nothing and disappointed myself. I would have to just throw it away, so it’s not worth the risk.” Same disappointing issues can occur with a mate. The daughter probably acted bored with this lecture – but still, she heard it and probably absorbed much of it. Hopefully, applying it as she dated in the coming years until her probable marriage. This was a smart and caring mom, who took advantage of a moment to teach a valuable lesson that would influence her girl’s dating decisions and her entire future.

Hinds Community College has two fall graduation ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec 14 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. Nursing and allied health graduates along with academic, technical and career graduates whose last names begin with A-G will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony. The 2 p.m. ceremony is for graduates whose last names begin with H-Z. Nearly 600 graduates will receive a total of 887 credentials, with some students receiving more than one credential. In total, 126 students are graduating cum laude with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59; 72 are graduating magna cum laude with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.99 and 20 are graduating summa cum laude with a grade point average of 4.0. Kimberly Gaines of Pearl will offer the invocation and benediction at the 10 a.m. ceremony. She will earn a degree in nursing and wants to practice her passion for caregiving as an LPN in an assisted living facility after graduation. Speaking on behalf of graduates is Taviyon Young, a native of Natchez who now lives in Madison County. He studies political science and will earn his Associate Degree in General Studies. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, is a former Rankin Campus Student Government President and is a member of the Minority Male Leadership Initiative. He is transferring to Jackson State University, where he plans to study political science with a concentration in legal studies. Offering the invocation and benediction at the 2 p.m. ceremony is Eric Dotson of Kosciusko. He will receive an Associate Degree in General Studies. He plans to join the Army National Guard after graduation and then transfer to a four-year college. The speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony is Chelse McGrew of Hazlehurst, who will receive an Associate Degree in Kinesiology. She plans to transfer to the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg to get a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and become a physical therapist.

By Kara Kimbrough Borrowing a phrase from a former college student of mine who once said, “Wow, you lecture a LOT about stuff you’re passionate about!” I’m continuing my series (not lecture) on the joys of gifting others this Christmas with homemade candy, cookies and other treats. I even have a story from Christmas ’22 to back up my claim that home-baked gifts are the best – and it’s a good one. Last year, I gave a friend a bag full of homemade treats a few days before Christmas that include a tin of orange balls. This is an old-school Christmas treat best served chilled due to its butter content. Unbeknownst to me, she and her husband were about to embark on a day-long journey to their son’s home in Tennessee. Halfway there, she texted me to say they were parked on the side of the road devouring the contents of the bag. I was concerned a lunch of sugar and spice pecans, sugar cookies and lukewarm orange balls was less than filling; however, she assured me it was a lifesaver in their quest to reach their destination before dark. Now that I’ve convinced you (without lecturing) that gifting homemade Christmas treats might just turn into a lifesaver for those on your list, I’ll share a few more of my favorite old-fashioned Christmas treats. After previously publishing my favorites - the recipe for my grandmother’s buttermilk fudge and microwave pecan pralines - and hearing from readers about sugar-related disasters, I vowed never to share them in print again. However, if you’d like these two recipes, drop me an email and I’ll send it to you. In the meantime, get into the kitchen and starting compiling your own “Lifesaving Christmas Treat Bags!” Scottish Shortbread Cookies 1 pound cold unsalted butter, sliced 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1-1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt 4 cups all-purposed flour In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until soft. Add the sugars and salt, and continue to mix until the texture is fluffy. Scrape down the bowl once or twice along the way. Add the flour in two additions, mixing on low until just combined. Turn out onto the countertop, form a ball and press into a thick disc shape. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until completely chilled, minimum of a couple of hours. Heat oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the center. Roll the dough out 3/4-inch thick and use a cookie cutter or knife to create as many cookies as possible. Use a cookie stamp to imprint a design on top, if desired. Arrange an inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheet. Return the cookies to refrigerator, on the pan, for another 15-30 minutes to prevent spreading. Bake for 20 minutes, rotate pan, and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until cookies are golden. Old-Fashioned Orange Balls 11 ounce box Nilla Wafers Vanilla Wafer Cookies, crumbled 1 Stick of Butter, melted 6 ounces Orange Juice Concentrate (I used half a 12 ounce size) ½ cup Chopped Pecans 2 cups Confectioner's Sugar 3 cups Flaked Sweetened Coconut, more if needed Add the crumbled vanilla wafers, orange juice concentrate, pecans and melted butter to the large bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment; mix on a medium speed until combined. Add confectioner's powdered sugar, then continue to mix until combine. Dough will be sticky. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper then use a one inch scoop to form orange balls, placing them on the lined baking sheet. After all the balls are formed, gently roll them in the flaked coconut to coat and transfer the orange snowball back to the lined baking sheet; repeat until all are coated. Refrigerate the orange snowballs until ready to serve. Note: Orange balls do need to be refrigerated before and after serving. Christmas Turtles Nonstick cooking spray 1 cup pecan halves 24 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 teaspoon shortening Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray. Arrange 3 pecan halves in a "Y" shape on the prepared cookie sheet. Place 1 caramel candy in the center of the "Y". Repeat with remaining pecans and caramels. Bake in preheated oven just until caramel is melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat chocolate chips and shortening in a saucepan over low heat until chocolate is melted. Spoon chocolate over candies and refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch today warned Mississippians to be aware of unsolicited “missed delivery” notification scams as they increase this holiday season. “Sadly, the holiday season is a prime-time opportunity for scammers,” said General Fitch. “Knowing consumers are eagerly anticipating the arrival of packages before the holiday, bad actors send unsolicited texts and emails urging you to click on a link to locate a missed or delayed delivery. Beware: this is likely a scam and you should not click on these links or provide any personal or financial information. One bad click could lead to malware, fraud and identity theft. Familiarize yourself with these common tactics to avoid these scams.” Delivery scams start with a text message or an email about delivering a package to your address. These messages often include a "tracking link" that you are urged to click in order to update your delivery or payment preferences. You might also get a voicemail message with a call-back number, or a "missed delivery" tag on your door with a number to call. How to spot and avoid fraudulent notifications: Unexpected requests for money in return for delivery of a package, often with a sense of urgency. Requests for personal and/or financial information. Links to misspelled or slightly altered website addresses, such as "fedx.com" or "fed-ex.com" Spelling and grammatical errors or excessive use of capitalization and exclamation points. Certificate errors or lack of online security protocols for sensitive activities. If you receive suspicious emails or texts, do not click on the link. Go to the delivery carrier's website directly or use the retailer's tracking tools to verify the sender's identity and avoid these scams. The U.S. Postal Service has warned against any "unsolicited mobile text messages indicating that a USPS delivery is awaiting your action" and link to a non-Postal Service website. In addition, both FedEx and UPS have reminded customers that they do not seek payment or personal information through unsolicited texts and email. To report fraud, scams, or deceptive business practices, contact the Attorney General’s Office at consumer@ago.ms.gov or click here to complete an online complaint form. These tips are part of a series on consumer education General Fitch has shared through social media, including tips to avoid seasonal job scams and tips to recognize charitable giving scams. ​

The Town of Bolton will host its annual Christmas parade on Saturday, December 9, 2023. The parade will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. This year's theme iş: “Christmas on Madison Street." The Grand Marshall will be James Anderson, Fine Arts Director at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. We are encouraging all our local elected officials, business owners, churches, local schools, civic and social organizations to participate. The entry fee for the parade is $10. The Christmas Committee is waiving the entry fee for area bands participating in the parade. ​

United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $299,868 grant through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Program to Mississippi Association of Cooperatives (MAC). The project seeks to provide outreach to MAC farmers and coordinate the services of university extensions, Federal Drug Administration, consultants, and youth to provide classroom training in local communities that have not been addressed; develop a marketing plan for fruit and vegetable farmers involved with MAC; provide technical assistance to farmers on the process of becoming certified and assist farmers with the costs of certification; and develop a peer training program to reduce the need for external trainers and keep expertise in the community.

In celebration of the upcoming winter holidays, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will host the annual Homestead for the Holidays event on Thursday, December 7, and Friday, December 8, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Admission is $8 per person for ages 3 and up. Enjoy breakfast for supper, story time with Mrs. Claus and get your picture made with Santa and Rudolph. Take a stroll through Small Town to see various agricultural demonstrations and visit the Fortenberry-Parkman Farmstead to experience Christmas during the early 1920s. The carousel, train rides and hayrides will be available, as well as live music throughout the grounds. Visitors will have the opportunity to write letters to Santa on limited-edition postcards, printed in the Small-Town Print Shop, and browse the General Store for an old-fashioned glass bottle drink and unique Mississippi-made products that make great gifts and stocking stuffers. Homestead for the Holidays is sponsored in part by the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, the Mississippi Beef Council, Cal-Maine Foods Inc., Mississippi Poultry Association and The Dairy Alliance. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

By Bob Garver Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” did rather well for itself over Thanksgiving weekend, opening in the #2 position at the domestic box office behind the second weekend of the new “Hunger Games.” A debut at #2 behind a not-particularly-beloved returning champion may not sound impressive, but my prediction was that it wouldn’t even finish in the top three. The film is a three-hour, R-rated historical epic that isn’t getting great reviews or generating much Oscars buzz outside of the technical categories. I thought for sure its performance would pale in comparison to family-friendly fare like “Wish” or “Trolls Band Together.” Yet the film pulled what I would consider a major upset over those seemingly surefire hits. Something tells me that Napoleon himself would have a hard time hiding a smirk over how badly I underestimated his biopic. The movie follows Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) from his days as a gunnery officer watching the execution of Marie Antoinette to his rise in the military to General to his participation in a coup that sees him become Emperor of France to his eventual downfall, exile, and worst of all, defeat. We never see him as a child or any version of him that can’t plausibly be played by Joaquin Phoenix. Again, if the real Napoleon was anything like the way Phoenix plays him, I bet he’d agree with that decision – skip the humble beginnings and start from one of the most important events in history and go from there. As with most biopics, half the movie is a love story. He woos a widow named Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), who does not initially believe he is who he says he is. I suppose he’s attracted to the challenge. The two have a rocky relationship fraught with obstacles, such as long stretches apart, infertility, affairs on both their parts, and his megalomaniacal nutjob personality. The real Napoleon might begrudgingly concede some wrongdoing in the relationship, though I’m sure he would vehemently object to his portrayal in the couple’s intimacy scenes. Right or wrong, it’s the sort of thing one invariably denies. Director Scott wants the audience to care about the relationship, and especially Josephine as a character. As with “The Last Duel,” the film chides history buffs that ignore the female perspective. But people aren’t coming to this movie for the relationship, they’re coming for the battle scenes, and there are plenty of them. There’s no shortage of shootings and skewerings, but it’s the cannons that do the most damage, especially when the venue is a frozen lake and the cannons can shatter the entire battlefield. And the less said about what a cannonball does to a horse in one scene, the better. The real Napoleon would probably nitpick some details, but overall approve of the grand scale of these scenes. There are so many battle scenes in “Napoleon” that I was actually tired of them by the movie’s end. I found myself nodding off during the Battle of Waterloo, and then I had no problem making it through a scene of Napoleon eating breakfast the next morning. The relationship stuff drags too, and the film keeps introducing new characters and can’t make any of them interesting or memorable to save its life. It can’t even make Napoleon himself that interesting, though Phoenix plays the character with some endearingly insecure touches. Basically, there’s too much of too much here. The real Napoleon would probably approve of all the excess, though even he might think the movie wastes an excessive amount of time. Grade: C- “Napoleon” is rated R for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and brief language. Its running time is 158 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

By Mika Hartman During this Christmas season, we all get overwhelmed with all the “things to do” to have the most “perfect” Christmas. “Perfect" is subjective, isn’t it? My perfect is likely both similar and different to yours. One of the biggest differences is that my little guy won’t be sharing his biggest desires for the holidays. Nonverbal is tricky; not wrong or bad, just tricky. Guessing what he needs or what might be wrong is an art. You start with the basics and you overthink everything all day long. It’s not that this is hard, you just desire to bring the needs of your child in the fastest way possible to them; sometimes that feels unachievable and sometimes its like a hole in one. However, even with the unachievable, you never stop trying. There will even be times that you’ll never know what was wrong and you’ll never have fixed it. Seeking peace over the known and unknown is a constant prayer of mine. This is why the perfect Christmas is a big desire for families like mine. We spend every day hoping we have it right. While we have some communication, it’s all what we program for Hudson to be available to him. All communication is good and I am prayerful that is just the start of more doors opening. Just think about needing a simple hug after a rough day, you ask. I bet you get it, too. I hug Hudson all the time because he can’t ask… and honestly, these hugs are just as much for me. Because I can’t buy every toy on the shelf, I really rely heavily on Hudson’s team of therapists. They guide me on toys they have at the centers that we don’t have at home. If you have met Hudson, you know his iPad is his true “blanket of comfort”. I want him to enjoy more than a screen and for him to have motivation outside of electronics. It’s a struggle. He loves his movies; so much so, that three iPads have taken baths with him. True story. So one great Christmas present idea is iPad insurance! Hudson smiles and laughs more than anyone I know. This is the best communication and completely universal. I know he is happy, I know he feels loved. Hudson makes every day feel like Christmas. Even before Hudson was born, I sang “Silent Night” as a normal part of my mommy-singing playlist. It was right in there with “Rock-a-bye Baby” and “You are my Sunshine”. It always felt right for me to sing this. As I reflected on the words, it’s always been important that my children have these lyrics known by heart. Silent Night, Holy Night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth This song has been sung a thousand times on my lips. And with my two older children, the sweetest memories of cuddles and rocking and kisses fill my head and my heart. But, when Hudson was born, the lyrics had a new take for me. I love all my children equally, but singing this song to Hudson in the NICU made the words even more needed. The whole song. Especially words “love’s pure light”, “Thy holy face”. When we remember whose children we are, we ALL are, we can sing with the Heavenly hosts, “Alleluia”. Hudson was my tender and mild infant that had to fight to live. God made him. God knew he would have an extra chromosome long before I did. God makes no mistakes. Mary did you know? Mary got to kiss the face of God. Wow. Beautiful. Perfect. And that is how I felt kissing Hudson.. my gift with radiant beams, from God. Hudson was born with medical challenges, with intellectual challenges and with both seen and unseen challenges… and he loves life. Our children who were born with disabilities aren’t affected by the challenges they face in a negative way. Why does the world seem so clueless to the beautiful within my child? Hudson was born with a great responsibility to be bigger and stronger than his disabilities. He is better and kinder in the life he was given than many who will never face most of what he faces. To be loud and bold isn’t an option, but rather a must. He has to be heard; nonverbal is not unable to communicate. You have to take time to see what he is saying. It’s a joyful sound, music to your ears, when you hear him. While I desperately pray for nights of conversations and lists a mile long of Christmas wishes, I am so very grateful for my silent nights. Hudson is here, he’s alive. He has dreams and hopes and I get the privilege of watching him work hard to get where he can communicate this to the world… however he can. With the dawn of redeeming grace, our EXTRA silent nights are perfect.