2 0 1 3 C h r i s t m a s Wi s h e s
Santa Claus and associates put in an appearance at the annual Middlesboro Christmas Parade again this season. The jolly old elf delighted children of all ages as he passed by them on
the parade route.
Pinnacle Photo / Ray Welch
We wish you a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
Pine Street ~ Pineville, Kentucky ~ 606~337~3411
The Christmas Story of the birth of Jesus
The Conception of Jesus Foretold
Mary, a virgin, was living in Galilee of
Nazareth and was engaged to be married to
Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. An angel visited
her and explained to her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
She would carry and give birth to this child
and she would name him Jesus.
At first Mary was afraid and troubled by
the angel's words. Being a virgin, Mary
questioned the angel, "How will this be?"
The angel explained that the child would be
God's own Son and, therefore, "nothing is
impossible with God." Humbled and in awe,
Mary believed the angel of the Lord and rejoiced in God her Savior.
Surely Mary reflected with wonder on
the words found in Isaiah 7:14 foretelling
this event, "Therefore the Lord himself will
give you a sign: The virgin will be with child
and will give birth to a son, and will call him
Immanuel." (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus
While Mary was still engaged to Joseph, she
miraculously became pregnant through the
Holy Spirit, as foretold to her by the angel.
When Mary told Joseph she was pregnant,
he had every right to feel disgraced. He knew
the child was not his own, and Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a grave social
stigma. Joseph not only had the right to divorce Mary, under Jewish law she could be
put to death by stoning.
Although Joseph's initial reaction was to
break the engagement, the appropriate thing
for a righteous man to do, he treated Mary
with extreme kindness. He did not want to
cause her further shame, so he decided to act
quietly. But God sent an angel to Joseph in a
dream to verify Mary's story and reassure
him that his marriage to her was God's will.
The angel explained that the child within
Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit, that
his name would be Jesus and that he was the
Messiah, God with us.
When Joseph woke from his dream, he
willingly obeyed God and took Mary home
to be his wife, in spite of the public humiliation he would face. Perhaps this noble quality is one of the reasons God chose him to be
the Messiah's earthly father.
Joseph too must have wondered in awe
as he remembered the words found in Isaiah
7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give
you a sign: The virgin will be with child and
will give birth to a son, and will call him Im-
manuel." (NIV)
At that time, Caesar Augustus decreed
that a census be taken, and every person in
the entire Roman world had to go to his own
town to register. Joseph, being of the line of
David, was required to go to Bethlehem to
register with Mary. While in Bethlehem,
Mary gave birth to Jesus. Probably due to the
census, the inn was too crowded, and Mary
gave birth in a crude stable. She wrapped the
baby in cloths and placed him in a manger.
The Shepherd's Worship the Savior
Out in the fields, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were tending
their flocks of sheep by night. The angel announced that the Savior had been born in the
town of David. Suddenly a great host of
heavenly beings appeared with the angels
and began singing praises to God. As the angelic beings departed, the shepherds decided
to travel to Bethlehem and see the Christchild.
There they found Mary, Joseph and the
baby, in the stable. After their visit, they
began to spread the word about this amazing
child and everything the angel had said about
him. They went on their way still praising
and glorifying God. But Mary kept quiet,
treasuring their words and pondering them
in her heart. It must have been beyond her
ability to grasp, that sleeping in her arms—
the tender child she had just borne—was the
Savior of the world.
The Magi Bring Gifts
After Jesus' birth, Herod was king of Judea.
At this time wise men (Magi) from the east
saw a star, they came in search, knowing the
star signified the birth of the king of the
Jews. The wise men came to the Jewish
rulers in Jerusalem and asked where the
Christ was to be born. The rulers explained,
"In Bethlehem in Judea," referring to Micah
5:2. Herod secretly met with the Magi and
asked them to report back after they had
found the child. Herod told the Magi that he
too wanted to go and worship the babe. But
secretly Herod was plotting to kill the child.
So the wise men continued to follow the
star in search of the new born king and found
Jesus with his mother in Bethlehem. (Most
likely Jesus was already two years of age by
this time.) They bowed and worshipped him,
offering treasures of gold, incense, and
myrrh. When they left, they did not return to
Herod. They had been warned in a dream of
his plot to destroy the child.
In this season of giving, we’d like to extend
our best wishes for a joyous Christmas and a
Happy New Year. For all the support
you’ve given us we are sincerely grateful.
Mikel’s Pharmacy
1928 Cumberland Avenue
Middlesboro, KY
(606) 248-1052
Danny Luttrell
Bob Dixon
Joe Stamper
Lisa Frith
Pam Keys
Amanda Hoskins
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from all of us at
The holiday countdown is on and it's time to
get your house razzle-dazzle ready. But before you do, make sure to check that your
lights and decorations are still in good working order after a year in storage. Not only can
old decor look worn out, but it also can put
you and your family at risk -- which is the
last thing anyone wants at this joyous time
of year.
CSA Group, a leader in public safety testing
and certification, offers these tips to help you
stay safe this holiday:
* Carefully inspect light strings each year.
Discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp
holders or loose connections. Inspect for
storage damage from moisture or rodents.
* Turn off the electricity to the supply outlet
before working with outdoor wiring. Unplug
light strings before replacing bulbs and
check to ensure replacement bulbs match the
voltage and wattage of the original. To avoid
a shock from damaged wires, use insulated
fasteners rather than metal nails or tacks to
hold light strings in place.
Peoples Choice
PHARMACY
30th Street & Cumberland Avenue
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Your Fast, Friendly & Affordable Pharmacy
606 246 2001
At this special time of the year we give thanks
for the many blessings we share, including the
privilege of serving great people like you!
Schneider Insurance Services
See us for all your insurance needs!
Best wishes to all our
friends and neighbors
during this magical
holiday season!
* Make decorating a family activity by planning this year's theme with the kids, but don't
let children or pets play with light strings.
* Keep electrical connectors for outdoor
lights above ground, out of water and away
from metal gutters. Connect outdoor lighting
into receptacles protected by weatherproof
ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).
These can provide protection from electric
shock by sensing ground leakage and cutting
electrical power.
* Use heavy duty extension cords for high
wattage decorations and large electronicallyanimated displays, and don't overload extension cords.
If you need to purchase new lights, look for
a certification mark to ensure they are certified by an organization such as CSA Group.
And remember: outdoor holiday lights are
made for seasonal use only; extended exposure to the elements can lead to damage. So
when the holidays are over, take down the
festive decorations and place them back in
their original packaging for next year.
Include your pets in your
New Year’s resolutions
Pinnacle Photo / Ray Welch
May you
and your loved ones
enjoy all the blessings
of this holy season!
106 Cherry Street - Pineville, Kentucky
(606) 337~2045
It's the time of year when people make resolutions to be a better and healthier version of
themselves. So why
not make resolutions
that will mutually
benefit you and your
pet? Here are some
ideas to help you and
yours have the best
year yet.
* Eat more fresh
food. This may seem
like an easy resolution. However, it
takes time and preparation. For humans,
this means incorporating more fruits and
veggies into your diet
while for pets this means ensuring that their
pet food uses ingredients such as fresh
turkey, salmon and duck, fresh omega 3 and
6 oils (from coconuts and canola), wholesome berries and fruits and vegetables like
peas, spinach and carrots. Now Fresh premium petfood is a great example. You can
learn more about choosing a pet food with
the freshest, healthiest ingredients at
petcurean.com or
from your favorite
store or other website.
* Get more exercise.
Did you know pets
can decrease our
blood pressure and
cholesterol levels
and increase our opportunities for exercise,
outdoor
activities and socialization? Exercising
together will not
only help optimize
your health but also
allow you to spend more time together.
* Use that agenda. This doesn't seem like a
resolution, but sometimes making a plan is
the only way resolutions will come to life.
Most of us schedule time for other appointments and meetings, so why not set aside
some priority time for pets too?
Avoiding kitchen performance anxiety during the Christmas season
Whether you're a seasoned cook and veteran
at throwing parties, or new to the art of entertaining, hosting family and friends can
provoke a condition that has been coined,
"kitchen performance anxiety." With the holidays upon us, Meyer Corporation, U.S., the
largest cookware company in America with
long standing brands, such as Farberware
and Anolon, enlisted the advice of Los Angeles-based party expert Diane Rossen Worthington for tips on how to alleviate stress
and gain confidence hosting parties this time
of year, and all four seasons.
1. Start planning your menu as far in advance
as possible of your gathering -- whether it's
an intimate Sunday brunch, a big cocktail
party, a Sunday afternoon open house of
cookies and coffee, or a traditional sit-down
dinner. Tweak your menu as you get closer
to the day to make sure you're comfortable
with what you've set out to make. You may
need to edit here and there based on how
busy your schedule gets during the days
leading up to the date.
2. When selecting recipes, think like a chef
and choose dishes with ingredients that focus
on what's in season and available at peak
freshness. This approach to devising your
menu will ensure the best tasting results,
even if you're a novice cook. Fortunately, the
holidays is all about celebrating what's in
season -- such as pumpkin and acorn squash,
delicious root vegetables like sweet potatoes
and carrots, and crisp apples, juicy pears,
pecans, walnuts, cranberries, and more.
3. Seriously turn down the dial on stress by
choosing appetizers, sides, main dishes and
desserts that you can make either completely
or partly one or several days in advance. This
is a huge time saver that relieves a good deal
of the pressure to perform on the day of your
party. Selecting appetizers that you can make
in advance is especially smart, as this gives
you the freedom to enjoy the company of
guests when they first arrive.
4. Before you start cooking and baking, take
inventory of kitchen equipment to be sure
you have everything that's called for in your
recipes. Are your pots and pans, cookie
sheets, electric mixer, food processor,
kitchen knives and other culinary tools in
good working order? If you need to replace
or add items, now's the time to shop.
5. A well-stocked pantry is every clever
cook's secret weapon. Infuse your recipes
with gourmet flavors by having on hand a
variety of well-made red wine and balsamic
vinegars, assorted oils, good quality chicken
and vegetable stock, seasoning salts, capers,
spices and nuts. You might want to invest in
a package of Seriously Simple Seasoning
Salt for spicing up all of your savory dishes.
6. To save time on preparing drinks when
guests arrive, consider making pitchers of a
signature cocktail in advance, along with a
non-alcoholic version. You can set up a tray
in the foyer, kitchen or elsewhere that's convenient for guests to help themselves. For an
easy-to-make crowd pleaser that's perfect for
the holidays, try mulling fresh apple cider
with allspice, cinnamon sticks, lemon slices,
and a splash of bourbon or rum.
7. Make lists of everything that needs to be
done, from shopping for ingredients to planning when the cooking or baking gets done
to deciding on the look of your table setting
and choosing your lighting and background
music. You'll make entertaining seriously
simple when you refer to your "road map" of
lists -- a strategy that truly takes the stress
out of pulling it all together.
8. Give yourself permission to round out
your menu with store-bought foods. There's
no shame in focusing on what you make best
and leaving some items to other experts, like
the fabulous bakery down the road with the
most divine apple crumb pie and shortbread
cookies. You can also make smart shortcuts,
like purchasing ready-made piecrust to save
time baking your family's heirloom recipe
for sour cream pecan pie.
9. When you have a large gathering for a holiday cocktail or dinner party, select dishes
that taste great served cold or at room temperature. This takes the pressure off making
sure your timing for serving foods piping hot
-- not to mention stovetop or oven capacity - is perfect. Many appetizers, such as dips,
pates, crostini and, of course, cheese platters,
as well as many seasonal sides, like wild rice
salads and roasted vegetables, are at their
most flavorful when served at room temperature.
10. Embrace offers from family members
and guests to help out, since let's face it,
everyone winds up in the kitchen anyway.
Think ahead about the kinds of tasks that can
easily be delegated so that guests can feel
useful without working too hard - such as
tossing salad and serving into salad bowls,
pouring water into glasses at the table,
ladling food into serving platters, slicing
bread, setting the table, and clearing the
table. Being open to guests lending a hand
puts everyone at ease. And, most of all enjoy
your time with family and friends.
During this wonderful time we’d like to
offer our best wishes for a happy holiday
season and a joyous new year!
Twelve ways to a healthy holiday
The holidays offer a perfect opportunity for
enjoying loved ones, celebrating life, being
grateful, and reflecting on what’s important.
They are also a time to appreciate the gift of
health. Support health and safety for yourself
and others by following these timeless holiday tips.
Wash Hands
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting
sick and spreading germs to others. Wash
your hands with soap and clean running
water, rubbing them for at least 20 seconds.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue
when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have
tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper
sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
Bundle up for warmth
Cold temperatures can cause serious health
problems, especially in infants and older
adults. Stay dry, and dress warmly in several
layers of loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing.
Manage Stress
The holidays don’t need to take a toll on your
health and pocketbook. Keep your commitments and spending in check. Balance work,
home, and play. Get support from family and
friends. Keep a relaxed and positive outlook.
Make sure to get proper sleep.
Don’t drink and drive
Whether you're traveling across town or
around the world, help ensure your trip is
safe. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t let
someone else drink and drive. Wear a seat
belt every time you drive or ride in a motor
vehicle. Always buckle your child in the car
using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat
belt appropriate for his/her height, weight,
and age.
Be smoke free
Avoid smoking and breathing other people's
smoke. If you smoke, quit today! Call 1-800QUIT-NOW or talk to your health care
provider for help.
Get exams, screenings and vaccinations
Exams and screenings can help find potential
problems early, when the chances for treatment and cure are often better. Vaccinations
help prevent diseases and save lives. Schedule a visit with your health care provider for
a yearly exam. Ask what vaccinations and
tests you should get based on your age,
lifestyle, travel plans, medical history, and
family health history.
Watch children closely
Children are at high risk for injuries. Keep a
watchful eye on your kids when they’re eat-
ing and playing. Keep potentially dangerous
toys, food, drinks, household items, choking
hazards (like coins and hard candy), and
other objects out of kids' reach. Learn how
to provide early treatment for children who
are choking. Make sure toys are used properly. Develop rules about acceptable and safe
behaviors, including using electronic media.
Take extra precautions
Injuries can happen anywhere, and some
often occur around the holidays. Use step
stools instead of climbing on furniture when
hanging decorations. Leave the fireworks to
the professionals. Wear a helmet when riding
a bicycle or skateboarding to help prevent
head injuries. Keep vaccinations up to date.
Practice fire safety
Most residential fires occur during the winter
months. Keep candles away from children,
pets, walkways, trees, and curtains. Never
leave fireplaces, stoves, or candles unattended. Don't use generators, grills, or other
gasoline- or charcoal-burning devices inside
your home or garage. Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your
home. Test them once a month, and replace
batteries twice a year.
Use caution when preparing meals
As you prepare holiday meals, keep yourself
and your family safe from food-related illness. Wash hands and surfaces often. Avoid
cross-contamination by keeping raw meat,
poultry, seafood, and eggs (including their
juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and
eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper
temperature. Refrigerate promptly. Do not
leave perishable foods out for more than two
hours.
Eat with moderation
With balance and moderation, you can enjoy
the holidays the healthy way. Choose fresh
fruit as a festive and sweet substitute for
candy. Limit fats, salt, and sugary foods.
Find fun ways to stay active, such as dancing
to your favorite holiday music. Be active for
at least 2 1½ hours a week. Help kids and
teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.
The Twelve Ways
to a healthy holiday song
It may be cold outside,
but our hearts are
warmed as we recall
the many kind people
and customers that
have visited us this
year. We’re grateful
for your support and
we wish each of you a
Merry Christmas
and a
Happy
New Year!
Santa’s Busy Schedule With all the parade appearances and the like, Santa continued to be a busy guy. But, he made time as he always does, for the annual RoHo Christmas
Shopping spree for local children. Almost 300 local children were served this year.
May your heart and
home be blessed with
the true spirit of this
special time of year.
Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!
Pinnacle Photo / Ray Welch
RoHo Club and their volunteers provide
Christmas cheer to area children
The Roho Charitable Trust and Fishing Club
held their annual Christmas Shopping Spree
on Wednesday at Walmart. The club brought
271 pre-school through fifth grade children
from the Tri-State area to the shopping spree.
Various businesses, schools and other
volunteers helped with Roho’s endeavor to
help make Christmas a little brighter for the
children.
This year, each child was given $150 to
spend — $40 for toys and $110 for clothing.
They will also receive shoes donated by Walmart.
The children are chosen from 23 schools
by their teachers and principals in the area
based on need. Then, they are paired with an
adult volunteer to help with the choice of
items for their special Christmas shopping
trip.
Walmart and its associates began preparation for the event in September.
According to store manager Doug
Napier, all the employees look forward to the
event.
Walmart provides a special treat for
lunch and brings Santa Claus to the store to
visit with the children.
The Middlesboro elementary-age shoppers were transported from area schools by
church vans from the First Baptist Church of
Middlesboro.
Assisting the children once they arrived
at Walmart were employees from First State
Financial, Home Federal Bank, Mountain
View Nursing Home and Rehab Center,
Bell-Whitley, East End Pawn Shop, Community Trust Bank, Kiwanis of Middlesboro,
Pappy’s, LMU Athletic Department, LMUDCOM, Southeast Kentucky Community
and Technical College, J. Frank White Academy and Middlesboro ARH.
A group of approximately 50 Middlesboro High School Key Club members also
participated in the shopping event.
Steve Cambron, president of Roho, said
the children chosen to participate in the
shopping spree often think of giving before
receiving.
Some of them buy Christmas presents
for siblings or parents, rather than for themselves, he said.
“These kids are not selfish,” said Cambron. “They try to get things for brothers or
sisters or their mom or dad.”
In order to raise funds for this event,
Roho sponsors a fishing tournament the first
weekend in May each year. The proceeds
from the tournament are used in December
for the children’s shopping spree.
Roho was first organized about 46 years
ago by a group of former Jaycees who
wanted to continue serving their community.
The first shopping spree involved five
children in 1970.
Holiday Smiles: There were smiles all around at the annual RoHo Christmas Shopping Spree for area children. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if the kids enjoy it more or the
volunteers who assist them.
Pinnacle Photo / Ray Welch
Christmas Parade No Christmas season would be complete without a parade. Middlesboro’s parade had floats, marching units and everything that a holiday parade is supposed to
have, including Santa Claus.
Pinnacle Photo / Ray Welch
Wishing you a joyous Christmas
and the happiest of New Years!