Today's Feature

Discussed Possible Smoking Ban.

The City Council Public Services Committee met earlier this week and discussed a proposed ordinance that would ban smoking in Carthage restaurants. The proposal was initiated by Council and committee member Timothy Teed, who cited multiple reasons including the ability of families to eat without breathing smoke and allergy concerns.

The committee took no action on the item, but discussed the logistics of forming such an ordinance. Teed mentioned that it was not his intention to prohibit smoking in bars, or in all public places, but would like the ordinance to be limited to restaurants.

Committee Chair Bill Welch recommended that Teed make contact with the owners of local restaurants that currently have smoking sections, to find out their opinions on the proposal.

The committee also discussed wording for the ordinance, and agreed that further research should be done on other cities that had passed similar ordinances, to see what language had been included in their ordinances. Committee members agreed to continue discussions on the proposal at the next regular committee meeting, allowing time for research and public input.

Mornin'
So be good for goodness sake.

Ever get onea those Christmas carols in your head and not been able to shake it? I don’t mean one that you actually know all the words to, but one ya only know one line to. Oh you can hum all the rest of the song ok, but you only can remember that one phrase.

There are a few carols that I once thought I knew, but around Christmas they always seem to have more verses than I remember. But when it comes to that one phrase, boy can I belt it out.

They say this is onea the most stressful times of the year. Usually they attribute the stress to gettin’ together with family, or gift givin’ or bein’ alone durin’ the season. I’m thinkin’ it’s those unlearned carols that really cause the problem.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Everywhere we turn this time of year there seems to be sugar! This can be very stressful and even dreadful for those who have specific health goals in which sugar intake will certainly disrupt.

For many, it seems that one or two indulgences of the tasty molecules of sweetness leads to a nearly uncontrollable urge to consume more and more. Bah humbug!

Rather than choosing to crawl into a cave until the holidays pass, there are some very practical things we can do to help save the holiday spirit.

First and foremost it is wise to have a plan.

Sugar cravings are not always as simple as willpower. Often times it is an indicator of some balance that needs to happen in the body chemistry. Finding that balance can be extremely helpful in your plan of action.

Consider going to that next party having already eaten a healthy meal of good proteins, good fats and complex carbohydrates. In other words don’t go hungry. If you do go ahead and indulge in the sweets decide to have some protein with it to help balance your blood sugar which will help slow down the next sugar slump.

The ups and downs with sugar cravings can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to remain this way! Look at the whole picture including biochemistry and emotions to begin to pinpoint where you need to make lasting changes.

Consider a personal program that helps you beat the sugar blues and step into the holiday cheer.

Yours in good health…Naturally,

Leesa I. Robinson, NHP

artCentral
Art Notes from Hyde House
By Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

Having taken off last week from column writing let me express to you a Happy Thanksgiving! We had a group of 14 at my home for the big meal, and afterwards I took them a personal tour of the beautiful new Carthage Public Library, a drive- by of the new high school, and an art tour of the new McCune Brooks Regional Hospital that I have given to so many visitors recently! It never ceases to amaze me; the amount of impressive local original art there is to be viewed at our new hospital. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful new facility. Our town is looking very festive with the holiday decorations, and stores presenting a Christmas atmosphere that is so much an enjoyable part of the season, and I hope that many of you have taken my advice and put gifts of art on your Christmas lists. To what other gift can you attach on the backside, a card identifying not only the artist/ creator, but your own personal thoughts to the receiver? Such a gift will have the everlasting ability to please not only the recipient, but all those who view it as well. As I write we are in the middle of our second weekend of the new art show here at the Hyde Gallery, and I hope more visitors will attend this weekend, and then next, as that will be the third and last of this current exhibition. It is looking very festive here and I am sorry more have not come to view this nice display of holiday art. After this show closes on December 7th, the gallery will be closed to further exhibitions until the new season beginning February 13th, when we will again re-open and feature the original contemporary and abstract paintings of Jim Bilgere. More on Jim and that show in future articles!