June 2023 Scribe

Volume 9 Issue 6

Scribe

Covering Monterey and Surrounding Communities June 16, 2023

Hanging Limb Horse Ring donates to 4-H BB

The Overton County 4-H program worked with Officer Allen Conatser to establish a BB team at Wilson Elementary School.

Over the year-long process, they received two National Rifle Association grants to help provide materials for the program.

During the spring, the team worked hard not only to improve their shooting abilities, but to improve their knowledge of safety and shooting sports.

The Wilson Elementary 4-H BB team placed third in a tournament at Bend of the River and fourth at the State Daisy Competition.

The Hanging Limb Horse Ring noticed the hard work of these youth and decided to help-out. On June 10, there was a shootout at the ring. With this event, they were able to donate $150 to the team! This will be used to help pay for needed targets, supplies and educational materials.

This shooting sports team teaches important life skills like decision making, precision, mental processing and so much more. If you

are interested in learning more about shooting sports programs, please e-mail Nicole Marrero at nmarrero@utk.edu or call 931-

823-2735 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also have Facebook and Instagram that can be found at @oc4htn.

Garden Club presents scholarships

Garden Club

scholarships

2023 Monterey High School graduates. Recipients Dixie Elrod, Sarah Hood, Allie Hite, Allison Benjamin and Yarisseth Perez are pictured with Club officers, Treasurer Louise Vail, Vice president Jeanne Bevan, President Jan Stansell and Secretary Saundra Gilmore. Not pictured is recipient James Henry. Scholarship recipients already attending college are Mariah Bilbrey (Tennessee Tech) and Mary Tolomeo (University of Tennessee- Chattanooga).

Hanging Limb Horse ring donates $150 to the Wilson Elementary 4-H Club BB gun team. Pictured are Sammy Norrod and Officer Allen Conatser with team members, Dylan Anderson, Lily McCloud and Cody McCloud.

If you are interested in the great events happening in Hanging Limb, contact

Jesse at 931-319-1227 or email Thehanginglimbhorsering@gmail.com.

Lions issue inaugural enlistee scholarship

Photo submitted Monterey

awards six

to

Photos submitted Wilson Elementary 4-H Club BB Team members, Dylan Anderson, Lily McCloud and Cody McCloud, practice their sport and place in local tournaments.

Photo submitted

Monterey Lions Club President Mike Callahan presents the Club’s inaugural military scholarship to future Marine, Ethan Maddle, at its bi-monthly dinner meeting on Thursday, May 11. Going forward, the scholarship will be awarded each year to a deserving graduating Monterey High School senior who plans to enter the military after graduation. Joining Maddle at the Club dinner were his parents, Jason and Dana Maddle, and his grandmother, Brenda Dyle.

Sandwich Board

Treasure Sale set for June 17

The Monterey Garden Club will be having a Treasure Sale at the Monterey Farmers Market this Saturday, June 17, starting at 7 a.m. Proceeds will benefit Monterey High School graduates and our community. Come early to find your next treasure. They look forward to seeing you there!

Commodity distribution set for June 22

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency will hold a commodities distribution for Putnam County on Thursday, June 22, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Hope Church. Sign-up will be available at the distribution site.

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities.

This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee.

Monterey Swimming Pool open!

Summer is here and Monterey public swimming pool is now open! Putnam County Parks and Recreation have set the hours for Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $6 per person. Swimmers ages 2 and under are free. Make a splash this sum-

mer and swim at Monterey Swimming Pool.

Farmers Market open

Monterey Farmers Market is open. Vender permits are available at the Monterey Historic Depot. Call 8392111 for more information. Monterey Farmers Market is also open and available for yard sales. Hours are Thursday evenings 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Call the Monterey Depot Museum for a permit at 8392111.

Join Tennessee Disaster Response Team of Monterey Lion’s Club

The Disaster Response Team is a non-profit organization meeting the needs of those faced with natural disasters and also assists with searches for Amber and Silver alerts. The team needs donations of water, canned goods and money to make trips to and from disaster areas and also welcomes volunteers to help in relief missions. Contact team leader and Lions Club Presidnet Ken Hall at 2393318 to become a team volunteer.

Garden Club meets second Tuesdays

The Garden Club invites members and guests to come and listen to guest speakers, watch demonstrations and get tips for successful gardening every month. The club is active in the Monterey community and offer scholarships to Monterey High School graduates. For more

Standing Stone Scribe

Rebekah Beeler, Publisher

Standing Stone Scribe is a monthly publication covering news and features in Monterey and surrounding communities from Mayland to Rickman, Calfkiller to Crawford.

Editorial Policy: Standing Stone Scribe encourages event and news submissions and letters to the editor. Submissions should not be libelous and must bear the author’s name, complete address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. Standing Stone Scribe newspaper reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any and all submissions and advertisements intended for publication.

Copy deadline: All submissions must be received by the first Monday of the month. Standing Stone Scribe publications are set to be printed generally on the Thursday following the first Monday of the month, with the exception of Monday holidays in which the Scribe will be printed the following Thursday.

The Scribe welcomes electronic submissions at editorstandingstonescribe@gmail.com.

Advertising: Get the word out about your business, service or organization, increase traffic, expand your customer base, and communicate directly with the community you serve. Let Standing Stone Scribe tell everyone your business by advertisting in Monterey’s ONLY newspaper. For more information, specs and price sheet, email editorstandingstonescribe@gmail. com or text 931-265-9489.

information, please contact Monterey Garden Club President, The Monterey Garden Club meets on the second Tuesday of the month, from September through June. To learn more about the Club, please contact Jan Stansell at montereytngardenclub@ yahoo.com.

Monterey Board meets on first Mondays

The Town of Monterey holds monthly board meetings open to the public every first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Monterey Municiple Building. It is important for residents to see how the city is being managed and to take advantage of the opportunity use their voices. Everyone who has a vested interest in the town, its direction and prospects, as well as the necessity to understand city processes, programs and issues is encouraged to attend. Each board meeting begins with public comment. Sign up prior to the meeting with Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary to address the board.

Stay active at Monterey Senior Center Monterey Senior Center is located at 105 N. Elmore, Monterey, TN. Contact the Senior Center by calling 8398053. Membership is free for those 60 and over. Come and see what we are all about. Please stop by the center to see what new adventures have been added. Regular center hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. If schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Monterey Senior Center will also be closed.

VFW meets first Thursdays

Standing Stone Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6277 is looking to bolster its membership. Membership is at a critical level. According to Post 6277 Commander Jim Wolfgram, the roster lists 55 members,

but only about half a dozen are active. Post meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. VFW

Post 6277 is located at 45 S. Poplar St., Monterey, TN, and is open to all veterans who have served in a war or conflict. For more information, email Wolfgram at jwolf2521@hotmail.com.

Hanging Limb Horse Ring meets first Thursdays

Become a sponsor of the Hanging Limb Horse Ring. Banner spaces are available for the year to hang on the Hanging Limb Horse Ring fence and can be renewed yearly. Banner prices range from $90-$175. Sponsors must provide original artwork designs in PDF format. Should sponsors need artwork made, the cost is $25/ per hour. Please make checks payable to Hanging Limb Horse Ring.

Hanging Limb Community Center group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 204 Floyd Padgett Ln. in Crawford. For more information or to learn how to volunteer, contact President Jesse Bowman at 931-319-1227.

FCE Club meets fourth Monday

The Monterey Family and Consumer Education Club meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at the Monterey Senior Center at 6:30 p.m.

Check out Monterey Branch Library

Friends of the Monterey Library Book Sale is set for the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Used book donations are accepted during normal library hours. Lunch and Learn Series is offered on Thursdays at noon. Order and pre-pay for your lunch or feel free to bring your own lunch!

A monthly quilting class is held on the third Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. Bring your quilting project, learn

from experienced quilters and enjoy the company. Download the Libby app and use your library card number to download ebooks, audiobooks and magazines to use at home. Using personal computer? Go to https://reads. overdrive.com/. Please come and support the library and join Friends of the Monterey Library The library is located at 401 E. Commercial Ave, Monterey. 839-2103.

Monterey Pet Food Bank holds distributions, takes donations Monterey Pet Food Bank is now handing out dog and cat food on Tuesdays from 8:3011:30 a.m. at The Monterey Food Bank at 400 W. Crawford Ave. in Monterey, TN. Cat and dog food donations can be dropped off at Monterey Farmer’s Co-Op located at 202 S. Holly St. during regular business hours. For more information, contact Donna Herbert by emailing dherb9@gmail. com.

Suicide prevention resources available

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800273-8255) is one such free resource that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Titus House wants to help Need clothes? We can help!

Titus House, 306 W. Crawford Ave. in Monterey, provides free clothing to anyone in need. Titus House is open the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, except for October when it will be open the third Saturday. Titus House accepts donations of clean, dry clothing in bags or boxes. These may be dropped off at Titus House. Please put donations underneath the carport at the end of the Titus House driveway. Titus House appreciates your donations! Titus House is an outreach program of the

Monterey Church of Christ. Questions regarding Titus House please call (931) 2527676.

The Cottage Thrift Store open

The Cottage thrift store at the Monterey United Methodist Church offers new inventory and new pricing. They ask for everyone to exercise precautions, use gloves and masks and will have some available for their shoppers’ safety. Note: if there is a spike in local COVID-19 cases, The Cottage will remain closed.

SSHS/Monterey Hometown Project meets

Resuming in February, the Standing Stone Historical Society/Monterey Hometown Project meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Monterey Lions Club. The Society forwards and protects the Native American history of the monument and community, plans the annual Standing Stone Day celebration, sponsors the annual Miss Standing Stone Beauty Pageant to benefit a Monterey High School program, hosts the Standing Stone Essay and Art Contest and publishes an annual magazine featuring stories about the Standing Stone Monument, the community and its people.

Standing Stone Day is a local holiday that is observed annually on the second Saturday in October.

Monterey Hometown Project (not affiliated with the Monterey Hometown Project Committee created by the city board) meets directly following the Standing Stone Historical Society meeting. Monterey Hometown Project is a group organized under the Standing Stone Historical Society to raise funds to make improvements to the Town of Monterey. Email standingstoneday@gmail. com. Like their Facebook

•

Lions TDR Team receives VEC Customers Share Grant Sandwich Board

page at Standing Stone Day, Monterey, Tn.

UCDD Offers Relative Caregiver, Housing Assistance

Are you raising a relative child or need housing assistance? For more information on assistance and support, please contact Melissa Allison at the Upper Cumberland Development District toll-free at 1-877275-8233.

A support group meeting will be held for relatives that are caring for relative children during this month. Please contact Melissa Allison at 931-476-4127, if you are interested in attending this meeting.

Be an Ombudsman volunteer

Do you want to make a difference? Are you concerned about the needs of older people? Can you work with all types of people? Do you like to follow problems through to resolution?

As a volunteer ombudsman, you will be assigned to a specific long-term care facility, working to ensure that the resident’s rights are being protected. You will help residents with problems they are unable to resolve alone.

Volunteer ombudsmen dedicate three hours per week to this job. On-going training and support are provided. This could be the most challenging and rewarding volunteer opportunity you may ever have.

Training is scheduled for May 9-11, at the UCHRA office located at 580 S. Jefferson Ave. Suite B in Cookeville. For more information, please call (931) 432-4210.

Upper Cumberland SHIP/ SMP to host volunteer training

available for anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer with the program. Please contact Erin Perdue by phone at (931) 476-4147 or by email at eperdue@ ucdd.org to register or learn more.

SHIP and SMP are administered locally with UCDD and cover all 14 Upper Cumberland counties. SHIP/ SMP representatives provide free and unbiased Medicare counseling for any questions, abuse, or concerns; they will also screen Medicare beneficiaries for Low-Income Assistance Programs. SHIP is a federally funded program administered through the Area Agency on Aging & Disability. Got Medicare? Got Questions? Call SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 or 931-4324150.

Monterey

Aging Services for the Upper Cumberland, Inc. is looking for people who are empathetic, diplomatic, and skilled communicators to be volunteer Ombudsmen.

Are you currently looking for an opportunity to volunteer locally? The Upper Cumberland State Health Insurance Assistance Program and Senior Medicare Patrol are conducting a series of volunteer training days on June 9, 16, and 23 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Upper Cumberland Development District office located at 1104 England Dr. in Cookeville. All three training days are

The Area Agency on Aging and Disability, a division of the Upper Cumberland Development District, connects older adults and adults with disabilities in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region with services and resources to improve their quality of life. Find the AAAD on the web at www.ucdd.org and at facebook.com/UCDDconnect.

Celebrate Freedom Over Monterey

Freedom over Monterey concert event is to be held in downtown Monterey on July 3, with featured musical entertainment by KouZin and Caleb and Leann starting at 6 p.m. A fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, presented by the Town of Monterey, Landers Trade and Visit Cookeville-Putnam County.

Photo submitted

Lions Club secretary Joy Callahan, also representing the Volunteer Electric Corporation, awarded Ken Hall, team leader of the Tennessee Disaster Response Team, a VEC Customers Share Grant for their work in community service. The Lions Club is known internationally for its work to prevent blindness and nationally for its work in disaster relief.

By Paula Tudor Scribe columnist

Summer has always been an odd time for television.

From June to August most of us don’t devote much time to indoor activities, which is why new programming used to be such a rarity during those months. Streaming, of course, changed all of that. There is literally something new for everyone at any given time of the year -- even if it is just “new-to-you.”

Although there are countless streaming platforms, Amazon Prime is the only one I currently subscribe to. It feels like a waste to pay monthly for multiple streaming services when there are only so many hours in a day to watch television. And, at least with Prime, I can get free shipping as well, but I digress. I try to browse Prime at least once every few weeks to see if anything new and interesting pops up. For a while, I had been seeing a show called “Jury Duty” in my suggestions, and finally decided to give it a try this month. I didn’t expect much from it since the only person I recognized in the preview was James Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog, Enchanted). In addition, the show was listed as a FreeVee, formerly IMDbTV, original. FreeVee is a lesser known streaming service owned by Amazon that can be accessed with or without a Prime subscription. If you

You’ve been served!

have Prime, you automatically have access to FreeVee.

The first season of “Jury Duty” was released in April and it is one of the most unique shows I have seen in a while. I would describe it as part sitcom, part courtroom drama, part reality TV, and part mockumentary. It is certainly not a show that can be defined by any one genre. Every member of the cast is an actor, except for one, Ronald Gladden. Gladden believes he is part of an actual jury that is being filmed for a documentary. In the show’s first episode he meets James Marsden in the juror pool waiting area. Marsden plays an exaggerated version of himself who desperately tries to use his celebrity to get out of jury duty. Since the show takes place in a real Los Angeles courtroom, Gladden writes off all of the odd behavior he encounters as “an L.A. thing,” though there are numerous times in the show where he remarks about how everything has been like a reality show. He is often asked to take part in or witness outrageous, hard-to-believe situations that put his instincts to the test, so it is a bit like watching something like “Candid Camera” or “Punk’d.”

The fake court case in which Gladden and the cast are involved serves to put just enough reality into the show to keep Gladden from asking too many questions. In addition, the

Dave Says

Your Financial Life Depends on It

Dear Dave,

presence of a recognizable actor like Marsden, with his surprising personality traits, keeps Gladden from recognizing any of the other cast members. The truth is not revealed until the last few episodes of the season, when the jury finally reaches a verdict in the case. Without revealing too much about how the season ends, I’ll just say that Gladden is pleasantly surprised to find out that everything he thought was real wasn’t. It is worth watching the show just to see this reveal alone.

So far, there has been no word about whether there will be a second season of “Jury Duty,” or if that would even be a possibility. I think it would be interesting to see what another actor in Marsden’s position could bring to the table, although it might be kind of hard to top his performance. In the meantime, the entire first season of “Jury Duty” is available to watch on FreeVee.

• • •

Paula Tudor graduated cum laude from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, emphasizing English and communication. She is a freelance writer and a distinguished blogger/ online correspondent, with more than 3,000 followers on Twitter. The bulk of her work can be found at paulas-soapbox.blogspot.com and at paulatudor.com.

I’ve been struggling for about a year, ever since I made a stupid new-collegegraduate decision to finance a car. It’s a 2018 Jeep Compass, and I owe $21,000 on it. The trade-in value is about $11,000, so I really got stung on the sticker price and everything else. I also have $85,000 in student loan debt and around $7,500 on credit cards. The good news is, I make $63,000 at my job, and that should increase to $75,000 by January of next year. My girlfriend and I are renting an apartment and engaged to be married in 2025. How do I clean all this up before then?

Austin

Dear Austin,

Well, the good news is, you have the rest of your life to never make this kind of mistake again. I’m really sorry you’re going through all this, son. What a horrible thing to experience right after college.

So, you’re $10,000 upside down on a vehicle you owe $21,000 on, right? The truth is, you’re kind of stuck. If you’re serious about getting out of this mess and not repeating the same mistakes twice, you’re going to be working like a dog for the next year or two. Right now, you need a serious side job nights and weekends— maybe two. And I’m talking bare-bones living. No vacations, and no eating out for a while. You don’t need to see the inside of a restaurant unless you’re working there. Get what I’m saying? No unnecessary spending. Period. On top of all this, you’ve got to start living on a strict, written monthly budget.

Now, about your fiancée. I get the desire to fix things before you get married. But married people work together on this kind of stuff all the time. Believe it or not, there’s no perfect time to get married. I mean, it sounds like you two have already decided to go there and figured out neither one of you are perfect. That’s just called being human. So, there’s really no reason to wait on tying the knot at this point. And the truth is, the two of you can whip your finances into shape faster and much more efficiently working on it together—as a married couple.

Austin, I want you tear into this debt like your life depends on it. Because guess what, dude? It does!

— Dave Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Dear Dave, My employer offers an employee stock purchase plan at a 15% discount. I’m usually the kind of guy who buys stocks and holds on to them forever. But when it comes to an opportunity like this, should I buy it and wait for a year to sell it, or should I buy it and sell right away?

John

Dear John,

Generally, I don’t recommend buying single stocks at all. Single stocks are way too

risky, and a 15% discount is nothing special in this kind of scenario. Virtually every single company out there that has an employee stock option plan offers a 15% discount.

In most situations like this, if you pull up a 52-week chart on the stock’s performance, you’ll find a variance of as much as 15% in those 52 weeks. In other words, you could lose any or all of that discount in one move of the stock. Plus, it’s not like 15% is a big discount to begin with. Fifteen percent off a single stock, considering how volatile they are, is no big deal. But hey, if you love your company that much, they have a great track record, and the stock has a good history, go ahead. Just don’t allow single stocks as a category to make up more than 10% of your net worth. The core issue here is a lack of diversification. When you put all your eggs in one basket, there’s always some clown twirling the basket. The first time I ran into that was a long time ago with a lady who was 70 years old. She had worked for a large company for 40 years. On top of that, she invested all her 401(k), all her wealth— $800,000 total—in that one company. Well, this company experienced a crisis. It lost nearly half of its value, and her $800,000 was suddenly worth about $400,000. She left herself vulnerable with a high-risk play, John.

I’ll say it again. Don’t bet the farm on one horse, and don’t have more than 10% of your net worth wrapped up in single stocks. Hundreds of research projects have been

Continued on 10

Speaker Sexton’s capitol conversations

Prioritizing tax cuts for Tennesseans

Most consumers continue to feel the impacts of staggering inflation that have gripped our nation over the last couple of years. While there have also been national concerns about an economic recession, our businesses continue to thrive here in Tennessee.

That’s because the General Assembly has prioritized tax relief

for individuals, families and businesses over the last couple of years; we’ve done that again as part of the zero-debt, balanced budget passed in April. When the new budget goes into effect on July 1, it will include another $430 million in tax relief for families and businesses. Since 2011, our body has provided more than $2.5 billion in tax cuts for Tennesseans!

Reductions, cuts and relief as part of our new budget include a three-month sales tax holiday on food — a total reduction of more than $280 million. From Aug.– Oct., food and food ingredients will be tax-free for our

citizens; this reduction equates to a projected savings of more than $100 on average per family. The budget also includes the annual sales tax holiday on clothing and school supplies, which will take place later in July, as families and their children prepare for another school year.

Of course, education plays a critical role in strengthening Tennessee’s workforce. Recently, our state was named the best economy in America. In May, the Secretary of State’s office reported the highest new business registrations and renewals in its 25-year history of tracking these metrics. We’ve continued stand -

ing strong with small businesses all across Tennessee because we know they are the backbone of our local and statewide economies.

To ensure all can thrive and continue creating jobs, we’ve included $150 million in new reductions for these entities this year. These cuts include a $50,000 small business standard tax deduction, as well as the implementation of a $500,000 business property exemption for the franchise tax. Under the franchise tax exemption, some 68,000 businesses will benefit, and we’ve established a process that could lead to additional

franchise tax reform in future years. Additionally, we raised the threshold for the business tax from $10,000 to $100,000 of an entity’s annual gross profit. This reduction will benefit 140,000 taxpayers by supporting their efforts to grow their new or small businesses.

The conservative budget principles and pro-business policies we’ve implemented since 2011 are working for Tennesseans. In the years ahead, we’ll continue to enhance our state’s status as a national leader in fiscal responsibility so Tennessee remains the best state in America.

Dave Ramsey

Garden Club sponsors Girl State candidate

UT Discovery Gardens to host pollinator event June 20

University of Tennessee Gardens are getting geared up and excited for the upcoming Garden Buzz pollinator event at UT Discovery Gardens, 320 Experiment Station Rd. in Crossville, on Tuesday, June 20, from noon-2 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Tennessee Valley Authority. Cumberland County Master Gardeners potted plants for the giveaway. There are 100 pollinator gardens to giveaway on a first come, first serve basis. The event and the Gardens are open to the public, so anyone can attend. There will be plenty of activities, classes and beautiful gardens to explore. Some activities require pre-registration at forms.gle/7cmyAymWHbjboqAE7.

Master Gardener Bill Morgan will discuss “Native Plants and Biodiversity” with a focus on pollinating insects at noon. Garden tours will begin at 1 p.m., and also require pre-registration. Class and tour space is limited, so please pre-register.

Other activities, that do not require registration, include honey tasting and bee education with Cumberland County Bee Keepers Association, butterfly booth with fun activities for kids, caterpillar and butterfly information and a chance to see the lifecycle of a Monarch.

WCTE holds food drive to benefit local pantry

WCTE PBS is holding a month-long food and resource drive to benefit the Council of Americana Roots Music food pantry. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, directed by “Hippie” Jack Stoddart, provides much needed humanitarian aid to the under-served rural communities of Overton County and the surrounding region.

Donations of non-perishable food such as canned goods, peanut butter and spaghetti sauce are needed. WCTE is also collecting items such as toiletries, diapers and detergent. Donations can be dropped off at the WCTE downtown office, 229 E. Broad St., Cookeville, during business hours. Collection will take place through June 22.

WCTE is holding this food drive in conjunction with a screening of PBS Independent Lens Bridge Builders Collective, a short film series that focuses on people making meaningful change in their communities. One film, “The Power of Us: Community Aid Network,” features an organization which provides food and resources directly to the people who need it most, and which is entirely operated by volunteers and donations. Much like Hippie Jack’s food pantry, this organization offers aid without asking questions or requiring proof of need.

“After watching these short films, we were inspired to take action, and we hope that we’re able to make an impact with this food drive,” said Sarah Savage, Education and Engagement Coordinator for WCTE PBS.

Speaking about the people served by his organization’s food pantry, Hippie Jack said, “They’re hungry, that’s the key… part of it is, they’re hungry for people to care about them.”

At the conclusion of the drive, WCTE will be holding a

film screening and conversation event on June 20, at 5:30 p.m., at Big Tony’s Pizza, located at 866 E. 10th St. in Cookeville. This event is free and open to the public. Visit wcte.org/indielens or wcte.org/events/indielensbridge-builders for more information about this project.

Outpost launch party set for June 25 at Meadow Creek

A launch party for The Outpost at Meadow Creek Park is set for Sunday, June 25, when the Outdoor Experience and Caney Fork Cycles invites everyone to join in from noon to 6 p.m. for a day of adventure! The schedule of events is planned to include guided kayak and SUP instruction, guided mountain bike rides, fly casting clinics, climbing on the crag, guided hikes and trail running with Dusty from Express Footwear! Meadow Creek Park is located at 19195 Clarkrange Hwy. in Monterey. Come ready to explore and enjoy!

Photo submitted

Monterey Garden Club sponsors Monterey High School students for Girls State. This year, the Club sponsored Samantha Risher, center, pictured with Club officers Treasurer Louise Vail, Vice president Jeanne Bevan, President Jan Stansell and Secretary Saundra Gilmore. Monterey Garden Club is proud to participate in the civic activities offered to Monterey High School students.

Hilltop Chorale rock ‘n rolls for Elvis tribute

Director Frances Eldridge keeps the Monterey Hilltop Chorale on their toes for the Tribute to Elvis concert and dinner event at Hope in Christ Fellowship on June 2. The Chorale also sang such selections as “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” While the Hilltop Chorale fellas sang “Jail House Rock,” volunteer youth dancers Zolah and Zuranda Beeler performed a jazz routine they choreographed.

Photos by Zolah Beeler

Sweet Saundra Gilmore, in front, charms the audience with her solo rendition of “Blue Hawaii” at the Monterey Hilltop Chorale Tribute to Elvis Concert. The talented Jill Lazuka, in back, expertly rocked on the ivories, providing musical accompaniment for the concert event.

Ron Williamson makes the crowd swoon with his solo “Love Me Tender.”

Ko’u aloha! Rebekah Beeler and Dan Sheffler, above, sing Elvis Presley’s “Hawaiian Wedding Song” made famous in the 1961 hit film “Blue Hawaii.” The concert also boasted performances from several members of the Chorale. Kathy Radel wowed with her solo for “Blue Christmas,” accocmpanied by Monterey Hilltop Chorale. Debbie Morrison performed a wonderful solo of “Unchained Melody,” accompanied by Tony Phipps. Frances Eldridge offered a beautifully operatic and soulful solo singing “Softly as I Leave You.” Dan Sheffler’s upbeat and wooing “Good Luck Charm” solo brought a lot of fun, especially with back up dowop singers, Al Bevan, Ron Williamson and Marlon Lazuka. Monterey Cultural Adminstrator Rafferty Cleary graciously emceed the dinner concert event and brought comedy and charisma to the program.

6 Simple Tricks to Start Each Day Strong

At right, Joy Callahan movingly performs “I Believe” for the Monterey Hilltop Chorale Tribute to Elvis Concert.

3 Healthy Habits to Protect Your Skin

9 hibiscus tea bags

6 cups boiling water

3 cups Grapes from California puree (green, red, black or mixture)

4 1/2 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice (optional)

Nutritional information per serving

Kids Korner Bentley Bear is Stinky!

By Amy Swafford

One day in the Enchanted Woods, Bentley Bear and Freddy Fox were on their way to meet David Deer and Rusty Racoon. In the forest, there was a path with a soft green carpet for a trail. Along that trail, they heard something in the bushes.

“I wonder what that noise is,” Freddy said.

Bentley said, “Let’s go find out.”

As they inched closer to the bushes, Sadie Skunk came out.

“Oh, no,” Bentley rolled his eyes. “It’s Sadie Skunk.”

“Bentley that’s not nice to say,” Freddy told him.

Sadie Skunk lowered her head and sadly started to walk away. Freddy questioned Bentley and why he was being so mean to Sadie.

“Sadie walks funny, and looks funny and smells bad,” Bentley answered. “She isn’t cool like us,” he added boastingly.

Freddy told him, “Everyone is different. That’s what makes us all special in our own unique way. It’s not nice to think you’re better than someone else. What if I made fun of you because you were bigger than me or a different color than me and hibernated in the winter?”

Bentley thought about it and said, “I wouldn’t like it if you made fun of me. It would make me sad.”

“I think you need to go apologize to Sadie,” Freddy responded. Bentley agreed, “You’re right. Let’s go find her.”

The two friends went down the soft green trail looking for Sadie. Bentley saw her long black tail sticking up from behind some beautiful white daisies growing in the forest. As Bentley started walking towards Sadie, he stepped on a branch. The sudden noise scared Sadie and made her spray her skunk spray all over Bentley!

“I’m so sorry, Bentley! You scared me,” Sadie said. Freddy Fox started laughing.

“Who’s stinky now?” Freddy asked.

Bentley told Sadie it was okay, and that he knew she didn’t mean to spray him.

“I was coming to tell you how sorry I was for making fun of you earlier,” Bentley continued.

Then, laughingly, he said, “I guess the joke is on me now, though, because I am pretty stinky.”

Bentley learned two lessons that day. First, he learned that everyone is different and special in their own ways, and those differences should be celebrated. Secondly, he learned that you should always be careful when approaching a skunk. It can end very stinky!

• Fun facts: A skunk’s sulfuric spray has a range of up to 10 feet, and its odor can be detected up to 1.5 miles.

Protect Skin While Outdoors

Fill Your Plate with Healthy, Hydrating Foods

Manage Stress

Frosty Grape Hibiscus Slush

TPAC goes ‘Into the Woods’

By Rebekah Beeler Scribe publisher

As part of the Broadway at Tennessee Performing Arts Center series, “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sond heim opened on May 23. I might be tarred and feath ered for this, and may the theater gods forgive me, but I’m going to say it any way:

The Jr. version is better. That is not to say it’s not a great production. It is.

But, honestly, the entire second act laid waste to the dead horse that was being kicked. It goes too far and just simply is not necessary.

It’s not the actors’ fault, though. It’s in the writing. Now that the unpleasantness is out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff – cue the review!

I have four words for you:

Little Red Riding Hood.

As Little Red Riding Hood, Katy Geraghty was an absolute charm, propelling the musical forward into the fantastical woods. She redeemed the show from dismal lulls with her epically landed comedic moments. She reminded me of Nicola Coughlan who plays Clare Devlin on the Netflix series “Derry Girls,” and just as eye catching and completely talented. Geraghty was dessert, and

not just for the Wolf. She is certainly one to watch, and a fun one to watch at that. Speaking of the Wolf, Gavin Creel slayed (pun intended) as the dapper creeper in the woods. Working opposite of Geraghty as Little Red Riding Hood, he was just simply a worthy abductor in a Wile E. Coyote fashion. More than that, as Creel played the role of Cinderella’s Prince, he gave the audience the perfect combination of self degradation, humiliation and sex appeal. Not all princes are smart and handsome. Sometimes, you just get one or the other. If it tells you anything, as Cinderella’s Prince, Creel was perfectly handsome. I adored how he completely entertained as he smartly championed the silliness

of the role without being obnoxious about it (which would have been easy to do). He masterfully embraced the dumb-as-a-boxof-rocks character, making him all the more endearing on stage since he didn’t seem to notice how funny he really was as he let lines and expressions land with precision. He will definitely be on my radar as one to watch.

On the subject of princes, Repunzel’s Prince, played but Jason Forbach, was equally entertaining as Creel’s dashing counterpart. “Agony” is a fan (and my) favorite, and they were balanced in their energy and enthusiasm as they bounced their besotted hearts off one another. Forbach’s voice was luscious and debonair. Repunzel

was a lucky girl. As for Repunzel, played by Alysia Velez, the sweet songstress was completely picturesque, so it made sense that the set piece de-

play Cinderella’s stepsisters and stepmother.

picting her tower was a mobile pedestal topped with embellishments and a gilded picture frame. How very clever of scenic designer David Rockwell. Each of

his set pieces were simple, elegant and effective.

• See WOODS • Continued on 11

Playhouse offers a ‘SpongeBob’ summer

Beginning July 5, Cumberland County Playhouse presents The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition!

The stakes are higher than ever in this stunning all-singing, all-dancing dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt, destroying their beloved undersea world. Chaos ensues. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world!

The SpongeBob Musical is a one-hour edition of the hit Broadway musical based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and will be performed for youth by youth!

The cast features Kyra Crosby as Sandy Cheeks, Italiana Davis as Pearl, Zoey Detweiler as SpongeBob, Mahala Lantry as Perch Perkins, Peyton Lee as Patrick Star, Ella Mitchell as Karen Plankton, Mark Perry as Gary, JJ Ramsey as Old Man Jenkins, Angela Robbins as the French Narrator, Sophie Simmons as the Mayor, Luke Smith as Larry the Lobster, Noah Tolbert as Mr. Krabs, Kendall Walker as Squidward, Robert Walker as Plankton, and Ava Whittaker as Mrs. Puff, along with Logan Bass, Zolah Beeler, Zuranda Beeler, Carly Beth Butler, Cameron Collins, Isabella Daugherty, Harper Hadden, David Kappel, Brandi Lokey, Molly McGouirk, Morgan Neal, Sarah Kate Norris, Hannah Parrent, Leah Perry, Lily Rigney, Marianna Rodriguez, Breanna Sias, Lydia Sias, Kiera Simpson and Henley Willis.

Education Director Weslie Webster directs this production, with choreography by Caitlin Schaub and music direction by Marian Sullivan.

The SpongeBob Musical plays on the Mainstage through Aug. 19, is rated G and is sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey. The Playhouse Education Sponsor is The Swallows Agencies. Tickets can be purchased online at ccplayhouse.com or by calling the Playhouse Box Office at 484-5000. All CCP productions are made possible through sponsor support, with additional support provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission, The National Endowment for the Arts, Playhouse media sponsor The Crossville Chronicle, and Playhouse Season Partners Plateau Pediatrics, Tim and Susan Tewalt, Ken and Grace Patton, Bob and Jaye Emrick, Dr. Edward andKaren Thornblade, and BLB Construction, LLC. This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP5534 awarded to the State of Tennessee by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Photos by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade Montego Glover, above, looks fierce when the spell is broken as the Witch in her beautiful gown. Left, Gavin Creel and Katy Geraghty, are memorable in their portrayal as the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood for “Into the Woods” at Tennessee Performing Arts Center. If the shoe fits! Below, Ta’NikaGibson, Brooke Ishibashi and Nancy Opel

2023 Tennessee spring turkey harvest reported

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has compiled figures from the state’s recently completed 2023 spring wild turkey hunting season. The total reported harvest is 31,802, a 6% increase from 2022, and a 2% decrease over the previous five-year average at 32,495.

The season saw changes with a two-week later opening date than in previous years and the bag limit reduced from three birds to two birds, only one of which could be a juvenile or jake.

Harvest at the beginning of the season was extremely high and then dropped considerably as the season progressed. Harvest on private land during the two-day Young Sportsman Hunt and the opening weekend were 71% and 45 % higher than the respective five-year averages, but by 20 days into the season, reported harvest was above the five-year average by only 11%.

“The steep drop-off in harvest as the season continued may be attributed to the lower bag limit,” said Roger Shields, TWRA Wild Turkey Program Coordinator. “As hunters reached their twobird limit, they had to stop hunting. In the past, they may have continued hunting and harvested additional birds.”

Despite the slow finish to the season, a total of 25,500 hunters reported harvesting at least one turkey, 20% greater

than the five-year average of successful hunters.

Middle Tennessee (TWRA Region II) had 11,662 turkeys with four of the state’s top five counties. West Ten-

nessee (Region I) had 7,832 turkeys reported, followed by the Upper Cumberland (Region III) with 6,157, and East Tennessee (Region IV) with 6,150.

• MONEY •

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done that show individuals who buy individual stocks and think they know what they’re doing actually lose money much more often than they make money.

— Dave

It’s Not a Joint Venture, It’s A Marriage

Dear Dave,

When my wife and I got married, she had about $70,000 in savings and I had a lot of debt. We bought some property from her parents to build a home on, and she made a 20% down payment on the land from her savings. We’ve paid off some debt, and she has more in savings now. But I feel guilty, and it seems unfair to ask her to pay on our debt with her savings since most of it is debt I brought into the marriage. How do you feel about this?

Sonny Dear Sonny, This question tells me you’re a good guy with a good heart. But let me ask you a thing or two. When your wife gets sick, is it unfair for you to take care of her? You didn’t cause it. It’s not your fault. Of course, it’s not unfair. I’m not mad at you, buddy. I’m just throwing your own logic right back at you.

Maybe these next lines will sound familiar: for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. The old “Book of Common Prayer” continues the vows and says, “Unto thee, all my worldly goods I pledge.” This is called oneness. It’s called unity. And it’s what a good marriage should be about.

Do you get what I’m say-

ing, Sonny? The two of you are in this together. This is not a business partnership or joint venture. It’s a man and a woman pledging themselves, and all they have and are, to each other. I understand your feelings, but if you’re not careful, that kind of guilt will stand in the way of you two creating a successful marriage—both financially and emotionally. When you got married, the “me” and “mine” became “we” and “ours.” You got all her stuff, the good and bad, and she got all of yours. Now it’s time for you to work as a team to make the bad stuff go away and the good things even better. What’s fair (and what’s right) is to combine all of your income, all of your assets and all of your liabilities.

I know it’s uncomfortable, but you’ve got to choose courage. Ask her to go all in on this with you and attack your debt together. Work toward making your dreams come true together as one. That’s what’s fair, and that’s what’s best when you’re married.

— Dave

•

•

•

Dave Ramsey is an eighttime national bestselling author, personal finance expert and host of “The Ramsey Show.” He has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning,” “Today,” Fox News, CNN, Fox Business and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for the company Ramsey Solutions.

Over 1,700 acres added to Catoosa WMA

Expansion will enhance opportunities for recreation, restoration and education

On June, 7, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and The Conservation Fund announced the addition of roughly 1,740 acres to the Catoosa Wildlife Manage Area on the Cumberland Plateau in eastern Tennessee. The land secures critical wooded habitat for wildlife species and will enhance opportunities for WMA visitors including fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. Catoosa WMA is the State of Tennessee’s second largest WMA, spanning over 85,000 acres.

The new addition, located directly adjacent to the existing Catoosa WMA and north of Crossville, will be managed for its unique savanna oak, woodlands and grasslands, which benefit the land’s abundant upland game species such as turkey, deer, quail and ruffed grouse. The property contains several existing facilities including stables, a meeting area and cabins, which TWRA will utilize for public and training events.

“TWRA is grateful for our partnership with The Conservation Fund that supported this effort to improve wildlife connectivity and outdoor recreation for Tennesseans,” said Jason Maxedon, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency executive director. “This project is a critical investment in wildlife habitat that ensures the public will be able to enjoy our wildlife populations and beautiful natural resources for many generations to come.”

The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit that protects U.S. lands and waters to provide greater access to nature,

strengthen local economies and enhance climate resiliency, purchased the 1,740 acres in January 2023 from the Oakley family, who wanted to see their land protected and open for the public to enjoy. The Conservation Fund recently transferred the land to TWRA with funding provided by the Agency and the Tennessee chapter of The Nature Conservancy. TWRA funding came, in part, from a grant from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program.

“This effort opens up a whole swath of forested and grassland areas that were not previously accessible to the public,” said Ralph Knoll, Tennessee state director at The Conservation Fund. “And as a result, it will support additional recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat connectivity and Tennessee’s outdoor tourism economy — one of the fastest growing and most important industries for the state.”

The Oakley family said: “We are very gratified that this land can be preserved for the use of not only present Tennessee residents but for future generations.”

“This expansion of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area is a huge win for people and nature,” said Gabby Lynch, director of protection for The Nature Conservancy. “The new property secured by The Conservation Fund and TWRA falls within a globally significant corridor of wildlife habitat that will also benefit our state’s outdoor recreationists of all ages.”

The Foothills Land Conservancy (FLC) owns a conservation easement on roughly 800 acres of the new addition to Catoosa WMA. The easement restricts certain development that could hinder the natural landscape of the property but will not impact TWRA’s future recreational programming plans.

“Foothills Land Conservancy partnered with the Oakley’s in 2011 to permanently protect a portion of the property,” said FLC’s Natural Resources Director, Shelby Lyn Sanders. “The 800 acres under a conservation easement were surveyed by FLC biologists and found to have a rich diversity of plants and wildlife species, and features sections of No Business Creek and How Come You Creek, important tributaries within the Big South Fork watershed. The property’s proximity to the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area was also considered to be a significant conservation value at the time, so to have this tract become part of TWRA’s management activities falls right in line with Foothills’ mission of preserving, protecting, and enhancing lands across the southeast.”

About the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

The TWRA works to preserve, conserve, manage, protect, and enhance the fish and wildlife of the state and their habitats for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the citizens of Tennessee and its visitors. The Agency manages 1.6 million acres of public land and fosters the safe use of the state’s waters through a program of law enforcement, education, and access. tn.gov/twra.

About The Conservation Fund

At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Topranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 8.8 million acres of land, including over 335,000 acres in Tennessee. conservationfund.org.

The 2024 spring turkey season will be held April 13May 26. The Young Sportsman Hunt is the weekend of April 6-7.

Speaker announces TAC Grants for Cumberland County

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) today announced three separate grant awards totaling $143,800 for Cumberland County from the Tennessee Arts Commission. These grant awards are in addition to the $500,000 already allocated to the Cumberland County Playhouse as part of the FY 23-24 budget.

In partnership with the Arts Commission, the Cumberland County Playhouse will receive $119,200 in additional funding through the Commission’s Major Cultural Institutions grant.

These grants support wellestablished arts organizations in the state with budgets larger than $1 million. According to the Commission, these organizations represent the highest level

• WOODS •

Continued from 9

Simply put, Felicia Curry, who performed as Cinderella’s Mother, Granny and Giant, was absolutely memorable. I am in awe at the wide range of talent contained in a single body and performed in a single production. Curry commanded the stage in every role. As Cinderella’s Mother, she was tender and mesmerizing and was a beacon on stage, outshining everything, including the tree she essentially wore. As Granny, she dove in head first, first into the Wolf, then into her character. She was hilarious and took the small role to new heights. Finally, as the Giant, though the action was the puppeteers, Josh Breckenridge and Kennedy Kanagawa, manning giant cottage shoe props straight from the giant cobbler in the sky, she

of quality programming, contribute to the state’s cultural vitality, and benefit a broad and diverse service area.

The Plateau Women’s Chorus is set to receive $12,800, while the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is the recipient of $11,800 in funding through separate Rural Arts Project Support grants. These grant awards support projects and activities across all arts disciplines, focusing on community vitality and engagement in the state’s rural counties.

“It is an incredible honor to partner with the Arts Commission to provide these resources to three phenomenal organizations within Cumberland County,” said Speaker Sexton.

“We appreciate their work

took on the booming voice of an almighty. She created three distinct roles and a delightful show of her range from the tenderness of Cinderella’s Mother to the grainy Granny to the thunderous Giant.

Kanagawa also manned Milky White, a man-sized slinky cow puppet with sad eyes. The puppeteer had the entire audience’s attention. He expertly wooed as he mooed, and we all fell in love with the puppet, as made evident when pitiful

Milky White croaked and “Aww! No!” rolled out of the mouths of every audience member. Our hearts broke for that precious puppet. Another actor who left lasting impressions was Cinderella’s Stepmother, played by Nancy Opel. She made the character significant, reminiscent of Catherine O’Hara. She was a wicked doll, and con-

and the great benefits they provide to our citizens. I will continue finding ways to support them and others who work to enhance the quality of life in our community while also helping future generations continue to grow in their love for the arts.”

According to Executive Director Anne Pope, the Commission expects to award approximately 1,000 grants in rural and urban communities in all 95 counties of the state during the year, totaling up to $13.3 million in 21 Annual and Rolling Grant categories. These funds directly impact communities across Tennessee, in both urban and rural areas. The $13.3 million includes recurring state or federal funding only. These grants

flicted audience members who desperately wanted to dislike her character but couldn’t.

I admit that, though it took me a bit, I did eventually warm up to the Baker’s Wife, played by Stephanie J. Block. I have to give credit where it is due, and she managed to win me over and keep me with her expressiveness and timing. Well played.

Costume designer Andrea Hood deserved extra kudos for a job well done, but especially for the wearable eye candy she created; namely, Cinderella’s ball gown, Cinderella’s Stepmother’s dress, Lucinda and Florinda’s dresses, Cinderella and Repunzel’s princes, the Witch’s gown and the Wolf’s Victorianesque coat of literal tails.

I loved that the orchestra was live, on stage and apart of the action. They cannot get too much credit. They

do not include additional one-time pandemic-related relief such as TN Nonprofit Arts & Culture Recovery Fund.

The Commission’s allocations process involves a review by citizen advisory panels with expertise in various art disciplines and a review by the full Commission. Other grant opportunities are offered throughout the year with rolling deadlines for qualifying organizations, including grants for Arts Build Communities and Student Ticket Subsidy. Additional information on grant programs offered by the Commission is available at tnartscommission.org.

Tennessee’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $1.17 billion in annual economic activity through

were incredible and created a listen-worthy production. Having said all that, it is true that “there’s something about the woods.”

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: THE 1970s ACROSS

1. Aardvark’s repast

5. Game official, colloquially speaking

8. In alignment

12. Tiny bottle

13. Big rig

14. ____ Apso

15. Fairy-tale opener

16. Arabian chieftain

17. Peter Pumpkin ____

18. *White House Plumbers’

affair

20. Arrival times, acr.

21. *Gerald R. Ford and Nelson

A. Rockefeller

22. Tolkien’s Ogre-like creature

23. *Charlie’s TV detectives

26. At sea but close to shore

30. Always, poetically speaking

31. Adjust

34. Cupid, to the Greeks

35. High

37. 9 to 5, e.g.

38. Bow-like structure

39. Hippocrates’ promise

40. Struck in certain way, in baseball

42. Paleontologist’s estimate

43. Like a kilt

45. English county

47. Boiling blood

48. ____, Stinky and Stretch

50. Shade of beige

52. *”Rainy Day People” singer Gordon ____

56. Things on a list

57. Rod of a hot rod

58. *Bee Gees or The Supremes, e.g.

59. Saintly glows

60. Never, poetically speaking

61. Pre-Easter period

62. Demeanor

63. *Banned insecticide, acr.

64. Oxen connector

DOWN

1. Assert

2. *”Black Gold” singer Nina

the quality of life, economic vitality, tourism, and arts learning for people of all ages.The Tennessee Arts Commission is the state arts agency whose mission

ny and have the audience in absolute stitches.

is to cultivate the arts for the benefit of all Tennesseans and their communities.

3. Diplomat’s asset

4. *Popular bell-shaped part of garment

5. Gerrymander

6. Gives off

7. *Earth and Wind partner

8. *First female British prime minister

9. Pro ____

10. Operates

11. Head canal locale

13. Wisest

14. Unfriendly looks

19. Track event

22. Buck

23. Famous fable-maker

24. *Kathmandu location and Hippie Trail stop

25. Heating outlet cover

26. Research facil.

27. Shamu and such

28. *Khmer ____

29. English county

32. Sound of impact

33. Coffee holder

36. *Mao’s honorific

38. Sunbaked, archaically speaking

40. Busy flyer

41. *____ Rolle of “Good Times”

44. Corbel

46. *”Killing Me ____ with His Song”

48. Spayed

49. End of a shoelace

50. Evening purse

51. Wrap in waxy cloth

52. It “was made for you and me”

53. Black and white cookie

54. Piglet sound

55. Carrying container

56. *Helen Reddy’s “____ ____

Woman”

Photos by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade Rapunzel and Cinderella’s princes, Jason Forbach and Gavin Creel, are in total ago-

on the Mountain

Sweet (potato) Summertime!

Fuel Up for Summer Fun

Dietitian-approved, family-friendly recipes

(Family Features) Summer sun brings an abundance of outdoor activities from jumping in the pool and playing in the yard to simply lounging in the shade. Making the most of those warm weather moments with loved ones means maximizing your time and fueling up for adventure with easy, kidfriendly recipes the whole family can enjoy.

From favorite snacks to homemade lunches, flavorful dishes that are quick to make using nutritious fruits and veggies can help keep your family ready for whatever summer brings.

Dietitian-approved recipes

like Peanut Butter and Jelly

Sweet potato Taquitos and Easy Homemade Salsa offer better-for-you summer solutions with healthy ingredients like sweet potatoes, blueberries, raspberries, sweet onions, Roma tomatoes and more.

Ready in less than 30 minutes, these taquitos let you enjoy the convenient benefits of cooking with an air fryer, including:

• Healthier cooking: Requiring little to no oil, air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying.

• Timesaving: Air fryers can cook foods faster than traditional methods and typically with less cleanup.

• Versatility: From vegetables and meats to desserts or reheating leftovers, air fryers can cook a variety of foods.

“Get into the kitchen together as a family and get cooking,” said Julie Lopez, registered dietitian and culinary nutrition chef. “Cooking together can help kids build self-confidence and lay down the foundation for healthy eating habits.”

While shopping for your family’s preferred ingredients, remember to look for the Produce for Kids and Healthy Family Project logos next to favorite items in the produce department, as adding these flavorful fruits and veggies to your cart can help make a difference in your community.

Visit HealthyFamilyProject.com to find more summer recipe inspiration.

Take Salads Al Fresco for a Sweet Summer Meal

(Family Features) Get out of the kitchen and head outdoors this summer for fresh, delicious meals that call for lighting the grill and relaxing in the warmth of the season. Take some of your favorite courses - like salads, for instance - to the next level by adding grilled ingredients for that perfect bit of char.

Recipe courtesy of Tracy Shaw on behalf of Healthy Family Project

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 8

1 cup sweet potatoes, peeled and diced small

Non-stick olive oil spray

1/2 cup peanut butter, preferred nut butter or nut-free butter

8 small, low-carb flour tortillas

1 cup blueberries, washed and dried

1 cup raspberries, washed and dried

Preheat air fryer to 400 F.

Add diced sweet potatoes to air fryer basket and lightly spray with olive oil spray. Cook sweet potatoes

10 minutes, shaking basket

1-2 times to toss sweet potatoes.

Transfer cooked sweet potatoes to medium bowl; add peanut butter and mix well.

Lay tortillas on counter and place 1-2 tablespoons sweet potato mixture on each tortilla.

Add blueberries and raspberries next to sweet potato mixture.

Roll each tortilla tightly. Place rolled tortillas, seam sides down, in air fryer. Spray tortillas lightly with olive oil spray.

Cook in air fryer 6-7 minutes.

Easy Homemade Salsa

Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project

Cook time: 10 minutes

Servings: 6

1/2 small RealSweet sweet onion, halved

5 mini sweet peppers, seeded and quartered

3 Roma tomatoes, quartered

1 1/2 limes, juice only

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt, or to taste

Tortilla chips

In food processor, blend onion, peppers, tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro and garlic salt until desired consistency is reached. Serve with tortilla chips.

Source: Healthy Family Project

This Grilled Sweet Potato and Blueberry Salad offers all the tastes of the season with spring salad mix, fresh blueberries, walnuts and blue cheese. Topped with homemade lemon honey vinaigrette, it’s a light yet filling meal fit for warm days thanks in part to the superfood that takes it to new heights: sweet potatoes.

As one of the most versatile vegetables that’s easy to add to a variety of recipes for flavor and nutrition enhancement, sweet potatoes can be a key ingredient in simple or elevated, sweet or savory dishes alike. Whether they’re cooked on the stove, baked, microwaved, slow-cooked or grilled to a perfect doneness with a crispy char, they can be an ideal addition to better-for-you summer meals.

Plus, they’re a “diabetes superfood” per the American Diabetes Association because they’re rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, all of which are good for overall health. When enjoyed with the skin on, one medium sweet potato contains more than 100% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A, an important vitamin affecting vision, bone development and immune function. They’re also a good source of fiber and rich in potassium.

Another fun fact: the National Sweet potato Collaborators officially adopted the one-word spelling in 1989 to avoid confusion with equally unique and distinctive potatoes, which are also grown and marketed in the U.S. Sweet potato is a noun, not an adjective, meaning “sweet” is not a descriptor but part of the actual nomenclature. This is different than other potatoes using adjectives like white, red or russet to describe an entirely different vegetable. Find more nutritional information, fun facts and summer recipe ideas at NCSweetpotatoes.com.

Grilled Sweet Potato and Blueberry Salad

Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission and Andrea Mathis (beautifuleatsandthings.com) Servings: 4

Lemon Honey Vinaigrette:

6 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 1/2 tablespoons honey

Salt and pepper, to taste

3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cups spring salad mix

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles

Lemon wedges, for garnish (optional)

To make lemon honey vinaigrette: In bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Preheat grill to medium heat. Drizzle sweet potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill sliced sweet potatoes on each side about 5 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are tender and slightly charred. Remove from grill and let cool.

To arrange salad, spread spring salad mix onto large platter and top with grilled sweet potatoes, blueberries, walnuts and blue cheese crumbles.

Top with lemon honey vinaigrette and garnish with lemon wedges, if desired.

Source: North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sweetpotato Taquitos