December 20, 2015

Page 1

Why Trump can’t shut down the Internet A4 PANORAMA

USC Sumter crew hosts 30th annual holiday dinner C1 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

$1.50

Don’t let the holidays stress you out Mindfulness is key to avoiding getting overwhelmed BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Holidays can be “the most wonderful time of the year,” but de-stressing is important to be happy and healthy, according to local therapists.

“We are our own worst enemies sometimes as we think that we have to ‘try harder’ or ‘do more,’” said Constance Gina W. Smith, therapist and owner of Lifeway Counseling in Sumter. “You have to make time for yourself, have more self-care and self-compassion.

Holiday stress can be overwhelming for some people. Experts recommend avoiding pitfalls that exacerbate the problems stress causes. Missy Corrigan offers some tips on avoiding stress on page A3.

You just have to trust that things will get done.” Mindfulness is a key point to being less stressed, she said. The holidays are a time when there are fluctuations in people’s emotions.

PHOTO PROVIDED

SEE STRESS, PAGE A10

Dear Santa …

A CHRISTMAS STORY

Santa comes to life in the grocery store Editor’s note: One of our former reporters wrote this touching story on his Facebook account, and we asked if we could share it with our readers.

BY KEN BELL

Approximately 300 people were fed during last year’s dinner, and the church anticipates 500 guests this year. Shekia Bradford, event coordinator, said the church is expecting more guests because of the recent flood. She said feeding 500 people is estimated to cost about $5,000. “The meals never costs us anything,” Napoleon Bradford said. He said all food for the dinner is

I was grocery shopping last week when suddenly a little girl about 6 or 7 years old ran up, almost bumping into me. “Excuse me,” she said as she abruptly stopped. The child looked up at me BELL with her brown eyes open wide and in an excited voice asked, “Are you Santa Claus?” Almost immediately realizing I was not, she explained, “I saw you as we were coming in and thought you were Santa Claus.” About this time her mother walked up with an even younger child in the shopping cart. The mother began to apologize, but I stopped her. The excitement of the season danced in this child’s eyes and her cherub-like face was filled with the anticipation of Christmas. There was no way I could let her down. So I knelt down and whispered, “You found out my secret. No, I’m not Santa Claus; I’m his brother. I help him make sure boys and girls are being good even while shopping for groceries with their mother. But don’t tell anyone my secret, OK? And I’m going to let Santa know what a sweet big sister you are.” Suddenly, she latched on around my neck and gave me one of the biggest hugs I’ve ever had. “Will you tell him to bring me everything on my wish list this year?” she asked, excitedly. Not knowing the family’s financial situation and certainly not wanting to make a promise that Santa couldn’t keep, I gave the best answer I could

SEE DINNER, PAGE A10

SEE SANTA, PAGE A10

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Danielle Kelly, 6, works on coloring her letter to Santa at the Heath Pavilion at Swan Lake on Friday evening. The city also had a balloon sculptor and Santa for the children to visit.

Local church to host Christmas dinner for all BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church will host its fourth Community Christmas Dinner for the Sumter community from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the M. H. Newton Family Life Center, 415 Manning Ave. Napoleon Bradford, a minister at Jehovah, said the dinner was originally designed to feed the homeless but has grown to provide meals for everyone.

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He said the church did not want to alienate anyone and later reached out to others in the community to invite anyone who wants to eat or fellowship on Christmas. He said the dinner should focus on bringing families and community members together. “Christmas is just like Thanksgiving,” Bradford said, “you recognize who’s not there.” Bradford said meals will also be delivered to the sick and shut in.

CONTACT US Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226

DEATHS, A10 Hubbard L. Riley Pearline M. Outlaw Mary Lee Simon Henry L. Jackson Jr. Rebecca Richburg David S. Lowder Maggie F. Moses

WEATHER, A12

INSIDE

A NICE LAST DAY OF FALL

5 SECTIONS, 38 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 57

Mostly sunny and pleasant today; partly cloudy and warmer tonight than in recent nights. HIGH 57, LOW 38

Business D1 Classifieds D4 Comics E1

Lotteries A12 Opinion A9 Television E3


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December 20, 2015 by The Sumter Item - Issuu