Commentary

Christmas used to be a season marked more by heart than by hustle. Gifts were made by hand, decorations were pulled from nature, and meals were crafted from recipes passed down through the family. Today, with crowded malls and endless online shopping carts, it can be easy to forget that a meaningful Christmas doesn’t need to come wrapped in shiny paper or topped with a bow. Sometimes, the old ways—the simple skills— are the ones that bring the most joy.

Kiwanian Miranda Atkins, RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist“), spoke to Kiwanis Tuesday, October 28th. Her program was entitled “Gum Disease Can Kill More Than Your Smile”. She has been a hygienist for 18 years. She works for Dr. Bill Gaddis and also for a clinic in Monroe. There is a correlation between your health and your mouth. There are two types of inflammation, acute and chronic. Inflammation breaks down collagen in our bodies. The two types of mouth inflammation are gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis is inflammation caused by plaque. It can be affected by smoking, hormonal changes, etc. With good dental hygiene gingivitis can be reversed. Periodontal disease is chronic, affects gums and causes bone loss which is irreversible. However, it can be maintained. People with perio disease may need to see the hygienist more than twice a year.

Family celebrations don’t have to be big or fancy to be meaningful. In fact, some of the best ones are the simplest — the kind that happen around the kitchen table or in the backyard. It’s less about perfect decorations and more about the people gathered together. When I was growing up, celebrations often started with food. It might be a roast chicken on Sunday, a pie cooling on the windowsill, or a plate of cookies passed around after supper. The food wasn’t expensive or complicated, but it was made with care, and somehow that made it taste better.

Celebrating family is about making room for those moments. Maybe it’s calling everyone over for a potluck and letting the kids run wild while the adults linger over coffee. Maybe it’s starting a small tradition, like board games after dinner or a walk around the block on birthdays. Traditions don’t have to be older than dirt to matter; they just have to be repeated with love.

There’s something comforting about curling up with a good book and a little snack on the side. We often reach for something sweet - a cookie, a slice of cake, maybe even a bowl of chocolate-dipped pretzels. But let me offer you a little twist on tradition: the humble, flavorful, old-fashioned cheese straw. If you’ve never paired a savory bite with your pageturning moments, then sugar may have been stealing the spotlight for far too long.

Today, I want to introduce— or reintroduce—you to the perfect companion for your next cozy reading session: cheese straws. They’re sharp, buttery, and just spicy enough to make you sit up and take notice. And unlike gooey sweets or crumbly pastries, they’re tidy little ticks that won’t leave your pages smeared or sticky.

Reading, Writing, and Relaxing Th e re ’s something about autumn that practically begs us to slow down. The air cools, the leaves turn, and the days grow shorter. It’s as if the world itself whispers, “Sit a spell. You’ve earned it.” And what better way to heed that call than by returning to three simple pleasures: reading, writing, and relaxing.

In our busy modern lives, these can feel like luxuries, but there was a time when they were part of the day without a second thought. Evenings might find families gathered around the fire, books or letters in hand, the quiet broken only by the turning of pages or the scratch of a pen.

Reading doesn’t have to mean tackling a 500-page novel (unless you want to). It can be a short story, a favorite poem, or even a well-worn cookbook you pull out for inspiration. The important thing is letting your mind wander someplace outside your own four walls.

Dear Editor, What happened to the Winnfield Fair? I remember coming up in school and even years afterwards when the fair/carnival was the biggest attraction this town would have during the year. Now it’s gone to the dogs. I live one street away and I remember the time when I could not leave my home and expect not to come back and park in my own front yard. Cars would be lined up all along the street in front of my house on both sides. But that was before the city put the fence up and started charging people twice. Pay to come through the fence and again to ride on the carnival rides. Let’s face it, the carnival was the big attraction anyway. People could not wait to see what new ride the carnival would bring that year.

This has been a week full of meaningful engagement, reflection, and momentum for Northwestern.

From strengthening our external partnerships to celebrating the accomplishments of our faculty and students, I am encouraged by the ways in which our mission continues to take root and flourish across every area of the university

NSU & Fort Polk: Building the Future Together On Monday I met with Fort Polk officials to continue building military-academic partnerships. Our conversations focused on Fort Polk’s drone operations, our role operations, and NSU’s Advanced Remote and Geospatial Operations (ARGO) program. Opportunities for joint training, credentialing, and expanded use of ARGO resources are on the horizon. This collaboration highlights our role in serving Service Members while advancing innovation and workforce development in Central Louisiana.

“The Light Still Shines in Darkness” When you’re in total darkness, there’s only one thing that you want: Light.

Yes, I’ve stood in the thick darkness of Carlsbad Cavern and other caves and when they turn out the lights, you can’t even see your hand in front of your face. And, fear immediately begins to rise up within you: hoping they’ll soon turn the lights back on.

I’m not claustrophobic, but I’ll tell you one thing: it probably wouldn’t take long to become one if I was shut up deep inside of a cave—for you’re afraid to move. There are too many things to run into and too many holes to fall into.

So, let’s just say you’ll not find me spelunking anytime in the near future—unless I’m with a trusted guide and we have plenty of batteries for our flashlights!

Believe it or not, the same is true spiritually. From birth we’re “blinded by the god of this world” and live in spiritual darkness (II Corinthians 4:4).

Cream of Anything Soup Mix

When it comes to cooking from scratch, one of the biggest game changers is having a pantry stocked with basic homemade staples. And if you’ve ever reached for a can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup to pour into a casserole or soup recipe, you know how handy they can be. But what if you could make your own version—one that’s healthier, cheaper, and just as easy to use?

Enter the homemade Cream of Anything Soup Mix.

This dry mix is a must-have for anyone living a simpler, scratch-based lifestyle. It takes just a few minutes to mix up a batch and stores beautifully in a jar or sealed container. The best part? It’s completely adaptable. Whether your recipe calls for cream of chicken, celery, or mushroom, you can add the appropriate seasoning when it’s time to cook, and you’ve got the same creamy texture without the mystery ingredients or the metal can.

A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JAMES T. GENOVESE The fall semester is officially underway, and I am encouraged by the excitement, energy, and spirit of Demon pride that has been evident across campus this week. From welcoming new and returning students to celebrating the tremendous support of our alumni and friends, Northwestern is beginning the year on a strong and positive note.