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BIRTHDAYS

October 28 Patrick Key Gary Smith October 31 Carolyn Lewis Pritchett

China Grove Church to hold Fall Fest Monday

China Grove Church in Ruston is planning its Fall Fest Monday at 406 Vernon St. A Food Box Drive will be held beginning at 2 p.m., to coincide with a clothing giveaway at the same time at 406 Vernon St., while the Second Annual Trunk or Treat will be held at 6 p.m. at 407 Vernon St. Pastor Damian Wilson invites everyone from the public. One box limited per family.

Woman embarrassed to share news of first pregnancy

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DEAR HARRIETTE: I found out that I was pregnant about three months ago. This will be my first child, and I’m extremely happy about it. I’ve told a few immediate family members and my very best friends about my pregnancy, but for some reason, I’m feeling embarrassed about telling anyone outside of that.

Healthy alternatives for trick- or- treaters

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Halloween is a festive day for children and adults alike. However, the abundance of candy and chocolate offered on and around Halloween can compromise diets designed to keep people healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity prevalence in the United States was 20.7% among children between the ages of six and 11 and 22.2% among 12- to 19-year-olds from 2017 to 2020. That’s a significant concern for parents, even during a time of year when candy and other sugary foods take center stage. Everyone can do their part to keep kids on a healthy track this Halloween by offering more nutritious fare to trickor- treaters. While homemade treats used to reign supreme, concerns about contamination and/ or food allergies have convinced most people to offer pre-packaged items. Here are some ideas:

Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience to perform in Ruston

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Can you believe Nov. 4 is next Friday? We are starting the month with an awesome concert and everyone is invited! Wo r l d - r e n own zydeco band Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience will perform two shows at the Dixie Center for the arts next week. Simien is a two-time Grammy Award winning artist, and an eighth generation African-American roots and Louisiana Creole musician. Terrance has also been a New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival favorite for the past 34 years. Your kids may recognize his voice from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog song, “Gonna Take You There.” We are proud to host this amazing group as a part of North Central Louisiana Arts Council’s Lift Every Voice initiative, a series of programs that are intended to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in arts programming in our region The band will present a children’s show for our area 6th graders Friday morning, “Creole4Kidz,” a rousing educational presentation that introduces kids to Louisiana’s musical heritage and the people that created it.

BIRTHDAYS

October 27 Shawanda Grant October 28 Patrick Key Gary Smith October 31 Carolyn Lewis Pritchett Tony Tippett

Parents’ divorce upsets grown daughter, friend

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DEAR HARRIETTE: My girlfriend’s parents are getting a divorce after 25 years of marriage, and she’s taking it pretty hard. To be completely honest, I didn’t really think it would be a big deal for her. She’s always told me that her parents seem unhappy and that she would not like to be in a marriage like theirs.

Stop stickerweed before it’s too late

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Nothing spoils a nice barefooted walk through the lawn more than stickerweed. Also known as spurweed, stickers or burweed, seeds germinate in the fall and winter months in lawns, particularly where the turf is thin or patchy.

4 Things you need to keep in mind before open enrollment period

Open enrollment season is upon us. Whether you’re choosing benefits for the first time, adding coverage for a new family member or facing a passive enrollment, it’s likely your benefits decisions will look a little different this year. According to a June 2022 stud, 45% of employees expect inflation will impact their benefits decisions this year. In today’s constantly changing economic climate, people are looking for stability and protection — for their family, their finances and their health — with more than 85% of those surveyed indicating they would like to better understand what they can do to protect against the impact of inflation.

BIRTHDAYS

October 26 Nick Mardis, 37 October 27 Shawanda Grant October 28 Patrick Key Gary Smith October 29 Mikeshia Wilson October 31 Carolyn Lewis Pritchett Tony Tippett