By LORETTA FULTON Outdoor Christmas activities may be more popular than ever this year as people are looking for reasons to get out of the house and put thoughts of COVID-19 behind them for a while. Following is a partial list of upcoming events and cancelations. To add to the list, email editor@spiritofabilene.com CITY SIDEWALKSThe annual Christmas parade normally held the
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins at sundown Thursday, Dec. 10, and lasts until sundown Friday, Dec. 18. Locally, Cantor Monica O’Desky will preside over a small gathering at Temple Mizpah, 849 Chestnut St., beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16. “It is just to sing a few songs, light the candles together, and have some latkes,”
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK Successful people understand the value of life-long learning. I acknowledge that keeping my mind active by learning new skills and concepts will stave off brain laziness. On the other hand, I confess that I no longer learn as eagerly as I once did. I realized this in the early ’90s when I took on a new teaching
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS “Bench research” describes scientific endeavor that involves, at least partially, standing at a laboratory bench doing experiments. This might involve test tubes, various liquid solutions, small machines, and, in the case of a biologist, some sort of living organisms. The goal is to generate numbers that have some meaning or usefulness. I have done a lot of
Read moreNew Beginnings Big Country canceled its annual fundraiser luncheon this year due to the pandemic but is replacing it with an online auction. The auction goes live Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 5 a.m. and runs through noon Friday, Dec. 4. To access the auction go to http://www.32auctions.com/NB2020 Something for every taste will be available on the site: sporting goods, entertainment,
Read more
ILLUSTRATED BIBLE POEMSWhat: Children’s picture book featuring 34 Bible stories in poetic form, with original illustrations that recognize the Afro-Asiatic context of the biblical story.Who: Brian Dewayne, Nashville artist who earned a master’s degree in 2012 from the ACU Graduate School of Theology. He earned an undergraduate degree in art from Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. How to order: Deadline
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Sunday, April 14, 1912 The Titanic receives numerous messages that there is a lot of ice built up in the seaways Monday, April 15, 1912 – 4:15 AM Canadian Government Marine Agency “Titanic Sinking. Steamers towing her toward Cape Cod to beach her!” Monday, April 15, 1912 Reports that Titanic has hit an iceberg, but all passengers
Read more
IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Many lessons awaited a baby born in 1935 on a dry land farm in West Texas’ Tom Green County. Jimmie Royce Keeling calls all of them “blessings.” That’s how he has sized up life so far, and it’s hard to dispute him. He’s shown dogged determination to give a heap more back than he’s taken
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Several weeks ago, small flags appeared in our front yard. Our next-door neighbors were re-financing their house and one of the legal requirements was to identify the true boundaries between the properties. Boundaries are apparently important to all of us. In recent days, more flags have appeared, this time in our back yard. After asking my permission,
Read more
