It is possible to reduce your stress levels by looking for positive things in other people and situations.

We have entered into the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season. With the passing of each day as we approach Christmas the potential for stress rises. In an effort to manage the stress level of the season I ran across this article by John Boe in a November 27th article in RISMEDIA.

Structural engineers get paid big bucks to design buildings strong enough to withstand the damaging impact brought on by Mother Nature’s fury. They use computer simulations to help them identify and mitigate stress-fatigue factors, which might contribute to the collapse of the building. Ironically, people, like buildings, are also susceptible to stress-fatigue factors and physical collapse brought on by the crippling affects derived from excessive fear, anxiety and worry.

Research indicates that a person will react to stressful situations based upon the temperament style that he or she was born into. For example, aggressive people have “anger management,” expressive people have “emotional management,” passive people have “self-esteem management” and analytical people have “stress management.” In other words, people who tend to be extremely detailed, organized, critical and shy attract stress into their lives like metal shavings are drawn to a magnet.

The major behaviors associated with people under stress include; aloofness, increased sadness, panic attacks, overly sarcastic humor and extreme negative self-talk. Stress occurs when an analytical or “melancholy” type of person is overwhelmed by his or her attempts to balance their physical, financial, personal, spiritual and career interests. The long-term affects of prolonged stress are accumulative and can be physically and mentally damaging over time. Stress manifests in the body as TMJ / teeth grinding, tension headaches, neck / shoulder pain and lower back pain. Here are several practical ideas that you can use to help you dramatically reduce your stress level and live a much more productive life.

Stress Management Tips

1. Get plenty of sleep.

2. Eat balanced meals and avoid eating junk food.

3. Drink plenty of water and avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine and other stimulants.

4. Avoid drinking alcohol in excess.

5. Learn to make decisions quickly and let go of the need to over-analyze everything.

6. Express your feelings appropriately and don’t bottle up your emotions.

7. Avoid trying for perfection and don’t sweat the small stuff.

8. Maintain a positive mental attitude by utilizing affirmative “self-talk.”

9. Stop worrying so much and look at situations more optimistically.

10. Smile and laugh frequently throughout the day, don’t take yourself so seriously.

11. Mix leisure with work: take breaks and get away when you can.

12. Make a point to spend quality time with your friends and family.

13. Become more tolerant and don’t be overly critical of yourself or others.

14. Always be kind and gentle with yourself.

15. Listen to upbeat music or watch your favorite movie.

16. Exercise for cardiovascular fitness three to four times a week.

17. Set written goals, plan your time and prioritize your activates.

18. Keep a list of “things to do” and stay focused on short-term accomplishments.

19. Get a massage or take a warm bath.

20. Do something nice for someone else.

I hope you, your family and friends take time to enjoy each day leading to Christmas and may your Holiday Season be Joyful and STRESS FREE!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to your family!

The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed an Armistice Day for 12th November, 1919. And TheUnited States Congress conceded a parallel resolution after 7 years on 4th June, 1926, applying for a President issue another declaration to survey 11th November with proper ceremonies. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) permitted 13th May , 1938, made 11th of November in every year an authorizedholiday; “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”

In the year of 1953, an Emporia, Kansas, shoe store holder named Al King had a plan to increase Armistice Day to commemorate all veterans, not presently those who provided in World War I. the king had been keenly occupied with an American War Dads throughout World War II. Then he started a crusade to turn the Armistice Day into “All”Veterans Day. And The Emporia Chamber of Commerce assumed the reason after resolving that 90% of the Emporia merchants with the Board of Educationsupported finishing their doors on 11th November, 1953, to tribute veterans. And with the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, from Emporia, a bill forholiday was push through Congress. The President Dwight Eisenhower marked it into law on 26th May, 1954.

Congress modified this act on 8th November, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with Veterans. It has been recognized as Veterans Day since.

Even though originally planned for commemoration on 11th November of each year, opening in 1971 compliant with the Uniform MondayHoliday Act, Veterans Day was shifted to fourth Monday of October. And In the year of 1978 it was retreated to its original commemoration on 11th November.

My Dad served in the Air Force in the Korean War, My Father-in- law served in the Navy during WW II and was in the pacific during the bombing of Pearl Harbor & my Mother-in-law and her family served in the Army and were stationed at Pearl Harbor during the bombing. I stand up and salute all of our brave men and women that have taken the oath to protect our freedom in this great land – for the families who have lost loved ones in battle abroad and at home!

Thank You for YOUR Service & May God Bless ALL of You and Your Families!

This is Pickleball

In addition to the experiential exhibits which are unique to this sesquicentennial event the day will also offer more traditional activities like bingo, square dancing, and children’s games. The 150th Cake Cutting Ceremony is a birthday tradition and this one offers fun and surprises. Trapp says that there will be plenty of music, free popcorn, ice cream and lemonade on hand as well.

Schedule of Events for September 3rd:
Downtown Brevard: 10am-5pm

9am-2pm 3rd Annual Farm Fair: Celebrating Our Local Producers at The American Legion Building (55 East Jordan Street)

10am-5pm Founders Day at the Transylvania Heritage Museum:
Cherokee Presentations, Genealogy Displays, Crafters, Civil War Re-enactment Camp, and more! (189 West Main Street)

10am-5pm Experience Transylvania: A series of interactive exhibits where you
can experience our history

10am-4pm Bingo

10am-5pm Heritage Pavilion: Demonstrations and Performances

Square Dancing • Live Heritage Music All Day

11am-2pm Traditional Kids’ Games

11pm-3pm Free Popcorn, Ice cream and Lemonade

2pm 150th Cake Cutting Ceremony
Brevard College: 7pm-10pm

You are invited to come down to Brevard College early to picnic. Free music will begin at 6:30pm

7:00pm FREE Edwin McCain Concert
Sponsored by the City of Brevard

9pm Multi-Media Fireworks Extravaganza sponsored in part by Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company
Featuring Brevard Community Band and Brevard College’s Music Department Students

Make plans now to spend your holiday weekend in beautiful  downtown Brevard.

Where else can you catch the hometown spirit, but in Downtown Brevard for Independence Day!

We start off with a bang early in the morning with the 5K/10K Firecracker Run, organized by the Brevard Rotary Club.

During the day, downtown streets are closed to an overflowing crowd. In 2011 Transylvania Community Arts Council hosts its 39th Annual Fine Arts & Craft Showcase. Not only is this a great way to showcase the artists of the region, but what better time to come and shop for those special gifts?!

Our Classic Automobile Show stretches for blocks and delights even the casual aficionado of 1920s to 1970s vintage vehicles. Organized by the Transylvania Cruisers, entertainers like Elvis and the Blues Brothers have been known to show up and croon while you swoon over these classic beauties.

The music doesn’t stop with the cars. Our Courthouse Gazebo is center stage for day-long musical entertainment.

2011 Gazebo Entertainment Schedule:
11:00am    Wanda Lu Paxton & Rule 62
12:00pm    Deano and the Dreamers
1:00pm      Lynn Goldsmith & The Jeter Mountain Band
2:00pm      Stepchild
3:00pm      Sylvan Square Dancers
4:00pm      Moon Shine Babies

For more information visit Heart of Brevard or call 828-884-3278

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication “To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead” (Source: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860′s tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

The Southeast Tourism Society chose the White Squirrel Festival and the Squirrel Box Derby as a Top 20 Event for the month of May 2009! This year’s event promises to be even bigger and better than ever, considering we had 25,000 people in attendance in 2010 – featuring Acoustic Syndicate!

The Land of Waterfalls Art Gallery is an artist’s cooperative whose members include local fine artists. Each artist has a unique talent, style and a variety of media represented. Experience fine art while visiting the falls at Connestee Falls Park located next to the gallery.

The Gallery will have a Ribbon cutting by the Chamber of Commerce on March 4th at 2PM and their Grand Opening with mini painting give aways and a drawing for a painting will be March 5th.

Watch their web site www.landofwaterfallsgallery.com for upcoming events including Guest Artists, Demonstrations by Gallery Artists and Featured Artists Receptions.

Their Winter Hours are Wednesday thru Saturday 10:00am to 4:30pm

Contact information: Phone: 828-883-3830 email: landofwaterfallsgallery@gmail.com

Address: 5388 South Greenville Highway next to Connestee Falls Park in Brevard North Carolina

According to RISMEDIA dated, January 3, 2011 By Cassandra Spratling—(MCT)—With cold, snow and ice come auto accidents. But there are basic steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of crashes, says the commanding officer of the Precision Driving Unit of the Michigan State Police. Here are five questions with Lt. Keith Wilson:

Q: How much should drivers slow down?
A: There is no one answer. It depends on the vehicle, the road conditions, the driver’s abilities and experience. But there are factors to consider. Can my vehicle stop at any point in time if it needs to avoid something ahead? Can I make the turn I need to make? Drivers need to plan further ahead. Slowing down enables them to analyze the situation more.

Q: What else should drivers do in addition to slowing down?
A: Make sure their tires are inflated to the proper inflation level. Make sure all lights are clean and visible to oncoming as well as following traffic. Make sure wipers are in good shape and you have adequate fluid for keeping the windshield clear. Brush all snow off the windows. Don’t clean just enough for your eyes to peak through. Not only is that not sufficient, but it’s against the law. Keep your car clean so it is visible. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination so you’re not pressed for time and you’re less likely to take chances and go faster than you should. And, as always make sure your brakes are working properly.

Q: Speaking of brakes, should you pump your brakes when trying to stop on snow or ice?
A: You should know your car. If you have anti-lock brakes, you should not pump your brakes. You should hold your pedal to the floor until your vehicle stops. If you do not have anti-lock brakes, you should gently pump or modulate your brakes to slow your vehicle to a stop.

Q: Is there such a thing as going too slow in bad weather?
A: State law dictates that drivers reduce speed to adjust to weather conditions, but there is no legal limit as far as going too slow. If you are going slower than most traffic, always stay to the right, so drivers can pass on the left.

Q: What do you say to those drivers who zoom by regardless of the weather conditions?
A: It’s usually those drivers who lose control and cause crashes. They are taking extra risks and putting others at risk when they’re not using good judgment.

Date set for the 2011 ride…April 9. Make your plans now.

The Assault on the Carolinas is the annual fundraiser for the Pisgah Forest Rotary Club. They offer a 100k, 60k, and 40k rides. The 100k goes through NC/SC mountains and valleys. Fully supported ride with 4 well stocked rest stops, and a challenging 6 mile climb up Ceasar’s Head. The 60 and 40k go through the river valleys of Scenic Transylvania County.

The Assault on the Carolinas is the major fundraiser for the Pisgah Forest Rotary Club. All of the funds raised are returned to our community through the various charities we support including: Sharing House, Safe Attic, Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County, Camp Shield, Scholarships, and most recently Transylvania Youth Soccer.