A rose to all those we might be inclined to take for granted during the Christmas season, a list that includes all our public servants — from police officers to firefighters to hospital workers — to the frazzled clerks at all those stores whose help we solicited and received in search of “just the right gift.”
A rose to the countless people whose generosity ensured a good meal, a toy, warm clothing for the poor in our communities. Whether it was a contribution to a well-established charity or a simple act of random kindness, your generosity was the best exhibition of the spirit of the season. Now if we could all maintain those good works throughout the year.
A rose to the culinary arts program at Mississippi University for Women, which will be taking its act on the road in the fall to share information and stress the importance of healthy eating. Mississippi is the most obese state in the country, so the efforts to share information about healthy alternatives — and perhaps just as importantly how to prepare those meals — is a great public service. The W’s Project CHEW (Cook Healthy, Eat Well). The mobile unit will be highlighted by a 24-foot fully equipped W-wrapped catering trailer that will feature a demonstration kitchen with audio and visual equipment. The project will venture statewide to present culinary demonstrations that emphasize healthy ingredients and food preparation techniques.
A rose to all those “football widows” (and widowers) for what lies just ahead. This week marks the busiest week of the bowl season and the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs. Wednesday will be a particularly difficult day for those who have little interest in football but share a home with those that do.
That afternoon, Ole Miss will play TCU in the Peach Bowl, followed soon after by the Orange Bowl, pitting Mississippi State against Georgia Tech.
The next day, Alabama plays Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl in one national championship semifinal while Oregon and Florida State meet in the Rose Bowl in the other semifinal. On Saturday and Sunday, the NFL playoffs begin with Wild Card games.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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