It was interesting to note that the Loyal Car Show Committee recently selected the Stanley Correctional Outreach Program Equals Success (SCOPES) to receive $500 from this year’ proceeds. The SCOPES Program will use these funds to purchase supplies to make items that are then donated back to communities throughout Central Wisconsin. In total the Loyal Car Show Committee distributed $10,000 to organizations throughout the area. The Stanley Lions, at the their November Meeting, also donated $300 to SCOPES and have done so for a good number of years. The inmates in turn make mittens and scarves that are provided to the Stanley-Boyd Elementary School for distribution to students who need them. *** The year 2020 has not treated people well. COVID-19 has affected many, and the contentious election is not showing signs of letting up any time real soon. In these times, it seems we need to get back to kindness as one of our core values. Susanna Newsonen, the author of Happiness is Here, suggests these 10 ways to show kindness to others: 1.) Smile. 2.) Hold the door open. 3.) Give an honest compliment. 4.) Thank someone who you appreciate. 5.) Be a good listener. 6.) Offer your help to someone. 7.) Ask the person who’s serving you how their day is going. 8.) Treat someone to coffee or tea. 9.) Let someone go past you in the grocery checkout line. 10.) Send flowers or chocolates to a friend out of the blue. Other acts of kindness suggested by Simpler Life Today: Give away something you consider valuable. Cleanup someone else’s mess. Compliment a stranger. *** You have heard the saying: “We live in stressful times!” Certainly we have been under more stress since early this year when COVID -19 entered our lives, and unfortunately it didn't end after November 3, as some had predicted. In fact, the whole election, and its aftermath, caused more stress for many. Stress affects many people and it infiltrates many parts of daily life. To deal with stress, we first must recognize its negative affects. The American Psychological Association (APA) states that stress can take a toll on our mind and body. Chronic stress, can increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack or stroke. Chronic stress causes muscle aches, which can contribute to headaches and migraines. Over extended periods of stress, the body can be adversely affected and has been linked to problems with the gastrointestinal, nervous and reproductive systems of the body. Thus, it becomes critically important for people to be able to recognize the warning signs of stress. To assist us in determining the common signs and symptoms of stress, the American Institute of Stress offers the following warning signs. While stress is a daily part of life, recognizing its signs can help one to overcome it, reduce the risks for problems and/or to seek help in reducing, or relieving one from stress. Here are some warning signs: 1.) Frequent headaches, jaw clinching or pain. 2.) Gritting, grinding teeth. 3.) Tremors, or trembling of lips or hands. 4.) Neck aches, back pain and/or muscle spasms. 5.) Light headedness, faintness and/or dizziness. 6.) Ringing, buzzing or popping sounds. 7.) Frequent blushing or sweating. 8.) Cold or sweaty hands, feet. 9.) Frequent colds, infections and/or herpes sores. 11.) Rashes, itching, hives and/or “goose bumps.” 12.) Unexplained or frequent “allergy” attacks. 13.) Heart burn, stomach pain and /or nausea. 14.) Constipation, diarrhea, loss of control. 15.) Sudden attacks of life-threatening panic. 16.) Chest pain, palpitations, and /or rapid pulse. 17.) Frequent urination. *** As long as COVID is getting the lions share of this columns ink, here is an entry that is far less serious and should also draw a smile to your face in these trying times. So let me get this straight, there’s no cure for a virus that can be killed by sanitizer and hand soap. +++ Is it to early to put up the Christmas tree yet? I have run out of things to do. +++ If these last months have taught us anything, it’s that stupidity travels faster than any virus on the planet, particularly among politicians and bureaucrats. +++ People are scared of getting fined or arrested for congregating in crowds, as if catching a deadly disease and dying a horrible death wasn’t enough of a deterrent. +++ Another Saturday night in the house and I just realized the trash goes out more than I do. +++ Whomever decided that a liquor store was more essential than a hair salon was obviously a bald-headed alcoholic male. +++ Remember all those times you wished the weekend would last forever? Well, wish granted. Happy now? +++It may take a village to raise a child, but I swear it’s going to take a whole vineyard to home school one. +++ Did a whole load of pajamas so I would have enough clean work clothes for this week. +++ Wear a mask and help save an elderly person, if not yourself. *** Did you know? According to a Consumer Reports 2020 survey, 44 percent of car owners say fuel economy is the attribute that most needs to be improved in their vehicle. It was cited above purchase price and maintenance costs. +++ Congratulations to Mr. Robert Seidl and his social studies students in their leadership to honor veterans with statutory at the Soo Park Veterans Memorial. *** Smile time. There’s an old cliche: “You don’t plan to fail. You fail to plan.” +++ A businessman went into his office and found an inexperienced handyman painting the walls. The handyman was wearing two heavy parkas on a hot summer day. Thinking this was a bit strange, the businessman asked the handyman why he was wearing the parkas on such a hot day. The handyman showed the businessman the instructions on the paint can which read, “For best results, put on two coats.” +++ It took “Click it or ticket,” to get people to wear a seat belt. I wonder if “Mask it or casket” might work for getting people to wear a mask. +++ John, who suffered from lung cancer was hospitalized when his pastor came for a visit. All of a sudden John couldn’t breath and couldn't talk so the pastor gave him a pen and paper so he could write his last few words. Two days later at the funeral the pastor was telling everyone how good John was and how he died. Then, he remembered the note John wrote and retrieved it from his breast pocket, and proceeded to read it out loud, “You’re foots on my oxygen tube!” +++ Bob was in big trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really peeved. She told him, “Tomorrow morning I want to see in the driveway a gift that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds.” The next morning he got up early and left for work. When his wife got up she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box giftwrapped in the middle of the driveway. She rushed out and brought the box in and opened it. To her surprise she found a scale.