The Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County, wishes to announce that they are now accepting applications for Chippewa County residents in need to receive gifts during the holiday season. The program is for children 0-17 years of age. Applications are available at https://www.thespiritofchristmasofchippewacounty. com. Completed applications are due on, or before, November 10, 2020. Or, applications are available at the Chippewa County Department of Human Services, Room 305, in the Courthouse in Chippewa Falls. Applications are to be sent to Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County, PO Box 831, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. *** Here are some words for your daily meditation. One tree can start a forest; One smile can begin a friendship; One hand can lift a soul; One word can frame a goal; One candle can wipe out darkness; One laugh can conquer gloom; One hope can raise our spirits; One touch can show you care; One life can make a difference. Be that one today. BJ Gallagher *** Every time you turn on TV these days some one is urging you to vote. I guess that is understandable as the presidential election this year is drawing tons of attention by both sides and their candidates. It is only through your vote that change can even have a chance of happening. Perhaps the advice of James Baldwin, a former voice of the American Civil Rights Movement, is worth considering if your on the fence with the choice of voting or not: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” Get out and vote. Voting in Stanley can now be done in person at city hall (inside or at the drive thru window) if you can’t make it, or are afraid, for whatever reason, to go to vote at the Stanley Fire Station, on Tuesday, November 3, from 7 am to 8 pm. *** I touched briefly on the 500 World’s Largest Companies in a previous article. I was personally surprised when I read the list and found Walmart to be the world’s largest company ranked by revenue. And it is their seventh year in a row on this annual list. The only other US company making the top 10 was Amazon.com, which is the ninth largest in the world. This was Amazon’s first time in the top 10. I am sure all the people I know, who love Walmart, are helping make them number ONE in the world. *** I have not seen a report on Wisconsin’s honey production for 2020 yet. But I did recently read a report in The Stanley Republican, issue 10-23-1914, on honey production that year. I found it rather interesting, considering that it is from 106 years ago, that honey production in 1914 per colony was 45 pounds, which was down from 1913 when the production was 60 pounds per colony. The decrease was attributed to the shortage of the wild flower crop this season. Although figures were not available for 1914, the article noted that in 1910 there were 10,391 farms in Wisconsin that kept bees and the total number of colonies (hives) were 95,638. Wisconsin agricultural statistics indicate that today we have 64,793 farms in Wisconsin. A goodly number of them are small agricultural producing farms, that sell organic food products.

*** Polish Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States during the month of October. In the Jankoski household the month was celebrated with the making of glombi (cabbage rolls). Making glombi is a labor-intensive process, so it takes considerable extra time to make them, but I can assure you it is well worth the extra effort. And considering my life partner makes them extra special, is a recipe for wanting more. However, getting a head of cabbage given to you, can also be a driving force in making them! Whatever the reason, it is worth celebrating Polish Heritage Month in this manner. *** Back in the day when we collected antiques, Fiesta Ware was highly collectible. It was interesting to read recently that Fiesta Ware was introduced to the world at the Pittsburgh China and Glass Show, in 1936. That was nearly 85 years ago and it is still being produced today by the Homer Laughlin China Co., in Newell, West Virginia. Believe it or not, Fiesta Ware still comes in 51 colors, and has done so since 1936. The popularity of Fiesta Ware waned in the early 1970’s, but it was reintroduced in 1986. Today some families still hand it down as an heirloom and it is used for special occasions and on holidays. We had a few pieces and sent them to auction when we downsized. *** Not everyone is in agreement that Dollar General is going to be an asset to our community. That aside, the property they purchased is rapidly being developed into this new business. The steel frame and wrap around steel sheeting has fast become the shape of the store, to be located just south of the Wolf River on South Broadway. By the time you read this, it is expected that the store should be basically enclosed and interior work will be taking place. *** While Dollar General is rapidly taking shape, the former Shopko site, being retrofitted into Courtesy Ford, is also a beehive of activity. A drive-by indicates that the main entrance of the former store now has an enlarged opening, likely to become the main entrance to the showroom. And the east side of the large building has a number of newly-cut areas in the wall indicating entry ways or windows. Haas trucks were also observed hauling away much of the removed concrete and block construction material. So, we have a considerable number of construction workers in our area. Come next year, Stanley will have two new businesses in our community. Rumors still persist that the former Courtesy Ford Building in Thorp is destined to be a Kwik Trip. *** Smile time. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever. +++ I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don’t know whose side I’m on. +++ When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, “Why, what did you hear?” +++ When you do squats, are you supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery? +++ I don’t mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited. +++ When I ask directions, please don’t use words like “east.” +++ Don’t bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That’ll freak you right out. +++ Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops. +++ My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb. +++ The coin shortage is from people wishing 2020 was over! +++ A thesaurus is great. There’s no other word for it. +++ A new study finds that sausages are often linked to other sausages.