Lifestyle

I am not making this up. The day after I submitted my last column in which I admitted my penchant for peppermint during the holidays, I received a package from my very favorite boss of days gone by.

Oklahoma Baptist University held its 83rd annual Hanging of the Green Christmas celebration Dec. 4 in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. The program featured a combined choir and orchestra performing Handel’s “Messiah,” as well as special recognition of outstanding seniors.

You know what Santa Claus and I have in common that we enjoy? Lists. I think that sometimes we can take aspects of our culture and the iconography around it for granted.

Northeast Baptist Church of Ponca City will be performing a free drive-thru Living Nativity called “The Miracle of Christmas” December 9-11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each evening. The event is under the direction of Guy Cooper, Minister of Music.

A Cash Mob was held at Pizza Inn on Monday, Dec. 6 by the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce.

I like traditions. So I admit being somewhat bothered when I hear Christmas carols on the radio before my turkey dinner is digested. And why do they call the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” when I’m still giving thanks for leftovers?

Oklahoma private applicators still have time to take advantage of educational opportunities they may need in order to meet state requirements to apply restricted-use, pest-control products. “Oklahoma State University Extension is holding events in December and beyond that offer continuing education units accepted by the state,” said Todd Baughman, OSU Extension weed management specialist.

Reading classes at East Middle School set a goal at the beginning of the year to read 400 books. There is no AR test the students must take so they don’t have to complete a book report and are only required to read in reading class for 15 minutes daily. Teacher Susie Schatz said not only are the students reading but their reading scores have also increased on their Star Assessments. “I am so proud of each student. We have amended our goal and plan to read 900 books by the end of the school year,” she said. “Since we made a deal with each other about reading 400 books, I decided to throw a pizza party for my reading classes on Thursday to celebrate their accomplishment.”

Another day, another Marvel related article. It is something of an inevitability, what with Marvel dominating the pop culture scene for the better part of 10 years now (I consider the release of 2012’s The Avengers the real point where it became mainstream).