Dobson Native Found His Way In California

Clifton is now an Emmy-winning artist

Dobson native Rick Clifton and his mother Bertha Clifton outside the studio of DreamWorks Animation in California.

School photo of Rick Clifton at Copland Elementary School in Dobson.

Rick Clifton visited DreamWorks for a group of bloggers.

Rick Clifton on the red carpet for the Emmy Awards during the day.

Dobson native Rick Clifton poses for a photo in the DreamWorks recording studio, where he serves as the creative AV director. Earlier this year, Clifton won a Daytime Emmy Award for his work there.

Rick Clifton (Rick Clifton) participated in the Palm Springs Brick Weekend Triathlon bicycle race, which is a competition where participants participate in running and cycling competitions at the same time.

Rick Clifton (left) and two other riders at the end of the 7-day, 545-mile ALC bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

October is the month of ghouls and goblins, the brewing of witches and ghost stories, horror movies and creepy novels.

This is also the time when Rick Clifton found his life mission at a horror film convention of the year.

Although the tenor in 2020 is sometimes creepy, this year Clifton reached the pinnacle of his career-for "She-Ra and the princesses" won outstanding promotion, brand image activity, network or show category Daytime Emmy Power: 2019 International Women's Day" animated web series.

Clifton, a native of Surrey County, has produced award-winning projects for DreamWorks Animation, where he served as the Creative AV Director.

Despite the success in his chosen field, when he first set his sights on his career path, he did not consider being a marketing and audiovisual artist-he wanted to be a TV and film actor.

Growing up in Dobson, Clifton said he attended Copland Elementary School, where performance errors first bit him.

"I did do some performances when I was in elementary school," he said of the first time on stage. "The dramas I do in school are always fun. I'm nervous, but when you do this, when you get on stage, you get this kind of accusation, and you want to do it again. Once it ends, it's like'the next step is what?'"

As he went from junior high to high school, Clifton said that he had other interests and did not participate in any drama production, although deep down he kept the idea of eventually becoming an actor.

"The most important thing for me is that Andy Griffith has always been my source of inspiration, and he comes from our region. I wrote him a letter when I was 14 or 15. I wanted to figure out how Break into this industry and ask him what I must do."

Although he did not receive a response, he kept thinking about working on the screen, finishing his studies at Surrey Central High School, and then receiving an associate degree in commercial arts at Surrey Community College.

After speaking, he headed west.

"I left home when I was 20, maybe 21, and started heading to California," he said recently at his home in the Sherman Oaks community in Los Angeles. "I came here to act in a movie... When I came here, I plunged in and acted for three years."

In the end, his odds were so high that the grim reality of his victory began to emerge. He did have some limited success, he appeared in three pilot series, unfortunately, these shows have never been included on the Internet or cable channels.

"Trying to be an actor in Los Angeles is very challenging in itself because so many people come here and want to do it," he said of the early stages of his career. "Trying to survive in a big city, while attending auditions all day long, and having a job that allows you to do it flexibly, paying bills, paying rent, buying food... it's a difficult lifestyle."

Many people are eventually washed away. Before leaving the entertainment field altogether, what they earn from acting is only a meager power-often returning home where there is not much entertainment to show off.

However, in those difficult days, Clifton discovered something about himself.

"I found more love behind the camera. I like to tell stories, I want to tell stories, but I found... you can better control the narrative behind the camera."

So he changed the domain. Instead of auditioning again and again, he started to do other jobs on the set, no matter what he could get, "work hard to become a film and TV producer and let the flow go." Although this path provides normal employment Opportunity, but it is still a long process, and many people around him are working towards the same goal.

"I started as a production assistant... About a year later, I was lucky enough to get a job as a production manager. I did it for a long time. It's great. It's not just a specific role. When you are three people in a company, you have to be very flexible and learn many different skills. This is very valuable, and I can understand the entire content of a TV show or movie."

Nonetheless, it was his work on one of those failed TV pilots that finally put him on his current career path.

"As part of the show, a failed pilot I participated in allowed me to participate in different (film) festivals," he said. At one of the film festivals, he met Rachel Belofsky, who became the co-founder of the Scream Festival in 2001, which has become the largest and longest-lasting festival in the United States Horror Film Festival.

"I met her (failed pilot) while doing that show. We talked about her music festival next season, and she asked me to help her," through publicity.

"I worked for her for a season, which really opened the door for me in marketing and publicity," he said.

Clifton began accepting jobs and projects suitable for his newly discovered career, offering salaries and learning opportunities. His goal has always been to work for DreamWorks, one of Hollywood's largest companies.

In 2007, he finally accepted the interview-but did not receive a job offer.

"I know a person who works there, and he managed to get me to be interviewed." Although he didn't find any job in the company during the first interview, he kept going back, and every time he could find someone to talk to him about the vacant position. "I have been interviewing. To be honest, it took me about a year to accept multiple interviews with multiple people."

Finally, in 2008, he was hired in the marketing department, and since then, he has worked hard until his current position.

"Basically, I made all the trailers," he said. Any type of promotional film produced for the company’s TV shows that are broadcast on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock Network and other media, as well as network-based series. He also did a lot of video promotion on DreamWorks' Facebook page.

"This is a very fast-paced industry, I like it, its energy."

This year's Emmy Awards is not the first time he has been recognized by his peers. In early 2020, he won the Clio Award, which he described as an Academy Award in advertising. "One of the biggest advertising awards you can get," he said. Before this year, he had been nominated for four Emmy Awards.

"When I was nominated for the first time, I was ecstatic about it," he said. "This is just one of the best feelings in the world. Being nominated is just an honor. This old adage is really true. I am on top of the world."

"This takes it to another level. I don't know what words I can find to describe how I felt that night. I was in a meeting and my phone started to explode, and I thought, "What happened? "I'm afraid something bad has happened."

Despite his success, Clifton has not forgotten his roots. He maintains close contact with his mother Bertha Clifton and other members of the family, and tries to return to Dobson at least once a year to visit family and friends.

When he was not creating marketing works for DreamWorks, Clifton spent his free time pursuing a hobby that allowed him to enjoy California's mild climate: running and participating in triathlon competitions.

"I have always liked running. I used to run when I was in elementary school. When I got here, the weather was so good, I started running again. When I got to DreamWorks, we had a triathlon team and someone invited me to join. I love In the triathlon."

As a runner, he said he has participated in many half marathons, two full marathons (26.2 miles) and "many" triathlons. Although these distances vary, his main competitions include half-mile swimming, 5K running (3.1 miles), and 18-mile cycling.

"It's fun. Running is my hobby, and cycling is great. I cycled from San Francisco to Los Angeles once. It definitely relieves a lot of stress, but it's fun to be active and to be outdoors."

Colleague: Luo left big shoes to fill

The Surrey Arts Council will transfer funds from the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Art Project to Surrey County non-profit organizations that provide art programs. Sub-funding applications are available online at www.ncarts.org.

Applications must be received at the Surrey Arts Council office by 5 pm on Friday, December 10. The award notification will be issued on or before December 31.

Applications can be mailed to the Surry Arts Council, PO Box 141, Mount Airy, NC 27030, emailed to rj@surryarts.org, faxed to 336-786-9822, or sent by the Surry Arts Council office at 218 Rockford Street.

If you have any questions about this application, please call 336-786-7998 or send an email to tanya@surryarts.org.

Thanksgiving is a true American holiday

Thanksgiving as a holiday originated in the United States. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the coast of the New World. His first task was to thank God for saving his life from life-threatening sea storms. 128 years later, the pilgrims arrived near Plymouth, Massachusetts after a difficult Atlantic journey. They also thank God. After 401 years, in 2021, we are celebrating Thanksgiving. Although this holiday can be traced back to the United States, no other holiday is taken for granted. Of course, now should be the time to be grateful and count our blessings. We have to be thankful too much, and our lives should continue to live in a spirit of gratitude.

Pilgrims give thanks in Plymouth in 1620

Materialism is the biggest obstacle to American gratitude in 2021. Oh, and since Columbus arrived in 1492 after a stormy Atlantic Journey, and after a difficult Atlantic Journey in 1620, how many goals we have missed in winter and storms. For them, gratitude is not a ritual, but a priority. Landing in Plymouth in the cold winter is not a good situation, but they are grateful. They praised and worshipped the Lord and spared their lives. Anyone can sing a song when the sun is shining and the future is bright, but pilgrims face an uncertain future as dark as the dark night, and they have a song in their hearts. However, they worship with thanks and praise. Why can't we offer praise, honor, and gratitude to God in this land blessed by God, instead of wholeheartedly pursuing materialism, self-seeking, satisfying appetite, watching sports events and Christmas bargaining? In the winter of 1620, the father of the pilgrim did not take anything for granted, and we should not take it for granted in the year of our Lord in 2021. Just like pilgrims, we should be thankful for everything. More than 150 years ago, when Abraham Lincoln wrote the announcement that Thanksgiving was a national holiday, he issued a statement: "How long will it take for us to forget God's blessings again? Can we follow Christ without being grateful?" "In this 21st century, how true his words are. Our real wish should be: "Lord, open my heart. Every day, give me a grateful heart, let me pray, count all my blessings, and send out praise from a grateful heart!" People are more likely to be more active even when dealing with difficult situations. We need to always remember that gratitude is more of a state of mind than a state of mind.

Apples from the Big Apple State

You can buy apples from North Carolina, Virginia, Washington and other places, but the sweetest, full-bodied, moist, full-bodied, hot and sour, colorful apples come from Big Apples. New York State produces the best apples in the world. It may be gray fertile soil, cool spring days or mountain air. We don't really know what they are, but they are unique in flavor and texture. You can choose Mackintosh or Jonathan. Ginger gold, Jona gold, Winesap and Jona Mac. These apples will make Johnny Appleseed proud.

A bowl of radish thanksgiving

Pilgrims may not have eaten them at their feast, but they can be part of your Thanksgiving meal and contrast with the calorie-rich foods on the table. Radish is one of the simplest vegetables in the cool weather garden, and one of the most beautiful vegetables. The bottom is white and the top is bright purple. The best way to prepare them is to prepare a bowl of mashed potatoes. All you have to do is peel the radish, cut into one-inch cubes, cover with water, and cook until tender enough to be inserted with a fork. Mash the radishes with a potato masher or beat them with a blender. Add a stick of light margarine (melted), salt, pepper, a little sugar, chili powder and a few strips of roasted bacon (crushed). Mix everything together and add a little mayonnaise to add texture.

Making Thanksgiving Mud Cakes

This is a butter cake that does not need to be baked and will melt your mouth. You will need a 32-ounce bag of Vanilla Oreo or Pumpkin Oreo (if available), a margarine stick, an eight-ounce pack of cream cheese (softened), and a three-ounce box of instant jelly pudding or instant jelly Pumpkin pudding is mixed with three and a half cups of milk, a twelve-ounce box of Cool Whip, and a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Direction: Run Oreo in grate mode through a blender and set aside. In the second bowl, mix the cream cheese and softened margarine. In another bowl, mix the jelly instant pudding mixture, milk and cold whip. Mix two bowls of cream cheese mixture and jelly pudding mixture. Add pumpkin pie spices. Add a layer of crushed Oreos to a 13x9x2 inch glass baking dish or baking dish (you need three layers of Oreos). Put a layer of filling on the first layer of Oreo, add the second layer of Oreo, then a layer of filling, add the third layer of Oreo. Decorate the top with butternut squash.

In North Carolina, the tradition of eating sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving is much longer than that of turkey. This is because the state produces as many sweet potatoes as turkey. Most sweet potatoes in North Carolina are grown on the coastal plains, where most of the soil is fertile rather than acidic. From Tabor to Whiteville, to the sand dunes and northeastern North Carolina, sweet potatoes flourish and are one of the country's largest sweet potato producers, many of which are also exported to other countries. My Northampton County grandmother bake sweet potatoes in her wood stove almost every day in the fall, and they are always warm because her wood stove never goes out. When we were young, we would peel the baked potatoes to half of the potatoes, leaving the remaining skin on the sweet potatoes, and then eat them like an ice cream cone. It is best to buy North Carolina sweet potatoes from local farms or from the produce stalls on the way back from Myrtle Beach. Freshly dug out sweet potatoes have a dark brown sap that can enhance their flavor. Most store-bought sweet potatoes are already marinated and dry inside. Sweet potatoes can be deep-fried, baked, made into biscuits, pies, cakes, casseroles, and custards. They can be mashed like mashed potatoes, or they can be made into pudding by grinding raw potatoes with a mixer in grate mode, or Scrape the raw potatoes through an old-fashioned "tater" grater.

A simple and quick Thanksgiving dessert

If it takes a lot of time to prepare a Thanksgiving meal, you can use this simple pumpkin dessert to reduce the burden of work in just a few minutes. The title of the recipe is "Pumpkin Cake with Main Ingredient". You need a box of yellow cake mix, a 16-ounce jar of Libby pumpkin, and a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Mix the cake flour, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin. Pour the mixture into a 13x9x2 inch baking pan or a pan sprayed with Pam baking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cool and punch holes in the baked cake. Make a glaze with a cup and a half of 10 times powdered sugar, four tablespoons of orange juice, and a half teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Stir until very smooth and pour on the cake. Simple too!

Thank you for reading the garden plot!

We seasonally thank you for reading Garden Plot in the Mount Airy News Lifestyle section every Sunday. May all our readers be blessed and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

"Heaven!" An old and frail old man worried that he would need money in heaven after his death. The man asked his three adult children if they would put a thousand dollar bill into his coffin when his time came, and everyone agreed. A few months later, the man passed away. The elder son put the one-thousand-dollar bill in the opened coffin. Then, the grieving daughter put the one-thousand-dollar bill into the coffin. Another son nicknamed "Slade" wiped his face with a napkin, whispered goodbye, deposited a check for three thousand dollars in the coffin, and then picked up the two thousand dollars.

One of the most famous kings in human history was born in Egypt in 1341 BC. He is the 12th king of the 18th dynasty of Egypt. His name is Tutankhamun. Maybe you know him better as King Tutankhamun.

The name Tutankhamun means "living image of Ateng", and the Egyptian sun god is considered the creator of life. Akhenaten, the father of King Tutankhamun, forbids the worship of polytheisms, and turns to worship Aton, and asks to worship his son as a living image of the creator.

At the end of World War I, British archaeologist Howard Carter began excavating in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. On November 22, 1922, after years of intense work, Carter found and entered Tutankhamun's tomb.

To his surprise, he found that most of the content and structure were miraculously intact. In one of the rooms, there is a mural on the wall, telling the story of King Tutankhamun’s funeral and his journey to the afterlife. There are also various artifacts from his journey-oils, perfumes, toys from his childhood, precious jewels, and gold and ebony statues in the room.

The most fascinating object found was the sarcophagus, which contained three coffins, one mouthful and the last one made of gold. When the lid of the third coffin was lifted, the royal mummy of King Tutankhamun was uncovered, and it has been preserved for more than 3,000 years. When archaeologists inspected the mummy, they found other artifacts, including bracelets, rings and collars. Over the next 17 years, Carter and his colleagues carefully excavated the four-chamber tomb and discovered thousands of priceless treasures. Over the years, many interesting facts about King Tutankhamun have emerged. For example, it is said that he was about 5 feet 8 inches tall, began to rule Egypt when he was 9 years old, and died from a blow to the head when he was a teenager.

To say the least that King Tutankhamun’s life was very interesting, but many years ago, on a cold winter night in Bethlehem, the birth of a king would change the course of human history. His name is Jesus, and he is my king. The name of his birthplace, Bethlehem, means "House of Bread", and the bread of life was born from this "House of Bread".

I can't help thinking that the angels in heaven watched in astonishment as the eternal God left his throne and was embraced with love by a young girl named Mary. Mary gently placed the baby king in a manger and a feeding trough, surrounded by only her husband Joseph and a few animals in the stable. A composer said: "The king has left his throne and is sleeping in the manger tonight." This is a night like any other night, but it is not a child like any other child. This child is the Lord Jesus Christ, God and man are one and inseparable.

King Tutankhamun is called the image of the sun god, but King Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and "his image" (Hebrews 1:3). He is my king! King Tutankhamun did not have any sacredness, but in King Jesus "inhabited the fullness of the divine in the form of a body" (Co. 2:9). He is my king! King Tutankhamun was oppressed and controlled, but King Jesus was a God wrapped in human skin, "making the world reconciled to himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). He is my king!

King Tutankhamun was a king on the earth, and his remains were only found 3000 years after his death. King Jesus was given to the world as God's greatest gift. He died on the cross, bearing the burden of the world's sins, and gloriously defeated death, hell and tombs, and brought eternal life to all those who came to him by faith. He is my king! Tutankhamun is only a nominal king, but King Jesus is "the God of Immanuel with us." He is my king.

Our world has extremely complex problems: war, terrorism, disease, natural disasters and broken families. People have complex problems: physical, emotional, financial, and interpersonal issues.

Sometimes, when we try to help others or try to deal with our own problems, we feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, unlike Tutankhamun, God promised with his firm love that he would never leave or abandon us.

He is the father of the orphan, the friend of the orphan, and our immediate help in times of trouble. He is my king! I believe that King Jesus is also your king, and he reigns on the throne in your heart. As we move towards Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus, I pray that each of us knows him and loves him more day after day. You can also declare that he is my king!

The library story time is open to anyone who wants to join us. Adults must wear masks. Bilingual story time for children at 4 pm on Monday-listening to English and Spanish stories); 10:30 am on Wednesday for children aged 2 and 3 years old; reservations for children born to 2 years old at 9:30 am on Thursday Babies; born in preschool at 11 o'clock on Thursday morning, preschool story time.

Surrey Community College offers fun and free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the Mount Airy Public Library from Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Anyone interested should contact Jennifer Pardue at 336-386-3674.

Hooked-Join our crochet club at 3pm every Wednesday. Bring your own yarn and make a group project or bring your own project to work.

Tai Chi returned to the library. Joining us every Friday at 10 am This course is beneficial for people with limited mobility.

This is Yoga You-Yoga with Ms. Heather will be held at 10:30 am on November 20th

The classic movie Monday returns on the last Monday of the month, starring Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton and Shirley Temple in "I Will See You".

An adult craft class is held on the third Monday of every month at 3 pm, and craft materials will be provided. Registration is recommended.

The community book club meets at 1 pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The November book is "The Ghost at the Table" by Suzanne Berne.

Lace-The Romance Readers Book Club will meet at 6pm this Tuesday. The book selected in October is Minerva Spencer's "Notorious". There are photocopies on the desk.

Friends of the Library Annual Fall Book Fair – November 17 to November 22, starting at 5:30 pm on November 17. Come out and buy some books and movies, everyone has something.

Carol McDowell has donated the handmade quilt to the Northwest Territories Library System for use as a prize in the raffle. We and our sister library will sell a lottery ticket for $1 and a lottery ticket for $6 for $5. The proceeds will be used to purchase e-books in the region. Tickets are on sale now, you can go to the library to buy tickets to see pictures of quilts. The draw time is November 24th.

Learn about all events on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/fmapl and https://www.facebook.com/mtapublibrary or our website https://nwrlibrary.org/mountairy/

Entering a quiet day in mid-November

With almost two weeks left before Thanksgiving, we can enjoy peace before the beginning of the upcoming holiday. We like the calm in early November because the garden has changed from a midsummer model to a vegetable crop in autumn and winter. Visited the flower bed during siesta, and the violet has become a November flower.

Nature is in a slowing cycle, because the only green in forests and woodlands shines in holly, cedar and pine trees. The November night is so calm, you can almost hear the remaining leaves on the trees touching the lawn. The frost is heavier every morning and lasts longer. It's time to enjoy the best season and prepare for the harvest and gratitude season.

The artist in the fall turns the lawn brown

The autumn lawn has a new color, because the November frost brings a lot of crystal clear white to the lawn, so the lawn appears tan and brown. The lawn looks more brown, with the remaining leaves coating on the trees. The leaves are now very brittle, which makes them easy to vacuum onto the garden area and compound bins and piles.

Sweet potato season

October is the season of pumpkins, but November can be called the season of sweet potatoes, especially in North Carolina. The fertile coastal soil of the Tabor urban area in southeastern North Carolina makes it the sweet potato capital of North Carolina. We grew up in northeastern North Carolina, Northampton County has coastal loam, and they also produce a lot of sweet potatoes. My father and grandma grow a lot of sweet potatoes every year. They store them in the "potato hill" so that they can eat sweet potatoes throughout the winter. The potato "mountain" is so simple but practical. It was a dirt mountain with long-leaf pine grass, a bushel of potatoes, and more pine grass growing on both sides. There was more soil on the mountain, and a fire pipe could enter the mountain.

Since this seems to be "Sweet Potato Day" in Garden Plot, and there are less than two weeks before Thanksgiving, we paid more attention to sweet potatoes. This is a simple recipe to make sweet and juicy candied yam. You can use fresh or canned sweet potatoes. Peel six or seven large sweet potatoes or use two large pots of potatoes. If you use fresh sweet potatoes, cut them into one-inch pieces and boil them in water until you can pass through them with a knife. Drain the potatoes and place them in a 13X9X2 inch baking pan or dish. In a medium bowl, mix half a cup of dark brown sugar, a six-ounce box of orange jelly, a light-colored margarine, half a cup of karo syrup (dark color), a tablespoon of cinnamon, a tablespoon of vanilla, and a cup of chopped Pecans. Heat the ingredients together until the margarine melts. Pour the mixture on the sweet potatoes and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Add a layer of miniature marshmallows and brown the tops until they are cooked through.

Pruning azaleas and evergreens

November is a good month for pruning and shaping rhododendrons and evergreens to prevent damage from ice and snow later in winter. Trimming and shaping them now when the weather is fairly comfortable will make it easier to decorate them with string lights next month, and it will also make it easier for them to install lights and remove them after Christmas.

Sassafras: Childhood Tradition

Sassafras is a traditional tree species in Southeastern states. Their uniqueness is that their three perfectly round leaves turn red and bronze in autumn. Sassafras trees usually grow in open areas with plenty of sunlight. My Northampton grandmother knows these trees very well. Where can she find their roots. This is the main ingredient of Sassafras tea, which is also the main ingredient of root beer, as well as syrup, carbonated water, spices and so on. When my grandmother made sassafras tea, we didn't know if it was made as a tonic, medical use or beverage. We only know that she is hot, in a coffee cup with a lot of sugar. My mother always said that we drink it because it contains sugar! The grandmother knew where the sassafras tree grew, and would harvest the roots, not from the tree itself, but from the "branches" close to the tree. She scrubs and cleans the roots, then puts them in a pan filled with water to boil. The water will turn dark red or bronze. She will put a lid on the pot until the tea becomes the color she wants (her tea is dark red, probably as red as the black coffee she drank in the morning). If you want to know why sassafras tea is hot, it is because it is like coffee, nothing is worse than cold coffee. We remember that as boys in northeastern North Carolina, we would harvest the roots in early fall, cut them into small pieces, bag them and take them to school to share with other children. We chew it, it has the taste of root beer.

Jack Frost's huge presence

Jack Frost visits us almost every morning in November, leaving his figure on the roof and lawn, and leaving white crystals on the Siberian kale. We like to go to the garden and stare at the frosty crystals on the leaves of turnips, mustard, broccoli and kale. Of course, the artists of autumn visited us in the form of hoarfrost in late autumn. God makes all things grow in rain, frost, snow, and ice crystals on Siberian kale.

Another interesting fact about oak trees

In the Garden Plot last week, we mentioned huge oak trees and the acorns they harvest. Oak trees around the world grow in many shapes, sizes and heights. There are more than 600 species of oak trees worldwide. Some oak trees will produce acorns after two years of growth, while other oak tree varieties will grow for 20 years before producing the first acorn. Most oak trees have a long life span. Some oak trees in the United States can be traced back to the War of Independence, the shadow of George Washington!

Colder temperatures, heavy frost, and soon we will experience severe cold. Keep an eye on your viewing containers for kale and cabbage, move them to the back of the front porch, and cover them with a towel on cold nights. Remove the towel when the temperature rises the next day, but keep the towel nearby to prevent it from freezing every night.

Peanut crisp melted in your mouth

The 21st century peanut brittle has better texture, taste and less stickiness than the 20th century peanut brittle. When I was young, the peanut crisp was packed in a bag. I put my hand into the bag and a few pieces would come out. Because the shortbread was stuck together, it stuck to your hand during the process of taking it out of the bag. It was not "finger licking". Good", but "finger sticks well". Proprietary technology in the 21st century has produced a fragile product that does not stick together. It has 1 to 2 inch pieces and is not packed in a bag, but wrapped in foil in a box with an illustration. The best shortbreads are made with peanuts from eastern North Carolina and southern Virginia. These peanuts are grown, processed, baked, and prepared near where they grow. The best is the Old Dominion peanut crunch made in Norfolk, Virginia. You can buy it at Food Lion, Ingles, Dollar Tree and most supermarkets and candy stores in our area. You can find it in downtown Mount Airy along Main Street. Be careful, this peanut crisp is not only delicious, but also addictive.

Goodies for Thanksgiving Candy Plate

These Thanksgiving confectionery dishes have a history of more than a hundred years and are still a tradition today. They are Candy Corn, Butternut Squash, Hershey's Kiss, and M&M's. They add a touch of Thanksgiving to any candy plate or dining table. Hershey's Kisses is wrapped in bumper tin foil, while M&M's has bumper mixed colors. They have been manufactured by Mars Candy for more than 100 years. The name M&M comes from the initials of Mars and the Milky Way. The chocolate in M&M chocolate is completely different from any other chocolate in the world. They are certainly worthy of any confectionery dishes. During Thanksgiving, there is enough on hand.

"Keep driving." The truck driver drove to this roadside truck stop for dinner in the middle of the night. Three wild-looking motorcycle riders with beards and black leather jackets were slurred and dirty. They harassed the truck driver for no reason. One rider studied chili on his head, another ate his apple pie, and the third rider poured his hot coffee on the table. The truck driver didn't say a word, but went upstairs to pay the bill and left. "The truck driver is not an aggressive person," one of the drivers said. "He doesn't seem to be a truck driver," the waitress said. "He just drove his truck on three motorcycles."

"Family affairs." My wife read "The Story of Two Cities" and she has twins. She read "Three Musketeers" and had triplets. I am very worried now because she is reading "The Birth of a Country".

"Because you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he is rich, he has become poor for your sake, so that you can become rich because of his poverty."

Edward Christian was born on June 23, 1894, the eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary of England. Edward entered the Naval Academy at the age of 12 and continued to Dartmouth from there. In 1911, Edward Christian became the 20th Prince Edward of Wales. Five minutes before midnight on January 20, 1936, Edward's father, King George V, died, and Edward, the Prince of Wales, became King Edward VIII of England. King Edward rules the most extensive empire in the history of the world. The British Empire controls a quarter of the world's population and occupies a quarter of the total area of the earth. The global expansion of British territory gave birth to the reality that "the sun of the British Empire never sets".

During his short reign as a king, Edward was very popular until he made a life-changing statement. He fell madly in love and planned to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson. The British Parliament believed that Mrs. Simpson and her suspicious background were not suitable for becoming the next Queen of England and prohibited Edward from marrying her as his wife. King Edward found himself at a crossroads. He can end his engagement with Wallis and continue as King of England, or he can abdicate and marry Wallis. He can leave the love of his life, or lose the power, wealth and honor of the British throne.

On December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII announced his decision to exchange the British crown for the bride's hand. He declared to Parliament: "I, Edward VIII of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Overseas Territories, the King of India, hereby declare my irrevocable determination to abandon the throne for myself and my descendants, and I hope to abdicate immediately. The essay takes effect. The decision I made is mine and I am alone."

Talk about a great exchange! King Edward VIII, the only king in English history who voluntarily gave up his throne, traded the royal family for insignificance, the nobility for the peasants, and the authority for the subordinates.

More than two thousand years ago, a king who was far more important than the king of England had a great exchange. Moved by the love of fallen mankind, the King of Glory Jesus gave up his throne in heaven and came to this world as a helpless baby born in a manger in Bethlehem. He traded honor for humiliation, worshipped angels for mockery of sinners, traded crowns of jewels for crowns of thorns, and traded the throne of heaven for the cross of Calvary. Jesus was not forced to leave heaven, nor was he asked to leave the throne of glory, but voluntarily gave up everything that belonged to him and assumed the role of servant.

When the plan of mankind's salvation was ready, the angels witnessed the infinitely rich son of God turned into the infinitely poor son of man. Jesus took off his royal robe, freed his Heavenly Father's right hand, and entered the human family through the womb of a young girl in Nazareth. She wrapped him in a swaddling cloth and placed him in a manger. As the Son of Man, Jesus borrowed a boy’s lunch to feed 5,000 people. He borrowed Peter’s boat as a pulpit. He borrowed a donkey to enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and was placed in a borrowed one after his death. In the grave. Although Jesus experienced all the benefits provided by heaven, he gave up his rightful position, gave up his throne in heaven, and came to earth to hold the hand of his beloved.

During the six hours of being crucified, the Son of Man was deprived of his dignity and bore the price of a sinful world in his body. His physical thirst for suffering will not be quenched, nor will the emotional stress of separation from his father be relieved. The death of Jesus on the cross completed the great exchange proclaimed by the Bible, "because he made the sinless one sin for us, and made us the righteousness of God in him."

Jesus accepted our spiritual bankruptcy and used it in exchange for his justice. He is separated from God the Father, so we will never be separated. He endured the pain and poverty of Calvary to cancel our debt to God and ensure our eternal destiny. Perhaps the great communication is best expressed by the hymn writer William Newell, who wrote: “Oh, it is love that triggered the plan of salvation, oh, the grace that brought it to mankind, oh, the greatness that God crossed on Calvary Gap."

Recently, a group of golden eagles "flyed" to gather in a place in Siloam-not for some kind of migration ceremony, but for the 50th reunion of Surrey Central High School classes in 1971.

It features yard parties and picnics at Hogan Creek Farm, hosted by Marion and Jerry Venable, one of the group of graduates.

Students from Copland, Dobson, and Mountain Park Elementary Schools united in the fall of 1967 to become the Golden Eagles—the mascot of Surrey Central High School—and eventually became a member of the 1971 class.

During the recent reunion to celebrate their 50th anniversary of graduating from Dobson School, the group returned to the past with the help of the memorabilia display and paid tribute to their late classmates.

Participants said that another highlight was enjoying a delicious barbecue dinner against the backdrop of the beautiful autumn night at 1893 Atkinson House.

At the same time, each class member will receive a booklet with updated contact information.

A classmate named Dana Haynes set off from St. Augustine, Florida, and took a 600-mile journey to participate in lively conversations and celebrations that everyone loves.

Special guests are Gene Everette, a former class counselor, Doug Cook, a former teacher and administrator, and his wife Bonnie.

The monitor, Sam Gentry, and another former classmate, Rev. Steve Johnson, greeted the attendees.

The members of the reunion committee include Marion Feezor Venable, Susan Hamlin Gentry, Paula Key Stanley, Teresa Shinault Haymore and Debbie Simmons Wilmoth.

Montanna Edwards, a Surrey County native and student of Surrey Online Magnet School, recently participated in the Prohound PKC World Youth Championship in Salem, Illinois, and ranked third in the national rankings.

Montana started hunting around the age of 5, when her father Michael Edwards and younger brother Sean Hawkes encouraged her to keep a dog of her own. She has been listening to them about their hunting experiences, and has become curious and eager to participate. She won her first game with her father's dog Jack at the age of 12.

Montana became obsessed with competition and has been at the top of the rankings ever since. In March, she and her walker hound Sandy won the 2021 PKC Virginia Youth Championship in Ellet, Virginia. From October 7th to 9th, she competed with her other favorite dog, Hard Time Smoke, a blue English Spaniel at the Youth World Championships and won third place among the Youth World Nationals.

Montana hunts for nearly six nights a week, starting her training and preparing for next year's game. As a sophomore in high school, she is very fortunate to apply for and be accepted as a student by Surry Online Magnet School. She said she wants to do online education so that she can pursue her dream and compete more at a higher level and in different places. The online school allows her to flexibly arrange the course time to match her training plan.

"This online content is more challenging, and it builds a sense of responsibility," she said. "I like that I can make my own schedule, and my teacher understands and is flexible, and is always there when I need help."

Montana's favorite exercise is to establish contact with her dogs and comment that they are her top priority. She competes with them six times a month on average, hoping to get the points needed to rank in order to participate in next year's state, national and world championships.

The Surrey Arts Council will bring a new musical-"All Together Now!"-on stage this weekend, performing at the Andy Griffith Theater on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The performance will be held at the Andy Griffith Theater from Friday to Sunday from November 12th to 14th.

The performance on Friday night at 7:30 will be attended by regional adult performers. The performance on Saturday night at 7:30 will be attended by young performers, and the performance on Sunday at 3 pm will be attended by all actors.

Local actors in the show include Ashley Mills, Cassidy Mills, Aspen Jackson, Caitlin Gomez, Apple De La Cruz, Jordan Dover, Christine Waugh Na-Buch, Sean Murphy, Madeleine Matanick, Taylor Matanick, David Tim, Walker York, Regan Amos, Genevieve Quinn, Maddie Ull, Morgan Cook, Maggie Wallace, Lydia Baker, Corey Hawkes, Kingston Nichols, Candice Noah, and Reese Cork S. The show is directed by Shelby Coleman and choreographed by Lily Ruth Baker and Shelby Coleman.

This new musical includes a large number of songs, including "Rental", "Les Miserables", "Into the Forest", "Matilda", "Hairspray", "Disney's Beauty and the Beast", "Violin on the Roof" "Hand", "Once on This Island", "Horror Shop", "Mom" Mia! There are a lot more.

The show is part of an international effort, and the Arts Council has worked with more than 2,500 theater organizations from all 50 states and more than 40 countries to produce its own local production "All Together Now! Celebrating the global events of local theaters."

Music Theatre International (MTI), the drama licensor, created this satire for theaters around the world to be used as a local fundraiser on the same weekend from November 12th to 14th.

All together now! Includes songs from MTI’s favorite musical catalog, including Anne, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Come From Away, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, Guys and Dolls, Hairspra Y, Into the Woods, a miserable world, a horror shop, mommy! , Matilda, a pretty lady, once on this island, rent, waitress and more!

Tickets for the show range from $7 to $10 and can be purchased at www.surryarts.org/livetheatre or at the door 30 minutes before the show. For information, please contact shelby@surryarts.org or 336-648-8095.

New version from Mount Airy Public Library:

Santa Claus suit-Mary Kay Andrews

On my corpse-Jeffrey Archer

It's better to die-Lee Child and Andrew Child

State of Horror-Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny

Her dark lie-JT Ellison

List of judges-John Grisham

A Line to Kill – Anthony Horowitz

Sleigh Bells Ring – RaeAnne Thayne

The Loft on King Street-Karen White

Wanda Brunstetter's Amish Friends Baking Recipe – Wanda Brunstetter