Giving Thanks, Election Day & Holiday Festivities

PRnov13by Heather Wood

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  Yes, there tends to be a lot of work involved – hopefully with many hands pitching in.  There is delicious food that you spend weeks planning, days preparing, and within mere minutes it all seems to be gobbled up!  What I love most are those moments when you are gathered together with family and friends and get a chance to reflect.  It seems that “counting our blessings,” gets lost during the day-to-day shuffle of striving to pay bills, juggle work, kids and relationships – not to mention everything that goes with parenthood and the home.  But Thanksgiving offers a day to refocus and truly see all that you have to be thankful for.

What if we made more of an effort to give thanks, so that it was a year-round habit, rather than something we offered one day a year?  You may be just one person in this world, but to one person, at one time, you are the world.  Imagine if each individual looked for the opportunity to help others each day.  Imagine the difference that would make.

The Town of Kernersville offers ways for their employees to give back through the Employee Action Committee and the Wellness Committee.  The Employee Action Committee, made up of various employees from different departments launched the idea of “paying it forward,” for this year’s United Way Campaign.  Paying it forward is a third-party beneficiary concept that involves doing something good for someone in response to a good deed, or gift you received.  The committee launched this concept with a video of Town employees “paying it forward” to show that even the smallest good deed does not go unnoticed.

The Wellness Committee, designed in a workplace to offer employees a kind of comprehensive health service, works closely with the American Red Cross two times a year to donate to those in need.  Employees donate blood and in turn receive points toward various incentives given by the Town.

The Town of Kernersville also “pays it forward” to its own employees by observing an Employee Appreciation Week.  This week is held so that employers can recognize and acknowledge their employees and the work they perform within the business.  This week encourages those in management positions to thank those who work so diligently underneath them.  This is a nice way to recognize your employees for your businesses success and reward them for a job well done.  It is well known that healthy employees are happy employees.  Employees tend to perform well and stay loyal to a company that values them as individuals and takes an active interest in their personal health.

Kernersville Parks and Recreation has a few winter registration deadlines coming up for anyone who is interested in staying busy this winter.  Our Men’s Basketball League will start up in January but teams are encouraged to register now through December.  Spend your time on the court instead of on the couch.  Men of all playing abilities are welcome and games will be held on Thursday and Friday evenings.

KPRD also offers Crews Basketball Clinics for youth during the month of November.  The clinics provide boys and girls ages K-5th, a chance to take their game to the next level by giving them the opportunity to improve their fundamentals.  Participants will learn passing, ball handling, rebounding, court spacing, team offense and defensive skills.  Players will have fun and gain confidence allowing them to create their own winning formulas on and off the court.

Interested in playing the game of Lacrosse?  KPRD is now taking open registration for our spring leagues.  Play the fastest game on two feet and join the Cannons Lacrosse Youth League today!  Leagues include boys U-11, U-13 & U-15 and girls grade 3rd-8th.

For more information on any of the above registrations please visit our website at www.toknc.com/pr.

Kernersville Parks and Recreation is currently taking wedding vendors for the upcoming Kernersville Wedding Fair at the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden.  The event will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with a wide variety of vendors that are ready to spend some one-on-one time with you.  Visit our website at www.toknc.com/pr for a registration form.

Let the holiday festivities begin!!!  The first weekend in December marks the beginning of the holiday season for many in Kernersville.  On Saturday, December 7, stroll through the streets of downtown Kernersville and enjoy the “Christmas around the World” Holiday Open House from 3-7 p.m.  The celebration will continue at 7 p.m. with the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Harmon Park.  Enjoy carols with local chorus, sip on hot cocoa provided by Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home, light the tree, and enjoy a special visit from Santa and friends!  Continue the tradition on Sunday, December 8, with the Kernersville Christmas parade beginning at 2:30 p.m. and finish the afternoon off with a pancake supper at Kernersville Elementary School hosted by the Rotary Club.

 

Do not forget to get out and vote on November 5.
All regular voting locations will be open
from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Here is a list of the candidates running: 

Mayor – Dawn Morgan • Mayor – Carl T. Cox

Alderman – J. Irving Neal • Alderman – Keith Hooker

Alderman – Tracey Shifflette • Alderman – Addie Travis

Alderman – Ernest T. Johnson, Jr. • Alderman – Joe Pinnix, Jr.

Alderman – Kenneth Crews • Alderman – J. Nathan Tabor

 

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