Warm and pleasant greetings. We hope you are enjoying the last full week of summer. For sure, it has been a hot and dry one.
Farmers have been busy tilling the fields for planting. Residents are literally waiting for the dust to settle. You could not see the roadway for the dust was all over the community and highway as equipment moved along. One piece of equipment got really close to a light pole one afternoon and residents were without electric power for about two hours.
Back to Church Sunday is Sept. 21. This nationwide event which was instituted in 2009 is set aside to encourage people who have been away from church to return and help churches welcome visitors and reconnect with their communities. The theme for this year’s Back to Church is “Better Together.” There’s joy felt from the spirit of obedience and unified worship.
Revival is good for the soul. Lest we forget, revivals are good for two purposes. It’s aimed for inspiring existing church members and for attracting new converts! Many churches across the nation will recognize this day as a special event for the church.
Invite someone to attend church this Sunday
Mississippi Valley State University, my alma mater, has introduced the MVSU Legacy Program. The program is created to welcome Valley graduates’ children and grandchildren, ages 3-18, into the Valley family early and with pride.
It’s a unique way for the MVSU Alumni Association to reach and build relationships with students of the MVSU alumni. Benefits to the ones enrolled include a birthday card and other thoughtful and surprising mementos during the year and all while enrolled.
Our community is pleased to learn William Isaiah Jackson, son of Ms. Latasha Davis Jackson, class of 2008, is the first participant to enroll in the MVSU Legacy Program. He is officially part of the next generation of Delta Devils. This legacy is starting the next generation on their journey with Valley Pride!
The Jacksons are former residents of the Blue Cane Community. Little Jackson, as we have affectionately called him, is an outstanding fifth-grader at Pillow Academy, a 4-H member and attends God’s Church of Faith Ministries, Charleston. He loves reading, playing video games and he plays baseball. William Isaiah most of all loves visiting and spending time with his grandparents, Ministers Ray C. and Mary Davis. Our congratulations!
Food safety note: Making safe choices is important. To prevent food poisoning, some foods are safer choices than others.
Among the unsafe are items such as undercooked meat and eggs, unwashed fruits and vegetables and unpasteurized milk, which are most often associated with foodborne illness. It’s best to use a food thermometer to check food. You see restaurants and other certified food service institutions use thermometers. You should use one at home, especially if you are cooking in large quantities.
Food protective gloves are nice to have, too. I received a pair of cut-resistant gloves as a gift. I almost always cut up a whole chicken for parts to prepare various dishes. So I used these gloves often.
The gloves are made of polyethylene, spandex and fiberglass-cut resistant fabric. The gloves fit tight. Won’t slip off the hand. This pair of gloves is thick and durable, with an ambidextrous fit for either hand and machine washable. Of course, there are also several other types of disposable food-handling gloves.
Food safety away from home is a time to watch out for rare steaks or burgers, underdone poultry and beef — you want well done beef, chicken cooked to white and turkey with clear juices (165 degrees).
Watch out for wilted brown or unwashed produce and use fresh crisp vegetables or made-to-order salad. I’m not really ticky or picky, I just want you and me to be safe while handling, preparing, serving and eating cooked foods and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Enjoy life today. Be blessed.
