Community

Susana Frederick shared some of this soup with me, and then shared the recipe when I told her how much I enjoyed it. She and Gary have spent extended periods of time in New Zealand, where he worked in medical clinics. They first had this soup, which is a staple on the North Island, at a church home group. A chef brought the soup to the potluck and shared his recipe. You can use butternut squash as a base for this flavorful soup, as well. Sweetness will vary depending on the pumpkin or squash. Enjoy!

I am a celebrity among the neighborhood dogs. By now, I have been giving out dog treats on my daily walk for several months.

Canadian will be hosting a variety of fun activities here in town on Dec. 5 to kick off the Christmas season, among them, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever Canadian Santa Claus Shuffle 5K Run and Elf Walk. The first 45 participants will receive a long-sleeve race shirt. Chamber board member and event organizer Lawana Pulliam said, “This is not a timed raced. Come dressed for the occasion in your best Santa and/or elf attire. There could be some prizes for our most festive characters! Stay after the race for donuts, coffee, water, and juice.” To request a registration form, contact Pulliam by calling 806.382.7395. She invites you to spread the word among your friends. “When we are not running,” Lawana added, “we will encourage social distancing and masks. Keep your eyes open for more information about all of the other festivities we will be offering throughout the day on Dec. 5!” The walk/run will start at 8 am, and will begin and end at Sunset Park. All participants must pay a $25 registration fee and are welcome to stay after the race for refreshments.

Panhandle PBS will present an online viewing of the new Texas Panhandle episode of Two for the Road with Nikki and Dusty Green on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 pm. Taking place the same night and time as the on-air premiere of the episode on Panhandle PBS, the special one-hour online “watch party” will feature a live chat with Nikki and Dusty as they walk viewers through some of their favorite Texas Panhandle sights, stories, and stops, including Caprock Canyons State Park, historic Route 66, and a four-wheeling adventure in Palo Duro Canyon.

Sidney Hathaway and Emory Tyler are reading superstars! Sidney and Emory are the third and fourth children to complete the ‘1,000 Books Before Kindergarten’ program at the Hemphill County Library.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle, said, “What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.” What was true 2,300 years ago for ancient Greece held true locally this week as neighbors and church groups pulled together in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and an epic ice and snowstorm to help their community and show appreciation to frontline healthcare providers and staff. From one end of Hemphill County to another, linemen worked day and night to restore power; cowboys worked to care for livestock; neighbors checked on neighbors; and being blessed with more than our fair share of arboreal splendor, there were massive downed limbs and trees to deal with as the weather cleared.

I was thinking about the upcoming holidays and some of my favorite sweets, so I picked two easy-to-make recipes for cookies that freeze well. So start baking, enjoy some, and freeze the rest! — KIM B.

This has been a year that defies explanations. I spoke with my parents a week or so ago.

If you haven’t driven by the brand new, almost-finished, nursing home, let us pique your curiosity. Mesa View Senior Living flips traditional nursing homes on their heads, through its physical environment, philosophy of care, and workforce model. Hemphill County Hospital District will be one of the first “household model” nursing homes built from the ground-up in Texas.