The CCC celebrated its 20th Halloween Carnival last Saturday, Oct. 30, and had an amazing turnout. “It was one of our biggest years,” said CCC business manager Trudy Uriegas. “We would like to thank all the volunteers that helped us out and everyone that attended.”

Robots are all around us. From the food we eat to the cars we drive, robots help make our lives easier, more efficient, and simply more fun. Texas 4-H is poised to help lead young people into this exciting field. Local fourth- through sixth-grade 4-H members learned entry-level skills in how to design, build, and program robots in an exciting hands-on project. These students were led by 4-H teens Lilly Bradford (below right) and Tate Wilhelm (below left). They met for six weeks and ended their project with a visit from the CMS/CHS Robotics Coach Bruce Bryant. Bryant visited with the kids about becoming a part of the Robotics teams at the school when they become seventh-graders. Those completing the project were treated to a pizza party and showed their parents the skills they had learned during the project. A special thanks to 4-H leader Karen Bradford for the time she spent supervising all the kids and helping Lilly and Tate. PHOTOS/REPORT PROVIDED BY TANYA HOLLOWAY

Peer pressure works—in my neighborhood anyway. For as long as I can remember, neighbors on my street have decorated for one holiday only: Christmas. Times have changed. Five young families have moved in, and the pressure is on to decorate for many more holidays. Pumpkins started showing up on porches the last week in September. Even the post office set out pumpkins and sheaves of dried grain. Then Halloween decorating on my street soon followed.

Christina Hadaway introduced COL Charles Heberlee III as last week’s Rotary Club guest. Heberlee is a third-generation Rotarian and frequent visitor to the Canadian club. His family has served Rotary continuously for 99 years. In 2005, as part of the effort to build a democracy transition program for Russia, he formed a Rotary Club in Petrozavodsk, Karelia, to help them understand ethical free markets and democratic processes.