Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
From Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897 We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus?Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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One Solitary Life
One . . . He was born in an obscure village. Solitary . . .He worked in a carpenter shop Life . . . until He was thirty. He then became an itinerant preacher. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn’t go to college. He had no credentials but himself. He was only thirty-three when the public turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. He was laid in a borrowed grave. Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that... One Solitary Life.
HOLIDAY CHEER - Over 90 Southside Elementary third and fourth grade students in the school’s honor choir recently stopped by the main branch of Citizens Bank in Batesville to perform Christmas carols. Photo submitted
Damian DeLoach (left), marketing specialist at White River Medical Center (WRMC), helps Michele Wood (middle), WRMC marketing director, and Maggie Miller (right), WRMC pharmacy director, prepare to load gifts for delivery to the United Way drop-off location. Twenty-one WRMC departments provided Christmas gifts to two dozen children through the United Way’s Angel Tree program. Photo submitted
Mitchell joins Community Insurance Professionals, Inc.
Sonia Mitchell has joined Community Insurance Professionals, Inc., a subsidiary of First Community Bank in Batesville, according to Anthony Clark, vice president and insurance manager for the agency. Mitchell’s office is located on the second floor of First Community Bank at 1325 Harrison St. in Batesville. “We feel extremely fortunate to have someone of Sonia’s caliber join our team,” said Clark. “As a commercial lines representative for our business customers, she will be getting quotes from several different companies, often saving businesses both time and money. Her knowledge of commercial insurance lines is excellent and we know that she will do an outstanding job of providing exceptional service to all of our clients.” Mitchell can obtain price comparisons from numerous insurance companies. The organization offers a wide range of insurance products, including auto, property, casualty, life, cancer, short and long-term disability, accident and healthcare for both businesses and individuals. “It is so important for business owners to manage costs and time, while making sure that the business is protected against unforeseen difficulties,” said Mitchell. “The best part of my job is finding the best insurance options for businesses and making the process simple and affordable for them.” Sonia is married to Mike Mitchell and has one son, Chase Dayberry who is a senior at Cave City High School. A native of Batesville and an alumnus of Batesville High School, she has lived in Sidney for the past 18 years. Community Insurance Professionals, Inc., with offices in Batesville, Searcy and Highland, has a commitment to maintaining a high standard of excellence in serving its customers. As an independent agency, Community Insurance Professionals, Inc. represents a carefully selected group of financially sound, reputable insurance companies, including State Auto, Auto-Owners, Travelers, Berkshire Hathaway, Cameron, CNA, Hartford and Zurich. By offering options through more than a dozen companies, customers benefit by getting the best coverage at a competitive price.
Peyton Taylor (center), co-owner of White River Family Fun Center located just south of the White River bridge in Batesville, celebrates the center's recent ribbon cutting. All types of entertaining kids activities are available at the White River Family Fun Center. The center is open Tuesdays through Sundays. Photo submitted
Kazzee joins Coldwell Bank Choice Reality
Randy Kazzee has joined Coldwell Banker Choice Realty as a sales associate working out of the firm’s office at 513 Batesville Blvd. in Batesville. Prior to joining Coldwell Banker Choice Realty, Kazzee met the Arkansas real estate licensing requirements and is completing the comprehensive Coldwell Banker training program. Kazzee has eight years experience in residential real estate sales and has been in customer service for over 35 years. “I am happy to be at Coldwell Banker Choice Realty with a great group of dedicated, honest and loyal people, “ said Kazzee in a release. “We’re glad to have Randy as part of our team,” said Missy Aaron, broker/owner at Coldwell Banker Choice Realty. “He has made a career working with the citizens of Batesville and Indpendence and Sharp counties, has a background in farming as well as customer service, has a large network of people. and is extremely knowledgeable about our area.” Kazzee is a graduate of Hoxie schools and is an active member of Cave City First Freewill Baptist Church. He is a native of Walnut Ridge and resides in Cave City. Coldwell Banker Choice Realty can be reached at (870) 793-7778. Coldwell Banker Choice Realty has been an affiliate of the Coldwell Banker System for nine years.
Mike and Lesha Watson give $5,000 to Ozarka College capital campaign
Mike and Lesha Watson of Ash Flat have committed $5,000 to the Ozarka College Student Services Center Capital Campaign. Their contribution will pay to furnish the registrar’s office in the new building, located on the Melbourne campus. Mike is a member of the Ozarka College Foundation Board and is co-chair of the capital campaign along with Connie Moser of Calico Rock. He is owner of Mike Watson State Farm Insurance Agency in Highland. “Lesha and I believe in Ozarka College and its mission to provide life-changing experiences through education,” said Mike. “Ozarka helped shape our lives and we wanted to help other people receive the same benefits that we did.” Ozarka College broke ground on Monday, Dec. 2, on the two-story 18,560 square-foot building that will house all student services, various individual and group study areas, community meeting rooms, a video conferencing center, additional banquet space for college and community use, and a state of the art culinary learning lab. Donation levels range from $2,500 to furnish an office space up to $250,000 for building naming rights. The Ozarka College Foundation, a non-profit organization, as well as the Ozarka College Board of Trustees, will ensure the funds are used for expressed purposes. For more information about giving opportunities to the “Students at the Center” capital campaign, please contact Carol Langston, executive assistant to the president and development officer, at (870) 368-2006 or [email protected].
Pictured, left to right: Mike and Lesha Watson, daughter Abbey Orf, sons Will Watson and Andrew Haley, and Dr. Richard Dawe, Ozarka College president.
New counseling and career Services Coordinator named at UACCB
BATESVILLE – University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) recently welcomed Rebecca Peden as the coordinator of counseling and career services. Peden is the youngest in her family by one minute because her twin brother beat her out, literally. After graduating from Green Forrest High School, she majored in agriculture business at Arkansas Tech University. While there, she became very involved in organizations, including serving on the governing board for sororities, and re-establishing the defunct Future Farmers of America organization. Recognizing this as her passion she went north to Missouri State University in Springfield for a master of science in student affairs in higher education. She completed a graduate assistantship in career services and an internship at ASU-Beebe, which led to being hired as a residence hall director at Beebe upon graduation. As a hall director, she polished her listening and crisis managements skills. Peden will change her last name to Warren on December 28, when she weds her fiancé, a deputy for the White County Sheriff’s Department. She said she is anxious to become involved in the community of Batesville. Her primary duties will include helping students hone job search and career skills, overseeing accommodations for disabled students, assisting with orientations and offering counseling referrals, as needed. Peden is working diligently to relaunch the Career Management System on the UACCB campus. She is prepared to offer workshops and presentations dealing with job interview tips, preparing resumes, developing job search skills, and conducting Kuder Journey workshops. In her first week at UACCB, she conducted the first of several Kuder Journey workshops in Glenda Bell’s Strategies for College Success class. Kuder provides a computerized interest and career inventory that links to jobs in and beyond Arkansas. Completing a Kuder Assessment is a requirement for Strategies students; they receive personalized certificates for inclusion in their career portfolios.
