Celebrate National Make Your Dream Come True Day
that Dream Big
Dreams are the wings that let us soar through life. And this year, Make Your Dream Come True Day is Friday January 13th! 
I’m Scoop The Cub Reporter here at The Shady Pines Gazette news and we’re learning about this in school.
It’s really cool. No one knows for sure when this “Day” got started. But the idea that dreams are important has been around for ages. Seriously.
Ancient people often believed that dreams were messages from a higher power.
In fact, the Ancient Egyptians believed this so much that they actually would lie down on special ‘dream beds’ in the 
hopes that a dream would give them advice, comfort, or healing. How about that?
Daydreaming
There are other kind of dreams that highlight our hopes and wishes. Some people call those daydreams. I bet your parents have said to you more than once, “Stop daydreaming!”
I get lost in my thoughts sometimes. But you should know that a lot of folks get some really good and creative ideas while they’re daydreaming. So don’t knock it!
Dreams Become Reality
If you want examples of people who dreamed something and then it turned into reality, here are a couple:
A long time ago in 1865, a man dreamed up the idea of a little girl falling into a magical land and having all sorts of adventures with the characters she found there.If you have then you know reality merges with dreams 
in an amazing way in this children’s tale. Not only that, but it has become one of the most beloved and enduring children’s stories of all time.
Here’s another example. In 1925 a man turned a mouse into an empire.
The Most Recognized Mouse in The World
Back in 1928 Walt Disney dreamed up a cartoon character — Mickey Mouse — who turns out to be the most famous mouse ever. Mr. Disney created Mickey, and later Minnie Mouse, at a time when he was nearly broke.
Disney goes on to create an empire that is recognized around the world. I bet you’ve been to Disneyland or Disneyworld. And if you haven’t you probably want to go there.
The Magic Kingdom is filled with all sorts of wonderful characters from the many Disney movies that have been created over the years.
We Need Dreams
Big, small, and everything in between, we need dreams and wishes to make us want to do more. Some dreams even inspire us to make our lives better for ourselves and for the people around us.
Do you know why I feel that way? Because if one person hadn’t dreamed up Shady Pines Story Town I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.
I wouldn’t be learning how to be a good reporter and photographer from my mentor, editor Zulah Talmadge.
Most importantly, all the folks here in this tight knit community wouldn’t be here. And we know how much fun they have telling stories to kids to help them grow up to be good and decent people.
What are your dreams? Are you working on them? If not then maybe Make Your Dream Come True Day
might be just the push you need to make your dreams come true too.
Sometimes, all it takes is a little encouragement!
-Scoop out
Hey look! We’ve got a new year upon us and that means new opportunities for the good folks of Shady Pines Story Town. What do you want to happen in 2023?
now we’re getting all sorts of ideas here in The Shady Pines Gazette news office. They’re all about New Year’s Resolutions.
Ask questions to help you find out what’s most important to to your kids. Some examples:
And here’s something else you can try. Write thank you notes. Yep, one expert said they wrote to all the people that had helped them this year. It made that person feel good. And it helped the person sending the note to feel gratitude heading into a new year. 
Oh, boy, the big day will be here before we know it!
The countdown to Christmas is on here in Shady Pines Story Town. Have you seen the advent calendars? They’re popping up everywhere.
Now that Thanksgiving is in our rear view mirror the holiday season is in full gear. 
It has been seen by Christians around the world as a way to get ready for the coming 
These days, most Advent Calendars have numbered paper doors or pockets that open to reveal an image, chocolate or other small object. Some of the folks here in Shady Pines will hide messages of kindness, caring and love behind those colorful doors.
For instance, a long time ago you might have seen a really old fashioned calendar that looks like your great, great, grandmother might have made it. 
These holiday calendars are fun. And just like the spiritual theme of the season, they offer anticipation, and the joy of discovery.
Do you know what we should all be doing this Friday, November 11th? I’ll give you a hint. That’s Veterans Day. We need to say thank you to the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of this country. 
I’m Zulah Talmadge, Editor of The Shady Pines Gazette news.
How Veterans Day Started
Any chance we get, we should recognize them for their service.
I don’t know about you, but most people confuse Veterans Day and
I know we’re busy doing other things. We don’t stop and appreciate all that we have. Let’s face it. We tend to forget the thousands of Americans who have done so much to make our lives a little better.
Ray and his mom love him and hope he can come home soon.
gone.
It’s that time again. The days are shorter and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. 
You know what you need to do. Here’s our mayor, Beauregard P. Fibbs with a reminder.
To help get ahead of “Fall Back”, I’ve got 4 tips to help your child adjust to the end of Daylight Saving Time.
On Thursday morning, have breakfast ready 15 minutes later than normal, then naptime 15 minutes later and so on until the entire daytime schedule has been shifted.
Experts say by keeping the room dark you encourage the production of melatonin. With that one change you help them stay sleeping.
Be patient and consistent and before you know it your kids will be back on track.
But when their routine is messed with, it can be a whole ‘nother layer of commotion!
It’s that time people! 
Halloween week is special in Shady Pines. All around town folks are coming up with costumes and pickng up pumpkins to decorate. Plus when there’s a combination of an explosion of fall colors and cooler weather, there’s something else you gotta do. Yep. Let’s
Good To Be Outside
“If your kids don’t explore the outdoors very often, this is a great way for them to discover nature. Seeing how pumpkins grow out of the ground and are attached to vines is very educational. It helps them understand that pumpkins don’t just show up at the grocery store automatically.”
Do you see the colors of that butterfly next to the pumpkin? Being out on the farm you can just be amazed at Mother Nature. I think this kind of stuff is really cool!
I met another mom who told me, “From the second we arrived, my children ran off with smiles, but quickly, they realized how much work it was to be in a field of pumpkins. Even running took work since the vines were everywhere, waiting to trip little, toddler-sized running feet.”
So a lot of kids don’t realize it takes hard work to be a farmer.
before. She said she didn’t know pumpkins grew from tiny seeds. She also didn’t realize that they come in so many shapes, sizes and colors. “It’s kinda like people, isn’t it?” she asked.
time for me to take the title back! The other reason I need to pick up some pumpkins is to inspire my mom. Around Halloween she likes to scare up some pumpkin dishes for us. I’m talking about everything from pumpkin pies to pumpkin pancakes. Here are some recipes for you to try: 
This can’t be possible. It seems like Labor Day was just yesterday.
football is once again on TV, and warm clothing is popping up on racks everywhere you look.
So what does all of this mean?
editor Zulah Talmadge has received a special request. It seems the teachers at Shady Pines Elementary want her to write about some fun Fall facts that children would enjoy. Here’s what she discovered.
Fall and Autumn are the same season! Autumn is just the formal way of saying it. Fall is when the weather starts getting cooler, the leaves change and some animals search for food to store up for Winter.
the hoizon as it does below. On that day (September 22) the sunrise and sunset are about 12 hours apart everywhere on the earth. The daylight hours are just a smidge longer.
For many Shady Pines families it’s become a tradition to take the children out to pick pumpkins and apples this time of year.
We found a recipe for pumpkin bread with walnuts that is really tasty. You can leave the nuts out if you or someone in your family is allergic.
We mentioned clothing earlier. If your wardrobe could use a little fall overhaul this is the time to do it. Sweater weather is on its way. 
With each new season comes another chance to think about ways to be kind to our family members, neighbors and friends. Of course, that shouldn’t be just a Fall thing. Here in Shady Pines we try to make it an everyday thing! Happy Fall y’all!!!
This is so exciting! Folks in Shady Pines are all a twitter about what’s going on in the skies above our town this week and even waaaay beyond that.
much of the matter of our bodies was created within the stars a really long time ago.
male deer, or bucks, are in full-growth mode during this time. According to 
Whatever you choose to call it, just remember to look up tomorrow night after sunset.
for is brewing off the coast.
Those rains are already soaking the coastal regions in the South.
track this storm system closely to make sure they can still go ahead with everything that’s supposed to happen on Monday.
straight lines as they form teams. 
Around 5 o’clock folks head down to Stonewall Park with their picnic baskets and coolers. A lot of our local business like Maggie’s Diner, Fred’s Corner Grocer and Cup ‘O Joe’s coffee shop donate food and drinks.
We’re all about that in Shady Pines.
of those booming explosions. Our small animals get scared, shiver with fear and look everywhere for a place to hide. If you know your neighbors have pets who respond negatively to fireworks, please be respectful.
Bottom line, in Shady Pines no matter what the weather or the holiday 
It’s here! The actual start of summer has arrived. But for many folks in Shady Pines Story Town, it’s felt like summer for weeks now. Temperatures this June and even before that, have been soaring into the high 90’s. The air often feels like it’s 100 degrees or more.
She heads downtown to Main Street to see what people are saying about this toasty start to the summer season.
she can pop into Maggie’s Diner where gosssip is served up right along with that day’s special sandwich, Zulah runs into Kim Dunworthy. Mail carrier Kim is coming out of Cup ‘O Joe’s coffee shop.
things I could carry at one time.”
People Are Talking
Be Careful In The Heat