Take Note. Time is Passing. Glorious Fall 2024 Arrives in Shady Pines Story Town
It’s Fall Y’All!
Time is such an important and valuable part of our lives. We rarely mention it but we feel time passing. You can sense it. The days keep getting shorter. 
The shadows are longer. Football is back on TV.
Kids are in school and planning what the’ll wear to their Halloween parties.
And that’s when it hits you.
A new season has arrived. Right on time. The official first day of Fall is Sunday, September 22nd.
Why Now?
Throughout history Fall begins on what’s known as the Autumnal Equinox. It’s a fancy way of saying that on 
Sunday, this weekend, the sun spends as much time above the hoizon as below.
In fact, the sunrise and sunset are about 12 hours apart everywhere on the earth. The daylight hours are just a smidge longer.
So, don’t waste a minute. Let’s GO!
Fun Fall Things To Do
For many families here in Shady Pines Story Town, 
it’s now a tradition to load everyone up in the car and head out to pick pumpkins. In a few weeks, we’ll have a story from 
Scoop the Cub Reporter as he goes on assignment for The Shady Pines Gazette to the local Pumpkin Patch.
Besides carving pumpkins (sometimes for prizes) there are some wonderful recipes out there.
We found a recipe for pumpkin bread with walnuts that is really tasty.
CLICK HERE FOR THE PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE
You can leave the nuts out if you or someone in your family is allergic.
Dress For The Weather
Maybe this is a good time to see if you’ve got the right clothes for fall. Sweater weather is on its way.
You might want to stock up on warm hats, mittens, boots and galoshes. 
Yes even those big rubbery boots will come in handy.
Kids can find so much to do on those rainy, puddle filled days.
Kindness Is Year Round
One more thing to remember. 
Don’t let this special time pass you by. 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. In Shady Pines, we try to make it an everyday thing.
Happy Fall Y’All!!!
Here’s a fact that is hard to believe. We are marking Patriot Day 2024. It’s been 23 years since that horrible attack on our country, September 11, 2001. 
Hi. I’m Zulah Talmadge, Editor of The Shady Pines Gazette.
But there are many young people and children who weren’t around back then.
Planes were hijacked by bad men and flown into their targets. So many innocent people just going about their daily lives never made it home.
It seemed like a bad movie. It couldn’t be real.
And then we saw so many brave policemen, firemen, and other first responders race in to help others. Many didn’t come back alive. It was all too much to bear.
We would never feel as safe again.
As deep and painful as our wounds were, a sense of brotherhood swept over our nation in a way many of us may have never before seen in our lifetime. Above the black smoke and rubble, America still stood as a country – held together by the spirit of our people.
The thing is, these people woke up that morning just like the rest of us. They did not know what was to be asked of them in the next couple of hours. 
But, when it came time, they got up the courage needed and answered the call.
If you live near any of the
It wasn’t always that way. Let’s remind ourselves, and the children, of an important time in American history when we were united.
Halloween candy and costumes are already on display in stores. There’s no question about it. We’re heading into Fall.
She knows first hand there are folks who live in and around town who struggle to afford the food necessary to feed their families. Our local food bank is asking for help from the community. We’re answering the call.
Fabulous Fall Food Drive 2024
“Well,” say Rita. “The Food Drive kicks off this weekend at the gazebo in Stonewall Park at 10am with live music and all sorts of treats from Maggie’s Diner.”
“Here’s a list of the top 20 items. Mostly canned or boxed foods and staples are requested. Oh, and they can write a check if they want to give money instead of food.” 
The timing of this food drive is important. September is the month of The Harvest Moon.
Generally speaking, the first weekend in 
September signals the unofficial end of Summer. Yess-sir-eee. Labor Day on Monday, September 2nd becomes part of a three-day celebration for most folks in Shady Pines Story Town. I bet it’s the same where you live.
A National Holiday qualifies as a really good excuse to throw a party.
celebrate all the wonderful workers in our country who make our day-to-day living just that much better.
Ray’s father is in the Army and right now he’s serving our country overseas. 
Ray and his mom haven’t seen him in a long time. Staff Sergeant Robinson writes to Ray as much as he can.
And don’t forget to be grateful for all the grocery store workers who make sure you have enough of those picnic foods ready when you need them.
Finally, these hard working , underpaid United States workers decided they had to do something to improve their situation. So they joined
demanded better pay, fewer hours, and safer working conditions. 
Back here in Shady Pines our favorite mail carrier, Kim Dunworthy, is on a mission. She hurries to make her final delivery of our town’s letters and packages by Friday afternoon. Kim is excited to get to her parent’s home in nearby River City so she can help with party preparations.
It’s their Labor Day weekend tradition.
The Sanders’ family seems to be hatching a plan too. Once Harold locks the front door of his Nuts ‘N Bolts hardware store Saturday afternoon he’ll walk home. His wife, Edna, says she has something in mind.
“plan” on a holiday weekend, Harold arrived home to find a half filled blow up pool, an out of control water 
hose snaking 
in all directions, a drenched dog hiding in the bushes and a soaked cat howling in a tree.
Besides Boomerang the Australian Shepherd dog and Halley’s Comet a silver streak of a cat, Edna was waterlogged from the tip of her head to the toes on her feet.
Fortunately, this time the wooden table in the backyard is set for a picnic. Edna is humming as she brings out a pitcher of lemonade from the kitchen. Boomer dogs her heels and Halley tries her best to sneak up on a bird.
It’s the biggest mystery anyone can remember and a whole lot of people are talking.
Dozens of stories swirl concerning the condition of Shady Pines Story Town’s only school. People say the school will not be able to open to students in time for the Fall semester.
Scoop the Cub Reporter try to answer the questions they keep getting asked. But even they aren’t sure.
The first day of the new school year is fast approaching. Soon, big yellow buses will start rolling. Kids and their parents have been buying new clothes, backpacks and supplies.
The heating system was upgraded, classroom walls were painted, a few water pipes needed to be repaired and some student desks were replaced.
Mayor Fibbs is frustrated. “EEE-Gads. Enough of this!” The mayor calls over to The Gazette and asks Zulah Talmadge if she and Scoop can get over to his office.
The mayor shakes his head. “Well, I’ll be. What we have here is that little ‘ole game of telephone.”
Tropical Storm Debby is finally outta here. Her
visit to Shady Pines Story Town dumped over fifteen inches of rain in some places! Why that’s enough to fill buckets.
Their memories of those days without a home are as dark as the clouds outside.
“Hey, Boomer buddy. We need some exercise. What do you say we take a walk?”
Edna hands Boomer’s leash to Harold. “Be careful. Watch out for deep puddles.”
Halley rubs up against Edna’s leg. Edna picks her up. “You think that’s a good idea, do you? Okay then.”
Edna gets all of her ingredients together and puts them into Gertie the blender.
“Boy oh boy,” gasps Harold. “I’d say it’s coming down like cats and dogs, but I don’t want to upset our kids.”
Halley swishes her tail. “Oh yeah?”
She pulls out a new chewy bone for Boomer and some cat treats for Halley.
“Come on down girl. I’m putting these in your bowl. Here you go Boom.”
“I thought you might like a sweet treat after your adventure in the rain.”
Another wonderful example that kindness and caring goes a long way even on a rainy afternoon in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.