Welcome to “The Little Town with a Big Heart”
When is the first day of spring in 2020? This is the earliest the Vernal (Spring) Equinox has occurred in 124 years. Traditionally, we celebrate the first day of spring on March 21, but astronomers and calendar manufacturers alike now say that the spring season starts on March 20, in all time zones in North America. And in 2020, it’s even a day earlier than that—something that hasn’t happened since 1896. Regardless of what the weather is doing outside, the equinox marks the official start of the spring season.
How could the first day of spring change from year to year? There are a few reasons why seasonal dates can vary from year to year. The first is that a year is not an even number of days and neither are the seasons. Another reason is that the earth’s elliptical orbit is changing its orientation (skew), which causes the earth’s axis to constantly point in a different direction, called precession. Since the seasons are defined as beginning at strict 90-degree intervals, these positional changes affect the time the earth reaches each 90-degree location in its orbit around the sun. The pull of gravity from the other planets also affects the location of the earth in its orbit.
What does vernal equinox mean? Vernal translates to “new” and “fresh,” and equinox derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night). So what does that mean? Essentially, our hours of daylight - the period of time each day between sunrise and sunset — have been growing slightly longer each day since the Winter Solstice in December, which is the shortest day of the year (at least in terms of light). Even after three months of lengthening days, though, we still see less light than darkness over the course of a day. The vernal equinox marks the turning point when daylight begins to win out over darkness. At this moment, the direct rays of the Sun are shining down on the equator producing the effect of equal day and night (give or take a few minutes). After the vernal equinox, the direct rays of the Sun migrate north of the Equator (with hours of daylight steadily growing longer) until they finally arrive at the Tropic of the Cancer (latitude 23.5 degrees north).The migration of the Sun’s direct rays comes to a halt on that day; this is as far north as they will go. We call this the summer solstice (solstice is a suspension of the migration of the Sun’s direct rays). It is the longest day of the year in terms of hours of daylight. After the summer solstice, the direct rays proceed to head south and the days begin to grow shorter. It will take another three months, until the autumnal equinox for the periods of daylight and darkness to reach equilibrium once again. The rays ultimately reach the Tropic of Capricorn (latitude 23.5 degrees south) on the day of the winter solstice and the whole cycle begins again!
Congratulations to Joey Hand of Hickory, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, as Battalion Chief with the Meridian Fire Department, during a ceremony at city hall in Meridian recently. Hand and a crew of firefighters who responded to a fire at a family home last August were among those honored. The husband died in the fire last August, but four others, two adults and two small children survived, thanks to the firefighters. Other firemen that helped work the call was also honored. Joey has dedicated almost 30 years total to the fire service from starting as a volunteer up to present day as a Battalion Chief. Joey’s wife, Ginger, says Joey is her hero! Ginger is Fire Chief at the Hickory Fire Department.
Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Mary Elizabeth Massey, 81, of Chunky. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 11, at Providence Missionary Baptist Church. Burial followed in Providence Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. Bro. Len Chesney, Bro. Jackie Strebeck, and Bro. Larry Laird officiated.
Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Mr. Willie M. Graham, 71, of Sebastopol, Services were held on Saturday, March 14.
Prayer Requests: Cayce and Mary Bufkin, Elizabeth Massey family, Wille Graham family, Tommy Walters family, Jerry May, Jim Cates, Sherry Burks Johnson, Denise Todd, Bill Matlock, Jerry May, Randy Crapps, Bro. Gary Felton, Norman Snowden, Shawn and Ally Bounds, Logan Skinner, Margie Brown, Doyle Gibbs, Michael Scott Reed, Tommie Everett, Carl Jones, Joshua Black, Trey Wilbourn, Dylan Walker, Hope Parks, Alley Gressett, Caleb Carr, Barbara Blass, Annie Therrin, Mike Walton, Vickie Davidson, Marty Turner, Alana McMullan, Doyle McMullan, Cili Norman and Janie McMullan.
Shut-Ins: Royce and Sara Richardson, Jimmie Craig, Bro. Ron Gilstrap and Stephanie Roland.
Birthdays for the Week: March 11 to Mary Stamper in memory, Katherine Thomason, Keith Brackeen, Lisa Blackwell and Lois Pennington; March 12 to Butch Meaders Jr., Gail Cochran Chaney and Jackie Sanford; March 13 to Bruce Massey in memory; March 14 to Louise Meaders in memory, Patti Craig, Jackie Gressett and Laurel Overstreet (our granddaughter from Georgia); March 15 to Mark Spence, Greg Palmer, Eric Buntyn, Bruce Bufkin and Jenell Foley in memory; March 16 to Matthew Brand, Wanda Chaney, Jimmy Johnson, Grady Chaney in memory; March 18 to Katherine Cluff and Mary Henley in memory; Mar. 20 to Jeff Federick and John Knochenmouss; March 21 to Wesley Seal and Ellene Jones; March 22 to Matt Addy and Ashley Walker Lane; March 24 to Brenda Garrison. Happy birthday to each one!
Anniversaries for the Week: March 14 to Robert and Hazel Stevens; March 16 to Louis and Stephanie Foley; March 19 to Johnny and Mary Brand; March 20 to Bubba and Dana Walker. Happy anniversary to each of you!
Recipe for the Week: Lemon Layer Cake
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened, 1-1/2 cups sugar, 2 large eggs, room temperature, 3 large egg yolks, room temperature, 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 3/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup 2% milk, 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ baking soda, SYRUP: 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup lemon juice
Frosting: 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened, 1 cup butter, softened, 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon salt, Optional: Lemon slices or edible flowers.
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottoms of two greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease parchment. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon zest and juice. In a small bowl, mix sour cream and milk. In another bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream mixture. Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 24-28 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool slightly. For syrup, in a small saucepan, combine sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Cool completely. For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth; beat in confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and salt until blended. Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Brush layers with warm syrup; cool completely. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting. If desired, top with lemon slices or edible flowers. Refrigerate leftovers.
From the communities of Hickory, Berry, Sand Springs, Mount Vernon and Poplar Springs, email or call floraoverstreet64@gmail.com or call 601-479-9044 with your news.
