By Diane WetzelThe North Platte Telegraphdwetzel@nptelegraph.com

Being a good mom means everything to Tracy Wiezorek, LincMom of theQuarter. She and her husband, Rocky, are parents to five daughters with asixth baby due the first of January.A big part of being a good mom means showing her children the importance of helping others. Six months ago Wiezorek, 29, founded theLending a Helping Hand Facebook page. The site allows people to ask forand to donate items to people in need.It’s based on the same spirit that moves a neighbor to bring a home-cookedmeal to someone who has had a death in the family.It’s community service at the grass roots level and it has taken off in a big,big way. There are more than 4,000 members.“I wanted people who are struggling to know that they aren’t alone,” shesaid. “We have all struggled at some point in our lives. I have. We get socaught up in our own lives that we don’t realize how much help we can beto someone else. It may seem like something super small to me, but it’s bigto someone who needs it.”No buying or selling is allowed on the site. It’s based completely on donations. Wiezorek administers the site, helps arrange transportation of donations and organizes fundraisers. She is planning a silent auction toraise money.“I always have to do things differently,” she said. “Instead of going aroundtown asking local businesses for auction items, I put the word out on thesite. I am getting donations from all across the country including Georgiaand New Hampshire. I am also getting donations from the UnitedKingdom.”If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Wiezorek should be very flattered. Imitation websites are popping up in New York and Wisconsin.“I would like to see it in every state, as long as they are doing it for the rightreasons,” she said.People who need ask for help and those who can, do.“Often people who have received help turn around and help someone else,”Wiezorek said. “I am so thankful for my own life. Reading about and

hearing these stories of people who are struggling, I realize that it couldeasily have been me.”Recent posts on the site offer donations of mattresses and box springs andrequests for used children’s clothing. Someone else needs advice on how tofix a lawnmower. Search Facebook for “Lending a Helping Hand” to locatethe website. “We have helped so many families,” she said. “People I have never met areworking with me. It really is amazing.”The Wiezorek’s are the parents of Jestena, Kaurlee, Lilye, Mystre andNovalia,“My husband teases me that when this baby comes, I am going to be spending my time at the hospital on my cell phone working on the website,”she said. “I probably will be.”

Above and Cover Picture: Linc Mom of the Quarter Tracy Wiezorek with her five daughters, Jestena,Lilye, Mystre, Novalia and Kaurlee. (Dad Rocky was at work.)

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3PUZZLES & COLORING

CCCCOOOOLLLLOOOORRRR MMMMEEEE !!!!

4 HOLIDAYS

By Tresa EricksonAdbuilder.com

Gift giving is a time-honored tradition, but how do you keep itaffordable with a great number of people? If you have a ratherlarge family and buying gifts for each and every person is out ofthe question, what can you do? You can have a gift exchange,and there are various ways you can go about it. Here are a fewof the more common ones.Be a Secret SantaSecret Santa exchanges take place over a series of days.Participants draw names, purchase several small gifts for theperson whose name they draw and arrange for a gift to be delivered daily in secret. Gifts may be themed, and the identitiesof the Secret Santas are revealed on the last day of the exchange.Draw NamesName drawings are fairly straightforward. You set up a time forthe drawing to take place, throw the names of everyone

participating into a hat and have each person draw a name andtuck it away. This is the person for whom they must purchase agift. Parents of young kids are responsible for purchasing a giftfor the names drawn by the kids. The actual gift exchange takesplace later at the date, time and place designated.Give BackCharity exchanges work well for individuals who don?t needanything and would rather give back something to their community. Participants write down the name of their favoritecharity and insert it into a hat. They then draw a name of a charity from the hat and pledge to support it with either a monetary donation or volunteer work.Go the White Elephant WayWhite elephant gifts are generally inexpensive, sometimesfunny, sometimes used gifts. For your white elephant giftexchange, you may select a theme and price limit, such as gaggifts for under $5 or odd items from home. Participants mustthen wrap a gift that meets those specifications and bring it to theexchange. The person first in line selects a gift, unwraps it andholds it up high for everyone to see. The next person selects agift, unwraps it and either keeps the gift or swaps it for the otherperson?s gift. The fun continues until everyone has a gift.Exchanges may be limited to a certain number, and participantsmay be given one final opportunity to swap gifts if they sodesire.RegiftRegift exchanges usually take place after the holidays andrequire participants to bring something they received but do notwant or need. Participants then get to swap what they don’t wantfor something that they do. Any gifts not selected may be donated to charity.None of these ideas appeal to you? No problem. Design yourown gift exchange and theme it anyway you want. Themes can

run the gamut fromboard games to cooking gadgets topet supplies. It’s yourchoice, and with onlyone gift requiredinstead of several,participants are sureto have fun whateveris involved.

Gift-Giving Alternatives

Photo & recipe courtesy of kraftfoods.com

Total Time: 5 hoursPrep Time: 15 minServings: 28 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups - boiling water, divided4 pkgs. - (3 oz. each) JELL-O Lime

Flavor Gelatin, divided

1can- (5 oz.) Evaporated milk¼ cup - multi-colored sprinkles

Directions: ADD 1-1/3 cups boiling water to 2 pkg. gelatin mixes in medium bowl; stir 2 min. untilcompletely dissolved. Pour into 8-inch-square dish sprayed with cooking spray.Refrigerate 25 to 30 min. or until set but not firm. MEANWHILE, add remaining boiling water to remaining gelatin mixes in mediumbowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in evaporated milk. Refrigerate 15 min.or until slightly thickened; pour over gelatin layer in dish. REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until firm. Unmold onto cutting board just before serving;cut into 4 rows, then cut each row into 7 alternating triangles. Garnish with sprinkles.Reserve gelatin trimmings for snacking.

5EASY TO MAKE RECIPE

Photo & recipe courtesy of kraftfoods.com

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minPrep Time: 20 min

Servings: 36 serving

Ingredients: 12oz. - BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate4tsp. - shortening1pkg. - (3 oz.) JELL-O Raspberry

Flavor Gelatin

1can - (14 oz.) sweetenedcondensed milk

¼ tsp. - almond extract2 pkg. - (7 oz. each) BAKER'S ANGEL

FLAKE Coconut

Directions: LINE 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Microwave chocolate and shortening in medium microwaveable bowl onHIGH 1-1/2 min.; stir. Microwave 1 min.; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Spread half onto bottom of prepared pan. Refrigerate 10 min. MIX dry gelatin mix, milk and extract in large bowl until blended. Stir in coconut until evenly coated; spoon over chocolate layer in pan. Press gently into chocolate layer. POUR remaining chocolate mixture over coconut layer; spread to completely cover coconut.Refrigerate 30 min. or until firm. Use foil handles to lift candy from pan; remove foil beforecutting candy into squares.

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Date Time Event Location Contact

Tuesdays 9:30, 10:30, 1:30 Preschool Story Time North Platte Public Library 308-535-8036

1st & 3rd Wed 9:30 a.m. & 10am Wee Read North Platte Public Library 308-535-8036

November 29 5pm – 7pm Downtown Christmas Kick-Off Downtown North Platte

December 1 8:00 am Jingle Bell Run North Platte Rec. Center 308-535-6772

9am – 6pm Whistle Stop Market Christmas Bazaar Garden Glove Center

10am – 3pm Christmas Extravaganza Wallace Community Hall &Wallace American Legion

11am – 4pm 25th Annual Craft Fair United Methodist Church

Begins Dec 1 Santa's Workshop Cody Park 308-535-6700Opening Ceremonies At 5:00 pm On Sat. Dec. 1

December 6 - 9 3pm - 5pm Downtown Cookie and Ornament Decorating Espresso Shoppe

5pm - 6pm Downtown Christmas Parade Downtown North Platte

7pm - 8pm Living Christmas Tree First Baptist Church 308.532.6772

December 7 2pm - 6pm Donna's Community Christmas Dinner Harvest Christian Fellowship

December 9 10am - 5pm Nick of Time Craft Show North Platte Rec. Center 308-535-6772

December 15 1pm - 3pm Downtown Storytelling, Cookie Espresso Shoppeand Ornament Decorating

December 19 10:30pm - 11:30pm Santa @ the Children's Museum NP Children's Museum 308-532-3512

Dec 20 - 23 5:30pm – 8pm Christmas at the Cody’s Buffalo Bill State Historical Park

KID’S HEALTH

By Sanjeev Kmr Articlecity.com

Every house can witness a tug of war between parents wanting their kids toeat healthy food and kids wanting to eat food that they find good. With a little foresight and planning both parents and children can be happy. Great health tips don’t have to be painful. Children want to have tasty foodand snacks. Adults want children to have good nutrition. With a little thoughtit is possible to give kids wonderful tasty food and snacks and the nutritionthey need. For example, watermelon makes a nutritious, healthy, tasty snack.Watermelon will also keep your kids from getting dehydrated in the hot summer months as it is 92% water. Watermelon is a great source of vitamins A, B6, and C, and one serving provides 80 calories of energy and even 7% of the USRDA of potassium. Itcontains no fat at all and the lycopene in it gives it a lovely red color.Lycopene is an antioxidant that will help you stay healthy and fight disease.Medical India can give you even more details on the health value of watermelon. A great snack for the whole family, and what used to be a summer fruit ofchoice, watermelon is now available year round. Watermelon is versatile andis great with any meal: breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is a good snack for theentire family. Just plain watermelon is tasty on its own. It is also a goodingredient in other recipes, too. For birthdays and formal dinners, the beauty of a well carved watermelon isa good addition. Children’s parties can be livened up with just a little effortand the insides can be used to add color and value to your salads anddesserts. You can make the inside of the carved watermelon attractive bylivening things up with a fruit salad of blueberries, green grapes, orangesegments, bits of apple, balls of cantaloupe ,etc. Children will be thrilled andso will the adults. Practical Directions to Help Make a Carved Watermelon Peacock • Firstly, select a well rounded and a sturdy watermelon since we need to put

many beautiful feathers on its back. There is no need for very big ones. • Next, you need to cut off a rounded slice from the bottom so that the fruitremains sturdy and does not roll off while doing the carving. • The next step is to sketch out the head and supporting feather structure. • It should be done in such a way that it starts with a semi circle and comesdown with a long neck. • The plumage should be carved out from high in the back and then descenddown low. • To get the desired affect, we need to make little wavy designs all the wayup. • In the centre of the back, you need to put your finger on the head andsiphon it back to get the center. • You will finally get a beautiful peacock when you carve it along the sketches made on the fruit. So its not just a health tip, watermelon is a tasty and fun way to give yourkids and friends great taste and quietly help them to be healthy. Using a little creativity you can really make it more appealing to the eye as well asthe tongue.

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Where Family Comes First!• Leland F. Lamberty, M.D. • Janet E. Bernard, M.D. • Wendy J.Gosnell, M.D. • Joseph J Kezeor M.D.

500 W. Leota Ste. 100 • North Platte, NE 69101

308-534-4440

Family Medicine Associates

Health Tips To Make Your KidsBe Happy And Enjoy Good Food!

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