In this issue, we have addressed a wide range of topics, including new developments, the history of Banning Lewis Ranch, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, COVID-19 and seniors, Small Business Saturday and holiday shopping ideas to support the community.We think that shopping to support your community is an opportunity for us, too. A subscription to The New Falcon Herald would make a great gift, especially for that hard-to-buy-for person. Weíve been bringing the news and other ìfun stuffî once a month to Falcon and the surrounding areas for 17 years! We are hoping for another 17 years, and we can use your help. A subscription is only $18 a year ó and the NFH will be mailed to your house. We have posted a subscription card on pg. 21, and you can also order a subscription through our website at https://newfalconherald.com. So, think about your friends and family or buy yourself a Christmas present of The New Falcon Herald.This is a season of food! When I was looking up other holidays in November, I came across these: Nov. 1 through 6 celebrated, in order, these food items: Vegan Day; Deviled Egg Day, Sandwich Day, National Candy Day, National Doughnut Appreciation Day, National Nachos Day; Nov. 11 is National Sundae Day; of special note: Nov. 14 is World Diabetes Day. And there were at least five more ìfood holidays.î Do we have an infatuation with food?While we celebrate food, too many people in this country are ìfood insecureî ó a fancy name for hunger! With the continuing health threat of COVID-19, and millions of Americans still out of work, the problem of hunger has only worsened.In a Sept. 28 online article from National Public Radio, it showed that, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture; before the pandemic, about 13.7 million households, or 10.5% of all U.S. households, experienced food insecurity at some point during 2019. More than 35 million Americans were either unable to acquire enough food to meet their needs or uncertain of where their next meal might come from last year. The pandemic has increased the percentage of households dealing with hunger issues to 23% (Northwestern University).In late June, months after COVID hit, 27.5% of households with children ó some 13.9 million children did not have enough food to meet their needs (Brookings Institution). Northwestern estimated that number at 29.5%. And with many schools closed, children are missing the meals that many rely on every day.Of course, the problem is worldwide. According to the United Nations World Food Program, the global pandemic could double the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity, from 135 million in 2019 to 265 million in 2020.We can also find ways to help combat hunger. Donate! Whether it is money or food, donate. Know the best canned foods to donate (you can easily find this information online or from your local food pantry). Donate bags (environmentally friendly would be nice) to the local food pantry. And think with compassion about your own food habits. Donít waste food.According to the Food Waste in America 2020 guide, ìThe United States is the global leader in food waste, with Americans discarding nearly 40 million tons of food every year.î Thatís about 30-40% of the U.S. food supply. The average American family of four throws out $1,600 a year in produce.So, while we celebrate those doughnut and nachosí days, we can be thankful we donít have to worry about where our next meal will come from.Be sure to read Stephanie Masonís article on the Fresh Start Center food pantry. Happy Thanksgiving,See you in December, – MichelleCORRECTION: Last month in our article about Colorado Manure Hauling, we listed the wrong address of the operation. The correct address is County Road 74-82, which runs between Elbert Road and Peyton Highway.†Also, we did not mention that Colorado Manure Hauling was created by Jim Pearson in 2000. The company is now owned and operated by Roger and Jonathan Whetstine.
