This used to be my favorite holiday, when it still was a holiday and Black Friday was still on Friday.

Thanksgiving was the one holiday where it was all about food and family. No gifts, no stockings, just stuff your face and hang out with the fam. The fact stores are opening 6 p.m. Thursday has me livid.

Think of those retail employees who have to leave their family gatherings to go to work. I'm sure working Black Friday is bad enough with all the crazy shoppers, but making them work on a national holiday is too much. The line has to be drawn somewhere. So I encourage all of you to stay with your families this Thanksgiving and send a message to the retail big wigs family is more important than saving a buck or two.

Keystone exams start Dec. 3. The algebra exam is being given Dec 3 and 4. If your student is taking the exam, they will report to school at the normal time. If they are not taking that exam, they will report to school two hours late.

Dec. 8 and 9 will be the biology exam with the same two-hour delay schedule. Bussing is provided for students going at normal time and going in two hours late.

The literature exam is being taken Dec. 11 and 12 without a two-hour delay and all students reporting at normal time.

Salisbury High School will hold the winter choral and instrumental concert 7 p.m. Dec. 4.

Western Salisbury Elementary will hold the Holiday Shoppe for students Dec. 10 to 12. This is run by the PTA and I know volunteers are always needed to help all the little kiddies shop and wrap the gifts they bought. Why not contact the PTA and lend a hand?

WSE is also holding the winter concert Dec. 10. The concert will include performances by the fourth grade, fifth grade, chorus and band. They are always entertaining.

There is a reorganization meeting 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the administration building, with an operations committee meeting immediately following.

The Devonshire yard waste drop off site will be open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 2 and 6. This is the last weekend the drop off will be open before it closes for the winter.

Township leaf collection is still going on. I heard the leaf vacuum coming down my street last Wednesday morning. Realizing my leaves were still under the tree in my yard, I grabbed my coat and raked like crazy to get them to the curb…just in time to see the vacuum turn around and go up the other side of the street and not be seen since. Uuggh.

Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church will host the monthly breakfast 8 to 11 a.m. Dec. 13. A donation is suggested, with all proceeds benefitting the 275th anniversary celebration.

"If no one shopped on Thanksgiving Day, the stores wouldn't open. End of story. I say we all take the pledge and stay home. Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for what you have, not to save a few dollars to get more." Regina Brett