On Our Cover
Christmas is for Children
Photo by Ariel Brumbaugh
This year 13-year-old Emelia Brumbaugh’s dream has come true. As Clara in The Nutcracker at Abigail Francisco’s School of Classical Ballet, dancing with Herr Drosselmeyer and the nutcracker prince, Emelia shares the stage with movie stars, professional dancers and nearly four dozen dream-filled girls and boys.

Holiday Essence ~ Poinsettias bloom red and green for Christmas
by James Clemenko
Appreciation ~ Sue Sheehan 1933–2003
by Barbi Shields
Earth Journal ~ Carolina wren
by Gary Pendleton
Calling All Chili Cooks ~ At Deale Bluegrass and Whole Foods, your bowl of fire can take the cake — or the turkey
by SOM
Way Downstream
In Annapolis, Congress gives Maryland watermen a $500 Christmas check…
In Virginia’s Appomattox County, farmers win the right to fertilize their fields with sludge — with all its pathogens, bacteria and toxic heavy metals…
In Pennsylvania, one sludge dumper gets house arrest, another Godspeed on his way to war…
This week’s Creature Feature: In Hong Kong, It’s Croc 1, Dundee 0 as Aussie crocodile hunter retires and the Yuen Long Croc reigns.

Predator Balances Prey Food for thought as deer hunters take to the fields Another Big Date for Your December Calendar Bad Air Is Helping Kill Our Bay Bats Can Transmit Rabies Small Church Gives Big Thanks

by C.D. Dollar No Black Friday in My Neck of the Woods The Stuff Dreams Are Made of by Emelia Brumbaugh & Leslie Smith Farewell Autumn, Yard-Sale Shoppers Season of Plenty by Hanne Denney