Today is Sunday, Dec. 3rd, the 337th day of the year. There are 22 days remaining until Christmas, the 8 days of Hannakuh begin this Thursday the 7th and runs thru the 15th. Kwanzaa begins Tuesday the 26th and lasts thru New Year’s Day on January 1st. Meanwhile, there are 28 days left in 2023. 

Starting last Friday, December 1st, North Carolina began its era of Medicaid Expansion, offering health insurance coverage to as many as 35,000 in Cumberland County and hundreds of thousands across North Carolina. As Cumberland County Assistant County Manager Brian Haney told us last Sunday, perhapa the simplest way to sign-up is to sign up at epass.nc.gov . 

Epass.nc.gov. You may also show up during regular business hours at the Department of Social Services at 1225 Ramsey St. If you elect to show up there, please be advised you’ll probably be part of a busier, big crowd of potential enrollees. So bring your patience with you! Next Sunday morning, we’ll visit with representatives of the Economic Services division of the Department of Social Services – Vivian Tookes, Vanessa McClain-Gray and Jessica Bullock – to explain the sign-up and verification processes AND answer some of the most frequently asked questions. We hope you’ll join us next Sunday on Talkback!  

Meanwhile, since 1999 – when (as a service project) Rotary Clubs in Fayetteville took over the operation of the Fayetteville Christmas Parade from the City of Fayetteville – the parade has remained one of the most popular events on the local calendar and acknowledged as one of the top 5 parades in North Carolina. 

This coming Saturday at 10am marks the scheduled 2023 running of the crowd-pleasing Fayetteville Rotary Christmas Parade thru Downtown Fayetteville on Person and Hay Streets from the Courthouse to down near the railroad tracks. We spoke to the current coordinator of the crowd pleasing event! 

Interview with Brandon Price. e.t. 9:30. 

Again, the Fayetteville Rotary Christmas Parade will be downtown on Person and Hay Streets this Saturday – step-off at 10am…finishing about 12 noon! Merry Christmas! 

Since the pandemic, concern about mental health and its importance to all of us has taken a turn in the spotlight. Most, especially mental health care providers, feel this is long overdue. Dr. Justin Johnson is a psychiatrist – a doctor specializing in mental health care. He’s also an Army Reserve officer connected to nearby Fort Liberty. He also grew up around Fayetteville. We first me during the pandemic and both enjoyed our conversation. We recently caught up with each other again. Same topic, Emphasizing that taking care of our minds is just the same as taking care of a cold or a broken wrist. It requires some steps…but help is always available …hope is always there…and there’s no reason not to reach out for it when you need it! 

Interview with Dr. Justin Johnson. e.t. 14:30. 

Thanks to you, Dr. Justin Johnson! Total E.T. 28:59