Birthday wishes to Bennie Mosley, Dec. 29, Saxe; Sharon Stovall, Dec. 30, Drakes Branch; Renautta Brogdon, Dec. 31, Saxe; Jalyayah Pugh, Dec. 31, Charlotte Court House; Angel Wilmouth, Dec. 31, Drakes Branch; Russell Spencer Jr., Jan. 1, Charlotte Court House; Alma Garland, Jan. 2, Columbus, Ohio. I wish each of you many more happy birthdays. Happy birthday!

Birthday winners for December are Sharon Stovall from Drakes Branch and Daisy Williams from Drakes Branch. Gifts can be picked up at The Charlotte Gazette Wednesday. The deadline to pick up gifts is Jan. 3 by noon.

Get well wishes to all of the sick and shut in. I hope you are well soon, up and about you. You are in our prayers and thoughts.

Thought for the week: Knowledge is knowing what to say, wisdom is knowing when to say it.

Anniversary wishes to Jamal and Jennifer Williams, Dec. 30, who live in North Carolina. They have a son and a daughter. May God bless you with many more happy years together.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year. In 2017, I wish for a better year to come.

NEW YEAR

Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

All news is due by Friday at 9 p.m. Call or text (434) 568-0596.

Virginia Freeman is a community columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. Her email address is vstars@pure.net.