Talk of the Town: I’ve got the leftover blues — I mean snooze!

If you’re eating your way through Thanksgiving leftovers, here’s some good news for you. A lot of holiday fare you thought was bad for you isn’t so bad, after all.

Contrary to popular belief, mashed potatoes don’t make you fat unless, of course, you use a stick of butter and real cream. Cranberry relish has no fat and if you cut down on the sugar, it’s probably the healthiest food on your plate (except for the green beans, as long as they are steamed and with no butter sauce).

The really important myth is to dispel the sluggish feeling you claim comes from the sleepy turkey syndrome.

Bonnie Brehm, a registered dietitian from the University of Cincinnati, has this to say:

“Tryptophan is the amino acid that is associated with the turkey sleepiness syndrome. That’s because it does have tryptophan in it, which is associated with a calming effect, however, other proteins have tryptophan as well, eggs, milk, cheese. These may also have that effect.”

For this reason, it’s not likely the turkey is what makes you sleepy. Brehm says it’s more likely the stuffing you eat along with it and other foods with these ingredients, including dessert.

If you don’t want to feel sleepy after your main meal during the holidays, go easy on the alcohol and the total amount you eat.

“Just overeating in general, lots of carbs and fats causes the blood to be re-directed to your digestive tract, and with the energy you need to digest food, that makes us feel less energetic,” Brehm says.

Overeating is a culprit for fatigue. It takes a lot of energy to digest a big feast (the average Thanksgiving meal contains 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat), so blood is sent to the digestive process system, leaving the brain a little tired. But again, it’s the mashed potatoes and stuffing, not the turkey.

The Santa Cruz Valley Interfaith Council presented the prestigious Paragon Award at its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship Service Wednesday evening at the Green Valley Community Church, naming Madonna Moess and Eloise Fredrickson as this year’s honorees. Each year, the Santa Cruz Valley Interfaith Council selects one or more people to receive the Paragon Award. The citation and plaque acknowledge those chosen as having given exceptional and meritorious service in the Greater Green Valley community over a number of years.

The Rev. Maurice Guerette presented the awards to the women during the Thanksgiving service attended by several hundred people from many different churches with a variety of religious beliefs. They also received checks for $100 each to be presented to their charity of choice.

Moess served as a minister in the Green Valley Community Church for more than 22 years, where she maintained religious programming for children and ministered to the homebound in the community.

For the past three years, Moess oversees the blessing of the animals at the Animal League of Green Valley. She continues to visit area care centers, is active with PEO and promotes further education for women.

Fredrickson is very involved with many organizations in Green Valley and the surrounding communities, including the American Association of University Women, the Green Valley Community Chorus and Valley Presbyterian Church where she is an elder. She serves on the board of directors for Borderlinks and has been very active concerning border issues, spearheading AAUW’s border issues special interest group.

Yes, Virginia — there is a Santa Claus! That line, written in one of the most famous editorials in the world, originally published in The New York Sun in 1897, has never been more true.

What’s still exciting, children’s letters to Santa will no longer go unanswered and wind up in the circular file or the dead letter file.

Area children from Green Valley and Sahuarita, any whose mail goes through the Green Valley or Sahuarita post offices, will get personal replies to their letters to Santa, who has appointed a woman with considerable experience to serve as his personal assistant.

The move was prompted by Santa’s increasingly busy schedule and the fact that his elves are in the process of purchasing new computer software to handle worldwide correspondence.

Luckily, Green Valley resident Jackie DeHart is ready and willing to step in to help ease Santa’s load. Jackie feels strongly that Santa needs some assistance in the public relations area. Area parents and grandparents who would like to see their children get a personal letter from Santa, can have their children write to: “Santa Claus, Green Valley, Ariz., 85614.

DeHart will answer all letters, even difficult ones. She has a hot line in their home that puts her in touch with Santa instantly to seek his advice on special requests.

But write soon, because things get pretty hectic around the DeHart home close to Christmas. Jackie never knows when St. Nick will send them across the globe to fill in for him.

Happy 87th birthday to Al Konen of Green Valley. Al is active with Valley Players, Roadrunner Productions and a pool monitor at Madera Vista Center. He’s also a very nice man, indeed! Many happy returns Al my pal!

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740