Downtown tree festival presents trees

By: Payton Hudson

The thirty-third St. Francis tree festival took place and is still being visited from now until January first. The main area where it is being taken place is the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where they currently have sixty-five trees. All of the trees have been purchased by a school, organization, or company and decorated by them. All of the money made goes to the St. Francis Cancer Center.

They do have many locations but the one with the most trees is the Hyatt Regency Hotel. There are Christmas trees lined on the top and bottom lobby floors with a tag on it stating who bought and decorated that specific tree. Each tree is decorated with unique ornaments and lights atop of other decorations. It is free to get in, just so you can enjoy the trees.

Some of the schools, organizations, and companies who bought a tree were: Wells Fargo, St. Mary’s Catholic Women, and Westcliffe Elementary. All the festival money is going to a good cause and is also made to put people into the Christmas spirit.

Since, it is going through January 1st, there is still a while for anyone to go and check it out. Some of them are decorated like a ocean or Dr. Seuss, while others have purple ribbons to support Alzheimer’s. No matter which tree anyone goes to, they all have a meaning. Go there and view the trees!

Billie Eilish Drops new single

By: Jules King

On November 20 Billie Eilish dropped her new single “come out and play”. The song is featured in Apple’s new Christmas short animation titled “Share Your Gifts”. The song encourages people to share their talents, in the animation a young woman is literally hiding her talents because she is to scared to share her gifts. Eilish is only 16 years old, she has dropped 9 singles since 2016 and has one album “don't smile at me”. “come out and play” feels like a Christmas song without any mentions of the holiday season in it. The song has a very warm and cosy feeling to it. Eilish wrote the song for the the “Share Your Gifts” short animation. Apple chose Eilish because she has a warm and calming voice, they wanted the animation to have a family feeling. The song itself already has 50K streams on Apple music since the release date. The song is available for download on Apple music.

Maple Street Biscuit Company adds new food items to their menu

By: Payton Hudson

Maple Street Biscuit Company is a family restaurant that has a wide variety of food. The one in Greenville just opened last September and already is packed with business. To claim your food, they ask you a monthly question and then call you by your answer. The question is different at each location but is always fun to answer.For example, last months’ was “What are you thankful for?” and this months’ is “ What would name your pet reindeer?”

Just recently, Maple Street has added more menu items including: Fresh squeezed orange juice, the Firebird (a chicken and biscuit combination), "Sunshine on a Biscuit", and a Biscuit Frenche. Maple Streets’ goal is to create a friendly and hungry environment where people can sit next to each other and enjoy the food. I love it very much and I would gladly recommend it. From chicken and waffles to their smoky mountain mac 'n' cheese, their food is great!

Maple Street serves mainly breakfast food but they have other things too. The restaurant closes at 2 p.m. and opens at 7 a.m. League newspaper member(s) would rate 4.8 stars out of 5. It has amazing food with a twist but it is too crowded and takes a while for the full taste to kick in.

It’s A Good One...The Grinch!

By Payton Hudson

The new movie the Grinch came out Friday, November 9th. It was made to be a replica cartoon-character version-movie off our favorite Christmas movie: How the Grinch stole Christmas. It’s a cute PG-rated, family movie that brings everyone into holiday spirits. I’m sure everyone will be able to enjoy it. The plot, however, is slightly different than the original Grinch movie starring Jim Carrey.

The father of Cindy Lou Who was not shown and if you ever watched Despicable Me or the Secret Life of Pets you will know that it was created by the same people. It even seems to resemble the Lorax, by how the characters move, although they didn’t take any part in making it. Another one of the big differences between both movies is how Cindy Lou meets the Grinch. In “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” she meets him by going into the mailroom and discovering him in there however in the new movie she thinks he’s Santa the second time crossing paths with him.

The movie still kept its originality, though, keeping everyone in the jolly holiday movie we expect to be in! There was a new character introduced too, of what the Grinch wants to be an “reindeer”.

It is important to stop here because nothing should be spoiled but that is great information to watch the movie! I would personally rate The Grinch 3.5/5 because of well format and originality but unneeded information and lack of staying on topic. The Grinch is a great, cute, Christmas movie overall. So, go out and watch it at your local movie theater!

And remember, be jolly and loving this holiday season. You never know what miracle will come into your path! (Even if turns out to be the Grinch!)

Farmhouse Pizza on Laurens Rd. Opens!

By: English Rabideaux

On an early spring day Farmhouse Pizza on Laurens Rd. opens to the public. Not only a place to eat, but an interactive bar and old fun arcade games.

Farmhouse Pizza on Laurens Rd. opened 3 weeks ago. According to the waiter, Katie, she said that this restaurant will grow in so many customers because they did not advertise before Farmhouse had opened. Katie also said, “Our most popular items already are most of the pizzas and the fried cheese which is one of the appetizers here at Farmhouse.” If you come to Farmhouse Pizza, make sure to try the most popular items.

This restaurant receives a rating of 9 out of 10. It is just a bit small inside, but other than that, a great environment and great food. Farmhouse is a restaurant with natural lighting, bright colors with decorations, and an interactive bar with fun arcade games from the 1900’s.

Make sure to go to Farmhouse Pizza on Laurens Rd. and have fun!