Mail delivery for many of us has slowed, part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s blueprint to slash US Postal Service costs. But critics say the slower delivery standards could cause problems such as late bill delivery and undermining the public’s faith in the USPS.

Almost 4 of 10 pieces of 1st-class mail will get slower delivery, according to Paul Steidler of the Lexington Insti tute. He called DeJoy’s plan disastrous.

Expect 1st Class mail to take up to 5 days to deliver, not 3 days now. USPS suggests:

• For mail requiring deadlines, plan to send mail early. You don’t wait to mail your mom a Mother’s Day card the day before.

• Give long-distance mail extra time.

• Mail holiday greeting cards early.

Here are fall fun events:

• The Clinton Sease Farm’s Corn Maze is always popular for birthday parties. Corn Maze & playground hours: Friday 6-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm and Sunday 2-7pm.

Bubble Mania: Oct. 9, 10 am-4 pm and Oct. 17, 2 pm-7 pm.

Double Dutch Jump Rope Competition: Oct. 16, 11 am & Oct. 23, 3 pm

Pumpkin Patch: Friday 6-7:30 pm, Saturday 10 am-11 pm, Sunday 2 pm-7 pm

• Our Village Square Theater will stage Louisa Mae Alcott’s Little Women Oct. 21-24 and Oct, 28-31. Get your tickets online at www.villagesquaretheatre.com

• Lexington County Museum Director JR Fennell has announced 2 events:

Haunted History Halloween Tours at 7, 8 and 9 pm at the Lexington County Museum at 231 Fox St. Free admission for Friends of the Museum. This family friendly event focuses on some of the spookier aspects of Lexington County history.

Free Murders and Mysteries Walking Tour Nov. 6 at 8 pm at the Icehouse Amphitheater at 107 West Main St, Lexington.

You will learn about Lexington’s murders, lynchings, and mysteries that occurred in downtown Lexington. Because of the mature subject matter, you need to be 18 or older or have your parent’s permission.

• Lexington Chamber Shareholder Appreciation Cookout Oct. 20 from 11:30 am to 1 pm on the Lexington Chamber parking lot with food by Karen’s Kitchen & Catering.

Ann Bull asks if you are wondering what kind of winter we’re going to have this year? Mother Nature often

Mother Nature often gives us our best clues.

If leaves drop early, autumn and winter will be mild but winter will be harsh if leaves fall late. Other signs include flowers blooming in late autumn, tough apple skins and plentiful berries and nuts.

For goodness snakes! Melissa Rawl got a big surprise this week after turning on her dishwasher. She smelled something burning and opened the dishwasher where she saw a big black snake! Her husband Odie Rawl came to the rescue and threw the snake into the woods. The snake was coiled in an old brass spittoon she had brought home to clean.

Did you sip your morning brew on National Coffee Day, Sept. 29? With most of us every day is coffee day! It’s that morning ritual that gives us a jump start for our day.

Whether just black, cream and sugar, coffee is the morning staple for most Americans. And it really doesn’t matter what the calendar says. You should live every day like it’s National Coffee Day, to say nothing of International Coffee Day.

It’s a global product after all, so any time you celebrate coffee, you’re celebrating across borders and boundaries.

All that’s left to do is brew another cup.

Marge Carter Celebrated her 90th birthday with a drive by parade with honking horns, lots of waves and cheers. Marge sat in her front yard under a tent decorated with Happy Birthday streamers and balloons. Instead of giving Marge gifts, she gave guests homemade cookies.

Happy Birthday! Bob Wingard, Cathy Hearn, Jane Caughman, Alan Brock, Will Rhoden, Ruth Wilson, Mike Bennett, Sandra Surerus, Rick Swaffield, Gracen Geary, Stephen Fowler Jr, Danny Robinson, Josh Addy, Martin Arant, Neil Bickley, Ellen Brown Stewart, Mary Rodgers, Dave Billings, Lisa Looney, Brad Hamby, Drew Maxheimer, Linda Staehr, Dave Bozard, Caitlin Brown Norris, Suzanne Jebally, Gary Arigus, Ashley Arnold, Hayden Ifkovits, Nathaniel Kempf, Al Altenberg, Edras Padilla, Cindi Gearon, Grace DiMarco, Mary Fetchel, Margaret Robbins, Kyra Boyette, Ashely Hicks, Nancy Hutto, TK Woods, Sylvia Butler, Marie Bridges, Will Stormer.

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