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Besides the Big Guy himself, what’s red, white and a December holiday staple? The candy cane, of course. Our most recognizable Christmas treat has a sweet albeit unconfirmed history. While its exact inspiration is mysterious, legend goes that it was first introduced back in 1670 in Germany when a choirmaster gave out pulled sugar sticks to settle his rambunctious choirboys during live creche ceremonies. To appease naysayers, it’s said that the sticks were shaped into shepherd’s hooks for religious symbolism and increased acceptance. Another theory for the shape, however, centers around the desire to hang the sugar treats from trees. Originally white, the candy cane crossed the seas to America in 1847 with a Swedish-German immigrant who settled in Ohio and began the tradition of decorating evergreen trees with the canes and other ornaments. Historians say it was not until mass-production systems evolved that the red stripe was introduced, and along the way peppermint flavor was added to the canes. Additional Christianity-based theories say that the red color was to symbolize the blood of Jesus, and the hook was also a “J” for the same reason. From history to stocking stuffer, the candy cane’s connection to Christmas was long ago solidified. Locally, Ye Goodie Shoppe on Keene’s Main Street has been a homemade hard candy go-to for nearly 100 years. The sweet shop has most likely been pulling sugar into the popular cane shape and flavors since around the time it opened in 1931, says owner and candymaker Jason Smart, who has run the shop for the past 24 years. While the recipe for a candy cane is straightforward with simple ingredients like sugar, cream of tartar, water, flavor and color, there is a definite choice made in their recipe process that brings different results, according to Smart. “The big thing at Ye Goodie Shoppe that sets us apart is that our hard candy is made with sugar, not corn syrup,” Smart explained. “The difference, besides shelf-life, is that ours will snap in your mouth. It’s not going to stick to your teeth like canes made with corn syrup.” It’s that craveable snap that brings customers back year after year and keeps Smart busy from the weekend post-Thanksgiving through to Christmas. Each 25-pound batch yields about 100 canes and it takes him around two hours to complete start to finish. For the shop’s peppermint canes, their most popular flavor, he’ll make up to four or five batches per season, while other flavors are limited to one. Wintergreen and spearmint are runners-up in popularity, while cinnamon follows close behind. The maple canes are catching up, though. “If this is a horse race, keep your eye on it,” he joked of the maple cane. Over the years, he’s made tweaks as necessary and this year he’s adjusting the coloring of the cinnamon canes so that they’re easier to differentiate from the other flavors. “Our candy cane process is very old school,” he explained. “We don’t have machines to work the candy; it’s all manual labor. It’s a double-edged sword because there’s no equipment to maintain but my shoulder gets a little sore.” Thankfully, he has a good massage therapist and a good chiropractor, he added with a chuckle. In addition to the large canes, the shop also offers five flavors of bagged, bite-sized cane pieces that customers can purchase in individual flavors or mixed. They’re a nice option for kids, hostess gifts or to put out in a bowl for parties or family get-togethers. “They’re a big, big favorite,” he said. Business has been picking up and will continue to do so through the month, Smart said, adding that customers have been asking for Christmas products earlier and earlier every year. He expects this season to be “fast and furious” with a late Thanksgiving and only three shopping weekends before Christmas. During the week, the shop will generally see a rush around the noon hour and in the evenings. While they aren’t usually open on Sundays, he plans to be open on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in order to accommodate shoppers. Currently staffing about 15 employees, he says it takes five employees daily (not including himself) to produce the handmade chocolates. They’ll make about 80 to 100 pounds of chocolates a day starting Sept. 1. But don’t wait to the last minute, he urges. At this point, the candy will last until Christmas “unless the dog gets it” and there’s no reason to delay. “I enjoy it,” he said of being Keene’s candy man. “Mostly I enjoy the open-kitchen concept and seeing the looks on kids’ faces as they watch. They really enjoy it, and I have fun with it. Sometimes I make initials for them or have them come out back if time and conditions allow.” While the lines will often be out the door of the shop starting before they open and won’t stop all day with six employees behind the counter, he says they work hard to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. “I like to say that it’s the friendliest line you’re ever going to meet,” he said. “It’s full of old friends and colleagues. It’s a good time. Candy is a fun business so that’s the way it should be.” Ye Goodie Shoppe is located at 49 Main St. in Keene and is open Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., plus Sunday, Dec. 22. For more information, call (603) 352-0326 or visit yegoodieshoppe.com .PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards. Altmeyer put Illinois in front with a 30-yard TD run with 3:07 to go. He passed to Josh McCray on the 2-point conversion, making it 30-24. Rutgers responded with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Athan Kaliakmanis had a 15-yard run on fourth down. He passed to running back Kyle Manangai for a 13-yard TD with 1:08 remaining. Illinois then drove 75 yards in eight plays for the unexpected win. AP college football: andGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Cooper Bowser scored 16 points as Furman beat South Carolina State 68-64 on Saturday. A jumper from Tom House gave Furman a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds remaining and the Paladins closed out the win by going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Bowser added three steals and four blocks for the Paladins (10-1). Eddrin Bronson scored 11 points while going 3 of 8 from the floor, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line. Nick Anderson had 11 points and shot 3 for 9 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Drayton Jones led the Bulldogs (5-7) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Omar Croskey added 13 points for South Carolina State. Davion Everett also had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Chase Forte scored 21 points as South Dakota beat Western Illinois 89-66 on Saturday. Forte added six rebounds and five assists for the Coyotes (9-4). Cameron Fens added 17 points while going 5 of 8 and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line while grabbing six rebounds. Isaac Bruns had 13 points and shot 4 for 10 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Marko Maletic led the Leathernecks (6-5) in scoring, finishing with 24 points. Julius Rollins added 13 points for Western Illinois. Sean Smith had 11 points. South Dakota's next game is Thursday against Utah Tech on the road. Western Illinois hosts Tennessee Tech on Tuesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
We join in the rejoicing of Nebraska abortion opponents that some 55% of voters Nov. 5 bucked a national trend and wrote the Legislature’s general 12-week ban into this state’s constitution. But let’s drop any talk of immediately seeking an even earlier statutory abortion ban, as Initiative 434 allows. The 2025 Legislature must thoroughly ensure that as many life-threatening pregnancy complications as possible are legally covered as “medical emergency” exceptions allowed by Initiative 434 and existing law. The Telegraph first urged this priority on Jan. 29, 2023, while favoring the “fetal heartbeat” ban introduced in 2023 and later modified into the 12-week ban enacted in Legislative Bill 574. We applauded the law’s inclusion of the “three exceptions,” listed in Initiative 434 as abortions “necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest.” LB 574 defines “medical emergency” as a condition “which, in reasonable medical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of the pregnant woman as to necessitate the termination of the pregnancy to avert her death” or creates “a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a bodily function.” It lists five situations that cannot be considered “abortions”: Removal of ectopic pregnancies. “Removal of the remains of a preborn child who has already died.” Acts “to save the life or preserve the health of the preborn child.” “The accidental termination of the life of a preborn child.” “Assisted reproductive technology,” including in vitro fertilization, that costs the life “of a preborn child who is not being carried inside a woman’s body.” Nebraskans must legally protect “mothers or doctors who act in good faith and in the best interests of both lives,” we wrote in 2023. “That may require medical procedures necessary for the mother to recover if her child does not or cannot live to be born.” If the law’s “protections aren’t rock-solid,” we added, “keep refining them until they are.” State lawmakers must make that their 2025 priority. Pre-election news stories told of Nebraska mothers with troubled pregnancies whose Nebraska doctors didn’t believe they could properly treat them without running afoul of the 12-week abortion ban. Those mothers had to go to other states for care. These are pregnant mothers who found their lives, their children’s lives or both on the line. Miscarriages, stillbirths and premature births can happen in any pregnancy. So can birth defects, some of which unborn babies cannot survive. High blood pressure can suddenly develop in pregnancy and put mothers in great danger if not dealt with promptly. Surely no Nebraskan could disagree that mothers facing such situations ought to be cared for in our state, with all the compassion and medical skill available in such terrible circumstances. But if abortion foes insist on pushing for an even earlier ban, this priority will be lost in the hyperpolitical din. Neither is this a time for doctors or abortion-rights supporters to withhold cooperation in making the list of life-threatening exceptions as complete and detailed as currently possible. Let’s decisively prove that all Nebraskans equally love pregnant mothers and their unborn children when one or both of their lives are at risk. Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!SP wins just 2 seats, loses 2 to dominant BJP in Uttar Pradesh bypolls