SALISBURY — The Holiday 2018 issue of Salisbury the Magazine is now available.

Copies have reached subscribers and been distributed at their usual places in Rowan County. The magazine — as well as back copies — also is available at the circulation desk of the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St.

Salisbury the Magazine is a publication of the Post.

The cover of this year’s holiday issue features a scene from one of Mallory Allen’s elaborate train villages built every year at the Rockwell Museum. Allen also provides a first-person look behind all the hours of planning and building going into each year’s village.

Among the feature stories is Elizabeth Cook’s visit to the Forest Glen residence of Robert Myers and Jack Page. Their elegant home sparkles in any season, but especially at Christmas.

Likewise, William and Judy Deal leave no room untouched when they decorate for Christmas, and many of the items harken back to their childhoods. Their Lexington home’s decorations are so extensive they have a post-holidays open house — set for Jan. 5, 2019 — that also is used to benefit Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary in Salisbury.

This year marks the 65th edition of the Salisbury Antiques Show and Sale, and the magazine delves into the history, the volunteers and vendors who have made it the longest continually operating antiques show in the state.

Rowan Museum is calling it the Blue Sapphire Jubilee, which will be held Nov. 9-10 at West End Plaza.

Deirdre Parker Smith writes an inviting Food piece on pumpkin cheesecake with advice and recipes supplied by Danelle Cutting, Toi Degree and Cindy Miller.

In something related to both food and art, freelance writer Kris Mueller tells us how Carolyn Peterson — helped a lot by husband Harry — makes colorful jewelry out of unique items, including one of the favorite holiday vegetables, the sweet potato.

A sweet potato bracelet made by the Petersons earned honorable mention in a juried show held last Saturday at the 35th Lexington Barbecue Festival.

The theme of giving is central to a story on the yearly wood ministry headed by Randy Elium, Dennis Peeler and a host of their friends. They provide loads of free firewood for the winter as a gift of warmth to those in need. As Peeler likes to say, “the good Lord put it in our hearts to do it.”

Elsewhere in the holiday issue, you’ll meet Rowan Original Chauncey Gale, who rather late in life has discovered the joy of playing Santa Claus.

Deirdre offers three reading recommendations in her regular “Bookish” column.

The art contribution for Salisbury’s the Place comes from Clyde. Photography Director Jon C. Lakey provides most of the photos for this issue, including a Through the Lens contribution.

You can find dates for November and December community events in the calendar, and maybe see a friend, family member or yourself in Scene pictures from the Carolina Artists’ Fall Expo, Rowan County Fair, Novant Health Rowan Patrons’ Ball or the opening of Operation Hope at Capital Bank.

Salisbury the Magazine publishes nine times a year. To advertise or subscribe, visit the Post, call 704-797-POST or go to www.SalisburyThe Magazine.com.

— Mark Wineka