By Dixie Terry
October continues to favor us with almost-perfect weather, including blue skies, warm days and cool evenings.
According to those in the know, daylight is the main factor that brings on the changing colors of the Fall foliage, but several other factors contribute to how bright Fall colors are, such as temperature, precipitation and soil moisture. In general, we are told, cooler nights, with decreasing temperatures throughout the day lead to more vivid colors.
A wet growing season followed by an Autumn with lots of sunny days, dry weather, and cool. frost-free nights, will produce the most vibrant palette of Fall colors. And, now you know!
The Johnson County Women’s Club had a beautiful October day for their outdoor meeting at the attractive back yard of their new president, Phyllis Webb, last Friday afternoon.
Hopefully, the weather will be perfect for the Fort Massac Encampment on the weekend of Oct. 19-20, 10am to 5pm, celebrating its 50th year of the historical event.
Another outdoor event will be the Bald Knob Cross annual “Fall Colors at the Cross” on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19-20, 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 1-5pm on Sunday. There will be vendors galore, food trucks, live musical entertainment and childen’s activities. Bring a lawn chair for the stage show and enjoy the 270-degree view of miles of surrounding forests. The entry fee will be $5 per vehicle at the gate. Go online to baldknobcross.com.
An indoor event will be the traditional bratwurst dinner on Sunday, Oct. 13, 11am-1pm at the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marion. The menu will also include mashed potatoes, green beans, sauerkraut, plus pies are back this year. The cost is $7 and $13.
Anne Elise Hogue has returned to college at UCLA, after spending ten busy days with her grandparents, Bonnie and David Hogue, at their country home in Johnson County. They enjoyed doing all the local things and also spent some time in St. Louis, visiting the City Museum, along with the Hogue’s daughter, Michelle and her four children of the Springfield area. They all enjoyed taking in a Cardinal’s ballgame in St. Louis. Anne Elise had a great time as did her family!
Experience VHS Night on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 4-6 pm with fun activities, a free dinner and a selection of coffees plus tons of prizes to be taken home. Students, their parents, alumni, teachers and staff and their families are welcome to participate.
The Johnson County HCE continues its collection of aluminum can tabs, which they deliver each spring to Ronald McDonald House in Nashville, Tn. Bring tabs to the University of Illinois Extension Office on East Main in Vienna.
The Cypress Village Park will be the site of a flea market on Saturday, Oct. 12. To register and reserve a space to sell your wares, call Kim Beasley or Heidi Poland.
It’s wonderful weather for taking a hike with the River-to-River Trail Society, with one on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Max Creek in Johnson County, led by Bill Gilmour. Meet at New Simpson Hill School at 10am. Call 270-331-1553 for reservations. This is free!
The following hike will also be in Johnson County, on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Tupelo Trail, led by Melodie Kasson. Meet near Belknap at the Michael Woolf Memorial at 10am. Call 618-791-3086.
The Little Egypt Chorus will present “Broadway to Barbershop” on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2pm at the Market Street Conservatory on North Market Street in Marion. For tickets, call 618-571-6424.
The “Fall Rekindling the Spirit Youth Rally” will hold their monthly gathering on Oct. 16 at 6:30pm at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church near Buncombe. A meal, followed by worship services will be held. All area youth and their grownups are welcome.
The True Vine meals will be available on Saturday, Oct. 12, 4:30-5:30pm at the back entrance of the Vienna United Methodist Church. Home delivery is available for shut-ins. The menu will feature chili, grilled cheese, fruit cup and dessert. Call for free meals at 618-926-1468.
The VUMC will provide a “Safe Night” on Halloween, 5-8pm on the church parking lot. All area youngsters will be welcome!
The National Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge will present a Halloween Bat Program on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 10am. Learn about bats and build your own bat house. It’s free! Reservations are necessary by calling the refuge. This is free1
On Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20, noon to 3 pm, Discovery Tours will go back in time with a self-guided auto tour through the usually restricted areas of the Crab Orchard Refuge. The gates will be open, noon to 3 pm. No charge!
At the Crab Orchard Campground on Saturday, Oct. 26, there will be a trunk or treat for all ghost and goblins, 5-7pm.
The Cypress School Fall Festival will be undeway on Saturday, Oct. 19, with a chili supper at 5-7pm, with games, an auction, and a haunted house at 6-8pm, and new this year, a trunk or treat by the teachers, at 5:30-6:30pm.
The Johnson County Fall Festival, with perfect weather was evidently a smashing success on Oct. 4-5 in the Vienna City Park.
October is National Pizza Month and as a nation, we consume the equivalent of 100 acres of pizza per day or 350 slices per second. Wow!
October 12 is National Thank A Farmer Day!
On Oct. 11 at 7pm, vocalist Lorrie Morgan will appear onstage at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, with tickets available at marionccc.com ranging in price from $58 to $98.
The Little Grassy Music Festival will be held at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center on Oct. 11-13 with live music, campfire jam sessions, art, a barn dance, trick-or-treating and a full-service dining hall, with activities for the whole family.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” will be presented onstage at the John A. Logan O’Neill Auditorium, featuring student actors on Oct. 11-20.
The Oak Ridge Boys will perform their finest songs on Oct. 19 at 8pm at Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort.
The official birthstone of October is the Opal and the official flower of the month is the Marigold.
A narrow orange band around a wooley-bear caterpillar is a sure indication of heavy snows the following Winter, while fat and fuzzy caterpillars warn of bitter cold.
Volunteers of the Vienna First Baptist Church will be assisting shoppers at Faith Alive on Oct. 10-11-12. Drop in and take advantage of the many bargains.
At the Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop, volunteers from the Goreville First Baptist Church, Freedom Church and Mt. Zion Baptist Church will be working this week. Drop in for a shopping experience!
Happy Birthday to You! Oct. 8–Darlene Roach, Laci Dauksavage, Tammy Holland! Oct.9–Victoria Beckman, Donna Eastman, David Hammond, Brian Murley Oct.10–Tanya Hill, James Hill, Masyn Jane Walker, Debbie Keeling! Oct. 10–Tanya Hill, James Hill, Judy Webb, Georgia George! Oct. 11–Tylanna Smith, Julie Stewart, Phyllis Webb, Gayle Woodard, Steve Kelley, Alexis Massey, Rodger Black, Aubree Castellano, our great-granddaughter. Oct. 12–Teresa Etheridge, Nicki Steinsultz, Bryan Pritchett, Gabe Atkins. Lavon Johnson! Oct. 13–Kielyn Penrod, Aaron Farris, Heather Myers, Jared Dauksavage! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to Donna and Barry Eastman on their October 13 wedding anniversary!
“The Word Church” of North Taft Street in Marion will hold an outdoor movie night on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6:30pm. Bring a lawn chair. Enjoy free refreshments! Everyone is welcome!
We welcome your good news for this community column! Call 618-422-2086; email [email protected]; or via mail at 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion, IL. 62959.
Have a great remainder of the week and enjoy all that October has to offer!