By Dixie Terry
Welcome February!
Groundhog Day has come and gone, with Sunday, Feb. 2 bringing publicity of Punxatawney Phil, who saw his shadow, when he came out of his hideaway, which indicates another six weeks of really bad weather. Believe it or not! This bit of folklore began back in 1887 and has proven itself on occasion, but not always.
The birthstone for this month is the Amethyst and the official flower is the Violet.
Important days this month are Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 and Presidents’ Day on Feb. 17.
Some not-so-special days to be recognized the first week of February are: Feb. 2–Ukulele Day. Feb. 3–Casserole Day and Girls and Women in Sports Day. Feb. 4–Thank A Mail Carrier Day and Homemade Soup Day. Feb. 5–Wear Red Day. Feb. 7–Send a Card to a Friend Day.
The Full Moon this month can be viewed on Feb. 12 and is known as the “Full Snow Moon” or “Full Hungry Moon”. The “New Moon” will rise on Feb. 27.
Like to create a stained glass treasure? Sign up for Cathy Dudley’s class at the Little Egypt Arts Association Centre, for a class on either Feb. 19 at 4 pm or Feb. 20 at 10am. The cost is $45, that includes all materials. Sign up online at [email protected].
If shopping is your thing, be at The Pavilion in Marion for the “Shopaloosa”, on Saturday, March 1, 10am to 5pm. There will be local and non-local vendors, food trucks, alpacas, and much more.
Last week, these members of the Tunnel Hill Community of Christ Church volunteered at the Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop: Barb and Terry Watkins, Phil and Cara Webb, Glenn and Phyllis Webb, Dixie Terry, and Rita Belcher. Thanks to all our shoppers who arrived from all points and took home bargains galore. This week will find volunteers of the McKinney Chapel Church and Friendship Church at the thrift shop.
Seen on Facebook was our grandson, Nate Williams and his fishing buddies on a Maine lake enjoying ice fishing, after setting up tents and cutting a huge hole in the thick ice.
My traveling cousins, Norman and Elsie Hinkle of rural Buncombe, were spotted on Facebook at San Benito, Texas, at The Long Horn Company Steak Restaurant.
They also sent along a photo of the Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy being towed to Brownsville, to be scrapped. It is the last of conventional carriers, with all those now in service being nuclear.
Attending the “Silver Winter Holiday Party” of Southern Illinois Healthcare, from Johnson County, were pictured in the recent newsletter of SIH, Bonnie and David Hogue and Barbara Jeffress.
Eating with chopsticks was some fun for the residents of Hillview Senior Living and Rehab, they discovered at a recent lunch session. On another day, they had fun playing Card Lotto.
True Vine of the Vienna United Methodist Church will hold their meal pick-up on Saturday, Feb. 8, 4:30-5:30 pm, at the rear entrance of the church, where the meals will be placed in the vehicles. The tasty menu will include turkey pot pie, green beans, a second side and dessert. Call 618-926-1468 to place your order and number of meals needed. This is free!
The Johnson County Home and Community Education (HCE) held a chili supper fundraiser at the Vienna High School basketball game on Saturday evening to raise fuds for their scholarship program that will provide a scholarship this Spring to a senior from both GHS and VHS.
The leftover traditional and taco chicken chili, along with cornbread, and a wide choice of desserts was enjoyed by members of the Community of Christ Church after the worship service on Sunday Donations were given for the impromptu lunch, to the scholarship fund.
For LeAnn Rimes fans, she will appear in concert on Thursday, April 17 at 7pm at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center.
A follow-up for Taylor Swift fans will be onstage on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7pm, with “Lover; The Eras Tour Experience,” also at MCCC. Tickets can be had at Marionccc.com. or at the box office, M-F, 10am to 4pm.
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Sales time! Booths will be popping up all over, so be on the lookout for them. Call for locations at 800-345-6858.
The next meeting of the Johnson County Historical and Genealogical Society will be on Sunday, March 16 at 2:30pm in the Community Meeting Room of the Vienna Public Library, New board members will be introduced, Faith Haney and Cody Mathis. The board members will present a ‘”Show and Tell” program. Everyone is welcome to attend and join this active organization.
The State of Illinois Dept. of Public Health will observe American Heart Month in February.
Happy Birthday to You! Feb. 1–Diane Leslie, Jackie Hays, Shirley Wolfe, Faye Mize, Violet Dillon, Andrew Phelps! Feb. 2–Chris Kirby, Norma Smith Turner, Norma Kerrigan! Feb. 3–Debbie Retz, Hannah Craig, Kevin Breeden, Brenda Suits!
Feb. 4–Mike Hodge, Josh McCree! Feb. 5–Pam Reuscher, Jeff Smith, Denise Peas, Kelly Shires! Feb. 6–Brian McCreery, Brandon Madden, Robert Harner, Skylar Webb,! Feb. 7–Ken Retz, Samantha Craig, Dave Duringer. Louise Dwyer! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to Violet and Harry Weise on their February 5 wedding anniversary!
Both the Marion and Goreville senior centers will be receiving building updates in the upcoming months.
Your news is important, so please share it with others in this column. Call 618-422-2086; email [email protected]; or via mail to 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion, IL. 62959.
Enjoy the remainder of the week and all that February has to offer.