By Dixie Terry
Our Fall weather continues with warm and dry weather, cool nights and falling leaves. My back patio is knee-deep in autumn leaves, as I await someone to bring a leaf blower.
Thanksgiving is only two short weeks away and I haven’t yet made out my grocery list.
Why is Thanksgiving celebrated with turkey, we wonder. According to The Old Farmers Almanac,” Turkey has become the traditional fare because at one time it was a rare treat. During the 1880s, an 8-10 pound turkey cost a day’s wages. Even though turkeys are affordable today, they still remain a celebratory symbol of bounty. In fact, the astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin ate roast turkey in foil packets for their first meal on the Moon.
The Delta Award will be presented to Max D. Hutchison and Joseph L. Ashby on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. in Guyon Auditorium at Morris Library on the SIU-C campus. A reception will follow. This is open to the public.
A free juke box event will be held at the Creal Springs VFW on Nov. 24 and 25.
November is National Novel Writing Month and a local writers’ fair will be held at the Marion Carnegie Library in the McCoskey Room, at 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 18. This is free.
Did the Pilgrims eat turkey on their first Thanksgiving feast? Nobody knows for sure, but “wild fowl” was mentioned in historical accounts, but that could have been ducks or geese. The Wampanoag Native Americans brought five deer with them, so venison was definitely on the menu. Also. seafood was plentiful and common at that time, including lobster and clams.
On Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, there will be holiday walks at the Old Capitol in Springfield, and on the 26th of Nov., the Christmas Tree Lighting will be held. Check out their facebook for times ntand should you be in Springfield, take advantage.
The Goreville Ministerial Alliance will hold their annual Christmas Bazaar, with the opening date on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be open each day the following week, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon through Dec. 16, when the bazaar and thrift shop will be closed until Jan. 16.
Christmas food boxes can be picked up on Dec. 14, for those who have registered for them.
Happy Birthday to You! Nov. 16–Connie Abell, Colton Childers! Nov. 17–Nona Luke, Leon Jones! Nov. 18–Jennifer Mize, Don Runge! Nov. 19–Angela Rudluff, James Johnson, David McKenzie! Nov. 20–Mitz Karraker, Sarah Almaroad, Steve Rehder, our son-in-law! Nov. 21–Christy Morris, Christy Etheridge! Nov. 22–Pam Green, Bruce Jeffries, Chrissy Childers, Aaron Medley! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to Janice and Ron Bundren on their Nov. 17 wedding anniversary and to Bob and Char Jones on their Nov. 22 wedding anniversary.
On Sunday, Nov. 19, Tony Calabrese, an SIU-C professor, will speak on “History Restorers,” at the Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society meeting at 2:30 p.m. at the Community Room of the Vienna Public Library.
Ice skating anyone? The ice skating rink will be returned to the Tower Square Plaza in downtown Marion on Sunday, Nov. 26, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. that first day. The open times after that, will be every Thursday and Friday, 6 to 9 p.m. and every Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting. Sessions will be one hour for $10 for the over 18 crowd and $5 for those 17 and under. The rink will be open until Jan. 28. Book skating or carriage rides at marionice.com.
It’s count-down time for purchasing raffle tickets for the queen-sized handmade quilt, created by crafters at The Art Gallery Off the Square by local ladies. This is a fundraiser for the Vienna Carnegie Library, sponsored by the library board, Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20, with the drawing to be on Nov. 14 Hurry!
The next blood drive by the American Red Cross will be on Monday, Nov. 20, noon to 5:45 p.m. at the Fellowship Baptist Church. Walk-ins are welcome. A door prize is being provided by Secret Gardens and desserts will be provided by Shawnee Worship Service congregation.
The Johnson County Home and Community Education (HCE) sponsored coach trip to Savannah and other points had a full bus enjoying all that was offered, hosted by Faye Mize. She has three trips planned for 2024: Maine on June 12-30; Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Sept. 29-Oct. 5. and Branson, Nov. 11-15. Call Faye Mize at 618-771-0066 for more.
Artstarts will present Disney’s Descendants, a musical, at Marion Cultural and Civic Center on Nov. 17, 18, 19. Tickets can be had at marionccc.com.
An Evening with Marty Stuart and his fabulous “Superlatives” will be onstage at MCCC on Nov. 30, with tickets at marionccc.com.
A great time for hiking is during this beautiful time of year. Join others for the River-to-River Trail Society’s hike at Jackson Hole/Double Branch Hole in Pope County on Saturday, Nov. 25. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Shawnee Mart in Eddyville. The leader will be Cathy Jennings at 618-759-1924.
The Eagle House Ministries will again provide a Thanksgiving Feast for the public, with a delivery service available for the meal ministry, on Thursday, Nov. 23.
The world-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales will appear in “Very Merry Marion Holiday Parade” on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Since 1933, the Anheuser-Busch Team of eight horses, known as “Gentle Giants,” will be hitched to the red wagon. They each weight 2000 pounds. A single horse will eat 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay, and 30 gallons of water each day. They will be housed for a few days at The Pavilion at certain hours. These Clydesdales make their home at Grant’s Farm near St. Louis and Warm Springs Ranch near Boonville, Missouri, when they are not traveling. The Clydesdales were originally from Scotland, brought to Canada and then to the U.S.
Have some good news to share? Send it to 618-422-2086; email [email protected]; or via mail to 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion, Il. 62959.
Have a great remainder of the week and enjoy all that November has to offer.