By Dixie Terry
Here’s wishing each of our readers a great Thanksgiving Day, as we all remember what we are most thankful for.
The feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanong Native Americans was held on a beautiful and peaceful three days, hosted by the Pilgrims, who had invited the Indians in sincere gratitude for helping them achieve a successful first harvest.
Those first Colonists didn’t have potatoes, butter, sugar or flour, so there were no whipped potatoes or pies on that first Thanksgiving. They did enjoy venison, geese, ducks, corn, walnuts, chestnuts, beechnuts, and shellfish, beans, pumpkin and squash.
This is the 31st year that the Eagle House Ministries has prepared, served and delivered Thanksgiving Dinner to area folks and hosted the free feast at their Buncombe Hill site.
The last hike of the Fall season will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30, by the River-to-River Trail Society. The Red Cedar Trail in Jackson County will be the site, led by Bob Mulcahy. Call 708-471-7500 to reserve a space. Meet at 10am at the Giant City State Park Campground. This is free! Hikes will resume in the Spring.
The holiday season is upon us and the ice skating rink on Town Square Plaza, in Marion, will open on Friday, Nov. 29. Horse and carriage rides will be available on Dec. 6, 8, 13, and 14. Book either of these at verymerrymarion.com.
The Artstarts Group of Marion will host a Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2pm
at the Artstarts House on 104 South Van Buren Street. Jim Childers, a recently retired music teacher of Marion Junior High, will direct a jazz band and lead a youth choir of local children.
“The Hub Recreational Center” on West Main Street will hold a “Holiday Fun Run” on Saturday, Dec. 7, with check-in at 7am with the run to begin at 8am with several events underway. Check it out on thehubmarion.clubautomation.com.
The Johnson County Home and Community Education (HCE) of the University of Illinois Extension will hold a chili supper on Dec. 1 at the Goreville School Cafeteria, 5-7pm during the Blackcat basketball games. The menu will include chicken chili, traditional chili, cornbread, dessert and drink at $8 and hot dog on a bun, chips, drink and cookies, at $6. Profits will provide for scholarships for
VHS and GHS.
Create holidays decorations on Saturday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 14, at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Call ahead for free reservations.
The annual Christmas and Toy Bazaar will open at the Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 8am. and will continue through Dec. 19, after which the thrift shop will be closed until Jan. 21.
Volunteering at the GMA Thrift Shop on Nov. 30 and Monday, Dec. 2, will be members of the Goreville First Baptist Church, Freedom Church and Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Artstarts will present “Mean Girls, Jr,” a musical, on Nov. 22-23 at 7pm and Nov. 24, at 2pm, at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. Tickets are available at marionccc.com.
The Goreville First Pentecostal Church will host a “Youth Game Night” on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7-10pm. Everyone is welcome! There will be video and board games, along with pizza and snacks.
“Rural Health Day” was observed on Nov. 21 by the Southern 7 Health Department, that covers 2300 square miles of the southernmost seven counties of our state.
The Tunnel Hill Unit of Johnson County HCE held their monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 at 7pm at the Community of Christ Church. The roll call was answered with a favorite quilt story. The lesson was on Quilting 101.
Happy Birthday to You! Nov. 12–Marla Groaning, Lana Krulik, Jack Vahle, David Hancock! Nov. 24–Savanna Schuhardt, Lee Ann Daniel, John Ray, Beth Webb, Tony Arroyo, Katelyn Cox! Nov. 25–Amy Kerley, Paige Groner! Nov. 26–Darlene Macak, Diane Stapleton, Alex Peas, Danny Medley! Nov.28–Robbie Kramer, Clark Madden, John Pressley! Nov. 29–Neal Watkins! Nov. 30–Frank Sullivan, Judi Rude, Karen Jones! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to these couples who are celebrating wedding anniversaries: Phil and Cara Webb on Nov. 23! Kathy and DeWayne Anderson on Nov. 27! Leroy and Lori Pfaltzgraf on Nov. 28! Ray and Donna Smith on Nov. 30!
“A Christmas Open House” will be held at the Art Gallery Off the Square on Saturday, Dec. 7, 3-6pm, hosted by Joe and Marie Emery. Drop in for unique holiday shopping!
The Christmas Shop is open for the 22nd season in downtown Cobden at the Union County Historical Society. Shop on Saturdays, 9am to 4pm, Sundays, 1-4pm and on Fridays, by chance, through Dec. 21.
While volunteering at the American Red Cross Blood Drive, it was good to visit with so many generous folks who were giving the gift of life. Banterra Bank of Vienna provided a beautiful backpack for the door prize and the Tunnel Hill Community of Christ Church bakers provided the delicious desserts. The next blood drive will be on Monday, Jan. 21.
Free income tax preparation is being offered by the University of Illinois Extension, beginning in February, at the Goreville Senior Center and the U. of I. Extension office in Vienna. Volunteers are needed for this free service. Call 618-973-0978 for additional information.
“Luminaire Christmas” will be performed on Dec.13, at 8pm at Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort near Carterville, with a high-octane holiday rock concert.
“The Hub Recreational Center” in Marion will host an indoors farmers’ market from Nov. 1 through March. each first Friday, 3-6pm, in the gym. There will be a diverse array of vendors from across Southern Illinois. Two food trucks will be on-site, 4-7pm, outdoors at each event.
Eagle House Ministries will once again host the “Tours to Bethlehem,” with live animals, local actors in Christmas scenes, free food and drinks, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 5:30-8pm at the Vienna City Park. Park and ride to see and hear what Christmas is truly about!
The First Pentecostal Church of Goreville is offering a new bus ministry to their Sunday services, for all ages, with breakfast served on arrival on Sunday morning Services are at 10am and 6pm. Call 618-751-3278.
The Second Act of Southern Illinois Healthcare will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 12 with a “Silver Winter Holiday Party” with a dinner and dancing to the music of the Dave Caputo Band. This will be at the Garden Grove Event Center on East Walnut in Carbondale. The $10 tickets can be purchased at the SIH System Office in the University Mall
After receiving at least twenty phone calls each day about my Medicare updates, I made an appointment at the Marion Senior Center, where their computer went berserk, and a return appointment is necessary. Growing old is a challenge!
A “Very Merry Market” will be underway at the Little Egypt Arts Association Center, with unusual gifts for Christmas giving. The dates will be Dec. 13–4-8pm; Dec. 14–12-8pm; Dec.15–12-6pm.
We will be happy to add your Christmas news to this column. Call 618-422-2086; email [email protected]; or via mail at 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion, IL. 62959.
Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go! Hurrah for the fun and hurrah for the pumpkin pie!