By Dixie Terry
The Full Moon arrived on Friday, Nov. 15, known as the Full Beaver Moon, due to the fact that November is the month when beavers finish their preparations for Winter and retreat to their lodge.
The November Full Moon was also known as the Full Frost Moon by some American Native tribes.
Thanksgiving Day is coming up, our next national holiday, always observed on the fourth Thursday of the month, falling on Nov. 28, this year.
While Thanksgiving became a yearly tradition in many early communities, on different days in different months, it had not become a federal government holiday, until 1863, in the midst of the Civil war, that Prsident Lincoln proclaimed a national day to give thanks, in each November. President Roosevelt set the 4th Thursday in November in 1941, as Thanksgiving Day.
The First Pentecostal Church of Goreville will be hosting a “Friendsgiving Feast” on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 10am, with a day of Thanksgiving and worship, along with a dinner immediately following the worship service. All are invited to participate.
The Eagle House Ministries will provide a Thanksgiving Feast Ministry on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, at their Buncombe Hill site on Route 37.
Doors will open at 8:30am to prepare the food by volunteers. Delivery of meals to homes will begin at 10:45am, with serving on-site around 11:30am.
Call for reservations at 618-658-0099. Volunteers are welcomed to assist in preparing and serving.
Last year the EHM served up 16 turkeys and 16 hams, along with the traditional Thanksgiving menu. This feast has become a tradition of thirty years with some 275-325 meals delivered and 25-40 meals served on-site. Everyone is welcome!
Bookings are being accepted for the “Very Merry Marion” Christmas events of ice skating on Tower Square Plaza, opening on Friday, Nov. 29, and horse and carriage rides to be held on Dec. 6-8-13-16. Book your choices at verymerrymarion.com.
The Artstarts group of Marion will host a holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2pm, at the Artstarts House on 104 South Van Buren Street. Recently retired music director of Marion Junior High, Jim Childers, will direct a chorus of youngsters, K-12, and will direct a jazz band of students.
“Tours to Bethlehem,” a live nativity event, will be held Dec. 7, 5:30-8pm, at the Vienna City Park. There will be live animals, nativity scenes, free food and drinks. Park and ride to see and hear what Christmas is truly about! This will be provided by Eagle House Ministries and volunteers from several area churches.
A “Very Merry Market” will be underway on Tower Square Plaza in Marion at the Little Egypt Arts Association Center on Dec. 13–4-8pm; Dec. 14–12-8pm; Dec. 15–12-6pm; and Dec. 16–12-6pm.
The Daniel Chapman Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) held their monthly meeting on Nov. 11, following the Veterans Day Service. The members met at the community room of the Vienna Public Library.
My daughter, Nancy Rehder and I attended the Veterans Day Service and then attended the DAR meeting. After which, we enjoyed lunch at The Vienna Diner, where it seemed half of Johnson
County had also gathered. I admired our server, who was actually running, attempting to serve one and all.
Volunteers from the Vienna First Baptist Church will be assisting shoppers at Faith Alive Thrift Shop the week of Nov. 17.
At the Goreville Thrift Shop, members of the Friendship General Baptist Church and the McKinney Chapel Freewill Church will be volunteering.
The Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop will be the site of their annual Toy and Christmas Bazaar, opening at 8am on Saturday, Nov. 30, and open each day the following week, and then each Tuesday and Thursday, 9am to 4pm and each Saturday, 9am to noon, through Dec. 19.
The last “Rekindling the Spirit Youth Rally” of 2024 will be held on Nov. 29, with food served at 6pm and services at 7pm. The speaker will be Jamie McClellan of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Vienna. Like Vaca Diaz of Anna will share his testimony. Cassie Sharp of Caledonia Church will be the worship leader. All area youngsters and their grownups are welcome to join in at the Ozark Baptist Church.
Nearly 100 youth attended the “Rekindling the Spirit” youth rally at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in October.
The Hub Recreation Center on West Main Street in Marion will host a Farmers’ Market, November through March, in their gym, each first Friday, 3-6pm, with a diverse array of vendors from across Southern Illinois. There will be two food trucks on-site, at 4-7pm.
Hurricane season is winding down its June through November season schedule, although the latest one, Sara, is keeping coastal residents on edge this week.
A holiday or birthday gift idea is a membership to the Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society, perfect for anyone interested in the history of our county. Contact [email protected].
The two cookbooks I compiled several years ago have been re-printed and can be seen at the “Art Gallery Off the Square” in Vienna, and “The Countree Peddler” in Goreville.
The “Christmas Shop” in Cobden has opened for its 22nd season, at the Union County Museum, with unique gifts for the holidays. The shopping hours are on Saturdays at 9am-4pm and on Sundays, 1-4pm and Fridays, “by chance,” ending on Dec. 21.
On Nov. 21, the Tina Turner musical will appear onstage at The Carson Center in Paducah.
Make holiday decorations on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 9am and on Saturday, Dec. 14, also at 9am, at the visitor center of th Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. Call for reservations ahead of time.
The last hike of the season will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Red Cedar Trail in Jackson County, held by River-to-River Trail Society. This hike will be led by Bob Mulcahy, who can be contacted for reservations at 708-471-7500. Meet at 10am at Giant City State Park camp grounds.
The bake sale of Johnson County HCE of the U. of I. Extension, has been canceled. This was to be held at the VHS basketball tournament. However, the HCE will be holding a chili supper fundraiser for their scholarship project on December 1 at the Goreville High School cafeteria, during the boys’ basketball tournament at 5-7pm. Enjoy chicken chili or traditional chili, with cornbread, dessert and drink, or a hot dog, chips, cookies and a drink.
Happy Birthday to You! Nov. 16–Connie Abel, Colton Childers! Nov. 17–Nona Luke, Leon Jones! Nov. 18–Jennifer Mize, Don Runge! Nov. 19–Angela Rudluff, James Johnson, David McKenzie! Nov. 20–Mitzi Karraker, Sarah Almaroad Boykin, Steve Rehder, my favorite son-in-law! Nov. 21–Christy Morris, Christy Etheridge! Nov. 22–Pam Green, Bruce Jeffress, Christy Childers, Aaron Medley! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to these couples who are celebrating wedding anniversaries: Janice and Ron Bundren on Nov. 17! Beverly and Danny Rockwell on Nov. 20! Donna and Max Ray on Nov. 19! Maxine and Gary Burdick on Nov. 21! Char and Bob Jones on Nov. 22!
We appreciate your good news! 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 November has to offer!