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Information Station open house, Porter Bell Unit, Joe Schroth and basketball team, 'Predictions' art show, Santa at New Holland, blood drive, LC concert, donations through VFW, Harvest of Talents cookie walk, Zion live Nativity scene, HSLC cookie trays, Angel Tree project by Jaycees, book signing at Elkhart

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[December 03, 2012]  Information Station's annual holiday open house Friday

The Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County, the Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership, and the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce will welcome visitors to a holiday open house on Friday, Dec. 7. Snacks, holiday treats and punch will be available from noon to 4 p.m. at the Information Station, 1555 Fifth St.

The three offices together invite the public to this annual holiday celebration.

This is not only a time to spread some holiday cheer but also an opportunity to welcome the newest faces at the Information Station and beyond. Among those on hand to meet and greet guests will be newcomers Brian Bergen, executive director for the development partnership; Meghan Hough, membership director for the chamber of commerce; and Bill Hoagland, new executive director of Main Street Lincoln.


Porter Bell Unit to meet Wednesday

NEW HOLLAND -- Porter Bell Unit 715, American Legion Auxiliary, will meet Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. at the home of Roseann Coers.

Barbecue sandwiches and chips will be served. Members are asked to bring finger foods or snacks.

Don't forget your scissors. The group will be working on tray favors.


Did you know Joe Schroth? Local historian seeking your info

MOUNT PULASKI -- Mount Pulaski historian Phil Bertoni has come across a photo that he is hoping the local community will be interested in and also be willing to offer some more information on it.


Standing: Coach Joe Schroth, Steve Morehead, Ronnie Boyd, Bob Pharis, Jim Ireland, Tom Zurkhammer, Jerry Gehlbach, Koert Bartman.
Front row: Tom Maurer, Bob Alexander, Marvin Bartman, John Kurtz, Vern Stanfield, Donald Gehlbach.
Photo and players' names provided by Mrs. Vivian Schroth, the coach's widow.

The picture, Bertoni believes, was taken in 1954 and is of the Chester-East Lincoln basketball team with coach Joe Schroth.

Schroth was Bertoni's coach when he was in fifth or sixth grade at Mount Pulaski. However, Bertoni related that a new principal was hired that year who felt Schroth was not well enough educated to be working in the public school system. Consequently, Schroth was dismissed from Mount Pulaski.

Upon his departure from there, he went to Chester-East Lincoln, which Bertoni recalls was a fairly new school at that time.

Below is a copy of information Bertoni has on coach Schroth. If anyone has anything to add to this, they are encouraged to email comments to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com. LDN will then forward your information to Bertoni. Please be sure to give your name in your email.

(Copy of information provided)

Note: Joe Schroth excelled in basketball and baseball at Mount Pulaski High School in the 1930's, playing for now well-known and long-ago retired/deceased Illinois basketball coaches: George Dertinger and Dolph Stanley. Due to the death of his father in a farm-related accident, Joe took on responsibilities of both farming and finishing high school, while continuing his sports.

Following high school graduation, Joe continued farming and even operated a dairy farm during the war years with his new bride, Vivian Buckles. Joe maintained his interest in sports, playing independent basketball with Lincoln and Decatur teams. In 1945, he became the coach at Mount Pulaski Grade School, taking teams to the state, winning second in 1949. Joe moved over to coaching at Chester-East Lincoln in 1953.

Joe spent many of his latter years as a crop-hail adjuster and state field supervisor. Vivian, a graduate of Brown's Business College in Decatur, was employed by Custom Farm Fertilizer Services as a secretary / bookkeeper and later held a similar position for many years at Lincoln College.

Their only child, Dr. Richard Schroth, is an executive consultant, professional speaker and private advisor on technology and business for leading world-wide corporations. Currently, he is the U.S. State Department's 2008-2013 Senior Fulbright Scholar for Information Services. Last year, Richard was one of five recipients of the Mount Pulaski 175th Anniversary's Casimir Pulaski Awards for Most Distinguished Mount Pulaski High School Graduates. He resides with his wife and family in Maryland.

--Text submitted by Vivian Schroth and edited and updated by Phil Bertoni of the Mount Pulaski Township Historical Society.


Logan County Art Association presents "Predictions"

The newly formed Logan County Art Association is presenting its first show, "Predictions," at the Lincoln Art Institute, 112 S. McLean St., from Dec. 20 through Jan. 12.

There will be an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. Light refreshments will be served, everyone's welcome, and there is no admission charge

The show is based on the predictions by the Mayan calendar, Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce as well as other sources that suggest a catastrophic event will take place on Dec. 21.

For additional information, contact Georgie Borchardt by phone at 309-244-5708 or by email at logancountyaa@gmail.com.

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Logan County Art Association Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/
LoganArtAssociation
 

Lincoln Art Institute website:
http://lincolnartinstitute.wix.com/lincolnil#!


Santa at New Holland Firehouse Dec. 8

NEW HOLLAND -- Santa Claus will be at the New Holland Firehouse on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be an opportunity to take pictures with Santa, and all children will receive a gift bag from Santa.

This event is sponsored by the New Holland Volunteer Firemen.

 


Community blood drive at Lincoln Masonic Center on Monday

To help ensure an adequate blood supply for the region, there will be a blood drive at the Lincoln Masonic Center, 2022 N. Kickapoo, on Monday from noon to 6 p.m.

For your convenience, call Alexis toll-free to sign up at 1-866-GIVE-BLD (1-866-448-3253), ext. 5158, or schedule an appointment online using sponsor code 60057 at www.bloodcenterimpact.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and truly appreciated.

Central Illinois Community Blood Center, a not-for-profit organization, is the provider of lifesaving blood for 14 hospitals in central Illinois, including Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Springfield's Memorial Medical Center and St. John's Hospital. CICBC is a division of the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, which collects over 180,000 units of blood annually and serves 85 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.


Holiday concert to feature Lincoln College Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Singers and Chorale

The annual holiday concert at Lincoln College will be presented in the Johnston Center for Performing Arts on the Lincoln campus on Friday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 8. The concert will start at 7:30 both evenings.

Tickets will be available at the box office in the Johnston Center for $2.

The lineup this year will include a set by the 20-member Lincoln College Jazz Ensemble, led by Professor Scott Woger.

Next on the playbill will be performances by the Chamber Singers and the Lincoln College Chorale. Professor Cynthia Fox will direct the vocal groups.

Woger is very excited about this year's concert. The event will be the debut for members of a new Lincoln College degree program that will allow music students to earn a four-year bachelor's degree in jazz studies on the Lincoln campus. There are currently 24 aspiring jazz musicians enrolled.

"I have been working for the past seven months to set up this program," Woger said.

The four-year degree program allows Lincoln College to field a jazz big band for the first time, and the coming-out party for this group promises to raise the roof on the Johnston Center. The twin "Performance Tonight" flags in front of the Johnston Center will be snapping to a jazz beat.

As the jazz studies program unfolds, new events are being planned for 2013. A jazz concert featuring the LC Jazz Ensemble and area high school jazz bands, including one from Pekin High School, is scheduled for early 2013.

For more information on the holiday concert, contact the Lincoln College box office at 217-732-3155, ext. 280. Woger may be reached at 217-735-5050, ext. 281, and swoger@lincolncollege.edu.


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Veterans of Foreign Wars accepting donations to help veterans in need

SPRINGFIELD -- As we enter the holiday season, many veterans throughout Illinois are facing financial difficulties -- unsure of how they will pay their rent, mortgage, utility bills or even purchase groceries.

As the Veterans of Foreign Wars tag line suggests -- "No One Does More for Veterans."

More than 113 years ago, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was founded for two purposes -- to promote legislation directly affecting veterans and to assist veterans, our military and their families.

As war continues in Afghanistan, multiple deployments affect the lives of those serving in our armed forces. Many of our nation's newest combat veterans return home to face eviction notices from landlords, mortgage foreclosures and shut-off notices from utility companies.

In addition, many of our older veterans face the necessity of choosing between the need to purchase medicine or groceries.

When called upon, the VFW turns to donations from the public to help veterans facing a financial crisis. Through the generosity of local donations, organizations can assist our needy veterans with their rent, mortgages, utility bills and groceries.

That's where you -- John and Jane Q. Public -- can help.

VFW posts have funds established to which monetary donations can be earmarked to assist veterans in need. Those funds are collected through poppy drives, various fundraisers, and generous individuals and businesses making monetary donations. In addition, many posts conduct food drives throughout the holidays to help provide holiday meals for veterans in their communities needing assistance.

During this holiday season while you are enjoying time with your family, consider making a donation to your local VFW post to help those veterans less fortunate in your community.

For information on making donations, contact the VFW post in your community.


Harvest of Talents Christmas cookie walk Dec. 8

There will be a Christmas cookie walk on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the family room of the Lincoln Christian Church Fellowship Center. Sponsored by the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger, the event will feature homemade traditional holiday and bar cookies. Cookies will be available for purchase by the pound or arranged on decorative plates.

Georgia Vinson, who chairs the cookie walk, recommends taking them home for weekend entertaining or popping them in your freezer to prepare yourself for Christmas parties and last-minute holiday guests.

Cookie shoppers are invited to enter the Fellowship Center through the north canopy parking lot door.

All proceeds will become a part of the 2013 Harvest of Talents for World Hunger and will be channeled through International Disaster Emergency Service to meet hunger needs worldwide.

Anyone having questions about the cookie walk may contact Georgia Vinson at 732-9069.


Zion Lutheran live Nativity scheduled for Dec. 14 & 15

The annual Zion Lutheran Church drive-thru live Nativity is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. The outdoor scene, portrayed by church members and live animals, is set to favorite Christmas hymns and presented on the grounds of Zion Lutheran School, 1600 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln, across from Wal-Mart.

No admission is charged, but nonperishable food items will be collected for the Lincoln/Logan Food Pantry.


HSLC extends order deadline for cookie trays

Order now to get your fancy Christmas cookies. The Humane Society of Logan County is having their annual Christmas cookie tray sale, with cookie pickup on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Graue Inc., 1905 N. Kickapoo.

Trays of three dozen, four dozen or five dozen may be ordered. Prices start at $15 for three dozen assorted holiday cookies.

Order in advance by calling 217-732-1979 to be sure they are available. Orders will be taken until Friday, Dec. 7.

At the same time, there will be a big bake sale: cakes, pies, breads, fudge, candy and more.

Help yourself by letting HSLC bake, and help the shelter that provides for dogs and cats in Logan County.


Lincoln Jaycees Angel Tree project under way now

The annual Lincoln Jaycees Angel Tree is under way. The Angel Tree is a project to help the less fortunate children of Logan County. Tags with these children's names are placed on "Angel Trees" around the county. Employees or customers then pick a child from the names on the tree and buy them gifts. The Lincoln Jaycees distribute these gifts to the families in time for Christmas.

The public can find the Angel Trees at the following locations: Cracker Barrel, ALMH cafeteria, CEFCU, Blades Hair Salon, Illini Bank, Daisy's Hair and Nail Salon, and State Bank of Lincoln. Trees are also located at Eaton, Family Medical Center, Verallia, Sysco and International Paper for their employees.

Gifts need returned to businesses by Monday, Dec. 10.

The Lincoln Jaycees purchase gifts to go with any names not picked from the trees. If you would like to make a monetary donation, send it to: Lincoln Jaycees, P.O. Box 254, Lincoln, IL 62656.

Gift pickup will be at the Lincoln Jaycees Center, 325 S. Chicago St., on Dec. 15, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.

The Lincoln Jaycees are a not-for-profit organization serving Lincoln and the surrounding communities. The Lincoln Jaycees give young people between the ages of 18 and 40 the tools they need to build the bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development, management skills, individual training, community service and international connections. Membership meetings are on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Jaycees Center, 325 S. Chicago St., and are open to everyone.


Elkhart Historical Society announces book signing with Guy Fraker

ELKHART -- On Friday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., the Elkhart Historical Society will present a book signing for "Lincoln's Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit" at Horsefeathers in Elkhart. Refreshments will be served.

Lincoln experts have called this new book superb, richly detailed and an effective lesson in the importance of political networking. This is the perfect time to obtain a signed copy of Guy Fraker's new book just in time for Christmas giving. Further information regarding the author and his book is available at www.lincolnsladder.com.


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