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'The Aspens,' Lincoln College Homecoming, Lunch and Learn, Max Boch's 300, breastfeeding group, Zonta Club donations, San Jose turkey supper, Open Arms Thanksgiving dinner, LCGHS annual meeting, landfill hours and leaf pickup days

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[November 05, 2013]  Lincolnite Doris Morris releases 'The Aspens'

Saturday morning, Doris Morris set up a book signing at the Lincoln Public Library Annex to introduce her second book, "The Aspens."

"The Aspens" is a continuation of her first book, released earlier this year, "Bugler in the Mountains."

Morris took a few minutes Saturday to share what the books are about and how she came to write them.

The setting is Bugler, a fictional town in the mountains in the late 1800s. The primary character is a young woman who has been jilted by her beau and is seeking a remedy for her heartbreak.

The main character, Elise, pleads with her father to allow her to go to the Great Northwest and spend some time with a favorite aunt. The hope is that time in a new place will help heal her broken heart. Her father reluctantly agrees and arranges for his daughter's train passage.

Along the way, the train is stranded in the small mountain town of Bugler. The residents of the town open their arms and hearts to the travelers, including Elise. In her time there, she learns of love, caring and the kindness of others. The town comes to be precious to her, and her trip to visit her aunt ultimately ends in Bugler.

The storyline includes two new love interests and a final commitment by the main character to one of them. Elise marries and prepares to make Bugler her lifelong home.

"The Aspens" continues the story of Elise and her new life filled with love and family.

It adds a new character, Ethan. He is a young boy who has been severely abused and is in much need of love and healing. In addition, Elise's family grows as she and husband Mark brings twins into the world.

In this second of a series, there are also trials and challenges for Elise as well as the small community of Bugler. In the storyline, these challenges are met with courage and overcome through love, and in the end the town is a better place for having faced it all together.

Saturday morning, Morris talked about her inspiration for the series. A lifelong resident of Lincoln and Logan County, Morris said she has visited the mountains of Colorado. While the town of Bugler is completely fictional, it was the Colorado mountains that inspired its location.

Beyond that, Morris said everything else in the two books was a gift from God, and she really couldn't say any more than that.

She explained that the first book began while she was caring for her husband, who had been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. She said it was a horrible experience for her, her husband and their family, and she felt God had given her this make-believe story as a means of coping with what she was going through in real life.

She said she spent many hours by her husband's side with a notebook, or two, or three, or four in front of her. She wrote down notes for the storyline and developed the first book in between times of jumping up to attend to her husband's needs.

Morris said that she escaped from her real world by becoming a part of the Bugler community. She said that when she was writing, she became the characters in her book and lived their life instead of her own for a brief moment.

Morris also believes that the books were intended to be an encouragement and a reassurance to everyone that there is a better way of life.

She noted that in her life, she has always wanted to be reassuring and encouraging to people, but her personality prevented her from speaking out sometimes. In the books she writes, there is a message of doing good, loving others and being a source of inspiration for those who are going through troubling times. Morris said these are the messages she wants to share with readers through an interesting and entertaining storyline.

The two books out now are part of a series she calls "Better Than A Known Way" and will soon be accompanied by a third book. Morris said the third book is finished, and the fourth book is well underway. The saga of Mark and Elise will continue, and no doubt they will face new challenges along with the small town of Bugler.

Morris is self-published and sells her books on Amazon.com as well as locally at Prairie Years in Lincoln. Right now the best price for the pair is at Prairie Years. The books can be purchased individually there for less than $10 each, a significant savings over the Amazon price.

Morris is also hopeful that the third book will be released in time for the holidays, and she said it, too, will be offered at Prairie Years.

Morris also noted that the books are written for an age group from mid-teens to maturity, with something for everyone, but most of all reassurance that there is "better than a known way."

To learn more about the books and read recent reviews, visit Morris' website. http://www.dorismyrlemorris.com/

[By NILA SMITH]


Lincoln College invites public to homecoming events

Lincoln College is celebrating homecoming this week, Nov. 4-10. In addition to Spirit Week activities for students, several events scheduled are open to the public, including a trivia contest, the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, a tour of the Creekside Outdoor Center for Environmental Education, a women's alumni basketball game and the men's homecoming basketball game, featuring special halftime entertainment. Also, the Fine Arts department will present Neil Simon's "Rumors" on the main stage of the Johnston Center for the Performing Arts beginning Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Homecoming Trivia Night will be on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. in the Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium. Proceeds will be used to add to the outdoor furnishings on campus. Water, tea, lemonade, popcorn and snack mix will be provided.

Teams of up to eight players compete for a cash prize, and the cost is $10 per person. Contact Jeff Nelson to register at 217-732-3155, ext. 315, or email jnelson@lincolncollege.edu. Teams can also register at the student activities office in the Meyer-Evans Student Center. Registration deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, and team registration fees may be paid at the door.

The Athletic Hall of Fame banquet will be on Friday, Nov. 8, in the Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium and includes a cocktail reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards program.

The event is open to the public, but seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for children age 18 and younger. Contact Mary Jo Werth in the advancement office to register: phone 217-732-3155, ext. 217, or toll free 877-522-5867, or email mjwerth@lincolncollege.edu.

The inaugural Hall of Fame class includes alumni Jan Bowers, Class of 1981; Matt Hughes, Class of 1995; the late Tom Flynn, Class of 1962; former coaches Joni Comstock and Charles Lindstrom; the late Jack D. Nutt, president of Lincoln College from 1982 to 2002; and the late Dominic "Doc" Guzzardo and his son John, longtime friends and supporters of Lincoln College athletics.

A tour of the Creekside Outdoor Center for Environmental Education is planned for Saturday, Nov. 9. A bus will leave from the Lincoln Center parking lot at 10 a.m. and return at 11 a.m. Professor Dennis Campbell will conduct the tour. Dr. Campbell encourages participants to dress warmly and to wear boots or other shoes suitable for walking outdoors. There is no charge for this event.

A women's alumni basketball game will tip off in the Jack D. Nutt Arena at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. All former Lincoln College women's basketball players are invited to come back and take on the 2013 Lady Lynx in this special exhibition game.

Anyone interested in playing should contact women's basketball coach Carol Wilson at cwilson@lincolncollege.edu or 217-732-3155, ext. 317. There is no charge for this event.

The highlight of homecoming will be the men's basketball game Saturday afternoon. The Lynx will take on Kirkwood Community College at 2 p.m. in the Jack D. Nutt Arena in the Lincoln Center. Special entertainment is planned for halftime, including the introduction of the homecoming court. Lynx fans are asked to wear white to "white out" the arena.

General admission is $5 for bleacher seats, $7 for chair-back seats, and $3 for seniors and children 12 and under. LC students can attend free with student ID.

"Rumors," Neil Simon's 1988 farce about a New York City dinner party gone awry, opens on the main stage of the Johnston Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The play will be performed in two acts with an intermission. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 6-9, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Nov. 10. This play closes the Fine Arts department's fall theater season. Due to some adult language, viewer discretion is advised.

The cast features Lauren Stanfield, of Lincoln; Tegan Follis, Lincoln; Angelique Tally, Chicago; Levert Wilkins, Chicago; Brett Nelson, DeWitt, Iowa; Riley Dobson, Crystal Lake; Kristin Petrelli, Bartlett; Bobby Wilhelmson, Fort Morgan, Colo.; Alexa Maxey, Elkin, N.C.; Kristin Craig, Hanover Park; and Arica Sadler, Emden.

General adult admission is $8, and senior and student admission is $6. Call the Johnston Center box office at 217-732-3155, ext. 280, to reserve tickets.


Lunch and Learn scheduled for Nov. 19 at the Oasis

The Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland, in cooperation with Senior Citizens of Logan County, has scheduled a Lunch and Learn program for informal caregivers of older adults and for grandparents and other relatives raising children. It will be at the Oasis Senior Center's temporary location, 210 Seventh St. in Lincoln, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from noon to 1 p.m.

Dave Schneller, physical therapist with First Care Healthcare, will present "Home Safety and Fall Prevention."

Lunch will be provided, and preregistration is required. There is no charge to attend.

This presentation is part of a series of Lunch and Learn programs. The goal of the series is to provide practical information that will help caregivers continue to provide quality care to others while maintaining balance in their own lives.

Informal caregivers are those unpaid individuals such as family members, friends and neighbors who provide assistance to someone who is to some degree incapacitated and in need of help with tasks such as grocery shopping, bill paying, cooking or personal care. Grandparents or other relatives raising grandchildren are those who have accepted primary responsibility for raising one or more children through age 18.

To register or to learn more about this program, contact the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland at 217-787-9234 or 800-252-2918.


Max Boch, 16 years old, bowls a perfect game

It was a Saturday that Max Boch won't forget for the rest of his life, because that was the day he bowled his first 300 game. For all of you non-bowlers, that's a perfect game. That's 12 frames of 10 pins with not a single one left standing. It's a real accomplishment that a lot of avid bowlers don't get to claim.

In an interview with Max, you could see the pride and the ownership of having achieved his goal. He had come amazingly close on other occasions. At the age of 14 he bowled a 298, and at 15 he took a 299, but it still wasn't the 300 game he wanted.

But on Oct. 12, all of that changed.

He was golden in the fourth frame and was pretty nonchalant because that wasn't new territory for him. He'd done that before.

But when Max was going into the 12th and final frame, that carrot was dangling right before him. Max said everyone in the bowling alley had stopped to come and see the final frame of "Is it a perfect game?"

With a huge crowd behind him and his knees shaking, he cleared every pin again, giving him that perfect game. His first 300.

After that, handshakes and pats on the back were abundant.

 

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Max started bowling as a small child. He went to watch his friend bowl at the age of 6 and was hooked. Max at 16 and his bowling buddy, Brandon Brawdy, 18, have bowled together on the same team since they were kids. While still best friends, Max is on his way to passing Brandon's two 300 games.

According to Shawn Taylor, "a 300 is much easier to obtain, possibly 20-to-1, than getting into the 800 club."

The 800 club Taylor spoke of is three very good games back-to-back that total 800 or more. That is an average of 267 per game. Being in the 800 club allows you entry into some pretty desirable tournaments. Those are the tourneys where the best play for the title.

Max's love of the game spans three generations. John Boch, Max's father, remembers going to the bowling alley in Decatur with his dad when he and his brother were little kids. John and Max still love to bowl together, with a shared dream to bowl in the nationals.

Dad hasn't earned his 300 game yet but was nearly there at 299. However, he has nailed his 801 series. And he did that on lanes 1 and 2, the same lanes where Max got his 300 game. Perhaps that is just one more way to keep it all in the family.

When asked how he felt about bowling, Max just responded, "I love it," and flashed a smile that lit up the bowling alley.

Congratulations, Max. There are a lot of people proud of you.

[By ROY LOGAN]


Breastfeeding support group celebrates Halloween

Participants in the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital breastfeeding support group celebrated Halloween at their meeting Wednesday, Oct. 30.

The benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition. Not only do babies receive all the vitamins and nutrients they need for the first six months of life; breast milk is also packed with disease-fighting substances that protect babies from illness.

However, even though breastfeeding may be "natural," that doesn't mean it comes so naturally. The group provides mother-to-mother encouragement to breastfeeding moms. The mothers and babies meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. each Wednesday in Steinfort B at ALMH.

The meetings are led by Renea Coberly, certified lactation consultant and R.N., who works in obstetrics at ALMH. At each meeting, the babies are weighed and participants can ask questions and discuss their current issues. There is no registration required and walk-ins are welcome.

For more information about the group, individuals can call 217-732-2161, ext. 55231.

ALMH's Family Maternity Suites is a state-of-the-art obstetrical center that features three spacious and private labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum rooms with private restrooms and showers. Each mom and baby receives individualized care. To learn more about the Family Maternity Suites or the other health care services offered at ALMH, visit www.almh.org.


Zonta Club of Lincoln donates phones to Sojourn Shelter

Zonta Club of Lincoln gave recent donations to the Logan County court advocate's office for Sojourn Shelter to support local domestic violence victims.

So far in 2013, the advocate's office has assisted 70 clients with emergency orders of protection and provides ongoing assistance.

The club collected used cellphones, which can be reprogrammed and given to women to call 911 in an emergency.

Zonta Club of Lincoln also used $800 of last year's turkey dinner profits to set up a fund at Lincoln IGA. Many domestic violence victims have no choice but to "grab the kids and run." They often have no formula, food or diapers or any means to buy them. Charlie Lee at Lincoln IGA has often quietly provided items to these families at no cost to them. Zonta Club of Lincoln chose to support his efforts to help local domestic violence victims. Access to this fund will be given only by the Sojourn court advocate to the neediest clients. The community's ongoing support of the annual dinner allowed this generous donation.

Zonta Club of Lincoln is part of Zonta International, which has 30,000 members in 65 countries worldwide. Zonta recently launched "Zonta Says No," an international campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls both locally and around the world. For more information, visit zontasaysno.com or www.zonta.org.


San Jose United Methodist turkey supper & bazaar Nov. 6

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose United Methodist Women, with the help of the men of the church and members of the community, are presenting their annual turkey supper and bazaar at the church on the first Wednesday of November. Serving is from 4 till 7 p.m. on Nov. 6.

The roast turkey supper features mashed potatoes and gravy, the women's "famous" dressing, green beans, corn, salad, desserts, and drinks, besides generous pieces cut from freshly roasted turkey.

Guests may dine in the Fellowship Hall or carry out.

Bazaar booths open at 3:30 p.m. and include a candy shop with a large variety of homemade candy and sweets; a country store, which will have homemade pies, cinnamon rolls, breads, jelly and other goodies; a craft booth with unique heirloom cards and various kitchen items; and a table of "nearly new" Christmas decorations and other novelties.

Tickets will be sold in advance by members of the church or at the door for the same price. Ticket prices for dine-in are $9 for adults and $4 children. Carryout prices are $9.50 and $4.50.

The San Jose United Methodist Church is at 601 S. First St., six blocks south of U.S. 136, at the corner of Linden and First. San Jose is about 10 miles west of Interstate 155 on U.S. 136.

For tickets or more information, call the church at 309-247-3232 or Jim Eeten at 309-247-3485.


Open Arms & Mission Mart partner for 2nd annual Thanksgiving dinner

Open Arms Christian Fellowship offers a free Thanksgiving meal on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church, 311 Broadway. Last year 300-400 people enjoyed this free meal and time of fellowship. This year the church is preparing 20 turkeys and all the fixings -- mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, dressing and dessert.

Home Sweet Home Ministries of Bloomington and Mission Mart of Lincoln are partnering with Open Arms Christian Fellowship in this community event. All the funds from selling "Turkey Cards" at the Lincoln Mission Mart are staying in the community, helping with this meal and providing Thanksgiving meals to others in need in Lincoln and Logan County.

You can purchase a Turkey Card for $2 during normal business hours at Mission Mart and help others in the community. Spread the word and let others know of this community dinner.

Open Arms Christian Fellowship is the church that sponsors the annual Family Fun Day for the community.

For more information, call the church office at 217-732-4800 or visit www.oacflincoln.com.


LCGHS annual meeting Nov. 18

The Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society's annual meeting and program will be on Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Blue Dog Inn, 111 S. Sangamon.

The presenter will be Stewart Reeve, director of the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield. Reeve is a retired brigadier general from the Illinois Army National Guard.

The Illinois National Guard has a history going back 376 years. The museum houses items of interest reflecting that long history and tells of Illinoisans who have served the state and the country since the early 1700's.

The meeting and program are free and open to the public, but diners will be responsible for their meal. Those attending are asked to call the LCGHS office, 732-3200, or Marla Blair, program coordinator, 217-732-9875, to leave your name and the number in your group. 


City of Lincoln fall cleanup schedules: landfill hours and leaf pickup days

For the convenience of Lincoln residents, the city landfill will be open six days a week beginning Tuesday, Oct. 29. Landfill hours will be Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., and closed on Mondays.

The landfill is specifically for landscape waste. Trash dumping will not be permitted there.

With the new city agreement for commercial mulching, products brought to the landfill by residents should be separated into two categories: wood products and lawn waste, such as plant material and leaves.

Wood waste for mulching is defined as logs, limbs or brush. All wood materials for recycling must be free of all metal or foreign debris, excluding nails and bolts three-eighths inch or smaller. Logs and limbs should be cut to a maximum length of 4 feet.

The landfill will maintain a six-day-a-week schedule through Tuesday, Nov. 26. Afterward the schedule will go back to open hours Saturday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.

The city of Lincoln will also do free leaf pickup inside the city limits. Pickup dates will be scheduled by ward and are as follows:

Ward 1:

  • Monday, Oct. 28

  • Thursday, Nov. 7

  • Wednesday, Nov. 20

Ward 2:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 30

  • Tuesday, Nov. 12

  • Friday, Nov. 22

Ward 3:

  • Friday, Nov. 1

  • Thursday, Nov. 14

  • Monday, Nov. 25

Ward 4:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 5

  • Monday, Nov. 18

  • Monday, Dec. 2

Leaves are to be placed in biodegradable bags at the curb by 7 a.m. the day of the scheduled pickup for your ward.


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