Official City of Lincoln Christmas ornaments featuring City Hall have arrived in the Main Street Lincoln office.  People who pre-ordered the ornaments can pick them up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the office on the second floor of Union Planters Bank, 303 S. Kickapoo.  Additional ornaments may be purchased at MKS Jewelers, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Eckert's or at the Main Street Lincoln office. 

The Breastfeeding Support Group will meet at Logan County Health Department on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 12:30 p.m.  This support group will meet monthly on the third Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and is open to any woman, pregnant or breastfeeding, who wants to receive information, support and encouragement with breastfeeding.  Logan County Health Department nurse Sue Estes has been trained as a Certified Lactation Counselor and will lead this support group to encourage and support breastfeeding mothers. Women are invited to bring baby and lunch to this support group.  For more information, contact Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317.

Lincoln Park District plans

Our new 2001 memberships are now available. Your new membership will be good until Dec. 31, 2001. We offer just a complex membership that allows you to use the sports complex and the cardio area. We also have a fitness membership that entitles you to the complex, cardio area and the weight room. Membership gives you the opportunity to use the sauna; you pay no daily fee; and you get a reduced rate for the tennis courts, racquetball court and aerobics classes. There are also discounted prices for our senior citizens. We also have gift certificates for the fitness-minded on your Christmas lists. If you have questions, please feel free to call us at 732-8770.

Winter session volleyball sign-up began on Dec. 4 and will end on Dec. 15. If you are looking for a way to beat the winter blahs, volleyball may be the answer for you. We are offering a Competitive League on Monday nights and a Recreation League on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Our Competitive League, where the skills of the game are emphasized, is for the serious player, and our Recreation League is for those looking to play with a less serious approach. Both leagues are co-ed. Why don't you talk to your co-workers or friends and get a team together?

Once again, starting the week of Jan. 8, Scotty Hinman will be wielding her brushes and teaching ceramics. This class is great fun for anyone from the novice to the experienced. Trust me, this rookie attended and, with Scotty's instruction, I ended up with a project that looks pretty nice. The course is eight weeks long with a cost of $24 in district and $28 for out-of-district residents. A 25 percent discount will apply to senior citizens.

We will offer Senior Stride and Social beginning in January. Watch this column for further information.

Plans are under way for a Third Saturday Crafts class for the months of January, February and March. Each month will be something different; one month we may make some type of paper or painting project, and one month we will build birdhouses. Each month, whatever the craft, is guaranteed to be fun. Charges will be minimal.

[Lincoln Park District news release]

A presentation of 'Coming to America' planned

The Illini Central Grade School fourth grade class of Mrs. Ken Douglas will perform their immigration skit about "Coming to America."  Through song, recitation and costume, the students tell the joy of becoming an American citizen.  The program will be filmed by Salt Creek Prairie Chapter and a video submitted to DAR national headquarters in Washington, D.C. as an "outstanding program" of the year.

In 1919 the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution established the committee promoting Americanism and the DAR "Manual for Citizenship." Last year the national society presented six Americanism medals to outstanding naturalized adult citizens, awarded 17 medals of honor and gave out over 60,000 DAR citizenship manuals at naturalization ceremonies held in courts throughout the nation.

A challenge class will be Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Logan County Red Cross office, 125 S. Kickapoo St. in Lincoln. This is for those who wish to be recertified. Hours are from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. A community first aid and safety class will be Dec. 20 and 21 at the same location. This class includes adult CPR, infant and child CPR, and first aid. Dec. 20 hours are from 6 until 10 p.m., and hours for Dec. 21 are 5 until 10 p.m.

For further information or to register, call 732-2134 between noon and 4 p.m. any weekday.

Woody Jones, State Farm Insurance, will sponsor two Red Cross blood drives in December at the Lincoln Sports Complex. The hours for the Dec. 6 drive will be from noon until 6 p.m. Hours for the Dec. 20 drive will be from noon until 5 p.m. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital will host a drive on Dec. 13, with hours from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

In November, Jim Brown reached a goal of four gallons donated; Gary L. Minder and Cheryl Greer, two gallons each; Cindy West, Tammy Banister and Brian Yakey, one gallon each.