Organizations,  Events,  Milestones,

Good Neighbors,  Fund-raisers,  A Day in the Life...,

Diaspora,  Reunions,  Reminiscence

December 2001

through Dec. 26
SPONSOR: Michelle's Home and Garden
WHO: Public, by admission
WHAT: Winter Wonderland Walk
WHERE: 1014 N. Kickapoo
WHEN: Monday-Saturday, 11 am-8 pm; Sundays 1-8 pm

Thursday, Dec. 13
SPONSOR: Lincoln Public Library
WHO: Children; call (217) 732-5732 or visit 725 Pekin St. to register
WHAT: Santa party
WHERE: Library annex
WHEN: 6-8 pm

WHO: Public
WHAT: Christmas concert by Mount Pulaski High School band and chorus
WHERE: Mount Pulaski High School gym
WHEN: 7 pm

Friday, Dec. 14
SPONSOR: Zion Lutheran Church
WHO: Public
WHAT: Live Nativity scene
WHERE: Zion Lutheran School, 1600 Woodlawn Road
WHEN: 6-8 pm

Saturday, Dec. 15
SPONSOR: Zion Lutheran Church
WHO: Public
WHAT: Live Nativity scene
WHERE: Zion Lutheran School, 1600 Woodlawn Road
WHEN: 6-8 pm

SPONSOR: Lincoln Area Music Society
WHO: Public
WHAT: Christmas concert -- chorale and orchestra
WHERE: Lincoln Community High School auditorium, 1000 Primm Road
WHEN: 7 pm

Sunday, Dec. 16
SPONSOR: Lincoln Area Music Society
WHO: Public
WHAT: Christmas concert -- chorale and orchestra
WHERE: Lincoln Community High School auditorium, 1000 Primm Road
WHEN: 2 pm

SPONSOR: Logan County Arts Association
WHO: Public
WHAT: Classical guitar concert presented by Christian Culleton
WHERE: Trinity Episcopal Church, 402 Pekin
WHEN: 2 pm

Tuesday, Dec. 18
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: Public; by preregistration
WHAT: CPR and first aid class; first of two sessions
WHERE: 125 S. Kickapoo
WHEN: 6-10 pm

SPONSOR: Lincoln Public Library
WHO: Public
WHAT: "Herbal Holidays," with Tracy Kirby
WHERE: Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St.
WHEN: 7 pm

SPONSOR: Lincoln Community High School
WHO: Public
WHAT: Christmas concert -- band and choir
WHERE: Lincoln Community High School auditorium
WHEN: 7 pm

Wednesday, Dec. 19
SPONSOR: Woody Jones Insurance Agency
WHO: Public
WHAT: Red Cross blood drive
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: Noon to 5 pm

Thursday, Dec. 20
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: Public; by preregistration
WHAT: CPR and first aid class; second of two sessions
WHERE: 125 S. Kickapoo
WHEN: 5-10 pm

SPONSOR: Main Street Lincoln and the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce
WHO: Public; ticket holders must be present to win
WHAT: Ho Ho Dough holiday cash giveaway
WHERE: North side of Logan County Courthouse
WHEN: 6 pm

Saturday, Dec. 22
SPONSOR: Lincoln Correctional Center employees
WHO: Public
WHAT: Christmas dinner for senior citizens and low-income families of our community; reservations required
WHERE: Eagles Lodge, 1621 N. Kickapoo
WHEN: 11 am - 2 pm

REGULAR POSTINGS FOR ORGANIZATIONS:  Girl Scouts,  Heritage in Flight,  Oasis,  U of I Extension

Members of Lincoln’s Zion Lutheran Church will once again don crowns, angel wings and colorful robes to re-enact the Christmas Nativity for the Lincoln community. Baby calves, donkeys, sheep and llamas from local farms join church members in a handcrafted stable.

This year’s live Nativity scene will be presented on Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Zion Lutheran School, located across from the Lincoln Wal-Mart.

Viewing the live Nativity is free to the public and can be enjoyed from the comfort of a warm car.

Church members will be collecting donations of nonperishable food items for the Lincoln/Logan Food Pantry.

In recent years the live Nativity has been scheduled in conjunction with Main Street Lincoln’s ’Tis the Season festivities on the first weekend of December. The event is two weeks later this year and is available for viewing on only two nights.

Lincoln Public Library will host a Santa party on Thursday evening, Dec. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the library annex.

The festivities begin with the traditional reading of "The Night Before Christmas." Santa arrives and each child will receive a free Polaroid picture with Santa. Light refreshments will be served.

Please visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-5732 for more information or to register for this program.

(Note: Reviews of several illustrated versions of Clement C. Moore’s "The Night Before Christmas" are posted in LDN’s Book Look.)

The city of Lincoln’s landfill on Broadwell Drive returns to regular hours starting the week of Sunday, Dec. 2, according to Street Superintendent Donnie Osborne. The landfill had been open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for leaf and other yard trash disposal. Regular hours, which resume, are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Checks should be made payable to Habitat for Humanity. All proceeds will be used to aid Habitat for Humanity of Logan County in building more homes for deserving families.

Holiday time. Thinking about what to get the kids for Christmas? How about something that will really wow them, and you can have fun too.

Lincoln held its first soapbox derby this past summer. If you came out and watched the downhill races on North Kickapoo Street during the Art and Balloon Fest, then you know it’s a family affair that provides lots of fun, camaraderie and thrills.

There is still time to order a kit from the national organization and have it delivered for Christmas. Orders must be received in Akron by the first week in December.

Order blanks are available from any of the five soapbox derby committee members listed below. They will assist you when filling out the order blank. For those who would like to design and build their own car, the committee can help with the technical things you will encounter.

So, if you have a son or daughter, including the physically handicapped, who will be 7 years old by race day, they will be able to experience the thrill of racing.

The Lincoln Downhillers 2002 race will be bigger and better than last year. We have learned from last year, and we are going to have a "rip-roarin’" time in 2002.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas from the committee:

Tom Kissel, Bill Martinie, Wayne Lolling, Duane Petty, Bob Steele

The Lincoln Public Library has one adult program remaining on the schedule for this year. The presentation is in the Pegram Community Room at the library, 725 Pekin St., and begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Seating is on a first-come basis.

•  Dec. 18 — "Herbal Holidays," with Tracy Kirby. Holiday cooking, decorating and making gifts with herbs.  [Note:  This program was rescheduled because of illness.]

Girl Scouts announcements

• Girl Scout leader meetings:  the first Thursday of each month, at the usual time and place.

Websites with lots of ideas that Girl Scout leaders, families or kids can use:

makingfriends.com

crayola.com

elmers.com 

See the website for Girl Scouts, Land of Lincoln Council, at http://www.girlscoutsllc.org/.

You can send questions and suggestions to the council by clicking here: gsllc@girlscoutsllc.org.

Also, see the national Girl Scouts site at http://www.girlscouts.org/.

Oasis update

The Oasis, Logan County’s senior citizen center, at 501 Pulaski St. in Lincoln, is open weekdays (except holidays) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center also is open on Friday and Sunday nights for table games. Dominic Dalpoas is the executive director. Activities are open to all Logan County senior citizens,  regardless of membership.

Luncheon

Thursday, Dec. 13, is the date for the Christmas potluck luncheon. Christmas ham is the featured entrée, served with all the trimmings. Join us from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for good food and a fun afternoon. A special drawing for a Closet Classics gift certificate is also part of the program. If you can’t bring a dish, a $3 donation is accepted.

After lunch, stay for the bingo games sponsored by the Oasis, starting at 1 p.m.

Christmas gift shop

At the Oasis you may complete your shopping for those special items you just can’t seem to find in the malls. Our crafters have been very busy and are sure you will find just what you need for Christmas giving.

Memories class

This is the time of year that fond memories of family celebrations take center stage. Why not join our class at 3:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, and learn how to capture those memories in writing for your family.

SHARE food distribution

Friday, Dec. 14, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. you may pick up your food order. At this time you may also place an order for next month. If you have not participated in the program, come in for additional information and place your order for $15 for a basic food order.

The program for the Dec. 16 trip to Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan is "An Old Fashioned Christmas of Music." Cost is $24 for transportation and tickets. Lunch is on your own at the Hometown Buffet. Departure from Lincoln is scheduled for noon, with return at 8 p.m. Call for a reservation.

Speaker’s bureau

Monday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. Clarence Barney of H&R Block will present his program, "New Tax Laws Affecting Seniors." Please join us for this timely and informative session.

Game winners

The daytime pinochle winner for both Nov. 30 and Dec. 4 was Marie Spaits. The Friday night pinochle winner was Esther Will. Harley Heath won pool honors.

Newsletter

Friends of the Oasis members receive bimonthly newsletters by mail. For more information, people can call the Oasis at 732-6132 or 732-5844.

The local office of the University of Illinos Extension will host a series of educational presentations from September through May. Anyone and everyone is welcome. Programs will be at the Extension office at the northwest corner of the fairgrounds, 980 N. Postville Drive.

Milestones

Habitat workers keep skills honed

[DEC. 12, 2001]  Central Illinois Economic Development Corporation was contacted last month by the mother of a disabled child who resides in Lincoln. The child is wheelchair-bound, and the family had a hard time getting her up and down the steps of their home.

CIEDC contacted George Dahmm, president of the Logan County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. George and his crew gladly agreed to build the wheelchair ramp for this family. CIEDC then contacted Mitchell-Newhouse Lumber Company. They were glad to donate all the material the crew needed to build the wheelchair ramp.

The ramp is now completed. CIEDC says "thanks" to George Dahmm and his crew at Habitat for Humanity and to Mitchell-Newhouse Lumber Company. It’s always nice to see people in the community join together to help someone in need.

[From Central Illinois Economic Development Corporation, C.A.P. Bulletin]

LCHS Toys for Tots

[DEC. 7, 2001]  The Christmas season is here once again. Due to the recent events that have engulfed our nation, this season will stand to be like none of the others. An outpouring of support and charitable contributions for those in need have been some of the positive outcomes of the Sept. 11 tragedies. People from all over the nation have really made an effort to give something back.

[Photo provided by LCHS]

At one point the consumer market had taken a direct blow, but as everyone’s favorite holiday approaches, it’s easy to see that people have gone back out to shop, and with a vengeance. It’s actually one of the small things you can do to help this country get back on track. Go out and spend a little bit more this year. But don’t forget to take note of the fact there are many people out there who don’t have the luxury of being able to spend to their heart’s desire on gifts for their loved ones.

A sad fact is that many people aren’t able to share in the full splendor of the season, due to their financial circumstances. What’s even worse is that many of those people are small children. That’s why the LCHS student government, in conjunction with the Central Illinois Economic Development Center, is once again sponsoring the annual Toys for Tots toy drive at LCHS.

[to top of second column in this article]

The student government reached their goal last year, and they’ll be working hard this year to achieve their goal of 500 toys and $1,500 in donations. This year’s drive is being headed by Jennifer Buffington, president of the student body.

From Dec. 5 through 15 people can leave their gifts under the Christmas tree located just outside the school’s main office. For those of you who would like to donate money, containers will be located in the cafeteria during lunch hours.

Anyone who has any questions may contact Jennifer Buffington at (217) 737-7363.

All donations will be greatly appreciated by the student government, but even more so by a special child within the community.

When asked what motivated her to help put together this year’s toy drive, Jennifer simply said, "I just hope we make a lot of kids smile this Christmas."

[Stacey Willis, LCHS public relations chairman]

Fund-raisers

People all across this country and, in fact, around the world, claim roots in Logan County. They have very interesting stories to tell, and some of them like to connect with those of us who stayed at home. Logan County Diaspora publishes the stories of former Logan County residents. With their permission, we also include their e-mail addresses so that old friends might be reunited.  If you wish to be part of the Logan County Diaspora, e-mail ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com.  

Diaspora correspondents

Click on names to see letters and stories.

v Indicates LDN sponsors

• Wanda Whitson Aue

• Brad Boss

• Charles Brainard

• James 'Doc' Chandler

• Brad Dye

• Wayne and Nancy (Hatfield) Eichelberger

• Wayne Franz

• Philip Gehlbach

• Leigh Henson  v

• Bill Horn  v

• Dale A. Lowe

• George A. McKinney

• Len and Rita Remmert

• Tom Renner

• Tom Rippon

• Traycee Ritchhart-Pirkle

• Greg Schriber

• Stan Stringer

• Donald Weindorf  v

• Denise Radcliffe Wood

• Tom and Kristy (Smith) Yarcho

Reunions

Ongoing class reunion in cyberspace for 1960 graduates of LCHS

http://www.geocities.com/lincolnhigh1960/

Reminiscence

• "Lincoln Lakes beach," by Stan Stringer, posted July 10, 2001, in LDN

• "Stan Stringer tells story of Mark Holland’s buzzing of Lincoln," posted May 11, 2001

• "Leigh Henson, now a college teacher in Missouri, remembers Miss Jones, Jefferson School principal," posted March 29, 2001

• "Foreign Service officer recalls infamous Valentine's Day '79 in Tehran," by George McKinney, posted Feb. 15, 2001

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