The Mason City Historical Society meeting for February was Tuesday, Feb. 20. The last Thursday of the month continues to be a regular meeting date, with conflicts forcing this one-time change.  Business at hand included reports that the literary exhibit at the museum was well-attended for its opening weekend. Guest author Jessie Johnson Young and her book have been well-received by the public.  Her book will continue to be on sale at the museum gift case while supplies last.  At this time the new gift case also features cassette tapes and CDs of folk music by The Prairie Aires, Celtic harp music by Melane Coulter, Music Association Cook Books compiled by Marjorie Brown, plus MCHSociety afghans, calendars, postcards and key chains.  Additions to the gift line will be made periodically.  Hours for the Mason City Museum continue to be noon to 4 p.m. each weekend.

Plans for Civil War Days

Civil War Days return to Mason City on Memorial Day weekend. Special ceremonies, flag drills and dedications will be part of the two-day living history event scheduled May 26 and May 27. The many re-enactors featured last year, plus several other groups, have been invited.  Early registrations have already been taken for Brenda Schingel, civilian tableau; lst South Carolina, Capt. William Bierbaum; Independent Sharp Shooters, Rob Leinweber; and the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band.  The band will be featured in a performance from 7 to 9 at the Saturday evening Civil War Ball.

Free dance lessons will again be given for all those wishing to dance at the period event.  Lessons in the waltz, grand march, Virginia reel and broom dance will be offered beginning the middle of April.

Costumes for the dance, though not required, will be available through local seamstresses, a buy-sell-trade event, by purchase from a local setup or from industry sutlers over the Internet. Free admission to the band and dance will be granted to all participants in costume.

Period food booths for the weekend event are needed from Mason City individuals and organizations.

Restoration of Soldiers Monument

Restoration of Soldiers Monument is under way.  The 10 pieces of the monument are being returned to nearly their original state.  Discoveries make the project very interesting, as it has been disclosed that the scarf drape with tassel is really a flag with stars and stripes. The names on the monument have been drafted to a master copy, which is now being verified by the Mason City Historical Society.  The approved master will be cut to a rubber stencil, and then each letter will be carved into the monument by laser technology.  The completed project will be returned and placed on a new solid base of granite for dedication during the living history weekend. 

Local and area citizens are being of support through word and deed as MCHSociety continues its endeavors. Financial support for the Soldiers Monument project, "Save A Site," remains a high priority.  Anyone can become a lifetime member of the society for a one-time $100 fee, and names of lifetime members will be on a plaque commemorating the Soldiers Monument restoration. Melanie Gordon is receiving those requests at 407 N. Main St., Mason City, IL 62664.

[MCHSociety news release]

'New Beginnings...'

Divorce recovery program to begin sessions

Jefferson Street and Lincoln Christian churches are sponsoring their annual "New Beginnings" and "Broken Promise" for families who have been through a divorce. "New Beginnings" is for divorced individuals, whether or not they have children. "Broken Promise" is offered for children caught up in a divorce. Everyone is welcome, whether the divorce was recent or some time ago. The program begins the evening of Monday, March 5, and lasts approximately for 14 sessions. There are only so many seats in each class — offered first come, first served — so call Jefferson Street Christian Church soon for information at 732-9294.

Broken Promise...

• is for children age 4 through teens. (Free child care for children under 4 is provided.)
• has weekly sessions, 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
• is limited to a first-come, first-served enrollment. Your name will be added to a waiting list for the next session when this one is filled.
• is funded by tuition fees and by Jefferson Street Christian Church and Lincoln Christian Church.
• helps your child identify and express his needs and emotions on neutral ground.
• helps your child understand his feeling through the use of stories, games, puppets, crafts and conversation.
• helps your child develop a sense of belonging and stability.
• helps your child realize that crisis brings about unique opportunities for new beginnings.
• is a recovery ministry for children living in a single-parent home because of divorce.

• is staffed with Christian men and women who have received special training for this program.

With the guidance of a supportive leader, your child will learn to identify by name and understand all the emotions he has experienced, or may yet be experiencing, such as denial, guilt and anger. He will learn how to deal positively with separation and loss. God understands the hurt and will give strength and healing needed to put the pieces back together again.

New Beginnings...

• helps you as a single parent understand what your child is experiencing when there is a divorce.
• provides you with tools to help rebuild your family.
• gives you resources and support in a Christian framework.

• has weekly sessions, concurrent with Broken Promise.

For more information, call Jefferson Street Christian Church (732-9294) or Lincoln Christian Church (732-7618).

[click here for an in-depth article on the programs]

The Logan County Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring a tree sale program again this year to encourage more tree planting. The trees may be used for any purpose and planted in town or country. Some uses are windbreaks, timber production, wildlife cover, Christmas trees and ornamental planting.

Evergreen species being offered this year include white pine, red pine, Norway spruce, Colorado blue spruce, Douglas fir and Scotch pine. Hardwoods, ornamentals and shrubs being offered are red maple, sugar maple, red oak, white oak, green ash, mountain ash, river birch, black walnut, eastern redbud, white flowering dogwood, red osier dogwood, high-bush cranberry and American bittersweet

The evergreens will be sold in bundles of 25, and the hardwoods will be sold in bundles of five. These trees will be sold at a cost of approximately $1 to $1.25 per tree. If you cannot use 25 trees, you might want to combine your order with a neighbor. Individual trees may be purchased at a cost of $2 per tree.

Marking flags will be sold. These flags may be placed by the trees to help locate them when mowing. A two-year time-release fertilizer tablet is also available. Orders will also be taken for tree protectors. These are corrugated plastic wraps that protect the tree from deer, rodents, weather and mowers. The wraps promote straighter and faster growth.

Trees are scheduled to be delivered in April. You will be notified of the exact date for pick-up. Please call the district office at 732-2010, Ext. 3 or stop by at 1650 Fifth Street Road in Lincoln for more information and an order form. Deadline for ordering trees is March 10.

[News release from Logan County SWCD]

Learn about law enforcement firsthand

The Lincoln Police Department is again offering the Citizens Police Academy. Classes begin Monday, Feb. 26. The Citizens Police Academy gives you an opportunity to learn about law enforcement firsthand — from riding with an officer while on patrol to learning about the different programs the Lincoln Police Department offers to the community.

Academy classes will meet one evening a week for nine weeks. The sessions start at 6:30 p.m. and adjourn at approximately 8:30 p.m. Most of the classes are at the Logan County Safety Complex. Special activities may be at other locations.

To get an application, please contact Officer Rich Montcalm at (217) 735-4905, or you can pick up an application at 911 Pekin St. in Lincoln. Don’t let this opportunity pass!

[Lincoln Police Department news release]

The local 2001 MS Walk will be on April 1 at Kickapoo Creek Park in Lincoln. Funds received through the walk support research, education, advocacy and local programs that enhance the quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis and their families.

The first walk, last year, was tremendously successful, exceeded its goal and raised over $10,000, thanks to all who helped.

Anyone who wishes to form a walk team or make a donation for this year's walk should contact any member of the MS Walk committee: Brenda Centers, (217) 735-3667; Jeanne Handlin, (217) 732-3350; or Gene or Toni McDonald, (217) 732-8424. There is no minimum amount that must be donated by each walker.

[MS Walk committee announcement]

In March Ed Logan will be our instructor for Saturday Crafts.  Saturday, March 10, is the date.  Woodworking will be featured, with each participant building two birdhouses.  One of the birdhouses can be taken home, and the other we will install in one of our local parks.  For this class, if you have a hammer, please bring it with you.

Boys baseball and girls softball sign-up will be on Saturday, March 17, 24 and 31, at Lincoln Park District, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Questions about costs may be directed to Lincoln Park District at 732-8770. Men's and women's sign-ups will start April 9 and go through May 4.  Again, questions may be addressed to Lincoln Park District

Health Fair for the general public will be Saturday, March 17.  This year’s promises to be even bigger and better.  One of the many new displays we are featuring this year is called the Convincer.  The Convincer is a machine that replicates a low-speed automobile impact and the safety that wearing your seat belt provides.  The hours for this free event are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Program will tell of resources in health care for seniors

LaVerne Landers, from ALMH, will provide a program entitled "Community Resources: What's Available and How to Access It" on Thursday, March 1, at 1 p.m. The program will be given at the University of Illinois Extension building on the northeast corner of the fairgrounds. Mrs. Landers will focus primarily on health care issues for older members of the community, as well as for their caregivers.

For more information please call 732-8289.

Oasis report

The Oasis, Logan County's Senior Citizen Center, is located at 501 Pulaski St. in Lincoln. The Oasis is open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and for Friday and Sunday night pinochle and other table games. The center is closed on holidays. Activities are open to all Logan County senior citizens.

Crafters are making and adding new items to the gift shop on a weekly basis. The Oasis encourages everyone to stop by and see the new items. Be sure to check out the new sale table. The craft committee needs helpers to make more craft items for the gift shop, and Betty York will be teaching craft techniques. For additional information, contact Sandy Johnson, Janet Henrichsmeyer or Judy Charron and let them know what time would be best to set up classes.

Wanted for crafts: Old jewelry (broken jewelry is OK), beans etc. for crafts. Please leave jewelry in a small sack at the Oasis desk with "Craft Use" written on sack.

Circuit Breaker appointments are still scheduled for Mondays between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Call 732-6132.

Veterans Administration representative will be present on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bingo each Tuesday at the Lincoln Recreation Center begins at 6:50 p.m. with an early bird game. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Contact Darlene Freeman or the Oasis if you can help on Tuesday evenings.

Wanted: Someone to furnish food for bingo at the Rec. The person must be a certified food handler. Contact Mr. Dalpoas at the Oasis for information.

Volunteers to make rag rugs are still needed on Wednesday and Friday mornings, beginning at 9 a.m.

Free tax help is available. We are fortunate to have Peggy Haseley of Lincoln volunteer to assist people with their tax paperwork. Bring in your paperwork for the year 2000. She will be available on Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please call to schedule appointments. If you don’t have tax forms, pick up a copy at the library.

Ceramics sessions are each Thursday at 9 a.m.

Bingo will be offered Thursday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. It will be sponsored by AARP. Please bring white elephant gifts for prizes.

Free blood pressure checks are available each Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Oasis.

Internet/e-mail computer classes cost $2. Beginning on Feb. 26, the Oasis computer classes will be on Monday afternoons. On the first and third Mondays, beginning classes will be at 1:30 p.m. and word processing classes will be at 2:30 p.m. On the second and fourth Mondays, Internet/e-mail classes will be at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Friday and Sunday evening activities continue, starting at 6 p.m. each day.

Something new: Speakers Bureau will start in March. Topics will include living wills, technology devices, insurance and a variety of other interesting topics. Check future Oasis reports for more information and details.

A van trip to Goodfield Buffet Dinner and Theater is scheduled for Sunday, March 11. The van leaves at 11 a.m. from Oasis and returns at approximately 5 p.m. Cost is $33.50 per person. Please sign up at Oasis. The trip is limited to 13 people.

A van trip to Springfield Senior Citizens Center is on March 21. The van departs at 9 a.m. and returns to Lincoln at 3 p.m. The cost is $11.50, and it includes lunch. Please register at Oasis.

A van trip to Bloomington Quilt Show and shopping will be Saturday, March 31. Lunch on your own. The trip cost of $11 per person includes transportation and admission to the quilt show. Seating is limited to seven people. Please sign up at Oasis.

February lunch winner, sponsored by Blue Dog, was Ken McCray. The March 1 drawing will be sponsored by Bonanza restaurant.

Game winners: Pinochle winner for the week of Feb. 9 was Easter Behrends with Esther Will. Winners for 5-in-1 were Bernie De Puy, Tom Garrison and Henry Warnisher. Friday and Sunday evening pool winner was Harley Heath.

A bi-monthly newsletter will be mailed to those who choose to have a Friends of The Oasis membership. Call the Oasis, 732-6132, for further information.

The Lincoln Area Community Chorale rehearsals began on Monday, Feb. 12, for the 2001 spring concert. Rehearsals take place in the St. John United Church of Christ fellowship building and begin at 7 p.m. Richard Reinwald is the choral director. For more information, phone him at 732-6957.

The Lincoln Area Community Orchestra began rehearsals on Sunday, Feb. 25, for the 2001 spring concert. Rehearsals take place at the Lincoln Community High School band room and begin at 2 p.m. Julie Kasa is the orchestra director. For more information, phone her at 732-3118.

Both the chorale and orchestra are volunteer groups, and each would welcome new members from the community. The spring concerts will be April 28 and 29 in the LCHS auditorium.

SHARE

A price break on food

If someone wanted to give you $15, a little more or less, every month, would you take it? Maybe, depends? Well, let’s see, $15 x 12 = $180 per year. Now we’re talking. How do I get that, you say? Well, that’s the amount you will save by buying some of your basic groceries through the local SHARE program. (SHARE is an acronym for Self-Help And Resources Exchange.)

The price break is achieved by buying food in bulk. "When we all pool our money, we can get a better price," says John Sutton, local SHARE coordinator. Volunteers drive to western Illinois and as far east as Terre Haute, Ind., for food purchases and pickups. Peoria is the central clearinghouse. The Peoria Catholic Diocese serves as coordinator of SHARE in central Illinois.

"SHARE is open to anyone who wants to plunk down their money and perform some community service," says Sutton. Community service constitutes just about any activity you would do for someone else, from praying for someone to taking someone to the hospital — anything to help out your fellow man.

Participants pay only $15 per month. From that total, $14 is used to buy the food, and $1 is for transportation costs. Last month’s food had an equal value of $28.05 at the grocery store. It is composed of the same basic everyday kinds of foods. The food that has been purchased is divided equally, with everyone getting exactly the same thing. Anyone wanting to see if it is something they would benefit from is welcome to come by and have a look while the pickup is going on. It’s a good deal if it is food you would ordinarily buy anyway. It’s essentially half the price.

SHARE food pickups are once a month. This month’s pickup is this afternoon from 4 to 5:30 at St. John United Church of Christ. Sutton invites you to "come have a look." You can sign up for next month’s pickup if it suits you. He and the other volunteers would like to see lots more people take advantage of this opportunity. There’s plenty of room for this program to grow.

Who: Anyone who buys groceries

What: Basic foods sold at great savings

Why: Because it’s a great way to reduce your grocery bill

Where: St. John United Church of Christ, 204 Seventh St.

When: 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 23, March 23, April 20

[LDN]

[click here for related article]