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Halloween on the Square, Middletown Presbyterian brunch, Cumberland Presbyterian breakfast, Christian Village Fall Festival, Lunch and Learn, Logan Art Association, Guy Fraker presentation on Lincoln book, Atlanta Library book group, celebration for veterans, Harvest of Talents, 'Christmas According to Hollywood,' 'Our Town,' haunted house, VFW essay competitions

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[October 23, 2012]  City of Lincoln, Main Street Lincoln and park district scare up some "spook-tacular" fun for Saturday

Join the activities downtown on Saturday for Halloween on the Square. The park district will offer four different activities for children and adults as well. The park district teams up with the city of Lincoln and Main Street Lincoln to give you Trick or Treat with Mayor Snyder, a Costume Parade, Trunk or Treat, and The Great Chili Taste Off. Participate in all of the fun or simply pick and choose what you think your family would enjoy the most.

Trick or Treat with Mayor Snyder will start from Latham Park, with registration for door prizes beginning at 3 p.m. Plan to walk to each participating business, starting at 3:30, and fill your bag with goodies. Prize drawings will be at City Hall following the trick-or-treating. If you have questions, call Main Street Lincoln at 732-2929.

Following the prize drawings, be a part of the first-ever Costume Parade on the square. Participants will line up in the Arcade, and the parade route will go around the square. Invite your family and friends to come see you star in the parade.

Trunk or Treat will be on Pulaski and McLean streets beginning at 4:30. It's fun and simple. All you have to do is come downtown, park, decorate your trunk, bring lots of candy, and hand it out the youngsters who just want to have a great Halloween. Individuals, businesses and organizations can participate. Cars may park beginning at 3:30 and be ready for the kids by 4:30. Trunk or Treat provides a safe environment for families to enjoy an inexpensive Halloween atmosphere. Costumed children trick-or-treat by going from trunk to trunk to get their bag filled with goodies. Kids and parents are invited to make their way around the Trunk or Treat to enjoy the free treats, games and fun. There is no charge for participating vehicles, but the participants are urged to preregister at the Lincoln Park District, 732-8770 or info@lincolnparkdistrict.com, so that parking spaces can be saved for everyone.

With all this fun for the kids, the park district just had to do something for the adults too. Look around the Farm Bureau building on McLean Street for The Great Chili Taste-Off. Red or white chili will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. for $2 per 12-ounce bowl. Proceeds will be donated to local food pantries. Free hot dogs will be provided by the Farm Bureau Young Leaders from 5 to 7 p.m., and Sorrento's has generously offered to provide free sodas too.

If you have questions about Halloween on the Square, feel free to contact Lincoln Park District.


Middletown Presbyterian Church offers fall harvest brunch

MIDDLETOWN -- The Middletown Presbyterian Church will have its annual fall harvest brunch on Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It's an all-you-eat menu with bacon, ham, sausage, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, ham and beans and cornbread, sausage gravy and biscuits, breakfast pizza, coffeecakes, desserts, cheese tray, and drinks.

The brunch is $8 for adults, $4 for children 4-12 years old and free for 3 and under.


Cumberland Presbyterian to host Claude Cole Pancake Breakfast

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 110 Broadway, will host the Claude Cole Pancake Breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Serving will begin at 7 a.m. and wrap up when everyone is satisfied or the food runs out.

The menu will include all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and a drink.

Suggested donations are $6 for adults and $3 for children.

There will also be a bake sale going on at the same time.

Proceeds of the event will go to support church and community projects.


Christian Village to host annual fall festival Nov. 10

The Christian Village in Lincoln invites everyone to join them on Saturday, Nov. 10, for their annual fall festival.

It will be a day of fun and games, food, and family activities and entertainment.

Among the list of activities are face painting, pumpkin painting and a chance to have a fall family portrait taken.

Live music will be presented from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a choice of chili or pork chop lunch will be served from 11 to 2.

Other activities included in the day are hayrack rides, a craft and bake sale, facility tours and more.

(See publicity.)


Lunch and Learn program Nov. 6 at 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 grandparents and other relatives raising children. It will be at the Oasis Senior Center, 501 Pulaski St. in Lincoln, on Nov. 6 from noon to 1 p.m.

Jamie Freschi, regional long-term care ombudsman, will present information regarding "Residents' Rights in Long-Term Care Facilities."

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 people 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.


Logan Art Association invites you to join them at their 1st meeting Nov. 6

On Nov. 6, anyone who is interested is invited to attend the organizational meeting of the Logan Art Association. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Art Institute, 112 N. McLean St. in Lincoln.

The meeting is free to attend and open to anyone 18 years of age and older who is interested in any kind of art.

Organizers are hopeful that local artists will be interested in becoming a part of this association, but also encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about art to attend as well.

Areas of interest will be drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and art history.

This is the first meeting, so the group doesn’t have an agenda yet. Organizers are open to ideas and suggestions that might help determine the direction the group will take.

"Please join us," says Georgie Borchardt. "We'd love to see/meet you and have you begin this new adventure with us!"

Contact Borchardt at 309-244-5708.


Lincoln Heritage Museum welcomes historian, author Guy Fraker

The Lincoln Heritage Museum is hosting a presentation and book sale/signing by historian and author Guy Fraker on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at the museum, located on the campus of Lincoln College.

Fraker's presentation accompanies his newly released publication, "Lincoln's Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit." Fraker is an attorney from Bloomington. His book follows from his years of research on Abraham Lincoln's time as a circuit-riding lawyer and has been greatly anticipated by Lincoln scholars.

Throughout his 23-year legal career, Abraham Lincoln spent nearly as much time on the road as an attorney for the 8th Judicial Circuit as he did in his hometown of Springfield. Yet most historians gloss over the time and instead have Lincoln emerge fully formed as a skillful politician in 1858.

In this innovative volume, Fraker provides the first-ever study of Lincoln's professional and personal home away from home and demonstrates how the 8th Judicial Circuit and its people propelled Lincoln to the presidency.

Though it fluctuated in size through the years, the 8th Judicial Circuit, which existed from the late 1830s to the 1860s, comprised most of the county courthouses in central Illinois. Logan County was included, and Abraham Lincoln practiced law in courthouses in Postville, Mount Pulaski and then in Lincoln as the location of the county seat changed during that time.

Fraker describes the people and counties that the future president encountered, discusses key cases Lincoln handled and introduces the important friends he made -- friends who eventually won him the presidential nomination in 1860.

As Fraker shows, the 8th Judicial Circuit provided the perfect setting for the growth and ascension of Lincoln. A complete portrait of the 16th president depends on a full understanding of his experience on the circuit, and "Lincoln's Ladder to the Presidency" provides a deeper understanding of the roots of his political influence and acumen.

Fraker has garnered advance praise for his book. John Hoffman, curator of the Lincoln collections at the University of Illinois, remarked about the book: "Drawing together both contemporary and reminiscent sources, and bringing a sense of place to each locale on the circuit, Fraker provides a comprehensive view of Lincoln's life in law and politics on the Illinois prairie."

Fraker served as consultant on the award-winning PBS documentary "Lincoln, Prelude to the Presidency." A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, he is a past president of the McLean County Bar Association. He is widely considered the foremost expert on Lincoln's time on the circuit.

The presentation is free, and books will be available for sale afterward for $34.95 plus tax.

For more information, contact Ron Keller at the Lincoln Heritage Museum at 217-732-3155 or rkeller@lincolncollege.edu.


Time to sign up for the Atlanta Library's annual book group

ATLANTA -- Worldviews, the Atlanta Public Library's book group, is about to get under way, with the first meeting scheduled for Oct. 29. This is a great opportunity to read some fantastic books, share your ideas about them with friends, socialize and learn about a subject of global significance. This year's focus is the Holocaust.

Worldviews is free and meets on Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the library.

On Oct. 29, the group will discuss John Boyne's "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas," the New York Times best-seller about the concentration camp friendship between a German boy and a Jewish boy.

Subsequent sessions will feature discussions of "The Diary of a Young Girl," by Anne Frank, on Nov. 26; "In the Garden of Beasts," by Erik Larsen, on Jan. 28; and "Sophie's Choice," by William Styron, April 29. On Feb. 25, the group will have a potluck supper and watch and discuss the award-winning movie "Schindler's List." March 25, Michael Rothberg from the University of Illinois' Holocaust, Genocide and Memory Initiative will speak to the group about genocide in the world today, and in May, the group will take a field trip to the Holocaust Museum in Chicago, where members will have an opportunity to speak directly with a Holocaust survivor.

To sign up for Worldviews, call the library, 217-648-2112, or email apldinformation@gmail.com. Be sure to ask about the multiple ways in which you can obtain books through the library.


Veterans of Logan County, make your reservations for Nov. 4 celebration & dance

Over 1,100 invitations have been sent to the veterans in Logan County for the 11th annual Veteran's Celebration and Recognition Dance, sponsored by the St. John United Church of Christ Youth Group. The event is planned for Nov. 4 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion in Lincoln.

Although invitations and a reply card have been sent to the veterans the group has addresses for, it is not too late for any veteran who did not receive an invitation to call in a reservation request to Tonita Reifsteck, 732-9796; the youth sponsors, Jonathan and Tami Pagel, 732-4500; or the church, 732-6957. Seating can then be arranged.

The evening will begin with a light meal served from 5 to 6 p.m. and a tribute to the various branches of service by the Don Smith Band, which will provide dance music from 5 to 7:30.

The youth along with their sponsors, the Pagels, plan and host fundraisers all year for this celebration to honor the veterans of Logan County or any veteran who was deployed from Logan County.

The St. John Youth Group will also honor the veterans of their church on Nov. 4 during the 10:30 a.m. worship service with a "Litany Remembering All Those Who Serve" and will present each veteran with a special gift.

Those veterans are Loren Birnbaum, Josh Bismark, Adam Bock, Bob Borowiak, Charles Brainard, Erik Brickman, Kenneth Brickman, John Cassens, Rod Christensen, Phillip Gehlbach, Gerald Gehrke, Dan Gosda, Gerald Gosda, David Hansen, Homer Harris Jr., Jack Leich, Robert T. Lenhardt, Eric Leslie, Don McCann, Scott Mara, Robert Meinershagen, Anthony Morey, Richard Morgan, Wilbur Paulus, Arthur Rohrer, Ron Sprague, Ray Turner, Donald Werkman, Eddie White, Lawrence Wilham Jr., James Wilmert, Wilbur Wilmert and Mark Wilson.


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Harvest Fare feature of 29th Harvest of Talents

When the doors open to the 29th annual Harvest of Talents for World Hunger, on Oct. 27 at 7 a.m., the event will include Harvest Fare, an area of the Harvest which in the past bore no official name.

In recent years the area has existed between the canopy entrance to the Lincoln Christian Church Fellowship Center and the parking lot. The name was officially chosen on recommendation of Tim Becke, Harvest Ministry Team member who oversees the outside area.

The 2012 version of Harvest Fare will include the ever-popular deep-fried potato chips, from both white and sweet potatoes; walking tacos, prepared and served by the staff of International Disaster Emergency Service, which receives the proceeds from the Harvest of Talents; Lincolnberry Prairie Café, featuring flavored coffees, scones and a variety of snacks, along with brisket and maple ham sandwiches; and the Potting Shed, a new booth offering a variety of plants and bulbs.

Becke commented, "We are anticipating new booths to be added to Harvest Fare in celebration of next year's 30th annual Harvest."

Craft areas in the Fellowship Center will feature hundreds of handmade items, many one-of-a-kind. Special areas include Yesteryear's Kitchen, with hundreds of jars of jams and jellies and a wide variety of baked goods; the Christmas Nook; Cottage Collectibles, with repurposed and shabby chic items; and Critters in the Garden. Other areas featuring goods and services are Ye Olde Sweet Shop, Blings 'n Things, Origami Creations, and henna designs and face painting. Gifts From Around the World will offer a wide variety of items from countries around the world, some of which have been the recipient of Harvest funds in past years.

Breakfast of homemade cinnamon and caramel pecan rolls will be served from 7 until 10 a.m. The luncheon menu includes homemade vegetable soup, barbecue sandwiches and homemade pies. Snacks will be available in Harvest Fare for Harvest shoppers or for those who just drop by Harvest Fare for tasty foods.

A 5K Harvest Run and one-mile fun run-walk will be hosted by the local YMCA and sponsored by several local business. The run will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of Pekin and Hamilton streets. Early registrations are being accepted at the local YMCA office. For more information, contact the YMCA at 217-735-1915 or 800-282-3520, or visit www.lincolnymca.org.

In keeping with the Harvest's desire to be family-oriented, there will be special activities for children from 9 to 11 .a.m.

Auctions are a highlight of the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger, and this year there will be four. In the morning hours there will be two silent auctions in the Fellowship Center and one in Harvest Fare. The official Harvest Auction will begin at 2 p.m. Mike Maske Auction will be in charge of the sale, which will offer unique handmade quilts, fine needlework, woodworking, photography, repurposed pieces, small furniture and many one-of-a-kind items.

The items offered for sale on Harvest Day include a wide variety of quality handmade items suitable for gift-giving for birthdays, new arrivals and Christmas.

Every penny raised at the Harvest is used to meet hunger needs worldwide. No administrative costs are deducted. All proceeds from the Harvest of Talents will be channeled by International Disaster Emergency Service, a Kempton, Ind.-based Christian organization, to hunger victims worldwide.

The Harvest of Talents originated at Lincoln Christian Church in 1984. In the first 28 years, Lincoln's Harvest of Talents for World Hunger raised $1,636,092.89 to provide food for the hungry in 21 countries, including the U.S. This year the Lincoln church is joined in its mission by churches in Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Kansas and Illinois. The public is cordially invited to attend. Lots of parking space is available, the facilities are handicapped-accessible, and carryouts are available.

The next day all funds raised will be presented to International Disaster Emergency Service at a 10 a.m. Sunday celebration service open to the public in the chapel of Lincoln Christian University.

For more information, call 732-7618, email harvestoftalents@email.net or visit www.ides.org/harvestoftalents.html.


Elkhart Historical Society presents 'Christmas According to Hollywood'

ELKHART -- In early November, the Elkhart Historical Society will present "Christmas According to Hollywood." The presentation will explore favorite Christmas movies and some little-known facts about them in an evening of relaxation, laughter and a meal at the Wild Hare Café before the holiday rush begins.

The event will be on Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Each Christmas we immerse ourselves in sentimentality brought to us courtesy of Hollywood. The modern history of Christmas has included many sentimental, poignant and funny movies, from Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life" to Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in "White Christmas." We enjoy watching Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol" and the eternally optimistic, yet cursed Clark Griswold from "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." Who can forget "A Christmas Story" with Darren McGavin and the reminiscing about that first BB gun and sometimes a "confession" to admiring or even owning the leg lamp that gave McGavin's character so much delight.

The cost for the evening is $25 per person.

For reservations, call 217-947-2238. Reservation forms may be downloaded from www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org, or pick up a reservation form at Horsefeathers in Elkhart.


Lincoln College to present 'Our Town'

Lincoln College will present the play "Our Town," by Thornton Wilder. The play is directed by Martin Holden, assistant professor of theater, with a cast of 25 Lincoln College students. The show will be presented Oct. 24-27 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. in the Johnston Center for Performing Arts on the college campus.

Tickets are $7 for general admission, $5 for seniors and students, and $1 for Lincoln College students with ID. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 1-800-569-0556, ext. 280.


Lincoln Jaycees present 'Terror by the Tracks' Haunted House

The annual Lincoln Jaycees Haunted House is back again to present "Terror by the Tracks." The decades-old tradition has more rooms and bigger scares than ever before. The award-winning maze is also back. It is known for being the longest and darkest maze around.

The haunted house is again located at 325 S. Chicago St. It is open every Friday and Saturday in October, starting this weekend. It will also be open Oct. 29, 30 and 31. Hours of operation are 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 7-10 p.m. Oct. 29-31. The admission price is $7.

Kids’ matinees are every Saturday in October from 6 to 7 p.m. Lights are on and ghosts will be friendly. Special admission is $3.

(See publicity.)

For more information about the haunted house, visit www.lincolnjaycees.com.


Local student could win $5,000 in college money

Commanders of Veterans of Foreign Wars posts across Illinois have announced the kickoff of this year's VFW and Ladies Auxiliary "Patriot's Pen" essay competition. Middle school students in grades six to eight in this area have the opportunity to compete in the annual competition and win thousands of dollars.

Students are invited to write a 300- to 400-word essay on a patriotic theme. The theme for 2012-2013, which is the 18th year of the contest, is: "What I Would Tell America's Founding Fathers."

Students begin by competing at the local post level. Post winners advance to district, and district winners participate in the state competition. The state winners compete for $46,000 in awards, and first place wins $5,000.

Each year, around 126,000 students participate nationwide.

Deadline for student entries is Nov. 1. Interested students and teachers should contact their local VFW post for more information.

For details, visit http://www.vfw.org/Community/Patriot-s-Pen/.


Local high school student could win trip to Washington, DC, and $30,000 scholarship

Commanders of Veterans of Foreign Wars posts across Illinois have announced the kickoff of the 66th year of the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.

The Voice of Democracy Scholarship contest is an annual nationwide audio essay competition designed to give ninth- to 12th-grade high school students, ages 15-19, an opportunity to voice their opinion on their responsibility to our country. Home-schooled students are also invited to participate.

Students must write and record a three- to five-minute essay on this theme for 2012-2013: "Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?" The recording is to be on an audio cassette tape or audio CD. Students competing enter their recording, typed essay and entry form at their local VFW post. The deadline is Nov. 1.

Post winners advance to district judging, and then the first-place district winners advance to the state competition in Springfield. All state winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C.

A total of $152,000 is awarded to national finalists. First place is a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational-technical school.

Annually the VFW provides more than $2.3 million in scholarships. Around 50,000 students participate in the competition each year.

The Voice of Democracy contest was started by the National Association of Broadcasters in the late 1940s, and the VFW became involved in the late 1950s. The VFW took over primary sponsorship in 1961, when the broadcasters could no longer sponsor the program nationally. Then in 1964, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary joined in sponsorship of the program.

Because of the active program promotion and participation, the national scholarship funds have steadily increased from four national winners in 1962, with total scholarships of $3,750, to the current level of 63 national scholarships totaling $152,000.

For more information about the Voice of Democracy competition, contact the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in your area. If you are unsure of the post in your area, contact Illinois VFW headquarters in Springfield at 217-529-6688.

For more information, visit http://www.vfw.org/
Community/Voice-of-Democracy/
.


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