Helping in the spirit of Christmas. We know about The Harrison- Bruce Foundation. We appreciate so many gifts they have given, so many charities and local edifices they have supported all over the region. In a surprise announcement and generous grant at last week’s Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois Appreciation Dinner, the Harrison-Bruce Foundation has fully funded in excess of $125,000 Mission 10 taking flight on May 9, 2023. 87 Veterans are expected to be on the Honor Flight with their guardians. The Foundation is administered and maintained by The Bank of Herrin. On hand from the BOH were Barb Jacobs and Carl Goodwin - Trust administrators.
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Market Street Music Conservatory in Marion invited guests Sunday to launch the first public concert with a musical program of Carols, A Cantata for Congregation and Choir and a Moravian Lovefeast. Rave reviews followed of the 2 p.m. program of candle lighting, songs, litany’s and coffee December 11 in the finely restored former First Christian Church that has become a regional showplace of the arts. New Community Choir of 23 voices rang the rafters. Roses to Elizabeth Byassee Shore, Director, who organized, directed and created the program.
April Mitter is Conservatory Executive Director. They will do it again It was a splendid afternoon.
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SANTA– Marion has a jolly Santa making children happy and keeping elves busy. Mark Norris, is the finest of Santa’s and has been seen around Tower Square in The Santa House and Merry Marion and local events. Mark is Marion’s special Santa. He and his wife Kim live in Marion, have three children and six grandchildren. In his retirement he enjoys his Santa duties that began in 2010 when his first granddaughter, Josie, was two, she is now 15. Mayor Mike Absher arranged for Santa Mark to share in the fun and many holiday happenings in the city.
Herrin's OWN SPECIAL SANTA CHARLIE GROVES is still a beautiful memory and a huge loss to the surrounding area. Santa joined the heavens in January, 2022 after a short illness that took him from us. To his loving family, thoughts and prayers remain with all of them.
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ON THE ICE – SKATING STORIES: 1. Two retired PE Teachers and active athletes, Donna Humphrey and Sue Kramer, both from Lake of Egypt took to the ice December 1 at 5 p.m. sharp. Sue worked in Chicago and had many opportunities to become proficient at ice skating. It has been 58 years since Donna put on states at a small local lake. Her new best friend at the ice rink was a helpful dolphin for stability. Sue skated many laps forward and a few backwards on smooth ice.
Merry Marion's Ice on the Tower gives young and old an opportunity to whirl and twirl before the end of the season.
ON THE ICE – 2. Happy Herrin family Anthony and Kelsey Roher and their 4 sons, yes, the youngest got a look see, but no skates, took to the ice last weekend in Marion. They said it was fun to see many learning to ice skate and watch others zoom around the rink. Grandmother Wendy Rice Franklin and great grandmother, Carolyn Rice were on hand to watch the kiddos at Very Merry Marion, The Ice on the Tower. The rink gives young and old an opportunity to whirl and twirl before the end of the season. Cost $10 adults and $5 children for an hour session. Thursday and Friday 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 1 to 9 p.m. Spectators can watch outside the rink for free.
TO DATE: Since opening the Rink 2,400 have ice skated on The Square so far.
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VISITORS: Jane Walker welcomed a surprise visit with her granddaughter Gina Walker and great granddaughter, Makayla Walker, Minnesota who spent the Thanksgiving week with her in Herrin, and Gina’s mother, Debbie Walker of Johnston City and other family members. Gina is the daughter of the late Greg Walker, formerly of Herrin.
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THE WHITE HOUSE: Former Marionite, Regina Dunbar Hendrickson, Troy, IL was invited for her second appointment to the Christmas White House Decorating Committee, both in 2021 and 2022 on behalf of The First Lady’s White House Visits Office. She arrived Thanksgiving Day and left The White House December 1. Citizens, 200 of them, from each state were invited to participate. This year’s theme is, “We The People.”
Many decorations are handmade by the committee, followed by tours of the completed rooms, a meeting and reception with Dr. Jill Biden. Her husband Duane Hendrickson works at Scott Air Force Base. Regina is owner of E4 Travel and A &D Events. She was an intern for Paul Simon and worked five years for Glenn Poshard during his congressional term. She moved to Marion in l975, graduated MHS in l981 and then SIU. Thanks to Judy Hampton for the tip.
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HAPPY HALLMARK BIRTHDAY: Jack Kirsch, a corporate man in Chicago, a return to Herrin, a banker, a former treasurer for the Herrin Civic Center Patron Series Committee, a promoter of the arts, a reader of books, a man with a perfect sense of humor turns 80 December 20. Special wishes from Gretchen Jack Fleming and Rebecca Jack Renshaw, their husbands, their children and his 1961 Herrin High classmates.
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50th ANNIVERSARY – Jerry and Sandy Bechtel were surprised by their children and sister Debbie Payne at a 50th Anniversary Celebration, December 10 at Herrin United Church of Christ, Rt. 148 South. Jerry is retired from John A. Logan College and Sandy is a retired teacher, they have homes in Marion and New Smyrna, FL.
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HERRIN'S HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS found a crowd of children for the Candy Cane Hunt, Saturday, December 10. More than 700 candy canes were hidden in the downtown district from the Prayer Garden North of City Hall to the Brewer Building on North Park. Winners, Ava Thompson, 2nd grade, Herrin, Harper Hof, 1st grade Carterville. Coming Up, Saturday, December 17- Elves in The Windows Hunt.
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MID-DECEMBER: Days float and sometimes fly in this month of the Winter Solstice December 21, the shortest day of the year. School children anticipate the last day for the Christmas holiday. College students plan trips to home, by air, train and car. Our kitchens are bakeries of their own. It is a magical time filled with sweet memories of childhood. “We need a little Christmas right this very minute.” Let’s talk next week.
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Cheryl is a freelance columnist and captures moments large and small in her native southern Illinois. Contact her at CRTheSouthern@aol.com or 618-993-8173.
